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• A new strategic partnership between DXC Technology and Ripple aims to bring traditional banking infrastructures up to date.
• DXC integrates Ripple’s institutional blockchain technology into its core “Hogan” banking structure, used by major banks worldwide.

The new cooperation is intended to enable banks to use blockchain-based payment systems and digital assets without having to radically rebuild their existing systems.

Sea Press release The aim is to create a technological basis that corresponds to the state of the blockchain, but is “downwardly compatible” enough to continue to control custody, RWA tokenization and programmable payments directly from the core banking platform in the future.

A major hurdle has been removed for banks that previously shied away from high integration costs. DXC acts as an “interface” between traditional IT and modern blockchain infrastructure; and Ripple gains access to a market that was previously virtually monopolized – the core systems of major banks. This development is likely to significantly accelerate the spread of blockchain technologies in the institutional environment.

Impact on Ripple, XRP and the crypto market

Although the cooperation does not explicitly require the use of XRP tokens, it still has an impact on its use. Ripple is increasingly becoming a provider of institutional infrastructure, and any expansion of this infrastructure indirectly strengthens the XRP system. Banks that use Ripple technology for international payments and liquidity management in the future could opt for XRP-based applications in the long term, especially if efficiency and cost savings are the result.

The crypto market reacts to such developments because institutions are seen as a stability factor. The partnership will therefore increase trust in blockchain applications and advance the discussion about the role of digital assets in the global financial system.

Digitalized financial infrastructure is getting closer

The cooperation between DXC and Ripple shows that blockchain technology has finally arrived in the traditional banking world. Banks gain access to new, beneficial functionality without replacing their core systems, while Ripple consolidates its position as a technology provider for institutional applications.

Digital assets and tokenized financial instruments continue to make their way into the regulated financial world. The partnership could thus prove to be the initial spark that triggers the transition to a fully digitalized, more efficient and globally networked financial infrastructure.

• ICP operates its own subnet in Switzerland, which processes and stores data strictly within the country’s borders.
• It is particularly suitable for authorities, banks and companies with the highest requirements for data protection, compliance and digital sovereignty.

With the Swiss subnet, the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) company implements its data protection and data security requirements without compromise. The new infrastructure, which consists exclusively of nodes operated in Switzerland, guarantees that all data processing processes remain within Swiss national borders.

For industries with strict regulatory requirements – such as finance, healthcare and public administration – this creates a high-security technological variant that classic cloud models have not yet provided.

ICP publishes the “Swiss bank account” of cloud computing

The so-called Swiss Subnet is technically designed in such a way that only node operators based in Switzerland are allowed to participate. This restriction is technically anchored in the protocol and prevents data or computing processes from being outsourced to foreign servers.

The „Swiss Bank Account“ of Cloud Computing is here.

Dominic Williams just unveiled the @SwissSubnet in Davos.

The first „National Subnet“ is officially live on $ICP. For the first time, institutions can build on the Internet Computer while guaranteeing their data never… pic.twitter.com/LGM8eSZlZB

— Internet Computer Today (@DfinityToday) January 20, 2026

ICP is responding to a growing demand for applications that require the security of a blockchain and the control of a national infrastructure.

Switzerland, which traditionally places great value on data protection, neutrality and regulatory clarity, is becoming a testing ground for a model that could also be attractive for other countries.

A key feature of the subnet is the combination of blockchain integrity and local government regulation. While the subnet still belongs to the International ICP Network, it acts as an isolated unit with clearly defined geographical boundaries. This architecture makes it possible to operate sensitive applications without having to forego scalability, interoperability and modern smart contract functionality.

This creates new scope for decision-making for institutions for which blockchain technology was previously out of the question for compliance reasons.

The role of the subnet for AI applications is particularly highlighted. For ICP, Switzerland is the location of the “Swiss Cloud Engines”, which allow AI models and data-intensive workloads to be executed on sovereign infrastructure.

In the medical field, government registries and other security-critical organizational processes, this can be the decisive criterion for achieving data protection and data security while using modern technologies.

The security subnet can also provide new economic impetus. Companies gain access to an infrastructure that is compliant with regulations, technologically future-proof and scalable in the long term. Startups can benefit from a network that allows critical data processing to be kept within Swiss borders from the start.

For Switzerland, the project means strengthening its position as a location with special data protection, special data security, innovation and digital neutrality.

• The Dogecoin Foundation and its merger partner Brag House are developing the Search app that allows customers to set up a wallet, purchase Dogecoin and make everyday payments with DOGE.
• With the app, self-employed people and small businesses can present their offers and accept Dogecoin.

