Ripple’s XRP Poised for SWIFT Breakthrough as Regulatory Headwinds Fade

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Crypto Sensei” pieced together several developments that, when considered collectively, depict a far more permissive environment for XRP, tokenization, and bank-led crypto services than many investors may be aware.

Gottfried Leibbrandt, a former CEO of Swift, made the headline claim when he recently stated that once regulatory volatility and legal uncertainty subside, Swift could integrate “native currencies like XRP.” Without clear regulations, “the benefits do not outweigh the costs” for institutions that might otherwise use volatile cryptocurrency assets for settlement, according to Sensei, who emphasizes that the problem is not technology but rather bank risk appetite.

He saw this as structural pressure rather than a “crypto roadmap,” since ISO-native payment systems like RippleNet will be in a better position once legacy formats and paper checks are phased out.

He reiterates a point that is frequently overlooked in online discussions: payment systems, not tokens themselves, are subject to ISO compliance.
A recent clip of Fed Chair Jerome Powell declaring that US banks are “perfectly able to serve crypto customers” as long as operations are safe, sound, and compliant is heavily referenced in the video.

According to Sensei, the Fed, FDIC, and OCC replaced their earlier, more stringent joint crypto statements with principles-based guidance in 2025. Sensei contends that instead of developing intricate crypto rails internally, banks are more likely to “white-label” infrastructure from companies like Ripple, Circle, Fireblocks, or Coinbase.

He believed that a sizable portion of institutional traffic could be discreetly routed through XRP-enabled systems without ever being advertised by brands.

Silver Under Pressure: Traders Brace for Outsized Impact from Commodity Index Rebalance

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Silver declined as investors prepared for the annual rebalancing of commodity indexes, which will involve the sale of futures contracts worth billions of dollars over the next few days. Gold stabilized, reversing earlier losses. After falling nearly 4% in the previous session, the white metal dropped as much as 5.5%.

Passive tracking funds will sell precious metals futures starting Thursday to align with the new weightings mandated by the indexes

This routine process has become more significant for gold and silver following last year’s explosive rallies. Amid heightened volatility, silver- backed ETFs experienced their largest one- day withdrawal since October on Wednesday. Regarding Citigroup Inc., silver is more susceptible to index rebalancing than gold. It is estimated that $6. 8 billion worth of silver futures, approximately 12% of open interest on Comex, may be sold to meet requirements.

The trading to rebalance the index evenly spread between the fifth and ninth business days typically follows the Bloomberg Commodities Index roll period, which occurs from the sixth to the tenth business day of the year. A note from JPMorgan Chase and Co., dated December 12, states that both metals experienced a similar index selloff last year without significantly affecting the market. However, the bank notes that the amount of silver needed to be sold this year is greater.

Analysts remain generally optimistic after gold achieved its best annual performance since 1979. Last year’s record- breaking rally was supported by increased central bank purchases and inflows into bullion- backed exchange- traded funds.

Prices were also boosted by a weakening US dollar, making the metal more attractive to buyers in other currencies. “A powerful combination of safe haven and risk- off purchases, fueled in part by USD weakness and policy uncertainty, is driving the rally.

” The release of key US economic data on Friday, such as the December jobs report, is attracting traders’ attention. A softer reading could prompt bets on further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, which would benefit non- yielding precious metals.

Gold Bulls Refuse to Quit: Investors Stay Optimistic After Epic 65% 2025 Rally

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Precious metal investors anticipate that gold will achieve a repeat in 2026, following one of the most spectacular rallies in the history of the modern market

However, some leading money managers continue to wager on additional gains, claiming that the same factors that drove bullion to a record are still at work. In 2025, gold saw a 65% increase, its best performance in almost 50 years, as institutional and retail investors joined central banks.

Bullion even surged through an inflation-adjusted high that had held since 1980 in a year when nearly all of the factors that supported the precious metal collided, including declining interest rates and geopolitical unrest.

Additionally, investors cited declining trust in major developed-market currencies as a major factor supporting bullion, citing attacks on central bank independence and growing sovereign debt.

