Barclays steps into stablecoin infrastructure with Ubyx investment

  • Ubyx focuses on clearing and reconciling stablecoins issued by different providers.
  • Barclays is prioritising regulated tokenised money rather than issuing its own stablecoin.
  • The stablecoin market continues to be dominated by Tether, with most usage confined to crypto trading.

Barclays has taken its first direct step into the stablecoin sector by investing in US-based settlement firm Ubyx, marking a shift in how the British lender is approaching digital money.

The move, as reported by Reuters, comes as global banks cautiously test how blockchain-based payment systems could be integrated into regulated finance.

Rather than issuing a token of its own, Barclays is backing market infrastructure that sits behind stablecoins.

The investment also reflects renewed institutional interest in crypto-linked systems after a sharp rebound in digital asset markets and a more supportive stance from US President Donald Trump toward the sector.

What Ubyx does

Ubyx, launched in 2025, operates as a clearing and settlement layer for stablecoins.

Its core function is to reconcile tokens issued by different stablecoin providers, allowing them to move more smoothly across platforms.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to track mainstream currencies on a one-to-one basis, most commonly the dollar.

While they are widely used within crypto trading, their fragmented issuance model has limited broader interoperability.

Ubyx aims to address that fragmentation by acting as a neutral clearing system rather than a token issuer.

Barclays has not disclosed the size or valuation of its stake, but confirmed it is the bank’s first investment in a stablecoin-related company.

Other backers of Ubyx include the venture capital arms of Coinbase and Galaxy Digital, according to PitchBook data.

Why banks are paying attention

Over the past year, banks and financial institutions have revived discussions around stablecoins and tokenised assets.

This renewed momentum has been driven by rising crypto prices and political signals in the US that are perceived as more favourable to the sector.

Stablecoins are increasingly viewed as a potential bridge between traditional finance and blockchain systems, particularly for settlement and cross-border transfers.

Despite this interest, most bank-led blockchain initiatives remain at an early stage. Institutions are still assessing regulatory boundaries, operational risks, and real-world demand.

Barclays has framed its involvement with Ubyx as part of a broader effort to explore tokenised money that remains within existing regulatory frameworks, rather than operating in parallel systems outside them.

Regulatory perimeter focus

A key element of the Barclays-Ubyx relationship is its emphasis on regulation.

The bank has said the collaboration is intended to support the development of tokenised money within the regulatory perimeter.

This approach aligns with how major lenders are positioning themselves in the digital asset space, prioritising compliance and supervisory clarity over speed.

In October, Barclays was among 10 banks, including Goldman Sachs and UBS, that announced a joint initiative to explore issuing a stablecoin linked to G7 currencies.

That project highlighted growing coordination among large banks, even as concrete launches remain some way off.

Stablecoin market context

The stablecoin market has expanded rapidly in recent years.

The sector is dominated by Tether, which has about $187 billion worth of tokens in circulation.

Despite their size, stablecoins are still primarily used for transferring funds within crypto markets rather than for everyday payments or corporate settlement.

By investing in Ubyx, Barclays is targeting the infrastructure that could support wider adoption if stablecoins move beyond their current niche.

The strategy suggests that major banks are preparing for multiple future scenarios, even as the practical use of stablecoins in mainstream finance remains limited for now.

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Bitcoin ETF flows turn negative after explosive start to 2026

  • Bitcoin ETF outflows return after blockbuster start to 2026

  • Fidelity-led selling offsets early-year Bitcoin ETF surge

  • Ethereum, XRP and Solana ETFs still attract fresh inflows

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds slipped back into negative territory on Tuesday, snapping a brief run of strong inflows that had marked the opening days of 2026.

According to data from SoSoValue, Bitcoin ETFs recorded $243 million in net outflows on Tuesday, marking the first day of negative aggregate flows this year.

The reversal followed a powerful start to the year, during which the products attracted more than $1.16 billion in net inflows across the first two trading sessions.

Fidelity and Grayscale drive outflows

The pullback was led by Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), which saw $312.24 million exit the fund on Tuesday.

Grayscale’s flagship Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) also recorded notable withdrawals, with $83.07 million in net outflows. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust saw a further $32.73 million leave the product.

Funds managed by Ark & 21Shares and VanEck also posted net outflows during the session, contributing to the overall negative total for the day.

The selling pressure was partially offset by continued demand for BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which took in $228.66 million on Tuesday.

Date IBIT FBTC BITB ARKB BTCO EZBC BRRR HODL BTCW GBTC BTC Total
06 Jan 2026 228.7 -312.2 0.0 -29.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 -14.4 0.0 -83.1 -32.7 -243.2
05 Jan 2026 372.5 191.2 38.5 36.0 15.0 13.6 7.2 5.3 0.0 0.0 17.9 697.2
02 Jan 2026 287.4 88.1 41.5 6.7 4.5 13.0 0.0 8.3 0.0 15.4 6.4 471.3
31 Dec 2025 -99.0 -66.6 -13.8 -76.5 0.0 -5.1 0.0 -6.8 0.0 -69.1 -11.2 -348.1
30 Dec 2025 143.7 78.6 13.9 109.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 355.1

IBIT was the only US spot bitcoin ETF to record net inflows during the session.

Despite the single-day reversal, IBIT remains the standout performer early in the year.

Across the first three trading days of 2026, the fund has attracted a cumulative $888 million in net inflows, underscoring its dominant position in the market.

Ethereum and altcoin ETFs buck the trend

While Bitcoin ETFs saw redemptions, other crypto-linked products continued to attract capital.

US spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $114.7 million in net inflows on Tuesday, even as some products from Grayscale and Fidelity experienced outflows.

Altcoin-focused ETFs also remained in positive territory.

XRP ETFs added $19 million in net inflows, while Solana ETFs saw $9 million flow into the products, highlighting continued investor interest beyond Bitcoin despite broader market volatility.

Explosive start still shapes 2026 narrative

Tuesday’s outflows came after what had been an exceptionally strong opening to the year for Bitcoin ETFs.

In the first two trading days of 2026 alone, US spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in more than $1.2 billion in net inflows, placing the sector on pace for a potentially record-setting year if momentum resumes.

“The spot Bitcoin ETFs are coming into 2026 like a lion,” said Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas on Tuesday.

Balchunas noted that inflows exceeded $1.2 billion in just two days, with nearly all funds participating.

The WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund was the lone exception, he said.

He added that maintaining this pace would imply annual inflows of roughly $150 billion, or about 600% more than total inflows recorded in 2025.

“Told ya’ll if they can take in $22 billion when it’s raining, imagine when the sun is shining,” Balchunas said.

US spot bitcoin ETFs attracted $21.4 billion in net inflows in 2025, down from $35.2 billion in 2024.

BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for the majority of last year’s inflows.

Momentum accelerated sharply on Monday, when bitcoin ETFs logged $697 million in net inflows — the largest single-day intake in three months — as Bitcoin prices reclaimed and held above the $90,000 level following a volatile end to 2025.

Adding to the sector’s momentum, Morgan Stanley disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday that it plans to launch Bitcoin and Solana ETFs.

According to the filing, the proposed Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust will be a passive vehicle designed to track bitcoin’s spot price and will not employ leverage or derivatives.

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Ethereum extends rally on ETF Inflows and Blob upgrade, but RSI flags caution

  • Ethereum ETF inflows and whale accumulation boost the ETH price rally.
  • The BPO hard fork has raised the blob limit, improving Ethereum scalability.
  • An overbought RSI signals possible short-term volatility despite strong.

Ethereum has continued its upward price momentum, extending a strong weekly rally even as the broader crypto market slipped slightly.

At press time, Ethereum (ETH) was up 1.13% over the past 24 hours, building on a robust 7-day gain of roughly 9.60%.

These price gains come despite a modest 0.44% decline in the overall crypto market, underscoring Ethereum’s relative strength.

The ETH bullish momentum is underpinned by a combination of institutional demand, improving Ethereum scalability, and favourable on-chain dynamics.

However, technical indicators suggest that caution may be warranted in the near term with the RSI currently in the overbought region.

ETF inflows reinforce Ethereum’s institutional narrative

One of the key catalysts for the Ethereum rally has been sustained inflows into spot Ethereum ETFs.

Data from Coinglass shows that spot Ethereum ETFs attracted approximately $114.7 million in net inflows on January 6, 2026.

These inflows occurred even as some legacy products recorded outflows, suggesting fresh institutional capital is entering the market.

For investors, ETF demand signals growing confidence in Ethereum as a long-term, regulated asset.

It also helps absorb potential selling pressure, providing price stability during periods of broader market uncertainty.

Market participants increasingly view ETF flows as a barometer of institutional sentiment, similar to how YCharts data is often used to track macro trends across traditional assets.

Blob Parameter-Only hard fork boosts Ethereum scalability

Beyond demand-side factors, Ethereum’s fundamentals have improved following recent network upgrades.

The Fusaka upgrade, activated in December 2025, introduced meaningful enhancements to Ethereum scalability.

Central to this progress is the Blob Parameter-Only hard fork, commonly referred to as the BPO hard fork.

The BPO hard fork, which went live on Wednesday at 1:01:11 UTC, raised the blob limit per block, increasing the amount of data that can be processed efficiently.

By expanding blob capacity, Ethereum reduced data costs for Layer-2 rollups without overburdening the base layer.

This design aligns with Ethereum’s long-term rollup-centric roadmap championed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

Lower Layer-2 fees have already translated into stronger network usage, with daily transactions reaching multi-month highs.

The BPO upgrade also improves conditions for advanced scaling solutions, including zero-knowledge Ethereum virtual machines (zkEVMs).

These zkEVMs rely heavily on efficient data availability, making the higher blob limit a structural advantage.

Developers view BPO as a stepping stone toward even larger upgrades, including the planned Glamsterdam hard fork, which is expected later in 2026.

The Glamsterdam hard fork is expected to further enhance throughput and computational efficiency across the Ethereum ecosystem.

Together, these changes strengthen Ethereum’s value proposition as a scalable settlement layer for decentralised applications.

Whale accumulation supports price, but momentum overheats

On-chain data adds another layer of support to Ethereum’s bullish narrative.

Large holders, often referred to as whales, have accumulated more than 3.62 million ETH over the past month, according to CryptoQuant data.

At the same time, Ethereum exchange reserves have fallen to levels not seen in nearly nine years.

Ethereum Exchange Reserve
Source: CryptoQuant

Reduced exchange balances typically imply lower immediate selling pressure.

This pattern suggests that long-term holders are positioning for higher prices rather than short-term exits.

However, momentum indicators are beginning to flash warning signs.

Ethereum’s relative strength index (RSI) has climbed to around 64, placing it near the overbought territory.

Historically, such elevated RSI readings can precede short-term pullbacks or periods of consolidation.

Upcoming derivatives events, including near-term options expiries, could amplify volatility.

Ethereum price forecast

Ethereum’s medium- to long-term outlook remains constructive, supported by ETF inflows, improving Ethereum scalability, and a declining liquid supply.

The Blob Parameter-Only hard fork and higher blob limit strengthen the network’s technical foundation and support Layer-2 growth.

Continued progress toward upgrades like the Glamsterdam hard fork keeps Ethereum aligned with Vitalik Buterin’s long-term vision.

Currently, the immediate resistance for ETH lies at the 100-day EMA at $3,307, which, if broken, could open the door for further gains towards the next resistance at the 200-day EMA at $3,352.

Ethereum price analysis
Ethereum price analysis | Source: TradingView

In the short term, however, the elevated RSI suggests traders should be prepared for potential price fluctuations that could pull Ethereum down to the support at the 50-day EMA at $3,132.

But if ETF inflows remain strong and on-chain accumulation persists, any pullback may be shallow.

Overall, Ethereum appears well-positioned for further gains, but near-term caution is warranted as momentum cools.

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