Tom Lee: Gold And Silver Are ‘Sucking Oxygen’ Out Of Bitcoin, Ethereum

Fundstrat’s Tom Lee says the metals rally is “sucking oxygen” out of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and crypto markets, but predicts a surge for cryptocurrencies nonetheless.

Why Crypto Isn’t Rallying Despite Bullish Fundamentals

Lee said on CNBC on Monday that crypto prices are stuck despite improving fundamentals: it’s a simple case of money flowing to where the action is.

Gold crossed $5,000 and silver hit $110—the kind of massive moves that traders pile in to catch the momentum—money that would normally flow into crypto.

Many traders use borrowed money or options to amplify their bets.

When they’re doing that in gold and silver, they’re tying up their capital and can’t use it…

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Steak ’n Shake Adds $5 Million In Bitcoin Exposure

Steak ’n Shake has increased its Bitcoin exposure by an additional $5 million in notional value, continuing what the company calls its ongoing “burger-to-Bitcoin transformation.”

In a post on X, the restaurant chain said all Bitcoin-denominated sales continue to flow into its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), which it describes as a self-sustaining system designed to boost restaurant performance while expanding its BTC holdings.

“Our self-sustaining system — improving food quality that grows same-store sales that then grow the SBR — is transforming the chain via financial technology,” the company wrote.

The latest increase follows a $10 million BTC exposure…

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Bitcoin Braces For FOMC Interest Rate Decision: Is A Hawkish Surprise Coming?

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) remains range-bound around $88,000, but traders are bracing for potential volatility and downside risk.

Bitcoin And FOMC: A Complicated Story

Historically, Bitcoin has reacted negatively around FOMC meetings with around 9% drop the last time.

Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez noted that in 2025, BTC fell after seven of eight Fed decisions.

A 15% spike in May 2025 was the exception.

With January 2026 rate-cut odds extremely low (~2.8%), policy easing appears unlikely, keeping downside risks elevated.

FOMC weeks have consistently delivered higher volatility and post-announcement weakness, making caution essential.

First FOMC Of 2026: What Traders Are Watching

Trader Andrew…

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South Dakota Proposes Bill Allowing State To Buy Bitcoin

South Dakota Republican Rep. Logan Manhart has introduced House Bill 1155, a proposal that would permit the state to invest public funds in Bitcoin. 

The legislation, formally filed in the 101st Legislative Session, allows the State Investment Council to allocate up to 10% of state funds available for investment to BTC, marking a potential first for the state in adopting crypto as part of its investment strategy.

The bill outlines multiple options for holding BTC safely. State funds could be held directly by the Investment Council through a secure custody solution, entrusted to a qualified custodian, or acquired in the form of exchange-traded products (ETPs) issued by…

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US Probes $40M Crypto Heist By Federal Contractor’s Son

Members of the U.S. government are investigating allegations that tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency seized by law enforcement were stolen through insider access at a federal contractor, according to public statements from officials.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) confirmed to CoinDesk that it is investigating claims that more than $40 million in confiscated digital assets were siphoned from government-linked wallets. 

The allegations center on Command Services & Support (CMDSS), a Virginia-based technology firm contracted by the USMS to manage and dispose of certain categories of seized cryptocurrency.

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT alleged that John…

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39% Of U.S. Merchants Now Accept Crypto, Survey Finds

Crypto is no longer niche bar-talk. It has become a part of mainstream commerce in the United States.

A new survey conducted jointly by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) and PayPal reveals that nearly 4 in 10 U.S. merchants (39%) now accept digital assets at checkout, with overwhelming consensus that crypto payments will become a standard option within the next five years.

The survey, which polled 619 payment decision-makers across retail, e-commerce, hospitality, luxury goods, and digital gaming sectors, highlights customer demand as the primary driver of adoption. 

Nearly nine in ten merchants (88%) report receiving inquiries from customers about paying with…

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The First Meme To Hit $1? Neither Dogecoin, Nor Shiba Inu, Traders Say

Pudgy Penguins (CRYPTO: PENGU) has traded mostly flat over the past month, even as fundamental developments strengthen the meme coin’s longer-term outlook.

CryptocurrencyTickerPriceMarket Cap7-Day TrendPudgy Penguins(CRYPTO: PENGU)$0.009500$597.3 million-3.5%Dogecoin(CRYPTO: DOGE)$0.1222$20.6 billion-2.5%Shiba Inu(CRYPTO: SHIB)$0.057666$4.5 billion-1.9%

Trader Notes: Altcoin Sherpa said PENGU is not an attractive short at current levels, as it’s trading in a high-volume zone with relatively strong fundamentals.

He favours accumulation in the highlighted buy area, noting that while meme coin hype has cooled, PENGU could outperform when Bitcoin’s trend improves. Sherpa also disclosed he…

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Samourai Letter #3: Notes From The Inside

Dear Reader,

Since my last letter where I tried to explain the underground economy of FPC Morgantown I have been struggling to come up with an idea of what further information you may be interested in.

In modern life on the outside we are all so used to immediate feedback on everything we do. We write and publish an article and almost instantly comments start to roll in. You push to Twitter and the peanut gallery chimes in and has their say, and you as the content creator have an immediate idea of the general sentiment surrounding your work.

It takes some getting used to not having that modern feedback loop, but on the other hand it is quite liberating as well. All that said…

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Tether Launches USA₮ Stablecoin, But Banks May Not Like That, Analysts Warn – Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL)

Tether (CRYPTO: USDT) has launched USA₮, a federally regulated stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, but Standard Chartered warns stablecoins could drain $100 billion from U.S. bank deposits with the market reaching $301.4 billion.

USA₮: Built For The GENIUS Act

Tether launched USA₮ on Monday to comply with the GENIUS Act, the first nationwide framework governing stablecoins sold to U.S. users.

The law requires stablecoins offered to Americans to be issued by federally or state-qualified entities. That locked out USDT, Tether’s flagship token, forcing the company to create a separate U.S.-compliant version.

Bo Hines, former White House Crypto Council Executive Director, leads…

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Trump-Backed American Bitcoin ($ABTC) Now Holds 5,843 BTC

American Bitcoin, a miner backed by members of the Trump family, has increased its bitcoin reserves to roughly 5,843 BTC, placing it among the world’s largest corporate holders of the cryptocurrency.

The company said it achieved a bitcoin yield of about 116% from its Nasdaq debut on Sept. 3, 2025, through Jan. 25, 2026. Bitcoin yield measures growth in a firm’s bitcoin holdings over time, including coins mined or purchased, without accounting for capital raises.

With the latest increase, American Bitcoin ranks as the 18th-largest corporate holder of bitcoin, surpassing companies such as Nakamoto Inc. and GameStop Corp., according to company data.

Shares of American…

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