Invest ideasNews
18 Jan 2026, 11:00
Vanguard’s $505mln MSTR bet – Is the Bitcoin blockade officially over?
What changed behind the scenes? Bitcoin price or MSCI exclusion or something else.
18 Jan 2026, 11:00
LATAM crypto news: El Salvador’s Bitcoin zones expand, Polymarket bet on Maduro sparks speculation
This week in LATAM crypto, three stories are taking the spotlight: El Salvador is expanding its Bitcoin Zones to spur innovation and economic growth. On the other hand, MEXC claims record expansion and community participation across Latin America, and a high-profile Polymarket bet on Nicolás Maduro’s departure raises concerns about insider information. These developments highlight the region’s dynamic cryptocurrency scene, which includes legislative trials, exchange growth, and high-stakes prediction markets. Expanding Bitcoin zones strengthen El Salvador’s digital strategy El Salvador’s Bitcoin Zones have regained international interest following the formal announcement of two new developments that will complement the country’s existing programs. This step supports El Salvador’s aim of integrating Bitcoin into the economy through technological innovation, capital attractiveness, and territorial development. Despite persistent external concern, the government remains steadfast in its pro-Bitcoin attitude, framing these additional zones as an extension of the crypto model beyond the well-known programs. Bitcoin Zones are special economic zones that combine Bitcoin and digital technology into business, tourist, and finance operations. Current references such as Bitcoin Beach, Bitcoin City, and the Bitcoin Zone at the National Library all serve different purposes, ranging from ordinary BTC payments to geothermal-powered smart city construction. According to The Bitcoin Office, the newly announced zones will take a similar strategy, potentially using strategic resources while incorporating mining, data centres, and tourism, establishing Bitcoin as an active driver of economic growth rather than just a store of wealth. Polymarket bet on Maduro sparks speculation In early January, the crypto community was alerted to an odd wager on the Polymarket platform. An unnamed trader wagered $32,000 that Nicolás Maduro would depart Venezuela’s presidency by January 31, 2026, and gained nearly $400,000. The wager was placed just hours before circumstances occurred that rendered the market outcome nearly certain. On-chain analysis soon stoked conjecture about an insider tip, and the story took a turn when Donald Trump stated that the putative informant had been apprehended and was in custody. Suspicions were founded not just on profit, but also on the structure of fund movements . The study revealed that cash came from two seemingly disposable wallets with no other activity, funded solely through Coinbase, and moved nearly instantly to the prediction market. A thorough investigation showed a series of nearly similar transactions at short intervals employing wallets related to the domains StCharles, StevenCharles, and STVLU, which had previously processed millions through Coinbase. While the wallets’ ownership was not confirmed, the pattern appeared too consistent to be coincidental. Following this, Trump publicly declared that the leak had been detected, coinciding with an FBI investigation into Aurelio Pérez-Lugones, a Department of Defence contractor accused of illegally holding secret information about Venezuela. MEXC accelerates growth and user engagement in LATAM MEXC, the world’s fastest-growing digital asset exchange and the pioneer of commission-free trading, plans to expand significantly throughout Latin America by 2025. The company prioritized localizing its products, improving customer service, and expanding community engagement. Key activities included integrating PIX deposits and withdrawals in Brazil, improving fiat payment channels in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, and extending peer-to-peer services in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia. MEXC has launched the Visa MEXC x Ether.fi card, which allows users to spend cryptocurrency globally via Apple Pay or Google Pay and earn up to 4% cashback, bridging the gap between digital assets and ordinary payments. The company also prioritised improving the customer experience in Latin America by increasing support in Spanish and Portuguese, localising educational content, and synchronising service hours with regional time zones. Customer satisfaction (CSAT) climbed from 92.48% to 96.25%, while problem resolution rates increased from 90.51% to 93.10%. MEXC increased its physical and cultural presence by attending key blockchain events and community meetups in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia. MEXC cemented Latin America as one of its fastest-growing markets, setting the scene for future progress in 2026, after being named the “Best Exchange in Latin America” at the BeInCrypto 100 Awards and praised for its strong regional growth. The post LATAM crypto news: El Salvador’s Bitcoin zones expand, Polymarket bet on Maduro sparks speculation appeared first on Invezz
18 Jan 2026, 10:53
China throttles rare-earth supply chain as bilateral tensions with Japan escalate
