Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have drawn strong inflows in 2026 as Matrixport analysts point to renewed investor appetite due to the new year’s “clean-slate effect.”
US spot Bitcoin ETFs bagged $697 million worth of inflows during the second trading day of 2026 on Tuesday, bringing in over $1.1 billion in net positive inflows in the opening two days of the new year, according to Farside Investors data.
The renewed inflows are a welcome sign for Bitcoin (BTC) holders, following two consecutive months of net outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs. The funds saw $3.48 billion in outflows in November and $1.09 billion in December, according to Sosovalue data.
Inflows to spot Bitcoin ETFs were the primary driver of Bitcoin’s momentum in 2025, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, Geoff Kendrick, recently told Cointelegraph.
Bitcoin ETF Flows, in USD Millions. Source: Farside Investors
Looking at other crypto funds, spot Ether (ETH) ETFs attracted $168 million on Monday, marking their second consecutive day of inflows. Spot Solana (SOL) ETFs recorded $16.8 million in investments, clocking 20 days of successive inflows, according to Farside Investors.
The renewed demand for crypto ETFs reflects a “rebalancing phase” driven by geopolitical risk and “liquidity positioning,” as fundamental market drivers remain “constructive” despite the elevated uncertainty, according to Lacie Zhang, research analyst at Bitget Wallet.
The renewed ETF inflows and expanding stablecoin supply signal that “institutional buyers are absorbing supply, supporting a near-term rebound,” Zhang told Cointelegraph, adding:
“In this setup, Bitcoin has room to push toward $105,000, while Ethereum could test $3,600, as traders balance inflation risks with crypto’s deflationary characteristics and long-term adoption narrative.”
Crypto market demand surges on new year “clean-slate effect”
Meanwhile, a report from crypto platform Matrixport highlighted the “clean-slate effect” of the new year, which allowed cryptocurrency markets to reset as $30 billion of Bitcoin and Ether futures leverage unwound since the $19 billion market crash in October.
“Entering 2026, positioning is far leaner, speculative excess has been flushed out, and without the weight of crowded trades, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies now have room to follow their natural trajectory, which may well be higher,” wrote Matrixport in a Monday X post.
Still, the industry’s most successful traders by returns, tracked as “smart money” traders on Nansen, continue betting on Bitcoin’s price decline.
Smart money traders were net short on Bitcoin for $108 million, with nearly $19 million in net short positions added during the past 24 hours, according to crypto intelligence platform Nansen.
Smart money traders top perpetual futures positions on Hyperliquid. Source: Nansen
However, the cohort was net long on Ether price for $712 million and net long on XRP (XRP) for $83 million, signaling upside expectations for these coins.
AAVE price prediction points to $190 upside target by month-end as bullish MACD histogram and RSI recovery from oversold levels signal potential breakout from current $174 level.
AAVE Price Prediction Summary
• AAVE short-term target (1 week): $185 (+6.1% from current $174.31)
• Aave medium-term forecast (1 month): $185-$195 range representing 12% upside potential
• Key level to break for bullish continuation: $187.58 immediate resistance, then $196.73 critical level
• Critical support if bearish: $143.63 major support level (-17.6% downside risk)
Recent Aave Price Predictions from Analysts
The analyst community shows remarkable consensus on AAVE’s near-term trajectory. Multiple forecasts from Blockchain.News, Longbridge, MEXC News, and Traders Union all converge on the $185-$195 AAVE price target for medium-term horizons. This unified Aave forecast stems from similar technical observations across platforms, particularly the recovery of oversold RSI conditions and positive MACD histogram momentum.
The lone contrarian view comes from Traders Union with a more conservative $169.47 short-term target, though even this prediction acknowledges upside potential from current support levels. The broad consensus suggests institutional confidence in AAVE’s technical setup, with most analysts citing the same underlying momentum indicators driving their bullish stance.
AAVE Technical Analysis: Setting Up for Bullish Breakout
Current Aave technical analysis reveals a compelling setup for upward price movement. The RSI has recovered from oversold territory to 55.57, positioning in the neutral zone with room for further advancement. Most significantly, the MACD histogram shows a positive 3.3095 reading, indicating building bullish momentum despite the overall MACD remaining negative at -3.6760.
