According to TRM Labs, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps allegedly used two UK-based exchanges, Zedcex and Zedxion, to route about $1 billion in crypto since early 2023, mostly USDT on the TRON network. Investigators said IRGC-linked flows accounted for 56% of these platforms’ volume between 2023 and 2025 and traced activity across 187 sanctioned wallet addresses.

On January 9 2026, Nasdaq and CME Group introduced the Nasdaq CME Crypto™ Index as the successor to the Nasdaq Crypto™ Index to serve as a single benchmark for institutional digital asset exposure. The index is designed to underlie regulated products such as ETFs, structured products, and managed funds, using CF Benchmarks pricing, vetted exchanges and custodians, and a publicly available methodology with joint governance oversight.

At 08:42, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social he instructed $200 billion in mortgage‑bond purchases via Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA Director Bill Pulte stated on X the agencies would execute and cited Q3 liquidity of about $191.8B across both as of September 30. Bitcoin traded just above $90,000, with open interest at $139.87B (+0.34%), liquidations at $237.22M, and RSI at 48.9.

In 2025 Bitcoin surged to a series of record highs above $126,000 before sliding to around $80,000 by year-end, leaving it roughly 30% below its peak. For 2026, analysts and industry executives project a wide trading band between $75,000 and $225,000, citing factors such as ETF demand, institutional lending and potential U.S. regulatory shifts. At the same time, Bank of America has upgraded Coinbase shares to Buy, reiterating a $340 price target on the back of its expanding product suite and tokenization initiatives.

China instructed some domestic tech companies to stop placing new orders for Nvidia's H200 chips this week, according to The Information. The move aligns with a broader plan that could push buyers toward local AI processors. U.S. approvals for H200 exports are still being processed, and shipments would carry a 25% revenue-sharing tax.

As of January 7, 2026, Micron shares have climbed 237% over the past 12 months. UBS reiterated a buy rating and raised its price target to $400, about 16% above Tuesday's close. According to UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri, AI workloads are constraining DRAM supply, leaving Micron able to fulfill only 50% to 75% of demand for major customers.

On January 7, 2026, China was reported to be considering tighter rare‑earth export licenses to Japan as tensions over Taiwan persist. Japan still sources about 60% of its rare‑earths from China, and heavy elements such as dysprosium and terbium remain the main supply risk. The move followed a government ban on over 800 dual‑use items for defense‑linked buyers.

On January 7, 2026, CNBC TV highlighted XRP as the standout crypto trade for 2026 after a more than 20% weekly jump and a move into the No. 3 spot by market value. In an after-the-bell segment, MacKenzie Sigalos cited steady Q4 inflows, cross‑border payment use cases, and lighter crowding versus Bitcoin and Ether.

India is continuing to import Russian crude while pressing Washington to remove a 25% tariff on Indian goods. December inflows fell as a major private refiner reduced purchases, while state-run buyers kept taking cargoes, with shipments ranging around 1.24–1.7 million barrels per day. On Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham said Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra asked him to raise the issue with President Donald Trump.