📉 Privacy Coins Diverge: Zcash Falls While Monero Rises

📈 The privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash (ZEC) has experienced a significant decline, dropping from a peak of just over $741 on November 15 to a low of $411 by December 16. In contrast, its competitor Monero (XMR) has seen an increase of more than 15% in the past week.

📉 ZEC has fallen 44.54% since its November high, with a slight decrease of 3.1% this week and a 1.4% drop in the last day. Despite this pullback, ZEC still boasts a remarkable 626% gain from its price level a year ago. The privacy coin sector as a whole has a combined valuation of $17.35 billion, with ZEC holding the second-largest market cap at $6.76 billion, representing 38.97% of the sector's total value. Monero has recently reclaimed the top spot by market cap.

✔️ Monero's market performance has been notably different, rising 3.2% today and posting a 15.4% gain over the past week. It reached a price of $437 per coin in November and is currently trading at $426. However, when comparing the past 12 months, ZEC still outperforms XMR with a 626% increase since December 16, 2024, compared to XMR's 102% rise.

❗️ Despite the overall downturn in the crypto market, XMR's price has remained relatively stable, sitting about 21% below its early 2018 peak of nearly $542. Another privacy coin, Beldex (BDX), has gained attention this week with a 5.9% increase over the past seven days.

⛔️ Most other top privacy coins have suffered significant losses, with DASH falling 14.4% this week, DCR dropping 18.8%, and MWC experiencing a sharp decline of 20.5%. Zano (ZANO) decreased by 10.5%, Horizen (ZEN) sank 18.8%, and Verge (XVG) is down 15.4% against the dollar over the past week.

🚀 Senate Confirms Michael Selig as CFTC Chairman, Paving the Way for Enhanced Crypto Oversight

⚠️ The U.S. Senate confirmed Michael Selig as the 15th chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on December 18, signaling a significant shift in digital asset policy. This leadership change positions the CFTC for expanded oversight of cryptocurrencies and renewed momentum in digital asset regulation.

‼️ Following the confirmation, there was an immediate response from Capitol Hill highlighting the expectation for collaboration on digital asset policy. The House Financial Services Committee expressed their support on social media, stating,

Congrats to Mike Selig on his confirmation as CFTC Chair. The CFTC is a critical partner in our financial markets.

They emphasized their eagerness to work with Selig and the SEC to provide much-needed regulatory clarity for digital assets.

🔔 Selig's confirmation came after a closely divided vote of 53–43 and grants him a term that extends through April 2029. He takes over after a prolonged interim period following the departure of Rostin Behnam in January. During this time, Commissioner Caroline Pham served as acting chair before moving to the private sector.

⚖️ As Selig steps into his new role, he faces both structural and strategic challenges. His previous experience as chief counsel to the SEC's Crypto Task Force and as a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher has set expectations for him as a pragmatic regulator. During his confirmation process, he expressed support for principles-based rules and emphasized the importance of enforcing against fraud and manipulation rather than minor technical violations.

⚠️ These priorities align with congressional efforts like the proposed CLARITY Act, which aims to expand the CFTC's authority into crypto spot markets and enhance its role compared to the SEC. However, the agency is currently short-staffed due to several resignations earlier this year, which may leave Selig as the only confirmed commissioner for the time being.

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📌 Venezuela's Oil Economy: The Rise of Stablecoins

💰 Asdrubal Oliveros, a local economist, has revealed that nearly 80% of Venezuela's crude oil sales are conducted using stablecoins, particularly USDT. He emphasized the significant role of cryptocurrency in the country's oil policy, despite the challenges faced in liquidating these funds.

📈 According to Oliveros, stablecoins have become integral to Venezuela's oil strategy amidst unilateral sanctions from the U.S. government. He noted that oil production has increased to over 1 million barrels per day, highlighting the sector's connection to the cryptocurrency economy.

Almost 80% of oil revenue is being collected in cryptocurrencies, in stablecoins,

Oliveros stated. However, he also pointed out that this reliance on digital assets has created issues for the Venezuelan administration.

This is causing a bottleneck in the foreign exchange market,

he explained,

and that puts pressure on demand, drives up the price.

🌍 The Venezuelan oil sector generates over $12 billion annually, with most exports going to China. The increasing use of stablecoin payments in such a large industry demonstrates the growing liquidity of these assets in international markets. It also highlights the potential of stablecoins as alternative settlement instruments in commodity markets when traditional payment methods are unavailable.

⚠️ If sanctions continue and the political conflict remains unresolved, Venezuela may see an even greater shift towards stablecoin payments for oil sales. This could position the country as an example of an economy driven by stablecoin income.

