On 9 January 2026, UK regulators detailed a timeline for moving crypto asset service providers onto a full authorization regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act. The Financial Conduct Authority expects the application window to open in September 2026, ahead of the new licensing framework going live on October 25, 2027. Existing registrations will not transfer automatically, and firms that miss the tightly defined application period may face limits on launching new products.

On 9 January 2026, Grayscale registered new Delaware trusts tied to BNB and Hyperliquid, signaling early-stage exploration of potential exchange-traded products beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The legal entities, set up under CSC Delaware Trust Company, do not yet place any instruments on public markets but indicate preparation for possible institutional products linked to the BNB Chain ecosystem and DeFi-focused Hyperliquid.

On 9 January 2026, investors are focused on the U.S. December employment report and a potential Supreme Court decision on Donald Trump's tariffs, both seen as key drivers for rates and risk sentiment. Economists expect about 73,000 new jobs and a small decline in unemployment to 4.5%, while any ruling on the legality of tariff powers and possible importer refunds could shake fiscal and trade outlooks. These outcomes may influence bond yields, equities, and demand for digital assets as traders reassess monetary policy expectations and safe-haven alternatives.

On 9 January 2026, Morgan Stanley outlined plans to merge digital assets, private company exposure, and traditional investments into a single operating model aimed at long-term wealth clients. The bank intends to enable E*Trade users to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana and launch its own digital wallet in 2026, while also expanding access to private-company shares through partnerships with Carta and the planned acquisition of EquityZen. In parallel, it has filed an S-1 with the U.S. SEC for a spot Ethereum Trust, following earlier registrations linked to Bitcoin and Solana as part of a broader institutional crypto strategy.

Analysts argue that Bitcoin is likely entering an extended sideways phase, as capital shifts toward equities and commodities without triggering heavy crypto selling. On-chain data highlights slower fresh inflows and a growing share of long-term institutional holders, while macro indicators show global liquidity expanding and positioning Bitcoin as a late-cycle asset that may respond with a lag. This backdrop suggests reduced crash risk in the near term but also a market lacking immediate upside catalysts.

On January 14, BNB Smart Chain is set to activate the Fermi hard fork, cutting block times to 0.45 seconds after the broader BNB Chain completed its Fourier upgrade on January 7. The network is scaling in response to rising onchain demand, with Op BNB also halving its block time, while the BNB token trades near $884 following a 3.5% daily decline and open interest of about $820 million.

On 8 January 2026, BitMine Immersion Technologies disclosed that it had accumulated more than 72,000 ETH in early-January purchases totaling about $227 million. These moves raised its staked Ethereum position to over 827,000 ETH, valued near $2.62 billion, as the company prepares to launch its Made in America Validator Network. BitMine now controls roughly 4.14 million ETH, around 3.4% of the asset’s supply, while its share price trades amid volatility tied to a proposal to boost authorized stock to 50 billion shares.

On 8 January 2026 at 03:16, a16z crypto said privacy, rather than speed or fees, will be the main competitive axis for blockchains by 2026. Ali Yahya argued that limited privacy keeps onchain systems from replacing traditional finance and that privacy centric networks could capture most real world usage.

On 8 January 2026, Scott Bessent stated on Fox Business that the United States has started treating confiscated Bitcoin as part of a strategic reserve instead of selling it. He emphasized that the government will not purchase Bitcoin on the open market, but will keep seized BTC, marking a shift away from its previous policy of routine liquidation and indicating a reassessment of Bitcoin's strategic role.