AAVE’s position within the Bollinger Bands at 0.8249 places it near the upper resistance band at $182.12, suggesting strong buying pressure. The price currently trades above both the 7-day SMA ($161.82) and 20-day SMA ($159.82), confirming short-term bullish momentum. However, AAVE remains below the 50-day SMA ($174.25), indicating the need to reclaim this level for sustained upward movement.
Volume analysis shows robust $17.2 million in 24-hour trading activity on Binance, supporting the recent 6.02% daily gain. The Stochastic indicators (%K at 97.12, %D at 89.27) signal overbought conditions in the very short term, suggesting potential consolidation before the next leg higher.
Aave Price Targets: Bull and Bear Scenarios
Bullish Case for AAVE
The primary AAVE price prediction targets $190 within three weeks, representing the midpoint of the analyst consensus range. This forecast requires AAVE to break above the immediate resistance at $187.58, which aligns closely with the Bollinger Band upper boundary.
A successful break above $187.58 opens the path toward the critical $196.73 level, where AAVE faced rejection in previous attempts. Breaking this psychological barrier could trigger momentum toward the $207.16 strong resistance level, representing a 19% gain from current prices.
The bullish scenario gains credibility from the improving MACD histogram and RSI recovery, suggesting accumulation at current levels. Additionally, AAVE’s 51% discount from its 52-week high of $357.78 provides substantial upside potential for risk-tolerant investors.
Bearish Risk for Aave
Downside risks center on the $143.63 support level, which represents both immediate and strong support according to technical analysis. A break below this level would invalidate the current bullish thesis and could trigger further selling toward the 52-week low of $146.02.
The primary concern lies in AAVE’s position below the 200-day SMA at $248.61, indicating the longer-term trend remains bearish. Failure to maintain momentum above the 50-day SMA could result in a retest of recent lows around $149-$150, as noted by Traders Union’s analysis.
Should You Buy AAVE Now? Entry Strategy
The current AAVE price prediction suggests strategic entry opportunities for different risk profiles. Conservative buyers should wait for a pullback toward the $165-$170 range, which coincides with the EMA 26 at $166.43 and provides a better risk-reward ratio.
Aggressive traders can consider current levels around $174, but should implement strict risk management with stop-losses below $160 (the 20-day SMA). This provides approximately 8% downside protection while maintaining exposure to the predicted 12% upside move.
Position sizing should reflect the medium confidence level assigned to this Aave forecast. Limiting exposure to 2-3% of portfolio value allows participation in potential gains while managing downside risk from the volatile DeFi sector.
AAVE Price Prediction Conclusion
The technical setup strongly supports the $185-$195 AAVE price target within the next 2-4 weeks, earning a MEDIUM confidence rating. The convergence of multiple bullish indicators – recovering RSI, positive MACD histogram, and analyst consensus – provides compelling evidence for upward price movement.
Key indicators to monitor include maintaining the $160 support level (20-day SMA) and breaking above the $187.58 resistance. Failure to hold $160 would invalidate this bullish Aave forecast and suggest further consolidation.
The prediction timeline extends through January 2026, with the first test of $185 resistance expected within 10-14 days if current momentum persists. Traders should prepare for volatility given AAVE’s 14-day ATR of $10.21, representing approximately 6% daily price swings.
Verdict: Buy AAVE with proper risk management, targeting the $185-$195 range while maintaining stop-losses below key support levels.
LDO price prediction shows bullish momentum building with MACD crossover signaling potential 13-27% upside to $0.75-$0.85 range by early February 2026.
With Lido DAO trading at $0.66 following a 3.96% daily gain, technical indicators are aligning for a potential medium-term recovery. Our LDO price prediction analysis reveals bullish momentum building as the token breaks above key moving averages while maintaining strong support levels.
