ββBarclays invests in stablecoin settlement firm Ubyx
Barclays has taken a strategic stake in Ubyx, a U.S. startup building clearing and settlement infrastructure for tokenized money including stablecoins, marking first stablecoin industry investment.
π x.com/ubyx_/status/2008846114385264901
Barclays has taken a strategic stake in Ubyx, a U.S. startup building clearing and settlement infrastructure for tokenized money including stablecoins, marking first stablecoin industry investment.
π x.com/ubyx_/status/2008846114385264901
ββElon Muskβs xAI raised $20B backed by Nvidia and Cisco
xAI has closed a massive $20 billion Series E funding round that beat its initial $15 billion target, with strategic backing from Nvidia, Cisco Investments, MGX, Fidelity and other major investors.
π decrypt.co/353814/musks-xai-20-billion-backing-nvidia-cisco
xAI has closed a massive $20 billion Series E funding round that beat its initial $15 billion target, with strategic backing from Nvidia, Cisco Investments, MGX, Fidelity and other major investors.
π decrypt.co/353814/musks-xai-20-billion-backing-nvidia-cisco
ββComplete 2026 TGE list: Major Projects to Watch
As the market prepares for its next phase, dozens of major projects are lining up their TGEs for 2026. This overview maps out launches that could shape the next-gen of crypto infrastructure and apps.
As the market prepares for its next phase, dozens of major projects are lining up their TGEs for 2026. This overview maps out launches that could shape the next-gen of crypto infrastructure and apps.
ββBitcoin Layer 2 Babylon Secures Additional $15M Funding From a16z
The investment brings Babylonβs total disclosed funding to $103M since 2023, following an $18M Series A and a $70M strategic round led by Paradigm.
The funds will support the launch of Babylon Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (BTCVaults), designed to make Bitcoin a productive asset, with a16z acquiring BABY tokens directly.
π theblock.co/post/384636/a16z-crypto-buys-15-million-in-baby-tokens
The investment brings Babylonβs total disclosed funding to $103M since 2023, following an $18M Series A and a $70M strategic round led by Paradigm.
The funds will support the launch of Babylon Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (BTCVaults), designed to make Bitcoin a productive asset, with a16z acquiring BABY tokens directly.
π theblock.co/post/384636/a16z-crypto-buys-15-million-in-baby-tokens
ββCoinbase Adds Selected Assets to Listing Roadmap
Raydium (RAY), Energy Dollar (ENERGY), Elsa (ELSA), and Sportfun (FUN) have been added to Coinbaseβs listing roadmap, with no further details disclosed so far.
π x.com/CoinbaseMarkets/status/2008917880344080748?s=20
Raydium (RAY), Energy Dollar (ENERGY), Elsa (ELSA), and Sportfun (FUN) have been added to Coinbaseβs listing roadmap, with no further details disclosed so far.
π x.com/CoinbaseMarkets/status/2008917880344080748?s=20
ββSolana Mobile sets January 21st launch date for SKR token
A snapshot for eligibility was taken, and a significant portion of the 10B SKR supply will be distributed to Seeker device users and devs, aimed at driving governance participation and ecosystem growth.
π coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/07/solana-mobile-sets-jan-21-launch-date-for-skr-token-confirms-airdrop
A snapshot for eligibility was taken, and a significant portion of the 10B SKR supply will be distributed to Seeker device users and devs, aimed at driving governance participation and ecosystem growth.
π coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/07/solana-mobile-sets-jan-21-launch-date-for-skr-token-confirms-airdrop
ββFireblocks Acquires Onchain Accounting Platform Tres Finance
Fireblocks has acquired TRES Finance in a deal reportedly valued at $130M, expanding its institutional onchain asset management stack. Founded in 2022, TRES provides onchain accounting tools used by 230+ firms, including Phantom and Dune, for compliant, audit-ready reporting.
The acquisition marks Fireblocksβ fourth M&A move, following First Digital Assets Group (2022), BlockFold (2023), and Dynamic (2024).
π theblock.co/post/384650/fireblocks-buys-crypto-accounting-tres-finance
Fireblocks has acquired TRES Finance in a deal reportedly valued at $130M, expanding its institutional onchain asset management stack. Founded in 2022, TRES provides onchain accounting tools used by 230+ firms, including Phantom and Dune, for compliant, audit-ready reporting.
The acquisition marks Fireblocksβ fourth M&A move, following First Digital Assets Group (2022), BlockFold (2023), and Dynamic (2024).
