Crypto Morning Brief: X Revokes API Access for 'Reward Posting Apps', Bitmine Invests in MrBeast

marsbitОпубліковано о 2026-01-16Востаннє оновлено о 2026-01-16

Анотація

Crypto Morning Brief: X Revokes API Access for 'Reward Posting Apps', Bitmine Invests in MrBeast Key market developments include better-than-expected US jobless claims and the Senate Banking Committee canceling a meeting amid Coinbase controversy. CME Group announced new futures for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar. X (formerly Twitter) revoked API access for applications that reward users for posting, citing a flood of AI-generated spam. Interactive Brokers now supports 24/7 USDC deposits for accounts, with plans to add more stablecoins. State Street launched a new digital asset platform. In notable closures, MilkyWay Protocol is shutting down permanently, and Polygon laid off nearly 30% of its staff as it pivots to a payments-focused strategy. CoinGecko's co-founder responded to acquisition rumors, stating the platform is operating normally while evaluating strategic opportunities. Finally, Bitmine announced a $200 million investment into MrBeast's Beast Industries.

Author: Deep Tide TechFlow

Yesterday's Market Dynamics

US Initial Jobless Claims for the Week Ending Jan 10: 198K, Expected 215K

According to Jinshi Data, US initial jobless claims for the week ending January 10 were 198,000, compared to an expectation of 215,000. The previous week's figure was revised from 208,000 to 207,000.

Senate Banking Committee Cancels Market Structure Hearing Due to Coinbase Controversy

As reported by EleanorTerrett, the Senate Banking Committee announced the cancellation of a market structure hearing originally scheduled for tomorrow, citing the controversy with Coinbase that occurred today. A new date for the hearing has not yet been set.

CME Group to Launch Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Futures

CME Group announced it will launch futures for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) on February 9th, expanding its crypto derivatives product portfolio.

Fogo Announces Airdrop Claim is Open

According to an official announcement, the SVM Layer1 blockchain project Fogo has opened airdrop claims.

X Revokes API Access for "Reward Posting Apps"

According to X product lead and Solana ecosystem advisor Nikita Bier, the X platform is revising its developer policy and will no longer allow applications that reward users for posting on X. Bier stated that such apps have led to a large amount of AI-generated low-quality content and reply spam on the platform. The X platform has revoked the API access for these applications, and user experience is expected to improve soon. For developer accounts whose API access has been terminated, the X platform stated it will assist in transitioning their business to Threads and Bluesky.

Interactive Brokers Launches 24/7 Account Funding with USDC, Plans to Expand Stablecoin Options

According to The Block, traditional brokerage firm Interactive Brokers announced that traders can now use Circle's USDC for 24/7 account funding operations, enabling round-the-clock trading functionality.

The company's CEO, Milan Galik, stated that stablecoins offer a faster, lower-cost, and globally accessible funding option compared to traditional wire transfers. This integration is supported by crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash. Users can send USDC via the Ethereum, Solana, or Base networks, and the system will automatically convert it to US dollars and deposit it into the brokerage account. Interactive Brokers plans to expand support to include more stablecoin options such as Ripple's RLUSD and PayPal's PYUSD as early as next week.

State Street Launches Digital Asset Platform to Expand Crypto Business

According to Bloomberg, global custody banking giant State Street Corporation announced the launch of a digital asset platform aimed at expanding its business in this rapidly growing asset class. A statement from the Boston-based company said the new platform will develop and support money market funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and cash products including tokenized deposits and stablecoins.

MilkyWay Protocol Announces Imminent Permanent Shutdown

According to an official announcement from MilkyWay Protocol, the protocol is shutting down permanently and will begin the liquidation process.

The announcement stated that the decision to close stems from decentralized finance (DeFi) demand not growing as expected, the transient nature of restaking demand, the interruption of plans for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and insufficient funding.

MilkyWay completed a snapshot on January 14th and will automatically distribute protocol fees proportionally to MILK token holders in the form of USDC. All liquid staking functions are disabled effective immediately, and existing positions will be automatically unstaked. MilkyWay initially launched as the first liquid staking token (LST) provider for Celestia, later expanding to the Initia and Babylon ecosystems, and attempted to launch services including restaking, RWA tokenization, and payment cards.

Polygon Lays Off Nearly 30% of Staff, Shifts to Payments Strategy

According to BeInCrypto, Polygon has reduced its workforce by approximately 30%, a move that is part of integration measures following its acquisitions of Coinme and Sequence. The company is shifting from traditional scaling and DeFi narratives to an "open money stack" strategy centered around stablecoin payments. Polygon's CEO confirmed the layoff decision but stated that with the addition of newly acquired teams, the overall headcount is expected to remain stable.

Coingecko Co-founder Responds to Sale Rumors: Regularly Evaluate Strategic Opportunities, Platform Operating Normally

In response to previous reports that crypto data platform CoinGecko was considering a sale at a valuation of approximately $500 million, the company's co-founder and CEO Bobby Ong posted on X, stating that he has received many inquiries about a potential platform sale. Having operated CoinGecko for 12 years, like any growing and profitable company, they regularly evaluate strategic opportunities to strengthen the business and accelerate their mission. He declined to comment on specific acquisition talks for now but expressed excitement about possibilities that could help better serve users and support institutional adoption of cryptocurrency. CoinGecko will continue to operate as usual, with no changes to how they work or provide trusted data.

