Bitcoin’s latest rally toward the $100,000 milestone is being driven less by speculative leverage and more by renewed institutional demand, as sustained inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs push prices back toward cycle highs.Bitcoin reclaimed levels above $97,000 this week, supported by a steady return of capital into U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Market participants say the trend signals a potential structural shift in demand after months of range-bound trading.ETF inflows underpin Bitcoin’s move higherSince the start of the year, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted nearly $1.5 billion in net inflows, according to data cited by Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg.One day alone accounted for $843.6 million in net inflows, pushing weekly inflows to roughly $1.07 billion. While single-day spikes grabbed headlines, analysts say the more important signal is the consistency of demand returning after subdued flows late last year.Balchunas noted on X that the pattern “suggests that maybe the buyers have exhausted the sellers,” pointing to Bitcoin’s breakout from its prolonged consolidation around the $88,000 zone.At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $97,000, holding gains that many traders now see as ETF-supported rather than momentum-driven.Is institutional demand changing Bitcoin’s cycle?Bitcoin’s rebound comes during a phase that has historically been challenging for the asset. Previous four-year cycles — loosely aligned with Bitcoin halving events — typically peaked 12–18 months after supply reductions, leading some analysts to argue that Bitcoin may already be past its cyclical high.However, the persistence of ETF inflows is raising questions about whether institutional accumulation is weakening the relevance of past cycles.In 2025, Bitcoin reached new all-time highs but failed to generate a sustained rally across the broader crypto market. Altcoins underperformed, and the long-anticipated “altcoin season” never fully materialized, dampening retail enthusiasm.According to crypto market maker Wintermute, a broader recovery heading into 2026 may depend on whether ETF issuers and corporate digital asset treasury firms continue to accumulate Bitcoin — or expand their mandates beyond BTC.Retail absence leaves institutions in the driver’s seatWintermute’s analysis highlights another key dynamic: retail investors largely stayed on the sidelines in 2025. Instead of rotating back into crypto, many pursued alternative growth themes such as artificial intelligence, robotics and space-related equities.Without strong retail participation, Bitcoin’s current rally appears increasingly institution-led, relying on balance-sheet buyers, ETF allocators and long-term capital rather than speculative inflows.Wintermute added that for a broader crypto recovery to take hold, Bitcoin and other major assets may need to post stronger and more consistent performance, creating a wealth effect that eventually pulls retail capital back into the market.What comes next for BitcoinWith Bitcoin now hovering just below the psychologically important $100,000 level, the focus has shifted to whether ETF inflows can remain resilient — and whether institutional demand alone is sufficient to sustain a breakout.If inflows persist, analysts say Bitcoin’s price behavior in 2026 may look increasingly different from prior cycles, with structural demand replacing speculative excess as the primary driver of market moves.

Kaito has officially announced the shutdown of Yaps and its incentivized leaderboards, marking a strategic pivot toward a new product called Kaito Studio, as the InfoFi sector undergoes a major reset following platform and market changes.The move comes after prolonged challenges around spam, content quality, and shifting platform dynamics on X, as well as a broader industry shift away from mass airdrops and open-ended incentive schemes.Why Kaito is sunsetting YapsYaps was designed as a permissionless, merit-based reward system that paid users and creators for amplifying brands across social platforms. According to Kaito, it reflected core Web3 values: open access, transparency, and rewards based on contribution rather than connections.However, despite multiple iterations — including:tighter eligibility ruleshigher leaderboard thresholdssocial and on-chain filteringredesigned incentivesKaito said low-quality content and spam persisted, driven by:X algorithm changesuneven standards across competing InfoFi projectsthe rise of zero-threshold reward modelsAfter discussions with X, Kaito concluded that fully permissionless reward distribution is no longer viable, either for the platform, serious creators, or high-quality brands.From airdrops to analytics: what is Kaito Studio?Kaito Studio represents a fundamental shift in strategy.Instead of open incentives, Studio will operate closer to a tier-based, selective creator marketplace, where:brands work with vetted creatorscampaigns have defined scopes and deliverablesrewards are driven by relevance, performance, and analyticsKey features of Kaito Studio include:Best-in-class analyticsCross-platform reach (X, YouTube, TikTok, and more)Cross-vertical expansion beyond crypto into finance, AI, and other industriesKaito says this model will benefit high-quality creators far more than open leaderboards, rewarding relevance and consistency rather than volume.Crypto sentiment shift behind the decisionKaito noted that over the past year, both teams and creators have moved away from:global, high-volume distributionmass airdropspurely engagement-driven incentivesToward:targeted campaignshigher-quality creator partnershipsmeasurable ROIThis mirrors a broader industry trend as crypto matures and integrates more deeply into traditional finance, payments, tokenization, and capital markets.Beyond Crypto Twitter and beyond cryptoKaito emphasized that this transition is not just about product changes, but about long-term vision.The company believes:the original “ownership economy” vision did not materialize as expectedcrypto’s largest opportunity now lies in becoming infrastructure, not just cultureAreas highlighted include:stablecoins and paymentstokenization and privacyperpetuals and global capital marketsprediction marketsAs a result, 2026 will be the year Kaito expands beyond Crypto Twitter (CT) as its core platform and beyond crypto as its sole vertical, targeting the broader creator economy — a market Kaito estimates at over $200 billion.What stays the sameKaito confirmed that the transition:does not affect Kaito Pro, Kaito API, Kaito Launchpad, or the upcoming Kaito Marketswill involve coordination with existing partner projects over the coming dayskeeps $KAITO integrated into the ecosystem, with more details on its role in Kaito Studio to be announced later.

