Coinspeaker

Amboss Technologies launched RailsX, a Lightning-native, peer-to-peer (P2P) decentralized exchange, at the PlanB Forum in El Salvador on Jan. 30, 2026.

Unlike other exchanges that build separate protocol layers, RailsX executes trades entirely via the Lightning Network. Transactions work as circular self-payments: funds route through existing Lightning channels, exchange assets atomically, then loop back to the sender. This eliminates custodial intermediaries and cross-chain bridge risks while maintaining Bitcoin’s security model.

ANNOUNCING RailsX:The most powerful tool for financial access, advancing Bitcoin's core principles of sovereignty and decentralization.

RailsX empowers peer-to-peer (P2P) trading with Lightning, enabling KYC-free, trading P2P in self-custody. Lightning is a now a DEX.

⚡️🧵 pic.twitter.com/IQepZozlpb

— AMBOSS ⚡ (@ambosstech) January 30, 2026

“RailsX represents the next unstoppable step in Bitcoin’s evolution, delivering true financial freedom to users worldwide through scalable P2P trading in self-custody,” Jesse Shrader, CEO of Amboss Technologies stated in their announcement.

The platform builds on five years of development, integrating Amboss’s Magma liquidity marketplace with its Rails automated liquidity service.

A first peak of the user interface for RailsX | Source: Amboss blog

Bitcoin DeFi Just Had its Breakout in Recent Years

RailsX launches into a growing Bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin BTC $83 909 24h volatility: 0.5% Market cap: $1.68 T Vol. 24h: $80.46 B DeFi total value locked surged 2000% in 2024, jumping from $307 million in January to $6.5 billion by year’s end. Babylon, a staking protocol, drove most of that growth, accounting for over 80% of the sector’s TVL. Despite the current bearish market, the Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem had close to $6.11 billion in total value locked on Jan. 30, according to DefiLlama.

In June 2025, Lightning Labs released Taproot Assets v0.6, enabling multi-asset support on Lightning for the first time. Suddenly, stablecoins could move through Lightning channels at a fraction of the cost of traditional transfers.

Tether saw the opportunity. The company committed to issuing USDT as a Taproot Asset and pumped $8 million into Speed1 to scale Lightning stablecoin payments. Speed already handled $1.5 billion in annual volume for 1.2 million users with instant settlement.

Bitcoin DeFi still trails Ethereum $66 billion TVL, but the gap is closing. RailsX connects Bitcoin-stablecoin pairs to the $9.5 trillion daily forex market, according to the company. Processing costs hit 0.29% in optimized configurations, though real-world fees depend on channel liquidity.

Success hinges on whether Lightning can handle actual trading volume—something DEXs have promised for years but rarely delivered at scale.

next

The post Amboss Unveils RailsX: Lightning DEX Connects Bitcoin to $9.5 Trillion FX Market appeared first on Coinspeaker.

President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he will nominate Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chairman. The decision sets up a closely watched Senate confirmation process at a time when markets are highly sensitive to changes in monetary leadership. Warsh previously served at the Fed from 2006 to 2011 and later held senior roles in investment banking and policy advisory circles.

This pushed a rapid shift in prediction markets that saw Warsh’s odds surge past BlackRock’s Rick Rieder overnight. Bitcoin BTC $82 382 24h volatility: 1.7% Market cap: $1.64 T Vol. 24h: $78.37 B traded lower on the news, falling to $82,700.

Warsh’s Policy Record and Institutional Standing

Trump described Warsh as a long-time acquaintance and praised his economic judgment, framing the pick as a move toward restoring discipline at the central bank.

The nomination follows months of criticism from the administration toward the Fed’s handling of inflation, balance sheet expansion, and post-pandemic policy normalization. Powell’s term as chair expires in May, making Warsh’s confirmation timeline a near-term focus for investors.

During his tenure at the Fed, Warsh played a role in crisis-era decision-making and later emerged as a vocal critic of prolonged ultra-loose monetary policy. He has repeatedly called for what he describes as a regime change at the central bank. He argues that extended asset purchases and large balance sheets distort markets and weaken policy credibility. Those views align with a more hawkish approach than the one associated with the Powell era.

Warsh has also taken a more nuanced stance on digital assets, suggesting in past public remarks that Bitcoin could act as a form of market discipline rather than a threat to monetary sovereignty. That position has drawn attention from crypto market participants, though his broader policy framework remains focused on inflation control and fiscal restraint. For institutional investors, the nomination underscores the likelihood of tighter oversight of liquidity conditions if Warsh is confirmed.

Market and Political Implications

Financial markets had largely priced in Warsh as the leading candidate ahead of the announcement, with the dollar strengthening and Treasury yields rising earlier in the week. The nomination comes as investors are already adjusting portfolios amid uncertainty around fiscal negotiations and the risk of a partial government shutdown. Gold and silver prices fell sharply on Jan. 30, though analysts cautioned against attributing the move solely to the Fed chair pick.

The confirmation process is expected to be contentious, with Senate lawmakers likely to probe Warsh’s past criticism of Fed interventions and regulatory policy. His nomination adds another layer of uncertainty to an already complex macro environment, as markets assess how a change in leadership could reshape the Fed’s reaction function over the next cycle.

next

The post Trump Nominates Pro-Bitcoin Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve Chair appeared first on Coinspeaker.

The Ethereum Foundation is entering a period of mild austerity as it pushes a busy roadmap and long-term survival. The organization wants to stay lean while it funds work on scaling, security, and user privacy, according to statements from Vitalik Buterin.

Ethereum Foundation Sets Austerity Plan

The Ethereum Foundation said the move is meant to balance two goals. First is to deliver an aggressive roadmap that keeps Ethereum ETH $2 741 24h volatility: 5.7% Market cap: $330.68 B Vol. 24h: $49.01 B scalable, robust, and decentralized. Second is to make sure the organization itself can last for many years while guarding Ethereum’s core values.

In a recent post on social media, Vitalik Buterin explained that the focus is not only on the core blockchain but also on how users access and use it. He stressed self-sovereignty, security, and privacy as key needs for users.

As part of this period, Buterin said he will take on work that in the past might have been handled as special projects by the foundation. He pointed to a push for open source, secure, and verifiable tools across software and hardware. These tools touch finance, communication, governance systems, operating systems, and secure hardware.

