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18 Jan 2026, 09:24
Solana Co-Founder Anatoly Yakovenko Warns Solana Must Keep Upgrading or It Dies
Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko drew a clear line between Solana’s long-term strategy and Ethereum’s philosophy. He argued that Solana must keep evolving to survive, even as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin pushes for blockchains to outlive active developer influence. Yakovenko shared his view after Buterin discussed the idea that Ethereum should eventually pass a longevity benchmark. That benchmark would allow the chain to run for decades with minimal developer involvement. However, Yakovenko said that mindset risks turning a blockchain into something outdated. He emphasized that networks must keep adapting to developers and users, or they lose relevance. Significantly, Yakovenko framed upgrades as a survival requirement, not a luxury. He said protocol improvements should focus on solving practical problems for developers and users. At the same time, he suggested teams must reject most feature requests. Hence, Solana should stay focused on usefulness rather than broad approval. AI Development Could Become Solana’s Next Growth Engine Additionally, Yakovenko described a future where transaction activity creates enough economic value to fund continuous development. He suggested Solana’s fee model could help developers support upgrades over time. Moreover, he pointed to AI-assisted coding as a tool that could speed up improvements across the ecosystem. He also signaled that Solana should never rely on one team for progress. Consequently, he expects new contributors to build future versions as the chain matures. He even suggested governance mechanisms could eventually fund the computing power needed to produce upgrades. SOL Slips as Traders Watch Key Zones Source: CoinCodex Solana’s price moved lower in the last 24 hours. SOL traded near $142.27 with a daily decline of 1.28%. However, weekly performance stayed positive with a 4.62% increase. The token held a market cap near $80.4 billion with 570 million in circulation. According to INSIDER, the chart setup still supports a bullish local outlook. The analyst said Solana broke a weekly downtrend line after a sharp selloff. Consequently, the next area of interest sits between $160 and $170. Traders may take profits there due to prior supply pressure. Source: X Analysts Compare SOL’s Phase to ETH’s Past curb.sol compared Solana’s long consolidation to Ethereum’s cycle before its major run. The analyst said SOL has ranged between $100 and $300 for nearly two years. Consequently, the pattern reminded him of ETH’s 2019 to 2020 base. curb.sol said he used that period to accumulate Ethereum and now takes the same approach with Solana. Moreover, he repeated a long-term view that SOL can eventually reach $1000. Still, traders continue watching support zones for any deeper retracement toward $100.
18 Jan 2026, 09:17
Bitcoin Price Prediction: $1.42B ETF Surge Fuels Path Toward $100.5K
Bitcoin price momentum is shifting as institutional inflows, corporate adoption, and supportive technical signals converge. Spot Bitcoin ETFs drew $1.42 billion last week, their strongest surge since October, while companies like Steak ’n Shake added $10 million to reserves. With price consolidating near $95,000 in a bullish flag pattern, traders are eyeing a breakout toward $100,500 as market confidence builds $1.42B ETF Inflows Mark Strongest Week Since Octobe Bitcoin’s momentum is building again, thanks to a powerful wave of institutional demand. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.42 billion in net inflows last week, their strongest performance since October. Midweek trading was particularly striking, with $844 million on Wednesday and $754 million on Tuesday, according to SoSoValue data. Bitcoin ETFs have bought $1.42 BILLION BTC last week. Strongest week of inflows since October pic.twitter.com/Pt9eN01g6D — Maestro (@GoMaestroOrg) January 17, 2026 Ether ETFs also joined the rally, attracting nearly $479 million in weekly inflows. Analysts say this trend reflects long‑only institutional investors returning to the market through regulated instruments. On‑chain data supports the narrative, showing reduced selling pressure from whales, which effectively tightens Bitcoin’s supply. Spot Bitcoin ETFs: $1.42B inflows Ether ETFs: $479M inflows Whale selling pressure: reduced supply This combination of ETF demand and lighter selling pressure creates a supportive market structure. While short‑term volatility remains, the underlying bid from institutions strengthens Bitcoin’s long‑term outlook. Steak ’n Shake Adds $10M BTC to Treasury Strategy Beyond Wall Street, corporate players are deepening their Bitcoin strategies. Fast‑food chain Steak ’n Shake purchased $10 million in Bitcoin after months of accepting Lightning Network payments across all U.S. locations. The company’s approach is self‑reinforcing: Bitcoin payments boost sales, crypto earnings flow into its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, and those funds are reinvested into restaurant upgrades. ALL YOUR TAX CUT ARE BELONG TO US – AYB. https://t.co/Lu8lQCs5e9 pic.twitter.com/JVnxbsFY03 — All Your Base Are Belong To You (@AllYourBase_AYB) January 17, 2026 Since adopting Bitcoin in May 2025, same‑store sales rose 10% in Q2, while payment processing costs dropped by 50%. The company has even introduced Bitcoin‑themed menu items, underscoring how mainstream businesses are weaving crypto into everyday operations. U.S. Government Holds 328,000 BTC Worth $31B Speculation over U.S. government Bitcoin sales was put to rest when the Department of Justice confirmed it did not liquidate Samourai Wallet assets. Instead, the forfeited Bitcoin remains in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, in line with President Trump’s executive order requiring retention. NEW: DOJ confirms Samourai Wallet $BTC was not sold by the U.S. government. The Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets states the assets will remain on the federal balance sheet as part of the Strategic #Bitcoin Reserve. pic.twitter.com/kzGdUsOdMA — Bitcoin.com News (@BitcoinNews) January 16, 2026 The U.S. now holds over 328,000 BTC worth $31 billion, making it the largest sovereign holder globally. This assurance reduces fears of government‑driven sell pressure and reinforces Bitcoin’s scarcity narrative, a key driver of institutional confidence Bitcoin Price Prediction: Flag Pattern Points Toward $100.5K Breakout On the charts, Bitcoin price prediction is bullish as BTC is consolidating within a flag pattern after rallying from $90,000. Price sits near $95,030, just above support at $94,357. A spinning‑top candle signals indecision but not weakness. The RSI at 54.11 remains constructive, and the short‑term EMA is crossing above the long‑term EMA, a bullish signal. Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview A breakout above $95,204 could trigger a move toward $97,700, $99,000, and ultimately $100,500. Ethereum and Solana also show bullish setups, suggesting broader market strength. With ETF inflows rising, corporate adoption expanding, and technicals aligning, Bitcoin’s path toward six‑figure territory looks increasingly credible. For traders and investors, this may be the moment to position ahead of the next leg higher. Bitcoin Hyper: The Next Evolution of BTC on Solana? Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is bringing a new phase to the Bitcoin ecosystem. While BTC remains the gold standard for security, Bitcoin Hyper adds what it always lacked: Solana-level speed. The result: lightning-fast, low-cost smart contracts, decentralized apps, and even meme coin creation, all secured by Bitcoin. Audited by Consult , the project emphasizes trust and scalability as adoption builds. And momentum is already strong. The presale has surpassed $30.7 million, with tokens priced at just $0.013585 before the next increase. As Bitcoin activity climbs and demand for efficient BTC-based apps rises, Bitcoin Hyper stands out as the bridge uniting two of crypto’s biggest ecosystems. If Bitcoin built the foundation, Bitcoin Hyper could make it fast, flexible, and fun again. Click Here to Participate in the Presale The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: $1.42B ETF Surge Fuels Path Toward $100.5K appeared first on Cryptonews .
18 Jan 2026, 09:08
Solana CEO pushes back on Buterin’s blockchain longevity vision
Solana Labs’ Anatoly Yakovenko, the company’s chief executive, said he sees Solana constantly evolving to meet users’ needs, in contrast to Vitalik Buterin’s vision for Ethereum as a largely self-sufficient system. He believes that if the network stopped evolving, it would simply not survive. He noted on X: “Solana needs to never stop iterating. It shouldn’t depend on any single group or individual to do so, but if it ever stops changing to fit the needs of its devs and users, it will die.” Buterin’s previous assertion that Ethereum must be able to stand on its own over the long term, without relying on continual input from its developers, was the premise for his post. Yakovenko insists the blockchain needs to remain useful to both users and developers In his post, Yakovenko said the Solana network needs to provide practical value or risk vanishing altogether. From his perspective, the chain needs to be valuable enough to users and profitable enough for developers to help push ongoing upgrades to the open-source protocol. He argued that for any protocol to survive, it must always be useful, and that upgrades should resolve specific problems with users or developers, not try to do everything. He also insisted that there would always be another version of Solana, even if that version didn’t come from Anza, Solana Labs, or the foundation, and that future SIMD votes might provide the fuel for the GPUs that develop the code. In contrast, Buterin had earlier shared that Ethereum would prioritize decentralization, privacy, and self-sovereignty , even if that limits broader adoption. On Friday, the network founder asserted , “In 2026, no longer. Every compromise of values that Ethereum has made up to this point – every moment where you might have been thinking, is it really worth diluting ourselves so much in the name of mainstream adoption – we are making that compromise no longer.” However, he affirmed that there’s still much more Ethereum must accomplish before a hands-off approach is feasible. He pushed that the network must implement quantum resistance, improve scalability, and adopt a block-building design that resists centralization to stand the test of time. Yakovenko’s supporters say failing to adapt could kill the network So far, Buterin supporters have argued that adding more features would increase technical risk and create more room for centralization. Yet supporters of Yakovenko’s philosophy argue that not evolving fast enough could leave chains behind that move more quickly. Nonetheless, some users, however, expressed skepticism about Yakovenko’s idea that future Solana releases may not necessarily come from Anza, Labs, or the foundation, if it means evolution. One X user pointed out that without one of the three leading the upgrade, progress would be painfully slow—essentially causing the network to ossify. He gave Bitcoin as an example, noting that it still implements changes, but they take years to navigate through the community’s internal politics. Though some argued that the network must continue iterating and adapting, regardless, because a blockchain that stops adapting will eventually die. Although they have pursued different development strategies, Ethereum and Solana continue to lead the layer-1 blockchain industry. Ethereum wins for decentralization and tokenized assets, while Solana is known for its high-speed network, consumer app popularity, and fee revenue. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .
18 Jan 2026, 09:02
Analyst Predicts Timeline for XRP Price to Hit $9 or $10
Crypto analyst CryptoBull has outlined an ambitious outlook for XRP, presenting a technical projection that separates near-term price movement from a much longer-term valuation trajectory. The assessment was shared alongside a weekly XRP/USD chart, emphasizing what the analyst described as a measured move structure forming across an extended time horizon. Rather than focusing on intraday volatility, the analysis centers on multi-year price behavior and structural patterns visible on higher time frames. According to the projection, XRP could reach $9 or $10 within the coming weeks, followed by $122 in the coming months or years. The distinction between these two phases is central to the analyst’s view, with the shorter-term move described as a continuation within an established structure and the higher target positioned as the eventual outcome of that same formation playing out fully over time. #XRP measured move to $9-10 in the next weeks and $122 in the coming months and years! pic.twitter.com/czcUMUSVM9 — CryptoBull (@CryptoBull2020) January 16, 2026 Weekly Chart Pattern Underpins the Projection The chart attached to the post shows XRP’s price action plotted on a one-week time frame against the U.S. dollar. The visual analysis highlights a broad, rounded structure spanning several years, with price compressing and then advancing toward the upper boundary of a long-established range. CryptoBull’s markings suggest that XRP has already completed the base of this structure and is now advancing along its latter stages. Within this context, the $9–$10 zone is presented as a measured move aligned with prior resistance levels visible on the weekly chart. The higher $122 level is shown as a longer-term extension, derived from the same structural framework rather than a separate or unrelated forecast. The emphasis of the analysis remains on technical positioning rather than external catalysts, fundamentals, or macroeconomic developments. Community Pushback Focuses on Timelines and Certainty The projection drew immediate responses from other market participants, some of whom questioned not the possibility of higher prices, but the timelines attached to them. One commenter argued that while a triple-digit valuation might be viable over several years, assigning such an outcome to a window of months risks creating unrealistic expectations. Another response criticized the lack of precise timing, suggesting that broad references to days, weeks, months, and years weaken the credibility of price forecasts and can contribute to confusion among less experienced participants. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 These reactions underscore an ongoing tension within technical analysis commentary, where long-term projections often coexist with short-term expectations in the same narrative. While CryptoBull’s analysis attempts to separate them, critics remain wary of how such projections may be interpreted when shared publicly. Projection Remains Anchored to Chart-Based Reasoning Despite the criticism, the post itself remains focused on chart-derived reasoning. The analyst does not present guarantees or certainties; it frames the targets as outcomes of the current technical structure as it continues to develop as anticipated. As with all technical projections, the scenario depends on market conditions remaining favorable and key levels holding over time. 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 advised to conduct thorough 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 X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Analyst Predicts Timeline for XRP Price to Hit $9 or $10 appeared first on Times Tabloid .
