Update Jan. 14, 2:20 pm UTC: This article has been updated to add comments from Manta CEO John Patrick Mullin.
Mantra, a blockchain project focused on real-world assets (RWAs), is restructuring its operations after what its leadership described as the most difficult year in the company’s history, marked by a sharp token collapse and prolonged market pressure.
On Wednesday, Manta CEO John Patrick Mullin announced that the company would transition to a leaner and more capital-efficient structure following a period of expansion. The changes include job cuts across multiple teams and a streamlining of operations to better match near-term market conditions.
“I take full accountability for these decisions and for the path that led us here,” Mullin wrote. “I know this is an incredibly challenging situation, particularly for those directly impacted, for their families, and for everyone at MANTRA. I’m especially sorry to those leaving us.”
Mullin said the restructuring was driven primarily by a broader strategic reset rather than a narrow focus on cost reduction.
He told Cointelegraph that while downsizing would lower expenses and extend runway, the core motivation was to sharpen execution and concentrate resources on areas where Matra sees the strongest long-term opportunities.
“This hasn’t changed our core RWA strategy in the slightest. If anything, we are doubling down on it,” Mullin told Cointelegraph, adding that they are prioritizing their layer-1 chain, mantraUSD, and Mantra Finance.
Token collapse and prolonged market pressure
The restructuring follows a steep decline in Mantra’s OM token that began early last year.
According to CoinGecko, the OM token reached an all-time high of $8.99 on Feb. 23, 2025, before collapsing sharply to $0.59 by April 15. It remains around 99% below its previous high before the collapse.
OM token’s one-year price chart. Source: CoinGecko
At the time, Mullin said that the incident was bigger than Mantra and called on exchanges to reassess how leverage is applied to native tokens.
Following the crash, Mantra announced a series of governance and transparency measures, including validator decentralization efforts, the launch of a real-time tokenomics dashboard and the burning of 150 million staked OM tokens to reduce supply.
Despite those measures, the prolonged downturn continued to weigh on the project’s finances. Mullin acknowledged that Mantra’s cost base had become unsustainable given current market conditions, prompting the decision to cut staff and narrow its focus.
The restructuring also comes after months of strained relations between the company and crypto exchange OKX.
On Dec. 8, Mullin urged OM holders to withdraw their tokens from OKX, alleging inaccurate information related to a token migration. OKX disputed the claims, saying it had evidence suggesting coordinated market activity before the April crash.
Mullin said the layoffs disproportionately affected business development, marketing, human resources and other support functions, as the company concentrates resources on core execution.
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Bitcoin (BTC) consolidated around $95,000 toward Wednesday’s Wall Street open as analysis dismissed macroeconomic threats.
While geopolitical risks and US trade policy uncertainty remain in focus, traders appeared more influenced by liquidity conditions and relative asset performance, with Bitcoin lagging gold and equities before reclaiming $95,000.
Key points:
Bitcoin prepares its next move after a key daily close above the 2025 yearly open.
Gold and stocks at all-time highs contrast the volatility risk from geopolitical tensions and the US Supreme Court tariff ruling.
BTC price action faces multiple hurdles, with $100,000 a turning point.
Bitcoin analysis: Macro risk “already priced in”
Data from TradingView showed cooler BTC price action returning after a run to two-month highs near $96,500.
These came as geopolitical tensions involving the US increased, including fresh potential intervention in Venezuela and Iran, as well as concerns over Greenland.
At the same time, the spat between the government and Federal Reserve took on an increasingly public character, with central banks worldwide rallying in support of Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
S&P 500 futures hit fresh record highs in advance of Tuesday’s US session, while gold built on existing records on the day, reaching $4,639 per ounce.
Among crypto market participants, the anticipation of Bitcoin finally catching up with the global asset bull run was noticeably high.
“Bitcoin has been lagging behind the equity market and precious metal rally, but it has finally pushed through the $95k level that capped rallies since November,” trading resource QCP Capital wrote in its latest Asia Color market update.
QCP added another risk-asset impetus to the mix in the form of Fed economic liquidity injections.
“With potentially further fiat currency debasement in the US, which has been driving precious metals higher, the relative cheapness of Bitcoin relative to precious metals at this point may spur a rotation to digital assets,” it continued.
