US Securities and Exchange Commission chair Paul Atkins said in a Monday interview that he is optimistic a bipartisan crypto market structure bill will reach President Donald Trump's desk for signature in 2026. He argued the measure, along with the GENIUS Act passed in 2025, would move digital asset trading out of a regulatory gray area and strengthen US ambitions to be a leading crypto hub.

Commodities opened 2026 with strong momentum, led by record-setting metals, firmer oil prices, and softer agricultural markets. Gold broke above $4,600 on safe-haven demand and central bank buying, silver surged on industrial and defensive use, and copper remained elevated amid structural supply shortages. Oil edged higher on Middle East supply risks, while grains lagged after bearish USDA data. Against this backdrop, crypto platforms like BingX launched TradFi trading, allowing investors to access commodities alongside crypto as volatility and cross-market interest build early in the year.

According to analyst Benjamin Cowen, the 30‑day moving average of views across major crypto YouTube channels has dropped to levels last recorded in January 2021, marking a multi‑year low in audience engagement. Several creators report that interest has waned across social platforms, even as Bitcoin trades near $92,000 and attention appears to be shifting toward safe‑haven assets such as gold, silver, and privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.

John Williams, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said current U.S. interest rates are well aligned with achieving sustainable employment and returning inflation to 2%. He referenced the Federal Open Market Committee's 75-basis-point rate reduction in 2025 and predicted steady then gradually declining unemployment, with inflation easing from an early-year peak toward 2.5%. Williams also noted that Fed officials are divided over further cuts, with expectations centered on just a quarter-point move this year.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the CLARITY Act on July 17, 2025, moving it to Senate review. The bill assigns the CFTC oversight of digital commodity spot markets and preserves SEC authority over investment contracts, with stablecoins treated as commodities on registered venues. The House vote was 294-134, signaling a potential shift in crypto regulation.

On 13 January 2026, Thailand's government directed regulators to tighten oversight of gold trading, cryptocurrency platforms, and currency exchanges to curb illicit and so-called grey money flows. Authorities plan to build a centralized Data Bureau, lower reporting thresholds for gold purchases, and strictly enforce crypto Travel Rule requirements while also considering limits on daily foreign exchange and speculative gold activity to ease pressure on the baht.

Bitcoin hovered near $91,000 on Tuesday while Japan's Nikkei jumped as much as 3.6% to a record 53,814.79 and the Topix rose 2.4% to 3,599.31. Asian equities broadly opened with a mild risk-on tone, and traders focused on upcoming US inflation data and Federal Reserve events as key drivers for crypto and wider markets.

On Monday, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins criticizing President Trump's August executive order that makes it easier for crypto and private equity to be added to 401(k) plans. She warned that highly volatile digital assets and tokenized products could increase the risk of major losses for retirement savers and weaken SEC oversight. Warren pressed the SEC for details on market surveillance, investor education, and company disclosures, while unions also voiced concern that tokenization could create a regulatory loophole for retirement funds.