Crypto News: UBS BTC, CertiK IPO, Warden AI & Japan Rate

26-Jan-2026 StealthEX Blog

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Latest Crypto News: CertiK IPO, UBS BTC, Warden AI & Japan Rate

CertiK Aims for the Stock Market as Web3 Security Grows Up

CertiK is getting ready for a move that once seemed far away for crypto firms. The blockchain security company is preparing for a stock market listing. If it succeeds, it would become one of the first public companies focused only on Web3 security and infrastructure.

The timing does not look random. Big investors now want clearer rules, stronger reporting, and familiar market structures. CertiK already works with thousands of companies and protects assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars. That scale puts it closer to a classic tech firm than a niche crypto startup.

A big part of its growth comes from tools that watch blockchains in real time. Banks, funds, and regulators can track risks, spot incidents, and react fast. This matters more now, as institutions move deeper into onchain activity.

CertiK also relies on heavy research. Its own systems automate large parts of code audits and reduce human error. The company often points to academic reviews as proof that the tech works in practice, not only in marketing slides.

Support from major industry players gave the company both cash and status. That backing helped push the idea that a public listing makes sense.

If the plan works, CertiK may open a door for other Web3 infrastructure firms. A listing would not only raise money. It would also send a signal that parts of the crypto sector want to play by the same rules as traditional tech companies.

UBS Prepares to Let Wealthy Clients Buy Bitcoin and Ether Directly

UBS is getting ready to offer direct access to cryptocurrencies for its richest clients. The Swiss banking group wants a small group of private customers to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum through the bank.

The first stage should start in Switzerland. The bank still checks who will handle storage and trade execution. Later, the service could reach Asia and the United States. The plan shows how fast demand has changed among wealthy investors.

For years, big banks kept crypto at arm’s length. Now the mood looks different. Spot ETFs and clearer rules made the market easier to sell inside large institutions. Clients also keep asking for assets that move differently than stocks and bonds.

UBS already tested several blockchain ideas. It launched tokenized products, built a digital cash system for settlements, and allowed some clients in Asia to trade crypto-linked ETFs. Adding direct coins looks like the next step, not a sudden turn.

Other banks move in the same direction. Some already accept Bitcoin ETFs as loan collateral. Others give access to crypto funds through advisers. Step by step, the wall between classic finance and digital assets keeps getting thinner.

For UBS, this is not about chasing hype. It is about keeping rich clients inside its own ecosystem. If crypto stays part of global portfolios, big banks want to be the gate, not the bystander.

Mastercard Changes Course and Looks to Invest in Zerohash Instead of Buying It

Mastercard once seemed close to buying Zerohash. That deal now looks off the table. The payments giant is instead talking about a smaller investment or a strategic stake in the crypto infrastructure firm.

Zerohash decided to stay independent. The company provides the pipes that let banks, brokers, and fintech apps offer crypto without building everything from scratch. It handles custody, settlement, and the bridge between cash and digital assets.

This role made it very attractive. Reports last year spoke about a possible multi-billion dollar takeover. Now both sides appear to prefer a looser partnership.

Zerohash already works with big names. Some global banks use its systems to give clients access to crypto markets. That shows the company sits in a key spot between old finance and new rails.

Mastercard also keeps expanding its crypto efforts. In Europe, users can already pay with crypto through partner cards. The firm wants to stay close to the technology layer, not only the consumer side.

For Zerohash, keeping control matters. Independence lets it serve many partners, even those who compete with each other. A strategic investor can still bring money, contacts, and trust.

The talks show a wider trend. Large payment firms no longer ask if crypto infrastructure matters. They now debate how close they should sit to it, and how much control they really need.

Clapp Introduces a Credit Line That Charges Nothing Until You Actually Borrow

Clapp has launched a new type of crypto-backed credit line. Users can lock Bitcoin or Ethereum as collateral and get access to cash. The key difference is simple. If they do not use the money, they pay no interest.

Instead of a classic loan, Clapp offers a revolving limit. The system sets a maximum amount based on the value of the crypto. The user can draw a little, a lot, or nothing at all. Costs appear only on the part that gets used.

This changes how people think about crypto loans. Many platforms start charging interest the moment a loan opens. Here, access and borrowing are two different things.

Risk still matters. The platform links interest to the loan-to-value ratio. Users who borrow only a small part of their limit keep costs low and reduce the chance of liquidation. If prices move against them, a larger safety buffer helps.

Repayment stays flexible. There is no fixed end date. Users can return funds at any time, in parts or in full. Once they repay, interest stops right away and the available limit refills.

Clapp stresses one point. The “zero percent” promise applies only to unused credit. Borrowed funds still cost money.

The product fits people who want emergency liquidity or short-term access to cash. It does not try to sell leverage. It sells optionality.

PinPet Gets Ready to Launch a New Kind of Leveraged Trading on Solana

PinPet is preparing its mainnet launch on Solana. The project wants to mix spot trading and lending into one single flow. Its core system, called the Fusion Engine, aims to make leveraged trades happen in one atomic step.

In practice, this means users can trade and borrow at the same time. The platform handles pricing, slippage limits, and risk checks inside one transaction. PinPet also plans tools like stop-loss and take-profit to keep traders in control.

The test version is already live. Users can play with test tokens and see how the system behaves. The team runs contests and private testing phases to stress the setup before opening real markets.

Security sits high on the list. External auditors who know Solana code are reviewing the contracts. The team wants the final report ready before any full release.

The long-term plan goes beyond simple trading. PinPet wants to add more risk tools, new liquidity pools, and incentive systems. Later phases may include cross-chain features and deeper lending markets.

The idea targets capital efficiency. By merging steps, the platform hopes to reduce friction and wasted liquidity.

Whether traders adopt it will depend on execution. Solana already hosts many fast and cheap venues. PinPet bets that tighter integration of trading and borrowing can offer something truly different.

Japan’s Rate Pause Sends a Quiet but Clear Signal to Global Crypto Markets

Japan’s central bank decided to keep its main rate at 0.75%. This is the highest level the country has seen in decades. The move came during bond market stress and just before national elections.

On the surface, this looks like a local story. In reality, it reaches far beyond Japan.

For years, cheap yen funded trades all over the world. Investors borrowed in Japan and put money into higher-yield assets. As rates rise, that trade becomes less attractive. Less borrowing means less leverage. That affects stocks, bonds, and crypto alike.

Bond volatility adds another layer. When Japanese yields move fast, global markets often feel it. Higher yields also make assets without yield, like Bitcoin, less appealing for some investors.

After the decision, crypto markets turned cautious. Prices did not crash, but activity slowed. Traders seemed unsure which way to push next. Volumes dropped and sentiment cooled.

This does not mean Japan controls Bitcoin. It does show how sensitive crypto has become to macro signals. The market no longer lives in its own bubble.

As long as big economies fight inflation and manage debt, their choices will shape global liquidity. Crypto now sits inside that system, not outside it. Even a “no change” decision can move the mood.

Warden Raises Strategic Money and Focuses on Building Tools for AI Agents

Warden has closed a $4 million funding round at a $200 million valuation. The company builds infrastructure and apps for AI agents that can trade, automate tasks, and manage assets.

The round looks different from classic venture deals. Instead of chasing many funds, Warden chose a small group of partners who already use or build on its tech. The team says alignment matters more than fast growth.

The numbers show early traction. The platform serves millions of users, handles hundreds of thousands each day, and already processed large volumes of automated tasks and trades. Revenue stays modest, but usage keeps climbing.

Warden plans to use the money to improve the product and expand what agents can do. The goal is not just another wallet. The team wants a hub where people and software agents work together.

Partners praise the timing. AI agents need safe ways to move value and execute actions. Warden tries to become that layer.

The company also repeats that this does not change its long-term path. It does not want to become a typical venture-driven startup.

Instead, it bets on slow, steady building. If agents become a normal part of the internet, Warden wants to be the place where they live and work.

Cork Wants to Turn Hidden Onchain Risks into Open and Tradable Markets

Cork has raised $5.5 million to build what it calls a risk layer for onchain finance. The idea sounds simple. Many crypto products carry risks that nobody prices clearly. Cork wants to make those risks visible and tradable.

This matters more now than a few years ago. Stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets have exploded in size. At the same time, several stress events showed how fast confidence can break when liquidity dries up.

Cork’s system lets issuers and asset managers create markets around specific risks. These markets can help hedge against depegs, redemption delays, or other problems. They also give investors a way to compare risk across products.

Another feature focuses on liquidity. The protocol aims to provide instant exits for assets that usually depend on slow offchain settlement. This could reduce panic during market stress.

The team behind Cork comes from both finance and crypto. They argue that past attempts failed because they did not fit real incentives or real workflows.

Investors seem to agree. Many now see risk infrastructure as the next missing piece for serious onchain markets.

If tokenization keeps growing, tools that measure and trade risk may become as important as trading the assets themselves. Cork wants to build that foundation before the next big wave arrives.

This article is not supposed to provide financial advice. Digital assets are risky. Be sure to do your own research and consult your financial advisor before investing.

Tags: AI and Crypto BTC crypto world CryptoDaily FinancePolice
The post Crypto News: UBS BTC, CertiK IPO, Warden AI & Japan Rate first appeared on StealthEX. Also read: Korea University Partners With Injective to Boost Institutional Blockchain Adoption
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