The popular AI framework Virtuals Protocol will host an in-person meet-up in Hong Kong on Friday, January 17.

**January 13th: A 46-year-old woman in Kursk, Russia, fell victim to a "high-yield cryptocurrency investment" scam, transferring 28 million rubles (roughly $357,400) to the fraudster.** **Police say the scam spanned roughly a year. The suspect reached out to the victim via messaging apps, claiming to be based in an Arab country. Using cryptocurrency investments and emigration assistance as lures, the scammer persuaded her to download related apps and make repeated transfers.** **The victim sold three houses, a car, and gold bars, took out loans, and after exhausting her funds, the fraudster vanished. (Bitsmedia)**

January 13 — Nikkei News reports that Mitsui & Co. plans to launch Japan’s first digital security token backed by aircraft and vessels, via its digital asset subsidiary Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management. The offering is set to debut as early as fiscal 2026 (beginning April). Targeted at retail investors, it supports fractional asset investment, with a minimum subscription of ~￥100,000. Investors will earn income from aircraft and vessel leases.

Glassnode reported on January 13 that Bitcoin’s implied volatility has retreated to a low range, signaling the market expects only mild significant volatility over the next quarter and will likely return to a low-volatility state. This dynamic reflects limited short-term hedging demand and typically means prices will adjust more quickly if volatility reemerges, as positions shift in response to new information. Additionally, profit-taking activity among Bitcoin long-term holders has cooled to levels typical of a shallow bear market phase. This trend is usually tied to high uncertainty and often occurs during a bull market’s mid-term consolidation phase or the early stages of a deeper bear market.

January 13 (FXStreet) — New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said Monday he expects the U.S. economy to sustain healthy growth in 2026 and suggested there’s no near-term need to cut interest rates. Williams described himself as “quite optimistic” about the economic outlook. He projects 2026 U.S. GDP growth will land between 2.5% and 2.75%. For unemployment, he expects the rate to stabilize this year before declining in the years ahead. On inflation, Williams noted price pressures are likely to peak in the first half of this year at 2.75% to 3%, then ease to 2.5% for the full year. He forecasts inflation will return to the Fed’s 2% target by 2027.

Jan. 13 — President Trump said large U.S. tech companies must “bear the cost themselves” amid skyrocketing data center operating expenses. He noted Microsoft will be the “first,” with a “major change” from the firm expected this week. Analysts project Trump’s next target will be electricity prices.

January 13 – BlackRock has released its 2026 Global Outlook report, highlighting massive AI infrastructure investment driving the "micro is macro" trend, alongside challenges like rising leverage and the "diversification mirage." The firm maintains a pro-risk stance, overweighting U.S. stocks (notably AI-related names) and bullish on active investment opportunities. ### Three Core Themes 1. **Micro is Macro** A handful of firms dominate AI buildout, with capital expenditure (capex) on a scale to impact the global macroeconomy. Investment could hit $5–$8 trillion (2025–2030), boosting U.S. 2026 growth (investment contribution 3x historical average) even as the labor market cools. Uncertainty remains over whether revenue will match expenditure and how much flows back to tech giants. While AI may accelerate innovation, the report notes 150 years of major tech shifts haven’t broken the U.S.’s 2% long-term growth trend—but a "growth breakout" is now plausible. 2. **Leveraging Up**