Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Rallying But Here’s Why Crypto Is A ‘Ghost Town’

Benjamin Cowen, founder and CEO of IntoTheCryptoverse, says the crypto market may be entering a prolonged “ghost town” phase as retail investors continue to exit and show little sign of returning in the near term.

What Happened: Cowen said retail participation was the primary driver of the major bull markets in 2017 and 2021.

While Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) rallied in 2025, he noted that the move was largely powered by institutional ETF inflows rather than broad-based retail demand.

According to Cowen, years of capital misallocation into scams and meme coins have damaged trust in the wider crypto ecosystem, leading to lasting retail disengagement.

Social engagement metrics support this view,…

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Chainlink Up 4%, ETF Launches As Senate Bill Drops: Can LINK Repeat The XRP Rally?

Chainlink (CRYPTO: LINK) is up 4% over the past 24 hours, and two fresh catalysts dropped this week that could push it higher: Bitwise’s spot Chainlink ETF launching on NYSE Arca under ticker CLNK, and a Senate Banking Committee draft bill Tuesday granting LINK the same commodity status as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC).

Bitwise Chainlink ETF Launches With Zero Fees For 3 Months

Bitwise received approval to list its spot Chainlink ETF on NYSE Arca, with trading expected to begin this week. 

The ETF offers a full fee waiver for the first three months covering up to $500 million in assets, dropping to a 0.34% management fee afterward.

The fund launched with $2.5 million in seed capital, equal to…

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MicroStrategy Trades Like A Bitcoin Fund — And Jan. 15 Could Bring A Market Jolt – Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR)

MicroStrategy Inc’s (NASDAQ:MSTR) stock doesn’t trade like a software company anymore — and Jan. 15 could force Wall Street to formally admit it.

The company has effectively reinvented itself as a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) balance-sheet vehicle, with its equity price now moving far more in sync with crypto than enterprise software fundamentals. That strategy has delivered eye-catching upside — but it’s also triggered a new and underappreciated risk: index classification.

When The Treasury Becomes The Business

At the center of the issue is MicroStrategy’s massive Bitcoin holdings, which now dominate its corporate identity. What began as a treasury hedge has evolved into the company’s primary…

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Rhode Island Reintroduces Bitcoin Tax Exemption Bill

Rhode Island lawmakers have introduced a bill that would temporarily exempt small-scale Bitcoin transactions from state income taxes, marking the second consecutive year legislators have proposed the measure as somewhat of a pilot program to reduce tax friction on everyday Bitcoin use.

Senate Bill S2021, introduced on January 9 by Senator Peter A. Appollonio and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, would create a limited income tax exemption for Bitcoin transactions conducted by Rhode Island residents and Rhode Island–based businesses. 

Under the proposal, Bitcoin sales or exchanges would be exempt from state income and capital gains taxes up to $5,000 per month, with a…

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Bitcoin At $95,000 As Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Jump 5% As ETF Inflows Surge

Bitcoin traded near $95,000 as overall market sentiment rose to a neutral reading of 52.

Bitcoin ETFs saw $753.7 million in net inflows on Tuesday, while Ethereum ETFs reported $130 million in net inflows.

It’s Time For Bitcoin!

Income Sharks noted that BTC has dipped below its difficulty-based valuation model only a few times in history, most notably near the $15,000 cycle low and again last April.

Each instance coincided with significant inflection points, suggesting either the model has failed or a sharp repricing move is approaching.

Crypto trader Jelle said Bitcoin’s reclaim of $95,000 after nearly two months of consolidation is constructive.

Holding above prior local highs could clear…

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Crypto Custodian Company BitGo Targets Nearly $2 Billion Valuation In NYSE IPO – Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL)

Cryptocurrency custodian company BitGo Holdings Inc. is aiming for a valuation of nearly $2 billion for its upcoming initial public offering.

Another Crypto Company On Wall Street?

The California-headquartered company and its existing shareholders will offer a combined total of roughly 11.8 million Class A shares, with each share priced between $15 and $17, per a Monday filing with the SEC.

Additionally, the company intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,770,000 shares of Class A common stock.

On the completion of the offering, the company will have 115,559,776 shares outstanding, including 8,855,382 shares of Class B common stock. At an…

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Ethereum Should Strive To Become ‘Cryptographically Safe’ For 100 Years, Says Vitalik Buterin: Resist The Trap Of ‘Ekeing Out More Efficiencies’ – Grayscale Ethereum Staking Mini ETF Shares (ARCA:ETH)

Vitalik Buterin called for the swift deployment of quantum-resistant technology for Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) on Monday, emphasizing its importance for long-term cryptographic safety.

Is Efficiency Worth Sacrificing For Security?

Buterin took to X to voice his concerns about delaying quantum resistance in the name of efficiency.

“We should resist the trap of saying ‘let’s delay quantum-resistance until the last possible moment in the name of eking out more efficiencies for a while longer,’” the cryptocurrency mogul argued.

Buterin noted that while individual users can choose whether to adopt the new standard, the implementation must happen at the protocol level.

“Being able to…

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Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Extend New Year Gains, But These Memecoins Have Stolen The Show In 2026 – Grayscale Ethereum Staking Mini ETF Shares (ARCA:ETH)

Memecoins rode the broader cryptocurrency market rally on Tuesday, extending their impressive run this year.

Memecoins Rejoice On Crypto Bill Progress

Frog-themed Pepe lifted over 18%, claiming the top spot among large-cap gainers. The Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)-based memecoin has rallied nearly 70% since the beginning of the year.

Solana (CRYPTO: SOL)-based Bonk (CRYPTO: BONK) followed Pepe with a 14% uptick, stretching its year-to-date returns beyond 56%.

Dogecoin, the world’s largest memecoin, joined in, rallying over 8% in the last 24 hours, while Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) lifted 5.80%. The two heavyweights are up more than 25% year to date.

CryptocurrencyGains +/-Price (Recorded at… Read more on Benzinga