hodler

21 Jan 2026, 19:25

U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee plans to unveil its latest bill on crypto market structure today

The chairperson of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, John Boozman, is expected to release legislative text today as part of the committee’s effort to draft crypto market structure legislation. The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is expected to publish its latest legislative text on non-stablecoin regulations before the end of the day. The text release is part of the committee’s objective to streamline legislation on the crypto market structure outside stablecoins. The committee had announced on January 13 that it would release the legislative text today, ahead of the committee markup scheduled for January 27. The hearing on the crypto market structure bill was initially scheduled for January 15, but was postponed to January 21. Boozman said that the new schedule pushes for transparency and thorough scrutiny as the committee advances legislation to bring more clarity to crypto assets. Senate Agriculture Committee to release legislative drafts for the crypto market structure bill The legislative draft text will provide relevant crypto participants with a high-level overview of the key issues to focus on ahead of the committee markup towards the end of the month. The draft text will also indicate whether the additional two weeks of negotiations between Chairman Boozman (R-AR) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) resulted in a bipartisan bill. The emerging issues in the crypto industry have sparked back-and-forth between Democratic and Republican committee members. These issues include whether memecoins should be added to the list of “digital goods,” funding for the CFTC to oversee crypto, and the overall listing standards of different tokens. Members of the Banking Committee hope that the Agricultural Committee has reached a unanimous deal on crypto market structure legislation so that it can offer a center stage for their own markup. The banking committee postponed its markup last week after releasing its draft text and has not set a formal date. Coinbase CEO says initial draft texts by the banking committee had “issues” Coinbase has assumed the responsibility and has stepped up to push for further regulatory developments. CEO Brian Armstrong is in Davos with other banking CEOs, including Brian Moynihan of Bank of America and Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan. Brian Armstrong recently said in an interview that Coinbase had reviewed the draft texts from the banking committee and found “serious issues” in them. The CEO went ahead and said the committee showed no signs of resolving the issues, prompting the exchange to defend its customers. The banking committee decided to postpone its markup, giving Coinbase a chance to have a chat with bank CEOs in pursuit of a “win-win” outcome. Cryptopolitan highlighted that the Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, Patrick Witt, said that delaying the market structure bill could invite harsher regulation under a less crypto‑friendly Democratic administration. Witt seemed to be addressing Brian Armstrong after the exchange withdrew its support for the bill, citing “serious issues” with the draft texts. U.S. President Donald Trump has also commented on the legislation. While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, today, he mentioned that members of Congress were “working very hard on crypto market structure legislation,” which he hopes to sign very soon to unlock new pathways for U.S. citizens to achieve financial freedom. He also said he is still working to ensure “America remains the crypto capital of the world.” He emphasized that he already signed the landmark GENIUS Act into law to bring regulatory clarity to stablecoin issuance and usage. Trump said regulating crypto is part of his agenda to ensure the U.S. stays ahead of China. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.

21 Jan 2026, 19:10

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warns a credit card rate cap would cut off credit access for 80% of Americans

