Day: January 7, 2026

Blockchain Innovation Must Rise Above Politics And Serve Real-World Needs

Opinion by: Marcos Viriato, co-founder and CEO of Parfin Blockchain was born to decentralize power and create systems that operate on transparency, not control. Yet today, the technology is being adopted by the institutions it sought to disrupt.  Governments and corporations are integrating blockchain into their existing frameworks. This turns a tool built for autonomy into one that reinforces oversight. This shift reveals a deeper tension. Ideologies have become involved. From political donations to manifesto pledges, blockchain has become a political instrument. The result is a shift in how power,…

RAKBank Gets Approval to Launch UAE Stablecoin

Key Notes RAKBank receives in-principle approval to issue a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin. The token will be fully backed by segregated dirham reserves and audited smart contracts. Adoption and blockchain infrastructure details remain unclear as the market awaits launch. RAKBank stablecoin plans are advancing after the bank received in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. This approval allows work to continue on a regulated dirham-backed payment token as the country expands its supervised digital payment system. RAKBbank Stablecoin Approval and What It Covers RAKBank stablecoin approval means…

Coinbase’s John D’Agostino outlines exchange’s 2026 crypto market outlook

▶ Coinbase Website: Coinbase.com ▶ CEX Website: cex.io John D’Agostino, head of strategy of Coinbase Institutional, discusses the crypto exchange’s 2026 Crypto Market Outlook report. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: » Subscribe to CNBC TV: » Subscribe to CNBC: » Watch CNBC on the go with CNBC+: Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide. Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest…

Stablecoins Become Institutional Digital Cash, Says Moody’s

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Stablecoins are shifting from a crypto native tool to a core piece of institutional market plumbing, according to a new cross-sector outlook report from Moody’s. In the report, published Monday, the ratings agency said stablecoins processed about 87% more settlement volume in 2025 than the year before, reaching $9 trillion in activity based on industry estimates of onchain transactions, rather than purely bank‑to‑bank flows. Moody’s said fiat‑backed stablecoins and tokenized deposits are evolving into “digital cash” for liquidity management, collateral movements and settlements across an increasingly tokenized financial system. Stablecoins…

Ripple Ditches IPO Plans in Surprise Pivot

Key Notes Ripple confirmed it has no plans to pursue an IPO in 2026. The company raised $500 million in November 2025 at a $40 billion valuation. Payments volume crossed $95 billion, and RLUSD broke $1 billion in market cap. Ripple XRP $2.25 24h volatility: 4.8% Market cap: $136.58 B Vol. 24h: $6.01 B has no plans to go public in 2026. President Monica Long confirmed on January 6 that the company intends to remain private, citing a strong balance sheet and no need for public market capital. Ripple raised…

Bitcoin ETFs On Pace For Explosive 600% Growth

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Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US opened 2026 with a burst of cash that surprised some market watchers and encouraged others. Related Reading According to Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, more than $1.2 billion flowed into those funds during the first two trading days of the year. He estimated that if that pace held, annualized inflows could reach about $150 billion — roughly 600% higher than the total for 2025. The spot Bitcoin ETFs are “coming into 2026 like a lion,” Balchunas said. ETF Flows Surge Early According to…

Barclays Acquires Stake in Stablecoin Company Ubyx

Key Notes Barclays has taken a stake in US-based stablecoin company Ubyx. This is Barclays’ first direct investment in stablecoin infrastructure. The bank will not issue a retail stablecoin. . Barclays has acquired a stake in US-based stablecoin settlement firm Ubyx. This is the British multinational bank’s first direct investment in a company focused on stablecoin infrastructure. The bank confirmed the move to Reuters on January 7. Barclays added that the Ubyx stake fits its strategy to explore new forms of digital money while operating within regulatory limits. The size…

Binance Futures to Allow Silver Trading as Grey Metal Shines 150% over Past Year

Key Notes The silver contracts on Binance will be USDT-settled with a 5 USDT minimum trade size. The trading features include four-hour funding fees, copy trading support, and multi-asset margin options using crypto collateral like Bitcoin. The launch comes as silver has surged over 150% during the past year and is already up 13% year-to-date in 2026. Binance Futures, the derivatives wing of crypto exchange Binance, is launching silver futures contracts on Jan. 7. This is the first major expansion of the platform into precious metals, moving beyond digital assets.…

Hyperliquid Whale James Wynn Closes BTC Trade, Goes Long on Ethereum

Key Notes Hyperliquid data shows James Wynn closing a profitable Bitcoin long near the $90,000 level. His capital rotated into a 25x leveraged Ethereum long position. James Wynn’s PEPE long remains open with strong unrealized gains. Prominent Hyperliquid whale James Wynn has closed a major Bitcoin BTC $91 786 24h volatility: 1.9% Market cap: $1.83 T Vol. 24h: $61.34 B trade in profit and shifted his focus to Ethereum ETH $3 213 24h volatility: 0.5% Market cap: $388.06 B Vol. 24h: $29.19 B . On-chain data shows Wynn rotating capital…