📈 Jim Rickards Predicts a Bullish 2026 for Gold and Silver

💬 Jim Rickards, a renowned economist and best-selling author, has shared his optimistic outlook for the metals market, particularly for gold and silver, predicting a significant surge in 2026. In a recent interview, he emphasized that the traditional drivers of the gold bull market, such as central bank demand and limited supply, will remain strong into 2026.

📊 Rickards pointed out that new factors are also emerging that could further elevate prices. He highlighted the growing demand from institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, as a potential catalyst for price increases. Additionally, he noted that geopolitical events, such as European attempts to take over Russian assets, might be influencing gold demand as countries seek to diversify away from seizable assets.

If you’re Saudi Arabia, or Japan, or Taiwan, or Brazil, or any large holder of US Treasury securities, you’re looking at that and saying, “Hey, what if the U.S. doesn’t like something I do? Um, maybe I ought to diversify into gold,”

Rickards explained.

📈 Regarding silver, Rickards noted that its price increase is linked to a market dynamic where paper silver significantly outweighs physical silver. He stated,

It would not surprise me, not even a little bit, to see $10,000 gold before the end of 2026. I think we will. Silver’s along for the ride. At that point, you’re looking at $200 an ounce.

📉 Recently, gold has surpassed the $4,500 mark, and silver has exceeded $70, marking a strong performance for both metals this year. Other metals like platinum and copper have also seen notable price increases.

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📉 Bitcoin's Current Market Status: Consolidation Amid Indecision

💰 Bitcoin is currently trading at $87,752, with a market cap of $1.75 trillion and a 24-hour trading volume of $15.69 billion. The price has fluctuated between $87,363 and $87,893 throughout the day, indicating a period of indecision rather than significant movement.

📊 The daily chart reveals a phase of consolidation. After a recent dip from its highs, Bitcoin is moving sideways between support at approximately $83,800—which has been tested twice—and resistance near $94,600. The volume suggests a distribution phase, with red candles indicating that bears are still active in the market.

If bitcoin retests the $83,800 level and posts a bullish reversal candlestick, the market might get its next catalyst.

🔍 On the 4-hour chart, the price recently bounced from around $86,363 after a lackluster breakdown from $90,070. Currently, it is experiencing a sideways movement between $86,300 and $88,000 with decreasing volume, which suggests indecision among traders. Those looking for a breakout above $88,000 should watch for strong candle formations and volume expansion.

📉 The 1-hour chart shows a tight range between $87,272 and $87,920 with tapering volume, indicating a lack of conviction among participants. A breakout above $87,920 with solid volume could lead to a run towards $88,500, but failing to hold above $87,200 might result in a quick drop to $86,500.

It’s a mean-reversion playground at the moment—dip buyers near $87,300 and nimble scalpers at the upper bounds, proceed with precision.

📌 The oscillators show a neutral market with the relative strength index (RSI) at 45, the Stochastic oscillator at 52, and the commodity channel index (CCI) at -41. The average directional index (ADX) is at 19, confirming the lack of a strong trend. However, the Awesome oscillator logs a mild -1,693, continuing the neutral sentiment.

📈 Seized, Mined, Stockpiled: How Governments Became Major Bitcoin Holders in 2025

📈 In 2025, the landscape of Bitcoin (BTC) ownership among nation-states shifted significantly. The United States emerged as the largest holder, with its stash increasing from 198,012 BTC in May to approximately 328,372 BTC by the end of the year. This surge was largely due to a major confiscation of 127,271 BTC linked to a wanted Chinese national.

‼️ Following the U.S. is the United Kingdom, which holds 61,245 BTC. This accumulation dates back to a 2018 police raid related to a £5 billion fraud case, where authorities seized devices containing over 61,000 BTC.

🌍 El Salvador ranks third with 7,509 BTC, maintaining its status as the only country where Bitcoin is legal tender. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed skepticism about the country's recent acquisitions, suggesting that some reported "purchases" may merely be internal transfers.

⛔️ The United Arab Emirates (UAE) comes next, holding 6,568 BTC sourced from mining operations through Citadel Mining, which is predominantly owned by the UAE Royal Group. The UAE has been positioning itself as a hub for crypto and blockchain technology.

👀 Bhutan rounds out the top five with 5,984 BTC, acquired primarily through mining and managed by the Royal Government via its sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holdings (DHI). Despite reducing its holdings in 2025, Bhutan aims for significant growth in its Bitcoin investments by 2035.

🔍 The methods by which these countries have amassed their Bitcoin vary: seizures, mining operations, and treasury strategies all play a role. As we look towards 2026, it is clear that Bitcoin ownership by governments is becoming increasingly mainstream and is now a critical aspect of financial policy discussions.

🔔 Argentina's Evolving Cryptocurrency Landscape in 2026

📈 As Argentina enters 2026, it boasts high levels of cryptocurrency adoption, being recognized as the leading country in Latin America for crypto usage. According to a recent report by Chainalysis, nearly 20% of Argentines—approximately 8.6 million people—are engaged with cryptocurrencies, positioning the nation among the top adopters globally.

💱 Initially, Argentines primarily used stablecoins to combat inflation and the devaluation of fiat currency. However, this trend is shifting. While stablecoins remain the preferred digital assets for many, users are increasingly seeking to earn yields on their holdings. Local analyst Rodrigo Mansilla noted,

Today, crypto usability, crypto dollar yields, and other attractive features have been significantly expanded. Almost no one wants their money sitting idle, not “working” for them.

🏦 This shift in usage has sparked intense competition among local crypto providers, who are offering higher yields to attract users. Additionally, the potential entry of banks into the cryptocurrency ecosystem could further intensify this competition. Reports suggest that the Argentine central bank is drafting a resolution to permit banks to offer digital asset services.

🔍 In summary, Argentina's cryptocurrency landscape is rapidly evolving as users adapt their strategies and new players enter the market. With high adoption rates and changing use cases, the country is set to remain a key player in the global crypto arena throughout 2026.

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🚀 Tether Launches Scudo Amid Rising Gold Prices

💰 Tether has recently launched Scudo, a new accounting unit for its gold-backed token XAUT, as gold prices reach historic highs. As of January 6, gold is trading at approximately $4,482 per troy ounce, attracting investors seeking protection from inflation and geopolitical tensions.

🔍 Scudo is designed to simplify the pricing and transfer of XAUT, representing one-thousandth of a troy ounce of gold or one-thousandth of an XAUT token. This means that at current gold prices, a Scudo would be valued at around $4.45. Tether aims to make transactions more intuitive by using smaller units, which can be easier to work with than long decimal strings.

While belief in gold’s value remains strong, usability has long been the sticking point,

Tether stated. The introduction of Scudo is intended to revive gold's historical role in everyday commerce by making it easier to use as a medium of exchange.

📊 XAUT is fully backed by physical gold stored in secure vaults, and the introduction of Scudo does not change this backing or the token's structure. It simply alters how value can be expressed and transferred.

📈 In the competitive market for tokenized gold, XAUT faces rivalry from PAXG, the gold-backed token issued by Paxos. PAXG has a market capitalization of about $1.68 billion, while XAUT leads with approximately $2.31 billion.

Gold continues to prove itself as a long-term store of value,

said Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO. He emphasized the importance of lowering barriers to ownership and transactions for tokenized assets to move beyond passive holding.

🌍 However, the appeal of gold has been driven more by macroeconomic factors than convenience. Central bank buying and persistent inflation concerns have fueled demand for gold, leaving digital tokens like XAUT and PAXG to ride this broader wave.

🔗 While Scudo may enhance the user experience, it does not change the fundamental economics of gold-backed tokens, which remain tied to gold's price and liquidity dynamics. If gold prices decline, enthusiasm for its tokenized counterparts may also wane.

📈 Clearer Regulatory Framework for Event-Based Derivatives

🚫 U.S. regulators are providing clearer guidelines for event-based derivatives, particularly through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). On January 8, 2026, the CFTC's Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Risk announced limited no-action relief for event contracts associated with Bitnomial Exchange LLC and Bitnomial Clearinghouse LLC.

The divisions will not recommend the CFTC initiate an enforcement action against either entity or their participants for failure to comply with certain swap-related recordkeeping requirements,

the announcement stated. This guidance addresses a request from Bitnomial seeking clarity on how existing swap rules apply to event contract transactions.

⚖️ The CFTC's position reflects enforcement discretion rather than a change in statutory or regulatory requirements. It applies only to specific circumstances and does not extend to activities outside those parameters. By limiting the scope of the relief, the commission staff aims to balance regulatory consistency with flexibility for newer contract structures.

🔄 This decision aligns with previous staff determinations issued to other designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations. It reinforces a uniform approach to event-based products across regulated venues, providing operational certainty for exchanges, clearinghouses, and participants while maintaining the commission’s ability to oversee risk, transparency, and market integrity.

