😳 Zcash governance drama: team walks away to stay independent
⚡️A major governance split has hit Zcash ($ZEC). The CEO of Electric Coin Company (ECC) stated that Bootstrap, the nonprofit overseeing Zcash development, has drifted away from the project’s original mission.
As a result:
➥ The entire Zcash development team has left ECC
➥ Developers are forming a new company to continue maintaining and building Zcash
➥ The Zcash protocol itself is unaffected — the network is running normally
In simple terms, the dev team chose to exit under Bootstrap’s control to preserve independence and keep developing the privacy-focused coin without external pressure. 🧐
ECC has been responsible for Zcash development since launch, while Bootstrap controlled governance, budgets, and team conditions.
This marks a major shift in who steers Zcash’s future — but not a disruption to the chain itself. 🔗🚀
⚡️A major governance split has hit Zcash ($ZEC). The CEO of Electric Coin Company (ECC) stated that Bootstrap, the nonprofit overseeing Zcash development, has drifted away from the project’s original mission.
As a result:
➥ The entire Zcash development team has left ECC
➥ Developers are forming a new company to continue maintaining and building Zcash
➥ The Zcash protocol itself is unaffected — the network is running normally
In simple terms, the dev team chose to exit under Bootstrap’s control to preserve independence and keep developing the privacy-focused coin without external pressure. 🧐
ECC has been responsible for Zcash development since launch, while Bootstrap controlled governance, budgets, and team conditions.
This marks a major shift in who steers Zcash’s future — but not a disruption to the chain itself. 🔗🚀
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🇧🇷 Brazilian presidential hopeful wants a national Bitcoin reserve
Brazilian political activist and presidential candidate Renan Santos, founder of the Mission Party, says Brazil should create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, calling the idea “feasible” and pointing to El Salvador as an example. 🇸🇻🧐
Santos claims Bitcoin is already part of his election manifesto and believes blockchain can be used by the public sector to fight corruption and reduce embezzlement. He argues that more countries are moving toward BTC reserves and that Brazil shouldn’t be left behind.
Interest in Bitcoin at the state level is growing: Brazilian lawmakers previously held hearings on BTC reserves, and draft bills have proposed adding Bitcoin and other “secure” cryptocurrencies to the treasury. 💵
With elections set for October 4, Santos positions himself as a “Brazilian Bukele,” pushing pro-Bitcoin, pro-sovereignty policies — while controversy continues to follow his bold views.
Brazil stacking sats next? 👀
Brazilian political activist and presidential candidate Renan Santos, founder of the Mission Party, says Brazil should create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, calling the idea “feasible” and pointing to El Salvador as an example. 🇸🇻🧐
Santos claims Bitcoin is already part of his election manifesto and believes blockchain can be used by the public sector to fight corruption and reduce embezzlement. He argues that more countries are moving toward BTC reserves and that Brazil shouldn’t be left behind.
Interest in Bitcoin at the state level is growing: Brazilian lawmakers previously held hearings on BTC reserves, and draft bills have proposed adding Bitcoin and other “secure” cryptocurrencies to the treasury. 💵
With elections set for October 4, Santos positions himself as a “Brazilian Bukele,” pushing pro-Bitcoin, pro-sovereignty policies — while controversy continues to follow his bold views.
Brazil stacking sats next? 👀
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😐 Bitcoin capital inflows are drying up
🕵️♂️ CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju says liquidity flows are now far more diversified, making it pointless to time “fresh inflows” like in past cycles. Long-term institutional players have broken the old model where whales sell and retail buys the dip.
Large holders such as Strategy are unlikely to dump any meaningful portion of their 673k BTC, reducing the risk of panic sell-offs. Meanwhile, capital has rotated into equities and precious metals. 💹
A classic -50%+ crash from ATH, seen in previous cycles, now looks unlikely. Instead, the market may face months of boring sideways price action.
🕵️♂️ CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju says liquidity flows are now far more diversified, making it pointless to time “fresh inflows” like in past cycles. Long-term institutional players have broken the old model where whales sell and retail buys the dip.
