Vanguard's Vanguard Group Mid-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VMCIX) disclosed its first purchase of Strategy shares, acquiring 2.91 million shares worth approximately $505 million. (Bitcoin Treasuries)

On-chain and derivatives data indicate that the Bitcoin price surge is primarily driven by spot demand, while the risk of a short squeeze is increasing. Bitcoin has risen approximately 10% year-to-date, with the price remaining below $97,000. This surge has been primarily driven by spot buying, rather than leveraged positions established through futures. Spot-driven rallies are generally healthier than leveraged ones, and the recent price movement from $90,000 to $97,000 has shifted from a leverage-driven rally to one supported by spot buying over the past week. Furthermore, according to Glassnode data, open interest in Bitcoin-denominated futures contracts is 678,000 BTC, comparable to 679,000 BTC on January 8th, indicating that overall leverage in the system remains largely unchanged, and perpetual futures funding rates are currently negative. (CoinDesk)

Kaito AI has officially announced that it is currently transitioning the "yaps.kaito.ai" site to "kaito.ai". During this period, the website will experience a brief downtime. Once the migration is complete, the previous domain name will be redirected to the new domain name.

According to relevant departments of the State Taxation Administration, tax authorities have been continuously strengthening publicity and guidance on tax payment for overseas income of resident individuals. Since last year, they have reminded taxpayers to conduct self-examinations of income obtained from overseas from 2022 to 2024. According to the Tax Collection and Administration Law and other laws and regulations, if a taxpayer fails to file a tax return or makes calculation errors, resulting in underpayment or non-payment of taxes, the tax authorities may pursue the tax payment and late payment penalties within three years; if tax evasion is constituted, it will be dealt with according to law. Paying personal income tax on income obtained by resident individuals from both domestic and overseas sources is an internationally accepted practice, which helps prevent cross-border tax evasion and safeguards national tax revenue. The tax authorities remind taxpayers that paying taxes according to law is the obligation of every citizen. If taxpayers find that they have failed to declare their overseas income as required, they should promptly correct the declaration in accordance with the law. (Jinshi)

Ethereum network activity is accelerating sharply, driven by a surge in new users and rising stablecoin usage, according to fresh on-chain data from Glassnode.The analytics firm reported that Ethereum’s monthly activity retention nearly doubled, signaling a wave of first-time users interacting with the network rather than just recycled activity from existing participants.New Ethereum Users Surge to Record LevelsGlassnode’s data shows that new activity retention jumped from just over 4 million to nearly 8 million addresses in one month, marking one of the strongest onboarding periods in Ethereum’s history.Activity retention tracks how many users continue to interact with the network over time, offering insight into whether growth is sustainable rather than one-off usage.“This reflects a notable influx of new wallets engaging with Ethereum, rather than activity being driven solely by existing participants,” Glassnode said.Daily Ethereum Transactions Hit All-Time HighNetwork usage has also exploded at the transaction level. According to Etherscan, Ethereum processed 2.8 million transactions in a single day, a new all-time high and a 125% increase year over year.Active addresses have more than doubled over the same period, rising from roughly 410,000 a year ago to over 1 million as of Jan. 15.Stablecoin Boom and Lower Fees Fuel GrowthMarket analysts attribute much of the surge to rapidly expanding stablecoin activity, combined with falling transaction fees as Ethereum continues shifting execution to layer-2 networks while maintaining secure settlement on layer 1.Macroeconomics outlet Milk Road said the trend highlights Ethereum’s long-term scalability strategy:“That’s the result of Ethereum pushing execution to L2s while keeping settlement secure on L1. That’s what scalable financial infrastructure actually looks like.”Analysts Turn Increasingly Bullish on ETHImproving on-chain fundamentals are boosting sentiment around Ethereum and its native token.Justin d’Anethan, head of research at Arctic Digital, said indicators that were previously oversold have flipped higher, supported by ETF inflows, stablecoin growth, and renewed institutional interest.Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research, added that Ethereum staking has climbed toward 36 million ETH, tightening circulating supply while usage accelerates.“These strong on-chain fundamentals position ETH for a potential breakout as liquidity tightens and scaling upgrades continue to lower gas fees,” Ruck said.ETH Price OutlookEther recently touched a two-month high near $3,400 before consolidating around $3,300, as traders digest the surge in network activity. Several analysts suggest the combination of rising usage, sustained ETF inflows, and improving sentiment could set the stage for a decisive breakout in the near term.As Glassnode’s data shows, Ethereum’s growth is no longer just about scale—it’s increasingly about retention, real financial activity, and new users sticking around, a mix that historically supports stronger long-term price performance.

