Ethereum

On 18 January 2026, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned that growing protocol complexity is a major long-term threat to the network's decentralization. He argued that constant feature additions and reliance on highly specialized cryptography can make users dependent on a small expert class instead of the code itself. Buterin called for an explicit focus on simplification, including removing or offloading rarely used features from the core protocol to preserve Ethereum's trustlessness over decades.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned in an X post that years of protocol complexity and bloat are undermining trustlessness and self-sovereignty. He advocated pruning underused features and slimming core components to restore simplicity, setting 2026 as a year to "take back lost ground."

Ethereum's Proof-of-Stake deposit contract holds 77.85 million ETH, representing 46.59% of supply and nearly $256 billion. The staked balance rose 38.4% year over year, easing near-term sell pressure while exit dynamics still pose volatility risk. Active validators climbed to roughly 977,000–1.04 million, up from about 890,000 at end-2023.

In a Sunday post on X, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin urged adding a "garbage collection" function to cut protocol bloat stemming from perpetual backward compatibility. He warned that excessive code and complex cryptography weaken trustlessness and self-sovereignty. His proposal targets fewer lines of code, reduced reliance on advanced primitives, and more invariants.

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 January 17, 2026, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko argued the chain's survival depends on continuous iteration, countering Vitalik Buterin's January 12 call for optional protocol ossification. He emphasized decentralized, developer-driven upgrades and disciplined governance. Recent metrics show 2.4 million daily active addresses (+5.64%) and $11.80 billion in DeFi TVL (+6.98%) amid a broader liquidity reset.

Between January 12 and January 16, 2026, BlackRock directed substantial capital into Bitcoin and Ethereum via its spot ETFs, with IBIT logging roughly $1.04 billion and ETHA about $219 million. Combined exposure reached about $1.25 billion for the week, while Bitcoin stood at $95,093 and Ethereum at $3,309 at press time.

On January 18, 2026 (9:08 AM UTC update), Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko argued that Solana must continually iterate to remain viable, signaling future versions that may not come from Anza, Solana Labs, or the Foundation. His stance contrasts with Vitalik Buterin's 2026 focus on decentralization, privacy, self-sovereignty and resistance to centralization.

Recent price action shows Ethereum breaking from its usual correlation with the Russell 2000, even as U.S. small-cap stocks continue to climb. At the same time, the ETH/BTC pair has risen about 8% since October, pointing to stronger relative demand for Ethereum and hinting at a potential shift in altcoin market dynamics.

BMNR is pursuing a 5% share of Ethereum’s supply and says it manages large ETH holdings with staking income, alongside a $200 million investment in Beast Industries. Analysts highlight recent multi‑million ETH buys and structural demand from Digital Asset Treasuries as they discuss a potential path toward a $12,000 year‑end price versus a $3,500 high.