U.S. Stocks Open Lower U.S. equity markets commenced trading on a downward trajectory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.34%, the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.45%, and the S&P 500 index was down 0.35% at the market open. #crypto #blockchain #news

Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund Sees 149% Surge in Indirect Bitcoin Exposure by 2025 Norway's sovereign wealth fund is set to experience a significant increase in its indirect exposure to Bitcoin by 2025, with holdings projected to jump 149% to 9,573 BTC. This growth is primarily driven by investments in companies like Strategy, MARA, Metaplanet, Coinbase, and Block, all of which hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets. While the fund has not directly purchased Bitcoin, its indirect stake through these companies highlights a growing engagement with the cryptocurrency asset class. K33 Research Head Vetle Lunde noted this substantial rise in indirect holdings, underscoring the fund's diversified approach to digital assets. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Kraken-Backed SPAC KRAKacquisition Corp Completes $345 Million IPO KRAKacquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) supported by Kraken, has successfully concluded its initial public offering (IPO), raising $345 million after exercising its over-allotment option. The SPAC, which debuted on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol KRAQU on January 28, 2026, marks a significant step in its strategic acquisition pursuits. #crypto #blockchain #news

Lido V3 Launches on Ethereum Mainnet, Introducing Modular Staking Infrastructure for Developers Lido V3 has officially launched on the Ethereum mainnet, introducing its stVaults module. This new infrastructure is built upon stETH and is designed to cater to developers, expanding the Lido protocol beyond its traditional pooled liquid staking model (Lido Core). The upgrade enables a more diversified staking approach while maintaining the shared liquidity and DeFi composability of stETH. stVaults empowers builders to customize their staking configurations without needing to develop infrastructure from scratch. This move signifies Lido's commitment to providing flexible and accessible staking solutions for the broader developer ecosystem. #crypto #blockchain #news

Michael Saylor Predicts Kevin W. Mikkelsen to Become First Pro-Bitcoin Fed Chair Strategy Co-founder Michael Saylor has stated that Kevin W. Mikkelsen is poised to become the first Federal Reserve Chairman to openly support Bitcoin. The prediction was shared on social media. Mikkelsen, known for his hawkish stance on inflation, has emerged as a leading candidate for the Federal Reserve's top position. His potential appointment is seen by some as a significant development for the cryptocurrency's future. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Atlanta Fed President Bostic: Fed Not Necessarily Facing Interest Rate Cuts Now Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic stated that current inflation and employment risks are largely balanced, with downside employment risks significantly diminished. However, he noted that inflation progress has stalled over the past two years, necessitating continued vigilance and a clear demonstration of a return to the 2% target. Bostic believes the Federal Reserve does not need to cut interest rates at this juncture and should adopt a patient, wait-and-see approach regarding monetary policy. He also anticipates that the impact of certain tariff policies will extend into the first half of 2026. When asked about Jerome Powell, Bostic remarked that he does not know him well but has heard he is "very thoughtful." #crypto #blockchain #news

Canadian Fugitive Accused of $65 Million Cryptocurrency Heist, Believed to be in Bosnia A 21-year-old Canadian national, Andean Medjedovic, is wanted in connection with the alleged hacking and theft of approximately $65 million in cryptocurrency from the Indexed Finance and KyberSwap platforms. Medjedovic was apprehended in Belgrade, Serbia, in August 2024. However, he was released after a Serbian court denied a Dutch extradition request. U.S. Department of Justice filings suggest he may have fled to Bosnia and his current whereabouts are unknown. The fugitive reportedly leveraged his mathematical and programming skills to orchestrate the attack on Indexed Finance at the age of 18, absconding with $16.5 million. He then allegedly targeted KyberSwap in 2023. #crypto #blockchain #news

Warren Calls for Pause on Wash's Fed Nomination Amid Powell Investigation U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has voiced concerns regarding President Trump's decision to nominate Kevin Warsh for a Federal Reserve position. Warren, the lead Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, questioned Warsh's ability to lead the Federal Reserve independently of White House influence. "President Trump has made it clear that anyone who disagrees with him is unlikely to be Chair of the Federal Reserve," Warren stated. "Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh – who was more concerned with helping Wall Street than millions of unemployed Americans after the 2008 financial crisis – has clearly passed the loyalty test." Warren urged Republicans to suspend the confirmation process for Warsh until the Department of Justice concludes its investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell. "Any Republican who claims to care about the independence of the Federal Reserve should join me in demanding that President Trump halt his push for Mr. Warsh until the investigation into Chair Powell and Governor Lael #crypto #blockchain #news

Economist: Markets Have Priced In Wash's Appointment, Dollar Downside Risks Remain Investec Chief Economist Philip Shaw commented on the strong market speculation overnight regarding Jerome Powell's potential successor, noting that trading activity largely concluded yesterday. The focus will now shift to assessing the nominee's stance on critical issues such as interest rates and the balance sheet. Shaw highlighted the unsustainable trajectory of the U.S. fiscal situation and cautioned that the appointment of a new Federal Reserve chair does not preclude potential interference from the current administration in the Fed's operations or other government sectors. While the immediate downside risk for the dollar has diminished following today's news, the potential for further depreciation persists. #crypto #blockchain #news

Fed May Cut Rates by June: Market Probabilities Revealed Market analysis from CME's FedWatch tool indicates a significant shift in expectations regarding the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. As of March, the probability of a 25 basis point rate cut stands at just 15.3%, with an overwhelming 84.7% likelihood of rates remaining unchanged. By April, the chance of a cumulative 25 basis point reduction rises to 29.7%, while the probability of rates staying put is 67.2%. A more substantial 50 basis point cut by April is considered unlikely, with a mere 3.2% probability. Looking ahead to June, the market assigns a 48.3% probability to a cumulative 25 basis point rate cut. The likelihood of rates remaining at their current level is estimated at 33.7%, with a 16.4% chance of a 50 basis point reduction. A more aggressive 75 basis point cut by June is seen as highly improbable, with a probability of only 1.6%. These figures reflect the market's current sentiment and its interpretation of economic indicators that may influence the Federal Reserve's decision-making process. Traders and investors closely monitor these probabilities as they can impact various asset classes. #crypto #blockchain #news

Hong Kong to Submit Four Virtual Asset Service Provider Regulations This Year Hong Kong's Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) has announced plans to submit four draft legislative proposals concerning the regulation of virtual asset service providers to the Legislative Council within this year. According to a press release from the Hong Kong government, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui stated on January 30th at a Legislative Council briefing that the FSTB and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) have jointly published a consultation conclusion on legislative proposals for a regulatory regime for virtual asset trading and custodian service providers. They are currently finalizing the details of these regulations. The FSTB and SFC have also conducted further public consultations on regulatory frameworks for virtual asset advisory service providers and virtual asset management service providers. The goal is to submit the draft bills for the regulation of these four types of service providers to the Legislative Council within the current year. Furthermore, the government plans to introduce legislative proposals to implement the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) crypto-asset reporting framework and Common Reporting Standard amendments. This initiative aims to enable the automatic exchange of tax information related to crypto-asset transactions with other tax jurisdictions starting from 2028. The FSTB and SFC are working to establish a comprehensive regulatory environment for the virtual asset industry, aligning with international standards and enhancing investor protection. #crypto #blockchain #news

Traders Maintain Expectations for Two Fed Rate Cuts This Year Following Chair Nomination Following the announcement of the nominee for the next Chair of the Federal Reserve, traders are continuing to price in two interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve within the current year. The financial markets are closely observing the implications of the nomination, with expectations for monetary policy adjustments remaining a key focus. #crypto #blockchain #news

BlackRock Deposits $240 Million in Bitcoin and Ethereum to Coinbase Onchain Lens data indicates that BlackRock has transferred 2,288 Bitcoin, valued at $188.99 million, and 19,644 Ethereum, worth $53.72 million, to Coinbase. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

President Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve Chair U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Kevin Warsh for the position of Federal Reserve Chairman. According to reports from Jinshi News, President Trump expressed confidence in Warsh, stating, "Kevin Warsh will never disappoint." #crypto #blockchain #news

Czech Central Bank Governor Predicts Wider BTC Adoption The Governor of the Czech National Bank has indicated a positive outlook on Bitcoin, suggesting that more countries are likely to adopt BTC in the future. According to The Bitcoin Historian, the governor emphasized the importance of understanding Bitcoin rather than resisting its progression. This sentiment from a prominent central bank official signals a potential shift in global financial perspectives towards digital assets. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Spot Gold Recovers Above $5100 Mark Spot gold has once again crossed the 5100 USD per ounce threshold, marking a significant rebound of nearly $160 from its intraday low. The precious metal has narrowed its daily losses to approximately 5%. This recovery comes amidst fluctuating market conditions, indicating a potential shift in sentiment for gold as a safe-haven asset. Investors are closely monitoring the precious metal's performance as it navigates current economic uncertainties. #crypto #blockchain #news

Bhutan Government Sends $8.31 Million in Bitcoin to QCP Capital The Royal Government of Bhutan has transferred $8.31 million worth of Bitcoin to QCP Capital, according to on-chain data monitored by Onchain Lens. The transaction involved 100.82 BTC, and further transfers from Bhutan are anticipated. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Binance Futures to Launch MEGAUSDT Perpetual Contract Pre-Market Trading Binance Futures will commence pre-market trading for the MEGAUSDT Perpetual contract on January 30 at 20:15 (UTC+8), offering leverage of up to 5x. The exchange announced the upcoming listing on its official platform. #crypto #blockchain #news

Whale "pension-usdt.eth" Bets Big on Ethereum Short, Leverages 30,000 ETH Worth $81.8 Million The prominent crypto whale, known by the address "pension-usdt.eth," has once again initiated a significant short position on Ethereum (ETH). This move comes shortly after the whale reportedly profited $2.7 million from a previous ETH short. According to data from Onchain Lens, the whale has opened a new short position with 3x leverage, controlling 30,000 ETH. This substantial position is valued at $81.8 million, with an entry price of $2,746. The liquidation price for this trade is set at $3,713.44. This aggressive trading strategy highlights the whale's conviction in a downward price movement for Ethereum, leveraging substantial capital to amplify potential gains. #crypto #blockchain #news

Bitcoin Falls Out of Top 10 Global Assets, Now Ranked 12th Data from 8marketcap indicates that Bitcoin's market capitalization has dropped out of the top ten global assets, currently holding the 12th position. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin