coinsignals

According to journalist Eleanor Terrett, the Trump administration is weighing whether to fully withdraw its backing of the crypto market structure bill if Coinbase refuses to re-enter negotiations.

Citing a source close to the White House, Terrett reported that officials expect Coinbase to return with a revised position that “satisfies the banks and brings all parties to an agreement.” The administration is said to be angry over Coinbase’s sudden decision to pull support earlier this week, allegedly without prior notice, calling the move a “rug pull” against both the White House and the broader crypto industry. The source emphasized that the legislation is ultimately “President Trump’s bill, not Brian Armstrong’s.”

Coinbase and its CEO blamed banks for pushing amendments that would restrict or eliminate yield-earning opportunities on stablecoins. Armstrong also raised concerns about provisions in the current draft, including an effective ban on tokenized equities, limits on DeFi, expanded government access to financial data, reduced CFTC authority in favor of the SEC, and changes that could allow banks to suppress stablecoin competition.

The decision has sparked division across the crypto sector. While some industry leaders stayed neutral, others such as Citron Research accused Coinbase of weakening the bill, suggesting the exchange is attempting to protect its own interests by limiting competition from tokenized securities firms.

Following the backlash, the Senate Banking Committee delayed its planned January 15 markup of the bill, with no new date announced.

Monero’s strong rally has come to a halt after the past few sessions.

Bitcoin has shown little volatility over the last 12 hours as the weekend kicked off, hovering calmly just above the $95,000 level. Most major altcoins are also moving sideways, with ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, and ADA showing minimal price action. In contrast, XMR has recorded a sharp decline following its recent surge.

Bitcoin Stabilizes Around $95K

Bitcoin experienced a relatively quiet weekend before gaining momentum on Monday, jumping from $90,000 to $92,000 but facing resistance multiple times. On Tuesday, it finally broke through and continued its climb, reaching a multi-month high of $98,000 by Wednesday evening.

This rally added roughly $8,000 to BTC’s price in only a few days and nearly $10,000 since the beginning of the year. After such a rapid rise, a correction was expected, which unfolded on Thursday and Friday.

The pullback peaked yesterday when BTC dipped below $94,500 following news that Kevin Hassett would not be nominated by Donald Trump as the next Federal Reserve Chair. Even so, bitcoin quickly recovered and has remained above $95,000 since.

Bitcoin’s market capitalization is holding near $1.9 trillion, while its dominance over the altcoin market remains unchanged at 57.4%.

XMR Rally Fades

Altcoins have been unusually inactive over the last 24 hours. Ethereum continues to trade flat near $3,300, while XRP has maintained support at $2.05. DOGE, BCH, LINK, and ZEC are slightly lower, whereas BNB, TRX, and SOL have posted marginal gains.

Monero, which surged aggressively over the past week to nearly $800—its new all-time high—was rejected at that level. The asset has since fallen sharply and is now trading around $620 after a 12% daily drop. Internet Computer (ICP) has also suffered notable losses, sliding 9% in the past day.

Meanwhile, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization remains above $3.3 trillion, according to CoinGecko.

Crypto markets saw another volatile week as investors reacted to fresh U.S. developments and ongoing political uncertainty. Bitcoin started the weekend flat near $90,500 before showing signs of recovery late Sunday. After multiple failed attempts, BTC finally broke above $92,000 on Tuesday and continued climbing, peaking near $98,000 on Wednesday—its highest level in about two months.

The rally was followed by a sharp pullback. After gaining roughly $10,000 since the start of 2026, Bitcoin faced resistance near $97,000 and slid to below $94,500 in the past day. The move came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Kevin Hassett would likely remain head of the National Economic Council rather than take over as Fed Chair. Despite the correction, BTC remains up more than 3.5% on the week, with a market cap near $1.9 trillion.

Bitcoin’s gains were overshadowed by Monero (XMR), which surged more than 50% and is trading near a new all-time high above $700. ICP and PUMP also posted double-digit gains, while ETH, BNB, and TRX ended the week higher. On the downside, ZEC, SUI, LTC, and HBAR recorded notable losses.

Market Snapshot

• Market Cap: $3.28T

• 24H Volume: $118B

• BTC Dominance: 57.5%

• BTC: $94,500 (+3.6%)

• ETH: $3,260 (+4.8%)

• XRP: $2.03 (-4.2%)

Top Crypto Headlines of the Week

• Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index entered “greed” territory for the first time in three months before markets pulled back.

• Arthur Hayes predicted a liquidity-driven Bitcoin rebound in 2026 after a difficult 2025.

• Ethereum treasury firm Bitmine invested $200M into MrBeast’s Beast Industries.

• The Senate Banking Committee delayed the crypto market structure bill, weighing on prices.

