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Former U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his own coin, which is set to take place on Wednesday. While some people speculated that it might be a cryptocurrency, Trump’s project is more of a traditional product than a digital asset.

 
New Coin to Support Presidential Campaign
Donald Trump, who is running for the presidency of the United States again, announced the launch of a new coin to raise funds for his election campaign. The project, titled "Silver Medallion First Edition President Trump," aims to distribute physical silver to Americans who support his political vision and want to see him back in office. Although many of his supporters expected Trump to release a cryptocurrency, this new coin is something entirely different.
 Launch of Limited Edition Coin
Trump announced that the coin will be sold for $100 each through the website RealTrumpCoins.com. The coin will be made of 99.9% pure silver and will only be available in a limited edition. One side of the coin will feature Donald Trump’s likeness, while the other side will display the White House accompanied by the phrase "In God We Trust."
 This coin is expected to be one of several activities that Trump undertakes to secure the necessary funding for his campaign ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in the U.S. The coin comes at a time when Trump is actively seeking new ways to bolster his campaign and ensure he has the resources he needs. He stated that this silver coin is the "ONLY OFFICIAL coin" he has designed and that was minted in the U.S. under his leadership.
 Cryptocurrency Expectations Unfulfilled
In recent months, several meme coins featuring themes related to Donald Trump have appeared in the market, capitalizing on his popularity. However, Trump has distanced himself from these unofficial tokens and emphasized during the introduction of his silver coin that:
"I’ve seen a lot of coins using my beautiful face, but they’re not official. RealTrumpCoin.com is the only place to purchase the official Trump coin."
 At first glance, Trump’s announcement of a new official coin might seem related to cryptocurrency, as many of his fans have been expecting him to introduce a digital asset. For instance, last week, 84% of bettors on the Polymarket platform believed that Trump would come out with his own cryptocurrency. This anticipation was fueled by the launch of the World Liberty Financial project, which was speculated to potentially include an official Trump cryptocurrency.
 World Liberty Financial and the True Purpose of the Coin
The World Liberty Financial project does contain a token called WLFI, but this token lacks the key characteristics of a classic cryptocurrency as many had envisioned. Although WLFI has been presented as a type of digital asset, it is not the classic cryptocurrency that Trump fans hoped for. While speculation continues regarding whether Trump will eventually come up with his own cryptocurrency project, the silver coin remains his current official product and focuses more on traditional investment in precious metals.
Thus, Trump continues to favor physical, tangible assets rather than joining the wave of digital assets that currently dominate the financial world.
Trump's fondness for cryptocurrencies.
Donald Trump also commented on the Fatty token before the presidential campaign. #Fatty caught Trump's attention because one of the characters in the game mimics Donald Trump, and they are also counting on Don's participation in their new video clip. The first episode featured UFC Champion Jiří Procházka and world-famous beauty contest winners. Fatty.io is still in presale, and it is expected to be one of the best launches of this period.
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

The DeFi project World Liberty Financial (WLFI), linked to the family of US President Donald Trump, has once again drawn market attention following notable on-chain activity and a strong price move. Recent blockchain data indicate that the project reallocated part of its Bitcoin exposure into Ethereum at a time when the WLFI token was experiencing renewed bullish momentum.

WLFI Sees Price Surge Amid Rising Market Activity
Over recent days, the WLFI token recorded a sharp rally, climbing by more than 20% as market volatility increased. The price movement coincided with heightened geopolitical tensions, which appeared to fuel speculative interest across risk assets, including politically connected crypto projects.
At the time of writing, WLFI is trading around $0.17, reflecting a solid recovery from recent lows. Trading volume has increased alongside the price move, suggesting growing investor engagement and renewed optimism toward the token’s short-term outlook.

WLFI Rotates Bitcoin Exposure Into Ethereum
On-chain analysis shows that World Liberty Financial converted a portion of its Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) holdings into Ethereum (ETH). Wallets believed to be associated with the project withdrew a significant amount of WBTC from decentralized lending protocols before swapping part of those holdings into ETH.
In total, WBTC worth approximately $1.3 million was exchanged for Ethereum, signaling a deliberate shift in the project’s treasury allocation. The move suggests that WLFI’s team may be positioning itself for stronger relative performance in Ethereum compared to Bitcoin in the near term, while also increasing exposure to the broader DeFi ecosystem built on Ethereum.

A Politically Connected DeFi Experiment
World Liberty Financial operates at the intersection of decentralized finance and high-profile political branding. Launched in 2024, the project is associated with Donald Trump and his family, making it one of the most closely watched politically linked crypto initiatives on the market.
The WLFI token serves as the core asset of the platform, with a large total supply and a significant portion reportedly held by entities connected to the project’s leadership. In addition to WLFI, the ecosystem has previously announced plans involving stablecoin issuance and broader DeFi infrastructure development.

Market Watches Volatility and Strategic Shifts
While the recent price surge has boosted short-term sentiment, WLFI remains a high-volatility asset. Technical indicators suggest that sharp upward moves could be followed by periods of consolidation or pullbacks, especially given the speculative nature of the token and its sensitivity to news-driven catalysts.
At the same time, the decision to rotate capital from Bitcoin into Ethereum highlights an active treasury management approach, rather than a passive hold strategy. The market now closely watches whether this shift will pay off if Ethereum begins to outperform Bitcoin in the coming weeks.

Outlook: Momentum Meets Uncertainty
WLFI’s recent rally, combined with strategic on-chain movements, underscores how politically connected crypto projects can rapidly attract capital during periods of heightened market attention. Whether the momentum can be sustained will likely depend on broader crypto market conditions, Ethereum’s performance, and continued investor confidence in the project’s long-term vision.
For now, World Liberty Financial remains firmly on traders’ radar as both a speculative opportunity and a symbol of the growing intersection between politics and decentralized finance.

#TRUMP , #WLFI , #CryptoNews , #defi , #cryptotrading

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Prominent crypto trader James Wynn has once again drawn market attention with his latest trades. As Bitcoin’s price remains above the psychological $90,000 level, Wynn decided to close his BTC long position and secure a substantial profit. At the same time, he opened a new Ethereum long position with 25x leverage, signaling a short-term strategic shift.

Moving From Bitcoin to Ethereum Is Not a Bearish Signal
According to data shared by the analytics account Onchain Lens on X, James Wynn closed his Bitcoin long position in a single transaction. He sold approximately 87.67 BTC at an average price of $92,765, resulting in a realized profit of roughly $43,790 after fees.
This move came as Bitcoin faced resistance around the $90,000 zone. Wynn effectively capitalized on the recent price rally and locked in gains ahead of any potential market pullback.
Only recently, he had been holding a much larger position—a long of 124.18 BTC with 40x leverage, valued at around $11.5 million. The average entry price was near $91,332. As such, closing the position should not be interpreted as a loss of confidence in Bitcoin, but rather as a textbook example of capital rotation and risk management.

