Daily Crypto Briefing – January 4, 2026

Markets kicked off 2026 with notable volatility as geopolitical tensions surrounding Venezuela drove Bitcoin above $91,000 while regulatory developments and corporate moves shaped the broader crypto landscape.

Top Stories

Bitcoin Surges Past $91K Amid Venezuela Tensions

Bitcoin topped $91,000 following U.S. military action in Venezuela, with analysts noting crypto's role as a safe haven during geopolitical uncertainty. The price surge occurred despite weekend trading conditions, with major altcoins including Ethereum and Dogecoin also posting gains.

Coinbase Exits Argentina After LIBRA Scandal

Coinbase announced it will pause peso-based services in Argentina just one year after launch, following controversy surrounding the LIBRA memecoin scandal involving President Javier Milei. The exchange will maintain crypto-to-crypto operations while discontinuing fiat on/off ramps by January 31.

Washington's Crypto Clarity Act Advances

A new federal crypto bill would strip states of regulatory power over digital assets, potentially banning state oversight that currently catches front-end manipulation. The legislation aims to resolve jurisdictional confusion but raises concerns about regulatory gaps.

Ethereum Positioned for Growth Through Neobanks

Ether.fi CEO predicts neobanks will drive Ethereum's 2026 growth, emphasizing that mainstream adoption will come through familiar financial products rather than complex DeFi protocols. The network continues to show technical strength with recent price stability above $3,000.

Markets

Bitcoin Technical Analysis

• Bitcoin entered a key decision zone with analysts outlining two potential scenarios for price movement
• Weekend trading showed choppy range-bound action despite holding critical trend lines
• Derivatives markets lean bullish but max pain levels suggest potential downward pressure

Ethereum Momentum Building

• Ethereum recorded $960M in net inflows to Binance, breaking a five-month negative streak
• Open interest on Binance surged above $7.1B amid heavy market repositioning
• Technical indicators suggest renewed strength after months of consolidation

Memecoin Rally Continues

• Dogecoin gained 4% with a short-term golden cross formation
• BONK skyrocketed 30% in daily trading, leading the memecoin sector
• Broader altcoin market showing signs of leadership after difficult 2025

Regulation

Prediction Market Oversight

• Rep. Torres plans legislation targeting prediction market insider trading after a trader netted $400K on Maduro capture bets
• The bill would bar federal employees from trading contracts tied to government policy when possessing material non-public information

State vs Federal Jurisdiction

• Washington's Clarity Act could fundamentally reshape crypto regulation by centralizing oversight
• California crypto billionaires threaten to leave over new wealth taxes, raising questions about state-level policy effectiveness

Security & Crime

Phishing Attacks Decline Sharply

• Crypto phishing losses plummeted 83% in 2025 to $83.85 million from nearly $500M the previous year
• December saw only $76M stolen across 26 incidents, showing fewer large-scale breaches

Physical Attacks Increasing

• Wrench attacks against crypto holders are rising and becoming more violent, particularly in Europe and Asia
• Hundreds of MetaMask wallets were drained through sophisticated phishing campaigns targeting wallet updates

Institutional Activity

ETF Performance Strong

• Spot crypto ETFs surpassed $2 trillion in cumulative trading volume, doubling in half the expected time
• Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs started 2026 with $645.6M in combined net inflows on January 2

Corporate Treasury Strategies

• Metaplanet gains advantage over U.S. Bitcoin treasuries due to Japanese yen's artificially low interest rates enabling leveraged strategies
• BlackRock ended 2025 holding approximately 771K Bitcoin through its spot ETF

Quick Hits

• Major market maker Wintermute secretly offloaded 1,213 BTC during New Year's Eve thin liquidity
• European crypto trading volume soars but execution prices suffer from venue fragmentation
• Vitalik Buterin claims Ethereum solved blockchain's trilemma through zero-knowledge EVMs
• XRP transactions hit 1M as price targets $2.40 breakout level
• PwC expands digital assets services under revised U.S. regulatory environment
• Ripple CTO David Schwartz transitions to emeritus role while joining board
• Hut 8 expands Coinbase credit line to $200M for AI infrastructure push
• Bitcoin mining stocks showed clear market preferences in 2025 performance rankings
• AI agent tokens survived the 2025 "DAT craze" with select projects maintaining relevance

What to Watch

• Monday Market Open: Potential Bitcoin volatility as traditional finance reacts to Venezuela situation
• Regulatory Markup: Washington's Clarity Act heads to January committee markup with significant implications for state oversight
• Ethereum Technical Levels: Watch for sustained movement above $3,600 resistance following recent strength
• Geopolitical Developments: UN Security Council emergency meeting on Venezuela could impact crypto safe-haven flows
• ETF Flows: Continuation of strong institutional inflows as 2026 trading begins in earnest