Privacy as the Modern ‘Bank Account’ The resurgence of privacy-centric assets, which began in the final quarter of 2025, shows no signs of slowing—at least for Monero ( XMR) and, to a lesser extent, Zcash (ZEC). That rally saw both coins finish the year as the top performers, with ZEC leading. However, since the start of 2026, XMR appears to have seized the initiative, breaking past its previous peak and setting a new all-time high.
Analysts suggest that, if the strong price action in early 2026 is any indication, privacy coins are poised to dominate once again. Should this trend continue, it would reinforce the narrative that investor sentiment is shifting decisively toward on-chain anonymity.
Bitcoin’s Parabolic Setup Is Forming as ETFs Consume Supply, Says Bitwise Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan shared on social media platform X this week a detailed argument that sustained bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) demand could overwhelm available supply, setting the stage for a delayed but extreme price move similar to gold’s recent rally.
He stated:
“ Bitcoin’s price will go parabolic if ETF demand persists long-term. A lesson from gold’s 2025 move.”
Hougan expanded the comparison, stating: “The price of both gold and bitcoin are set by supply-and-demand. The popular story is that gold prices spiked in 2025 (up 65%) because central bank purchases tilted the supply-demand balance. History teaches us something different, and tells us what’s happening with bitcoin.” He traced the shift back to 2022, when central banks sharply increased gold accumulation following geopolitical and financial tensions, arguing that the buying surge altered market structure long before prices reacted. According to Hougan, early demand was absorbed by willing sellers, muting price responses for several years despite persistent purchases.
🟠 Fundamental Analysis: Scarcity vs. Store of Value.
Cathie Wood (Ark Invest) states that Bitcoin's investment thesis remains valid despite Gold's recent appreciation.
The differentiator is the Supply Cap. Gold has an elastic supply; as price rises, mining increases. Bitcoin ($BTC) has an inelastic supply; increased demand cannot create more coins.
Trump made the announcement on Jan. 17, 2026, stating that the bank “incorrectly and inappropriately debanked” him following the aftermath of the Capitol protest, which he continues to frame as justified by his claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. The president said the alleged banking restrictions were politically motivated and tied directly to his involvement in the protests. According to Trump, the dispute centers on actions taken by JPMorgan Chase in the period following Jan. 6, when several major financial institutions reassessed customer risk profiles amid heightened political scrutiny. Trump claims those actions crossed a legal line, turning account management into political punishment. The announcement came via Trump’s Truth Social account and quickly spread across financial and political media. While Trump said he intends to file suit within two weeks, no formal complaint has yet appeared on any court docket. He said: “I’ll be suing JPMorgan Chase over the next two weeks for incorrectly and inappropriately DEBANKING me after the January 6th Protest, a protest that turned out to be correct for those doing the protesting — The Election was RIGGED!” Trump also tied the lawsuit threat to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, which claimed he had previously offered Jamie Dimon a top government position, including chair of the Federal Reserve. Trump flatly denied the report, calling it “fake,” and suggested it was part of a broader narrative he believes favors Wall Street executives over him. $BTC $ETH $BNB #whatisyourBitcoinPricePrediction #BTC #Altseason #Crypto
Bitcoin Treasury Survey Shows Investors Expect Major Balance Sheet Growth in 2026 Bitcoin treasury investors and observers are heading into 2026 with confidence, expecting public companies to hold significantly more bitcoin, expand digital credit offerings, and weather external pressures with balance sheets largely intact. Corporate Bitcoin Treasuries Poised for Expansion in 2026, Survey Finds That optimism comes through clearly in the first-ever audience survey conducted by bitcointreasuries.net, which gathered responses from individual investors, executives, and institutional participants closely tracking corporate bitcoin strategies.
According to the results, respondents overwhelmingly expect growth—not retrenchment—across the treasury sector. The most striking projection centers on total corporate bitcoin holdings. Survey participants noted that public companies collectively held nearly 1.1 million bitcoin after adding roughly 500,000 bitcoin in 2025.
Looking ahead, nearly one-third of respondents expect that figure to climb to about 1.7 million bitcoin by the end of 2026, while another 30.9% anticipate holdings reaching 2.2 million bitcoin or more. Only a small minority expects overall holdings to decline.
Company-specific expectations follow a similar pattern. Nearly 90% of respondents believe Strategy will increase its bitcoin stack, with the most common estimate placing its 2026 holdings near 1 million bitcoin. Metaplanet also drew strong support, with roughly half of respondents expecting the Japanese firm to meet or exceed its 100,000- bitcoin target by the end of 2026 and many projecting continued progress toward its longer-term goals.
Bitcoin Stalls at $97,000 as Trump’s Insurrection Act Threat Fails to Spark Rally Bitcoin stalled near $97,000 despite $843 million in exchange-traded fund inflows and strong institutional demand.Politics Fail to Trigger Flight to Safety After opening the week with three consecutive days of gains exceeding 2%, bitcoin stalled Thursday, reaching an intraday peak just above $97,000. Momentum faded even as President Donald Trump intensified his pressure campaign against domestic dissent, threatening to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act.
Thursday Crypto Recap, Institutions Are Still Building
Bitcoin moved above $97K and price action stayed calm, but the important signals were underneath the surface. Spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $753M in net inflows, the strongest single-day inflow since October, showing institutions are still accumulating.
At the same time, stablecoin and regulation progress continued: Visa and BVNK launched stablecoin payouts, Pakistan signed an agreement to integrate USD1, Germany’s DZ Bank received approval to launch a crypto platform, and NYSE listed a Chainlink ETF.
This is what “quiet strength” looks like: capital, infrastructure, and regulation moving together.
$SOL is starting to push higher after breaking out of a tight compression zone.
Technical view: an ascending triangle is forming after a long corrective phase. The bias stays bullish as long as price holds above the reclaimed trendline and keeps respecting the rising support.
If SOL slips back below the breakout area and loses trendline support, the upside attempt can weaken and turn into more sideways action.
Strive (ASST) announced an all-stock acquisition of Semler Scientific (SMLR). The key detail: Semler holds 5,048 BTC, so Strive is effectively acquiring a BTC treasury through a corporate deal.
They also bought 123 $BTC around ~$91.5K. After the transaction, the combined total is expected to reach 12,797 BTC, making them the 11th largest corporate holder.
This is a new trend: companies aren’t only buying $BTC , they’re buying companies that already hold BTC.
Franklin Templeton Positions Two Money Market Funds for Tokenized Finance Under GENIUS Act.
On Tuesday, Franklin Templeton said the updates apply to two existing Rule 2a-7 government money market funds, expanding their usability in regulated digital finance without altering their status as traditional, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered products. The move targets two fast-developing use cases: stablecoin reserve management and blockchain-based fund distribution.
The first update involves the Western Asset Institutional Treasury Obligations Fund, which has been restructured to align with reserve requirements under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act. The fund now invests exclusively in U.S. Treasuries with maturities of 93 days or less, positioning it for use by stablecoin issuers operating under the federal framework enacted in July 2025.
Franklin Templeton pointed to the expanding stablecoin market as a driver of demand for regulated, high-quality liquidity products. With stablecoins increasingly used for payments, settlement, and collateral, institutional issuers are seeking compliant reserve assets that behave more like infrastructure than speculation.
The second update centers on the Western Asset Institutional Treasury Reserves Fund, which introduced a Digital Institutional Share Class designed for distribution through blockchain-enabled intermediary platforms. Approved intermediaries can use blockchain technology to record and transfer fund share ownership, enabling faster settlement and around-the-clock transaction capabilities.
Importantly, Franklin Templeton emphasized that the fund itself remains a traditional money market vehicle. The firm explained that the blockchain component affects how shares are distributed and recorded, not the underlying investment strategy or regulatory framework. In short, the plumbing changes, not the product on the shelf.
🔥 The Fed Story Just Changed — Markets Are Repricing
For months, traders expected rate cuts in 2026. Now that view is fading, and crypto is reacting as liquidity expectations reset.
