Ripple is preparing to unlock 1 billion XRP tokens from its escrow on February 1, 2026. According to NS3.AI, this release is part of a predetermined monthly schedule initiated in 2017 to ensure predictable supply management. The scheduled unlock demonstrates Ripple's continued commitment to transparently regulating the circulation of XRP.

Memecoin trading activity briefly surged on Monday, with total volume jumping to $5.62 billion, as traders appeared to lock in profits following a strong start to the year, according to analysts.Data from CoinMarketCap shows memecoin trading volume rose 106% day over day, even as the sector’s total market capitalization fell 6%, a divergence that analysts say typically signals short-term speculation rather than fresh capital inflows.Since then, trading activity has cooled sharply, with volume dropping back to around $3.6 billion, down more than 24% from the daily peak.Volume spike reflects churn, not new inflowsVincent Liu, chief investment officer at Kronos Research, said the combination of rising volume and falling market capitalization points to heavy churn rather than sustained bullish momentum.“A surge in volume alongside declining market cap usually reflects profit-taking, short-term flipping, and capital rotation,” Liu told Cointelegraph.“In thin liquidity conditions, elevated activity can still push prices lower even as volume spikes. The initial surge and subsequent drop in volume suggest speculative momentum has cooled.”Liu added that memecoin rallies often see brief bursts of activity around catalysts before participation fades.“Once profit-taking, liquidations, and rotation trades are absorbed, momentum traders step back, spreads widen, and liquidity thins. Volume tends to normalize quickly.”Memecoins opened 2026 strong before coolingThe memecoin sector began the year with a sharp rally, as total market capitalization climbed from $38 billion on Dec. 29 to $47.7 billion by Jan. 5, before losing momentum in the following days.Kadan Stadelmann, chief technology officer at Komodo Platform, said such moves are typical of highly speculative assets.“Memecoin rallies are usually driven by speculation rather than fundamentals,” Stadelmann said. “That makes them natural candidates for reversion rather than sustained appreciation.”He added that capital tends to rotate rapidly between tokens, creating sharp price swings rather than broad sector growth.“The result is constant rotation — one memecoin rises while others decline — rather than long-term stability.”Sector remains fragile after 2025 washoutMemecoins were among the hardest-hit segments during last year’s market turbulence. According to CoinGecko research analyst Shaun Paul Lee, more than 11.6 million crypto projects failed in 2025, the highest annual figure on record, with memecoins accounting for a significant share.The collapse reinforced growing caution among traders, even as short-term speculative interest continues to reappear during periods of volatility.Market intelligence platform Santiment also reported a recent uptick in memecoin-related social media activity, largely driven by discussions around rug pulls, failed launches, and short-lived rallies.Despite frustrations, Santiment noted that traders remain drawn to memecoins for their potential for quick gains.Bitcoin likely to dictate memecoin direction in 2026Analysts say memecoins remain one of the clearest indicators of overall market risk appetite — and their outlook in 2026 will depend heavily on Bitcoin’s performance.“Memecoins’ market performance this year will largely depend on Bitcoin,” Stadelmann said.“If Bitcoin continues to underperform hard assets like gold, as it did in 2025, that would likely be bearish for speculative sectors such as memecoins.”For now, analysts say memecoin activity reflects tactical trading rather than conviction, with traders quick to enter — and just as quick to exit — as liquidity conditions tighten, according to Cointelegraph.

Darkfost posted on X. Today marks 109 days since the last all-time high (ATH) in the market. During previous major corrections, the market experienced 236 days of downturn between March 2024 and November, followed by 154 days between December 2024 and May 2025. Despite the current correction feeling more severe, with significant realized losses, intense capitulation, and pressure on short-term holders, it could extend for several more months without being considered unusual. This cycle is notable for the unusual alignment between a new ATH following the bear market and the halving event. The market shift is likely influenced by the introduction of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and reinforced by strong institutional involvement.

Ethereum is experiencing a quiet increase in spot holdings, driven by non-leveraged transactions, according to ChainCatcher. Despite a rebound over the past two to three weeks, the medium-term configuration logic for ETH remains intact. The previously noted recovery signals continue to persist, with technical indicators showing improvement and on-chain data warming up. The market's pricing of pessimistic expectations has softened, at least for the current stage, easing short-term downward pressure. Structurally, the current ETH options market is dominated by selling call options, while spot buying remains prevalent, indicating strategic accumulation rather than mere pursuit of price increases. This combination retains some upward participation while allowing for premium collection through selling call options, monetizing part of the volatility. Meanwhile, the recent increase in holdings is primarily driven by spot buying, providing stronger support for the rebound and enhancing its sustainability.

Vanguard Group's Value Index Fund (VVIAX) has disclosed its initial purchase of shares in the Bitcoin treasury company, MicroStrategy (MSTR). According to PANews, the fund acquired 1.23 million shares, valued at approximately $202.5 million.

Lookonchain 모니터링에 따르면, 한 시간 전 '고점에서 사서 저점에서 파는' 거래를 자주 하는 한 고래(0x3c9E)가 다시 1000 ETH(약 419만 달러)를 매도했다. 지난 두 달 동안 이 고래는 지속적으로 고점에서 ETH를 매수하고 저점에서 매도해왔다.

The global cryptocurrency market cap now stands at $3.14T, down by -2.54% over the last day, according to CoinMarketCap data. Bitcoin (BTC) has been trading between $90,693 and $93,420 over the past 24 hours. As of 09:30 AM (UTC) today, BTC is trading at $91,051, down by -2.18%. Most major cryptocurrencies by market cap are trading lower. Market outperformers include MEME, ARPA, and AXS, up by 25%, 17%, and 14%, respectively. Top stories of the day: New York Stock Exchange Unveils 24/7 Blockchain Trading Platform for Tokenized Stocks and ETFs Federal Reserve Announces $8.3B Treasury Bill Purchase as Bitcoin Faces Market Volatility Crypto Market Sentiment Shifts to Fear as Index Declines South Korea Plans to Reform Digital Asset Regulations Hong Kong to Announce 2026/2027 Budget with Focus on Virtual Assets U.S. ETF Inflows Surpass $400 Billion Amid Economic Optimism Crypto News Today: Spot Bitcoin ETFs Pull in $1.42B in Strongest Week Since October as Institutional Demand Returns Crypto News: Bitcoin Slips Below $92K as EU Threatens ‘Trade Bazooka,’ Gold Hits New Record High Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Futures Open Interest Rebounds 13% as Risk Appetite Slowly Returns Bitcoin News: Bitcoin Price Faces $80K Support Test as Tariff Fears Trigger Market Volatility CryptoQuant: Bitcoin’s Morning Drop Driven by U.S. Whales, Not ETFs Market movers: ETH: $3097.99 (-3.52%) BNB: $913.54 (-1.28%) XRP: $1.9299 (-2.31%) SOL: $129.05 (-3.64%) TRX: $0.306 (-2.55%) DOGE: $0.12583 (-1.49%) WLFI: $0.1611 (-0.68%) ADA: $0.359 (-2.92%) WBTC: $90877.05 (-2.15%) BCH: $576.1 (-2.27%) Top gainers on Binance: MEME/USDT (+25%) ARPA/USDT (+17%) AXS/USDT (+14%)

null source: https://x.com/coindesk/status/2013544440292323795

null source: https://x.com/BSCNews/status/2013544033185079357

매트릭스포트(Matrixport)의 분석에 따르면, 최근 이더리움(ETH)의 매수세는 레버리지 자금보다는 현물 매수세가 주도하고 있다. 기술적 측면에서 지난 2~3주간 반등이 있었음에도 불구하고, ETH의 중기적 투자 논리는 여전히 유효하다. 기술 지표는 지속적으로 회복 중이며, 온체인 데이터도 개선되고 있다. 시장의 비관적 기대에 대한 가격 책정이 완화되면서 단기 하락 압력이 약화되고 있다. 구조적 측면에서 현재 ETH 옵션 시장은 콜 옵션 매도가 주를 이루고 있으며, 현물 시장의 매수세가 여전히 우세해 추세 추종보다는 전략적 포지션 구축에 가깝다. 일정 수준의 상승 참여도를 유지하면서 콜 옵션 매도를 통해 프리미엄을 확보해 변동성의 일부를 현금화하는 전략이다. 동시에 이번 추가 매수는 현물 매수세가 주도해 반등에 더 강력한 지지력과 지속성을 부여하고 있다.

선도적인 디지털 아트 플랫폼인 SuperRare는 트래픽이 45% 감소했으며, 이는 NFT 판매의 광범위한 감소를 반영합니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 존 크레인 CEO는 낙관적인 태도를 유지하며 시장의 어려움을 NFT 시장의 종말이 아닌 진화의 일부로 보고 더 넓은 시각으로 바라볼 것을 촉구했습니다.