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17 Jan 2026, 02:00

Ripple Strengthens Market Infrastructure With $150M Investment In LMAX – What This Means For XRP

The year 2026 is turning out to be a promising and exciting one, especially for Ripple, as the leading payment firm continues to carry out strategic moves to bolster operations in the crypto and financial sectors. One of the most recent moves making waves in the space is the investment to support LMAX and strengthen market infrastructure. LMAX Gains Major Boost With Ripple Investment A recent report discloses that Ripple has taken yet another significant step in its institutional expansion by investing to support LMAX’s worldwide business strategy. With the aim of reinforcing its commitment to building a robust, enterprise-grade market infrastructure, the firm has invested over $150 million to support this strategy. Ripple’s move underscores its focus on strengthening the railroads that link digital assets with traditional finance, expanding access to regulated trading platforms, and deepening liquidity. Such a move marks the persistent efforts of the company in transforming global trading models. According to market expert and trader Pumpius on X, this is a far bigger move than a simple strategic investment from the payment firm. Instead, it is a strategic integration move aimed at hardwiring the adjacency of XRP to institutional price discovery and execution infrastructure. The expert highlighted that LMAX operates high-performance, low-latency venues for FX, metals, and digital assets, which are being used by banks, funds, and professional liquidity providers. This creates a period where size is traded under stringent regulatory standards , and risk is controlled. By supporting LMAX’s global expansion, Pumpius stated that Ripple is making sure XRP is positioned within venues that institutions already trust for hedging funds, market making, and balance sheet management. This seems to be a better move in comparison to relying on fragmented retail liquidity. Interestingly, this bolsters Ripple’s end-to-end stack across settlement, liquidity provisioning, custody, and execution. While it may seem complex, this is vital since tokenized deposits, compliant stablecoins , and on-chain settlement are shifting into production. However, Pumpius added that the outcome is deeper liquidity, tighter spreads, and routine XRP usage within regulated market infrastructure, long before the wider market notices the underlying shift. XRP Charting Path To New All-Time High? XRP is regaining bullish traction as market structure points to a historical trend that preceded a massive wave up to previous highs. From a weekly timeframe chart shared by ChartNerd, XRP is forming a pivotal Golden Cross pattern, which could shape its next trajectory. It is worth noting that the last time this pattern appeared on the weekly Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), the altcoin rallied to new all-time highs. With the same structure unfolding, a similar price trend is expected to occur. Currently, the MACD is in oversold territory, and the Golden Cross formation is expected to form in the upcoming weeks. Given that the market structure is protecting a 400-day defense zone, expansion seems likely.

17 Jan 2026, 01:23

Google bets on fiber as AI demand soars

Google is doubling down on physical network infrastructure — particularly fiber broadband — as explosive demand for artificial intelligence (AI) services stretches the limits of existing digital networks. The tech giant adopted this decision at a time when individuals showed heightened interest in faster internet, driven by surging demand for AI technology and other data-intensive applications. Google seeks to stay competitive in the tech ecosystem This new firm is set to feature Google Fiber’s fiber-optic Internet service, GFiber, as well as Radiate’s business, also known as Astound. Stonepeak is believed to own the largest share of this company. At the same time, Google is expected to retain a smaller stake, said sources familiar with the situation who wished to remain anonymous, as the talks were private. To verify this claim, these sources cited an earlier statement from Stonepeak noting its plan to allocate approximately $1 billion in preferred equity. This situation prompted reports to reach out to Stonepeak, Google, and Radiate for clarification; however, they did not respond. Notably, talks are still ongoing; therefore, the deal is more likely to undergo amendments. On the other hand, reports from reliable sources reveal that the American technology company has been evaluating options to separate its fiber business. According to a 2024 report, sources familiar with the situation alleged that Alphabet is open to investments from GFiber’s outside investors to back its global adoption. Meanwhile, apart from this fiber project, Google claimed to have made significant investments totaling tens of billions of dollars in AI to strengthen its global position in AI data centers. Towards the end of last year, the tech giant invested about $15 billion in India and $9 billion in South Carolina. This move backs the tech firm’s long-standing goal of becoming a leader in the tech industry. To further illustrate its commitment to achieving this goal, the CEO of Google Cloud, Thomas Kurian, released a statement disclosing that Google intends to allocate around $15 billion over the coming half-decade to build a new AI-driven data center in southern India. With this initiative in place, the tech company seeks to establish a global network of its AI data centers. During an event in New Delhi, Kurian commented that, “This will be the largest AI hub we’re building outside of the United States,” adding that, “it is part of a worldwide network of AI centers across 12 different countries.” Google seeks to explore the tech industry with significant AI innovations Following Google’s focus on AI expansion, sources highlighted that the new AI data center hub, anticipated to begin operations in July 2028, will feature improved AI infrastructure, enhanced fiber-optic networks, and significant energy reserves across three regional sites. Moreover, the company noted that the facility will be geographically located in Visakhapatnam, a major port city and industrial hub in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is set to start with an initial capacity of 1 gigawatt and later increase to several gigawatts. Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, weighed in on this development, calling the India-based AI hub a “landmark development that will introduce Google’s AI innovations to the country’s vast population”. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

17 Jan 2026, 01:14

Solana Price Enters a Decisive Area With Trend Direction at Stake

The Solana price recovery is less than 2% short from challenging the key resistance trendline at $146. Address…

17 Jan 2026, 01:00

Binance Founder Shares Thoughts On Bitcoin Price Reaching $200,000

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) believes that the Bitcoin price could still reach $200,000 . This bullish prediction comes after the cryptocurrency has seen years of strong performance, climbing past $126,000 and setting a new all-time high in 2025. With ETFs driving demand, whales accumulating , and global adoption steadily rising, a surge to $200,000 seems inevitable for the crypto founder. Binance Founder Predicts Bitcoin Price Could Hit $200,000 Bitcoin spent the past few years in a major uptrend, reaching multiple ATHs after the launch of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. Following this, adoption and demand for the cryptocurrency skyrocketed , and for months, its price continued to appreciate with minimal pullbacks. In 2025, Bitcoin hit a peak above $126,000 . While many anticipated this achievement, some raised doubts , especially critics like Peter Schiff. Against this backdrop, the recent statement by CZ foresees another significant milestone for BTC that some analysts still believe won’t happen , at least not for another couple of years. Although Bitcoin has since shed a significant portion of its gains since its peak, the Binance founder has boldly stated that BTC reaching $200,000 is “the most obvious thing in the world.” He emphasized that it was only a matter of time before the Bitcoin price rises to this level, representing almost double its current ATH. While CZ acknowledged that the exact timing of the projected rally remains uncertain, his confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term outlook remains unwavering. Notably, CZ’s bullish prediction for Bitcoin comes as the US regulatory landscape continues to evolve, aiming to create a safer, potentially bullish environment for digital assets. With bills like the CLARITY Act under consideration , the crypto market could benefit from clearer guidelines, increased institutional adoption, and greater investor confidence. Although the bill was initially scheduled for a vote by the US Senate Banking Committee on January 15, the decision was ultimately delayed , leaving the timeline for regulatory clarity uncertain. Related Reading: Why The $2.9 Billion Bitcoin Whale Buy Could Spell Doom For The Market In addition to his bullish Bitcoin forecast, CZ has also predicted that a crypto “ Super Cycle ” could be approaching. The Binance founder pointed to recent developments involving the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a key factor behind his optimism. He highlighted a report on X, revealing that the SEC had officially removed crypto from its 2026 priority risk list, a move that could provide the industry with greater regulatory relief and create more room for future bullish growth. Analyst Forecasts $200,000 BTC In 2026 Sharing a similar outlook to CZ, a popular crypto analyst, Rekt Fencer, who has over 336,000 followers on X, has also predicted that Bitcoin could surge to $200,000. Despite the broader crypto market still recovering from a prolonged bear market, the analyst remains confident in BTC’s near-term prospects, noting that the cryptocurrency could replicate its explosive growth seen during the 2020 bull cycle . Unlike CZ, who has not provided a specific timeline for his $200,000 forecast, Rekt Fencer believes that BTC could hit this level before the end of 2026. His price chart even points to a potential target of $240,000, which he suggests Bitcoin could reach without major dumps.

