Invest ideasNews
27 Jan 2026, 09:19
Alibaba-backed Moonshot launches new AI model
China’s Moonshot AI, backed by e‑commerce giant Alibaba Group, today unveiled its newest artificial intelligence model, Kimi K2.5, intensifying what industry observers are calling the domestic race against rival startup DeepSeek and other global AI challengers. Moonshot announced the launch of Kimi K2.5, its most advanced model yet, introducing a native multimodal architecture that processes text, images, and video in a single system. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that this update reflects a surging trend of omni models, led by key players in the tech industry, such as OpenAI and Google’s Alphabet Inc. Chinese AI titans race to upgrade models amid surging demand The new version of Moonshot’s Kimi is one of the several upgrades launched over the last month. With this finding, sources noted that major AI firms in China are scrambling to get ahead of DeepSeek’s impending announcement. Regarding its upcoming announcement, sources acknowledged that DeepSeek has been hinting at a major launch lately. Moreover, the Chinese artificial intelligence company’s research lab shared key publications from prominent team members, including its CEO, Liang Wenfeng, and code on GitHub, a premier cloud-based, Microsoft-owned platform. In the meantime, reports revealed that Moonshot secured around $500 million in December last year from its significant supporters, including Alibaba and IDG Capital, demonstrating renewed investor interest in high-growth, technology-driven ventures. Furthermore, the company reached a $4.3 billion valuation through this deal. On the other hand, sources with knowledge of the situation noted that Moonshot planned to release an enhanced version of its primary model at a time when demand for AI is surging. Therefore, to cope with this escalating demand, the AI startup initiated new funding rounds targeting a $5 billion valuation. This was after key Chinese AI rivals Zhipu and MiniMax Group Inc. announced in early January 2026 the successful introduction of their initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). Collectively, they raised more than $1 billion in the Special Administrative Regions of China. Following their strategic approach to operations, Moonshot, Zhipu, and MiniMax Group Inc. are ranked among the top Chinese large language model developers, a competition once called the “War of One Hundred Models.” Nonetheless, analysts alleged that many smaller firms have struggled to implement necessary technology enhancements and secure adequate funding after DeepSeek’s R1 model reached key milestones at the start of 2025. Moonshot ramps up AI race with coding tool As competition in the tech ecosystem heated up, Zhipu launched a GLM-Image, an image generation model, in January, claiming it is China’s first state-of-the-art model fully trained on local chips without relying entirely on foreign chips. Just after this launch, Alibaba announced this week the introduction of a reasoning version of its leading proprietary model, Qwen3-Max . Concerning Alibaba’s move, Moonshot asserted that it firmly believes its K2.5 AI model will outperform its open-source rivals in several benchmark tests. Additionally, the firm noted that this improved version of its main model is narrowing the coding skills gap compared to major proprietary models. To demonstrate its commitment to solidify its position as a leader in the industry, Moonshot made clear its intention to introduce an automated coding tool with the capabilities to compete with Claude Code, an AI-powered agentic coding tool developed by Anthropic. Notably, Moonshot was established in March 2023 by Yang Zhilin, a former AI project lead at tech giants Meta Platforms Inc. and Google. He is also regarded as a leading expert in large language model development in China. The artificial intelligence startup offers various subscription tiers for its chatbot and provides specialized technology solutions to enterprise clients; however, it still lags behind rivals such as Zhipu and MiniMax in commercialization. Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program
27 Jan 2026, 08:59
Africa repays China more than it borrows, data shows
China’s position as a major lender to developing countries has changed over the past 10 years, with fresh loans to low- and middle-income countries in Africa sharply declining while debt repayments have continued to rise. Ten years ago, China was a net source of credit, sending $48 billion to low- and lower-middle-income nations through both public and private lenders. Today, it is a net extractor of $24 billion. The greatest significant reversal in Chinese finance has occurred in Africa. African nations experience net outflows from Chinese lending ONE Data analysis released on January 27 found that African countries are now sending more money to China in debt repayments than they get in new loans. The analysis revealed that Africa experienced the greatest impact in 2020–24, the most recent period for which data are available, with a $30 billion inflow from 2015–19 turning into a $22 billion outflow. “The fact that there’s less lending coming in, but that previous lending from China still needs to be serviced — that’s the source of the outflows,” said David McNair, executive director at ONE Data. Many African governments are under increasing pressure to finance public services while relying less on external assistance as multilateral organizations step up funding. ONE Data analysis found that these multilateral institutions, such as the World Bank, now account for 56% of net flows, up from 28% ten years ago. Over this time, they have raised finance by 124%. Cuts implemented in 2025 are not included in the data. David McNair stated that developing economies, particularly in Africa , have already been impacted by the closing of the U.S. Agency for International Development last year and a decrease in funding from other affluent nations. McNair went on to say that official development assistance flows are expected to decline once data from 2025 becomes available in greater detail. The research also noted a broader decline in private foreign debt and bilateral finance flows, both of which are expected to worsen with aid cuts starting in 2025. ONE Data revealed that long-term foreign debt from private sources, both public and publicly guaranteed, decreased from 19% of net flows to 1%. In the last five years, this kind of debt has dropped from $115 billion in net new resources between 2010 and 2014 to $7.3 billion. African countries struggle under mounting public debt African nations’ mounting debt to China and world lenders reflects the increasing fiscal strain on them. Between 2015 and 2024, African nations saw their average debt-to-GDP ratio climb from 44.4% to 66.7%. Lower public revenues and successive global crises drove this surge. Over this period, Angola led African countries with the largest debt to China, at $21.0 billion, followed by Ethiopia at $6.8 billion, Kenya at $6.7 billion, Zambia at $6.1 billion, and Nigeria at $4.3 billion. Beyond these countries, others such as Egypt, South Africa, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire also have large loans, demonstrating a broader trend across the continent in which China continues to be a significant creditor. This broader pattern is reflected in Kenya’s overall debt situation. As of June 2025, Kenya’s public debt stood at 11.81 trillion shillings ($91.3 billion). According to Kenya’s Finance Minister John Mbadi, the debt-to-GDP ratio was 63.7% in net present value terms, which is regarded as sustainable but carries a higher risk of hardship. Of the total debt, Mbadi revealed that 5.48 trillion shillings, or $42.38 billion USD, was external debt owed to creditors and development partners such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and China. In the fiscal year 2024–2025, the government spent 1.72 trillion shillings ($13.3 billion USD) on debt payments. It paid 579 billion shillings ($4.48 billion USD) to foreign creditors and 1.14 trillion shillings ($8.81 billion USD) to domestic lenders. In November 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that Kenya’s debt was still manageable but fragile. Due to sluggish fiscal restructuring , it issued a warning about the serious dangers posed by excessive debt across both external and total public debt. Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.
27 Jan 2026, 06:30
Bitcoin Hashrate Drops to Seven-Month Low as US Winter Storm Disrupts Mining
Bitcoin’s network hashrate fell to its lowest level in seven months over the weekend as a powerful winter storm swept across the United States, forcing miners to scale back operations amid surging energy demand and widespread power disruptions. Key Takeaways: A US winter storm pushed Bitcoin’s hashrate to a seven-month low as miners curtailed operations to ease grid strain. Network power fell over 40% before partially recovering. Miners scaled back operations to help stabilize electricity grids. According to AccuWeather, the massive storm system impacted more than three dozen US states, bringing heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures that left around one million customers without power. The extreme conditions placed additional strain on regional electricity grids, prompting some Bitcoin miners to curtail activity to help stabilize supply. Bitcoin Hashrate Slides More Than 40% Over Weekend Before Rebounding Data from mining analytics platform CoinWarz shows that Bitcoin’s hashrate began sliding on Friday before plunging sharply over the weekend. By Sunday, the network’s computing power had dropped to roughly 663 exahashes per second (EH/s), representing a decline of more than 40% in just two days. The hashrate has since rebounded, climbing back to around 854 EH/s as of Monday. Oregon-based miner Abundant Mines said the scale of the disruption was significant. “Approximately 40% of global Bitcoin mining capacity has gone offline in the past 24 hours due to extreme winter weather,” the company said, adding that many operators voluntarily reduced output as energy demand spiked. The firm described this responsiveness as a structural advantage of Bitcoin mining, noting that operations can shut down quickly during grid stress and restart once conditions normalize. https://twitter.com/AbundantMines/status/2015565916344639732?s=20 The US accounts for the largest share of global Bitcoin mining activity. Estimates from the Hashrate Index suggest the country contributes nearly 38% of the network’s total hashrate, while a 2024 report from the Energy Information Administration identified at least 137 crypto-mining facilities nationwide. Industry advocates argue that miners play an increasingly important role in grid stability by acting as flexible energy consumers. Bitcoin Miners Help Stabilize Texas Power Grid During Winter Storm Mining operations can absorb excess electricity generated by wind or solar installations and rapidly power down during periods of peak demand. Bitcoin ESG researcher Daniel Batten said on X that demand response programs involving miners helped stabilize the Texas grid during the storm. Bitcoin mining (demand response) and batteries worked together to stabilize Texas' grid in the face of recent extreme weather https://t.co/13hz6bp03K — Daniel Batten (@DSBatten) January 26, 2026 The weather event also weighed on Bitcoin production. CryptoQuant analyst Julio Moreno said daily output dropped sharply at several major US mining firms. According to a recent analysis by independent researcher Daniel Batten, Bitcoin mining can strengthen electrical grids and lower consumer electricity costs rather than strain power systems. His research challenges common claims that mining destabilizes grids or drives up energy prices, drawing on peer-reviewed studies and operational data to argue that the industry’s flexible power usage can provide measurable system benefits. The post Bitcoin Hashrate Drops to Seven-Month Low as US Winter Storm Disrupts Mining appeared first on Cryptonews .
27 Jan 2026, 00:00
Crypto Firm Entropy Calls It Quits, Plans Full Investor Refunds
Entropy, a startup that tried to build a safer way to hold and move crypto, is shutting down and sending most money back to investors. The company’s leader said the business could not reach the size investors wanted. Reports say the team will return roughly $25–$27 million that had been put into the project. What Happened To Entropy According to reports , Entropy began with tools for decentralized custody aimed at big holders who wanted more control. Over time the group changed course and tried to build automation features that would make crypto workflows easier. The company raised capital from well-known backers, including Andreessen Horowitz and Coinbase Ventures. It ran for about four years and weathered two rounds of layoffs as the team tested different ideas. In a Saturday post on X, Entropy founder and CEO Tux Pacific said the crypto automation platform has reached the end of the road after years of trying to find a workable future. I am winding-up Entropy. After four years, several pivots, and two rounds of layoffs, I’ve decided to wind-up Entropy and return capital to our investors. For the latter half of 2025, the Entropy team was hard at work on a crypto automations platform (basically n8n/zapier/etc… — tux pacific (@__tux) January 24, 2026 Decision To Return Capital Two clear facts pushed the move. First, buyers and customers did not grow fast enough for the kind of return venture backers expect. Second, the team struggled to find a steady, repeatable business model that could support rapid growth and hire plans. Leaders tried product tweaks and new directions, but the pace of change stayed slow and revenue did not climb as hoped. In some cases the product was kept alive by small wins; in others it felt stalled. Investors will get back most of the money they put in. That makes this shutdown cleaner than some collapses where user funds were at risk. Reports say refunds will be handled through formal steps and planners are working out the details. The company’s founder has suggested they may shift their career focus away from crypto, possibly into fields like medical research, though that path is not certain. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
27 Jan 2026, 00:00
Analyst Says Price XRP Is Copying Previous Bull Run, Sets Targets
Despite extended price weakness and prolonged consolidation near the $2 level, some market analysts believe XRP may be positioning for a substantial upward move. This view is based on long-term chart structures that appear to resemble patterns seen in earlier market cycles. According to proponents of this outlook, XRP’s current lack of momentum does not necessarily invalidate its bullish potential. Instead, they argue that the extended period of price compression could be laying the groundwork for a significant impulse move once broader market conditions align. One of the analysts advancing this thesis is CryptoBull , a widely followed commentator who focuses on long-term technical structures rather than short-term volatility. His analysis emphasizes historical symmetry across XRP’s multi-year price cycles, with particular attention paid to how long the asset has remained in consolidation relative to prior bull markets. From this perspective, time rather than price is the most critical variable in assessing XRP’s next potential expansion. The next impulse will take #XRP to $11 and the last wave to $70. The price pattern is copying the previous bullrun, only difference is time, which makes sense, as we need longer accumulation for higher prices. pic.twitter.com/WJxzYDVRKT — CryptoBull (@CryptoBull2020) January 23, 2026 Long-Term Structure and Historical Comparisons CryptoBull’s assessment relies on weekly chart data spanning nearly a decade. His work compares XRP’s current market structure with earlier periods that preceded strong upward movements, particularly the phases leading into the 2017–2018 rally. In those earlier cycles, XRP spent several years trading within defined ranges below key resistance levels before entering rapid expansion phases. What differentiates the present cycle, according to this analysis, is the duration of consolidation. XRP has remained range-bound for considerably longer than it did in previous market phases. From a technical standpoint, this extended base formation suggests a higher degree of price compression. Analysts who follow this framework argue that longer consolidation periods often result in more pronounced directional moves once resistance is decisively cleared, although the timing of such a move remains uncertain. The current structure shows XRP holding within a broad range after a prior breakout, without establishing a sustained trend on higher timeframes. While this has frustrated short-term traders, long-term observers view it as a continuation of accumulation rather than a sign of structural weakness. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 The $11 Projection and Its Implications Based on this multi-year structure, CryptoBull identifies approximately $11 as the next significant upside objective. This level represents the first major impulse target derived from historical expansion ranges, adjusted to account for the size and duration of the current accumulation phase. Reaching this level would require XRP to increase nearly sixfold from its current price, placing its market capitalization above $600 billion. The analyst frames this target not as an extreme projection but as a measured outcome if historical patterns were to repeat proportionally. He also suggests that a move toward $11 could represent an intermediate phase rather than the final peak of the cycle. Higher-End Scenarios and Long-Term Expectations Beyond the $11 level, CryptoBull has outlined a more aggressive scenario in which XRP could eventually approach the $70 range if the full historical structure plays out. Such an outcome would imply a market capitalization exceeding $4 trillion, placing XRP among the largest financial assets globally. While this scenario is acknowledged as highly speculative, supporters argue that it is mathematically consistent with prior percentage expansions observed in earlier cycles. Importantly, this view does not assume rapid progression. Even proponents of the bullish thesis emphasize that XRP remains in a prolonged accumulation phase. In response to questions about timing, CryptoBull has indicated that it could take more than a year for XRP to reach double-digit prices, assuming favorable conditions develop. Extending the projection further, external estimates suggest that higher targets, such as $70, may not be achievable until well into the next decade. At present, XRP continues to trade within a narrow range on higher timeframes, reflecting limited directional conviction across the broader market. While near-term price action remains subdued, analysts following long-cycle frameworks maintain that the structural foundation for a larger move is still forming. The case for an XRP move toward $11 rests on historical pattern analysis, extended consolidation, and proportional expansion rather than short-term momentum. Although these projections remain uncertain and dependent on broader market dynamics, they illustrate why some analysts believe XRP’s next major impulse may occur after a prolonged period of apparent inactivity. 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 Analyst Says Price XRP Is Copying Previous Bull Run, Sets Targets appeared first on Times Tabloid .
26 Jan 2026, 22:23
A Wallet Flex Turned Into an On-Chain Trail: ZachXBT Links ‘Lick’ to US Seizure-Related Funds
A leaked group chat recording captured a threat actor named “John” screensharing wallet balances and moving millions in crypto, according to findings shared by ZachXBT. The prominent on-chain investigator said John, also known as “Lick,” was caught showing off approximately $23 million in crypto during a heated argument with another threat actor in a chat group. “Band for Band” Gone Wrong The dispute reportedly turned into what cybercrime circles call a “band for band,” where people try to prove who has more money by showing wallet balances and moving funds in real time. ZachXBT said the recording shows John controlling multiple wallets and moving large amounts of crypto while the interaction was being captured. After reviewing the footage, the investigator said he traced the funds and linked the wallets shown in the recording to more than $90 million in suspected thefts. ZachXBT said he then traced the funds backward and reported that one of the wallets in the chain received 1,066 WETH on November 20, 2025. He further claimed the funds could be traced back to a wallet that received $24.9 million from a US government address in March 2024, which he said was connected to the Bitfinex hack seizure, a theft from the US government that he had previously reported in October 2024. He also said the wallet shown in the recording was tied to over $63 million in inflows from suspected victims and government seizure addresses in Q4 2025, listing several large incoming transfers in November and December 2025. The on-chain sleuth added that another 4.17K ETH worth about $12.4 million was received from MEXC and flowed into the same wallet. USMS Crypto Asset Contract and a Family Tie ZachXBT said that John had an extensive history of boasting about his net worth on Telegram and shared the account identifier tied to those messages. He also pointed to rumors circulating in cybercrime Telegram channels, which revealed John could be John Daghitia, who was previously arrested in September 2025, but acknowledged that more research would be needed to fully confirm the identity. Additionally, the investigator raised questions about how John may have gained access in the first place, while stating that John’s father owns CMDSS, a company with an active government IT contract in Virginia. ZachXBT said the firm was awarded a contract to assist the US Marshals Service in managing and disposing of seized and forfeited crypto assets, but added that it remains unclear how John may have obtained access through his father. After ZachXBT published the thread, he said John quickly changed details on his Telegram profile, including removing NFT-related usernames and updating his screen name. ZachXBT also reported that his own public ENS address was later “dusted” from one of the wallets linked to the suspected thefts. The post A Wallet Flex Turned Into an On-Chain Trail: ZachXBT Links ‘Lick’ to US Seizure-Related Funds appeared first on CryptoPotato .
