Kategorie: Ethereum News

Ethereum news about the ETH blockchain and its crypto ecosystem.

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Stablecoins, Base and ‘everything exchange’: a look inside Coinbase’s strategy to expand in 2026

  • Stablecoins and the Base network sit at the core of its plans through 2026.
  • The strategy places Coinbase closer to retail brokerages and derivatives platforms.
  • Security and support concerns remain a constraint as the platform broadens.

Coinbase is entering 2026 with a platform that looks increasingly different from a traditional crypto exchange.

The company is placing greater emphasis on stablecoins, its Ethereum layer-2 network Base, and a wider range of trading products that stretch well beyond digital tokens.

The shift reflects how crypto platforms are adapting as growth in spot trading cools and competition intensifies.

Rather than positioning itself only as a gateway to cryptocurrencies, Coinbase is aligning its business around broader financial access, with trading, payments, and onchain activity increasingly converging inside a single ecosystem.

Platform strategy shift

In a New Year’s post, Brian Armstrong reiterated Coinbase’s ambition to build what it calls an “everything exchange.”

The strategy focuses on expanding product lines so users can trade and interact with multiple asset classes from one interface.

That direction was formalised at the company’s year-end conference in December, where Coinbase rolled out stock trading and prediction markets.

These launches marked a clear move beyond cryptocurrencies and into areas traditionally dominated by retail brokerages and derivatives platforms.

Coinbase executives have framed the rollout of stock trading on the main app as a key step toward enabling round-the-clock access to markets, with crypto, equities, and exchange-traded funds sitting side by side.

Expansion beyond crypto

Coinbase’s product push is not limited to its exchange. The company has rebranded its wallet as an “everything app,” adding social networking features and deeper onchain functionality.

The aim is to keep users active across more use cases, rather than relying solely on trading volumes.

The company has also launched onchain prediction markets in partnership with Kalshi, allowing users to participate in markets tied to real-world events.

Alongside this, Coinbase has flagged plans for perpetual futures that would cover both crypto assets and stocks.

These additions move the platform further into direct competition with firms that operate across equities, derivatives, and commodities, rather than only crypto-native rivals.

Stablecoins and Base

Stablecoins form a central part of Coinbase’s longer-term roadmap.

The company has described them as essential financial infrastructure, particularly for cross-border payments, payroll, and settlement.

Armstrong has said banks are likely to seek interest-bearing stablecoin products over time, underlining Coinbase’s view that stablecoins will play a growing role in mainstream finance.

Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network, is positioned as another pillar of this strategy.

The network is designed to support consumer applications, creators, and onchain services that can scale beyond Ethereum’s main chain.

However, Base’s handling of creator coins has attracted criticism from some developers, who argue the approach risks prioritising viral growth while the company promotes creators as a key onboarding channel.

The post Stablecoins, Base and ‘everything exchange’: a look inside Coinbase’s strategy to expand in 2026 appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Unleash Protocol hacker moves stolen funds through Tornado Cash

  • Hacker Protocol drained 1,337 ETH via compromised Unleash multisig governance.
  • The stolen funds have been sent through Tornado Cash to obscure transaction trails.
  • The breach is limited to Unleash, and Story Protocol infrastructure is unaffected.

A hacker who recently exploited Unleash Protocol has begun laundering stolen funds through the Ethereum-based privacy service Tornado Cash, according to on-chain data and blockchain security firms.

The attacker is attempting to obscure the trail of roughly 1,337 ETH, valued at close to $4 million, drained from Unleash earlier this week.

Security companies PeckShield and CertiK have reported that the funds were transferred to Ethereum and broken into multiple batches, often around 100 ETH each, before being deposited into Tornado Cash, a well-known crypto mixing protocol.

Governance takeover led to the Unleash exploit

Unleash confirmed on Tuesday that it had suffered a significant security breach, resulting in approximately $3.9 million in losses.

The protocol has paused operations and launched a forensic investigation into the incident.

