On January 9, US spot crypto ETFs recorded $337.22 million in net outflows, led by redemptions in Bitcoin and Ethereum funds. Bitcoin ETFs offloaded 2,750 BTC, about $250 million, while Ethereum products saw 30,205 ETH out, near $94 million. Smaller inflows into XRP, Chainlink, Litecoin, and HBAR signaled selective reallocations.

On 10 January 2026, U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott moved a digital asset market structure bill toward markup, signaling a shift from broad crypto policy debates to concrete regulation. The proposal aims to clarify rules for digital asset markets, reduce legal uncertainty for U.S.-based firms, and lower the risk of sudden regulatory shocks that have historically fueled volatility. Over time, a more predictable framework could support higher liquidity, greater institutional participation, and stronger positioning of the U.S. in the global digital asset landscape.

The U.S. SEC has excluded cryptocurrencies from its 2026 priority-risk agenda, a change highlighted by Changpeng Zhao. Market observers say reduced regulatory focus could ease investor concerns and improve liquidity. Zhao tempered expectations, noting his "supercycle" call might be wrong.

As of January 10, altcoins captured about 50% of total crypto trading volume, while Bitcoin hovered near $90,600 within a $89,000–$94,000 range. Flows rotated toward higher‑beta tokens, with Polygon and Solana's BONK posting outsized weekly gains. On January 9, U.S. spot ETH ETFs recorded $93.82 million in net outflows.

Binance closed 2025 reporting record activity across trading, payments, security, and regulatory integration. The platform processed $34 trillion in total volume, with over $7.1 trillion on spot, passed 300 million registered accounts, and held nearly $163 billion in customer assets; institutional OTC fiat rose over 200%, and Binance Pay reached more than 20 million merchants.

WazirX has stated that it has finished issuing recovery tokens to all eligible users under its court-approved restructuring plan, completing the process within the previously promised 60-day window on a pro-rata basis. The exchange, which resumed trading on October 24, 2025 after a 2024 hack involving more than $234.9 million, said initial distributions covered about 85% of approved user claims at the scheme's reference pricing date. WazirX plans to use future profits and recovered assets, subject to a $10 million recovery threshold per period, to buy back these recovery tokens and further reimburse users.

On 10 January 2026, OKX confirmed it had overhauled its global institutional business, resulting in a notable reduction in staff. People familiar with the matter indicated that around one-third of the institutional sales team left, with estimates of eight to ten layoffs alongside voluntary departures. The exchange says the move follows a strategic review and aims to adopt a more traditional coverage model for institutional clients.

In its latest 2026 Crypto Crime Report, Chainalysis reports that illicit cryptocurrency transactions surged 162% in 2025 to at least $154 billion, driven by sanctioned states and organised criminal networks. The study highlights Iran's IRGC, Russia's ruble-linked A7A5 token, North Korean hackers and Chinese money laundering networks as key actors in this ecosystem. It also notes a sharp rise in physical attacks and kidnappings targeting crypto users, underscoring mounting security risks for the industry.