Schlagwort: crypto business

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HBAR jumps to $0.12 as ETF inflows and enterprise demand revive Hedera’s bullish momentum

  • Hedera (HBAR) is among the standout performers on the day after climbing above the key resistance level of $0.12.
  • With the price up more than 10% in the past 24 hours, the altcoin stands amongst the top 100 gainers.
  • Bulls could rally on factors such as growing confidence in Hedera’s enterprise-grade network.

Hedera entered the new year on a strong footing, with HBAR registering significant gains to touch multi-week highs at $0.12.

This comes after consolidating below $0.11 since the breakdown below the $0.12 threshold in mid-December.

Per trading data, Hedera has seen a surge in daily volume, which stood at over $166 million and was 38% up in the past 24 hours.

HBAR is notching gains as analysts attribute the rally to a combination of factors.

Among these is the broader market’s post-holiday portfolio rebalancing and fresh risk appetite.

The crypto project’s underlying network also continues to show robust activity, helped by enterprise partnerships and real-world asset tokenisation.

What’s next for HBAR price?

The surge to an intraday high above $0.12 could encourage bulls, particularly if risk assets flip the bearish sentiment seen in late 2025.

Looking ahead, several potential catalysts could drive further upside for HBAR throughout 2026.

Growing interest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including those focused on Hedera, has analysts bullish on several altcoins. Currently, spot HBAR ETFs are seeing small but steady inflows.

SoSoValue data indicates that over $50 million in ETF net assets represent over 1.1% of the token’s circulating supply.

Analysts anticipate that additional ETF approvals or increased allocations could inject substantial liquidity.

In this case, it would mean another regulated pathway for institutional investors to gain exposure to HBAR.

Beyond ETFs, Hedera’s enterprise adoption remains a core driver.

The platform saw significant traction around real-world applications in finance, supply chain, and tokenisation in 2025.

Upcoming milestones, including the expansion of the Governing Council and enhanced developer tools, are expected to accelerate ecosystem growth.

HBAR price technical outlook

From a technical perspective, HBAR’s recent breakout above long-term resistance signals potential for continued gains.

Bulls are showing signs of retaking control as charts signal a double bottom in the $0.10-$0.11 region.

A key technical breakout from a multi-week consolidation pattern is what buyers fancy. The initial price targets are above the downtrend line around $0.13.

Hedera’s daily chart also shows that the 50-day exponential moving average sits in this region.

Hedera HBAR Chart
Hedera price chart by TradingView

If momentum sustains, projections point to levels between $0.15 and $0.20 in the near term.

Broader market recovery and Hedera-specific advancements will drive this uptick. Notably, memecoins, as shown by a 35% pump for Pepe, could lead the early charge.

However, risks, including macroeconomic factors, may see bulls’ advances repelled. Key support levels include $0.10 and $0.079.

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Pepe soars 35% as top memecoins lead market rally

  • Pepe price was up more than 35% on the day as the cryptocurrency market witnessed a pumping start to 2026.
  • There were also huge gains for Bonk, Floki and SPX6900, highlighting renewed memecoin vigour.
  • Speculative enthusiasm is also driving price movements for top coins, Bitcoin and Ethereum.

As of writing, Pepe ranked as the best performing memecoin among the top 100 by market cap.

The frog-themed token had recorded an impressive 35% gain in the past 24 hours, trading to intraday highs of $0.000005667.

Notably, Pepe’s price rally has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in trading activity.

Per CoinMarketCap, the Ethereum-based memecoin boasted a 24-hour volume of over $1.4 billion, the metric up a staggering 650% in the past 24 hours.

As bulls ride the uptick, short liquidations have amplified upward pressure. CoinGlass data shows over $10 million in liquidations for the token.

More than $9.1 million of this is in bearish positions.

Pepe Price Chart
Pepe price chart by TradingView

Why is Pepe’s price soaring?

Optimism around Pepe comes amid a bold prediction from James Wynn, a prominent trader on the Hyperliquid platform.

Wynn has forecast that the memecoin’s market capitalisation could reach an astonishing $69 billion by the end of 2026.