Ethereum and Meme Coins Move Into the Spotlight
Following the closure of his Bitcoin position, Wynn immediately redirected capital into Ethereum, opening a 25x leveraged long. This decision suggests his belief that ETH could deliver stronger short-term performance compared to Bitcoin. Ethereum is currently trading around $3,254, placing it in a technically sensitive zone that could determine its next major move.
Notably, Wynn has also maintained exposure to higher-risk assets. Reports indicate that he holds long positions in the meme coin PEPE with 10x leverage, currently showing an unrealized profit of approximately $172,000.

Markets Watch Wynn’s Next Moves Closely
The shift from Bitcoin into Ethereum, alongside continued exposure to meme coins, has captured the attention of traders and investors alike. Wynn’s actions are widely viewed as a calculated strategy rather than a reaction to market weakness. At the same time, they are fueling renewed optimism toward altcoins and speculative tokens, which are once again gaining momentum.
The key question now is whether Ethereum will outperform Bitcoin in the coming weeks, or if capital rotation will eventually swing back toward BTC.

#JamesWynn , #BTC , #ETH , #cryptotrading , #CryptoAdoption

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

The Community Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association (ACBA) has warned that a significant flaw exists in the recently approved GENIUS Act, one that could threaten the stability of the US financial system. According to the council, the legislation in its current form allows stablecoin issuers to indirectly fund payments to stablecoin holders through cryptocurrency exchanges, effectively bypassing the law’s formal ban on interest payments.
In a letter sent to the US Senate, council members cautioned that the law, passed last year, could gradually drain deposits from local banks. This would disproportionately harm small businesses and households that rely heavily on community banks. The original intent of banning interest or yield payments on stablecoins was to prevent these digital assets from competing directly with traditional bank savings accounts. However, bankers argue that the legislation has created a pathway to circumvent that restriction.

Impact on lending: fewer loans and higher costs
Community banks also warned that leaving this loophole unaddressed could weaken the lending capacity of local financial institutions. The Bank Policy Institute noted in August that the result would likely be an increased risk of deposit flight, particularly during times of financial stress. A reduction in bank lending could translate into higher interest rates, fewer available loans, and increased costs for businesses and consumers.
The banking community acknowledged that stablecoin legislation is not perfect from the perspective of community banks, but said it represents a legitimate effort to regulate the stablecoin market. Nevertheless, the council argues that the bill’s restrictions on interest payments distort competition between emerging payment instruments and traditional bank deposits, while also disrupting community-based lending.

Trillions of dollars in deposits at risk
The American Bankers Association (ABA) warned that removing restrictions on interest payments could encourage consumers to move all of their funds into stablecoins. The US Treasury Department has estimated that approximately $6.6 trillion in bank deposits could be at risk due to the interest payment limitations embedded in the legislation.
Paul Grewal, chief legal officer of Coinbase, strongly rejected the banks’ claims. He stated that this was not a loophole but a deliberate policy choice, emphasizing that 376 Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate—as well as the president—had rejected attempts to avoid competition in the payments market and urged policymakers to move on.

Stablecoins are not banks, community lenders argue
More than 200 community bank executives believe that certain companies have already exploited the alleged loophole and could disrupt the entire community lending sector. The council stressed that digital asset exchanges and stablecoin issuers are not designed to fill credit gaps and are unable to offer products insured by the FDIC.
Despite this, several digital asset platforms, including Coinbase and Kraken, already offer rewards to stablecoin holders. The banking industry is therefore pushing for legislation governing the crypto market to explicitly prohibit stablecoin issuers from providing interest-based returns.
At the same time, opposing views have emerged. The Crypto Innovation Council and the Blockchain Association told the Senate Banking Committee that stablecoin payments are not intended to fund lending activities and that revising the stablecoin law could suppress innovation and limit consumer choice.

Illicit risks remain despite the GENIUS Act
The Bank Policy Institute also warned that illicit actors still have opportunities to exploit digital assets and the US financial system despite the GENIUS Act. According to the institute, bad actors could continue using unhosted or foreign-hosted wallets to evade detection while accessing the US financial infrastructure.

FDIC approves application framework under the GENIUS Act
The FDIC approved an implementation framework for the GENIUS Act on December 16. The agency confirmed that the legislation allows regulated financial institutions to issue stablecoin-based payment instruments through subsidiaries and to conduct related activities.
The FDIC further stated that any US bank seeking to issue stablecoin payments via a subsidiary must apply for regulatory approval as a legitimate stablecoin issuer. The agency is required under the law to accept and review applications and to issue implementing rules governing the application process.

#GENIUSAct , #Stablecoins , #usbanking , #DigitalAssets , #CryptoRegulation

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

India is walking a diplomatic tightrope — continuing to purchase discounted Russian oil while at the same time urging Washington to eliminate a 25% tariff that currently applies to Indian exports.
And despite quietly telling U.S. officials that its intake of Russian crude has decreased, both efforts are playing out in parallel.

India Pushes Washington for Tariff Relief
The request reached the White House through political channels.

On Sunday, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham revealed that India’s ambassador, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, approached him directly and asked that he communicate New Delhi’s position to President Donald Trump.
According to Graham, Kwatra said India has reduced its Russian oil imports and hopes Washington will reciprocate by lifting the 25% tariff. Trump remains the sitting president in 2025.
Meanwhile, oil markets reacted modestly:
WTI slid 1.37% to $56.35Brent dropped 1% to $60.09

(CNBC data)
State-Owned Refiners Are Still Buying Russian Crude
Although total Russian crude imports into India dipped in December, analysts say the decline came primarily from Reliance Industries, owned by Mukesh Ambani. Reliance sharply reduced purchases after U.S. sanctions hit Lukoil and Rosneft in late November.
But state-owned refiners filled much of the gap, including:
Indian Oil CorporationBharat Petroleum
According to Muyu Xu, senior crude analyst at Kpler, these refiners continued securing Russian shipments for future delivery through suppliers unaffected by sanctions.
She emphasized that the buying did not stop — it merely shifted.
Imports Dip, but Not Dramatically
Pankaj Srivastava of Rystad Energy said the overall decline masks stable demand from state refiners.
Key figures:
Imports are down ~300,000 barrels/day since NovemberCurrent intake: 1.7 million barrels/dayExpected rebound: 1.8 million barrels/day in January
Kpler’s December data showed a sharper drop:
Down 595,000 barrels/dayTotal: 1.24 million barrels/day, the lowest since December 2022
Despite lower numbers, India remains one of Russia’s largest and most dependable oil buyers.

Russia Expands Its Shadow Fleet as Sanctions Tighten
As pressure increases, Russia is strengthening protection around its global oil shipments.
A report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that Russia deployed a submarine and naval escorts to safeguard an oil tanker near Venezuela — turning the situation into a new geopolitical flashpoint.
President Trump has announced that U.S. oil giants will invest billions into Venezuela’s energy sector following Nicolás Maduro’s removal from power.
Expected participants:
ChevronConocoPhillipsExxonMobil
Trump said these firms would be reimbursed by the U.S. or compensated through future revenue streams.