18 Jan 2026, 09:00
Bitcoin Records Large Exchange Inflows As Price Climbs — What Next For BTC?
Bitcoin recently failed to overcome the $97,000 resistance following its price surge seen in mid-January. At the moment, the leading cryptocurrency has taken on a state of inertia, with no significant movement in either direction seen. However, an investigation of on-chain dynamics has recently revealed that trouble might be looming for the flagship cryptocurrency. Related Reading: Bitcoin Holds Key Support As Weekend Liquidity Sets In — $98,200 And $107,500 In Focus Sudden Inflows: Caution Or Opportunity? In a QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, key opinion leader CryptoZeno shares a potentially foreboding observation on Bitcoin’s market dynamics, saying the premier cryptocurrency could be facing a risk of distribution in the near-term. This conjecture is based on the Bitcoin: Exchange Inflow (Total) – All Exchanges metric, which serves the basic function of tracking the total amount of BTC transferred into centralized exchanges over a certain period. CryptoZeno highlights in the post that exchange inflows have seen sharp surges through Bitcoin’s most-recent trading sessions, which represent one of the most significant spikes seen in the month of January. Typically, large inflows of BTC into exchanges act as a telltale sign that investors are preparing to distribute their holdings. This is contrary to any inclination towards long-term holding. Interestingly, the sign of distribution-readiness is more typical if the event were to occur just after a strong advance of the BTC price. Also citing historical occurrences, CryptoZeno explains that such behavior, where BTC holders increasingly send their tokens to exchanges, suggests that investors are venturing out of Bitcoin and to more “liquid venues.” Expectedly, such a massive dispersal of their holdings would translate into price as increased sell-side pressure, especially in the short-term. Notably, the analyst makes it clear that inflows alone do not tell a sure story of an immediate reversal. More accurately, spikes in exchange inflows often come before heightened volatility periods or corrective price action. Related Reading: Are XRP ETFs About To Act Like Banks? Expert Thinks So Analyst Highlights Mid- To Large-Size Bands As Main BTC ‘Movers’ CryptoZeno provides more context by merging the Spent Output Value Bands with the Exchange Inflow metric. This shows which investor cohort was more involved in creating the distribution signal seen. On inspection of the blended metric, it becomes apparent that the spike in exchange inflows was largely induced by mid-to-large size bands (10-100 BTC, and 100-1,000BTC). These size bands, according to the crypto expert, are associated with whales, long-term investors who are repositioning, or even ETFs. These investor classes do not merely act without strategic reasons. As a result, their activity is usually more important compared to retail activity. A simultaneous increment to exchange inflows, alongside large investor distribution, is another sign that the Bitcoin market is on the brink of a fragile phase. In the event that inflows remain high as price struggles to reclaim past highs, the world’s leading cryptocurrency could be entering a phase of trouble, as it would suggest the predominance of supply over demand. As of this writing, Bitcoin is worth $95,250, recording almost no growth since the past day. Featured image from Flickr, chart from Tradingview
18 Jan 2026, 09:00
Yakovenko’s ‘adapt or die’ warning lands as Solana RWAs hit $1B
This comes days after the Ethereum co-founder's contrasting views.