The head of America’s largest bank issued a stark warning about potential economic fallout from limiting what credit card companies can charge customers, even as the president pushed forward with the controversial plan. Jamie Dimon, who runs JPMorgan Chase, told an audience in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday that forcing a cap on credit card rates would cut off borrowing options for most Americans. He sai d ro ughly 80% of people in the country rely on credit cards as their safety net when money gets tight. Trump doubles down on 10% interest rate proposal President Donald Trump brought up the rate cap idea again during his own speech at the World Economic Forum gathering the same day. He told the crow d he wants lawmakers to approve a 10% limit on credit card interest rates that would last for one year. Trump pointed to what he called excessive profits in the credit card business, sayin g co mpanies now make more than 50% profit margins. He argued that high credit card bills make it harder for people to save money for buying homes, calling it a major obstacle for families trying to get ahead financially. The president originally floated this proposal earlier in January without spelling out the details. He later posted on Truth Social that he wanted companies to follow the new rule by January 20, catching the banking industry off guard. Stock prices for banks dropped when the news first broke as investors worried about losing revenue from a highly profitable part of their business. Banking groups quickly pushed back against the idea, saying it would actually hurt regular people by making credit harder to get. Industry representatives argued that everyday consumers would lose access to the loans they depend on. Political analysts pointed out that getting this kind of cap through Congress faces long odds. Republicans and Democrats remain split on whether to support it, making passage difficult. One market strategist noted that since Trump asked Congress to handle it through legislation rather than taking direct action himself, the chances of seeing a 10% cap anytime soon are quite low. Dimon suggests testing rate cap in two states first Dimon suggested a different approach during his remarks. He said the government should try out the rate cap in just two states first – Vermont and Massachusetts – to see what actually happens before rolling it out nationwide. His suggestion got laughs from people in the room, likely because senators from those two states, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have previously called for exactly this kind of limit on credit card rates. The JPMorgan chief painted a grim picture of what he thinks would follow a rate cap. He said the loudest complaints wouldn’t come from the credit card companies themselves. Instead, he predicte d re staurants, stores, travel businesses, schools, and local governments would suffer most because people would start missing payments on other bills, including basic services like water. Banks charge higher rates on credit cards than on other loans because card debt carries more risk. Unlike mortgages or car loans, credit cards aren’t backed by property that lenders can seize if borrowers don’t pay. This unsecured nature mean s ba nks face bigger losses when people default. Dimon mentione d hi s company plans to provide more detailed information to the administration about what effects a rate cap would have. During an earnings call last week, JPMorgan’s finance chief suggeste d th e bank might consider legal challenges if the government issues poorly justified orders to drastically alter their business operations. Some analysts thin k cr edit card companies might try to find a middle ground by creating new products. These could include cards with lower rates for certain customers, basic cards without rewards programs that charge 10%, or cards with smaller borrowing limits. Other major bank leaders share similar concerns. Jane Fraser, who heads Citigroup, told CNBC from Davos earlier in the week that she doesn’t think Congress will actually approve the credit card rate caps. By Wednesday, bank stocks had recovered somewhat. An index tracking large banking companies was up 1.2% for the day. Major banks are reportedly working behind the scenes to present alternative ideas to the administration as it tries to address voter worries about living costs before the upcoming congressional elections. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

21 Jan 2026, 17:50

Iran’s crypto market hits $7.78 billion as central bank and Revolutionary Guards expand usage

Iran’s central bank purchased more than $500 million worth of digital currency last year as it struggles to handle a worsening money crisis and get around American sanctions, according to a report from blockchain research firm Elliptic. The bank made two separate purchases of Tether’s USDT in April and May 2025, Elliptic announced on Wednesday. The company based its findings on leaked papers and its own investigation. Through June 2025, most of the money went to an Iranian digital currency exchange where people could keep their USDT, swap it for other digital currencies, or exchange it for Iranian rials, Elliptic reported. Things changed after hackers who support Israel broke into that exchange in June. Following the attack, USDT was converted into various crypto assets and moved across various blockchain networks. Iran has been mostly locked out of worldwide money markets and banks since 2018. That was when President Donald Trump walked away from a major nuclear agreement and put strict penalties on the country. Limits on Iran’s oil sales have hurt the country’s ability to get foreign money. Oil exports are Iran’s biggest way of earning money from other countries. Iran also cannot bring home money from its exports and has been kicked out of the SWIFT banking system. These problems have made it hard for the central bank to protect the value of the rial and fight rising prices. Elliptic report, seen by The Guardian, said the central bank appears to be using the digital currency to stop the rial from losing more value and to handle payments for trade with other countries. This method lets Iran build what Elliptic called a “sanctions-proof banking system” and “a shadow money layer that can hold US dollar value where US officials cannot reach it.” Iran’s digital currency market reaches $7.78 billion Another blockchain research company called Chainalysis put out a report last week saying Iran’s crypto sector was worth $7.78 billion in 2025. Growing numbers of Iranians are trying to protect their money from runaway inflation and looking for options besides increasingly expensive dollars and euros. The Iranian rial has dropped about 90 percent in value since 2018, and the decline has gotten worse as conflicts in the region have grown. Iranian citizens are dealing with inflation rates between 40 and 50 percent. Iran’s digital currency activity reached over $7.78 billion in 2025, growin g fa ste r th an the previous year. The activity shows big jumps that line up with major events in the country and the region. A smaller increase happened during a 12-day conflict in June 2025 between Iran and Israel. That conflict saw joint American and Israeli attacks against Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. Hackers also attacked Nobitex, Iran’s biggest digital currency exchange, and Bank Sepah, Iran’s oldest bank that the Revolutionary Guards use heavily. Hackers broke into Iranian state television too, showing footage of women’s protests and telling Iranians to go into the streets. Revolutionary Guard dominates crypto activity Addresses connected to the Revolutionary Guards have grown over time as a portion of Iran’s overall crypto activity. They made up more than 50 percent of the total values received in the last three months of 2025. In 2024, the amount of money received by Revolutionary Guards’ addresses reached over $2 billion, jumping to more than $3 billion in 2025. Recent information shows a big change in digital currency behavior during the current mass protests. Comparing late 2025 with late December 2025 to early January 2026, there were major increases in both the average daily dollar amount moved and the number of daily transfers to personal wallets. The biggest sign is the jump in withdrawals from Iranian exchanges to personal Bitcoin wallets. This increase suggest s Ir anians are taking control of Bitcoin at a much higher rate during protests. Many see Bitcoin’s ability to resist censorship and stay under personal control as valuable when people might need to leave quickly or work outside government money channels. Get seen where it counts. Advertise in Cryptopolitan Research and reach crypto’s sharpest investors and builders.

