US financial markets showed modest recovery on Wednesday after President Donald Trump stepped back from a proposed round of tariffs connected to negotiations over Greenland. The announcement helped ease investor anxiety, lifting equities and supporting a mild rebound across major cryptocurrencies. The S&P 500 finished the session up 1.16%, following Trump’s statement that tariffs scheduled for Feb. 1 would not move forward. The proposed measures had targeted eight European countries, including Denmark, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Trump described discussions with NATO leadership as “very productive,” signaling progress toward a broader framework covering Greenland and the Arctic region. The…
Author: Blockto Team
Social media platform X is preparing to introduce a new onboarding feature designed to help users quickly discover relevant content, with cryptocurrencies positioned as a major focus. The tool, called Starterpacks, aims to simplify how new users build their feeds by instantly following curated groups of accounts tied to specific interests, including Bitcoin and digital assets. According to X’s head of product Nikita Bier, the feature will roll out within the next few weeks after months of preparation. The platform has already compiled more than 1,000 pre-made interest categories, each featuring accounts considered influential or highly active within their niche.…
The global debate over who should control and guarantee money resurfaced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where central bankers and crypto leaders confronted a fundamental question: does trust in money come from institutions or from decentralized technology? The discussion highlighted growing tensions between traditional monetary authorities and the rise of Bitcoin as an alternative financial system. French central bank governor François Villeroy de Galhau argued that trust in money must be anchored in regulated public institutions. According to his view, independent central banks with democratic mandates provide stability, accountability, and long-term confidence. He emphasized that regulation is not…
Bitcoin extended its decline on Wednesday, falling below the $87,600 level and wiping out all gains recorded so far in 2026. The move highlights growing market sensitivity to macro and political developments, even as short-lived optimism briefly interrupted the selloff. The leading cryptocurrency slipped under $87,586, marking a decisive turn into negative territory for the year. Earlier in the session, prices staged a modest rebound after U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, stated that the United States had no intention of taking Greenland by force. That comment briefly eased broader geopolitical concerns, providing temporary…
The legal case involving Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm has become a defining moment for the future of software development in the United States crypto sector. Policy advocates argue the outcome could shape how innovation is treated under federal law for years to come. In a public letter released this week, leaders of the Solana Policy Institute warned that Storm’s prosecution is “not an isolated dispute” but a broader test of whether the U.S. will continue to support open-source innovation. They emphasized that fear-driven interpretations of existing laws risk pushing developers and entrepreneurs out of the country. Storm was found…
The European digital asset platform Bitpanda is taking a major step beyond cryptocurrencies by adding traditional financial instruments to its ecosystem. The move reflects a broader industry shift as crypto platforms race to become all-in-one investment destinations. Starting January 29, Bitpanda users will gain access to nearly 10,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds directly within the same app used for crypto trading. This expansion allows investors to manage multiple asset classes from a single interface, reinforcing the platform’s ambition to operate as a universal exchange. The company confirmed that stock and ETF trades will be offered at a flat fee of…
New submissions filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission are adding fresh momentum to the debate over crypto self-custody rights and decentralized finance regulation, as lawmakers continue negotiations on federal market structure legislation. The filings reflect growing pressure on regulators to balance innovation, investor protection, and legal clarity amid rapid changes in digital asset markets. The SEC’s Crypto Task Force recently published two new written inputs addressing critical regulatory questions. One submission, attributed to a Louisiana-based retail advocate, focuses on self-custody protections for individual users, while the other comes from an industry working group examining dealer rules in tokenized…
The Zcash ecosystem has received a significant show of confidence as Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss donated 3,221 ZEC, valued at approximately $1.16 million, to Shielded Labs, an independent organization focused on advancing the Zcash protocol. The contribution comes at a critical moment as the network undergoes structural and governance changes aimed at strengthening long-term sustainability. Shielded Labs confirmed that the funding will be allocated to core protocol initiatives, including the Network Sustainability Mechanism, Crosslink, and Dynamic Fees. These efforts are designed to enhance network security, scalability, and economic resilience, reinforcing Zcash’s position as a leading privacy-focused blockchain. In a statement…
A CME gap refers to a price gap that appears on Bitcoin CME futures charts when the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closes for the weekend while Bitcoin continues trading on spot markets. When CME trading resumes, the futures price often opens significantly higher or lower than the previous close, leaving an untraded price range on the chart. This gap becomes a key technical reference point for traders. Historically, Bitcoin has shown a strong tendency to revisit and “fill” these gaps. Market data suggests that nearly 90% of CME gaps eventually close, making them powerful magnets for price action. Traders interpret these…
U.S.-listed spot bitcoin and ether exchange-traded funds recorded combined net outflows of approximately $713 million in a single trading session, highlighting growing caution among institutional investors as global markets face renewed uncertainty. The movement reflects a broader risk-off sentiment rather than a shift in long-term views on digital assets. Spot bitcoin ETFs accounted for the majority of the withdrawals, posting around $483 million in net outflows across eight funds. Large, well-established funds led the selling pressure, extending a trend that began late last week. This marked another significant reduction in exposure following recent market weakness, as bitcoin prices slipped sharply…