According to Unleash, preliminary findings indicate that an externally owned wallet gained unauthorised administrative control over the protocol via its multisignature (multisig) governance system.

The attacker then executed an unauthorised contract upgrade that enabled withdrawals of user funds without proper approvals.

“This upgrade enabled asset withdrawals that were not approved by the Unleash team and occurred outside our intended governance and operational procedures,” the team said in a statement posted on X.

Security analysts suggest the compromise may have been the result of phishing or another form of social engineering that allowed the attacker to gain control over governance keys, effectively bypassing standard safeguards.

The stolen assets bridged and mixed

The stolen assets reportedly included Wrapped IP (WIP), USDC, Wrapped Ether (WETH), stIP, and vIP tokens.

On-chain analysis shows that most of these assets were first bridged to Ethereum, then consolidated into ETH and routed through Tornado Cash, an approach commonly used by hackers to hinder tracking and recovery efforts.

CertiK said it initially detected suspicious withdrawals of WETH and IP-related tokens that were sent to an externally owned address created using Safe’s SafeProxyFactory, a popular smart contract framework for multisig wallets.

No broader ecosystem impact, says Unleash

Unleash emphasised that the breach was confined to its own governance and administrative contracts.

The Unleash team stated there is currently no evidence that Story Protocol, the Layer 1 blockchain Unleash is built on, was compromised.

“The impact appears limited to Unleash-specific contracts and administrative controls,” the Unleash team said, adding that Story Protocol’s validators, core infrastructure, and contracts remain unaffected.

Unleash is one of the higher-profile applications in the Story Protocol ecosystem, which focuses on tokenised intellectual property and on-chain IP management.

PIP Labs, the company behind Story Protocol, has raised around $140 million in funding from prominent investors.

Users warned as investigation continues

The Unleash team has urged users not to interact with the protocol while the investigation is ongoing and said it will provide updates on the incident and potential remediation measures as more verified information becomes available.

As of the time of writing, Unleash had not disclosed whether it plans to pursue fund recovery efforts or compensation for affected users, and the use of Tornado Cash by the hacker may significantly complicate any attempts to trace or reclaim the stolen assets.

The post Unleash Protocol hacker moves stolen funds through Tornado Cash appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Ethereum price prediction for January 2026: key levels and institutional moves to watch

  • BitMine’s ETH accumulation and staking tighten supply, boosting price potential.
  • The immediate resistance at $3,000 and the key support near $2,700 guide the short-term forecast.
  • Upgrades like Fusaka and strong fundamentals may drive ETH toward $5,000.

Ethereum has continued to show resilience in the face of broader market fluctuations, as traders and investors position themselves ahead of critical macroeconomic updates.

Over the past 24 hours, the Ethereum price rose 1.66% to $2,975, outperforming the broader crypto market’s modest 0.65% gain.

Most notably, ETH’s recent rebound from $2,920 has highlighted both short-term technical strength and growing interest from institutional players, signalling that January 2026 could set the stage for important developments in the market.

Institutional accumulation shapes the market

Institutional activity remains a central factor for Ethereum price movements, with BitMine emerging as a key driver.

BitMine recently added more than 44,000 ETH to its treasury, bringing its total holdings to roughly 4.11 million ETH, or about 3.41% of the circulating supply.

This large-scale accumulation reduces liquid supply in the market, creating upward pressure on the Ethereum price and reinforcing the long-term bullish thesis for the token.

BitMine has also begun staking a portion of its holdings, approximately 408,000 ETH, as it prepares to launch its Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN) in early 2026.

By locking up ETH in staking, BitMine is not only generating yield but also further tightening supply, which could influence price dynamics if demand remains steady.

This institutional approach mirrors strategies seen in other crypto assets, where consistent accumulation and staking serve as mechanisms to anchor the asset and attract long-term investors.

