Category: crypto

Ripple has signed an MoU with Riyad Bank’s innovation arm to test RLUSD and blockchain technology for cross-border payments in Saudi Arabia. The agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector development goals and follows Ripple’s strategy of partnering with regional banks and regulators to expand its payment solutions globally.

South Korea’s Coinone crypto exchange is considering selling part of its chairman’s stake, with Coinbase potentially involved in early discussions. Coinone has faced financial challenges and is exploring partnerships for equity investments. The exchange may include the stake of its second-largest shareholder in the sale. Coinbase is interested in the South Korean market.

A 10-bank European consortium is launching Qivalis, a euro-pegged stablecoin led by Jan-Oliver Sell to challenge dollar-based tokens and enhance European payment independence by the second half of 2026. The initiative aims to target crypto trading initially and expand into broader payment use cases after securing regulatory approval.

Litecoin and ONDO have both entered a corrective phase after experiencing significant gains in early January. The decrease in volume and stretched valuations have led traders to reassess their investments and focus on projects with clearer supply, timelines, and real product usage. This shift reflects a broader trend in the altcoin market towards projects with…

Bitcoin dropped below $88k due to Solana fees increasing and whales transferring BTC to Binance, leading to leveraged liquidations and weakness in altcoins in low liquidity. This decline was linked to U.S. political risk and derivatives liquidations rather than spot selling, with open interest remaining subdued.

A16z-backed crypto startup Entropy is shutting down as its business model was not scalable for venture-level returns. All funds will be returned to investors. Founder Tux Pacific cited lack of viable options as the reason for closure. The company had pivoted through various models before settling on crypto automation.

Bitcoin price dropped sharply at the beginning of the week as CME futures reopened well below Friday’s close, creating a significant pricing gap. Analysts are divided on the short-term outlook, with some expecting a return to previous levels while others anticipate further declines. Long-term prospects for Bitcoin in 2026 remain uncertain due to regulatory factors.

Japan is on track to approve spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds by 2028, allowing regulated access to crypto through traditional markets. Major financial groups are preparing to launch the first products, with policy reforms and rising investor demand speeding up the process. The move aims to simplify cryptocurrency exposure for individual investors and attract institutional participation.

Bitcoin ETFs experienced $1.33 billion in outflows, the second-largest weekly redemption on record. Ethereum ETFs followed with $611 million in withdrawals led by BlackRock’s ETHA. Solana ETFs had inflows, while XRP saw its first weekly outflow. The exodus came after a previous week of inflows, as institutional investors reduced crypto exposure.

Tether was the top crypto protocol in 2025 with $5.2 billion revenue, accounting for 41.9% of total earnings. Stablecoin issuers generated $8.3 billion in revenue, while trading platforms saw fluctuations. Tron ranked second with $3.5 billion revenue from USDT transactions. The crypto market capitalization ended at $3.0 trillion.