Wheaton Precious Metals CEO Randy Smallwood says the company’s streaming model is built to outperform traditional miners as rising metal prices drive operating costs higher across the sector. “ Gold is no longer trading like a commodity,” Smallwood stressed during his interview. “It’s really a currency.” Wheaton’s $3B War Chest Sets Stage for Next Wave […]
Improving ETH Fundamentals May Signal An Ether Price Recovery
Key takeaways:
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Ethereum reached 16.4 million weekly transactions, proving fees can stay below $0.20 during high demand.
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Decentralized exchange volume across the Ethereum ecosystem hit $26.8 billion, signaling a return of investor interest.
Ether (ETH) experienced a 15.9% price correction during the seven days ending Sunday. This volatility triggered $910 million in liquidations for bullish leveraged ETH positions, fueling fears that the $2,800 support level—which has held firm for two months—might finally break. Despite this dip in trader confidence, several onchain and derivatives metrics suggest a potential short-term rally back to $3,300.
Base layer fees are critical for determining demand for a native token, followed closely by growth in transaction volume and active addresses. While Ethereum has faced criticism for prioritizing scalability through rollups, that strategy is paying off as activity on Base, Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism gains momentum.
Ethereum network fees jumped 19% over the last week, while competitors Tron and Solana saw declines relative to their recent trends. More importantly, the aggregate number of transactions on Ethereum layer-2s surged to 128 million, surpassing the totals of BNB Chain and Tron. This suggests the Ethereum ecosystem can scale effectively without sacrificing its core utility.
Decentralized exchange (DEX) activity is a primary indicator of capital inflows and network fees. While demand for perpetual contracts trading peaked in August 2025 and has declined since, the trend is shifting back toward Ethereum. This is largely due to average transaction fees dropping to $0.20, down from $0.50 in November 2025.
Weekly DEX volumes on Ethereum reached $13 billion, up from $8.15 billion four weeks ago. Although Solana remains the leader with $30 billion in weekly volume, the total Ethereum ecosystem reached $26.8 billion. The Fusaka upgrade in December 2025 significantly boosted network data capacity and introduced transaction batch workflows, greatly improving the user experience.
Ethereum dominance sticks even as professional traders turn neutral
Ethereum’s dominance in total value locked (TVL) remains strong evidence of investor preference for decentralization, even as BNB Chain and Solana struggle to capture more market share.
Professional traders are returning to a neutral stance between call (buy) and put (sell) options after a brief period of hedging against further losses. Contrary to the belief that whales anticipate every swing, the peak volume in put options actually occurred after ETH dropped below $2,800.
The ETH options put-to-call volume ratio at Deribit neutralized between Monday and Tuesday, following five days favoring puts. Notably, Sunday’s 2x peak marked the highest level in over four months. Confidence appears to be returning as traders realize the risks associated with a US government funding shutdown had a limited impact on the market.
Related: Bitmine’s staked Ether holdings point to $164M in annual staking revenue
Ether’s price weakness contrasts with the S&P 500 is trading within 0.5% of its all-time high, while 5-year US Treasury yields have stabilized near 3.85%. Investors remain cautious about inflation and recession odds; the CME FedWatch tool shows the probability of the US Federal Reserve trimming rates to 3.25% or lower by July has dropped to 28%, down from 55% last month.
Ultimately, ETH path to $3,200 will likely be driven by sustained DEX activity, rising network fees, and the clearing of the uncertainty recently seen in the options markets.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
BNB token gains amid prediction market interest, new ETP
The native token of the BNB Chain, BNB, extended its recent advance, climbing more than 5% to $893 as it nears the $900 resistance level.
The rally comes amid the debut of a physically backed BNB exchange-traded product (ETP) by crypto asset manager Virtune on Nasdaq Stockholm. The new product offers direct exposure to BNB with Coinbase as custodian and charges a 1.95% annual fee, further adding ways for investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency.
The launch adds to a growing list of products tied to BNB, including Grayscale’s recent U.S. filing for a spot ETF, GBNB. That filing comes while there is a still-pending BNB ETF bid by VanEck.
While price action showed hesitation near previous resistance, volume picked up as BNB pushed above the $885 range, according to CoinDesk Research’s technical analysis data model. The latest price move suggests fresh buying interest, although analysts continue to watch for signs of sustained momentum.
Beyond price, BNB Chain is experiencing a surge in usage across prediction markets. Platforms like Opinion Labs and Probable have reported significant activity, with Opinion Labs logging over $700 million in 7-day trading volume.
That’s according to data from Dune, which shows that cumulative trading volumes on the BNB Chain coming in from prediction markets have now crossed the $20 billion mark.
Probable, which launched in December, has already surpassed $1 billion in cumulative volume alone. Some of these markets are now integrating directly with wallets like Binance Wallet and Trust Wallet, making it easier for users to access them.
“We’re expecting a full market consolidation in the next 2-3 years, but at the moment we’re seeing this growth on BNB Chain due to differentiation across teams and products,” Nina Rong, Executive Director of Growth at BNB Chain, told CoinDesk in an emailed statement.
Traders are now keeping a close eye on the $900 target while monitoring broader market developments. The broad CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index rose roughly 1% in the last 24 hours, further boosting sentiment.
Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy.
ASIC Flags Crypto as Licensing Boundary Issue in 2026 Outlook
Australia’s financial regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), framed new participants in emerging sectors like digital assets as a “regulatory perimeter” issue in its Key Issues Outlook 2026 paper, signaling how it intends to regulate crypto entities in the year ahead.
In the report published on Tuesday, ASIC grouped digital assets alongside payments and artificial intelligence-driven financial services, citing risks tied to unlicensed activity, misleading conduct and businesses operating at the edges of existing laws.
Instead of a warning about token adoption or crypto volatility, ASIC focused on structural risks created when emerging financial services fall outside established licensing, disclosure and conduct regimes.
The outlook also emphasized that decisions on whether new classes of crypto products should be brought within formal licensing regimes ultimately rest with the government, stating that its priority for 2026 will be maintaining clarity around licensing boundaries and strengthening oversight at the regulatory perimeter.
Crypto grouped with artificial intelligence and payments
In the outlook, crypto appears alongside AI-powered financial services and payment platforms as part of a broader set of technology-enabled activities that challenge existing regulatory frameworks.
The regulator warned that some companies may actively seek to remain outside of regulation by exploiting unclear boundaries, contributing to what it described as regulatory uncertainty.
“Some entities will actively seek to remain outside regulation, contributing to perceived regulatory uncertainty,” ASIC wrote.
“As a result, ensuring clarity on licensing requirements and maintaining effective perimeter oversight will remain priorities for ASIC in 2026.”
Related: Binance Australia brings fiat back after being debanked for 2 years
Digital assets flagged amid ongoing enforcement activity
The emphasis on digital asset entities comes as ASIC continues to pursue enforcement actions tied to unlicensed crypto activities.
On Tuesday, an Australian federal court ordered BPS Financial to pay penalties of 14 million Australian dollars ($9.3 million) over misleading claims and unlicensed conduct linked to its Qoin Wallet product.
These developments come as Australia moves to formally fold crypto companies into its existing financial licensing regime.
In November, Australia’s Treasury released draft legislation proposing that digital asset platforms be required to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence, extending core financial services obligations to crypto companies, Cointelegraph previously reported. The proposal would require licensed platforms to act efficiently, honestly and fairly, provide clear disclosures to users and maintain appropriate risk management and compliance controls.
The bill, which advanced through consultation and is expected to reach Parliament, would require crypto trading and custody platforms to meet ASIC’s conduct, disclosure and risk obligations under existing law.
Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026
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
Bitwise CIO warns of 3-year deadline for crypto adoption
The digital asset market is facing a critical fork in the road, according to crypto asset management firm Bitwise.
In a Monday blog post, the investment manager warned that the stalling of the Clarity Act in Congress could shift the market from a speculative bull run into a grueling “show me” phase.