Moldova is preparing to introduce its first comprehensive cryptocurrency law by the end of 2026, aligning its regulatory approach with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), according to the country’s finance minister.Speaking in an interview with state broadcaster TVR Moldova, Andrian Gavrilita said the government is actively working with domestic regulators to establish a legal framework that would allow citizens to hold and trade cryptocurrencies, while stopping short of recognizing digital assets as legal means of payment.“We have the responsibility to regulate them, and it will be the right of citizens to hold these currencies,” Gavrilita said. “You can’t prohibit cryptocurrencies — this is our engagement with the European Union.”MiCA Alignment Signals Moldova’s First Crypto LawThe proposed legislation would mark Moldova’s first formal crypto law, bringing the country closer to EU regulatory standards as it deepens cooperation with European Union institutions.The move follows the full rollout of MiCA, which came into force for crypto-asset service providers across the EU on Dec. 30, 2024, establishing the bloc’s first unified framework for crypto exchanges, custodians, stablecoins and token issuers.Under Moldova’s plan, the draft law will be developed jointly by:The Ministry of FinanceThe National Bank of MoldovaThe country’s financial markets regulatorMoldova’s Anti-Money Laundering authorityWhile crypto ownership and trading would be legalized, Gavrilita stressed that cryptocurrencies will not be approved for payments within the country.Government Warns Crypto Remains SpeculativeDespite the regulatory push, Gavrilita repeatedly cautioned against treating crypto as a conventional investment.“I avoid using the term investments when it comes to cryptocurrencies,” he said. “I see them more as a speculative domain.”Moldova’s central bank has previously issued multiple warnings about price volatility, fraud, and money laundering risks linked to digital assets — a position that appears consistent with the upcoming legislation’s cautious scope.Gavrilita added that Estonia’s crypto legislation serves as a reference point for Moldova, citing its relative simplicity and regulatory clarity.Broader European Regulatory ContextMoldova’s move comes as regulatory scrutiny intensifies across Europe, even under the MiCA framework. In late 2025, France joined Austria and Italy in urging the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to take direct supervisory control over major crypto firms.That push followed criticism of Malta’s crypto licensing regime, after ESMA concluded that the Malta Financial Services Authority only “partially met expectations” when approving certain crypto service providers.Moldova’s planned crypto law reflects a broader regional trend: legalizing crypto ownership and trading under strict EU-aligned oversight, while maintaining firm limits on payments and systemic risk. If implemented as planned, the legislation would formally bring Moldova into Europe’s regulated crypto landscape — cautiously embracing digital assets without endorsing them as money.

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken predicts a major market correction in 2026, with the focus shifting from price volatility to infrastructure development. Kraken Global Economist Thomas Perfumo points out that macroeconomic uncertainty, institutional fund flows, and an increasingly tightly integrated market structure are reshaping the Bitcoin cycle. Perfumo states that while Bitcoin remains a key indicator of risk sentiment, demand, liquidity, and risk channels have changed. Last year, US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs and digital asset finance companies contributed nearly $44 billion in net spot demand, but market performance fell short of expectations due to a large supply of tradable inventory from long-term holders. This year, regulatory developments in the US will reshape on-chain liquidity. Without a clear risk appetite backdrop, a slowdown in institutional instrument momentum and premium compression could limit Bitcoin's upside potential. (The Block)