China exported 6,745 tons of rare-earth products in December, a drop from 6,958 tons in November, based on customs data released Sunday. The biggest chunk of the exports are rare-earth magnets, which have played a key role in past trade fights. China’s Ministry of Commerce had recently said it’s adding controls on shipments that could be used in military applications, with Japan clearly in mind. These two frenemies have been in a beef ever since Japan’s new prime minister Takaichi Sanae made comments about Xi Jinping’s very publicized plans for Taiwan, saying that she will come to the aid of the island nation should Beijing move forward with those plans. China Daily said Beijing is also thinking about tightening up license rules for shipping these critical rare earth materials to Japan. U.S. and allies hold meeting to reduce dependence The export numbers don’t show where the materials went or what types were shipped. That kind of breakdown is supposed to come out Tuesday. But even without details, governments are already reacting. China said back in October that these export restrictions will apply worldwide now, not just to specific countries. This is why the U.S. invited the G7 finance ministers, plus reps from Australia, India, South Korea, and the EU, to meet in Washington on Monday. The meeting was led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the focus was on how to stop depending so much on China for rare earths. They talked about setting price floors to help other countries start their own rare-earth projects and build new partnerships to get supplies from different places. An official at the meeting said, “Urgency is the theme of the day. It’s a very big undertaking. There’s a lot of different angles, a lot of different countries involved, and we need to move faster.” Tensions grow over military use and economic pressure Right now, foreign companies need to get a license from China if they want to ship out rare earths or related tech. That system is now being used to slow things down or block exports to certain places, especially in defense and advanced tech sectors in countries like Japan, Europe, and the U.S. Jon Lang, who runs economic security policy at APCO in Washington, said the U.S. push to cut down on rare-earth reliance was “an easy sell” because of what he called China’s broad economic coercion. He also said the G7 is more united now than before. Lang added, “The meeting could also be seen as a show of support for Japan, as it had been an early victim of China using rare earths as a tool of trade coercion since 2010.” Not surprisingly, The Global Times, which is a Chinese state-owned tabloid, called the G7 talks a sign of America’s strategic anxiety. They said the West’s goal of beating China on rare-earth supply just won’t happen because of the way global demand and production look right now. Still, it’s obvious China is watching other countries invest more in new mining and processing centers. Nobody wants to rely on one country forever. Since the October announcement, there’s been a serious push around the world to build new supply chains for these critical materials. Get seen where it counts. Advertise in Cryptopolitan Research and reach crypto’s sharpest investors and builders.
18 Jan 2026, 10:50
XRP to $12.50? Standard Chartered’s Bet Gains Steam as Spot ETFs Steal the Spotlight
Wall Street Whale Calls XRP to $12.50 as ETFs and Institutional Demand Accelerate Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick has sparked renewed debate on Wall Street and across the crypto market with a bold forecast that XRP could reach $12.50 by 2028. Far from mere speculation, his projection is anchored in accelerating regulatory clarity, growing institutional adoption, and the expanding momentum behind XRP-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs). At the core of this thesis is the accelerating push toward spot XRP ETFs. Kendrick argues that approvals in major markets could finally open the floodgates to institutional capital XRP has long been denied. With as many as six XRP ETF products potentially launching, projections point to $4–$8 billion in inflows within the first year. For an asset historically held back by legal uncertainty, this marks a decisive structural inflection point. Why XRP? Unlike many digital assets still chasing real-world relevance, XRP is already embedded in the global payments ecosystem. Its unmatched speed, ultra-low fees, and scalability make it purpose-built for cross-border settlements and tokenized financial flows, exactly where institutional demand is accelerating. As regulatory clarity improves, the barriers that once kept traditional finance on the sidelines are rapidly dissolving, positioning XRP as a core infrastructure asset rather than a speculative bet. Kendrick underscores XRP’s asymmetric upside at current valuations. While Bitcoin and Ethereum command the spotlight, XRP’s market structure offers greater multiple expansion if institutional demand accelerates with present price being $2.06 per CoinCodex data. In a bullish setup, ETF-driven inflows combined with broader market momentum could rapidly reprice the asset. More notably, Kendrick suggests XRP could challenge, and potentially overtake, Ethereum’s market capitalization in the 2026 bull cycle. This isn’t a critique of Ethereum’s ecosystem, but a reflection of late-cycle capital dynamics. Should XRP emerge as the preferred institutional bridge asset and ETF proxy, its market cap could scale faster than established Layer 1 incumbents. Well, the $12.50 target for 2028 looks less like an outlier and more like a valuation grounded in adoption and expanding capital access. As Wall Street shifts from viewing crypto as a speculative fringe to a legitimate asset class, XRP’s combination of real-world utility, deep liquidity, and advancing regulatory clarity positions it as a credible contender in the next phase of digital finance. Conclusion XRP’s $12.50 projection isn’t just an ambitious price target, it signals a potential shift in how institutional capital engages with crypto. With spot XRP ETFs positioned to unlock billions in inflows, regulatory headwinds easing, and real-world payment utility already proven, XRP sits at the crossroads of finance and functionality. If the 2026 bull market unfolds as expected, XRP could evolve from a long-overlooked asset into a core pillar of institutional crypto portfolios, challenging market leadership beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. Therefore, XRP’s next phase may be driven less by hype and more by sustained adoption and Wall Street–scale capital.
