Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (January 16) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin and Ether price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$95,649.68, down by 1.5 percent over 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, January 16, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$3,311.49, down by 2.0 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
- XRP (XRP) was priced at US$2.07, down by 3.3 percent over 24 hours.
- Solana (SOL) was trading at US$143.12, down by 1.5 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
Trump pushes emergency power auction, shifts AI energy costs
US President Donald Trump and several state governors are pressing the operator of the largest US power grid to hold an emergency auction that would force major data center operators to finance new electricity generation needed for AI growth.
According to the Financial Times, the proposal would require tech companies to bid for long-term power contracts, potentially underwriting roughly US$15 billion in new power plants whether or not the electricity is ultimately used.
The push targets PJM Interconnection, which supplies power across the US Northeast and Midwest and sits at the center of the country’s fastest-growing data center corridor.
The administration is framing the move as a response to rising household electricity bills, which have climbed 13 percent since early 2025 amid surging demand from AI infrastructure.
Belgium’s KBC becomes first bank to offer Bitcoin, Ether trading under MiCA
Belgium’s KBC Bank is set to let retail customers buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether directly through its Bolero investment platform starting mid-February, marking a first for the country’s traditional banking sector.
The launch follows the full implementation of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which gives banks a clear legal pathway to offer crypto services.
Until now, Belgian investors largely relied on foreign exchanges or fintech apps to access digital assets.
The bank has completed the required Crypto-Asset Service Provider notification under MiCA, with oversight shared between Belgium’s market and central banking authorities. Under the framework, Bitcoin and Ether fall into a general category of crypto-assets rather than stablecoins.
ETH founder says blockchain is nearing its 2014 vision
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin says the network is finally delivering on its original 2014 vision, as a series of technical upgrades push the blockchain closer to scalable, decentralized application infrastructure.
‘Ethereum is now scaling, it is now cheap, and it is on track to get more scalable and cheaper thanks to the power of ZK-EVMs,’ Buterin posted on X.
His comments come as Ether climbed above US$3,300, reflecting renewed market confidence in the network’s long-term roadmap. Buterin also pointed to Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake, lower transaction fees, and advances in zero-knowledge scaling and sharding as foundational progress.
He acknowledged that competing narratives over the past several years distracted from the core mission, but argued the underlying technology has continued to strengthen. Improvements in decentralized messaging and privacy-focused tools were also cited as signs of ecosystem maturity.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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