“Back on Day 1 of $PEPE when it was at $600k market cap, I called it to go to multiple billions. Ultimate conviction and belief – and it paid off massively,” he posted on X.

“Now, I’m calling $PEPE to go from $1.7bn to $69bn+ in 2026.”

It’s a bold take that suggests a potential 40-fold increase from its current level of around $1.7 billion.

As he notes, Pepe has the potential to mirror or even surpass what Shiba Inu did in the previous cycle.

The Pepe market cap has soared to above $2.3 billion hours after Wynn’s prediction.

If realised, this could mean the token’s price catapults past the all-time high of $0.00002825 reached in December 2024.

Wynn says a combination of technical, sentimental, and overall bullish catalysts positions Pepe well ahead of a fresh memecoin resurgence.

He noted:

“If this bull market is not over, which I do not think it is, there is a high likelihood in my mind we see $PEPE at the forefront of memes leading the way as money flows into T1 memes, and proper fundamental altcoins. All social metrics (crucial factor for meme coins) MASSIVELY favor Pepe, including exchanges using it as a branding in their posts to increase engagement and get more sign ups.”

In his view, if Shiba Inu can spike to $41 billion, PEPE has the potential to go higher.

Top memecoin Dogecoin soared to $88 billion when its price went parabolic, and Pepe could easily do $69 billion.

Bonk, Floki, and SPX6900 among top memecoin gainers

While Pepe dominates headlines, other established memecoins have also contributed to the sector’s strong opening to 2026.

Floki (FLOKI), bolstered by ongoing ecosystem developments, has seen a 19% increase in the past day.

Like Pepe, this comes alongside elevated trading volumes.

Another top gainer is Bonk (BONK), the Solana-based community token.

Renewed interest has BONK trading 15% up in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, SPX6900 (SPX), known for its satirical take on financial markets, has surged 16%.

Pudgy Penguins, Shiba Inu and Dogecoin are also boasting double-digit gains as the memecoin category as a whole witnesses a vibrant start to the year.

The post Pepe soars 35% as top memecoins lead market rally appeared first on CoinJournal.

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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.

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South Korea fines Korbit $1.8M over compliance failures

  • Most breaches involved failures in customer due diligence and identity verification processes.
  • The action coincides with reports of a potential majority acquisition by Mirae Asset.
  • The case reinforces stricter regulatory expectations across South Korea’s crypto sector.

South Korea’s year-end move against Korbit marks a decisive moment for the country’s digital asset industry, as regulators signal that gaps in compliance will carry real consequences.

On December 31, the Financial Intelligence Unit closed an on-site investigation into one of the country’s longest-operating exchanges with a significant financial penalty and management-level sanctions.

The action, based on findings from an October inspection, places renewed focus on how exchanges verify users, manage risk, and expand services.

It also lands at a sensitive time for Korbit, underscoring how regulatory discipline is shaping the future of South Korea’s crypto market.

The FIU announced a 2.73 billion won ($1.88 million) fine after identifying nearly 22,000 breaches linked to anti-money laundering and customer verification obligations.

The violations were uncovered during an inspection conducted between October 16 and 29, 2024, with the results later reviewed by the Sanctions Review Committee.

Alongside the fine, the regulator issued an institutional warning and imposed individual accountability measures on senior executives.

Inspection findings

A large share of the violations stemmed from failures in customer due diligence.

The FIU found roughly 12,800 cases where identity checks were not properly conducted.

These included the acceptance of unclear or unverifiable identification documents, incomplete address information, and lapses in mandatory re-verification processes.

In several instances, users were allowed to continue trading even after their risk profiles increased, without additional checks being applied.

Such practices run counter to requirements that higher-risk customers be subject to enhanced scrutiny rather than standard monitoring.

The review also identified about 9,100 cases where customers were permitted to trade before identity verification was fully completed.

South Korean rules restrict transactions by unverified users, making these cases a direct breach of core compliance standards.

Accountability at the top

Beyond operational failures, the enforcement action extended responsibility to leadership.

The FIU issued an institutional warning to Korbit, while the exchange’s chief executive received a caution, and its reporting officer was reprimanded.

This approach reflects a broader regulatory emphasis on governance and internal controls, where accountability does not stop at automated systems or compliance teams.

