Amid a significant shift in the US government's attitude towards digital assets, PwC, one of the Big Four accounting firms, is increasing its investment in cryptocurrencies and related businesses. Paul Griggs, PwC's US head, stated that this strategic shift began last year, primarily benefiting from the appointment of pro-crypto regulatory officials and the advancement of several digital asset-related legislations in the US Congress. Griggs pointed out that the regulatory framework surrounding stablecoins and the Genius Act are helping to boost market confidence in these assets, and asset tokenization will continue to develop, requiring PwC to be deeply involved in this emerging ecosystem. The report states that these statements reflect that changes in the policy environment are prompting traditional blue-chip institutions to reassess and gradually enter the digital asset market, which they had previously maintained a cautious stance towards. (Financial Times)

Goldman Sachs upgraded its rating on cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase from "Neutral" to "Buy" and raised its 12-month price target from $294 to $303. Analyst James Yaro noted that Coinbase is shifting from cyclical growth to structural growth, with its subscription and services revenue share increasing from 5% in 2020 to 40% in 2025, and projected to maintain a 13% annual growth rate from 2025 to 2027. The bank believes that Coinbase's expansion in custody, stablecoins, staking, and prime brokerage businesses will reduce earnings volatility.

The sentiment among crypto investors has oscillated between “fear” and “extreme fear” since the market flash crash on October 10, 2025, but the mood appears to be slowly stabilizing.The CoinMarketCap “Crypto Fear and Greed Index” — a widely tracked measure of investor sentiment — flipped to “neutral” on Sunday for the first time since October, signaling that market fear may be subsiding even if bullish conviction remains muted.The Index currently sits at 40, a level indicating that investors are no longer deeply fearful but have yet to return to optimism.In November, the gauge hit its lowest reading of 2025, sinking to 10, which corresponds to “extreme fear,” according to CoinMarketCap data.Bitcoin price retreats from extremes, trading near key levelsThe shift in sentiment comes as the price of Bitcoin stabilizes near $88,000–$92,000, according to recent Binance price data. Current levels are well below the all-time high above $125,000 seen before the October crash but reflect relative resilience compared with the sharp drawdowns that followed market turmoil late last year.At the time of writing, Bitcoin is tracking near the $88,000–$92,000 range, a price band that has served as a psychological support area after the significant volatility in late 2025. Crypto investor sentiment plunged in October amid a historic market sell-off that derailed part of the prior bull run. Bitcoin fell sharply — at one point sliding nearly 35% from just above $125,000 — while many altcoins lost large portions of their value in rapid fashion.Sentiment improving, but macro risks remainThe return to neutral territory on the Fear and Greed Index highlights a gradual shift in market psychology, but analysts caution against reading too much into a single data point. While investors are less fearful than in recent months, the broader crypto investor base is still cautious, and bullish sentiment has not yet taken hold.“Neutral readings can simply reflect indecision,” one market strategist noted, “as participants wait for clearer macro and on-chain signals before committing capital.”Growing geopolitical tensions and continued muted retail participation are likely to weigh on sentiment in the near term, even as short-term indicators improve.Geopolitical spotlight: U.S. strike on VenezuelaAll eyes remain on global news flows after a U.S. strike in Venezuela last weekend, which has dominated headlines and raised questions about potential spillovers into global financial markets.In a televised announcement, President Trump stated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and removed from power following the operation.Bitcoin’s price has remained relatively resilient in the immediate aftermath — a behavior that diverges from how many traditional risk-on assets typically react to geopolitical shocks.Market analysts remain divided on the potential impact of the event on crypto prices. Some suggest that the price of Bitcoin could remain largely unaffected, while others argue that correlation with traditional markets — particularly U.S. equities — could lead to volatility once mainstream trading resumes.For now, traders and investors are closely watching both crypto and traditional markets as U.S. exchanges reopen, which may offer further clarity on how sentiment evolves.

According to Odaily, economist Peter Schiff recently commented on the X platform regarding Tom Lee's assertion that rising gold prices benefit Bitcoin. Schiff argued that Bitcoin's growth occurred during a period of stagnant gold prices, allowing Bitcoin to emerge as a superior inflation hedge and safe-haven asset. However, he believes the recent significant increase in gold prices undermines this narrative.

Coinbase Ventures just spotlighted the biggest growth trends for cryptocurrencies in the year ahead, but what are their 2026 crypto predictions? Find out what lies ahead and what serious money is targeting in 2026, from real-world assets on-chain to AI-powered crypto tools and new types of DeFi credit. While Bitcoin and. . . source: https://99bitcoins.com/news/altcoins/crypto-market-news-today-5-january-2026-a-fragile-rally-at-the-start-of-2026-venezuelas-shadow-reserve-of-bitcoin-in-focus/

Ledger reports a data breach at its payment processor, Global-e, which exposed some customer information, including names and contact details. Global-e stated that the incident is under control and an investigation is ongoing.

Economist Peter Schiff, writing on the X platform, stated that Tom Lee's claim that rising gold prices are beneficial to Bitcoin is flawed. Schiff argues that Bitcoin's boom occurred during periods of sideways gold price movement, allowing Bitcoin to replace gold as a better inflation hedge and safe-haven asset. The recent breakout in gold prices shatters this misconception.

According to Foresight News, U.S.-listed Bitcoin mining company Cango has released its operational update for December 2025. The company reported a production of 569.0 Bitcoins, marking an increase from November's output of 546.7 Bitcoins. The daily average production rose slightly from 18.22 to 18.35 Bitcoins. By the end of December 2025, Cango's total Bitcoin holdings reached 7,528.3, up from 6,959.3 at the end of November. The company's equipment maintained a hash rate of 50 EH/s, while the average operational hash rate decreased to 43.36 EH/s from the previous month's 44.38 EH/s. Cango has stated that its strategy is focused on long-term investment in Bitcoin, with no current plans to sell its holdings.

According to PANews, there are signs of resurgence in the meme coin market on Solana. The trading volume on Solana's meme coin launchpad platform has reached a three-month high, with daily trading volume, the number of tokens launched, and the daily number of tokens 'graduating' all hitting their highest levels in three months.

According to PANews, American Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency mining company backed by the Trump family, has expanded its Bitcoin reserves to approximately 5,427 BTC. Since its listing on Nasdaq on September 3, 2025, until January 2, 2026, the company has achieved a Bitcoin return rate of about 105.0%.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to launch a war with Colombia after the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

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A DoorDash driver in Austin, US, was banned after using an AI-generated photo to falsely mark a delivery as completed. Similar AI-driven scams are emerging in the UK, where fake images are used to claim refunds from food delivery apps.

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A new phishing scam is targeting MetaMask users, tricking them with fake 2FA messages to steal their wallet seed phrases. The attackers use cloned websites and urgent emails to gain full access to users’ wallets.

In a clear show of political backing, the country’s finance minister has called for digital assets to be woven directly into Japan’s stock and commodity exchanges, positioning 2026 as a decisive “digital year” for capital-markets reform.

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Golden (Shenzhen) Information Service Co., Ltd. - A professional provider of software development, artificial intelligence applications, and cybersecurity solutions.

Golden (Shenzhen) Information Service Co., Ltd. - A professional provider of software development, artificial intelligence applications, and cybersecurity solutions.

Golden (Shenzhen) Information Service Co., Ltd. - A professional provider of software development, artificial intelligence applications, and cybersecurity solutions.