Kategorie: Crypto Markets

• XRP’s rally paused as spot ETF inflows slowed and early profit-taking emerged.
• Technical resistance triggered selling, but long-term holders stayed largely inactive.
• Price outlook hinges on holding key support while ETF demand stabilises.

XRP entered 2026 with powerful momentum after ending last year on a strong institutional narrative.

The token quickly outperformed Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in early January, drawing renewed attention from traders, funds, and mainstream media.

Spot XRP ETFs were a major driver of this enthusiasm, as consistent inflows signalled sustained institutional demand.

Low exchange balances reinforced the bullish case by suggesting limited immediate sell-side supply.

This combination helped propel XRP sharply higher in the first days of the year.

However, the rally is now facing its first meaningful stress test.

Price action has turned volatile as ETF flows cool and short-term traders begin to lock in gains.

Although the shift does not mark a trend reversal yet, it does highlight growing fragility beneath the bullish narrative.

XRP ETF momentum slows as early exuberance fades

Spot XRP ETFs recorded their first net outflows since launch on January 7, breaking a long streak of daily inflows.

The pullback was concentrated in one large product, while other issuers still saw modest inflows.

Even so, the headline reversal weighed heavily on sentiment.

ETF flows have been central to XRP’s 2026 rally, making any slowdown psychologically significant.

The outflows coincided with broader weakness across crypto ETFs, including Bitcoin and Ether products.

This suggests the move was driven more by risk reduction than by XRP-specific panic.

Cumulative ETF inflows remain firmly positive, keeping the longer-term institutional thesis intact.

Still, the market is now adjusting to the idea that ETF demand may not rise in a straight line.

As flows normalise, prices become more sensitive to technical levels and short-term positioning.

XRP price forecast

XRP’s short-term outlook hinges on how it behaves around critical support zones.

Holding above the $2.00–$2.05 region would signal that the pullback is corrective rather than structural.

A sustained break below that area could open the door to deeper retracements toward the high-$1.80s.

On the upside, bulls need a decisive daily close above the $2.25–$2.35 range to regain control.

Such a move would indicate that selling pressure has been absorbed.

If momentum rebuilds, a recovery toward $2.60 and $2.80 becomes technically plausible.

Medium-term prospects remain tied to ETF flow trends and broader crypto sentiment.

As long as cumulative ETF assets stay elevated and exchange supply remains constrained, downside risk may be limited.

However, the explosive pace seen at the start of 2026 is unlikely to repeat immediately.

Instead, XRP appears poised for consolidation as the market digests gains.

If demand reaccelerates later in the year, this cooling phase could form the base for another advance.

The post XRP’s 2026 price surge faces its first test as ETF flows cool and profit-taking emerges appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Products listed as XAUUSDT and XAGUSDT are designed to track gold and silver prices onchain.
• The contracts operate under FSRA regulation in Abu Dhabi through the ADGM framework.
• Other major exchanges already offer precious metals-linked perpetual contracts, reflecting rising demand.

Binance has widened its derivatives suite by adding perpetual futures linked to gold and silver, marking a push beyond purely digital assets.

The move reflects growing demand among crypto-native traders for exposure to traditional safe-haven markets through familiar onchain infrastructure.

By listing precious metals products that trade around the clock and have no expiry date, the exchange is positioning itself at the intersection of commodities and crypto trading.

The launch comes as gold and silver prices have reached fresh records, drawing renewed attention from investors seeking hedges against volatility across global markets.

Precious metals enter crypto derivatives

The exchange said on Thursday that it had launched perpetual futures contracts tied to gold and silver.

The products allow traders to speculate on price movements without holding the underlying metals and without worrying about contract expiration.

Trading is available continuously, mirroring the structure of crypto perpetuals that already dominate derivatives volumes on major exchanges.

The contracts are listed under the symbols XAUUSDT and XAGUSDT. Both are designed to track the market price of gold and silver, respectively.

Instead of physical settlement, positions are settled in Tether’s USDT stablecoin, giving traders onchain exposure to precious metals pricing while remaining within a crypto-based settlement system.

Settlement and market access

By settling the contracts in USDT, Binance is extending the use of stablecoins beyond crypto-native assets into traditional commodity-linked products.

This structure allows traders to gain price exposure without converting funds into fiat currencies or commodity-backed instruments.

It also removes the need for storage, delivery, or custody arrangements associated with physical gold and silver.

The approach highlights how derivatives are being used to mirror traditional financial markets inside crypto trading platforms.

Binance has indicated that additional contracts linked to traditional assets are planned, suggesting that commodities and other non-crypto markets may feature more prominently in future product rollouts.

Regulatory framework in Abu Dhabi

The gold and silver perpetuals are offered through Next Exchange Limited, a Binance entity operating under the Abu Dhabi Global Market framework.

The contracts fall under the supervision of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, with Binance holding the relevant licences within ADGM.

