hodler

20 Jan 2026, 19:46

Bitcoin Below $90,000: Technicals Flash ‘Strong Sell’ as Geopolitical Fears Erase Monthly Gains

Bitcoin plunged below $90,000 on Jan. 20, briefly touching $89,180 despite Strategy’s $2.13 billion purchase of 22,305 bitcoins. Geopolitical Turmoil Drives Bitcoin Below $90,000 Bitcoin ( BTC) tumbled below the $90,000 mark on Tuesday, Jan. 20, as geopolitical tensions flared following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 10% tariffs on European nations resisting Washington’s

20 Jan 2026, 18:30

Russian high court rules to protect rights of cryptocurrency owners

A ruling by the constitutional court in Russia will ensure that property claims to cryptocurrencies are protected by the country’s judiciary. The decision has various implications for crypto holders, the most important of which is that Russian law now treats digital coins like other assets. Russia’s top court rules in favor of cryptocurrency owner The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation (CC) has upheld the right of cryptocurrency owners to receive adequate judicial protection, local media reported. The review was prompted by the case of a Russian citizen who sought the return of 1,000 Tether (USDT) he had acquired and transferred to an acquaintance for management purposes. Lawyers for the man, identified as D.I. Timchenko, filed a complaint after lower courts declined to review his request, based on his failure to notify the Federal Tax Service (FNS) of his ownership of the coins. According to the Right Side law firm, hired by the crypto investor, the cited article from the federal law “On Digital Financial Assets,” which obliges him to do so, is unconstitutional. The main argument is that it makes the right to judicial protection conditional, as it can only be exercised after a formal notification. What’s more, a procedure for the latter hasn’t been established yet. Marat Amanliev, the attorney who represented the plaintiff, announced that the provision has been declared invalid, the business news portal RBC reported on Tuesday. The ownership rights of digital currency owners are now equal to the rights over any other property, the legal expert highlighted. What’s more, the right to judicial protection will not be tied to any notification or registration procedure, he noted. Commenting on the CC ruling, Amanliev stated: “Despite the fact that absolutely all other parties to the process opposed our position — the State Duma, the Federation Council, the Central Bank, presidential and government representatives, Rosfinmonitoring, and the Prosecutor General’s Office — we were able to convey the essence of our position to the Constitutional Court.” However, there is a major exception. The ruling applies only to cryptocurrencies obtained by legal means from sources other than mining. According to the court, the contested article continues to apply to the cryptocurrency produced by miners and operators of mining infrastructure. For this category, reporting crypto holdings to the tax authority remains mandatory, as the respective procedure is already enshrined in law. Russia legalized the mining of Bitcoin and the like in late 2024, making it its first properly regulated crypto-related activity. Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs are allowed to participate in the industry, as long as they register with the FNS, inform it about the coins they have minted, and pay their taxes. What are the implications for Russia’s crypto community? Marat Amanliev further emphasized that all claims by digital currency owners that have been dismissed for failing to notify government agencies of ownership will now be reviewed again. The Constitutional Court, whose main role is to determine if legal acts and decrees comply with the country’s fundamental law, also stated that Russian legislation must classify all types of digital assets, taking into account their specifics, the lawyer added. Russia is preparing to do precisely that this year, after, at the end of December, its central bank proposed a new regulatory concept that lawmakers are expected to adopt by July 1, 2026. The regulator’s plan is to define cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as “monetary assets.” Until now, they have only been recognized as property , mainly for the purposes of criminal proceedings. The CC expanded on this, reasoning that despite its virtual nature, coins have economic value, can be circulated, and are recognized as property under the Russian Tax Code, too. This means that the rights arising from their ownership are protected by at least two articles of the main law: “on private property” and “on judicial protection.” With the court’s decision, digital currency becomes a “full-fledged object of law,” pointed out Ignat Likhunov, founder of Cartesius, a law firm that specializes in providing legal advice in the crypto space. He also highlighted the ruling’s significance not just for civil disputes over crypto assets obtained through purchase, exchange, or receipt, but also for criminal cases involving theft. The high court has instructed lawmakers to make the necessary amendments to ensure that the constitutional rights of crypto owners are protected, provided they can prove the origin of the funds. Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.

