ChainGPT AI News

Headline: XRP tumbles below $2 after triangle breakdown, eyes on $1.85 support XRP dropped sharply, sliding beneath the $2.00 mark and briefly dipping to $1.847 on Kraken as sellers took control. The move followed a break below a contracting triangle with support near $2.05 on the hourly chart, and the coin is now consolidating under pressure — trading below the 100‑hour Simple Moving Average — with the potential for further downside if it cannot reclaim $2.00. Price action - XRP failed to hold above $2.10 and accelerated lower alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, slipping past $2.02 and $2.00 into a short‑term bearish zone. - After breaking the contracting triangle (~$2.05), the pair spiked to a low of $1.847 and has since staged a modest recovery above $1.92, briefly testing the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the drop from the $2.065 swing high to the $1.847 low. - Despite that bounce, bears remain active and the price is still trading below $2.00 and the 100‑hour SMA. Key levels to watch - Immediate resistance: $1.98 and the 61.8% Fib of the recent fall (around the $1.98–$2.00 area). A sustained close above $2.00 could open the way to $2.065, then $2.10, $2.12, $2.15 and the next major hurdle near $2.20. - Immediate support: $1.9320, then $1.90. A decisive break and close below $1.90 could extend losses toward $1.85, with further support near $1.82 and a potential move toward $1.80 if selling persists. Technical indicators - Hourly MACD: bearish but losing some momentum. - Hourly RSI: below 50, indicating downside bias. Outlook The $2.00 level is the current battleground. Failure to reclaim it keeps bears in control and raises the odds of a deeper pullback into the low $1.80s. Conversely, a clear reclaim of $2.00 and the 100‑hour SMA would be needed to give bulls a shot at revisiting $2.10+ resistance. Traders should watch those levels and intraday momentum for the next directional clue. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

XRP has lost upside momentum and is slipping back below $2 after recent recovery attempts stalled, putting sellers back in control of the near-term picture. Technical trader CoinsKid, posting on X, says a broader corrective structure is forming on the 5‑day chart that could drive XRP significantly lower unless key levels are reclaimed. What the chart shows - CoinsKid interprets XRP’s recent price action as a three-wave (ABC) corrective move on the 5‑day timeframe. The implication: the bounce to about $2.40 was likely a retracement inside a larger downtrend, not a sustained return to bullish control. - The token has been printing closes beneath short-term dynamic support across higher timeframes, and crucially has repeatedly closed below a custom indicator—the “CoinsKid ribbon,” a band of moving averages that had served as a trend-strength guide through most of 2025. - The recovery attempt stalled at a marked sell signal around the ribbon, and sellers have handled the broader structure since the October 2025 flash crash. Where downside could land - The bearish scenario targets a rising multi-year support trendline that stretches back to 2020. That trendline converges with a key demand zone around $1.30–$1.40 on the 5‑day chart—highlighted by CoinsKid as the next major area of interest. - CoinsKid projects that, if the corrective sequence continues, XRP could rotate down from the descending resistance line toward that $1.30–$1.40 range over the coming months. This would complete the ABC correction that began after XRP’s July 2025 peak at $3.65. Price snapshot and invalidation level - At the time of CoinsKid’s note, XRP was trading near $1.96, about 4.7% lower over the previous 24 hours. - The analysis says the bearish path would be invalidated by a sustained move back above the 5‑day CoinsKid ribbon—only then would the odds of revisiting the lower support zone fall materially. Bottom line According to CoinsKid’s 5‑day technical read, XRP’s recent bounce looks like a counter-trend retracement inside a larger corrective pattern. Traders should watch the 5‑day ribbon and the $1.30–$1.40 multi‑year trendline: a sustained reclaim of the ribbon would shift momentum back toward buyers, while failure to do so could leave XRP headed lower. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Copper is quietly becoming one of the hottest commodities for 2026 — and for investors tracking tech and infrastructure plays, that surge deserves attention. Prices have been climbing as rising industrial demand joins strength in silver and gold to form a powerful metals trifecta. But why is copper suddenly so attractive? Here are three reasons the rally may have more room to run. 1) AI and data centers are driving unprecedented copper demand Analysts on X (formerly Twitter) have pointed to AI as a major new driver. AI servers consume vast amounts of power, require liquid cooling systems and need miles of wiring and copper plates and piping. A 2026 report projects global data center capacity could grow tenfold by 2040 — and that scale-up means huge demand for the copper used in power delivery, cooling and internal infrastructure. Add in grid upgrades to handle AI’s electricity load, and you’re talking about millions of miles of new transmission lines. 2) Green energy and electrification keep copper central to manufacturing Copper is essential across electrification trends: it’s a core material in electric vehicles, and it’s heavily used in solar and wind installations as utilities build out renewables. As industries and automakers push further into EVs and clean energy, copper’s role as a manufacturing input keeps it in steady, growing demand. 3) Supply constraints make ramp-up slow and expensive On the supply side, the story is stark: it typically takes 17–20 years to permit and build a major new copper mine, so even a large discovery today wouldn’t meaningfully boost output until the 2040s. Ore grades are declining, and miners are forced to dig deeper for lower-quality material. Those dynamics have led companies to sign long-term contracts with producers to lock in supply — a market behavior that reinforces upward price pressure. Market signal: investors are already acting That sentiment is visible in social channels: one X user known as No Limit said they bought three tonnes of copper over the last two months and plans to buy another tonne each month, arguing copper is today’s big structural bet. Whether retail or institutional, money is moving toward physical and contractual exposure to the metal. What this means for crypto and tech investors Copper’s fundamentals are tightly linked to the infrastructure that supports AI, data centers and electrification — sectors that overlap with crypto infrastructure and broader tech investment themes. For crypto-focused portfolios looking for exposure to real-world tech adoption, copper can serve as a play on the backbone of tomorrow’s data and power networks. Bottom line Rising demand from AI, electrification and renewables — combined with slow, difficult supply growth — creates a compelling narrative for copper into 2026 and beyond. As always, investors should weigh these structural trends against price volatility, geopolitical risks and the long timelines for new mine development before making allocation decisions. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Rare earths rush: How critical minerals are shaping the next investment frontier — and why crypto traders should care Lead: As geopolitical uncertainty reshuffles global supply chains, a quieter but seismic shift is underway: critical minerals are becoming strategic assets. From lithium to rare earth elements, these raw materials are central to AI, electric vehicles, semiconductors, defense and decarbonization — and that makes them a fast-emerging investment theme with implications that even the crypto community should watch. Why it matters - Supply security over cost: Rising geopolitical risks and fractured supply chains are forcing governments and corporations to prioritize reliable access to key inputs rather than cheapest sourcing. That elevates minerals once considered niche into core strategic resources. - Tech and energy convergence: Lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, graphite, uranium and rare earth elements are essential to batteries, EVs, semiconductors, AI data centers, robotics, aerospace, defense systems and clean-energy infrastructure. Without steady access to these inputs, countries and companies risk losing technological leadership. - Broad demand drivers: The AI and electrification booms — plus increased defense and infrastructure spending — are creating a sustained structural demand for these materials rather than just short-term spikes. Who stands to gain - Upstream producers with proven deposits, especially in geopolitically stable jurisdictions. - Developers that can scale mining and processing in regulated countries. - Refiners and processing specialists, because raw ore is only one part of the value chain. - Firms building recycling and recovery technologies, which reduce dependence on primary supply and appeal to ESG-conscious buyers. - Countries with rich reserves and robust regulation could become new strategic hubs in the global economy. Investment routes and examples You can gain exposure through equity plays in miners, refiners and recyclers. Some names frequently cited include: - Albemarle (ALB) — a major lithium producer - Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) — lithium and specialty chemicals - Idaho Strategic Reserve (IDR) — small-cap exposure to strategic metals - Energy Fuels (UUUU) — uranium and rare earth projects Risks to remember - Commodity prices are volatile and mining projects carry execution risks, permitting delays and environmental scrutiny. - Geopolitical moves (export controls, nationalization, tariffs) can upend supply and valuations quickly. - Processing bottlenecks matter: control of refining capacity can be as decisive as mine ownership. - Always do your own research and consider diversification — this is a long-term thematic play, not a guaranteed short-term windfall. Why crypto readers should pay attention - Hardware dependence: Crypto mining rigs, GPUs and ASICs depend on semiconductors, copper and other metals; supply chain squeezes can affect hardware availability and pricing. - Data center demand: Growth in AI and blockchain infrastructure increases demand for reliable power and specialized components, linking crypto infrastructure to the same resource pressures. - Tokenization and DeFi potential: Rising interest in strategic commodities could accelerate projects that tokenize metals or create commodity-backed instruments, offering new on-chain exposure and supply-chain provenance use cases. What to watch next - New mining projects and permitting timelines in safe jurisdictions - Developments in refining and recycling capacity - Government industrial policy and supply-chain security measures - Price trends for lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper and rare earths - Corporate earnings and capital spending by major miners and refiners Bottom line: Critical minerals are evolving from niche inputs into strategic pillars of the tech and energy transition. For long-term investors, the theme favors upstream producers, processing specialists and recycling innovators — but it comes with real geopolitical and execution risk. For the crypto community, the implications span hardware supply, data-center demand and the potential growth of tokenized commodity exposure. As always, treat specific tickers as starting points for research rather than investment advice. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

PancakeSwap’s community has voted to tighten CAKE’s supply cap, approving a proposal on Jan. 19, 2026 to lower the token’s maximum issuance from 450 million to 400 million. The Snapshot vote, which ran from Jan. 16–19, passed with overwhelming support — more than 1.66 million votes in favor and virtually no opposition — marking a clear community push for stricter long-term token discipline. (Source: PancakeSwap) Why this matters - The change removes 50 million CAKE from future issuance, cutting long-term dilution risk without forcing any immediate token burns or reductions to circulating supply. At the time of the vote CAKE’s circulating supply was roughly 334 million, so the new 400 million cap is primarily forward-looking. - PancakeSwap’s team says the lower ceiling better matches realistic needs for incentives, development and ecosystem growth now that emissions are structurally lower. Where this fits in PancakeSwap’s token strategy - The move builds on Tokenomics Proposal 3.0 (implemented April 2025), which retired the veCAKE model and slashed daily emissions from about 40,000 CAKE/day to roughly 22,250 CAKE/day. - Those adjustments helped generate a net burn of roughly 8.19% of total supply in 2025. Total supply fell from about 380 million at the start of 2025 to near 350 million by year-end, continuing a deflationary trend that began in September 2023. - The protocol also holds about 3.5 million CAKE in an Ecosystem Growth Fund for future initiatives, which can be deployed before any further emissions are considered. Market reaction CAKE’s price moved little around the vote; on the 12-hour chart the token traded near $2.02, showing modest gains but still trailing its late‑2024 highs (Source: TradingView). This underlines a common theme in crypto markets: supply-side improvements can strengthen long-term fundamentals without automatically triggering short-term price rallies, especially in cautious market conditions. What it signals The vote reinforces PancakeSwap’s pivot away from aggressive emissions and toward supply discipline and capital efficiency. By aligning the maximum supply with realistic growth needs, the protocol aims to provide clearer expectations for holders and reduce dilution risk over the long term — a structural change intended to support sustainable ecosystem development rather than immediate market moves. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Crypto trading carries high risk; do your own research before making financial decisions. © 2026 AMBCrypto Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Silver is back in the spotlight as a classic safe-haven play, with renewed geopolitical friction and market stress sending investors into precious metals — and silver in particular. Why silver is rallying - Rising geopolitical tensions, including the recent US-Greenland saga, have pushed risk-averse buyers toward traditional refuges. That flight-to-safety narrative is benefiting both gold and silver. - Market dynamics are reinforcing the move: bonds are under pressure and cryptocurrencies remain highly volatile, prompting some investors to shift allocations from debt and crypto into metals. What the data and analysts say - The Kobeissi Letter highlighted silver’s dramatic 2025 performance, calling it the metal’s best year since 1979, with a 148% gain during the 2025 trade-war period. The note argues that “more uncertainty, less stability, and fragmented global trade are a safe-haven trade’s best friend.” - Metal strategist Rashad Hajiyev sees further upside: he expects the gold-to-silver ratio to fall back toward 1998–2011 lows near 32, and even dip below 30 briefly. Coupling a $6,000 gold target by April 2026 with that ratio implies a silver price north of $200 per ounce. What this means for crypto investors - For traders and holders in the crypto space, the message is familiar: when volatility spikes and traditional yields are squeezed, capital can rotate into perceived stores of value. Silver’s recent surge and bullish forecasts suggest it may play a growing role in diversified portfolios as a hedge against macro and geopolitical risk. Bottom line Silver’s momentum reflects a broader search for stability amid fracturing global trade and political uncertainty. With bonds struggling and crypto still choppy, gold and silver are re-emerging as primary safe havens — and some analysts now see silver potentially reaching triple-digit territory if current trends persist. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: ETH briefly dips under $3,200 as U.S.–EU trade tensions stir volatility; technicals point to $3,360 resistance Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, slipped 3.4% over the past 24 hours and briefly traded below the $3,200 mark before recovering to around $3,205. The pullback coincides with renewed geopolitical jitters after the United States signalled it could escalate tariffs on several European allies. President Donald Trump threatened an initial 10% tariff on imports from eight NATO countries — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland — starting Feb. 1, rising to 25% by June unless those measures are lifted. He also said the duties would remain until Denmark agreed to sell Greenland to the United States, comments that have fueled market uncertainty. “The latest U.S.-EU trade war headlines have certainly injected fresh volatility into an already uneasy market … adding a layer of geopolitical uncertainty that markets were in no shape to absorb,” said Rachael Lucas, crypto analyst at BTC Markets. She added, however, that while headlines are loud, they are not the fundamental driver of the current crypto pullback. Technically, the ETH/USD 4‑hour chart shows short-term bearish price action after the recent drop, but key indicators leave room for a rebound. The 4H RSI sits at about 52 — just above neutral — suggesting bullish momentum is waning but not extinguished. The MACD lines remain above the neutral zone, a sign buyers still retain control. Two near-term scenarios to watch: - Recovery path: If buyers reassert themselves, Ether could target the first major resistance near $3,360 over the coming hours or days. - Continued correction: If selling continues, ETH may retest the Jan. 12 swing low around $3,068. With macro headlines driving episodic volatility, traders should monitor both geopolitical developments and on-chain/technical signals for clearer direction. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Memecoins are lagging as the broader crypto market cools off Cryptocurrency markets stumbled into the week, with Bitcoin, Ether and XRP all trading in the red and risk-sensitive memecoins suffering the steepest losses. Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pepe (PEPE) extended last week’s slide, with Dogecoin emerging as the weakest performer among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Dogecoin down 7% in 24 hours DOGE has dropped roughly 7% over the past 24 hours and is currently changing hands around $0.1275. The token sits below key short- and medium-term moving averages — the 20-day EMA at $0.1375 and the 50-day EMA at $0.1417 — both of which are sloping down, reinforcing the bearish backdrop. Technical picture points to more downside unless sentiment improves On the 4-hour chart, momentum indicators are favoring bears. the MACD histogram has moved into negative territory and is widening, a sign of strengthening selling momentum. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits near 37, edging closer to the oversold zone (below 30), which highlights elevated selling pressure but leaves room for further declines. Key levels to watch - Near-term resistance: $0.14 — a short-term rally target if buyers reassert themselves. - Immediate support: the December 31 low at $0.1161 — a break below this level would increase downside risk. - Larger downside target: the October 10 low at $0.0950, which could come into play on an extended bearish run. Market context The pullback in memecoins coincides with a broader market unwind after a leverage-fueled rally failed to hold. Bitcoin fell below $93,000 on Monday as traders de-risked, pressuring risk-on assets like DOGE, SHIB and PEPE. Bottom line Dogecoin’s near-term outlook is bearish while key momentum indicators and moving averages point to further pressure unless bulls regain control and push DOGE back above the $0.14 area. Traders will be watching the $0.1161 support closely — a decisive break could open the path toward the $0.0950 level. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Solana founder pushes back on viral “84% validator collapse” claim — says real drop closer to 20%, tied to subsidy ending A weekend social-media post that went viral claimed Solana had lost 84% of its validators, sparking fresh debate about the network’s decentralization. Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko pushed back publicly, saying the figure was misleading and that validator participation has fallen by roughly 20% over the past 12 months — a decline he attributes to the end of a subsidy program, not a catastrophic network collapse. Key points - Misleading conflation: Yakovenko emphasized that “validators are not full nodes,” arguing the viral post mixed up validator counts with full-node counts. He says Solana runs about 5,000 full nodes versus roughly 8,300 full nodes on Ethereum — a chain whose market cap is roughly four times larger than Solana’s. - Subsidy program effect: The drop in validator numbers, Yakovenko explains, largely reflects the winding down of the Solana Foundation Delegation Program (SFDP), a one-year bootstrapping initiative that covered voting costs for many small validators. When the subsidy ended, some smaller operators stopped validating. - Ongoing decentralization concerns: Even with Yakovenko’s clarification, critics continue to question how decentralized Solana really is. Comparisons to centralized databases persist on social channels, and skepticism about participation costs remains widespread. - Cost debates and verification efforts: One social-media post even claimed operating costs of $20 million per validator — a number that can’t be independently verified. Industry reporting and node operators indicate running a self-hosted, fully validating Solana node can be resource-intensive: hardware can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and voting/operational costs may push annual expenses into the tens of thousands. Some professional validators stake millions of dollars in tokens and report spending hundreds of thousands annually on operations. - Solutions in development: Several startups are working on tools to let users verify Solana’s network from consumer-grade hardware and home internet connections, but those products are still in alpha testing. Bottom line: The viral “84%” figure appears to overstate the situation, according to Solana’s founder, who attributes most of the recent drop in validator participation to the end of a temporary subsidy program. Nevertheless, questions about costs and decentralization remain active topics in the community, and technical and product efforts to broaden participation are still under development. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Bitcoin flash crash erases ~$100B as whales and market makers sell into leveraged longs Lead: Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies plunged over the weekend after rising US–EU tariff tensions sparked risk-off flows and heavy long liquidations. The sudden sell-off wiped roughly $100 billion from total crypto market capitalization in hours, with on-chain analytics pointing to large holders, exchanges and market makers cutting positions into a sea of leveraged longs. What happened - Market tracking services show the crypto market lost about $100 billion during the rapid downturn, accompanied by a sharp jump in trading volume. - DeFiTracer reported that major holders — including institutional participants and exchanges — were net sellers during the drop, describing the action as coordinated selling among large players and market makers. - Analysts said the move was driven more by broad risk-off sentiment tied to geopolitical frictions than by crypto-specific fundamentals, with US threats of tariffs on European nations and EU talk of retaliation coinciding with the weakness. Reports and comments related to Greenland also factored into market nerves, and US equity futures opened lower. Why liquidations amplified the fall - High leverage in derivatives markets turned price moves into cascading liquidations: as leveraged long positions were wiped out, forced selling pushed prices lower and triggered further liquidations. - Market observers suggested market makers and exchanges appeared to have anticipated the move, selling into longs and accelerating the decline. Technical picture and historical context - Technical analysts flagged a rejection at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level and noted a potential reversal pattern forming around that threshold. - Some drew parallels to 2022, when Bitcoin tested similar technical levels ahead of a steep sell-off during the FTX collapse and aggressive Fed tightening. Others pointed out differences in the macro backdrop today — signs of shifting monetary policy and ongoing volatility — while warning that leverage remains high and could keep magnifying swings. Where Bitcoin stands now - Despite the weekend’s volatility, Bitcoin remains modestly higher on a seven-day basis. Traders are watching critical support levels closely for signs of further downside or potential recovery. Bottom line: The flash crash underscored how geopolitical shocks and crowded leveraged positions can combine to produce rapid, outsized moves in crypto markets. Traders and risk managers are likely to be watching leverage and large-holder activity closely in the near term. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