21 Jan 2026, 17:30

WEF Document Name-Drops Ripple’s XRP, What Does It Say?

A decade-old report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) is resurfacing in the crypto space, highlighting early recognition of Ripple and XRP’s potential in the banking sector. Analysts say the document illustrates how decentralized networks like Ripple may allow institutions to settle payments faster and more directly in the future. WEF Spotlights Ripple For Settlement Case Study A crypto market analyst identified as ‘SMQKE’ on X recently revived a 2015 WEF report, sparking fresh discussions in the crypto community. The document explores how traditional banks could interact with emerging payment technologies, and it specifically mentions the company as a system capable of transforming interbank settlement . The WEF report revealed that, as alternative payment methods, such as decentralized networks , grow in popularity worldwide, banks have the opportunity to integrate them into their services. By adopting these technologies, institutions can make it easier for customers to move value in and out of non-traditional networks while also exploring new financial products. Ripple is cited as an example of a protocol that could serve as one of these alternative rails. Beyond customer use, these networks can also improve how banks operate internally. By leveraging non-traditional networks , banks could streamline processes and offer smoother, faster products and services. Ripple’s protocol, for instance, enhances this process by enabling real-time settlement between banks, eliminating the need for traditional clearinghouses or correspondent banks. A case study in the WEF report focuses on German-based Fidor Bank, an online full-service bank that implemented the payment firm for its internal settlement operations in 2014. According to the World Economic Forum, broader adoption of Ripple could enable other banks to settle payments instantly with one another. This early example demonstrates how the crypto payments company was already seen as a practical tool for improving banking efficiency . Though the WEF report is over a decade old, its insights remain relevant as financial institutions continue exploring blockchain-based payment solutions . Notably, this is not the first time the World Economic Forum has mentioned Ripple in its reports. In its May 2025 report, the international organization highlighted Ripple and the XRP Ledger (XRPL) as key technologies in the future of asset tokenization. How XRP Fits In The Bank Settlement Scheme As the native token of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) , XRP is designed to serve as a digital bridge for fast, low-cost cross-border payments between financial institutions. By leveraging XRPL, Ripple enables banks and payment providers to settle transactions in seconds rather than days. Due to its high throughput and ability to handle large transaction volumes with minimal effort, the XRP Ledger appears well-suited for the demands of modern banking. Its efficiency and speed have led many to compare Ripple to SWIFT , the long-standing messaging network used by banks worldwide for international transfers.