A team of twenty in Melbourne has been working on the “SUCH” app since March 2025, led by CTO and Dogecoin Foundation Director Timothy Stebbing.

Marco Margiotta, CEO of “House-of-Doge”, the foundation’s commercial company, explainedSUCH will be more than a classic wallet and will offer additional functions that will establish Dogecoin as a global, decentralized currency.

Strategic goal: Dogecoin as a means of payment

The SUCH app is open source and is intended to facilitate DOGE transactions of all kinds. It is equally suitable for retailers and private and professional customers. The company sees the expansion of practical application possibilities as a decisive factor for the long-term spread of Dogecoin.

Brag House CEO Lavell Juan Malloy II describes “SUCH” as a tool that transforms social energy into economic value and opens up new opportunities for communities. A self-managed wallet, real-time transaction feed and merchant tools – “Hustles” – will be available at launch, with additional features in development.

When started, the SEARCH app should have the following functions:

• Self-managed wallet: A simple, easy-to-use wallet that allows customers to securely manage their Dogecoin.
• Real-time transaction feed: A live view of transactions to track activity and see in real time where the DOGE being sent is going.
• Trader tools: A feature called “Hustles” that allows merchants and private sellers to post their offers, engage with customers, and accept Dogecoin as payment.

Beyond these launch features, House of Doge is developing additional features designed to give customers new ways to use their Dogecoin. Further details will be announced as development progresses.

• VeChain-based app Eearn (VeBetter) partners with Smartcar.
• Verified electric and hybrid rides are rewarded with B3TR tokens.

The VeChain Foundation reports a strategic partnership between the VeBetter app Eearn and the connected vehicle data provider Smartcar: drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles will be rewarded with B3TR tokens for verified, lower-emission journeys.

The aim of the partnership is to record driving data uniformly, accurately calculate CO₂ savings and process rewards transparently on-chain.

VeChain awards rewards for electric and hybrid drivers

According to the VeChain Foundation, the cooperation links Smartcars vehicle interface to VeChain’s infrastructure. Everyday trips should be recorded as “verifiable signals of sustainable mobility” and linked to digital rewards. In one Post on X from January 21st it says:

“Through this collaboration, Smartcar’s advanced connected vehicle technology enables Eearn users to seamlessly monitor the CO₂ saved on their journeys by using an electric or hybrid vehicle instead of a combustion-powered vehicle. VeChain’s blockchain infrastructure then ensures that rewards are accurately allocated based on verified vehicle data.”

According to X-Post, the partnership includes more than 30 electric car and hybrid brands and is intended to enable tracking and rewards “in Europe and North America”.

For the VeChain Foundation, the cooperation focuses on three central benefits. Firstly, “accuracy”: Smartcar should provide a reliable, standardized data connection across the supported brands so that driving behavior is recorded consistently.

Secondly, “trust”: VeChain wants to document reward logic, allocation and proof of the amount of CO₂ saved per trip on a public blockchain.

Thirdly, “Engagement”: Drivers should see a clear connection between daily trips and the rewards earned, which should make sustainable mobility “more tangible, visible and motivating”.

Eearn describes Smartcar as a “data bridge” between vehicles and the platform. Users should connect their vehicle, and Smartcar enables “secure access to selected driving information under clear consent controls” without additional hardware or complex setup.

At the same time, the VeChain Foundation emphasizes the protection of privacy:

“User data remains protected, and Eearn only accesses odometer readings, not sensitive personal information.”

Eearn determines reward eligibility based on this data. VeChain’s blockchain is then intended to secure the ‘final step’: the database for the calculation, the CO₂ proof per trip and transparent allocation rules. Users can also hold and manage the rewards as digital assets in the VeBetter ecosystem.

• Bybit is launching a large-scale cashback program in the European Union to integrate Bitcoin into consumers’ everyday lives.
• In the future, Bybit Card holders will automatically receive a refund in the form of Bitcoin for every purchase from a participating partner.

The cashback model is based on the well-known cashback programs from credit card providers, but extends them to digital assets. Cardholders use it to collect small amounts of Bitcoin for everyday expenses – from visiting the supermarket to booking a trip – without having to actively invest. The credits are made daily and are intended to encourage end consumers to start using cryptocurrencies.

The Bitcoin Cashback Program

The new program is tier-based: Depending on the card level, users receive between two and ten percent of their spending back as Bitcoin. The amount of cashback is also determined by the frequency of use by customers.