18 Jan 2026, 10:33
Bitcoin Braces as Trump Slaps 25% Tariffs on Europe Over Greenland
US President Donald Trump announced escalating tariffs on eight European nations, starting on February 1, threatening 10% levies that will rise to 25% by June, until Denmark agrees to sell Greenland. Bitcoin faces renewed volatility as geopolitical tensions mirror the October 2025 tariff shock that triggered $19 billion in liquidations. Trump declared via Truth Social that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland will face immediate tariffs “ until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland .” The move sparked emergency EU meetings and unified condemnation from European leaders, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling tariffs on allies “ completely wrong ” while France’s Emmanuel Macron warned “ no intimidation nor threat will influence us. “ France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe and elsewhere. This guides our choices. It underpins our commitment to the United Nations and to its Charter. It is on this basis that we support, and will continue to support Ukraine… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 17, 2026 European Leaders Unite Against Unprecedented Threat The tariff announcement triggered an extraordinary diplomatic crisis as EU ambassadors convened emergency meetings on Sunday afternoon. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that “ tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral, ” while declaring full EU solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated bluntly, “ We will not let ourselves be blackmailed, ” characterizing Trump’s demands as an EU-wide issue requiring a collective response. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, previously considered a Trump ally through shared golf interests, urged that “ among allies, issues are best resolved through discussion, not through pressure. “ Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre agreed, stressing “ threats have no place among allies. “ Even Trump supporter Nigel Farage criticized the tariffs, admitting “ we don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us. “ We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us. If Greenland is vulnerable to malign influences, then have another look at Diego Garcia. https://t.co/z0r0IUlD6I — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) January 17, 2026 Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered perhaps the sharpest rebuke, warning that a US invasion of Greenland “ would make Putin the happiest man on earth ” by legitimizing Russia’s Ukraine invasion and spelling “ the death knell for Nato. “ EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also echoed this sentiment, noting “ China and Russia must be having a field day” as they “benefit from divisions among Allies. “ Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen also expressed surprise at Trump’s announcement following what he described as “ constructive meetings ” with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week. Given Trump’s threats over Greenland, German MEP Manfred Weber suggested halting the recently negotiated EU-US trade deal, stating, “ The 0% tariffs on US products must be put on hold. “ Meanwhile, thousands protested across Greenland and Denmark, carrying banners reading “ Greenland is for Greenlanders ” and “ Hands Off Greenland. “ Tariff Uncertainty Clouds Bitcoin Recovery Bitcoin currently trades around $95,000 after weeks of range-bound movement between $94,000 and $97,000. Market participants remain cautious following Trump’s latest geopolitical escalation, which adds fresh uncertainty to an already fragile recovery. The crypto has avoided revisiting lower support levels in 2026, though gains remain thin amid persistent geopolitical risks. CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju expects Bitcoin to enter “ just boring sideways for the next few months ” rather than experiencing sharp rallies or deep crashes. Capital inflows into Bitcoin have dried up. Liquidity channels are more diverse now, so timing inflows is pointless. Institutions holding long-term killed the old whale-retail sell cycle. MSTR won't dump any significant chunk of their 673k BTC. Money just rotated to stocks and… pic.twitter.com/Ha866TP857 — Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) January 8, 2026 “ Capital inflows into Bitcoin have dried up. Liquidity channels are more diverse now, so timing inflows is pointless, ” he stated, noting money has “ rotated to stocks and shiny rocks. “ Despite a lack of buying pressure , large holders, including US banks, continue to accumulate Bitcoin, with no clear signs of capitulation yet. Speaking with Cryptonews, John Glover, Chief Investment Officer at Ledn, suggests Bitcoin remains in Wave IV of its bull cycle, with completion targets between $71,000 and $84,000. “ Confirmation as to which path we’re following will come from either a break and close above $104,000 which would confirm we are now starting Wave V, or a break below $80,000, which means a move to the low $70s before we head higher, ” Glover explained. Source: TradingView October Tariff Precedent Raises Concerns Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy previously devastated crypto markets in October 2025 when 100% tariffs on Chinese imports triggered one of history’s largest single-day liquidation events. Bitcoin plunged below $105,000 as $19 billion in leveraged positions unwound within 24 hours, forcing 1.6 million traders into liquidations, with nearly 87% being long positions. Open interest in Bitcoin futures collapsed by more than 30% during that selloff before recovering above $114,000 days later. The current tariff threat targets America’s closest European allies rather than adversaries, creating unprecedented uncertainty about transatlantic relations. Markets now face potential Supreme Court rulings on the legality of tariffs alongside escalating geopolitical tensions over Greenland, Venezuela, and broader global trade policy. These combined factors threaten to replicate October’s volatility despite Bitcoin’s recent price stability. The post Bitcoin Braces as Trump Slaps 25% Tariffs on Europe Over Greenland appeared first on Cryptonews .
18 Jan 2026, 10:15
Samsung to pay record bonuses as AI boom lifts profits
Samsung Electronics is set to hand out record bonuses to its team as the artificial intelligence boom translates into profits. The company will pay out some of its biggest performance bonuses in years, as the global memory chip supercycle continues to bring in historic profits as a result of an increase in AI adoption. Device Solutions, the semiconductor division of Samsung, has announced that eligible staff will receive bonuses up to 47% of their base annual salary this month. The payout is expected to be applied across the division’s three businesses: memory, system, large-scale integration, and foundry. It also marks a sharp rebound from 2023, when the division’s bonus rate was 0% after the downturn experienced in the chip market. Samsung announces record bonuses for semiconductor division staff According to reports, this year’s bonus is slightly lower than Samsung’s internal maximum cap of 50%, reflecting the extraordinary recovery that the division has undergone since 2023. Samsung uses its performance-based incentive system called Overachieved Performance Incentive to reward its staff. The reward is carried out once every year and is calculated from 20% of the previous year’s economic value added. Samsung’s mobile MX division, which is in charge of the company ‘s Galaxy smartphone line, will see its OPI payout set at the full 50%. Meanwhile, divisions like consumer electronics and networks will see much lower rates, with reports noting that it could be around the 12% range, based on their 2025 performance. The bonuses come after Samsung announced a record-breaking fourth quarter operating profit of 20 trillion won ($13.6 billion), according to the company’s preliminary announcement. According to analysts’ estimates, the DS division contributed around 16 to 17 trillion won to the numbers, with the contribution driven by an increase in prices of both advanced and general-purpose memory chips. Aside from Samsung, another company preparing a payout for its staff is SK hynix. After scrapping its previous internal cap that had limited bonuses to the equivalent of 10 months’ base salary, the company is now expected to allocate 10% of its total operating profits to this year’s profit-sharing program. SK Hynix teases new profit-sharing program SK Hynix saw its full-year operating profit hit 45 trillion won, and with a workforce of 33,000, the average bonus that is expected to reach each employee is projected to reach more than 140 million, marking a new record high. The company is expected to pay 80% of the bonus up front and will defer the remaining 20% over two years. The company said it will also reintroduce the Employee Share Participation Program, which it debuted last year. Under the program, employees are allowed to choose to take half of their bonus in company shares and receive a 15% cash premium if they hold the stock for a year. The program is designed to encourage long-term alignment between staff and shareholders. Since 2024, Samsung and SK Hynix have redirected much of their chip capacity toward high-bandwidth memory. This is because producing them consumes about three times the wafer capacity of standard DRAM. In addition, the move has created a drop in supply for general-purpose memory such as DDR5, driving up its prices across the board. For SK Hynix, which holds a large share of the HBM market, these margins have been profitable. On the other hand, Samsung has been able to benefit from rising demand for HBM and higher prices in the general memory market due to its larger manufacturing scale. Samsung still retains its position as the global volume leader in the general memory market. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