Shadow Fleet Behavior Accelerates
According to Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List, shadow fleet tankers are rapidly reflagging to Russia.

He said 17 vessels recently switched from fraudulent flags to the Russian flag — and the pace is accelerating.
The Case of the Bella 1
Stopped by the U.S. on December 20 en route to VenezuelaWas sailing under a fake Guyana flagRenamed MarineraReflagged to Russia on December 31Later departed the CaribbeanNow tracked near Iceland, heading toward Russia
Meade said Venezuela’s instability is forcing Russia to absorb and manage more of these off-grid vessels, forming a long-term structure under Moscow’s oversight.
More Than 12% of the Global Tanker Fleet Now in the “Shadow Fleet”
Lloyd’s List estimates:
Over 40 ships joined the Russian registry since JuneMore than 12% of all international tankers operate in this semi-clandestine ecosystemSome ships still remain near Venezuelan terminals, including The Premier

#India , #russia , #oil , #Geopolitics , #worldnews

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CNBC has declared XRP the most important crypto trade of 2026. In a recent broadcast, CNBC’s financial and tech reporter MacKenzie Sigalos emphasized that XRP surged over 20% in just one week, becoming the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, surpassing even BNB.

XRP Grows Despite Market Downturn
According to Sigalos, XRP’s rise is no fluke. She noted the asset has been quietly outperforming the broader market for months. While other cryptocurrencies experienced volatility and drops, XRP held steady.
The rise is attributed to three key factors:
Regulatory clarity, especially after Ripple’s legal victory over the SEC in August 2025Lower market saturation compared to Bitcoin and EthereumConsistent inflows into XRP-focused funds, even during Q4 declines
Focus on Banks and Global Payments
Unlike its main competitors, XRP positions itself differently. While Bitcoin is seen as "digital gold" and stablecoins are linked to tokenized dollars, XRP is designed to facilitate cross-border payments and currency settlements.
“XRP acts as a bridge between currencies, moving value quickly and efficiently,” Sigalos explained. This practical use case is drawing in new investors looking for alternatives outside BTC and ETH volatility.

Solana Joins XRP at the Top
The report also highlighted growing interest in Solana, particularly for its role in tokenizing assets. Solana is becoming a key platform not just for stablecoins but also for tokenized money market funds.
This trend was reinforced by the news that Morgan Stanley filed an application to launch Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, making it the first bank to expand spot ETF offerings beyond Bitcoin.

Speed and Fees Are Key Drivers
The CNBC panel discussed how transaction speed and low costs are becoming major factors shaping the future of crypto networks. Coinbase’s Base network was mentioned, where some stablecoin transfers are currently free of charge.
Other fast networks like Tron and Solana were also cited as providing quicker and cheaper alternatives compared to Ethereum—at least at certain times.

From Exchanges to Tokenized Assets
MacKenzie noted that platforms like Coinbase are evolving beyond mere exchange services. She mentioned Brian Armstrong’s push to diversify Coinbase into sectors such as tokenized equities. This strategic pivot has contributed to a more favorable outlook from investment banks like Goldman Sachs.

Summary:
2026 shows that XRP is no longer just a legacy altcoin — it is reasserting itself as a major force in global finance. With a focus on cross-border payments, strong fund inflows, and regulatory clarity, XRP is regaining the spotlight while Bitcoin and Ethereum face new structural challenges and rising competition.

#xrp , #Altcoin , #Ripple , #solana , #CryptoNews

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The U.S. Senate is preparing for a crucial debate on the CLARITY Act — a long-anticipated bill designed to bring clear regulatory guidelines to the digital assets market. While many industry leaders are hopeful about a breakthrough, others warn that partisan disagreements could delay or even derail the proposal.

Disagreements and Uncertainty Surround the Final Version
Alex Thorn of Galaxy Digital noted on X (formerly Twitter) that despite Republican efforts to bring the bill before the Senate Banking Committee on January 15, many issues remain unresolved. According to Thorn, Democrats are pushing for several amendments, including:
🔹 Mandatory compliance with sanctions for DeFi front-ends

🔹 Expanded powers for the Treasury's OFAC office to combat illicit activity

🔹 Clear rules around stablecoin yield management

🔹 Ethical safeguards and conflict-of-interest protections for regulators
Thorn expressed doubts about whether both sides can find common ground in time.

Senate Committee Readies for a Vote
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott confirmed that an official vote on the CLARITY Act is imminent. According to Scott, members of the committee have spent the past several months working through multiple versions of the bill and are now ready to take action.

Crypto Community Remains Divided
Despite the upcoming Senate session and Scott’s optimistic remarks, the crypto community remains divided over the bill’s future. Scott Johnsson of Van Buren Capital emphasized that a bill without genuine bipartisan support is unlikely to succeed:

"With the primaries starting in March, each day of delay increases the risk of a flawed bill. Forcing it through post-election would be a strategic misstep."
Salman Banaei, chief legal officer at Plume, echoed those concerns, warning that if the current proposal represents the Republicans’ "final offer" to Democrats, bipartisan backing is unlikely:

"The outlook for bipartisan passage doesn't look promising."

Some Still Hold Hope
On the more hopeful side, Gabriel Shapiro, founder of MetaLex, believes the U.S. will soon see a well-defined market structure for crypto. While he acknowledges the path forward won’t be easy, he sees the CLARITY Act as a real opportunity to align policy and innovation.

#CLARITYAct , #Stablecoins , #DigitalAssets , #defi , #Web3

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In a significant victory for consumer protection, the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (BCCP) has announced a consent agreement with Bitcoin Depot, one of the largest operators of cryptocurrency ATMs. Under the agreement, the company will pay $1.9 million to residents of Maine who lost money in scams involving its crypto kiosks.

Compensation for Losses Caused by Scammers
The settlement funds will be distributed exclusively to Maine residents who lost money between 2022 and 2025 due to scams linked to Bitcoin Depot kiosks. Most cases involved users depositing cash into a Bitcoin Depot ATM, converting it to cryptocurrency, and sending it to an “unhosted wallet” controlled by a fraudster.
These wallets are not managed by any bank, exchange, or financial service provider – they are entirely user-controlled, making them ideal for anonymous criminal activity.

Agreement Follows Two-Year Investigation
The deal comes after a two-year investigation conducted by BCCP and the Maine Attorney General’s office. As part of the settlement, Bitcoin Depot has also been granted a money transmitter license, allowing it to legally operate in the state – although Maine does not currently appear among the company’s active service locations.

Only Specific Victims Are Eligible
To qualify for compensation, individuals must:
🔹 Have been scammed by a third party using a Bitcoin Depot kiosk in Maine

🔹 Have been residents of Maine between 2022 and 2025

🔹 Have used the kiosk to convert cash to cryptocurrency

🔹 Have sent the cryptocurrency to an unhosted wallet controlled by the scammer
The deadline to file claims is April 1, 2026. Valid claims are expected to be processed and refunded during May.
The Bureau noted that the exact refund amounts are not yet known, as it remains unclear how many residents were affected and how much each individual lost.