Instead, senior management is expected to ensure that regulatory requirements are embedded across day-to-day operations and decision-making processes.

Overseas transfers and new services

Regulators also highlighted weaknesses beyond customer onboarding.

Inspectors flagged 19 virtual asset transfers involving three overseas virtual asset service providers that were not properly reported.

South Korean rules require exchanges to disclose dealings with foreign entities and restrict transactions with unregistered providers.

In addition, the FIU identified 655 cases where Korbit failed to carry out mandatory money laundering risk assessments before introducing new transaction types.

These included services linked to non-fungible tokens, an area of rapid growth that remains subject to the same compliance obligations as other digital asset products.

Timing and sector impact

The enforcement action comes just days after reports that Mirae Asset is said to be considering acquiring 92% of Korbit for up to 140 billion won ($97 million).

Korbit currently ranks as the fourth-largest exchange among South Korea’s six incorporated crypto platforms, placing it firmly within the regulator’s line of sight.

The FIU said full details of the sanctions will be disclosed after a minimum 10-day period for opinion submissions.

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China’s move to pay interest on e-CNY sparks US stablecoin debate

  • China will allow interest on digital yuan (e-CNY) holdings starting in 2026.
  • US banks and crypto firms clash over enforcing the GENIUS Act ban.
  • Coinbase executive warns stablecoin yield bans could weaken US global competitiveness.

China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), announced earlier this week that it will allow commercial banks to pay interest on holdings of the digital yuan, also known as the e-CNY.

The new framework is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and the PBOC Deputy Governor Lu Lei said the change will transform the e-CNY from a form of digital cash into what he described as a “digital deposit currency,” a shift designed to boost user adoption.

China has spent several years piloting the digital yuan across multiple cities and use cases, including retail payments and public services.

However, adoption has been slower than policymakers initially hoped.

Analysts say allowing interest payments could make the e-CNY more competitive with traditional bank deposits and private digital payment platforms, potentially accelerating its use domestically and, over time, in cross-border transactions.

In the United States, the debate centres on how the GENIUS Act’s prohibition on interest should be interpreted and enforced.

The law, which became effective in July, was designed to keep payment stablecoins focused on transactional use rather than savings or investment products.

Banking groups argue that allowing stablecoins to pay yield would blur the line between deposits and crypto assets, potentially threatening financial stability and drawing funds away from regulated banks.

Crypto industry groups strongly disagree.

In a Dec. 18 letter to lawmakers, the Blockchain Association and more than 125 industry participants urged Congress to resist expanding or aggressively enforcing the ban on stablecoin rewards.

The group said claims that stablecoin incentives pose a danger to community banks are not supported by evidence and warned that overly strict rules could push innovation offshore.

The American Bankers Association, in a separate letter sent the same day, called for a firm application of the GENIUS Act.

The group argued that some crypto firms are attempting to circumvent the spirit of the law by offering reward-like incentives that function similarly to interest, potentially undermining traditional banking activities.

Coinbase executive warns China could dethrone the US

A senior executive at Coinbase has warned that the United States could undermine its own position in the future of digital finance if lawmakers prohibit interest-bearing stablecoins, just as China moves to make its central bank digital currency (CBDC) more attractive by allowing it to pay interest.

Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s chief policy officer, said this week that restricting rewards on US-issued dollar stablecoins could hand a competitive edge to foreign rivals, particularly China.

Shirzad’s comments come amid growing debate in Washington over the implementation of the recently passed GENIUS Act, which bars US dollar payment stablecoins from paying interest or yield directly to users.

In a post on X, Shirzad argued that global competition over digital money is intensifying.

He pointed to China’s latest policy shift as evidence that incentives matter in driving adoption of new forms of money.

According to Shirzad, the US risks weakening the global role of the dollar if it limits the functionality of dollar-backed stablecoins while other jurisdictions move more aggressively.

Shirzad said the GENIUS Act was intended to ensure that US-regulated, dollar-backed stablecoins become the primary settlement tools in a tokenised global economy.

Mishandling the question of rewards, he warned, could give non-US stablecoins and CBDCs an advantage at a critical moment.

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