Tennessee’s sports betting regulator has ordered prediction market platforms Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com to halt the offering of sports event contracts to residents of the state.
In cease-and-desist letters dated Friday, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) accused all three platforms of illegally offering sports wagering products without holding a license issued under the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, according to copies of the letters published on X by sports betting attorney Daniel Wallach.
The SWC said the sports event contracts listed on Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com’s North American Derivatives Exchange allow users to wager money on the outcome of sporting events, a practice Tennessee law reserves exclusively for licensed sportsbooks. The regulator argued that packaging the products as “event contracts” does not exempt them from state gambling statutes.
The regulator also pointed to consumer protection requirements imposed on licensed operators, including age restrictions, responsible gaming tools and anti-money laundering controls, which it says are absent from the platforms’ offerings.
Tennessee sends cease-and-desist letters to prediction market platforms. Source: Daniel Wallach
Tennessee orders prediction markets to issue refunds
The SWC ordered the companies to immediately stop offering sports-related contracts to Tennessee residents, void all existing contracts entered into by users in the state and refund all funds on deposit by Jan. 31, 2026.
Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $25,000 per offense, according to the letters. The regulator also warned that continued noncompliance could lead to injunctive relief and referrals to law enforcement for further investigation into illegal gambling operations.
While Kalshi and Polymarket operate under federal commodities law and have had dealings with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the SWC maintained that federal oversight does not override Tennessee’s authority to regulate sports wagering within its borders.
Cointelegraph reached out to Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com for comment but had not received a response by publication.
Judge temporarily blocks Connecticut from enforcing order against Kalshi
Last month, a US federal judge temporarily barred Connecticut regulators from enforcing a cease-and-desist order against Kalshi, granting the company a short-term reprieve as the legal dispute moves forward. The order follows action by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, which accused Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com of offering unlicensed sports wagering through online event contracts.
Kalshi challenged the state’s move in court, arguing that its event contracts fall under federal commodities law and are regulated exclusively by the CFTC. Judge Vernon Oliver ruled that Connecticut must pause enforcement while the court considers Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction, setting deadlines for filings in January and scheduling oral arguments for mid-February.
The case adds to a growing legal fight between Kalshi and state regulators nationwide, as several states have questioned whether prediction market contracts tied to sports constitute illegal gambling. Kalshi has launched lawsuits against regulators in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland and Ohio.
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Jan3 founder Samson Mow anticipates billionaire investor and Tesla CEO Elon Musk will aggressively move into Bitcoin in 2026.
It was one of five bold Bitcoin (BTC) predictions from Mow for 2026, coming off a year where several Bitcoin forecasts from prominent crypto executives missed the mark.
“@elonmusk goes hard into BTC,” Mow said in an X post on Saturday.
Musk has shown his support for cryptocurrency over the years, but has raised concerns around Bitcoin’s environmental risks. Tesla stopped taking Bitcoin payments in May 2021 due to environmental concerns. The following year, in July 2022, the electric vehicle manufacturer revealed that it had sold 75% of its Bitcoin holdings.
Bitcoin may reach seven-figure territory in 2026, says Mow
Mow, who is no stranger to optimistic Bitcoin price targets, also predicted that Bitcoin’s price will reach $1.33 million in 2026, which is around 1,367% from its current price of $90,596, according to CoinMarketCap.
Mow told Magazine in June 2025 that Bitcoin may reach $1 million during 2025, or if not, 2026. “[It] is a given at this point, maybe this year, maybe next year.”
Mow has previously pointed to nation-state adoption as a major catalyst that could trigger an exponential surge in Bitcoin’s price. In September 2025, Mow said that an increasing number of countries are preparing to ramp up Bitcoin adoption. “I think we’re on the tail end of gradually, and we’re at the beginning phases of suddenly.”
He isn’t too focused on reflecting on his 2025 predictions, however.
Mow responded to an X user on Saturday who asked, “How many of your 2025 predictions did you hit?” by saying, “Let’s not dwell on the past.”
Other crypto executives are not expecting such outsize returns for Bitcoin over the next 12 months.
On Dec. 28, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan said he anticipates an upward trend, but nothing extraordinary. “I think we’re in a 10-year grind upward of strong returns. It’s not spectacular returns, [but] strong returns, lower volatility, some up and down.”
It follows several high-profile crypto executives whose bold Bitcoin price predictions in the previous year failed to materialize.
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes and BitMine chair Tom Lee predicted Bitcoin would reach $250,000 by the end of 2025, even as recently as October, when the cryptocurrency was trading at around half that level, after reaching an all-time high of $125,100.
