Daily Crypto Briefing – January 3, 2026

The crypto market kicked off 2026 with notable regulatory shifts and steady price action as Bitcoin hovers near $90,000 amid geopolitical developments.

Top Stories

SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw Departs, Leaving All-Republican Panel

The Block reports that the SEC's sole Democratic commissioner has left the agency, potentially signaling a more crypto-friendly regulatory approach ahead. Crenshaw consistently opposed Bitcoin ETF approvals and maintained crypto-skeptical positions throughout her tenure.

Bitcoin Volatility Hits Historic Lows Despite Market Uncertainty

CryptoSlate analysis shows Bitcoin ended 2025 with just 2.24% daily volatility, the lowest in its recorded history. The asset is now less volatile than Nvidia, marking a statistical anomaly that reflects growing institutional adoption and market maturity.

XRP Surges Past $2, Overtakes BNB as Fourth-Largest Crypto

Multiple sources confirm XRP jumped 8% in 24 hours, reclaiming its position above BNB by market capitalization. The rally appears linked to expectations of friendlier SEC policies following Crenshaw's departure and continued ETF momentum.

Bitcoin ETFs Start 2026 Strong with $471M Inflows

CryptoBriefing notes that Bitcoin ETFs attracted significant capital to begin the year, suggesting renewed institutional confidence despite recent market consolidation around the $90,000 level.

Regulation

• Turkmenistan Legalizes Crypto Mining and Trading - CryptoPotato reports President Berdimuhamedov signed new legislation allowing crypto activities, though strict internet controls remain in place
• 48 Countries Commit to Crypto Transparency Framework - Bitcoin.com News details expanded coordinated data-sharing rules signaling broader tax oversight
• CLARITY Act Faces Complex Negotiations - CryptoNews reports Coinbase warns comprehensive crypto legislation faces extended discussions over DeFi oversight

Markets

• Bitcoin Steady Near $90K Amid Venezuela Tensions - CoinDesk reports BTC briefly dipped but recovered as geopolitical events unfolded
• Memecoins Rally to Start 2026 - CoinDesk notes Dogecoin and PEPE surged up to 25% as the meme coin market heated up
• Polymarket Odds Favor Bitcoin Over Gold - CryptoBriefing shows betting markets now give Bitcoin 59% odds of outperforming gold in 2026

Technology & DeFi

• Ethereum Transaction Volume Hits All-Time High - Bitcoin.com News reports ETH processed 2.23 million transactions on December 29, setting a new daily record
• BitMine Stakes Additional $259M in ETH - Cointelegraph details the move pushes Ethereum's validator entry queue near 1 million ETH with 17-day wait times
• Aave Labs Proposes Revenue Sharing - The Block reports founder Stani Kulechov suggests sharing non-protocol revenue with token holders amid governance tensions

Security & Crime

• Crypto Phishing Losses Drop 83% in 2025 - Cointelegraph reports wallet drainer attacks decreased significantly, though researchers warn the ecosystem remains active
• Hundreds of EVM Wallets Drained in Coordinated Attack - CryptoNews details a "wide-net" exploit targeting multiple addresses with losses typically under $2,000 each
• Physical Crypto Attacks Increased in 2025 - Decrypt reviews the year's most serious "wrench attacks" against crypto holders

Quick Hits

• Bitcoin celebrates its 17th birthday today since the genesis block was mined
• Tether purchased 8,888 Bitcoin in Q4 2025, bringing holdings above 96,000 BTC
• Solana's RWA ecosystem reached $873M in January 2026, up 325% year-over-year
• Hut 8 finished 2025 strong despite challenges facing Bitcoin miners
• Vitalik Buterin emphasizes Ethereum must focus on decentralization in 2026
• Tom Lee seeks shareholder approval to expand BitMine shares to 50 billion
• Crypto M&A and IPO activity surged in 2025 with momentum expected to continue
• NFT market matured in 2025, shifting toward utility and sustainable growth
• Pantera Capital signals potential 2026 crypto breakout after 2025's infrastructure building

What to Watch

• Bitcoin's $92K Resistance Level - Analysts warn FOMO could return if BTC breaks above this key technical level
• XRP ETF Performance vs. Price Action - Despite $1B in assets under management, price movement remains muted
• Ethereum's Path Above $3,500 - Technical analysts see potential for ETH to break current consolidation
• SEC Policy Shifts - With an all-Republican commission, expect potential regulatory changes favoring crypto
• Venezuela Situation Impact - Geopolitical tensions may continue affecting crypto market sentiment