Stay updated on key drivers of crypto moves since early January

White House crypto adviser David Sacks recently confirmed that the landmark Digital Asset Market Clarity Act is set for a pivotal Senate committee markup in January 2026.¹

This legislation represents a structural shift for the US digital asset industry, aiming to provide the comprehensive regulatory framework firms have long demanded. At its core, the Clarity Act seeks to end years of "regulation by enforcement"² by clearly delineating jurisdiction between the SEC and the CFTC, spelling out precisely when a token qualifies as a security versus a commodity.

Furthermore, it works in tandem with the GENIUS Act to establish federal rules for stablecoins, requiring 1:1 backing with US Treasuries to ensure dollar dominance and market stability. By codifying registration regimes and compliance standards, the act aims to transform cryptocurrency from a speculative retail market into a legitimate, institutionally integrated financial sector, unlocking potentially trillions of dollars in dormant capital.

On December 22, 2025, the SEC filed a formal complaint against several fraudulent platforms, including Morocoin and AI Wealth Inc.³, for orchestrating a massive retail investor scam.

These entities allegedly defrauded victims of over $14 million by leveraging social media group chats and sophisticated AI-generated investment tips to lure participants into phantom schemes.

This crackdown underscores the regulator’s focus on the growing intersection of artificial intelligence and digital asset fraud. By targeting these "high-tech" predatory practices, the SEC aims to signal that utilizing emerging technologies does not shield bad actors from traditional securities law enforcement.

Ethereum entered 2026 by successfully implementing the "BPO" hard fork, a crucial technical maintenance update designed to finalize the broader Fusaka upgrade series.⁴

This fork focuses on refined parameter tweaks to optimize network efficiency as the ecosystem aggressively pursues its long-term scaling goals.

While the native token remains steady just above $3,000, the maturation of its Layer-2 infrastructure is positioning Ethereum as a primary catalyst for mainstream crypto adoption.

By consistently delivering revolutionary system upgrades, the network continues to cement its role as the foundational layer for institutional-grade decentralized finance and global digital settlement – a catalyst of interest for investors in 2026.

On January 12, 2026, BTQ Technologies launched the "Bitcoin Quantum" testnet, a NIST-compliant fork designed to defend against future quantum computing threats.⁵

This proactive move addresses a staggering vulnerability: approximately 6.26 million BTC — worth over $2 trillion — are currently exposed, because their public keys are visible on the ledger.

These legacy addresses are susceptible to quantum attacks that could derive private keys from public data. By introducing post-quantum cryptography, this testnet serves as a critical sandbox for securing the network, highlighting the urgent need for the Bitcoin ecosystem to migrate toward quantum-resistant standards before the technology matures.

In early January, Tether announced the freezing of $182 million in USDT across five wallets on the Tron blockchain.⁶

This decisive action aligns with intensifying efforts by the US government to regulate the crypto market and clamp down on illegal funding and illicit transactions. As stablecoins face heightened scrutiny, this move highlights a shift toward greater accountability within the digital asset space.

Simultaneously, established institutions like Western Union and Klarna⁷ are exploring the issuance of their own regulated stablecoins, signaling a broader trend toward institutional integration and the standardization of blockchain-based financial settlements.

Support levels:

• $3,000 to $3,200 pivot zone
• 50-Day moving average $3,100
• $2,500 to $2,700 June key support
• $2,100 June 2025 support

Resistance levels:

• $3,500 key resistance
• $4,000 December 2024 main resistance
• $4,200 to $4,300 consolidation
• Current all-time highs $4,950
• $4,700 to $4,950 all-time high resistance zone

Support levels:

• $88,000 to $93,000 major support turned pivot
• January 8 trough $89,000
• $80,000 to $83,000 mid-term support
• November lows $80,500
• $75,000 key long-term support

Resistance levels:

• $98,000 to $100,000 resistance
• Resistance at previous ATH $106,000 to $108,000
• $116,000 to $118,000 resistance
• Major ATH resistance $124,000 to $126,500

Support levels:

• 50-Day MA $132
• $125 to $130 support
• December 18 lows $118
• $100 to $115 main support

Resistance levels:

• $140 to $150 major pivot
• October pivot resistance $165 to $170
• $200 psychological level
• $250 to $255 main resistance (2025 highs)
• $290 to $300 all-time high resistance ($295 ATH)

Footnotes:

1 - https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/11/crypto-lawmakers-are-preparing-to-try-again-on-major-bill-what-can-happen-next.html

2- https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/advisories/2025/08/clarifying-the-clarity-act

3 - https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-sec-targets-crypto-platforms/

4 - https://unchainedcrypto.com/ethereums-latest-bpo-fork-completes-fusaka-upgrades-parameter-tweaks/

5 - https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/01/12/quantum-computing-threatens-the-usd2-trillion-bitcoin-network-btq-technologies-says-it-has-a-defense

6 - https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/12/tether-freezes-usd182-million-in-usdt-stablecoin-across-five-tron-blockchain-wallets

7 - https://www.klarna.com/international/press/klarna-launches-klarnausd-as-stablecoin-transactions-hit-usd27-trillion/