On Jan 15, 2026, 19:03 PM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, BNB has dropped below 930 USDT and is now trading at 925.809998 USDT, with a narrowed 1.83% decrease in 24 hours.

A sweeping policy change by X has sent shockwaves through the InfoFi sector, after the platform banned all reward-for-posting (“post-to-earn”) applications and revoked their API access, citing spam and AI-generated content abuse.The move effectively breaks the core business model of several InfoFi projects that relied on X’s API to track engagement, distribute rewards, and rank contributors — triggering sharp price declines across the sector.KAITO plunges as post-to-earn model breaksThe hardest hit was Kaito ($KAITO), a project that rewarded users for posting crypto content on X.With API access removed:Tweets can no longer be trackedEngagement cannot be verifiedRewards cannot be distributedAs a result, KAITO’s token price collapsed from $0.71 to $0.54, a 23% drop within minutes, as traders rushed to exit positions.The market reaction reflects a rapid repricing of InfoFi tokens whose utility was entirely dependent on X-based engagement incentives.InfoFi sector sees broad lossesThe fallout quickly spread beyond KAITO:$COOKIE (Cookie DAO) fell 18%The broader InfoFi sector dropped approximately 13% within hoursInvestors appear to be reassessing the long-term viability of social-platform-dependent token incentive models, particularly those relying on centralized APIs.Projects pivot as X clamps downFollowing the ban, affected projects moved swiftly to contain damage and signal strategic shifts:KaitoSuspended Yaps rewardsRemoved public leaderboardsAnnounced expansion plans beyond X, including:Kaito StudioYouTube and TikTok integrationsAI-driven content and finance use casesCookie DAOShut down SnapsCancelled all active reward campaignsPivoted focus to data analytics and enterprise tooling, branded as Cookie ProThese pivots suggest a broader transition away from pure post-to-earn mechanics toward data, analytics, and multi-platform distribution.Why X acted — and what it meansX’s decision reflects growing pressure on social platforms to curb:Spam campaignsAI-generated engagement farmingToken-driven manipulation of social signalsBy cutting off API access, X has reasserted centralized control over engagement monetization, dealing a major blow to decentralized InfoFi experiments built on top of its infrastructure.Bigger picture: InfoFi model under scrutinyThe selloff highlights a key structural risk in InfoFi:If rewards depend on a centralized platform’s API, the model is only as resilient as that platform’s policies.While some InfoFi projects may successfully evolve into analytics, media, or AI-native businesses, the X ban marks a turning point for reward-for-posting tokens, forcing the sector to rethink sustainability, decentralization, and platform risk.For now, markets are pricing in a harsher reality:No API access means no engagement rewards — and no guaranteed token demand.

Trusted Smart Chain was named “Blockchain of the Year” at the IMPACT 25 “New Frontier” summit in Washington, D. C. , highlighting growing US regulatory focus on compliant blockchain infrastructure. source: https://catenaa.com/markets/cryptocurrencies/trusted-smart-chain-wins-blockchain-award/