Belarus has formally introduced a legal framework for so-called “cryptobanks,” integrating digital asset operations into the country’s regulated financial system under direct state oversight.On Friday, President Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 19, which sets out how cryptobanks may operate and the regulatory conditions required for market entry.What the Cryptobank Decree AllowsUnder the new rules, cryptobanks are defined as joint-stock companies permitted to combine:Token-based operationsTraditional banking servicesPayment processing and related financial servicesRather than creating a separate crypto sector, the decree embeds digital asset activity within Belarus’s existing financial supervision framework.To operate legally, cryptobanks must:Obtain resident status in Belarus’s Hi-Tech Park, a state-backed innovation hubBe registered in a dedicated cryptobank registry maintained by the National Bank of the Republic of BelarusDual Oversight ModelCryptobanks will be subject to dual regulation:Financial oversight under rules governing non-bank credit and financial institutionsTechnological and operational oversight by the Hi-Tech Park’s supervisory boardAccording to the government, this layered approach is designed to allow innovation while maintaining tight regulatory control. Cryptobanks will be able to offer hybrid products that blend conventional banking with token-based transaction efficiencies, but only through licensed, state-approved entities.Part of Belarus’s Controlled Crypto StrategyThe decree builds on Belarus’s gradual and highly managed approach to crypto adoption. In September 2025, Lukashenko called for “clear and transparent rules” for the crypto market, stressing the need for innovation paired with strong state control. He also urged domestic banks to explore crypto-based payments amid rising sanctions pressure and increased use of digital assets in cross-border transactions.At the same time, authorities have continued to clamp down on unregulated activity. In December 2025, Belarus blocked access to several offshore crypto exchanges, citing advertising violations and signaling a broader effort to eliminate the crypto gray market.Big PictureWith Decree No. 19, Belarus is positioning itself as a state-controlled crypto and financial IT hub, allowing digital assets to operate only within clearly defined legal and institutional boundaries. The move underscores a model where crypto innovation is permitted—but strictly under centralized oversight and existing financial infrastructure.

On January 15, HTX DAO announced that the burning of $HTX tokens in the fourth quarter of 2025 has been successfully completed.

Bitcoin broke through $97,000 this week, surpassing a key resistance level that had held for nearly two months. While it had previously lagged behind the stock market and precious metals, it finally broke through the $95,000 level that had been limiting its gains since November. As potential further devaluation of the US fiat currency pushes up precious metal prices, Bitcoin's low price relative to precious metals may stimulate a rotation of funds into digital assets, and market sentiment has turned "greedy." On the regulatory front, the US Senate Banking Committee delayed its revisions to the crypto market structure bill, and Coinbase withdrew its support for the bill, which could have some impact on the crypto market. (CoinDesk)

Iran’s cryptocurrency ecosystem has quietly grown into a multi-billion-dollar market, and it’s now closely tied to the country’s worsening political and economic instability. Specifically, new analysis from blockchain and cryptocurrency monitoring platform Chainalysis, published on January 15, reveals that Iran’s crypto economy surpassed $7. com source: https://www.techgaged.com/irans-crypto-activity-surges-during-protests-heres-why/

Cryptocurrencies are rising from a “financial instrument” to a “geopolitical instrument,” becoming a new medium connecting national strategies with the global economy.

Cathie Wood, head of ARK Invest, asserts that technological deflation and a productivity boom will drive a V-shaped rebound in the U.S. economy in 2026.

Chainalysis says Bitcoin has become a financial lifeline — and a tool of resistance — amid currency collapse, internet shutdowns and growing state pressure.

A Utah man, Brian Garry Sewell, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for defrauding investors of nearly $3 million and running an unlicensed cash-to-crypto business. He was also ordered to pay over $3.8 million in restitution to victims and the Department of Homeland Security.

On January 14, the CLARITY Act, a bill aimed at regulating the U.S. cryptocurrency market, will face a crucial vote in the Senate Banking Committee.

Ultimately, the way to harness AI is not to keep up with the pace of AI tool iterations.

The co-founder and CEO of Yellow Card, how he decided to create Yellow Card, how it survived the cryptocurrency ban in Nigeria, and a summary of its development experience.

State Senator Chris Rose has introduced new legislation that would authorize the state treasury to invest directly in Bitcoin, approved stablecoins, and precious metals, framing digital assets as a potential shield against inflation and monetary instability.

Most foreign cryptocurrency exchange apps will be blocked from South Korea’s Google Play Store from 28 January because they are not registered with local authorities. Korean users can still access these platforms via web browsers or APK downloads, but this creates higher security risks and may shift trading towards domestic exchanges.