Crypto investigator ZachXBT linked a crypto wallet holding $23 million to alleged $90 million thefts involving the U.S. government and other victims via public blockchain analysis. The connection emerged after an online chat where the individual known as John (aka Lick) showcased wealth. Industry reactions stress vigilance as no formal statements were issued.

On January 27, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael Selig will hold a public discussion on crypto regulatory oversight at CFTC headquarters, with the event streamed through the SEC website. The session will focus on harmonizing U.S. rules for digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum and will feature a fireside chat moderated by Eleanor Terrett. According to CoinMarketCap data cited in the report, the event comes as Bitcoin trades at $89,037.26 with a market cap of about $1.78 trillion amid a sharp daily price drop.

On January 22, 2026, Binance will list Ripple's USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD for spot trading with zero transaction fees. Beginning January 23, 2026, RLUSD will also be enabled as a borrowable asset in both cross-margin and isolated-margin markets, expanding its use for traders. The stablecoin is priced at $1.00 with a market cap of $1.34 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of $173.05 million, reflecting growing liquidity.

On January 21, 2026, the SagaEVM chain was halted following a security incident that led to roughly $7 million in stolen crypto assets. The attackers moved funds in USDC, yUSD, tBTC, and ETH to the Ethereum address 0x2044…6ecb, prompting emergency measures. Operations on SagaEVM were suspended at block height 6,593,800 while the team works with platforms to restrict the compromised address.

Bitpanda plans to launch a unified investment platform on January 29 that combines stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and metals in a single interface. The company is also preparing for a potential IPO in Frankfurt, targeting a valuation of €4–5 billion, with support from banking partners such as Goldman Sachs.

Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has enacted Decision 96/QD-BTC, creating a licensing regime for cryptocurrency trading platforms and detailing procedures for issuing, adjusting, and revoking exchange licenses as of January 20, 2026. The framework requires Vietnamese entities to meet strict capital, infrastructure, and staffing standards, which may reshape how firms enter the market while leaving short-term cryptocurrency prices largely unchanged.

On January 20, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig introduced the "Future Proof" program to overhaul the agency's oversight of digital assets with a focus on minimum effective regulation. The initiative is designed to update decades-old rules for derivatives to better address crypto markets, registration, customer protections, and market surveillance. On the same date in 2026, Bitcoin traded around $89,464.19 with a 3.77% daily decline and a 59.18% market dominance, reflecting broader volatility.

On January 20, 2026, Portugal's gambling regulator SRIJ ordered cryptocurrency prediction platform Polymarket to shut down for operating unauthorized online gambling tied to political events, with blocking expected within 48 hours. Around €4 million reportedly flowed into Polymarket's Portuguese presidential election markets before official results, raising concerns about premature result leaks and regulatory enforcement. USDC, Polymarket's main collateral, continues to trade at $1 with a market cap of $75.63 billion and $13.88 billion in volume despite these regulatory pressures.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is meeting banking executives to discuss stablecoin regulation and the proposed "CLARITY Act." The talks target modernizing financial systems and fair access for crypto firms, while market participants appear cautious about potential regulatory shifts. According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin is priced at $91,591.53.