Capital One to acquire Brex in a $5.15B stock-and-cash deal
The deal brings Brex under one of the largest U.S. financial institutions, underscoring pressure on traditional banks to match the speed of fintech platforms, as Brex continues to expand its crypto ambitions with USDC-based stablecoin payments launch.
👉 coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/22/capital-one-acquires-fintech-firm-brex
The deal brings Brex under one of the largest U.S. financial institutions, underscoring pressure on traditional banks to match the speed of fintech platforms, as Brex continues to expand its crypto ambitions with USDC-based stablecoin payments launch.
👉 coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/22/capital-one-acquires-fintech-firm-brex
Chainlink (LINK) acquires Atlas, a transaction-ordering solution
The move aims to accelerate the rollout of its “non-toxic MEV” tool aimed at helping dApps capture value more fairly. The integration of Atlas will support fair liquidation auctions and enhance Chainlink’s ability to recapture MEV across multiple chains.
👉 x.com/chainlink/status/2014337730683998529?s=20
The move aims to accelerate the rollout of its “non-toxic MEV” tool aimed at helping dApps capture value more fairly. The integration of Atlas will support fair liquidation auctions and enhance Chainlink’s ability to recapture MEV across multiple chains.
👉 x.com/chainlink/status/2014337730683998529?s=20
Spacecoin partners with WLFI on DeFi–Satellite integration
The collab brings satellite internet and onchain finance together by enabling payments and settlements for Spacecoin users via USD1 stablecoin. The partnership includes a strategic token swap, aligning both ecosystems as Spacecoin expands connectivity to new users.
👉 x.com/spacecoin/status/2014318869293531171
The collab brings satellite internet and onchain finance together by enabling payments and settlements for Spacecoin users via USD1 stablecoin. The partnership includes a strategic token swap, aligning both ecosystems as Spacecoin expands connectivity to new users.
👉 x.com/spacecoin/status/2014318869293531171
Cryptomarket Check-In. Major Events & Headlines
This snapshot provides a brief overview of recent developments across the crypto ecosystem. The updates include institutional activity, expansion of tokenized markets, and new infrastructure launches across on-chain finance.
This snapshot provides a brief overview of recent developments across the crypto ecosystem. The updates include institutional activity, expansion of tokenized markets, and new infrastructure launches across on-chain finance.
Grayscale Files S-1 With U.S. SEC to Launch BNB ETF
Grayscale has submitted a Form S-1 registration statement to the U.S. SEC on Jan. 23, 2026, seeking approval to launch the Grayscale BNB ETF. The proposed fund would offer public market exposure to BNB, pending regulatory clearance.
The ETF is sponsored by Grayscale Investments Sponsors, LLC and incorporated in Delaware. Trading is expected to commence following SEC effectiveness.
👉 sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data
Grayscale has submitted a Form S-1 registration statement to the U.S. SEC on Jan. 23, 2026, seeking approval to launch the Grayscale BNB ETF. The proposed fund would offer public market exposure to BNB, pending regulatory clearance.
The ETF is sponsored by Grayscale Investments Sponsors, LLC and incorporated in Delaware. Trading is expected to commence following SEC effectiveness.
👉 sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data
Binance Applies for EU-Wide MiCA License, Establishes Greek Entity
Binance has applied for an EU-wide MiCA license via Greece, setting up a local holding company instead of filing in Malta or Latvia. The application is reportedly on a fast-track review by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC), with support from major audit firms including EY and KPMG.
MiCA, effective since 2023, gives crypto firms operating in the EU until the end of June to secure authorization. Companies that fail to obtain approval risk being forced to shut down operations in parts of the EU.
👉 x.com/FortuneMagazine/status/2014439535132750236?s=20
Binance has applied for an EU-wide MiCA license via Greece, setting up a local holding company instead of filing in Malta or Latvia. The application is reportedly on a fast-track review by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC), with support from major audit firms including EY and KPMG.
MiCA, effective since 2023, gives crypto firms operating in the EU until the end of June to secure authorization. Companies that fail to obtain approval risk being forced to shut down operations in parts of the EU.
👉 x.com/FortuneMagazine/status/2014439535132750236?s=20
Oplyscan Launches Real-Time Prediction Market Arbitrage Scanner
Oplyscan has gone live with real-time arbitrage monitoring across prediction markets, starting with Polymarket and Opinion.
ℹ️ Why It Matters
Arbitrage opportunities often disappear within seconds due to price updates and liquidity constraints. Most tools rely on delayed APIs or send late alerts — making execution nearly impossible.
