Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has enacted Decision 96/QD-BTC, creating a licensing regime for cryptocurrency trading platforms and detailing procedures for issuing, adjusting, and revoking exchange licenses as of January 20, 2026. The framework requires Vietnamese entities to meet strict capital, infrastructure, and staffing standards, which may reshape how firms enter the market while leaving short-term cryptocurrency prices largely unchanged.

On January 20, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig introduced the "Future Proof" program to overhaul the agency's oversight of digital assets with a focus on minimum effective regulation. The initiative is designed to update decades-old rules for derivatives to better address crypto markets, registration, customer protections, and market surveillance. On the same date in 2026, Bitcoin traded around $89,464.19 with a 3.77% daily decline and a 59.18% market dominance, reflecting broader volatility.

On January 20, 2026, Portugal's gambling regulator SRIJ ordered cryptocurrency prediction platform Polymarket to shut down for operating unauthorized online gambling tied to political events, with blocking expected within 48 hours. Around €4 million reportedly flowed into Polymarket's Portuguese presidential election markets before official results, raising concerns about premature result leaks and regulatory enforcement. USDC, Polymarket's main collateral, continues to trade at $1 with a market cap of $75.63 billion and $13.88 billion in volume despite these regulatory pressures.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is meeting banking executives to discuss stablecoin regulation and the proposed "CLARITY Act." The talks target modernizing financial systems and fair access for crypto firms, while market participants appear cautious about potential regulatory shifts. According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin is priced at $91,591.53.

On January 13, 2026, Avalanche’s C-Chain reportedly reached about 1.38 million daily active addresses, a sharp rise from the earlier range of 300,000 to 600,000 users. AVAX is trading at $12.81 with a market cap of $5.52 billion, while 24-hour volume has jumped 160.83% amid a 6.22% daily and 37.45% 90-day price decline. Community and expert commentary reflects cautious optimism, as the figures are based on unverified data and lack direct confirmation from Avalanche’s official channels.

Magic Eden announced on January 19 a revenue-sharing update that routes 15% of platform revenue to the ME token ecosystem from February 1. The allocation is split evenly between open‑market ME buybacks and USDC rewards for stakers, with monthly claims set to begin in March. The plan aims to strengthen token utility and long‑term value sharing.

Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh has moved to the top of prediction markets for the chair position after recent comments by President Trump. Jerome Powell’s term ends on May 15, and the announcement of a successor is expected this month. Silver rose over 4% and gold gained 2% while markets weighed potential policy changes.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee, chaired by Tim Scott, has delayed a planned January 15 vote on the CLARITY Act, a key bill on crypto market structure. The postponement, which follows intense industry lobbying, adds uncertainty around rules for DeFi treatment, stablecoin yields and token issuance while drawing mixed reactions from market participants.

On January 17, 2026, Patrick Witt, Director of the White House Crypto Council, confirmed that the U.S. government is still working to build a strategic Bitcoin reserve funded only by judicially seized assets. The initiative, constrained by President Trump's executive order and complex inter-agency legal requirements, excludes open-market purchases while retained Bitcoins from Samourai Wallet developers and ongoing market shifts in Bitcoin are monitored for potential policy impact.