Mow also predicted that the stock price of Michael Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR) would reach $5,000, an approximate 3,084% increase from its current price of $157.
He predicts Bitcoin will “outperform metals,” coming just after gold and silver hit record highs of $4,549 and $83 in December. He also said that “at least one country” will launch a Bitcoin bond.
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The outage was the second major network disruption in 2025, with both incidents requiring a block reorganization that rolled back some activity.
The team behind Starknet, an Ethereum layer‑2 (L2) scaling network, released a post-mortem report outlining the root cause of the temporary mainnet downtime on Monday.
The root cause of the mainnet downtime was a discrepancy in the network state between the blockifier execution layer and the proving layer that checks that the execution layer is processing transactions correctly, according to the report. The Starknet team explained:
“In one specific combination of cross-function calls, variable writes, reverts, and catching them, the blockifier remembered a state-writing that happened within a function that was reverted, causing an incorrect transaction execution.
An illustrated diagram of how the code bug affected the network. Source: Starknet
This incorrect execution never saw L1 finality thanks to Starknet’s proving layer,” the Starknet team said, highlighting how the proving layer functioned properly by flagging the error and not committing the faulty transactions to the ledger.
The incident forced a block reorganization, and 18 minutes of network activity to be reverted. StarkNet is back to normal functionality, the team said.
The incident prompted the team to commit to testing and code audits to prevent similar issues in the future. Monday’s Starknet disruption also highlights the challenge of coding for the latest generation of blockchain networks, which include multi-layered technology stacks.
Monday’s outage wasn’t the first time Starknet experienced disruption in 2025
Starknet experienced several disruptions in 2025, with the most serious outage occurring in September following a major protocol upgrade called Grinta.
The outage lasted over five hours and was caused by a sequencer bug, according to a post-mortem report from the Starknet team. Sequencers are the systems used to order transactions on a blockchain network.
Starknet uptime, with the red square representing the outage in September. Source: Starknet
During the outage, block production halted, and two chain reorganizations were executed to restore the network to a functional state.
The reorganization forced about 1 hour of network activity to be reverted or rolled back, meaning users had to resubmit the transactions.
From a user perspective, having to resubmit a transaction is a minor pain if the transaction was not time-sensitive, but it could prove catastrophic for a frequent trader or an investor who needs to exit a position or post a transaction within a short timeframe.
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Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) started 2026 with sharp outflows, shedding a combined $681 million over the first full trading week of the year.
According to data from SoSoValue, spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs recorded four consecutive days of net outflows between Tuesday and Friday, outweighing inflows earlier in the week. The largest daily redemption occurred on Wednesday, when products shed $486 million, followed by $398.9 million on Thursday and $249.9 million on Friday.
The reversal came after 2026 opened with brief strength. On Jan. 2, Bitcoin ETFs attracted $471.1 million, followed by another $697.2 million inflow on Jan. 5.
Spot Ether (ETH) ETFs followed a similar trajectory. On a weekly basis, spot Ether ETFs posted net outflows of approximately $68.6 million, ending the week with total net assets of around $18.7 billion.
Vincent Liu, chief investment officer at trading firm Kronos Research, pointed to macro uncertainty as the primary driver behind the pullback. He told Cointelegraph that shifting expectations around monetary policy and global risk were weighing on positioning.
“With Q1 rate cuts looking less likely and geopolitical risks rising, macro conditions have turned risk-off,” Liu said. “As traders wait for clearer positive signals, reduced risk appetite is spilling into crypto.”
Liu added that investors are now closely watching upcoming US Consumer Price Index data and Federal Reserve guidance for clues on when easing could resume. “Until clearer signals emerge, positioning is likely to remain cautious,” he added.
Despite volatile market conditions, Morgan Stanley has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch two spot crypto ETFs, one tracking Bitcoin and the other Solana (SOL).
The move came a day after the second-largest US bank, Bank of America, began allowing advisers in its wealth management businesses to recommend exposure to four Bitcoin ETFs.
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OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Health, a specialized AI experience designed to integrate securely with personal health data, enhancing user engagement and decision-making in health-related matters.
OpenAI has announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a new specialized version of its AI chatbot designed to assist users with health and wellness inquiries. This development marks a significant step in integrating artificial intelligence with personal health management, according to OpenAI.
Integration with Health Data
ChatGPT Health is designed to securely connect with users’ electronic health records and health applications like Apple Health, Function, and MyFitnessPal. This integration allows the AI to provide more personalized and contextually relevant responses based on the user’s health data. The platform is structured to enhance user understanding and engagement with their health information, offering insights into test results, dietary advice, and exercise planning.