QCP argued that despite current implied risks to market stability, traders were already one step ahead. Even President Donald Trump’s international trade tariffs being ruled illegal — with potential multitrillion-dollar implications — should not disrupt the overall trend.
“Risks remain, notably the pending Supreme Court decision on tariffs and any escalation in Venezuela or Iran,” the update added.
“For now, the market continues to move higher in the face of these risks, which makes us believe this is already priced in. In the absence of a new unknown unknown, any further escalations should be a buy-the-dip opportunity.”
BTC price faces threat of “liquidity run”
Others also found new reasons for optimism, among them Charles Edwards, founder of quantitative Bitcoin and digital asset fund Capriole Investments.
As Cointelegraph reported, some perspectives argued that this pattern was a relief bounce within a broader downtrend. Trader Roman, who predicted that BTC/USD would target $76,000 once downside reappeared, remained bearish.
“This is text book bearish price action: volume going up – price going down followed by volume going down – price going up/sideways,” he wrote about the weekly chart.
“Maybe we retest 100k area but this is nothing to get excited about. Next time large volume comes in, it’ll likely be a move lower.”
BTC/USDT one-week chart. Source: Roman/X
Trader CrypNeuvo advised caution ahead of a potential resistance battle with Bitcoin’s 50-week exponential moving average (EMA) at $97,650.
“This could be a liquidity run towards the 1W50EMA where price could be rejected from,” he warned about the latest gains.
“Breaking above $100k (4% higher) is my invalidation to this idea.”
BTC/USDT one-day chart. Source: CrypNuevo/X
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Ether trades near $3,200 as weaker network usage and US economic uncertainty limit its price upside.
Layer-2 networks drive most Ethereum activity, but cheaper rival blockchains reduce the chance of Ether reclaiming $4,000 soon.
Ether (ETH) price has repeatedly failed to sustain levels above $3,300 over the past 60 days, leading traders to question whether a durable bullish momentum is achievable in 2026. Despite the Ethereum network rolling out important upgrades and maintaining its leading position in terms of deposits, investors worry that the chances of reclaiming the $4,000 level remain low.
Total crypto capitalization, USD (left) vs. ETH/USD (right). Source: Tradingview
Ether’s performance since November has closely tracked the broader cryptocurrency market capitalization. As a result, the lack of optimism appears to be driven more by weaker overall decentralized application (DApps) usage than by issues specific to the Ethereum ecosystem. Regardless of whether traders’ concerns stem from broader economic risks, ETH price upside in the short term seems limited.
Irrespective of the factors influencing bullish crypto investors, traders have shown less interest in DApps, as reflected by declining activity on decentralized exchanges (DEX). According to DefiLlama, aggregate DEX volumes over the past two weeks totaled $150.4 billion, down 55% from the $340 billion all-time high recorded in January 2025.
Ethereum 7-day DEX volumes have hung near $9 billion after peaking at $27.8 billion in October 2025. This 65% pullback pushed Ethereum network fees down 87% to $2.6 million, from $21.3 million three months earlier. Even so, the Ethereum ecosystem continues to dominate, holding roughly a 50% share of DEX activity when combining data from Base, Arbitrum, Polygon and other layer-2 solutions.
Blockchains ranked by Total Value Locked, USD. Source: DefiLlama
Ethereum’s lead in total value locked (TVL) is strong evidence of institutional investor preference, even as competitors such as Tron, Solana and BNB Chain generate higher network fees. While some market participants argue that Ethereum has failed to fully monetize its dominance in smart contract deposits, this outcome is largely intentional and stems from its scalability strategy built around rollups.
Blockchains ranked by 30-day fees, USD. Source: Nansen
The number of transactions on Solana exceeds the combined total of its top 10 competitors, highlighting the network’s reliance on intensive validation processes and a semi-centralized development structure led by Solana Labs. According to Nansen data, Ethereum processed 54.4 million transactions over a 30-day period, while its layer-2 network Base recorded more than 600 million transactions over the same timeframe.
Ether’s two-month stretch trading below $3,200 has been particularly challenging for companies that raised debt or equity to build ETH reserves. Bitmine Immersion (BMNR US), for example, currently holds $13.2 billion worth of Ether, while its shares trade at a 9% discount to the value of those holdings, based on CoinGecko data.