• Ethereum set a new record with 393,600 new wallets created in a single day.

• Monero hit fresh highs, though analysts cautioned against FOMO-driven entries.

Citron Research has accused Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong of opposing the Senate’s CLARITY Act to shield Coinbase’s stablecoin yield business from increased competition, as debate over the bill heats up in Washington and across the crypto sector.

In a post on X, Citron claimed Armstrong’s recent CNBC remarks suggest concern over competition from tokenized securities firm Securitize, which already holds the regulatory licenses required to operate in that space. According to Citron, Coinbase wants regulatory clarity without allowing new rivals to benefit, arguing that a revised version of the bill could favor competitors more than Coinbase.

Coinbase formally pulled its support for the CLARITY Act on January 14. Armstrong cited several concerns, including what he described as an effective ban on tokenized equities, greater government access to DeFi user data, a shift in oversight power from the CFTC to the SEC, and provisions that could eliminate stablecoin rewards. He stated the company would “rather have no bill than a bad bill,” while noting that amendments could still be possible.

Not everyone agrees with Citron’s criticism. Crypto commentator George Tung (CryptosRUs) defended Armstrong, arguing that traditional banks are pushing back against stablecoins due to competitive pressure. He added that clear regulations should allow both banks and crypto firms to compete fairly, especially given the yield gap between savings accounts and Treasury-backed stablecoins.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has criticized the slow pace of crypto regulation in the United States, warning that the country is falling behind as staking remains unavailable in four states while Europe continues to advance.

In a social media post, Tenev noted that crypto staking is one of the most requested features among Robinhood users, yet regulatory uncertainty has prevented the company from offering it nationwide. He attributed the issue to ongoing regulatory gridlock and stressed that stronger digital asset oversight is still needed.

Tenev urged lawmakers to act, calling on the U.S. to take a leadership role in crypto policy by passing legislation that protects consumers while encouraging innovation. He voiced support for Congress’s efforts to move forward with the crypto market structure bill, saying progress is visible but incomplete.

His comments follow the Senate Banking Committee’s decision to delay markup of the proposed market structure legislation, which aims to clarify whether digital assets are securities or commodities, define the roles of the SEC and CFTC, and establish rules for staking, lending, stablecoins, and crypto platforms. The delay has drawn criticism from other industry leaders as frustration over regulatory uncertainty continues to grow.

Another weekly crypto options expiry is underway, with Bitcoin and Ethereum contracts totaling about $2.8 billion set to expire on Friday, Jan. 16. Despite the sizable figure, muted derivatives activity suggests the event is unlikely to spark major volatility in spot markets, which have trended higher throughout the week.

Roughly 25,000 Bitcoin options are expiring, carrying a notional value of around $2.4 billion. The put/call ratio stands at 1.2, indicating slightly more bearish positions, while max pain sits near $92,000 close to current prices. Open interest remains heaviest at the $100,000 strike, with about $2.2 billion in contracts, and another $1.2 billion clustered at $75,000. Total BTC options open interest across exchanges has risen to $39 billion.

Despite Bitcoin’s move back toward $97,000, futures volume and implied volatility have remained subdued. According to Greeks Live, derivatives activity reflects a short-term reaction to the recent rally rather than a shift into a sustained bullish phase.

On the Ethereum side, about 131,000 options contracts worth roughly $436 million are also expiring, with max pain at $3,200 and a balanced put/call ratio of 1. Total ETH options open interest stands near $9 billion.

Combined, the expiring Bitcoin and Ethereum contracts bring total crypto options notional value to approximately $2.83 billion.

In spot markets, total crypto capitalization slipped slightly over the past day to $3.32 trillion but remains up about 4% on the week. Bitcoin failed to hold above $97,000 and pulled back to around $95,670 during Asian trading, while Ether retreated from just under $3,400 to slightly above $3,300. Most altcoins traded lower, with Tron bucking the trend, while XRP, Dogecoin, Cardano, and Monero posted sharper declines.

Bitcoin’s Fear and Greed Index has climbed to 61, marking its first move into “greed” territory since early October. The shift comes after nearly three months in “fear” or “extreme fear,” reflecting improving investor sentiment and renewed confidence in BTC—though it may also hint at short-term overheating.

Sentiment Shifts as BTC Rallies

Bitcoin bulls have enjoyed several strong sessions, with BTC recently spiking to nearly $98,000, a two-month high. The rally unfolded amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including U.S. military actions in Venezuela and threats of intervention in Iran, where large-scale protests erupted.

More recently, U.S. President Donald Trump softened his stance, stating that violence had subsided and promising not to authorize an attack. The comments had little impact on Bitcoin’s price, which is currently hovering near $96,000 and up roughly 7% over the past week.

