🗓 Grayscale's Bullish Outlook for Crypto Markets in 2026

📈 Grayscale Investments has released a report titled “2026 Digital Asset Outlook: Dawn of the Institutional Era,” presenting a optimistic perspective on the crypto market despite prevailing skepticism. The report asserts that 2026 will signify the end of the current four-year cycle and anticipates increased valuations across all six crypto sectors, with bitcoin potentially surpassing its previous high in the first half of the year.

Grayscale believes that the crypto asset class is in a sustained bull market,

the firm states, emphasizing the growing demand for alternative stores of value and regulatory clarity as key drivers for institutional investment in public blockchain technology.

🚫 Grayscale identifies six crypto sectors: currencies, smart contract platforms, financials, consumer and culture, artificial intelligence, and utilities and services. The report outlines ten major crypto investing themes for 2026:

1. Dollar debasement risk driving demand for monetary alternatives.
2. Regulatory clarity supporting digital asset adoption.
3. Growth of stablecoins following the GENIUS Act.
4. Asset tokenization reaching an inflection point.
5. Stronger privacy solutions needed as blockchain technology mainstreams.
6. AI centralization creating demand for blockchain-based solutions.
7. Acceleration of decentralized finance (DeFi), led by lending.
8. Mainstream adoption requiring next-generation infrastructure.
9. Increased focus on sustainable revenue by investors.
10. Default seeking of staking by investors.

🚫 However, Grayscale downplays the impact of quantum computing and corporate digital asset treasuries on crypto prices in 2026, viewing them as longer-term or marginal factors.

We see a bright outlook for digital assets in 2026, underpinned by the dual forces of macro demand for alternative stores of value and improving regulatory clarity,

the report concludes. It highlights the importance of strengthening the connection between blockchain-based finance and traditional finance and anticipates institutional capital inflows. However, it also cautions that

not every token will make a successful transition from the old one.

🚫 Elon Musk's Concerns Over China's Silver Export Restrictions

🚨 Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has expressed his concerns regarding China's impending restrictions on silver exports. He emphasized the importance of silver in various industrial processes, stating,

This is not good. Silver is needed in many industrial processes.

These restrictions, set to take effect on January 1, will require companies to obtain licenses and state approval for silver exports.

📈 China is the second-largest producer of silver globally, following Mexico, with a production of 110.1 million ounces in 2024. The Silver Institute reports indicate that increased demand coupled with stagnant supply has led to a surge in silver prices in Shanghai and Comex markets. This situation raises concerns for industries that rely on silver, such as battery and automotive sectors, including Tesla, as they may face supply constraints due to these state-imposed limitations.

🔍 The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently listed silver as a critical mineral, highlighting its significance for economic growth and technological leadership in the United States. It remains uncertain whether the Trump Administration will take steps to secure silver supplies for domestic industries in light of this recognition.

💬 Congressman Warren Davidson Reflects on Bitcoin's True Purpose

🗣 In his New Year’s message, Congressman Warren Davidson emphasized the original vision for Bitcoin as a "permission-less, peer-to-peer payment system" rather than an "illiquid inflating asset." He noted that this vision was articulated by Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

🔍 Davidson, a proponent of cryptocurrency, discussed the current state of crypto regulation in the U.S. and the future of assets like Bitcoin. He pointed out that recent shifts in the cryptocurrency ecosystem stem from efforts to undermine the disintermediation that digital assets offer.

🚫 He criticized the GENIUS Act for laying the groundwork for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), arguing that its superficial changes do not address underlying issues.

On the back end all of the other characteristics of CBDC are being built while the massive deficits that undermine the value of the dollar continue unabated

he stressed.

⚖️ Regarding the CLARITY Act, which aims to address gaps left by the GENIUS Act, Davidson expressed skepticism about its prospects in the Senate, anticipating little challenge to the current accounts-based regime.

💪 He highlighted Bitcoin's advantages over government systems, stating:

The promise of Bitcoin was not an illiquid inflating asset, but rather a permission-less, peer-to-peer payment system.

He emphasized that with Bitcoin, users can access their funds without third-party restrictions and transfer them instantly.

🙏 Davidson concluded by urging a rejection of the current trend towards CBDCs, acknowledging the slim chances for Congress to change course but expressing hope that

miracles still happen.

⚠️ Silver Prices: Bubble Signals or Continued Growth?

📈 The debate over whether silver is in a bubble has intensified among investors. On December 30, French bank Societe Generale reported that its quantitative models indicate bubble-like behavior in silver prices, prompting a deeper discussion on how to interpret these signals.

🔍 Dr. Mike Haigh, head of FIC & Commodity Research at Societe Generale, applied the Log-Periodic Power Law Singularity (LPPLS) framework to assess silver's price movements. The analysts noted a recent dramatic surge above $80/oz that some perceived as bubble-like. However, they emphasized that viewing the data on a logarithmic scale reveals a more stable trend, stating,

The logarithmic scale is the correct baseline because it clearly reveals the underlying exponential trend.

⚠️ While the LPPLS framework suggests a potential bubble in the silver market, Societe Generale cautioned against interpreting these model outputs as standalone forecasts. They warned,

If one were to rely solely on this model, we could claim that the silver market is in a bubble. We firmly warn against this.

📊 The bank's research also pointed out that silver's smaller and less liquid market structure compared to gold makes it more susceptible to herding behavior and amplified volatility. The analysts stated,

We therefore prefer to interpret the ‘bubble’ regime as potential instability indicators, as we would always expect healthy corrections to extreme price moves.

📉 Despite the technical indicators suggesting potential instability, Societe Generale highlighted fundamental factors supporting silver demand. These include de-dollarization trends, geopolitical uncertainty, and tightening physical supply. The bank noted upcoming export restrictions from China, which supplies a significant portion of refined silver globally and could exacerbate existing supply deficits.

🚨ABTC Stock Rises as Trump-Linked American Bitcoin Boosts Holdings to 5,427 BTC

👉 Read more

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🚫 Spot Bitcoin ETFs Surge into 2026 with $1.2 Billion in Inflows

📈 Spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have made a powerful entrance into 2026, attracting over $1.2 billion in inflows within the first two trading days. This significant momentum indicates a growing investor demand and suggests a shift towards large-scale adoption that could transform capital gains exposure to bitcoin.

The spot bitcoin ETFs are coming into 2026 like a lion, +$1.2 in flows in first two days of year w/ everyone eating. That’s a $150b/yr pace,

said Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas on January 6. He emphasized that this initial surge is a sign of a larger structural trend rather than a temporary spike, with early inflows translating to an annualized pace of approximately $150 billion.

💪 Despite recent market uncertainties, spot bitcoin ETFs continue to attract capital, indicating that improving sentiment and price strength could further boost allocations. Inflows were seen across most major issuers, demonstrating broad-based demand.

⚡️ This momentum follows Morgan Stanley Investment Management's recent filing for spot bitcoin and solana ETFs, marking the first attempt by a major U.S. bank to directly issue such products. This move signifies a shift from distribution to issuance as the firm aims to leverage rising institutional demand.

Told ya’ll if they can take in $22b when it’s raining, imagine when the sun is shining,

Balchunas added, highlighting the potential for even greater inflows as market conditions improve.

🔗 The strong start reinforces the perspective that bitcoin ETFs are entering a more sustainable phase of adoption. Investors are increasingly viewing them as long-term exposure vehicles rather than short-term trading tools. At the current rate, spot bitcoin ETFs could become one of the fastest-growing exchange-traded product categories.

🚫 Bitcoin Whale Resurfaces: 2,000 Dormant BTC Transferred After Years

🔍 A 2010-era bitcoin whale has made headlines again after a long absence, transferring 2,000 bitcoins that had been dormant since bitcoin's early days. This significant move, valued at $181 million, was processed in a single transaction at block height 931668.

📈 Bitcoin News has been tracking this particular whale since 2020, believing it to be a single entity rather than multiple wallets. Recent blockchain analysis indicates that this entity had been gradually selling off its 2010 coinbase rewards even before we identified it six years ago.

“A miner just sold 2,000 BTC from block rewards dormant since 2010, transferring the funds to Coinbase Exchange,”

wrote Sani, founder of timechainindex, on X.