In these five years, the Ethereum Foundation is entering a period of mild austerity, in order to be able to simultaneously meet two goals:

1. Deliver on an aggressive roadmap that ensures Ethereum's status as a performant and scalable world computer that does not compromise on…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 30, 2026

He also mentioned biotech and public health tools, plus privacy-focused apps. Past support for encrypted messaging, local first software, and privacy tools shows the direction he plans to keep backing.

It is important to state that while speaking on his plans for the year, Coinspeaker reported that Vitalik Buterin plans a full return to decentralized social networking this year.

Ethereum Focus Shifts to Open and User Needs

Vitalik Buterin said he has withdrawn 16,384 ETH. That money will be used over the next few years to support these open and verifiable projects. He said he’s also looking at secure decentralized staking so that future staking rewards can fund the same goals.

He made clear that Ethereum remains a key part of this wider vision. The Ethereum Foundation will keep building the blockchain with openness and verifiability in mind.

He added that the priority is not “Ethereum everywhere” but “Ethereum for people who need it.” The aim is to give people and communities tools for autonomy and safety, with technology that is truly open and can be checked, not closed systems sold at high fees.

In a separate development, Vitalik Buterin says his Web3 vision is now taking shape. He noted that ZK-EVMs and decentralized storage let builders create lasting tools that can replace restrictive corporate software.

next

The post Mild Austerity Hits Ethereum Foundation, Here Is What Will Change appeared first on Coinspeaker.

The IG Group Independent Reserve acquisition reached a key milestone on Jan. 30 after regulatory clearance in Singapore. The London-based trading firm confirmed it has fully taken over the Australian crypto exchange. Notably, this set the stage for a wider regulated crypto offering across several major markets later this year.

Independent Reserve Acquisition Gains Regulatory Backing

As reported by London South East, IG Group first announced the deal in September, placing its initial value at AUD178 million, which is about £86.8 million.

The purchase gives IG Group direct access to a licensed crypto exchange with operations rooted in Australia and a growing presence in Asia.

Independent Reserve is known for serving retail and institutional clients with a focus on compliance and security. By finalizing the Independent Reserve acquisition, IG strengthens its position in digital asset trading without starting from scratch.

The exchange will continue operating under its existing leadership, with CEO and co-founder Adrian Przelozny remaining in place. IG Group said the transaction fits into its long-term plan to expand beyond traditional trading products.

Notably, the company has been cautious with crypto in the past, choosing regulated routes instead of high-risk expansion. This approach appears to have guided the Independent Reserve acquisition from the start.

Expansion Plans Following Independent Reserve Acquisition

Following the Independent Reserve acquisition, IG Group plans to roll out a crypto trading service powered by the exchange in Singapore, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. The launch is expected in the second half of 2026, subject to local rules in each market.

It is worth mentioning that the company has been making major moves in the crypto market. For example, in 2025, IG Group launched spot trading for Bitcoin BTC $83 105 24h volatility: 5.2% Market cap: $1.66 T Vol. 24h: $94.07 B , Ethereum ETH $2 741 24h volatility: 5.7% Market cap: $330.68 B Vol. 24h: $49.01 B , and XRP XRP $1.76 24h volatility: 5.0% Market cap: $107.06 B Vol. 24h: $5.07 B , expanding its offering for retail investors.

Matt Macklin, who oversees IG operations in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, said the deal supports rising demand for digital assets in those regions. He noted that the Independent Reserve acquisition adds technical depth while keeping customer protection at the center.

At the time of the announcement, IG Group shares were trading at 1,351 pence, reflecting a 33% rise over the past year. For IG Group, the Independent Reserve acquisition marks a clear step toward regulated crypto growth rather than speculative exposure.

next

The post IG Group Completes Independent Reserve Crypto Exchange Acquisition appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Investors are comparing Bitcoin BTC $82 413 24h volatility: 6.1% Market cap: $1.65 T Vol. 24h: $90.77 B and gold as macro and geopolitical tensions impact both assets, triggering significant liquidations.

Gold recorded an all-time high of $5,608 per ounce on Jan. 29, according to Trading Economics data.

However, the asset, with a market cap of just over $36 trillion, fell by 4.7% over the past day to $5,180.

Macro Pressures Weigh on Bitcoin and Gold

Bitcoin has been on a downward spiral since the US Fed’s interest rate decision, which remained unchanged on Jan. 28.

The leading cryptocurrency fell 6.25% in 24 hours and is trading at $82,600 at the time of writing.

Since the Fed signaled no urgency for cutting the interest rates, risk assets like cryptocurrencies tend to lose appeal when investors can earn safe returns elsewhere. In this case, cash, bonds, and money-market funds become more attractive.

Negative sentiment over US tariffs on the EU also adds to the pressure

In addition to the macro pressure from the US, the geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran have also been acting as a major catalyst for selling risk assets.

Investors are now drawing comparisons between Bitcoin and gold.

🗣️ According to social media data, these coins lead rising discussions across X, Reddit, Telegram, 4Chan, Farcaster, & BitcoinTalk:

🪙 Bitcoin $BTC: Extensive discussions about its value proposition compared to gold and other assets. Debates focus on whether BTC serves as a… pic.twitter.com/SttYcPwd4S

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) January 30, 2026

 

According to the Santiment analysis, investors are unsure whether Bitcoin should be seen as digital gold, a long-term store of value, or simply a risky investment.

These discussions look at how Bitcoin behaves in the market, how it moves with or against gold, and whether its main use is everyday payments or holding it over time.

Crypto Market Sees $1.7B Liquidated as 275K Traders Affected

The macro pressure brought the crypto market significantly down again. The global crypto market capitalization decreased by 5.9% to $2.8 trillion in 24 hours, with a $220 billion selloff.

On Jan. 29, Bitcoin alone lost $85 billion of its value in just four hours. The market sentiment fell back into the fear zone, CMC data shows.

With the latest decline, total crypto liquidations rose 385% to $1.71 billion in just 24 hours, including $1.59 billion in long positions and $117 million in shorts, according to Coinglass data.

Data shows that just over 275,300 traders have been affected by the latest liquidations, with the largest wiped out position valued at $80.5 million in the BTC/USDT pair on the HTX crypto exchange.

When long liquidations dominate the market, the investor sentiment turns to fear, uncertainty and doubt, triggering further selloffs.

US-based spot BTC exchange-traded funds also recorded a net outflow of $817.9 million, according to SoSoValue data.

