Cointelegraph.com
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Cointelegraph.com - 21:56 Jan 12, 2026
Several blockchain analysts said they were unable to verify whether the Latin American nation held $60 billion in the cryptocurrency. Paul Atkins, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), didn’t rule out the possibility of authorities seizing Venezuela’s reported Bitcoin holdings after US forces unseated and captured the country’s president. In a Monday interview with Fox Business’ Stuart Varney, Atkins responded to reports claiming that Venezuela holds up to $60 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC), though several analysts said they were unable to verify these claims. The SEC chair said it “remains to be seen” what action, if any, the US would take if it had the opportunity to seize the reported 600,000 BTC. “I leave that to others in the administration to deal with — I’m not involved in that,” said Atkins in response to a question on whether the US would “take those Bitcoin off ‘em.” Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 21:46 Jan 12, 2026
Fitch said sharp Bitcoin price swings could quickly erode collateral backing these securities, increasing the risk of losses for lenders and investors. Credit rating company Fitch Ratings has flagged a high degree of risk associated with Bitcoin-backed securities, a warning that could complicate the expansion of crypto-linked credit products among institutional investors. In a Monday assessment, Fitch said Bitcoin-backed securities, financial instruments typically structured by pooling Bitcoin (BTC) or Bitcoin-linked assets and issuing debt against that collateral, carry “heightened risks” that “are consistent with speculative-grade credit profiles.” The agency said such characteristics could place the products in speculative-grade territory, a designation associated with weaker credit quality and a higher likelihood of losses. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 21:23 Jan 12, 2026
OKX user issues desperate plea after funds frozen. Hong Kong hasn’t ruled out gold-backed stablecoins, but says it’s too early. Asia Express. An OKX user trying to get around restrictions on Chinese users has become desperate after the crypto exchange froze funds saying the money was needed to cover urgent family medical expenses. The user, who shared a lengthy personal appeal on X, said about $40,000 in crypto became inaccessible after OKXs risk controls locked multiple accounts linked to identity violations. The user admitted the accounts were acquired from third parties to access promotions that were unavailable to mainland China users. In the post, the user said all funds transferred into them originated from their verified personal account. They described the funds as life-saving money needed for a family members surgery. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 21:22 Jan 12, 2026
The latest purchase lifted the company’s Ether holdings to about 3.4% of the token's circulating supply, as Bitmine's chairman, Tom Lee, aims to accumulate 5% of the total outstanding supply. Bitmine Immersion Technologies expanded its Ether holdings over the past week as its chairman urged shareholders to approve a proposal that would allow the company to further build its crypto treasury and staking operations. The company said it purchased 24,266 Ether (ETH) over the past week, lifting its total crypto holdings to about 4.17 million ETH, or 3.4% of the token’s circulating supply. According to Monday’s announcement, the company reported about $14 billion in combined crypto and cash holdings, including $988 million in cash. In addition to ETH, it holds 193 Bitcoin (BTC) and a $23 million stake in Eightco Holdings. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 20:45 Jan 12, 2026
ETH’s recent rally was driven by spot demand and a healthy use of futures market leverage, potentially setting Ether up for a follow-up move to $4,000. Ether’s (ETH) futures and spot markets are sending mixed signals as futures positioning builds, but the altcoin’s price fails to make new highs. Data suggested that ETH traders are adding to their exposure even as spot buying underpins the recovery. Key takeaways: Ether’s estimated leverage ratio fell to 0.67 by Sunday from an all-time high of 0.79 on Jan. 2, despite rising open interest. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 19:59 Jan 12, 2026
With Bakkt's share price surging following the announcement, the stock deal could be worth about $178 million. Cryptocurrency infrastructure platform Bakkt Holdings announced an agreement to purchase Distributed Technologies Research, a stablecoin and fiat payments infrastructure provider. In a Monday notice, Bakkt said the agreement will have the company issue more than nine million shares of its Class A common stock to Distributed Technologies Research shareholders. At the time of publication, the price of shares of Bakkt Holdings (BKKT) on the New York Stock Exchange was $19.54, having surged more than 20% in the previous 24 hours, which would would make the deal worth more than $178 million. “The acquisition will allow Bakkt to consolidate a critical piece of its stablecoin settlement infrastructure and prepares the company to launch its neobanking strategy with multiple distribution partners in the coming months,” said Mike Alfred, the director and member of the special committee of Bakkt’s board. Read ... -
Cointelegraph.com - 19:15 Jan 12, 2026
