On January 31, the U.S. Department of Justice released a new batch of Jeffrey Epstein documents that referenced Blockstream co-founders Adam Back and Austin Hill in 2014 email exchanges about an $18 million seed round. The emails described an oversubscribed allocation and travel plans involving Epstein, while Adam Back has stated on X that Blockstream has no direct or indirect financial relationship with Epstein or his estate and that a fund linked to Joi Ito later divested its minority stake.

On January 26 2026, an analysis described how Gen Z crypto influencers use short-form video, memes and live streams to shape attention around digital assets. These creators concentrate on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Discord, where they simplify complex topics, promote memecoins and airdrops, and compress narrative cycles in ways that can amplify volatility. Regulators are increasingly focused on these channels, pushing for clearer disclosures as creators shift from personal accounts to structured media businesses.

On January 25, 2026, South Korean charities called for one-click crypto donations within exchange apps, citing a six-step workflow that discourages direct giving. They say donors must specify coin amounts like 0.01 BTC and most still convert crypto to cash; last year, Fruit of Love, the Korean Red Cross, and Seoul National University Hospital each received 1 bitcoin.

According to cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler from ExpressVPN, an unprotected 96 GB online database exposed 149,404,754 unique login records, including access to 420,000 Binance accounts and other major platforms. The leak covered social media, streaming, dating, financial services, crypto wallets, and .gov domains, and appears to have been generated by keylogging and infostealer malware. The hosting provider suspended the database almost a month after it was reported, but it is unclear how long the data was publicly accessible or who controlled it.

On January 23, 2026, the Central Bank of Brazil published Instrução Normativa BCB No. 701, which becomes effective on February 2, 2026 and sets formal requirements for banks and brokers offering crypto intermediation and custody. The rules require institutions to obtain independent certification, demonstrate separation of client funds, and notify the central bank before launching services, with operations allowed 90 days after notification if full compliance is confirmed.

On January 23, 2026, data showed the TRUMP memecoin changing hands at $4.84, down 93.4% from its peak after launching on January 18, 2025 and rallying before Trump's inauguration. The MELANIA token has fallen about 99% from its high near $13.05, even as reports indicate the Trump family has generated more than $1 billion in pre-tax crypto-related profits and faces mounting criticism over potential conflicts of interest.

On January 23, 2026, CertiK co-founder Ronghui Gu said the New York-based Web3 cybersecurity firm is working toward an initial public offering with a targeted valuation of $2 billion. Founded in 2018, the company has raised $296 million to date, counts Binance as its largest investor, and is pushing ahead with IPO ambitions while addressing criticism over past audits and security incidents.

On January 22, 2026, Ark Invest's "Big Ideas 2026" report forecast that tokenized assets could climb to $11 trillion by 2030. The real‑world tokenized asset market stands at $22.25 billion with 641,852 holders, per RWA.xyz. The report anticipates a larger role for bank deposits and public equities as regulation solidifies and institutional infrastructure matures.

Chainlink has introduced 24/5 U.S. Equities Streams that bring major stocks and ETFs on-chain for continuous trading and DeFi use cases. The system converts fragmented U.S. equity data into cryptographically signed, sub-second feeds, covering regular, pre-market, post-market, and overnight sessions. Several exchanges and DeFi platforms have already integrated the service to power RWA markets and equity derivatives.