17 Jan 2026, 01:00

2025 Crypto Boom Backed By $50 Billion In Treasury Firm Purchases

According to CoinGecko’s annual report, crypto treasury companies were among the year’s biggest buyers even as prices fell. Their balance sheets grew sharply, and their actions left a clear mark on supply and markets. The numbers tell a story of heavy buying, pause, and then corporate moves to protect share value. Related Reading: Crypto Money Floods US Politics As $21 Million Backs Trump PAC Large Treasury Buying Spree Reports have disclosed that these treasury firms deployed close to $50 billion into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other tokens during 2025. At the start of the year, treasuries held more than $56 billion in crypto. By January one, 2026, that figure had risen to $134 billion — a gain of 137%. This buying helped push institutional ownership higher, with treasuries holding more than 5% of both Bitcoin and Ethereum supply by year-end. Public companies alone raised their Bitcoin reserves from about 598,714 coins to more than 1 million, an increase near 500,000 BTC. Market Drop Came Late In The Year The broader market did not keep its earlier momentum. Total crypto value fell almost 8% in 2025 and finished the year near $3 trillion. Most of the damage came late. 2025 Annual Crypto Industry Report is now LIVE 📊 Last year marked crypto’s first down year since 2022, featuring a brief $4.4T peak in Q4 before a historic $19B liquidation ended the year at $3.0T. Here are 7 key highlights you shouldn’t miss 👇 pic.twitter.com/HLbI5BrzwN — CoinGecko (@coingecko) January 15, 2026 The market shed almost a quarter of its value in the last three months, and a liquidation wave near $19 billion in October sped the decline after total market value briefly hit about $4.4 trillion. Bitcoin slipped roughly 1.4% to near $95,300 at one point as investors weighed policy moves in the US and shifting rate expectations. Supply Now Held By Treasuries By the start of 2026, treasuries were holding more than 1 million Bitcoin and 6 million ETH. That concentration matters because assets put on corporate books are less likely to be traded frequently. When large shares of supply are locked up, price swings can be smaller in calm times, but the effect can flip if selling is forced. BTCUSD trading at $95,524 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView Related Reading: Bitcoin’s New Power Buyers: Companies Bought 3 Times What Miners Produced Companies Shifted Strategy When Stocks Fell When prices fell in the fourth quarter, some treasury firms saw their share prices dip below the value of their crypto holdings. To support their stock, many paused buying and turned to share buybacks. That action slowed the pace of token purchases. The move was traditional: protect investors’ equity value rather than add more tokens into a weakening market. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

17 Jan 2026, 01:00

New Crypto at $0.04 Named Top Altcoin Alternative to Volatile Cardano (ADA), Should You Buy Today?

While Cardano (ADA) remains volatile, investors are seeking new investment opportunities that not only offer practical DeFi use cases but are also in the early stages of development. Priced at $0.04 during Phase 7 of its presale, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has emerged as one of the most promising new crypto investment alternatives to ADA. MUTM is in the early stages of establishing a decentralized lending and borrowing service with interest-yielding assets and liquidity pools. Already, its presale has attracted close to $20 million in investment from more than 18,800 individuals. Cardano Price Analysis ADA is observed to have support points around $0.404-$0.406, with a modestly bullish trend, but has yet to break past the resistance points at $0.408-$0.410. Its bullish trend is rather limited, with possible price movements likely to remain within the range of $0.415-$0.418. For those who are looking for more significant asymmetric gains, Mutuum Finance (MUTM), the newly developing crypto project, is becoming increasingly popular with the presale model, utility approach, as well as the impending launch of the protocol. This further cements its standing as the top crypto for those who are seeking gains beyond conventional assets. MUTM Presale The presale of Mutuum Finance offers rewards to early investors through the sale of tokens at a discount price prior to the initial public offer. From $0.01 at the start of the presale to the current price of $0.04 during Phase 7, this represents a 300% increase. For those who have missed this move, phase 7’s price is the cheapest the token will ever cost. An investor who puts $3,000 into MUTM at $0.04 will see the investment rise to $4,500 when it reaches $0.06 at launch, realizing a profit of $1,500. After the launch, MUTM is expected to rise to $1, thereby growing $3,000 to $75,000 with a 25x ROI. Such investment opportunities make MUTM the top crypto for early-stage investors. Market Interest & High-Profile Participants The presale event is witnessing the participation of both retail and whale investors, along with institutional investors. Some investors who had success stories in the past in projects such as Cardano have also invested substantial amounts in this presale event, with one whale investing over $75,000. This also shows that the roadmap of this new project is appreciated, thus making MUTM the new cryptocurrency being noticed in the DeFi market. Scarcity Creates FOMO The tokenomics of Mutuum Finance are also an added feature that makes it attractive. The total supply of the tokens is fixed at 4 billion, with no minting of more tokens. This ensures that there is no dilution of the existing tokens. Out of the total of 4 billion tokens, 1.82 billion tokens are allocated for the presale stage of the project, with more than 850 million tokens already claimed. This momentum speaks to the project’s FOMO. Real-time Infrastructure Analysis If DeFi is to succeed, proper pricing and risk management are necessary, and in MUTM, Chainlink oracles are utilized in the verification of the price of assets like USD, ETH, and AVAX. In the scenario where a user locks in 10 ETH at a price of $3,000, the user would have a collateral value of $30,000, and at a Loan-to-Value ratio of 70%, the user would get a loan of $21,000. Chainlink then continuously updates the price of ETH as market conditions change, ensuring the protocol always has an accurate view of the collateral’s real-time value. More Adoption Indicates Future Successes Now that the presale is in place and the factor of scarcity is added to the list of strengths of the project on the chain, MUTM is slowly gaining popularity as an alternative to Cardano and other altcoins. As the project offers investment in the early stages of development and the potential for growth post-launch, Mutuum Finance is slowly becoming the top crypto to buy and hold for asymmetrical gains in the coming months. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://mutuum.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance