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The recent behavior of USDT in Venezuela has caught the attention of the local crypto market. In the last 24 hours, the price of the stablecoin issued by Tether fell below 500 bolívares in P2P operations for the first time since December. This setback occurs in a context of economic adjustments and expectations of greater supply of foreign currency following recent political changes.

The fall in the price of USDT has reopened the debate among users and analysts: Is it a genuine stabilization of the exchange rate or a temporary bubble driven by expectations that have yet to materialize? The movement, although relevant, coexists with a sustained increase in prices of basic goods.

The Department of Justice charged a Venezuelan citizen this week for allegedly using cryptocurrency exchanges in a $1 billion money laundering scheme.

According to the complaint, the funds were moved in and out of the United States. The exit destinations included 'high-risk' jurisdictions such as Colombia, China, Panama, and Mexico.

Prosecutors detail the routing of crypto funds in several steps

According to court records, Jorge Figueira, 59 years old and of Venezuelan nationality, is accused of using multiple bank accounts, accounts at cryptocurrency exchanges, private cryptocurrency wallets, and shell companies to move and launder illicit funds across borders.

BRL1 Network has announced the listing of the stablecoin BRL1 on the exchanges OKX and Kraken, expanding the presence of the Brazilian real in the international crypto asset market. This measure marks the beginning of direct trading of the digital currency in dollars, an important step for the circulation of the real outside its local environment.

The project is developed by a consortium formed by Bitso, Foxbit, Mercado Bitcoin, and Cainvest. The initiative aims to provide infrastructure that connects the real with the digital economy, facilitating operations between the traditional financial system and the crypto ecosystem.

The debate over whether Bitcoin could collapse in the long term has intensified again following statements by Justin Bons, founder and chief investment officer of Cyber Capital. According to his analysis, the leading cryptocurrency faces structural risks that could materialize within a horizon of 7 to 11 years if certain fundamental dilemmas of its economic design are not resolved.

Bons does not center his warnings on external threats like quantum computing, but rather on the internal sustainability of Bitcoin's security model. His vision has sparked debate among analysts, as it questions one of the historical pillars of the protocol: the incentives for miners.

On November 22, the third edition of DEXT FORCE was held at the Poble Espanyol in Barcelona, establishing itself as one of the most prominent events in Europe that unites Web3, blockchain, artificial intelligence, innovation, and electronic music in a single experience.

This format broke with the conventional model of corporate conferences and was presented as a space where entrepreneurs, investors, developers... come together to learn, connect, and create new business and community opportunities.

The city of São Paulo will host MERGE São Paulo 2026, a global conference on Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, from March 17 to 19, bringing together more than 5,000 participants and 300 speakers. The event will focus on the regulation of crypto assets, stablecoins, and blockchain infrastructure in Latin America.

The program includes the participation of institutions such as the Central Bank of Brazil, BNDES, Banco do Brasil, Santander, Itaú, Bradesco, BTG Pactual, and Visa, as well as international regulatory bodies like the National Securities Commission of Argentina, CNAD of El Salvador, and Banco de Crédito de Bolivia.

Welcome to another weekly summary of cryptocurrency news from BeInCrypto, we bring you the top 10 most relevant news from January 10 to 16, 2026. Instantly update the latest news on Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, FinTech, stock markets, disruptive technologies, geopolitics, macroeconomics, trading, and much more. Dive into the topics that seem most interesting to you.

BeInCrypto: The most important Bitcoin and cryptocurrency news of the week

Bitcoin in critical zone: Bull trap or legitimate rally?

The announcement of the alliance between BingX and Scuderia Ferrari HP marks a new chapter in the convergence between cryptocurrencies and elite sports. The collaboration not only represents BingX's debut in Formula 1, but also a strategic move within a broader trend: the growing presence of crypto companies in motorsport.

The sponsorship between BingX and Ferrari can be defined as a strategic alliance between a global crypto platform and one of the most iconic teams in motorsport, aimed at enhancing brand, innovation, and international reach. Below, the context and implications of this alliance are outlined.

CME Group, the largest derivatives market in the world, plans to list futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM). The start of trading is scheduled for February 9, depending on regulatory approval.

This movement brings regulated crypto derivatives to major altcoins, expanding institutional access. However, the announcement did not have a significant impact on the prices of ADA, LINK, or XLM.

CME Group expands its crypto product offering

CME Group announced this development in an official post on X (formerly Twitter). These new products will be available in both standard and micro sizes, aimed at institutional clients and retail traders.

The market is going through a week characterized by consolidation at high levels and internal rotations, with Bitcoin remaining the main reference of general sentiment. After sustaining high prices, the focus has shifted towards assets that are beginning to show more aggressive relative movements, both within the crypto market and in traditional assets.

In this context, it is especially relevant to analyze how Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dash, and silver behave, as they present different dynamics: from consolidation in high areas to clear directional accelerations. Below is the complete weekly analysis following the usual format.

The expiration of Bitcoin and Ethereum options is today focusing the attention of the crypto market, with contracts nearing $3 billion reaching their closure. This event occurs at a sensitive moment, just when prices are testing the strength of the recent bullish momentum and traders are evaluating whether the movement has solid foundations.

Bitcoin has managed to stay above relevant technical levels, while Ethereum continues in a consolidation phase. The behavior after the expiration could provide key clues about the direction of the market in the short term.

Bitcoin Zones in El Salvador are capturing international attention once again following the official announcement of two new developments to be added to existing projects. The initiative reinforces the country's strategy of integrating Bitcoin into its economy, combining technological innovation, capital attraction, and territorial development.

The announcement comes in a context where El Salvador maintains its firm stance on Bitcoin, despite external caution. The new zones promise to expand the reach of the crypto model beyond the already known projects.

Saving through Bitcoin payments at stores has ceased to be a futuristic idea in a coastal city in France. A local supermarket launched an initiative that allows customers to receive an immediate 20% discount when paying for their purchases with BTC, turning the cryptocurrency into a tangible incentive for daily spending.

The case is attracting attention because it combines direct savings, payment technology, and a long-term vision for digital money, in a context where crypto adoption in European retail is still limited.

Dash (DASH) has shown one of its strongest rallies in months, rising from $37 to nearly $80 in a short period. This movement reflects renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies and recent developments within its ecosystem.

Although momentum appears strong, some indicators suggest the rally might be entering a vulnerable phase.

DASH is poised for a trend reversal

Momentum indicators are showing cautionary signals. The altcoin's Money Flow Index is well within the overbought zone, indicating that buying pressure may be reaching its limit.

The increasingly strong rumors about the possible return of offensive midfielder Lucas Paquetá to Flamengo triggered an immediate reaction in the sports cryptoasset market.

The fan token of the Carioca club ($MENGO) recorded an impressive 13.7% increase, along with trading volume nearly doubling in 24 hours.

The transfer saga of Lucas Paquetá

Lucas Paquetá, developed in Flamengo's youth academy, is determined to return to Brazil after three years playing for West Ham. However, the English club resists negotiations: in a delicate situation in the Premier League – currently in 18th place with only 14 points – the Hammers aim to retain the Brazilian or at least maximize the value of his sale.

Polygon carried out a major internal round of layoffs, according to several people familiar with the matter. Industry experts told BeInCrypto that approximately 30% of the staff were laid off this week, although the company has not made any public announcement.

Meanwhile, reports are beginning to circulate on social media, with several employees and figures from the Polygon ecosystem posting about sudden departures and team changes. The company has not yet responded to requests for comments.

Ethereum has entered a critical phase after breaking a bullish pattern that had limited price action for nearly two months. ETH decisively surpassed a major resistance zone, confirming a new bullish momentum.

This technical breakout coincided with a historic increase in network participation, marking a significant moment in Ethereum's recovery.

Ethereum breaks 7-year record

Ethereum recorded a record of 447,000 new investors in a single 24-hour period. These new addresses represent wallets interacting with ETH for the first time. This milestone shows significant acceleration compared to recent trends, where daily new addresses had already exceeded 300,000 over the past week.

Litecoin (LTC) holders have not yet seen profits in 2026, as the price continues to be pressured by the massive sell-off from last October. However, looking at the broader trading picture, Litecoin shows several signals indicating a possible reversal.

Positive signals supporting the idea of a reversal include sustained whale trading activity and renewed interest in Litecoin.

How have whales dominated Litecoin (LTC) trading for over a year?

The cryptocurrency market is thriving once again thanks to regulations, and XRP has become the center of this debate. In his latest post, analyst Nick from NCashOfficial explains why the CLARITY Act classifies XRP as Bitcoin, but there's a threat that could represent a major opportunity for Ripple's token, yet also a serious threat to the entire crypto ecosystem. Additionally, while the provisions seem promising, the political backdrop casts doubt on the future of the bill.

In January 2026, the Ethereum ecosystem saw an increase in staking activity, with several indicators reaching all-time highs. These records may reduce liquid supply and help drive a potential price breakout.

Although the ETH price has remained below the $3,500 level for the past two months, analysts believe a breakout could be near thanks to these positive on-chain signals.

Nearly 36 million ETH locked, representing nearly 30% of the supply