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As it prepares for a potential IPO next year, Anchorage Digital is poised to raise between $200 million and $400 million. The company has claimed the money will help them grow and expand their services before share offerings begin publicly. Based in New York, the company provides custody and security services for digital assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Its subsidiary, Anchorage Digital Bank, made history as the first federally chartered digital-asset bank in the United States, giving it official regulatory recognition. Sources have said the company’s valuation has yet to be finalized. A spokesperson for Anchorage Digital declined to comment on fundraising efforts or IPO plans, citing their private nature. Anchorage to launch its own stablecoins Anchorage Digital Bank NA’s federal license allows it to issue stablecoins in the US under the GENIUS Act, which was signed into law in July. In September, the firm announced plans to partner with El Salvador-based Tether Holdings SA, the world’s biggest stablecoin issuer, to launch the USAT token for the US. Thus, stablecoins are pegged to the US dollar and are backed by real money or other assets held by the bank. As a result, stablecoins have gained popularity as consumers and businesses can use digital currency without the worries of sudden price changes. Anchorage announced a major partnership with Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin company, in September. The partnership has culminated in a new stablecoin, USAT Stablecoin for the U.S. Market. Nathan McCauley, the company’s chief executive, said Anchorage aims to expand its stablecoin team substantially over the next year. As digital dollars gain momentum and new regulations open up opportunities to develop innovative banking services. Anchorage’s stablecoins are secure, reliable, and in compliance with all existing laws and regulations, and the company plans to hire experts in technology, finance, and compliance to conduct that work. Anchorage’s foray into stablecoins is also part of a larger trend in the cryptocurrency world. In this context, real cryptocurrencies offer both the comfort and stability traditional currencies do — thus, financial institutions and investors are progressively looking to digital assets backed by real money. Anchorage expands despite market challenges According to Anchorage Digital, the year 2025 has been a year of growth for the company. That growth was achieved partly through acquisitions, new partnerships, and the launch of new services, including stablecoin issuance. Those moves aim to keep the company at the forefront of digital money for large investors and institutions. “2025 was our year of scale. We made a series of acquisitions, inked major partnerships, and launched new business lines like stablecoin issuance to solidify our lead in institutional crypto,” an Anchorage spokesperson said in a statement. The firm secured $350 million in funding from major investors, including KKR, Goldman Sachs, GIC, and Apollo, in late 2021. At that time, the company was valued at more than $3 billion. Even though cryptocurrency prices, including Bitcoin, dropped later in October, Anchorage is moving forward with fundraising. Many crypto companies are going public, and some, like Tether, are raising record amounts of money. Join a premium crypto trading community free for 30 days - normally $100/mo.

BitcoinWorld Bybit Opens BYUSDT to All Users After Successful VIP Launch DUBAI, UAE , Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit , the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is pleased to announce that BYUSDT is now retail-ready for eligible Bybit users. The proprietary token uniquely transforms USDT Flexible Easy Earn balances into a tokenized asset that functions as trading margin while continuing to generate yield. Before BYUSDT was made available to retail traders on Bybit, Bybit VIPs had had exclusive early-bird access since December 12, 2025. Now officially live for retail users on Bybit, BYUSDT enables users to deploy their funds for two purposes simultaneously: earning daily yield through USDT Flexible Easy Earn and powering margin trades through Bybit’s Unified Trading Account (UTA). The token maintains a 100 percent collateral value ratio for margin trading, allowing users to access liquidity without sacrificing returns. Bybit BYUSDT Key Features: Trade & Earn : 100% collateral value ratio for margin trading via UTA while continuing to earn Flexible Easy Earn yield Instant Access: 1-to-1 swap rate with USDT Flexible Easy Earn, with no lock-up periods and no depegging risk Zero Cost: No minting or redemption fees for a limited time post-launch Principle Protected: Funds 100% securely backed by Bybit Platform Service fees may apply when swapping or redeeming BYUSDT, including during yield conversion. However, manual USDT repayments in the UTA using BYUSDT and liquidation settlements incur no fee and convert 1-to-1 to USDT. “We are excited to open BYUSDT to retail traders. Now they can unlock a new level of capital efficiency and gain the freedom to earn yield while trading without compromise. We believe financial innovation like BYUSDT will inspire traders to rethink their asset deployment strategy on Bybit: this is where you could have it all,” said Jerry Li, Head