Overview
- XMR printed successive records up to roughly $695 on Jan. 14, capping a 51% weekly surge and lifting market value to about $12.4 billion.
- Derivatives demand spiked, with futures open interest up 54% to around $193 million on Jan. 12, a build-up that heightens the risk of forced liquidations.
- Spot activity broadened as daily trading volume topped $500 million and social chatter jumped, indicating intensified attention and potential FOMO.
- Capital rotated away from Zcash after developer departures at Electric Coin Company, reinforcing Monero as the leading privacy‑token trade.
- Regulated onshore access tightened as the DFSA’s ban on privacy tokens in the DIFC took effect, and market participants warned that offshore‑centric liquidity can magnify price swings.