As prices climbed, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index—based on factors such as volatility, market momentum, surveys, and social media activity—rose to 61. While this signals stronger demand and optimism, it can also suggest that some traders are acting on FOMO, increasing the risk of a near-term correction. Historically, readings in the “greed” or “extreme greed” zones have sometimes preceded local market tops.

More Upside Ahead?

Despite cautionary signals, many analysts remain bullish. Crypto trader Jelle believes Bitcoin could reach $100,000 in the coming weeks, while analyst Ali Martinez has suggested that a breakout above $94,500 could open the door to a rally toward $105,921.

On-chain data also supports the bullish case. Wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC have accumulated more than 32,600 BTC since January 10. At the same time, smaller “shrimp” wallets holding under 0.01 BTC have been selling. According to Santiment, this divergence often sets the stage for a sustained bull run.

Bitcoin (BTC) continued its steady upward trend over the past 24 hours, briefly touching $98,000 for the first time in nearly two months. Alongside this move, BTC’s dominance over the broader crypto market has increased, as most altcoins struggled to extend their recent rallies. Even so, Ethereum (ETH) remains strong above $3,350 and appears poised for a push toward $3,400.

BTC Dominance Strengthens

Following last week’s rally that lifted Bitcoin from below $90,000 to nearly $95,000, the momentum stalled and prices briefly dipped. Bulls quickly stepped in, however, defending the $90,000 level and setting the stage for another breakout attempt.

After several failed tries around $92,000, BTC finally reclaimed that level on Tuesday and surged to $96,500. Sellers briefly forced a pullback to below $94,500, but the recovery was swift. By Wednesday evening, Bitcoin jumped sharply once more, reaching $98,000 for the first time since mid-November—despite rising geopolitical tensions. While it failed to hold that level, BTC is currently trading near $97,000, up 2.2% on the day.

Bitcoin’s market capitalization has climbed to $1.94 trillion, while its market dominance has increased to 57.5%.

Ethereum Pushes Higher

Ethereum also posted gains, though at a slower pace than Bitcoin. ETH is up around 1% on the day, holding above $3,350, with expectations building for a move toward—and potentially above—$3,400.

Elsewhere, BNB, TRX, XMR, and BCH posted modest gains, while XRP, DOGE, ADA, LINK, and XLM declined over the past 24 hours. HYPE, LTC, HBAR, TAO, and CC also traded lower. On the upside, RAIN and ICP led gains among larger-cap altcoins, while HASH stood out with a notable 20% surge.

Overall, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization increased by approximately $40 billion overnight, reaching $3.37 trillion.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has postponed its vote on the controversial crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act.

Committee Chair Tim Scott said the delay follows ongoing discussions with lawmakers, financial institutions, and crypto industry leaders aimed at crafting clear, consumer-protective rules that keep financial innovation in the U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis had already signaled a delay was likely, though no new date has been set. Industry sources expect the markup before month-end.

The delay comes amid growing industry opposition, particularly over provisions that could restrict stablecoin yield. Coinbase withdrew its support this week, with CEO Brian Armstrong saying the bill, as written, limits investor upside despite offering regulatory clarity.

Critics argue the draft would ban stablecoin yield, restrict tokenized assets, and expand DeFi surveillance. Still, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said negotiations are ongoing and expressed optimism that the issues can be resolved during the markup process.

Bitcoin’s futures market has moved into a bullish phase for the first time in three months, according to analyst Axel Adler Jr. The Bitcoin Positioning Index climbed to 3.5, breaking above the key 3 level for the first time since October, signaling a steady buildup of long positions rather than a one-day spike.

The index, which tracks open interest, funding rates, and long-short ratios across major exchanges, last reached similar levels on October 6, 2025, just before Bitcoin surged to $125,000. Current data shows growing optimism, backed by a 1.89% rise in open interest, positive taker flow, and funding rates at 0.0045. Bitcoin itself rose nearly 4% to $95,358, while total open interest climbed to $12.18 billion.

Adler said the breakout of the 30-day moving average above 3 marks a shift in market positioning after months in a neutral range. He added that this bullish setup would remain intact as long as the index stays above 2 for at least a week.

Market sentiment remains strong as well. The Bitcoin Advanced Sentiment Index peaked at 93% before easing to 70%, still well above the neutral 50% level and its 30-day average of 62.9%. Adler described the pullback as a healthy cooldown rather than a trend reversal. By contrast, December’s drop to $85,000 saw sentiment collapse to 10–15%, which he called a structural breakdown.

QCP Capital also expects more upside in a continued risk-on environment, pointing to stable inflation, solid equity and metals markets, and supportive macro conditions. While risks remain from geopolitical tensions and a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, the firm believes much of this is already priced in, and any escalation could offer buying opportunities for Bitcoin.