Privacy and Security Focus
Privacy and security are central to ChatGPT Health’s design. The service operates within a dedicated space, ensuring that health-related conversations and data remain isolated from other interactions. OpenAI has implemented advanced encryption and partitioning technologies to safeguard user data. Conversations within ChatGPT Health are not used for training its foundational AI models, ensuring that user privacy is maintained.
Collaborative Development with Medical Experts
OpenAI developed ChatGPT Health in collaboration with over 260 practicing physicians from various specialties worldwide. This partnership has helped refine the AI’s ability to deliver clear and practical health information. The model’s responses have been evaluated using HealthBench, an assessment framework developed with medical professionals to ensure clinical relevance and safety.
Initial Rollout and Future Plans
Initially, ChatGPT Health will be available to a limited group of users as OpenAI seeks to optimize the experience based on user feedback. The company plans to gradually expand access to more users over the coming weeks. Interested users can join a waitlist to gain early access to the platform. Currently, the integration with electronic health records and some applications is limited to the United States, with Apple Health requiring iOS for synchronization.
With this launch, OpenAI aims to provide users with a more informed and confident approach to managing their health, leveraging AI to support rather than replace traditional healthcare services.
Bitcoin traders’ risk sentiment turned bullish, with the proof being in this week’s futures-led advance to $95,000. Will bulls make another attempt after retesting a key underlying support level?
The start of 2026 saw Bitcoin and select altcoins rally back toward their weekly range highs, and the current situation across markets highlights improving investor sentiment and trading volumes. Since Jan. 1, Bitcoin continued to show improvement with tightening range consolidation clearly seen in its daily higher lows and higher highs, leading to the weekly high at $94,800.
7-day liquidation heatmap data from Hyblock shows long liquidation clusters between $89,000 to $87,000 and short positions sitting at the weekly range high near $95,000.
From a technical trader’s point of view, the start of year rally pulled the price above the 20-day moving average, which is currently converging with the 50-day moving average. After BTC failed to hold $95,000 and liquidate the short positions in that zone, it appears that some traders cut their positions to take profit in anticipation of a lower support retest of the 20-MA at $89,400.
If the current trend were to extend and volume permitting, over the coming days, another attack on the $95,000 level could occur. Such a move could lead to short covering and liquidations, allowing bulls to exploit a clear gap in the volume profile of the BTC/USDT (Binance) pair, setting Bitcoin up for a 13% rally to $101,500.
As shown in the chart below, the bulk of this week’s intra-day Bitcoin price action was driven by traders using perpetual futures to trigger liquidations. Note how a near $1.1 billion surge in futures buy volume took place as BTC rallied to $94,800 on Jan. 5, and $100 million in shorts were liquidated in the BTC/USDT pair at Binance, according to data from TRDR.io.
Example of perps traders driving Bitcoin price action. Source: TRDR.io
As detailed earlier, current liquidation heatmap data and orderbook structure suggest that a similar event could occur again if traders press BTC price to $94,000.
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.
The Nasdaq Stock Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group joined forces to unify their crypto indexes, rebranding the Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI) as the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index.
The NCI benchmark index includes Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), XRP (XRP), Solana (SOL), Chainlink (LINK), Cardano (ADA) and Avalanche (AVAX), spokespersons for Nasdaq confirmed to Cointelegraph.
Sean Wasserman, head of index product management at Nasdaq, said in Friday’s announcement:
“We see the index-based approach as the direction investors are heading, beyond just Bitcoin. That’s similar to what we’ve seen in other asset classes, where you have indexes that are representative of the broader market.”
The price of the NCI benchmark index at the time of writing. Source: Yahoo Finance
The announcement comes amid an institutional rush into crypto, digital assets, and blockchain technology, as traditional financial infrastructure integrates digital rails to prepare for an internet-first economy.
Crypto index products remove the technical complexity of analyzing a broad range of digital assets, including tokens across different sectors, making them ideal for passive investors seeking crypto exposure, Peck told Cointelegraph.
There were 29.66 million cryptocurrencies listed on CoinMarketCap at time of writing, with more tokens listed daily.
The number of listed tokens on CoinMarketCap exploded in 2024 and continues to increase. Source: CoinMarketCap
Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, shares the same view and said he was “most excited” for the growth of crypto index products in 2026.
The demand for these investment vehicles will be driven by investors seeking small, passive crypto allocations who cannot commit to deep analysis on the constantly growing sector, Hougan said.
“The market is getting more complex, and the use cases are multiplying,” Hougan said in December
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Bitcoin bulls will have to successfully defend the moving averages to increase the possibility of a break above $95,000.