CME Group is set to expand its regulated cryptocurrency derivatives offering with the launch of futures contracts tied to Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar, marking another step in the institutionalization of altcoins in U.S. markets.The Chicago-based derivatives exchange said Thursday that it plans to list futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) on Feb. 9, pending regulatory approval.Regulated altcoin futures expand beyond Bitcoin and EtherThe new contracts would broaden CME’s crypto derivatives suite regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which already includes futures and options linked to Bitcoin, Ether, XRP and Solana.CME said the listings are designed to meet growing demand from market participants seeking regulated exposure to digital assets, as institutional and retail interest in crypto derivatives continues to rise in the United States.Under the proposal, CME will offer both standard and micro futures contracts for each asset, with contract sizes ranging from:10,000 to 100,000 ADA250 to 5,000 LINK12,500 to 250,000 XLMThe inclusion of micro contracts suggests the products are intended to be accessible to a wider audience, including retail traders, subject to broker availability.Retail and institutional demand convergesMartin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader, said digital assets are reaching a “global inflection point” as they become more integrated into investor portfolios. He added that CME’s new offerings reflect rising retail demand for regulated crypto futures and broader product choice.Futures contracts allow traders to gain price exposure or hedge risk without holding the underlying tokens, a structure favored by institutions seeking capital efficiency and regulatory clarity.CME deepens crypto benchmarks and market footprintThe announcement follows a recent move by CME Group and Nasdaq to unify their crypto benchmarks, rebranding the Nasdaq Crypto Index as the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index, which tracks BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, LINK, ADA and Avalanche.The expansion comes as the U.S. crypto futures market remains heavily concentrated around Bitcoin and Ether, with only gradual progress into altcoin-linked contracts during 2025.Competitors such as Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitnomial have also taken steps to introduce or distribute CFTC-regulated crypto futures, signaling intensifying competition for institutional and compliant altcoin exposure.CME’s planned listings underscore how select altcoins are increasingly being pulled into regulated financial infrastructure, reinforcing their role in institutional portfolios as U.S. crypto market structure continues to evolve.

كشف تراجع سوق العملات الرقمية في الربع الرابع مدى ارتباط صناديق ARK الرئيسية بأداء الأصول الرقمية، حيث برزت Coinbase وRoblox كأكبر عاملين ضاغطين على الأداء. source: https://ar.cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-market-slide-hits-ark-etfs-coinbase-roblox-drag?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

With TRON now supported in MetaMask, the wallet is evolving into a true cross-chain gateway for the next wave of crypto users. source: https://btcusa.com/metamask-adds-tron-support-expanding-its-role-as-a-cross-chain-super-wallet/

바이낸스에 상장된 한 알트코인이 X 개발사의 금지 발표 이후 가치가 크게 하락했습니다. 계속 읽어보세요: 바이낸스에 상장된 알트코인의 가격이 갑자기 폭락했습니다. 개발자들이 성명을 발표했습니다! source: https://kr.bitcoinsistemi.com/the-price-of-a-binance-listed-altcoin-suddenly-plummeted-developers-released-a-statement/

A Binance-listed altcoin experienced a significant drop in value following a ban announcement by X developers. Continue Reading: Price of a Binance-Listed Altcoin Suddenly Plunged: Developers Issued a Statement source: https://en.bitcoinsistemi.com/price-of-a-binance-listed-altcoin-suddenly-plunged-developers-issued-a-statement/

Crypto Twitter didn't die from its algorithm; it died from the most fundamental characteristic of this bull market: it's a game for Wall Street and professional institutions, while retail investors have been left behind in the previous cycle.

Jinse Finance launches the "Jinse Web3.0 Daily," providing you with the latest and fastest news on MEME, DeFi, DAO, NFT, and the metaverse industry.

The crypto market in early 2026 is experiencing an unprecedented cultural upheaval.

On January 13-14, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams faced significant criticism due to the sharp price drop of his token NYC after its launch. This article provides a detailed on-chain analysis of this event.

Amidst increasingly fierce competition for traffic entry points, BNB Chain has quietly forged a different path and will continue to exert its strength in 2026.

Venture Capital, Cryptocurrency, Personal Account: Three Years as a Crypto VC: The Blood and Tears Lessons of Losing Tens of Millions - Golden Finance, The Humility and Survival Truth of VCs.

Binance, Crypto Markets, 2025 Year-End Summary and 2026 Industry Outlook (Jinse Finance): The keywords for 2025 are "data fog" and volatility.

As Wall Street's sophisticated machinery begins to operate at full speed, the era of easy profits through information asymmetry may be over.

DZ Bank has received MiCA approval from BaFin to launch meinKrypto, a crypto trading platform for retail customers of cooperative banks in Germany. The platform will let users buy, sell, and hold bitcoin, ether, litecoin, and cardano directly within the VR Banking App once each bank completes its MiCAR notification.

China’s former digital yuan architect, Yao Qian, is facing serious corruption charges after Chinese state media revealed that he allegedly accepted more than $8 million in crypto bribes while holding senior regulatory positions.