On January 14, 2026, US President Donald Trump approved a 25% tariff on a narrow group of advanced semiconductors, including Nvidia's H200 and AMD's MI325X, in connection with a deal that permits Nvidia to ship Taiwan-made H200 AI chips to China. The chips will be taxed when entering the US before being re-exported, while broader semiconductor tariffs remain postponed as negotiations and national security reviews continue.

CleanSpark has signed a definitive agreement to buy 447 acres in Brazoria County, Texas, to build large-scale AI and high-performance computing data centers as Bitcoin mining becomes less profitable. The new location can initially support 300 MW of power with expansion up to 600 MW, and combined with the firm's Austin County site, offers nearly 1 GW of potential capacity for AI customers. CleanSpark plans to serve both front-of-the-meter and behind-the-meter power needs, using Texas's strong grid to deliver reliable energy and long-term growth options. Rising mining costs and volatile margins are driving the company and other miners to diversify into AI and HPC infrastructure.

On January 15, 2026, TD Cowen lowered Strategy's 12-month price target to $440 from $500, citing dilution from ongoing share issuance. In the week ending January 11, 2026, the firm raised around $1.25 billion by selling approximately 6.8 million common and 1.2 million STRC preferred shares to buy 13,627 Bitcoins; analysts project roughly 155,000 BTC in fiscal 2026 with a 7.1% yield.

JPMorgan expects institutional participation in crypto to expand in 2026, following nearly $130 billion of inflows in 2025—a roughly one-third rise from 2024. Analysts cite new rules, including the Clarity Act, and track flows via ETFs, CME futures, venture fundraising, and Digital Asset Treasuries. They also note weaker CME futures activity and mixed venture funding trends.

On January 14 2026, silver prices climbed above $91 per ounce for the first time, while gold traded within $10 of its all‑time high near $4,600 per ounce. The move followed lower-than-expected U.S. inflation in December, rising geopolitical tensions, and worries over potential tariffs and supply constraints that boosted demand for safe-haven metals. Analysts raised three-month targets for gold to $5,000 per ounce and silver to $100 per ounce amid strong demand and tight global inventories.

John Williams, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said current U.S. interest rates are well aligned with achieving sustainable employment and returning inflation to 2%. He referenced the Federal Open Market Committee's 75-basis-point rate reduction in 2025 and predicted steady then gradually declining unemployment, with inflation easing from an early-year peak toward 2.5%. Williams also noted that Fed officials are divided over further cuts, with expectations centered on just a quarter-point move this year.

On January 13, 2026, SEC Chair Paul Atkins said in an interview that U.S. authorities might seize Venezuela's alleged 600,000 Bitcoin holdings but emphasized no decision has been taken and the issue lies outside the SEC's primary authority. The reported BTC stash, estimated between $56 billion and $67 billion and still unverified, drew renewed attention after the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, while the Senate continues to review the CLARITY Act on digital asset regulation and decentralized finance.

As of January 13, 2026, U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act to clarify that crypto software developers who do not custody user funds should not be treated as money transmitters. The bipartisan measure sits within broader congressional work on crypto policy, including debates on stablecoins and decentralized finance.

Gold surged to a record $4,600 on January 12, 2026, as investors sought safety amid doubts about the Federal Reserve's independence. According to the article, Chair Jerome Powell said the DOJ sent grand jury subpoenas to the Fed tied to a $2.5 billion headquarters project. The dollar slipped about 0.3%, stock futures fell, and silver jumped more than 5%.