Market Performance
| Asset / Index | Value ($) | Daily Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 91,701.0 | +0.79% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 3,145.52 | +0.86% |
| Bitcoin Spot ETF | -250.0M | Net Outflow |
| Ethereum Spot ETF | -93.80M | Net Outflow |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 25,557.3 | -0.78% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,966.29 | +0.65% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,607.7 | -0.48% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 98.444 | -0.35% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 14.49 | -6.21% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.16731 | -0.42% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 63.601 | -0.78% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 4,580.46 | +1.57% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 83.655 | +4.85% |
“Prepared at UTC 07.35 am”
Today’s Key Events
- US President Trump to Meet with Secretary of State and Archbishop Coakley and Attend Signing Ceremony
- FOMC Members Barkin and Williams to Speak
- G7 Finance Ministers to Discuss Rare Elements in Washington
- Strategy BTC and Bitmine ETH Purchases to be Tracked
- Qtum Hard Fork and Optimism Buyback
Criminal Investigation Launched Against Powell
According to a New York Times report, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is under investigation by federal prosecutors as part of a criminal investigation into the renovation process at the Fed’s Washington headquarters. The investigation focuses on whether Powell made false or misleading statements to Congress about the scope of the renovation project. It was reported that the process is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The development has reignited discussions about the Fed’s institutional independence and management transparency.
Donald Trump shared labor force data via Truth Social approximately 12 hours before the official announcement, as he has done since January 2025. According to the data, total employment in the private sector increased by 654,000, while employment in the public sector decreased by 181,000. These figures were found to match exactly with the non-farm employment report later published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A White House official stated that the sharing was “unintentional.”
U.S. Supreme Court Postpones Tariff Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court did not announce its expected decision on the legality of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The court announced that the next decision day would be Wednesday, January 14. While the Supreme Court does not specify in advance which cases it will rule on, it has indicated that rulings may be announced at 10:00 a.m. Washington time. The uncertainty continues to weigh on trade policies and markets.
Trump’s Populist Moves Ahead of Midterm Elections
With the midterm elections approaching, Trump is promoting policies aimed at winning the “cost of living” debate. Trump called for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates for one year, effective January 20, 2026. He argued that this step aims to prevent consumers from being “exploited” by credit card companies. The statements caused renewed anxiety in the markets.
MBS Move and Fed Independence Concerns
Treasury Secretary Bessent announced that the administration has instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in order to offset the Fed’s monthly sales of approximately $15 billion in MBS. The Fed’s decision not to reinvest MBSs in its portfolio at maturity is creating pressure that limits the decline in mortgage rates. The administration aims to have government-sponsored enterprises fill this demand gap. This approach, viewed by investors as “shadow monetary expansion,” has heightened concerns about the weakening of the Fed’s independence. The re-privatization of Fannie and Freddie is also on the agenda.
January 30: Temporary Budget Risk
With the temporary funding period ending on January 30 approaching, the risk of a government shutdown is once again being discussed. Democrats want restrictions on funds allocated to immigration enforcement, which could complicate budget negotiations. However, Polymarket data indicates that the likelihood of a government shutdown at the end of January is low.
US Military Intervention Options Against Iran on the Table
According to press reports, Trump has been briefed on possible military intervention options against Iran and is seriously considering the possibility of using his authority. The options include attacks on non-military targets in Tehran. The possibility of the US deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East and conducting cyber and information operations is also on the table. During the same period, the Chinese, Russian, and Iranian navies, together with South Africa, began the “Will of Peace-2026” joint naval exercise.
Chinese Inflation Data Shows Moderate Trend
China’s December CPI rose to 0.8% year-on-year, with a monthly increase of 0.2%. Core CPI remained at 1.2% year-on-year. The Producer Price Index (PPI) continued to contract at -1.9% year-on-year, while recording a 0.2% increase on a monthly basis. The data indicates that deflationary pressures in China are gradually easing.
US Abandons Plan to Ban Imports of Chinese-Made Drones
The US Department of Commerce announced that it has withdrawn its plan to restrict imports of Chinese-made drones on national security grounds. While the proposal submitted to the White House was canceled in January, the FCC’s decision to add DJI and foreign-made UAVs to the “national security risk” list remains in effect. This situation shows that the US-China technology tension has not completely ended.
Call to Ban Political Donations Made with Cryptocurrency in the United Kingdom
According to The Block, seven UK parliamentary committee chairs sent a joint letter to the government demanding a complete ban on political donations made with cryptocurrency in the upcoming Electoral Act. The committee chairs argue that crypto donations pose risks in terms of transparency and traceability and could be open to foreign interference.
JPMorgan Chase No Longer Expects Fed to Cut Interest Rates in 2026
JPMorgan Chase has announced that it no longer expects the US Federal Reserve (Fed) to cut interest rates in 2026. The bank had previously expected a 25 basis point rate cut in January. According to updated expectations, JPMorgan predicts that the Fed’s next move will be a 25 basis point rate hike in the third quarter of 2027.
H100 Plans to Acquire Swiss Bitcoin Treasury Company Future Holdings AG
H100 announced that it has signed a non-binding agreement to acquire Swiss-based Bitcoin treasury company Future Holdings AG. The planned acquisition aims to strengthen H100’s presence in the Swiss market and enhance its expertise in Bitcoin treasury management and capital markets.
SEC May Review Morgan Stanley’s BTC ETF Application as Early as March 23
Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart stated that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will take at least 75 days to review Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF application after it is submitted. According to this timeline, the review process is expected to begin as early as March 23.
