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24 Jan 2026, 13:31

BOJ Keeps Rates Unchanged in January: How It Impacts Crypto Market

Japan’s central bank has held its benchmark rate at 0.75%, the highest level in more than three decades, following weeks of turbulence in Japanese government bonds and just ahead of snap elections. The decision, confirmed by multiple official sources, signals a preference for stability over further tightening. This move carries broad implications not only for global markets, but also for crypto, where liquidity cycles, funding conditions, and cross-border carry trades increasingly shape price behavior. As a data-driven crypto PR agency, Outset PR watches market developments to shape market-fit narratives, seize moments of opportunity, and drive sustained market relevance. BOJ Holds at 0.75% Amid Bond Market Strain and Political Pressures The Bank of Japan chose to keep rates unchanged in January 2026 as it navigates a sensitive macro backdrop: Bond market volatility: Japanese government bonds have experienced sharp swings in recent weeks, making policymakers hesitant to add stress by adjusting rates. Political timing: With snap elections approaching, the central bank is prioritizing policy continuity. Economic projections: Updated forecasts show inflation remaining near or above the 2% target, while GDP growth expectations have been revised upward—supporting a cautious, potentially hawkish stance. In effect, the BOJ is holding steady while keeping the door open for future tightening depending on inflation durability. Why This Matters for Crypto Markets Although Japanese monetary policy may appear geographically isolated, its influence on global liquidity is material for risk assets like Bitcoin and large altcoins. Two key mechanisms explain why: 1. Yen Carry Trade Flows For decades, traders borrowed in yen at ultra-low rates to invest in higher-yielding global assets.With BOJ rates now at a three-decade high: The yen carry trade becomes less attractive, reducing global leverage. Funding conditions tighten across international markets, including crypto. Risk appetite can weaken as investors reduce exposure to volatile assets. 2. Japanese Yield Volatility Rising or unstable JGB yields often spill over into global fixed-income markets, influencing liquidity conditions everywhere. Higher-yield environments generally: Increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets (BTC, ETH) Encourage deleveraging Create spillover effects into crypto derivatives markets This partly explains why crypto markets reacted immediately following the BOJ announcement. Crypto Market Reaction: Risk Appetite Softens Over the past 24 hours: Total crypto market cap declined around 1% Fear indicators shifted from neutral to fear, suggesting declining investor confidence Trading volumes fell roughly one-third according to one BOJ-focused market recap Markets turned “choppy” as traders balanced BOJ policy, bond volatility, and derivatives expiry flows Bitcoin itself traded mostly sideways, fluctuating within a narrow range from the high-$80,000s to around $90,000, reflecting indecision rather than panic. Source: coinmarketcap The reaction underscores how sensitive crypto markets are to global macro signals—even when those signals originate outside Western monetary centers. Visibility Matters During Macro Shifts: How Outset PR Optimizes Crypto PR Budgets Macro events like the BOJ’s rate decision not only affect asset prices—they affect narrative cycles, media interest, and the competition for visibility among crypto projects. In periods of tighter liquidity, every PR dollar must work harder, and this is precisely where Outset PR’s data-driven approach stands out. Traditionally, crypto PR meant placing stories wherever possible, hoping coverage translated into visibility. But impressions and actual reach often diverged sharply, leaving founders unsure whether a campaign genuinely moved the needle. Outset PR solved this inefficiency with its proprietary Syndication Map , a tool built by the agency’s analysts to identify which media outlets consistently generate the largest traffic flows and downstream republications.Smarter Campaigns, Lower Costs Rather than scattershot outreach, Outset PR builds tightly optimized campaigns focused on impact over volume. By prioritizing publications that consistently deliver ROI, clients avoid overspending on low-visibility outlets. Well-placed articles rarely stay in one location. Outset PR campaigns frequently achieve 10x visibility as stories are syndicated across: CoinMarketCap Binance Square Yahoo Finance Additional aggregators and financial outlets A standout example is StealthEX, whose targeted tier-1 placement strategy resulted in 92 republications and more than 3 billion total impressions. Setting a New Standard for Crypto PR As macro forces like BOJ policy influence market sentiment, projects must communicate clearly, strategically, and efficiently. Outset PR’s data-first methodology allows teams to extend reach even during risk-off periods—a competitive advantage when visibility becomes harder to earn. Bottom Line The BOJ’s January decision to keep rates at 0.75% reinforces a cautious but steady policy stance. For crypto, the implications are immediate: tighter funding dynamics, softer risk appetite, reduced volumes, and choppier price action. While the market reaction thus far has been modest, macro conditions remain fragile—and traders should continue monitoring BOJ policy as a meaningful driver of global liquidity and crypto volatility. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