🔗 The bitcoins were moved from 40 P2PK addresses to a consolidated P2SH address before reaching the crypto exchange Coinbase. This pattern is consistent with the whale's previous transactions, which have often shown connections to Coinbase-linked wallets.

📉 Interestingly, the matching bitcoin cash (BCH) associated with these block rewards was shuffled about five years ago. Despite having offloaded large amounts of coins in the past, this whale has shown little concern for bitcoin's price fluctuations.

The coins moved today with BTC sitting just north of the $90,000 mark.

📌 The whale's behavior suggests a methodical, long-term approach rather than a reactive strategy aimed at maximizing profits from market timing. With such a substantial bitcoin reserve, minor price differences seem insignificant to this entity.

‼️ As this whale retreats once more into the shadows, analysts are left to speculate on when its next move will occur. Based on past patterns, it could be months or even years before another batch of 2010-era rewards is quietly transferred onto the blockchain.

🪙 Clearbank Partners with Taurus for Stablecoin Services

🚫 On January 13, 2026, Clearbank and Taurus announced a strategic partnership in London and Geneva. Clearbank has chosen Taurus-Protect as its wallet infrastructure provider to enhance digital asset services for its clients. This collaboration aims to provide secure, scalable, and compliant support for stablecoin-related services, aligning with Clearbank's recent decision to join the Circle Payment Network.

🔗 The integration will connect Taurus-Protect with Circle Mint, which is Circle's platform for minting and redeeming Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA)-compliant USDC and EURC. This aims to enhance efficiency for corporate payments and international remittances. Mark Fairless, CEO of Clearbank, stated,

This partnership is an important step for Clearbank as we bring new, innovative services to our clients.

However, the availability of these services will depend on applicable laws and regulatory approvals in each jurisdiction.

🌍 The partnership will enable Clearbank to offer stablecoin-related wallet infrastructure and digital asset services to its UK clients. It will also support MiCA-compliant USDC and EURC in Europe, with the integration targeting relevant jurisdictions. The agreement marks a significant step for Clearbank as it expands its service offerings in the crypto space.

🚀 River (RIVER): A Chain-Abstraction Stablecoin System Surges Over 10x

📈 River (RIVER), a chain-abstraction stablecoin system, has experienced a remarkable surge of over 10x since Christmas Day, outperforming the broader digital asset markets. Launched in September of the previous year, River is powered by the omni-CDP stablecoin satUSD, which allows users to earn, leverage, and scale across various chains or ecosystems.

💼 The platform offers automated yield strategies known as "smart vaults," institutional-grade regulated yield products called "prime vaults," and an incentivized social engagement system. Currently, River is integrated with 30 different protocols across major ecosystems such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Base.

📌 In early January, River announced securing an investment from Maelstrom, the crypto investment fund founded by BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes. This announcement coincided with a significant rally that propelled RIVER's price to $38.32, up from $2.80 on Christmas Day. Hayes has publicly acknowledged this price movement, even setting a $100 price target for RIVER.

🛒 RIVER is already listed on several major crypto exchanges, including Kraken, Bitget, MEXC, BingX, and HTX. Hayes mentioned that Maelstrom entered 2026 with a strategy of taking on "maximum risk," not only being long on RIVER but also exploring various "sh*tcoin" sectors, particularly those related to privacy narratives that he believes are poised to outperform Bitcoin.

🔍 In a recent blog post, Hayes stated,

The Maelstrom team’s focus is to find at least one shitcoin that can lead the way and generate outsized returns to our portfolio over the next few years within the privacy meta.

He further elaborated on Maelstrom's investment strategy, indicating a willingness to sell Bitcoin to fund privacy positions and sell Ethereum to support DeFi initiatives in pursuit of outperforming traditional cryptocurrencies.

🚀 Pump Launches Pump Fund to Support Early-Stage Token Projects

💰 Pump, a Solana-based meme coin launchpad, has introduced the Pump Fund, an investment initiative worth $3,000,000. This fund will support 12 early-stage token projects through the Build in Public (BiP) Hackathon, providing each project with $250,000 at a $10 million valuation and mentorship from Pump founders.

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- How much funding does each project receive? Each of the 12 winners receives $250,000 at a $10 million valuation.
- What activities are required? Posting on X, forming a community, and streaming on Pump are highly encouraged.
- Are there jurisdictional limits? Participation and token launches remain subject to applicable laws and platform terms.