Instead of Bitcoin, USDC can also be used as a cashback currency in certain situations. Bybit positions the program as an opportunity to continuously, long-term build digital wealth.

The technical processing is automated – customers don’t need to do anything other than pay with their ByBit Mastercard as usual.

Bybit in the EU market

With the introduction of Bitcoin cashback, Bybit is pursuing several goals:

On the one hand, ByBit debit card should become more attractive and compete with other crypto financial service providers.

On the other hand, ByBit wants to promote the acceptance of cryptocurrencies in EU payment transactions. By linking daily expenses directly to the accumulation of Bitcoin, low-threshold access to the digital economy is created.

For Bybit, the program is also a marketing tool that is intended to both retain existing customers and open up new customer groups that have previously had no contact with cryptocurrency.

• Bitcoin has temporarily fallen over 8% since Sunday and is currently trading at around $89,400.
• Experts see the driver as a renewed shock in the Japanese bond market and not the US-EU customs dispute.

The Bitcoin price has fallen by more than 8 percent since Sunday. After BTC temporarily reached almost 98,000 US dollars with a strong start to the year, a large part of these gains has now been given back. On Wednesday, Bitcoin was trading at around $89,400. The US-EU customs dispute in the wake of Donald Trump’s Greenland demands was initially seen as the trigger for the setback.

In fact, according to several market observers, an abrupt shock in the Japanese bond market may have led to the risk-off move in Bitcoin and altcoins, while gold hit a new all-time high at $4,888 an ounce. Japan’s bond yields exploded: the 30-year JGBs rose to 3.875 percent (record), the 40-year to 4.224 percent (record), and the 10-year JGBs rose 3.7 percent in a day.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made Japan the direct driver of the current market turmoil in a TV appearance on Tuesday. Bessent explained:

“I think the markets are falling because the Japanese bond market has had a move of six standard deviations in the last two days. […] “I have been in touch with my economic policy contacts in Japan and urged them to take the necessary measures to stabilize their bond market – but this is spilling over into all bond markets.”

He added that yields rose not only in the US, but also in Germany and France, and emphasized: “This has nothing to do with Greenland.”

Bessent: Markets are going down because Japan’s bond market just suffered a six-standard-deviation move in ten-year bonds over the past two days… This has nothing to do with Greenland. pic.twitter.com/i1JVNR4vWw

— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) January 20, 2026

The central fear: Japan is considered the largest foreign holder of US government bonds. If the rise in domestic yields causes Japanese investors to stay at home more or create selling pressure, this could hit the US Treasury market – either through lower demand or through reallocations.

BitMEX-Gründer Arthur Hayes wrote to do this on X:

“The problem for bonds is if Japanese investors stay home because yields on JGBs are higher and stop funding Pax Americana.”

In another post, he highlighted the long maturities as a potential spark: “This is the match: the 30-year JGB yield. Let’s see how big the fire gets.”

From Hayes’ point of view, the headline itself is less important than the volatility. He advises:

“Watch MOVE. If he shoots to 130-140, some sort of bailout is coming. Otherwise, get ready for the pain trade if that triggers risk-off.”

LondonCryptoClub (@LDNCryptoClub) argued on

“Bitcoin is reflexively traded as a risk asset. However, it will quickly recognize the liquidity and subsequent devaluation and follow the price of gold. As previously mentioned, Bitcoin covers both the left and right ends of the risk distribution. On the left, when the current economic and political structures collapse, it is the ultimate hedge. We are not there yet… but we are getting close to that point.”

Meanwhile, Dan Tapiero, founder and CEO of 50T Funds, explains on X that Bitcoin should actually rise, but perhaps not immediately:

“The Japanese bond market is collapsing completely and is currently affecting all markets. This is what a market looks like that is no longer functioning properly. The authorities will try to intervene and stabilize the situation. Bessent is aware of this. The yen will continue to fall sharply. Gold is rising, Bitcoin is expected to follow.”

Wipeout.

Complete annihilation in Japanese bond mkts infecting ALL markets right now.

This is what discontinuity/dysfunctionality of a mkt looks like.

Authorities will attempt to step in to smoothe.

Bessent aware.

Yen going down a lot more.

Gold up, btc eventually follows. pic.twitter.com/jiQEdQgCLX

— Dan Tapiero (@DTAPCAP) January 20, 2026

• VeChain founder Sunny Lu presents a two-tier governance proposal for VeBetterDAO that aims to prevent “lazy voting” in weekly voting.
• Phase 1 relies on new multipliers, phase 2 introduces delegable “navigators” with staking and slashing rules.