24 Jan 2026, 12:57

Revolut signals UAE expansion plans in new technology manager job posting

UK-headquartered Revolut, a global financial application with over 60 million customers, has posted a job announcement for a “Crypto Technology Manager” for the UAE. This comes months after it received its in-principle approval for Stored Value Facilities and Retail Payment Services licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE. At the time, Revolut noted that this was a significant achievement, signaling its plans to launch in the UAE with the aim of offering a comprehensive product experience to retail customers. Crypto technology manager will work with local regulators The job post notes that the crypto technology manager is part of the technology team that will build the systems and experiences that keep Revolut moving forward. The opportunity claims, “We’re looking for a Technology Manager to support our crypto expansion in the UAE, focusing on technology risk, operational resilience, and regulatory readiness.” The crypto technology manager will work not only with Revolut’s internal engineering, product, operations and compliance teams but with local regulators as well to ensure their crypto platforms operate in line with UAE regulatory requirements. The role entails implementing and maintaining a technology and operational risk framework for crypto activities in the UAE, ensuring compliance with ICT regulations and requirements, and supporting crypto licensing and regulatory engagement with local authorities (e.g., Central Bank of the UAE, VARA, DFSA, FSRA). Of course, the candidate has to have experience in financial services, fintech, crypto/digital assets, and knowledge in the blockchain domain. Currently, Revolut allows users to buy, sell, and hold over 175 cryptocurrencies directly within its app, offering features like instant exchanges, automatic “round-up” investing, and advanced trading via the specialized Revolut X platform. It recently partnered with Trust Wallet to offer enhanced, low-fee purchasing options for users. Revolut plans to expand into 30 markets by 2030 and add 10,000 jobs In November, Ambareen Musa, Head of Revolut in GCC noted the firm is in “day zero build mode” in the UAE, completing governance and licensing requirements and is hopeful for an upcoming launch subject to regulatory approval. The expansion in the MENA region is part of their strategy to serve 100 million customers by 2027, and Revolut as such aims to enter 30 new markets by 2030. It also committed $13 billion in investments over the next five years to accomplish this while creating 10,000 jobs globally. This includes significant funding for established and high-growth regions, such as a $4 billion commitment to the UK, $1.2 billion for its Western Europe hub in France, and $500 million to accelerate its operations in the US. The investments will also drive further growth in other European markets as well as launches in new markets across Latin America, APAC, and the Middle East. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

