XRP’s long-term investment case gains fresh momentum as Ripple and UC Berkeley advance institutional-grade development on the XRP Ledger, moving real-world use cases from academic research toward live deployment and expanding enterprise adoption signals. XRP’s Long-Term Thesis Gets Supercharged by Ripple and UC Berkeley’s Accelerator Breakthrough Ripple shared an insight on Jan. 16, outlining expanded […]
Solana Labs CEO Says Solana Must Adapt or Die
Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko said he wants Solana to be a constantly evolving network, continuously updating to meet the changing needs of users, contrasting with Vitalik Buterin’s vision of Ethereum as a self-sustaining blockchain.
“Solana needs to never stop iterating. It shouldn’t depend on any single group or individual to do so, but if it ever stops changing to fit the needs of its devs and users, it will die,” Yakovenko stated in a post to X on Saturday.
His remarks were in response to a post from Buterin, who said Ethereum needs to reach a point where it passes the “walkaway test,” meaning it becomes self-sustainable without developer influence for decades to come.
Ethereum and Solana are two of the leading blockchains in a sea of layer 1 competitors.
Ethereum is by far the most decentralized smart contract layer 1 blockchain and dominates stablecoin and real-world asset tokenization activity, while Solana is one of the speedier networks that is arguably more popular for consumer apps and earns more fees.
Their planned paths to success, however, could not be more different.
Buterin wants to maximize decentralization, privacy and self-sovereignty on Ethereum — even at the cost of mainstream adoption — while Yakovenko wants Solana to be an evolving ecosystem that introduces new features to adapt to real-world needs.
Supporters of Buterin’s approach argue that adding too many features increases the risk of bugs, security flaws, and unintended protocol consequences, while expanding the attack surface for centralization.
Those aligned with Yakovenko’s “adapt or die” mentality, however, think a hands-off approach leads to slower innovation and potentially being overtaken by faster-moving competitors.
AI could update Solana in the future: Yakovenko
Yakovenko, however, said protocol updates should come from a diverse community of contributors rather than a few development teams.
Related: Bitwise’s exec says 2026 will be crypto’s real bull year, here’s why
He even pointed to a future where Solana network fees could fund AI-assisted development to write and improve Solana’s codebase.
“You should always count on there being a next version of Solana,” Yakovenko said.
Ethereum is not self-sustainable yet
Meanwhile, Buterin said there is still a lot of work to be done before Ethereum can adopt the hands-off approach.
Quantum resistance features, more scalable architecture, and a better block-building model that resists centralization pressures were among the main improvements Buterin said Ethereum needs to have to pass the test of time.
Magazine: One metric shows crypto is now in a bear market: Carl ‘The Moon’
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The reality of personal branding in 2026: Why visibility is now a serious business asset
Personal branding has crossed a line.
In 2026, online visibility is no longer optional for founders and business leaders. Personal branding now sits at the epicentre of how credibility is built, and how much buyers and prospects are willing to trust you.
This isn’t about trends or personal promotion. It’s about how the mechanics of visibility have changed, and what that means for business founders who want to stay relevant in a market shaped by AI, shifting trust, and decentralised influence.
Libby Crossland, co-founder of The Leadership Visibility Co., says, “Whether you like the term or not, your personal brand already exists. The only question is whether you’re shaping it, or leaving other people and algorithms to do it for you.”
Personal branding has become business infrastructure
For years, personal branding lived on the edges of strategy. Useful, but not urgent. Something to “get to later”.
That logic is no longer valid.
Three forces have reshaped how business founders are discovered and assessed.
First, AI now sits between you and the person searching for you.
Search still starts online, but the outcomes look very different. The majority of searches now end without a click, because answers are delivered directly through AI summaries. Visibility is no longer driven by who has the best website. It’s driven by who AI systems can clearly identify, categorise, and trust.
If you’re not visible online, you’re also not visible to AI. And that’s a commercial risk.
Second, trust has shifted away from organisations and towards individuals.
Long-running research shows declining trust in corporate messaging and leadership statements. In contrast, people consistently say they trust peers and subject-matter experts more. Credibility now attaches to individuals who speak clearly, show their thinking, and demonstrate experience.
