Standard Chartered is in early talks to build a crypto prime brokerage under SC Ventures, signaling a further push into digital assets by major banks. The bank also lowered its Ether outlook to $7,500 for end-2026 and $22,000 for end-2028, while lifting its 2030 target above $40,000.

Gold surged to a record $4,600 on January 12, 2026, as investors sought safety amid doubts about the Federal Reserve's independence. According to the article, Chair Jerome Powell said the DOJ sent grand jury subpoenas to the Fed tied to a $2.5 billion headquarters project. The dollar slipped about 0.3%, stock futures fell, and silver jumped more than 5%.

On January 12, 2026, the Dubai Financial Services Authority enforced an updated Crypto Token Regulatory Framework that bans privacy-focused cryptocurrencies within the Dubai International Financial Centre. The rules also refine which assets qualify as fiat-referenced crypto tokens, excluding algorithmic models such as Ethena's USDe from stablecoin treatment and shifting token approval responsibility from the regulator to licensed firms.

Walmart shares rose 3.46% to $118.49 in premarket trading on January 12, 2026 after revealing a partnership with Google to surface Walmart and Sam's Club products inside the Gemini AI assistant. Announced January 11, 2026 at NRF's Big Show, the integration supports agent-led commerce and a U.S. rollout first, with terms and timelines undisclosed.

Apple led global smartphone shipments in 2025 with a 20% share and 10% year‑on‑year growth, ahead of Samsung at 19% and 5% growth. In Q4, Apple reached a record 25% share versus Samsung’s 17%, while worldwide shipments rose 2% for the year amid financing plans, marketing, and rising 5G demand.

Dubai's DFSA has updated its Crypto Token Regulatory Framework, enforcing a ban on privacy tokens and related tools across the DIFC from Jan. 12. Stablecoins must now be fiat-pegged and backed by high-quality, liquid reserves, while algorithmic designs like Ethena are excluded from the stablecoin category. Token approval decisions are shifted to licensed firms, which must assess and document the suitability and compliance of assets they list.

On Monday, Jan. 12, XRP was up 10.8% for early 2026, marking its strongest first-quarter start since 2023 and trading between $2.04 and $2.35. A separate Bitcoin wallet holding 26,916 BTC, valued at over $2.44 billion, fueled speculation around the 17th anniversary of Satoshi Nakamoto's first 10 BTC transaction to Hal Finney, while Cardano showed an unusual $0 in short liquidations over key intraday windows as longs booked hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.

Silver hit a new all-time high at $84, and on January 11, 2026, Robert Kiyosaki wrote on X that he would buy the metal up to $100 before pausing to wait and see. He still views $80 as a buying level while urging caution at the $100 mark. Bloomberg's Mike McGlone likewise projects a move to $100 and then a retrace toward $50 during 2026.