Month: January 2026

What the CLARITY Act Is Actually Trying to Clarify in Crypto Markets

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Key takeaways The CLARITY Act aims to address years of regulatory uncertainty with a structured framework that clearly defines digital assets, intermediary roles and disclosure obligations. It places most spot trading of qualifying tokens under CFTC oversight, while keeping the SEC responsible for primary offerings, disclosures and investor protections. The bill focuses on regulating activities as much as assets, setting registration and conduct standards for exchanges, brokers and dealers to strengthen market integrity and transparency. The GENIUS Act governs stablecoins, while the CLARITY Act applies only in complementary areas, such…

Ripple Partners With Saudi Bank Unit on Blockchain Infrastructure

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Ripple has partnered with the innovation arm of Riyad Bank, a major Saudi financial institution, to explore the use of blockchain technology within the country’s financial system, signaling growing interest in blockchain-based infrastructure at the institutional level. The partnership was announced Monday by Reece Merrick, Ripple’s senior executive officer and managing director for the Middle East and Africa. Merrick said Ripple is working with Jeel, Riyad Bank’s innovation unit, as part of an agreement to study potential applications of blockchain technology. Source: Reece Merrick The arrangement will take the form…

Tom Lee’s Bitmine scoops 40,302 Ethereum as total staked exceeds 2 million ETH

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Bitmine Immersion Technologies, led by Thomas “Tom” Lee, announced today that its Ethereum holdings have grown to around 4.2 million units valued at over $12 billion following last week’s 40,302 ETH acquisition. The company has deposited over 2 million ETH worth $5.7 billion into staking and is well on track to release its MAVAN, or Made in America VAlidator Network, this quarter. Described as a “best-in-class” staking solution, MAVAN is currently in its pilot phase. The network plays a key role in Bitmine’s transformation from a passive ETH holder to…

US Gov‘t Officials Delay Market Structure Markup, SEC-CFTC Crypto Meeting

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The US Senate Agriculture Committee and two federal financial agencies have delayed events related to digital asset regulation amid a winter storm that paralyzed many areas of the country over the weekend. A spokesperson for Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman told Cointelegraph on Monday that the body would push a scheduled markup for its version of a crypto market structure bill to Thursday from Tuesday. The bill, called the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, is the committee’s attempt to establish clear rules for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over…

Bitcoin Follows the US Dollar Downward as History Repeats

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Bitcoin (BTC) recovered through $88,000 after Monday’s Wall Street open as analysis called core demand “intact.” Key points: Bitcoin attempts to maintain a bounce after hitting new 2026 lows of $86,000. Traders see downside resuming as markets grapple with uncertainty across the board. Research still says that Bitcoin has a solid demand base. BTC price seen following dollar downhill Data from TradingView showed BTC price action continuing to bounce from new 2026 lows seen at the weekly close. BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView After a disappointing weekly candle sparked warnings…

What Happens as Europe Enforces MiCA and the US Delays Crypto Rules

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Key takeaways Europe has moved from drafting to enforcing crypto rules under MiCA, giving companies clear timelines, licensing paths and compliance milestones across all EU member states. The US still relies on a multi-agency, enforcement-led framework, with major questions about token classification and market structure waiting on new federal legislation. MiCA’s single-license model allows crypto firms to operate across the EU after approval in one country, encouraging companies to base early expansion strategies in Europe. Unclear asset classification in the US makes exchanges more cautious about listings and staking, while…

BlackRock files S-1 to launch Bitcoin income-focused ETF

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BlackRock, through its iShares entity, has filed a registration statement with the SEC seeking approval to launch the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, a new fund that would provide exposure to Bitcoin while generating recurring income through a covered call options strategy. The ETF will be structured as a Delaware statutory trust and will hold bitcoin, shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), and cash, including premiums generated from options activity, according to the filing. The fund’s objective is to provide exposure to Bitcoin price movements while delivering enhanced…

NVIDIA injects $2B into CoreWeave, CRWV stock jumps 10% premarket

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CoreWeave, a US-based cloud computing company specializing in GPU-accelerated infrastructure for artificial intelligence, said Monday it raised $2 billion through an equity investment from NVIDIA. CoreWeave shares (CRWV) rose 10% in pre-market trading on Monday after the announcement, according to Yahoo Finance. NVIDIA purchased CoreWeave’s Class A common stock at $87.2 per share, the company said, in a move reflecting confidence in CoreWeave’s business and growth strategy as a cloud platform built on NVIDIA technology. CoreWeave began working with NVIDIA in late 2020 after joining NVIDIA’s Cloud Service Provider Program,…

Banks Blocking 40% of Crypto Payments

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A new survey by the UK Cryptoasset Business Council (UKCBC) found that transfers between United Kingdom bank accounts and crypto exchanges are frequently blocked, delayed or refused, even when customers are trying to use regulated platforms. ​The survey, titled Locked Out: Debanking the UK’s Digital Asset Economy, draws on responses from 10 of the UK’s largest centralized exchanges, which collectively serve millions of UK consumers and have processed hundreds of billions of pounds in transactions.  It aims to replace anecdotes with hard numbers on how current banking practices affect the…

Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Hits 12-month Low as Trader Sees Further Drop

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Bitcoin (BTC) extended its weakness into the low-liquidity weekend trading session, with BTC slipping to a five-week low of $86,000 on Sunday. The cryptocurrency could potentially retest its macro low of $66,000 over the coming weeks, a key support level from November 2024. Key takeaways: Bitcoin dropped below $87,000 on Sunday as its momentum weakened. The Coinbase Premium hit a 12-month low, reflecting strong US spot Bitcoin selling pressure. Bitcoin’s bearish setup targets a $66,800 BTC price. Bitcoin faces stronger selling pressure in the US The Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Index,…