🔤 How Oplyscan Works
- Tracks the same events across multiple prediction markets
- Identifies price discrepancies (e.g., YES on Polymarket vs NO on Opinion)
- Enables risk-free arbitrage with typical returns of 1–5% per trade
- Focuses only on live opportunities with real liquidity
ℹ️ Key Features (Live)
- Real-time arbitrage dashboard (Polymarket ↔️ Opinion)
- Filters by profit %, liquidity, and expiry
- Instant Telegram alerts with custom profit thresholds
- 100% free — no subscriptions or hidden fees
⏩ What’s Next
- Expansion to additional prediction markets
- Enhanced feeds and priority alerts for early users
👉 x.com/oplyscan/status/2014377218529436025?s=20
Oplyscan has gone live with real-time arbitrage monitoring across prediction markets, starting with Polymarket and Opinion.
ℹ️ Why It Matters
Arbitrage opportunities often disappear within seconds due to price updates and liquidity constraints. Most tools rely on delayed APIs or send late alerts — making execution nearly impossible.
🔤 How Oplyscan Works
- Tracks the same events across multiple prediction markets
- Identifies price discrepancies (e.g., YES on Polymarket vs NO on Opinion)
- Enables risk-free arbitrage with typical returns of 1–5% per trade
- Focuses only on live opportunities with real liquidity
ℹ️ Key Features (Live)
- Real-time arbitrage dashboard (Polymarket ↔️ Opinion)
- Filters by profit %, liquidity, and expiry
- Instant Telegram alerts with custom profit thresholds
- 100% free — no subscriptions or hidden fees
⏩ What’s Next
- Expansion to additional prediction markets
- Enhanced feeds and priority alerts for early users
Oplyscan is currently in closed beta. Early users get priority access. Join Whitelist Now
👉 x.com/oplyscan/status/2014377218529436025?s=20
MAJOR UPCOMING EVENTS THIS WINTER!
A full list of Major Upcoming Events, to be updated
👉 https://cryptodiffer.com/events
A full list of Major Upcoming Events, to be updated
👉 https://cryptodiffer.com/events
Projects by Diluted Valuation launched this week
Let's discover the latest projects making waves in the space. Leading the list are Sentient, an open-source AI development platform, Spacecoin, a DePIN powered by satellites, building trustless internet connectivity, and Seeker, a Web3 android phone by Solana Mobile.
Let's discover the latest projects making waves in the space. Leading the list are Sentient, an open-source AI development platform, Spacecoin, a DePIN powered by satellites, building trustless internet connectivity, and Seeker, a Web3 android phone by Solana Mobile.
2025 Market Snapshot: Stablecoins
Supply growth screamed momentum, but usage still split: most demand stayed tied to trading/DeFi collateral, with payments a smaller slice. That gap is exactly where the next wave of stablecoin “mainstreaming” is expected to happen.
Supply growth screamed momentum, but usage still split: most demand stayed tied to trading/DeFi collateral, with payments a smaller slice. That gap is exactly where the next wave of stablecoin “mainstreaming” is expected to happen.
Matcha Meta suffers a $16.8M exploit linked to SwapNet
PeckShield reported that Matcha Meta users who disabled 0x’s One-Time Approval feature may have been exposed to a SwapNet-related breach, with roughly $16.8 million in crypto drained so far.
👉 x.com/PeckShieldAlert/status/2015608261119217671?s=20
PeckShield reported that Matcha Meta users who disabled 0x’s One-Time Approval feature may have been exposed to a SwapNet-related breach, with roughly $16.8 million in crypto drained so far.
👉 x.com/PeckShieldAlert/status/2015608261119217671?s=20
Nifty Gateway plans to shut down in February 2026
NFT marketplace Nifty Gateway will cease operations on February 23, and has already switched to withdrawal-only mode. Launched in 2020 and acquired by Gemini in 2019, Nifty Gateway was an early pioneer of curated NFT drops and digital art experiences.
👉 x.com/niftygateway/status/2014887766623191538?s=20
NFT marketplace Nifty Gateway will cease operations on February 23, and has already switched to withdrawal-only mode. Launched in 2020 and acquired by Gemini in 2019, Nifty Gateway was an early pioneer of curated NFT drops and digital art experiences.
👉 x.com/niftygateway/status/2014887766623191538?s=20
South Korea’s Coinone explores sale of major shareholder stake
The development comes amid heightened industry consolidation and reports that Coinbase and other global firms are in discussions with South Korean exchange leaders, signaling increased foreign interest in the local market.
👉 theblock.co/post/386967/south-koreas-coinone-selling-shares
The development comes amid heightened industry consolidation and reports that Coinbase and other global firms are in discussions with South Korean exchange leaders, signaling increased foreign interest in the local market.
👉 theblock.co/post/386967/south-koreas-coinone-selling-shares
Top Crypto Sectors by VC investments in 2025
VC activity surged in 2025, led by Finance/Banking and Prediction Markets as institutional capital moved on-chain. Infrastructure and Payments remained core pillars, while Asset Management saw huge growth driven by custody and institutional adoption.