Bitcoin whales sold $286 million of BTC in January, but a slowdown in the distribution and accelerating bullish momentum could send BTC to $100,000 before the end of the month. Bitcoin (BTC) onchain data shows BTC whales are active as the price attempts to extend its breakout from the $90,000 level. Key takeaways Bitcoin whale spending surged to $286 million, the largest spike since early November. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 18:26 Jan 12, 2026
The funding will support expansion of enterprise payment and settlement services across Latin America, the United States and Asia. VelaFi, a stablecoin-based financial infrastructure company under Galactic Holdings, has raised $20 million in a Series B round to support the expansion of its enterprise payments and settlement services across Latin America, the United States and Asia. According to Monday’s announcement, the round was led by XVC and Ikuyo, and brings the company’s total funding to more than $40 million. Founded in 2020, VelaFi provides payments infrastructure that connects local banking systems, global transfer networks and stablecoin protocols. Its services include fiat on- and off-ramps, cross-border payments, foreign exchange workflows and multi-currency treasury operations, which are offered through its platform and via APIs. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 18:10 Jan 12, 2026
Bitcoin and several major altcoins bounced off their strong support levels, but charts and trading volume suggest bears will continue to sell at the range highs. Key points: Bitcoin may reach the $94,789 level, where the bears are expected to step in. Select major altcoins are showing strength, indicating that the recovery may continue for some more time. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 18:04 Jan 12, 2026
Binance Research said crypto markets are entering a new phase, as institutional allocation and strategic positioning begin to outweigh retail-driven momentum. Despite a weak finish to 2025 for digital asset markets, the sector appears to be undergoing a structural shift, moving away from retail-led momentum trading toward one increasingly shaped by institutional capital flows and long-term strategic positioning. That was a key takeaway from a recent macro weekly report by Binance Research, which pointed to a “structural pivot” underway across digital asset markets. The report highlighted potential drivers including sovereign accumulation in emerging markets and legislative efforts in the United States to establish a strategic digital asset reserve. Following the approval of US spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds in early 2024, the market has now entered what Binance Research described as a “second round” of institutional adoption, characterized by deeper engagement from traditional financial institutions... -
Cointelegraph.com - 16:32 Jan 12, 2026
Bitcoin failed to become investors' choice as the debasement trade, as BTC price action slumps while gold and silver hit repeat all-time highs, said analysis. Bitcoin (BTC) is looking like the loser versus gold as precious metals top new all-time highs Monday. Key points: Bitcoin is not the debasement trade after years of losses against gold, analysis concludes. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 15:55 Jan 12, 2026
World Liberty Financial has launched a crypto lending platform built around its USD1 stablecoin, as demand for onchain credit shows signs of recovery. World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance project linked to the family of US President Donald Trump, has entered the cryptocurrency lending market, highlighting renewed interest in onchain credit as regulatory clarity improves. The new product, called World Liberty Markets, launched on Monday and allows users to borrow and lend digital assets, according to a Bloomberg report. The platform is built around USD1, World Liberty’s US dollar–backed stablecoin, alongside its governance token, WLFI. Users can post collateral, including Ether (ETH), a tokenized version of Bitcoin (BTC) and major stablecoins such as USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT). The platform is designed to support both lending and borrowing activity within a single onchain marketplace. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 15:24 Jan 12, 2026
ETH price could rally 95% versus Bitcoin if a decisive breakout above the key 0.042 BTC neckline confirms a bullish reversal. Key takeaways: ETH/BTC eyes a 95% upside toward 0.066 BTC if it breaks above the key 0.042 BTC neckline. A bear pennant breakdown toward 0.024–0.025 BTC would negate the reversal setup. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 14:23 Jan 12, 2026
BitGo is looking to raise as much as $201 million in an IPO, targeting a $1.96 billion valuation with over $90 billion in assets under custody and top US banks leading the deal. BitGo Holdings, a major cryptocurrency custody company, announced the launch of its initial public offering (IPO) in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a Form S-1 filed with the SEC, BitGo said the offering will include 11 million shares of Class A common stock issued by the company, along with 821,595 shares offered by existing stockholders. The company announced the launch of the offering on Monday. Based on an expected price range of $15 to $17 per share, the IPO could raise as much as $201 million, with total shares offered amounting to roughly 11.8 million. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 14:14 Jan 12, 2026
