Author: Kryptonews

Credit rating company Fitch Ratings has flagged a high degree of risk associated with Bitcoin-backed securities, a warning that could complicate the expansion of crypto-linked credit products among institutional investors.In a Monday assessment, Fitch said Bitcoin-backed securities, financial instruments typically structured by pooling Bitcoin (BTC) or Bitcoin-linked assets and issuing debt against that collateral, carry “heightened risks” that “are consistent with speculative-grade credit profiles.”The agency said such characteristics could place the products in speculative-grade territory, a designation associated with weaker credit quality and a higher likelihood of losses.As one of the three major US credit rating companies, Fitch’s evaluations play…

Paul Atkins, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), didn’t rule out the possibility of authorities seizing Venezuela’s reported Bitcoin holdings after US forces unseated and captured the country’s president.In a Monday interview with Fox Business’ Stuart Varney, Atkins responded to reports claiming that Venezuela holds up to $60 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC), though several analysts said they were unable to verify these claims. The SEC chair said it “remains to be seen” what action, if any, the US would take if it had the opportunity to seize the reported 600,000 BTC. “I leave that to others in…

Bitmine Immersion Technologies expanded its Ether holdings over the past week as its chairman urged shareholders to approve a proposal that would allow the company to further build its crypto treasury and staking operations.The company said it purchased 24,266 Ether (ETH) over the past week, lifting its total crypto holdings to about 4.17 million ETH, or 3.4% of the token’s circulating supply.According to Monday’s announcement, the company reported about $14 billion in combined crypto and cash holdings, including $988 million in cash. In addition to ETH, it holds 193 Bitcoin (BTC) and a $23 million stake in Eightco Holdings.Bitmine also…

In a statement released on January 10, the South African Ministry of Sport, Arts, and Culture has denied censoring its 2026 Venice Biennale pavilion. As reported by ARTnews last week, the ministry canceled the proposed artwork for the pavilion on December 2. A selection committee appointed in November by the nonprofit organization Art Periodic, the ministry’s partner in administering, producing, and fundraising for the South African Pavilion, had chosen a work by South African artist Gabrielle Goliath as the nation’s entry in the Biennale. The proposed piece, curated by Ingrid Masondo, would have been the latest installment of Goliath’s “Elegy”…

Key NotesSouth Korean exchange Upbit accounted for 45% of IP’s $272 million trading volume during the rally.The token broke through a prolonged downtrend that started in October 2025, crossing above key moving averages.Story Protocol launched a community engagement campaign to reward long-term holders coinciding with the price surge. The price of Story Protocol’s IP token rose by more than 26% over the previous 24 hours to peak at $2.90, beating the cryptocurrency market and signaling the token’s largest intraday increase since October 2025. According to data from CoinMarketCap, IP IP $2.82 24h volatility: 24.9% Market cap: $959.04 M Vol. 24h:…

Bitcoin (BTC) onchain data shows BTC whales are active as the price attempts to extend its breakout from the $90,000 level. Key takeawaysBitcoin whale spending surged to $286 million, the largest spike since early November.Momentum indicators are bullish, but volatility is likely this week. Data from Capriole Investments indicated that OG whale spent value, i.e., Bitcoin moved after remaining dormant for more than seven years, jumped to about $286 million on Saturday. This marked the strongest resurgence in old-coin activity since Nov. 3, 2025, when the metric spiked near $570 million and coincided with BTC’s market correction.  BTC OG Whale Spent…

With Bakkt’s share price surging following the announcement, the stock deal could be worth about $178 million.Cryptocurrency infrastructure platform Bakkt Holdings announced an agreement to purchase Distributed Technologies Research, a stablecoin and fiat payments infrastructure provider.In a Monday notice, Bakkt said the agreement will have the company issue more than nine million shares of its Class A common stock to Distributed Technologies Research shareholders. At the time of publication, the price of shares of Bakkt Holdings (BKKT) on the New York Stock Exchange was $19.54, having surged more than 20% in the previous 24 hours, which would would make the…

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is making a case that the most valuable upgrade for the world’s second-largest blockchain may be learning how to stop upgrading.Last November, Buterin reportedly argued that locking down parts of the base layer can reduce bugs and lower the odds of “surprises” for a network that secures hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of value.This month, he sharpened the same message with a new framing: Ethereum, he argued, should be able to keep running safely and usefully even if the people who maintain it disappear.That standard, which he has described as a “walkaway test,” is meant…

Rachel Accurso, the YouTube star better known to children and parents as Ms. Rachel, announced last week that she will present Colors That Survived, an exhibition and fundraiser featuring artworks created by children in Gaza. The works will be exhibited Tuesday at Caelum Gallery in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. They have also been reproduced as limited-edition prints of 20, priced at $200 each, and will be available for purchase through January 30 via Artists Support, a nonprofit that collaborates with artists to raise funds for various causes. According to a press release, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to…

The altcoin market enters the second week of January with unclear signals. Some tokens have reached new all-time highs. Others have recovered amid skepticism. Most altcoins continue to struggle to recover from the heavy sell-off that occurred in October last year.In that context, three altcoins face a high risk of large liquidations because traders may be misjudging real market demand.Sponsored Sponsored1. Solana (SOL)The early 2026 meme-coin wave is not extremely strong, but it indicates that traders are becoming more open to risk. The Solana ecosystem has posted several new records. Pump.fun’s DEX volume has hit a new all-time high. The…