Samsung Electronics plans to begin shipping HBM4 later this month, with initial batches scheduled after the Lunar New Year, according to industry sources. Shipments to Nvidia could start in the third week of February, and the memory is expected to power the Vera Rubin accelerators at GTC 2026. Samsung targets 11.7 Gbps speeds and up to 3 TB/s bandwidth per stack.

After Bitcoin dropped about 50% from its October high, wiping out roughly $2 trillion in value, the role of cryptocurrencies in the $12.5 trillion US 401(k) retirement market is under renewed scrutiny. Supporters cite earlier policy moves and argue Bitcoin can fit alongside other assets, while critics warn that highly volatile tokens are unsuitable for long‑term savings and could expose plan sponsors to legal risks.

Security firm Socket reported that attackers have compromised official dYdX-related packages on npm and PyPI, stealing wallet seed phrases and other credentials from developers and users. The malicious code allegedly enabled complete wallet takeover, crypto theft, and remote execution of additional malware by communicating with a typosquatted domain linked to dYdX services.

On February 1, 2026, India's Union Budget kept the existing crypto tax regime unchanged, including a 30% flat tax on virtual digital asset gains and 1% TDS on each transaction. The budget instead introduced new penalties for non-reporting and inaccurate reporting of crypto statements, set to take effect from April 1, 2026. Industry executives say the lack of broader reforms may continue to weigh on liquidity and participation, even as they welcome clearer compliance enforcement.

On January 31, 2026, the FBI seized both the clearnet and darkweb domains of the RAMP forum; banners on the sites cite coordination with the Southern District of Florida and DOJ's CCIPS. A user known as "Stallman", described as an owner, acknowledged the takedown, while industry analysts cautioned the long‑term impact may be limited.

DraftKings plans to introduce a crypto-to-cash deposit option in Illinois, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Vermont in the coming weeks, allowing US users to fund betting accounts with digital assets converted to cash. Massachusetts regulators have blocked similar deposits by banning crypto-converted funds as a permissible source, while other states like Wyoming, Colorado, and Virginia already allow such methods. At the same time, multiple jurisdictions are moving to prohibit credit cards for online sports wagering due to concerns over gambling-related financial harm.

On January 14, Korea's KMCC demanded stronger youth protections from X and set a two‑week deadline with a possible fine of up to 10 million won. Electronic Times reported the PIPC has opened a preliminary fact‑finding review into xAI's Grok over deepfake allegations. The Center for Countering Digital Hate estimates Grok produced more than three million explicit images, including 23,000 involving minors, between December 29, 2025 and January 8, 2026.

Indian police reported the arrest of four suspects linked to a fraudulent crypto investment scheme that allegedly defrauded a resident of Rs. 16.30 lakh, using WhatsApp and a fake trading app. The case was registered in November 2025 after the victim made multiple transfers to several bank accounts, believing he would earn high returns from crypto trading. Police made the first arrest on January 20 and detained three additional suspects on January 22, while also warning the public against engaging in online investment discussions with strangers.

South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges are expanding trading and marketing activities around U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins as the won-dollar exchange rate climbs. Platforms including Korbit, Coinone, Upbit, and Bithumb are waiving fees, listing new stablecoins, and running reward campaigns distributing USDC and USDe to boost volumes. Trading in Tether against the won has also jumped significantly while lawmakers advance a bill to bring stablecoins under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act for anti–money laundering and tax compliance.