Blockchain security firm PeckShield reported that crypto hacks and scams collectively drained more than $4.04 billion in 2025, with $2.67 billion attributed to hacks and $1.37 billion to scams. Fraud-related losses increased about 64% year over year, driven by highly targeted phishing and impersonation campaigns aimed at high-value users, while major incidents such as Bybit's $1.51 billion breach underscored growing pressure on centralized platforms.

On 10 January 2026, an investor lost more than $282 million in Bitcoin and Litecoin in a social engineering scam tied to a fake Trezor support channel. The attackers allegedly obtained the victim's recovery seed phrase, drained 1,459 BTC and 2.05 million LTC, and then laundered funds via instant exchanges, Thorchain and Monero, while Monero's price jumped 36% in seven days.

On Sunday, a South Korean presidential spokesperson said the government will seek direct discussions with the United States to secure favorable terms under Donald Trump's new 25% tariff on imported artificial intelligence chips. Officials aim to ensure Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix remain outside the initial scope of the measure, which currently targets advanced AI chips from Nvidia and AMD rather than South Korean memory chips.

Ethereum is trading at a technically important zone where the 20- and 21-week EMAs, described as a bull market support band, are now interacting with price. ETH has shifted from sharp selling to a controlled recovery with higher lows, but still needs a decisive breakout above the $3,300–$3,400 resistance area to confirm a sustained bull phase.

On January 18, analyst Ali Martinez shared on X a setup suggesting SUI could break above roughly $1.84 and aim for $2.29. The token moved between $1.70 and $1.90 over the past week, and was around $1.78 with a 0.9% daily dip. Martinez's view hinges on a bull flag continuation pattern.

China exported 6,745 tons of rare-earth products in December, down from 6,958 tons in November, according to customs data released Sunday. Beijing has introduced tighter controls on shipments with potential military use that mainly affect Japan, while the U.S., G7 finance ministers and partners met in Washington to discuss reducing dependence on Chinese rare earths and supporting alternative supply chains.

President Donald Trump announced tariffs on eight European countries that begin at 10% on February 1 and escalate to 25% by June, conditioning removal on Denmark selling Greenland. Bitcoin trades near $95,000 after weeks in a $94,000–$97,000 range, with anxiety rekindled by October 2025’s $19 billion liquidation precedent.

On January 18, 2026, Samsung Electronics said it will distribute record performance bonuses as AI-fueled demand lifts profits. Its Device Solutions unit will pay up to 47% of base annual salary this month, while the MX division's OPI reaches 50%. SK Hynix plans to allocate 10% of operating profits to bonuses and pay 80% upfront.