Governor Praises the Outcome
Governor Janet Mills praised BCCP for securing the settlement, stating that the agreement will “put money back into the pockets of Maine people who were defrauded by cruel and sophisticated third-party scammers.”
She also urged residents to educate their loved ones about fraud tactics and emphasized the importance of prevention.
In response to the rising number of financial scams, Maine has introduced several laws in recent years, including the Money Transmission Modernization Act and “An Act to Regulate Virtual Currency Kiosks”, which limits daily transfers, caps fees and exchange rates, and strengthens consumer redress.

New Rules for Digital Wallets
A crucial part of the legislation is the unhosted wallet provision, which requires crypto ATM operators to implement technologies that ensure the customer is the rightful owner of the wallet. This is aimed at stopping scammers from controlling victims’ wallets.
BCCP Superintendent Linda Conti hailed the new laws as the legal foundation that made the consent agreement possible.

#BTC , #ATM , #bitcoin , #CryptoNews , #Cryptoscam

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A surprising new twist is emerging in global finance: an ETF fund exclusively focused on Venezuela. Following major political upheaval — including a secret US operation to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power — the American investment firm Teucrium has taken a bold step by filing for an ETF called “Venezuela Exposure” with the SEC.
This move comes as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become one of the most powerful investment tools today, managing $13.6 trillion in assets across nearly 5,000 products. Venezuela could now become the next hot destination on the global capital map — a development the world has yet to see.

What Exactly Will the ETF Track?
The proposed ETF would follow an index consisting of companies that either:
🔹 Generate more than 50% of their revenue from Venezuela, or

🔹 Hold most of their assets within the country
So it's not just about local Venezuelan stocks — the fund could include global companies deeply tied to the Venezuelan economy.

Politics as the Market Catalyst
The ETF filing comes just days after a shocking U.S.-backed political operation that removed Maduro from power. Caracas' stock exchange surged by 16.45%, reflecting a sharp uptick in investor confidence — and possibly the beginning of a new chapter for the Venezuelan market.
Eric Balchunas, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, acknowledges the extreme risks and lack of liquidity in Venezuela but also points out that this is a rare opportunity:
“This is an opportunistic move by the ETF industry trying to capitalize on the moment.”

Debt, Restructuring, and Speculation
The de-politicization of Venezuela has also triggered a rally in the country’s sovereign bonds, which have been in default for nearly eight years. Investors are now speculating that long-delayed debt restructuring talks may finally begin. According to Jim Craige of Stone Harbor Investment Partners:
“Defaulted bonds are trading at 35 cents on the dollar, but their recovery value could be 1.5x to 2x that.”
His fund has been steadily increasing its holdings in Venezuelan bonds and expects a major turnaround in the next 18–24 months.

Untapped Markets Attract the Brave
Even though liquidity and transparency remain scarce, ETFs targeting exotic or frontier markets often find their niche — especially among bold investors chasing high returns outside traditional asset classes.
Todd Sohn from Strategas Research puts it simply:
“Sometimes, one political shift creates a whole new investment theme. That’s exactly what’s happening here.”

What’s Next?
Whether the Venezuela Exposure ETF gets approved is still unclear. But one thing is certain — after years of isolation, sanctions, and economic collapse, Venezuela could become the hottest investment trend of the year.

#venezuela , #ETFs , #SEC , #worldnews , #liquidity

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The United States may face a significant legal and financial setback: if the Supreme Court rules that tariffs imposed during the Trump administration were unlawful, the federal government could be forced to refund more than $133.5 billion to businesses and importers, according to the latest data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

🔹 Trump’s Trade War Faces Legal Judgment
The Trump administration imposed sweeping tariffs in 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) — a 1977 law originally intended for responding to national emergencies. Trump used it as justification for broad tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, Canada, and later introduced so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on a wide range of goods from multiple countries.
Now the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of these tariffs. If the justices find them unconstitutional, it could open the door to a flood of compensation claims.

🔹 Refunds Uncertain, but Looming
The court’s decision is expected in the coming weeks. If it rules against Trump’s use of the IEEPA, the government may have to compensate those who paid these duties. However, the Court will not define how the refund process should proceed — it will leave that to lower courts or federal agencies, which means that actual repayments could take years to materialize.
Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are already pricing in the outcome: the probability that the Court will uphold Trump’s tariffs has dropped to below 30% following oral arguments in November.

🔹 Wide-Reaching Tariffs: From India to Brazil
Trump’s tariffs were expansive. For example:
As of April 5, 2025, duties between 10%–50% were applied to imports from dozens of countriesOn August 6, an additional 40% punitive tariff was imposed on Brazilian goodsIndian products were hit with a 25% penalty tariff starting August 27
While Trump claimed the measures protected American interests, legal experts argue that invoking an emergency law for long-term trade policy is unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional.

🔹 Disputed Figures: Trump Says $600B, Treasury Says $195B
Trump recently claimed that tariffs had brought in or would soon bring in $600 billion. But Treasury Department figures tell a different story: during fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30, the U.S. collected a record $195 billion in tariffs. Since then, monthly tariff collections have hovered around $30 billion — far below Trump’s projection.
If the Court deems the tariffs illegal, it would be a major blow to Trump's legacy and the federal budget.

🔹 A Test of Presidential Power
Analysts say this case goes far beyond trade — it tests the limits of executive authority. Can a president impose long-term economic measures using emergency powers designed for national crises? Or should Congress have tighter control over such decisions?
The ruling could reshape how the U.S. uses emergency laws and redefines the balance of power between the presidency and legislative oversight.

Summary:
The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing whether Trump-era tariffs violated the law. A ruling against the tariffs could cost the government more than $133 billion. The decision — expected soon — could reshape U.S. trade policy and presidential powers.

#TRUMP , #TradeWar , #USPolitics , #GlobalTrade , #worldnews

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We retail investors love a good show — and right now, nothing is more explosive than the upcoming market clash between Sam Altman’s OpenAI and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
One promises to sell artificial intelligence to every business with a laptop.

The other wants to beam internet from space while building a bus to Mars.
But if you’re choosing who will truly dominate the stock market, the frontrunner is clear: OpenAI. At least, that’s the view of the author — and many analysts agree. Sam Altman, despite his flaws, has cleaner books, clearer revenue models, and a far more professional machine behind him.
Elon, meanwhile — charming as he may be — is still burning through mountains of cash to fund rockets, satellites, and Star Wars–style dreams.
And unlike Musk, Sam doesn’t miss deadlines quite so often.
We are on the verge of witnessing three of the biggest tech IPOs in history as OpenAI, SpaceX, and Anthropic race to pull in as much capital as possible from a market still intoxicated by the AI boom. Sure, many people still like Elon… but the fatigue is real.
People want results. They want a plan. They want a CEO who isn’t firing off thousands of controversial tweets in his mid-50s, calling for the dissolution of the EU or — astonishingly — advocating war crimes.

