Market Performance
| Asset / Index | Value ($) | Daily Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 92,434.0 | +1.07% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 3,155.80 | +0.40% |
| Bitcoin Spot ETF | +471.30M | Net Inflow |
| Ethereum Spot ETF | +174.50M | Net Inflow |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 25,285.8 | +0.31% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,858.48 | +0.19% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,501.9 | -0.16% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 98.306 | +0.23% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 14.51 | -2.94% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.18868 | +0.47% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 60.681 | -0.88% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 4,419.95 | +2.11% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 75.283 | +3.84% |
“Prepared at UTC 07.30 am”
Today’s Key Events
- US President Trump Attends Policy Meeting
- Maduro to Appear in Federal Court in New York Today
- US ISM Manufacturing PMI (December)
- Renzo (REZ) Token Burn
US Military Launches Large-Scale Air Strike on Venezuela, Maduro and Wife Captured
The US military launched a large-scale air strike on Venezuela that lasted about an hour and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. US President Donald Trump claimed at a press conference that the operation was related to US internal security and that criminal groups in Venezuela were harming US society. Trump claimed that the Venezuelan army had been disbanded and said that the US would lead the transition process. He also emphasized that the U.S. would become deeply involved in Venezuela’s oil industry in order to generate revenue.
Vice President Rodríguez Assumes Presidency in Venezuela
Following the capture of President Maduro in Venezuela, the vice president began to serve as acting president. Venezuela’s Constitutional Court ruled that Vice President Rodríguez would assume all the powers and responsibilities of the president in order to ensure the continuity of the government and comprehensive national defense. The decision was made under extraordinary security conditions in the country.
International Reactions to Maduro’s Arrest Intensify
China and Russia called on the US to immediately release Nicolás Maduro and his wife. While some Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Chile, and Peru, supported the arrest, Brazil, Colombia, and Cuba strongly opposed it. The European Union took a cautious stance, while France explicitly described the US action as “illegal.” Israel openly supported the US operation.
Maduro to Appear in Federal Court in New York Today
According to CNN, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is expected to appear before Judge Alvin Hellerstein at the Southern District of New York Federal Court in Manhattan on Monday at noon Eastern Time. Trump argued that the US should have full control over Venezuela’s oil and infrastructure.
The US Global Stance: Latin America and Great Power Rivalry
Analysts say the US move aims to keep Latin America away from Chinese and Russian influence and to demonstrate US military and intelligence power in the region. The operation is seen as sending a deterrent message to actors linked to Iran and Ukraine. It is said that Trump aims to gain domestic political support ahead of the upcoming midterm elections with this move.
Venezuela Allegedly Holds BTC and USDT
Reports claim that Venezuela holds approximately $60 billion worth of BTC and USDT to avoid sanctions. It is noted that a possible regime change could have a spillover effect on crypto markets through these assets.
Fed Member Paulson: Interest Rate Cut Possible in Later Months of 2026
Philadelphia Fed President Paulson said that if inflation falls, additional interest rate cuts could be appropriate in the latter months of 2026. Noting that the current interest rate level is still somewhat restrictive, Paulson said that labor market signals are mixed and more data is needed. This year will be Paulson’s first year with voting rights.
Bloomberg: Wall Street Cautiously Optimistic for 2026
According to Bloomberg’s analysis, Wall Street is cautiously optimistic about growth in 2026 as inflation recedes. While market expectations for Fed rate cuts may be overly aggressive, it was emphasized that artificial intelligence investments are not yet seen as a bubble. It was stated that valuations are high in US stocks, and therefore diversification and a shift towards European, Asian, and emerging markets are prominent.
Russia-Ukraine Talks Hit Another Deadlock
Russia-Ukraine talks have stalled again following the drone incident. Russia claims that Putin’s residence was targeted, while the US stated that there is no evidence to support this claim. The US assessed that the drones targeted military facilities. Ukrainian President Zelensky said that 90% of the peace plan is ready and the remaining 10% is being negotiated.
Bank of Japan Governor Ueda: Interest Rate Hikes May Continue
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said that if economic and price trends remain in line with expectations, the process of raising interest rates could continue.
OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) Enters into Force on January 1, 2026
The Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), prepared under the leadership of the OECD, officially came into force on January 1, 2026. Covering 48 countries and regions in the first phase, the framework requires crypto-asset service providers (CASP) to report user transaction data to tax authorities and submit annual reports. The aim is to increase global tax transparency and strengthen cross-border data sharing.
CME and Binance BTC Futures Open Interest Divergence Ends
According to Coinglass data, with the start of 2026, open positions in CME and Binance Bitcoin futures contracts began to move in the same direction again. CME BTC open interest volume has increased by approximately 10% since the beginning of the year, rising from $9 billion to $10 billion, while open interest on Binance has risen from $11.3 billion to $12.2 billion.
Approximately $9 Billion in Assets Transferred to Solana via Cross-Chain Bridges in 2025
According to data shared by SolanaFloor on the X platform, approximately $9 billion worth of assets were transferred to Solana from other blockchain networks via cross-chain bridges throughout 2025. Over $5 billion of this amount came from the Ethereum network alone.
Solana Co-Founder @toly: Buyback Expectations Should Be Factored into Pricing
Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko (@toly) stated that protocols should hold cash for future token buybacks. He said this approach would shape the market pricing of unlock events based on the “expected post-buyback price” and directly impact the pricing mechanism during unlock periods.
WeChat Officially Launches AI Mini Program Growth Plan
WeChat has rolled out a new growth plan for AI Applications and Online Tool Mini Programs. The program will provide developers with comprehensive support, including cloud infrastructure, AI processing power, data analysis, monetization tools, and traffic incentives.
Base Co-Founder Jesse Pollak: More Memecoins Needed for the Community
Base co-founder Jesse Pollak stated that Memecoins are an important focal point for community coordination. According to Pollak, Memecoins bring users together, encourage collaborative production, and strengthen the collective action of the community. He expressed that the community needs more Memecoins for greater creativity and participation.
Ethereum Stablecoin Transaction Volume Exceeded $8 Trillion on a Quarterly Basis
According to Token Terminal data, the stablecoin transfer volume on the Ethereum network exceeded $8 trillion for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2024, setting a historic record.
PwC Increases Its Investments in the Crypto Sector
According to the Financial Times, PwC has decided to increase its investments in the crypto sector, which it has approached cautiously for a long time. Paul Griggs, CEO of PwC US, stated that the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly regulations and legislation such as the “GENIUS Act” have increased market confidence and that stablecoins and asset tokenization will continue to grow.
ether.fi CEO: Ethereum’s Growth in 2026 May Come from Neobanks
ether.fi CEO Mike Silagadze said he expects Ethereum’s growth core in 2026 to come from financial products for daily use, such as crypto neobanks, rather than speculation. He emphasized that stablecoins, on-chain yields, and products close to the traditional finance experience will increase adoption.
Aave Labs: Token Buybacks Alone Do Not Create Value
Aave Labs team member Kolten stated that token buybacks alone do not create value and that their impact is limited without adoption rate, market share, and a strong narrative. He stressed that buybacks can only be meaningful as a complementary tool.
WLFI: Governance Vote to Increase USD1 Adoption Approved
The Trump family’s crypto project WLFI announced that a governance proposal to unlock a portion of its treasury funds to accelerate USD1 adoption was approved with a 77.75% vote.
