Dogecoin gained more than 11% following the announcement of Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE’s official website was launched on January 21, creating excitement among investors. According to Cointelegraph Markets Pro data, Dogecoin rose to $0.38 following the announcement. Musk’s initiatives play a significant role in Dogecoin’s appreciation. However, Dogecoin is still trading 48% below its May 2021 peak of $0.73.
Sonic Labs, the team behind the Sonic blockchain, has launched the Sonic DeFAI Hackathon in collaboration with DoraHacks and Zerebro. The $250,000 event invites participants to develop innovative AI agents that perform social and on-chain actions over four weeks. Applications will be accepted from January 21 to February 24, 2025. Winners will be announced in early March. The hackathon aims to redefine DeFi by combining AI and blockchain technologies.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has called on firms to limit the use of stablecoins that do not comply with the EU’s new Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA).
ESMA has stressed that crypto asset service providers (CASPs) must take urgent action on non-compliant stablecoins.
Tether’s USDT could potentially be delisted for failing to meet MiCA requirements.
CASPs must be compliant by the first quarter of 2025.
The US debt ceiling is a critical warning for Bitcoin. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced a “debt issuance period” from January 21 to March 14. This could lead to a decrease in global liquidity and pose a challenge to Bitcoin, despite its record high of $109,000 reached on January 20.
Raoul Pal predicts that Bitcoin will rise above $110,000 in January, but fall below $70,000 in February. Analysts say the impact of the debt ceiling on Bitcoin could be variable. Global liquidity is expected to improve after March 14, which could positively affect Bitcoin’s price.
A.R.T. Digital Holdings Corp. has acquired the rights to use Forced Physics’ JouleForce cooling technology in the Bitcoin mining industry. The innovative technology aims to increase operational efficiency by improving thermal management and sustainability in mining. JouleForce reduces energy consumption by preventing performance degradation in hot climates and eliminates the need for water-based cooling infrastructure.
The Ethereum Foundation has announced significant leadership changes to strengthen collaboration within the Ethereum ecosystem by prioritizing technical expertise.
Vitalik Buterin stated that these changes are aimed at supporting decentralized app developers and advocating for censorship resistance and privacy.
It was emphasized that the Foundation will stay away from political lobbying and ideological agendas.
These steps were taken after the difficulties experienced in 2024.
The Solana-based TRUMP memecoin, introduced by the new US president Donald Trump, has made a rapid entrance into the market. The token, introduced on January 17, reached a market value of $9 billion in a few hours.
Although some investors are skeptical of the project, a source close to the Trump family confirmed that the initiative is real.
The TRUMP token has attracted great interest among investors and has made significant gains in a short time.
GameGPT has announced the Genesis AI NFT Collection, integrating AI and blockchain technologies into the gaming world. This collection includes the AI Game Builder platform, which allows users to develop games with simple text commands. The collection of 6,000 NFTs offers owners AI Agents that can perform social media interactions and blockchain transactions. The NFT auction will begin on January 20, 2025.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accused Digital Currency Group (DCG) and former Genesis CEO Soichoro “Michael” Moro of providing misleading information to investors about Genesis’ financial condition following the collapse of Three Arrows Capital (3AC).
- DCG and Moro have agreed to pay $38.5 million in penalties. - DCG will pay $38 million, while Moro will pay $500,000. - The parties agreed to the penalties without admitting or denying any violations of the Securities Act of 1933.
The settlement is the latest development in a series of legal issues following Genesis’ bankruptcy filing in January 2023.
Binance has updated its cryptocurrency deposit and withdrawal procedures in Poland to comply with the European Union’s Cryptocurrency Markets Regulation (MiCA).
Starting January 20, users will be required to provide more information for cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals exceeding €1,000.
The MiCA introduces standard regulations for cryptocurrencies across the EU and aims to increase consumer protection.
Vottun, an EU-licensed service provider, has introduced a ‘Code-to-Earn’ model to drive blockchain innovation. Backed by investors including Draper, Macclin Capital, and Nebula Ventures, Vottun aims to grow its developer base from 3,000 to 20,000. Focusing on attracting talent, particularly from emerging economies, the platform aims to increase participation in the Web3 ecosystem.
DeFi Agents AI (DEFAI) aims to transform user interaction by combining decentralized finance with artificial intelligence. The platform has raised $1.2 million in funding and offers AI-powered trading tools. DEFAI has a market potential of $20 billion. With 11,000 active users and $2.3 billion in trading volume, the platform is preparing for its token launch on the Base Network. It aims to enhance the DeFi experience with new features.
Despite the appeal by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), XRP is showing a strong market performance. The price of XRP reached a 7-year high of $3.2657, and its market cap reached $187.485 billion. Analysts predict that XRP could reach the $5 target. BYDFi remains the preferred platform for XRP investors.
Bitcoin may struggle to maintain its momentum even if it reaches $100,000. Stockmoney Lizards predicts that BTC/USD will continue to trade in a tight range in the coming weeks. The $102,000 level is seen as a major resistance point for Bitcoin. BTC/USD is currently trading around $99,000. While analysts emphasize that $102,000 needs to be broken, some remain optimistic.
Toronto-based Web2.5 infrastructure company Torram has successfully closed a $710,000 pre-seed funding round in December 2024. The company focuses on developing enterprise-grade decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure on Bitcoin. The round, which included investors such as Draper Associates and Blockchain Founders Fund, reflects the growing demand for infrastructure tailored to institutional needs. Torram aims to provide reliable solutions for financial transactions by combining the security of Bitcoin and the innovation of DeFi.
Reddio, a Singapore-based blockchain infrastructure company, has officially launched its Testnet powered by GPU-accelerated parallel EVM technology. Reddio delivers revolutionary innovations at the intersection of AI and blockchain, providing 12,000 tps of performance while preserving Ethereum security. Reddio provides scalable solutions to developers with low transaction fees and AI-compatible infrastructure, contributing to ecosystem growth.
Lido Impact Staking (LIS) launched in London on January 15, 2025. It provides sustainable funding for social impact projects using Ethereum staking rewards. Users can stake ETH, stETH or wstETH and allocate a portion of the rewards to projects of their choice. This model allows donors to support social change while preserving their capital. LIS ushers in a new era of philanthropy by offering transparency and trust.
BTCS Inc. (Nasdaq: BTCS), a blockchain infrastructure and technology leader, has announced its Scaled Validator Implementation Plan, which aims to increase revenue and operational efficiency across blockchain operations. BTCS has significantly expanded its validator node operations by expanding to 320 validators on Rocket Pool’s liquid staking protocol. The strategy has the potential to increase the company’s revenue by 10%.
Bitcoin is currently trading at $94,650, recovering 5.4% from the recent decline. Fundstrat Capital CIO Tom Lee said that Bitcoin’s $90,000 level is a good entry point for long-term investors. Lee predicts Bitcoin will be one of the best-performing assets of the year. However, he warns that Bitcoin could fall to $70,000. Markus Thielen of 10x Research said that Bitcoin could fall to $69,000 if the high-inflation narrative breaks through resistance. Investors should be prepared for short-term volatility.
Mimo and Plume Network have signed an innovative partnership that will bring high-quality investment assets to the blockchain. The partnership will tokenize assets such as AI computing resources and PoW miners, offering investors annualized returns ranging from 10% to 200%. Initially, $50 million worth of tokenized instruments will be available on the Plume mainnet. The move aims to create secure and high-yield opportunities for investors.