Bitcoin pops above $91K as geopolitics hits the tape-Bitcoin climbed above $91,000 with ETH and DOGE also higher, even as headlines around U.S. action on Venezuela added a geopolitical edge to the market’s mood. Normally, risk gets shaky during moments like this, but crypto was unfazed. The takeaway is that BTC still reacts to macro and geopolitics, but it doesn’t always react the way people expect. (CoinDesk)

Crypto IPOs had a “bellwether year”- 2025 was positioned as a pivotal "IPO validation year" for crypto, with companies like Circle and Bullish helping to reopen the public markets for the sector. The narrative is shifting toward "crypto companies are now just another growth sector," which signals both maturation and mainstream acceptance. If market conditions remain favorable, expect more filings—along with increased scrutiny, since public markets demand rigorous financial performance, not just momentum and sentiment. (Decrypt)

XRP jumps above $2 as “friendlier SEC” hopes creep in-XRP rose above $2 on Friday for the first time since mid-December, driven by strong ETF inflows totaling $1.18 billion since launch and improving U.S. regulatory sentiment. The departure of SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, a vocal crypto skeptic, has fueled expectations of more favorable policy, while speculation around a potential Market Structure Bill on January 15 added momentum. XRP's 8% gain stood out against modest moves in bitcoin and ether, suggesting the rally is driven by token-specific catalysts rather than broad market strength. (CoinDesk)

The “ETH goes parabolic* in 2026” theory is back on the table-The bull case for Ethereum in 2026 centers on it finally living up to its role as the foundation for the digital economy. Proponents point to increasing institutional adoption, growing tokenization of real-world assets, and more yield-generating products moving on-chain as key catalysts. The thesis is optimistic and relies heavily on these narratives playing out, but it's grounded in tangible developments rather than pure speculation. Whether Ethereum can deliver on this potential remains the ongoing question. (Decrypt) *In crypto and trading contexts, "parabolic" refers to a sharp, exponential price increase that creates a curve resembling a parabola when charted.

Crypto Goes to Hollywood-This is a fun one. Netflix is making a crypto comedy film, which feels both inevitable and slightly worrying. The bigger point Decrypt makes is that crypto has had all the ingredients for Hollywood drama for years: money, redemption arcs, cultish communities, and big personalities. If anything, it’s surprising it took this long for the industry to get the full pop-culture treatment. (Decrypt)