| Open‑Source Intelligence for Crypto | | | Crypto Signals Daily | | | | |
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Crypto Market Reacts to Major Heist, Regulatory Tensions, and Institutional Flows |
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January 18, 2026 |
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Today’s Setup
Key Crypto Catalysts Drive Market Dynamics on January 18
Crypto Heist: $282M social engineering theft impacts Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Monero price volatility with laundering via Thorchain. Regulatory Tensions: Coinbase and the White House clash over stablecoin yield rules threatens CLARITY Act progress amid ongoing US bill delays. Institutional & Market Flows: Ethereum ETF inflows near $474M support price recovery; XRP dominates South Korean retail markets with growing institutional use.
Watch: Stablecoin market growth topping $310B, growing CBDC cross-border volumes, and performance of whale-driven altcoins like Dogecoin and Zcash.
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Top Stories
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Crypto User Loses $282 Million in Social Engineering Heist, Fueling Monero Price Rally
A $282 million crypto theft involving Bitcoin and Litecoin occurred after an attacker impersonated Trezor support, with stolen funds laundered through instant exchanges including Thorchain and partially converted into Monero, triggering a sharp price rally and subsequent volatility.
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Coinbase and White House at Odds Over CLARITY Act Support as Stablecoin Yield Talks Stall
Coinbase denies White House threats to withdraw backing for the CLARITY Act amid disputes over stablecoin yield regulations addressing bank concerns, while regulatory delays and obscure laws continue to slow progress on related US crypto bills.
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China-Led mBridge CBDC Platform Tops $55 Billion in Cross-Border Payments
The China-led CBDC project mBridge has processed over $55 billion in cross-border transactions, with the digital yuan responsible for approximately 95% of the volume despite previous distancing by the Bank for International Settlements.
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XRP Surges as Top-Traded Asset in South Korea Amid Institutional Expansion
XRP has overtaken Bitcoin and Ethereum as the leading traded asset on South Korean exchanges by leveraging a legal loophole favoring spot-only platforms, while Ripple collaborates with UC Berkeley to broaden real-world applications increasing institutional adoption.
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Ethereum Price Climbs Above $3,300 Supported by $474 Million ETF Inflows and Buterin’s Roadmap
Ethereum price recovery is buoyed by substantial ETF inflows and optimism around Vitalik Buterin’s plan to enhance decentralization, safety, and user control, strengthening investor confidence despite market volatility.
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| Also on the Wire |
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• New crypto trading platform advised by CZ sees $2 billion volume surge driven by airdrop hype.
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CoinDesk
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• Venezuelan Jorge Figueira faces up to 20 years for laundering $1 billion in a DOJ crypto prosecution.
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CryptoNews
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• Stablecoin market reaches new record over $310 billion in early 2026.
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Bitcoin News
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• US senators introduce Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act to limit legal risks for open-source blockchain developers.
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CryptoSlate
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• Tennessee regulator orders refunds and halts on Kalshi and Polymarket sports contracts, but court blocks enforcement temporarily.
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CryptoSlate
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• Bitcoin mining difficulty dips slightly amid economic challenges and competition for electricity.
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CryptoSlate
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• Coinbase CEO calls tokenized stocks 'inevitable' despite regulatory uncertainty surrounding the CLARITY Act.
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AMBCrypto
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• Dogecoin sees $500 million in whale outflows amid a 15% drop and a 9% rebound, with $0.13 as potential support.
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AMBCrypto
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• Zcash faces bearish pressure after $31 million whale inflows align with risks to key support levels.
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AMBCrypto
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• Cardano whales accumulate $2.5 million in ADA amid oversold conditions while Digitap outperforms with 240% growth.
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AMBCrypto
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• US DOJ confirms no sale of 57.5 forfeited Bitcoin from Samourai Wallet case, keeping the assets in the strategic reserve.
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CryptoNews
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• Bitcoin holds near $95,000 as Belgium’s KBC Bank plans regulated BTC and ETH trading launch amid MiCA rollout.
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CryptoNews
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