Nasdaq Inc. and CME Group Inc. plan to relaunch the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index (NCI™) on January 8, 2026, positioning it as a renewed benchmark for institutional participation in digital assets. The index, which includes major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, is expected to support market transparency and infrastructure as Bitcoin trades above $90,000 with a market cap of $1.81 trillion. Analysts suggest the move could encourage new institutional-grade crypto products and reinforce the sector's overall maturity.

On Jan. 9, Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Council directed Polymarket, Kalshi, and Crypto.com’s Nadex to halt sports event contracts, void pending wagers, and refund deposits by Jan. 31, 2026. The letters warned that unlicensed betting could trigger criminal referrals and fines up to $25,000 under state law.

On-chain data indicates that more than $1.25 billion in USDT was withdrawn from Binance in a single session, while the exchange's stablecoin reserves fell by nearly $1.7 billion over two days.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.

On 9 and 10 January 2026, police in Hilir Perak carried out three coordinated operations in Teluk Intan, seizing forty-one machines allegedly used for illegal crypto mining. Investigators believe the sites were stealing electricity from the national grid, and no suspects have been detained as authorities work to identify those responsible. Officials warn that such unlicensed setups can trigger fires, grid instability, and higher power costs for legitimate users.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on January 15 to examine the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act and broader cryptocurrency market structure legislation. Lawmakers including Rep. French Hill, Sen. Tim Scott, and Sen. Cynthia Lummis aim to clarify SEC and CFTC jurisdictions over digital commodities and investment contracts, while analysts note Bitcoin’s recent volatility ahead of the session.

Analysts expect US core CPI to rise to 2.7% year over year in December, slightly above November's 2.6% and still near early‑2021 lows. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said it could not release month‑to‑month amendments to the latest CPI because of the recent government shutdown, complicating readings. The Federal Reserve is seen keeping rates steady as inflation stabilizes and consumer spending stays firm.

Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Council has issued cease-and-desist directives to Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com, requiring them to shut down sports betting contracts in the state and refund users by January 31, 2026. The council argues these unlicensed sports event markets violate state gambling law and could trigger civil penalties or criminal exposure for non-compliance. The decision adds to mounting U.S. regulatory pressure on crypto-based prediction and betting platforms.

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.