KLEA Crypto Daily: Monday, January 05, 2026

Published: January 6, 2026 – 00:03 UTC

Here’s a look back at the key stories from January 05, 2026.

Trump-Era Prison Reform Frees Bitfinex Bitcoin Hacker Ahead of Schedule

The convicted hacker behind the 2016 billion-dollar Bitfinex bitcoin theft says his early release from federal prison was made possible by President Donald Trump’s First Step Act, reigniting debate over crypto crime, punishment, and leniency.

XRP and Solana Dethrone Bitcoin and Ethereum as Institutional Favorites in 2025

In a significant shift, XRP and Solana have emerged as the first true "institutional alt majors," with Ethereum solidifying its status as a core holding, marking a departure from the traditional dominance of Bitcoin in the institutional crypto investment playbook.

Bitcoin Climbs Above $94,000 Amid Market Rally

Bitcoin surged above $94,000 on Monday fueled by institutional accumulation and positive market sentiment, leading a broader uptrend in the cryptocurrency market.

Crypto Exploit Losses Fell 60% in December Despite Ongoing Hacks

Total losses dropped to about $76 million last month from more than double that in November, though PeckShield warns exploit activity remains persistent.

Venezuela’s Secret $60 Billion Bitcoin Empire Revealed

A new report suggests that the Venezuelan government may have quietly amassed a massive BTC "shadow reserve" of up to 600,000 Bitcoin, worth roughly $60 billion, potentially reshaping the global Bitcoin market.

Beijing Taps Banks to Pay Interest on Digital Yuan Holdings

China's major banks, including WeBank, MYBank, and eight others, will start paying interest to holders of the digital yuan, aiming to boost adoption of the country's central bank digital currency. This move comes amidst efforts to overcome obstacles in the digital yuan's rollout and initial challenges in gaining traction.

Bitcoin Breaks Above $92K, Whales Increase Deposits to Binance

Bitcoin's surge above $92K has led to a 34x increase in whale deposits to Binance, sparking excitement in the crypto market. However, analysts are cautious about setting overly optimistic expectations for 2026.

Customer Data Leaked in Ledger's Payment Partner Data Breach

Customers of Ledger, a crypto hardware wallet provider, have had their names and contact information exposed due to a data breach in one of the firm's payment processing partners. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the crypto industry.

Ethereum Price Breaks Bearish Trend, Now Faces a Critical 10% Test

Ethereum's price has shown fresh strength by breaking a bearish structure after months of pressure, with a 4% increase in the past week. This breakout faces a critical 10% test to determine if the momentum will hold or stall.

Funds Linked to Crypto Scam Transferred Across Chains

ChainCatcher reports that $7 million from wallets on the TRON blockchain has been moved to Ethereum, suspected to be tied to a 'pig-butchering' crypto scam. $3.1 million of the total amount has been deposited into Tornado Cash.

U.S. Vice President’s Ohio Residence Attacked, Suspect Arrested

The residence of U.S. Vice President Vance in Ohio was attacked, with a suspect arrested by the police. Despite broken windows, Vance and his family were not present during the incident.

Source: KLEA News