The Senate Agriculture Committee postponed its crypto market structure markup hearing from today to Thursday, citing the winter storm that hit much of the U.S. over the weekend.
According to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan the Clarity Act is essential for cementing a current pro-crypto regulatory environment into permanent law. Without it, the the industry remains vulnerable to the whims of future administrations.
Hougan pointed out that market sentiment on whether the bill will become law has soured recently. While Polymarket traders in early January priced in an 80% chance of the bill passing, those odds have plummeted to roughly 50% after figures like Coinbase (COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong labeled the current draft unworkable.
Armstrong said his firm pulled support for a sweeping digital assets bill after finding provisions that could have harmed consumers and stifled competition.
Should the legislation stall, Hougan argued that crypto must follow the path of disruptive giants like Uber and Airbnb, which survived regulatory grey areas by becoming too popular for lawmakers to ignore.
He suggests the industry has roughly three years to make stablecoins and tokenized assets indispensable to the American economy; if it succeeds, favorable regulations will follow by necessity, but if it remains on the fringes, a change in Washington could prove disastrous.
This legislative uncertainty creates two distinct pathways for market returns. Bitwise expects a sharp rally if a workable version of the Clarity Act passes, as investors would immediately price in the guaranteed expansion of blockchain finance.
Conversely, a failure to pass the bill would likely result in a “wait and see” market, where price appreciation is capped by regulatory skepticism and contingent on hard evidence of real-world adoption. While the asset manager remains optimistic that the administration will deliver on its pro-crypto promises, it advises investors to prepare for a “slower ascent” should the legislative foundation remain unsettled.
Wall Street broker Benchmark said failure to pass legislation would delay, not derail, crypto’s maturation, leaving the U.S. market operating below its potential as investors favor bitcoin-centric exposure, strong balance sheets and cash-flowing infrastructure over regulatory-sensitive segments such as exchanges, decentralized finance (DeFi) and altcoins.
Read more: Market structure bill delay seen capping U.S. crypto valuations, Benchmark says
Treasury Secretary Says US Is Headed for a Non-Inflationary Economic Boom in 2026
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the United States is entering a period of accelerated growth without inflationary pressure, outlining what he calls a “Bountiful 2026” economic blueprint following meetings in Davos. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Details ‘Bountiful 2026’ Vision After Davos In a series of media appearances and official remarks on Tuesday, Scott Bessent […]
HYPE Jumps as TradeXYZ Hits Record Volume Following Silver Rally
The surging activity in silver and tokenized markets has driven more than $1 billion in daily volume on the HIP-3 platform.
Hyperliquid’s native token HYPE rebounded sharply on Tuesday, Jan. 27, as trading activity across the decentralized perpetual exchange’s ecosystem accelerated, driven by record volumes and open interest on TradeXYZ, a permissionless markets provider focused on real-world assets like stocks and commodities.
HYPE climbed more than 24% on the day and is trading at around $27.90 at the time of publishing, according to CoinGecko.
The rally came as onchain derivatives activity picked up across Hyperliquid, particularly in tokenized equity and commodity markets. TradeXYZ, which runs on Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 framework, crossed $1 billion in 24-hour trading volume on Monday and reached a new all-time high of about $790 million in open interest, up around 200% over the past month, The Defiant previously reported.
A lot of this recent activity was driven by silver perpetual contracts, which recorded a spike in volume and liquidations as precious metals continue to rally. On Tuesday, the SILVER-USDC market on TradeXYZ recorded more than $1.3 billion in 24-hour trading volume and roughly $142 million in open interest, according to onchain data.
Spot silver is currently trading around $106.89, up about 12% over the past week, after recently breaking above $100 for the first time.
The move in HYPE also underscores growing demand for decentralized perpetuals, which allow traders to access traditional markets around the clock. Unlike centralized exchanges (CEXs), platforms built on Hyperliquid let users trade products onchain without relying on market hours or intermediaries.
