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HashKey Exchange, Hong Kong’s largest regulated crypto trading platform, will launch the SUI/USD spot trading pair and open over‑the‑counter trading at 16:00 HKT on February 4, 2026. Both the spot and OTC markets will be available only to professional investors, with the OTC marketplace offering real‑time quotes from top liquidity providers. SUI token deposits and withdrawals are already live, letting investors fund accounts ahead of launch. The move expands HashKey’s compliant trading options and supports growing institutional interest in SUI.

Elon Musk’s AI company xAI is hiring crypto specialists to train its AI on trading and digital asset strategies. The roles require expertise in on-chain analysis, DeFi, derivatives, arbitrage, MEV, quantitative methods, and risk management. These remote positions pay $45 to $100 per hour for US applicants outside Wyoming and Illinois and require a master’s, PhD, or equivalent experience. The move has been welcomed by crypto communities as a step toward mainstream adoption, with some joking that Bitcoin is now the currency of AI.

JasmyChain’s ecosystem grows with the launch of Jasmy Swap, a third-party decentralized exchange protocol. Built on JasmyChain, it uses smart contracts to automatically execute digital asset swaps, serving as a technical proof-of-concept for blockchain-based trading. The launch has sparked positive market response, with JasmyCoin rising 3.64%. Jasmy Swap highlights the ecosystem’s innovation and potential, showing how the chain can support new DeFi applications and increase activity within its blockchain network.

Russian Bitcoin mining giant BitRiver is on the brink of bankruptcy after a court launched insolvency proceedings over unpaid debts of more than 700 million rubles related to equipment and electricity costs. The company has shut down several facilities, faced management departures, and grappled with creditor lawsuits. Adding to its challenges, founder Igor Runets has been charged with tax evasion and placed under house arrest, intensifying the financial and legal pressures on the once‑leading mining firm.

A Nevada state court has issued a two-week temporary restraining order preventing Blockratize, the operator of the prediction market Polymarket, from offering sports and event contracts to residents, saying those activities likely violate Nevada’s gambling laws. The judge agreed with the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s civil complaint that Polymarket is operating without a state gaming license and that the federal Commodity Exchange Act does not give the CFTC exclusive authority over these contracts. If upheld, Polymarket and similar platforms may have to obtain state licenses or stop offering such markets.

Today, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin turns 32. Born on 31 January 1994 in Russia and raised in Canada, Buterin began coding at an early age and co-founded Bitcoin Magazine before publishing Ethereum’s whitepaper in 2013. He launched Ethereum in 2015, creating a platform that now powers decentralized finance, NFTs, smart contracts, and thousands of blockchain applications. Fans marked the occasion with artwork, memes, and tributes, while ETH traded near $2,700 as the community wishes him Happy Birthday, Vitalik, honoring his lasting influence on crypto.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins has indicated that broad crypto innovation exemptions, covering areas like tokenized securities and DeFi, are unlikely to be finalized this month or next. Initially expected in January, the agency is taking a cautious approach and reviewing details carefully. Wall Street firms, including JPMorgan, Citadel, and SIFMA, recently met with the SEC to raise concerns about potential market impacts. Timing may also be influenced by pending crypto legislation in the Senate, though no release date is set.

The U.S. Department of Justice has seized over 400 million dollars in cryptocurrency, real estate, and other assets tied to the darknet mixing service Helix. The forfeiture was finalized on January 21, officially giving the government legal ownership. Helix, operated by Larry Dean Harmon from 2014 to 2017, handled around 354,468 Bitcoin, worth roughly 300 million dollars at the time, mainly for darknet drug markets. Harmon pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2021 and was sentenced in November 2024 to three years in prison, supervised release, and asset forfeiture. The case marks a major victory in combating crypto crime.

Tokyo-listed Metaplanet has launched a $137 million stock offering to fund further Bitcoin purchases, reinforcing its aggressive strategy to build one of the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries. The company plans to issue new shares and stock acquisition rights to raise about ¥20.7 billion, with most proceeds earmarked for buying more Bitcoin and supporting its Bitcoin income business. Metaplanet, already among the top global corporate holders of Bitcoin, aims to deepen its exposure as institutional interest in digital assets grows.

The crypto-focused super PAC Fairshake has raised $193 million to prepare for the 2026 midterm elections, surpassing its previous cycle’s spending of $140 million. The increase comes from major contributions by Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz, adding $74 million since July 2025. Fairshake aims to support lawmakers who back crypto innovation and oppose those seen as hostile to digital assets. In 2024, the PAC helped over 50 pro-crypto candidates win key races, including defeating Sen. Sherrod Brown.

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has banned Coinbase’s “Everything Is Fine” ad campaign for suggesting that cryptocurrency could help ease the cost-of-living crisis without clearly explaining the risks. The ads used satirical videos and posters to highlight economic stress, which regulators said could mislead people into seeing high-risk crypto as a simple solution. Coinbase said the campaign was meant to criticize the financial system, but agreed to comply with the ruling and follow UK advertising rules.

American Bitcoin, backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., has increased its Bitcoin holdings by 416 BTC, bringing its total to 5,843. Built through mergers, including Gryphon Digital Mining and majority-owned by Hut 8, the firm is steadily rising among public Bitcoin treasuries. Following a disciplined strategy of mining and market purchases, it aims to boost U.S. crypto infrastructure while expanding mining capacity and driving strong revenue growth.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin detailed a clear approach to scaling blockchains efficiently. He explained that computation is the easiest to scale using tools like parallel processing and zero-knowledge proofs. Data comes next, with solutions like erasure coding and PeerDAS allowing lighter nodes to verify information without full downloads. State is the hardest, as it requires full transaction verification. Buterin recommends prioritizing computation and data over state to reduce centralization risks, a strategy reflected in projects like Monad and Ethereum’s upcoming Fusaka upgrade.