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18 Jan 2026, 13:10
Bear Market Rally? Bitcoin Demand Shows Improvement but Remains Weak (CryptoQuant)
Over the past week, bitcoin (BTC) has rebounded, with the price approaching certain crucial thresholds. Despite this rally in the asset’s value, analysts at the crypto research firm CryptoQuant believe the market, led by BTC, has not escaped the bears’ claws. In a weekly report from CryptoQuant, market experts noted that BTC demand conditions have improved recently. However, they are still weak and have not changed significantly. This substantiates the claim that the market is still in a bearish phase despite bitcoin’s latest rally. Bitcoin Sees Bear Market Rally Since November 21, 2025, BTC has risen by approximately 20% to its current levels. The rally follows a 19% decline that confirmed the start of a bear market as BTC fell below its 365-day moving average (MA). The surge brought the leading cryptocurrency near its 365-day MA, currently sitting at $101,000. Historically, the 365-day MA has acted as a regime boundary with previous bear cycles showing repeated rejections near that level before renewed downward movement. BTC recorded a similar pattern in the 2022 bear cycle, and this time is no different. The rally in bitcoin’s price comes amid slightly improved but weak demand conditions. In fact, spot demand is still contracting. U.S. spot indicators, such as the Coinbase Price Premium and spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), briefly turned positive. The Coinbase premium briefly increased from deep negative territory for the second time since mid-December 2025. Bitcoin Demand Remains Weak On the ETF front, there is still no extraordinary activity. These products merely stopped net selling during the rally, after offloading as much as 54,000 BTC over a 30-day period in November 2025. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have not indicated a strong return of U.S. demand or shown sustained accumulation. Furthermore, apparent demand metrics reveal that Bitcoin spot demand has contracted by 67,000 BTC over the last 30 days and has been in negative territory since November 28, 2025. Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have purchased only 3,800 BTC so far this year, compared to 3,600 at the same time last year – levels below thresholds associated with bull-market recoveries. Meanwhile, analysts say BTC may face increased selling pressure in the coming weeks, as exchange flows have begun to rise after the recent rally. Bitcoin transfers to exchanges have spiked to a seven-day average of 39,000 BTC. Increased flows into exchanges are historically associated with escalating selling activity, so there may be more trouble for BTC ahead. The post Bear Market Rally? Bitcoin Demand Shows Improvement but Remains Weak (CryptoQuant) appeared first on CryptoPotato .
18 Jan 2026, 13:02
Crypto Expert: If You Hold 10,000 XRP, You Are Pre-rich
Crypto commentator Austin (@Austin_XRPL) recently highlighted the significant growth potential for XRP. He stated that anyone holding 10,000 XRP is already pre-rich. The remark draws attention to the remarkable rise in the token’s value over the past year and the projections experts have made for its future. Rapid Growth Since 2024 In late 2024, XRP traded at $0.50. At that time, 10,000 XRP cost $5,500. Investors who purchased at that time have already seen substantial gains. Today, XRP trades at $2.07, meaning the same 10,000 tokens are worth over $20,000. This represents a 3x increase in just over a year. Notably, experts have indicated that this growth phase placed XRP within an accumulation zone that has lasted 13 months . Once the asset breaks out, it could see further gains, potentially smashing through its all-time high of $3.65 . If you hold 10,000 $XRP you are pre rich — Austin (@Austin_XRPL) January 17, 2026 Potential for Major Gains Analysts have projected that XRP could reach as high as $589, with some suggesting it could rise to four or even five-digit prices. If the asset hits the $589 target , someone investing a little over $20,000 now could see their holdings grow to $589,000. Larger investments or continued growth could increase these returns, potentially making some holders millionaires. This forecast is the context behind Austin’s description of token holders as pre-rich. Market Dynamics Supporting XRP Several factors contribute to XRP’s growth potential. Its adoption in financial systems and partnerships with institutions enhances demand for the token. XRP benefits from global attention and usage within the multinational payment infrastructure, positioning it for future price appreciation. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Regulatory clarity has also given rise to spot XRP ETFs, which have seen massive demand from institutional investors . Investors tracking the market can observe that the token’s value has already risen significantly within a short period, suggesting continued interest and activity around it. Investing Early Is the Best Strategy XRP’s current market price allows both early adopters and new investors to benefit. Those who purchased XRP when it was under $1 have already experienced meaningful gains. New investors entering the market at the current $2.07 level are participating in a stage that analysts describe as having strong upside potential. The growth seen in recent years underlines how early investment in XRP can translate into large financial gains . With projected targets significantly higher than the current price, token holders may realize substantial returns if these forecasts materialize. 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 advised to conduct thorough 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 X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Crypto Expert: If You Hold 10,000 XRP, You Are Pre-rich appeared first on Times Tabloid .
18 Jan 2026, 13:00
What’s Driving The $1.42 Billion Comeback In Spot Bitcoin ETFs?