Hyperliquid remains one of the most active onchain perpetuals platforms in crypto. The protocol in recent months introduced Growth Mode, an upgrade designed to lower trading costs and attract liquidity to permissionless perpetuals launched under its HIP-3 framework. As previously reported by The Defiant, HIP-3 allows anyone staking 500,000 HYPE tokens to launch their own perpetual futures markets on Hyperliquid.
Citrea Mainnet Goes Live, Bringing Bitcoin-Native Lending and Trading Online
Citrea’s mainnet went live on Tuesday, marking the launch of a new Bitcoin-focused application layer designed to support lending, trading, and settlement linked directly to the Bitcoin network. Citrea Goes Live With Mainnet Focused on Bitcoin Utility The project aims to broaden how Bitcoin is used beyond long-term holding by introducing a programmable environment that […]
Transforming EDI with AI: Faster, Smarter, Scalable
Electronic data interchange (EDI), the long-standing standard for digital document exchange between businesses, is entering a new phase. While traditional EDI systems have reliably supported business processes for decades, they often suffer from slow processing speeds, rigid formats, and limited error-handling capabilities. The emergence of AI offers an opportunity to modernize these systems – making them faster, smarter, and more adaptable.
Understanding EDI and AI
Electronic data interchange (EDI) is a system that enables companies to electronically exchange structured business documents such as invoices, orders, and shipment notices. Beyond document transmission, it encompasses standardized formats and communication protocols that support interoperability across different systems and platforms—from ERP and warehouse management to financial software.
Meanwhile, Artificial Intelligence refers to the development of computer systems capable of mimicking human cognitive functions. This includes learning from data, identifying patterns, and making decisions. AI uses technologies such as machine learning (ML), which can analyze large datasets and natural language processing (NLP) that enables computers to understand and generate human language.
Why AI Is Essential for the Evolution of EDI
Since the 1970s, EDI has evolved from a proprietary tool for internal communication to a standardized system for automating transactions between businesses.
While it has significantly improved efficiency compared to paper-based processes, legacy EDI platforms face critical limitations, such as rigid document formats, manual error corrections, complex data mapping, time-consuming partner onboarding, or difficulty scaling with high transaction volumes.
Incorporating technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can help EDI systems overcome these limitations and adapt to the demands of modern business environments, while gaining access to capabilities such as:
- Real-time data exchange and processing
- Automated document validation and error correction
- Compatibility with flexible data formats like JSON and XML
- Improved user access via APIs and mobile interfaces
Integrating AI and ML in EDI systems
Solutions such as Comarch EDI demonstrate how AI can transform data exchange workflows by:
- Automated Data Validation: AI acts as a first layer of error detection, identifying format issues, missing values, or invalid entries before a document is sent. ML algorithms can detect recurring patterns of errors based on historical data, helping to avoid costly disruptions downstream.
- Smarter Data Mapping: AI and ML reduce the complexity of mapping internal systems to standardized EDI formats by suggesting field matches based on past patterns.
- Improved Document Matching: Intelligent models can accurately link related documents like invoices and orders, surpassing traditional keyword-based systems.
- Predictive Analytics: AI can analyze historical and real-time data to predict sales trends, purchasing needs, and delivery performance, allowing businesses to proactively manage supply chains and optimize inventory.
Key Benefits of AI-Powered EDI
- Operational Efficiency: By automating time-consuming tasks like data mapping and error handling, businesses can streamline processes and allocate resources to more strategic activities.
- Better Accuracy: AI identifies patterns in historical data to catch errors and inconsistencies early, resulting in more reliable data and fewer transactional issues.
- Faster Partner Onboarding: AI streamlines the setup process for new trading partners by recommending configurations based on previous mappings, reducing onboarding time and minimizing manual effort.
- Increased Scalability: As transaction volumes grow, AI-powered EDI handles increased loads effortlessly, ensuring consistent performance without the need for significant system adjustments.
- Improved Security: Anomaly and suspicious activity detection strengthen data protection and support compliance with regulatory standards.