Large holders such as Strategy are unlikely to dump any meaningful portion of their 673k BTC, reducing the risk of panic sell-offs. Meanwhile, capital has rotated into equities and precious metals. 💹
A classic -50%+ crash from ATH, seen in previous cycles, now looks unlikely. Instead, the market may face months of boring sideways price action.
Trying to short BTC here hoping for a sudden nuke?
Good luck with that. 😶🌫️
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👎 No pardon this time
📰 The New York Times reports that Donald Trump has shown no interest in pardoning former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.
Despite speculation in parts of the crypto community, SBF is not on Trump’s mercy list. For now, the ex-head of the collapsed exchange remains far from any political lifeline.
Looks like even in crypto, some bags are simply too heavy to bail out. 🤷
📰 The New York Times reports that Donald Trump has shown no interest in pardoning former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.
Despite speculation in parts of the crypto community, SBF is not on Trump’s mercy list. For now, the ex-head of the collapsed exchange remains far from any political lifeline.
Looks like even in crypto, some bags are simply too heavy to bail out. 🤷
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📉 Too early to bury the 4-year cycle
🕵️♂️ Analyst Willy Woo says it’s premature to declare the death of Bitcoin’s classic 4-year cycles.
According to him, capital inflows into BTC are slowing down in a very familiar way — the same pattern seen in previous cycles. In other words, nothing “new” yet: the market may simply be following its old playbook.
So before calling this cycle “different,” Woo suggests taking a breath and watching the data. Bitcoin might still be moving to a rhythm we already know 😬
🕵️♂️ Analyst Willy Woo says it’s premature to declare the death of Bitcoin’s classic 4-year cycles.
According to him, capital inflows into BTC are slowing down in a very familiar way — the same pattern seen in previous cycles. In other words, nothing “new” yet: the market may simply be following its old playbook.
So before calling this cycle “different,” Woo suggests taking a breath and watching the data. Bitcoin might still be moving to a rhythm we already know 😬
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📉 Bitcoin Open Interest hits a new low
Bitcoin’s open interest has dropped to its lowest level since 2022. This signals that leverage has largely been flushed out of the market, with traders stepping back and risk being reduced. 👀
🤔 Historically, similar open interest lows since 2022 have often marked periods of consolidation — or even the early stages of bullish reversals — especially once price action begins to stabilize.
In short: fewer leveraged bets, calmer conditions, and a setup that has previously aligned with market resets. Whether this turns bullish again will depend on what price does next. 📊🧐
Bitcoin’s open interest has dropped to its lowest level since 2022. This signals that leverage has largely been flushed out of the market, with traders stepping back and risk being reduced. 👀
🤔 Historically, similar open interest lows since 2022 have often marked periods of consolidation — or even the early stages of bullish reversals — especially once price action begins to stabilize.
In short: fewer leveraged bets, calmer conditions, and a setup that has previously aligned with market resets. Whether this turns bullish again will depend on what price does next. 📊🧐
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🎯 CryptoQuant: $79,000 is a key Bitcoin support
🔎 According to CryptoQuant, the $79K level is one of the most important support zones for Bitcoin. This price closely matches the realized price (average entry) of US spot Bitcoin ETF investors.
At BTC ≈ $79,000, most ETF holders are at breakeven. A sustained break below this level would push institutions into unrealized losses, which could trigger profit-protection behavior, forced selling, and additional downside pressure on the market. 💵
In short: $79K isn’t just a chart level — it’s a psychological and institutional line in the sand. 🧐
🔎 According to CryptoQuant, the $79K level is one of the most important support zones for Bitcoin. This price closely matches the realized price (average entry) of US spot Bitcoin ETF investors.
At BTC ≈ $79,000, most ETF holders are at breakeven. A sustained break below this level would push institutions into unrealized losses, which could trigger profit-protection behavior, forced selling, and additional downside pressure on the market. 💵
In short: $79K isn’t just a chart level — it’s a psychological and institutional line in the sand. 🧐
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🦋 Altcoins are taking over spot trading
🔗 On-chain data shows a clear shift in market activity: altcoins now dominate spot trading volumes. They account for around 50% of total volume, surpassing both Bitcoin (27%) and Ethereum (23%).