India’s central bank has pitched a BRICS-wide digital currency network that would link sovereign CBDCs—like the e‑rupee and China’s digital yuan—into a common settlement rail by 2026, aiming to simplify cross‑border trade and tourism while reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked the government to put the proposal on the official agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit, which India will host. If adopted, it would be the first coordinated multilateral effort to interconnect national CBDCs and enable direct payments in local digital currencies across member states. Rationale and benefits - Direct CBDC settlements would bypass dollar‑centric correspondent banking corridors, cutting intermediaries, lowering fees, and speeding up settlement times. - The RBI frames the initiative as a tool for economic resilience—insulating trade flows from external political pressure amid recent tariff threats and criticism of BRICS from some U.S. political figures. - The central bank also positions the e‑rupee as a regulated alternative to private stablecoins, which it regards as a risk to monetary sovereignty and financial stability. Technical and political hurdles - Implementation requires cross‑country agreement on interoperability standards and governance frameworks. - The task has become more complex as BRICS expanded to include new members such as the UAE, Iran, and Indonesia. - One practical mechanism under consideration is bilateral foreign‑exchange swap lines between central banks to manage trade imbalances. Where the members stand - As of January 2026, India’s e‑rupee has about 7 million retail users. China is actively promoting the international use of its digital yuan. Brazil, Russia, and South Africa are running advanced CBDC pilots. - The RBI’s proposal would link these ongoing national projects into a shared settlement layer—if BRICS leaders agree. Why it matters for crypto and cross‑border payments A BRICS CBDC bridge could materially change how emerging economies settle trade, potentially reducing demand for dollar‑based correspondent banking and creating regulated on‑ramps that compete with private stablecoins for cross‑border liquidity. Endorsement at the 2026 summit could mark a major step toward a new multilateral digital settlement architecture for the Global South. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Privacy token Dusk exploded higher on Jan. 19, jumping about 40% in a single day and rallying more than fourfold since the start of 2025, as traders rotated capital out of larger privacy coins and into a ZK-powered, regulation-friendly small-cap play. Market data from Arkham shows Dusk climbed to its strongest levels this year while trading volume on centralized exchanges hit recent yearly highs. At the time of publication the token ranked among the top four cryptocurrencies by 24-hour trading volume, trailing only Zcash, Monero and Dash — a notable position for a relatively small market-cap project. The move came even as Bitcoin and the broader market showed weakness, underscoring a targeted interest in specific altcoin narratives. What’s driving the interest Analysts say capital has been shifting away from established privacy coins such as Monero and Dash toward smaller projects that promise bigger upside. Dusk’s blend of privacy technology and compliance-friendly design appears to be the magnet. The protocol uses zero-knowledge cryptography — including zk-SNARKs — to shield sender identities and transaction amounts while still enabling recipients and, crucially, regulators to verify payments when necessary. That architecture aims to balance user privacy with anti-money-laundering travel rules and auditability, distinguishing Dusk from coins that seek full anonymity. On-chain and trading red flags Speculative flows have clearly followed the narrative. Arkham’s data flagged heavy Dusk token inflows to exchanges — more than six million tokens moved on each of Jan. 16 and Jan. 17, the highest daily deposit totals in 30 days. Elevated exchange inflows are often a precursor to selling pressure as holders move tokens to platforms to liquidate positions. Analysts warn the rapid, concentrated appreciation exposes Dusk to sharp corrections. Historically, aggressive capital rotations into small-cap tokens tied to a particular narrative can presage cycle peaks, and the recent surge could be vulnerable if buying momentum fades or regulatory scrutiny intensifies. What to watch next Key indicators to monitor include continued exchange inflows/outflows, sustained trading volumes, on-chain activity around shielded transfers, any changes in listings or delistings, and broader market direction led by Bitcoin. If Dusk can translate its compliance-first privacy approach into real-world adoption or institutional interest, the rally may have legs — but the current move also carries heightened speculative risk. Bottom line: Dusk’s ZK-backed, regulator-aware pitch has captured trader attention and driven outsized gains, but the surge is accompanied by warning signs that merit close scrutiny. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Aster rolls out discretionary buyback reserve, funneling up to 40% of daily fees into ASTER repurchases Aster has activated a new on-chain buyback reserve that channels between 20% and 40% of its daily platform fees into repurchasing ASTER tokens. The mechanism went live on January 19, and early transactions are already visible on-chain. This reserve supplements Aster’s existing Stage 5 buyback program, which launched in late December 2025 and performs automatic, fixed daily buybacks from a predetermined portion of fees. Together, the two mechanisms can divert as much as 80% of the protocol’s daily fees to ASTER repurchases — all executed on-chain and fully verifiable. Unlike Stage 5’s steady approach, the new reserve is discretionary and adaptive: allocations can shift anywhere within the 20%–40% band depending on liquidity, volatility and price action. Aster describes the activation as a “Strategic Buyback Reserve” that dynamically targets ASTER repurchases in response to market conditions while remaining tied to platform revenue rather than short-term price manipulation. Funding for the buybacks comes primarily from perpetual (perp) trading fees. Aster’s Shield Mode — a high-leverage feature that only charges fees on profitable trades — also contributes, with all Shield Mode revenues routed directly into ASTER repurchases. The protocol has already completed several prior buyback stages, repurchasing more than 209 million ASTER tokens (valued at over $140 million at the time of execution). Some of those tokens were burned; others were retained by the treasury for management purposes. Market context: ASTER has declined roughly 13% over the past 30 days, a move Aster attributes more to broad market pressure than to changes in its buyback framework. The team says the newly activated reserve is intended as a long-term, revenue-linked tool and expects the framework to run throughout 2026. What this means: By increasing on-chain, revenue-backed buybacks and adding a flexible reserve, Aster is beefing up token-supply management with mechanisms that are both responsive and transparent — potentially improving market confidence, while keeping its actions verifiable for on-chain observers. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Michael Saylor teases another MicroStrategy Bitcoin buy after $1.25B purchase Michael Saylor has dropped another cheeky hint that MicroStrategy may be preparing to add more Bitcoin to its corporate treasury — a little over a week after the company made a blockbuster purchase of 13,627 BTC. On Sunday, the MicroStrategy chairman posted the words “Bigger Orange” to X alongside a screenshot from StrategyTracker showing the timing of the firm’s Bitcoin purchases. Orange, long used as a visual shorthand for Bitcoin, has become a recurring motif in Saylor’s social posts. Market watchers often interpret these cryptic teases as advance signals of imminent buys; in the past MicroStrategy has confirmed acquisitions that followed similar hints. MicroStrategy’s buying pace has remained aggressive heading into 2026. On Jan. 4 the firm acquired 1,283 BTC for $115.97 million, and on Jan. 11 it purchased 13,627 BTC for roughly $1.25 billion. At an average acquisition price of $75,353 per coin, MicroStrategy’s total holdings now stand at 687,410 BTC — about 3.27% of the 21 million maximum Bitcoin supply. That crypto-first strategy, however, has not protected shareholders from pain. MicroStrategy shares closed at $173.71 on Jan. 16 after tumbling more than 52% over the past 12 months. Investor concerns peaked in late 2025 as the company leaned on short-term financing — including convertible notes — to fund its Bitcoin accumulation. MicroStrategy briefly paused purchases in late December and issued new equity to strengthen cash reserves. The firm also weathered a potential index-related headwind when MSCI signaled it might exclude heavily Bitcoin-exposed companies from certain indexes; those plans were later shelved. Together, these developments eased some investor fears and moved the stock away from a year-to-date low near $150, which analysts at crypto.news flagged as a key support level whose breach could have signaled deeper losses. Bitcoin itself remains below the psychological six-figure threshold, so MicroStrategy is not entirely out of the woods. Still, Saylor has repeatedly maintained that the company can tolerate significant market volatility in pursuit of its long-term Bitcoin strategy. Given his recent “Bigger Orange” post and the firm’s history, traders and investors will be watching closely for a confirmation of another sizable acquisition. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Ethereum is seeing record activity as transaction costs slide and network conditions stabilize — a sign that recent technical upgrades are finally unlocking more throughput without the old fee pain. On-chain trackers show daily transactions have climbed past the peaks seen in the 2021 cycle, while average fees have dropped to multi-year lows — now just a fraction of their historic averages. Blockscout data shows average daily transactions increased roughly 14% over the past two weeks, from about 1.8 million to 2.1 million. Why fees are falling as usage rises Network engineers and analysts point to Ethereum’s modular scaling work — especially EIP-4844 and the recent blob-capacity upgrade — as the primary reason. These changes let Layer 2 rollups post bulk data to Ethereum much more cheaply, moving large amounts of transaction data off the main chain while keeping it verifiable. As Dosh, head of BD and growth at Blockscout, put it to Decrypt, the result is a simultaneous rise in throughput and fall in cost that “reflects the success of Ethereum’s modular scaling architecture.” What’s driving the traffic Much of the activity is payment- and stablecoin-related. Blockscout’s analysis shows stablecoin transfers dominate, with Tether’s USDT moving at roughly twice the volume of Circle’s USDC. With gas prices low, this payments activity appears durable and dovetails with broader mainstream payment integrations building on Ethereum rails. Staking and validator health Network stability shows up in staking metrics as well. The validator exit queue — the backlog of validators waiting to leave the proof-of-stake system — has fallen to zero, signaling there isn’t a mass rush to withdraw. Validator exits have decreased from a September 2025 peak of 2.67 million ETH to zero, while about 2.6 million ETH is currently queued to enter staking, the highest level since July 2023. Roughly 30% of all ETH is now staked. Because exits must be signaled and are deliberately delayed to protect security, changes in the queue are closely watched as a gauge of validator confidence. “Virtually no validator exits suggest a balance between operating costs and staking rewards,” Dosh said, adding that it implies stakers are accumulating and keeping capital committed for future flexibility. A caution from Vitalik Even as metrics point to sustainable scaling, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned that long-term health will depend on resisting protocol bloat. “One of my fears with Ethereum protocol development is that we can be too eager to add new features to meet highly specific needs, even if those features bloat the protocol or add entire new types of interacting components or complicated cryptography as critical dependencies,” he wrote. Dosh framed that as a governance concern: every mature software system gathers complexity, and Ethereum is no different. The network can scale sustainably, they said, but it must also “simplify sustainably to preserve long-term resilience and agility.” Bottom line Ethereum’s recent upgrades appear to be delivering: higher transaction volumes, lower costs, and steady validator behavior. The challenge ahead is to keep building capacity without letting the protocol become overly complex — a tension that will shape the next phase of Ethereum’s evolution. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Binance Australia re-enables AUD deposits and withdrawals, restoring PayID instant rails Binance Australia has resumed Australian dollar deposits and withdrawals for verified users, reopening direct fiat on‑ and off‑ramps that were shut after mid‑2023. Multiple reports around Jan. 18, 2026, confirmed the relaunch, which lets customers move funds between their bank accounts and the exchange via PayID and standard bank transfers — including real‑time PayID deposits. The AUD rails were reintroduced progressively after a late‑2025 pilot with a limited group of users, and the broader rollout now covers all verified Australian customers. That ends a period during which locals were forced to rely on higher‑cost or slower alternatives such as debit and credit cards, peer‑to‑peer trading, or third‑party payment gateways following the suspension in mid‑2023. The original halt came after Binance lost access to key local banking partners, including payment provider