This regulatory setup is central to Binance’s effort to expand its derivatives catalogue while maintaining compliance in key jurisdictions.

Abu Dhabi has also become relevant for stablecoin usage, with USDT approved for use by regulated companies in the emirate, even as Tether has chosen not to seek authorisation under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework.

Competition and safe haven demand

Binance is not alone in offering precious metals-linked perpetual contracts.

Other exchanges active in this segment include Coinbase, MEXC, BTCC, BingX, and Bybit, although Bybit currently limits its offering to gold-linked perpetuals.

The growing number of platforms listing such products points to rising interest in blending commodity exposure with crypto derivatives trading.

The timing of Binance’s launch aligns with a period of heightened demand for safe-haven assets.

Both gold and silver have recently climbed to new all-time highs, driven by investor appetite for assets perceived as stores of value.

By enabling trading in these markets via USDT-settled perpetuals, Binance is tapping into that demand while keeping activity within its existing derivatives ecosystem.

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• The entire Electric Coin Company team behind Zcash development exited after governance changes.
• A new company will be formed to continue the same privacy-focused mission.
• The Zcash protocol remains unaffected despite leadership and governance turmoil.

Electric Coin Company, the long-standing development organisation behind Zcash, is preparing to start a new company following a sudden and highly public split tied to governance disputes.

According to public statements and reporting, the entire Electric Coin Company team has departed from its previous organisational arrangement with Bootstrap, the nonprofit created to support Zcash.

Notably, the exit was not framed as a routine resignation or gradual transition.

Instead, the company’s leadership described the situation as a breakdown in alignment that made continued work impossible.

The move marks a major turning point for one of the cryptocurrency industry’s most prominent privacy-focused projects.

Zcash has long positioned itself as “private money,” and the organisational fracture highlights growing tensions between mission-driven development teams and nonprofit governance structures.

Governance conflict at the centre of the split

At the core of the dispute is Bootstrap, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support Zcash by governing the Electric Coin Company.

Josh Swihart, CEO of Electric Coin Company, publicly stated that a majority of Bootstrap board members had moved into clear misalignment with the mission of Zcash.

He specifically named Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai as central figures in that majority.

Swihart said that over recent weeks, changes imposed by the board altered the terms of employment for the Electric Coin Company team.

Those changes, according to his account, made it impossible for the team to perform their duties effectively and with integrity.

As a result, the entire team left after what Swihart characterised as constructive discharge.

Constructive discharge refers to situations in which working conditions are changed so significantly that employees are effectively forced to resign.

The framing suggests the split was driven by governance actions rather than disagreements over technology or code.

The dispute also exposed confusion around roles and titles, with Swihart acknowledging that public listings showing him as executive director of Bootstrap were outdated.

A new company, but the same mission

Despite the split, Swihart emphasised that the departing team is not abandoning its core vision.

He confirmed that the former Electric Coin Company team plans to found a new company.

The goal of that new entity, he said, remains building “unstoppable private money.”

This language mirrors Zcash’s long-standing emphasis on privacy, censorship resistance, and user sovereignty.

Importantly, Swihart and other figures stressed that the Zcash protocol itself is unaffected by the organisational changes.

Zcash’s codebase is open-source, and no single company owns or controls the network.

That distinction is critical for users and developers concerned about continuity and security.

Former Electric Coin Company CEO and Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox defended the Bootstrap board and stated that Zcash remains permissionless, secure, and safe to use.

His response highlighted the reality that leadership perspectives differ sharply on the causes and implications of the split.

Market reaction, Zcash price drops

ZEC, the native token of the Zcash network, saw a notable price drop in the aftermath of the announcement.

At press time, Zcash was trading at around $443.38, down 10.3% in a day, eroding the majority of its December gains.

The price decline reflects uncertainty around governance, leadership stability, and future development direction.

At the same time, supporters of the departing team argued that separating from what they view as hostile governance may ultimately strengthen development.

They see the creation of a new company as a way to protect mission-driven work from nonprofit board dynamics.

Critics, however, worry about fragmentation and the loss of institutional continuity.

The episode underscores broader challenges facing decentralised projects that rely on hybrid structures combining nonprofits, companies, and open-source communities.

 

The post The dev company behind Zcash plans to start a new company after split appeared first on CoinJournal.

• 20% of SKR supply is reserved for Solana Seeker phone users and developers via airdrop.
• Seeker Season 1 saw over 100,000 users, 9 million transactions, and $2.6 billion in volume.
• SKR launches on January 21 with governance, staking, and Guardian delegation.

Solana Mobile has officially confirmed plans to airdrop a significant portion of its upcoming SKR token to users of its Seeker smartphone.

The announcement marks a major milestone for the Solana Mobile ecosystem as it transitions from early adoption into a token-powered governance and incentive model.

With the SKR launch scheduled for January 21, Solana Mobile is positioning the Seeker phone as a central gateway to crypto-native mobile experiences.

The airdrop is designed to reward early participants who helped validate the concept of crypto-first smartphones.

Airdrop details and snapshot confirmation

Solana Mobile has confirmed that 20% of the total SKR token supply has been set aside specifically for an airdrop.

The allocation is intended for both Seeker phone users and developers who actively participated in the ecosystem.

According to the company, a snapshot has already been taken to determine eligibility for the airdrop.

This means participation during Seeker Season 1 is the key factor in qualifying for SKR tokens.

Solana Mobile has not yet released exact individual allocation figures, but further details on claims are expected soon.

The company has emphasised that the airdrop is meant to recognise real usage rather than speculative behaviour.

This approach reinforces SKR’s role as a utility and governance token rather than a short-term promotional asset.

Seeker Season 1 proves crypto mobile demand

The airdrop follows the conclusion of the first-ever Seeker Season.

Season 1 recorded participation from more than 100,000 Seeker users.

During the season, users interacted with over 265 decentralised applications.

The ecosystem processed more than 9 million transactions over the period.

Total on-chain volume during Season 1 reached approximately $2.6 billion.

Solana Mobile described these results as proof that crypto-native mobile devices can scale.

The data also demonstrates sustained engagement rather than one-time experimentation.

This performance set the foundation for introducing SKR as a coordination mechanism for the platform.

Transition into Seeker Season 2

Alongside the SKR announcement, Solana Mobile confirmed the launch of Seeker Season 2.

Season 2 begins immediately following the conclusion of the first season.

While full details are still forthcoming, the company has indicated that new incentives are coming.

This suggests that SKR will play an active role in future engagement and rewards.

The timing positions the token launch as a bridge between past participation and future growth.

By tying seasons together, Solana Mobile is encouraging long-term involvement rather than one-off usage.

SKR token launch and utility

The SKR token is scheduled to launch on January 21 at 2:00 a.m. UTC.

In the United States, this corresponds to January 20 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

SKR is designed to function as both a governance and utility token within the Seeker ecosystem.

Token holders will be able to delegate SKR to network participants known as Guardians.

Guardians play a role in securing the ecosystem, verifying devices, and curating the decentralised app store.

Delegation is also expected to unlock staking-style rewards for participants.

This model aims to decentralise decision-making while maintaining ecosystem quality.

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• The proposed trust bank would operate solely within stablecoin services under OCC supervision.
• USD1 has reached over $3.3 billion in circulation within a year of launch.
• The stablecoin is fully backed by US dollars and short-term US Treasury assets.

World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm linked to the Trump family, has applied for a national trust bank charter, a move that would place its stablecoin issuance and custody activities within the traditional banking regulatory framework.

USD1’s circulation rapidly increased to more than $3.3 billion within a year of its issuance.

Trust bank filing

According to filings with the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, World Liberty Financial has applied to launch World Liberty Trust Company through its subsidiary WLTC Holdings LLC.

The proposal outlines a national trust bank designed solely for stablecoin-related activity.

The trust bank would be authorised to issue, redeem, and custody USD1. It would not offer traditional lending or retail banking services.

Instead, it would operate within the long-established OCC trust bank framework, which requires strict asset segregation, independent reserve oversight, and regular examinations.

If approved, World Liberty Financial would operate under the same federal supervision applied to traditional trust institutions.

Stablecoin services

World Liberty Trust Company plans to offer three core services under US regulatory supervision.

These include minting and redeeming USD1, enabling conversion between US dollars and the stablecoin, and providing custody for USD1 and other approved stablecoins.

At launch, minting and redemption are expected to be fee-free.

All services would follow anti-money laundering rules, sanctions screening, and enhanced security controls.

The structure is also designed to align with the proposed GENIUS Act, which aims to establish clear federal standards for stablecoin issuers operating in the US.

USD1 growth

USD1 has expanded quickly since its launch, reaching about $3.3 billion in circulation within its first year. This growth places it among the fastest-scaling stablecoins so far.

The token is fully backed by US dollars and short-term US Treasury assets held with regulated financial institutions.

The stablecoin already operates across multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain, TRON, Aptos, and AB Core.

It is also listed on major exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase, making it accessible to both retail and institutional users.

Regulatory pathway

If the OCC grants approval, the trust bank would initially focus on institutional clients seeking regulated stablecoin issuance and custody services.

The review process is expected to be detailed, covering capital adequacy, compliance infrastructure, and risk management systems.

The move follows earlier steps by US regulators to engage with crypto firms.

In December last year, the OCC issued conditional approvals to firms including Fidelity Digital Assets, Ripple, Paxos, and Circle.

More recently, Crypto.com and Coinbase have also submitted applications, reflecting a broader industry push toward federally regulated crypto banking structures.

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