of Financial Products and Wealth Management at Bybit . How It Works: Users can deposit USDT into Flexible Easy Earn to begin earning yield, then swap their Easy Earn assets to BYUSDT in their UTA for use as trading margin at any time. Rewards accrue hourly based on effective BYUSDT holdings and are distributed daily at approximately 12:30 a.m. UTC to the user’s UTA in BYUSDT. BYUSDT is available to users eligible for Bybit Savings services who have UTAs and have completed Identity Verification Level 1. Islamic Accounts and accounts with active institutional loans are not supported. Various restrictions apply. Full terms and conditions are available here . #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #IMakeIt About Bybit Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com . For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube This post Bybit Opens BYUSDT to All Users After Successful VIP Launch first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

Geneva, Switzerland, January 15, 2026 — TRON DAO , the community-governed DAO dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet through blockchain technology and decentralized applications (dApps), announced today that MetaMask has launched native TRON support across both its mobile and browser extension platforms. Through this integration, TRON’s reliable and accessible blockchain infrastructure becomes available within MetaMask’s multichain self-custody experience, enabling users to seamlessly manage digital assets on the TRON network and interact with native TRON dApps all within one of the most widely used crypto wallets developed by Consensys . The native TRON support delivers a unified experience that allows seamless swaps between TRON, EVM, Solana, and Bitcoin networks within the MetaMask wallet. Users can connect directly to their favorite TRON dApps, send USDT seamlessly, stake TRX and manage digital assets with fast, secure, and low-cost transactions without the need for additional wallets or complex workflows. With TRON’s high-performance blockchain now available on MetaMask, users gain a more flexible, intuitive gateway to Web3 that reduces the friction of connecting to the networks they rely on most. “The TRON native integration into MetaMask significantly broadens access to a blockchain that processes more than $21 billion in daily stablecoin transfer volume,” said Sam Elfarra, Community Spokesperson at the TRON DAO. “This integration empowers more users worldwide to interact with TRON’s growing ecosystem directly through a familiar wallet environment, supporting real-world payment and DeFi use cases at scale.” “As we continue expanding MetaMask’s multichain capabilities, native TRON integration represents another milestone in our multichain expansion strategy, joining Solana and Bitcoin as non-EVM networks now accessible through a unified interface.” said Rizvi Haider, Staff Product Manager at MetaMask. “This integration meets users where they are as we continue to move closer to delivering a truly universal gateway to the decentralized economy.” TRON has emerged as a core settlement layer for global stablecoin activity, with millions of active accounts and daily transactions across high-growth regions including Asia, Latin America, Africa and more. By combining TRON’s proven blockchain infrastructure and stablecoin user base with MetaMask’s industry-leading wallet technology, this collaboration lowers barriers of entry and puts decentralized finance within reach across emerging and established markets worldwide. Read more about TRON’s integration with MetaMask on their blog at: https://metamask.io/news/tron-on-metamask-trx-wallet. About TRON DAO TRON DAO is a community-governed DAO dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet via blockchain technology and dApps. Founded in September 2017 by H.E. Justin Sun, the TRON blockchain has experienced significant growth since its MainNet launch in May 2018. Until recently, TRON hosted the largest circulating supply of USD Tether (USDT) stablecoin, which currently exceeds $81 billion. As of January 2026, the TRON blockchain has recorded over 359 million in total user accounts, more than 12 billion in total transactions, and over $25 billion in total value locked (TVL), based on TRONSCAN. Recognized as the global settlement layer for stablecoin transactions and everyday purchases with proven success, TRON is “Moving Trillions, Empowering Billions.” TRONNetwork | TRONDAO | X | YouTube | Telegram | Discord | Reddit | GitHub | Medium | Forum Media Contact Yeweon Park [email protected] About Consensys Consensys is the leading Ethereum software company, building the infrastructure, tools, and protocols that power the world’s largest decentralized ecosystem. Founded in 2014 by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, Consensys has played a foundational role in Ethereum’s growth, from pioneering products like MetaMask, Linea and Infura to shaping protocol development and staking infrastructure. With a global product suite and deep roots across the ecosystem, Consensys is uniquely positioned to accelerate Ethereum’s role as the trust layer for a new global economy. Website | Twitter | LinkedIn Media Contact [email protected]

Visa partnered with BVNK to enable stablecoin payments on Visa Direct, as U.S. regulation advances and institutional adoption grows.

