Kategorie: Crypto Markets

• The initial strategy focuses on USDC stablecoin lending through overcollateralised pools on Morpho.
• Bitwise said the strategy currently targets returns of up to 6%, depending on market conditions.
• The launch signals a broader shift by asset managers toward building and managing on-chain infrastructure.

Bitwise has taken a clear step beyond exchange-traded products by launching its first non-custodial on-chain yield strategy, signalling a deeper push into decentralised finance infrastructure.

The firm confirmed the launch on Jan. 26, positioning the new product as an on-chain vault curated by Bitwise but executed entirely through smart contracts.

Users retain control of their assets at all times, while Bitwise oversees how capital is allocated across decentralised lending markets.

The move highlights how traditional crypto asset managers are increasingly experimenting with direct DeFi exposure rather than relying solely on regulated wrappers.

Non-custodial vault structure

The new product is structured as a non-custodial vault, meaning users do not transfer control of their funds to Bitwise or to any centralised intermediary.

Instead, assets remain in user-controlled wallets and are deployed on-chain according to predefined rules.

Bitwise manages the strategy parameters, but all activity takes place transparently on public blockchains.

This setup is designed to appeal to investors who want exposure to on-chain yield without sacrificing custody.

All positions are visible on-chain, allowing users to track where funds are deployed in real time.

The firm has framed this as a way to combine professional portfolio management with the core principles of decentralised finance.

Stablecoin yield focus

The initial vault focuses on stablecoin lending, starting with USD Coin USDC.

Deposited funds are allocated to overcollateralised lending pools, where borrowers must post excess collateral to secure loans.

This structure is intended to limit counterparty risk compared with undercollateralised lending models.

The strategy is built on Morpho, a decentralised lending protocol that allows asset managers to design customised lending strategies while relying on standardised smart contracts.

According to Bitwise, the vault currently targets returns of up to 6% annually, depending on market conditions.

The firm has emphasised that yields will fluctuate based on on-chain supply and demand rather than being fixed or guaranteed.

Risk management on-chain

Bitwise said strategy design and ongoing risk oversight are led by Jonathan Man, CFA, who heads the firm’s multi-strategy solutions group.

The vault draws on Bitwise’s existing research, trading, and risk infrastructure, which has been developed through years of managing crypto investment products.

Smart contract execution ensures that positions are managed automatically according to predefined rules, while transparency allows users to independently verify activity.

Bitwise has not disclosed performance data so far, noting that the vault is still in its early stages.

Asset managers eye DeFi infrastructure

The Morpho vault represents Bitwise’s first direct move into non-custodial DeFi strategies.

Until now, the firm has primarily been associated with exchange-traded products and research aimed at traditional investors.

This launch marks a shift toward building and managing on-chain tools rather than offering exposure solely through off-chain products.

Morpho has gained traction as a platform for professional-grade DeFi strategies, enabling managers to deploy capital programmatically while maintaining on-chain transparency.

Bitwise has said it views on-chain vaults as a growing segment of the crypto market and plans to explore additional strategies over time.

While the firm has not shared timelines for expansion, it has described the vault as an early step in a longer on-chain roadmap.

As more capital flows into blockchain-based finance, Bitwise’s move suggests that asset managers are increasingly treating DeFi as core financial infrastructure rather than a peripheral experiment.

The post Bitwise launches non-custodial DeFi vault as asset managers move on-chain appeared first on CoinJournal.

• AXS price jumped more than 12% to above $2.50 on January 26, 2026.
• The gains saw Axie Infinity outpace the broader gaming sector.
• WEMIX and Ronin also rose, but top tokens like The Sandbox and Immutable were flat.

Axie Infinity’s native token, AXS, has surged by double digits in the past 24 hours, extending its recent gains.

The uptick also marked a notable rebound for the gaming token, after prices revisited support around $2.00 over the weekend. All this happens as investors weigh opportunities in a largely subdued cryptocurrency market.

