Urea Prices Have Spiked Due to Iran Conflict—And Traders Expect More Pain

Zerohash is in discussions to raise $250 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, following the company's withdrawal from acquisition talks with Mastercard. The raise reflects the increasing demand for enterprise-grade crypto infrastructure as financial institutions expand their offerings.

Bitcoin experienced a significant drop over the weekend, leading to a $750 million liquidation spike across the crypto market, with most coming from long positions. The ongoing trend of sustained selling pressure has resulted in a decrease in both spot and perpetual volume indicators.

Ethereum Foundation has established a dedicated post-quantum security team to address the risks posed by quantum computing to the network's security model. This move marks a shift from theoretical research to practical execution in enhancing wallet safety and transaction security.

A Bitcoin Lightning bug, present since 2016, was recently patched after a decade with the help of numerous contributors. The bug posed a security risk to users exiting the Lightning Network due to blockchain reorganization issues.

Bitcoin is heading for its fourth consecutive monthly decline, a rare occurrence not seen since 2018-2019. The asset has experienced negative monthly closes from October to December, marking a significant correction from its all-time high in October.

Nikkei reported that Japan could list crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2028, with the Financial Services Agency planning to allow cryptocurrencies as specified assets. This potential debut is later than previously reported, with the regulator yet to confirm the information.

Metaplanet expects a nearly doubled revenue for 2026, attributing success to its Bitcoin Income Generation business and new equity issuance. Despite a Q4 write-down leading to net losses, the company's BTC yield rose significantly over the year.

Ark Invest made its first purchases of Coinbase, Circle Internet, and Bullish stocks since mid-December, adding to its holdings in its ARKK and ARKF ETFs. The company bought shares worth $21.5 million, focusing on stablecoin developer Circle and crypto exchange Coinbase.

Japan is preparing to introduce its first cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds as soon as 2028, allowing retail investors to access digital tokens like Bitcoin. The Financial Services Agency is considering adding cryptocurrencies as specified assets for ETFs, with Nomura Holdings and SBI Holdings in the running to launch Japan's first crypto ETFs.

GameFi tokens like Axie Infinity are surging, with AXS up 131% in a week, contrasting Bitcoin's struggle. Gold and silver hit all-time highs as the S&P 500 faces declines due to geopolitical tensions.