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The market is still in fear mode — Fear & Greed Index at 18, showing traders are cautious and sentiment remains weak. 📉 This often means uncertainty dominates and selling pressure is high, but historically fear can also signal potential value zones for disciplined entry.

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Why Gold & Silver Crashed: Macro Policy, Profit-Taking & Market Liquidity Explained

Global markets saw one of the sharpest precious metals sell-offs in decades, with gold and silver reversing record rallies abruptly. On January 30–31, gold declined sharply and silver plunged up to ~30% in violent liquidation moves across exchanges, wiping out significant value after parabolic gains.

Key factors behind the crash:

Policy shifts & Fed expectations: The nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair strengthened the U.S. dollar and reduced expectations for extremely loose policy — a major headwind for non-yielding metals.

Profit-taking & technical liquidation: After record highs, aggressive profit-booking triggered forced liquidations and margin calls, especially in silver futures, amplifying price declines.

Industrial demand & China’s inventory shifts: Silver inventory drawdowns of nearly 27 tons on the Shanghai Futures Exchange suggest dynamic physical flows that can tighten or loosen supply and contribute to volatility.

Weakening fundamentals in industrial demand: Broader manufacturing slowdowns and softer industrial consumption have reduced underlying demand for silver, which is both a precious and industrial metal.

While some narratives talk about manipulation, the correction aligns with a mix of macro policy changes, technical sell signals, liquidation waves, and shifting demand dynamics — rather than a single “operator” action.

Vanar Chain is built with interoperability and cross-chain connectivity in mind, opening doors for seamless value and data flow across multiple ecosystems. Through partnerships like Router Protocol’s Nitro bridge, Vanar will connect with EVM and non-EVM chains, enabling secure, low-cost transfers between networks. This means users and dApps on vanar can interact with assets and smart contracts beyond a single chain — boosting liquidity, utility, and real-world adoption.

#vanar $VANRY @Vanarchain

#PreciousMetalsTurbulence

From Record Highs to Sharp Sell-Offs — Why Gold & Silver Are Falling Fast

Precious metals markets have experienced extreme volatility and historic sell-offs after a prolonged bull run earlier in January. Gold and silver prices fell sharply from recent peaks, with silver suffering one of its steepest one-day crashes — plunging over 30% intraday after record highs and gold also recording significant losses during volatile trading.

Silver retraced from above $121/oz to below $80/oz, reflecting one of the largest single-session moves in decades.

Gold pulled back sharply from its recent record highs near $5,600/oz, with futures sliding double digits on global sell-offs.

Market analysts point to a combination of profit-taking after parabolic gains, stronger dollar rebounds, margin requirement hikes, and macro news (including Fed policy shifts) as key drivers of the turbulence. Forced liquidations and rapid unwinding of leveraged positions have intensified pressure on both metals.

The dramatic pullback has prompted exchange safeguards such as 20% circuit limits for gold and silver ETFs on Indian exchanges, aiming to curb extreme intraday volatility and protect investors from sudden swings.

#WhenWillBTCRebound

BTC Rebound Outlook 2026: Why a Bounce Might Take Time

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to face downward pressure as prices slipped below $80,000, marking the weakest levels since late 2025 amid a broad market sell-off and liquidity tightening. Recent declines are tied to ETF outflows, macro uncertainty and technical weakness, keeping short-term rebound chances limited.

Analysts note Bitcoin may consolidate longer before a durable rebound resumes, with some forecasts pointing to stabilization around key support levels before buyers step in. On-chain data shows ETF outflows and reduced institutional demand continuing, which often delays rebounds until market sentiment improves.

Long-term models from major research firms suggest a potential comeback later in 2026 if macro liquidity returns and regulatory clarity advances, but near-term rebounds could be muted amid ongoing volatility.

Plasma (XPL) Exchange Listings & Trading Landscape

Plasma’s native token $XPL has made a strong market debut with multiple exchange listings, giving traders and investors broad access and liquidity. It went live on major platforms such as Binance with multiple pairs including XPL/USDT, USDC, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY, and was added to the Binance HODLer Airdrop program alongside its listing.

Other notable listings include KuCoin (XPL/USDT), where trading, deposits, and futures are supported, as well as MEXC, which opened XPL/USDT and XPL/USDC markets and offered special zero-fee promotions.

According to recent market data, XPL trades on dozens of exchanges worldwide, with active pairs on Binance, KuCoin, BitMart, Gate.io, and more — making $XPL accessible to a wide range of participants globally.

With its multi-exchange presence and varied trading pairs, $XPL’s market infrastructure supports both spot and derivatives activity, helping Plasma gain real market depth beyond its stablecoin utility narrative.

#plasma $XPL @Plasma

How Schnorr Signatures Secure Transactions on Dusk

On Dusk, Schnorr signatures are a core cryptographic tool that ensures transaction authenticity and forgery resistance. This signature scheme is part of the network’s privacy stack and is specifically used in the Phoenix transaction model to sign and verify confidential notes securely. Schnorr signatures are simple, compact, and robust — helping Dusk verify that only valid, authorized transactions are accepted on-chain without exposing underlying data.

#dusk $DUSK @Dusk

U.S. Dollar Crashes to Four-Year Low — Reserve Currency Role Under Scrutiny

The U.S. dollar has slid to its lowest point in nearly four years against major currencies, as broad market selling and confidence shifts weigh on the greenback. The dollar index (DXY) recently traded near 95–96, its weakest since 2022, after a series of policy-related pressures and global economic headwinds.

Analysts say political and economic uncertainty — including tariff disputes, concerns about Federal Reserve independence and expectations of future rate cuts — has weakened investor sentiment in the dollar. This has encouraged flows into alternative assets and currencies, with the euro, yen and other major currencies strengthening in the past sessions.

The decline has also sparked commentary from global regulators, with some cautioning that sustained weakness could lead markets to question the dollar’s role as the primary global reserve currency.

While a weaker dollar can benefit U.S. exporters by making goods cheaper abroad, it also raises import costs and inflationary pressure at home — and investors are keenly watching whether this trend signals deeper shifts in global finance.

Walrus for Rollups: Certified Data Availability Made Simple

Rollups live and die by data availability. Walrus helps solve this by acting as a certified data availability layer for rollups building on Sui and beyond. Rollup transaction data is stored as blobs on Walrus, while availability proofs and metadata are anchored on-chain, allowing anyone to verify that the data truly exists and can be retrieved. This reduces trust assumptions, avoids centralized DA providers, and lowers storage costs. For rollups, it means safer scaling, verifiable history, and reliable recovery—even if some storage nodes go offline.

#walrus $WAL @Walrus 🦭/acc

Asia Leads the World in Stablecoin Transitions, U.S. Trails Behind

Recent global stablecoin flow analysis shows that Asia-Pacific has surpassed the United States in overall stablecoin transaction activity, driven by strong demand for cross-border and crypto-enabled financial services. According to international crypto adoption and payment trend data, Asia’s inflows and outflows of stablecoins in 2024 exceeded those of North America, with Asia-Pacific reporting larger cross-border stablecoin volumes — reflecting around $407 billion in inflows and $395 billion in outflows, compared with North America’s $363 billion and $417 billion, respectively. This indicates that Asia is moving a higher share of stablecoin value globally, pointing to its growing role in digital finance infrastructure and payment use cases.

Market observers note that Asian transactions — including remittances, commerce, and decentralised finance (DeFi) activity — are increasingly utilising stablecoins for speed, cost efficiency and accessibility, outpacing traditional corridors dominated by the U.S. and Europe.

Leadership Locked In: Hong Kong Legislative Council Appoints Committee Chairs

The Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) has completed the election of chairs and vice-chairs for its 18 standing committees, marking a key step in the new legislative session’s operational setup. These committees — which oversee areas such as economic development, housing, food safety, welfare, and environment — have now secured leadership to begin detailed policy reviews this year.

In the Finance Committee and other major panels, representatives from various sectors were automatically elected after single nominations were confirmed. This leadership structure is essential for scrutinising government policy proposals, budget allocations, and legislative amendments, giving lawmakers formal platforms to prepare initiatives ahead of full council debates.

The committee chair elections come shortly after the LegCo’s reconstitution, following the general council president election on January 8, 2026, when Starry Lee was elected president in a narrow 47-42 vote — setting the stage for an active legislative calendar.

These appointments are expected to shape how quickly and effectively policies on development, housing, and public services progress through Hong Kong’s legislative process in 2026.

Iran Warns U.S.: Military Action Could Spark Full Regional Conflict

Amid rising tensions with the United States and increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East, Iranian officials have issued stark warnings that any U.S. attack on Iran might lead to widespread regional conflict.

A top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran is preparing for all scenarios and that any hostile action by the U.S. would prompt a decisive Iranian response, potentially targeting U.S. bases, allies and strategic interests. He warned that “any spark could rapidly turn into a comprehensive blaze beyond the control of its original planners,” underscoring fears of escalation across the region.

Tehran continues to stress that it does not seek war, but officials emphasized that defensive measures and military readiness remain priorities amid ongoing diplomatic strains. Other Iranian leaders have likewise cautioned that attacks—even limited ones—could have serious, irreparable consequences for the Middle East and beyond.

The warnings come as Gulf tensions remain elevated, with regional partners closely watching developments and urging restraint to avoid unintended conflict.

Korean Minister Says Misunderstandings Resolved; Investment Law to Move Quickly

South Korea’s government has vowed to move quickly on U.S. investment-related legislation after intense bilateral discussions amid rising trade tensions with Washington. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Seoul has fully explained its position to U.S. officials and intends to accelerate passage of the special investment bill through the National Assembly.

The comments come against the backdrop of U.S. pressure tied to a broader trade and investment framework agreed in 2025, under which Seoul pledged significant investment commitments in return for lower tariffs. A delay in ratifying related measures prompted Washington to raise tariffs on certain South Korean imports late last month, heightening diplomatic urgency.

Upon returning from talks in Washington, Minister Kim said that “unnecessary misunderstandings” over the legislative process had been largely clarified and expressed hope that investment implementation procedures can move forward rapidly. He noted that the special bill currently under parliamentary review is expected to be processed in the February–March legislative session, with lawmakers aiming to keep to that timeline.

Seoul’s commitment to timely legislative action signals an effort to reassure U.S. counterparts and stabilize economic cooperation amid tariff uncertainty, with both sides indicating the need for continued dialogue on investment projects and reciprocal trade benefits.

Japan PM Clarifies Yen Comments, Emphasizes Economic Resilience Not Weakness

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has clarified her recent remarks about the yen’s depreciation, saying she did not advocate for a weak currency but rather stressed the importance of building an economy that can withstand exchange-rate fluctuations.

Takaichi’s comments came after a campaign speech in which she noted that while some view the weaker yen negatively, it can benefit export industries, particularly in sectors facing U.S. tariffs. She later took to social media to emphasize that she “did not say a strong yen is good or a weak yen is bad,” underscoring her intent to promote economic resilience rather than a specific exchange-rate stance.

Her clarification arrives as the yen hovers at 18-month lows against the U.S. dollar, contributing to inflation concerns and speculation about whether authorities may intervene to stabilize the currency. Japan’s finance ministry has reiterated its commitment to market monitoring and refrained from committing to a preferred yen direction.

Analysts say the episode highlights sensitivity around currency policy ahead of snap elections, balancing support for exporters with household inflation pressures.

January Network Growth: Solana Doubles Users While Ethereum Sees 25% Activity Rise

Crypto network activity data shows significant growth in user engagement on two of the largest blockchain networks during January:

Solana (SOL) saw its daily active addresses more than double, with numbers surpassing 5 million regularly in the second half of the month — an increase of about 115% compared to earlier levels. This surge reflects heightened participation across decentralized finance (DeFi), token launches and decentralized applications on the Solana network. Daily transaction counts also jumped substantially, with up to 87 million transactions recorded.

Ethereum (ETH) likewise experienced growth, with daily active addresses rising roughly 25% in January following network upgrades that improved throughput and reduced fees. Ethereum’s increased activity re-established it as a dominant settlement layer amid broader market rotations.

These metrics suggest renewed user engagement and ecosystem participation on both networks despite broader market volatility, highlighting ongoing adoption and diversification of blockchain usage.

India Hikes STT on F&O Trading to Curb Speculation — What It Means for Markets

As part of the Union Budget 2026–27, the Indian government has announced significant increases in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on stock derivatives aimed at reducing speculative trading and promoting stability in the markets. The tax on futures contracts has risen from 0.02% to 0.05%, while the STT on options has been raised to 0.15% of the premium, marking a substantial increase in trading costs for active leveraged traders.

This move is designed to discourage high-frequency and short-term speculative activity, especially in the Futures & Options (F&O) segment, by making frequent trades more expensive. Market participants say the hike could encourage longer-term investing and reduce volatility, while also boosting government revenues earmarked for critical sectors like infrastructure and social spending.

The announcement immediately impacted equity markets, with major indices and brokerage stocks — such as BSE, Groww, and Angel One — facing pressure as investors adjusted to the higher transaction costs and potential shift in trading behavior.

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#USGovShutdown

U.S. Government Partially Shuts Down After Funding Deadline Missed — What’s Affected

The United States federal government has entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation before the midnight funding deadline, triggering automatic lapses in funding for multiple departments and agencies.

Despite the Senate voting on a stopgap funding package that would fund most agencies through September and extend Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for two weeks, the House of Representatives did not complete its vote in time, causing the lapse.

The impasse was driven in part by political disagreements over DHS funding and immigration policy provisions, which stalled consensus just ahead of the deadline.

What Happens Next

Partial shutdown now in effect: Many non-essential services are paused until funding is approved.

Essential services continue: Critical operations like social security benefit payments and emergency response programs are expected to continue.

House will reconvene: Lawmakers are expected to vote early next week to ratify the Senate-approved package or reach a compromise.

Local and Public Impact

Officials in border and community regions have warned that a shutdown could harm services and disrupt local economies if prolonged, with veterans, federal workers, and small businesses among those most affected.

India’s Exchanges Revise Gold & Silver ETF Pricing Bands After Market Turmoil

India’s stock exchange infrastructure has updated how Gold and Silver Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are priced in trading, in response to extreme volatility in precious metal markets.

According to a BSE circular, the reference price for price bands of Gold and Silver ETFs has been revised. This means the price bands used for intraday trading of these ETFs will now be based on updated reference prices — crucial for navigating rapid swings seen in metal prices in recent sessions.

The move follows unprecedented volatility in gold and silver ETFs, which saw sharp declines after bullion prices dropped, leading exchanges to impose circuit limits and adjust trading frameworks to protect investors from extreme fluctuations.

These changes aim to anchor ETF price movements to recent reference values and give traders a clearer, regulated structure during periods of heightened price stress, reducing erratic intraday swings tied to sharp metal price crashes.

India’s Budget 2026: Manufacturing and Growth Take Centre Stage

India’s Union Budget for the fiscal year 2026–27, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, places a strong emphasis on boosting domestic manufacturing, creating jobs, and sustaining economic expansion amid global uncertainty. The budget aims to scale up manufacturing across strategic sectors — including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, chemicals, textiles and capital goods — to enhance global competitiveness and reduce reliance on imports.

Capital expenditure has been increased to ₹12.2 trillion ($133 billion) to support infrastructure and industrial growth, while new allocations target electronics manufacturing and innovation, reflecting a broader “Make in India” momentum.

Policy initiatives also include expanded Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, investment in advanced technology sectors, and support for small and medium enterprises — all aimed at strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem and generating sustainable economic growth.

Economists view these measures as crucial for maintaining India’s robust GDP growth trajectory and positioning the country as a competitive global manufacturing hub.