π theblock.co/post/384650/fireblocks-buys-crypto-accounting-tres-finance
ββTrump-Linked World Liberty applies for U.S. Bank Charter
WLFI has filed for a national trust bank charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, aiming to bring its USD1 stablecoin and digital asset services under a regulated banking roof.
π bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-07/trump-crypto-venture-world-liberty-applies-for-bank-charter
WLFI has filed for a national trust bank charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, aiming to bring its USD1 stablecoin and digital asset services under a regulated banking roof.
π bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-07/trump-crypto-venture-world-liberty-applies-for-bank-charter
ββEthereum rolled out Blob Parameters-Only (BPO) Fork
Ethereum has activated the final planned BPO fork as the last step in its Fusaka upgrade, completing the incremental scaling of blob data capacity that supports Layer 2 throughput.
π theblock.co/post/384709/ethereum-rolls-out-final-planned-blob-parameters-only-fork-as-final-step-in-fusaka-upgrade
Ethereum has activated the final planned BPO fork as the last step in its Fusaka upgrade, completing the incremental scaling of blob data capacity that supports Layer 2 throughput.
π theblock.co/post/384709/ethereum-rolls-out-final-planned-blob-parameters-only-fork-as-final-step-in-fusaka-upgrade
ββZcash (ZEC) developers quit and form new company
Core Zcash devs have formed a new independent company focused on building and maintaining the Zcash protocol. The new entity will operate separately from existing organizations in the ecosystem.
π theblock.co/post/384737/zcash-developers-form-new-company
Core Zcash devs have formed a new independent company focused on building and maintaining the Zcash protocol. The new entity will operate separately from existing organizations in the ecosystem.
π theblock.co/post/384737/zcash-developers-form-new-company
ββBinance launches regulated TradFi perpetual contracts
Binance has rolled out USDT-settled perpetual futures for gold and silver, giving traders 24/7 exposure to precious metals prices with no expiry. The contracts offer familiar stablecoin settlement and leverage options within Binanceβs futures platform.
π x.com/binance/status/2009173721651560458?s=20
Binance has rolled out USDT-settled perpetual futures for gold and silver, giving traders 24/7 exposure to precious metals prices with no expiry. The contracts offer familiar stablecoin settlement and leverage options within Binanceβs futures platform.
π x.com/binance/status/2009173721651560458?s=20
ββJ.P. Morgan expands its JPM Coin (JPMD) to Canton network
J.P. Morganβs Kinexys is launching JPM Coin (JPMD) on the Canton Network, marking its second deployment after Base. JPM Coin is a bank-issued deposit token backed by U.S. dollar deposits, offering 24/7 instant settlement for institutional clients.
π theblock.co/post/384575/jpmorgan-jpm-coin-canton
J.P. Morganβs Kinexys is launching JPM Coin (JPMD) on the Canton Network, marking its second deployment after Base. JPM Coin is a bank-issued deposit token backed by U.S. dollar deposits, offering 24/7 instant settlement for institutional clients.
π theblock.co/post/384575/jpmorgan-jpm-coin-canton
ββRumble x Tether Launch Crypto Wallet, Enabling BTC Tips
Rumble has launched a non-custodial crypto wallet with Tether, enabling creator tips in BTC, USDT, and XAUt. Built on Tetherβs Wallet Development Kit and integrated into the Rumble app via MoonPay, the wallet keeps custody decentralized and introduces a new creator revenue stream beyond ads and subscriptions.
π coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/07/rumble-is-launching-crypto-wallet-
Rumble has launched a non-custodial crypto wallet with Tether, enabling creator tips in BTC, USDT, and XAUt. Built on Tetherβs Wallet Development Kit and integrated into the Rumble app via MoonPay, the wallet keeps custody decentralized and introduces a new creator revenue stream beyond ads and subscriptions.
π coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/07/rumble-is-launching-crypto-wallet-
ββBlockchains by Total Fees Generated in 2025
Total fees generated provide a revenue-based view of blockchain adoption. The networks listed here led 2025 by extracting the most value from on-chain transactions and application usage.
Total fees generated provide a revenue-based view of blockchain adoption. The networks listed here led 2025 by extracting the most value from on-chain transactions and application usage.
ββStablecoins on BNB Chain Surpass $15B in Circulating Supply
Alongside the stablecoin milestone, the BNB Developers team continues to enhance BNB Smart Chain (BSC), with the Fermi hardfork scheduled for January 14 at 2:30 AM UTC.
