Dear PointPay Family,
It turned out to be a difficult and extremely eventful week. Let's summarize it together in our selection of the top 5 key news. Everything is gathered in one place in a convenient TL;DR format so that you can catch up with events at lightning speed.
Bitcoin Nears $65K as Analysts Question Market Supply Dynamics
Bitcoin has dropped close to the $65,000 level, pulling major altcoins lower amid heightened market volatility. The decline occurred without clear macroeconomic or regulatory triggers, raising questions about what is driving the move.
Some analysts argue that Bitcoin’s price may currently be influenced more by derivatives trading than by organic demand. Others dismiss traditional market cycle explanations, noting that the recent sell-off lacks a clear fundamental cause, fueling ongoing debate about underlying market mechanics.
Vitalik Buterin Calls for a New Role for Ethereum Layer 2 Networks
Vitalik Buterin said the original purpose of Layer 2 solutions on Ethereum no longer fits the network’s current direction. As Ethereum’s main chain continues to scale and transaction fees remain low, the need for L2s as core scaling tools is becoming less relevant.
Instead, Buterin suggests L2 projects should focus on offering unique value, such as privacy features, specialized applications, ultra-fast transactions, or non-financial use cases. He also highlighted the importance of stronger interoperability with Ethereum and proposed new technical solutions to improve security, trust, and composability across the ecosystem.
China Executes Leaders of Major Cross-Border Scam Network
Chinese authorities have carried out executions of 11 individuals tied to a large criminal organization responsible for billions of dollars in online fraud and illegal gambling operations across Southeast Asia.
The group operated from Myanmar’s border regions, running scam centers where trafficked victims were forced to target international users, often stealing funds through cryptocurrency schemes. The executions mark a significant step in China’s broader campaign to dismantle transnational crime networks, with additional high-profile cases still under investigation.
Michael Saylor’s Firm Faces Loss as Bitcoin Falls Below Purchase Price
Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings have moved into a loss position after BTC dropped below the company’s average acquisition cost of around $76,000. The downturn erased tens of billions of dollars in previously unrealized gains accumulated over the past months.
Despite the setback, Michael Saylor reaffirmed his long-term commitment to Bitcoin, repeating his stance on buying and holding the asset regardless of short-term price fluctuations. The situation highlights the risks of aggressive accumulation during market peaks.
USDT Reaches New Market Cap High Despite Broader Crypto Weakness
Tether’s USDT stablecoin recorded a new all-time high in market capitalization by the end of Q4 2025, growing to $187.3 billion. The increase occurred even as the broader crypto market faced pressure following major liquidation events.
Rival stablecoins showed weaker performance, strengthening USDT’s dominance. At the same time, on-chain activity surged, with millions of active wallets and trillions of dollars in transaction volume, reinforcing USDT’s role as a key settlement and trading asset across exchanges, cross-border payments, and DeFi.
🔥 Buy PXP tokens on MEXC: http://bit.ly/3UhCgZn
🔥 Buy PXP tokens on Bitrue: https://bit.ly/3JEreHu
🔥 Buy PXP tokens on WhiteBIT: https://bit.ly/3qJrjRH
💰 Earn up to 5% yearly with PXP staking
📖 Read an article about PointPay CEO and his professional vision: https://www.abcmoney.co.uk/2026/01/vladimir-kardapoltsev-bridging-web3-vision-with-operational-reality/
🏦 PointPay - all crypto services in one place!