On 14 January 2026, an overview of central bank digital currencies, stablecoins, and tokenized bank deposits outlined how each format targets distinct users and use cases across the financial system. CBDCs aim at domestic monetary stability, stablecoins support global on-chain liquidity, and tokenized deposits help banks move existing balances onto blockchain infrastructure. Rather than one model replacing the others, they are expected to coexist as complementary rails in an increasingly digital monetary environment.

On January 14, 2026, Oobit announced native Phantom Wallet support for real-world crypto payments at Visa-enabled merchants, live in 80+ countries. The integration lets 15M Phantom users pay directly from self-custodied wallets without pre-funding or bridging, with Oobit's DePay layer converting crypto to local currency at the point of sale.

Updated on January 14, 2026 at 2:18 PM UTC, this roundup highlights hiring across Web3. According to Cryptopolitan, Bitcoin reached $95,500, while OP Labs, Uniswap, BitGo and others list roles with defined salary ranges, experience levels and remote or on-site options in engineering, go-to-market, and operations.

On 14 January 2026, the UK government confirmed it has abandoned plans to make a single, state-issued digital identity mandatory for all workers, instead keeping digital right-to-work checks while making any future national ID optional. Critics had warned the centralized system could enable excessive state control and create cybersecurity risks, and the policy reversal comes as wider global debates continue over how digital ID, CBDCs, and DeFi rules should balance privacy with regulatory oversight.

Visa selected UK-based BVNK to support Visa Direct pilots that enable some business customers to pre-fund cross-border payouts in stablecoins and send digital U.S. dollars to eligible wallets in select markets. The initiative extends prior onchain settlement tests with USDC on Ethereum and Solana and is aimed at enabling money movement outside traditional banking hours.

A report dated January 14, 2026 says Elon Musk’s Starlink is providing free internet access inside Iran after a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. The move follows nationwide shutdowns amid anti‑regime protests, with over 1,800 deaths reported and rights groups warning the toll may be higher. Authorities have allegedly begun jamming Starlink and seizing equipment.

On January 14, 2026, BVNK said it will power stablecoin functionality for Visa Direct, enabling businesses to pre-fund payouts in stablecoins and send funds to recipients in digital dollars. Visa Direct handles around $1.7 trillion in annual volume, while BVNK reports processing more than $30 billion in stablecoin payments each year, with services starting in approved markets.

On January 14, Binance Wallet introduced on-chain perpetual futures trading via Aster, allowing Binance Wallet (Web) users on BNB Smart Chain to trade derivatives while retaining self-custody. The integration routes orders to Aster's decentralized perpetuals platform, supports multiple collateral tokens, and initially focuses on web access with more networks and mobile support planned. Eligible trades earn rewards through Aster's airdrop and competitions, alongside a Binance Wallet campaign offering up to 200,000 USDT.