Third, individuals outperform brands across almost every platform.
Content shared by people consistently earns more reach and engagement than the same content published through corporate channels. Influence has become decentralised. The people inside a business increasingly shape how it is perceived.
Together, these shifts place personal branding at the core of modern visibility. Not as self-expression, but as infrastructure. The layer that helps others understand who you are, what you do, and why you matter.
Smaller audiences now create more value
For years, reach was treated as the goal. Bigger audiences. Bigger numbers.
However, now, decision-making is driven by trust, not volume. Smaller, well-defined audiences who recognise your voice and understand your work generate more meaningful engagement than large, diluted followings. Niche conversations drive messages, referrals, and opportunities in a way broad commentary rarely does.
As AI-generated content increases, depth becomes the differentiator. People pay closer attention to voices that feel grounded, specific, and human.
Leadership Visibility Co., co-founder Suzie Thompson says, “We see this every day. The leaders getting the best opportunities aren’t the most well known. They’re the ones who are clear, consistent, and recognisable when someone’s looking for that exact product or service.”
What a personal brand needs in 2026
The data points to a clear baseline.
Focus matters: Clear themes make expertise recognisable to both people and systems.
Thinking needs to be visible: Explaining decisions and industry shifts builds authority faster than polished conclusions.
Evidence underpins credibility: Articles, interviews, talks, posts, and case examples show that expertise exists beyond claims.
Profiles carry more weight than ever: They act as a credibility scan, not a biography.
Teams matter: Distributed visibility across leaders and experts builds trust faster than relying on a single voice.
Ownership matters too: An owned channel, even a simple one, creates stability in a shifting platform landscape.
Where this leaves UK business founders
The environment has changed. Search behaves differently. Trust behaves differently. Visibility behaves differently.
A personal brand now sits inside that reality as the practical layer that helps others understand your value before a conversation begins.
Some leaders will work with that shift. Others will ignore it.
Trump threatens legal action against JPMorgan in ongoing ‘debanking’ saga – DL News
- President Donald Trump has said he will sue top American bank, JPMorgan Chase.
- The US leader claims he was denied banking services.
- President Trump’s family says it got into crypto because it was ‘debanked.’
US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue JPMorgan Chase, the latest in an ongoing rift with banks that members of the first family say forced them into crypto.
Writing on his social media platform Saturday, President Trump took aim at a Wall Street Journal story that reported JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon saying he had been offered the role of Federal Reserve chairman.
“This statement is totally untrue, there was never such an offer and, in fact, I’ll be suing JPMorgan Chase over the next two weeks for incorrectly and inappropriately DEBANKING me after the January 6th Protest, a protest that turned out to be correct for those doing the protesting — The Election was RIGGED,” the Truth Social post read.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump – Jan 17 2026, 11:13 AM ET )A front page Article in The Fake News Wall Street Journal states, without any verification, that I offered Jamie Dimon, of JPMorgan Chase, the job of Fed Chairman. T… pic.twitter.com/gQc41kUVcF
— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) January 17, 2026
President Trump and his sons have pushed further into the world of crypto after claiming some of America’s biggest banks cut them off from services. The Trump family has released a number of digital asset products, and most recently, Trump-backed decentralised finance platform World Liberty Financial applied for a banking licence.
Debanking row
President Trump last year claimed that JPMorgan Chase cut him off as a customer before Bank of America also denied him services.
His son, Donald Trump Jr., said his family had no choice but to get into digital assets after banks refused to give them services following the 2021 United States Capitol attack.
“We got into crypto because we were debanked,” he said in a Fox News interview last year. “We had to come up with solutions,” he continued, adding that crypto was the most efficient way to go and “absolutely the future of banking.”
Eric Trump blasted Capital One for being “woke” and said the Trump Organization would sue the ban for denying it services.
JPMorgan has in the past denied debanking customers. The bank did not immediately respond to questions from DL News.
Crypto to the rescue?
Trump’s Saturday threat comes as the president and his family try to take over TradFi services using crypto.