❗️ The announcement also reflects ongoing engagement between regulators and market infrastructure providers as event contracts evolve within the U.S. derivatives framework. As innovation continues, staff-level guidance like this no-action relief offers defined parameters for compliance without altering underlying statutory or regulatory obligations.

📊 In summary, the CFTC's no-action relief for Bitnomial clarifies how certain swap reporting and recordkeeping rules apply to event-based contracts. This reduces regulatory uncertainty for participants trading on Bitnomial’s regulated exchange while preserving regulatory oversight and encouraging innovation in the market.

🛡 Bipartisan Efforts to Protect Blockchain Developers in the U.S.

🚀 A bipartisan initiative is underway to clarify federal regulations surrounding blockchain innovation in the United States. On January 12, U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming and Ron Wyden from Oregon introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. This legislation aims to protect certain blockchain developers from being classified as money transmitters, which has been a significant concern for the industry.

🗣 Senator Lummis, who chairs the Senate Banking Digital Assets Subcommittee, emphasized the need for this legislation by stating,

Blockchain developers who have simply written code and maintain open-source infrastructure have lived under threat of being classified as money transmitters for far too long.

She pointed out that treating these developers like financial institutions, despite their lack of access to customer funds, limits innovation and exposes them to legal risks for activities that do not involve money laundering.

🔔 The proposed act establishes federal standards to determine when blockchain developers and infrastructure providers are exempt from money transmitter definitions. It specifically focuses on "non-controlling developers or providers", defined as those who develop or maintain distributed ledger technology without the authority to initiate or complete transactions involving user assets. Activities protected under this legislation include publishing blockchain software, maintaining distributed networks, supporting self-custody tools, and providing infrastructure for ledger operations.

🗣 Senator Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, criticized the current regulatory approach by stating,

Forcing developers who write code to follow the same rules as exchanges or brokers is technologically illiterate and a recipe for violating Americans’ privacy and free speech rights.

He stressed that the federal government can oversee digital asset markets without imposing restrictions on what software creators can build.

💱 Citrea Launches Citrea USD (ctUSD): A New Stablecoin for Bitcoin Liquidity

🌍 Citrea has officially launched its stablecoin, Citrea USD (ctUSD), which is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. This stablecoin is backed by short-term U.S. Treasury bills and cash, and is issued by Moonpay. It is designed to serve as native liquidity for the bitcoin ecosystem and will be available to users in the U.S. (excluding New York) and in over 160 countries (excluding Canada and the European Economic Area).

🔗 The primary goal of ctUSD is to unify on-chain bitcoin collateral with off-chain fiat rails, thereby reducing fragmentation and providing immediate access to deep liquidity through Moonpay’s extensive network of over 30 million verified users. Users can instantly buy or sell ctUSD using various payment methods such as Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Paypal, where available. Additionally, ctUSD offers virtual accounts and banking services through Moonpay’s Iron platform, and supports cross-chain swaps and merchant payments via Swaps. and Helio.

🗣 Orkun Kilic, co-founder and CEO of Chainway Labs, stated,

Liquidity on Citrea is forming now.

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- Availability in the U.S.: ctUSD can be accessed in all states except New York under Moonpay’s money-transmitter licenses.
- Excluded regions: ctUSD is not initially available in Canada and the European Economic Area.
- Backing reserves: ctUSD is fully backed by short-term U.S. Treasury bills and cash held for the benefit of token holders.
- Integration for developers in the EU: Developers can integrate ctUSD using M0’s platform and Moonpay’s banking APIs, subject to MiCA and local jurisdictional requirements.

🪙 Bitcoin's Stagnant Price Masks a Major Repricing, Says ARK's Cathie Wood

🔍 ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood views the current stagnation of Bitcoin's price as a cover for a significant restructuring taking place. In her 2026 outlook, she argues that while the U.S. economy has entered a "coiled spring" phase due to a prolonged rolling recession, Bitcoin is positioning itself to benefit from an impending productivity boom.

📈 Wood describes the broader economy as a "coiled spring"—with housing sales at 1980s lows and contracting manufacturing—which she believes will "bounce back powerfully" due to deregulation and lower taxes. She places blockchain technology alongside AI and robotics as key platforms ready to drive this rebound.

Gold and bitcoin miners are likely to respond to these price signals differently: gold miners, by boosting production of gold, something not possible with bitcoin.

Wood emphasized that Bitcoin's price slipping 6% in 2025 (while gold surged) creates a divergence that ignores Bitcoin's tightening issuance schedule. She detailed the specific metrics that define Bitcoin’s inelastic supply:

Bitcoin is mathematically metered to increase ~0.82% per year for the next two years, at which point its growth will decelerate to ~0.41% per year.

📊 Beyond supply mechanics, Wood highlighted that Bitcoin’s returns have remained uniquely independent of other major asset classes since 2020. She noted that BTC’s correlation with gold is only 0.14, and its correlation with bonds is even lower at 0.06—a level significantly lower than the 0.27 correlation between the S&P 500 and bonds.

Bitcoin should be a good source of diversification for asset allocators looking for higher returns per unit of risk during the years ahead.

💰 Strive Announces $150 Million Follow-On Offering of Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock

📈 On January 21, 2026, Strive, Inc. (Nasdaq: SATA) announced its intention to conduct a $150 million follow-on offering of its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (SATA). The offering is contingent on market conditions and aims to raise net proceeds for several purposes, including the redemption or repurchase of Semler Scientific’s 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030, acquiring bitcoin and related products, and covering working capital and general corporate needs.

💸 The SATA Stock offers monthly cash dividends that are initially set at 12.25% per annum on the $100 stated amount. These dividends come with variable adjustment rights and compound penalties for any unpaid amounts. Additionally, the stock includes provisions for redemption and repurchase in the event of fundamental changes. Strive also has the option to reduce the offering size through negotiated exchanges of Semler Convertible Notes for SATA Stock; however, the final terms of the offering will be subject to market conditions, investor qualifications, and applicable securities laws.

🔍 Key details about the offering include:
- The proposed size of the offering is $150 million.
- Proceeds will be used for repaying Semler Convertible Notes, acquiring bitcoin, and general corporate purposes.
- SATA Stock will accrue monthly cash dividends at a variable rate, starting at 12.25% per annum and payable from February 15, 2026.
- There are redemption and exchange mechanics associated with the offering, allowing Strive to redeem SATA Stock under certain conditions and negotiate note-for-stock exchanges that could reduce the offering size.

📈 Bitcoin's Balancing Act: Navigating Support and Resistance

📉 Bitcoin is currently trading just above a critical support level of $88,000, amidst a market filled with uncertainty. After a failed attempt to reach $97,939, Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline, leaving behind a series of red candles. The daily chart indicates a bearish trend, with volume surges suggesting institutional selling rather than retail interest.

🔄 On the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin appears to be stuck in a sideways movement between $87,193 and $89,500. This pattern resembles a bearish flag rather than a consolidation phase. The market shows signs of indecision, with decreasing volume indicating buyer apathy. A break above $89,500 could lead to a short-term relief rally, but hesitation at this resistance level could result in a further drop towards $85,000.

📈 The 1-hour chart shows a slight bounce from $87,957 towards $88,500; however, the intraday trend remains downward with lower highs and seller dominance. While there is an attempt to rise, volume still favors the bears. A rejection near $88,800 to $89,000 would maintain the downtrend, whereas a clear break could allow for a quick move up to the $89,700–$90,000 range.

⚖️ Technical indicators present a mixed picture. The relative strength index (RSI) is at 41, the Stochastic at 17, and the commodity channel index (CCI) at −102, all indicating a lack of momentum. The average directional index (ADX) is at 25, suggesting low trend strength. However, the Awesome oscillator and momentum indicators show bearish undertones but hint at a potential for reversal. The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) level at −351 adds a bearish note.

🔄 Tom Lee: Gold and Silver's Impact on Bitcoin's Performance

📉 Tom Lee, managing partner at Fundstrat Global Advisors, recently discussed the short-term effects of gold and silver prices on cryptocurrency performance during an appearance on CNBC. He noted that strong demand for precious metals can temporarily hinder the performance of cryptocurrencies.

When gold and silver rise, and let’s say folks are using margin or options, then they’re using capacity that could be used to buy other risk assets whether it’s Mag 7 or cryptocurrencies,

Lee explained. He emphasized that as investors allocate leverage towards precious metals, their ability to invest in cryptocurrencies is limited.

📊 Lee pointed out that cryptocurrencies typically thrive in a weaker dollar environment and with an easing Federal Reserve. However, the current lack of leverage in the crypto sector due to prior deleveraging has muted short-term gains despite favorable macroeconomic conditions.

When gold and silver take a break, then and in the past, that would lead to a bitcoin and ethereum surge afterwards,

Lee stated. He highlighted a historical pattern where bitcoin and ethereum lag during periods of capital concentration in precious metals but accelerate once that momentum fades.

📈 Lee characterized the current situation as consistent with earlier market cycles. As trades in precious metals become crowded, this setup has historically preceded a resurgence in crypto markets rather than indicating a decline in demand.