Price Action:

• ⁠  ⁠Bitcoin: Up 1.5%, trading in a stable range. Bullish above 100,594; bearish toward 90,641.
• ⁠  ⁠Ethereum: Up 3%, facing resistance. Needs to clear 2,835; bearish if it drops to 2,496.
• ⁠  ⁠Notable Movers: TRUMP +27.7%, XRP +6.6%, WIF +24.3%, POPCAT +18.3%, SUI +6.3%.

Friday

• ⁠  ⁠UK and China Resume Diplomatic Dialogue – Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the first formal talks in seven years, discussing economic relations, human rights, and Hong Kong.
• ⁠  ⁠Labour Party’s Northern England Growth Plan Lacks Clarity – Analysts highlight that Labour’s strategy for economic growth in Northern England remains vague, calling for broader investment beyond already prosperous areas.
• ⁠  ⁠Elliott Management Warns of Crypto Bubble – The hedge fund cautions that the Trump administration’s enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies may be inflating a speculative bubble that could cause major disruption upon collapse.
• ⁠  ⁠Nick Robinson’s Social Media Account Hacked – BBC broadcaster Nick Robinson’s X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised, falsely announcing the launch of a new cryptocurrency, raising cybersecurity concerns.
• ⁠  ⁠Tether’s Use in Illicit Activities Under Scrutiny – The world’s most traded cryptocurrency is increasingly used for international crime due to its liquidity and anonymity, enabling large cross-border transactions without banking oversight.
• ⁠  ⁠Trump’s Executive Order on Digital Assets – President Trump signed an order evaluating the establishment of a national stockpile of digital assets, signaling a shift in U.S. federal crypto policy.

Thursday

• ⁠  BNB Chain’s BNB token and PancakeSwap’s CAKE surged by 9.3% and 35% respectively, despite Bitcoin (BTC) staying steady around $96,200. CAKE’s price has more than doubled in the past week, accompanied by a sharp rise in trading volume, reaching $1.1 billion in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.
• ⁠  Wall Street traders shrugged off hotter-than-expected inflation data, pushing stocks higher and bond yields lower amid signs that the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure may come in below forecasts. Most sectors in the S&P 500 advanced, led by megacap stocks, with Tesla Inc. and Nvidia Corp. gaining ground. Cisco Systems Inc. surged following a positive sales outlook, while Meta Platforms Inc. lost momentum after an 18-day winning streak.
• ⁠  Elon Musk has offered to withdraw his $97.4 billion bid for the nonprofit overseeing OpenAI if its board agrees to halt the company’s shift toward becoming a for-profit entity. This move intensifies his ongoing dispute with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
  

Wednesday

• ⁠  ⁠U.S. Inflation Rises to 3% – The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.5% in January, bringing the annual inflation rate to 3%, the highest since June.
• ⁠  ⁠Gold Eases from Record High – After reaching a record $2,942.70 per ounce, gold prices have slightly declined as investors await further U.S. economic data.
• ⁠  ⁠Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Decline – Bitcoin’s price has decreased by 1.85% to $94,904, while Ethereum has fallen by 1.45% to $2,597.39, reflecting a downturn in the cryptocurrency market.
• ⁠  ⁠Apple Shares Rise Amid Market Volatility – Apple Inc. shares have increased by 2.23% to $232.62, indicating investor confidence despite broader market fluctuations.
• ⁠  ⁠Microsoft and Alphabet Experience Slight Declines – Microsoft’s stock has dipped by 0.18% to $411.44, and Alphabet’s shares have decreased by 0.59% to $185.32, showing minor setbacks in the tech sector.
• ⁠  ⁠Cryptocurrency Industry Increases Political Influence – The crypto sector has significantly expanded its political presence, with federal lobbying spending reaching $21.6 million in 2022, aiming to shape favorable regulations.
• ⁠  ⁠Governments and Banks Embrace Bitcoin – Once skeptical, governments and financial institutions are now increasingly adopting Bitcoin, influenced by the U.S. administration’s crypto-friendly stance

Monday

• Dollar Strengthens as Gold Hits Record High – The dollar rallied while gold surged to an all-time high after Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs disrupted markets. U.S. stock futures signaled a rebound from Friday’s losses.
• Trump Media Ventures into Fintech – Trump Media announced the launch of Truth.Fi, a fintech platform focused on ETFs and cryptocurrencies.
• BitMart Releases ‘Crypto 2025 Outlook’ – A new report highlights key trends, including Bitcoin ETFs and the growth of real-world asset tokenization.
• Executive Order on Digital Financial Technology – President Trump signed an order prohibiting the establishment of a central bank digital currency while initiating a federal regulatory framework for digital assets.
• Digital Euro Project Advances – The European Central Bank moves forward with the digital euro, preparing for a public pilot before a potential 2025-2026 launch.
• Apple Shares Decline – Apple shares dropped 2.38% to $227.63 amid concerns over new U.S. tariffs and global trade uncertainty.
• Microsoft and Alphabet Stocks Slide – Microsoft fell 1.45% to $409.75, while Alphabet declined 3.27% to $185.34, reacting to geopolitical tensions.