Spot Ethereum ETFs registered a $155.6 million selloff, and investment products connected to XRP XRP $1.74 24h volatility: 6.9% Market cap: $105.97 B Vol. 24h: $5.01 B saw a $92.9 million outflow.

next

The post Crypto Selloff Explained: Bitcoin vs. Gold and 275K Traders Affected appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Sygnum, a digital asset banking group based in Switzerland and Singapore, and Starboard Digital have successfully raised a reported 750 Bitcoin BTC $84 263 24h volatility: 5.4% Market cap: $1.68 T Vol. 24h: $70.02 B worth approximately $65 million in seed funding after launching the Starboard Sygnum BTC Alpha Fund.

The Starboard Sygnum BTC Alpha Fund is an actively managed, yield-generating Bitcoin fund that was launched on Oct. 22, 2025. According to a Jan. 29 press release, it reached an annualized 8.9% net return in BTC for Q4 2025.

📣 News: Sygnum and Starboard Digital raise over 750 BTC for BTC Alpha Fund

▪️ Over 750 BTC raised from professional investors in first four months, validating institutional demand for yield-generating Bitcoin strategies▪️ First regulated bank globally to offer market-neutral… pic.twitter.com/1PTHym83RW

— Sygnum Bank (@sygnumofficial) January 29, 2026

Starboard Digital founder Nikolas Skarlatos, in a statement, described the fund’s success as a validation of institutional-grade Bitcoin yield strategies and targets of 8%-10% annual returns across market conditions. Sygnum Head of Portfolio Management Markus Hämmerli echoed that sentiment, saying the performance demonstrated that “professional Bitcoin management can deliver meaningful results even when spot markets are flat or declining.”

Delta-neutral BTC arbitrage trading

The fund’s stated goal is to achieve between 8 and 10 percent growth through market-neutral arbitrage trading with payouts in Bitcoin. This strategy is often referred to as “delta-neutral” as it exploits both the difference between spot and derivatives market.

With the Starboard Sygnum BTC Alpha Fund, the profits generated from these arbitrage trades are converted back into Bitcoin. This allows the investor’s total BTC balance to grow over time whether Bitcoin is up, down, or neutral.

Sygnum also says that fund shares are eligible as collateral for Lombard loans, which allows investors to access liquidity without reducing their Bitcoin exposure.

The early success of the Alpha fund through Q4 2025 demonstrates the potential for Sygnum and Starboard’s strategy to provide a bulwark against market fluctuations. The fourth quarter saw the price of Bitcoin fall from well over $100,000 to below $90,000. As of the time of this article’s publication BTC is trading at approximately $84,000.

next

The post Swiss Digital Bank Sygnum Raises 750 Bitcoin ($65M) for BTC Alpha Fund appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Long-term Ethereum supporters, known as “OGs” are transforming remnants of the network’s most famous crisis into a major security boost. This refers to $220 million of locked funds from TheDAO hack from 2016 and a recent movement from Vitalik Buterin together with other Ethereum OGs to build a security fund with that idle money.

Laura Shin broke the story in an exclusive Unchained report published on Jan. 29. Griff Green, a curator from the original DAO and member of the White Hat rescue group, is leading the effort alongside other early contributors and Vitalik Buterin, according to Shin.

EXCLUSIVE: Ethereum OGs and @VitalikButerin to create a $220 million Ethereum security fund 🤯

You'll never guess where the money comes from … pic.twitter.com/KbfuQI6FX3

— Laura Shin (@laurashin) January 29, 2026

The funds come from two untouched pools left after the 2016 hack recovery. One of them is the ExtraBalance contract with 70,500 ETH and the curator multisig holding assets worth $13.5 million. At current prices, the 70,500 ETH are worth more than $200 million.

Most of the Ethereum ETH $2 810 24h volatility: 6.6% Market cap: $339.24 B Vol. 24h: $37.77 B —69,420 ETH—will be staked to create a sustainable income stream, while the rest supports immediate grants. Distribution will use quadratic funding, retroactive awards, and ranked-choice voting to stay true to DAO roots.

The Ethereum Foundation will define eligibility for each round, with operational help from Green’s organization Giveth. Supported work includes auditors like Trail of Bits and OpenZeppelin, incident response teams like SEAL 911, research platforms such as L2Beat, and user tools including Revoke.cash and Blockaid.

Notably, Green told Unchained the untouched funds have grown significantly over the decade. He sees the timing as right to direct them toward making Ethereum more secure. The move also seeks to rekindle DAO development, which Green described as at a low point amid regulatory hurdles and paused projects.

“It’s 2026 and we never touched any of those funds. They’ve appreciated substantially. And so it’s time. It’s time to put them to work to make Ethereum safer and more secure,” Griff Green told Laura Shin.

The 2016 DAO Hack and Its Lasting Impact

The original DAO raised over $150 million in 2016 but suffered a major exploit that drained millions in ETH. At that time, the community hard fork returned most of the funds but split the chain, birthing Ethereum Classic—an event Coinspeaker covered at the time.

Nearly ten years later, recent Ethereum upgrades continue prioritizing security and resilience. Coinspeaker reported on Jan. 12, 2026, on Vitalik Buterin’s comments about the network passing a “walkway test” for long-term independence.

Developers are also advancing the Hegota upgrade to improve censorship resistance. Buterin has also been advocating for better, not bigger DAO governance designs—aligning with this fund’s community-focused approach.

next

The post Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum OGs to Create a $220M Security Fund from TheDAO appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Despite the US Dollar Index falling more than 10% over the past year, Bitcoin BTC $83 897 24h volatility: 6.3% Market cap: $1.68 T Vol. 24h: $64.87 B price has failed to show strength, leaving investors confused. On the other hand, a weakening dollar is pushing precious metals like gold and silver to fresh highs. JPMorgan strategists explain the reason why BTC is failing to catch up despite the USD weakness.

Why Bitcoin Price Underperformed Despite US Dollar Index Drop

Historically, BTC price usually moves in the opposite direction to the USD.

Explaining the linearity between USD and BTC over the past year, JPMorgan strategists noted that the weakness in USD is being driven largely by short-term flows and market sentiment, rather than a fundamental shift in US growth or monetary policy expectations.

They noted that US rate differentials continue to favor the dollar, suggesting the move may not be structural.

Furthermore, the bank noted that the US dollar weakness could be temporary, and any recovery in the US economy could lead to a surge in the dollar index. This is the reason why BTC hasn’t acted as a traditional hedge to the US dollar. Yuxuan Tang, JPMorgan Private Bank’s head of macro strategy in Asia, explained:

“It’s crucial to note that the recent dollar slide isn’t about shifts in growth or monetary policy expectations. If anything, interest rate differentials have actually moved in the USD’s favor since the start of the year. What we’re seeing now, much like last April, is a USD selloff driven primarily by flows and sentiment.”

Gold Dominating BTC as Store of Value

With the gold price hitting $5,500 historic high amid the USD weakness, Bitcoin price has remained rangebound. This shows that BTC is trading more like a liquidity-sensitive risk asset instead of being a store of value.

Until currency markets are driven by growth and rate dynamics rather than by flows and sentiment, JPMorgan believes Bitcoin may continue to lag traditional macro hedges. The $1.8 billion outflows from US Bitcoin ETFs over the past week also show waning institutional confidence in BTC.

💸 Bitcoin ETF's have seen significant money moving out leading up to today's FOMC decision. Since January 15th, the last 7 full trading days have had a total of -$1.86B in net outflows.

🔗 Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana money flows and trading volume. https://t.co/QJvmafU9xX pic.twitter.com/Eed0rLmTRb

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) January 28, 2026

Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff said that digital gold Bitcoin is losing its shine over the yellow metal.

Bitcoin is melting down in terms of real money. Priced in gold, Bitcoin is down 56% from its November 2021 peak. This slow melt is about to turn into a fast burn. Before the fire ignites, trade your Bitcoin in for gold right now. Schiff Gold makes it easy. https://t.co/GGNU9tT9EQ

— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) January 29, 2026

The latest Glassnode report said Bitcoin is consolidating amid subdued trading volumes. It added that the spot demand is showing little signs of recovery, while options are positioned on the bearish side.

Bitcoin long-term holder net position | Source: Glassnode

The on-chain analytics firm added that long-term holders have sold roughly 143,000 BTC over the past 30 days. This marks the fastest distribution since August 2025.

next

The post Why Dropping US Dollar Index Isn’t Pumping Bitcoin Price, JPMorgan Explains appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Intersect on X shared a detailed article on future Cardano upgrades, which are designed to increase in frequency. This insight comes as the blockchain approaches the Intra-era hard fork to Protocol Version 11.

Two Cuts for Cardano Nodes

In the X post, Intersect shared new details on the small intra-era upgrade. With the hard fork, it means that transaction shape will not change, minimizing ecosystem upgrade effort. Its focus will be to deliver performance boosts for Plutus, new cryptographic capabilities via builtins, and cleaner ledger rules, without breaking existing contracts.

For now, the team is in the first stages of the upgrade process, with a focus on socialization and planning. Meanwhile, the IOE teams are investing effort and resources into cutting two releases of the Cardano Node. The first one will be Pre-Release Cardano Node 10.6.2 with a target release within one week.

This pre-release node contains hard fork functionality, and its target is to get the hard fork features into the community’s hands as soon as possible. It is also involved in SanchoNet testing. This is aimed towards getting the ball rolling and engaging stakeholders before a Hard Fork candidate node is prepared.

Ultimately, it spotlighted Cardano Node 10.7.0, which has its target release within three weeks. This is the mainnet hard-fork-ready candidate release. It will be used to fork features like Preview, PreProd, and then Mainnet. Formal benchmarking and performance tests were run on this node.

Past Hard Fork Upgrades on Cardano

This update comes exactly a year after Cardano’s Plomin hard fork went live. It marked the introduction of decentralized governance to the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain network. The Plomin hard fork requires Stake Pool Operators to update their nodes and approve the upgrade through a 51% majority vote.

At the time, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson was pushing for decentralized governance. He talked about how Cardano’s Voltaire-era governance aims to strike a balance between decentralization and efficient decision-making, addressing a gap in the blockchain industry.

Cardano’s Chang hard fork is another key upgrade that boosted decentralized governance on the protocol. The focus was on empowering the Cardano community through on-chain governance features. ADA holders were granted the power to elect representatives (Delegate Representatives or dReps) and participate in voting on crucial proposals.

next

The post Cardano Hard Fork Teased, Here’s What to Expect appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Institutional trading infrastructure firm Talos has announced the successful completion of a $45 million Series B extension, bringing total funding for the round to $150 million at a valuation of approximately $1.5 billion.

According to a Jan. 29 press release, Talos extended the initial round to accommodate interest from strategic partners.

The extension received participation from Robinhood Markets, Sony Innovation Fund, IMC, QCP and Karatage with returning investors a16z crypto, BNY and Fidelity Investments contributing additional funding.

As Coinspeaker reported, the firm reached a $1.25 billion valuation on the successful closing of the initial Series B round, raising $105 million in May 2022. That round was led by General Atlantic with participation from Stripe, BNY Mellon, Citi, Wells Fargo Strategic Capital, Voyager, Andreessen Horowitz, PayPal Ventures and Fidelity Investments.

Talos has closed a $45M Series B extension, bringing our total Series B funding to $150M. ➡️ Read more: https://t.co/g3ZHG6n5SH

The extension brings strategic partners in closer alignment with Talos as we continue building the unified, front-to-back infrastructure institutions… pic.twitter.com/n1KhOvFvkN

— Talos (@talostrading) January 29, 2026

Per the press release, an undisclosed portion of the Series B investment was settled using stablecoins. This follows a growing adoption trend with several firms in the digital assets space opting to receive at least partial funding directly onchain.

Cryptocurrency payments firm Mesh, for example, announced the successful closing of its Series C funding round on Jan. 27, with some of its funding also settled via stablecoin. While the exact amount wasn’t disclosed, the shift signals rising trust levels in the use of blockchain rails for funding.

Expanding Core Infrastructure for Digital Assets

Talos initially earmarked the Series B funds to expand its institutional-grade digital asset platform and pursue further expansion into Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

However, the firm has experienced significant growth in the time between the May 2022 funding round and its 2026 extension. After obtaining unicorn status in 2022 with a $1.25 billion valuation, the company reported $27.2 million in revenue in 2023 and $45.5 million in revenue in June 2025, marking an increase of nearly $18 million in just two years.

The successful funding rounds and numerous strategic partnerships have since positioned Talos Trading as a full-service digital assets infrastructure provider focused on developing institutional-grade technology, essentially functioning as an end-to-end operating system supporting the full digital asset investment lifecycle, including liquidity sourcing, price discovery, trading, settlement and portfolio management.

next

The post Talos Reaches $1.5B Valuation on $150M Series B with Robinhood, Sony Participation appeared first on Coinspeaker.

The leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin BTC $83 897 24h volatility: 6.3% Market cap: $1.68 T Vol. 24h: $64.87 B , has just erased more than $85 billion of its market capitalization in less than four hours, facing more than $200 million in liquidations in the same period, post US market opening.

By the time of this writing, BTC was trading at $84,437, down 5.83% in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap on Jan. 29. With that, Bitcoin saw its nearly $1.70 trillion capitalization losing approximately $85 billion in a sudden crash that affected the entire crypto market.

Bitcoin (BTC) market data and price as of January 29, 2026 | Source: CoinMarketCap

Bitcoin’s 24-hour exchange volume raised by 20% to $51 billion, representing 3% of its market cap. The crash started just a few minutes after the United States stock market opened in the red on Jan. 29. Both the S&P 500, the US dollar index, gold, silver, and other leading assets are trading at losses intraday.

Nevertheless, a drop to this price region was already expected by prominent analysts like CrypNuevo. The analyst has been warning of this possibility for over a month, arguing that BTC would need to revisit a price range between $80,000 and $84,000 before it was ready to seek new highs above $100,000.

$BTC update:

The projection is still playing out perfectly. Bitcoin has just retested the range lows.

As we mentioned on Sunday, the bearish acceptance below the mid-range was signaling another drop to the range lows.

This projection from 1 month ago is 90% completed here 🔨😮 https://t.co/5EAD52V9FM pic.twitter.com/3NSUfptLFM

— CrypNuevo 🔨 (@CrypNuevo) January 29, 2026

Crypto Traders Face $500M Liquidations in 4 Hours

Notably, this aggressive price drop caused a new cascade of liquidations, most from long positions, in a short time frame (four hours), according to CoinGlass data.

Overall, $500 million were erased from leveraged trading positions in the past four hours of this writing—$471 million of which were from longs.

Bitcoin alone saw $206 million in four-hour liquidations, $202 million of that coming from long positions.

In a higher time frame, more than 200,000 crypto traders saw more than $800 million in liquidations in the last 24 hours. The single largest liquidation happened in the BTC-USD pair on Hyperliquid, at a nominal value of $31 million. It was a long position.

Liquidation heatmap and total liquidations (4-hour), as of January 29, 2026 | Source: CoinGlass

Interestingly, these numbers, while terrifying, are nowhere close to the $19.35 billion liquidations crypto faced on Oct. 10.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could now be ready to rebound after erasing these liquidation clusters to the downside—accumulated since late 2025. However, this could only happen if macroeconomics and geopolitical affairs contribute to risk-on liquidity, which is highly uncertain at this point.

On that note, JPMorgan explained that BTC is not acting as a hedge to the falling US dollar, unlike precious metals like gold, silver, and copper that saw expressive rallies this week.

next

The post Bitcoin Erases $85B in 4 Hours as Crypto Faces $500M Liquidations appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange Bybit is set to roll out retail banking services on its platform by February. Dubbed “My Bank powered by Bybit,” this new product will let customers with accounts hold balances in USD as well as other fiat currencies. It plans to achieve this in collaboration with partner banks.

Bybit Recovers from $1.4 Billion Hack

According to a Bloomberg report, Bybit plans to start offering banking services, including the launch of accounts with FX capabilities. Pave Bank, a startup lender licensed in the Eastern European country of Georgia, is one of the partner banks that Bybit will engage in this new initiative.

According to Bybit CEO Ben Zhou, these MyBank accounts will come with an International Bank Account Number (IBAN). This allows customers to transfer up to 18 currencies in and out of the different financial institutions that fall under its partner banks. Users will be granted access to their personal bank accounts after they complete Know Your Customer (KYC) verification.

Upon its completion, they are permitted to deposit fiat currency, pay bills, receive salaries and trade crypto. This will all be done under their name.

The initiative is still waiting to receive regulatory approvals, after which it will go live. This signals the exchange’s recovery from the $1.4 million hack that almost handicapped the firm in 2025. Clearly, Bybit has moved past that unfortunate event and is now expanding its operations without fail.

Bybit Expands Its Operations

In December 2025, Bybit expanded its business to the United Kingdom and re-entered the country to meet the rising demand for crypto platforms. It ensured that its services are compliant with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) financial promotion standards.

Bybit is also supported by FCA-authorized firm Archax, which acts as its regulated financial promotion approver in the UK.

Its target users get access to spot trading on 100 pairs and P2P, supported by deep global liquidity and robust operational standards.

A few weeks before its re-entry into the UK, Bybit partnered with stablecoin issuer Circle to expand USDC services across the Bybit stack. They are focused on enhancing USDC liquidity across spot and derivatives markets, extending existing fiat-to-crypto on/off-ramps. The duo will also expand USDC integration throughout Bybit platform services such as Bybit Card, Bybit Earn, and Bybit Savings.

next

The post Bybit to Launch Retail Bank Accounts appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Hang Seng Investment, one of Hong Kong’s asset managers, recently debuted its physical gold-pegged exchange traded fund (ETF).

The ”Hang Seng Gold ETF” was launched on January 29 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the ticker “03170.”

The new fund has a conventional approach as well as a tokenized class of units.

Hang Seng Gold ETF Records 9% Boost

The new Hang Seng Gold ETF tracks the LBMA Gold Price AM while holding bullion stashed in designated vaults in Hong Kong, per the product disclosures.

It features a tokenized share class issued on Ethereum ETH $2 906 24h volatility: 3.8% Market cap: $351.62 B Vol. 24h: $23.60 B with the possibility of extending to other public blockchains in the near future.

This reinforces the growing merger of traditional commodity ETFs and blockchain-based fund infrastructure.

Though domiciled on the Ethereum public blockchain, distributors are not authorized to push out these tokenized ETFs in secondary markets.

Any eligible and interested investor is required to subscribe to or redeem the product exclusively through qualified distributors.

According to Hang Seng’s product page, the units are still not open for subscription but will be released as soon as relevant approvals are secured.

During the Asia morning trading hours, the new fund went up by roughly 9%, hinting at positive momentum in the market.

HSBC is acting as the tokenization agent for the product. The development comes as Hong Kong continues efforts to position itself as a crypto asset hub through new regulatory frameworks and policies aimed at attracting digital asset firms.

Hong Kong Authorities Tightens Crypto Efforts

In December 2025, Hong Kong Insurance Authority announced its intention to allow insurance providers to invest capital in digital assets such as cryptocurrency and other risk ventures such as infrastructure.

