Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ether (CRYPTO: ETH) ETFs listed in the United States faced renewed withdrawal pressure as market participants cooled on riskier assets amid mixed signals from macro and crypto-specific catalysts. Over a five-day window, investors pulled roughly $1.82 billion from spot BTC and ETH funds, with about $1.49 billion exiting Bitcoin ETFs and $327.1 million leaving Ether products, according to data tracked by Farside. The outflows aligned with a softer price backdrop for the two leading cryptocurrencies, which have traded lower as momentum waned after a prior rally. In the broader week, BTC and ETH declined by about 6.55% and 8.99%, respectively, placing them around $83,400 and $2,685 to end the period, per CoinMarketCap. Key takeaways US spot BTC ETFs recorded $1.49 billion in net outflows over five trading days, while spot ETH ETFs saw $327.10 million leave, signaling a broad retreat from near-term investor exposure to the assets. Over the last week, Bitcoin an...

Crypto donors are intensifying political involvement in California as Grow California, a PAC spearheaded by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and venture capitalist Tim Draper, mobilizes tens of millions to influence the 2026 state elections. The group seeks to counterbalance the influence of labor unions by backing a small slate of moderate, business-friendly candidates in the California Legislature, with a plan that includes about $40 million in commitments across independent committees and affiliated nonprofits. The push arrives amid debate over a proposed wealth tax backed by a healthcare union that would tax the assets of the state's wealthiest residents if approved, a catalyst that organizers say underscores the need for counterweights. Key takeaways Grow California was seeded by Chris Larsen and Tim Draper; both contributed $5 million to launch the group last September, with roughly $40 million in commitments currently attributed to independent-expenditure committees and affi...

Proof-of-reserves (PoR) is increasingly cited as a transparency tool in crypto markets, but it remains a partial signal rather than a guarantee. At its core, PoR is a public demonstration that a custodian holds the assets it claims to hold for users, typically verified through cryptographic methods and on-chain transparency. When exchanges publish PoR reports, they aim to show verifiable asset custody at a specific moment in time. Yet critics note that a snapshot cannot fully capture a platform’s solvency, liquidity, or governance controls—factors that matter when withdrawals spike or markets turn volatile. As exchanges continue to publish PoR documentation, the limits of the methodology are becoming clearer. The industry has observed that PoR reports can provide comfort about asset custody but do not inherently prove that a platform can meet all of its obligations. The conversation intensified after past crises in the sector, prompting regulators and standard-setters to stress the...

A Delaware judge has allowed a shareholder lawsuit accusing Coinbase directors of insider trading to proceed, despite an internal investigation that cleared the executives of wrongdoing. Filed in 2023 by a Coinbase investor, the complaint targets CEO Brian Armstrong and board member Marc Andreessen, alleging they used confidential information to sidestep more than $1 billion in losses around the company’s 2021 direct listing. The filing contends insiders sold more than $2.9 billion worth of stock, with Armstrong personally divesting about $291.8 million. While Coinbase’s special litigation committee produced findings that bolster the directors’ defenses, the court signaled that questions about the independence of one committee member were enough to keep the case alive for now. Key takeaways The Delaware Chancery Court declined to dismiss the insider-trading suit, allowing it to move forward despite an internal probe that cleared the executives. At the heart of the dispute is Coinba...

Crypto market sentiment has cooled to levels not seen in months, yet several analytics voices argue the downside could set the stage for a recovery. Santiment, a data-focused platform, notes that sentiment data remains one of the few bullish signals in an otherwise cautious environment. In a Friday briefing, the firm highlighted that the prevailing mood is tempered by an extreme degree of social negativity, with more bearish commentary than bullish on investor chatter. This paradox—fear on social feeds amid occasional contrarian signals on-chain—forms the backdrop for traders navigating a choppy January. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, a barometer of broader market psychology, has moved into Extreme Fear territory. It registered a score of 20 on Saturday and 16 on Friday, marking the lowest readings seen in 2026 to date and the first time the index has touched those levels since December. The shift into Extreme Fear underscores a risk-off stance among participants as they weigh macr...

Bitcoin’s break below the $84,000 threshold shifts momentum in favor of bears, opening the door to a potential test of the $74,508 level if selling accelerates. In the meantime, sentiment is turning more cautious as several top altcoins slip below crucial support zones, suggesting a broader consolidation or renewed downside pressure. The move comes as traders weigh macro catalysts and previous tariff-related rhetoric that has flavored price action in the early part of the year. On a technical front, a number of assets flirt with key moving averages, with bulls needing to defend critical lines to avert further declines. Key takeaways Bitcoin breached the $84,000 level and could extend the downside toward $74,508 if bears maintain control and crucial support around $80,600 gives way. Several leading altcoins fell below important support thresholds, signaling that selling pressure is broadening beyond BTC. In the latest 24 hours, Bitcoin liquidations surged, reaching approximately $...

Tether, the issuer of USDt, the world’s largest stablecoin, reported that 2025 net profits dipped from the prior year, while its U.S. Treasury holdings reached a new high. In a year-end filing prepared by accounting firm BDO, the company said it earned just over $10 billion in net profits for 2025, down about 23% from the $13 billion recorded in 2024. At the same time, direct U.S. Treasury exposure rose to more than $122 billion, a figure Tether described as the highest level ever and indicative of a continued tilt toward highly liquid, low‑risk assets. Over the same period, the firm issued roughly $50 billion in USDt, underscoring persistent demand for a dollar-denominated liquidity instrument beyond traditional banking rails. The combination of rising reserves and expanding stablecoin issuance highlights how Tether’s balance sheet continues to evolve alongside a growing, liquidity‑dependent crypto ecosystem. Key takeaways 2025 net profits exceeded $10 billion, but were down about 2...