VeChain founder Sunny Lu brought attention to his new governance proposal on the VeBetterDAO forum in a post on X on January 20th. The Suggestion is intended to combat the issue of “lazy voting” in weekly allocation voting.

His idea is a two-stage upgrade: In the first step, incentives for active voting are improved, after which VeChain users should be able to delegate their voting rights without giving up control of their tokens.

How the Vechain founder wants to promote more participation

According to the VeChain founder, the current governance model favors convenience over active participation, resulting in “stagnant allocations” and disadvantages for new projects. Lu writes:

“Weekly allocation voting has gradually become highly reward-driven, resulting in widespread ‘lazy voting.’

To encourage active participation, Phase 1 relies on two multipliers. The “Freshness Multiplier” increases weekly voting power depending on how recently a VeChain user has actively adjusted their allocation.

Those who update weekly receive 3.00x; an update every two weeks brings 2.00x; without an update over three or more rounds it remains at 1.00x. An “update” is any change, such as adding or removing dApps or rebalancing shares. The logic: Regular reassessment should not be forced, but should be more economically attractive than passivity.

The second multiplier targets votes in which, according to Lu, extremely high abstention rates dominate. The VeChain founder states:

“50-60% of votes are ‘abstention’, often from over 10,000 wallets. ‘For/against’ votes in recent proposals typically come from fewer than 2,000 wallets. At this stage of ecosystem maturity, abstention provides minimal information or governance value – and inflates the optics of participation without improving decision quality.”

According to the proposal, a second multiplier should therefore be introduced: abstentions will still be possible, but will be paid less. For/Against receives 1.00x, abstention receives 0.30x (“Governance Intent Multiplier”).

Phase 2: Delegation an „Navigators“

Phase 2 introduces “Navigators,” where users can voluntarily delegate their weekly decision. The delegation can be revoked at any time; users retain ownership of VOT3. The delegated voting power is based on the token holder’s multipliers and their behavior. Navigators must disclose a public profile, voting strategy, conflicts of interest, and publish regular reports.

As a reward, Navigators receive a fixed share of 20% of the delegators’ weekly rewards; Charges will be suspended for four rounds. A staking and slashing framework is central: 10% of the delegated VOT3 is required, with a minimum stake of 50,000 VOT3 and a maximum stake of 1% of the circulating VOT3.

If the stake falls below the minimum for seven days, auto-removal follows; Violations can result in minor slashes (10%), such as missed votes or missing reports, up to major slashes (up to 100% of stake and blocked fees) in the event of serious misconduct such as manipulation, bribery or undisclosed relationships.

• Cronos Labs, operator of the Cronos blockchain, has joined the MiCA Crypto Alliance. This association of EU crypto companies is committed to a uniform, practical implementation of the MiCA regulation.
• By joining, the Alliance is expanding its network to include a technologically strong player who has been committed to practical regulation and sustainable system development for years.

The MiCA Crypto Alliance sees itself as the voice of the European crypto industry, in which regulation has become increasingly important since the turn of the year.

The Alliance has been criticizing for months that the MiCA rules are being implemented at different speeds and with different levels of rigor in the individual EU member states. This creates uncertainty for companies that operate in several EU countries at the same time.

That is why there is a call for closer exchange between regulatory institutions and the industry in order to create uniform standards.

For Cronos Labs, joining is a strategic step. The company supports start-ups, developers and Web3 projects in the Cronos system and sees clear regulatory frameworks as a prerequisite for sustainable growth.

The EU MiCAR era has begun

For the first time, the MiCA Regulation offers an EU-wide legal framework for crypto assets, which provides greater security, especially for institutional market participants. Cronos Labs wants to actively shape this process and contribute its technical expertise in areas such as DeFi security, interoperability and token economics.

The accession also has a symbolic meaning. Cronos Labs is closely involved Crypto.com one of the largest global crypto providers that has already received a MiCA license.

This brings a protagonist into the Alliance who is very well connected both technologically and institutionally. For the Alliance, this means additional influence and for Cronos Labs the opportunity to help shape regulatory developments at an early stage.

The EU crypto industry relies on professionalization and reliable regulation. As MiCA implementation reaches its final phase this year, Cronos Labs is playing an important role in balancing the tension between technological innovation and legally sound regulation.

• IOTA refers to a Maeil mention by co-founder Dominik Schiener in the context of the World Crypto Forum (WCF) in Seoul.
• Schiener wants to explain “how trade data can be moved quickly and precisely across borders.”