Elon’s rocket math no longer works for retail investors
Musk keeps distracting the audience with shiny objects and online drama, but Tesla shares are down year-over-year, the financials are underwhelming, and investors are beginning to treat him like a friend who never pays you back.
This is the same Musk who attended a dinner with President Trump to celebrate the illegal capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro — and then publicly called him an alleged pedophile in a now-infamous deleted tweet. His political extremism helped push Tesla off its throne as the world’s largest EV maker in 2025, and sales have fallen sharply across global markets.
Trump even claimed Musk is “addicted to fentanyl and almost never sober.”
Meanwhile, OpenAI is quiet on the outside but ruthless on the inside. Altman is winning lawsuits, staying focused, and chasing enterprise contracts. The legal fight between him and Musk over OpenAI’s origins continues in San Francisco — and Sam showed up heavily armed. His legal firepower? Morrison & Foerster and Wachtell Lipton.
Musk’s legal bench? Small boutique firms — plus one guy who moonlights as a clown, Jaymie Parkkinen. “None of my comedy friends believe I’m a lawyer,” Parkkinen admitted. That’s not a metaphor. It is written in court transcripts.

OpenAI is already making money — real money
This is where the gap becomes obvious.
ChatGPT is not just a cool product — it’s a full-fledged enterprise engine. Microsoft invested billions. Companies pay subscriptions. Every API call means revenue. Yes, compute costs are high, but demand is higher.
Once OpenAI hits the stock market, it will roar.
Even Jim Cramer weighed in:

“The biggest winner from limiting power-gating could be META,” he said, “because it can cut costs — and OpenAI won’t be able to build its expensive infrastructure: not enough workers, not enough equipment.”
Maybe. But once OpenAI opens the floodgates of public capital, everything changes — fast.

Retail investors prefer banks over chaos
OpenAI reached a valuation of $500 billion in October and now aims to double it through a $1 trillion IPO. Wall Street loves anything that produces predictable cash flow — especially one that doesn’t need government subsidies, NASA babysitting, or a launch pad.
SpaceX, meanwhile, sold shares last December at an $800 billion valuation, and Musk insists he will list the company in Q4 2026. But every Musk timeline feels the same: loud, self-confident — and utterly unreliable.
Starship is still delayed.

Starlink has become a strange hybrid of telecom service and satellite monopoly.

Yes, it might one day produce consistent revenue — but right now it’s burning cash in orbit with no clear business model.

IPO analysts are calling this a market-shifting moment
Samuel Kerr of Mergermarket says this wave of IPOs could reshape how tech companies raise capital. For years, firms stayed private to shield intellectual property from reporting requirements. Now, the AI arms race demands money — billions of dollars. Staying private simply doesn’t work when you need 100,000 GPUs.
That’s why these IPOs are happening.
JPMorgan’s Matthieu Wiltz confirms a “strong demand environment,” with deal value up 47% despite global tariffs and wars. “There is excess liquidity,” he told Bloomberg. “We even decline deals when we think there are no covenants.”
But when structure exists — JPMorgan is ready.

And OpenAI has structure.

SpaceX valuations? Mostly hype
Kerr floated the idea of SpaceX hitting a $1.5 trillion valuation. But it’s just speculation. Retail investors have been burned before. They remember promises. They remember earnings calls. And yes — they remember the crashes.
Generation Z investors prefer Sam over Elon. Nobody makes TikToks about Starship engines.

But everyone uses ChatGPT.

Final verdict: The winner seems obvious
While Musk is juggling politics, scandals, legal chaos, and multi-billion-dollar hardware challenges, Sam Altman is staying laser-focused:
predictable revenue,massive global user base,enterprise adoption,deep-pocketed partners,and a product already embedded into daily life.
OpenAI looks like the next great stock-market titan.

SpaceX looks… visionary, expensive, and chronically late.
And investors — especially younger ones — are casting their votes with their wallets.
The real battle of Silicon Valley has begun. And Sam Altman is currently leading.

#ElonMusk , #SpaceX , #SamAltman , #OpenAI , #AI

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Shiba Inu (SHIB) is once again under mounting downward pressure after fresh on-chain data revealed a massive surge in tokens flowing onto exchanges. Over the past 24 hours, approximately 324 billion SHIB were deposited on centralized trading platforms, reinforcing fears that sellers are tightening their grip on the short-term market structure.

SHIB flows to exchanges accelerate as bulls lose momentum
Even though SHIB attempted a brief price recovery, token flows tell a very different story. The most notable indicator is the rise in exchange reserves, a classic sign that holders are positioning tokens for sale rather than long-term storage.
Current data also confirms a positive net exchange flow, meaning more SHIB is entering exchanges than leaving. Historically, this pattern aligns with increased selling pressure and the potential for a downward move.

More transactions don’t mean more buyers
While both transaction counts and active addresses have increased, this isn’t necessarily bullish. In situations like this, activity often rises because traders are closing positions, not opening fresh long positions.
The sharp increase in exchange flows typically indicates position rotation and risk reduction. Many traders appear to be using short-term price strength to take profits, rather than to accumulate new holdings.

Technical structure remains weak despite attempts to rebound
SHIB recently attempted to bounce from key moving averages but was unable to hold above them. Every upward move has quickly been met with heavy sell-side pressure.
This shows buyers currently lack the strength to absorb the incoming supply.
Another red flag is velocity — the speed at which tokens move across the network. Elevated velocity, when combined with strong exchange inflows, usually signals speculative activity, not steady demand.

What needs to happen for SHIB to recover?
If exchange inflows continue to rise, the market remains vulnerable to further declines. For sentiment to improve, SHIB would need to see:
a sharp slowdown in exchange deposits,a consistent increase in withdrawals,clear signs that holders are moving SHIB into storage, reducing immediate sell pressure.
But as long as distribution dominates, the risk of continued downside remains high — simply because supply is growing faster than demand.

#SHIB , #Shibarium , #memecoin , #Shibalnu , #CryptoNews

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Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran has reignited the debate over the central bank’s monetary policy outlook. In a new public statement, Miran argued that the Fed should cut interest rates by more than 100 basis points during 2026 — far more than what most financial markets, and especially crypto traders, currently expect. The crypto market is still pricing in only two 25-basis-point cuts for the entire year.

Miran: Policy is too tight, inflation will not re-accelerate
In an interview with FOX Business, Miran urged the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to move decisively with stronger rate reductions. According to him:
inflation is unlikely to flare up again,monetary policy remains restrictive,the economy is running below potential.
His stance diverges from more cautious Fed officials — such as Governor Chris Waller — who said there is no need to rush rate cuts, although he acknowledged that a softening labor market still points toward easing.

The latest FOMC minutes confirmed that most policymakers are open to additional rate cuts, as long as inflation continues its downward trend.