20 Jan 2026, 18:22

SOL Strategies Launches STKESOL With 500K SOL Staking Target

SOL Strategies Inc. has launched STKESOL, a new liquid staking token designed to bring more flexibility to Solana staking. The product gives SOL holders a way to earn staking rewards while still keeping their assets usable in DeFi. Consequently, the company is positioning STKESOL as both a customer tool and a business growth lever. The launch also adds a fresh revenue stream alongside its validator operations and treasury strategy. SOL Strategies trades under CSE: HODL and NASDAQ: STKE. Additionally, it holds more than 427,000 SOL in its corporate treasury. According to the press release , the company plans to stake more than 500,000 SOL through STKESOL at launch. Moreover, it wants the token to connect with DeFi platforms such as Kamino and Loopscale. That approach could increase adoption by placing STKESOL in products where users already borrow, lend, or earn yield. Hence, SOL Strategies is targeting both retail and advanced DeFi participants from day one. From Treasury Accumulation to Onchain Expansion SOL Strategies began accumulating SOL in June 2024 after shifting its strategy toward Solana. The firm then rebranded in September 2024, which signaled a stronger commitment to the ecosystem. Additionally, it expanded validator coverage through acquisitions across multiple operators. These included Cogent, OrangeFin Ventures, and Laine. Those deals helped the firm grow its staked SOL footprint across validator operations to around 3.3 million SOL. Significantly, the company kept operations spread across several validators. That strategy supports network resilience and reduces reliance on a single staking route. Besides staking, SOL Strategies also added ecosystem exposure through direct token holdings. In June 2025, it acquired more than 52,000 JTO tokens and created a reserve for future projects. STKESOL Targets a Growing Slice of Solana Staking Liquid staking has gained traction on Solana as DeFi apps widened support for staked assets. SolanaFloor data shows about 454 million SOL staked across the network in early January 2026. LSTs represent around 14.06% of that total, which equals about 63.8 million SOL. However, most staked SOL still sits in native staking, leaving room for LST growth. Other firms have moved into this market with similar products. In May 2025, DeFi Development Corp. introduced dfdvSOL using Sanctum infrastructure. Additionally, exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, and BitGet launched BNSOL, bbSOL, and BGSOL. Moreover, Rex-Osprey’s Solana Staking ETF added jitoSOL in July 2025. This wave of launches shows strong demand for staking liquidity without sacrificing rewards.

20 Jan 2026, 18:15

All eyes on February 20 as Supreme Court delays ruling on Trump’s tariffs

The United States Supreme Court didn’t rule on President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Tuesday as anticipated. The Court’s latest batch of decisions issued Tuesday morning did not include the tariffs case. According to reports, the justices will be hearing arguments on Wednesday about Trump’s effort to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, but it isn’t scheduled to release opinions. After Wednesday, the court is preparing to begin a four-week recess, and under its usual procedures for releasing opinions, the next potential day for a tariff decision is February 20. Polymarket bettors see a 31% chance court favors Trump At hearings late last year, the justices were skeptical enough of the White House’s claims that the markets are now expecting the Supreme Court to rule against Trump. According to the betting website Polymarket, there is a 31% chance the court will side with the White House, though this probability has decreased since earlier this month. Odds that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of Trump. Source: Polymaket Trade lawyers claim that the upcoming US Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariffs could deny him the legal power to carry out new tariff threats, including those aimed at NATO members over Greenland’s sovereignty . The lawyers stated that the targeted tariff threats made by Trump over the weekend would likely rest on the same legal authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) that the Supreme Court will decide. Michael Lowell, partner and chair of the Global Regulatory Enforcement Group, stated, “Similar to the Brazil tariffs, if the Supreme Court rules IEEPA doesn’t give the president tariff power, then these tariffs being threatened on NATO members would be illegal.” As reported by Cryptopolitan, Trump announced Saturday that if a deal is not reached, allowing Washington to acquire Greenland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland would face increasing tariffs, starting at 10% on February 1 and rising to 25% on June 1. According to Michael Lowell, if the Court overturns the tariffs, companies in the NATO group that would have to pay the threatened tariffs may have to take new legal steps. “It may still be necessary for companies that import from those countries to bring suit to enforce that would be a quick lawsuit since the law would be clear by the ruling.” European leaders have described this latest tariff salvo as a form of blackmail. They are reportedly deliberating on potential responses, including implementing an anti-coercion instrument which could limit US access to the European Union, the world’s third-largest economy. Trump to use Section 232 investigation on minerals to levy tariffs Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that it’s “very unlikely” that the Supreme Court will overturn Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs. According to him, even if the administration loses, new tariffs will go into effect immediately. Trade attorneys also say the president could use the recently completed Section 232 investigation on critical minerals to levy tariffs. Greenland is a mineral-rich island that is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. The section dictates that if negotiations do not work, “it may be appropriate to impose import restrictions, such as tariffs, if satisfactory agreements are not reached in a timely manner.” In the latest Section 232 policy on critical minerals, the language states that the executive branch of the government reserves the right for the president to impose tariffs. However, a ruling against Trump on tariffs would deliver his biggest legal defeat since returning to the White House. A decision against Trump could also open the way for more than $130 billion in refunds. Get seen where it counts. Advertise in Cryptopolitan Research and reach crypto’s sharpest investors and builders.