This suggests traders are increasingly rotating into higher-risk assets in search of better short-term returns, while BTC and ETH take a back seat.
Historically, such dominance often reflects speculative appetite and can precede periods of heightened volatility across the altcoin market. 🔥
🔗 On-chain data shows a clear shift in market activity: altcoins now dominate spot trading volumes. They account for around 50% of total volume, surpassing both Bitcoin (27%) and Ethereum (23%).
This suggests traders are increasingly rotating into higher-risk assets in search of better short-term returns, while BTC and ETH take a back seat.
Historically, such dominance often reflects speculative appetite and can precede periods of heightened volatility across the altcoin market. 🔥
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🫡 17 Years Since Bitcoin Went Live
On January 10, it marked 17 years since Hal Finney announced the launch of Bitcoin. 🎆
Hal wasn’t just an early supporter — he became the first person in history to receive a BTC transaction, sent directly by Satoshi Nakamoto.
💰 Around that same time, Finney publicly speculated that 1 BTC could one day be worth $10 million. Back in 2009, this sounded almost absurd.
Fast forward to today — with Bitcoin established as a global asset, institutional adoption growing, and scarcity becoming more obvious — imagining such a price no longer feels purely hypothetical.
History reminds us: the boldest ideas often look unrealistic… until they don’t. 🚀
On January 10, it marked 17 years since Hal Finney announced the launch of Bitcoin. 🎆
Hal wasn’t just an early supporter — he became the first person in history to receive a BTC transaction, sent directly by Satoshi Nakamoto.
💰 Around that same time, Finney publicly speculated that 1 BTC could one day be worth $10 million. Back in 2009, this sounded almost absurd.
Fast forward to today — with Bitcoin established as a global asset, institutional adoption growing, and scarcity becoming more obvious — imagining such a price no longer feels purely hypothetical.
History reminds us: the boldest ideas often look unrealistic… until they don’t. 🚀
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❄️ $180M+ in USDT Frozen on Tron
A series of large-scale USDT address freezes has been recorded on the Tron blockchain, with the total amount exceeding $180 million. 🙀
According to reports, the affected wallets may be linked to Iran, although there is no official confirmation so far. If verified, this would align with ongoing regulatory and sanctions-related enforcement in the crypto space.
The situation once again highlights a key risk of centralized stablecoins: issuers retain the ability to freeze funds at the protocol level, especially under legal or political pressure.
Worth keeping an eye on 👀
A series of large-scale USDT address freezes has been recorded on the Tron blockchain, with the total amount exceeding $180 million. 🙀
According to reports, the affected wallets may be linked to Iran, although there is no official confirmation so far. If verified, this would align with ongoing regulatory and sanctions-related enforcement in the crypto space.
The situation once again highlights a key risk of centralized stablecoins: issuers retain the ability to freeze funds at the protocol level, especially under legal or political pressure.
Worth keeping an eye on 👀
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🛠 Reality of Bitcoin Mining Today
A miner shared his current results: running 27 ASIC devices, his monthly revenue is about $4,800 (~0.053 BTC). After electricity and hosting costs, net profit is just over $1,000.
Over 3.5 years, mining delivered returns comparable to simply buying BTC outright. Despite this, he sticks to a mine & hold strategy rather than selling.
His long-term bet is on higher transaction fees and a rise in ASIC hardware prices during the next bull market, which could significantly improve overall profitability. 💵🚀
A miner shared his current results: running 27 ASIC devices, his monthly revenue is about $4,800 (~0.053 BTC). After electricity and hosting costs, net profit is just over $1,000.
Over 3.5 years, mining delivered returns comparable to simply buying BTC outright. Despite this, he sticks to a mine & hold strategy rather than selling.
His long-term bet is on higher transaction fees and a rise in ASIC hardware prices during the next bull market, which could significantly improve overall profitability. 💵🚀
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🇦🇪 Dubai Bans Privacy Coins, Tightens Stablecoin Rules
Dubai’s financial regulator DFSA has rolled out new digital asset rules in the DIFC.
