Ripple Triumphs in UK: FCA Approval Fuels XRP’s Path to Institutional Mainstream

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Market analyst X Finance Bull highlighted Ripple’s progress in becoming regulated in the UK in a recent post on X, calling it a key step toward gaining institutional dominance. His comment emphasizes a compliance milestone that makes Ripple one of the few companies operating in one of the world’s most strict financial jurisdictions.

Under UK laws against money laundering and terrorism funding, Ripple does business there through Ripple Markets UK Limited, which is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.

This registration allows Ripple to provide cryptocurrency-related services while adhering to strict rules for governance, reporting, and compliance.

Many crypto companies struggle to meet the FCA’s tough approval process, which is among the strictest worldwide. By successfully registering, Ripple gains regulatory trust and joins a select group of compliant digital asset firms authorized to operate in the UK financial system.

The UK remains a key global financial hub, home to major banks, payment processors, and fintech firms. These companies can connect with Ripple’s technology without concerns over unclear regulations, thanks to FCA recognition. This clarity removes a major obstacle to adoption and allows regulated entities to explore blockchain solutions with confidence. Ripple’s approach aligns with the evolution of financial infrastructure rather than relying on speculative hype. Institutions adopt technology based on regulatory approval, not social media trends.

Ripple’s approval in the UK was driven by compliance, audits, and ongoing engagement with regulators, not marketing or conjecture. Although these milestones are often overlooked, they establish the frameworks that authorize institutions to use the platform.

If the next phase of digital finance is shaped by regulated adoption, Ripple’s strong position in the UK gives it an advantage over many competitors. Infrastructure rather than hype may continue to support XRP’s role as a standardized settlement asset as institutions seek more compliant blockchain options.

Silver Tumbles 7% as Trump Pauses Critical Minerals Tariffs

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Silver fell as the US refrained from imposing import tariffs on vital minerals and as investors began to take profits after a blistering rally. After earlier reaching an all-time high of $93.7515, the white metal dropped as much as 7.3 percent on Thursday.

Over the preceding four sessions, there had been an increase of more than a fifth. Gold fell as well.

US President Donald Trump stated that he would negotiate bilateral agreements to ensure sufficient supplies of essential minerals, including price floors, but not excluding levies. Some supplies, including silver, were stored in US warehouses due to fears of tariffs, which led to a global shortage last year and have contributed to rising prices into 2026.

Last year, the white metal surged nearly 150% over gold, with some investors switching to it when its yellow counterpart became too costly. While a speculative buying frenzy occurs, silver also benefits from industrial demand, especially from the solar industry, where it is used in panels.

Together with tin and copper, gold and silver benefited from a widespread surge in commodities this week that propelled the precious metals to all-time highs. Prices have increased, and the “sell America” movement has been revived by the Trump administration’s renewed assault on the Federal Reserve

The demand for a haven is also being influenced by the US’s capture of the leader of Venezuela, its repeated threats to seize Greenland, and the unstable circumstances in Iran. Silver’s 14-day exponential average true range, a measure of market volatility, has seen a spike in recent weeks due to the metal’s propensity for abrupt swings. That might be the result of technical rather than fundamental factors.

Gold, Silver Smash Fresh Records as Rate-Cut Fever and China Revival Ignite Metals Rally

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Gold hit a new all-time high on Wednesday, while silver surged up to 5.3 percent to break the $90 per ounce mark for the first time. Among base metals, tin stood out with a gain of up to 6 percent at one point, and copper reached a record high before falling back.

Expectations for increased manufacturing demand, especially in emerging industries like artificial intelligence, are supporting many metals. The rally has been fueled by a speculative frenzy in China, where traders and wealthy investors are heavily investing in commodities such as copper, nickel, and lithium.

Trading volumes on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have increased significantly.

On Wednesday, the total open interest in all six of SHFE’s base metals hit a new record. This rally, especially in precious metals, has also been boosted by the so-called debasement trade, where investors avoid government bonds and currencies due to concerns over rising debt levels.

