Jan 31
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has expedited approval for the Bitwise Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF, allowing it to be listed and traded on NYSE Arca. Bitwise's hybrid ETF will provide investors with direct exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum in a single fund, with Coinbase's custody business overseeing the holdings.
Jan 31
Coinbase plans to introduce cash-settled Solana futures contracts on its derivatives exchange, pending approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The contracts aim to offer investors a new option compared to CME Group's Bitcoin and Ether offerings.
Jan 31
A solo miner using a cheap home machine managed to mine a block and earn 3.125 Bitcoin, valued at almost $330,000. The miner received additional hashrate support from a donation to fund open-source projects.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde expressed skepticism about adding Bitcoin to reserves due to its volatility and illicit finance ties. Despite Bitcoin's recent appreciation, European lawmakers remain hesitant, with the ECB able to influence member states' investment decisions through investigations and penalties.
Jan 31
NYSE Arca has applied to the SEC to convert Grayscale's XRP Trust into an exchange-traded fund, with Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC as the potential custodian. Grayscale has been converting investment vehicles like its Bitcoin and Ethereum Trusts into spot ETFs due to high demand for digital asset-based offerings.
Numerous Grand Theft Auto-themed meme coins, like GTA 6 Coin and GTA Guy, have surged on Solana, surpassing $1 million market cap. Despite the hype, these tokens have plummeted over 90% from their peak values, with market caps now at $69,000 and $12,000 respectively.
Odin.fun, a platform for launching Bitcoin-based meme coins, was created to mimic Solana's Pump.fun token launchpad, offering two-second transaction finality for speedy trading. Runes, Bitcoin-based meme coins, face technical challenges due to Bitcoin's lack of smart contracts, leading to slower transactions and decreased enthusiasm in the community.
Jan 30
Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer globally, will soon be fully operational on both Bitcoin's base layer and the Lightning Network, as announced by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. This integration between Tether and Bitcoin, two major players in the crypto world, is a significant development for the industry.
The UFC's Instagram account was hacked, leading to a fraudulent post promoting an unauthorized Solana meme coin that quickly reached an $11 million market cap. Scammers profited $1.4 million by selling 40% of the token supply, causing significant losses for investors.
Jan 30
Midnight Society, the game developer behind Deadrop, is closing its doors after three years due to lack of funding, leaving over 55 developers jobless. The studio was founded in 2021 by Robert Bowling, Quinn Delhoyo, Sumit Gupta, and Dr. Disrespect.
The meme coin TRUMP, linked to President Donald Trump, saw a significant drop in both price and daily trading volume after its debut on popular trading platforms like Robinhood, Binance, and Coinbase. Despite its initial success, TRUMP's trading volume fell by 90% and its price decreased by 64%.
Fairshake, the influential pro-crypto super PAC, has raised over $116 million for the 2026 midterms, with support from major crypto firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Ripple. This significant fundraising effort aims to maintain the crypto industry's current political standing in Washington.
Jan 30
El Salvador has agreed to scale back its pro-Bitcoin legislation after striking a deal with the IMF, making Bitcoin acceptance voluntary for businesses. The country also plans to unwind the Chivo wallet and stop accepting tax payments in cryptocurrency.
Jan 30
MoonPay has formed a multi-year partnership with Shots Podcast Network, becoming the exclusive crypto partner for major podcasts like "This Past Weekend with Theo Von" and the "Full Send Podcast." Shots Podcast Network CEO John Shahidi will join MoonPay as a creative advisor, aiding in various projects.
Jan 30
South Korea plans to institutionalize the Joint Investigation Department for Virtual Asset Crimes, enhancing its authority and resources to combat crypto-related offenses more effectively. The unit, initially formed in July 2023, will become a permanent entity following discussions to address the rising complexity and volume of virtual asset crimes.