Bitmine Announces $200 Million Investment in MrBeast's Beast Industries

According to Prnewswire, Bitmine announced a $200 million investment in MrBeast's Beast Industries. The transaction is expected to be completed around January 19th.

Market Dynamics

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Пов'язані питання

QWhat action did X take regarding 'reward posting applications' and why?

AX revoked API access for 'reward posting applications' because they were causing a proliferation of low-quality AI-generated content and reply spam on the platform.

QWhich three cryptocurrencies will CME Group launch futures for on February 9th?

ACME Group will launch futures for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM).

QWhat was the reason given by MilkyWay Protocol for its permanent shutdown?

AMilkyWay Protocol is shutting down due to decentralized finance demand not growing as expected, a short-lived restaking market, the interruption of its real-world asset tokenization plans, and insufficient funding.

QHow much did Bitmine invest in MrBeast's Beast Industries and when is the deal expected to close?

ABitmine invested $200 million in MrBeast's Beast Industries, and the deal is expected to close around January 19th.

QWhat new feature did Interactive Brokers introduce for its users regarding USDC?

AInteractive Brokers introduced 24/7 account funding using Circle's USDC stablecoin, allowing traders to send funds at any time via the Ethereum, Solana, or Base networks.

Пов'язані матеріали

Podcast Notes | Conversation with GSR Asset Management Head: To Determine if This Crypto Rally is Real, Just Watch the Lending Rates on Aave

Podcast Summary: Dialogue with GSR's Head of Asset Management: To Determine if This Crypto Rally is Real, Just Check Lending Rates on Aave Andy Baehr, Managing Director of Asset Management at GSR, discusses the current crypto market, characterizing it as stuck in a state of "ambivalence" with short-lived, unsustainable rallies. He outlines a simple framework: the market moves between "ambivalence" and "conviction" (sustained upward momentum). Currently, every rally resembles a single-stage rocket booster that quickly fizzles out. Baehr identifies three key signals to watch: 1) DeFi lending rates, 2) the potential passage of the CLARITY Act, and 3) the market forming a consensus on the "Fed hawkish peak." He emphasizes that the most immediate indicator for the sustainability of the recent CPI-triggered rally is the USDC borrowing rate on Aave, currently around 3.75%—close to U.S. Treasury yields. The absence of a credit spread indicates low leverage demand and a lack of market energy. He explains that a healthy, sustained rally requires layered buying pressure. Last year's rally progressed from an ETH short squeeze to crypto-native trader influx and finally to ETF inflows. Currently, this structure is missing. Other potential structural buyers like Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companies are absent, and ETF flows have proven transient. Baehr notes that while small-cap crypto tokens outperformed large caps in Q2—a potential sign of capitation in major assets—capital is also flowing to more exciting opportunities like AI stocks and tech IPOs, leaving crypto sidelined. Regarding DeFi, he highlights that platforms like Aave provide a clear, real-time signal of leverage demand through their supply/demand-driven interest rates. A significant, sustained rate increase would signal genuine market conviction. He also observes the quiet emergence of fixed-income-like products and vaults in DeFi. On regulation, the probability of the CLARITY Act passing before the August 7th deadline has dropped linearly from 75% to below 40% on Polymarket. Baehr suggests its passage would be treated as a bullish surprise, a potent driver for price movement. However, political hurdles, including ethical clause debates and disclosures about the First Family's crypto profits, remain significant obstacles. Ultimately, the market awaits clarity on the Fed's terminal rate under Chair Warsh. Until the "Fed Solstice"—the point where the market collectively understands the peak of hawkish policy—sustained conviction will be difficult to achieve.

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Send a Message to Transfer Coins? Telegram to 'Stuff' a Crypto Wallet into 1 Billion Users This Summer

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Hyperliquid’s HIP-4 proposal fuels HYPE staking as long-term conviction grows

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7 Months After the Collapse of Huiwang, Southeast Asia's Escrow Platforms Undergo a Major Reshuffle

Following the collapse of Huione Pay—dubbed the "Alipay of Southeast Asia"—seven months ago, the region's underground financial guarantee platform sector is undergoing a significant reshuffle. This power vacuum has been swiftly filled by emerging platforms such as XinBi, Tiger/Navigator, JinBei (renamed JinBo), Dali/Tiancheng, and FullyLight. These platforms, operating largely via Telegram and offering services like escrow for illicit transactions, have absorbed the vast user base and markets left behind by Huione. While positioning themselves as "trust intermediaries," their primary clientele consists of networks involved in online scams, money laundering, illegal gambling, and even human trafficking. For instance, the Tiger/Navigator platform explicitly provides "escrow" services for kidnapping-for-ransom operations ("强押车交易"). Data underscores the immense scale: Huione alone processed over $103 billion in cryptocurrency payments and facilitated over $31 billion through its escrow market before its downfall, linking it to Cambodia's notorious Prince Group. Since its collapse, competitors have seen explosive growth. For example, the XinBi platform has accumulated over $1.6 billion in total USDT revenue, while platforms like NewPay, OkPay (under Dali), and FullyLight Wallet collectively processed over $4.8 billion in USDT in a single year. This ecosystem thrives in regions like Cambodia and Myanmar, where regulatory gaps allow these platforms to act as critical financial infrastructure for sprawling cybercrime industries, from scam compounds to online casinos. The article concludes that the moniker "Southeast Asian Alipay" is a misnomer, obscuring the platforms' fundamental role in enabling serious criminal enterprises rather than representing legitimate financial innovation.

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The Changing Landscape: What Are Crypto VCs Experiencing?

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