LDO Price Prediction Summary
• LDO short-term target (1 week): $0.70 (+6% upside potential)
• Lido DAO medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.75-$0.85 range (+13-27% upside)
• Key level to break for bullish continuation: $0.67 immediate resistance
• Critical support if bearish: $0.49 (Bollinger Band lower boundary)
Recent Lido DAO Price Predictions from Analysts
The analyst consensus strongly supports our bullish Lido DAO forecast, with multiple sources targeting similar price levels. CoinCodex issued the most conservative LDO price prediction with a $0.6517 short-term target and $0.7040 medium-term goal, representing 12-13% upside potential. More optimistic forecasts from Blockchain.News and MEXC News align with our analysis, projecting the $0.75-$0.85 range within 4-6 weeks.
The convergence of these predictions around similar LDO price targets adds credibility to the technical setup. BitScreener’s longer-term projection of $1.60 for December 2026 suggests significant upside potential beyond our immediate forecast window, though we maintain a more conservative approach for near-term trading decisions.
LDO Technical Analysis: Setting Up for Bullish Breakout
Current technical indicators paint an increasingly bullish picture for our LDO price prediction. The MACD histogram reading of 0.0144 confirms positive momentum divergence, while the RSI at 62.83 sits in neutral territory with room for further upside before reaching overbought conditions.
The Bollinger Bands analysis reveals LDO trading at 0.96 position near the upper band at $0.66, indicating strong bullish pressure. However, this positioning also suggests potential near-term consolidation before the next leg higher. The key Lido DAO technical analysis factor is the price’s position above all short-term moving averages (SMA 7, EMA 12, and EMA 26), confirming the emerging uptrend.
Trading volume of $5.46 million on Binance provides adequate liquidity support for our predicted price movements. The Stochastic indicators (%K: 91.85, %D: 91.68) suggest short-term overbought conditions, potentially leading to a brief pullback before continuation.
Lido DAO Price Targets: Bull and Bear Scenarios
Bullish Case for LDO
Our primary LDO price target focuses on the $0.75-$0.85 range, representing the confluence of previous support-turned-resistance levels and Fibonacci retracement zones. The immediate milestone sits at $0.70, where we expect initial profit-taking before the push toward higher targets.
For the bullish scenario to materialize, LDO must break through immediate resistance at $0.67 with convincing volume. The strong support at $0.75 from previous trading ranges makes this our primary LDO price target for February 2026. A successful break above $0.75 opens the door to $0.85, though we assign medium confidence to this extended target.
Bearish Risk for Lido DAO
The bearish scenario for our LDO price prediction centers around a failure to hold the $0.63 pivot point, which could trigger selling pressure toward the lower Bollinger Band at $0.49. This represents a -26% downside risk from current levels.
Critical support levels to monitor include $0.55 and $0.53, where buying interest previously emerged. A break below $0.49 would invalidate our bullish Lido DAO forecast and potentially target the 52-week low near $0.51. The distance from the 52-week high of $1.54 (-57.40%) provides substantial overhead resistance for longer-term recovery attempts.
Should You Buy LDO Now? Entry Strategy
Based on our Lido DAO technical analysis, the question of whether to buy or sell LDO depends on risk tolerance and entry timing. Current levels around $0.66 offer a reasonable entry point for medium-term positions, with a suggested stop-loss at $0.61 (below EMA 12) to limit downside exposure.
Conservative traders should wait for a pullback to the $0.63-$0.64 range before establishing positions. This approach provides better risk-reward ratios while maintaining exposure to our predicted upside. For existing holders, the technical setup supports maintaining positions with trailing stops below $0.60.
Position sizing should remain moderate given the medium confidence level in our LDO price prediction. Risk management becomes crucial at current levels, as the proximity to Bollinger Band resistance suggests potential volatility ahead.
LDO Price Prediction Conclusion
Our comprehensive analysis supports a bullish Lido DAO forecast targeting the $0.75-$0.85 range within 4-6 weeks, representing 13-27% upside potential from current levels. The convergence of technical indicators, analyst predictions, and oversold bounce conditions creates a favorable setup for LDO recovery.
Confidence Level: MEDIUM – The prediction relies on maintaining support above $0.63 and breaking resistance at $0.67 with volume confirmation. Key indicators to monitor include MACD momentum sustainability and RSI behavior around the 70 level.