Miran’s term is ending, but his message is louder than ever
Although Miran’s term ends at the end of this month, he continues to publicly advocate for deeper cuts. Last year, he was the only FOMC member who voted for a 50-basis-point cut at three consecutive meetings — in September, October, and December.
Based on his recent comments, he would likely vote for another 50-basis-point reduction at the upcoming January FOMC meeting.

Crypto markets don’t believe in aggressive easing — pricing in just 50 bps
Despite Miran’s call for substantial easing, the crypto market remains skeptical.

Polymarket data shows:
27% probability of two 25-basis-point cuts,22% probability of scenarios involving 75, 100, or 125 bps in total cuts,only 11% probability of a major rate-cut cycle.
In short, traders expect the Fed to remain far more cautious than Miran suggests.

Tom Barkin: The Fed must balance jobs and inflation in 2026
Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin offered his own perspective on the 2026 outlook during a speech in North Carolina.
He emphasized that:
unemployment remains historically low,inflation has eased but still sits above the 2% target,monetary policy will require “careful, well-calibrated decisions.”
Barkin noted that the three rate cuts last year were primarily a response to labor-market weakness. Current policy, he said, is now within the estimated “neutral range.”
The next major market catalyst will be the new macroeconomic data — especially the December CPI report, due next week. November inflation came in significantly softer than expected, but New York Fed President John Williams warned that the numbers may be distorted due to the recent government shutdown.

#Fed , #interestrates , #FederalReserve , #fomc , #USPolitics

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A significant shift is unfolding on the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance.

The Bitcoin-to-stablecoin ratio has climbed toward 1.0, a level that historically aligns with periods of increasing buying pressure. In simple terms — stablecoins now represent a larger share of exchange reserves, often a sign that investors are preparing fresh capital for accumulation.
And this comes despite the fact that Bitcoin surged by more than $8,000 within a single week.

Stablecoin Reserves on Binance Are Growing — A Potential Catalyst for the Next Move
On-chain analytics show a steady rise in stablecoin reserves held on Binance.

The BTC/stablecoin ratio is a crucial market indicator — when stablecoins grow faster than BTC reserves, it typically suggests:
🔹 investors are depositing fresh capital,

🔹 liquidity is returning to the market,

🔹 sentiment is shifting toward accumulation.
On-chain analysts stress that such an increase often appears before major bullish reversals, with stablecoins acting as “dry powder” ready to enter Bitcoin.

Analysts See Parallels With the 2025 Market Recovery
A nearly identical setup occurred in March 2025, when Bitcoin fell sharply from $109,000 down to $74,000. During that period, stablecoins flooded exchanges — and shortly afterward:
Bitcoin rallied to a new all-time high of $126,000.
Analyst Darkfost notes that the current rise looks similar. He highlights that:
open interest surged by nearly $4 billion in a week,stablecoin reserves increased by over $1 billion,BTC’s correction boosted the relative buying power of stablecoins.
According to him, this may represent “the early stages of liquidity re-entering the market,” a historically strong bullish signal.

Stablecoin Reserves Are Increasing Across All Major Exchanges
The trend extends beyond Binance.

Ethereum-based stablecoin reserves across all exchanges have risen for four consecutive days:
January 3: $65.0BJanuary 4: $65.2BJanuary 5: $65.3BJanuary 6: $65.4B
Such steady inflows are rare — and typically precede periods of increased volatility and new trend formation.

Institutions Are Buying Again: Over $1 Billion Flowed Into Bitcoin ETFs
Institutional appetite is returning strongly at the start of the year.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States recorded massive inflows:
Monday: +$697.25MFriday: +$471.14M
Two-day total: $1.168 billion.
This shows that despite the late-2025 bearish phase, institutional demand is accelerating again.
Whale wallets (1,000–10,000 BTC) were already accumulating during the drawdown toward $80,000, according to on-chain data, with accumulation scores approaching 1.0 — a strong sign of strategic buying.

Bitcoin Price Is Recovering
After a heavy November downturn, where BTC fell from $110,000 to $80,000, the market is showing renewed strength. Over the past week:
Bitcoin gained almost 7%,it is trading around $93,971,analysts are beginning to discuss the possibility of another large upward cycle.
The combination of a rising BTC/stablecoin ratio, increasing ETF inflows and expanding stablecoin reserves paints a picture of strengthening demand — and potentially, the early phase of a market rebound.

#bitcoin , #Binance , #Stablecoins , #CryptoNews , #etf

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Artificial-intelligence-generated videos falsely showing nationwide celebrations in Venezuela have flooded social media following the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power.
The clips — entirely fabricated with generative AI — depict massive crowds cheering, waving flags, and thanking President Donald Trump and the U.S. military. The problem? None of these events ever happened.
One of the first and most viral videos was posted by the X account Wall Street Apes, which has over a million followers. It showed Venezuelans crying, hugging, and praising the United States for “freeing” the country from Maduro.
The post was only flagged after it racked up 38,000 reposts and 5.6 million views — and even appeared in Elon Musk’s feed before the user deleted it. The community note read:
“This video is AI-generated and is currently presented as factual, with the intention to mislead.”

AI Platforms Fuel the Spread of Fake Venezuela Clips
Fact-checkers from BBC and AFP traced the earliest version of the video to a TikTok account called @curiousmindusa, which regularly posts AI-generated content.
Although the precise source couldn't be confirmed, both agencies identified this as the earliest known upload. The video began circulating shortly after the U.S. military launched a January 3 operation that led to Maduro’s capture.
Even before officials released an actual photo of Maduro’s detention, fake AI images were already spreading online.
AFP debunked additional misleading content, including a street-party clip claimed to be from Caracas celebrations — but it turned out to be old footage from Chile.
AI manipulation is not new. We saw similar tactics during the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict. What makes the Venezuelan wave stand out is the speed, quality, and realism of the fake videos.
Modern tools like Sora and Midjourney allow users to create realistic deepfake footage in minutes — and people share them without a second thought.

Social Platforms Struggle to Contain the Deepfake Surge
Creators of these videos often push political narratives or simply attempt to sow chaos. And it works.
Last year, an AI-generated video of women “crying” over losing SNAP benefits during a U.S. government shutdown was aired by Fox News as real until it was later corrected.
Growing concern has led governments to call for strict AI-content labeling laws:
India has proposed mandatory disclosure for AI-generated media.Spain approved fines up to €35 million for unlabelled AI content.
TikTok and Meta claim they have implemented tools to detect and label AI-generated videos. CNBC did find several Venezuela deepfakes labeled correctly — but many others slipped through unnoticed.
X, on the other hand, relies primarily on community notes. Critics argue the system is too slow — by the time the AI warning appears, millions have already watched and shared the fake.

Even Tech Leaders Admit the AI Problem Will Get Worse
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram and Threads, warned:
“All major platforms will get good at identifying AI content, but over time we’ll fall behind — AI will become much better at mimicking reality.”
He added:
“It may soon be easier to fingerprint authentic media than to detect fakes.”
The Venezuelan deepfake surge is a preview of what’s coming — a world where misinformation can be created instantly and spread globally before truth has a chance to catch up.