Regulated stablecoins, including USDC, may create a new layer of financial settlement, announced Circle in its latest report. Stablecoins may bring Internet innovation to money, similar to the upgrades in data, media, and other industries. USDC serves as the sound money layer of the internet, according to Circle’s latest report on stablecoins. The company, which is one of the fast-growing fintech and crypto apps for 2025, believes stablecoins will reshape businesses and institutions. Circle believes stablecoins will form a hybrid layer between traditional finance and on-chain infrastructure. Some regulated stablecoins may help with siloed or fragmented liquidity. Stablecoins may be adopted even more widely by banks, payment companies, corporations, and institutions. The state of Wyoming recently distributed its FRNT stablecoin for trading, while other entities are preparing to either adopt existing tokens or launch their own brand. USDC grew its market share in 2025 USDC was aggressively minting new tokens in 2025, boosting its presence on multiple networks. The stablecoin expanded its market share each quarter, reaching 29% at the end of the year. In terms of transfer volumes, USDC carries around 40% of value, remaining the second-biggest player on the stablecoin market after USDT. USDC expanded both its transaction activity and value transfers in the past year. | Source: Circle Reports Circle also launched several stablecoins denominated in other currencies. EURC is the leading asset, growing its supply more than eight times following the launch of MiCA regulation in 2024. Circle was one of the stablecoin issuers to benefit from the new regulations, as its tokens were adopted on multiple frameworks for EU users. Circle to launch the Arc payment infrastructure Circle is going beyond being a plain issuer of stablecoins, instead building a new financial infrastructure. Circle is preparing to launch Arc, a scalable blockchain and a native infrastructure for payments. Circle will compete with other chains like Polygon, which are also creating dedicated payment rails. The chain will also compete with Tether’s Plasma, a dedicated stablecoin network. Arc may move beyond payments and into capital formation, contracts, and payroll coordination. Arc will transfer stablecoins, but also turn into an entire economic operating system. Arc will use USDC to pay transaction fees, requiring even simple asset ownership. The chain will also use deterministic finality instead of node coordination for increased security and compliance with financial standards. Arc has been running as a testnet since October 2025 and is already spread across the major regions for on-chain activity. Circle enters a market with accelerating competition, where fintech apps and on-chain payment channels are consolidating. The trend includes leading apps like Revolut, as well as smaller on-chain native stablecoin hubs and wallets. Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.

ClearBank has selected digital asset infrastructure firm Taurus to support its expansion into stablecoin-related services, as the UK clearing bank looks to broaden its payments and digital asset offering for clients. The partnership centres on ClearBank using Taurus-PROTECT as its wallet infrastructure provider. The fintech said the setup is designed to help it deliver digital asset services that are secure, scalable, and compliant, as it develops its wider digital asset strategy. ClearBank said its initial focus is on stablecoins. Stablecoins move closer to everyday banking Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to assets such as fiat currencies or gold. They have become a core part of crypto markets, widely used as payment rails and as a tool to move funds across borders. Tether’s USDT is currently the largest stablecoin by market value, followed by Circle’s USDC. Their adoption has supported broader stablecoin growth at a time when more financial institutions are looking at blockchain-based settlement rails for practical, real-world transactions. ClearBank’s move comes as stablecoins are increasingly framed around payment efficiency rather than trading activity alone, with banks and fintech firms exploring ways to link traditional accounts and rails to tokenised value transfers. ClearBank links wallet infrastructure with Circle Mint access As part of the Taurus integration, ClearBank will gain access to Taurus-PROTECT’s connectivity with Circle Mint. Circle’s platform allows financial institutions to mint and redeem MiCAR-compliant USDC and EURC. ClearBank said the Taurus-PROTECT setup will support its goal of offering stablecoin-related services while keeping the services aligned with compliance requirements expected in institutional environments. Taurus-PROTECT sits within Taurus’ broader digital asset infrastructure platform built for banks and financial institutions, covering custody and management of cryptocurrencies, tokenised assets, and other digital instruments across different regulatory and operating models. Circle Payment Network adds a second stablecoin rail The Taurus agreement follows ClearBank’s recent announcement that it plans to join the Circle Payment Network, which aims to enable near-instant global value transfers using blockchain-based rails. ClearBank said bringing together traditional payment infrastructure with stablecoin technology could help improve efficiency and reduce costs for use cases such as corporate payments and international remittances. The stablecoin market has also continued to expand. Total stablecoin market capitalisation climbed past the $300 billion mark in 2025, up roughly 50% year over year. Growth has been supported by the adoption of major tokens such as USDT and USDC, and by regulatory clarity, such as the US GENIUS Act, which encourages institutional participation. Taurus partnership fits ClearBank’s digital asset strategy. ClearBank said its deal with Taurus is part of a broader digital asset strategy, with stablecoins positioned as the starting point for new services. Taurus-PROTECT is being used specifically as wallet infrastructure, giving ClearBank a foundation to offer digital asset services in a way designed to meet security, scalability, and compliance expectations. In its announcement, ClearBank said the arrangement is intended to help it introduce new services while continuing to expand its payments capabilities alongside developments in blockchain-based value transfer. The post ClearBank picks Taurus for stablecoin wallet services in UK payments push appeared first on Invezz

VanEck says that clearer fiscal and monetary signals are making investors more willing to take risks in 2026, bullish for the crypto market.

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, British Virgin Islands – 13 January, 2026 – Bitfinex (https://www.bitfinex.com/), a premier digital asset trading platform, announced today that it will list RLS, the utility token of Rayls , a blockchain infrastructure project designed to support both public and permissioned networks for financial institutions. RLS serves as the core utility token of the ecosystem. Transaction fees paid by institutional users must be settled exclusively in RLS. As Rayls explains , institutions currently acquire RLS through a foundation-operated SWAP contract, where USDT is exchanged for RLS before being distributed to foundation treasury and ecosystem incentive accounts. “Rayls is developing infrastructure intended to help financial institutions access blockchain-based settlement frameworks,” said Anoush Bhasin, Head of Listings at Bitfinex . “By listing RLS, Bitfinex is providing broader market access to the token that supports the Rayls network’s operational and economic model.” Bitfinex customers will be able to make deposits of RLS at approximately 12:00 PM UTC on 13/01/2026, subject to network conditions. Trading is planned to commence at approximately 12:00 PM UTC on 15/01/2026, contingent upon liquidity requirements being met. RLS will be tradable against US Dollars (RLS/USD) and Tether tokens (RLS/USDt). To obtain access to RLS on Bitfinex, customers can visit https://www.bitfinex.com/. *All users of www.bitfinex.com are subject to Bitfinex’s terms of service (“TOS”). Please note that U.S. persons (as defined in the TOS), among other prohibited persons (as defined in the TOS), are strictly prohibited from directly or indirectly holding, owning or operating an Account (as defined in the TOS) on www.bitfinex.com. About Bitfinex Founded in 2012, Bitfinex is a digital token trading platform offering state-of-the-art services for traders and global liquidity providers. In addition to a suite of advanced trading features and charting tools, Bitfinex provides access to peer-to-peer financing, an OTC market and margin trading for a wide selection of digital tokens. Bitfinex’s strategy focuses on providing unparalleled support, tools, and innovation for experienced traders and liquidity providers around the world. Visit www.bitfinex.com to learn more. Media contact for Bitfinex [email protected] For official logos and branding, please visit: https://www.bitfinex.com/press/#press-downloads The post Bitfinex to List RLS, Native Token of the Rayls Network appeared first on Bitfinex blog .

Tether has carried out one of its largest single-day wallet freezes on the Tron blockchain, restricting access to more than $182 million in USDt across five wallet addresses. The coordinated action, recorded onchain on January 11 and flagged by Whale Alert, has sparked renewed debate about stablecoin oversight, law enforcement collaboration, and the growing frequency of forced freezes in the digital asset sector. TETHER FROZE $182M IN USDT Tether froze $182M across 5 Tron wallets holding $12M to $50M each with no disclosed reason. Since 2023, Tether has frozen $3.3B and blacklisted 7,268 wallets, according to AMLBot. pic.twitter.com/E0y2a7BejX — Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) January 12, 2026 According to reporting and real-time tracking tools, each of the affected wallets held between $12 million and $50 million, making this operation one of the most significant wallet interventions executed by Tether in recent months. The company has not disclosed the identities of the wallet owners, but it confirms the moves were carried out following a direct law enforcement request. Tether Executes Coordinated Wallet Restrictions Multiple blockchain monitors highlighted the series of freezes as they happened. The timing and size of the transactions indicate that this was a highly coordinated enforcement action rather than a standard security response. Heyyy Maduro eres tú? Tether (USDt en Tron) ha congelado activos en relación con una investigación en curso!!! Tether congeló más de 182 millones de dólares en USDt a través de cinco direcciones de billetera en la cadena de bloques de Tron el 11 de enero, según datos de… pic.twitter.com/HsNM0UkJ0q — Btcandres 285 9 6.15 (@BtcAndres) January 12, 2026 Tether later confirmed that the wallets were frozen due to an active ongoing investigation, though details remain sealed. The company noted that it responded to a formal request from authorities, suggesting that the wallet restrictions were part of a broader international or multi-agency enforcement initiative rather than an isolated domestic inquiry. The five wallets, all hosted on the Tron network, contained significant concentrations of USDt, reinforcing concerns about how large amounts of stablecoins may be used in high-volume transactions that attract regulatory attention. Freezing them on the same day points to the seriousness of the underlying investigation. Law Enforcement Request Triggers Asset Freeze A Tether spokesperson provided an official statement to The Block, confirming the enforcement action was not voluntary but rather ordered through a legal request. The spokesperson said: “Tether has frozen assets in connection with an ongoing investigation, following a formal request from law enforcement authorities. The relevant agency has been working on this case for several months.” The comment highlights how deeply Tether is now embedded in international compliance and investigative workflows. The company asserts that it routinely collaborates with law enforcement agencies worldwide, sharing information or restricting access to wallets tied to illicit activities, sanctions violations, or suspicious activity. These freezes also showcase how centralized stablecoin issuers retain discretionary authority over on-chain assets, a capability that continues to generate debate among users who prefer decentralization. While stablecoins provide speed and scale, they also introduce centralized enforcement layers that can override wallet control in specific circumstances. Freezing Policy Builds On 2023 Regulatory Shifts The January 11 action aligns directly with policy changes initiated in December 2023, when Tether announced a voluntary wallet-freezing framework to comply with the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions requirements. The company agreed to freeze any wallets listed on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, as well as wallets flagged by relevant global law enforcement agencies. In its Terms of Service, Tether states it may freeze addresses or turn over user information: when ordered by authorities, or voluntarily, if a case is deemed reasonable and necessary for compliance. This dual-track policy allows Tether to act even without a direct court order if it believes there is a credible security or legal threat. The January 11 freezes appear to fall under the category of formal government request, indicating that the underlying case is likely part of a structured investigation that has been active for months. Blacklists Have Reached $3.3 Billion Since 2023 According to AMLBot, Tether has frozen $3.3 billion worth of USDt since 2023 and has blacklisted 7,268 wallet addresses during the same period. These numbers underscore the scale of enforcement activity and mark a significant operational shift in how Tether responds to regulatory pressure. The surge in freezes reflects several trends: increasing law enforcement interest in stablecoins tighter global AML and sanctions frameworks more active monitoring of high-value transactions greater scrutiny of stablecoin activity on the Tron network Tron, in particular, has been associated with large-scale stablecoin flows due to its speed and extremely low transaction fees. These traits make it attractive for legitimate high-volume uses, but also potentially appealing for bad actors attempting to move funds quickly. The January 11 event demonstrates that Tether’s oversight functions now operate at scale, identifying, freezing, and reporting suspicious flows across global jurisdictions. Compliance Continues To Shape Stablecoin Market The rapid enforcement action further illustrates how centralized stablecoin issuers are increasingly accountable to regulators and law enforcement bodies. Tether’s ability to freeze digital assets on demand stands in contrast to decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which cannot be seized or blocked without control of private keys. For some users, Tether’s responsiveness is a reassurance that stablecoin markets are becoming more secure and less vulnerable to misuse. For others, it raises concerns about the balance between regulatory oversight and user autonomy. The broader impact on markets remains to be seen. While no major price instability has been reported so far, large-scale freezes can affect liquidity, especially on networks where stablecoins serve as the dominant trading medium. Tron, which hosts a significant portion of global USDT transactions, could see tighter monitoring and higher compliance friction moving forward. Tether maintains that such freezes only target illicit or high-risk activity and do not affect everyday users. Still, the growing scale of blacklisted wallets suggests that stablecoin compliance is becoming a more aggressive and central part of the industry’s evolution. Ugg A Turning Point For On-Chain Enforcement The freezing of $182 million in a single day marks a turning point for blockchain enforcement, demonstrating both the reach of law enforcement and the centralized power of stablecoin issuers. With investigations ongoing and regulatory pressure mounting globally, more freezes and disclosures are likely in the months ahead. As authorities continue to integrate on-chain analytics with legal mandates, stablecoins like USDt may become even more closely monitored, reshaping how institutions, traders, and platforms interact with them. Tether’s January 11 action reinforces a recurring theme: in today’s landscape, blockchain transactions may be on-chain, but they are far from beyond regulatory oversight. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !