Crypto

Major CoinDesk indexes moved less than 1% on Friday as bitcoin consolidated above a key breakout level, while dash extended its advance.

Federal prosecutors said Brian Garry Sewell defrauded investors of nearly $3 million and ran an unlicensed cash-to-crypto business that moved more than $5 million.

Google will require proof of FIU registration acceptance for crypto apps, raising compliance hurdles for offshore exchanges serving South Korean users. Google is rolling out updated crypto app requirements in South Korea, a move that may significantly restrict access to offshore crypto exchanges by tying app availability to local regulatory clearance.  According to South Korean media outlet News1, starting Jan. 28, crypto exchange and wallet apps listed on Google Play in South Korea must upload documentation proving that their Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration with the country's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been accepted.  Google reportedly clarified that developers listing crypto exchange and custodial wallet apps must upload proof of completed FIU registration acceptance through its developer console.  Read more

The recovery may continue as long as Bitcoin achieves a daily close above $98,000, with the technical setup projecting 18% gains ahead. Bitcoin’s (BTC) price traded 9.5% above its Jan. 1 open of $87,500, and traders were confident that BTC’s short-term “trend is up” as the price approached a key level of interest. Key takeaways: Bitcoin price consolidates around $95,000 as bulls face a major barrier ahead. Read more

Moldova plans to introduce its first crypto law in 2026, aligning with the EU’s MiCA framework while warning citizens about digital asset risks. Moldova plans to introduce its first comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation by the end of 2026, aligning its rules with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework, according to the country’s finance minister, Andrian Gavrilita. Gavrilita said Wednesday in an interview on the state-owned TVR Moldova that the government is working with regulators to develop a legal framework that would allow citizens to hold and trade cryptocurrencies, while stopping short of recognizing digital assets as a means of payment. “We have the responsibility to regulate them, and it will be the right of citizens to hold these currencies,” he said. “I’m not sure if we'll manage during the next month, but it’s our engagement with the European Union. You can’t prohibit [cryptocurrencies.]” Read more

The institutional bitcoin manager expands its mandate as demand for professional risk-managed digital asset strategies grows.

The restructuring comes as the company integrates new payments assets and narrows its mandate, with several employees saying on X that they were affected by the layoffs. Polygon Labs has cut personnel as it pivots more aggressively to a payments-first strategy built around stablecoin rails and what it calls an “Open Money Stack,” a new, vertically integrated set of services designed to move money onchain. The layoffs came just days after announcing a deal worth as much as $250 million to acquire US crypto ATM and payments company Coinme and wallet and developer platform Sequence.  Polygon did not publicly disclose how many roles were eliminated, but according to multiple sources on social media platforms like X, a reduction as large of 30% in staff has been linked to the post‑acquisition integration.  Read more

Ethereum tests $3.3K support after bullish breakout as staking hits all-time high and new wallet activity rises across the network.

X revised its developer API policies to ban applications that financially reward users for posting, and enforcement has already begun. Nikita Bier, who joined X's product team after selling his social app tbh to Meta, framed the move as part of a broader effort to reduce low-quality engagement and told displaced builders that X would […] The post Discord is suddenly locking down servers for the same alarming reason X just purged these crypto developers appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The lender will offer crypto trading through its Bolero platform as Belgium’s MiCA rules take effect, despite no licenses yet appearing on the ESMA’s register. Update (Jan. 16, 1:15 pm UTC): This article has been updated to add commentary from KBC Bank. KBC, one of Belgium’s largest banks, is set to roll out Bitcoin and Ether trading to retail investors next month via its own custodial solution and investment platform. From Feb. 16, KBC customers will be able to buy and sell crypto assets through the online investment platform Bolero, the bank announced Thursday. Read more

Coinbase withdrew support for the CLARITY Act, citing risks to tokenized equities, DeFi privacy, and stablecoin rewards.

The new futures contracts, available in micro and standard sizes, are set to launch on Feb. 9, pending regulatory approval.

Friday has arrived again, and that means another round of Bitcoin and Ether options contracts are expiring while spot markets have steadily climbed this week.

Electronic brokerage giant Interactive Brokers says its clients can deposit USDC, which will automatically convert to US dollars to fund their accounts. Electronic brokerage giant Interactive Brokers has expanded its crypto services, allowing clients to fund their brokerage accounts using stablecoins that are automatically converted into US dollars. The firm said on Thursday that it has partnered with crypto infrastructure provider zerohash to enable 24/7 account funding with USDC (USDC) across the Ethereum, Solana and Base blockchains, removing reliance on traditional fiat wire transfers and banking hours. Interactive Brokers said stablecoin deposits are converted into US dollars on receipt and credited directly to client accounts. The company added that support for Ripple USD (RLUSD) and PayPal USD (PYUSD) is expected to launch next week. Read more

The rise in new wallets suggests broader interest in Ethereum, driven by decentralized finance, stablecoin transfers, NFTs, and new applications.

Bitcoin is increasingly trading on fiscal and regulatory signals as policy-driven liquidity expectations reshape market behavior in 2026.

Nexo faces fresh headwinds as California regulators take action against the digital assets platform for the second time in three years.

The index climbed to 61, the highest point witnessed since the beginning of October 2025.

The sentencing of a Utah man links investor fraud and unlicensed cash-to-crypto activity under the same prosecution.

Bitcoin has become an “element of resistance" in Iran, providing liquidity in an increasingly restricted economic environment, says Chainalysis. Crypto usage in Iran has spiked amid the country’s mass protests, with a surge of Iranians withdrawing Bitcoin to preserve value amid instability, according to Chainalysis. Protests in Iran began around Dec. 28 over worsening economic conditions, after the Iranian rial hit record lows against the US dollar. Demonstrations escalated nationwide, with Iran’s regime responding by cutting internet access, carrying out mass arrests, and reportedly killing thousands. Chainalysis said in a report on Thursday that Iran’s crypto ecosystem hit $7.78 billion in 2025, which accelerated amid the ongoing unrest with a substantial increase in the number of daily crypto transfers and the amounts transacted. Read more