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The three major U.S. stock indexes ended the session mixed. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.91% from the previous day to 23,817.10. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.83% to 49,003.41, while the S&P 500 gained 0.43% to close at 6,979.99.
U.S. President Donald Trump said recently, regarding fluctuations in the dollar’s value, that “the dollar is normalizing and at a fair level.” According to Walter Bloomberg, a breaking-news account, on the 27th (local time), President Trump said, “I don’t think the dollar has fallen too much,” adding, “the dollar is doing very well.” He added that “the dollar’s value can move up and down like a yo-yo,” also mentioning the possibility of short-term swings.
Bitcoin (BTC) briefly regained the $89,000 level. As of 05:28 on the 28th, BTC is trading at $89,066, up 1.33% from the previous day, on Binance’s Tether (USDT) market.
As the broader virtual-asset (cryptocurrency) market remains under pressure, key on-chain indicators for Ethereum (ETH) are showing signs of improvement, fueling talk of a short-term rebound. According to crypto-focused media outlet Cointelegraph on the 27th (local time), ETH has fallen about 15% over the past week, but network fee revenue and Layer 2 (L2) activity have increased. Decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume is also trending higher. Multiple market experts pointed to the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade carried out late last year as a key driver. They said the upgrade improved data throughput and lowered fee burdens, boosting usage across the broader Ethereum ecosystem. In derivatives markets, investor sentiment also appears to have eased somewhat. The put/call ratio has returned to neutral levels, suggesting excessive downside bets have diminished. Against this backdrop, some in the market are projecting that ETH could rebound in the short term to around $3,300.
A survey report released by PayPal found that about 85% of respondents expect digital asset (cryptocurrency) payments to become mainstream within the next five years. According to The Block, a digital-asset-focused media outlet, the survey was conducted late last year among about 620 decision-makers responsible for payment options. Roughly 90% of respondents said they have received inquiries from customers about paying with digital assets. About 40% of all respondents said they have already added digital assets as a payment option, and those companies said crypto payments account for more than 25% of total revenue. In addition, about 75% of companies that introduced a crypto payment option said revenue from crypto payments increased over the past year. In this regard, May Zabaneh, PayPal’s head of digital assets, said, "As customers demand faster and more flexible payment methods, adoption of crypto payments is accelerating," adding that "companies are seeing tangible business value after introducing crypto payment methods."
Defi data platform DefiLlama has acquired Bulletin, an over-the-counter (OTC) trading data provider, according to DL News, a crypto-focused media outlet, on the 27th (local time). The acquisition will allow DefiLlama to offer more granular data for valuing private crypto companies and tokens. In particular, by incorporating OTC trading data, it is expected to provide a clearer picture of secondary-market valuation trends for unlisted companies. DefiLlama said, "Including OTC trades can more accurately reflect real market valuations of unlisted companies." The specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Shares of AVAX One, a digital-asset manager advised by SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci, plunged 32% amid uncertainty over the potential sale of shares by existing shareholders. According to CoinDesk, a cryptocurrency-focused media outlet, on the 27th (local time), AVAX One filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to register up to 74 million shares held by insiders as shares eligible for sale. The filing enables resales in the public market, but it did not specify the timing or size of any sales. The market interpreted the sharp decline as driven by heightened concerns over dilution for existing shareholders as the possibility of a large-scale share sale opened up.
Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s chief investment officer (CIO), is being mentioned as a candidate to succeed as chair of the US Federal Reserve (Fed), and an assessment has emerged that his past remarks could create a favorable environment for Bitcoin (BTC). On the 27th (local time), cryptocurrency-focused US media outlet CoinDesk reported: “Rick Rieder has publicly spoken about Bitcoin’s role and utility, and the possibility of his appointment as Fed chair could be interpreted positively for the Bitcoin market.” Rieder said in 2020 that “Bitcoin can become a store of value that can replace gold, and is far more practical than moving physical gold.” He also said in a recent CNBC interview that “Bitcoin, along with gold, can be part of an investment portfolio and can contribute to portfolio stability.” The outlet explained: “The Fed chair is a position that exerts significant influence not only over benchmark interest-rate decisions but also across financial markets and the direction of the economy,” adding that “it is unusual for someone who has publicly expressed a relatively positive view of Bitcoin to hold the post.” However, the White House has not yet stated an official position regarding the selection of the Fed chair, and Rieder himself and BlackRock are also refraining from commenting on the speculation.
Patrick Witt, executive director (head) of the White House Digital Assets (cryptocurrency) Advisory Committee, said that at the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently held in Davos, Switzerland, U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his longstanding position that he will make the United States the "capital of global digital assets." In an interview with CoinDesk on the 27th (local time), Witt said, "This year's Davos forum was a venue where the Trump administration publicly demonstrated its commitment to the global normalization of digital assets," adding, "President Trump once again made clear his pledge to position the United States at the center of the digital-asset industry." He explained, "The administration is aiming for a structure in which the incumbent financial sector and new digital-asset firms coexist and compete," and that "such competition will benefit consumers and firmly establish the United States as a staunch supporter of technological innovation." Witt also said of stablecoins, "Stablecoins serve as a gateway into the global financial system," adding that "the U.S. government is working to provide regulatory clarity across digital assets, including stablecoins."
The 'Doomsday Clock,' a symbolic gauge of how close humanity is to catastrophe, has been reset to 85 seconds to midnight. This is the closest it has been in the 80 years since the clock was first unveiled. According to Walter Bloomberg, a breaking-news account, on the 27th (local time), Alexandra Bell of the U.S.-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which oversees the Doomsday Clock, said, "Progress in addressing existential threats to humanity such as nuclear war and climate change remains insufficient." The Doomsday Clock was first introduced in 1947 and has been adjusted more than 20 times since. The farthest it has been from midnight was in 1991, shortly after the end of the Cold War, when it indicated 17 minutes to midnight. The latest reset is seen as reflecting expanding global risks, including geopolitical tensions such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the risk of cyberwarfare, and the climate crisis.
According to Walter Bloomberg, a breaking-news account, on the 27th (local time), Citigroup said it raised its silver price target from $100 per ounce to $150. It cited strong speculative demand and a shortage of physical supply outside the US. Citi cautioned, however, that in the short term, profit-taking by Chinese investors could put downward pressure on prices. In fact, silver futures are currently down about 5.7% after breaking above $115 per ounce the previous day. Citi explained that "while the supply-demand balance remains tight over the medium to long term, short-term volatility could increase after the sharp rally."
The three major U.S. stock indexes are trading mixed. As of 00:06 on the 28th, the Nasdaq Composite is up 0.83% from the previous session at 23,797.28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 0.86% at 48,986.72, while the S&P 500 is up 0.37% at 6,976.16.
The three major US stock indexes ended the session higher. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.43% from the previous session to 23,601.36. The Dow Jones index gained 0.64% to 49,412.40, while the S&P 500 index advanced 0.50% to close at 6,950.42.
Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, said on the 26th (local time) via X (formerly Twitter) that "gold and silver are safe-haven assets" and that "Bitcoin (BTC) is also a safe-haven asset." He added, "If the market still assesses Bitcoin as a risk asset, that means it is undervaluing Bitcoin."
According to cryptocurrency industry media outlet Cointelegraph on the 26th (local time), Valour, a subsidiary of digital-asset ETP issuer DeFi Technologies, has received approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to offer crypto ETPs to retail investors. Following the approval, the “1Valour Bitcoin (BTC) Physical Staking” and “1Valour Ethereum (ETH) Physical Staking” products began trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on the 26th (local time). The products are structured to track physical Bitcoin and Ethereum, and are designed to give UK retail investors access to digital-asset exposure within regulated financial markets. The approval is seen as expanding the range of crypto-linked exchange-traded products available to retail investors in the UK.
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) has been found to be investigating allegations of embezzlement involving about $40 million in virtual assets (cryptocurrencies) in connection with a federal contractor responsible for managing crypto seized by the government. According to crypto-focused U.S. media outlet CoinDesk on the 26th (local time), the center of the allegations is the child of an employee at the government contractor. The firm, CMDSS, provides IT services to the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice and has been responsible for custody and management of virtual assets seized by law enforcement agencies. On-chain analyst ZachXBT said indications were detected that the son of CMDSS CEO Dean Daghita accessed a government crypto wallet and moved funds. He added, however, that it has not yet been confirmed how access to the wallet was granted or whether the access was conveyed through his father, Dean Daghita. U.S. authorities are currently examining the funds’ transfer path and the entire process by which access permissions were granted, and some are raising the possibility that the issue could expand into broader security weaknesses in the government’s seized-asset management system.
Russia has banned transactions with the virtual asset (cryptocurrency) exchange WhiteBIT, citing its support for Ukraine. According to crypto-focused media outlet CoinDesk on the 26th (local time), Russian authorities designated WhiteBIT and its parent company, W Group, as “Undesirable Organizations.” As a result, all activities in Russia related to the companies are deemed illegal. Russia claimed the firms planned to move funds out of the country after the outbreak of the war in February 2022 and used financial and technical infrastructure to support the Ukrainian military. WhiteBIT, a global virtual asset exchange founded in Ukraine, is known to have provided at least $11 million in support to the Ukrainian military since the war began. Of this, about $1 million was reportedly used to purchase drones.
Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, is reported to have purchased 27 tonnes of gold during the fourth quarter of last year. According to Unfolded, an on-chain data platform, on the 26th (local time), Tether’s gold purchases amount to about $4.4 billion at current prices. This is interpreted as an example showing that Tether is increasing the share of physical assets as part of its strategy to diversify reserve assets. Tether has incorporated physical assets including gold into its reserves alongside U.S. Treasuries and cash-equivalent assets, and is also responding to calls for greater transparency regarding the composition of its reserves.
Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court has begun a review of rules that prohibit the use of virtual assets (cryptocurrencies) in election campaigning. According to crypto-focused outlet DL News on the 26th (local time), a justice of Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court is conducting a broad review of election rules ahead of the general election on Oct. 3 (local time), and the provision banning the use of virtual assets in campaign activities is also reported to be included in the review. The court plans to complete the review of the relevant rules by March. Previously, Brazil’s Supreme Court decided in February 2024 to maintain rules banning the use of virtual assets during election campaigns. Meanwhile, Brazilian presidential contender Renan Santos previously said that Brazil, too, could gradually build up Bitcoin reserves, citing El Salvador’s Bitcoin (BTC) policy.
Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, the largest digital-asset (cryptocurrency) exchange in the United States, said he expects everyday use of digital assets to broaden. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on the 26th (local time), Armstrong said, “Even people who criticize digital assets today will one day end up using them every day.” He added, “Given the nature of digital assets, there’s a strong likelihood that users won’t even realize they’re using digital assets.” The remarks are being interpreted as suggesting that as blockchain-based payments and financial infrastructure become simpler from a user-experience standpoint, they can be seamlessly integrated into existing financial services.
An analysis has suggested that the weakening U.S. dollar is not providing much support to Bitcoin (BTC) prices for now. According to crypto asset (cryptocurrency) media outlet CryptoPotato on the 26th (local time), CryptoQuant contributor and on-chain analyst “GugaOnChain” said, “For dollar weakness to act as a catalyst for Bitcoin to rise, it needs to be accompanied by a favorable macro backdrop such as high inflation and ample liquidity.” He explained, “In markets like the current one, where fear is elevated and risk aversion is pronounced, investors tend to prefer traditional stores of value such as gold over Bitcoin.” He added, “If the dollar’s depreciation occurs amid a confidence crisis or an extreme risk-off phase, crypto assets are often more likely to fall in tandem with equities than to be perceived as safe-haven assets.”
US investment bank Jefferies said the CLARITY Act, a US digital-asset (cryptocurrency) market structure bill, could become an inflection point for the spread of tokenization across traditional finance. According to CoinDesk, a digital-asset-focused outlet, Jefferies said in a recent report that “maturing blockchain infrastructure, combined with expectations for greater regulatory clarity, is laying the groundwork for broader tokenization adoption.” The report said that “for the tokenization wave to gain full momentum, clear definitions and rules for digital-asset market structure in the US are essential,” adding that “while passage of the CLARITY Act remains uncertain, the discussions alone could have faster-than-expected effects across financial institutions, blockchain firms and the broader tokenization industry.” Jefferies added that traditional financial institutions view the easing of regulatory uncertainty as a key variable for expanding tokenization initiatives, and that related legal and institutional discussions could act as a catalyst for changes in capital-markets infrastructure.
Spot silver prices surged to a record high. According to Walter Bloomberg, an economic newsflash account, spot silver (Spot Silver) rose to as high as $114.61 an ounce on the 26th (local time), marking an all-time high. That is up more than 11% from the previous day. Silver has been extending its rally as safe-haven demand across precious metals broadens. Gold prices have also repeatedly notched record highs.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have postponed the schedule of a joint event focused on digital assets (cryptocurrencies). According to digital-asset media outlet CoinDesk on the 26th (local time), the two agencies said they will move the event, which had been slated for the 27th (local time), to the 29th, two days later. In Korea time, it will run from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Jan. 30. The event will be held under the theme "SEC-CFTC harmony, U.S. financial leadership in the digital-asset era" and will take place in person at CFTC headquarters. It is slated to be livestreamed via the SEC and CFTC’s official websites. Participants, including SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins and CFTC Chair Michael Selig, as well as officials from both agencies, plan to discuss the direction of oversight and regulation for digital assets.
Sharps Technology, a Nasdaq-listed company strategically investing in Solana (SOL), has released its first official report on staking revenue generated from its SOL holdings. According to crypto-focused media outlet The Block on the 26th (local time), Sharps Technology said in the report that "since building its SOL treasury, its staking strategy has consistently maintained high returns," adding that it posted an average annualized yield of about 7% after fees from staking through validator partners. Sharps Technology currently holds about 2 million SOL (about $250 million), most of which appears to be used for staking. This is the fifth-largest amount among listed companies (DAT) that strategically stockpile Solana. The report is seen as a case in which a listed company has formally disclosed a structure that generates recurring income through staking, rather than merely holding crypto assets.
According to The Block, a cryptocurrency-focused media outlet, on the 26th (local time) cryptocurrency exchange Kraken launched a new deposit product, “DeFi Earn,” which uses decentralized finance (DeFi), in the United States, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Canada. The outlet said the product offers an annual percentage yield (APY) of up to around 8%. It is designed to allow centralized exchange users to access DeFi-based yield products without separate on-chain procedures. Kraken said, “Through DeFi Earn, we aim to provide users with an opportunity to generate DeFi yields more easily.” Withdrawals are generally processed immediately upon user request, but Kraken explained, “Unlike centralized systems, the nature of DeFi’s structure means that temporary withdrawal delays may occur if liquidity shortages arise.” The product launch is seen as part of a broader trend of centralized exchanges expanding deposit and yield offerings by leveraging DeFi infrastructure.
A survey has found that major banks in the UK are blocking or delaying about 40% of transfers headed to virtual asset (cryptocurrency) exchanges. According to Cointelegraph, a virtual asset-focused media outlet, the UK Cryptoasset Business Council (UKCBC) said so in a recently released report on the 26th (local time). The report was based on a survey of the top 10 centralized virtual asset exchanges in the UK. The survey found that eight of the 10 exchanges said instances of customers’ bank transfers being blocked or delayed had risen noticeably over the past 12 months. By contrast, none said the problem had eased. In the report, UKCBC said, "Broad-based regulation is acting as a key obstacle to the growth of the UK virtual asset industry," adding, "While the industry is working to address crypto-related fraud, banks are restricting crypto-related financial services on the grounds of regulatory compliance." It added, "As a result, users of virtual asset services are effectively being excluded from traditional financial services."
According to Decrypt, a U.S. crypto-focused media outlet, a winter storm accompanied by heavy snowfall is spreading across the United States, reducing the hashrate of local Bitcoin (BTC) mining companies. The outlet reported that worsening weather conditions have caused grid disruptions at some mining facilities in the U.S., prompting miners to cut power consumption and lowering mining rig utilization. As a result, block times across the Bitcoin network have lengthened, and the overall hashrate appears to be showing a temporary decline. The outlet said the drop in hashrate is more likely a short-term phenomenon driven by weather issues than a structural change.
All three major U.S. stock indexes are trading higher. As of 00:04 on the 27th, the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.40% from the previous session at 23,596.09. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.36% at 49,273.21, while the S&P 500 was up 0.43% at 6,945.40.
On the 23rd (local time), the financial news account Walter Bloomberg reported that some global virtual asset (cryptocurrency) exchanges are showing signs of restarting and expanding trading in tokenized products that track US stocks. Major virtual asset exchanges worldwide are moving quickly to allow customers to trade crypto tokens that track US stock prices. This structure is drawing attention because it could create a "parallel market" outside the direct regulatory reach of US financial authorities. In particular, Binance is reportedly reviewing plans to relist stock tokens that it halted in 2021. At the time, Binance suspended trading in tokens tracking US stocks such as Tesla and Coinbase, citing regulatory pressure. Because these tokens are designed to track only price movements without directly holding the underlying shares, regulators are concerned they could be traded outside the US securities regulatory framework. The industry says such tokenized stocks could broaden global access to investing, while warning that debates could flare up again over investor protection and gaps in oversight.