Most major altcoins have turned down from their overhead resistance levels, indicating that the bears are active at higher levels.
Buyers are attempting to maintain Bitcoin (BTC) above the $90,000 level, but the bears continue to exert pressure. Material Indicators cofounder Keith Alan said in a post on X that BTC could slump to the $87,500 to $89,000 support zone. An even lower target was projected by trader Roman, who expects a drop to the $76,000 level.
However, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju said in a post on X that BTC is unlikely to see a 50% crash from its all-time high, similar to previous bear markets. He anticipates BTC to remain “sideways for the next few months.”
Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView
On a slightly longer-term perspective, there are positive signs for the bulls. BTC has averaged 95% gains in the year following a down year, according to Smarter Web Company Bitcoin strategy head Jesse Myers. If history repeats, 2026 could be a positive year for BTC, following the 6.33% drop in 2025.
Could BTC and the major altcoins rebound off their support levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
Bitcoin price prediction
BTC has pulled back to the moving averages, indicating that the bears are aggressively defending the $94,789 level.
Both moving averages are flattening out, and the relative strength index (RSI) is at the midpoint, indicating a balance between supply and demand. The advantage will tilt in favor of the bulls if they push the Bitcoin price above the $94,789 resistance. The BTC/USDT pair could then skyrocket to the psychological level of $100,000.
Instead, if the price skids below the moving averages, it signals that the pair may remain inside the $84,000 to $94,789 range for a few more days. Sellers will be back in the driver’s seat on a close below $84,000.
Ether price prediction
Ether (ETH) remains inside the symmetrical triangle pattern, indicating uncertainty about the next directional move.
If the Ether price turns up from the moving averages and breaks above the resistance line, it suggests that the bulls have overpowered the bears. The ETH/USDT pair could surge to $3,659 and later to $4,000.
Conversely, if the price continues lower and breaks below the support line, it signals that the advantage has tilted in favor of the bears. The pair could then plunge to $2,623 and subsequently to $2,111.
XRP price prediction
Sellers successfully defended the downtrend line and have pulled XRP (XRP) to the moving averages.
The upsloping 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) ($2.04) and the RSI in the positive zone signal that buyers have an edge. If the price rebounds off the moving averages with strength, the possibility of a break above the downtrend line increases. If that happens, the XRP/USDT pair could rally toward $2.70, signaling a trend change.
Alternatively, a drop below the moving averages suggests that the XRP price could remain inside the descending channel pattern for a while longer.
BNB price prediction
BNB’s (BNB) pullback from the $928 level is finding support at the moving averages, indicating that the bulls are active at lower levels.
The bulls will attempt to thrust the BNB price above the $928 level, completing a bullish ascending triangle pattern. If they do that, the BNB/USDT pair could rally toward the pattern target of $1,066.
Contrary to this assumption, if the price breaks below the moving averages, it suggests a lack of demand at higher levels. The pair could drop to the uptrend line and then to the $790 support.
Solana price prediction
Solana (SOL) rebounded off the moving averages on Thursday, indicating that the dips are being viewed as a buying opportunity.
The bulls will attempt to strengthen their position by pushing the Solana price above the $147 level. If they manage to do that, the SOL/USDT pair could surge toward $172. That suggests the corrective phase may be over.
This positive view will be invalidated in the near term if the price turns down from the current level or the overhead resistance and breaks below the moving averages. The pair may then tumble to $117.
Dogecoin price prediction
Dogecoin (DOGE) turned down from the $0.16 resistance on Tuesday and has reached the moving averages.
The 20-day EMA ($0.14) is turning up gradually, and the RSI is just above the midpoint, indicating a slight edge to the buyers. A close above the $0.16 level suggests that the market has rejected the break below the $0.13 support. The DOGE/USDT pair may then climb to $0.19.
On the contrary, a break below the moving averages indicates that the Dogecoin price could remain range-bound between $0.12 and $0.16 for some time. The next leg of the downtrend could begin on a close below $0.12.
Cardano price prediction
Cardano (ADA) has pulled back to the moving averages, which is expected to act as strong support.
If the Cardano price rebounds off the moving averages, the likelihood of a rally to the breakdown level of $0.50 increases. Sellers are expected to aggressively defend the $0.50 level, as a break above it indicates a potential trend change.
On the downside, a break below the $0.37 support suggests that the bears continue to exert pressure. The ADA/USDT pair could then descend to the $0.33 level, which is likely to attract buyers.
The upsloping moving averages and the RSI in positive territory indicate that the bulls have the upper hand. Buyers will strive to push the Bitcoin Cash price above the $670 level. If they succeed, the BCH/USDT pair could surge toward the stiff overhead resistance at $720.
The first sign of weakness will be a close below the moving averages. That suggests the breakout above $631 may have been a bull trap. The pair may then collapse toward $518.
Chainlink price prediction
Chainlink (LINK) is witnessing a tough battle between the bulls and the bears near the moving averages.
If the price rebounds off the moving averages with strength, the bulls will attempt to propel the LINK/USDT pair above the $14.98 resistance. If they can pull it off, the Chainlink price could rally toward $17.66.
On the other hand, if the price skids below the moving averages, it suggests that the pair could swing inside the $11.61 to $14.98 range for a few more days. Sellers will have to sink the price below the $10.94 support to seize control.
Hyperliquid price prediction
Hyperliquid (HYPE) turned down from the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) ($28.48) on Wednesday and slipped below the 20-day EMA ($26.21) on Thursday.
The next support on the downside is at the uptrend line. If the price turns up sharply from the uptrend line, it suggests that the bulls are buying on dips. The HYPE/USDT pair could then reach the overhead resistance at $29.37.
Contrarily, if the price continues lower and breaks below the uptrend line, it signals that the bulls have given up. The Hyperliquid price could then slump toward the $22.19 level, where the buyers are expected to step in.
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.
Bitcoin (BTC) can hit $105,000 within weeks as a classic leading indicator stays bullish, says the latest market analysis.
Key points:
Bitcoin is enjoying bullish RSI signals on multiple timeframes as price action consolidates.
A weekly RSI breakout occurred in December and continues to hold.
Concerns about BTC price strength remain as traders still see new lows to come.
RSI offers $105,000 BTC price target
In an X post on Thursday, trader BitBull noted an ongoing breakout on Bitcoin’s weekly relative strength index (RSI).
While BTC price action stays rangebound, an important RSI trend shift has in fact already been in play since December.
A downtrend on the indicator, which measures how “overbought” or “oversold” BTC/USD is at a given level, began in September, with price breaking through it before the 2025 yearly candle close.
“$BTC weekly RSI is calling for more upside here. Broke out of its 3-month downtrend and holding above the breakout line,” BitBull commented.
An accompanying chart compared the latest breakout with one from earlier last year, which resulted in several months of BTC price gains after April’s local lows of $75,000.
“I think BTC could hit $103K-$105K in 3-4 weeks,” he added.
BTC/USDT one-week chart with RSI data. Source; BitBull/X
This week, James Easton, host of crypto trading podcast DeCRYPTion, had good news about RSI on the two-week chart.
The indicator, he noted, is now at lower levels than during the pit of Bitcoin’s last full bear market in late 2022.
“It has also just flipped bullish. Strap in,” he told X followers.
BTC/USD two-week chart with RSI data. Source: James Easton/X
On lower timeframes, RSI signals also appear encouraging, per data from TradingView.
The four-hour chart showed a potential hidden bullish divergence, where lower lows for RSI contrast with higher lows for price itself.
This has the implication of weakening sell-side pressure as Bitcoin attempts to cement $90,000 as a support zone.
BTC/USD four-hour chart with RSI data. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
“Clear US buyer” battles Bitcoin sell pressure
As Cointelegraph reported, traders still expect lower levels to emerge as the market attempts to find a long-term support base.
Analyzing exchange order-book behavior on the day, trader Skew flagged a passive seller active at $91,500, keeping price suppressed.
“They’re quoting around 60 – 100 BTC each time so not really that significant but it likely tells me the buy pressure during US session was related to a clear US buyer,” he concluded.
BTC/USDT order book data (Binance). Source: Skew/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.
Cryptocurrency company Ripple is expanding its regulatory footprint after securing authorization from the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The FCA granted Ripple’s UK subsidiary, Ripple Markets UK, an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) registration and registered it under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs), according to official records.
The EMI license allows companies to provide payment services and issue electronic money, a move that could potentially impact Ripple as it issues its stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD).
Certain Ripple products may require further FCA approval
Although Ripple Markets UK is now approved as an EMI and registered under the MLRs, it remains subject to restrictions pending further FCA approval.
“Ripple Markets UK will not, without the prior written consent of the authority,” provide services involving crypto ATMs, “offer or commence any services to retail clients,” or appoint any agents or distributors, according to FCA records.
Source: FCA
Additionally, the company is barred from issuing electronic money, or providing payment services to a “consumer, micro-enterprise or charity,” the records said.
