Stablecoin

Brazilian exchange Mercado Bitcoin has released a report projecting that Bitcoin’s market capitalization will more than double by the end of 2026 to reach 14% of gold’s market value. The exchange also expects stablecoin capitalization to climb to $500 billion and altcoin ETFs, led by XRP and Solana products, to see strong institutional inflows.

On-chain data indicates that more than $1.25 billion in USDT was withdrawn from Binance in a single session, while the exchange's stablecoin reserves fell by nearly $1.7 billion over two days. At the same time, very large wallets holding over $100 million in USDT reportedly added about $4.7 billion, suggesting capital is moving into off-exchange storage, softening short-term trading activity but not necessarily signaling market distress.

Lawmakers are reportedly considering limits on stablecoin yields during bipartisan talks on a U.S. crypto market structure bill set for markup on 15 January. Industry figures including Galaxy’s Mike Novogratz and VC Nic Carter have criticized the idea, with Carter suggesting the sector might be better off without the bill if rewards are curbed. The bill needs support from 7‑10 Democrats to clear the Senate Banking Committee, and a failed vote could make another attempt in 2026 difficult.

On July 2, 2025, Tether Ltd. carried out its largest sanctions-related freeze, blocking 42 cryptocurrency addresses tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and about $1 billion in flows primarily in USDT on Tron through UK-registered exchanges Zedcex and Zedxion. The action, identified and detailed by TRM Labs, is prompting closer scrutiny of sanctions-evasion risks, while USDT continues trading near its $0.999 peg with a market cap of 186,712,276,063 and a sharply lower trading volume.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used UK-registered exchanges Zedcex and Zedxion to move about $1 billion between 2023 and 2025. Most transfers involved Tether's USDT on the Tron network, with IRGC-linked activity making up 56% of their volume. The flows accelerated from $24 million in 2023 to $619 million in 2024, then $410 million in 2025.

This week, Tether minted an additional $1 billion in USDT, lifting combined USDT and USDC issuance over the past seven days to $3.75 billion and underscoring strong liquidity demand. Over the same period, Bitcoin surged by $2,100 within 45 minutes after the Supreme Court postponed its tariff ruling, while stronger-than-expected U.S. labor data reduced the likelihood of a near-term Federal Reserve rate cut. Rising stablecoin transaction volumes, falling Tether reserves, and macro uncertainty are prompting traders to approach Bitcoin's next move with caution.

On January 9, Tether confirmed a strategic investment in Ledn, a Bitcoin-backed lender, with the deal reported at $40–$50M and valuing the company around $500M. The partnership aims to broaden Bitcoin-collateralized credit, support new products and markets, and improve USD₮ flows across Ledn’s fiat and stablecoin lending.

Handwritten notes on €5 bills found in a 2021 Spanish cocaine raid led Europol and Albania's SPAK to a cross-border crypto laundering network linked to the Çopja group. Authorities seized over €35 million, while case files cite Binance, Tron/USDT flows, and a Milan front that bought about $40 million in crypto between October 23, 2024 and July 9, 2025.

On January 8, 2026, House of Doge, the corporate arm of the Dogecoin Foundation, announced partnerships in Japan with abc Co., Ltd. and ReYuu Japan Inc. The plan prioritizes regulated payments, tokenization, and real-world assets, with roles split across investment, local integration, and smart‑contract/regulatory work. It references Japan's "green list" framework and adopts a cautious, utility‑first rollout.

In 2025, Ethereum recorded more than $99 billion in DeFi total value locked and processed $18.8 trillion in stablecoin settlements, highlighting its leading role among Layer 1 networks. Lower fees on both the base chain and Layer 2s, along with expanded infrastructure and institutional participation, supported broader usage of DeFi, tokenized assets, and real-world asset distribution throughout the year.