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📰 TOP NEWS
Spot Bitcoin ETFs extend negative streak
U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded three consecutive days of outflows in early January 2026, with over $1 billion exiting the funds. The selling pressure nearly erased the $1.16 billion in net inflows seen during the first two trading days of the year, with Fidelity's FBTC and Grayscale's GBTC leading the redemptions.
"By extending the outflow streak to three days, institutional investors appear to be rebalancing their portfolios following tax-loss harvesting activity, though analysts view this as tactical positioning rather than a structural shift in sentiment."
Vitalik Buterin supports Tornado Cash developer appeal
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin donated 50 ETH, worth approximately $170,000, to the legal defense fund for Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev at the end of 2025. The contribution supports the developers as Storm awaits trial and Pertsev appeals his money laundering conviction, with the donation representing about 25% of the $650,000 available through JusticeDAO.
"By consistently backing the legal defense efforts, Buterin reinforces his stance that developers should not face criminal liability when their open-source code is misused by third parties, a principle he views as essential to protecting innovation in the blockchain space."
CFTC issues no-action relief clearing Bitnomial to offer event contracts
The CFTC granted Bitnomial Exchange a no-action letter allowing the platform to launch prediction markets without complying with certain swap data reporting requirements. The relief applies specifically to binary and bounded event contracts that must be fully collateralized and traded on Bitnomial's designated contract market and cleared through its registered clearinghouse.
"By providing regulatory clarity at the federal level, the CFTC's decision enables U.S.-based traders to access prediction markets under direct supervision rather than relying on offshore or loosely regulated platforms."
Senate crypto bill faces do-or-die moment as stablecoins and Trump issues threaten essential votes
The Senate Banking Committee scheduled a markup session for January 15, 2026, on the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, with or without Democratic support, as key disagreements persist over stablecoin yield provisions and ethics rules. Major points of contention include whether crypto exchanges can offer rewards for holding stablecoins, DeFi developer liability, and potential conflicts of interest involving President Trump's family crypto ventures.
"By pushing forward with the markup despite ongoing disputes, Senate Republicans are attempting to advance comprehensive crypto legislation before the 2026 midterm elections, though consensus on critical provisions remains elusive and could jeopardize the bill's passage."
📌 REMARKS OF THE WEEK
Source: Investing.com
🔐 CRYPTO UNLOCKS
Source: Token Unlocks
🎟️ EVENT OF THE WEEK
Plan ₿ Forum El Salvador 2026
Plan ₿ Forum El Salvador stands as the leading Bitcoin conference in Central America, bringing together world leaders, technologists, and entrepreneurs to explore the transformative impact of Bitcoin on a global scale.
Date Jan 30 2026
💬 EXPERT OPINION
It really establishes stablecoin money as a form of money in the U.S. financial system, with clear safeguards around that."
📊 METRIC OF THE WEEK
Our researchers designed this metric with ❤️
GLOSSARY CORNER A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, typically by pegging its price to a reference asset such as the U.S. dollar, gold, or a basket of other assets, in order to offer the speed and decentralization of digital currency without the extreme volatility often associated with other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. | EDITOR’S CHOICE |
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