Axie Infinity price jumped 13% to near $1.30 as bulls extended gains to over 30% this past week.
Top gaming ecosystem tokens, including Gala and The Sandbox continue to lag broader market.
AXS price could rally to $2.25 if momentum from the four-year low holds.
The Axie Infinity token has bounced more than 13% in the past 24 hours amid a notable recovery from recent losses that pushed AXS to lows last seen in 2021.
As renewed investor interest allows bulls to bounce off a four-year low, the technical picture points to a potential upside continuation.
Sentiment across crypto, with several altcoins attempting reversals after extended periods of pressure, may add to bulls’ advantage.
Axie Infinity outpaces other gaming tokens
Market data during early US hours on January 16, 2025 showed Axie Infinity price hovering around $1.23. However, buying pressure had the token trading at highs of $1.30, not far off the weekly resistance level around $1.35 reached on Jan. 14.
In late December, Axie Infinity fell to $0.78, the lowest mark since the breakout from $0.73 to highs of $1.18 in January 2021.
The token has surged by over 30% in the past week, with a revisit to the $1.00 level before another bounce reflecting fresh buying momentum.
A look at the gaming tokens ecosystem, CoinMarketCap data shows AXS to be outpacing peers in the past 24 hours and week.
Immutable, Gala, Floki, The Sandbox, Decentraland and MultiversX are all struggling. Can Axie Infinity continue to buck the trend?
Axie Infinity price forecast
While AXS is not fully out of the woods following its severe drawdown since it peaked at $165, the bounce from under $1 may test bears’ resolve.
Positive developments within the Axie Infinity ecosystem, including economic adjustments and upcoming gameplay enhancements, might combine with overall market sentiment to bolster upward price action.
For instance, Axie Infinity has introduced an App Token (bAXS), which means that instead of AXS, holders can now hold bAXS.
This token can be staked or spent directly in Axie Core. Analysts say the launch of bAXS is a major step for Axie Infinity, and adoption will benefit AXS.
X’s API ban erased Yaps, removing most of the real token utility of KAITO.
Insider wallet transfers before the shutdown intensified sell pressure.
KAITO’s price has fallen below key support, leaving the token near all-time lows.
Kaito has officially begun winding down its Yaps product after losing access to the X API, marking a major turning point for the project and its token economy.
X cited a surge in AI-generated spam and low-quality engagement as the primary reason for revoking API access from so-called “reward-for-posting” or InfoFi apps.
Why X’s move forced Kaito to pull down Yaps
Yaps was Kaito’s flagship product and the core driver of user engagement across the ecosystem.
The program rewarded users with KAITO tokens for creating and interacting with crypto-related posts on X.
For many participants, Yaps represented the main reason to hold and use the KAITO token.
According to multiple industry estimates, Yaps accounted for roughly 70% of KAITO’s practical token utility.
Hence, the shutdown triggered an immediate and severe demand shock for the token.
Kaito confirmed that the Yaps incentive program and its associated leaderboards would be sunset rather than modified.
The company stated that the product could not operate in compliance with X’s new API restrictions.
This forced exit exposed the risks of building token-driven engagement models on centralized social platforms.
Thousands of users were affected by the move almost overnight.
Data shared by market trackers indicates that approximately 157,000 Yaps-associated accounts were banned or disabled following the policy enforcement.
The sudden loss of users accelerated selling pressure as participants exited positions tied to the discontinued program.
Market reaction and insider trading concerns
The market reaction to the Yaps shutdown was swift and decisive.
KAITO fell 19.5% in a 24-hour period, sharply underperforming the broader crypto market, which declined by just 1.05% over the same timeframe.
The token dropped to around $0.5449, sliding close to its all-time low of $0.4717 recorded in December.
Trading volume surged to over $153 million in 24 hours, representing more than the project’s daily market capitalization turnover.
This spike in volume signaled conviction-driven selling rather than a temporary volatility spike.
Sentiment deteriorated further after allegations of insider trading began circulating within the crypto community.
On-chain analysts flagged a wallet linked to the Kaito team that deposited 5 million KAITO tokens, worth roughly $2.7 million at the time, to Binance.
The transfer occurred approximately seven days before the public announcement of the Yaps shutdown.
This deposit represented nearly 2% of the circulating supply and was the largest exchange inflow for KAITO in the last 90 days.
While no wrongdoing has been proven, the timing raised concerns about information asymmetry.
Retail investors interpreted the move as a potential loss of confidence from insiders.
Trust erosion compounded the downside pressure already created by the loss of token utility.
At the same time, Kaito is attempting to reposition its business model.
The company announced a pivot toward Kaito Studio, a product focused on connecting brands with vetted creators.
Unlike Yaps, the new model emphasizes quality-driven marketing and analytics rather than mass token incentives.
This transition reduces reliance on retail participation but introduces uncertainty around KAITO’s future role.
It remains unclear whether brands will be required to use KAITO as a payment or settlement token.
Without a clearly defined demand loop, token value accrual becomes harder to justify in the near term.
KAITO price analysis and ecosystem transition
From a technical perspective, KAITO confirmed a bearish breakdown.
The price slipped below the key $0.60 support level, which had acted as both a psychological and structural floor.
Momentum indicators have turned decisively negative following the breakdown.
The MACD histogram has flipped bearish while the RSI hovered near 44, suggesting further downside remained possible.
Algorithmic trading systems also appear to accelerate selling after the $0.60 support was lost.
With limited historical support below current levels, the next major technical target sits near $0.47.
Kaito price forecast
KAITO currently trades at approximately $0.5449 with a market capitalization near $131 million and a fully diluted valuation of approximately $540 million.
The wide gap between circulating and total supply highlights ongoing dilution risk.
In the short term, price action remains fragile as long as KAITO trades below the $0.60 resistance zone.
A failure to hold above $0.50 could open the door to a retest of the $0.47 all-time low.
Any relief rallies are likely to face heavy selling pressure from trapped holders near prior support levels.
A bullish reversal would require a sustained reclaim of $0.60 accompanied by declining sell volume.
Fundamentally, clarity around insider wallet activity and transparent communication from the team are critical.
Longer-term upside depends on whether Kaito Studio can generate real demand that directly involves the KAITO token.
Until that narrative is proven, KAITO is likely to remain volatile and sentiment-driven.
For now, the market appears to be pricing in caution rather than confidence.
Only VASP-registered platforms will stay available on the Play Store.
Local exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb could gain more market share.
Some traders may shift towards DeFi and non-custodial wallets.
South Korea’s crypto market is facing a major shift in how traders access overseas centralised exchanges.
Many foreign cryptocurrency exchange (CEX) apps are expected to become unavailable for download or unable to receive updates, through South Korea’s Google Play Store.
The change is linked to a Google policy update that ties app availability to local licensing requirements.
As a result, only platforms that meet South Korea’s regulatory standards will remain listed.
While the move does not fully block international trading services, it creates new barriers for users who rely on global exchanges through mobile apps.
Google Play tightens crypto app compliance rules
Google’s updated policy connects crypto app distribution to regulatory approval in each region.
In South Korea, that means crypto exchanges and wallet providers must hold valid local registration and follow strict compliance rules.
Only exchanges registered as Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) in South Korea can continue operating normally on Google Play.
This includes meeting tough anti-money laundering (AML) measures and security obligations required by the Korean financial authorities.
Since only a limited number of overseas platforms have secured VASP status in the country, most foreign exchanges will be blocked from new downloads and future app updates on the Play Store.
This approach effectively makes Android app access dependent on domestic licensing, even if the exchange continues offering services elsewhere.
Overseas platforms remain accessible but less convenient
South Korean users are not completely cut off from foreign exchanges.
They can still use overseas platforms through mobile web browsers or manually install apps using APK files.
However, browser-based trading tends to be less smooth for active users, with weaker performance and fewer app-level features.
APK sideloading also brings extra risks because it bypasses Google Play’s built-in security checks.
Users installing crypto apps outside official channels may face higher exposure to malware, phishing attacks, and compromised applications.
That creates added pressure on traders who want mobile access but also need a safe environment for managing funds.
Domestic exchanges could gain more market control
The policy change may also reshape South Korea’s crypto market structure by limiting competition from global platforms.
With fewer overseas apps available through Google Play, domestic exchanges such as Upbit and Bithumb could strengthen their position.
A larger share of trading activity may shift to local platforms simply because they remain easier to download, update, and use on Android devices.
This could give domestic exchanges more influence over trading volume, token listings, and fee structures.
Over time, reduced international competition could also affect how quickly new features and products reach Korean users, especially if access to offshore platforms becomes less practical for everyday trading.
DeFi alternatives may grow but scrutiny remains
With centralised mobile access restricted, some traders may look towards decentralised finance tools.
Decentralised exchanges and non-custodial wallets are not subject to the same Google Play licensing requirement, which could make them appealing to users seeking wider access to digital assets.
However, this does not remove the risks linked to regulation and tax compliance.
South Korean authorities have continued tightening reporting requirements and enforcement across the crypto sector.
That means users shifting into DeFi still face uncertainty, especially as policymakers focus more on transparency and monitoring.
How global crypto exchanges may adapt
Overseas exchanges may not leave the South Korean market completely.
Instead, some could explore ways to stay active by partnering with, or taking equity stakes in, Korean firms that already hold VASP licences.
A past example is Binance’s approach with Gopax, which signalled how global platforms may use local relationships to maintain a presence in tightly regulated markets.
Even so, any exchange that becomes compliant would still face restrictions on what it can offer.
