Category: Analysis

Pump.fun Admits Creator Fees Failed, Pivoting to Trader-Set Rewards

Key Notes Pump.fun’s creator-fee model failed and that traders will decide which tokens earn fee rewards. Pump.fun’s initial changes include fee sharing across up to 10 wallets plus coin ownership transfer and revocation of update authority. Developer Unihax0r publicly criticized the update on X as insufficient and framed creator fees as renamed taxes. Pump.fun co-founder Alon told users on Jan. 9 that the platform’s creator-fee design failed to produce durable trading incentives. Pump.fun now plans a market-led overhaul that lets traders decide which tokens qualify for fee rewards. Creator fees…

UN, Tether Partner to Fight Crypto Scams, Trafficking in Africa

Key Notes Tether announced a UNODC collaboration spanning Africa and Papua New Guinea. Tether cited an Interpol-linked figure of $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat flows tied to African investigations. Chainalysis measured $205 billion in on-chain value received in Sub-Saharan Africa from July 2024 to June 2025 (+~52% YoY). Tether said it launched a joint initiative with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Jan. 9. It will target crypto scams, fraud, and trafficking-linked financial flows across Africa. The programs will extend into Papua New Guinea via university partners.…

BNY Rolls Out Tokenized Deposits for Near Real-Time Institutional Settlement

Key Notes The platform creates 1:1 digital representations of existing deposits without issuing new money or bypassing regulations. Clients can transfer mirrored balances instantly to meet margin calls, eliminating legacy batch processing delays. BlackRock and Standard Chartered pursue similar tokenization strategies as RWA adoption accelerates industry-wide. BNY, one of the largest global financial services platforms with over $55 trillion in assets, has launched a tokenized deposit capability on its Digital Assets platform. This new feature mirrors institutional clients’ existing cash balances on a private blockchain. It enables near-real-time settlement. The…

OKX Cuts Third of Institutional Staff in Major 2026 Restructuring

Key Notes The exchange is transitioning to a traditional institutional coverage model focused on strengthening client relationships across different regions. OKX maintains its position as the fourth-largest spot exchange and second in derivatives volume despite workforce reductions. The restructuring coincides with license reviews across multiple markets and the recent departure of its head of finance. Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has made changes to its institutional business as part of a global restructuring, reportedly laying off between 30 to 50% of its staff. OKX continues to rank strongly in spot and derivatives…

Polygon Climbs Nearly 20% After Unveiling New Strategic Framework

Key Notes Polygon launched Open Money Stack, a modular platform enabling seamless cross-chain fiat-crypto transactions. The company is reportedly acquiring cryptocurrency ATM operator Coinme for $100-125 million, adding 6,000+ ATMs to its infrastructure. Record-high burn rates of one million POL daily are making the token deflationary with 3.5% total supply expected to burn in 2026. Polygon‘s POL token is in the midst of a price surge propelled by a shift in company strategy, a rumored acquisition, and a record high daily burn rate to start 2026. As of Jan. 9…

Buterin Backs Tornado Cash Dev Ahead of Sentencing

Key Notes Vitalik Buterin said that software developers are targeted for how open-source tools are used, rather than for direct involvement in criminal activity. Buterin framed privacy tools as essential infrastructure, not political or extreme technology, saying they protect individuals from forced data collection. Ahead of his sentencing, Storm has received significant support from the crypto community, with Vitalik Buterin donating 50 ETH and the Ethereum Foundation contributing over $1.25 million. In his recent letter on Jan. 9, Ethereum ETH $3 123 24h volatility: 0.9% Market cap: $377.10 B Vol.…

Hyperliquid Led $150 Million Long Wipeout

Key Notes Hyperliquid liquidations led the market as Bitcoin slipped below $90,000. Nearly $45 million was wiped out on Hyperliquid during two fast liquidation waves. ETF outflows added pressure while HYPE showed signs of weakness. Hyperliquid [NC] liquidations spiked on January 8 after Bitcoin BTC $91 079 24h volatility: 0.8% Market cap: $1.82 T Vol. 24h: $42.69 B fell below $90,000. This triggered a fast market shakeout that erased about $145 million in leveraged long positions across major exchanges within two hours. Hyperliquid Liquidations Take Center Stage in Bitcoin Pullback…

Analyst Breaks Down Why Investors will Make More Money With XRP Than Bitcoin

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A crypto market participant has outlined a numerical comparison showing how the same investment amount could generate significantly different returns depending on whether it is placed into Bitcoin or XRP.  The projection, which was shared on X and focuses on price levels and capital growth, shows how XRP has a better upside on a percentage basis compared to Bitcoin at its current valuations. How The Numbers Favor XRP Over Bitcoin The comparison starts with a $5,000 investment. At current prices, Bitcoin would need to rise to around $180,000 for that…

Cardano Price Prediction: ADA Just Flashed Its Loudest Signal in Months – Will You Act Before It Moves?

Despite a 17% drop over the past month, futures volume on BitMEX surged by more than 16,400%, hitting $44.15 million according to Coinglass. Meanwhile, ADA has managed to hold its key support zone between $0.30 and $0.35, and is currently trading near $0.40, still down 87% from its all-time high of $3.10. Price action remains tightly consolidated, with traders closely watching for updates on a potential spot ADA ETF. Grayscale has submitted an application, now under SEC review, but no official approval has been granted yet. Grayscale’s spot Cardano $ADA…

UK FCA Sets 2026 Window for Crypto License Applications

Key Notes UK FCA stated that all crypto asset service providers must be authorized under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA). Existing crypto firms registered under current anti-money laundering rules will not be automatically approved and must reapply for full FSMA authorization. Applications must be submitted within a defined window of at least 28 days. The UK’s top financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has announced the timeline for firms seeking new crypto licenses and full authorization. Crypto asset service providers (CASPs) will be able to apply to…