Gold rocketed to record highs above $5,000 and silver rallied above $100, moves that have stolen the shine from crypto, with Bitcoin labouring under $90,000.

Axie Infinity price jumps 12%

The overall crypto picture portends caution, and capital flight shows this as seen in recent weeks. However, even as whales pile into precious metals, some altcoins like Axie Infinity are defying immediate sentiment.

On Monday, AXS climbed by more than 12% to hit highs of $2.54.

This double-digit spike over the past 24 hours allowed buyers to attempt a retest of $3.00, which also acted as a hurdle when Axie Infinity exploded last week.

However, while AXS delivered a strong double-digit performance, most gaming sector tokens exhibited minimal movement. Most remained flatlined or dipping slightly, including The Sandbox, Gala, Decentraland and Immutable.

Exceptions to this include WEMIX, which saw gains of around 5% in the same period, and Ronin (RON), which was posting modest gains of about 6% amid low overall activity.

The broader gaming category is still recovering from the last cycle’s challenges. Crypto analyst Zack shared reasons why the Axie Infinity price is surging in a post on X.

$AXS ripping higher feels ironic — it’s the exact ecosystem most people had already written off.
So what actually flipped the script?
– SLP inflation finally shut down
– bAXS introduced as the new reward layer (non-transferable, reputation-based, anti-bot by design)
– Atia’s… pic.twitter.com/qUjUTrlQBC

— Zack (@0xZackon) January 26, 2026

Can AXS hold onto gains?

Axie Infinity’s momentum stems from ongoing ecosystem updates and whale accumulation, positioning it ahead in the GameFi revival.

Yet, sustained holding depends on macroeconomic factors and sector-wide adoption. Investors will eye upcoming developments for confirmation of this rally’s longevity.

The technical outlook for AXS, therefore, remains cautiously optimistic in the short term, with resistance levels near the $2.90-$3.00 and at $5.10 levels.

AXS bulls may target these levels next, provided price holds above $2.00.

However, a downside flip looms if broader crypto sentiment sours further, potentially testing lower support zones. Key support levels lie at $1.86 and $1.20.

The bearish outlook strengthens with indicators such as the negative MACD and RSI. Currently, the momentum indicators signal sell-off pressure. Profit-taking by recent buyers also poses a risk.

AXS price reached highs of $10 in January 2025, before plummeting sharply. Meanwhile, the all-time high for the token is $165, which it reached in November 2021.

The post AXS price pumps 12% as Axie Infinity outpaces gaming sector tokens appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Algorand price rose nearly 9% to above $0.12.
• The token posted a sharp rebound from weekly lows amid a fresh daily volume spike.
• Buyers could target $0.20 next, but profit-taking is likely.

Algorand is among the altcoins to post slight gains on Monday as top coins faced downward pressure.

The ALGO token, which touched lows of $.011 on Sunday, jumped to near $0.13 amid a notable volume-driven recovery.

Bulls are likely to fancy continuation from their weekly trough.

As data from CoinMarketCap shows, ALGO has climbed by over 9% in the past 24 hours, erasing much of the prior week’s losses. Daily volume was up 170% to over $69 million.

However, while buyers have pushed prices above $0.12, they remain well off monthly highs near $0.15.

Sentiment is capped within the confines of what is happening around the broader market.

Crypto analysts at QCP Group shared insights on how investors currently view the ecosystem.

“The pressure looks macro-led rather than crypto-native, with tariff rhetoric, US fiscal brinkmanship and renewed nerves around potential US-Japan action to steady the yen stacking into a familiar cocktail of uncertainty and de-risking,” the analysts noted.

According to the platform, the week is laden with key events to watch.

Apart from the looming US government shutdown, other factors are major tech earnings and the Fed decision expected this midweek.

They believe volatility will likely stay sticky and broader price action “choppy until macro clarity improves.”

Algorand price gains amid key developments

There’s no momentum building across the broader cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin’s struggle below $90,000 key to the downbeat sentiment.

But recent developments seem to have pointed buyers towards the layer-1 token ALGO.

Increased transaction throughput, developer adoption, and network activities, like Algorand’s Verifiable Random Function, all give bulls an upper hand.

VRF offers a cryptographic feature enabling secure, tamper-proof randomness for decentralized applications like gaming, lotteries, and NFTs.

The team recently announced a major impact of VRF in a post on X.

ALGO price forecast

Technical indicators, such as a Relative Strength Index (RSI) upsloping from oversold conditions, suggest a bullish rebound is likely.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator shows bears remain in sight.

However, the histogram is signalling weakening bearish momentum, and also shows a potential bullish crossover on the daily chart.

The 50-day exponential moving average sits at $0.129 and is the first resistance level.

If prices break above $0.15, continuation above $0.20 could open up a path to yearly highs of $0.40.

Short-term, the outlook might include pullbacks amid profit-taking. The zone around $0.11 to $0.10 is critical to the bulls’ ambition.

The post Algorand price bounces on 170% volume surge appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Solana price hovered near $122 on January 26, 2026.
• ETFs’ inflows fail to influence SOL price.
• Technical indicators signal a bearish continuation and likely dump to $100.

Solana’s price has faced mounting downward pressure, with SOL failing to hold onto gains seen at the start of the year.

On January 26, the altcoin traded around $122, down on the day and in tandem with the broader cryptocurrency market struggles.

While River (RIVER) skyrocketed, and Algorand flipped green, Solana aligned with Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP’s latest price struggles.

The SOL token changed hands nearly 8% down from the prior week, losses that persist despite positive institutional signals.

Analysts are largely bullish, but the overall bearish trend concerns a potential short-term dump to the critical $100 support level.

Solana continues to attract institutional interest

SOL’s price dip comes as top coins shed capital from various investment products.

But despite institutional investors showing selective enthusiasm last week amid a $1.73 billion outflow hole, Solana stood out as one of those to record inflows.

According to CoinShares’ report, investors still put over $17 million in SOL products, including a spot exchange-traded fund.

Bitcoin saw over $1 billion in outflows in the same period.

Digital asset investment products recorded US$1.73B in outflows last week.@Bitcoin, @ethereum and XRP (@Ripple) all saw outflows totalling US$1.09B, US$630M and US$18.2M respectively, highlighting negative sentiment was broad-based. @solana bucked this trend with inflows of… pic.twitter.com/tefIwdc2zW

— CoinShares (@CoinSharesCo) January 26, 2026

A week earlier, digital asset products recorded $2.17 billion in inflows, with Solana attracting over $45.5 million.

“Dwindling expectations for interest rate cuts, negative price momentum and disappointment that digital assets have not participated in the debasement trade yet have likely fuelled these outflows,” said James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares.

The Solana-specific interest highlights its appeal amid broader market caution.

However, bulls have failed to stem the price slide from highs of $133 in the past week.

Factors like profit-taking after 2025 highs and macroeconomic headwinds appear to override these inflows, keeping SOL within a bearish hold.

SOL price prediction: Bears eye $100

With price touching the psychological support level of $120 again, analysts say bears could target $100 next.

Sellers last hovered in this region in April 2025, with the bounce that followed pushing prices to above $200.

The downtrend risks such an extended move, and technical indicators reinforce the overall bearish outlook.

For instance, the MACD displays negative momentum and histogram divergence signaling further downside.

Elsewhere, the daily RSI hovers neutral in the 40-46 bracket. Although not decisively oversold, it’s not supportive of a quick rebound.

Price could drop lower if the pressure exposes buyers to key levels around $118 and $112 if profit hunters take out the $120 mark.

Network fundamentals remaining robust is a play for buyers, both in the short-term and long-term. In this case, a sustained rebound above $130 could accelerate gains toward $150-$180.

The price level of $200 is the main target.

The post Solana price prediction: SOL risks drop to $100 despite institutional inflows appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Coinbase is weighing an equity investment in Coinone as the Korean exchange explores a partial stake sale.
• Coinone’s valuation is under pressure from losses even as it invests in AI and new trading features.
• Deal activity is accelerating across South Korea’s crypto exchanges as global players seek regulated access.

Coinbase is weighing a potential equity investment in Coinone, South Korea’s third-largest crypto exchange, as the platform explores options that could include selling part of its controlling shareholder’s stake, according to local media and industry sources.

A local outlet reported on Sunday that Coinone has put itself on the market and is discussing scenarios tied to Chairman Cha Myung-hoon’s holdings.

Cha controls 53.44% through his personal stake and his holding company, The One Group.

The possible investment has quickly gained attention because it comes as South Korea’s crypto exchange sector enters a new phase of dealmaking, with major financial groups and global platforms looking for ways to secure access to regulated won-based trading infrastructure.

Coinone sale speculation grows after leadership shift

Sale chatter around Coinone has picked up after Cha returned to frontline management just four months after stepping down as chief executive.

Some observers have interpreted his return as a move that could support a stake transaction, particularly as the discussions reportedly link directly to his controlling position.

Coinone has not confirmed that it is pursuing a full sale.

However, the reports suggest it is exploring multiple structures around ownership, leaving the door open for partial stake sales, new strategic investors, or broader shifts in shareholder control.

Losses weigh on valuation even as tech upgrades accelerate

Coinone has said Cha stepped back into management to sharpen the exchange’s technological competitiveness as it nears a double-digit market share.

The company has highlighted investment in areas such as artificial intelligence as part of its product and infrastructure buildout.

At the same time, Coinone’s losses have continued to pressure its valuation.

Seoul Economic Daily put Coinone’s book value at 75.2B won, or about $52M, at the end of the third quarter, below Com2uS’s reported acquisition cost.

Ownership attention has also turned to Com2uS, the South Korean gaming group that accumulated a 38.42% stake in Coinone between 2021 and 2022.

The size of that holding means any transaction involving Coinone’s control structure would likely be closely watched by market participants tracking how shareholder dynamics may evolve.

Coinbase visit highlights hunt for Korea-compliant partners

Industry sources say Coinbase plans to visit South Korea this week and meet major local players, including Coinone, as it looks for partners to build products aligned with Korean rules.

The reported trip has added momentum to speculation, as South Korea remains one of the world’s most active retail crypto markets but also one of the hardest for foreign firms to enter directly.

In that context, strategic investment can offer a more workable path, allowing overseas platforms to collaborate with licensed local exchanges rather than attempting to build a standalone operation from scratch.

The reports have also circulated widely in the crypto community.

Korea crypto exchange deal wave gathers pace

Coinbase’s reported interest comes as dealmaking accelerates across South Korea’s crypto exchange sector, driven by the value of licensed platforms and their access to won-denominated trading rails.

Traditional finance groups and big tech players have been circling the market, as consolidation becomes a defining theme.

Regulators recently cleared Binance’s long-running effort to take over GOPAX, a move that has helped fuel a wider rush of takeover interest.

Naver Financial agreed to acquire Dunamu, the operator of market leader Upbit, in an all-stock deal, while local media have also reported Mirae Asset Securities is pursuing Korbit.

Coinone has attempted to stand out by building new product features.

In Aug. 2025, it launched what it called the country’s first flexible Bitcoin staking service, allowing users to earn rewards without locking up their holdings.

Still, a possible Coinbase tie-up is emerging at a time when South Korea’s exchange landscape is shifting quickly, and when global players are searching for regulated entry points into one of Asia’s most closely watched crypto markets.

The post Coinbase weighs Coinone stake as South Korea crypto deal activity surges appeared first on CoinJournal.