It remains unclear what catalyst could shift momentum back in ETH’s favor, especially as rival networks provide comparable DApps and functionality for average users, often with lower friction due to base-layer scalability. Ether’s path back to $4,000 and beyond depends heavily on renewed demand for blockchain applications and broader cryptocurrency risk appetite amid ongoing uncertainty in the US economy.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
NFT Paris’ cancellation highlights pressure on sponsorship budgets rather than just falling NFT prices.
NFT activity continues in 2026, but volumes are lower, and demand is more price-sensitive.
Conference economics often reveal market health in ways sales charts cannot.
NFT usage is shifting toward utility and infrastructure, while hype-driven formats are fading.
NFT Paris, one of Europe’s better-known non-fungible token (NFT) gatherings, was abruptly called off for 2026, alongside its sister event, RWA Paris, roughly a month before it was due to run.
A conference cancellation does not measure the NFT market in the same way a sales chart does, but it can reveal something else: whether there is still enough demand, sponsorship budget and industry momentum to keep large-scale NFT events economically viable.
With NFT trading activity and valuations widely reported to be down from prior peaks, NFT Paris’ decision offers a useful signal of what “the NFT market” looks like heading into 2026.
Did you know? NFT Paris was positioned as one of Europe’s flagship NFT conferences, bringing together artists, marketplaces, brands and Web3 startups for panels, exhibitions and deal-making.
What exactly got canceled?
NFT Paris and the adjacent RWA Paris event were billed as a Feb. 5-6 gathering at the Grande Halle de la Villette before organizers pulled the plug with roughly a month’s notice.
In the organizers’ statement, the team said the “market collapse hit us hard,” “drastic cost cuts” still were not enough, and all tickets would be refunded within 15 days.
The bigger question is what happened around the event’s funding. Some sponsors said they would not receive refunds, even as the event reiterated its ticket-refund timeline.
Large Web3 conferences typically rely heavily on sponsorships to justify venue, production and programming costs. When that underwriting disappears, it can signal that marketing budgets and the expected returns from NFT-focused visibility have tightened.
Signals from the NFT market heading into 2026
On the money side, aggregated market data has been weak compared to earlier cycles. CryptoSlam’s NFT Global Sales Volume index shows $320.2 million in NFT sales volume for November 2025. That figure is down from $629 million in October 2025. December 2025 was $303.5 million.
CoinMarketCap’s Academy coverage of the same period described November as the weakest month of 2025 and tied the slowdown to broader pressure across digital collectibles.
But activity has not vanished. DappRadar’s reporting on 2025 highlighted a pattern in which sales counts rose even as average prices and headline volumes remained comparatively subdued. In Q3 2025, 18.1 million NFTs were sold, generating $1.6 billion in trading volume. The report also noted that many NFTs were trading at lower values than before.
Taken together, the “state of the NFT market” heading into 2026 looks compressed and price-sensitive: There are plenty of transactions, far less sponsor-friendly hype and liquidity concentrated in fewer places.
Why a conference cancellation can sometimes say more than a price chart
NFT prices can swing for many reasons. These include incentive programs, thin liquidity or a handful of high-ticket sales that do not reflect the wider market. A conference, by contrast, lives or dies on whether the industry is willing to pay to gather, through ticket demand, exhibitor spending and especially sponsorship budgets.
In the event business, sponsorships and expo revenue are often treated as core pillars. The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), for example, points to a “healthy” revenue mix in which a meaningful share comes from registration and a similar share comes from expo and sponsorship.
Trade show analysts also note that many events earn most of their revenue from exhibitors rather than ticket sales.
So, when NFT Paris says the “market collapse hit us hard” despite “drastic cost cuts,” it tells us a lot about the economics surrounding NFTs, not only the assets themselves.
Where NFTs still have traction
Even in a down market, NFTs have not disappeared so much as shifted into narrower, utility-led niches.
One example is ticketing and fan access. Ticketmaster has promoted “token-gated” sales, where holding a specific NFT can unlock presales, upgraded seats or packaged experiences. This positions NFTs as access credentials rather than standalone collectibles.
At the same time, several high-profile consumer brands have scaled back or sunset NFT-style loyalty pilots. Starbucks confirmed it would end its Odyssey program on March 31, 2024, framing the move as a step to “prepare for what comes next.”
Reddit has signaled a wind-down of parts of its Collectible Avatars stack, including closing its shop and removing some on-platform functions.
