According to Artemis, crypto-linked cards became the top driver of on-chain stablecoin activity in 2025, with monthly volumes rising from $100 million to over $1.5 billion. Total card payments reached $18 billion, close to $19 billion in P2P transfers, and Visa processed more than 90% of transactions.

Over the week, Bitcoin and Ethereum rose nearly 5% and 7%, while several altcoins diverged. DASH led with a 115% surge to about $80, as Story [IP] and Pump.fun [PUMP] gained roughly 20% and 17%. Polygon [POL] fell nearly 14% to around $0.142, and Midnight [NIGHT] slipped roughly 12%.

Market analyst Michaël van de Poppe views the CLARITY bill’s failure to advance in Congress as positive for crypto markets. Coinbase withdrew support on Wednesday, while CEO Brian Armstrong flagged tokenized stocks and yield-bearing stablecoin concerns and later denied reported White House tensions on Saturday. Negotiations to refine the bill are continuing.

On January 18, 2026, South Korea's National Assembly approved legislation to create a dedicated regulatory framework for tokenized securities, with implementation slated for January 2027. The law sets clear rules for issuing, trading, and safeguarding blockchain-based representations of traditional assets under existing financial oversight. Regulators plan to use the transition period to help banks, brokerages, and asset managers integrate distributed ledger settlement with established clearing infrastructure.

French President Emmanuel Macron intends to ask the European Union to trigger its anti-coercion instrument after US President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on products from eight European nations starting February 1. Trump has also warned that tariffs could rise to 25% in June unless a deal is reached for the purchase of Greenland, putting the recently finalized but not fully approved EU-US trade agreement in jeopardy. EU ambassadors and European political leaders are now weighing potential responses, including possible countermeasures against the United States.

Scott Bessent told NBC that Europe is too weak to secure itself, arguing this is why President Donald Trump, now in his second term, is pushing for U.S. control of Greenland and will not back down. He said Trump is using emergency powers to impose new tariffs on eight European countries starting February 1, which could rise in June if no Greenland-linked deal is reached, and added that the Supreme Court is unlikely to block this approach while he also called for more oversight of the Federal Reserve.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong addressed speculation about the Trump administration's stance on the crypto market structure bill, stating the White House remains engaged in discussions with banks on community-focused solutions. Following Armstrong's criticism of the Senate Banking Committee's draft, which he argued threatens CFTC authority and stablecoin rewards, Senate Chairman Tim Scott postponed further consideration of the bill. Bitcoin traded around $95,132.21 on January 18, 2026, while analysts warned that potential changes to the bill could reshape stablecoin rules and CFTC oversight.

Truist is increasing a range of business banking fees, with changes effective January 1, 2026. Mobile deposit items now cost $0.25 each, monthly maintenance moves to $35–$55, and ACH credits and debits rise to $0.25. The bank says the adjustments reflect operational costs and urges clients to review available waivers.