The timeline for this LDO price prediction extends through early February 2026, with interim targets at $0.70 potentially reached within 7-10 days. Invalidation occurs below $0.60, while acceleration above $0.70 would increase confidence in reaching the upper price targets.
Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin, began the new year with its first purchase of 2026 while reporting a steep fourth-quarter paper loss as Bitcoin prices slid late last year.
Strategy acquired 1,283 Bitcoin (BTC) for $116 million, boosting its holdings to 673,783 worth $62.6 billion purchased at an average cost basis of $75,026 per BTC, according to a Monday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The coins were acquired at an average purchasing price of around $90,000 each using proceeds from the sale of shares of MSTR Stock under the company’s at-the-market (ATM) offering.
The company also increased its US dollar reserve by $62 million to reach $2.25 billion, Strategy co-founder and executive chairman Michael Saylor said in a Monday X post. The cash reserve is used to support payments on dividends, preferred stock, and to pay interest on outstanding debts.
The latest investment comes two weeks after Strategy added $747.8 million in net proceeds to its cash reserves, obtained from the sale of common stock, Cointelegraph reported on Dec. 22.
Strategy posts $17 billion paper loss for in Q4 2025
Concerns over Strategy’s Bitcoin-focused business model persist as the company posted a $17.4 billion unrealized loss on its Bitcoin holdings during the fourth quarter of 2025, as Bitcoin’s price fell by more than 23%, Cointelegraph data shows.
The company also posted a $5 billion associated deferred tax benefit, which represents a potential future reduction in the company’s income tax liabilities, according to the filing.
Strategy’s stock price rose 3.88% in pre-market trading on Monday to surpass $157, but it’s down over 58% in the past year, Google Finance data shows.
Strategy’s advocacy for the world’s first cryptocurrency has inspired several companies to adopt Bitcoin-focused treasury strategies, such as Japanese investment firm Metaplanet, which has grown to become the fourth-largest public Bitcoin holder, with 35,102 Bitcoin worth $3.25 million on its books.
BTC in treasuries. Source: BitconTreasuries.net
Led by Strategy, public companies have amassed 1.09 million Bitcoin, or 5.21% of the total supply, according to Bitcointreasuries data.
Dogwifhat (WIF) shows bullish momentum with MACD histogram turning positive and RSI at neutral 59.50. Technical analysis suggests $0.45 target within 3-4 weeks.
WIF Price Prediction: Technical Setup Points to $0.45 January Target
Dogwifhat (WIF) is displaying compelling technical signals that suggest a potential rally toward $0.45 by the end of January 2026. Trading at $0.39, the meme coin has positioned itself near critical resistance levels while technical indicators show improving momentum that could fuel the next leg higher.
WIF Price Prediction Summary
• WIF short-term target (1 week): $0.43 (+10%)
• Dogwifhat medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.40-$0.48 range • Key level to break for bullish continuation: $0.43
• Critical support if bearish: $0.26
Recent dogwifhat Price Predictions from Analysts
The latest WIF price prediction consensus from major analysts shows moderate bullish sentiment despite the current Fear & Greed Index reading of 28-29. CoinCodex projects a conservative $0.3234 short-term target, while Blockchain.News maintains a more optimistic dogwifhat forecast of $0.38 based on whale accumulation patterns and oversold conditions.
Hexn.io’s analysis aligns with the $0.33 range, though their WIF price prediction methodology focuses heavily on sentiment indicators. The most bullish long-term outlook comes from Benzinga, projecting $2.11 by 2030 – a forecast that would require significant meme coin sector expansion and sustained retail interest.
The consensus range of $0.32-$0.38 appears conservative given current technical positioning, suggesting potential upside beyond these analyst targets.
WIF Technical Analysis: Setting Up for Breakout
The dogwifhat technical analysis reveals several bullish confluences forming. WIF’s position at 0.9880 on the Bollinger Bands indicates the price is testing upper band resistance at $0.39, typically a precursor to either a rejection or breakout scenario. The MACD histogram’s positive reading of 0.0121 suggests bullish momentum is building, while the RSI at 59.50 provides room for further upside without entering overbought territory.