Commodities priced in dollars are attractive because of the relatively weak dollar. Last year, both gold and silver experienced their best annual performances since 1979, with gold increasing by 65% and silver nearly 150%. As global mines and smelters struggle to meet demand, base metals are generally benefiting from expectations of a tighter supply this year.

There were several notable disruptions in the copper market last year, including restrictions in China, the world’s largest aluminum producer, and a decline in tin exports from Indonesia, the second-largest supplier.

China Locks Down Silver Exports: Fueling the 2026 Squeeze While Analysts Sound the Bubble Alarm

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Silver prices have skyrocketed as a result of China’s new export restrictions, which went into effect on January 1, 2026. This has led to widespread discussion about a possible supply squeeze and warnings of a potential bubble. China, which accounts for between 60 and 70 percent of the world’s supply of refined silver, replaced its previous quota system with a more stringent licensing system.

The Ministry of Commerce now requires government approval for exporters, and only big, state-approved companies are eligible (e.g. The g. those who meet credit requirements and produce at least 80 tonnes per year).

Effectively limiting smaller and mid-sized exporters as a result, domestic demands for sectors like solar panels, EVs, electronics, and AI data centers are prioritized, .

The action, which positions silver as a “strategic material” in the face of growing global demand and ongoing supply shortages (silver has been in structural shortage for years), is reminiscent of China’s previous strategies with rare earths.

Expectations for increased manufacturing demand in emerging industries like artificial intelligence are supporting many metals. The rally has been fueled by a speculative frenzy in China, where traders and wealthy investors are heavily investing in commodities such as copper, nickel, and lithium.

Trading volumes on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have increased significantly.

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 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.

Good News for Homebuyers: US Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Since Late 2022

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

US mortgage rates fell to one of their lowest points in years last week, which spurred a surge in buying and refinancing activity and gave hope to the flagging housing market.

In the final week of January, the 30-year mortgage contract rate fell 7 basis points to 6.18 percent. 9, based on data published on Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

That is one of the lowest readings since 2022 and the lowest since September 2024.

The five-year adjustable mortgage rate fell to 5.42 percent, the second-lowest since May 2023, by almost half a percentage point.
The MBA’s purchase index rose by almost 16% last week to the second-highest level since February 2023 amid lower home financing costs.

For the first time since September, the refinancing gauge increased by over 40%.

At the beginning of the year and in the run-up to holidays, there are usually significant weekly fluctuations in mortgage activity. However, the numbers show some respite for a housing market that has been severely impacted by low affordability in recent years.

Thanks to builder incentives and price reductions, the annualized pace of new home sales in October was almost at its highest since 2023, according to government data released on Tuesday. President Donald Trump has suggested prohibiting institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in an effort to increase housing affordability.

In an attempt to reduce the cost of home financing, he also ordered Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds. Responses from mortgage bankers are used in the MBA survey, which has been conducted weekly since 1990.

Ripple’s XRP Set for SWIFT Integration Breakthrough Amid Fading Regulatory Storm

Posted on January 14, 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.

Gold, Silver Soar to Fresh All-Time Highs as Rate-Cut Bets and China Revival Fuel Metals Frenzy

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Trading volumes on the Shanghai Futures Exchange have increased significantly.

Strategy Buys $1.25 Billion in Bitcoin in Largest Purchase Since July

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Strategy purchased nearly $1.25 billion worth of Bitcoin, the company’s biggest acquisition of the virtual currency since July. According to a regulatory filing on Monday, the former MicroStrategy purchased 13,627 Bitcoin between January 5 and January 11.

The money from the at-market sales of its Class A common stock was used for most of the most recent acquisitions. The action follows the company’s announcement last week that the drop in the value of its cryptocurrency holdings caused an unrealized loss of $17.44 billion in the fourth quarter.