24 Jan 2026, 12:35

Arthur Hayes predicts Bitcoin boost as Federal Reserve mulls yen support

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, has sparked fresh debate in financial markets by suggesting that potential US Federal Reserve intervention to support the weakening Japanese yen could spark a major rally in Bitcoin (BTC). Hayes says that if such support involves increased US dollar liquidity — effectively “printing money” — it may fuel a significant surge in Bitcoin’s price . His remarks come amid growing expectations that Japanese authorities may intervene in currency markets to shore up the yen, after a string of sharp moves in the dollar-yen exchange rate recently raised speculation of intervention. Traders have interpreted large one-day gains in the yen as a sign that central banks could be readying to take action. Some traders have also said the New York Fed has reached out to large banks to gauge market conditions in the yen market, fueling rumors that US monetary authorities are considering possible intervention. Hayes explained in a write-up on the social networking site X that if the Federal Reserve responded by creating bank reserves—often referred to by critics as “printing dollars”—and then proceeds from these reserves to sell the dollars for yen, this would expand market liquidity worldwide. To him, they might be placed on the Fed’s weekly balance sheet as part of foreign-currency-denominated assets. Analysts raise concerns regarding the fate of the dollar On Friday, January 23, reports indicated that the yen posted its biggest single-day gain against the dollar since August after officials from the United States and Japan signaled they are ready to intervene to stop the yen’s decline. Later that day, the New York Fed reached out to potential trading partners, as instructed by the Treasury Department, to review exchange rates. In response to this announcement, several individuals expressed mixed reactions, sparking a heated debate. In attempts to address this controversy, sources noted that the Fed was inquiring about current rates, particularly for the dollar/yen pair, if potential trading partners decided to trade dollars and yen in the currency markets. It is worth noting that the New York Fed executes transactions on behalf of the Treasury. Meanwhile, reports unveiled that a rate check typically indicates that authorities are anxious regarding currency stability and, therefore, could trigger immediate intervention. On the other hand, financial reports dated January 23 noted that the dollar declined by 1.7% compared to the yen. This situation intensified when these reports confirmed that the dollar weakened against other Asian currencies, including the Taiwanese dollar and the South Korean won. The unexpected result followed a volatile week in the US and Japan financial markets, highlighting gaps in current policy frameworks on both sides of the ocean. Investors expressed worries about increased government borrowing Earlier, US Treasury bond yields soared amid a selloff that several traders anticipated was driven by concerns about US President Donald Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland . However, this was not the case for Scott Bessent, the United States Secretary of the Treasury. According to him, this situation stemmed from the impact of surging yields on Japanese government bonds. Following Bessent’s claim, sources reported that long-term Japanese government bonds declined sharply as investors raised concerns about increased government borrowing amid a surprise election scheduled for February 8 this year. In the meantime, the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, who just assumed her role in October, alleged that she requested the election to strengthen her coalition government’s hold on power. After conducting research, analysts found that the main reason for the sudden decline in bond prices was Takaichi’s pledge to suspend taxes on the sale of groceries for 2 years during the election. Get seen where it counts. Advertise in Cryptopolitan Research and reach crypto’s sharpest investors and builders.

24 Jan 2026, 11:05

Pundit: XRP Price Will Move Higher Rapidly Once This Happens

Periods of sharp price fluctuations often separate short-term anxiety from long-term conviction . For XRP, moments of market fear frequently revive a deeper discussion about utility, scalability, and the role blockchain technology could play in global finance. While charts dominate daily conversations, XRP’s long-term value proposition continues to rest on whether its technology achieves meaningful adoption in real-world payment systems. That long-term narrative resurfaced through a recent post shared by X Finance Bull on X, which highlighted a video of Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse speaking directly to central bankers. The resurfaced remarks arrived at a time when XRP’s price action unsettled many traders. However, attention has been redirected to the original problem Ripple set out to solve: the inefficiency of global payments. Hey $XRP Army, if you’re feeling scared by the price action today, think back to this moment Brad stood in front of central banks and clearly explained why Bitcoin can’t scale global payments, but XRP can When massive $XRP adoption kicks in Price will move higher Lock in pic.twitter.com/RmPmBUKzYB — X Finance Bull (@Xfinancebull) January 23, 2026 Bitcoin’s Structural Limits in Payments In the video, Garlinghouse clearly explains why Bitcoin struggles to function as a global payments rail. He points to transaction speed and cost as major constraints , especially for high-frequency or low-value transfers. According to Garlinghouse, “Bitcoin today, per transaction basis, is rather slow and expensive,” a limitation that becomes more pronounced at scale. He contrasts this with XRP’s design, noting that the digital asset processes transactions far more efficiently. “XRP is very fast, about a thousand times faster per transaction and 1,000x cheaper,” Garlinghouse stated, emphasizing that its architecture suits real-time settlement rather than store-of-value use cases. Liquidity on Demand and the End of Pre-Funding Garlinghouse also addresses a core inefficiency in correspondent banking: pre-funded nostro and vostro accounts. He explains that these accounts trap capital and slow international transfers. “Our view in the future is you don’t have this pre-funding, and instead you can use a digital asset to have global liquidity on demand,” he said. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 This model enables institutions to source liquidity instantly, even in less liquid currency corridors. By using digital assets as a bridge, financial institutions can move value without maintaining idle balances across multiple jurisdictions. The Internet of Value in Practice Ripple’s broader vision extends beyond large corporate settlements. Garlinghouse describes a future “Internet of Value,” where payments move as seamlessly as data. He highlights that the same infrastructure can support a multinational transferring $100 million and a freelancer in the Philippines receiving a $30 payment from a company in London. Both transactions benefit from speed, cost efficiency, and reliability. Adoption as the Defining Catalyst Analysts and commentators, including X Finance Bull, argue that XRP’s price will respond decisively once large-scale adoption materializes. This thesis ties valuation to usage rather than speculation. If banks, payment providers, and enterprises increasingly rely on XRP for on-demand liquidity, market dynamics could shift rapidly. In that context, short-term price fear may matter less than whether XRP fulfills the role its creators envisioned from the beginning. 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: XRP Price Will Move Higher Rapidly Once This Happens appeared first on Times Tabloid .

