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22 Jan 2026, 13:00

Russia-linked A7A5 stablecoin processed $100B before sanctions hit: Elliptic

Elliptic says the ruble-backed A7A5 token functioned as a bridge into USDT markets before sanctions and exchange controls curbed its growth.

22 Jan 2026, 12:36

Bitcoin Approaches $90k as Easing Tariff Fears Lift Risk Assets; US Data Up Next

22 Jan 2026, 11:23

Bitcoin volatility shrinks as tariff jitters fade: Crypto Markets Today

Crypto prices stabilized after Wednesday’s tariff-driven volatility, with bitcoin reclaiming $90,000 as equities rebounded and traders rotated back into risk assets.

22 Jan 2026, 11:00

Danes develop apps to boycott American products over Greenland tension

Mobile apps allowing users to avoid American products have been enjoying growing popularity in Denmark amid cross-Atlantic tensions over the future of Greenland. While it’s yet to be seen if the software will significantly affect consumption of the already rare “Made in USA” goods, it’s certainly giving Danes a chance to vent out a little over President Trump’s appetite toward the Danish territory. ‘WithoutUSA’ app overtakes ChatGPT by downloads in Denmark Applications that help identify American-made items in the supermarket are becoming a hit in Denmark, its national radio broadcaster revealed. Two locally developed apps, “Made O’Meter” and “UdenUSA,” are seeing the most downloads, according to a report by Danmarks Radio (DR) on Wednesday. UdenUSA, or “WithoutUSA” was created by 21-year-old Jonas Pipper and his 22-year-old friend Malthe Hensberg, both from the island of Mors in western North Jutland. It all started last spring when they discovered a Facebook group called “Boykot USA,” which had nearly 100,000 users at the time, Pipper told the radio’s online edition, adding: “Then we thought – that’s funny, there’s no tool to scan a product and find out where it comes from.” Their UdenUSA app is now used for precisely that purpose – allowing Danes to identify the origin of goods, before they put them in the shopping cart, and find alternatives from countries other than the U.S., if they so wish. The application is now trending and has become the fourth most downloaded on Apple’s App Store in Denmark, overtaking OpenAI’s ChatGPT , which is currently fifth, DR Nyheder noted in the post. Its developers claim their software is merely a consumer tool and their intention is not to tell compatriots whether they should actually boycott certain goods. “We’re just providing the opportunity to have a little more clarity, and then it’s up to the consumers what they want to do,” explained Jonas Pipper. Will the boycott actually work beyond venting anger? Gauging the impact of apps of this kind is a difficult task, as these days, it’s not that easy to find truly American-made products on supermarket shelves in Denmark anyway, comment the authors of the report. “When we look at imports, very little comes directly from the U.S.,” remarked Louise Aggerstrøm Hansen, private economist at Danske Bank. While there are examples of popular items, including some wines and almonds, directly imported American foods account for less than 1.2% of the Danish diet. Besides, many of the products offered by American brands are not produced in the United States and may even be manufactured in Denmark itself. However, even if it doesn’t bring down big U.S. corporations, participation in the boycott movement would make Danes feel they are reacting somehow to the current conflict, according to Pelle Guldborg Hansen from the Roskilde University. “A lot of people watch the news and see something they don’t like and get angry about. In this case, it’s about ourselves and Greenland, and then you just want to do something with your anger, no matter how small it is,” the behavioral researcher explained, adding: “More people see changing their consumption patterns as a move they can make. It may not seem like much, but it’s still something. And it’s a way of expressing their anger.” Choices made at the store can redirect consumption, and even if Coca-Cola doesn’t notice it’s selling less in Denmark, a Danish company like the Harboe brewery may feel it, Hansen elaborated. The Trump administration’s renewed push to, one way or another, acquire Greenland for the United States, citing national security reasons, caused heightened tensions between Europe and America in the past weeks. Earlier in January, the U.S. President warned he’s going to impose trade penalties on countries opposing the acquisition and then even threatened NATO member states that don’t agree with his plan with tariffs that may eventually reach 25%. The European Union responded by halting the parliamentary approval of a transatlantic trade agreement with Washington reached last summer. During his participation in the global economic forum in Davos this week, Donald Trump backtracked on his intention to slap tariffs on European nations and ruled out using military force to take over Denmark’s island, an option he had previously left open. Join a premium crypto trading community free for 30 days - normally $100/mo.

22 Jan 2026, 10:50

China doubles down on gold as U.S. Treasury holdings fall to lowest since 2008

China is dumping U.S. Treasuries like it’s 2008 again, but at the same time, it’s stockpiling gold like there’s a global reset coming. New data from the U.S. Treasury Department shows China’s holdings of American government debt dropped to $682.6 billion in November, down from $688.7 billion in October. That’s the lowest since the global financial crisis, nearly two decades ago. It’s not a glitch. This is part of a clear shift in China’s strategy to pull away from U.S. exposure and load up on more gold and foreign stocks instead. The shift comes while the U.S. government just wrapped up the longest shutdown in its history. It started on October 1 and lasted 43 days. President Donald Trump signed a funding bill on November 12 to reopen operations. By the time the dust settled, total foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries hit a record $9.355 trillion, up from $9.243 trillion the month before. So while others were piling in, China was quietly pulling out. Japan, UK, and Canada increase Treasury bets as China pulls back Japan stayed in its usual spot as the top foreign holder of Treasuries, holding $1.202 trillion in November, its highest since July 2022. That’s 11 straight months of adding. The United Kingdom, which hedge funds often use as a front for their U.S. debt exposure, also increased its stake to $888.5 billion, up 1.2% from October. Canada went even harder, boosting its holdings 13% to $472.2 billion. That’s a big bounce from the April low of $368.4 billion, back when Trump slapped Canada with new tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars. Meanwhile, China has been hunting for shiny rocks. In central China, geologists struck what they’re calling a “superlarge” gold deposit , over 1,000 tons of gold, worth around $85.9 billion. The site is buried roughly 9,842 feet below the Wangu gold field in Hunan’s Pingjiang County. According to the Hunan Geological Bureau, about 40 gold veins were identified in that area alone. Within a shallower 6,562-foot depth, 300 tons of that total gold reserve have already been confirmed. Laizhou discovery boosts China’s total gold reserves even further That wasn’t the only jackpot. In the eastern province of Shandong, off the coast of Laizhou in Yantai, China also confirmed new gold reserves that pushed the area’s total to more than 3,900 tons. That’s roughly 26% of China’s entire known gold stash, based on figures reported by the South China Morning Post. Officials haven’t given exact tonnage for the new find yet, but the implication is clear: China wants more control over real assets, and it’s going hard on domestic mining to get there. While China was selling, foreigners were on a buying spree. Treasury purchases hit $85.6 billion in November, a total reversal from the $60.1 billion outflow recorded in October. Back in May, there was an even bigger rush, $147.4 billion in net Treasury inflows, the highest since August 2022. Foreigners also snapped up $92.2 billion in U.S. stocks during the same month, compared to $60.3 billion in October. Altogether, the U.S. saw a $212 billion capital inflow in November. That came after October’s revised outflow of $22.5 billion. But don’t expect China to follow the crowd. Get seen where it counts. Advertise in Cryptopolitan Research and reach crypto’s sharpest investors and builders.

22 Jan 2026, 10:30

Circle Foundation Funds United Nations Digital Hub to Scale Regulated Stablecoins for Aid

Circle Foundation grants support UN Digital Hub to use regulated stablecoins for faster, transparent humanitarian payments. Circle Foundation announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21, 2026 a first international grant to UNHCR’s Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions (DHoTS) to help integrate regulated stablecoins and next‑generation digital financial infrastructure across 15 UN