James Godstime is a crypto journalist and market analyst with over three years of experience in crypto, Web3, and finance. He simplifies complex and technical ideas to engage readers. Outside of work, he enjoys football and tennis, which he follows passionately.
Bitcoin steadied after a sharp sell-off earlier this week, finding support near the $92,000 level as traders reassessed risk. Market watchers say exchange-traded fund inflows continue to support a positive long-term outlook, even as global political tensions keep volatility elevated. Recent price action suggests buyers remain active despite broader uncertainty.
Kevin Hassett has withdrawn from consideration to lead the U.S. Fed, narrowing the field in a leadership contest increasingly shaped by political and legal pressure. President Donald Trump has made clear that he prefers Hassett to remain in his current White House role. And this stance has effectively removed him from contention and reshaped expectations around the Fed’s next chair.
Bitcoin options open interest has overtaken futures for the first time, marking a shift in how risk is held across crypto markets. By mid-January, options open interest climbed to about $74.1 billion, edging above roughly $65.22 billion in futures. The change points to a market relying less on short-term directional trades and more on structured positions that manage risk and volatility over time.
Steak ’n Shake is positioning Bitcoin as both a customer payment option and a long-term treasury asset, signaling a deeper integration of cryptocurrency into its business model. The fast-food chain reported that its corporate Bitcoin holdings increased by $10 million in notional value, fueled by customer payments and rising same-store sales.
Elon Musk is seeking between $79 billion and $134 billion in damages from OpenAI Inc. and Microsoft. He alleged that the companies misled him about the future of the artificial intelligence firm he helped establish. Court filings indicate the lawsuit could become one of the most significant legal battles in the rapidly evolving AI industry.
Crypto markets appear to have moved past the leverage-driven stress seen in October, according to asset manager Grayscale. Recent research shared by the firm suggests derivatives activity has stabilized, supply pressure has eased, and market direction is now more closely tied to fundamentals and policy developments. As a result, price action may be better positioned to respond to upcoming regulatory and institutional shifts rather than past disruptions.
European regulators are increasing pressure on TikTok to strengthen how it verifies the age of its users. In response, the video platform is introducing a new system designed to better detect accounts run by children under 13 and remove them when necessary. According to reports, the rollout will begin in Europe in phases over the coming months, following a year of testing.
U.S. lawmakers have put a major crypto market structure bill on hold after strong pushback from Coinbase. Fresh criticism from the exchange’s chief executive raised doubts about whether the proposal could move forward without changes. As a result, Senate Banking Committee members delayed a planned markup while reassessing industry and regulatory concerns tied to the draft.
Crypto scams reached a new level of speed and scale in 2025 as artificial intelligence tools made fraud more convincing and harder to detect. A new report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis shows that scammers are stealing more money per victim while running cheaper and wider operations. Losses tied to crypto scams are now estimated at $17 billion for the year, the highest level ever recorded.
Gold and silver closed 2025 at record highs, and that rally has accelerated into early 2026. A combination of strong demand, constrained supply, and rising political uncertainty is driving investors toward precious metals. New concerns about central bank independence have further intensified buying pressure.
U.S. Senate lawmakers are advancing efforts to establish a clear regulatory framework for crypto markets, marking a pivotal moment for digital asset oversight in the United States. Two Senate committees are preparing to debate competing versions of a long-anticipated market structure bill, setting the stage for negotiations that could determine how the industry is governed for years to come.
Investment firm VanEck expects the first quarter of 2026 to favor risk assets, citing clearer fiscal policy, steadier monetary signals, and renewed interest across several major investment themes. After years of uncertainty, improved visibility is shaping how investors position their portfolios heading into the new year.
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a new memecoin project on Monday, drawing swift attention from both local media and crypto analysts. The token, called NYC Token, was introduced during a press conference in Times Square shortly after Adams officially left office on Jan. 1. Within hours, on-chain data began raising concerns about the project’s liquidity structure and risk profile.
Reports of a potential large-scale Instagram data leak have sparked widespread concern, as cybersecurity researchers and Meta offer sharply different accounts of what occurred. While a security firm claims millions of user records are being sold online, Meta insists its systems were not breached. The conflicting narratives have left many users uncertain about the safety of their accounts.
Zcash’s developer activity has fallen to its lowest level since late 2021, as governance disputes and prolonged market weakness continue to cloud sentiment. The slowdown comes amid a sustained decline in ZEC’s price, even as large holders continue to accumulate the token. At the same time, these trends point to an increasingly complex outlook for one of the crypto sector’s longest-standing privacy-focused networks.