Ripple-backed corporate treasury provider GTreasury has acquired Solvexia, a no-code automation platform specializing in reconciliation and regulatory reporting. The acquisition aims to reduce manual processes, enhance audit controls, and ensure compliance across traditional and digital asset financial operations. GTreasury cited improvements in verification speed and accuracy, noting a 100-fold reduction in reconciliation time and a 98% drop in errors.
The integration combines GTreasury’s existing digital asset infrastructure with Solvexia’s automation tools, enabling enterprise finance teams to streamline governance and audit procedures. The platform supports treasury, compliance, and reporting workflows while maintaining interoperability with traditional banking systems, easing corporate adoption of blockchain-based payments and real-time settlement solutions.
The acquisition comes amid continued market volatility for XRP, which retraced to $2.28 following an almost 30% rally over the prior week. Futures open interest saw minor fluctuations across CME and Binance, reflecting cautious institutional positioning as Ripple expands its corporate treasury and regulatory infrastructure.
Brian Quintenz, ex-CFTC commissioner and former a16z crypto policy lead, has joined SUI Group’s board to support its SUI token-focused treasury strategy.
SUI Group, a Nasdaq-listed firm associated with the Sui blockchain ecosystem, has appointed former CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz as an independent director. Quintenz will also serve on the company’s audit committee, providing regulatory oversight as the firm advances its SUI token-centered treasury strategy.
Quintenz’s experience spans derivatives markets and digital assets. After his tenure at the CFTC, where he oversaw early Bitcoin futures regulation, he served as global head of policy at a16z crypto and currently sits on the board of Kalshi. His background offers institutional and regulatory insight for SUI Group’s efforts to develop an institutional-grade digital asset treasury platform.
The appointment follows adjustments to the SUI Group board, now comprising five members with three independent directors. The company emphasized that Quintenz’s participation reinforces its regulatory credibility and aligns with its long-term plans for the Sui ecosystem, combining specialized finance operations with digital asset treasury initiatives.
Prediction market platform Polymarket has made a subtle but notable change to its trading model by introducing taker fees on 15-minute crypto up/down markets. The adjustment appeared through updates to the platform’s documentation rather than a public announcement.
Under the new structure, only takers are charged fees, while the collected amounts are redistributed daily to liquidity providers in USDC. Polymarket does not retain the revenue, positioning the change as a liquidity incentive rather than a new source of protocol income. The fee level varies with market odds, peaking when probabilities are near even and tapering off as prices approach certainty.
The move applies exclusively to short-duration crypto markets. Longer-term event contracts, political markets, and non-crypto predictions remain unaffected and continue to operate without fees. According to archived documentation, this fee language was not present previously, suggesting a recent and deliberate update. Community reaction has framed the change as a market-structure refinement. Traders noted that the fees may discourage wash trading and high-frequency bot activity while encouraging tighter spreads and more reliable liquidity through maker rebates.
Morgan Stanley has submitted S-1 filings for proposed Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, signaling rising institutional demand for regulated crypto exposure at the start of 2026.
Morgan Stanley has filed registration statements with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for two cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds, one tracking Bitcoin and the other tied to Solana. The proposed trusts are designed as passive investment vehicles, holding the underlying assets without pursuing active trading strategies or yield generation.
If approved, the ETFs could significantly broaden access to crypto markets, tapping into Morgan Stanley’s wealth management client base, which spans tens of millions of investors. The filings arrive as spot Bitcoin ETFs have already recorded strong inflows at the start of 2026, reflecting renewed interest in digital assets following the turn of the year.
The investment bank named Morgan Stanley Investment Management as the sponsor of both trusts and outlined plans to store most private keys in cold storage, with limited exposure to hot wallets for operational needs. While some service providers have yet to be finalized, the structure mirrors existing spot crypto ETFs already trading in the US.
The move underscores a broader shift among major financial institutions toward embracing regulated crypto products. Alongside similar steps by peers such as Bank of America and Vanguard, Morgan Stanley’s filings suggest that digital assets are becoming a more mainstream component of traditional investment portfolios.
Seven major Chinese financial industry associations jointly declared real-world asset tokenization an illegal financial activity, grouping it with cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and crypto mining. The notice stated that RWA token issuance, trading, and related services lack any legal basis under Chinese law and pose significant financial and fraud risks.
The guidance extends beyond onshore projects, warning that overseas RWA initiatives with mainland Chinese staff or service providers may also face legal exposure. Regulators emphasized that token structures cannot guarantee legal ownership or asset liquidation, and rejected claims that RWA projects operate in regulatory gray areas or pilot phases.