VC activity surged in 2025, led by Finance/Banking and Prediction Markets as institutional capital moved on-chain. Infrastructure and Payments remained core pillars, while Asset Management saw huge growth driven by custody and institutional adoption.
a16z-backed crypto custody startup Entropy to shut down
Entropy is shutting down after four years and will return remaining capital to investors. Founder Tux Pacific said attempts to find a VC business model through multiple pivots and layoffs failed, leading to this decision and laying bare challenges in scaling crypto firms.
👉 x.com/__tux/status/2015111615801131117?s=20
Entropy is shutting down after four years and will return remaining capital to investors. Founder Tux Pacific said attempts to find a VC business model through multiple pivots and layoffs failed, leading to this decision and laying bare challenges in scaling crypto firms.
👉 x.com/__tux/status/2015111615801131117?s=20
Ethereum Foundation forms Post-Quantum (PQ) security team
The new PQ team will be led by Thomas Coratger with a focus on practical migration efforts such as wallet safety upgrades and broader ecosystem readiness. Ethereum Foundation is backing the initiative with a $2M funding, including two $1M prize programs.
👉 coindesk.com/tech/2026/01/24/ethereum-foundation-makes-post-quantum-security-a-top-priority-as-new-team-forms
The new PQ team will be led by Thomas Coratger with a focus on practical migration efforts such as wallet safety upgrades and broader ecosystem readiness. Ethereum Foundation is backing the initiative with a $2M funding, including two $1M prize programs.
👉 coindesk.com/tech/2026/01/24/ethereum-foundation-makes-post-quantum-security-a-top-priority-as-new-team-forms
CertiK eyes IPO at $2 billion valuation to become the first public Web3 Cybersecurity Firm
The blockchain security firm is evaluating public market options as demand for Web3 risk management and protocol auditing expands. Co-founder and CEO Ronghui Gu said the IPO is a strategic goal but that the company has not finalized concrete plans or timing.
👉 theblock.co/post/386882/certik-ipo-2-billion-valuation-first-public-web3-cybersecurity-listing
The blockchain security firm is evaluating public market options as demand for Web3 risk management and protocol auditing expands. Co-founder and CEO Ronghui Gu said the IPO is a strategic goal but that the company has not finalized concrete plans or timing.
👉 theblock.co/post/386882/certik-ipo-2-billion-valuation-first-public-web3-cybersecurity-listing
Optimism unveils 10-year roadmap to phase out EOAs
Optimism announced a long-term roadmap to gradually deprecate ECDSA-based externally owned accounts (EOAs), aiming to transition the ecosystem toward smart-account–native, more secure, and future-proof account models.
👉 x.com/Optimism/article/2015423032613855380
Optimism announced a long-term roadmap to gradually deprecate ECDSA-based externally owned accounts (EOAs), aiming to transition the ecosystem toward smart-account–native, more secure, and future-proof account models.
👉 x.com/Optimism/article/2015423032613855380
Zama raises $44 million in Public Sale at $550 million FDV
Zama is an infrastructure protocol that enables confidential smart contracts and private computation using Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), allowing data to remain encrypted while being processed on blockchains.
👉 x.com/zama/status/2015757062236520495?s=20
Zama is an infrastructure protocol that enables confidential smart contracts and private computation using Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), allowing data to remain encrypted while being processed on blockchains.
👉 x.com/zama/status/2015757062236520495?s=20
Unified exchange Everything raises $6.9M in seed funding
Everything is a Hong Kong-based startup building an “everything exchange” — a unified trading platform that lets users trade spot markets, perpetual futures, prediction markets, and more all in one place with a single account and balance.
👉 x.com/trdEverything/status/2015717013755167195?s=20
Everything is a Hong Kong-based startup building an “everything exchange” — a unified trading platform that lets users trade spot markets, perpetual futures, prediction markets, and more all in one place with a single account and balance.
👉 x.com/trdEverything/status/2015717013755167195?s=20
Treasuries & ETFs Board. Crypto Accumulation and Capital Flows
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded weekly net outflows over the past period, reversing the prior inflow trend. At the same time, corporate accumulation accelerated, with Strategy announcing BTC purchases of 22,305 BTC ($2.13B) and 2,932 BTC ($264M), while BitMine disclosed ETH acquisitions of 40,302 ETH ($117M).
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded weekly net outflows over the past period, reversing the prior inflow trend. At the same time, corporate accumulation accelerated, with Strategy announcing BTC purchases of 22,305 BTC ($2.13B) and 2,932 BTC ($264M), while BitMine disclosed ETH acquisitions of 40,302 ETH ($117M).