Marketplace consolidation, incentives and the pivot away from “NFT-only”
Another reason a flagship conference can struggle is that the NFT economy it was built around is no longer centered on NFT marketplaces as a standalone category.
OpenSea, for instance, has been publicly repositioning itself beyond its original identity. CEO Devin Finzer has described a shift from being an NFT marketplace toward a broader “trade-everything” model.
At the same time, the trader-led marketplace era, exemplified by Blur, changed how volume is generated. Multiple researchers and analysts have linked parts of the post-2022 NFT volume story to incentive-driven activity, which can boost headline numbers without necessarily reflecting new end-user demand.
Add in regulatory uncertainty around NFTs and major platforms, including the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Wells notice disclosed by OpenSea in 2024, and the result is a market that looks more cautious, more consolidated and less willing to fund large NFT-only moments.
Did you know? Blur is an NFT marketplace built for professional traders. Its use of points and token airdrops helped it briefly dominate NFT trading volume in 2023, an example analysts often cite to show how incentives can inflate activity without signaling broader user demand.
What’s next for NFTs?
NFT Paris cancellation can be seen as a snapshot of the market’s current economics. It does not, on its own, indicate market terminality.
Against a backdrop in which monthly NFT sales volumes were widely reported to be far below prior highs, the event’s failure to pencil out fits a market with less discretionary spending.
Going into 2026, analysts are likely watching three signals:
Whether volumes hold without incentive spikes
Whether brands and sponsors return with measurable product goals
Whether NFTs show up as “invisible infrastructure” inside games, ticketing or loyalty.
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While specific analyst predictions from crypto Twitter are currently limited, recent forecasting platforms have provided concrete targets for APT. According to LongForecast’s January 7, 2026 analysis, “Aptos price forecast at the end of January 2026 is $2.43, a change of 42.1%.” This represents significant upside potential from current levels.
Interestingly, CoinCodex’s January 6 prediction suggested “Aptos is predicted to drop to $1.51 by Jan 11, 2026,” which has already been invalidated as APT currently trades at $1.87. This demonstrates the volatility in short-term predictions and highlights the importance of real-time technical analysis.
On-chain metrics and exchange data suggest growing momentum for Aptos, with Binance spot volume reaching $9.76 million in the past 24 hours alongside a strong 7.22% daily gain.
APT Technical Analysis Breakdown
Aptos is currently displaying mixed but increasingly bullish technical signals. At $1.87, APT sits above all major short-term moving averages, with the SMA 7 ($1.82), SMA 20 ($1.80), and SMA 50 ($1.80) all providing support. However, the token remains significantly below the SMA 200 at $3.58, indicating the longer-term trend is still recovering.
The RSI at 53.49 sits in neutral territory, providing room for further upside movement without reaching overbought conditions. The MACD histogram at 0.0000 shows bearish momentum is fading, while the MACD line and signal converge, suggesting a potential bullish crossover.
Bollinger Bands analysis reveals APT trading at 0.66 of the band width, positioned between the middle band ($1.80) and upper band ($2.01). This positioning suggests upward momentum with the next resistance clearly defined at the upper Bollinger Band level.
Key technical levels show immediate resistance at $1.92 and strong resistance at $1.97. Support levels are established at $1.78 (immediate) and $1.68 (strong support). The Daily ATR of $0.10 indicates moderate volatility, providing clear entry and exit parameters.
Aptos Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case
Bullish Scenario
A break above the strong resistance at $1.97 would trigger the next leg higher toward $2.10-$2.15 in the near term. This would align with the upper Bollinger Band expansion and create momentum toward the $2.43 target suggested by LongForecast.
Technical confirmation would come from RSI pushing above 60, a bullish MACD crossover, and sustained volume above the recent $10 million daily average. The Aptos forecast becomes increasingly bullish if APT can reclaim and hold above $2.00 as psychological resistance.
A successful breakout could target the $2.43 level within 2-3 weeks, representing a 30% gain from current prices. This scenario requires broader crypto market stability and continued development momentum in the Aptos ecosystem.
Bearish Scenario
Failure to break $1.97 resistance could lead to consolidation or a pullback toward $1.78 support. A break below this level would target the strong support at $1.68, aligning more closely with the invalidated CoinCodex prediction.
Risk factors include broader crypto market weakness, regulatory concerns, or profit-taking after the recent 7.22% daily gain. The significant gap to the 200-day moving average at $3.58 also suggests potential overhead resistance in any sustained rally.