🌍 Altcoins Rebound Amid Global Market Rally

📈 On January 22, altcoins experienced a significant recovery as global markets rallied following the resolution of a transatlantic crisis that had threatened Western economies. The combined market capitalization of altcoins surged nearly 10% from a low of $1.25 trillion to an intraday high of $1.39 trillion before settling at $1.32 trillion.

🚀 Leading the recovery was Ethereum (ETH), which rose above $2,965 with a 0.5% gain over 24 hours. Despite a brief dip below $2,900 during President Donald Trump’s address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, his remarks ultimately reassured markets. Trump ruled out using force to seize Greenland, which helped stabilize investor sentiment.

🔄 BNB, the third-largest altcoin, followed a similar pattern. After dropping to $866, it rebounded to $895 before consolidating around $884. This maintained its market capitalization just under $121 billion. XRP also showed resilience, bouncing back 1.3% to $1.92 after hitting a low of $1.88.

📊 Other major altcoins such as DOGE, SOL, TRX, and ADA recorded modest gains between 1% and 2%. By 10 a.m. EST on January 22, the total market capitalization of altcoins had increased by 5% over the past 24 hours, reaching approximately $1.32 trillion.

🔍 In summary, the rebound in altcoin values was driven by a rally in global markets following the easing of economic fears related to geopolitical tensions. While Ethereum led the charge, other major altcoins also showed signs of recovery despite ongoing volatility.

⚠️ Potential U.S. Military Action Against Iran: Implications for Global Trade and Geopolitics

🌍 In a recent YouTube interview, Xueqin Jiang, host of the Predictive History channel, discussed the potential consequences of a U.S. military strike on Iran. He warned that such action could lead to prolonged regional conflict and significant global economic disruption. The conversation, which featured independent financial journalist David Lin, highlighted the interconnectedness of energy markets, trade routes, and geopolitical alliances.

👀 Jiang pointed to recent naval deployments and flight cancellations as indicators of heightened risk for imminent military action. He suggested that these developments, coupled with internal unrest in Iran, could increase the likelihood of U.S. airstrikes. However, he noted that no official confirmation of such plans had been announced.

📊 Current betting markets indicate a 66% probability that the U.S. will strike Iran by June 30, while a separate market suggests a 76% chance that there will be no strike by January 31. Traders also assign a 17% likelihood that U.S. troops will enter Iran by March 31. This speculation has intensified following recent U.S. military activity in Venezuela.

⚡️ Jiang argued that a conflict with Iran could differ from past U.S. military operations. He asserted that Iran might respond asymmetrically by targeting regional infrastructure and trade routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Disruption of this route could significantly impact energy prices and supply chains.

🌐 According to Jiang, Iran's strategic position and regional ties could draw other nations into the conflict, either militarily or through diplomatic efforts to prevent broader economic fallout. Major Asian economies dependent on Middle Eastern energy supplies would face increased pressure to respond.

🗓 Fed Holds Steady on Interest Rates Amid Economic Uncertainty

🚫 The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the U.S. central bank concluded its two-day meeting on Wednesday, announcing that it will keep the federal funds rate unchanged. This decision comes during the first FOMC meeting of 2026, which was held on January 27-28, amidst political pressure from President Trump to lower rates.

Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated,

the Fed stated in its policy announcement. The committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4 percent. However, it is noteworthy that Stephen Miran and Christopher Waller from the FOMC opposed the majority's decision to hold rates steady, advocating instead for a quarter-point reduction.

👀 Market participants are now looking forward to Jerome Powell's comments for further insights on how policymakers view recent data and political influences. Investors are keen to decipher any indications regarding future adjustments, timing, and conditions that could affect the rate trajectory.

💰 Currently, bitcoin is trading at $89,393, gold is priced at $5,279 per ounce, and U.S. equities are experiencing a downturn, with most major indexes declining following the rate cut decision. Until Powell's statements are concluded, market expectations are likely to remain cautious, with traders focusing more on Powell's tone rather than the decision itself in the upcoming months.

🚨 Crypto Events to Watch This Week: Will the Market Recover or Crash More?