Strategy added 13,627 Bitcoin in a $1.25 billion purchase last week, extending its lead as the world’s largest corporate BTC holder despite recent paper losses. Corporate Bitcoin investor Strategy added another 13,627 Bitcoin to its balance sheet last week, spending $1.25 billion as it continues accumulating Bitcoin early in the year. The purchase marks the company’s biggest BTC buy since July. In a Form 9-K filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the company disclosed on Monday that its Bitcoin (BTC) stash has reached a total of 687,410 BTC, acquired at an aggregate cost of about $51.8 billion. The latest batch of BTC was bought at an average price of $91,519 per coin, well above Strategy’s total average cost basis of $75,353. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 13:59 Jan 12, 2026
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson said the CLARITY Act may not pass this quarter, and criticized US crypto laws for favoring big banks over innovation. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson said he doubts the US Digital Asset Market Clarity Act will pass this quarter and called on President Donald Trump’s crypto adviser, David Sacks, to resign. Hoskinson criticized the US approach to regulating crypto in an interview on Sunday with Bitcoin (BTC) enthusiast Scott Melker on The Wolf of All Streets Podcast. “I don’t think the CLARITY Act is going to pass this quarter,” Hoskinson said, warning that if Democrats regain control of the US House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections, the current window to pass the bill could be lost. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 13:46 Jan 12, 2026
The Bank of Italy modeled the extreme scenario of Ether going to zero to show how market risk in Ethereum’s native token could turn into infrastructure and financial stability risks. The Bank of Italy modeled what would happen to Ethereum’s security and settlement capacity if the price of Ether fell to zero, treating the network as critical financial infrastructure rather than just a speculative crypto asset. In a new research paper titled “What if Ether Goes to Zero? How Market Risk Becomes Infrastructure Risk in Crypto,” Bank of Italy economist Claudia Biancotti examined how an extreme price shock in Ether (ETH) could affect Ethereum‑based financial services that rely on the network for transaction processing and settlement. Biancotti focused on the link between validators’ economic incentives and the stability of the underlying blockchain used by stablecoins and other tokenized assets. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 13:36 Jan 12, 2026
Standard Chartered is reportedly developing a crypto prime brokerage platform as traditional banks expand digital asset services. Standard Chartered may develop a crypto prime brokerage platform, a potential expansion of the bank’s digital asset ambitions as traditional financial institutions deepen their involvement in the sector. The British multinational bank is in early-stage discussions to establish a crypto trading and prime brokerage platform under its venture capital arm, SC Ventures, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing unidentified sources. A timeline for a launch has not been finalized. Standard Chartered has yet to confirm the plans. In July 2025, Standard Chartered launched trading services enabling institutions and corporations to trade the leading cryptocurrencies. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 12:29 Jan 12, 2026
Economists urge EU lawmakers to back a public digital euro, warning that private stablecoins and foreign payment companies threaten Europe’s monetary sovereignty. Seventy economists and policy experts called on members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to back a digital euro that serves the public interest, arguing that it is crucial for Europe’s monetary sovereignty and for guaranteeing access to central bank money in an increasingly cash‑light economy. The open letter, published on Sunday and titled, “The Digital Euro: Let the public interest prevail!,” warned that without a strong public option, private stablecoins and foreign payment giants may gain even greater influence over Europe’s digital payments. The signatories, including former European Bank for Reconstruction and Development vice president José Leandro and French economist Thomas Piketty, describe the proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC) as a public good. Read more -
Cointelegraph.com - 12:00 Jan 12, 2026
DFSA’s new company-led suitability model and AML expectations may make it difficult for licensed entities to justify supporting privacy-focused assets. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) made a major update to its Crypto Token Regulatory Framework, shifting responsibility for crypto token suitability assessments from the regulator to licensed companies operating in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai’s financial free economic zone. Under the revised rules, which took effect on Monday, companies providing financial services involving crypto tokens must determine whether tokens they engage with meet the DFSA’s suitability criteria. As part of the change, the DFSA will no longer maintain or publish a list of recognized crypto tokens. The update follows a consultation process launched in October 2025, and reflects a shift in the regulator’s approach since introducing its crypto token regime in 2022. Since then, the DFSA said it has closely monitored developments and engaged with sta...
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