Machi Big Brother reopened a $34 million leveraged Ethereum long on Hyperliquid with less than $2 million in collateral, and the trade quickly moved into a loss.

XRP surged more than 12% on Monday, climbing to its highest level since mid-November and leading a broader crypto market rebound as ETF inflows, technical breakouts, and aggressive short covering combined to fuel bullish momentum.

In a clear show of political backing, the country’s finance minister has called for digital assets to be woven directly into Japan’s stock and commodity exchanges, positioning 2026 as a decisive “digital year” for capital-markets reform.

Japan is moving forward with a major overhaul of its crypto taxation framework, proposing a flat 20% tax on profits from digital assets under its 2026 tax reform plan. While this marks a significant reduction from the current 55% rate, the new policy currently applies only to a limited set of “specified” crypto assets, leaving many to wonder what that means.

Hong Kong’s insurance regulator plans to allow insurers to hold cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, with strict capital rules. The proposal also offers incentives for insurers investing in local infrastructure projects.

Japan’s central bank is starting to sell over $500 billion in ETFs very slowly to avoid upsetting markets. The move is part of a long-term plan to reduce intervention and manage risk as the economy and stock market recover.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) rebound toward $91,000 marks a decisive recovery from its recent dip to the $82,000 zone, with macro tailwinds — chiefly expectations of an imminent Federal Reserve rate cut — re-energizing market sentiment.

Grayscale is launching Dogecoin and XRP ETFs on the NYSE, allowing mainstream investors to trade the tokens directly. The launches come as trading volumes rise and the market for altcoin ETFs becomes increasingly crowded.

XRP fell about 7% after the first U.S. spot XRP ETF launched, even as trading volumes and retail interest surged. At the same time, institutional holders trimmed positions, signalling cautious behaviour ahead of larger ETF launches from Franklin Templeton and Bitwise.

XRP is entering one of its most pivotal weeks of the year, positioned at the intersection of tightening technical levels and intensifying ETF speculation. After a series of market shocks, Ripple’s native token now sits at a moment where traders believe the next decisive move is imminent—either a breakout that reshapes momentum or a breakdown that sends XRP back into deeper consolidation.