👉 Read more

👀 Gemini to Exit UK, EU, Aus Market, Shifts Accounts to Withdrawal-Only From March 5

❗️ Gemini has announced that it will cease operations in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia marking another high-profile exit as the country transitions to a stricter regulatory regime for digital asset firms. The exchange will also be winding down operations in the European Union and Australia.

🔔 In a notice sent to customers, Gemini said UK operations will formally end on 6 April 2026, with all UK customer accounts placed into withdrawal-only mode from 5 March 2026. The exchange advised users to either transfer assets to an external wallet or offboard via a partner platform ahead of the deadline.

💭 Under the transition plan, Gemini said customers will no longer be able to trade or make new deposits after 5 March. Users who wish to liquidate crypto holdings into fiat must do so before that date, while all crypto and fiat withdrawals must be completed by 6 April. As part of the offboarding process, Gemini has partnered with eToro, offering customers the option to open an eToro account to assist with transferring assets. Gemini also urged users to cancel recurring orders and begin unstaking any staked assets ahead of the shutdown.

➡️ The company warned customers to remain vigilant against potential scams, stating that Gemini representatives will not contact users directly by phone or text during the transition.

🚫 Strategic Partnership for Secure Crypto Staking

🌍 Taurus, a Swiss digital asset infrastructure provider, has joined forces with Blockdaemon to offer institutional-grade crypto staking services to banks and financial institutions. This collaboration allows regulated entities to engage in Proof-of-Stake networks while ensuring full asset control and compliance through Taurus' secure custody solution.

🔗 The partnership merges Blockdaemon's staking infrastructure with Taurus' regulated custody platform. This enables institutional clients to earn rewards from major cryptocurrency networks without sacrificing operational security or regulatory standards. It marks a significant advancement in making digital asset participation more accessible and secure for traditional financial institutions.

Institutional clients can now access secure, compliant staking services while maintaining full control of their digital assets.

🌐 Taurus is based in Switzerland, while Blockdaemon operates from the United States. The partnership supports major Proof-of-Stake networks, although specific networks are not listed. Blockdaemon currently secures over $110 billion in digital assets for more than 400 institutions worldwide.

👀 No Official Disclosure on Aliens Despite Obama's Confirmation

🌐 Former U.S. President Barack Obama recently stated that aliens are real, but prediction markets remain skeptical about an official disclosure from the U.S. government before 2026. Polymarket bets give only a 10% chance of this happening.

They’re real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in, what is it … Area 51

Obama said when asked about the existence of aliens. He further added that there was no underground facility unless there was a massive conspiracy to hide it from the president.

📉 Despite Obama's confirmation, prediction markets did not react significantly. A Polymarket bet tracking the chances of an official U.S. government disclosure regarding aliens barely moved after Obama's statements, still giving only an 11% chance of this happening this year.

if the President of the United States, any member of the Cabinet of the United States, any member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or any US federal agency definitively states that extraterrestrial life or technology exists by December 31, 2026

the market specifies that it will resolve positively only under these conditions.

👀 Arthur Hayes Predicts Bitcoin's Future: Two Diverging Paths Ahead of $60K

📉 Bitcoin is currently at a critical $60,000 threshold, with Arthur Hayes, co-founder of Bitmex, outlining two potential scenarios for its future. In his February 17 essay, he discusses the possibility of a completed correction leading to a price surge, or a deeper decline if equity markets falter and liquidity tightens.

There are two scenarios for bitcoin and shitcoins. Either bitcoin’s dump from $126,000 to $60,000 was the entire downward move and stonks will catch up, or bitcoin will dump further as stocks meet their maker.

Hayes emphasizes the importance of limiting leverage in the current market. He describes bitcoin as a "fiat liquidity fire alarm," noting its divergence from the Nasdaq due to increasing credit stress linked to AI-driven job displacement.

The surge in fiat credit creation pumps bitcoin decisively off its lows, and the future expectation of increased fiat creation to save the banking system propels bitcoin to a new all-time high.

🤖 Beyond price predictions, Hayes addresses the significant labor disruptions caused by artificial intelligence and their impact on credit markets. He warns of rising defaults at smaller banks that could lead to emergency liquidity measures from policymakers.