A bearish break below $1.68 would target the $1.51 level and potentially lower, requiring a reassessment of the bullish medium-term outlook.
Should You Buy APT? Entry Strategy
Current technical setup suggests strategic entry opportunities for the APT price prediction scenario. Conservative buyers should wait for a pullback to the $1.78-$1.80 support zone, which aligns with the 20-day moving average and provides a favorable risk-reward ratio.
Aggressive traders could enter on a confirmed break above $1.97 with stops below $1.85. This strategy targets the $2.10-$2.15 resistance cluster with a tight 1.5% stop-loss.
Position sizing should account for the moderate volatility indicated by the $0.10 ATR. A stop-loss below $1.68 provides protection against major trend reversal while allowing for normal price fluctuation.
Conclusion
The APT price prediction points toward a bullish January 2026, with technical indicators supporting the LongForecast target of $2.43. Current momentum, supportive moving averages, and neutral RSI provide a foundation for the anticipated 13-30% upside potential. However, traders should monitor the critical $1.97 resistance level as the key catalyst for the next significant move.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing.
Payments terminal provider Ingenico has partnered with WalletConnect Pay to enable in-store stablecoin payments across its point-of-sale (POS) systems, marking one of the clearest pushes yet to bring cryptocurrency payments into everyday retail checkout.
In an announcement sent to Cointelegraph, Ingenico said the integration allows customers to pay using stablecoins including USDC (USDC), EURC (EURC) and USDt (USDT) directly from their WalletConnect-compatible mobile wallets without relying on traditional card networks.
Supported wallets include MetaMask and Trust Wallet. Transactions are initiated at the terminal and are settled through WalletConnect Pay’s infrastructure.
Unlike crypto-linked cards that depend on Visa or Mastercard rails, the new setup enables native stablecoin transactions. Payments are sent directly from the user’s wallet, with settlements flowing to the merchant’s payment provider, positioning stablecoins as an alternative settlement rail rather than a card add-on.
Stablecoin payments without new hardware or custody
Ingenico’s POS terminals are deployed across 120 countries. The company said it has 40 million terminals around the world capable of supporting the feature, giving the integration immediate global reach.
Ingenico said the integration is designed to work within existing merchant payment stacks, requiring no additional hardware upgrades or changes at the checkout counter.
While Ingenico said millions of its terminals are capable of supporting the feature, the company did not provide actual figures on how many merchants will roll out stablecoin payments at launch.
The company said adoption will depend on whether individual merchants and their payment providers choose to enable it.
“Essentially any Ingenico merchant who wants to accept crypto can,” an Ingenico spokesperson told Cointelegraph, adding that availability depends on merchants and their payment providers enabling the option.
According to the spokesperson, merchants can also choose how they receive their funds. When a customer pays in USDC, EURC or USDT, the merchant can decide whether to settle in stablecoins or convert to fiat, based on their requirements and business preferences.
One of the common hurdles for crypto payments in physical retail involves refunds. According to the spokesperson, refunds are handled through standard merchant workflows.
“Merchants will have the ability to process refunds with a simple button click in the dashboard or via automated process,” the spokesperson told Cointelegraph. “WalletConnect Pay is designed to safeguard the user to always pay to the correct network and minimize the human errors.”
Fees and multi-chain support shape rollout
WalletConnect CEO Jess Houlgrave told Cointelegraph that the in-store integration is designed to offer lower costs than traditional card payments, particularly for cross-border transactions.
“Compared to traditional card rails, fees are much lower across the board,” Houlgrave told Cointelegraph, adding that pricing is structured to reflect underlying costs, which can vary depending on whether merchants choose to off-ramp into fiat.
Houlgrave said the fees are collaboratively agreed upon by WalletConnect Pay, Ingenico and payment service providers. She said the model is designed to reward ecosystem participants. Combined with faster settlement times, she claimed that the model can reduce working capital needs for merchants and improve overall economics.
At launch, WalletConnect Pay will support stablecoin payments across several major blockchains, including Ethereum mainnet, Base, Arbitrum and Polygon. She told Cointelegraph that support for Optimism and Solana is expected to follow shortly.
While the initial focus is on stablecoins, Houlgrave said WalletConnect Pay is already seeing demand for non-stable crypto payments. “Stablecoins are the starting point for everyday payments, but adding assets like Bitcoin or ETH is on our roadmap,” she told Cointelegraph.
The move reflects the rapid growth of stablecoins and the rising demand to use them as a practical payment method.
Ingenico CEO Floris de Kort said the company has seen a growing interest in stablecoin payments. “Our partnership with WalletConnect Pay addresses this by giving our customers a way to accept digital currencies as easily as traditional cards,” he said.
Haseeb Qureshi, a managing partner at crypto-focused venture capital firm Dragonfly, said that stablecoin payments will be “one of the big themes of 2026,” adding that crypto will become more deeply integrated into payments this year.
On Friday, Visa-linked stablecoin platform Rain raised $250 million after 30-fold card growth in 2025. The round values Rain at almost $2 billion, bringing the company’s total funding to $338 million.
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Global central bank leaders have rallied behind US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, warning that political pressure on the Fed risks undermining financial and economic stability worldwide.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, governors from 11 major central banks said they “stand in full solidarity with the Federal Reserve System and its Chair Jerome H. Powell,” stressing the importance of central bank independence.
The statement comes after US authorities opened a criminal investigation into Powell over a $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s headquarters, a move that has intensified tensions between the central bank and the Trump administration.
The signatories include European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, and leaders of the central banks of Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, South Korea and Brazil. Senior officials from the Bank for International Settlements also signed the statement.
Senator Warren criticizes Trump for targeting Powell. Source: Elizabeth Warren
Farzam Ehsani, CEO of crypto exchange VALR, said the situation sends mixed signals to digital asset markets.
“Central bank independence is traditionally considered a pillar of macroeconomic stability,” Ehsani said in a note shared with Cointelegraph. “Any attempt at political influence affects investor confidence. For crypto, weaker confidence in dollar policy can drive interest in decentralized assets, but sudden political shocks also increase volatility and short-term outflows from risk assets,” he added.
Ray Youssef, CEO of crypto app NoOnes, said that the dollar has weakened while gold and silver have risen, suggesting investors are rotating into perceived safe havens.
“A rate cut could increase liquidity and support crypto prices,” Youssef said. “But for now, the market remains fragile, with Bitcoin seeing selling pressure during US trading hours despite longer-term interest,” he added.
Trump allies line up as potential Powell replacements
US President Donald Trump has lined up several loyal allies as possible successors to Powell, many of whom have publicly supported cutting interest rates. Kevin Hassett, a senior economic adviser to Trump and widely seen as the leading candidate, has said that Trump’s personal views on rates would not directly influence Fed decisions.
The administration has already strengthened its influence at the central bank. Last year, Stephen Miran, a close Trump ally, was appointed to the Fed’s board of governors. At his first meeting in December, Miran pushed for a 0.5% interest rate cut, marking an early signal of a more dovish stance from Trump-aligned officials.
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21Shares, a major global exchange-traded product (ETP) provider, has expanded access to its investment product that combines exposure to Bitcoin and gold.
The 21Shares Bitcoin Gold ETP (BOLD), which tracks both Bitcoin (BTC) and gold, debuted trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on Tuesday, according to an announcement.
“Now that retail investors in the UK have access to crypto ETPs, 21Shares is dedicated to delivering a wider selection of innovative regulated products,” 21Shares CEO Russell Barlow said.
The LSE rollout comes years after 21Shares debuted BOLD on SIX Swiss Exchange in April 2022. The company has since listed the product on major European exchanges, including Deutsche Boerse Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, Euronext Paris and Nasdaq Stockholm.
BOLD asset allocation: Two-thirds in gold and one-third in Bitcoin
Developed in partnership with investment research platform ByteTree Asset Management, BOLD is 100% physically backed by its underlying assets and allocates the majority of its assets to gold.
As of Monday, the 21Shares Bitcoin Gold ETP holds 65.85% gold, valued at $4,604.10 per ounce, and 34.15% Bitcoin, priced at $90,806 at the time of writing, according to the fund’s data.
Underlying assets in the 21Shares Bitcoin Gold (BOLD) ETP. Source: 21Shares
“By allocating equal risk to both assets, BOLD offers a balanced approach for investors seeking to hedge against inflation,” the fund’s description said, citing gold’s long-standing role as an inflation hedge and Bitcoin’s growing reputation as “digital gold.”
