Listen to today’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nqwUyvLDEvs7bV985k-gQ
Bitcoin/Crypto Daily Podcast 01/05/2026
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Bitcoin tops $91,000 with ether, dogecoin higher amid U.S. action on Venezuela
Bitcoin pushed above $91,000 as a short-liquidation flush and geopolitical headlines around Venezuela lifted risk appetite across majors including ether, solana, and cardano. Roughly $180 million in futures were liquidated, with shorts making up the bulk, forcing buybacks as thin liquidity helped price break higher. Traders framed Venezuela developments as a volatility catalyst rather than a direct macro driver, with positioning and leverage doing most of the work.
Bitcoin and Ether ETFs pull in $646M on first trading day of 2026
U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs kicked off 2026 with about $645.8 million in combined net inflows, the strongest single day for BTC funds in 35 trading days and for ETH funds in 15. The surge comes despite a cautious backdrop and Fear & Greed readings in “Extreme Fear,” signaling institutions may be reloading after year-end tax positioning. ETF flows remain a closely watched gauge of mainstream sentiment and near-term direction.
Rep. Torres to target insider trading on prediction markets after bet on Maduro
Rep. Ritchie Torres plans the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act to bar federal officials from trading event contracts when they hold nonpublic information, following a profitable Polymarket wager tied to reports of Nicolás Maduro’s capture. The proposal mirrors insider trading standards in traditional markets and targets contracts linked to government action or political outcomes. It comes alongside user reports of account breaches on Polymarket traced to a third-party authentication issue the company says it remediated.
Dogecoin pops 4% amid memecoin rally as a short-term golden cross flashes
DOGE climbed to about $0.1516 with volume running ~40% above its 30-day average, signaling renewed speculative appetite across the meme complex. A short-term hourly golden cross supported momentum, with traders watching $0.1463 as key support and $0.1520–$0.1530 as near-term resistance. The move reflects broader risk-on flows into memes while Bitcoin remains range-bound, but positioning can unwind quickly if support fails.
Bitcoin ‘widespread correction’ unlikely after US strike on Venezuela: Analyst
Analyst Michael van de Poppe says a broad Bitcoin sell-off is unlikely following the U.S. strike on Venezuela, characterizing it as a planned event that markets have already absorbed. BTC held around $91,000 while most liquidations hit shorts, suggesting the immediate impact was contained. While geopolitics has sparked sharp drawdowns in the past, sentiment points to limited follow-through this time.
Bitcoiners Celebrate ‘Genesis Day’ As US Debt Swells Past $38 Trillion
The U.S. federal debt surpassed $38 trillion as Bitcoiners marked Genesis Day, inviting comparisons between growing public borrowing and Bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply. Supporters highlighted scarce assets as potential hedges amid rising interest costs, while economists warned that servicing a larger debt load can crowd out other priorities. The juxtaposition underscored Bitcoin’s origin story and its monetary policy narrative.
Coinbase pauses local fiat rails in Argentina less than a year after its arrival
Coinbase is halting peso-based USDC on- and off-ramps in Argentina effective Jan. 31, 2026, as part of an operational review, while keeping crypto-to-crypto services active and customer funds unaffected. The exchange framed it as a deliberate pause to pursue a more sustainable local model and will continue Base-related work with partners like Ripio. Observers cited regulatory complexity, banking dependencies, and limited volumes as likely drivers.
A Maduro Bet, A Market Alarm: US Lawmaker Targets Trading Abuses
Following a Polymarket trade that turned roughly $32,500 into more than $400,000 after reports of Maduro’s capture, Rep. Ritchie Torres is pushing legislation to curb insider trading on prediction markets. The draft would extend insider trading principles to event contracts tied to government actions, with regulators tasked to define coverage and enforcement. The debate pits calls for clearer guardrails against concerns of overreach that could stifle legitimate forecasting uses.
Bitcoin Faces Test After Venezuela Attack, But Analyst Sees No Major Pullback
Market watchers expect no major Bitcoin correction following the U.S. strike on Venezuela, with BTC holding above $90,000 and most recent liquidations skewed to shorts. Analysts note sharp geopolitical selloffs tend to occur when markets fear sustained escalation, which doesn’t appear to be the case. The piece also highlights the $38T U.S. debt milestone coinciding with Bitcoin’s Genesis Day, reinforcing the crypto’s scarcity narrative for some investors.
Kryptowährungen: Bitcoin etabliert sich als digitales Gold
FAZ explores Bitcoin’s growing role as “digital gold,” the rising acceptance of stablecoins for payments, and blockchain’s expanding use in securities markets. The article situates crypto within the history of money—down to Cambridge coursework that starts with the gold standard—before considering how investors might navigate the current boom. It frames Bitcoin’s fixed supply as a key contrast to traditional monetary systems.
Taken together, these stories point to a crypto market that’s resilient in the face of geopolitical noise, buoyed by renewed institutional inflows, and energized by risk-on pockets like memecoins. At the same time, regulators are sharpening focus on prediction markets, exchanges are adapting to local realities, and macro currents such as swelling sovereign debt continue to fuel Bitcoin’s scarcity narrative. It’s a landscape where positioning, policy, and macro signals all matter—setting the tone for the week ahead.
