On January 30, 2026, Binance released its analysis of the October 10 crypto market crash, attributing the steep sell-off to a macroeconomic shock colliding with fragile market structure and heavy leverage. The exchange argued that risk-off sentiment, cascading derivatives liquidations, market maker withdrawals, and Ethereum network congestion drove the move, rather than any core platform failure or depeg events. Binance acknowledged limited internal frictions, including delayed internal transfers and irregular token index behavior, but maintained these did not trigger the broader downturn.

In January 2026, crypto venture funding activity fell to a five-year low, with only 67 completed fundraising rounds and a largest single raise of $250M. YziLabs led four deals and Coinbase Ventures backed three, while AI, payments, DeFi, and blockchain infrastructure drew most of the capital. Token sales also cooled, as 37 IDO or ICO events raised $116.9M amid weaker demand for new project tokens.

Gold hit a record $5,594.82 per ounce before slipping to about $5,330, a 4.7% pullback, while Bitcoin fell 7% to roughly $82,381. With volatility climbing as GVZ rose from 30.01 on Jan. 23 to 39.67 on Jan. 28, traders are evaluating whether crowded gold positioning unwinds into Bitcoin or reflects broader macro pressure.

On Thursday, the European Central Bank reduced its key rate by 25 basis points to 2.75%, the fifth straight cut since June. On Friday, the German statistics office said January inflation was 2.1%, up from 2.0% in December, contrary to expectations for a flat reading. Eurozone output improved in Q4 2025, with Germany expanding 0.3% while Spain, France, and Italy also posted gains.

On Jan. 30, Bitcoin stayed under pressure after slipping below $84,000, with sellers testing the $80,600 area and eyed support near $74,508. Several large-cap altcoins also breached key levels, raising downside risks across the market. Some analysts foresee further weakness, while others note potential bottoming patterns if buyers defend supports.

Proof-of-reserves shows that a custodian controlled specific onchain assets at a single moment, but it does not by itself confirm solvency, liquidity or the quality of internal controls. An exchange can "pass" PoR while still carrying hidden liabilities, using encumbered assets or facing liquidity gaps, and many PoR exercises resemble limited agreed-upon procedures rather than full audits. A more reliable trust framework combines PoR with comprehensive liability proofs, governance and control assessments, and clearer disclosures around liquidity and encumbrances.

On 30 January 2026, Hong Kong detailed a 2026 financial strategy spanning equity market upgrades, commodity initiatives, and digital-asset oversight. The plan contemplates a move to T+1 settlement, a live stablecoin licensing regime, gold storage capacity beyond 2,000 tonnes within three years, and adoption of the OECD crypto-asset reporting framework from 2028.

Unverified rumors claim Binance will list an INXUSDT perpetual futures contract with up to 50x leverage on January 31, 2026, using Infinex (INX) as the underlying asset. INX is currently only listed for spot trading on KuCoin, with a fully diluted market cap of $172,005.84 and a 172.53% price rise over the last 60 days but zero daily trading volume. Market participants remain cautious and say they are waiting for formal confirmation before acting on the speculative futures claims.