👀 From January 12, privacy-focused cryptocurrencies such as Monero and Zcash are banned due to the inability to ensure transaction transparency, AML compliance, and sanctions enforcement.
💵 At the same time, DFSA revised its stablecoin definition. Only tokens pegged to fiat currencies and backed by highly liquid reserves now qualify as stablecoins. Algorithmic assets like Ethena’s USDe no longer fall under this category, although their circulation is not prohibited.
Under the new framework, licensed DIFC firms will independently assess and approve crypto assets without prior regulator approval — shifting more responsibility to market participants.
Dubai’s financial regulator DFSA has rolled out new digital asset rules in the DIFC.
👀 From January 12, privacy-focused cryptocurrencies such as Monero and Zcash are banned due to the inability to ensure transaction transparency, AML compliance, and sanctions enforcement.
💵 At the same time, DFSA revised its stablecoin definition. Only tokens pegged to fiat currencies and backed by highly liquid reserves now qualify as stablecoins. Algorithmic assets like Ethena’s USDe no longer fall under this category, although their circulation is not prohibited.
Under the new framework, licensed DIFC firms will independently assess and approve crypto assets without prior regulator approval — shifting more responsibility to market participants.
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📊 Mid-Tier Crypto Exchanges Close the Gap in 2025
📈 Major crypto exchanges increased trading volumes in 2025, but growth was uneven, according to data compiled by WuBlockchain.
On the spot market, the top players were Binance, Bybit, MEXC, and Gate. Binance remains the clear leader, with volumes nearly 5x higher than its closest competitor, though its growth lagged the broader market. Meanwhile, MEXC, Bitget, and Gate stood out with strong gains across key metrics. 🧮
In derivatives (mainly perpetual futures), leaders included Binance, MEXC, OKX, Bybit, Bitget, and Gate. Total derivatives volume among major exchanges grew by around 37%. Bitget nearly quadrupled its volumes, while Gate and OKX grew by about 40%. 🚀
Website traffic surged at HTX (over 3x), with solid growth at MEXC (+70%) and KuCoin (+40%). The sharpest traffic declines were seen at Bybit, Bitfinex, and Binance.
📈 Major crypto exchanges increased trading volumes in 2025, but growth was uneven, according to data compiled by WuBlockchain.
On the spot market, the top players were Binance, Bybit, MEXC, and Gate. Binance remains the clear leader, with volumes nearly 5x higher than its closest competitor, though its growth lagged the broader market. Meanwhile, MEXC, Bitget, and Gate stood out with strong gains across key metrics. 🧮
In derivatives (mainly perpetual futures), leaders included Binance, MEXC, OKX, Bybit, Bitget, and Gate. Total derivatives volume among major exchanges grew by around 37%. Bitget nearly quadrupled its volumes, while Gate and OKX grew by about 40%. 🚀
Website traffic surged at HTX (over 3x), with solid growth at MEXC (+70%) and KuCoin (+40%). The sharpest traffic declines were seen at Bybit, Bitfinex, and Binance.
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Saylor: Bitcoin as a Tool for Survival
Michael Saylor stated that for people living in countries with rapidly depreciating currencies — such as Nigeria — Bitcoin is not an investment, but a survival tool.⛏️🧰
In an interview, he compared BTC to insulin for a diabetic, calling it the only reliable way to preserve “economic energy” and protect savings from hyperinflation. 🍩
The message is clear: in unstable monetary systems, Bitcoin’s role goes far beyond speculation — it becomes a means of financial self-defense. 🥽
Michael Saylor stated that for people living in countries with rapidly depreciating currencies — such as Nigeria — Bitcoin is not an investment, but a survival tool.⛏️🧰
In an interview, he compared BTC to insulin for a diabetic, calling it the only reliable way to preserve “economic energy” and protect savings from hyperinflation. 🍩
The message is clear: in unstable monetary systems, Bitcoin’s role goes far beyond speculation — it becomes a means of financial self-defense. 🥽
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Crypto soothsayer
❄️ $180M+ in USDT Frozen on Tron A series of large-scale USDT address freezes has been recorded on the Tron blockchain, with the total amount exceeding $180 million. 🙀 According to reports, the affected wallets may be linked to Iran, although there is no…
☠️ Crypto and Sanctions Evasion: Chainalysis Report
🔎 According to Chainalysis, Iran and Russia have emerged as key players in using cryptocurrencies to circumvent international sanctions.
