Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP ETFs see renewed inflows, but onchain data signals weakening conviction Crypto markets entered 2026 with renewed optimism as spot ETF inflows turned positive again, offering price stability after a volatile end to 2025. While institutional capital has returned across major digital assets, analysts caution that the market is increasingly supported by flows rather than strong underlying conviction. ETF Inflows Support Prices Across Major Assets Between Dec. 29 and Jan. 2, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $459 million in net inflows, accompanied by roughly $14 billion in trading volume. Ether ETFs attracted $161 million, while XRP ETFs added…
Author: Bitxjournal Team
Hardware wallet provider confirms personal information accessed, no crypto assets affected Ledger is investigating a new data exposure incident linked to its third-party payment processor, Global-e, which resulted in unauthorized access to customer personal information. The incident underscores ongoing risks in the cryptocurrency e-commerce ecosystem. According to a notification sent by Global-e, unauthorized access involved Ledger users’ names and contact information stored in the processor’s cloud systems. The total number of affected clients has not been disclosed. Ledger confirmed that its platform, hardware, and software systems remain secure, and no recovery phrases, blockchain balances, or payment details were compromised. Company…
Ethereum layer‑2 ZK‑rollup network faces disruptions amid ongoing reliability concerns Starknet, a leading Ethereum ZK‑rollup network, is currently experiencing mainnet downtime, marking the latest disruption for the layer‑2 platform that supports decentralized finance, gaming, and Bitcoin-related applications on Ethereum. Engineers are actively investigating the issue to restore full network functionality. The downtime, which has persisted for just over two hours, has not yet been linked to a specific cause. STRK token prices remained steady despite the outage, highlighting that market activity has not been significantly affected in the short term. Starknet operates by batching transactions off-chain and posting cryptographic proofs…
Ether, XRP, and Solana drive growth while Bitcoin fund inflows decline year over year Crypto investment products recorded approximately $47 billion in net inflows in 2025, narrowly missing the previous year’s all-time high. While total inflows fell slightly short of 2024 levels, the composition of demand shifted notably, with altcoins emerging as the primary growth driver amid expanding exchange-traded product offerings. Bitcoin Inflows Decline as Market Leadership Shifts Bitcoin-focused funds saw a 35% year-over-year decline in inflows, dropping to around $27 billion in 2025 compared with $41.7 billion in 2024. Despite remaining the largest single asset category, Bitcoin’s reduced momentum…
Security firm warns users against fraudulent wallet verification flows amid ongoing crypto phishing threats Crypto investors are being targetted by a new phishing campaign impersonating MetaMask, aiming to steal wallet recovery phrases through fake two-factor authentication (2FA) prompts. The scam redirects users to fraudulent domains under the guise of urgent security checks, requesting their 12-word seed phrases. How the Scam Works Attackers create fake 2FA verification flows, sending phishing emails that claim wallet features will be restricted unless the user completes a security setup. Users are then prompted to provide their seed phrases, which allow scammers to access and drain…
Surging transaction volumes and active addresses highlight Ethereum’s dominance in on-chain payments and tokenized assets Ethereum recorded a historic milestone in the fourth quarter, processing over $8 trillion in stablecoin transfers, the highest quarterly figure ever observed on the network. The surge reflects accelerating real-world usage of blockchain-based payments rather than speculative trading activity. Stablecoin Transfer Volume Nearly Doubles The $8 trillion in Q4 stablecoin transfers represents nearly double the volume seen in Q2, when transfers totaled just above $4 trillion. Over the course of the year, stablecoin issuance on Ethereum expanded by approximately 43%, rising from $127 billion to…
Lower exchange balances and steady institutional inflows create conditions for a potential XRP price squeeze XRP has pushed decisively above the $2.12 resistance level, marking a technically significant breakout after weeks of consolidation. The move occurred alongside above-average trading volume, suggesting genuine market participation rather than a short-lived spike. This price action is unfolding against a backdrop of tightening supply and sustained institutional demand. One of the most notable structural drivers is the continued decline in XRP balances held on centralized exchanges, which are now sitting near multi-year lows. Historically, reduced exchange supply limits immediate sell pressure and can magnify…
Policy shift signals deeper alignment between digital assets and traditional financial markets Japan is taking another step toward integrating digital assets into its financial system. During a New Year address at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the country’s finance minister expressed strong backing for bringing cryptocurrencies into mainstream stock and commodity exchanges, positioning digital assets as part of Japan’s long-term economic strategy. The finance minister emphasized that stock and commodity exchanges play a crucial role in expanding public access to blockchain-based assets. By leveraging existing financial infrastructure, exchanges could act as regulated gateways for investors seeking exposure to cryptocurrencies in a…
Weak Japanese yen and low interest rates give the company cheaper Bitcoin-aligned financing Metaplanet may hold a structural financial advantage over US-based peers due to persistent weakness in the Japanese yen. Analysts point to Japan’s macroeconomic conditions as a key factor that lowers Metaplanet’s effective cost of capital while amplifying its Bitcoin exposure. Japan’s debt-to-GDP ratio of roughly 250% has placed long-term pressure on the yen, which continues to depreciate as monetary expansion is used to finance government deficits. For companies borrowing in yen, this creates a unique dynamic: liabilities lose real value over time when measured against harder assets…
Exchange cites strategic reassessment as local fiat on-ramps wind down amid regulatory and market uncertainty Coinbase will pause its peso-based services in Argentina just one year after launching in the country, marking a notable shift in its Latin American strategy. The move affects local fiat access but leaves core crypto trading functions intact. Beginning January 31, 2026, Argentine users will no longer be able to buy or sell USDC using pesos or withdraw funds to local bank accounts. Customers have a 30-day window to complete peso-based transactions before the cutoff. Importantly, crypto-to-crypto trading will remain operational, and customer funds are…