On January 12, crypto markets advanced, with Bitcoin at $92,300 (+1.3%) and Ethereum at $3,150 (over 1%). Solana rose 2.5% to a $144 high, while Monero briefly reached an all-time high of $596 before easing to $563. FET and Render showed technical breakouts, and Bitcoin Hyper's ICO raised over $30.3 million.

Coinbase is warning it may pull its support for the US Senate's digital-asset market structure bill if lawmakers expand restrictions on stablecoin rewards beyond disclosure rules ahead of the January 15 markup. Banking industry groups are pressing for broader yield curbs than those in the GENIUS Act, while Coinbase argues that platform-based incentives, which it shares via USDC interest income and a 3.5% rewards offer on Coinbase One balances, are a critical revenue source and strategic tool for maintaining dollar dominance.

On 12 January 2026 at 09:35, analyst Ran Neuner said the crypto market appears to be leaving a free‑fall phase and building a tentative base, with Bitcoin breaking a short‑term downtrend and defending former resistance. He cautioned that a major long‑term resistance lies ahead, while broader participation and venue spreads imply confidence is returning but still unconfirmed.

Tether froze roughly $182 million in USDT within 24 hours on Jan. 11, targeting five Tron wallets with balances from about $12 million to nearly $50 million. The tokens were locked at the contract level. Since 2023, over $3 billion has been frozen, and stablecoins now dominate illicit-activity metrics.

Crypto markets were largely unchanged over the weekend, then firmed Monday in Asia with Bitcoin up 1.7% to $92,000 and Ether near $3,150. From Jan. 12 to 16, investors will watch U.S. December CPI, November PPI, housing data, jobless claims, and bank earnings, alongside reaction to a proposed 10% cap on credit card rates.

On 12 January 2026, Coinbase signaled it could withdraw support for a forthcoming U.S. crypto market structure bill if it imposes strict limits on stablecoin rewards for users. The exchange argues that proposals reserving rewards for licensed banks would undercut a key revenue stream tied to USDC interest and disadvantage non-bank crypto platforms. The dispute has reopened divisions in Congress and may jeopardize the broader legislation's progress.

Viewership for cryptocurrency videos on YouTube has fallen to its weakest level since early 2021, reflecting a broader pullback in retail engagement with digital assets. Commentators including Benjamin Cowen and Tom Crown say social interest has dropped across major platforms, consistent with bear-market behavior and fatigue from poor returns and scams. At the same time, on-chain indicators suggest Bitcoin sentiment is stabilizing around the $90,000 area, even as Ethereum signals stay mixed and long-term bulls maintain optimistic price targets for 2026.

Seven Labour MPs who chair UK parliamentary committees have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer asking for a ban on political donations in cryptocurrency to be written into an upcoming elections bill. They argue that crypto-based funding can obscure the source of money, enable undisclosed micro-donations and increase the risk of foreign interference, a move that could particularly impact Reform UK's previously announced plans to accept crypto.