Trump-backed World Liberty Financial, a borrowing and lending platform that runs on Ethereum, has its own stablecoin, USD1, and wants the digital token to be used by institutions and everyday people for payments, Zak Folkman, co-founder and COO at World Liberty Financial, told DL News earlier this month.
In a bid to make the stablecoin succeed, World Liberty Financial applied for a banking licence, joining other top crypto companies in a move traditional lenders have criticised.
World Liberty Financial says on its website that it wants to “unlock financial access for all by replacing the limits of traditional banking.”
War with the Fed
President Trump’s war with JPMorgan comes as the Republican fights with the US central bank.
The Justice Department this month hit the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas and is threatening a criminal indictment against its chief, Jerome Powell.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon this week criticised the Justice Department’s actions and said that attacks on the Fed could undermine its independence.
Since President Trump became US leader again last year, he has repeatedly attacked Powell, urging him to lower interest rates.
Mathew Di Salvo is a news correspondent with DL News. Got a tip? Email at mdisalvo@dlnews.com.
Is Bitcoin About to Go Parabolic? Bitwise Sees ETF Demand Draining Supply
Sustained bitcoin ETF buying could quietly drain available supply before triggering an explosive price surge, mirroring gold’s delayed rally after years of institutional accumulation reshaped market dynamics. Bitcoin’s Parabolic Setup Is Forming as ETFs Consume Supply, Says Bitwise Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan shared on social media platform X this week a detailed argument […]
BNB & Ethereum Take a Backseat! Heavy Hitters Race Into Zero Knowledge Proof Presale Auctions Before Phase 2 Squeeze Hits
The worldwide crypto market is enjoying a strong rally right now. Total market cap has reached an impressive $3.24 trillion as leading assets push higher. The BNB coin price currently sits close to $940, and Ethereum has moved up toward $3,300. These numbers show solid institutional comeback activity. But here is the real question. Can these well-known giants with their huge market caps still deliver the kind of wealth-building returns that define a new cycle?
This project gives you a special advantage before everyone else shows up. Think of it like standing in an elevator on the ground floor while someone already pressed the penthouse button. When you compare it to the careful Ethereum price forecast 2030, Zero Knowledge Proof brings the kind of explosive upside that builds generational wealth. Getting your spot before the burn starts means you pick a leader among the top crypto coins before the lobby fills up.
The High-Rise Chance: Zero Knowledge Proof
Zero Knowledge Proof is changing decentralized AI through a strong four-layer blockchain design that was finished before public launch. This project did not depend on risky fundraising methods. Zero Knowledge Proof put $100 million of its own money into core systems, powerful compute nodes, and custom hardware. This level of preparation sharply lowers execution risk. It also places Zero Knowledge Proof among the top crypto coins as we head into 2026.
The system is now moving into Phase II. Daily supply will drop to 190 million coins. A strict burn system now kicks in to destroy all unsold supplies. This creates instant scarcity. Market watchers say that once the “Founders Phase” wraps up, the market-driven price floor will likely climb sharply because of this deflationary pressure.
Past cycles show us that getting in during early phases matters a lot. This “Winner’s Window” is closing quickly. Experts warn that once the protocol reaches its Accumulative Phase, securing your spot becomes much harder. With forecasts showing $1.7 billion flowing into this shrinking supply, getting access now feels like walking through a door right before it closes forever.
Growth gets an extra boost from a $5 million giveaway and a rewards program that already tracks and ranks early participants. This reward-based expansion drives more competition every single day. Today’s entry conditions will not stick around. The mix of real-world use cases and aggressive scarcity mechanics makes Zero Knowledge Proof stronger among the top crypto coins.
Media coverage is still in the early stages. This gives early movers a chance to act before mass attention hits. As the supply crunch takes effect and Proof Pod hardware ships out, early presale auction pricing is tightening quickly. Getting in now means securing your position before the capital that is mathematically tied to this ecosystem arrives.
Strong Momentum: BNB Coin Price Aims for New Records
The BNB coin price is moving with serious energy right now as it works to break through the $950 resistance mark. This exciting push comes after the successful Fermi upgrade on January 14. That upgrade made the network 40% faster by cutting block times down to just 0.45 seconds. Trading volume is rising as the ecosystem adds billions to its market cap. Optimistic traders are opening more long positions.