Fresh money poured back into US spot Bitcoin ETFs this week, giving the market a clear jolt after a quiet month. The inflows totaled about $1.42 billion, the biggest weekly pickup since early October. That rush pushed prices higher for a time and pulled a lot of attention back to these regulated funds. Related Reading: Saylor Defends Bitcoin Treasury Firms Amid Rising Criticism Institutional Demand Comes Back Reports say big, familiar investors are rejoining these funds. Managers with large pools of capital are using ETFs to get Bitcoin exposure in a way that fits standard rules and reporting. Some of the buying came through a tight set of funds that have wide reach with big clients. The move is being read as a return of steady, long-term money rather than quick speculative bets. Reports from the Bitcoin macro newsletter Ecoinometrics note that recent jumps in spot Bitcoin ETF inflows usually lead to brief price gains, which often disappear when the inflows ease. Based on data from SoSoValue, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw their biggest inflows midweek, with Wednesday bringing in more than $840 million in a single day and Tuesday following with roughly $754 million. Bitcoin doesn’t need a few good days. It needs a few good weeks. We’ve seen this pattern repeatedly: a short burst of ETF inflows, a quick price bounce, and then momentum fades. That tells us demand still exists, but it’s not persistent enough to change the trend. The chart… pic.twitter.com/6mkv7ye9fW — ecoinometrics (@ecoinometrics) January 16, 2026 BlackRock’s IBIT Tops Flows BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust drew the largest share of the gains. On several days it led all spot ETF flows, with one report showing IBIT accounted for roughly $1.03 billion of the weekly total. A single day during the run saw IBIT pull in amounts measured in the hundreds of millions, underlining how dominant the fund has become in the US market. When big, regulated vehicles buy a lot of Bitcoin, the effect is not just on paper. These ETFs must either create new shares by buying coins or choose to source supply elsewhere. That process removes coins from the pool available to regular traders. At the same time, some data show that large holders eased off selling in recent days, which tightened the coins ready to trade even more. The mix of fresh demand and less selling can lift price quickly. Short Gains, Or The Start Of Something Longer? Some market watchers point out that a single week of big inflows is only part of the picture. Patterns matter. If monthly flows stay strong, then the story is clearer. If the money fades, prices can fall back just as fast. Still, the sudden inflow shows that at least a group of big investors prefers regulated ETF exposure right now. That matters for how traditional funds think about Bitcoin in balanced portfolios. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Hits Record Levels As Buterin Urges Builders To Deliver Real Apps Bitcon Price Action Bitcoin has been hovering around $95,000 this week, moving up and down slightly as buyers and sellers test the market. Reports say the price steadied after a small bounce from recent lows. Some updates show Bitcoin briefly rising above $96,800, shaking out short-term traders. Analysts note the swings reflect mixed sentiment, with the market unsure of the next clear direction. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
18 Jan 2026, 12:34
Ethereum Exit Queue Hits Zero as Weekly Chart Signals a Possible Turn
Ethereum’s validator exit queue dropped to zero, wiping out the wait to leave staking while the entry line still stretches past 45 days. At the same time, a widely shared weekly chart flagged an inverse head and shoulders setup as ETH trades near a major volume shelf. Ethereum validator exit queue drops to zero as withdrawals clear Ethereum’s validator exit queue fell to zero, signaling that no validators were waiting to leave the network at the time of the latest update. Data shown on the Ethereum Validator Queue dashboard, provided by Beaconcha.in, listed exit queue ETH at 0 and the wait time at 0 minutes, reflecting a fully cleared line for exits. Meanwhile, the dashboard showed the network still facing heavy demand on the way in. The validator entry queue stood at about 2,597,854 ETH, with an estimated wait of 45 days and 2 hours, based on a churn setting of 256 per epoch. That gap between a cleared exit queue and a long entry queue pointed to net inflows into staking, since validators continued to line up to join while departures stayed absent. The same dashboard also reported an 8.5 day “sweep delay,” which tracks the time it takes for balances to be processed and swept through the system. Even with the exit queue cleared, that delay can still affect when funds move through withdrawal mechanics, depending on validator status and scheduling. Network totals stayed elevated in the snapshot. The dashboard listed about 977,886 active validators and roughly 36.0 million ETH staked, equal to 29.65% of supply, while the displayed annual percentage rate sat near 2.81%. The page showed the figures were last updated about 125 minutes before the capture. Ethereum weekly chart highlights inverse head and shoulders setup near key volume shelf Meanwhile, a weekly Ethereum chart shared by trader Donald Dean on X outlined an inverse head and shoulders structure as ETH traded around $3,313 on Coinbase. The chart marked the left shoulder in late 2024, the head in early 2025, and the right shoulder in late 2025, a formation many traders use to map a potential trend reversal if price clears the neckline zone. Ethereum U.S. Dollar Weekly Chart. Source: TradingView Coinbase / X Dean pointed to ETH sitting near the 0.618 Fibonacci level, shown around $3,344 on the chart, while volume profile bars on the right highlighted a dense “volume shelf” in the low to mid $3,000s. That matters because heavy traded zones often act as decision areas, since price can stall there while buyers and sellers settle positioning. If ETH holds above that shelf, traders often treat it as support; however, if it loses the area, attention typically shifts to the next volume shelf lower on the profile. The chart also showed higher horizontal reference levels, including a marked line near $4,123 and a prior peak zone above $4,800. Dean framed $4,867 as an upper target tied to a challenge of previous highs, but that path depends on ETH reclaiming and maintaining levels above the mid $3,000 region first. As a result, the setup remains conditional: the pattern strengthens only if price pushes through the resistance band and sustains acceptance above it on the weekly timeframe.
