Bitcoin's network hashrate has dropped about 12% since November, representing the steepest extended decline since 2021. A major U.S. winter storm strained power grids and led many large mining firms in affected regions to switch off equipment, temporarily reducing network security but setting up a lower difficulty adjustment that can improve margins for miners who remain online or restart later.

Bitcoin fell under key price levels in a move driven by forced unwinds of leveraged long positions rather than retail capitulation. The drop turned former supports into targets, with altcoins reacting more sharply and market structure described as reset, setting up a pivotal test of whether support can hold or fail next.

On January 29, 2026, the Trump administration restarted CLARITY talks involving U.S. regulators, banks, and crypto firms after a pause marked by regulatory gridlock and institutional caution. The agenda centers on practical coordination between traditional finance and digital asset markets, including custody, tokenization, and jurisdictional boundaries, as participants seek enforceable standards rather than deregulation. Outcomes from these discussions could influence how banks scale crypto services and how firms structure their operations in the U.S. market.

On January 28, 2026, Coinbase expanded its platform by rolling out Kalshi-powered prediction markets that are accessible in all 50 U.S. states. The exchange now allows users to trade contracts on real-world events using USD and USDC under a CFTC-regulated framework, positioning crypto venues closer to traditional, federally supervised financial markets.

On January 28, 2026, Nomura-backed Laser Digital submitted an application to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter. The firm aims to provide regulated digital asset custody, trading, and institutional services under a single federal framework rather than multiple state licenses. If approved, the charter would place Laser Digital among crypto institutions pursuing deeper integration with traditional financial infrastructure and formal federal oversight.

Google Trends data shows global searches for "how to buy gold" reached their highest level since records began in 2004, after gold moved above $5,000 per ounce. According to TechGaged.com analysis, interest rose through 2024 and early 2025, accelerated late 2025, and peaked at a score of 100 in December 2025 before easing in early 2026.

On January 26, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada has no plans to negotiate a free trade agreement with China. The stance, taken amid tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, keeps Ottawa aligned with USMCA guardrails and the U.S.-led approach to crypto, stablecoin oversight, and digital finance infrastructure.

On January 25, 2026, the White House outlined a strategy to turn the United States into the global "crypto capital", anchored by Executive Order 14178 and a roadmap from the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. President Trump's Golden Age of Crypto vision, launched in early 2025, underpins reforms that grant the CFTC authority over non-security spot markets, clarify banking access, and establish stablecoin rules through the GENIUS Act. The plan also introduces DeFi sandboxes and favors private-sector solutions over a central bank digital currency, aiming to attract talent and investment while maintaining consumer protections.

In 2024, a heavily funded DeFi protocol slowly deteriorated as development stalled, community channels lost support, and governance shifted into vague maintenance. The team did not empty the treasury or insert malicious code, yet the system effectively died while tokens and on-chain liquidity remained. This pattern outlines how incentive decay, regulatory pressure, weak governance, and infrastructure fragility combine to enable silent exits and long-term user risk.