20 Jan 2026, 17:38

WhiteBIT and Elina Svitolina announce strategic partnership during Australian Open

As the tennis world turns its attention to the opening Grand Slam of the season, Australian Open 2026, WhiteBIT , Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, and Elina Svitolina — Olympic bronze medalist, Jean King Cup 2025 semifinalist and 19-time WTA singles champion — have announced a strategic partnership. The announcement comes at a key moment in the international tennis calendar, following Svitolina’s title-winning performance in Auckland and during the first major tournament of the year, when global attention is focused on elite competition and player performance. As part of the agreement, Elina Svitolina joins WhiteBIT as a global brand ambassador. In addition, WhiteBIT became the official crypto partner of the Ukraine Women’s National Tennis Team and the Svitolina Foundation . The partnership brings together professional sport, digital tools and social initiatives within the evolving global tennis environment. From the court to crypto: Serving the future The partnership focuses on practical cooperation between sport and technology, including team support, athlete representation and web3 fan engagement initiatives. WhiteBIT will support the Ukraine Women’s National Tennis Team’s preparation programmes and introduce fan-facing digital tools during selected international tennis events. As part of the cooperation, the WhiteBIT logo will be featured on the official training and representative kit of the Ukraine Women’s National Tennis Team, strengthening the company’s visibility across European and global tennis events. Volodymyr Nosov, Founder and President of W Group , commented: Together, we will make the world of blockchain, digital currencies, and innovation understandable and accessible to tennis fans. Our partnership with the National Women’s Team and Svitolina Foundation is an investment in future victories and the confidence of young talents. As a brand ambassador, Elina Svitolina will help us promote innovative technologies and digital literacy, bringing the world of blockchain closer to a global audience, starting with the resilient sports community of Ukraine. We are combining sports and technology to create new opportunities for Ukraine, even in the most difficult times. Three pillars of the partnership: Sport, technology, social impact ● Support for professional sport and Web3 integration As the official crypto partner of the Ukraine Women’s National Tennis Team, WhiteBIT will provide resources to support sustainable athletic development throughout the competitive season. In parallel, the company will integrate selected Web3 solutions into fan engagement initiatives, introducing modern digital interaction formats for international tennis audiences. This approach reflects broader global trends where technology companies increasingly collaborate with professional sports organisations to enhance fan experience and digital accessibility. ● Innovation and brand ambassadorship As a global brand ambassador, Elina Svitolina will support initiatives aimed at expanding the mainstream adoption of blockchain technologies and digital financial tools. Her role will focus on promoting digital literacy and practical use cases of crypto solutions within everyday digital services and the professional sports environment. ● Social impact and education As the official crypto partner of the Svitolina Foundation, WhiteBIT will scale the foundation’s humanitarian and educational initiatives. The partnership includes programs to support young talent and provide educational grants that contribute to long-term personal and professional development. Crypto-powered donations and transparency The partnership will also introduce crypto-based donation solutions for the Svitolina Foundation. Powered by WhiteBIT’s technology, supporters from around the world will be able to contribute quickly, securely, and transparently to humanitarian and educational projects. Elina Svitolina commented : I am sincerely delighted with our cooperation and happy to have a strong and stable partner by my side. For me, it is an important mission to be a guide in the world of modern technologies and help make them understandable and useful for people. Together with WhiteBIT, we will be able to speak even louder about the strength of companies with Ukrainian roots, solutions and achievements in the world, as well as lay a solid foundation for the development of sport and opportunities for future generations. This partnership marks the beginning of long-term cooperation between WhiteBIT and Elina Svitolina, connecting professional tennis, digital innovation and social initiatives. The post WhiteBIT and Elina Svitolina announce strategic partnership during Australian Open appeared first on Invezz