Multibillion-dollar fluctuations in profits and losses resulted from the company’s adoption of accounting standards that required it to include the fair value of its Bitcoin holdings in its earnings. In the three months ending in December, Bitcoin dropped by 24%. 31, the biggest decline since 2022’s second quarter.

The multibillion-dollar loss occurs at a crucial moment for the software manufacturer from the .-com era that is now a leveraged Bitcoin proxy and has accumulated approximately $62 billion in cryptocurrency holdings. The treasury-company model that chairman and co-founder Saylor invented over five years ago has started to lose favor with investors.

The company’s shares fell 48% in 2025 after outperforming benchmark stock indexes after the change. Since the cryptocurrency doesn’t generate any income and the software business generates little positive cash flow, the declining share price raised concerns that Strategy would have to sell Bitcoin to cover future expenses like growing dividends and interest payments. The business set up a cash reserve in December to allay concerns. 1 through the sale of common stock. As of January 4, the reserve was worth $2.25 billion.

DeepSeek Founder Liang Wenfeng’s Hedge Fund Soars 57% in 2025, Fueling AI Revolution on a Budget

Posted on January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, achieved returns of over 50% last year despite spending far less than competitors, boosting the company’s potential war chest. DeepSeek has already shaken up the global tech scene.

Zhejiang High-Flyer Asset Management, which manages over 70 billion yuan ($10 billion), reported an average return of 56.6 percent across its funds in 2025. PaiPaiWang noted this made it the second-best performer among Chinese quant funds managing over 10 billion yuan. Only Ningbo Lingjun Investment Management Partnership, which led the nation’s top quants with gains of more than 70%, outperformed it.

Li stated that, assuming a 1 percent management fee and a 20 percent performance fee, the fund’s explosive growth last year could have generated over $700 million.

That is orders of magnitude more than the reported budget of less than $6 million DeepSeek needed to develop its groundbreaking AI model, while some competitors have questioned those cost claims.

PaiPaiWang reported that two products managed by Xu Jin, a co-founder of High-Flyer, increased by an average of 58.6%.

Simon Lu, the CEO, oversaw eight products with an average return of 56%. Lu also ranked last. With a Sharpe ratio of 2.8 percent as of December, it was one of the top quant funds based on risk-adjusted returns for stock strategies last year.

, High-Flyer’s main product line now consists of those funds after abandoning market-neutral strategies in 2024 to go “all-in” on long-only strategies, all aiming to outperform their underlying stock indexes. The gains exemplify China’s quant funds’ stellar year, with an average return of 30.5 percent last year.

Gold Smashes $4,600 Record as DOJ Threatens Fed with Criminal Indictment

Posted on January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Gold and silver reached all-time highs as the US Justice Department threatened the Federal Reserve with a criminal indictment. At the same time, protests in Iran bolstered the demand for a haven, reigniting concerns about its independence.

Silver approached $85, and the yellow metal surged toward $4,600 per ounce, following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s statement that the possible indictment “should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure” to influence the bank’s interest-rate decisions.

The Trump administration’s repeated attacks on the Fed last year were a significant factor that weakened the dollar and bolstered gold.

In the meantime, deadly protests in Iran have made precious metals more appealing as a haven if the Islamic Republic is overthrown.

Just over a week after seizing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was considering options regarding Iran while reiterating threats to seize Greenland and questioning the usefulness of the NATO alliance.

Precious metals are at the center of a strong upward re-rating due to a confluence of tailwinds that have increased demand.

Gold and silver have benefited from several factors, including declining US interest rates, increased geopolitical tensions, diminished confidence in the US dollar, and challenges to the Fed. Due to their belief in gold’s long-term appeal, more than a dozen money managers stated they have chosen not to remove too much money from the market.

“Geopolitics, the growth/rates debate, and now a new headline-driven reminder of an institutional risk premium are just a few of the many uncertainties markets are juggling.”