Bitcoin extended its weekly decline on Thursday, sliding below the closely watched $85,000 mark even as US lawmakers advanced the CLARITY Act crypto market structure bill. During a sharp sell‑off, BTC fell by about $2,700, helping trigger roughly $803 million in crypto liquidations over 24 hours and leaving the price hovering near key technical support levels. Analysts warn that losing the $86,000 area on higher time frames could open the door to a deeper move toward approximately $82,500.

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reports that on‑chain crypto money laundering ballooned from an estimated $10 billion in 2020 to over $82 billion by 2025, with Chinese‑language money laundering networks (CMLNs) emerging as a major driver of this surge. The report finds CMLNs handled about 20% of identified illicit on‑chain laundering in 2025 and processed $16.1 billion in criminal inflows, while their growth rate far outpaced centralized exchanges, DeFi services, and other criminal channels. Chainalysis also notes that these networks increasingly use Telegram‑based services and cryptocurrencies to move funds across borders for organized crime groups.

XRP has erased its early‑year advance and is trading near $1.90, while an analyst highlights a sharp contraction in tokens held on centralized exchanges. On‑chain data shows balances falling from about 4 billion XRP in early 2025 to roughly 1.5 billion by late December, a 57% annual decline alongside more ETF inflows since November 2025. The analyst outlines bullish, base, and bearish scenarios in which future ETF demand and exchange supply levels could push XRP toward $4–$5 or leave it stuck closer to the $1.50–$2.00 range through 2026.

Binance has incorporated a wholly owned Greek unit named Binary Greece and is pursuing authorization under the Markets in Crypto-Assets regime before the July 1 deadline. Corporate filings state the entity is a single-shareholder public limited company with €25,000 in initial capital, set up as a holding company. According to Fortune, a Binance spokesperson said the exchange has formally applied in Athens and is in discussions with Greece's Hellenic Capital Market Commission.

On Wednesday, Pantera Capital released its latest blockchain letter, reviewing the difficult conditions of 2025 and outlining an upbeat outlook for the rest of 2026. The firm points to macro factors, Federal Reserve rate cuts, and regulatory moves such as the GENIUS Act as shaping market sentiment, while also highlighting growing institutional blockchain adoption. Looking ahead, Pantera expects strong momentum in real-world assets, stablecoin innovation by major banks, and a robust year for digital asset IPOs.

After the October 10, 2025 crypto crash, Hyperliquid (HYPE), one of the largest decentralized exchanges, saw sharp drops in trading volume and open interest as it moved into 2026. A recent study by GLC shows volume falling from $10.17 billion to $5.66 billion and open interest declining from $14.75 billion to $9.48 billion, even as year-to-date data and new features such as portfolio margin point to a gradual recovery. The HYPE token is now trading around $21.84, about 63% below its all-time high of $59.30.

On Tuesday, Bitcoin fell below the $90,000 level, prompting fresh debate about whether a full bear market is developing. Analyst Raun Neuner compared Bitcoin’s current cycle with past post‑Halving patterns, noting previous peaks occurred about 532 days after each Halving and were followed by 70%–80% drawdowns. Based on that framework and the recent high near $125,000, he outlined a potential downside scenario toward $37,000, while other market watchers flagged $84,000–$85,000 and the 200‑week moving average around $57,000 as key support zones.

Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (DJT) said it will distribute a new digital token to shareholders, setting a record date of February 2, 2026. Eligible recipients include ultimate beneficial owners and registered holders with at least one DJT share, and the tokens will be minted with Crypto.com and held in custody before distribution.

At the start of 2026, Ethereum rebounded above $3,000 but remains capped by strong resistance around $3,400 while consolidating below this level. Analyst Ali Martinez highlights a sharp rise in daily active addresses above 800,000 and roughly 158,545 ETH accumulated by ETFs since December 29, supporting a potential move toward $4,000. Other analysts see patterns that could target $5,000, though ETH has recently slipped 3% and about $3.4 billion in shorts may be exposed if price clears $3,400.