Binance launches USD1 rewards programme with WLFI token airdrops

  • Binance launched a USD1 rewards campaign, distributing $40m in WLFI tokens through weekly airdrops.
  • WLFI payouts are based on users’ net USD1 balances, with higher rewards for USD1 used as collateral.
  • USD1’s market cap has surpassed $3 billion, while WLFI activity has increased across DeFi and payroll uses.

Binance has rolled out a new rewards campaign for users holding USD1, offering weekly WLFI token airdrops with a total of $40 million in WLFI earmarked for distribution.

The exchange said eligible accounts that maintain a USD1 balance between Jan. 23 and Feb. 20 will receive rewards throughout the programme.

The initiative ties WLFI payouts directly to net USD1 balances on Binance, using a snapshot-based system to calculate qualifying amounts.

Binance is positioning the campaign as an incentive for users who hold or deploy USD1 across supported products, while both USD1 and WLFI continue to see growing activity across the wider crypto ecosystem.

How Binance will distribute WLFI rewards

Binance said WLFI rewards will be paid once a week, starting Feb. 2.

Each weekly distribution will cover activity from the previous seven days.

The campaign is structured to release roughly $10 million worth of WLFI tokens per week, spread across four consecutive weeks, which brings the total allocation to $40 million in WLFI.

The exchange said the rewards are designed to reflect users’ qualifying USD1 balances over time, rather than a single moment in the campaign window.

Which USD1 balances count for eligibility

Eligibility is based on users’ net USD1 balances held on Binance, with multiple account types included in the calculation.

Binance confirmed that USD1 stored in Spot, Funding, Margin, and USDⓈ-M Futures accounts will all count toward the campaign’s rewards calculation.

However, borrowed funds are excluded. Binance said reward calculations are based on net USD1 balances, meaning any USD1 that has been borrowed does not qualify for WLFI rewards.

The exchange also said that USD1 used as collateral in margin or futures accounts earns a higher reward rate.

This introduces an added incentive for users who allocate USD1 into collateral-based trading products, rather than keeping it entirely idle in standard wallets.

Snapshot and rate system used for payouts

Binance said it will take hourly snapshots of user balances throughout the campaign period. However, the rewards calculation does not rely on an hourly average.

Instead, Binance will use the lowest USD1 balance recorded each day to determine a user’s qualifying amount for that day.

For each weekly payout, Binance will then calculate rewards using a seven-day average balance.

This ties distributions to consistency because a single daily dip in holdings could reduce the qualifying amount for that day and then affect the overall weekly average.

Binance also said payouts will use an effective annualised rate, which will be set at the time of each distribution.

As a result, the rate applied could vary between weekly drops depending on the conditions Binance sets when rewards are released.

USD1 growth and WLFI activity in early 2026

USD1, launched in April 2025, is described as a multichain stablecoin that is fully backed one-to-one by US dollars and money market funds.

Since its launch, it has recorded sharp growth. According to data from DeFiLlama, USD1’s market capitalisation now exceeds $3 billion.

The stablecoin is available across several blockchains, including Monad, Ethereum, Solana, and Aptos.

WLFI, the main token of the World Liberty Financial ecosystem, has also seen increased activity in early 2026.

It has recently been added to payroll services, decentralised finance lending platforms, and on-chain liquidity venues.

The token has drawn new interest and partnerships in recent weeks, though its connection to US President Donald Trump has also faced criticism, with some pointing to concerns around a potential conflict of interest.

Binance said users must complete identity verification and live in eligible jurisdictions to take part in the programme.

The exchange added that broker accounts are excluded and noted that reward timing may vary due to operational conditions.

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Shiba Inu faces critical support amid modest rally prospects

  • Shiba Inu (SHIB) currently hovers near critical support; breaking it may trigger deeper losses.
  • Momentum is weak, and future rallies are expected to be modest.
  • Investors are shifting to utility and DeFi tokens for higher ROI.

Currently, Shiba Inu (SHIB) is hovering just above its critical support zone around $0.0000077.

Notably, this area represents the bottom of previous cycles and is closely watched for potential rebounds.

If it fails to hold above the support zone, a double-digit correction could follow.

Market sentiment and investor shifts

Investor sentiment around SHIB is cautious and the broader market conditions for altcoins and memecoins are fragile.

Many traders are increasingly favoring projects with real-world utility, a trend that has led some capital to rotate away from meme coins like SHIB.

This shift suggests that SHIB may face challenges regaining strong speculative demand.

Most analysts believe that Shiba Inu’s next rally would be modest compared to its past movements.