Overall, the volume of illicit crypto transactions hit a new record in 2025, reaching $154 billion — a 162% increase year over year. Analysts point out that geopolitical pressure is increasingly pushing sanctioned states toward crypto-based financial rails. 💵📈
The report also highlights the growing influence of Chinese money-laundering networks, which have transformed crypto crime into a highly organized, professional industry. 📝
The findings underline a shifting landscape where crypto is playing a larger role in both global finance — and global enforcement challenges. 🌐
🔎 According to Chainalysis, Iran and Russia have emerged as key players in using cryptocurrencies to circumvent international sanctions.
Overall, the volume of illicit crypto transactions hit a new record in 2025, reaching $154 billion — a 162% increase year over year. Analysts point out that geopolitical pressure is increasingly pushing sanctioned states toward crypto-based financial rails. 💵📈
The report also highlights the growing influence of Chinese money-laundering networks, which have transformed crypto crime into a highly organized, professional industry. 📝
The findings underline a shifting landscape where crypto is playing a larger role in both global finance — and global enforcement challenges. 🌐
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😥 Circle: Quantum Threat Is Near
Circle warns that quantum computers could break current crypto by ~2030. ECDSA, Ed25519, and Bitcoin/Ethereum signatures are vulnerable to Shor’s algorithm. 🧐
• Institutions at risk: MPC and threshold wallets can’t be patched — they need full post-quantum cryptography replacement.
• Address migration: Funds must move to post-quantum addresses; migrating all BTC UTXOs could take ~76 days.
• Web is adapting: TLS 1.3, Google, and AWS already use post-quantum/hybrid schemes.
• Trade-offs: Signatures will become much larger.
• ZK systems: Groth16, Halo2, Plonk are vulnerable; future lies with STARK-like, quantum-resistant proofs.
Quantum safety is no longer theoretical.⚠️
Circle warns that quantum computers could break current crypto by ~2030. ECDSA, Ed25519, and Bitcoin/Ethereum signatures are vulnerable to Shor’s algorithm. 🧐
• Institutions at risk: MPC and threshold wallets can’t be patched — they need full post-quantum cryptography replacement.
• Address migration: Funds must move to post-quantum addresses; migrating all BTC UTXOs could take ~76 days.
• Web is adapting: TLS 1.3, Google, and AWS already use post-quantum/hybrid schemes.
• Trade-offs: Signatures will become much larger.
• ZK systems: Groth16, Halo2, Plonk are vulnerable; future lies with STARK-like, quantum-resistant proofs.
Quantum safety is no longer theoretical.⚠️
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🇰🇷 South Korea to Lift Corporate Crypto Investment Ban
South Korea is set to remove its long-standing ban (in place since 2017) on corporate investments in cryptocurrencies. 🔥
Under the new framework, companies will be allowed to allocate up to 5% of their capital into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major digital assets. Final rules are expected to be approved in the coming months. ⏳
Regulators believe that allowing corporate capital into the market will help make the crypto sector more mature, stable, and long-term focused, reducing speculative excess and improving overall market structure.
A potentially significant boost for institutional adoption in Asia. 📈
South Korea is set to remove its long-standing ban (in place since 2017) on corporate investments in cryptocurrencies. 🔥
Under the new framework, companies will be allowed to allocate up to 5% of their capital into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major digital assets. Final rules are expected to be approved in the coming months. ⏳
Regulators believe that allowing corporate capital into the market will help make the crypto sector more mature, stable, and long-term focused, reducing speculative excess and improving overall market structure.
A potentially significant boost for institutional adoption in Asia. 📈
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