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26 Jan 2026, 20:30

CZ Draws A Line: Binance Co-Founder Declines Return After Trump Pardon

Reports say Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, will not return to the company he helped build even after his legal name was cleared. US President Donald Trump issued a pardon late in 2025 that removed the criminal tag from his name. That move reopened doors that had been closed, but CZ says he prefers to stay out of day-to-day management. Pardon And The Past CZ pleaded guilty in 2023 to charges tied to weak anti-money-laundering controls at Binance. He accepted a deal that included large fines and operational changes for the exchange. Binance paid roughly $4.3 billion in penalties as part of settlements with US regulators. After receiving a prison sentence, he served time in 2024 and later received clemency from Trump in October 2025. A candid conversation from Davos – on prison, pardon, and what freedom means going forward. Full interview on @CNBC with @andrewrsorkin . Focused on building what’s next. pic.twitter.com/x94llJFac2 — CZ BNB (@cz_binance) January 25, 2026 A Former Exec Reflects Zhao’s prison stay left a mark. In public talks and interviews, he described the experience as “difficult and personal.” He has spoken about basic hardships inside and about the mental toll the period took on him. At Davos and in other forums he has been open about those days while also discussing what the future might hold for crypto. No Return To Binance Based on market chatter, Zhao said he does not plan to step back into a leadership role at Binance. He used phrases that made it clear he believes the exchange can run without him. New leaders at the company are in place, and he said they should be allowed to lead. That position was repeated across several news outlets after his public appearances. Leaders And Denials Binance management has pushed back on claims that politics or outside deals played any part in the pardon. Company reps denied there was a link between the Trump pardon and other crypto projects tied to political figures. Those denials were offered to calm markets and to show the company remains officially detached from political moves. Industry Reaction & Questions Analysts and rivals reacted with a mix of relief, doubt, and curiosity. Some think the pardon could change how US regulators approach enforcement in the future. Others worry about the message it sends, given the amount of the penalties already paid. Markets watched closely, and some investors adjusted their views on risk and leadership at major exchanges. A Quiet Next Chapter Zhao’s statement that he will not come back closes one chapter while opening another. He may act as an investor, advisor, or public voice for crypto ideas, but insisted he will not reclaim the top job. Featured image from Leadership Circle , chart from TradingView

26 Jan 2026, 20:15

XRP Price Prediction: XRP Is Crashing Fast – Is This the Beginning of a Total Breakdown to Zero?

XRP has dropped 4% over the past week, with trading volumes spiking by 171% as the token broke below key support at $1.90. This surge in activity signals growing uncertainty, adding doubt to the bullish XRP price prediction that has dominated recent sentiment. Bearish pressure is intensifying after Donald Trump threatened a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if the country strikes a trade deal with China. While XRP briefly rebounded from $1.80 during the Asian session, broader market jitters continue to weigh heavily on price action. The Fear and Greed Index shows that sentiment has soured in the past couple of weeks as this key metric dropped sharply from a 54 reading on January 14 to 29 at the time of writing. Now, traders are wondering whether XRP is going to zero, so it’s time to take a look at the charts. XRP Price Prediction: 11% Downside Risk Ahead If This Happens XRP is currently retesting a key structural resistance at $1.90. This is the previous low of the dominant bearish structure, meaning that a bullish breakout will confirm a trend reversal. If the price rejects a move above this mark, it could rapidly drop to $1.80 and increase the risk of a move to lower levels. In that scenario, the most likely target, one that hasn’t been touched in months, would be the $1.60 area. Hence, even though a move to zero is highly unlikely, the current setup does favor a bearish outlook. Meanwhile, while major altcoins struggle to hold key levels, crypto presales like Maxi Doge ($MAXI) are heating up with strong momentum and early investor interest. This Ethereum-based meme coin channels the same viral energy that sent Dogecoin soaring in 2021, and could deliver a similar breakout as soon as its presale closes. Maxi Doge Presale Is Channeling the Early Dogecoin Energy That Once Drove 1000x Gains Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is a fast-rising meme coin presale that’s flashing many of the same signals that powered Dogecoin’s breakout in 2021. Instead of empty hype, the project is building a trader-first culture where momentum, community, and rewards come first. At the center is an active group of like-minded traders sharing setups, early opportunities, and wins as the market heats up again. Engagement is fueled through weekly competitions like Maxi Ripped and Maxi Gains, where traders showcase their biggest Ws and climb the leaderboard for rewards and bragging rights. On top of that, $MAXI offers staking rewards of 69% per year for early participants who lock in during the presale phase. For anyone who watched DOGE explode from the sidelines, Maxi Doge offers a second chance to get positioned early in a meme coin that’s gaining momentum by the week. To buy $MAXI and join the pump, simply head to the official Maxi Doge website and connect your wallet (e.g. Best Wallet ). You can swap USDT, USDC, or ETH, or use a bank card to secure tokens in just a few clicks. Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here The post XRP Price Prediction: XRP Is Crashing Fast – Is This the Beginning of a Total Breakdown to Zero? appeared first on Cryptonews .