- Cost Optimization: Automation reduces errors, delays, and manual rework, lowering the overall cost of EDI operations.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: By turning raw data into actionable insights, AI helps businesses make smarter decisions across supply chains and operations.
What’s Next for EDI
The integration of AI into EDI systems is not a futuristic concept—it is already reshaping how businesses exchange information. With features such as predictive analytics, intelligent workflows, and real-time insights, AI-powered EDI platforms are enhancing collaboration and efficiency across supply chains. By adopting solutions that incorporate these innovations, organizations can stay competitive and resilient in an increasingly digital business landscape.
US Probes $40M Crypto Heist By Federal Contractor’s Son
Members of the U.S. government are investigating allegations that tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency seized by law enforcement were stolen through insider access via a federal contractor, according to public statements from officials.
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) confirmed to CoinDesk that it is investigating claims that more than $40 million in confiscated digital assets were siphoned from government-linked wallets.
The allegations center on Command Services & Support (CMDSS), a Virginia-based technology firm contracted by the USMS to manage and dispose of certain categories of seized cryptocurrency.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT alleged that John “Lick” Daghita — the son of CMDSS president and chief executive Dean Daghita — gained unauthorized access to crypto wallets holding government-seized digital assets and diverted funds for personal use.
ZachXBT said he reported the alleged activity to authorities and linked multiple wallet addresses to assets controlled by or associated with the USMS.
Brady McCarron, chief of public affairs for the USMS, told CoinDesk that the agency could not comment further on the case because investigations were underway.
Details of the digital asset theft fraud
The allegations first surfaced after a dispute in a private Telegram chat was recorded and later circulated online. According to ZachXBT, the individual identified as “Lick” appeared to screen-share a wallet holding millions of dollars in cryptocurrency and demonstrated the ability to move funds in real time.
Subsequent on-chain analysis linked those wallets to addresses known to hold government-seized assets, including funds associated with prior high-profile law enforcement seizures.
“Meet the threat actor John (Lick), who was caught flexing $23M in a wallet address directly tied to $90M+ in suspected thefts from the US Government in 2024 and multiple other unidentified victims from Nov 2025 to Dec 2025,” ZachXBT wrote on X over the weekend.
ZachXBT later identified the individual as John Daghita, alleging that he is the son of CMDSS’s president and that CMDSS currently holds an active federal IT contract.
CMDSS was awarded a contract in October 2024 to assist the USMS in managing and disposing of seized and forfeited digital assets, including crypto not supported by major exchanges and assets tied to complex criminal cases.
Those crypto assets reportedly include funds seized from the 2016 Bitfinex hack, one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts on record.
ZachXBT has said it remains unclear how John Daghita allegedly obtained access to the wallets, including whether that access was facilitated through his father or CMDSS’s internal systems.
According to ZachXBT, one wallet he attributed to Daghita held 12,540 ether — worth roughly $36 million at recent prices. He also alleged that Daghita sent him 0.6767 ETH, which the investigator said he would forward to a U.S. government seizure address.
ZachXBT further claimed that transaction trails suggest approximately $20 million was removed from USMS-linked wallets in October 2024, most of which was returned within a day, though roughly $700,000 routed through instant exchanges was not recovered.
In additional posts, ZachXBT estimated that total suspected thefts could exceed $90 million in various crypto when accounting for other wallet activity observed in late 2025, some of which he said remains in compromised wallets.
United States’s bitcoin security under scrutiny
The allegations have raised valid concerns over how the U.S. government safeguards its growing stockpile of seized bitcoin and other digital assets. The federal government may control between roughly 198,000 BTC and more than 300,000 BTC, worth tens of billions of dollars at current market prices.
According to bitcointreasuries.net, the U.S. government holds 328,372 bitcoin worth roughly $29 billion.
The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of how seized bitcoin is handled following reports earlier this year questioning whether forfeited assets tied to the Samourai Wallet case were improperly sold despite executive orders directing that seized bitcoin be retained as part of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
While U.S. officials later denied that any sale took place, the lack of on-chain evidence provided publicly has continued to fuel skepticism.