Growing public debt in developed nations fueled political unrest throughout the past year, from the US congressional standoff and France’s paralysis to the scrutiny of Japan’s record budget under new leadership.

According to Morgan Stanley’s Chief Investment Officer and Strategist, Mike Wilson, gold is “basically an anti-fiat currency play now more than anything else.” As the so-called debasement trade gained traction in the latter months of 2025 and investors like Ray Dalio and Ken Griffin cited gold’s increase as a warning sign, that viewpoint gained momentum. As a hedge against inflation, Wilson suggests putting 20% of one’s portfolio into real assets, such as gold, and switching from the conventional 60/40 stock and bond mix to a 60/20/20 split. “The debasement story has gone mainstream,” he said.

According to Massimiliano Castelli, head of UBS Asset Management’s global sovereign markets strategy, pension and insurance funds showed growing interest in gold through 2025, with some that had never held the asset before taking positions of about 5% of their strategic asset allocation. Strong returns and gold’s ability to protect against losses in other areas of their portfolio drew them in, he continued. “Obviously, we don’t see the same upside potential as last year, when gold was essentially the best asset class of all,” Castelli remarked. However, we remain optimistic about gold.

‘Big Short’ Investor Michael Burry Discloses Options Wager Against Oracle

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Michael Burry, who has gained notoriety recently for criticizing the artificial intelligence boom, is placing a wager against Oracle. Burry stated in a Substack post following Friday’s market close that he owns put options on Oracle shares.

Puts usually gain value when the underlying asset’s price declines. Burry, who disclosed negative wagers against Nvidia Corp., a manufacturer of AI chips. and Palantir in November, as well as directly shorted Oracle over the previous six months, he claimed.

Oracle is well-known for its database software, but it has recently made a strong push into cloud computing services, necessitating an expensive expansion of data center capacity, for which it is incurring large debt. “I disagree with its positioning and the investments it is making.

It did not have to do what it is doing, and I have no idea why. In response to a reader who questioned why he had chosen to wager against Nvidia rather than Oracle, Burry wrote, “Maybe ego.”

His statement that he would short OpenAI at a $500 billion valuation highlighted his general doubts about the speed and viability of the AI buildout.

NVIDIA, according to Burry, is the most focused way to convey a pessimistic outlook on the artificial intelligence market. He wrote, “Nvidia is also the most beloved and least doubted.” Therefore, shorting it is inexpensive, and its puts are less expensive than some of the other large shorts that are more dubious

Copper Ignites 2026: Fresh Surge After 42% Historic Leap Not Seen Since 2009

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Copper rose on the first trading day of 2026, after capping the biggest annual gain since 2009 on prospects for a tighter market.

The red metal resumed its advance on Friday after losing 1.1% in the previous session.

Copper on the London Metal Exchange rallied 42% in 2025, underpinned by mine disruptions and concerns around tariffs, which have led traders to ramp up shipments to the US, creating tightness elsewhere.
Copper notched a series of all-time highs during an end-of-year surge, making it the best performer of the six industrial metals on the LME. Beyond the tariff-driven flows, mines in Indonesia to Chile, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo suffered accidents in 2025, crimping output. The red metal was 0.8% higher at $12,522.50 a ton at 10:45 a.m. Singapore time, after hitting a record of $12,960 on Monday.

Nickel climbed 0.8% to $16,780.00, while aluminum was little changed at $2,995.00. Iron ore futures in Singapore rose 0.2% to $105.60 a ton. Chinese markets are closed for a public holiday. This year, supply chain issues have dominated the metals industry, with accidents occurring in copper mines across Chile, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Zinc mines have also been disrupted, and increased energy costs and supply constraints in China pose a threat to aluminum production. The threat of US import tariffs remains the primary motivator for copper. The Mercuria Energy Group, Ltd. predicted in November that the rest of the world would experience a severe metal shortage in 2026.

According to Natalie Scott-Gray, senior metals analyst at StoneX Financial Ltd., copper is expected “to be led by sentiment from investors over US copper-specific tariffs, with focus on regional levels of global stocks and material entering the US, rather than underlying global fundamentals” in the upcoming months.

The Great Silver Squeeze of 2026: China’s Restrictions Send Prices Soaring Amid Bubble Warnings

Posted on January 10, 2026January 10, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Increased central bank purchases, inflows into exchange-traded funds, and three consecutive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have made precious metals hot in recent months.

The value of China’s only pure-play silver fund dropped by its daily maximum of 10%, ending a wild bull run that led the fund’s manager to issue rare warnings. The sudden decline in the UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF follows weeks of gains driven by increasing global interest in precious metals, which the manager called “unsustainable.” Spot silver is on track for its best annual performance since 1979 after reaching a record high of $72.70 per ounce on Wednesday.

UBS SDIC Fund Management Co. announced new restrictions after three consecutive days this week of exceeding the 10% upward limit. Starting in December, there will be a cap on new Class C share subscriptions, typically the best option for short-term investors, decreasing from 500 yuan to 26-100 yuan ($14.25), according to a statement on the fund manager’s website. Strong investor interest in precious metals has focused on silver, with a historic short squeeze in October fueling the notable global spot price rally.

Palladium, gold, and platinum have all surged, and other Chinese funds linked to these metals have also seen significant gains, as investors caution. This year, the silver fund has surged by nearly 220%, while Shanghai-traded silver futures have risen about 128%. The premium over the underlying asset jumped from 7% at the start of the month to nearly 62% by Wednesday. As the fund’s value declined and futures rose, this premium is expected to decrease on Thursday.

Commodities that do not pay interest benefit significantly from lower borrowing costs, with traders betting on additional rate reductions in 2026. Physical premiums have hit extreme levels due to relentless industrial demand from solar panels, EVs, AI data centers, and electronics, pushing against dwindling inventories. Elon Musk’s weekend remarks highlighting the growing investor frenzy around precious metals triggered Monday’s early momentum.

“This is not good,” Musk said on X in response to a tweet about Chinese export restrictions.

Many industrial processes rely on silver. The US’s blockade of oil tankers in Venezuela and Washington’s actions against the Islamic State in Nigeria over the past week have increased the appeal of these metals as safe havens. Silver inventories are at their lowest point ever, raising the risk of supply shortages that could impact several industries.

BlackRock’s Silent XRP Power Move: Wealth Tsunami Set to Trigger Historic Pump

Posted on January 10, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Maxwell Stein, the Director of Digital Assets at BlackRock, caused a stir in the crypto market.

“Trillions of dollars are poised to enter the blockchain ecosystem, but in the short term, we need to demonstrate the technology’s utility,” stated Maxwell Stein. Meanwhile, Adena Friedman, President and CEO of NASDAQ, elaborated on how banks have begun tokenizing bonds, fixed income assets, and stablecoins, particularly Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

Ripple’s annual Swell conference is one of the most anticipated events in the cryptocurrency community.

However, renowned analyst Digital Asset Investor recently noted that while the Swell conference may not directly impact prices, an announcement regarding an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) backed by BlackRock could have a significantly different effect.

This comment reignited discussions about the factors that truly influence XRP’s market fluctuations and whether Swell WAS a meaningful price catalyst.

The consensus among digital asset investors is clear: the Swell conference typically does not lead to immediate changes in XRP’s value. The conference mainly focuses on cross-border payment innovations, blockchain integration, and industry collaboration—topics that support long-term fundamentals but rarely trigger short-term price spikes.

Conversely, the analyst suggested that a formal XRP ETF, especially one backed by a major international investment firm like BlackRock, would dramatically transform the market landscape. Such an event would signify institutional support and regulatory recognition, potentially attracting significant capital inflows and influencing the token’s price.

Reactions on X varied among users. While some see potential, one user noted that the current market trend indicates weakness and consolidation, suggesting that broader declines may overshadow any positive developments. They also mentioned that retail traders might react emotionally in the short term.

The overarching conclusion is that traders differentiate between significant financial advancements and mere symbolic events.

Although Swell’s global reach and institutional partnerships are noteworthy, they rarely generate headlines that impact the market. In contrast, the possibility of a BlackRock XRP ETF would have much larger implications for investor accessibility, liquidity, and long-term valuation.