The move sharply contrasts with jurisdictions such as Singapore, which has promoted regulated RWA experimentation, and aligns with Beijing’s broader strategy of tightening control over capital flows. Analysts say the decision effectively dismantles China’s domestic Web3 support ecosystem while reinforcing the state’s parallel push to expand the digital yuan.
A new KuCoin report finds that more than half of crypto funding in Australia comes from bank transfers, underscoring demand for regulated fiat on-ramps.
KuCoin released its Australia Market Report, finding that bank transfers account for the majority of crypto funding activity in the country. According to the survey-based study, 52.4% of respondents identified bank transfers as their primary funding method, followed by credit and debit cards at 40.1%, signaling strong reliance on traditional payment rails.
The findings suggest Australian crypto users are moving away from experimental behavior toward more practical use cases, prioritizing ease of access, trust, and integration with the banking system. Direct crypto deposits and peer-to-peer methods played a secondary role, reinforcing the importance of seamless fiat on- and off-ramps in exchange selection.
KuCoin said the data aligns with its strategy in Australia, where it offers direct AUD deposits and withdrawals and operates under AUSTRAC registration. The report points to a maturing market in which regulated infrastructure and local compliance are becoming central to sustainable crypto adoption.
US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds reported $697 million in net inflows on January 6, the largest single-day total since early October, according to industry data. The inflows followed $471 million added late last week, bringing cumulative ETF inflows for early 2026 above $1.1 billion.
BlackRock’s IBIT led daily flows, followed by strong demand for Fidelity’s FBTC, with most listed Bitcoin ETFs recording positive activity. Analysts said the broad participation suggests renewed confidence in regulated crypto exposure, even as investors remain sensitive to macroeconomic signals and policy clarity.
The ETF inflows coincided with modest gains across digital assets, with Bitcoin trading near $94,000 and Ether also rising. Market observers characterized the trend as cautious optimism, noting that institutional allocators appear to be rebuilding positions while maintaining a measured approach amid ongoing uncertainty around interest rates and global economic conditions.
Gate Group has officially launched Gate Dubai after securing a Virtual Asset Service Provider license from Dubai’s crypto regulator, expanding its compliant global footprint.
Gate Group has officially launched Gate Dubai, marking the start of regulated operations under a Virtual Asset Service Provider license issued by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. The platform is authorized to offer crypto exchange services to institutional, qualified, and retail investors, reinforcing the firm’s compliance-first expansion strategy.
Gate Dubai initially provides spot trading for major digital assets, drawing on Gate Group’s established infrastructure in liquidity management, matching technology, and operational stability. The platform also supports fiat-to-crypto conversions, reflecting a focus on accessibility and localized market participation within Dubai’s regulatory framework.
The launch strengthens Gate Group’s presence in the Middle East as Dubai continues to position itself as a global digital asset hub. Gate Dubai will operate as a localized entity with regional staff and customer support, while contributing to broader ecosystem development through partnerships and education. The move aligns with Gate Group’s wider regulatory efforts across multiple jurisdictions.
Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps rejected allegations linking a high-profile Polymarket trade on Venezuela’s leadership to a World Liberty Financial cofounder.
Bubblemaps has rejected claims that a Polymarket trader who profited from a bet on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s removal was linked to a cofounder of World Liberty Financial. The firm said the on-chain analysis circulating on social media relies on weak assumptions around transaction timing and deposit size.
The controversy centers on wallets that placed large winning bets shortly before reports emerged of Maduro’s capture. Critics pointed to similarities between exchange deposits and other wallets allegedly associated with World Liberty Financial. Bubblemaps countered that such patterns are common and insufficient to establish coordination or ownership, particularly when exchange aggregation and asset consolidation are involved.
According to the firm, applying the same criteria used in the viral claims produced numerous unrelated wallet matches. Bubblemaps said no on-chain evidence currently supports a direct connection between the Polymarket trader, WLFI, or its founders, urging caution around politically charged interpretations of blockchain data.
Major cryptocurrency companies contributed more than $21 million to a political action committee backing President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Cryptocurrency companies have emerged as significant donors to US political campaigns, with more than $21 million recently contributed to a super PAC supporting President Donald Trump. Federal Election Commission filings show Gemini Trust Company and Crypto.com parent Foris Dax as the largest crypto-linked contributors, adding to the PAC’s growing cash reserves ahead of the midterm cycle.
The donations come despite Trump not appearing on the ballot in 2026, as super PAC funds can be used to back aligned congressional candidates. Control of the House and Senate is at stake, with several races expected to influence future digital asset legislation, including open or contested seats held by lawmakers with established crypto policy views.