#FAKENEWS , #venezuela , #AI , #worldnews , #tiktok

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The global credit market has just witnessed one of the most dramatic days in its history. In a single 24-hour window, companies issued $61 billion in USD-denominated bonds, signalling exceptionally strong investor appetite driven by lower borrowing costs. Asian issuers in particular played a dominant role, aggressively taking advantage of favorable market conditions.

Asian Issuers Take the Lead — Japan and China Out in Front
At least nine Asian issuers tapped the market, with Japanese financial giants Sumitomo Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group among the largest. Together with more than 20 other issuers, they sold bonds at volumes significantly above typical investment-grade issuance levels seen in the U.S.
Other major participants included Resona Bank Ltd. and Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., both issuing USD-denominated debt.

The trend is clear: Asian borrowers are eager to secure funding while borrowing costs remain attractive.

Bond Yields Hold Near 4.8% Despite Geopolitical Tensions
According to Bloomberg, high-grade global corporate bonds continue to yield around 4.8%, an appealing rate even amid global uncertainty. Despite tense geopolitical developments — including the recent U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro — investor demand stayed exceptionally strong.
The massive $61 billion issuance suggests that 2026 could become one of the busiest years for both corporate and government financing, following the already active 2025.

Saudi Arabia Issues $11.5 Billion in Bonds
A key contributor to Monday’s volume was Saudi Arabia, which raised $11.5 billion to support large-scale development projects aimed at reducing reliance on oil. Investor demand was robust, reaching as high as $29 billion across maturities spanning 3 to 30 years.

Analysts: Market Strength Is Exceptional, Spreads Expected to Hold Steady
Omar Slim of PineBridge Investments highlighted that Asia’s favorable economic backdrop is sustaining high demand. According to him, credit spreads are likely to remain stable, with only isolated widening in specific cases.
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley strategists forecast that over $2 trillion in U.S. investment-grade bonds could be issued this year. The capital is expected to support:
AI-driven expansion projectsRefinancing of near-term loansNew acquisitions and corporate growth
Borrowers Rush to Lock In Deals While Rates Stay Low
The trend mirrors activity in the U.S. leveraged loan market, which also experienced a wave of new deals. In July 2025, the market saw a record $61 billion in new leveraged loan issuance — the largest of the year.
Key transactions included:
Medline – $7.57 billionUKG Inc. – $6.27 billionApplied Systems Inc. – $2.4 billion
Since early 2025, the U.S. leveraged loan market has surpassed $100 billion, encouraging more issuers to tap markets early in 2026.
Activity slowed only briefly in April due to concerns over U.S. tariffs affecting capital markets, but momentum recovered strongly in May and accelerated further in July.

2026 Outlook: Higher Quality Debt Favored Over High-Risk Assets
According to Charles Schwab’s corporate bond outlook, investors should adopt a “quality-up” strategy, prioritizing investment-grade corporate bonds due to attractive yields and lower risk. Schwab expects yields to remain around 4.8%, matching Bloomberg’s figures for top-tier USD corporate bonds.
High-yield bonds and bank loans, meanwhile, should be approached cautiously due to:
elevated valuationsincreased default-related optionalitygreater exposure to market shocks

#GlobalMarkets , #economy , #MarketTrends , #globaleconomy , #usd

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Telegram has been hit by a major financial setback after $500 million in funding was frozen as part of Western sanctions targeting Russia. Although the platform now operates globally, its historic ties to Russian capital continue to impact its business.

Telegram Bond Frozen Under Sanctions
Over the years, Telegram issued several bonds to refinance older debt and support expansion. The company has been buying back much of its outstanding debt, including those due in 2026.

However, a portion of bonds worth $500 million ended up in Russia’s National Settlement Depository — an institution now sanctioned by the EU, the US and the UK.
According to the Financial Times, these sanctions froze the assets entirely, cutting Telegram off from significant capital and complicating its buyback program.
Telegram has warned bondholders that it will repay the frozen debt only on the maturity date, while payment agents and custodians must determine whether funds can legally be released to Russian holders.

Telegram Tries to Distance Itself From Russia
Founder Pavel Durov has for years been working to reposition Telegram as a truly international company. Since leaving Russia in 2014 after refusing to hand over user data to authorities, Durov has repeatedly rejected claims that the company is influenced by the Kremlin — calling such allegations “conspiracy theories.”
Telegram has also been making a strong push into the US market, particularly through its TON blockchain. Yet gaining recognition in the crypto ecosystem has required constant effort to prove independence and transparency.
Meanwhile, Durov is facing legal proceedings in France, once again raising questions about Telegram’s handling of user data. Durov maintains that the company is committed to free speech and resistance to government pressure.

Revenue Booms Despite Legal Pressure
Telegram is experiencing rapid monetization growth. After introducing ads and premium subscriptions, the company generated $870 million in revenue in the first half of the year and holds nearly $910 million in cash and equivalents.
If the trend continues, Telegram could surpass $2 billion in revenue in 2025. A significant portion — potentially $300 million — may come from increased activity on the TON network, which Telegram has integrated directly into the app while removing wallet access to Ethereum and other exchanges.
These strong financials have revived expectations of an IPO. Bondholders are watching closely, as their bonds give them the right to acquire Telegram shares at up to a 20% discount. However, the French investigation could delay the public offering.

Concerns Over Illegal Content Persist
Telegram continues to face criticism for hosting groups that share illegal content and run unregulated marketplaces — although Durov denies any intentional wrongdoing.
Despite earlier value declines, the TON token has recovered over 19% in the past month, rising to $1.92.

#Telegram , #TON , #PavelDurov , #CryptoNews , #CryptoMarkets

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Chinese oil refiners are turning away from Venezuelan crude. What was once a cheap alternative is no longer inexpensive — and growing U.S. naval pressure is making the situation even more difficult.
According to Bloomberg, the discount on Merey crude — Venezuela’s main export grade — has narrowed from $15 below Brent to just $13 below. It may seem minor, but for the market it’s a major shift. Since China is Venezuela’s largest customer, the impact is immediate.

Oil Shipments Plunge as U.S. Naval Pressure Takes Effect
Bloomberg data shows that deliveries of Venezuelan crude to China dropped sharply last month. The U.S. blockade has disrupted export flows, shipping costs have surged, and traders are passing these expenses on to buyers — buyers who are now unwilling to pay more for the same barrel.
Refiners are choosing to wait. Their storage tanks are full, and demand for bitumen — the main product made from Merey — is weak due to China’s slowdown in road construction.

Buyers Delay Purchases While Floating Storage Builds Up
China’s refiners have a backup plan. Tankers carrying 82 million barrels of sanctioned crude, including Venezuelan oil, are currently anchored off the coasts of China and Malaysia. These floating inventories, tracked by Kpler, serve as an emergency reserve in case U.S. pressure further disrupts supply.

