Major turning points in the crypto market: Ethereum clears all withdrawal queues, Optimism activates stock buyback plan, WLFI attacks the US banking sector

MEVSandwichMaker · 2026-01-15T14:10:44+00:00

Last week marked significant developments in the crypto ecosystem, with major projects making upgrades to tackle real-world challenges. Ethereum's validator withdrawal queue decreased to zero, indicating reduced selling pressure. Additionally, Optimism proposed using 50% of its monthly revenue for token buybacks, while WLFI applied for a national banking license. Pump.fun also updated its fee distribution mechanism to enhance transparency and ownership transfer.

MEVSandwichMaker

2026-01-15 14:10:44

Abstract generation in progress

Last week (January 4-10, 2026) witnessed a series of significant milestones in the crypto ecosystem, with leading projects implementing notable upgrades to address practical challenges. Notably, the digital asset market entered a strong recovery phase as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) reached their highest levels in 2026 – demonstrating a return of large-volume capital flows into the broader cryptocurrency market.

Ethereum removes selling pressure: Validator withdrawal queue back to 0

The most important event of the week was Ethereum’s validator withdrawal queue dropping to zero, indicating a continued decline in unstaking demand and a reduction in ETH selling pressure. On Tuesday last week (January 6), Ethereum hit this milestone after decreasing by 99.9% from its September peak last year.

This sharp decline reflects a more stable Ethereum network, with validators no longer rushing to exit the chain. At the same time, the amount of funds reinvested into long-term staking increased, showing that staker confidence is gradually recovering.

Optimism implements monthly buyback plan from internal revenue

On January 8, the Optimism Foundation – a non-profit organization developing Layer-2 solutions – announced plans to use 50% of its monthly revenue to buy back OP tokens. This move aims to enhance the long-term value of the token and directly benefit holders.

A governance vote is scheduled for January 22 to review and approve or reject this proposal. If approved, Optimism will become one of the first Layer-2 projects to implement a revenue-sharing policy directly with token holders.

WLFI files to become a U.S. national bank

In another milestone, World Liberty Financial (WLFI) – a DeFi protocol supported by former President Donald Trump – submitted an application for a U.S. national banking license to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on January 8.

If approved, WLFI will transition from a DeFi platform to a fully federally regulated banking organization, focusing on financial activities related to stablecoins. This could set a new precedent for the acceptance of blockchain technology within the official U.S. financial system.

Pump.fun upgrades fee distribution mechanism for creators

On January 9, the launchpad platform Pump.fun introduced a fee-sharing feature allowing token creators and CTO administrators to distribute transaction fees to up to 10 wallets with customizable ratios after token launch.

This update aims to increase transparency, support ownership transfer processes, and improve control mechanisms for fee updates. According to Pump.fun, the previous fee system created market incentives that encouraged the issuance of low-risk tokens and limited high-risk trading activities – key factors for maintaining a healthy and sustainable launchpad platform.

ETH-2.3%

OP-4.53%

WLFI-7.74%

BTC-1.86%

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