21 Jan 2026, 17:30

Bitcoin-to-gold ratio falls to new low, but analysts say BTC’s discounted ‘setups are rare’

Gold’s record-breaking rally inadvertently put pressure on Bitcoin’s allure, but analysts say historical data shows BTC eventually starts a catch-up rally.

21 Jan 2026, 17:26

Davos shifts tone as Brian Armstrong pushes Bitcoin into global policy debate

Coinbase’s top executive made waves at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday by bringing Bitcoin directly into policy discussions with global financial leaders. Attendees were waiting for US President Donald Trump to speak at the event, and many were anticipating his usual spontaneous remarks about foreign relations and trade policies when Brian Armstrong showed up. French central banker clashes with crypto CEO The head of Coinbase got into a direct debate with François Villeroy de Galhau, who leads France’s central bank, about who really controls money. “I trust more independent central banks with a democratic mandate than private issuers of Bitcoin,” the French banking official said during the Davos talk, as reported by Gareth Jenkinson. His statement reflected what many central bankers have said for years, that government institutions have more legitimacy than systems nobody controls. Armstrong retaliated by reframing the debate. He asserted that political power is not as significant as who actually controls the money supply. “Bitcoin is a decentralized protocol. There’s actually no issuer of it. So, in the sense that central banks have independence, Bitcoin is even more independent. No country, company, or individual controls it in the world,” Armstrong explained. The back-and-forth represented something unusual at the World Economic Forum. For the first time in years, Bitcoin itself became the topic of serious debate, not just general discussion about blockchain or digital currencies. In previous years, WEF discussions largely centered on financial systems that governments and banks could regulate, including central bank digital currencies. Bitcoin’s challenge to state control over money was usually left out of the conversation. That began to change at WEF 2026, in part because journalists on the ground pressed leaders with more direct questions. During the “Crypto at a Crossroads” panel, reporters questioned Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on whether the U.S. would actually move forward with a strategic Bitcoin reserve , an idea some officials have recently floated. In response, Armstrong presented Bitcoin as a worldwide monetary network that operates on its own rules and that governments can no longer afford to ignore or avoid, rather than as a speculative wager for rapid riches. The Coinbase executive later pointed out on social media that people assume today’s financial system is the only option. However, he noted that the current setup only started in 1971 when President Nixon ended the gold standard. However, Trump’s expected speech remained the main event that many attendees looked forward to, given his track record of making unexpected statements about tariffs, trade deals, and foreign policy. Trump arrived in Switzerland for Davos after his plane experienced some issues, according to reports on social media. Banking lobby accused of blocking crypto competition through regulation Away from the main conference, Armstrong kept criticizing traditional finance. In a CNBC interview, he accused American banking groups of using regulations to crush competition, especially regarding stablecoin rules. He talked about the CLARITY Act, which has stalled in Congress. Armstrong claimed that banks were lobbying to prevent crypto companies from offering interest payments to customers, not because it creates financial risks, but because it threatens their business. “Their lobbying groups and their trade arms are coming in and trying to ban the competition,” Armstrong told the network. He argued that crypto businesses should get fair treatment under regulations instead of being blocked by established banks. Later, Armstrong said on social media that as worries about the global financial system continue to grow, all parties are now searching for broadly applicable answers, particularly for Americans. Hedge fund veteran Ray Dalio expressed similar concerns during Davos Week, warning CNBC that “the monetary order is collapsing” due to changes in central banks’ reserve management practices and growing debt. According to Dalio, investors are increasingly turning to digital assets like Bitcoin and gold due to their mistrust of conventional currencies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in 2025 that confiscated Bitcoin will be transferred to the U.S. strategic reserve, suggesting that Bitcoin is gradually making its way into official thinking. This suggests that officials are starting to view Bitcoin as a long-term financial asset, even though it does not equate to full government backing. When considered collectively, the discussions at Davos indicate a distinct change. Bitcoin is no longer only an outsider disregarded by influential organizations. It is currently being discussed in the same systems that previously opted to ignore it in an uncomfortable but important way. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .