PwC aims to enhance its audit and consulting services by exploring the use of stablecoins to improve payment efficiency. What to know : PwC is increasing its focus on crypto clients due to clearer U.S. regulations, including the GENIUS Act. The firm plans to expand its involvement in stablecoin and tokenization as part of its growth strategy. PwC aims to enhance its audit and consulting services by exploring the use of stablecoins to improve payment efficiency.

[Musk and Trump Pose for a Photo at Mar-a-Lago Dinner, Saying 2026 Will Be Spectacular] On January 5, Musk posted a photo on the X platform of himself at a dinner with U.S. President Trump and First Lady Melania at Mar-a-Lago, captioning it, '2026 will be spectacular.' Previously, the relationship between Musk and Trump had been tense. Notably, just hours before the U.S. military action against Venezuela, Musk's SpaceX announced that Starlink would provide one month of free broadband service to Venezuela, with a deadline of February 3. According to a Netblocks report, some areas of Caracas experienced internet disruptions during the U.S. military operation, though overall network connectivity remained largely normal.

The rally in crypto was mirrored by a surge in commodities and Asian equities, driven by AI-led momentum and geopolitical developments. What to know : KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025 , equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month , marking its strongest year on record. This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume , as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes , which slowed during periods of lower market volatility. Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split , each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line. Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity , reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover. Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity , indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

[OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) Officially Effective] The Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) officially came into effect on January 1, 2026, initially covering 48 countries and regions. This framework requires crypto-asset service providers to disclose user transaction information to tax authorities and submit annual reporting, covering activities such as transactions, exchanges, and asset transfers. The European Union member states, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Cayman Islands, and other regions are the first to participate, while Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates are expected to join by 2028. The United States plans to integrate into the system by 2029. CARF aims to address the regulatory gaps in the digital asset sector under the existing Common Reporting Standard and promote global tax transparency and cross-border data exchange.

[Pentagon 'Pizza Index' Activated, U.S. President Trump Threatens Military Action Against Colombia] On January 5, according to monitoring by @pizzintwatch, the Pentagon's 'Pizza Index' has been activated. Customer traffic at the Papa John's pizza store located 2.3 miles from the Pentagon surged by 1250%, while traffic at the Regional Pizza Palace located 1.0 mile from the Pentagon increased by 313%. The situation has now entered Level 3 alert status. On Sunday local time, U.S. President Trump threatened to take military action against the Colombian government, calling Colombian President Petro a 'sick person' and accusing him of producing and selling cocaine to the United States. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump remarked that taking military action against Colombia 'sounds good.'