Invest ideasNews
21 Jan 2026, 22:22
Billionaire Investor Tim Draper Tips Bitcoin Will Hit The Mythical $250,000 Mark Within Six Months
Billionaire VC and Bitcoin bull Tim Draper is more confident that crypto markets , especially Bitcoin will boom in 2026.
21 Jan 2026, 22:15
Chainlink unlocks continuous on-chain markets for U.S. equities
Chainlink now allows popular stocks and ETFs to be accessed on-chain 24 hours per day, 5 days per week. This upgrade opens up numerous on-chain use cases, such as trading, lending, and more. The move integrates the $80 trillion U.S. stock market onto the blockchain. DeFi platforms now have secure access to U.S. equity market data, including after-hours and overnight sessions. The 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams expand Chainlink Data Streams, providing fast and secure market data for U.S. equities and ETFs across all trading sessions. Equity RWAs have lagged on-chain U.S. equities are underrepresented on-chain despite the growth of real-world assets (RWAs). Blockchains operate nonstop. But U.S. equity markets function in fixed daily sessions, typically from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET on weekdays. Most on-chain data solutions offer only one price point for equities during regular trading hours. Outside those windows, on-chain markets lack reliable equity pricing. This limitation prevents on-chain markets from accurately reflecting market conditions around the clock. Chainlink delivers continuous equity data on-chain Chainlink developed its U.S. Equities Streams to solve this mismatch. The service converts fragmented U.S. equity market data into continuous, cryptographically signed data streams. It offers continuous 24/5 coverage and provides reliable sub-second pricing around the clock. This includes regular, pre-market, post-market, and overnight sessions Chainlink’s service removes blind spots during off-hours trading. It also reduces the risk of using outdated reference prices. The streams also provide a full set of market data designed for financial applications. They also include bid-ask information, last trade prices, volumes, market-status flags, and staleness indicators. The detailed data offers the market context necessary for advanced logic, strong risk controls, and safer trade execution. It also supports safer liquidations and more consistent user experiences outside regular market hours. Exchanges adopt Chainlink streams Several industry players have already integrated the new system. Early adopters include Lighter, BitMEX , ApeX, HelloTrade, Decibel, Monaco, Opinion Labs, and Orderly Network. Lighter, the second-largest perpetuals DEX by volume, has expanded its partnership with Chainlink by adopting the streams as its official oracle for RWA markets. Also, Chainlink’s 24/5 U.S. equities streams play a vital role in BitMEX’s advanced 24/7 equity derivatives platform. The 24/5 streams operate on the reliable Chainlink Data Standard. This technology has supported +$27 trillion in transaction value and verified +19 billion on-chain messages. It also protects roughly 70% of oracle-related DeFi activities. According to CoinGecko data , LINK is currently trading at $12.59. The native token of the Chainlink network is up by 2.8% in the last 24 hours. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
21 Jan 2026, 22:13
Grayscale Files to Convert NEAR Trust Into Spot ETF
Grayscale has filed an S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to convert its existing Grayscale Near Trust into a spot NEAR exchange-traded fund (ETF) listed on the NYSE Arca. The move is the latest in a continued push by major asset managers to expand the crypto ETF market beyond flagship assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) into a broader range of altcoins. Details of the Proposed ETF Conversion The filing, first flagged on X by ETF Hearsay’s Henry Jim on January 20, outlines plans to uplist the Grayscale Near Trust under the ticker GSNR on NYSE Arca, pending SEC approval. The product currently trades over the counter and was launched in May 2024 as a private vehicle before opening to public trading in September 2025. Under the proposal, the trust would be renamed Grayscale Near Trust ETF and operate as a passive product holding NEAR tokens directly. Shares would be created and redeemed in blocks of 10,000 through authorized participants, using an in-kind and cash mechanism designed to keep prices closer to net asset value. The trust currently carries a 2.50% expense ratio, with ETF fees still to be announced. Data from the Grayscale website shows that as of January 21, the product was managing about $900,000 in assets, with shares trading at about $2.85 and the reported NAV sitting near $2.19. Grayscale has acknowledged that the trust has often traded at sizable premiums or discounts, an issue the ETF format aims to reduce. The prospectus also outlines optional staking, though it remains inactive. Staking would only begin if specific regulatory and tax conditions are met, and Grayscale retains discretion over whether to pursue it. NEAR Price Action Looking at the market, the ETF filing has failed to trigger an immediate price response, suggesting traders may be cautious about timing and approval odds. At the time of the filing, NEAR was trading around $1.53, reflecting a 69% dip over the previous year and a drop of about 17% in the past week. This price context is relevant for the proposed ETF, as its value will be directly tied to the often-volatile spot price of NEAR. Grayscale’s move is part of a broader trend of asset managers seeking regulatory approval for altcoin-focused ETFs. In late December 2025, competitor Bitwise filed for 11 single-asset crypto ETFs targeting tokens including Aave (AAVE), Uniswap (UNI), and Sui (SUI). That filing, which also included NEAR as one of its targets, was noted by ETF analyst Eric Balchunas as evidence of issuers racing for a first-mover advantage. Furthermore, the success of recent Ethereum and Solana ETFs, which saw record trading volumes in early January 2026, has likely encouraged this wave of new filings. The post Grayscale Files to Convert NEAR Trust Into Spot ETF appeared first on CryptoPotato .
21 Jan 2026, 22:00
XRP Drops Below $2 as ETF Outflows Spike and Stablecoin Settlement Debate Clouds Outlook
XRP has slipped below the $2 mark, extending a week-long decline that has unsettled traders and renewed questions about the token’s short-term outlook. Related Reading: What the Triple-Tap At $1.80 Means For The XRP Price The drop comes amid heavy outflows from XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), broader market weakness tied to U.S. tariff developments, and fresh debate over Ripple’s growing focus on stablecoins for global payments. After briefly recovering to around $2.20 in mid-January, XRP fell as low as $1.85 over the weekend following what market commentators described as a liquidity sweep. XRP's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: XRPUSD on Tradingview XRP ETF Outflows Add to Selling Pressure XRP-linked ETFs recorded their largest daily outflow since launching in November 2025. On January 20, investors pulled roughly $53 million from these products, with the Grayscale XRP ETF accounting for most of the losses. Cumulative net inflows have now fallen back to levels last seen in early January. The outflows mirrored a wider risk-off move across U.S. markets. Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs also saw heavy redemptions, while only Solana and Chainlink products attracted fresh capital. The sell-off followed renewed concerns over Trump’s tariff threats against Europe and Greenland, which triggered the biggest intraday market drop since October 2025. Technical and On-Chain Signals Remain Weak From a technical standpoint, XRP is trading below key moving averages, including the 50-day and 200-day levels, with resistance forming near the $2 zone. Indicators such as the Percentage Price Oscillator and MACD suggest continued bearish momentum. Analysts note that $1.85–$1.90 is now a critical support range, with further downside possible if selling pressure persists. On-chain data also points to rising stress among longer-term holders. According to Glassnode, investors who bought XRP six to twelve months ago are holding at higher cost bases than recent buyers. This dynamic, similar to patterns seen in early 2022, can encourage selling into small rallies as underwater holders look to exit positions. Stablecoin Focus Raises Questions for XRP Adding to uncertainty is Ripple’s recent emphasis on stablecoins as the future of global settlement. Company president Monica Long has said regulated stablecoins like Ripple USD (RLUSD) are likely to become foundational in global payments over the next five years, particularly in business-to-business transactions. Related Reading: Trove’s New Token Craters 95%, Sparking Investor Revolt While Ripple executives continue to say XRP and the XRP Ledger remain central to the company’s infrastructure, the lack of direct references to the token in recent statements has unsettled some holders. RLUSD’s market capitalization has grown rapidly, and stablecoin activity on the XRP Ledger has increased, but investors are watching closely to see how this translates into sustained demand for XRP itself. Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart on Tradingview
21 Jan 2026, 22:00
White House Pushes for Fast Crypto Deal as Senate Window Narrows and $1B Liquidations Rock Markets
The White House is urging U.S. lawmakers to move quickly on legislation to reform the crypto market structure as political timelines tighten and digital asset markets face renewed volatility. With the Senate struggling to secure bipartisan support and more than $1 billion in recent crypto liquidations, officials say the window for passing a workable regulatory framework may be closing. Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, has warned that expecting the crypto industry to operate without clear rules is unrealistic. He argues that some form of legislation is “inevitable” and that delays could leave the sector exposed to harsher policies in the future. White House Presses for Action on Crypto Rules The proposed Senate bill would define how the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversee crypto markets , including stablecoins and decentralized finance protocols. However, disagreements over key provisions have slowed progress. Both the Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees recently postponed markups as lawmakers worked to resolve disputes and gather enough support to advance the bill. Witt has been blunt in his message to the industry: accept compromise now or risk facing a less favorable outcome later. He criticized Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong for withdrawing support for the current version of the bill, after Armstrong said the company would “rather have no bill than a bad bill.” Midterm Elections Add Pressure The push for speed is also tied to the November U.S. midterm elections, which could reshape Congress. All House seats and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs, and polling and prediction markets suggest Democrats have a strong chance of flipping the House. A divided Congress would likely slow or stall crypto legislation altogether. Witt has cautioned that the political alignment needed to pass a market structure bill may not be in place after the elections, making the coming months critical for any deal. $1B Liquidations Highlight Market Stress The policy debate comes as markets reel from a sharp deleveraging event. Today, more than 182,000 traders were liquidated in a single day, with total losses of over $1.08 billion. Most of the damage came from long positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum, as falling prices triggered cascading margin calls across major exchanges. Bitcoin alone saw over $427 million in long liquidations, while Ethereum accounted for roughly $374 million. Technical indicators show many altcoins trading with RSI levels below 50, suggesting continued selling pressure. Rising Japanese bond yields and renewed global risk-off sentiment have also tightened liquidity, prompting investors to shift away from volatile assets like crypto. Although Bitcoin later stabilized near $90,000, analysts say the recent rebound looks more like a pause after forced selling than a clear return to bullish momentum. Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart on Tradingview
21 Jan 2026, 21:54
Ethereum Sentiment Flips Bearish as Traders Brace for Drop to $2.5K
Bears dominate Ethereum outlook as prediction markets signal 62.5% chance of drop to $2,500, though validator sentiment remains steady long-term.