The upgrade brings ~0.45s block times, faster confirmations, stronger finality, and smoother app performance, building on the Pascal and Maxwell upgrades.
π x.com/BNBCHAIN/status/2001079974623592774?s=20
Alongside the stablecoin milestone, the BNB Developers team continues to enhance BNB Smart Chain (BSC), with the Fermi hardfork scheduled for January 14 at 2:30 AM UTC.
The upgrade brings ~0.45s block times, faster confirmations, stronger finality, and smoother app performance, building on the Pascal and Maxwell upgrades.
π x.com/BNBCHAIN/status/2001079974623592774?s=20
ββWyoming State Launches FRNT Stablecoin on Kraken
FRNT is a government-issued stablecoin with multi-chain support for fast, low-cost transfers. It is built for retail and institutional user and enables instant payments. Kraken users can now access the token.
π theblock.co/post/384684/wyoming-frnt-stable-token-issued-state-solana
FRNT is a government-issued stablecoin with multi-chain support for fast, low-cost transfers. It is built for retail and institutional user and enables instant payments. Kraken users can now access the token.
π theblock.co/post/384684/wyoming-frnt-stable-token-issued-state-solana
ββPlusMore (PLUS) has launched its token sale on Polkastarter
Token sale is now live. Diluted Valuation is $10,000,000. Sale Cap is $500,000. PLUS listing will take place on MEXC and Uniswap on January 9th. PlusMore is a real-world utility rewards ecosystem and token project built around loyalty rewards.
π x.com/polkastarter/status/2009029830445039838?s=20
Token sale is now live. Diluted Valuation is $10,000,000. Sale Cap is $500,000. PLUS listing will take place on MEXC and Uniswap on January 9th. PlusMore is a real-world utility rewards ecosystem and token project built around loyalty rewards.
π x.com/polkastarter/status/2009029830445039838?s=20
ββTruebit seems to be hacked for 8,535 ETH (~$26.4 million)
Truebit is a protocol that helps blockchains scale by letting heavy computations happen off-chain while verifying results on-chain. It uses economic incentives so that off-chain work can be trusted without requiring nodes to redo computation.
π x.com/CertiKAlert/status/2009298780877713715?s=20
Truebit is a protocol that helps blockchains scale by letting heavy computations happen off-chain while verifying results on-chain. It uses economic incentives so that off-chain work can be trusted without requiring nodes to redo computation.
π x.com/CertiKAlert/status/2009298780877713715?s=20
ββMajor Upcoming Crypto Conferences & Web3 Events in 2026
2026 is set to be an active year for Web3 and crypto conferences across the U.S., Asia, and MENA region. Key events include Binance Blockchain Week, TOKEN2049, Consensus, ETHCC, and more.
This spotlight reviews the most important industry gatherings as part of the 2026 Outlook NY WeekβExclusive Post Series.
2026 is set to be an active year for Web3 and crypto conferences across the U.S., Asia, and MENA region. Key events include Binance Blockchain Week, TOKEN2049, Consensus, ETHCC, and more.
This spotlight reviews the most important industry gatherings as part of the 2026 Outlook NY WeekβExclusive Post Series.
ββImmunefi Announces IMU Token Generation Event on January 22
The platform currently secures over 70% of DeFi, positioning itself as a security operating system for crypto by unifying the full security stack into a single platform that supports projects across the entire development lifecycle.
π x.com/immunefi/status/2009267907625189680?s=20
The platform currently secures over 70% of DeFi, positioning itself as a security operating system for crypto by unifying the full security stack into a single platform that supports projects across the entire development lifecycle.
π x.com/immunefi/status/2009267907625189680?s=20
ββOnchain Analytics Platform LayerHub Expands to Base
LayerHub has expanded its onchain analytics coverage to Base, adding support for wallet tracking, contract counts, active users, and other key metrics.
The platform has also recently integrated additional blockchains, including Ink by Kraken, Soneium, Unichain, Plume, Abstract, and more.
π x.com/layerhub/status/2008863283277689208?s=20
LayerHub has expanded its onchain analytics coverage to Base, adding support for wallet tracking, contract counts, active users, and other key metrics.
The platform has also recently integrated additional blockchains, including Ink by Kraken, Soneium, Unichain, Plume, Abstract, and more.
π x.com/layerhub/status/2008863283277689208?s=20