“Bitcoin and gold are increasingly seen as complementary assets in a world of persistent inflation and monetary uncertainty,” said Charles Morris, ByteTree founder and chief investment officer.
He noted in a post on X that the fund has begun trading on the LSE under the ticker “BOLD” in British pounds sterling and “BOLU” in US dollars.
Exchanges trading the 21Shares BOLD ETP, local ticker and currency. Source: 21Shares
The 21Shares BOLD ETP has a net asset value of $50.30, with total assets under management of $40.2 million, and an annual management fee of 0.65% covering custody, administration and ongoing operation.
At the end of last week, 21Shares held about $4 billion in assets under management (AUM) for European crypto ETPs, representing about 2% of the $181.9 billion in global crypto ETP AUM, according to data from crypto asset manager CoinShares.
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Bitcoin may reach the $94,789 level, where the bears are expected to step in.
Select major altcoins are showing strength, indicating that the recovery may continue for some more time.
Bitcoin (BTC) bulls have pushed the price above $92,000, but higher levels may attract sellers. The net outflows of $1.37 billion from BTC exchange-traded funds from Tuesday to Friday last week, according to SoSoValue data, show that institutional investors remain cautious.
Fidelity Investments director of global macro Jurrien Timmer said in a post on X that BTC is “following the internet S-curve a lot closer now than the power law curve.” He added that if BTC consolidates for the next year, then the $65,000 level “could become a do-or-die line in the sand” for BTC.
Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView
Irrespective of the near-term uncertainty, the world’s largest corporate BTC holder, Strategy, added 13,627 BTC to its balance sheet last week at an average price of $91,519 per coin. That boosts the company’s holdings to 687,410 BTC, acquired at an average price of $75,353 per coin.
Could BTC and the major altcoins break above their overhead resistance levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
S&P 500 Index price prediction
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) rallied to a new all-time high on Friday, signaling the resumption of the uptrend.
The upsloping moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) in the positive territory indicate an advantage to buyers. There is resistance at the 7,000 level, but it is likely to be crossed. The index may then surge to 7,290.
Time is running out for the bears. They will have to yank the price below the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) (6,819) to weaken the bullish momentum. The index may then drop to the 6,720 level.
US Dollar Index price prediction
The US Dollar Index (DXY) cleared the 50-day SMA (99.06) on Friday, but the bulls could not sustain the higher levels.
The index has slipped to the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) (98.60), which is likely to act as support. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA, it increases the possibility of a rally to the overhead resistance at 100.54. A close above the 100.54 level signals the start of a new up move.
Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to pull the price below the 20-day EMA. If they do that, the index may slide to the solid support at 97.74. That suggests the index may remain inside the 96.21 to 100.54 range for some more time.
Bitcoin price prediction
BTC’s pullback from the $94,789 resistance took support at the moving averages, indicating buying on dips.
The bulls will try to strengthen their position by pushing the Bitcoin price above the $94,789 level. If they succeed, the BTC/USDT pair may surge to the $100,000 level and then to $107,500. Such a move suggests the corrective phase may be over.
On the contrary, if the price turns down from $94,789 and breaks below the moving averages, it signals that the bears remain active at higher levels. That may keep the pair stuck inside the $84,000 to $94,789 range for some more time.
Ether price prediction
Ether (ETH) has turned up from the 20-day EMA ($3,088), indicating that the bulls are attempting to seize control.
A close above the resistance line tilts the advantage in favor of the buyers. The ETH/USDT pair may rally to $3,569 and later to $4,000.
On the other hand, if the price turns down from the resistance line and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the pair may remain inside the triangle for a few more days. The bears will gain the upper hand on a break below the support line. The Ether price may then collapse to $2,623.
XRP price prediction
Buyers are attempting to maintain XRP (XRP) above the moving averages, but the bears have kept up the pressure.
If the price dives below the moving averages, it suggests that the XRP/USDT pair may remain inside the descending channel pattern for a while longer. The $1.61 level is the crucial support to watch out for on the downside. A break and close below the $1.61 level increases the risk of a drop to the Oct. 10 low of $1.25.
Buyers will have to propel the XRP price above the downtrend line to signal a short-term trend change. The pair may soar to $2.70 and subsequently to $3.10.
BNB price prediction
BNB (BNB) has been trading inside a narrow range between the moving averages and the $928 overhead resistance.
The upsloping 20-day EMA ($887) and the RSI in the positive zone increase the likelihood of an upside breakout. If that happens, the BNB/USDT pair will complete a bullish ascending triangle pattern. The BNB price may then rally to the target objective of $1,066.
On the contrary, if the price turns down and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the bears are fiercely defending the $928 level. That may pull the pair down to the uptrend line and then to the $790 support.
Solana price prediction
Solana (SOL) turned up from the moving averages and has reached the $147 level, where the bears are expected to step in.
The upsloping 20-day EMA ($134) and the RSI above the 64 level suggest the path of least resistance is to the upside. A close above the $147 resistance may start a new up move to $172.
Instead, if the Solana price turns down and breaks below the moving averages, it indicates that the SOL/USDT pair may extend its stay inside the $117 to $147 range for a while longer.
The flattish moving averages and the RSI near the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. If the price slumps below the moving averages, the DOGE/USDT pair may descend to $0.13 and then to $0.12.
On the upside, a break and close above the $0.16 resistance signals that the market has rejected the break below the $0.13 support. The Dogecoin price may rally to $0.19 and thereafter to $0.22.
Cardano price prediction
Buyers are attempting to maintain Cardano (ADA) above the moving averages, but the weak bounce heightens the risk of a breakdown.
If the price skids below the moving averages, the ADA/USDT pair may drop to $0.37 and then to $0.33. Buyers are expected to aggressively defend the $0.33 level, as a break below it may sink the pair to the Oct. 10 low of $0.27.
The first sign of strength will be a break and close above $0.44. The Cardano price may then rally to the breakdown level of $0.50, which is a critical resistance to watch out for. Buyers will have to pierce the $0.50 level to signal a comeback.
Bitcoin Cash price prediction
Buyers attempted to push Bitcoin Cash (BCH) above the $670 resistance on Sunday, but the bears held their ground.
The bears are attempting to strengthen their position by pulling the Bitcoin Cash price below the 20-day EMA ($619). If they do that, the BCH/USDT pair may tumble to the 50-day SMA ($586). Buyers are expected to defend the 50-day SMA, as a close below it suggests that the breakout above $631 may have been a bull trap. The pair may then plummet to $518.
Contrarily, if the price turns up from the moving averages and breaks above $670, it signals that buyers remain in charge. The pair may then ascend to $720, which is expected to act as a solid resistance.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Corporate Bitcoin investor Strategy added another 13,627 Bitcoin to its balance sheet last week, spending $1.25 billion as it continues accumulating Bitcoin early in the year. The purchase marks the company’s biggest BTC buy since July.
In a Form 9-K filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the company disclosed on Monday that its Bitcoin (BTC) stash has reached a total of 687,410 BTC, acquired at an aggregate cost of about $51.8 billion.
The latest batch of BTC was bought at an average price of $91,519 per coin, well above Strategy’s total average cost basis of $75,353.
The latest acquisition reinforces Strategy’s position as the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin and signals that its accumulation strategy remains unchanged even as prices hover near recent highs.
Equity issuance continues to fund Strategy’s Bitcoin buys
According to the filing, the latest Bitcoin purchases were funded using Strategy’s at-the-market (ATM) equity programs, primarily through the sales of its MSTR common stock and STRC Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock.
Strategy said it raised about $1.25 billion in net proceeds, which were then deployed to acquire BTC Jan. 5 to Jan. Sunday. The company said its reported aggregate and average buy price included all the fees and expenses associated with the transactions.
The company still retains substantial issuance capacity across its common and preferred stock programs, highlighting how access to equity markets remains one of its core strategies for Bitcoin accumulation.
Strategy stacks Bitcoin through drawdowns and paper losses
The latest purchase follows the company’s first Bitcoin buy this year, when it purchased 1,283 BTC for $116 million on Jan. 5. The disclosure coincided with the company reporting a $17.4 billion unrealized loss on its Bitcoin holdings during the fourth quarter of 2025, as prices fell over 20% late last year.
Despite its paper losses, the company continued to issue equity and maintained cash reserves to service dividends and outstanding obligations. This approach signaled long-term conviction on its Bitcoin thesis.
The company’s consistency in its Bitcoin strategy pushed the normalization of Bitcoin-centric treasuries among public companies. According to Bitcoin Treasuries, public companies now hold over 1.1 million Bitcoin.
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