Gate.io Launches INIT Perpetual Contract Pre-trading

**Bithumb Uncovers $201.8M in Dormant Crypto Assets Across 2.6M Accounts** On January 2, South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb revealed over $20 million in customer assets across approximately 2.6 million accounts were dormant. The disclosure is part of the exchange’s dormant asset recovery push targeting users inactive for over a year (no logins or trades). Bithumb stated total balances in inactive accounts hit roughly 291.6 billion South Korean won (≈$201.8 million), with some tagged accounts dormant for more than a decade. The largest single dormant holding is ~$2.84 million, while the longest dormancy period clocks in at 4,380 days (nearly 12 years). Some inactive holdings have seen returns exceeding 61,000% (≈610x)—pointing to early crypto adopters who joined during the market’s first boom but never came back. The exchange plans to directly notify eligible customers and help recover their accounts, framing the move as part of broader customer protection efforts, including

On January 2nd, per Onchain Lens monitoring, a whale wallet deposited an additional 2 million USDC into the Lighter platform to boost its LIT holdings. As of now, the wallet holds 2.45 million LIT—purchased over the past two days at an average price of $2.46, for a total cost of $6.03 million.

On January 2nd, CryptoOnchain shared on social media that the 14-day moving average of ETH’s Taker Buy/Sell ratio on Binance hit 1.005—its highest level since July. A ratio above 1 signals active buying pressure outpacing selling pressure in the market. Notably, this trend emerged while ETH prices remain relatively muted. Historically, sustained taker buy dominance has often preceded a rise in bullish volatility. Should this level hold, it could support price recovery efforts—though additional confirmation signals are still required.

**U.S. Tariff Delay Brief** Former President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday (Jan. 2) to delay tariffs on upholstered furniture, cabinets, and bathroom cabinets for one year amid ongoing trade talks, offering a buffer for American home consumers and businesses. The order retains the 25% tariffs on these goods (imposed last September) but pushes back the 30% tariff on upholstered furniture and 50% tariffs on cabinets/bathroom cabinets to Jan. 1, 2027—extending the reprieve by another year. Source: Golden Finance

Alternative data shows the Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit 28 on January 2nd—up from 20 the day prior—shifting the market from "Extreme Fear" to "Fear." Note: The index ranges from 0 to 100, with components including: - Volatility (25%) - Market Volume (25%) - Social Media Hype (15%) - Market Surveys (15%) - Bitcoin’s market dominance (10%) - Google Trends Analysis (10%)

On January 2nd, CryptoOnchain tweeted that Ethereum saw a massive influx of ETH into Binance, with net inflows surging to 24,500 ETH—marking the highest level since July. Significant net inflows like this typically signal more ETH moving to the exchange, often a sign of upcoming selling pressure. This could mean whales are gearing up to sell, or traders are adjusting positions for derivative hedging. ETH is currently consolidating around $2,980, and a rise in exchange supply could cap short-term upside potential. Historically, similar inflow surges have often coincided with higher volatility or a downtrend. Overall, the current setup still leans bearish short-term, so long position holders should stay cautious.