In November 2021, Bitcoin set an all-time high near $69,000. On February 5, 2026, according to CoinMarketCap, BTC slid toward the low $60,000s and erased those gains as more than $1.5 billion in crypto positions were liquidated in 24 hours. The decline followed a leverage unwind, shifting focus to spot demand and the $60,000 area.

Canada has introduced a new tiered crypto custody framework that tightens requirements on how digital assets are held, insured, and audited under CIRO oversight. The policy distinguishes between qualified custodians, in-house arrangements, and third-party providers, raising standards for segregation, legal ownership, and liability. Platforms relying on non-qualified custodians will face stricter capital and reporting obligations, with regulators aiming to strengthen investor protection and reduce counterparty risk exposed by past exchange failures.

On January 29, 2026, XRP traded near the bottom of its recent range and remained below declining resistance, signaling muted momentum. According to the analysis, total open interest hovered around $3.38 billion with a recent 24‑hour pullback, while Binance held a large share of derivatives exposure. Exchange inflows and outflows showed episodic spikes without a persistent trend, and prior inflow surges aligned with price softness.

On Jan 28, 2026, OKX introduced a Europe-focused Mastercard payment card that lets eligible users spend USDC and USDT at merchants accepting Mastercard. According to OKX, the card is issued after standard KYC and operates via partner Monavate within existing regional infrastructure, enabling real-time conversion without manual fiat off-ramps.

Over the ten days leading up to January 27, 2026, the combined value of stablecoins fell by roughly $2.7 billion, while the broader market cap stands near $308 billion after a $2.67 billion weekly decline. During the same period, gold and silver climbed to new all-time highs, pointing to a shift of capital from digital dollar equivalents into traditional precious metals as investors reassess liquidity and risk positioning.

On January 26, 2026, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood said Bitcoin's latest price pullback was driven by a roughly $28 billion deleveraging wave tied to a Binance software glitch on October 10. She argued the move reflected forced liquidations and market mechanics rather than weakening fundamentals, and suggested Bitcoin could now consolidate between $80,000 and $90,000 as leverage resets.

On January 26, 2026, Dutch lawmakers advanced a reform of the Box 3 tax regime that would tax actual returns, including realized and unrealized gains on crypto assets. The measure, backed by a majority, is slated for 2028 implementation, with valuation rules, exemptions, and reporting standards to be finalized.

On January 23, 2026, Ethereum's price remained subdued even as active addresses climbed and roughly 2.3 million daily transactions signaled stronger usage. Fees stabilized after a compression phase but sit well below past peaks, while exchange netflows continue to show outflows. ETH/BTC trades under long-term averages, keeping any altcoin rotation contingent on improved relative performance and rising economic throughput.

On January 22, 2026, Kansas legislators introduced Senate Bill No. 352 to authorize the state treasury to establish a strategic reserve of Bitcoin and other qualifying digital assets. The proposal defines how these assets would be acquired, held, and governed, treating them as long-term reserve property rather than speculative trading instruments.