The cryptocurrency landscape is heating up with major token launches, critical network upgrades, and significant ecosystem shifts scheduled across the week of January 29 to February 4, 2025. From high-profile token unlocks to mainnet debuts and protocol pivots, this week promises to shape market sentiment and drive activity across multiple blockchain ecosystems.
🔍 Market Watch: Google Updates Crypto Ads Policy
Starting January 29, 2025, Google will enforce stricter regulations on cryptocurrency advertising. Advertisers promoting Cryptocurrency Coin Trusts must now obtain certification and comply with specific compliance requirements. This policy applies globally, not just in the U.S., signaling increased scrutiny over crypto-related financial products.
Violators will receive at least seven days’ notice before their accounts face suspension. This shift underscores the growing regulatory attention on how digital assets are marketed—especially trust-based investment vehicles.
👉 Discover how regulatory changes are reshaping crypto investment opportunities.
📅 January 29: Key Dates & Protocol Upgrades
SEC ETF Decision Fuels Market Momentum
With the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nearing a decision on spot Bitcoin ETF applications, investor focus is intensifying. A green light could unlock billions in institutional capital by enabling direct BTC exposure through traditional financial channels.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury’s Quarterly Refunding Announcement (QRA) on January 29 will draw attention as rising national debt and deficit levels increase market sensitivity to fiscal policy shifts.
Huobi Korea Exits Local Market
Huobi Korea will cease its domestic virtual asset trading services on January 29 due to unfavorable industry conditions. Users can still withdraw KRW and crypto assets until all funds are fully withdrawn.
dYdX Chain Upgrades to v3.0
The dYdX community voted overwhelmingly (98.9% approval) to upgrade its protocol software to v3.0, with an 88.5% voter turnout. The upgrade activates at block 7,147,832 (UTC: Jan 29, 17:46). Validators are urged to prepare for the transition.
Magic Eden Teases Multi-Chain Wallet Launch
NFT marketplace Magic Eden hinted at a major announcement with a cryptic “Monday” post featuring icons for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon. The video prominently displays a multi-chain wallet bearing the Magic Eden logo—suggesting a cross-chain wallet launch is imminent.
WEN Meme Coin Airdrop Live
Jupiter’s co-founder Meow launched the meme coin WEN, now available for claim until January 29. This playful token reflects the vibrant culture within Solana’s DeFi community.
📅 January 30: Mainnet Launches & Network Forks
ZKX Goes Live on StarkNet
Derivatives protocol ZKX launches its mainnet on January 30. Built on StarkNet using zero-knowledge proofs, ZKX enables decentralized futures and perpetual trading. The launch coincides with Phase 2 of its airdrop, rewarding early traders and community contributors.
Ethereum Testnets Prepare for Dencun Upgrade
Core developers confirmed Sepolia will fork on January 30, followed by Holesky on February 7. These testnet upgrades pave the way for EIP-4844 (proto-danksharding), which introduces blobs for L2 scalability.
Other proposals discussed include:
- EIP-7251: Increase max effective validator balance from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH
- EIP-7547: Introduce inclusion lists for consensus efficiency
EigenLayer Expands Re-Staking Options
EigenLayer adds support for three new liquid staked tokens (LSTs):
- Frax Ether (sfrxETH)
- Mantle Staked Ether (mETH)
- Liquid Collective Staked Ether (LsETH)
Each is capped at 200,000 ETH for re-staking, expanding decentralization and security options for restakers.
Lens Protocol V1 Sunset
Lens API V1 transitions to read-only mode ahead of full deprecation. Developers are encouraged to migrate to newer versions to maintain functionality within the decentralized social graph.
📅 January 31: Token Launches & Wallet Innovations
Frame Launches Mainnet & FRAME Token
Frame, a Layer 2 Rollup built on Arbitrum Nitro for NFTs, goes live with its mainnet and native FRAME token on January 31. Eligible users—those who traded NFTs and paid royalties on Ethereum—can claim an initial airdrop.
Notable backers include Electric Capital, 9GAG CEO Chen Zhancheng, and Azuki founder Zagabond. FRAME tokens are non-transferable initially.
Jupiter Unveils JUP Token
Solana-based DEX aggregator Jupiter launches its JUP token at 10 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8). The team will first finalize its whitepaper and test the new launch platform.
Meow, co-founder, also introduced the Jupiter LFG Launchpad Beta, designed to incubate new projects with support from the JUP DAO.
👉 See how new token launches are driving innovation in decentralized finance.
UniSat Whitepaper Release & Ordinals Commitment
UniSat Wallet confirms it will follow the Ordinals Jubilee upgrade, ensuring brc-20 remains integrated rather than forking into a separate protocol. The long-awaited UniSat whitepaper drops January 31, offering deep technical insights into Bitcoin’s evolving ecosystem.
Binance Exits Russian Market
Binance discontinues all Russian ruble (RUB) services on January 31 after exiting the Russian market and selling CommEX. Users are advised to convert RUB holdings or withdraw via fiat partners before the cutoff.
📅 February 1–2: Major Token Unlocks & Chain Mergers
Massive DYDX Token Unlock
On February 1 at 8:00 AM UTC, approximately 33.33 million DYDX tokens (~$90 million) will unlock. This event may impact price volatility, especially if early investors or team members sell significant portions.
Other notable unlocks:
- Acala (ACA): 27.43M tokens (~$2.3M)
- Euler (EUL): 100K tokens (~$400K)
- Tornado Cash (TORN): 90K tokens (~$150K)
Gnosis Chain Implements Dencun Fork
Gnosis’ Chiado testnet executes the Dencun hard fork (Slot: 8,265,728), enabling blob transactions to reduce L2 data costs. Validators must update nodes and allocate 35GB extra storage.
SKALE Introduces Chain Pricing Model
SKALE Network rolls out its new pricing mechanism: chains pay validators in SKL tokens based on usage. At 70% network load, each chain costs $1 million worth of SKL annually, paid via sliding scale fees.
🤝 Strategic Blockchain Mergers
Klaytn & Finschia Unite
South Korea’s Klaytn Foundation and Japan’s Finschia Foundation (formerly LINE Blockchain) propose merging their networks into a unified blockchain. The vote concludes on February 2, aiming to create Asia’s premier Web3 ecosystem supporting both EVM and CosmWasm.
The merged foundation will focus on RWA tokenization, GameFi, DeFi, and messaging-integrated Web3 platforms.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When is the JUP token launch?
The JUP token launches on January 31 at 10 PM Beijing Time (UTC+8) via Jupiter’s new launch platform.
How can I claim the FRAME token airdrop?
Users who traded NFTs and paid royalties on Ethereum are eligible. Visit Frame’s official site before the snapshot date to check eligibility.
What is the significance of the Dencun upgrade?
Dencun introduces blob-carrying transactions, drastically reducing data availability costs for Layer 2 networks—potentially lowering rollup fees by up to 90%.
Why did GameStop shut down its NFT marketplace?
Due to ongoing regulatory uncertainty in crypto, GameStop discontinued its NFT platform and wallet services to align with compliance risks.
Will Binance return to Russia?
No official plans have been announced. Binance has fully exited the Russian market and sold its local exchange, CommEX.
What happens after EigenLayer adds new LSTs?
Adding sfrxETH, mETH, and LsETH increases capital efficiency and diversifies risk in re-staking, allowing more participants to secure additional blockchain applications.
👉 Stay ahead of major crypto events and unlock strategic trading insights today.