Insurance providers are also expected to pay a 100% risk charge. This means that they would have to match every dollar invested in crypto or other approved vehicles 1-for-1 as a means to avoid risking policyholder funds.

More recently, Hong Kong Securities and Futures Professionals Association pushed back against proposed regulatory changes that would require traditional asset managers to obtain full virtual asset licenses even for minimal cryptocurrency exposure.

The proposed rules require that a portfolio manager with only 1% allocated to Bitcoin BTC $87 575 24h volatility: 2.4% Market cap: $1.75 T Vol. 24h: $45.59 B would need a complete virtual asset management license.

next

The post Hang Seng Launches Ethereum Based Tokenized Gold ETF appeared first on Coinspeaker.

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has approved USDU, the country’s first USD-backed stablecoin. The approval came on Thursday under the Payment Token Services Regulation. Notably, the stablecoin is backed one-to-one by the US dollar and operates under direct central bank oversight.

This is the first time a dollar-denominated stablecoin has received formal approval from the UAE central bank. The token is now part of the country’s regulated payment system rather than sitting outside the banking framework.

Universal launches USDU – the UAE’s first Central Bank-registered USD stablecoin.

Issued by an FSRA-regulated entity in @ADGlobalMarket, USDU is supported by banking partners @EmiratesNBD_AE , @MashreqTweets, and @almaryahbank with global distribution via @aquanow, and alignment… pic.twitter.com/LisFKmBMxd

— Universal (@Universal_USDU) January 29, 2026

 

It is also important to note that Aquanow, a crypto financial services provider, has been appointed as the global distribution partner. A press release said that the firm will help in “expanding institutional access to USDU across multiple markets.”

Regulatory Structure and Issuance Model

USDU is issued and managed by Universal Digital. The firm operates under the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market. With this approval, Universal Digital has become the first Foreign Payment Token Issuer registered by the UAE central bank.

USDU is registered as a foreign payment token. This allows a USD-pegged digital asset to function inside a bank-regulated settlement environment. The framework gives legal clarity on issuance, custody, and reserve handling.

Moreover, USDU reserves are held fully in US dollars while funds sit in safeguarded on-shore accounts at Emirates NBD and Mashreq. The backing remains one-to-one at all times. Also, Mbank supports Universal Digital as a core corporate banking partner.

“We see growing institutional interest in regulated digital-value instruments, and Universal’s introduction of USDU is a timely step that supports this market’s maturation,” said Mashreq exec Joel Van Dusen.

Parallel Expansion in Real-World Crypto Use

At the same time, Dubai Insurance has launched a crypto insurance wallet. Policyholders can now pay premiums and receive claims in digital assets, including stablecoins. This is the first service of its type in the UAE insurance market.

📈🚨BREAKING🚨📈

Dubai Insurance has launched a crypto wallet that lets policyholders pay premiums and receive claims settlements in digital assets through Zodia Custody, marking the first such offering in the UAE insurance sector.

It’s coming and we are still SO early!!… pic.twitter.com/2924aPaJWr

— LiaSue ☄️ (@TruthTrencher) January 29, 2026

 

The wallet runs on infrastructure from Zodia Custody, a crypto custody firm backed by Standard Chartered. The setup focuses on institutional security and regulatory alignment.

next

The post UAE Debuts First Central Bank-Approved Stablecoin USDU appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Metaplanet has approved a new equity financing to raise up to ¥20.7 billion, or about $135-137 million, to expand its Bitcoin BTC $87 575 24h volatility: 2.4% Market cap: $1.75 T Vol. 24h: $45.59 B holdings. The decision was finalized at a board meeting on January 29. Notably, the Tokyo-listed firm will issue new shares and stock acquisition rights through a third-party allotment, with most of the capital reserved for Bitcoin purchases in 2026.

The company said the funding is part of its ongoing Bitcoin treasury strategy. Management confirmed that Bitcoin accumulation remains a core priority, alongside the expansion of its Bitcoin income generation business.

*Notice Regarding Issuance of New Shares and 25th Series Stock Acquisition Rights through Third-Party Allotment* pic.twitter.com/upB0YnvaXT

— Metaplanet Inc. (@Metaplanet) January 29, 2026

Structure of the Offering

The placement includes 24.5 million new common shares priced at ¥499 per share. This represents a 5% premium to the prior close and will raise roughly ¥12.24 billion ($80 million) upfront. Each share will be issued with 0.65 stock acquisition rights.

If fully exercised, the rights will convert into about 15.9 million additional shares at a fixed price of ¥547 ($3.57) per share, which is about 15% above the previous close. The warrants are valid for one year and are not market-price adjusted. Full exercise would raise an additional ¥8.8 billion ($57.5 million).

The payment and allotment date is Feb. 13. The exercise window for the warrants runs from February 16 through Feb. 15 of the following year. It is important to note that transfers of the stock acquisition rights will require board approval.

Moreover, the offering is mainly aimed at overseas investors. According to Metaplanet’s Director of Bitcoin Strategy, Dylan LeClair, the structure allows the firm to raise capital at a premium while using share price volatility to its advantage.

Note, the 65% warrant coverage exercisable at ¥547 for 1-year are fixed strike (not MS warrants).

The financing structure of enables Metaplanet to capitalize upon the volatility of its common stock to sell shares at a premium to market while raising capital today.

— Dylan LeClair (@DylanLeClair) January 29, 2026

Use of Proceeds and Bitcoin Strategy

Metaplanet plans to allocate about ¥14 billion ($91 million) directly to Bitcoin purchases. Another ¥1.5 billion ($9.7 million) will support its Bitcoin income generation business, which uses options and derivatives. Roughly ¥5.1 billion ($33.24 million) will be used to repay existing debt.

The company said it expects Bitcoin to strengthen over the medium to long term, especially against the Japanese yen. Bitcoin purchases will be made in stages rather than in a single buy. Holdings will be managed through its subsidiary, Metaplanet Lightning Capital. Metaplanet has stated its goal is to become one of the world’s top corporate Bitcoin holders by August 2026.

Interestingly, the capital raise comes after Metaplanet reported a Bitcoin-related impairment of ¥104.6 billion, or about $680 million, due to a market downturn. The loss was recorded as a non-operating expense and had no direct impact on cash flow or day-to-day operations.

next

The post Metaplanet Seeks $137M via Third-Party Placement appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Startale Group confirmed a $13 million follow-on investment from Sony Innovation Fund on January 29, 2026.

The funding deepens Sony Group Corp.’s exposure to Startale and its Ethereum Layer 2 network, Soneium.

