On January 17, 2026, an analysis explained why public blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum deliver much lower throughput in practice than their theoretical benchmarks suggest. Because networks must balance security, decentralization, and scalability, real-world performance is constrained by consensus design, propagation delays, mempool congestion, and conservative block size choices, though users can partially mitigate these limits with Layer-2 solutions and fee strategies.

On 17 January 2026, the White House began weighing whether to continue supporting the Digital Asset Market Structure Framework after relations with Coinbase deteriorated. The reassessment follows Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong rejecting the draft and a mid-January Senate Banking Committee markup being paused, leaving the bill’s trajectory and broader US crypto regulatory plans uncertain.

DTCC’s Global Head Nadine Chakar said at a Thursday virtual forum the firm will prioritize interoperability across blockchains over closed ecosystems for tokenized securities. The company is working with Canton Network and plans support for an Ethereum-compatible “AppChain.” Separately, on January 7, 2026, the SEC approved DTCC’s expanded ACS Triparty Service under FICC following a September 2025 filing.

On January 17, 2026, Democratic members of the Financial Services Committee sent a letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins questioning the agency’s retreat from crypto enforcement. The letter cites dropped actions involving Ripple, Binance, Coinbase and Kraken, notes favorable 2024 court rulings, and flags the May 2025 dismissal of the Binance case.

On January 17, 2026, Rokas Baltrusaitis outlined how fatigue undermines crypto security, leading to rushed approvals, skipped checks, and subtle risk judgment errors. The article argues that 24/7 markets and convenience tools intensify decision overload, making attention management a primary defense. It recommends adding review friction, segmenting wallets, and routinely revoking stale permissions.

On Wednesday, Coinbase withdrew support for the digital asset market structure bill, prompting the White House to consider pulling its backing. According to journalist Eleanor Terrett, officials labeled the move a "rug pull" and may drop support unless Coinbase re-enters talks under a yield framework acceptable to banks. Brian Armstrong cited concerns in a January 14, 2026 post.

Published on January 17, 2026, this analysis explains how modern crypto scams operate within audited code and governance to redirect value without overt violations. Tactics include altering fees, rebalancing strategies, and rerouting execution after users commit capital. It warns that audits and documentation validate process, not economic fairness.

On January 17, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee opposed inserting parts of the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act into a new cryptocurrency market structure bill, interrupting planned debate in the Senate. Senior lawmakers argued the proposal could weaken unlicensed money transmission rules, while DeFi proponents warned that removing protections for software developers may reduce industry support and stall broader crypto regulation.