A certain whale withdrew 6000 ETH from Kraken after 6 months of silence

**CoinDesk: Metaplanet Plans $137M Raise to Expand Bitcoin Holdings** On January 29, Japanese publicly traded firm Metaplanet announced it will raise $137 million to boost its Bitcoin holdings. The company currently holds 35,102 BTC, making it the fourth-largest publicly traded firm globally by Bitcoin holdings. This move underscores its ongoing commitment to the “Bitcoin Reserve” strategy and strong confidence in BTC’s long-term value.

January 29 — The UK House of Lords’ Financial Services Regulation Committee announced Monday it has officially launched a probe into stablecoin growth and proposed regulatory frameworks, inviting public written evidence submissions. The investigation will focus on these key areas: ? Global stablecoin market and issuance trends since 2014, including comparisons between the UK, U.S., and EU markets ? Future outlook, user base, and use cases for GBP-denominated stablecoins in the UK, plus the impact of current regulatory rules ? Opportunities and risks of GBP- and USD-denominated stablecoins for the UK economy, financial services industry, and retail users — including potential effects on monetary policy, traditional financial intermediation, and financial crime ? Implications of stablecoin growth for the statutory objectives of the Bank of England (BoE), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ? How the BoE and FCA’s proposed regulatory

On January 29, Moonbirds officially announced the launch of the BIRB token airdrop claim and Nesting 2.0. The team emphasized steering clear of any unofficial links to avoid phishing scams. Additionally, Moonbirds noted that due to a surge in traffic, servers are currently being scaled up. All SBT holders qualify for a claim quota, while top-tier Kato Yapper holders—plus holders of Moonbirds Mythics and Oddities NFTs—are also eligible for allocations.

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