A Whale Liquidated a $4.5 Million USD BTC Short Position, Profiting $84,900

On January 29, Investec analyst Ryan Djajasaputra noted that Powell’s messaging indicates the Federal Reserve isn’t in a rush to adjust policy in the near term. Powell emphasized current policy isn’t overly restrictive, while also pointing to the U.S. economy’s solid performance. Further, Powell explicitly stated the Fed wants to see more progress on inflation returning to its target. As commodity prices keep rising, Powell cited tariffs as the main driver of the upward pressure. Analysts see this as a clear signal the Fed could pause rate cuts, with the next 25-basis-point cut likely delayed until June. (FXStreet)

Jan. 29 — Geopolitical and economic rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expanding into gold trading, with Saudi Arabia planning to purchase gold from war-torn Sudan to erode the UAE’s longstanding dominance in Sudan’s gold exports. Sudan’s military government has historically sent most of its gold to the UAE. Official data shows the North African nation exported roughly 10.9 metric tons of gold (valued at $1.05 billion) in the first nine months of 2024, with the vast majority bound for the UAE. Ties soured last year, however: Sudan accused the UAE of meddling in its civil war, and the two countries severed diplomatic relations. Since then, Sudan has actively sought new export channels. The Sudanese state-owned Minerals Resources Company revealed Saudi Gold Refinery Company has informed Sudan’s government it is ready to “begin purchasing gold immediately.” Details on the scale or timing of transactions remain unannounced, and Saudi officials have not

On January 29, Bitcoin’s rebound toward $90,000 was rejected ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate meeting, pulling back into the $86,000-$90,000 range. Market analysts note the true bullish turning point hinges on reclaiming $93,000 and converting it into support. Technically, Bitcoin’s key resistance levels now sit around the 50-day moving average (≈$90,000) and 100-day moving average (≈$94,000). Analysts say a decisive break above $93,000 (and holding that level) would unlock upside potential, with a target of $98,000—signaling the end of the correction phase. On the capital front, outflows from Bitcoin spot ETFs are clearly cooling. Glassnode data shows the 30-day average ETF net flow has gradually returned to neutral, indicating easing institutional selling pressure. Still, the market leans more on support from existing spot holders than new institutional capital. Capriole data, meanwhile, reveals a sharp drop in corporate Bitcoin purchases—with only Strategy (form

On January 29, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released new guidance clarifying that security tokens—including tokenized stocks—still fall under existing U.S. securities laws, regardless of their technological form. Whether issued or registered on-chain or off-chain, federal securities rules (covering registration, disclosure, reporting, and anti-fraud requirements) continue to apply. The SEC stresses that a security’s **nature** takes precedence over its technological form: tokenization merely changes how the asset is issued and recorded, not its legal status. This gives issuers and asset management firms clearer compliance expectations, potentially encouraging more traditional financial institutions to explore security tokenization. The guidance also splits security tokens into two categories: 1. Directly backed and issued by the original security issuer; 2. Issued and backed by third-party institutions. Even if third-party tokens do not grant holders equ

On January 29th, Bitget market data shows mixed pre-market moves for major U.S. stock indexes: - The Dow was up 0.02%, - The Nasdaq rose 0.17%, - The S&P 500 dipped 0.01%. Cryptocurrency-related stocks also traded mixed in pre-market: - MSTR (-0.47%), - COIN (-0.84%), - HOOD (+0.30%), - SBET (-1.81%), - BMNR (-2.53%), - CRCL (-0.91%).

On January 29, Bybit CEO Ben Zhou said the crypto exchange plans to launch IBAN-based fiat accounts as early as February, supporting 18 fiat currencies. The move marks Bybit’s accelerated transition from a crypto exchange to a full-service financial provider with neobank capabilities. According to reports, the accounts will launch under the “MyBank” brand and be issued via partner institutions like Pave Bank (a licensed bank in Georgia, U.S.). Users will receive a personal IBAN for cross-border payments, transfers, and free fiat-crypto conversions—with U.S. dollars (USD) as the initial priority before expanding to other currencies. Related services require KYC compliance checks from Bybit and its partner banks, and the launch timeline hinges on regulatory approval progress. Zhou also noted that Bybit is developing real-world asset (RWA) tokenization custody products for banks and large institutions. The firm is evaluating U.S. market expansion and the potential for future U.S. li