24 Jan 2026, 09:35

Apple’s iPhone reaches record share amid India market slowdown

Apple shipped roughly 14 million iPhones in India during 2025, capturing a record 9% slice of the country’s smartphone market, according to new data from Counterpoint Research shared with TechCrunch. The numbers mark a significant jump from the 7% share Apple held in 2024, making this the iPhone’s best performance yet in India, which ranks as the world’s second-biggest smartphone market by total units sold. Apple expands stores and adjusts pricing strategy India’s broader phone market, however, stayed stuck in place. Total shipments held steady at between 152 million and 153 million devices for the full year, according to market estimates. Tarun Pathak, who heads devices and ecosystems research at Counterpoint , pointed to several factors behind Apple’s gains. He cited the company’s range of phone models, increasing demand from buyers who see the iPhone as a status symbol, and better distribution across different sales networks. Apple executives have been highlighting India’s importance in recent months. During an earnings call in October, CEO Tim Cook said the company “set an all-time revenue record in India.” Chief Financial Officer Kevan Parekh added that active iPhone users in the country hit their highest level ever, while buyers upgrading from older iPhones reached a quarterly peak. The company didn’t break out specific India revenue numbers during that call. Apple has also been building up its presence on the ground. Last month, the company opened its fifth retail store in India, located in Noida. That marked another step in a store expansion push that kicked off in 2023. The company has also been increasing the number of iPhones made inside India’s borders. Earlier this month, Apple rolled out a new subscription package called Apple Creator Studio in India. The bundle, which includes creative software like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, costs ₹399 per month, or about $4.35. That price sits roughly 66% below the $12.99 monthly charge in the United States, showing how Apple is adjusting its pricing strategy for the Indian market. Premium phones gain ground as overall sales stall The robust iPhone performance coincided with a difficult period for the Indian phone market as a whole. According to Counterpoint’s tracking, total shipments have remained close to 152 million units for the past four years. Despite the often hectic holiday shopping season, shipments actually decreased by 8% to 10% in the latter three months of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. Source: Counterpart research monthly India smartphone tracker. Pathak gave a number of explanations for the stopped growth. Individuals are keeping their phones longer before getting new ones. The number of people switching from basic feature phones to smartphones is declining. And more buyers are turning to refurbished handsets instead of new ones. Phones at higher price points continued to gain ground, but overall sales remained unchanged. Devices priced above ₹30,000, roughly $327, grew 15% during 2025 compared to the previous year. These pricier models made up 23% of all phones shipped, the largest portion ever recorded, according to Counterpoint data. That shift toward expensive phones has worked in favor of brands like Apple that focus on the higher end of the market, even as cheaper phone sales slowed down. Looking at total unit shipments, Chinese brand Vivo led the Indian market in 2025 with a 23% share, Counterpoint reported. Samsung came in second with 15%, followed by Xiaomi at 13%. Despite its record results, Apple didn’t crack the top three sellers by volume. That underscores how Android brands targeting budget-conscious buyers still control most of India’s market, even as premium devices claim a growing share. For 2026, Counterpoint predicts India’s smartphone market will shrink by about 2%. The firm warned that rising memory prices could hurt demand for cheaper phones priced below ₹15,000, under $170. Phone makers might respond by cutting back on cashback deals, reducing phone specs, or pushing prices higher. Still, average phone prices are expected to climb 5% in 2026, following a 9% increase in 2025. That suggests the trend toward pricier phones will continue. Join a premium crypto trading community free for 30 days - normally $100/mo.