The BNB coin price is also getting a major lift from a huge spike in institutional interest this week. Grayscale recently submitted a filing for a spot BNB exchange-traded fund (ETF). This move could bring a massive wave of new capital from traditional finance players. Technical charts show strong recovery patterns. Analysts have set bullish targets as high as $1,200 for this year. The network remains highly competitive in the global market.
Critical Turning Point: Ethereum Eyes the $40,000 Mark
Ethereum is now entering a major breakout stage. It trades near $3,300 after clearing important resistance levels on the 12-hour chart. Analysts are very excited about a new Ethereum price forecast 2030 from Standard Chartered. This forecast sets a bold target of $40,000. This aggressive outlook comes from Ethereum’s leading role in tokenized real-world assets and stablecoins. Experts believe these strengths will make Ethereum a central layer for global finance.
Big institutional buyers are also stepping in. Bitmine Immersion Technologies now holds 3.45% of the total supply. They are aiming for a 5% target. This heavy buying activity pairs well with the positive Ethereum price forecast 2030. It shows that the network is ready to beat other assets over the coming years. Major network upgrades have doubled throughput capacity. Ethereum is proving it can scale to handle huge future demand.
Final Thoughts
The market is buzzing with activity right now. The BNB coin price holds firm while big institutions grab more supply. At the same time, the long-term Ethereum price forecast 2030 has many people feeling good about the future of the largest financial network. These two giants remain solid picks. But analysts suggest they might not offer the same explosive growth that a brand-new project can bring.
Experts are pointing to Zero Knowledge Proof as the next major opportunity. This is especially true since phase one of the presale auctions is wrapping up faster than expected. Phase two will cut the daily coin allocation from 200 million to 190 million. Experts describe the current moment as a rare “Winner’s Window” where early participants can secure their spot before a projected $1.7 billion in total inflows shows up. Researchers have called it one of the top crypto coins to watch, thanks to its unique auction model and ready-made infrastructure. Getting involved before the media storm begins is what analysts see as the smartest way to lock in a ground-floor position.
Find Out More about Zero Knowledge Proof:
Website: https://zkp.com/
Auction: https://auction.zkp.com/
X: https://x.com/ZKPofficial
Telegram: https://t.me/ZKPofficial
BTC Reserve Is a ‘Priority’ but Legalities Hinder Process
Progress is being made toward establishing a Bitcoin (BTC) strategic reserve in the United States, but “obscure” legal provisions are holding up the process, according to Patrick Witt, the director of the White House Crypto Council.
Several government agencies are discussing the legalities and regulatory issues of establishing a Bitcoin strategic reserve, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Witt told the Crypto in America podcast. He said:
“It seems straightforward, but then you get into some obscure legal provisions, and why this agency can’t do it, but actually, this other agency could. We’re continuing to push on that. It is certainly still on the priority list right now.”
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a “Digital Asset Stockpile” that included altcoins and other types of cryptocurrencies in March 2025.
Establishing a nation-state Bitcoin reserve would be a landmark moment for the world’s first digital currency. However, some in the Bitcoin community have been critical of the executive order, criticizing the Trump administration for underdelivering on its promises.
Related: Sygnum sees tokenization and state Bitcoin reserves taking off in 2026
The Bitcoin community feels short-changed by the strategic reserve announcement
Trump’s executive order stipulated that the US government would not sell any of its Bitcoin holdings and only add to the strategic reserve through BTC seized in asset forfeiture cases.
The executive order does not allow the government to acquire more Bitcoin or digital assets on the open market, which drew criticism from the Bitcoin community.
“The belief that the federal government will one day build a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve requires a complete detachment from reality,” Bitcoin maximalist Justin Bechler said.
“There is no movement toward a Bitcoin reserve. There is no intention to acquire a fixed-supply asset in good faith. There are only empty speeches, vague references and opportunistic pandering from Washington politicians,” he added.
In July 2025, the Trump administration released a long-awaited report on digital asset policy that did not include additional details on a strategic BTC reserve, which drew further backlash from the Bitcoin community.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposed in August 2025 that the government could acquire BTC through budget-neutral strategies, which do not add to the annual budget deficit.
The announcement renewed hopes that the US government could start buying BTC on the open market through converting portions of other reserve assets to BTC or revaluing its previous metals holdings and using those gains to acquire more Bitcoin.
Magazine: US risks being ‘front run’ on Bitcoin reserve by other nations: Samson Mow
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
Silver gains over $3.9 trillion in market cap in 12 months, eclipsing stocks, crypto, and gold
Key Takeaways
- Silver adds over $3.9 trillion in market cap over the past 12 months, outperforming stocks, crypto, and gold.
- Silver trades near record highs around $93 after rally pushes total market value above $5 trillion.
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Silver has added more than $3.9 trillion in market capitalization over the past 12 months, surging nearly 200% and sharply outperforming major risk assets.
The rally has eclipsed gains in other precious metals such as Gold, which has risen about 70% over the same period, as well as equities and crypto.
Over the past year, silver has outpaced the S&P 500, which is up roughly 17%, and the Nasdaq Composite, which has gained about 21%. Risk assets such as Bitcoin have lagged significantly, with Bitcoin down roughly 4% over the past 12 months.
Silver has also surpassed major technology stocks and Bitcoin over the past 12 months, overtaking companies such as Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon in market capitalization.
The metal is now valued at more than $5 trillion, making it the second-largest asset by market cap globally, trailing only gold, which stands near $32 trillion.
Silver reached a new all-time high earlier this week, surging to nearly $93 on Wednesday. At press time Friday afternoon, prices had begun consolidating but remained constructive, trading around $89, roughly 3.5% below recent highs and still showing strong bullish momentum.
AI Utopianism Masks Tech Billionaires’ Fear: Douglas Rushkoff
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Bitcoin Adoption In West Virginia Sets A New Regional Benchmark
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Bitcoin literacy and community growth are accelerating in West Virginia, and it’s starting to reshape how communities across the state engage with digital finance. What was once viewed as a niche interest among tech enthusiasts is now gaining traction across broader segments of the state’s population. As residents become more curious about digital assets, conversations are shifting from speculation to understanding how BTC works and what it could mean for personal and regional economic resilience.
Bitcoin As A Tool For Regional Economic Growth
West Virginia has been making headlines in the Bitcoin space recently, particularly with fresh legislative moves as of January 2026. MartyParty revealed on X that the biggest current development is Senator Bill 143 (SB143), which was introduced this week by State Senator Chris Rose.
This is officially titled the Inflation Protection Act of 2026, which would allow the state’s Board of Treasury Investment to allocate up to 10% of public funds into precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. The bill requires any qualifying digital asset to have maintained an average market capitalization of at least $750 billion over the prior year, which qualifies only BTC. In addition, the bill also allows for regulated stablecoins, but only the US federal or state regulators can approve the assets.
However, the bill frames this as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation, and empowering the state treasurer to invest in BTC without directly naming it in most of the statute. Although the purpose section explicitly mentions empowering investment in gold, silver, and BTC. These assets would need to be made through qualified custodians, ETFs, or other secure frameworks.
What Pension Funds And Endowments Think About Bitcoin
The Bitcoin price prediction by funds indicates a bullish outlook for 2026. CryptoRank.io has mentioned that the institutional analysts are pricing in a bullish scenario for BTC in 2026. The average target across the forecasts shown is around $150,000 per BTC, implying roughly 75% upside from current levels.
At the same time, longer-term valuation models assume a more gradual growth path. Popular asset manager VanEck predicts BTC could reach approximately $2.9 million by 2050, which equates to around 15% annualized growth broadly in line with the BTC historical long-term performance as a macro asset.
In contrast to institutional forecasts, prediction markets maintain a more conservative outlook. On Polymarket, the pricing base-case range between $110,000 to $130,000. This consensus could shift toward the institutional targets if spot ETF inflows remain strong and if the US regulatory uncertainty continues to decline, including initiatives such as the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act.
Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com
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