Author: NBTC

NBTC

NBTC is the editorial account for NBTC News, covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, exchanges, mining, regulation and digital asset markets. The editorial team focuses on clear sourcing, timely updates and practical context for crypto readers.

21Shares' bitcoin and gold exchange-traded product debuts on London Stock Exchange

The 21Shares Bitcoin and Gold ETP, known as BOLD, begins trading on the London Stock Exchange on Jan.13, offering an exchange-traded vehicle designed to deliver bitcoin-like returns with lower volatility. BOLD blends the world’s two most liquid alternative assets in a single risk-weighted portfolio and will be the first U.K. listed product offering both within a single exchange-traded vehicle. The introduction follows the lifting of U.K. restrictions on crypto exchange-traded products in October and comes amid rising demand for regulated digital asset investments. In the first month after the ban ended, the exchange noted $280 million of trading volume in…

ExchangesJan 18

Ethereum price at risk of a pullback despite solid fundamentals

Ethereum price rally lost momentum this week, moving from a high of $3,387 on January 13 to the current $3,288 as concerns about the Market Structure Bill rose. Summary ETH price has pulled back in the past few days as demand for cryptocurrencies waned. Ethereum has encouraging fundamentals, including higher network activity. The token has formed a rising wedge chart pattern on the daily chart. Ethereum (ETH) token has dropped by 33% from its highest level in August last year, mirroring the performance of the broader crypto market. The token has pulled back despite its strong fundamentals. For example, data…

EthereumJan 18

Norway’s central bank says CBDC ‘not warranted,’ cites strong payment system

Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, has concluded that introducing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) is “not warranted at this time,” marking a clear signal that the country is reconsidering the urgency of retail and wholesale CBDCs. The central bank said Wednesday that Norway’s existing payment system already offers secure, efficient and low-cost transactions, reducing the need for a CBDC in the near term. However, the bank remains open to launching a CBDC in the future but sees no present conditions that justify a rollout at this time. “Norges Bank has concluded that introducing a central bank digital…

RegulationJan 18

Utah Man Gets Three Years for $2.9M Fraud Tied to Crypto Cash Scheme

A 54-year-old Utah man was sentenced to three years in federal prison for operating an unlicensed cash-to-crypto business and defrauding investors of nearly $3 million. Brian Garry Sewell of Washington County was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud. The judge also ordered more than $3.8 million in combined restitution, including payments to investors and the Department of Homeland Security. The sentence will run concurrently with a separate three-year term imposed in another federal case involving an unlicensed money-transmitting business, according to the Justice Department. The case suggests…

LegalJan 18

PayPal backs Google’s AI-powered payments push

PayPal has confirmed it will support Google’s artificial intelligence-backed Universal Commerce Protocol, and will soon appear as a payment option inside the new checkout, as revealed in a press statement released over the weekend. The payments platform’s chief executive and president, Alex Chriss, said on social media platform X that taking up UCP is the “next phase” of the collaboration between the two companies announced last September, Cryptopolitan reported. Google introduced the protocol publicly on Sunday during the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York. The technology company’s executives coined UCP as an open, agentic commerce standard that connects…

ExchangesJan 18

Tom Lee Declares 2026 the ‘Year of Ethereum’: Shares Price Prediction

Tom Lee, Chairman of BitMine and co-founder of Fundstrat, said that Ethereum could experience its “highlight moment” in 2026, with the ETH price potentially rising to $12,000. Lee, in his assessment at the recent BitMine shareholder meeting, argued that Ethereum is at the center of a new financial infrastructure transformation and that 2026 could be a critical year for Ethereum. According to Lee, Ethereum reached its all-time high in the ETH/BTC pair in 2021. With the acceleration of tokenization of real-world assets and increasing adoption by mainstream financial institutions and users, this rate is expected to surpass the previous peak…

EthereumJan 18

Fed T-Bill Purchases Spark Confusion, But They Are Not Real QE

The new purchases of T-bills by Fed are pointed out by Crypto Rover, and it explains that they are not considered quantitative easing. On December 10, 2025, the Fed declared that it would purchase Treasury bills in the amount of 40 billion monthly. These measures are to control the liquidity in the short term and stabilize the funding markets. They do not contribute to the monetary stimulus, or the balance sheet, in any significant manner. Real QE occurs when there is extreme stress where the Fed purchases assets that are of a longer duration in order to reduce the long-term…

RegulationJan 18

US Lawmakers Say Crypto Market Structure Bill Is 'Closer Than Ever' as Bipartisan Negotiations Continue

U.S. lawmakers and the White House crypto czar signaled growing unity behind crypto market structure legislation, with negotiations nearing consensus and bipartisan confidence rising that clearer rules for the digital asset industry are within reach. Lawmakers, White House Crypto Czar Signal Unity on Crypto Market Structure Push U.S. lawmakers struck an optimistic tone on crypto legislation as talks advance. Posts shared on social media platform X on Jan. 15 pointed to negotiations nearing consensus on market structure rules, signaling confidence that bipartisan legislation to support the digital asset industry is within reach. As Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott continues…

LegalJan 18

eToro to Lay Off 7% of Staff Globally

eToro (Nasdaq: ETOR) is reducing about 7 per cent of its global headcount, according to sources. A letter sent by the broker’s CEO, Yoni Assia, to staff, and seen by FinanceMagnates.com, noted: "As eToro matures, we must ensure we are correctly sized to meet our business needs and support our long-term growth strategy." According to eToro's IPO prospectus, it had 1,501 employees across over 10 offices globally, as well as remotely, by the end of 2024. If those numbers remain intact (or are around), the broker will lay off over 100 staffers. However, it remains unclear who or which positions…

ExchangesJan 18

Ethereum Bulls Might Fail Because of This Critical Reversal

Ethereum price recently broke out of a bullish triangle pattern, suggesting renewed upside momentum. However, that breakout now appears vulnerable. ETH has printed a bearish divergence for nearly three weeks, raising concerns that the move lacks conviction. Crucial Ethereum Holders Are Pulling Back Ethereum has shown a clear bearish divergence over the past three weeks, signaling weakening internal strength. While the ETH price continued forming higher highs, the Chaikin Money Flow indicator posted higher lows. This pattern suggests price appreciation occurred alongside rising capital outflows rather than sustained inflows. Such divergence often precedes a trend reversal. Investors appear to be…

EthereumJan 18