After a period of aggressive growth, the meme coin now appears to be in a consolidation phase and future price moves are likely to be gradual rather than explosive.

Investors looking for higher ROI are reportedly turning to DeFi tokens, meaning capital is flowing toward assets perceived as having greater long-term potential, which could ultimately limit the pace and size of SHIB’s short-term gains.

SHIB technical outlook and risks

Technically, Shiba Inu (SHIB) remains under pressure and its momentum has been weak after the early January gains.

The meme coin gained nearly 25% during the first weeks of the month but has given back most of those profits.

Short-term charts show lower highs and lower lows, indicating bearish patterns, with resistance at moving averages, such as the 50 and 100-period EMA, limiting upward movements.

The relative strength index (RSI) also remains in weak territory, showing little sign of a sustained reversal.

Shiba Inu price analysis
Shiba Inu price chart | Source: TradingView

The current price action shows consolidation near the critical support at $0.0000077, but no strong breakout signals have emerged.

Holding the support at $0.0000077 is essential to prevent sharper declines.

A break below the support could lead to deeper corrections and erode investor confidence.

On-chain data and derivatives activity suggest that speculative demand is currently low.

This reduces the safety net against selling pressure, heightening risk.

However, despite these challenges, stabilizing at the support level could allow SHIB to maintain a trading range.

A measured recovery would likely require broader market strength or positive developments within SHIB’s ecosystem.

Analysts emphasize that while a modest rally is possible, the coin lacks catalysts for a parabolic surge.

Investors should monitor key support zones, market sentiment, and competition from utility-focused projects.

Shiba Inu’s near-term trajectory will largely depend on its ability to hold critical levels and adapt to shifting investor preferences.

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Netherlands to tax unrealised Bitcoin gains under new Box 3 rules

  • Wet werkelijk rendement Box 3 is set to begin on January 1, 2028, according to the Dutch parliament.
  • A 36% flat tax will apply to positive net returns above a €1,800 threshold per person.
  • Losses can be carried forward to offset future gains.

The Netherlands is preparing to change how it taxes investors, and the shift could have a direct impact on people holding Bitcoin and other crypto assets.

Starting in 2028, the country plans to tax unrealised gains, meaning investors could owe tax even if they have not sold their holdings.

According to a post shared by Crypto Rover, the Netherlands is moving towards taxing unrealised Bitcoin gains, bringing fresh attention to how governments may treat crypto under mainstream investment rules.

The policy is expected to cover a broad set of assets, including Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, stocks, bonds, and similar investments.

For many investors, the key issue is that tax would be triggered by changes in value over time, not by selling and locking in profits.

That makes the reform especially relevant for crypto holders, who often deal with sharp price swings and long holding periods.

Netherlands plans overhaul of Box 3 wealth tax

According to the Dutch parliament, the Netherlands will introduce a new tax system called Wet werkelijk rendement Box 3 starting January 1, 2028.

The idea is to tax investors based on the actual returns they make each year, rather than on estimated returns set by the government.

Under the planned approach, authorities would compare the value of a person’s assets at the start and end of the year. Any income earned during that period would also be included in the calculation.

This means investors could be taxed on both realised profits and unrealised gains that only exist on paper.

The tax will apply to Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, and traditional investment products.

The reform is designed to treat different asset classes equally and apply one consistent method across a modern portfolio.

Why the Netherlands is changing its tax model

The proposed change follows a court ruling that found the old Box 3 system unfair.

Under the previous framework, investors were taxed based on assumed returns, even if their holdings did not perform in line with those assumptions.

Lawmakers argue the new structure is more accurate because it is based on the real change in value of assets, rather than an estimate that may not reflect actual outcomes.

Supporters of the change believe it improves fairness, especially for investors whose returns have historically been overstated by the assumed-return method.

The planned system also reflects how investment behaviour has evolved over the years.

Many households now hold a mix of traditional assets and crypto, and the government appears to be moving towards rules that apply consistently across both categories.

How unrealised gains would be taxed each year?

Under the new rules, the government would calculate a person’s yearly investment result by comparing asset values at the beginning and end of the year, plus any income earned during that period.

A 36% flat tax would apply to positive net returns above a €1,800 annual threshold per person.

In simple terms, the tax would be linked to annual performance rather than transactions.

That means an investor could owe tax if their portfolio rises in value, even if they did not sell anything and did not receive cash from their holdings.

If an investor records a loss, that loss can be carried forward and used to offset future gains.

This gives investors some protection during negative years, although the timing mismatch between paper gains and cash flow remains a concern for some.

What the reform could mean for Bitcoin and crypto holders

For crypto investors, the biggest challenge is volatility. Bitcoin and other digital assets can rise sharply in a short time, and then fall just as quickly.

A year-end value increase could create a tax bill, even if the investor has not sold any crypto and has no cash available from those gains.

Critics warn this could create liquidity pressure, especially for long-term holders who do not want to sell their Bitcoin just to fund tax payments.

Some also fear it could push investors and crypto businesses to relocate if the system becomes too costly or difficult to manage.

With the Box 3 reform planned for 2028, the Netherlands is positioning itself for a major shift in investor taxation, and crypto holders may soon face annual tax calculations tied to market movements rather than selling decisions.

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Pancakeswap price forecast: CAKE surges 4% as derivatives data turn bullish

Key takeaways

  • CAKE is up 4.5%, approaching the $2 psychological level.
  • The derivatives data back the recovery as funding rates turn positive.

CAKE’S derivatives data support bullish movement

CAKE, the native coin of the Pancakeswap exchange, has added 4.5% to its value in the last 24 hours and is now approaching $2.0.

The rally comes as Coinglass’s OI-Weighted Funding Rate data shows that the number of traders betting that the price of CAKE will slide further is lower than that anticipating a price increase. 

The positive funding rate means that more traders are bullish on CAKE than bearish. The metric flipped positive on Wednesday and currently reads 0.0046%, indicating that longs are paying shorts.

In addition to that, Coinglass’s long-to-short ratio for CAKE reads 1.11 on Thursday, nearing the highest level over a month. The ratio moving above one indicates that more traders are betting on CAKE to rally higher. 

The bullish scenario comes after Pancakeswap announced earlier this week that the community had approved CAKE’s max supply reduction proposal. 

The max supply has been reduced from 450 million to 400 million, and burns consistently outweigh emissions. 

CAKE could rally towards $2.1

The CAKE/USDT 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient despite CAKE adding 4.5% to its value in the last 24 hours. 

CAKE’s price was rejected at the weekly resistance level of $2.13 on Saturday and declined by 10% earlier this week. However, it rebounded on Wednesday and is now approaching the $2.0 maerk once again. 

CAKE/USD 4H Chart

If CAKE continues its price recovery, it could rally towards the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $2.06.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart is 46, pointing upward toward the neutral 50 level, indicating fading bearish momentum. For the rally to be sustained, the RSI must move above the neutral level. 

On the flip side, if CAKE’s daily candle closes below the $1.88 support level, it could extend the correction toward the support zone around $1.79.

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BTC stays below $90k despite Trump backing off Greenland tariff threats

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin is up 1% in the last 24 hours but continues to trade below $90k.
  • The performance comes despite Trump’s Davos speech on Wednesday, which ended the imposition of new tariffs on European nations against the US purchase of Greenland.

Bitcoin remains below $90k despite improved risk sentiment

Bitcoin is currently in the green after adding 1% to its value in the last 24 hours, ending its six consecutive days of decline. 

The price recovery comes following strengthened global risk sentiment in response to US President Trump’s U-turn on Greenland at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

On Wednesday, Trump mentioned that he had reached an agreement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on a framework for a future deal on Greenland. This ended the need to impose new tariffs on European nations.

In addition to that, Trump added that he hopes to sign the bill on crypto soon, as the US Congress continues to work on a crypto market structure bill that was postponed last week by the Senate Banking Committee.

However, the positive news hasn’t affected Bitcoin’s price action as it continues to trade below the $90k threshold. 

Institutional demand for Bitcoin is also on the decline. Data obtained from SoSoValue shows that spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded an outflow of $708.71 million on Wednesday, the third consecutive day of withdrawals and the highest single-day outflow since November 20. 

BTC eyes $93k if the $87k support holds

The BTC/USD 4H chart is bearish and efficient as Bitcoin has lost 7% of its value over the last seven days. 

It is currently trading below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $92,044 and has lost the $90k psychological level. Bitcoin is trading at $89,900 after retesting the midpoint of a horizontal parallel channel at $87,787 earlier this week. 

If BTC continues its ongoing recovery, it could extend the advance toward the 50-day EMA at $92,044.

The RSI on the 4-hour chart is 40, pointing upward toward the neutral 50 level, indicating fading bearish momentum. However, the RSI must stay above the neutral 50 for the bulls to push the price higher. 

BTC/USD 4H Chart

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator showed a bearish crossover on Tuesday, indicating downward pressure.

However, if BTC closes the daily candle below the $87,787 support, it could extend the fall toward the next support level at $85,569.

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