Ethereum price forecast: technical and macro considerations

From a technical standpoint, the Ethereum price has been testing the $3,000 resistance level, with the MACD recently flipping bullish and the RSI at 44.23, indicating recovering momentum but room for further consolidation.

Analysts note that a breakout above $3,052 could trigger algorithmic buying, while a failure to hold above $2,850 may lead to a retracement toward stronger support levels near $2,700.

Short-term volatility is further influenced by the anticipation of Federal Reserve policy updates, with traders adjusting positions ahead of potential macroeconomic shifts.

The technical setup is further complemented by macro catalysts, including the Fed’s policy minutes, which could affect USD strength and, consequently, the appeal of risk assets like ETH.

Meanwhile, ETF flows into spot Ethereum have been inconsistent, reflecting broader uncertainty in institutional appetite.

A positive response to upcoming network upgrades, including the Fusaka upgrade, may drive renewed capital inflows and provide additional support for the Ethereum price in 2026.

Long-term growth potential

Beyond immediate technical and macro drivers, Ethereum’s long-term growth prospects remain strong.

Other analysts have highlighted the potential for Ethereum to reach $5,000 by 2026, citing the network’s robust ecosystem, proof-of-stake infrastructure, and ongoing upgrades that expand utility and attract institutional participation.

The Fusaka upgrade, which will increase data storage capacity on Ethereum blocks, is expected to open new use cases, including tokenisation of real-world assets, further enhancing the network’s fundamentals.

Historically, Ethereum has demonstrated rapid growth in active wallets, transaction volume, and total value locked, positioning ETH as a leading platform in decentralised finance (DeFi).

These metrics, combined with strategic accumulation and staking by major holders, provide a strong backdrop for future price appreciation.

While short-term technical challenges persist, the overall trajectory suggests that the Ethereum price could benefit from both improved fundamentals and ongoing institutional confidence as 2026 progresses.

The post Ethereum price prediction for January 2026: key levels and institutional moves to watch appeared first on CoinJournal.

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How a governance failure led to the Unleash Protocol hack

  • An unauthorised contract upgrade enabled direct withdrawals from the protocol.
  • Funds were bridged to Ethereum and laundered through Tornado Cash.
  • Assets affected included WIP, USDC, WETH, stIP, and vIP.

A governance failure at Unleash Protocol has resulted in a major security breach, with attackers draining around $3.9 million in user funds.

The incident was first identified by blockchain security firm PeckShieldAlert and later confirmed by the Unleash team.

While the exploit did not affect the wider Story ecosystem, it has renewed attention on how governance mechanisms can become a critical point of failure in decentralised finance.

Unleash Protocol is a decentralised platform built on Story Protocol.

The project said the incident was limited to its own contracts and administrative controls, with no signs of compromise across Story Protocol’s validators or core infrastructure.

Even so, the event shows how vulnerabilities at the application level can still lead to significant losses.

Governance controls bypassed

On-chain analysis indicates the attacker targeted Unleash Protocol’s multi-signature governance system.

By exploiting weaknesses in how admin permissions were enforced, the attacker gained unauthorised access normally reserved for approved signers.

This access was then used to push through a contract upgrade that had not been sanctioned by the core team.

The unauthorised upgrade altered how the protocol handled withdrawals. With standard governance checks effectively bypassed, the attacker was able to move funds directly out of the protocol.

According to Unleash, these actions occurred outside its established governance framework and were not detected until after the funds had already been removed.

Laundering through bridges and mixers

After extracting the assets, the attacker bridged the funds to Ethereum. From there, the assets were broken into multiple transactions, a strategy often used to make tracking more difficult.

Blockchain data shows that 1,337.1 ETH was later deposited into Tornado Cash. The deposits were made in varying sizes, ranging from small transfers to batches of up to 100 ETH.

This pattern suggests a deliberate attempt to obscure transaction trails and reduce the effectiveness of on-chain monitoring tools.

Tokens impacted

In an official incident notice, Unleash Protocol confirmed that several assets were affected during the exploit.

These included WIP, USDC, WETH, stIP, and vIP.

The team reiterated that all affected withdrawals took place through the unauthorised contract upgrade rather than through normal user interactions.

The clarification that Story Protocol itself was not compromised is significant.

It indicates that the breach stemmed from Unleash’s internal governance design, not from flaws in the underlying blockchain or its validator set.

Emergency measures taken

Following confirmation of the breach, Unleash Protocol paused all platform operations to prevent further losses.

The team said it is working with independent security experts and forensic investigators to determine how the governance safeguards were bypassed and whether additional vulnerabilities remain.

Users have been advised to avoid interacting with Unleash Protocol contracts until further updates are issued.

The project has stated that future communications will be shared only through official channels as the investigation continues.

The post How a governance failure led to the Unleash Protocol hack appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Lighter launches LIT token: check out all the details here

  • Half of the token supply is allocated to the ecosystem, with an immediate airdrop converting 2025 points into LIT.
  • LIT is used for staking, access to trading services, and payment for data verification on the platform.
  • Lighter ranks third by recent perpetuals volume, behind Hyperliquid and Aster.

A new token launch is putting fresh focus on how decentralised trading platforms are designing their economic models.

Perpetuals-focused Layer 2 exchange Lighter has rolled out its native cryptocurrency, LIT, positioning it as a core part of its infrastructure rather than a simple governance add-on.

Built on Ethereum, the platform is targeting active derivatives traders while also appealing to builders and long-term backers interested in transparent, onchain systems that mirror aspects of traditional markets.

The launch comes at a time when onchain perpetuals trading is consolidating around a small group of high-volume venues.

Lighter is attempting to differentiate itself by tying token utility directly to trading performance, data verification, and revenue visibility, while operating through a US-registered corporate structure.

Token distribution and airdrop design

The total LIT supply is split evenly between the ecosystem and insiders.

Half of all tokens are allocated to users, partners, and future incentives, while the remaining half goes to the team and investors.

Early participants are being rewarded through an immediate airdrop that converts 12.5 million points earned during 2025 into LIT tokens.

That initial distribution accounts for 25% of the project’s fully diluted value, which represents the maximum supply if all tokens are issued.

The remaining ecosystem allocation is reserved for future rewards, partnerships, and expansion initiatives.

Team and investor tokens are subject to a one-year lockup, followed by linear vesting over three years, according to details shared by the project on X.

Utility beyond governance

Lighter is framing LIT as an operational token embedded in how its exchange functions.

Rather than focusing solely on voting rights or passive rewards, the token underpins access to different levels of trading execution and data verification services on the platform.

Users who want higher-tier services are required to stake increasing amounts of LIT.

These requirements are designed to scale as the network decentralises further, shifting control from a single operator to a broader set of participants.

Fees for market data and price verification are also paid in LIT, with staking acting as a mechanism to ensure data accuracy and reduce risk across the trading system.

Onchain revenue and buyback flexibility

Another feature highlighted by the project is full onchain visibility of revenue generated by its trading platform and future products.

All income is intended to be publicly trackable on the blockchain, allowing users to independently verify performance.

Management has indicated that this revenue could be used either to support ecosystem growth or to buy back LIT tokens from the market.

Any buyback activity would reduce circulating supply, but there is no fixed schedule.

Decisions are expected to depend on market conditions and longer-term strategic considerations, rather than automated rules.

Market position in perpetuals trading

Lighter’s activity places it among the more active decentralised perpetuals venues.

Over the past seven days, Lighter-based perpetuals have averaged $2.7 billion in trading volume, ranking third behind Hyperliquid and Aster, based on data from a Dune-powered tracker.

Hyperliquid’s HYPE token currently carries a market valuation of $6.26 billion, making it one of the largest digital assets globally.

Against that backdrop, Lighter is betting that tightly coupling token utility with execution quality, data integrity, and transparent revenues can help it carve out a durable role in the evolving onchain derivatives landscape.

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