Products like crypto derivatives remain prohibited under South Korean regulations, limiting the range of services available even under a licensed structure.
For South Korean users, the result may be a market where mobile access increasingly depends on domestic rules, pushing trading activity towards locally approved platforms.
Pepe changed hands around $0.0000058, having dropped 9% amid sharp declines for memecoins.
Dogecoin and Shiba Inu also shed gains, while Fartcoin plunged 13%.
Memecoins are struggling as privacy coins explode.
Pepe ranked among the weakest performers over the past 24 hours as momentum in the cryptocurrency market’s memecoin segment faded.
The pullback has not been limited to Pepe. Several leading memecoins that posted strong gains earlier in January 2026 have also retreated, as investors lock in profits amid broader market repositioning.
A shift in sentiment toward privacy-focused cryptocurrencies has coincided with declines in tokens such as Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Bonk.
Selling pressure has been more pronounced in some smaller names, with memecoins including Fartcoin recording double-digit losses.
Pepe price falls 9%
Frog-themed memecoin Pepe was down 9% in early trading during the US hours on Thursday as the broader category notched widespread declines.
The token traded at around $0.0000059, down from recent highs of $0.0000065, with sell-off pressure mounting amid heightened selling activity.
Data from CoinMarketCap shows daily trading volume was up 32% to over $795 million, indicating likely downward intensity.
A pullback could trigger more losses, giving further impetus to bears.
Earlier in the year, PEPE registered a strong surge as upward momentum engulfed memecoins.
Speculative inflows and broader memecoin enthusiasm catalysed these movements.
However, as with most other tokens in the sector, profit realisation after rallies has allowed for a fresh correction.
Pepe’s price reached highs of $0.0000070 on January 14, 2025, but could now revisit lows of $0.0000055.
Dogecoin and Shiba Inu shed gains
The broader sell-off in memecoins pushed the category’s total market capitalisation down nearly 4% to $44.9 billion, while daily trading volume fell 19% to about $5.7 billion.
Dogecoin (DOGE) saw mild profit-taking, with the token down about 5% at $0.14.
Its market capitalisation stood at $23.9 billion, keeping it the largest memecoin by value, though prices have now given up gains logged when Bitcoin climbed to highs near $97,000 on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Shiba Inu (SHIB), the Ethereum-based token that had earlier rallied alongside the broader market, was trading around $0.0000085, down roughly 4% over the past 24 hours.
Solana-based Bonk (BONK) was last near $0.0000105, down 7% on the day, while Official Trump (TRUMP) slipped about 5% to around $5.43.
Floki (FLOKI) was among the worst performers, sliding about 8% over the past 24 hours as its price fell to roughly $0.000051.
SPX6900 (SPX), a satirical, anti-establishment memecoin that surged earlier in its trading history, also remained under pressure, changing hands near $0.57, more than 10% lower on the day.
Pudgy Penguins, a memecoin linked to the popular NFT collection, was trading around $0.012, down about 7% in the past 24 hours.
Fartcoin recorded sharper losses, falling roughly 13% as it pared gains to around $0.37.
The successful completion of the 34th quarterly BNB token burn by BNB Chain marks the first burn of 2026, according to details BNB Foundation shared.
Burns of the token, currently the fifth largest cryptocurrency by market cap, continue the project’s longstanding deflationary strategy.
BNB Chain managed to permanently remove a total of 1,371,803.77 BNB from circulation.
The more than 1.37 million tokens account for BNB in two components: 1,371,703.67 BNB from the actual burn and 100.1 BNB in a pioneer burn. At the time of the burn, the destroyed tokens were worth about $1.27 billion.
Binance’s token burn utilises an Auto-Burn mechanism, which automatically calculates the amount based on BNB’s prevailing price and the number of blocks generated on BNB Smart Chain during the quarter.
“The BNB Auto-Burn provides an independently auditable, objective process. The figures are reported quarterly, and the mechanism is independent of the Binance centralized exchange,” the foundation wrote in a blog post.
Following the BNB Chain Fusion, quarterly burns now occur directly on BSC, with tokens sent to an irreversible “black hole” address.
BNB total supply falls to 136.36 million
BNB burns aim to gradually decrease the token’s total supply to 100 million BNB, with the latest cut leaving the total supply at roughly 136.36 million BNB.
In the market, a reduction to a token’s circulating supply often means enhanced scarcity and support for long-term value growth.
With BNB, regular burns towards 100 million tokens come amid rising network activity.
BNB Chain has witnessed notable milestones with upgrades and web3 applications, particularly as real-world assets come on-chain.
The price of BNB rose sharply in 2025 amid this growth, reaching an all-time high above $1,300.
Overall market sell-off, which also saw Bitcoin correct from a peak of $126,000, cascaded to BNB and saw its price fall to under $800. Gains mean the main target in the short term is a retest of $1,000 and the ATH.