JPMorgan no longer expects any cuts in 2026 and now forecasts a 25 bps hike in Q3 2027. Goldman Sachs also pushed cut expectations to mid–late 2026, while other banks are delaying their timelines as well. CME FedWatch shows a 95% probability the Fed holds rates at its January meeting.
For $BTC and $ETH , this matters because tighter liquidity usually slows momentum and rewards patience over chasing narratives.
In a Benzinga interview, WhiteBIT founder Volodymyr Nosov says the 2025 correction was a healthy reset, and that the market is now shifting from short-term price noise to long-term structure.
His main points: Institutions are reshaping crypto RWA tokenization could be a major growth driver Regulation and real-world adoption matter more each cycle
He also estimates tokenized assets could reach $10–15T within the next 5 years.
$BTC Jurisdictional Unity on Privacy The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) have finalized a comprehensive regulatory environment that leaves no room for anonymity-enhanced digital assets. As of Jan. 12, 2026, new rules have reinforced the categorical ban on privacy coins across all of Dubai, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Regulators in Dubai define privacy tokens or anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies, as assets that prevent the tracking of ownership or transaction flows. Under the latest updates, core privacy coins like Monero ( XMR) and Zcash (ZEC) are strictly prohibited. This ban extends to the use of anonymizing tools such as mixers or tumblers, including Tornado Cash, which are explicitly barred from use by regulated firms. Additionally, algorithmic tokens are subject to intense scrutiny and are often excluded due to concerns regarding transparency and their potential for market manipulation. While Dubai’s regulatory landscape is divided between onshore zones and the DIFC, both primary regulators have converged on a unified stance against privacy-centric assets. VARA, which oversees onshore Dubai and its free zones, has maintained an explicit ban since 2023. This prohibits the issuance, listing and facilitation of transactions for any anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies. Violations under VARA’s jurisdiction can trigger fines reaching tens of millions of dollars, alongside the potential revocation of commercial licenses. Dubai’s decisive move to prohibit these tokens comes amid a significant global resurgence in privacy-focused assets. Throughout 2025, a powerful market narrative emerged as investors sought refuge from increasing blockchain surveillance and “forensic-heavy” regulatory environments. This shift turned privacy coins from a niche category into one of the year’s most resilient outliers.
Robert Kiyosaki Warns Silver Crash Coming as Market Shows Clear Signs of Peaking Silver’s rally may be nearing a dangerous peak, with growing speculation and selling pressure signaling a sharp pullback ahead even as long-term bullish conviction remains intact
$XRP Ripple Urges SEC to Separate Crypto Assets From Securities Transactions.
Ripple submitted a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Crypto Task Force on Jan. 9, urging a rights-based framework for digital asset regulation. The blockchain payments company framed its position around legal obligations rather than market activity, speculation, or technological design.
The letter was signed by Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty, General Counsel Sameer Dhond, and Deputy General Counsel Deborah McCrimmon. In the letter, Ripple argues that securities oversight should apply only for the duration of enforceable promises tied to a transaction. The company writes:
“The Commission’s jurisdiction should track the lifespan of the obligation; regulating the ‘promise’ while it exists, but liberating the ‘asset’ once that promise is fulfilled or otherwise ends.”
“The dispositive factor is the holder’s legal rights, not their economic hopes. Without that bright line, the definition of a security, and the SEC’s jurisdictional limits, become amorphous and unbounded,” Ripple added.
The submission explains that collapsing the distinction between a transaction and the underlying asset risks expanding securities jurisdiction indefinitely and criticizes approaches that rely on decentralization, trading behavior, or ongoing development as legal substitutes.
$BTC Standard Chartered Readying Launch of New Crypto Prime Brokerage: Report Multinational banking giant Standard Chartered is reportedly preparing an expansion into digital assets with a new prime brokerage platform.
There are reports that a “Satoshi-era” whale has become active again after years of silence, with claims of buying around 26,900 $BTC (roughly $2.45B).
If confirmed on-chain, this would be one of the most notable whale reactivations in a long time, and it would show strong conviction at current prices.
For now, it’s important to treat this as unconfirmed until the wallet activity is verified by reliable on-chain tracking.