USDT Dominance on Ethereum’s Hyper-Efficient Network
As of January 20, 2026, ethereum is experiencing a historic transformation, marked by unprecedented network efficiency and a surge in stablecoin dominance. According to a bullish outlook from Standard Chartered, 2026 is shaping up to be "The Year of Ethereum." The network's activity has skyrocketed, with daily transaction volumes reaching a record 2.5 million. A key driver of this growth is the dramatic reduction in transaction costs, where gas fees have plummeted to historic lows, averaging around $0.15 and occasionally dipping below $0.04. This remarkable efficiency is largely attributed to the successful implementation of the Fusaka upgrade. This update introduced advanced scalability solutions like PeerDAS and enhanced the EIP-4844 proto-danksharding framework, significantly expanding blob capacity. These technological leaps have optimized data publication for Layer 2 rollups, drastically improving the network's overall throughput and scalability. In this new high-efficiency environment, stablecoins have solidified their role as the backbone of on-chain finance. They now constitute a dominant 35-40% of all transaction activity and value settled on the Ethereum network. This massive adoption of dollar-pegged assets like USDT underscores Ethereum's evolution into a mature, efficient, and stable settlement layer for global digital finance. The combination of ultra-low fees, high throughput, and robust stablecoin infrastructure positions Ethereum at the center of the next wave of institutional and mainstream financial adoption on the blockchain.
2026: The Year of Ethereum According to Standard Chartered
Ethereum's network activity has surged to unprecedented levels in early 2026, with transaction volumes hitting 2.5 million per day and gas fees plummeting to historic lows of $0.15—occasionally dipping below $0.04. This remarkable efficiency stems from the Fusaka update, which introduced PeerDAS and expanded blob capacity via EIP-4844, optimizing rollup data publication and scalability.
Stablecoins now dominate 35-40% of Ethereum transactions, led by Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC). Meanwhile, staking adoption has skyrocketed, signaling robust validator confidence in the ecosystem's long-term viability. Standard Chartered highlights these developments as evidence of Ethereum's maturation into a foundational layer for decentralized finance.
Scaramucci Warns US Ban on Stablecoin Yields Threatens Dollar’s Global Edge
Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital, has raised alarms over the CLARITY Act's proposed ban on yield-bearing stablecoins, arguing it could undermine the dollar's dominance in global digital finance. Traditional banks are resisting competition from stablecoin issuers by lobbying against yield payments, while China's Digital Yuan gains traction by offering interest—a strategic advantage in emerging markets.
The stablecoin market, now valued at $311.54 billion with Tether (USDT) commanding 59% share, faces a crossroads. Brian Armstrong of Coinbase echoed concerns, noting yield restrictions wouldn't curb lending but would weaken U.S. competitiveness. As geopolitical tensions in digital currencies intensify, regulatory barriers may inadvertently cede ground to rivals.
BitMEX Expands Equity Perps Offering with Chainlink Integration for 24/7 Trading
BitMEX has taken a significant step in derivative markets by integrating Chainlink Data Streams on Ethereum, enhancing its Equity Perps product. This innovation allows perpetual contracts for top U.S. stocks to trade around the clock, mirroring cryptocurrency market hours.
The platform now enables 24/7 trading of equities like NVDA, TSLA, and SPY, including weekends—eliminating traditional market hour restrictions. Traders can use crypto margins (BTC/USDT) without fund conversion, maintaining exposure within the crypto ecosystem while reacting to global equity movements.
Chainlink's oracle infrastructure ensures price accuracy comparable to traditional markets, bridging decentralized finance with conventional assets. This MOVE reflects growing demand for always-on markets and further blurs the lines between crypto and legacy finance.
