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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau expressed conflicting views on whether stablecoins should pay interest during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Coindesk reported. Armstrong argued that users have a right to earn a return on their money and that allowing stablecoin interest is necessary for national competitiveness. He noted that China has already permitted interest payments on its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital yuan, and stressed that a U.S. ban on such payments would only allow competitors to thrive. In contrast, Villeroy de Galhau contended that private tokens paying interest would pose a risk to the traditional banking system. He stated that he does not believe the digital euro should pay interest, adding that the primary public objective must be to preserve financial stability. The two also disagreed on Bitcoin. Armstrong described the cryptocurrency as more independent than central banks because it lacks an issuer and cannot be controlled by any single entity. Villeroy de Galhau countered that unregulated stablecoins and private currencies could become a political threat, potentially leading to a loss of national monetary sovereignty.

South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb has launched an information security advisory committee composed of external experts, Yonhap News reported. The committee will be co-chaired by Bithumb CEO Lee Jae-won and Korea University Professor Kim Seung-joo.

Category Labs, the developer of the EVM-compatible project Monad, announced that it may purchase up to $30 million worth of MON tokens from the open market during the first half of this year. The company clarified that this is not a firm commitment, explaining that it may start or stop the purchases depending on market conditions.

Whale Alert reported that 250 million USDC has been minted at the USDC Treasury.

Whale Alert reported that 250 million USDC has been minted at the USDC Treasury.

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, estimates that the market for tokenized real-world assets (RWA) could reach $11 trillion by 2030, The Block reported. The current market size is estimated to be between $19 billion and $22 billion. In a report, Ark Invest stated that the mass adoption of tokenized assets is likely to occur after regulatory clarity is established and institutional-grade infrastructure is developed. Meanwhile, the firm also projected that Bitcoin's market capitalization could reach $16 trillion during the same period.

Native American tribes in Connecticut have filed a court brief supporting a state crackdown on the prediction market platform Kalshi, arguing it is siphoning off revenue from tribal casinos, Decrypt reported. The tribes assert that Kalshi is violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by offering prediction and sports-related contracts without their consent. Previously, Connecticut had ordered Robinhood and Crypto.com to halt what it deemed unlicensed online gambling. While Kalshi has sued regulators over the measures, calling them unfair, the tribal groups countered that prediction markets are eroding casino revenue on their lands. The prediction market industry has recently seen rapid growth, with weekly trading volume reaching $6 billion. Kalshi is valued at $11 billion.

U.S. ETF manager F/m Investments has requested approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to tokenize shares of its U.S. Treasury 3-Month Bill ETF (TBIL), The Block reported. The proposal involves recording ownership on a permissioned blockchain ledger, which would allow for the transfer and settlement of shares to be processed on-chain. The company stated this is the first formal request for SEC relief regarding the tokenization of a registered investment company's ETF shares. F/m assured that the tokenized shares would maintain the same CUSIP, rights, fees, voting power, and economic conditions as their traditional counterparts, operating within the framework of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The firm also highlighted that the structure would ensure board oversight, daily transparency, and third-party custody and auditing.

The three major U.S. stock indices finished in positive territory. The S&P 500 rose by 1.16%, the Nasdaq Composite was up 1.18%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.21%.

Discussions among NATO allies are intensifying over an Arctic security framework, an idea mentioned by President Donald Trump, a spokesperson for the alliance said, according to Walter Bloomberg. The spokesperson explained that the talks will focus on ensuring Arctic security through a collective effort, with a key role for the seven NATO allies in the Arctic region. The spokesperson also emphasized that NATO aims to cooperate with Denmark, Greenland, and the U.S. to prevent Russia and China from establishing an economic or military foothold in Greenland.

President Donald Trump has identified Alan Greenspan, who led the Federal Reserve in the 1990s, as his model for a central bank chair. Trump praised the monetary policy of the Greenspan era, stating that he desires a Fed leadership that is both growth-friendly and flexible. The remarks are being interpreted as renewed pressure on the Fed to cut interest rates and shift its policy stance.

Denmark’s foreign minister has described President Donald Trump's statement that he has no intention of using military force as a positive signal. However, the minister pointed out that Trump still holds political ambitions that are unacceptable to Denmark. He clarified that while the possibility of dialogue remains open, there can be no compromise on matters related to sovereignty.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to participate in a Peace Board, Walter Bloomberg reported. Trump added that Putin consented to the formation of the peace council, noting that this could advance discussions toward resolving conflicts.

Major exchanges have seen $144 million worth of futures liquidated in the past hour. In the past 24 hours, $932 million worth of futures have been liquidated.

According to CoinNess market monitoring, BTC has risen above $90,000. BTC is trading at $90,019.62 on the Binance USDT market.

President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will not impose tariffs scheduled to take effect on Feb. 1, according to Walter Bloomberg. The decision was made after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which Trump said a framework for a future agreement regarding Greenland had been established.

According to CoinNess market monitoring, BTC has risen above $89,000. BTC is trading at $89,020.53 on the Binance USDT market.

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, projects that Bitcoin's market capitalization will reach $16 trillion by 2030, according to The Block. The forecast is based on an analysis that the total cryptocurrency market will grow to approximately $28 trillion by that year, with Bitcoin's dominance accounting for 60% to 70% of the value. According to the report, Bitcoin is solidifying its status as a store of value and a digital equivalent to gold, driven by increased holdings in ETFs and by corporations, alongside declining volatility. Ark stated that ETFs and publicly traded companies currently hold about 12% of Bitcoin's supply. Additionally, the firm forecasts that the market cap for smart contract platforms will grow to around $6 trillion by 2030.

Ethereum's staking ratio has surpassed 30% to reach an all-time high, Unfolded reported.

Grayscale has projected that Bitcoin is likely to reach a new all-time high in the first half of 2026. The asset manager noted that the market is entering a structural transition, driven by growing macroeconomic demand for alternative stores of value and increasing regulatory clarity for cryptocurrencies. This shift is expected to lead to a full-scale influx of institutional and advisory-based investors and deeper integration of public blockchains into traditional financial infrastructure. Grayscale also suggested these changes could weaken the crypto market's traditional four-year cycle. Additionally, the firm forecasts that a bipartisan crypto market structure bill will pass in the U.S. in 2026, expanding the environment for tokenized securities and on-chain issuance.

The price premium for the dollar-pegged stablecoin USDT in Venezuela is subsiding, according to DL News. Following the U.S. arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, USDT briefly traded at a premium of up to 140% against the official dollar exchange rate. However, the premium has since fallen by approximately 40%, returning to levels last seen in December. Experts analyze that the initial surge was exaggerated by speculative trading in a low-liquidity environment rather than panic-driven demand. Economist Asdrúbal Oliveros commented that the exchange rate's overreaction is calming as the economic outlook becomes clearer over time. While USDT continues to trade at a premium to the dollar, the market overheating has significantly eased as political tensions have relaxed.

U.S. fast-food chain Steak 'n Shake is introducing a Bitcoin (BTC) bonus program for its part-time employees, according to Cointelegraph. The company explained that starting March 1, it will set aside BTC worth $0.21 for every hour worked, with the reward available as a lump-sum payment after two years of continuous service. The program, supported by Bitcoin rewards and payments firm Fold, applies only to employees at company-operated stores. Steak 'n Shake stated that it hopes the initiative will encourage long-term employment and improve retention among its younger workers.

Bitcoin has fallen to around $87,000, erasing all of its gains from the beginning of 2026, Walter Bloomberg reported. The cryptocurrency, which had been up as much as 12% for the year, plummeted amid growing risk-off sentiment. This decline was accompanied by significant outflows from U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs, which saw net withdrawals of nearly $490 million in a single day. Bloomberg added that there are market warnings that BTC could test its support level between $80,000 and $84,000 amid geopolitical tensions and heightened volatility.

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook pledged to defend the central bank's independence for the duration of her tenure.

U.S. investment bank Compass Point has advised caution on buying Bitcoin dips until the asset reclaims the $98,000 level, which it identifies as the average purchase price for short-term holders. According to Decrypt, Compass Point views this price point as a key indicator of investor sentiment because short-term holders are particularly sensitive to price fluctuations. The bank noted that BTC recently climbed to $97,500 before failing to break through and subsequently falling below $90,000. While a price correction toward $80,000 could present a buying opportunity, Compass Point warned that risks associated with leveraged purchasing persist.