The activity underscores a broader trend of rising political engagement by crypto firms following years of regulatory uncertainty. Industry-backed PACs played a visible role in the 2024 election cycle, and continued contributions suggest digital asset companies are seeking greater influence over regulatory and legislative outcomes in Washington.
Solana-based Jupiter has introduced JupUSD, a native stablecoin backed primarily by BlackRock-linked tokenized assets and integrated across its trading and lending products.
Jupiter has rolled out JupUSD, a native stablecoin developed with Ethena that will serve as a core settlement and collateral asset across the Solana-based platform. The stablecoin is backed by USDC and USDtb, with roughly 90% of reserves initially allocated to USDtb, a tokenized dollar asset linked to BlackRock’s institutional liquidity fund. Ethena will manage reserve operations and on-chain minting and redemption processes.
JupUSD is being integrated across Jupiter’s product suite, including lending, perpetual futures, limit orders, and prediction markets. The platform plans to transition approximately $500 million in USDC collateral within its perpetuals liquidity pool into JupUSD, consolidating dollar liquidity and standardizing capital usage across services.
The launch reflects a broader trend among crypto platforms toward proprietary stablecoins supported by institutional-grade collateral. For Ethena, JupUSD expands its white-label stablecoin model and deepens its presence on Solana, while Jupiter strengthens control over its internal liquidity and user experience.
NFT Paris, one of Europe’s largest Web3 and digital collectibles conferences, has canceled its 2026 edition scheduled for early February. Organizers said the decision followed months of cost-cutting efforts that failed to offset the impact of what they described as a prolonged market collapse. The event had previously drawn tens of thousands of attendees and hosted hundreds of speakers across NFTs, crypto, and emerging technologies.
The cancellation reflects broader stress in the NFT sector, where trading activity remains sharply below pandemic-era peaks despite higher prices for major cryptocurrencies. Volumes across leading marketplaces are down roughly 95% from 2021 levels, while valuations for once-premium collections have declined significantly. Several NFT-native companies have since pivoted toward broader crypto or technology offerings.
Organizers said ticket holders will be refunded within 15 days, though some sponsors have indicated they may not receive reimbursement. The situation highlights ongoing financial strain across NFT-focused events as demand, sponsorship budgets, and institutional interest continue to reset.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust recorded $287.4 million in inflows on Friday, marking its largest single-day gain since early October, according to market data. The inflow coincided with a broader pickup in demand for US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs, which collectively attracted $471.3 million, the strongest daily total since mid-November.
Market participants pointed to early-year portfolio rebalancing as a key driver, following Bitcoin’s relative underperformance in late 2025. Institutional investors appear to be increasing exposure as crypto prices stabilized, with Bitcoin trading near $92,700 during the session. Analysts also noted that a steadier regulatory outlook in the US has supported renewed interest in crypto-linked investment products.
The inflows came amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, which has reinforced Bitcoin’s role as a portfolio diversifier for some asset managers. Other major ETFs, including products from Fidelity, Bitwise, and Grayscale, also posted net inflows, signaling broader institutional participation rather than fund-specific activity.
Coinbase said it will pause peso-based services in Argentina starting January 31, 2026, ending peso-to-USDC trading and local bank withdrawals roughly one year after launching in the country. The company described the move as a deliberate pause aimed at reassessing its product strategy, while confirming that crypto-to-crypto trading will remain available and customer funds unaffected.
The exchange entered Argentina in January 2025 after securing registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider, targeting one of Latin America’s most active crypto markets. At the time, Coinbase positioned itself as a compliance-focused platform amid high retail crypto adoption driven by inflation and currency controls.
The decision follows a volatile period for Argentina’s crypto sector, including political scrutiny tied to the LIBRA memecoin collapse. While Coinbase did not cite political factors, regulatory uncertainty and evolving central bank policy continue to shape the operating environment for global exchanges in the region.
Memecoin market capitalization climbed more than 23% in early 2026, rebounding from late-2025 lows as trading activity accelerated. Data from CoinMarketCap shows the sector’s market cap rising to roughly $47.7 billion, up from about $38 billion at the end of December, following a prolonged drawdown last year.
Transaction volume increased sharply alongside prices, jumping from $2.17 billion to $8.7 billion in just over a week. Large-cap memecoins, including Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Pep,e posted double-digit gains, contributing to the broader recovery in the segment.
The rebound comes as the wider crypto market showed more modest gains, suggesting memecoins are once again leading risk-on behavior. Analysts note that memecoin activity often reflects shifts in retail sentiment, which may influence capital rotation into other altcoins if momentum persists.