Listen to today’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-nqwUyvLDEvs7bV985k-gQ
Welcome back to the show! Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Spot Bitcoin ETFs lose $681M in first week of 2026 as risk appetite fades
Author: Amin Haqshanas | Date: January 10, 2026
Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw four straight days of outflows, finishing the first full trading week of 2026 down a net $681 million, with Ether ETFs also recording weekly net outflows. Kronos Research CIO Vincent Liu cited fading odds of near-term rate cuts and rising geopolitical risk as drivers of a broader risk-off shift. Despite the turbulence, Morgan Stanley filed for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, following Bank of America’s move to let advisers recommend select Bitcoin ETFs.
This $2,000 Bitcoin-mining water heater can pay for itself, company claims — can rake in $1,000 a year in BTC, offset 80% of electricity and water costs
Author: Mark Tyson (Contributions from Matt Safford) | Date: January 10, 2026
At CES, Superheat unveiled the H1, a $2,000 water heater that repurposes Bitcoin mining heat to warm water, claiming up to $1,000 in annual BTC earnings and as much as 80% energy cost offsets. The pitch hinges on Bitcoin’s price and operational assumptions but highlights an intriguing “dual-value” model for homes and larger buildings. It’s a fresh spin on heat reuse as crypto, AI, and cloud workloads grow more power-intensive.
UN taps Tether to battle crypto scams and human trafficking
Author: Unknown | Date: Unknown
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is partnering with Tether to combat cybercrime, crypto scams, and human trafficking across Africa and the Asia-Pacific. The collaboration underscores the growing role of dollar stablecoins like USDT in humanitarian and law enforcement contexts. It’s a notable signal of institutional adoption and real-world blockchain utility.
Betterment urges users to ignore ‘unauthorized’ crypto promotion message
Author: Amin Haqshanas | Date: January 10, 2026
Betterment warned clients to disregard a fake “triple your crypto” promotion that was pushed via a third-party communications system, mirroring classic scam tactics with time pressure and guaranteed returns. The firm emphasized the offer wasn’t real and apologized for confusion, as phishing losses have fallen but still spike with market activity. It’s a timely reminder to verify messages and avoid sending crypto directly to wallet addresses from unsolicited prompts.
Les clients de Ledger à nouveau exposés aux arnaques et aux extorsions
Author: Olivier | Date: January 10, 2026
Ledger says a breach at e-commerce provider Global-e exposed customer order data such as names, contact details, and shipping info—though Ledger’s systems, private keys, and funds were not impacted. The leak heightens risks of targeted phishing and even physical extortion, echoing past incidents where attackers used real customer details to boost scam credibility. Users are urged to ignore QR-based “security activations” and never share recovery phrases.
A16z raises $15B, says crypto a ‘key’ to America winning next 100 years
Author: Brayden Lindrea | Date: January 10, 2026
Andreessen Horowitz raised over $15 billion across funds focused on critical technologies, with co-founder Ben Horowitz naming AI and crypto as foundational to U.S. leadership. While the dedicated crypto fund wasn’t replenished this round, crypto plays remain in the Growth fund, and a16z invested $15 million into Bitcoin DeFi protocol Babylon. The message: crypto’s strategic importance endures within the broader innovation stack.
Anti-DeFi group runs ads urging public to pressure senators on crypto bill: Report
Author: Brayden Lindrea | Date: January 10, 2026
An anonymous anti-DeFi group reportedly aired Fox News ads urging passage of crypto market structure rules without DeFi provisions, echoing banking concerns about stablecoin-enabled deposit flight. The Senate Banking Committee scheduled a CLARITY Act markup for January 15, though election-year dynamics could delay final legislation. Crypto leaders criticized the opaque campaign, highlighting ongoing policy battles over decentralized finance.
Bitcoin maintains mid-$90k levels: Possible price targets — analyst
Author: Semilore Faleti | Date: January 10, 2026
Bitcoin is hovering near $90,000 after failing to clear the $94,000–$95,000 zone, with analyst KillaXBT flagging $90,000 as pivotal short-term support. A breakdown could test $87,500 and $86,800, while strength above $90,000 sets up another run at recent highs. The analyst also warned that failure to form a lower high within 30 days could open a path toward $75,000.
‘Looks bad’: MAGA rep’s wife bought over $50K in Bitcoin same day he pushed crypto tax cut
Author: Matthew Chapman | Date: January 9, 2026
Rep. Byron Donalds’ household purchased at least $50,000 in Bitcoin on the same day he urged the IRS to soften tax rules on staking rewards, prompting optics concerns from ethics watchers. His office said the purchase was his wife’s and that the letter didn’t affect Bitcoin’s price. The report comes amid a heated Florida gubernatorial race and follows scrutiny of other well-timed trades.
Stablecoin card adoption will be one of the ‘big themes’ of 2026: Dragonfly exec
Author: Brayden Lindrea | Date: January 10, 2026
Dragonfly’s Haseeb Qureshi says stablecoin-powered payment cards are set to surge as fintech firm Rain raises $250 million, grows users and volume rapidly, and supports USDT and USDC across multiple chains. Advocates tout instant settlement, global reach, and fewer chargebacks, while skeptics question traction in developed markets. With Western Union piloting stablecoin settlement on Solana and a consumer card, the payments pipeline is clearly shifting.
