January 29, 2026 — Wall Street and crypto markets are buzzing as a wave of earnings, regulatory developments, and blockchain innovation hits investors. From the Fed’s steady rate decision to Fidelity’s new stablecoin launch, here’s the full roundup of what’s moving markets today.
🏦 Fed Holds Rates, Gold Soars
In its first monetary policy decision of 2026, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates at 3.50%–3.75%, pausing a series of cuts that began last September. The move was widely expected and markets reacted with mild relief.
Meanwhile, spot gold surged $170 in early trading to $5,595 an ounce, adding 3% in a single session. Rising geopolitical tension and a weaker U.S. dollar have accelerated investor rotation into safe-haven assets.
💰 Crypto Regulation in the Spotlight
The SEC and CFTC Chairs are set to meet today at 14:00 ET to discuss regulatory coordination in the crypto era. SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC Chair Michael Selig aim to tackle jurisdictional overlap, streamline oversight, and reinforce U.S. leadership in digital assets. The discussion, themed “Coordination in the Crypto Era and U.S. Financial Leadership,” could set the stage for a more unified framework to support innovation while protecting investors.
🔹 Solana Sees Shrinking Validator Base
Solana’s daily active validators fell below 800, marking a 65% decline from early 2023 levels. Voting transaction volume also dropped 40% from its peak. Analysts attribute the decline to changes in economic incentives, including reduced staking rewards under the Solana Foundation Delegation Program.
Despite the contraction, non-voting activity like DApp interactions remains stable, with daily transactions holding around 100 million.
💳 Fidelity to Launch GENIUS-Compliant Stablecoin
In major industry news, Fidelity plans to launch its stablecoin, FIDD, on Ethereum. The Fidelity Digital Dollar will be GENIUS-compliant and issued through Fidelity Digital Assets, a trust bank recently approved by the OCC. The launch positions Fidelity as a leading institutional player in digital dollars and blockchain-based financial services.
📈 Markets React
S&P 500 broke 7,000 yesterday, a record milestone.
Crypto-related stocks mostly climbed: Circle +4.77%, Bitmine +3.05%, Coinbase -0.13%. Solana ticked up 0.49%.
Industrial giant Caterpillar rose over 1% after beating Q4 expectations.
🔗 Upcoming Blockchain Milestones
MegaETH public mainnet will launch February 9, 2026.
Uniswap will debut its Auctions tab on February 2, enabling on-chain token price discovery through the Continuous Clearing Auctions protocol.
Coinbase Prediction Markets are now fully operational across all 50 U.S. states, offering trading on politics, sports, and economic events.
💸 Web3 Projects Raise Capital
AetheriumX secured $8 million in strategic funding to expand its Web3 finance and interactive economy ecosystem.
Bleap, a stablecoin payment and cross-border settlement project founded by former Revolut executives, completed a $6 million seed round to accelerate Latin America expansion and cross-chain trading.
📜 Regulatory Updates
The SEC issued new guidance on tokenized securities, clarifying that tokenization does not alter securities law applicability. The rules distinguish between issuer-sponsored and third-party tokenized securities, providing clarity for custody models, synthetic assets, and other blockchain-based financial instruments.
💡 DeFi & Tokenization Moves
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev announced upcoming 24/7 stock token trading and DeFi services, letting investors self-custody stock tokens, stake, lend, and trade outside traditional market hours. European investors already have access to 2,000+ tokenized U.S. stocks with dividend yields, and the U.S. launch is expected soon.
🔮 The Big Picture
The convergence of regulatory clarity, institutional crypto adoption, and blockchain innovation is reshaping the financial landscape. With the Fed on hold, gold at all-time highs, and Fidelity, Coinbase, and Robinhood rolling out groundbreaking services, 2026 could mark a turning point where digital assets and traditional finance intersect more seamlessly than ever.