Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
Bitcoin Hits Historical Highs but Analysts Warn of Deepening Slump in January 2026
Bitcoin is trading below $90,000 after breaking key technical supports, with bearish patterns suggesting a potential drop to $74,000. Altcoin market caps show double-top patterns, ETF inflows have faded, and fear dominates sentiment, limiting bull run chances. This downturn could extend into January despite recent highs reported earlier.
DeFi Sector TVL Exceeds $160 Billion with 40% Yearly Growth
By end-2025, DeFi protocols' total value locked surpassed $160B, up over 40%, fueled by Ethereum L2 solutions like zk-rollups and Solana's reliability improvements. DeFi offers liquid staking and lending, attracting retail and institutions, while AI integration optimizes trading.
Banks warn stablecoins may siphon billions from deposits.
Charles Schwab to Launch Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading in H1 2026
Charles Schwab, managing $12T in assets, plans direct spot trading for BTC and ETH in early 2026, building institutional-grade infrastructure without third-party custodians. This enhances retail access via commission-free platforms and aligns with regulatory clarity from OCC and FDIC.
CEO indicates potential acquisitions and stablecoin launch.
EU MiCA Regulation Takes Effect, Boosting Chiliz with Authorization
The EU's MiCA regulation provides unified crypto-asset rules, aiding companies like Chiliz (CHZ), which surged 19% on MiCA approval and Decentral Protocol launch for tokenizing revenues. CHZ price nears $0.047 resistance amid split analyst views.
Global nations balance innovation with CBDCs in response.
Bitwise Files for 11 Altcoin ETFs Including AAVE, UNI, and SUI
Bitwise submitted SEC filings for 11 altcoin ETFs targeting single-asset exposure like AAVE, UNI, TRX, SUI, NEAR, with mid-March 2026 effectiveness under new standards. Funds use 60/40 split between holdings and related products.
This accelerates regulated U.S. market access for altcoins.
Solana Gains from Real Asset Tokenization on High-Speed Blockchain
Solana (SOL) overcomes past issues, drawing attention for real asset tokenization growth on its fast platform. It ranks in top ten cryptos alongside Cardano's science-based updates and resilient community.
Institutional investments from BlackRock and Fidelity highlight crypto's 2026 role.
Institutional Investors Add Bitcoin to National Reserves
Countries like Brazil and Kyrgyzstan allow state-level BTC purchases, per Fidelity, as BlackRock, Fidelity, and JPMorgan boost crypto in 2026 outlooks. Major managers enter amid regulatory progress.
Schwab's launch could force fee reductions industry-wide.
Virtuals Protocol Surges 20% on 2026 AI Agent Roadmap
Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) jumped to $0.88 on its 2026 roadmap for AI agent commerce, workflows, capital markets, robotics, and OpenMind AGI partnership. Technicals turn positive, hinting at trend shift.
AI-blockchain integration grows in DeFi for efficiency.
Trump Media Plans Utility Token Launch and Shareholder Airdrop
Trump Media & Technology Group to launch a utility token, airdropping to shareholders for media platform integration and on-chain user base. Faces regulatory scrutiny and exchange hesitancy over political risks.
Aims to boost engagement via verified wallets.
CLARITY Act Nears Passage Amid Coordinated Wallet Drains
The U.S. CLARITY Act approaches passage, providing crypto regulatory clarity as part of market recap. Users hit by coordinated wallet drains between Dec 29-Jan 4.
Altcoin season signals emerge despite slump warnings.
Global Stablecoin Regulation Shapes Up with Latin America Focus
Ahead of 2026, global stablecoin rules advance, with Brazil's central bank publishing guidelines and Latin America as key watch region. MiCA and national CBDCs respond to private assets.
Banks note deposit risks from stablecoins.