Volume analysis shows $59.3 million in 24-hour Binance spot trading, indicating healthy liquidity for any directional move. The key technical pattern emerging is WIF’s ability to hold above all short-term moving averages (SMA 7 and SMA 20 both at $0.33), while approaching the SMA 50 at $0.36 – a level that has acted as dynamic resistance.
The daily ATR of $0.03 suggests normal volatility conditions, supporting the view that any breakout could sustain momentum rather than experiencing immediate mean reversion.
dogwifhat Price Targets: Bull and Bear Scenarios
Bullish Case for WIF
A WIF price target of $0.45 becomes achievable if the token can decisively break above $0.43 immediate resistance. This level represents a 23% gain from current prices and would require:
Daily close above $0.43 with strong volume confirmation
RSI maintaining above 65 without reaching extreme overbought levels
MACD line crossing above the signal line for additional momentum confirmation
Secondary targets include $0.48 (strong resistance) and potentially $0.52 if broader meme coin sector strength continues. The dogwifhat forecast for this scenario suggests a 2-3 week timeline for the initial $0.45 target.
Bearish Risk for dogwifhat
Downside risks center on the $0.26 support level, which coincides with both the 52-week low and Bollinger Band lower boundary. A break below this level could trigger a WIF price prediction of $0.22-$0.24, representing a 40%+ decline from current levels.
Warning signs include:
– Daily RSI dropping below 45
– MACD histogram turning increasingly negative
– Volume spike on any move below $0.33 support
Should You Buy WIF Now? Entry Strategy
Current technical positioning suggests a buy or sell WIF decision favors buyers with proper risk management. Optimal entry points include:
Immediate entry: $0.38-$0.39 range with stop-loss at $0.33
Pullback entry: $0.35-$0.36 if price retests SMA 50 support
Breakout entry: Above $0.43 with volume confirmation
Risk management requires a strict stop-loss at $0.32, representing the breakdown level where the bullish thesis would be invalidated. Position sizing should account for the 18% stop-loss distance, suggesting smaller position sizes for conservative traders.
WIF Price Prediction Conclusion
The dogwifhat forecast points to a bullish bias with a WIF price target of $0.45 by month-end, representing a confidence level of MEDIUM. This prediction relies on the technical setup holding above $0.33 support while momentum indicators continue improving.
Key validation signals include a daily close above $0.43 and RSI maintaining above 60. Failure to hold $0.33 or a breakdown below the Bollinger Band middle line would invalidate this bullish WIF price prediction and suggest revisiting the $0.26 support zone instead.
The 3-4 week timeline allows sufficient time for the technical pattern to develop while accounting for potential market volatility that could impact meme coin sentiment.
A convincing “Coinbase support” impersonation campaign was linked by onchain investigator ZachXBT to roughly $2 million in stolen crypto.
The attribution relied on corroboration across multiple signals, including onchain activity and Telegram or social media footprints rather than a single “magic” transaction.
Coinbase says its real support team will never ask for your password or 2FA codes or request that you move funds to a so-called “safe” address.
These schemes are part of a broader fraud wave. The FBI reported more than $16 billion in internet crime losses in 2024 based on 859,532 complaints.
A caller claiming to be “Coinbase support” can sound polished, patient and strangely urgent, which is exactly the mix that makes smart people move too fast. In a recent case, onchain investigator ZachXBT said this kind of impersonation campaign netted an alleged scammer roughly $2 million in crypto from Coinbase users and that the suspect’s own online footprint helped connect the dots.
Indeed, some of the biggest threats in crypto are not smart contracts or zero-day exploits, but routine social engineering. These are the same low-tech pressure tactics appearing across the internet at scale. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) says reported cybercrime losses in 2024 exceeded $16 billion, and many schemes begin with nothing more than a convincing message or a spoofed call.
Did you know? In 2024, the FBI said people aged 60 and older were hit hardest overall, reporting nearly $5 billion in losses.
What happened?
The case ZachXBT flagged was an old-school confidence trick dressed up as “customer support.”
According to ZachXBT, an alleged scammer posed as a Coinbase help desk worker and used social engineering tactics to convince victims he worked for the exchange, with losses totaling roughly $2 million over the past year.