The investment comes roughly a year after Soneium’s mainnet went live in January 2025.

Startale said the round represents the first close of its Series A. Valuation terms were not disclosed.

Sony’s operational and governance role remains unchanged, and the existing partnership structure will stay intact.

Startale Group is proud to announce a $13M follow-on investment from Sony Innovation Fund, reinforcing the long-term shared vision between @Sony and Startale to build infrastructure for onchain entertainment. pic.twitter.com/BNsHhUqxm7

— Startale 💿 (@StartaleGroup) January 29, 2026

 

Soneium Network Performance

Soneium transitioned from testnet to mainnet in January 2025. Since then, public block explorer data shows approximately 524 million transactions have been processed.

Over the same period, Nansen data reports about 442 million transactions on Avalanche ​​ AVAX $11.70 24h volatility: 3.6% Market cap: $5.05 B Vol. 24h: $277.77 M and roughly 383 million on Algorand ALGO $0.12 24h volatility: 1.1% Market cap: $1.06 B Vol. 24h: $49.09 M .

Transaction count alone does not measure user demand or value transfer, but it gives a clear view of network load and uptime.

Wallet growth reached 5.4 million active wallets. The network also supports more than 250 live applications.

Meanwhile, Astar Network described Startale as a core contributor within the Astar Collective.

As per the Web3 entity, separate teams will operate independently while staying active in the ecosystem through shared incentives and controlled token design.

Startale’s continued execution reflects its role as a core contributor within the Astar Collective.

This model allows independent teams to strengthen Astar through shared alignment and disciplined tokenomics.

— Astar Network (@AstarNetwork) January 29, 2026

 

Product Stack and Stablecoin Layer

Soneium operates through Sony Block Solutions Labs, a joint venture with Startale. The Startale App acts as the main access point, combining wallet features, asset control, and app access.

This setup places user entry, payments, and applications under one system.

Startale USD, known as USDSC, is live on Soneium mainnet. The stablecoin runs on M0’s platform and serves as a native settlement layer across apps and payments on the network.

USDSC will serve as the primary payment rail on the network, rather than as an add-on token.

Sony and Startale first revealed Soneium in August 2024 as an Ethereum Layer 2 aimed at entertainment, gaming, and consumer apps.

The Minato public testnet and Soneium Spark incubator followed within days. When mainnet launched in January 2025, Soneium introduced NFT-based fan tools tied to Sony entertainment assets.

next

The post Sony Innovation Fund Invests $13M in Startale Group’s Soneium Network appeared first on Coinspeaker.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is weighing in on a newly emerging asset class known as tokenized securities.

The move follows joint guidance from the SEC’s Division of Investment Management, Division of Corporation Finance, and Division of Trading and Markets.

US SEC Says Tokenized Securities Fall Under Its Umbrella

The SEC stated that tokenized assets will fall under its regulatory oversight and will be subject to similar disclosure, registration, and compliance requirements.

In its statement on tokenized securities released on Jan. 28, the SEC said:

“A tokenized security is a financial instrument enumerated in the definition of ‘security’ under the federal securities laws that is formatted as or represented by a crypto asset, where the record of ownership is maintained in whole or in part on or through one or more crypto networks.”

Big market platforms are already moving ahead with adopting tokenized assets. A growing number of exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), are rolling out platforms to support tokenized equities.

Classification of Two Major Categories

According to the US SEC, tokenized securities usually fall into two categories. One is the issuer-sponsored tokenized securities, and the second is the third-party sponsored tokenized securities.

In issuer-sponsored models, the issuing company integrates blockchain technology directly into its ownership records. This allows on-chain transfers to represent actual transfers of the underlying security.

For third-party sponsored structures, the agency said a separate entity holds the underlying security in custody and issues a tokenized equivalent.

The SEC said that this is similar to traditional custodial arrangements, which means that the existing securities laws would continue to apply.

The agency also identified a separate third-party “synthetic” structure in which an issuer tokenizes a security issued by another party.

It helps to provide economic exposure to the underlying asset without granting associated rights such as voting.

The regulator said these instruments are classified as “linked securities.” This category basically includes certain structured notes and equity-linked products.

Securitize welcomed the SEC’s guidance, saying clear frameworks are essential for responsibly scaling tokenized securities.

We welcome the SEC’s thoughtful statement on tokenized securities, recognizing native, issuer-supported tokenization and onchain recordkeeping as a modern extension of securities infrastructure.

Clear frameworks like this are key to responsibly scaling tokenization. pic.twitter.com/LF9jtotFQp

— Securitize (@Securitize) January 29, 2026

Robinhood noted that wider adoption of tokenized stocks could help reduce the risk of market disruptions like those seen during the GameStop trading halt.

next

The post US SEC Confirms Tokenized Securities Are Subject to Federal Laws appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Sam Altman’s Worldcoin WLD $0.49 24h volatility: 5.5% Market cap: $1.36 B Vol. 24h: $698.79 M project is back in the spotlight as his AI company, OpenAI, unveils a new social media platform aimed at competing with Elon Musk’s X.

Following the announcement, Worldcoin’s price increased by 40%, attracting significant attention from traders.

Worldcoin Price Moves Following OpenAI Social Media News

In the past 24 hours, Worldcoin rose from $0.45 to $0.65 before retracing to around $0.52. Its market capitalization currently stands at $1.44 billion.

Daily trading volume increased 820% to $681 million, indicating high activity among traders. WLD futures open interest also rose 75% to $192 million, according to Coinglass data.

Worldcoin rose on Jan. 29 after reports indicated that OpenAI is developing a new social media platform featuring a “proof of personhood” system.

In an interview with Forbes, sources familiar with the matter said OpenAI is exploring the development of a “humans-only” platform, which would allow it to differentiate itself from existing social media services.

Competing With Facebook, LinkedIn, and X

Sources told Forbes that a small team of just 10 people is developing an app with a biometric identity verification feature.

They said any form of “proof of personhood” could be confirmed using Apple’s Face ID or the Worldcoin Orb scanner.

Worldcoin is a popular iris scanning identification project built by OpenAI’s Sam Altman.

The biometric verification system is intended to make sure that every account on OpenAI’s proposed social network corresponds to a real person.

On the other hand, platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X have relied mainly on phone numbers, email verification, and behavioral or network-based signals to establish user authenticity.

None of these platforms currently use biometric verification.

In September 2025, OpenAI signed a $300 billion computing infrastructure agreement with Oracle, which briefly boosted Worldcoin’s price.