20 Jan 2026, 16:39

SOL Strategies teases passive income opportunity in STKESOL liquid staking token launch

SOL Strategies, one of the leading Solana treasury companies, launched a liquid staking token. STKESOL tokens will allow holders to earn rewards from the network activity. SOL Strategies will launch STKESOL, a new liquid staking token with built-in rewards. The company will be able to draw in both crypto natives and traditional investors with a new asset, compatible across other DeFi applications. 🚨 Introducing STKESOL: SOL Strategies’ Liquid Staking Token (LST) on @Solana ! Already at 545K SOL (~$70M) in TVL, STKESOL allows you to earn diversified staking rewards while maintaining full liquidity. Boost your yield further by providing liquidity, borrow against your… pic.twitter.com/5ZgwxdzkW7 — SOL Strategies (@solstrategies) January 20, 2026 The launch of STKESOL means SOL Strategies will draw in more SOL deposits for staking. The depositors of SOL will receive both passive rewards and be able to use STKESOL on DeFi platforms. STKESOL will be usable as a loan collateral on lending platforms such as Kamino and Loopscale. The token aims to lower its risk as it is backed by staking in multiple validators, to spread counterparty risk. Following the news, SOL traded at $127.79, pressured by the overall crypto market downturn. SOL Strategies chooses more active treasury management SOL Strategies is a relatively small DAT company, with around 427,640K SOL. The company is ranked 10th among other treasury builders. Of that total treasury balance, 406K are staked for passive income at around 6.7% per month. SOL Strategies is also running a validator on Solana . SOL Strategies is ranked 10th among other DAT companies and is itself running a validator to secure the network. | Source: Strategic SOL Reserve The company has a higher share of staked SOL compared to other treasury companies. ETFs and DATs companies stake less than 50% of their available SOL, holding the rest of the tokens in idle wallets. SOL Strategies also ensures the infrastructure for its liquid staking token, which will draw in diversified passive income from multiple validators. The company aims to achieve the best possible yield based on validator performance. Yield-based products may offset the market risk, while also supporting the Ethereum ecosystem. SOL Strategies already announced that around $70M or 545K SOL have been deposited to mint the STKESOL liquid staking token. Stake SOL focuses on liquidity, tax protections Staked SOL removes coins from circulation, while leaving holders with no capital. Liquid staking tokens reflect the amount of staked SOL and bring a new asset, which can be traded, deposited, or used as a lending collateral. Liquid staking tokens aim to avoid the two-day waiting period when unstaking SOL. Liquid staking tokens can be traded, while the original SOL stake remains. Based on different jurisdictions, liquid staking tokens may bypass taxation, at least while the underlying asset is still staked. The tax exemptions may vary depending on local tax laws. Liquid staking tokens are widely accepted in the Solana ecosystem and are represented on most decentralized exchanges. Liquid staking tokens can also be used in LST multiplier products, where holders can loop or leverage an LST combined with SOL to achieve a higher yield. The technique works because some of the LST yield is higher than the cost of borrowing SOL. The strategy is risky, and the yields may change under different circumstances. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .