Bitcoin | Crypto

The investment banking giant’s filings for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs follow an uptick in investor demand for regulated crypto investment vehicles, driven by the new year’s “clean-slate” effect. Update Jan. 6, 12:57 p.m. UTC: This article has been updated to include a paragraph on Morgan Stanley’s prior involvement with cryptocurrency funds. US investment bank Morgan Stanley has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch two cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), one tied to Bitcoin and the other to Solana, as Wall Street firms push deeper into regulated digital-asset products. The proposed Morgan Stanley Bitcoin (BTC) Trust and the Morgan Stanley Solana (SOL) Trust will function as “passive investment” vehicles that hold and track the performance of the underlying tokens, according to Tuesday’s filings with the SEC. Read more

Venezuela’s early crypto adoption and gold-to-Bitcoin conversion speculation raise questions about a $60 billion reserve, though analysts have found no proof. The US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has renewed questions over whether Venezuela holds an undisclosed Bitcoin reserve, which analysts say remains unproven. On Saturday, investigative journalist Bradley Hope outlined a theory that Venezuela may be holding a hidden Bitcoin (BTC) reserve worth up to $60 billion, claiming that its government has been converting gold into cryptocurrency over several years. “Sources describe a Swiss lawyer who controls wallet access,” Hope said in a co-authored report published by the investigative newsletter Whale Hunting, raising questions about the alleged involvement of Alex Saab, Venezuela’s minister of industry and national production, who has been sanctioned by the US. Read more

Bitcoin (BTC) pierced $94,000 on Jan. 5, reaching its highest level since Dec. 10 and capping a rally that added nearly $100 billion to the total crypto market capitalization in 24 hours. The move came as spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their strongest inflows in three months, derivatives positioning turned aggressively bullish, and macro conditions created […] The post Bitcoin breaks $94,000 for the first time in a month: Why is crypto up today? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Institutional Bitcoin purchases exceeded newly mined supply for eight consecutive days, a signal that has historically preceded major BTC price upside. Bitcoin (BTC) buying is back in 2026 as institutions have acquired more BTC per day than miners produced. Key points: Institutions have been “net buyers” of Bitcoin for eight days straight, a dedicated tracking metric reports. Read more

Whales accumulated over $5.3 billion in Bitcoin since mid-December while retail traders took profits, creating bullish market conditions. Bitcoin accumulation by whales and recent profit-taking by retail traders could be seen as bullish and leading to more upward market momentum, according to Santiment. Crypto markets “typically follow the path of key whale and shark stakeholders, and move in the opposite direction of small retail wallets,” said onchain analytics platform Santiment on Monday. Whales and sharks are defined as the cohort holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC, while retail traders have wallets with less than 0.01 BTC. Read more

The crypto-friendly Trump administration and Wall Street adoption will be two of the biggest drivers behind a Bitcoin rally to new highs in 2026, two industry analysts said. The son of legendary investor Bill Miller has joined a chorus of analysts who predict Bitcoin will set a new all-time high this year, buoyed by regulatory momentum in the US and continued adoption on Wall Street.  “Technicals are really starting to line up and it looks like it’s ready to go again. I personally expect it to break out to a higher high than its all-time high from the fall,” Bill Miller IV, chief investment officer at Miller Value Partners, told CNBC on Monday. He cited comments from US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins stating that capital markets are moving onchain, while pointing out Wall Street heavyweights like JPMorgan continue to build onchain.  Read more

Bitcoin mining electricity costs could fall if Venezuelan oil production increases, though it may take several years before the benefits are fully realized, Bitfinex analysts say. US companies moving into Venezuela to extract the country’s enormous crude oil reserves could lower electricity prices for Bitcoin miners and improve their profitability margins, analysts at crypto exchange Bitfinex said. “Cheaper and more abundant energy would improve miner margins globally and could unlock a new phase of mining expansion, particularly in regions able to secure long-term power contracts,” the Bitfinex analysts said in a note on Monday. The US started seizing Venezuelan oil tankers in December, and it is expected to start extracting Venezuela's 303 billion barrels worth of crude oil reserves after capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday. Read more

Bitcoin surged past $94,000 on Monday to a 30-day high as crypto stocks rallied, with Coinbase, Robinhood, and BTC miners all rising.

For years, the institutional playbook for the crypto industry was simple: buy Bitcoin, perhaps dabble in Ethereum, and ignore the rest. In 2025, that playbook was rewritten. While Bitcoin retained its crown as the largest asset by total volume, the real story of the year was a dramatic structural shift in where new capital chose […] The post XRP and Solana dethrone Bitcoin and Ethereum as institutional favorites in 2025 appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Claims that Bitcoin mining wastes energy or destabilizes grids are contradicted by university research and real-world grid data.

Strategy affirmed that buying Bitcoin isn’t its only priority in 2026, despite dropping $116 million on the asset to welcome in the new year.

When Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appears in a federal courtroom in New York to face narco-terrorism charges, the world will see a geopolitical spectacle. However, for cryptocurrency investors, the proceedings carry a hidden financial stake that could reshape the global Bitcoin market for years to come. Data from Bitcoin Treasuries credit the Venezuelan government with […] The post Venezuela’s secret $60 billion Bitcoin empire from illicit gold and USDT swap rumors ignite after US “intervention” appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin and altcoin prices have pushed higher, but Glassnode data shows spot trading activity has dropped to its weakest levels since late 2023.

Bitcoin reached its highest levels in nearly a month as risk assets and precious metals headed higher on the US-Venezuela catalyst. Bitcoin (BTC) hit new 2026 highs on Monday’s Wall Street open amid concerns over thin market liquidity. Key points: Bitcoin joins stocks and gold with early-year gains as geopolitics rewards asset holders. Read more

Bitcoin’s structure has turned bullish, yet traders are split on whether $100,000 could mark a bull expansion or bear continuation. Bitcoin (BTC) is attempting to transition into a phase of “strength” after weeks of range-trading between $90,000 and $86,000. While the technical structure has improved, BTC traders debate whether the move has momentum or risks of becoming a bull trap. Key takeaways: A Bitcoin indicator flipped firmly bullish as BTC reclaimed a position above $90,000. Read more

Strategy bought 1,283 BTC for $116 million, lifting holdings above 673,000 BTC, while reporting a $17.4 billion unrealized Q4 loss in an SEC filing Monday. Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin, began the new year with its first purchase of 2026 while reporting a steep fourth-quarter paper loss as Bitcoin prices slid late last year. Strategy acquired 1,283 Bitcoin (BTC) for $116 million, boosting its holdings to 673,783 worth $62.6 billion purchased at an average cost basis of $75,026 per BTC, according to a Monday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The coins were acquired at an average purchasing price of about $90,000 each using proceeds from the sale of shares of MSTR Stock under the company’s at-the-market (ATM) offering. Read more

Prior to the US market opening this week, Bitcoin traded around the low $90,000s again after the unprecedented weekend macro activity. You can feel the familiar shift in the room: less celebration, more checking phones, more chart screenshots. More people are asking the same question in different ways: “Are we about to dip?” Right now, […] The post Bitcoin crash imminent? Price spike makes two new CME gaps and closing one carries a punishing cost appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin trades near $92.5K after five-day rally, as analysts say Gold’s slowdown could open a 1.5–2 year breakout window for crypto.

When the futures market opened Monday, the screens told a story that felt backward. The U.S. had just captured Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, in a weekend operation that jolted geopolitics and dominated headlines. And yet oil did not spike. It slipped. At the same time, Bitcoin held its ground, then pushed higher. It traded around […] The post Oil prices just did the unthinkable after the Venezuela raid, and it hands Bitcoin a rare advantage appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin hit $93,000 for the first time in almost a month on Venezuela volatility, but BTC price forecasts include a sweep of $80,000 lows. Bitcoin (BTC) launches its first launches its first meaningful rebound in weeks as geopolitics excites world assets. Bitcoin price gains see a return to $93,000 after a nearly month-long absence, but traders are skeptical. A key golden cross is almost here on the four-hour chart, paving the way for further market strength. Read more