Separately, BitMine invested $250 million into WLD treasury reserves, citing the World ecosystem’s zero-knowledge proof technology as a tool for trust and verification in future platforms.

next

The post Worldcoin (WLD) Gains 40% After OpenAI Announces Social Media Platform Rivaling Elon Musk’s X appeared first on Coinspeaker.

Sentient (SENT) rose about 40% within a few hours on Jan. 29 after South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, Upbit, confirmed the token’s listing.

At the time of writing, SENT is trading near $0.030, up 13% over the past 24 hours.

The move added roughly $50 million to SENT’s market capitalization over the past two hours, placing the token among the top 150 cryptocurrencies by market size.

Upbit recently announced it would list SENT/KRW, SENT/BTC, and SENT/USDT pairs on its Korean won market.

The exchange serves more than 10 million users, giving the token immediate access to one of Asia’s most active retail trading bases.

The exchange said SENT trading would begin at 5:30 PM local time on Jan. 29. All order types other than limit orders were restricted for roughly two hours after launch.

Upbit was not the only South Korean exchange to announce SENT listing. Bithumb, the country’s second largest platform, also revealed plans to list the 149th largest cryptocurrency.

📢 New Listing

🚀 센티언트(#SENT) 원화 마켓 추가 안내 🚀 $SENT/KRW will be listed on #Bithumb!

🔸 Details : https://t.co/Mc9ITS7JqQ#Bithumb #SENT @SentientAGI pic.twitter.com/0k2FkiqX51

— Bithumb (@BithumbOfficial) January 29, 2026

 

Sentient Aims Deeper Liquidity

Sentient is an open source AI network focused on building decentralized AI systems. The project has raised $85 million from firms such as Founders Fund and Pantera Capital.

Over 65% of the total token supply is reserved for the community. This includes 44% for airdrops and community programs, over 19% for research work, and 2% for a public sale.

In 2025, Sentient announced that it is working on a system called The GRID, designed to link over 100 AI models, agents, and data sources.

SENT entered 2026 with several exchange listings and deeper liquidity. Binance recently listed the token with a seed tag. Interest remained elevated through January, with SENT up 54% over the past seven days.

Sentient Builders manager Panchu said the recent price move is driven by market expectations, not the exchange listing itself.

He added that he does not plan to take profit until Sentient reaches a $5 billion fully diluted value.

GM GM 🌅

Upbit Korea announces @SentientAGI listing on KRW, BTC and USDT markets.Trading starts at 17:30 KST.

And before the listing even goes live…$SENT Price already moved from $0.022 → $0.033.

This is pure anticipation. Not the listing pump.Real markets front-running… pic.twitter.com/SdPxYV6MNZ

— Panchu (@Panchu2605) January 29, 2026

 

According to Panchu, the focus is on long term growth tied to AI agents, open infrastructure, real usage, and community growth.

He said that SENT is still in a “ridiculously early” stage, which means that it could be the next crypto to explode.

Coinbase has also included Sentient on its listing roadmap, with a potential trading launch subject to standard conditions.

next

The post Sentient (SENT) Gains 40% After Upbit Listing Announcement appeared first on Coinspeaker.

The cryptocurrency transactions related to criminal activities reached a record $158 billion in 2025, reversing a multi-year decline and marking the highest level in at least five years, according to the 2026 Crypto Crime Report from blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs.

The surge represents a roughly 145% increase from 2024 and underscores how state-linked actors and professionalized financial networks are reshaping on-chain crime. TRM Labs notes that Russia-connected structures were the primary driver of the jump, as increasingly sophisticated systems emerged to help sanctioned entities and their partners move value outside the traditional banking system.

At the same time, the share of unlawful activity in total crypto volume edged down to about 1.2% from 1.3%, reflecting faster growth in legitimate use, according to their announcement.

Annual Value Received by Illicit Wallets | Source: TRM Labs report

Russia Dominates Sanctions Evasion Growth

Russia-focused sanctions evasion activity expanded more than 400% year-over-year, anchored by what TRM describes as a centrally coordinated ecosystem built around the A7 wallet cluster and the ruble-linked stablecoin A7A5.

According to the firm, A7A5 processed over $72 billion in 2025, while A7 wallets handled at least $38 billion, supporting transactions for platforms including sanctioned exchange Garantex and related venues such as Grinex.

“The vast majority of sanctions-linked volume was connected to Russia-linked entities, including Garantex, Grinex and A7,” the report states, highlighting how geopolitical actors now dominate this segment of crypto crime.

Worth mentioning that at the end of 2025, the government of Russia also moved to open crypto buying and selling to the retail masses, as EU sanctions keep increasing.

Stablecoins Become the Preferred Criminal Rail

TRM Labs reports that stablecoins have become the preferred rail for unlawful flows, especially for embargoed or restricted entities that require liquid, dollar-linked instruments to settle cross-border trades.

Instead of relying on large, centralized exchanges, many of these networks now route funds through higher-risk non-custodial services, OTC brokers, and bespoke settlement layers designed to be more resistant to seizure or compliance controls.

It is essential to note that in 2025 their use increased significantly, pushing their market cap to more than $300 billion, and they have benefited from favorable regulations in places like the US, such as the Genius Act.

Chinese Networks and Broader Crime Trends

The report also highlights the rapid expansion of Chinese-language escrow services and underground banking operations, which processed more than $103 billion in 2025, up from around $123 million in 2020. Chainalysis recently reported a more conservative number, $82 billion in 2025, for money laundering specifically.

According to TRM Labs’ report, these channels support scam ecosystems, cybercriminals, and intermediaries in Asia-Pacific, often settling in stablecoins through OTC desks and money mule networks before payouts are converted into local currencies.

Other segments of crypto crime grew at a slower pace: darknet markets expanded about 20%, illicit goods and services around 12%, and hacked or stolen funds roughly 31%.

Increase in crypto-related crimes by type in 2025 | Source: TRM Labs report

TRM Labs says its figures are likely conservative and may be revised higher as new wallets are attributed and ongoing investigations uncover additional activity, a pattern it has observed in prior years.

The firm’s findings suggest regulators and enforcement agencies will face mounting pressure in 2026 to respond to increasingly complex, state-linked crypto infrastructures rather than only the opportunistic retail-focused scams of the past.

next

The post Cryptocurrency Crime Reaches Record $158 Billion in 2025: TRM Labs Report appeared first on Coinspeaker.