GM!
Here’s the latest news:
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Major cryptocurrencies are down, raising worries regarding Iran. BTC is currently at $66,000.
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Jax Block has announced a 40% reduction in its workforce, which led to a 20% rise in XYZ stock on the news.
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Ethereum is making strides in its post-quantum strategy as Vitalik pushes the roadmap forward.
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ZachXBT has revealed insider trading information tied to an Axiom employee.
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Magic Eden plans to cease its BTC and EVM marketplaces along with its wallet services.
Citorini’s analysis appears accurate, though perhaps not immediate.
Yesterday, Jack Dorsey’s Block announced Q4 2025 earnings and stated they would be cutting 40% of staff due to shifts influenced by AI.
Block’s workforce has decreased from 10,200 to nearly 6,000, despite the company not facing dire straits.
Jack’s message was straightforward.
“Intelligence tools have transformed the landscape of starting and running businesses. The tools we are developing will empower notably smaller teams to achieve greater effectiveness,” he noted.
He mentioned choosing between gradual cuts over months as AI takes hold or acting immediately. He opted for immediate action.
Block anticipates restructuring costs between $450 million and $500 million, mainly during the first quarter.
Interestingly, XYZ stock climbed 23% in after-hours trading.
Jack remarked, “I don’t think we’re pioneers in this realization. Many companies are lagging. In the next year, I expect most will reach similar conclusions and make analogous structural changes. I prefer to address this proactively rather than being forced into it.”
CFO Amrita Ahuja added, “We are adjusting our operations now that our business is picking up momentum.”
The timing of Block’s layoffs coincides with a significant article that had recently affected the market.
Even if these layoffs had occurred a few months back, it would have been noteworthy.
However, with the current situation attracting attention, the cautious reaction of the market—XYZ surging 25% in response—may prompt other CEOs to reevaluate their own staffing decisions.
Are layoffs a wise choice at the dawn of the AI era?
I find myself uncertain about that (but I might elaborate later).
The truth is that most fintech, exchange, and crypto firms now have a roadmap to follow, adapting to these changes.
Form smaller teams and utilize AI tools to maintain or enhance output. Then, watch as the market rewards your stock with a 25% jump.
What does this imply for the realm of cryptocurrencies?
In a bullish scenario, investment could shift from labor to assets, with stocks, real estate, and Bitcoin shining through. Bitcoin might regain recognition as digital gold, especially as younger generations look to safeguard their wealth with native assets.
On the flip side, if a significant number of employees see their wages decline, the retail demand for risk assets might dwindle. Those buying $500 of BTC on Cash App could slow down, and institutional investment could also hesitate. The crypto atmosphere would likely remain cold until we resolve the AI challenges.
But if such a bear market happens, it inevitably raises broader concerns. Let’s hope we don’t see that unfold.
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Major cryptocurrencies are impacted by the potential for conflict involving Iran. BTC is down 3% at $66,000, ETH has dropped 5% to $1,960, and SOL is also down 5% at $83.
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ZRO (+11%), DCR (+7%) and STABLE (+6%) are performing well.
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Circle (CRCL) has surged nearly 50% since reporting a better-than-expected profit in Q4, and USDC’s circulation has increased by 72% year-over-year to $75.3 billion.
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Vitalik Buterin has released a roadmap for post-quantum Ethereum targeting four vulnerable aspects: BLS Validator Signature, KZG Data Availability Commitment, ECDSA Wallet Signature, and ZK Certification System.
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Zack XBT noted that an Axiom Exchange employee allegedly utilized an internal dashboard to track private wallets and traded on meme coin positions since early 2025.
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Recently, a bipartisan bill titled “Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act” has been introduced, seeking to adjust 18 U.S.C. 1960 to focus solely on those “controlling currency” and decriminalizing non-custodial DeFi developers.
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Indiana has passed HB 1042, which requires public retirement plans to offer at least one virtual currency ETF option by July 2027.
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A cryptocurrency Mastercard from MetaMask is now providing cashback and travel perks to users in the U.S., enhancing on-chain spending.
Vitalik Buterin’s roadmap for a quantum upgrade to Ethereum is another notable development.
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Bitcoin ETFs saw inflows of $254 million on Wednesday, while ETH ETFs recorded net inflows of $7 million.
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President Trump’s mining company reported a $59 million loss in Q4, leading to declining stock prices.
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Meme coins showed declines similar to major cryptocurrencies with Doge down 4%, Shiba down 4%, Pepe down 5%, among others.
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Interestingly, a new meme called Jelly Bean surged 69 times to $5 million overnight, with other rising trends in Pigeon (+50%) and Macmini (+65%).
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DX Research has launched a live agent trading game with a significant deposit of $25 million.
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Ethos has introduced a white paper and a human authentication tool to compete against AI agents online.
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“Private Bitcoin” is set to debut on Starknet, featuring shield functionality akin to Zcash.
A new feature for “Private Bitcoin” on Starknet is expected soon.
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The NFT market is showing mixed signals, with Punks up 2% at 29.9 ETH, Pudgy down 1% at 4.45 ETH, and BAYC at 6.04 ETH. Hypurr is sitting at 470 HYPE.
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DX Terminal shows a strong jump of 42%, leading the market.
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Magic Eden is expected to phase out BTC and EVM marketplaces, which will impact Ordinal and Rune, along with associated wallets.