On Monday, IOTA pointed out on X that co-founder Dominik Schiener was mentioned in the South Korean business newspaper Maeil Business Newspaper in the context of the World Crypto Forum (WCF).

The post marks a continuation of the Korea initiative that IOTA aggressively announced at the beginning of January: more mainstream presence, less crypto internal communication and a clear focus on cross-border trade data as an area of ​​adoption.

In the Maeil report, the WCF is classified as a meeting point for international industry representatives. It says there:

“The first World Crypto Forum, where global heavyweights discuss the future of digital assets, is taking place in Seoul. In keeping with the motto of a ‘fusion of finance and digital assets’, it is about digital financial models in which stablecoins and real-world assets (RWA) are merged with blockchain networks. 68 speakers are traveling from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.”

What is striking is the common thread: stablecoins, payment infrastructure, tokenization and “real-world” data flows. Maeil lists, among others, a16z, Solana, Chainlink, Binance and Grayscale as participants and anchors Schiener in a thematic block that does not sell “narratives” but rather addresses concrete integration questions.

About IOTA, the presentation says that Schiener wants to explain “how trading data can be moved quickly and precisely across borders.”

Grateful to see @domschiener featured today in Maeil Economy, one of Korea’s leading financial newspapers, alongside other upcoming participants including a16z, Grayscale, and more.

We’re excited to take part in WCF! Our operations in Korea are just getting started. pic.twitter.com/BM1w4G0Or6

— IOTA (@iota) January 19, 2026

IOTA brings Korea into focus

The tone is consistent with what IOTA announced at the beginning of January. As CNF reported, in the context of Korean media presence it said:

“We are excited to start 2026 in The Economist Korea’s spotlight, showcasing Dominik Schiener and positioning IOTA as the core infrastructure for the digitalization of global trade.”

At the beginning of the year, the IOTA Foundation stated that South Korea had already made great progress in the area of ​​digitalization, but identified a possible use case in global trade:

“The biggest bottleneck remains cross-border trade, where international processes continue to rely on paper and manual trust mechanisms. This is exactly where IOTA and TWIN come in: a neutral, public infrastructure that connects these systems openly, securely and globally across borders.”

Schiener himself announced at the beginning of January that he would “spend significantly more time in Korea this year and push forward the introduction of IOTA among financial institutions, logistics companies and the government.” The WCF now provides a stage for this and at the same time a signal that IOTA wants to advance its adoption narrative in South Korea in 2026.

• Income from crypto assets has previously been a gray area from a tax perspective that overwhelmed many private investors – and the tax authorities were lenient.
• The new reporting and transparency obligations that have been in force in the EU since January and also in Switzerland through international agreements are now over.

For crypto investors, this means one thing above all: Anyone who does not properly document and correctly state their transactions will risk receiving notice from the tax office much more quickly in the future. The most important change concerns the automatic transmission of transaction data.

Crypto exchanges, brokers and other crypto service providers must report all relevant movements to the tax authorities. Leaving smaller or older transactions quietly under the table will no longer be tolerated.

Even transfers between your own wallets can become tax-relevant if they indicate profits or changes in value. Investors should therefore start organizing their wallet structure early on and create comprehensible documentation.

The question of the holding period is tricky. In Germany, profits from the sale of cryptocurrencies are tax-free after one year, while Austria and Switzerland have different deadlines. The new rules do not change this, but they do increase the likelihood that incorrect information will be noticed.

Anyone who moves tokens between several wallets quickly loses track of the purchase times. Tax experts therefore recommend logging every transaction immediately and, ideally, using software that automatically combines purchase, sale and transfer histories.

Staking and lending are also moving more into focus. Many investors forget that income from such activities is taxable regardless of the holding period. Thanks to the new reporting requirements, this income is now systematically recorded.

Anyone who provides incomplete information not only risks back payments, but also criminal consequences. It is therefore worth regularly checking the tax treatment of your own crypto strategy and adjusting it if necessary.

Another point concerns evaluation. Since cryptocurrencies are traded around the clock, the exact time of a transaction is crucial. Tax offices are increasingly relying on standardized price sources, which can lead to deviations if investors use their own values.

In order to avoid disputes, it is recommended to document the price data used transparently and to use generally accepted price indices.

Overall, the new rules lead to more clarity, but also to more processing work. Anyone who structures their crypto activities, documents them properly and declares them correctly for tax purposes does not have to worry about the new requirements.

For everyone else, it’s time to get their wallets in order before the tax office does.