Market participants will likely continue to look for signs of progress in institutional integration as Ripple’s Swell 2025 conference in New York approaches. However, until an ETF or regulatory milestone is officially announced, expectations for substantial price movements remain low.

AAPL on the Brink: Apple’s Eight-Day Slide Could Tie Longest Losing Streak Since 1991

Posted on January 9, 2026January 9, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Apple’s stock posted its longest losing streak in over thirty years. The iPhone manufacturer’s stock dropped as much as 1.1 percent on Friday, setting it up for an eighth consecutive losing session.

Apple hasn’t dropped for nine days in a row since 1991, despite having a few losing streaks of the same length over the years, including in 2025, 2022, 2016, and 1998.

Due to worries that it was lagging in the race to implement artificial intelligence features, Apple shares spent a large portion of 2025 in the penalty box.

The stock’s nearly 9% gain in 2025 underperformed the S&P 500 Index’s 16% increase, which hadn’t happened since 2022, even though it recovered in the second half of the year as concerns about AI spending gained traction.

Apple and other computer and device manufacturers have recently faced pressure from growing costs for parts like memory chips because of increased demand from the construction of data centers for AI computing
Rising costs for parts like memory chips, which are a result of high demand from the construction of data centers for AI computing, have put pressure on Apple and other computer and gadget manufacturers more recently. Since the start of the losing streak, its shares have dropped by more than 5%.

Google’s Alphabet Surpasses Apple, Claims No. 2 Spot Behind Nvidia in Market Value

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Alphabet surpassed Apple Inc. to rise to the second-most valuable company in terms of market capitalization, demonstrating how the parent company of Google has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of artificial intelligence.

Alphabet’s stock increased by 2.4 percent on Wednesday, closing at a valuation of $3.89 trillion. It was able to overtake Apple, which ended Wednesday with a market capitalization of $3.85 trillion after a six-day decline that erased nearly 5% of its value, or $200 billion.

The difference grew even more on Thursday with Apple opening 1.2 percent lower and Alphabet rising 1.1 percent. Since 2019, Alphabet has not surpassed Apple in size. NVIDIA Corp. continues to be the biggest stock, with a valuation of $4.6 trillion.

Alphabet is currently the best-performing of the Magnificent Seven, with shares rising more than 65% since 2025.

The increasing perception that Alphabet is well-suited in many important areas of AI accounts for a large portion of its strength.

Concerns about competition from businesses like OpenAI were allayed by positive reviews for the company’s most recent Gemini AI model, and its tensor processing unit chips are thought to be a major factor in future revenue growth.

INTC Dips as Trump Hails ‘Great Meeting’ with Embattled Intel’s Lip-Bu Tan

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Intel Corp. met with President Donald Trump and Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan on Thursday at the White House. ” The stock dipped by about 4% at Thursday’s trading session.

The two men discussed the company’s progress on its new line of processors following the U.S. government’s acquisition of shares in the chipmaker. Trump praised what he called progress at Santa Clara, California-based Intel, in a post to his Truth Social network. The company’s stock has risen more than 70% since plans to purchase up to 10% of it surfaced last year.

The United States currently owns 5.5 percent of the company, and more is expected to be acquired. Trump wrote, “I just finished a great meeting with the very successful Intel CEO, Lip-Bu Tan.” Both Intel and we struck a fantastic deal. Our country is determined to bring leading-edge chip manufacturing back to America, and that is exactly what is happening!!!”

Tan has acted quickly to stabilize the struggling chipmaker’s business since becoming CEO in March. Besides the US investment, Nvidia Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp. have also purchased stakes worth billions of dollars. Intel’s stock price has increased as a result of the deal, but the company still needs to demonstrate that new products will regain lost market share. Tan stated that Intel began shipping its first sub-2-nanometer 18A products on schedule at the end of 2025 during an industry conference this week.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. remains the company’s primary supplier for the production of some chips. Although the US has not yet benefited as much from its holdings, Trump claimed in his post that the government had made “Tens of Billions of Dollars for the American People.” The US stake was valued at $5.7 billion when it was acquired in August. A significant portion of the government’s ownership remains dependent on upcoming events.