BizwavemediaPersonal Finance and Crypto Updates

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AlphaTON Capital, a digital asset treasury company focused on Telegram’s TON network, announced a $46 million deal to acquire 576 NVIDIA B300 GPUs, its largest AI compute deployment to date. The stock surged 107% midday Tuesday following the news.

The half-cluster is set for delivery in February and will be hosted at a 100% hydro-powered facility in Sweden. The company projects the deployment will generate a 27% IRR and 282% ROI, with revenue expected to begin in March.

AlphaTON’s infrastructure powers privacy-preserving AI for Telegram’s Cocoon AI network, offering a decentralized alternative to major tech platforms. The project is funded through a combination of balance sheet cash, non-recourse debt, and staged equity.

CEO Brittany Kaiser said the company is building toward a $7 trillion AI market, addressing demand for sovereign, confidential compute.

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NYC Token, a Solana-based crypto token launched by ex-New York mayor Eric Adams, lost over 80% of its value shortly after it hit the market.

According to GeckoTerminal data, the NYC Token soared to a $730 million valuation but plummeted to $90 million in less than an hour. It has now recovered past $110 million.

Adams unveiled the coin during a press conference in Times Square on Monday, describing it as a “commemorative asset.”

Proud to launch @buynyctoken, a new token built to fight the rapid spread of antisemitism and anti-Americanism across this country and now in New York City.

Now live at https://t.co/zowY9Ri3aK pic.twitter.com/qBMzV88Tmj

— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) January 12, 2026

NYC Token is described on its website as a community-driven project embodying New York City’s innovation, diversity, and drive. The token has a total supply of one billion tokens, with 80 million tradeable at launch, and plans to grow to 300 million in circulation.

According to the project’s stated mission, a portion of proceeds will be earmarked for youth crypto education, anti-hate programs, and scholarships for underserved students.

However, key details like the project’s partners and its whitepaper are missing from the project website, and critics have raised ethical concerns.

BubbleMaps has flagged unusual liquidity pool activity tied to the NYC Token project, including $1 million cycled in and out and an unexplained $2.5 million USDC removal at the peak.

Analysts note that this behavior is reminiscent of the LIBRA launch, where liquidity was heavily manipulated.

4/ There has been no explanation for these liquidity moves.

This is unfortunately reminiscent of the $LIBRA launch, where liquidity was also heavily manipulatedhttps://t.co/8Ufc7sIYNB

— Bubblemaps (@bubblemaps) January 13, 2026

Adams, known as the “Bitcoin Mayor” for his advocacy of digital assets and blockchain, last year established the city’s Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain, a first-of-its-kind initiative to promote adoption, investment, and education in the sector and strengthen NYC’s role in the global crypto ecosystem.

His tenure ended on December 31, 2025, and he was succeeded by Zohran Mamdani. One of Mamdani’s early actions was to restructure several of Adams’ initiatives, including the digital assets office.

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Funds tied to XRP and Solana saw strong inflows last week despite a wave of outflows across crypto exchange-traded products, according to a new report from CoinShares.

Bitcoin led the weekly outflows totaling approximately $405 million, followed by Ethereum with $116 million, reversing much of the $1.5 billion in early-year inflows.

In contrast, XRP funds drew in $46 million, while Solana products attracted around $33 million. Sui and Chainlink also closed out the week with minor inflows.

Among providers, Grayscale and Fidelity accounted for the bulk of weekly redemptions, while iShares and ProFunds attracted inflows. Total assets under management stood at $182 billion as of January 9.

Divergence in investor sentiment was clear, as US funds recorded the biggest outflows while Germany, Canada, and Switzerland drew inflows.

Investor outflows from digital asset products last week reflect waning optimism over a March Fed rate cut following recent macro data, as noted by CoinShares analysts.

Markets are pricing in only a 27% chance of a Fed rate cut in March, per the FedWatch tool.

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Precious metals advanced in the early hours of Monday as investors sought safety amid rising geopolitical tensions. Spot gold established a fresh high near $4,600, while silver scaled levels above $84, per TradingView.

The rallies come as tensions between the US and Iran escalate amid Iranian domestic instability. The US is evaluating a range of punitive measures against the Middle Eastern country in response to its deadly crackdown on protesters that reportedly killed hundreds, The Guardian reported.

While acknowledging that Tehran has reached out to propose negotiations, Trump warned that the rising death toll among protesters is approaching a “red line” and pledged support for demonstrators.

Iranian officials have rejected foreign interference and threatened to target US and Israeli interests if subjected to any military attack.

Rising US–Iran tensions are fueling fears of sustained geopolitical unrest, especially after the US, not long ago, unexpectedly carried out a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of its leader.

Apart from rising US–Iran frictions, demand for safe-haven assets is evident in continued inflows into gold and silver ETFs.

Market participants are also weighing broader policy risks, including uncertainty over US trade measures and a pending Supreme Court decision on Trump’s tariff agenda. Analysts say that movements in the US dollar, the Fed’s policy stance, and data on inflation and employment will be key drivers in the days ahead.

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Metaplanet shares rose more than 5% today, extending gains to over 35% year-to-date as investor focus returns to the company’s Bitcoin strategy.

Metaplanet has accumulated more than 35,000 Bitcoin since launching its treasury program in April 2024. The company confirmed its latest purchase on December 30, buying 4,279 Bitcoin for roughly $451 million and reaching the 35,000 BTC milestone just before the start of 2026.

The steady accumulation has drawn renewed attention to the stock, even as Bitcoin continues to underperform other risk assets since October 2025. BTC is currently holding the $90,000 level without any major tailwind or headwind in sight, leaving investor sentiment in a wait-and-see mode.

Still, despite the recent rebound, Metaplanet shares remain down about 75% from their all-time high reached in May 2025.

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Tether is partnering with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to help combat digital asset crime and improve cybersecurity standards in Africa.

The joint initiative comes as the continent faces increasing exposure to crypto-related crime.

Recent coordinated enforcement actions by international and regional authorities have uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit fiat and digital assets tied to fraud, cyber-enabled scams, and terrorism financing across multiple African countries.

These cases have highlighted how virtual assets are increasingly being misused in complex cross-border criminal networks, reinforcing calls for stronger cybersecurity measures, public education, and regulatory cooperation.

“Digital assets are reshaping how the world interacts with money, and are integral to our commitment to advancing Africa’s digital transformation,” Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, noted. “I am excited by the prospect of a tripartite partnership, bringing together the United Nations, the private sector, and Senegalese authorities, to support the vision behind Senegal’s Digital New Deal. Through this collaboration, we can advance digital inclusion, strengthen digital skills and youth employability, promote secure and transparent digital ecosystems, and harness innovation to prevent organized crime while fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”

Through the partnership, Tether will contribute technical expertise and resources to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and improve legal and financial systems across African markets.

“Supporting victims of human trafficking and helping prevent exploitation requires coordinated action across sectors,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. “Through our collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, we’re backing initiatives that combine innovation and education to empower communities and help create safer, more inclusive opportunities for those who need them most.”

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A crypto trader previously known for shorting Bitcoin and Ethereum on Friday opened $325 million in long positions across Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, and Solana, according to data from HyperDash.

The positions include 1,247 BTC valued at $113 million, 36,249 ETH worth $112 million, over 506,000 SOL at $70 million, and over 14 million XRP totaling $30 million.

The trader’s unrealized profits exceed $300,000 at press time.

Bitcoin traded largely flat while holding above the $90,000 level, as price action remained muted, per CoinGecko.

Ether also moved sideways near $3,100, while Solana and XRP outperformed over the past week, gaining roughly 7% and 10%, respectively.