Recent events in the past 72 hours are worth a close look.

Let's see what has happened: the US announced that it will complete its core crypto regulatory framework within January, finally bringing clarity to an uncertainty that has loomed for years. Meanwhile, the century-old investment bank Barclays has made its first purchase of shares in a crypto company, and SoFi Bank has opened up direct Bitcoin trading for retail investors.

Looking at any one of these news items alone, they might not seem particularly exciting. But placing these three pieces of news together, appearing intensively in January, is quite meaningful.

A clear policy framework, traditional financial giants exploring crypto, and retail traders gaining easier access—what does this combination signify? It’s the signal the market has been waiting for. When the uncertainties hindering industry growth are eliminated and investment thresholds are gradually lowered, capital flows will change accordingly.

Here’s a key point: prices always tend to reflect expectations ahead of reality. When investors see a policy timeline, observe major institutions starting to dip their toes, and notice ordinary people finally able to participate conveniently, they won’t wait for everything to be 100% settled before acting. Once certainty emerges, the impulse to get ahead of the curve will be very strong.

Historically, every structural market change has been accompanied by three simultaneous elements: policy support, institutional recognition, and an expanding user base. All three have shown movement this January, and that’s no coincidence.

Some might say, isn’t this just a pile-up of positive signals? Indeed, but the key lies in the combined effect of these positives. A single policy adjustment might push the market up for a while, institutional entry could generate some hype, but when all three work together, they create a completely different market momentum.

From a longer-term perspective, when the rules of the game become clear, and both banks and retail investors find legitimate ways to participate, the crypto market will begin shifting from a niche speculative asset to a mainstream asset allocation tool. The foundation for this transition is likely to be laid within these few weeks.

In any case, January has already become an observation window. The subsequent policy implementation, institutional actions, and market reactions will gradually verify what these changes truly mean.