Cheers to the new year!🎉
We’re starting 2026 with major crypto news: Iran’s rial has hit record lows, leading to protests and renewed interest in Bitcoin as a safe haven. Ethereum is facing concerns about centralization. Binance is looking at Pakistan as a potential crypto hub, Solana memecoins have raised $74 million, and large wallets are making quiet moves. This roundup covers the key trends, risks, and breakthroughs you need to know.
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Iran’s Rial Collapse Triggers Protests and Rekindles Bitcoin Debate
Iran is experiencing fresh economic trouble as the rial dropped to a record low of about 1.4 million per US dollar, leading to protests in Tehran. People are increasingly upset about shrinking savings, ongoing sanctions, and years of poor economic management. The situation became more uncertain after Central Bank Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin resigned. Analysts say this collapse shows long-standing problems in Iran’s monetary system, with the currency losing over 40% of its value in recent months. Some Iranian banks are also said to be at risk of bankruptcy or closure, which has raised concerns about wider financial instability.
Amid the unrest, some Bitcoin supporters say the crisis shows how crypto can act as a hedge against currency collapse. Figures like Alex Gladstein and Hunter Horsley highlight Bitcoin’s fixed supply as a safeguard against long-term devaluation. However, Iran’s heavy restrictions on mining and unclear self-custody rules limit how much crypto can help.
Other News Making Waves
- Vitalik Buterin warned that rising centralization across Ethereum clients, staking pools, and Layer 2 sequencers threatens network security and decentralization, calling for client diversity, interoperability standards, and stronger community governance. (More)
- Former Binance CEO CZ said Pakistan could become a global crypto leader within five years, citing rapid regulatory reforms, exchange approvals, and stock market tokenization as catalysts for adoption and foreign investment. (More)
- Analysts say the Federal Reserve’s expected rate cuts in 2026 could reignite retail and institutional interest in crypto, even as Bitcoin trades well below its peak and markets remain skeptical of an early policy pivot. (More)
- Global family offices increased crypto exposure in 2025, with many making first-time allocations to Bitcoin and Ether, though persistent volatility is tempering expectations and slowing the pace of new investments in 2026. (More)
- Publicly listed BitMine plans to launch a US-based Ethereum validator network in early 2026, aiming to generate over $1 million per day in staking rewards from its $12 billion ETH treasury amid improving regulatory clarity. (More)
- A dormant Ethereum wallet linked to the Indexed Finance and KyberSwap exploits resurfaced after nearly a year, selling over $2 million in stolen tokens as crypto thefts in 2025 hit record levels, driven by major platform breaches. (More)
- Binance suspended card-based withdrawals for Ukrainian users following the exit of its payment provider Bifinity, while crypto trading, P2P services, and Swift transfers remain available amid heightened compliance scrutiny. (More)
- Solana memecoin launchpad Pump.fun generated $74.1 million in Q4 revenue and moved $615 million off-chain, fueling backlash over its fee model as critics accuse the platform of extracting creator liquidity while dominating Solana’s memecoin market. (More)
- Delphi Digital said GameFi funding fell over 55% year-over-year in 2025 as hyped launches underdelivered, while “Web2.5” games quietly gained traction by using blockchain infrastructure without tokens to focus on real revenue. (More)
- Blockchain investigator ZachXBT exposed a Canadian scammer who stole over $2 million by impersonating Coinbase support, highlighting the growing threat of social engineering attacks as crypto adoption expands. (More)
- On-chain perpetual futures volumes surpassed $1 trillion per month in 2025 as traders shifted toward leveraged strategies, with decentralized platforms like Hyperliquid and Aster dominating derivatives activity. (More)
- Trust Wallet identified 2,596 compromised wallets in its Christmas Day browser extension hack and is verifying nearly 5,000 reimbursement claims, as it prepares to fully cover roughly $7 million in losses amid an ongoing forensic probe. (More)
- Digital asset funds saw $446 million in weekly outflows, bringing total withdrawals since October to $3.2 billion, even as XRP and Solana ETFs attracted inflows while Bitcoin and Ethereum continued to bleed. (More)
- Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said Bitcoin strengthens U.S. dollar dominance by enabling USD-backed stablecoins, arguing crypto infrastructure extends the dollar’s global reach rather than competing with it. (More)
- Trump-linked crypto firm ALT5 Sigma faces Nasdaq delisting risk after appointing an auditor with an expired license, compounding delayed filings, governance gaps, and mounting regulatory scrutiny. (More)
Around the World: Bold Moves and Regulations
- Russia proposed criminal penalties for illegal cryptocurrency mining, including heavy fines and prison terms, while tightening registration and reporting requirements. (More)
- South Korea delayed its Basic Digital Asset Act amid disagreements over stablecoin issuance, even as the bill proposes strict liability for crypto firms and 100% reserve requirements to strengthen investor protection. (More)
- Japan plans to cut crypto capital gains tax to a flat 20% under its 2026 reform, aiming to revive local trading by aligning digital assets with stocks, though the relief applies only to “specified” crypto handled by registered operators. (More)
- China’s central bank rolled out a new digital yuan plan effective 2026, introducing interest-bearing e-CNY balances as transactions hit 16.7 trillion yuan and adoption accelerates across the banking system. (More)
Market Trends: Winners and Losers
Top 5 Gainers 📈
According to data from CoinGecko, these are the five biggest gainers of the week:
- The White Whale +245.33%, from $0.02004425 to $0.069196
- River +302.57%, from $3.89 to $15.65
- Planet IX +165.64%, from $0.125805 to $0.334059
- Fasttoken +117.88%, from $0.498510 to $1.086
- ElizaOS +75.15%, from $0.00262387 to $0.00459620
Top 5 Losers 📉
According to data from CoinGecko, the five biggest losers of the week are:
- Audiera −40.43%, from $1.88 to $1.11
- Flow −50.96%, from $0.172459 to $0.084626
- Merlin Chain −33.00%, from $0.426108 to $0.285432
- OG Fan Token +0.61%, from $11.55 to $11.62
- Act I The AI Prophecy −30.50%, from $0.04215094 to $0.02930339
Project Spotlight
Lighter Launches LIT Token with Airdrop, Driving DeFi Adoption
Lighter, a growing decentralized perpetual exchange, has launched its Lighter Infrastructure Token (LIT) with an initial airdrop, sparking discussion across the DeFi community. The protocol plans to use revenue from its products for token buybacks, while early recipients, including Jump Crypto wallets, received 324,000 LIT. Coinbase has indicated a potential listing once liquidity targets are met, signalling broader accessibility.
Why It Matters:
LIT’s launch and ecosystem incentives highlight Lighter’s push toward sustainable growth and wider adoption of decentralized perpetual trading, reflecting the increasing maturity of DeFi infrastructure.
Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein should be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies carries a considerable risk of financial loss. Always conduct due diligence.
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