[LIVE] Crypto Market Update – Jan. 30, 2026
The crypto market took another sharp hit over the past 24 hours, with $1.68 billion liquidated, most of it from long positions ($1.57B), according to Coinglass. More than 270,000 traders were wiped out globally, including a single massive $80.6 million BTC-USDT order on HTX.
The sell-off pushed the total crypto market cap below $3 trillion, shedding over 5% in a single day. Bitcoin dipped to $83,000, while Ethereum fell to $2,754. The downturn even spilled into equities, hitting U.S.-listed crypto stocks hard, with Strategy and BitMine falling nearly 10%.
Here’s what else is making headlines in crypto today:
Vitalik Buterin Commits 16,384 ETH to Self-Sovereign Ethereum Projects
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced that the Ethereum Foundation is entering a phase of “mild austerity” to support its aggressive roadmap while ensuring long-term sustainability.
He withdrew 16,384 ETH to fund open-source infrastructure projects focused on self-sovereignty, privacy, and security, while stressing that Ethereum’s core protocol development remains the top priority.
DOJ Seizes $400M+ in Crypto Linked to Helix Darknet Mixer
The U.S. Department of Justice finalized the forfeiture of more than $400 million in cryptocurrencies, real estate, and other assets tied to the darknet mixer Helix.
Helix operator Larry Dean Harmon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in August 2021 and was sentenced in November 2024 to three years in prison and three years supervised release. Prosecutors said Helix processed over $300 million in crypto between 2014 and 2017.
Binance Plans $1B Bitcoin Buy Using SAFU Fund
Binance announced it will purchase $1 billion worth of Bitcoin by converting stablecoin reserves from its SAFU fund over the next 30 days.
The exchange said if market swings cause its Bitcoin holdings to fall below $800 million, it will top up reserves to maintain the $1 billion target — a move aimed at keeping SAFU fully capitalized and resilient.
U.S. Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Face Continued Outflows
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a net outflow of $817.8 million on January 29, marking three straight days of withdrawals, according to Farside data cited by Mars Finance.
Ethereum ETFs also posted $155.7 million in net redemptions, led by BlackRock’s ETHA (-$54.9M), Fidelity’s FETH (-$59.2M), and outflows from ETHE (-$13.1M) and ETH (-$26.5M). Analysts say the trend reflects weakened institutional sentiment amid ongoing market volatility.
CFTC Moves Toward Clearer Prediction Market Rules
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), under Chair Michael Selig, announced it will draft new rules for prediction markets. The agency will withdraw its 2024 proposal that sought to ban sports- and politics-related event contracts and rescind a 2025 advisory.
Selig said the changes aim to reduce regulatory uncertainty and provide clearer oversight for event-based markets — signaling a more forward-looking approach to these fast-growing platforms.
