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20 Jan 2026, 12:22
UK Regulators “Exposing Consumers to Serious Harm” as AI Oversight Gaps Widen — Committee Warns
The regulators in the U.K. are being cautioned that their existing approach to artificial intelligence in financial services may expose consumers to severe harm, as loopholes in regulation increase when AI is taking off more rapidly in the industry. The Treasury Select Committee has issued this warning, saying the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, and HM Treasury have been over-reliant on a wait-and-see strategy when AI is already in the heart of financial decision-making. In a report published on January 20, the committee said the pace of AI adoption has outstripped the regulators’ ability to manage its risks. Approximately 75% of financial services companies in the UK are currently employing AI, with the most intense adoption amongst insurers and major global banks. Although MPs admitted that AI is able to enhance efficiency, accelerate customer services, and enhance cyber defenses, they concluded that all that is being compromised by unaddressed risks to both consumers and financial stability. Lawmakers Say UK’s AI Approach in Finance Is Too Reactive Currently, there is no specific AI legislation for financial services in the UK. Rather, regulators use pre-existing rules and claim they are flexible enough to include new technologies. The FCA has pointed to the Consumer Duty and the Senior Managers and Certification Regime as providing sufficient protection, while the Bank of England has said its role is to respond when problems arise rather than regulate AI in advance. The committee rejected this position, saying it places too much responsibility on firms to interpret complex rules on their own. AI-driven decisions in credit and insurance are often opaque, making it difficult for customers to understand or challenge outcomes. Automated product tailoring could deepen financial exclusion, particularly for vulnerable groups. Unregulated financial advice generated by AI tools risks misleading users, while the use of AI by criminals could increase fraud . A 2024 @chainalysis report reveals that cryptocurrency scams defrauded victims of at least $9.9 billion, with AI-powered fraud and pig butchering scams surging by 40%. #CryptoScams #CryptoFraud #AI https://t.co/Mt5c5XXmOL — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) February 13, 2025 The committee said these issues are not hypothetical and require more than monitoring after the fact. Regulators have taken some steps, including the creation of an AI Consortium and voluntary testing schemes such as the FCA’s AI Live Testing and Supercharged Sandbox. However, MPs said these initiatives reach only a small number of firms and do not provide the clarity the wider market needs. Industry participants told the committee that the current approach is reactive, leaving firms uncertain about accountability, especially when AI systems behave in unpredictable ways. AI Risks Rise as UK Regulators Lag on Testing and Oversight The report also raised concerns about financial stability, as AI could amplify cyber risks, concentrate operational dependence on a small number of US-based cloud providers, and intensify herding behavior in markets. Despite this, neither the FCA nor the Bank of England currently runs AI-specific stress tests. Members of the Bank’s Financial Policy Committee said such testing could be valuable, but no timetable has been set. Reliance on third-party technology providers was another focus. Although Parliament created the Critical Third Parties Regime in 2023 to give regulators oversight of firms providing essential services, no major AI or cloud provider has yet been designated. This delay persists despite high-profile outages, including an Amazon Web Services disruption in October 2025 that affected major UK banks. Multiple major platforms — including Snapchat, Amazon, Coinbase, — went down early Monday due to an AWS outage. #AWS #Outage https://t.co/tsgRVsx830 — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) October 20, 2025 The committee said the slow rollout of the regime leaves the financial system exposed. The findings land as the UK continues to promote a pro-innovation, principles-based AI strategy aimed at supporting growth while avoiding heavy-handed regulation. The government has backed this stance through initiatives such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the AI Safety Institute . However, MPs said ambition must be matched with action. The post UK Regulators “Exposing Consumers to Serious Harm” as AI Oversight Gaps Widen — Committee Warns appeared first on Cryptonews .
20 Jan 2026, 11:54
If Bitcoin Doesn’t Move Soon, the Next Move Could Matter More
After a positive start to the year, Bitcoin’s upside momentum has taken a noticeable correction over the past two days. BTC attempted a break above the decisive level of $95K on January 14th but has since seen six consecutive red days, pulling back around 7% since the local high of $97,900. Approximately $100 billion has been wiped out from the total crypto market cap across the last 48 hours. The altcoin marketcap, measured by the TOTAL2 excluding stablecoin chart, also experienced declines of roughly 3.5% over the same period. After failing to reclaim the $95K level on the weekly timeframe, BTC is now back within the consolidation range it’s been in since mid November. Should downside pressure accelerate, attention shifts to key support levels that need to hold to preserve the broader long-term market structure. What Caused the Selloff? BREAKING: President Trump announces a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, Netherlands, and Finland beginning February 1st. This tariff will be increased to 25% beginning on June 1st. Tariffs will remain in effect until the US reaches a deal to buy… pic.twitter.com/978qAHjxao — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) January 17, 2026 The selloff was largely triggered by macro uncertainties around Trump’s renewed push to annex the arctic island of Greenland coupled with threats of broad tariffs on eight European countries until what he described as a complete and total purchase is negotiated. While these developments remain highly speculative and politically charged, such headlines increase uncertainty around global trade tensions and diplomacy. As a result, investors have moved to de-risk their portfolios, rotating out of assets like BTC in favor of safer positioning. This risk-off rotation is reflected in the strong outperformance of commodities like gold and silver, which are currently trading at all-time highs and have gained 9.59% and 31% YTD, respectively. Key Levels to Watch The first key level for BTC to hold and where many traders potentially could position themselves for a bounce opportunity is at the 50 day Simple Moving Average (SMA). This currently sits at $90,400 and is in confluence with an ascending trendline that dates back to the lows of $80.5K recorded in November last year. Beyond the 50-day SMA, attention shifts to the yearly open near $87.5K, which aligns with the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement. Just below this, the Fibonacci golden pocket (~$86K) represents a key zone that needs to hold to preserve the broader consolidation structure. What Could Confirm the Next Move Beyond price levels, confirmation of the next directional move will require a pickup in volume. Aggregated daily exchange volume has tapered off since January 16th, signaling reduced conviction behind the recent price action. The diminishing volume suggests that we are seeing a market that is currently correcting on thinning liquidity rather than strong directional intent. Therefore, for any sustained trend, up or down, volume needs to expand, as low volume moves tend to be fragile and prone to reversals rather than continuation. Looking ahead, institutional participation and activity could be a key variable to watch. With U.S. markets closed yesterday, BTC spot ETF flows in the coming week will provide a clearer insight into whether institutional demand can offset the recent selling pressure or amplify it. Ultimately, the current backdrop largely hinges upon broader macro developments. As geopolitical rhetoric and trade-related uncertainties continue to shape risk appetite, BTC’s next move is likely to be driven as much by macro signals as by technical levels, making the coming week particularly pivotal for market direction.
20 Jan 2026, 11:44
U.S. Supreme Court Rulings Impact Global Markets and Bitcoin Prices
Global markets face uncertainty before the Supreme Court's tariff decision. Bitcoin's deeper correction to $60,000 is possible according to technical analysts. Continue Reading: U.S. Supreme Court Rulings Impact Global Markets and Bitcoin Prices The post U.S. Supreme Court Rulings Impact Global Markets and Bitcoin Prices appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
20 Jan 2026, 11:40
BitMine ramps up Ethereum staking to $5.6B as token reserves on exchanges thin
BitMine Immersion Technologies, the leading Ethereum Treasury company in the world, has recently staked about 86,848 tokens, rapidly expanding its ETH stockpile to approximately 1.77 million ETH—roughly $5.66 billion at current prices. This move demonstrated a growing trend in which institutional investors, public firms, and treasury companies like BitMine are allocating a significant portion of their funds to staking to push their long-term Ethereum holdings. Meanwhile, as this trend persists, analysts have conducted research and found a significant shortage of ETH supply on crypto exchanges. However, hope for a more positive future for Ethereum has been sparked by the reduction in the number of Ethereum available on crypto exchanges, and by BitMine’s long-standing effort to make significant staking of the cryptocurrency. BitMine makes a big move in the crypto ecosystem Regarding BitMine’s recent move, the on-chain analytics platform Lookonchain initially disclosed the leading Ethereum Treasury company’s staking activities on the social media platform X. According to reports from Lookonchain, these staking activities took place five hours ago, on January 20. With fewer ETH tokens on the market, analysts see potential upward price pressure if demand holds or increases. Interestingly, even with significant staking, BitMine’s industry executive asserted that they will continue to promote further accumulation of Ethereum in their holdings despite rising market instability. To illustrate their commitment to achieving this goal, sources highlighted that the firm acquired around 24,000 Ethereum, expanding its total ETH holdings to 4.17 million. This approach drew the attention of several investors. BitMine’s CEO, Tom Lee, weighed in on the matter. He noted that, “We continue to be the largest ‘fresh money’ buyer of ETH worldwide. And when MAVAN starts its commercial operations, we will become the biggest staking provider in the entire crypto ecosystem.” Lee also pointed out that he adopted the Ethereum staking program for BitMine as a critical step to help the firm address its $4 billion debt. While pursuing this aim, Ether traded below $3,000, resulting in $4 billion in losses. Nonetheless, even with this temporary downturn, Lee expressed optimism about the long-term potential of cryptocurrency and stated that the company will begin staking to generate additional income. Crypto firms demonstrate heightened interest in purchasing the largest altcoin BitMine’s staking move has played a crucial role in boosting the firm’s overall Ethereum staking. To remain competitive in the industry, key players have decided to follow the Ethereum treasury company’s lead by retaining their tokens for the long haul. As this trend persists, reports indicate that Ethereum staking has soared to a record $118 billion. Apart from staking, analysts also discovered that significant institutions such as BitMine have shown heightened interest in purchasing the largest altcoin. Other firms that have played a part in this move include Sharplink, The Ether Machine, and ETHZilla . These companies have gone so far as to create their own Ether reserves. Regarding the supply shortage, sources explained that the surge in corporate Ether purchases is the root cause of the sharp decline in the token’s supply on cryptocurrency exchanges. Currently, only about 16.3 million Ether are available on centralized exchanges (CEXs), according to CryptoQuant. On the other hand, analysts anticipated that such a scenario could lead to price increases in ETH as demand for the cryptocurrency escalates. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
20 Jan 2026, 11:30
Bitcoin Axed By Top Wall Street Strategist On Quantum Fears
Jefferies strategist Chris Wood has removed Bitcoin from his long-term model portfolio, citing quantum computing as a risk that weakens Bitcoin’s store-of-value framing for pension-style allocations. VanEck head of research Matthew Sigel flagged the change on X, calling it a notable “downgrade” from one of the Street’s most widely followed global strategists. Veteran Strategist Chris Wood Exits Bitcoin Wood wrote that he is not positioning for an imminent price shock, but that the long-duration mandate is where the quantum question bites. “While GREED & fear does not believe that the quantum issue is about to hit the Bitcoin price dramatically in the near term, the store of value concept is clearly on less solid foundation from the standpoint of a long-term pension portfolio,” Wood wrote. “For that reason, GREED & fear will remove the 10% allocation to Bitcoin this week with 5% reallocated to gold and 5% reallocated to gold-mining stocks.” The move is framed as risk management rather than a retrospective performance critique. Wood noted that despite gold’s recent outperformance versus Bitcoin, Bitcoin remained well ahead since his model first added it: Bitcoin had risen 325% since December 17, 2020, while gold bullion was up 145% over the same period. In a note dated January 15, 2026, Wood described how the quantum discussion has moved from abstract theory into something asset allocators are being asked to underwrite. “GREED & fear is no pure mathematician,” he wrote, adding that he has found himself pulled into conversations about “elliptic curves” because of “the growing focus in recent months on the threat posed to the Bitcoin system by the arrival of quantum computing .” His core claim is that the perceived timeline is compressing. He referenced rising concern that cryptographically relevant quantum computers could arrive “a few years away rather than a decade or more,” and argued that any credible threat to Bitcoin’s security model is “potentially existential” because it undermines the store-of-value concept that underpins the “digital alternative to gold” narrative . Wood’s mechanism is straightforward: what is computationally infeasible today could become tractable under CRQCs. He wrote that the current asymmetry, easy to derive a public key from a private key, effectively impossible to reverse, could collapse, with the time to derive a private key from a public key shrinking to “mere hours or days.” Wood said the industry is already debating potential responses, including whether to “burn” quantum-vulnerable coins to protect system integrity or to do nothing and accept the possibility that vulnerable coins could be stolen by entities with CRQCs. He presented the dispute as a conflict between preserving Bitcoin’s property-rights ethos and avoiding a policy choice that looks confiscatory, adding that one computer scientist he spoke with described the do-nothing stance as a “suicidal delusion.” Wood said his thinking was informed by discussions with knowledgeable parties and pointed to a Chaincode report as background reading, without treating it as a near-term trading trigger. VanEck’s Sigel Responds Sigel’s takeaway was less about whether quantum risk exists and more about how different systems respond. When one user argued that quantum would wipe out bank accounts, email, and brokerage systems as well, Sigel dismissed that as “not a sufficient take anymore,” drawing a sharp distinction between upgrade paths and reversibility. “Banks upgrade top-down; BTC requires years of consensus,” Sigel wrote. “Banks have an ‘undo’ button; BTC is finality-first.” Sigel also linked the debate to a familiar fault line inside Bitcoin governance. Asked how representative Wood’s view might be, Sigel said that in the “Adam Back vs. Nic Carter” debate he is “on Nic’s side,” and described Wood’s decision as supporting evidence. At the same time, Sigel emphasized process: he met Wood in New York before the note was published and said that although he disagreed with the conclusion, Wood “came to it honestly.” On positioning, Sigel said he has “added quantum exposure” previously to VanEck’s Onchain Economy ETF (NODE) and made small hedges, with a preference for “diversified” AI miners over “DATs / leveraged BTC,” while keeping spot BTC via an ETF as the largest holding. He framed the quantum issue as “solvable” and akin to a “wall of worry like blocksize wars,” rather than a thesis-breaker. At press time, BTC traded at $90,941.
20 Jan 2026, 11:28
Bitcoin and QQQ Fall on Greenland Tariffs
Trump has taken charge of the market once again by by threatening tariffs on a weekend, giving us a Tuesday red.