ZachXBT said he was able to narrow in on the suspect by cross-referencing Telegram group chat screenshots, social media posts and onchain activity, and by sharing a leaked video that appeared to show the alleged scammer speaking with a victim while offering fake support.
The scam leaned on urgency and authority, including warnings about suspicious access, a so-called “security procedure” and pressure to act immediately.
Coinbase has repeatedly warned that scammers may spoof phone numbers and pose as employees, attempting to push users into “protecting” their funds by moving them. The company says legitimate support will never ask for passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, seed phrases or transfers to a “safe” address or new wallet.
Did you know? ZachXBT also claimed the operator tried to muddy the trail by buying “expensive Telegram usernames” and repeatedly deleting old accounts; however, it was still “easy” to hone in on the individual due to their frequent online gloating and lifestyle posts that ignored basic operational security.
Who is ZachXBT?
ZachXBT is a pseudonymous onchain investigator who has built a reputation by publishing detailed public threads about hacks, scams and suspicious fund movements, often before exchanges or authorities comment.
Major outlets have profiled him as an independent “crypto detective,” and his work has been cited in real-world cases where investigators later moved in on suspects.
This is why a ZachXBT post can race through the industry in hours. When he publishes an attribution claim, it can trigger new victim reports, push platforms to review accounts linked to the activity and shape how the wider market talks about an incident.
Coinbase’s own warnings and the hard truth about “support”
Coinbase’s security guidance on impersonation scams is unusually blunt. If someone contacts you claiming to be from Coinbase and pushes you to act fast, assume it is malicious until proven otherwise.
Coinbase warns that scammers regularly pose as employees and attempt to pressure users into moving funds. The company says no one will ever ask for your password or 2FA codes or request that you transfer assets to a specific or “new” address, account, vault or wallet.
In a dedicated blog post about customer support scams, Coinbase emphasizes the same pattern: Do not share login details or verification codes, do not click third-party links or install software at a caller’s request, and only reach support through official channels, not numbers or links provided to you out of the blue.
Adopt a default reflex to slow down, end the conversation and verify independently. Social engineering works when the attacker controls the tempo. Coinbase’s guidance is designed to break that tempo before money moves.
When data access feeds social engineering
One reason “support” scams can feel so convincing is that criminals sometimes show up with real context, such as a name, phone number, partial identifiers or account hints that make the call feel legitimate.
In May 2025, Coinbase disclosed an extortion attempt tied to rogue overseas support agents who were allegedly bribed or recruited to pull customer data from internal support systems, specifically to enable social engineering attacks. Coinbase said passwords, private keys and wallet access were not compromised but added that it would reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to attackers.
For impersonation crews, personal data is force-multiplying fuel. It makes the lie easier to sell and hesitation harder to sustain.
“Support” is the attack surface, and stolen context worsens it
When someone reaches out claiming to be “Coinbase support” and tries to rush you into a decision, the safest general assumption is that you are dealing with an impostor.
Coinbase says it will never ask you to move or “secure” funds, request a seed phrase, ask for your password or two-step verification codes, or push you to install software on your device. The company also warns that scammers can spoof legitimate phone numbers, making caller ID a weak signal.
That is why Coinbase’s own consumer protection posts keep returning to the same principle: Break the attacker’s tempo. End the call or chat, then verify independently through official channels rather than using any number, link or “case ID” given to you in the moment.
The uncomfortable reality is that these scams can become far more persuasive when criminals have real personal details to weave into the pitch.
You do not need to be outsmarted onchain to lose money in crypto. In many cases, you only need to be rushed at the wrong moment by someone who sounds credible, and sometimes, that credibility is built on stolen context.
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.
Starknet, an Ethereum layer‑2 network that uses zero‑knowledge (ZK) rollups, is experiencing fresh mainnet disruption as the project enters 2026.
In an X post, the Starknet team said the network was facing downtime and that engineers were “actively investigating the issue and working to restore full functionality as quickly as possible,” without immediately disclosing a root cause. At the time of writing, the network had been experiencing downtime for just over two hours.
Starknet is a ZK‑rollup–based layer 2 that batches transactions offchain and posts cryptographic proofs to Ethereum, aiming to deliver higher throughput and lower fees for smart contracts, decentralized finance and gaming applications while inheriting Ethereum’s base‑layer security.
The project has also promoted a Bitcoin DeFi, or BTCFi, arc, pitching itself as infrastructure for bringing Bitcoin‑related financial applications into the Ethereum ecosystem. Despite the network disruption, the STRK token price held steady at the time of writing.
STRK token price remained steady. Source: CoinMarketCap
The incident follows a series of outages in 2025 that have put Starknet’s reliability under closer scrutiny. In September, a major upgrade known as Grinta (v0.14.0) led to an extended mainnet disruption in which block production was halted and two chain reorganizations were required, reverting around an hour of activity and forcing users to resubmit affected transactions.
That episode followed an earlier multi‑hour outage in 2025 tied to sequencer issues, with external trackers logging multiple incidents of slow or halted block creation across the year.
A Starknet incident report on the September event said the Grinta‑related downtime lasted roughly nine hours and traced the problems to a sequence of issues, including failures in Ethereum RPC providers and bugs that affected sequencer behavior, prompting the team to commit to architectural changes and expanded monitoring.
A representative from Starknet told Cointelegraph that the team was working to repair the fresh incident.
Japan appears to be moving to bring cryptocurrencies deeper into its traditional market rulebook, signaling that regulators want digital assets handled through established exchanges and securities-style oversight rather than a parallel system.
The direction was underscored on Monday by Finance Minister and Financial Services Minister Satsuki Katayama, who publicly backed traditional securities exchanges and market infrastructure as the primary gateway for blockchain-based assets.
Speaking at the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s New Year opening ceremony, Katayama framed 2026 as Japan’s first year of full-scale digitalization. Her remarks echoed a broader regulatory shift that has been steadily aligning crypto with traditional capital markets.
“To ensure citizens benefit from digital and blockchain-based assets, the role of exchanges and market infrastructure will be essential,” Katayama said during the ceremony, in remarks delivered in Japanese and machine-translated into English, pledging to support stock exchanges in “advancing cutting-edge, accessible, and efficient markets.”
Katayama’s comments come as Japan continues to tighten how crypto is accessed domestically, a process that includes stricter registration rules, enforcement against unregistered platforms and emphasis on regulated rails.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama speaking at the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s New Year opening ceremony. Source: JPX
From payments law to securities regulation
Katayama’s remarks build on regulatory groundwork already underway. On Dec. 10, 2025, Japan’s Financial Services Agency outlined plans to move crypto oversight from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, treating crypto assets as financial products rather than payment tools.
Under the framework, crypto issuance and trading would fall under securities-style regulations, including stronger disclosure mandates, insider trading prohibitions and expanded enforcement against unregistered overseas platforms.
Tax policy is also moving in the same direction. On Dec. 2, the Japanese government and ruling coalition backed plans to introduce a flat 20% tax on crypto profits.
This aligns crypto assets with stocks and investment funds and replaces a system that could scale tax as high as 55%. The reform is expected to be embedded within broader securities law amendments.
The legal and fiscal changes suggest a deliberate effort to standardize crypto’s integration within the existing Japanese financial system rather than regulate it separately.
This reinforced that access to Japanese users would be limited to platforms compliant with local regulations.
The regulatory pressure has already reshaped market participation. On Dec. 23, Bybit said it would begin phasing out services for Japanese residents in 2026, citing regulatory requirements and registration rules.
While other players are moving toward the exit, Japan’s regulators have backed bank-led stablecoin initiatives and explored frameworks that would allow regulated institutions to play a bigger role in crypto asset markets.
FLOKI price prediction shows potential 25-400% gains targeting $0.000055-$0.000185 despite current overbought RSI at 73.99, with analysts maintaining bullish medium-term outlook.
Floki (FLOKI) has surged 22.94% in the past 24 hours, pushing technical indicators into overbought territory. However, our FLOKI price prediction suggests this momentum could extend further, with analysts targeting significant upside potential in both short and medium-term timeframes.
FLOKI Price Prediction Summary
• FLOKI short-term target (1 week): $0.000050-$0.000055 (+25-37% from current levels)
• Floki medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.000055-$0.000185 range (+37-362% potential)
• Key level to break for bullish continuation: $0.000055
• Critical support if bearish: $0.000041-$0.000043
Recent Floki Price Predictions from Analysts
Multiple analysts have converged on a bullish Floki forecast despite recent volatility. Blockchain.News issued the most optimistic FLOKI price prediction on January 2nd, setting a medium-term FLOKI price target of $0.000185, representing potential gains of over 300% from current levels.
The consensus among recent predictions shows remarkable alignment around the $0.000050-$0.000055 range for short-term targets. MEXC News and Blockchain.News both identified this zone as the primary objective, citing technical recovery patterns and improving momentum indicators.
What’s particularly noteworthy is that all three recent predictions maintain medium confidence levels, suggesting analysts see clear technical justification for these targets despite the recent volatility in meme coin markets.
FLOKI Technical Analysis: Setting Up for Continued Rally
The current Floki technical analysis presents a mixed but ultimately bullish picture. While the RSI at 73.99 indicates overbought conditions, this doesn’t necessarily signal an immediate reversal. In strong trending markets, assets can remain overbought for extended periods.
The MACD histogram showing bullish momentum provides crucial support for our FLOKI price prediction. This suggests that despite the overbought RSI, underlying momentum remains positive. The Stochastic oscillators at %K: 99.08 and %D: 92.62 confirm the overbought condition but also indicate strong buying pressure.
Most significantly, FLOKI’s position at 1.34 relative to the Bollinger Bands middle line shows the token trading well above the 20-day moving average, indicating sustained bullish sentiment. The 24-hour trading volume of $28.6 million on Binance provides adequate liquidity to support the predicted price movements.
Floki Price Targets: Bull and Bear Scenarios
Bullish Case for FLOKI
In the optimistic scenario, our FLOKI price prediction sees the token first targeting the $0.000050 level within 7-14 days. This represents the initial resistance zone where early profit-taking may occur. Successfully clearing this level opens the path to $0.000055, which aligns with multiple analyst predictions.
The medium-term FLOKI price target of $0.000185 becomes achievable if broader market conditions remain supportive and the token maintains its current momentum trajectory. This ambitious target would require FLOKI to break through multiple resistance levels while sustaining high trading volumes.
Bearish Risk for Floki
The primary risk to our bullish Floki forecast lies in the current overbought conditions triggering a sharp correction. If FLOKI fails to hold above the critical $0.000043 support level, the next significant support sits around $0.000041.
A breakdown below $0.000041 would invalidate the near-term bullish FLOKI price prediction and could signal a deeper correction toward previous lows. Traders should monitor these levels closely as they represent key technical junctures for the token’s trajectory.
Should You Buy FLOKI Now? Entry Strategy
Given the current technical setup, the question of whether to buy or sell FLOKI requires careful consideration of entry timing. The overbought RSI suggests waiting for a modest pullback might provide better entry opportunities.
Conservative traders should consider dollar-cost averaging with initial positions around $0.000045-$0.000047 levels, with additional buying planned if FLOKI retreats to the $0.000043 support zone. Aggressive traders comfortable with higher risk might enter current levels with tight stop-losses below $0.000041.
Risk management remains crucial regardless of entry strategy. Position sizes should reflect the high volatility typical of meme tokens, with stop-losses set at maximum 15-20% below entry points to preserve capital if the FLOKI price prediction proves incorrect.
FLOKI Price Prediction Conclusion
Our comprehensive analysis supports a bullish FLOKI price prediction with high confidence for short-term targets and medium confidence for extended objectives. The convergence of analyst predictions around $0.000050-$0.000055 provides strong validation for these near-term levels.
The medium-term Floki forecast targeting $0.000185 represents a more speculative but technically justified objective, contingent on sustained market momentum and successful navigation of intermediate resistance levels. Key indicators to monitor include RSI normalization, MACD sustainability, and volume confirmation at breakout levels.
Timeline expectations suggest the initial $0.000050-$0.000055 targets could materialize within 1-2 weeks, while the ambitious $0.000185 FLOKI price target may require 4-8 weeks to develop, assuming favorable market conditions persist throughout the period.