18 Jan 2026, 12:30
Bitcoin Nears $100K, Ordinals Boom, and More — Week in Review
Bitcoin Nears $100K, Ordinals Boom, RLUSD at LMAX, Institutional Crypto Shift, and more in this Week in Review. Week in Review Bitcoin pushed above $97,000 on Jan. 14 as a Supreme Court tariff delay and Fed–Trump tensions helped spark a rally, Bitcoin ordinals surpassed 100 million inscriptions even as inscription hype cools, Ripple locked RLUSD
18 Jan 2026, 12:25
Hong Kong to roll out central gold clearing system in MOU with Shanghai Gold Exchange
Hong Kong plans to formalize a new link with the Shanghai Gold Exchange through a memorandum of understanding that will be signed at the Asian Financial Forum next week, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan in a blog post published on Sunday. Paul said he was leaving for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, where about 3,000 political and business leaders from more than 100 countries will meet to talk about global risks. He said he would hold meetings, deliver speeches, and promote Hong Kong’s position under China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. Gold clearing plans target faster trades and lower costs Paul said Hong Kong needs to move faster in a global environment that is changing by the month. Under the One Country, Two Systems framework, the city plays the role of a connector and value builder, especially as global trade rules change. One area the government wants to push harder is gold trading, with the goal of building an international gold hub . He said demand for gold has grown as investors look beyond US dollar assets. Gold prices jumped more than 60% in 2025, the biggest annual gain since 1979. By the third quarter of last year, global gold demand by value rose 44% year on year to $146 billion. Paul added that Asia now needs more reliable platforms for storing, trading, clearing, and pricing gold. Gold trading activity inside Hong Kong has already picked up. By November, average daily turnover of 99 tael gold on the local exchange climbed more than two times from a year earlier to HK$2.9 billion. Paul said the growth exposed a weakness. All over-the-counter spot trades still rely on direct settlement between buyers and sellers. There is no central clearing, which slows trades and raises risks. The government is now pushing to build a central gold clearing system as core financial infrastructure. Paul said the system aims to raise efficiency, improve physical delivery, cut transaction costs, and add liquidity. A trial run is planned within the year, and the Shanghai Gold Exchange has been invited to take part. The memorandum to be signed at the Asian Financial Forum will also include new details on strengthening this clearing system and preparing for future market links with the mainland. Trade digitization supports wider finance and logistics overhaul Paul said geopolitical tensions are not only changing asset allocation. They are also reshaping global trade, supply chains, and business models. Hong Kong plans to upgrade its entire trade ecosystem to protect its role as an international trade center. The government is supporting mainland firms expanding overseas while also speeding up digital upgrades across logistics and trade finance at home. One project is the Port Community System, which launched last week. The platform now connects more than 2,300 companies. It uses artificial intelligence and blockchain to offer real-time cargo tracking around the clock. The system is designed to improve transparency across the logistics chain and make trade data easier to use for financing. Another effort is the CargoX project, led by the government and the Monetary Authority with other agencies. The project uses cargo, logistics, and trade data to simplify trade finance processes and help small and medium-sized firms access funding. A new roadmap will be released this week. It will focus on data, infrastructure, and connectivity, with 20 proposals aimed at building a more digital and competitive trade finance ecosystem. Paul said Hong Kong will keep its open-market policies regardless of whatever, adding that public consultation on the next budget is under way, covering industry growth, job creation, public services, and living standards. He said policymakers must balance these goals against global political risks, local economic transition pressures, and the need to control public spending growth. Hong Kong is also positioning itself as a regional precious metals hub and as a bridge to mainland markets. International clearing is seen as key because it lets investors trade gold without physically moving it. Bloomberg News reported in October that the Shanghai Gold Exchange was already in advanced talks with Hong Kong officials on joining an international clearing system. Gary Ng Cheuk-yan, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank, said cooperation with Shanghai could strengthen Hong Kong’s role by expanding yuan-based products and attracting overseas investors. “With improved storage and clearing systems, Hong Kong can provide a regulated, safe environment to develop the gold trading ecosystem,” Gary said. “Hong Kong can leverage its multicurrency offerings – including the Hong Kong dollar, US dollar and yuan – to build the necessary storage and clearing infrastructure, eventually attracting investors to trade within the Asian time zone.” If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