26 Jan 2026, 20:10

Valour secures FCA approval to offer yield-bearing, physically backed BTC and ETH staking ETPs in UK

Valour, a subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed DeFi Technologies, has received regulatory approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to offer yield-bearing cryptocurrency exchange-traded products to retail investors through the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Valour has previously launched products on LSE for professional investors. It has an asset-backed Ethereum Physical Staking ETP for professional investors and also reportedly has the record for the world’s first physically backed Bitcoin Staking ETP. What products is Valour bringing to UK retail investors? The approval , which takes effect on January 26, enables UK retail investors to gain exposure to two physically backed staking products, which are the 1Valour Bitcoin Physical Staking ETP and the 1Valour Ethereum Physical Staking ETP. Both products incorporate staking yields into their net asset value, allowing investors to benefit from blockchain validation rewards through traditional brokerage accounts. “This is a major milestone for Valour and DeFi Technologies as we continue expanding access to regulated digital asset investment products,” said Johan Wattenström, CEO and chairman of DeFi Technologies. “The UK is one of the world’s most important financial markets, and these approvals broaden our ability to serve UK retail investors with transparent, exchange-listed products.” Product launch made possible by a change in regulation The launch follows the FCA’s decision in October 2025 to lift a ban on retail access to crypto exchange-traded notes that had been in place since January 2021. The original prohibition was imposed over concerns about extreme price volatility and inadequate investor protections in the nascent crypto market. The revised framework, which permits retail sales from October 20, 2025, requires that products be limited to Bitcoin or Ether, and they should be physically backed and hold crypto assets in cold storage with regulated custodians. From April 6, 2026, crypto ETPs will be reclassified from Stocks and Shares Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to Innovative Finance ISAs in the UK. However, these products are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, leaving investors exposed to issuer and market risks. UK authorities are expected to implement a comprehensive crypto regulatory regime by October 25, 2027, which could further standardize oversight and potentially expand the range of permissible products and services. While the immediate focus is on Bitcoin and Ethereum products, there are some who believe that the regulation will later evolve to accommodate additional digital assets to gain approval over time, provided they meet stringent custody, transparency, and investor protection standards. Join a premium crypto trading community free for 30 days - normally $100/mo.