Political Tensions Escalate: Maduro Captured, Markets React
The situation goes beyond prices — it’s also political. Over the weekend, the United States launched a surprise operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were flown to U.S. territory. Maduro now faces charges of drug trafficking and weapons violations.
The geopolitical shock sent markets moving. Brent crude jumped 1.7% to nearly $62 per barrel, as traders speculated that Venezuela’s oil sector could be revived if Washington moves quickly to reshape the country's political leadership.

Delcy Rodríguez Emerges as Washington’s Preferred Candidate
Behind the scenes, U.S. officials and oil industry leaders are rallying around one name: Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s long-time second-in-command and former oil minister. According to sources, influential executives, lawyers, and lobbyists have advocated for her as the only realistic option to restart Venezuela’s collapsed oil sector.
“Delcy is the one we’ve always negotiated with,” one senior industry insider said. “If anyone can revive production and reopen Chinese purchasing, it’s her.”
Rodríguez has already been sworn in by the National Assembly as acting president. In a fiery speech, she called Maduro’s capture a “kidnapping,” demanding his return — though insiders say the speech was largely political theater meant to shield her from backlash as she consolidates power behind the scenes.

Chevron Maintains Operations While Industry Pushes for Sanction Relief
Chevron — the only U.S. oil company still operating in Venezuela — stated it had no prior knowledge of the American operation. The company says it continues to comply fully with both U.S. and Venezuelan law.
Meanwhile, oil firms are pressuring Washington to lift sanctions immediately so Rodríguez can stabilize the sector before it collapses entirely. In December, Venezuela was forced to shut down several wells because it had no storage capacity left — a direct consequence of blocked exports.
If the situation does not improve soon, Rodríguez risks losing the leverage she has only just acquired.
For now, however, she appears to be gaining ground, relying on Maduro’s old network to keep the system functioning — at least temporarily — while she works to revive production and reopen trade channels with China.

#venezuela , #oil , #china , #Geopolitics , #GlobalMarkets

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Ethereum is experiencing a major shift in staking dynamics. The exit queue for validators — which still held around 2.67 million ETH in mid-September — has now almost completely vanished. Only 32 ETH remain in the queue, with the exit time dropping to just one minute.
This marks a dramatic 99.9% decrease, a level not seen since last summer. Analysts note that such a sharp decline in withdrawals could significantly reduce selling pressure on Ethereum.

Selling Pressure on ETH Weakens as Staking Activity Surges
While the exit queue collapses, the entry queue — the amount of ETH waiting to be added to staking — has surged to 1.3 million ETH, the highest level since mid-November. The shift signals explosive growth in staking demand.
Rostyk, CTO of Asymetrix, summarized the situation clearly:
“The validator exit queue is essentially empty. Nobody wants to sell their staked ETH.”
Similarly, Tevis, founder of AlphaLedger, noted:
“Selling pressure is fading, and new ETH stakers — including BitMEX and ETFs — now outnumber those exiting.”
The exit queue functions as a critical safety mechanism for the network, limiting how fast validators can fully withdraw to protect Ethereum during periods of heavy churn. Meanwhile, partial withdrawals continue automatically, allowing validators to claim staking rewards without leaving consensus.
When the exit queue falls to zero, it signals that major withdrawals have stopped and deposit pressure has eased.

Big Players Move In — BitMine Stakes Over 80,000 ETH in a Single Day
BitMine, the world’s largest Ether holder, has recently accelerated its own staking efforts:
After Christmas, the company began aggressively staking ETH.On January 3, it added 82,560 ETH worth approximately $260 million.BitMine has now staked a total of 659,219 ETH (~$2.1 billion).The firm holds over 4.1 million ETH, representing 3.4% of the entire supply.

Despite a broader market slowdown at the end of the year, BitMine accumulated 33,000 ETH just last week.
Its non-ETH assets include:
192 BTC$915 million in cash$25 million equity in Eightco Holdings
According to Tom Lee of Fundstrat Global Advisors, BitMine expects Ethereum to grow significantly in 2026 due to:
rising institutional adoption,real-world asset tokenization,increasing demand for digital authentication.
The company is also seeking shareholder approval on January 15 to increase authorized shares — a move aimed at raising capital for acquisitions and enabling future stock splits, potentially increasing ETH per share.

ETF Funds Join the Staking Wave
Ethereum staking is now being embraced by ETF products as well.
Grayscale announced that:
Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF is the first ETH ETF to distribute staking rewards directly to shareholders.
CEO Peter Mintzberg called it:
“A breakthrough moment not only for Grayscale, but for the entire Ethereum and ETP ecosystem.”

#Ethereum , #ETH , #Altcoin , #CryptoNews , #BTC

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Bitcoin has kicked off the new year with powerful momentum — and analysts now believe the path toward $100,000 per BTC is open once again. The renewed optimism comes at the same time spot Bitcoin ETFs are recording their strongest inflows since the crypto market turmoil in October.

Bitcoin ETFs see the largest inflows in months as BTC price climbs
Bitcoin’s price continued its upward push, easily breaking above $94,000, while the broader crypto market showed improving strength. A major driver of this rally is the surge in demand for spot Bitcoin ETFs, which just posted one of their strongest single-day inflows in recent memory.
Market data shows that spot BTC ETFs saw $697.25 million in net inflows on Monday alone.

Combined with $471.14 million added last Friday, total inflows for the first two trading days of the month now exceed $1.16 billion.
Top contributors to inflows included:
BlackRock IBIT – $372.47MFidelity FBTC – $191.2MBitwise BITB – $38.5MARK Invest’s ARKB – $36M
Other funds also reported net inflows, reinforcing the trend of institutional demand returning to the market.
This synchronized buying comes as BTC held above $90,000 throughout the trading session.

BlackRock activity adds short-term volatility
The influx of new capital comes shortly after BlackRock triggered brief market volatility by transferring 1,134 BTC worth $101 million to Coinbase last week.

According to blockchain data, the move was connected to year-end ETF outflows recorded on December 31 — the same day $2.2 billion in crypto options expired.
Despite the temporary volatility, fresh demand quickly absorbed the movement.

Experts: Bitcoin’s road to $100,000 looks increasingly likely
Analysts are becoming increasingly confident that the market may once again target the $100,000 level if ETF inflows continue at this pace.
Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe emphasized that such inflow strength significantly reduces the probability of any deep correction.
Option markets reflect similar sentiment, with traders showing growing preference for call options with a $100,000 strike price — a clear signal of returning bullish expectations.

Solana ETFs also recording strong inflows
The positive sentiment extends beyond Bitcoin:
Solana ETF products saw $16.8 million in net inflows on Monday,Total inflows into SOL ETFs have now surpassed $1.09 billion,The Bitwise Solana Staking ETF alone added $12.47 million.

#BTC , #bitcoin , #solana , #CryptoMarket , #etf

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