World Liberty Financial, the crypto initiative backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has acquired another $10 million worth of Ethereum (ETH).

The World Liberty wallet has been actively purchasing tokens in recent weeks, with the latest acquisition on January 27th adding 3,247 ETH to its holdings.

World Liberty Buys The Dip
According to Arkham, the 3,247 ETH was acquired via the Cow Protocol. This purchase, following the $47 million in ETH bought shortly after Trump was inaugurated as U.S. President. This brings the total Ethereum holdings for World Liberty Financial to a whopping 59,265 ETH, valued at around $185 million.

The purchase came amid a broader market dip, as BTC fell below $100,000 on Monday, reaching lows near $97,900, as markets reacted negatively to the launch of DeepSeek. The sell-off wiped out nearly $1 billion in crypto positions, with World Liberty Financial taking advantage of the dip to buy.

Expanding Portfolios

Overall, World Liberty recently saw its crypto portfolio soar to over $381 million. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy added over $1 billion in Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 471,107 BTC.

In addition to the $185 million in ETH, it holds more than $65 million in Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), over $60 million in Lido Staked ETH (STETH), and $33 million in USDC stablecoins, along with USDT, LINK, AAVE, ENA, and other tokens.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has partially won in its case against Kraken, with a California judge rejecting the argument put forth by the exchange that Congress has not given the SEC authority over cryptocurrencies.

The SEC has targeted several crypto exchanges, while also forming a crypto task force under Commissioner Hester Peirce to develop regulations for digital assets.

Invalid Defense

On January 24th, Judge William Orrick ruled that the Major Questions Doctrine Defense presented by Kraken was invalid, stating that the SEC was not claiming powers beyond what Congress intended.

The doctrine suggests government agencies cannot use powers not explicitly granted by Congress. Other crypto firms, including Coinbase, Ripple, and Binance, have used this defense in their battles with the SEC.

An Ongoing Battle

However, Judge Orrick allowed the Fair Notice Defense presented by the cryptocurrency exchange to remain, as Kraken plausibly argued it was not properly informed that its actions violated the law.

The SEC sued Kraken in November 2023, accusing the exchange of operating as an unregistered securities exchange since 2018. Kraken filed a motion to dismiss the case but was denied in August 2023, and the case is currently ongoing.

Recent data by CloverPool showed that the Bitcoin (BTC) mining difficulty underwent an adjustment at block height 880,992 on January 27th, 2025, at precisely 11:22 (UTC+8). This latest recalibration saw a decrease of 2.12%, bringing the mining difficulty down to 108.11 T.

This also marks the first reduction in Bitcoin mining difficulty since late September 2024, highlighting a shift in mining conditions after months of upward adjustments.

Lower Difficulty

The mining difficulty is a crucial metric in the Bitcoin network, as it ensures that blocks are mined at a consistent rate despite fluctuations in the total network hash rate. The decline in difficulty can be attributed to a decrease in the overall computational power dedicated to mining.

Currently, the average network hash rate stands at 2.61 ZH/s, which represents the total computational power deployed across the network. This lower difficulty could provide temporary relief to miners, especially those with less powerful hardware, as it will make it somewhat easier to mine new blocks.

Stability Is Key

Despite the lower difficulty, it remains to be seen whether the new adjustment signals a broader trend or is just a short-term fluctuation in mining dynamics. Bitcoin mining and its difficulty is based on several factors including electricity cost, equipment efficiency, and more.

The adjustment is also a key aspect of the self-regulation system, ensuring the block generation time remains stable at approximately every 10 minutes, regardless of how much hash rate is contributed by miners.

The launch of a new meme coin called Runes on Solana (SOL) has sparked a dramatic series of events that have kept investors on edge.

X Account Suspended

Created by Runetoshi, the token made an explosive debut, reaching an eye-popping market value of $28 million just after its release. However, the euphoria was short-lived, as a sudden and sharp sell-off triggered a steep decline in its market value, with Runes plummeting to a mere $500,000 within hours, leaving many investors scrambling to salvage their positions.

Adding to the drama, the official Runetoshi X (Twitter) account was unexpectedly suspended, further fueling doubts and raising serious questions about the credibility of the project. Naturally, the suspension of such a key communication channel was seen by many as a red flag.

Risky Business

This rollercoaster of price movements and the mysterious suspension of the X account serve as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of meme coins. These tokens, often driven by hype and speculation, can be incredibly unpredictable, but the brief and intense journey of Runes highlights the risks involved in investing in such projects.

For many, the rise and fall of Runes may be a cautionary tale about the dangers of jumping into highly hyped, but unproven, tokens. As investors and observers continue to watch the fallout, the future of Runes remains uncertain, leaving many to question whether it can recover or fade into obscurity like so many other meme coins before it.

The current trajectory of SUI shares similarities with the 2017 Bitcoin (BTC) bull run, with both showing sharp rallies followed by consolidation phases.

Strong Buying Momentum

The 2017 uptrend had plenty of price jumps following a bull flag pattern, signaling strong buying momentum. Similarly, SUI is forming higher lows within an ascending channel, indicating an accumulation phase typical of early bull markets.

The $4 level is critical for SUI to maintain its bullish outlook, as it aligns with the Fair Value Gap (FVG). Holding above this level could drive the token toward new highs, similar to what BTC did in 2017. However, a drop below $4 could trigger a pullback. If SUI maintains momentum, it could reach the $10-$20 range, reflecting past resistance zones that could turn into new support.

50M Accounts

SUI reaching 50 million accounts highlights its rapid growth, which could impact its token price through increased adoption. Platforms with expanding user bases attract more developers, leading to higher token demand.

In the short term, this growth could lead to speculative trading, pushing SUI higher. Long-term, continued growth and scalability will be essential for sustained upward momentum. However, any scalability issues could hinder this expansion.

Meanwhile, top SUI NFT collections include Egg ($4.3M market cap), Rootlets ($3.7M), and Prime Machin ($2.6M). Smaller collections like DeLorean and DoubleUp sit around $1.06M. This market cap diversity shows strong interest in the SUI NFT sector, mirroring the 2021 NFT boom.

Amerany raised $2M in Series A Funding. Amerany is a DeFi staking platform offering secure, flexible staking across blockchains to maximize returns.

SignalPlus secured $11M in Series B Funding with support by AppWorks and OKX Ventures. SignalPlus provides comprehensive crypto options pertaining to pricing, analytics, liquidity aggregation and multi-vendor connectivity that satisfies the needs of professional traders, all free of charge.

Arctic Pablo obtained $330K through an Initial Coin Offering. Arctic Pablo transforms digital cash into a quest of discovery through mystical landscapes and new possibilities.

Nexity Network acquired $8.2M in Seed Funding with assistance by Rollman Management. Nexity Network replaces outdated, manual processes with seamless automation, improving compliance, speed, and cost-efficiency.

GRVT raised $5M in Venture Funding with support by Further Ventures. GRVT is the first regulated DEX worldwide that operates as a self-custodial CEX. It aims to enable anyone to buy, sell, trade, and invest in financial products, leveraging smart contracts to ensure self-custody, scalability, and security.

SONEX secured $1M in Seed Funding with support by Outliers Fund. By reconstructing the entire DeFi framework on Soneium, SONEX has meticulously analyzed the shortcomings of both traditional finance and previous DeFi iterations.

Oshi obtained $12.5M in Seed Funding with assistance by Polychain and Superscrypt. Oshi is an open animation platform that unites creators and fans to forge global anime hits within a blockchain-powered ecosystem.

MultiPlan acquired $4.5B in Post-IPO Debt Funding. MultiPlan strives to make healthcare more transparent, fair, and affordable for all.

Phantom raised $150M in Series C Funding with support by Paradigm and Sequoia Capital. Phantom is a crypto wallet that facilitates the buying, trading, and storing of cryptocurrencies, tokens, and NFTs.

GTE secured $10M in Seed Funding. GTE is a decentralized trading platform that offers end-to-end trading services.

Ethereum (ETH) is preparing for its highly-anticipated Pectra upgrade, aimed for mid-March 2025, which will enhance the overall speed, efficiency, and scalability of the network.

Key Details

The upgrade will streamline transactions, allowing users to approve and swap tokens in one smooth step, while increasing the reward cap for validators to 2,048 ETH, easing network workload. Pectra will also improve data processing capabilities, allowing Ethereum to handle more transactions and reduce fees.

In addition, it will enable validators to withdraw funds directly through the Ethereum execution layer, making staking pools more trustless. Smart contract communication will become more efficient, and several architectural updates will improve block hash management, validator deposit systems, and committee index management.

A Crucial Step Forward

The Pectra upgrade addresses various scalability challenges that Ethereum is known for and could boost investor confidence, potentially increasing the price of ETH.

With a rising leverage ratio hinting at a potential breakout between $3,200 and $3,500, the technical improvements of the upgrade could contribute to more sustainable market growth, though any delays may dampen optimism.

Still, the upgrade is on track with updated client software scheduled for release by February 3rd, 2025, and testnets Sepolia and Holesky upgrading in mid-February, with the mainnet set for March 11th, 2025.

Pectra marks a crucial step for the evolution of Ethereum, helping it become a more scalable and user-friendly blockchain.

The recent Bitcoin (BTC) rally stalled on Friday at $107,000, with the price dropping around $3,000 afterward. Most altcoins were also in the red this week, with SOL, ADA, DOGE, and LINK among the biggest losers.

BTC Drops To $104K
The crypto world was focused on the Trump inauguration in the beginning of the week, with Bitcoin experiencing wild price swings. It fell sharply on Monday morning but surged past $109,000 shortly after.

However, after Trump ignored crypto in his speech entirely, Bitcoin dropped $5,000 in minutes. It bounced back to stay above $100,000 but fell to just over $104,000 after hitting $107,000. The market cap of Bitcoin is now $2.06 trillion, with a dominance of 55.5%.
Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) has dropped below $3,300, while XRP is trying to recover. SOL, SUI, and LINK saw losses up to 6%. The biggest loser however was TRUMP, down over 20% to under $28. The overall crypto market cap has lost $80 billion, now sitting at $3.720 trillion.

Other Markets

Stocks surged on the first trading day of 2025, marking the biggest gain since 2018. The U.S. economy remained relatively stable, supporting the interest rate hold. Still, risk assets are becoming a safe haven in a volatile debt market.

In China, a cold snap threatens power supplies as demand surges, as cocoa prices are set to rise following an Africa-Indonesia freight deal, and Ghana posted a record trade surplus of $5 billion thanks to a gold surge.

On the geopolitical front, Ukraine is ready to transit gas through Azerbaijan. Lastly, Argentinian President Milei, continues to impress after unexpected victories but it remains to be seen how he will  handle greater challenges as the year progresses.

Ripple (XRP) scored major wins this month with its pro-altcoin lobbying in the U.S., successfully removing Bitcoin (BTC) in executive orders signed by President Trump and halting two efforts to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Ripple Succeeds

Globally, Ripple is advancing stablecoin projects and using its technology for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilots. Chris Larsen, Jed McCaleb, and Brad Garlinghouse became billionaires through XRP sales and have launched several pro-altcoin initiatives.

One success was delaying Senator Cynthia Lummis and her bill proposing a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, while Trump signed an executive order to instead form a committee designed to study all kinds of digital assets, opening doors for XRP inclusion.

Not Just Bitcoin

Many crypto companies criticized the fact that Bitcoin was getting all of the attention whereas it is only one aspect of the crypto industry. This led to Ripple successfully replacing the concept of a BTC Strategic Reserve with a National Digital Asset Stockpile.

The U.S. Treasury has also been advised against buying BTC, leaving the possibility of a BTC reserve dependent on Congress. Meanwhile, an anti PoW (Proof-of-Work) campaign launched by Chris Larsen is also gaining traction in 2025, with Ripple supporting initiatives like The Digital Dollar Project.

David Balland, the co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped alongside his wife, Amadine, early on Tuesday morning. Thankfully, both were eventually rescued, but only after enduring unbelievable hardship.

A Traumatizing Experience

The kidnappers entered the home of David and Amadine in Vierzon, France, earlier this week. The kidnappers knew that David was heavily involved in the creation of Ledger, which is one of the biggest and most well-known companies specializing in crypto asset storage devices. In 2023, Ledger secured $104 million in funding, according to Bloomberg.
Over 230 law enforcement officers were involved in tracking down the kidnappers, who demanded a $10 million ransom to be paid in cryptocurrency. Authorities eventually located Balland on Wednesday evening in a remote house near Châteauroux after tracing the GPS signal of a suspicious vehicle. He was found injured, with visible signs of beatings and part of his finger missing.

Arrests Made

After David was found, Amadine was also later discovered bound but unharmed in the back of a van in Essonne. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau informed the press that the kidnappers had severed the aforementioned finger and sent it to as part of their ransom demand. So far, ten individuals have been arrested in connection with the abductions.

This was an exceptionally intricate case, Gen. Ghislain Réty said during a press conference on Thursday night, as reported by The New York Times. Beccuau also stated that a portion of the ransom has been paid, adding that almost all of it has been tracked, frozen, and seized.

The Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E) has faced a rocky start, but unexpected support is coming by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

While Warren disagrees with Elon Musk and his cost-cutting proposals, especially regarding essential programs like Medicare, she remains open to collaborating with him to reduce government spending in other areas.

Warren Chimes In

Senator Warren sent Musk a letter with 30 recommendations to help D.O.G.E cut $2 trillion over the next decade. Her ideas include closing corporate tax loopholes, renegotiating defense contracts, and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

Warren believes the federal government could save up to $200 billion by renegotiating defense contracts, based on a 2011 report showing inflated prices. Musk has not yet responded, but past online tensions between him and Warren, including a 2021 exchange where she accused him of freeloading, suggest that her suggestions might face resistance.

D.O.G.E Struggles

A previous key figure for D.O.G.E, Vivek Ramaswamy, has left to pursue a political career, specifically to run for governor of Ohio. A spokesperson confirmed that his departure was in fact due to his political ambitions and not any personal issues with Elon.

Still, D.O.G.E has already faced several legal challenges and skepticism about Musk and his ability to meet his ambitious spending cut targets. He recently stated that the $2 trillion goal was a best-case scenario and that a more realistic target might be half that amount.

The Tesla CEO is also consulting tech leaders to explore ways to eliminate waste, with suggestions including significant cuts to the federal workforce, something Musk has experience with through layoffs at his own companies like Tesla and SpaceX.

Semler Scientific plans to raise $75 million through a private offering of convertible senior notes to increase its Bitcoin (BTC) holdings, following a $29 million unrealized gain.

A Viable Strategy

On January 23rd, Semler reported its fourth-quarter earnings, revealing an unrealized gain of $28.9 million through 2,321 BTC, now valued at $241 million. The company purchased 237 BTC on January 13th, increasing its total holdings.

CEO Doug Murphy-Chutorian said the team is excited to continue executing its Bitcoin strategy. Semler initially bought Bitcoin in May, and its stock surged by 30% after the first purchase of 581 BTC. The funds will also reportedly support other corporate activities.

A Mixed Bag

The fourth-quarter revenue for Semler is projected between $12.1 million and $12.5 million, with operating income estimated at $3.4 million to $3.7 million. Despite a 1.55% drop in share price on January 23rd, Semler saw its stock rise 38% over the past year, though still below its October 2021 high.

Other companies, including MicroStrategy, have also adopted Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategies. MicroStrategy now holds 461,000 BTC, valued at $48 billion, the largest Bitcoin holding among public firms. Semler ranks 13th.