26 Jan 2026, 20:08

GameStop shares jumps after Michael Burry revealed he's been buying

GameStop shares jumped on Monday after news tied to one person. That person is Michael Burry. He is the investor known for betting against the U.S. housing market before the financial crisis. He disclosed that he has been buying GameStop shares again. The stock rose more than 6% after his comments became public. Michael said he has been buying GameStop recently and sees the price near 1x tangible book value and 1x net asset value. He shared this in a Substack post published Monday. He also pointed to Ryan Cohen running the company and using capital and cash flow over a long period. The message was simple. This was not a short-term trade and not a meme bet. Burry lays out a long-term value bet Michael recently shut down Scion Asset Management. He said this position is a long-term value play. He said it is not based on renewed meme stock action. GameStop became famous about five years ago during a retail trading frenzy. Online traders pushed prices higher and forced hedge funds to cover short positions. That period ended. Trading later calmed down, and speculation faded. Michael wrote, “I am not counting on a short squeeze to realize long-term value.” He added, “I believe in Ryan, I like the setup, the governance, the strategy as I see it.” He also said he is willing to hold the stock long-term and be patient. He noted that he is fifteen years older than Ryan and still prepared to wait. After the meme surge ended, GameStop gave back most of its gains. The stock later traded around $25 a share. Even so, the company used heavy investor interest in the past to raise billions of dollars through equity offerings. Those sales left GameStop with a large cash balance. Michael addressed that directly. He wrote , “Ryan is making lemonade out of lemons.” He added, “He has a crappy business, and he is milking it best he can while taking advantage of the meme stock phenomenon to raise cash and wait for an opportunity to make a big buy of a real growing cash cow business.” The video game retailer also started buying Bitcoin last year . The decision followed a similar approach taken by MicroStrategy, now known as Strategy. Ryan said the move was driven by macro concerns. He said bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralized design could protect against certain risks. Michael reacted cautiously and wrote, “I do not know about this Bitcoin thing, but I cannot argue with what has been done so far.” Michael is not alone in backing the company. Just last week, Ryan bought 1 million shares of GameStop. The purchase was disclosed in a Jan. 21 SEC filing. In that filing, Ryan said it is “essential” for a public company CEO to buy shares with personal funds to strengthen alignment with stockholders. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

26 Jan 2026, 20:08

VanEck expands crypto ETF lineup with spot Avalanche product

The newly launched fund offers exchange-traded exposure to AVAX as other proposed Avalanche ETFs remain under regulatory review.

26 Jan 2026, 20:05

Pundit: The Pressure Is Building for XRP. Here’s What Happened

XRP has entered a tense phase where market psychology may outweigh price action. After years of consolidation, the digital asset shows signs of building pressure, and traders are watching closely for the next major move. Recent insights from a prominent crypto voice shed light on what this pressure means for holders and the broader market. In a video clip posted on X, Austin Hilton framed the situation as mounting “pressure” on XRP and all of crypto. Hilton said, “There is pressure building, and what this means to you and your XRP and what it means to me and what I’m going to do.” He explained that this pressure comes from prolonged consolidation and a shift in sentiment. Highlighting XRP’s extreme pessimism, Hilton noted, “XRP’s in extreme fear,” pointing to how retail sentiment has turned sharply negative. The pressure is building for XRP (and all of crypto)… pic.twitter.com/73GExguGNM — Austin Hilton (@austinahilton) January 25, 2026 Extreme Fear and Market Psychology Hilton emphasized the impact of this sentiment: “ A lot of interest, sentiment has turned negative , people have left.” Traders’ caution has created a market environment dominated by fear, yet Hilton stressed that not all participants are abandoning ship. He reassured viewers, “I’m not leaving crypto, I’m not leaving XRP,” underscoring the commitment of long-term holders even amid widespread pessimism. Consolidation as Latent Energy Hilton used a vivid metaphor to describe the current market setup. He said, “The pressure is going to break loose. The pressure is going to turn bullish.” He likened XRP’s extended consolidation to a compressed spring accumulating kinetic energy. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Once released, this energy could drive a significant market move. Hilton also shared his personal approach: “Continue to buy a little bit here and there because again, I have that long-term bullish outlook.” Decision Time for Traders Hilton highlighted that each investor must choose their approach carefully. “You have to decide, are you going to leave? Are you going to stay, or do you think XRP is never going to do anything?” he said. His message frames the current market tension as both a challenge and an opportunity: those who hold or strategically accumulate may be positioned to benefit when this pressure finally releases. While the timing remains uncertain, Hilton’s perspective underscores a crucial truth: extended consolidation and extreme sentiment can precede powerful price movements. As he concluded, “The pressure is building,” signaling that XRP’s next chapter could be defined by a dramatic shift once the market’s latent energy is unleashed. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Pundit: The Pressure Is Building for XRP. Here’s What Happened appeared first on Times Tabloid .