Cuscal, amid intensified scrutiny from Australian regulators. Card‑based payments continued to operate during the hiatus, but often incurred higher fees and slower settlement than direct bank transfers. Binance says the return of AUD services follows extensive engagement with Australian regulators and upgrades to its compliance framework, including stricter anti‑money‑laundering controls and operational changes aligned with local expectations. Restoring direct banking rails is a notable step in rebuilding trust and functionality in the market. The timing also follows Binance’s broader corporate shifts: on Jan. 5 the exchange completed a major regulatory restructuring to operate under an Abu Dhabi Global Market–regulated structure with licensed entities for trading, clearing, custody and brokerage. The move comes as Binance’s global spot market share had slipped to roughly 25% in December 2025 — its lowest level since early 2021 — amid rising competition and shifting user behavior. For Australian users, the resumption of AUD deposits and withdrawals restores a core exchange feature that had been missing since mid‑2023 and brings Binance back into closer competition with domestic platforms that maintained uninterrupted banking access throughout the regulatory disruption. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Nearly Half of ETH Is Staked — What That Means for Price, Supply and Volatility Ethereum’s staking ecosystem has matured into a major structural force. The official Proof-of-Stake deposit contract now holds 77.85 million ETH — about 46.59% of the total supply and worth roughly $256 billion — according to on-chain trackers. Rather than a sudden lockup, this stake base expanded steadily: deposits are up 38.4% year-over-year, reflecting sustained inflows driven first by improved validator economics and later by growing institutional participation (Santiment/X). Why that matters: removing nearly half of ETH from liquid circulation materially reduces sell-side pressure, which tends to soften downside volatility during pullbacks. At the same time, a smaller float can mute explosive upside in short-term demand surges — fewer coins available to meet sudden buying interest. The buildup has been gradual, with deposits accelerating mainly during strong price runs instead of via abrupt surges. Stakers have signaled strategic intent: many are chasing yield, security, and long-duration exposure rather than quick flips. Over the short term, that tight supply has supported price stability; over the long term, it strengthens ETH’s scarcity narrative. Validator growth has tracked this trend. Active validators increased to roughly 977,000–1.04 million from about 890,000 at the end of 2023, pointing to rising confidence and deeper network participation (Beaconcha.in). Historically, surges in validator entries have often preceded upward price momentum — and the recent pattern of expanding entry queues and depressed exit activity preceded ETH’s move into the $3,300–$4,500 range during 2025–2026 (ValidatorQueue). But risks remain. Exit dynamics are a wild card: if staking yields compress or macro stress forces liquidity needs, exits could be delayed and clustered, potentially reintroducing volatility. In short, staking has removed a large portion of supply and changed how Ethereum reacts to market shocks, but it does not eliminate cyclical risk. Sources: Santiment/X; Beaconcha.in; ValidatorQueue Disclaimer: AMBCrypto’s content is informational and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading carries high risk; do your own research before making decisions. © 2026 AMBCrypto Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Spot Bitcoin ETFs kick off 2026 with their strongest week in months, signaling renewed institutional demand U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs started the new year on a brighter note after a shaky finish to 2025, posting their best weekly performance since early October. According to market data, these crypto-linked investment products attracted a net $1.42 billion over the past week — a sharp reversal from the prior week’s outflows of more than $681 million. Key takeaways - Weekly inflows: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.42 billion in net inflows for the week, the largest weekly haul in nearly three months. Prior to this renewed interest, the funds had amassed roughly $1.26 billion since the week ending Oct. 17, 2025. - Price reaction: Bitcoin rallied alongside the ETF flows, briefly climbing as high as $97,500 before easing to just above $95,000 following a small pullback. - Friday volatility: On Jan. 16 (Friday), ETFs experienced $394.64 million of net outflows, interrupting a four-day streak of inflows. Leading the exits was Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) with $205.22 million withdrawn that day, followed by Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) at $90.38 million. Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) and the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) also posted daily net outflows of $69.42 million and $44.76 million, respectively. - Bright spot: BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) absorbed some of the selling pressure, logging a $15.09 million inflow on Friday and contributing to roughly $1 billion of positive inflows for the fund over the week. Ether ETFs also see momentum The rebound wasn’t limited to BTC products. Ether-focused ETFs enjoyed their own strong week, recording nearly $480 million in inflows over the past seven days, according to SoSoValue — including the largest single-day performance since those products launched. Why it matters The coordinated pickup in ETF demand and BTC price underscores a return of institutional interest in crypto-linked vehicles after late-2025 turbulence. Large, concentrated flows into or out of individual funds — as seen on Friday — can still create short-term volatility, but the overall weekly picture points to renewed appetite from U.S. investors for regulated, spot-backed crypto exposure. Expect continued sensitivity in price and flows as the market digests inflows, occasional withdrawals, and macro news — but for now, Bitcoin ETFs have reclaimed momentum heading into 2026. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: What looked like whale selling may actually be Bitcoin’s healthiest transition — and institutional demand is cleaning up the supply A look under the hood of recent on-chain moves suggests that what many call “whale dumping” could instead be a disciplined, long-term exit strategy that’s helping Bitcoin evolve from niche experiment to institutional-grade market. What happened - On Jan. 18, 2026, Lookonchain flagged another sale by a storied OG holder who’s sat on a roughly 5,000 BTC position for more than a decade. The wallet offloaded about 500 BTC — roughly $47.77 million at current prices — continuing a pattern of measured sales that began in December 2024. - Since that exit strategy began, the holder has methodically shaved their position at six-figure price points, reportedly turning an initial $1.66 million seed investment into a stash worth hundreds of millions while still retaining roughly half of their Bitcoin. Why this isn’t panic selling - The pattern matters: instead of dumping their entire position and risking market disruption, the holder has been selling in small tranches during periods of stronger demand. That preserves upside while reducing concentration and personal risk. - Lookonchain and market observers point out the behavior reads like selling family wealth over time rather than trading a speculative position — a nuance often missed when any large wallet moves coins. On-chain context: Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) - AMBCrypto analyzed Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) — a metric that weights transactions by how long coins were idle before moving (e.g., 1 BTC held 100 days “destroys” 100 coin-days when spent). - CDD spiked in November 2025 amid the sell-off that followed Bitcoin’s $126,000 all-time high, indicating many long-term holders were moving coins at once. - Since then, CDD has cooled to roughly 9.96 million, well below the November spike, suggesting most older holders have largely paused liquidations and the wave of long-term selling has subsided. The short-term risk signal: Exchange Whale Ratio - Not everything is calm. The Exchange Whale Ratio (source: CryptoQuant), which measures the top 10 largest BTC inflows to exchanges as a share of total inflows, is around 0.657 (about 65.7%) — well above the historical red-flag threshold of 0.5. - In plain terms, over two-thirds of BTC entering exchanges right now is coming from just ten very large entities. That concentration leaves the price vulnerable to the actions of a few players, even as long-term selling cools. Putting the signals together - Falling CDD + rising Exchange Whale Ratio = a market where most long-term selling has eased, but near-term liquidity and price moves can still be driven by a handful of big sellers. - That dynamic helps explain why Bitcoin trades in the mid-$90k range (the article cites a price around $95,201) even as long-term holders step back. The institutional angle — why these sales may be constructive - These methodical OG sales also serve a market-building role: they supply the BTC needed for institutional entrants like Spot ETFs and corporate treasuries to establish sizable positions. - AMBCrypto’s mid-January 2026 tally shows institutions absorbed roughly 30,000 BTC in the period — nearly five times the ~5,700 BTC produced by miners in the same window. That indicates strong institutional demand mopping up legacy supply. Bottom line - What looks like an ominous whale move at first blush may be part of a measured transfer of long-held Bitcoin into institutional hands. The result is a structural reset: the frenetic long-term selling of late 2025 appears largely exhausted, replaced by a market increasingly shaped by institutional flows and a smaller set of active large players. - That new market structure reduces panic-driven liquidity shocks from long-term holders but raises the importance of monitoring concentrated flows into exchanges. Disclaimer: This summary is informational and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading carries high risk; do your own research before making financial decisions. © 2026 AMBCrypto Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Berachain (BERA) Pops After “Bera Builds Businesses” Reveal — Technicals Turn Bullish, But TVL Collapse and Refund Clause Raise Red Flags Berachain’s native token BERA vaulted into the spotlight this week, drawing fresh capital and chatter after the foundation rolled out its “Bera Builds Businesses” (BBB) model. The DeFi-focused chain’s token surged 15.48% in the past 24 hours and is up 62.58% over the last seven days, with the most recent rally beginning on January 14 when BERA opened at $0.593. What changed: the BBB model The end-of-year update outlining the BBB initiative was the primary catalyst. Under the plan, the Berachain Foundation said it will “internally build, acquire, or partner closely with a small set of businesses that directly create value” for the BERA token — an explicit shift toward cash-flow-generating operations designed to back token utility and long-term value. Why some investors are cautious Despite the bullish narrative, several material risks remain. Total Value Locked (TVL) on Berachain has collapsed from earlier highs around $3 billion to just $178 million at the time of writing, according to DeFiLlama — a dramatic drawdown that undercuts the network’s on-chain economic heft. Compounding scrutiny, an investigation revealed the chain provided an institutional investor with downside protection — an uncommon and controversial provision in crypto for underperforming assets. A specific refund clause tied to Brevan Howard’s Nova fund expires on February 6, 2026, which has led some market participants to question whether the current price momentum is organically driven or influenced by that timeline. Technical picture On the daily chart (BERA/USDT, TradingView), the token remains deeply below its October peak — about 69.64% off the $3.08 high recorded in the first week of October — but technical indicators are showing renewed strength. The 1-day structure is beginning to look bullish: the RSI sits above 60, signaling strong momentum, and On-Balance Volume (OBV) has posted new highs, reflecting heavy buying pressure. Those signals could fuel further upside, but they coexist with the broader fundamental concerns noted above. Takeaway BERA’s short-term breakout has gotten traders excited, and the BBB strategy offers a clearer path toward cash-flow orientation. Yet the sharp TVL decline and the contentious downside-protection/refund clause mean risk is elevated. Market participants should proceed cautiously, consider profit-taking strategies, and do their own research before making decisions. Sources: BERA/USDT chart (TradingView); TVL data (DeFiLlama). This article is informational and not investment advice — trading cryptocurrencies carries significant risk. © 2026 AMBCrypto. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news