24 Jan 2026, 07:10

Will Bitcoin (BTC) Boom or Crash if Trump Annexes Greenland? 4 AIs Outline Shocking Predictions

2026 has kicked off with a blast, and it seems Donald Trump is directly involved in almost every major event or news story. At the opening days of the year, the US president ordered a military operation in Venezuela, following which Nicolas Maduro (the leader of the South American country) and his wife were captured and taken to the States. While Trump’s administration charged him with drug trafficking, the huge petrol reserves of Venezuela sparked speculation that the action had other motives, too. Now, POTUS has fixed his gaze on Greenland, the world’s largest island, claiming the US should possess it. The territory belongs to Denmark, a country which happens to be a NATO ally of the USA… The drama has already started to negatively affect some financial and crypto markets, while a potential annexation by America is likely to have an even greater impact. We asked four of the most popular AI-powered chatbots if Bitcoin (BTC) is about to explode or collapse if this becomes reality. Here are the answers. A Massive Decline and Then? According to ChatGPT, such a move would be “a historic geopolitical rupture,” not just a normal headline. It is expected to cause huge panic among investors, and BTC is likely to witness a 10% to 25% dump immediately after the theoretical announcement. The chatbot assumed that the downfall could soon be followed by a resurgence and even a potential boom, similar to what happened after the start of the Russia/Ukraine war. At the same time, ChatGPT warned that BTC’s collapse might be much more substantial if the US annexes Greenland by force, which could spiral into open conflict with NATO members. In that case, the price of the cryptocurrency could nosedive by 40% and even 50% in the first hours after the “global shock” scenario. Grok, the AI chatbot integrated into X, assumed that the United States would most likely drop its plans to acquire the island, as this would have major implications for its European partners. Nonetheless, if annexation were to occur, BTC could plummet by up to 30% in the first weeks, which would align with a possible stock market crash. Google’s Gemini also provided an interesting answer. It claimed that BTC could tumble by 30% after such a groundbreaking announcement, but later it might open the door to a major rally. “An annexation – especially if forced – would be astronomically expensive and diplomatically isolating. If the US government prints more money to fund expansionism or if the “weaponization” of the dollar leads to a loss of its reserve status, Bitcoin’s value as a “stateless” currency would skyrocket. In the aftermath, the Greenland saga could eventually push BTC towrd $1.6 million in a multi-year timeframe.” No Big Drama? Perplexity was the only AI-powered chatbot (among those we consulted) to claim that the hypothetical US annexation of Greenland is unlikely to cause significant volatility in BTC. It assumed that the recent threats and talks on the matter have already played their role, and now it is time for the asset to recover. “When threats stop escalating and worst-case scenarios are taken off the table, risk appetite returns quickly, allowing BTC to rebound,” it concluded. The post Will Bitcoin (BTC) Boom or Crash if Trump Annexes Greenland? 4 AIs Outline Shocking Predictions appeared first on CryptoPotato .