US oil stocks rose premarket after President Trump said the US will “run” Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Chevron, operating in Venezuela under US permission, gained up to 10%, with ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil also rising. Chevron is best positioned to benefit from US control of Venezuela’s crude, while Conoco and Exxon are owed billions from past nationalizations. Investment risks remain due to the temporary US-backed government and unclear legal rules.

Market Price and Flows
- Bitcoin tops $93,000 as markets digest US operations in Venezuela
- U.S. spot crypto ETF cumulative trading volume crossed $2 trillion on Jan. 2, doubling in half the time
- BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF pulled in its biggest single-day inflow in nearly three months on Friday, as investors piled into crypto-linked funds.
Institutions and Regulation
- PwC to deepen crypto engagement citing US regulatory shift: FT
- SEC's sole Democratic Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw departs agency, leaving all-Republican panel
Technology and Development
- Bitcoin Core sees development uptick, reversing multi-year decline: Casa CSO
Exchanges and Market Infrastructure
- Coinbase to pause peso-based services in Argentina just one year after launch
Politics, Geopolitics, and Oversight
- Rep. Torres targets prediction market 'insider trading' after trader nets $400K on Maduro's capture: report
- Venezuela’s $60 Billion Bitcoin “Shadow Reserve” Could Reshape Global BTC Markets following the January 2026 US-led operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro.

The Dollar Spot Index rose 0.3% to a two-week high as Venezuela’s Maduro ouster raised geopolitical risks, while Treasury yields fell and the euro and peso dropped. Traders favored the dollar amid uncertainty over U.S. plans, with upcoming inflation and payroll data set to influence its path. Oversea-Chinese Banking’s Christopher Wong said the situation suggests a “relatively quick closure” and supports precious metals, but U.S. data remains key for the dollar.

Bitcoin rose to a three-week high in early Asia trading amid political uncertainty following the U.S. move to oust Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, climbing as much as 2.3% to $93,323, its highest since Dec. 11, while Ether and other tokens also edged up. Gains coincided with broadly positive Asian markets fueled by tech and AI optimism, as gold jumped 2% to over $4,400 an ounce and silver surged 4.8% amid safe-haven buying. Sean McNulty, APAC derivatives trading lead at FalconX, said Bitcoin’s rally is driven by crypto-native firms and limited selling from miners, family offices, and large investment funds.

Trump said the U.S. needs “total access” to Venezuela’s resources to rebuild the country after Maduro’s capture, asserting “we’re in charge” and that it will work with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, though he has not spoken to her. Rodríguez invited U.S. cooperation under international law. Trump warned she could face consequences “probably bigger than Maduro,” echoing Secretary of State Rubio’s focus on oil and monitoring opposition to U.S. policies.

Ryan Crocker, a former US ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries, said Venezuela’s situation recalls the 1989 US operation in Panama that killed 23 US soldiers but led to a clear outcome, while Venezuela’s future is uncertain because Maduro is gone but the regime endures under his vice president. He warned that if Russia and China remain silent, unlike in 1989 when a UN condemnation was vetoed, it would signal a shift toward a balance-of-power world and put Ukraine and Taiwan at risk.

💥 US Military Operation and Capture of Nicolás Maduro
- President Donald Trump said US forces carried out a pre-planned raid on a fortified residence in Caracas, where Nicolás Maduro was seized. Trump said the operation had been ready four days earlier but was delayed due to weather.
🇺🇸 U.S. Stance and Military Presence
- Trump said the US will “run the country” temporarily to oversee a “safe, proper and judicious transition.”
- US officials said Washington is maintaining a 15,000-strong military force in the Caribbean.
- Officials warned of further military action if interim president Delcy Rodríguez does not meet US demands.
⚖️ Legal Charges Against Maduro
- US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and Flores have been indicted. Charges include:
· Narco-terrorism conspiracy
· Cocaine importation conspiracy
· Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
· Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States
🌍 Geopolitical Consequences
- The US Senate will vote this week on a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to block further military action.
- Analysts say this rationale could be replicated by China. Such an indictment could then be cited to a potential military action against Taiwan.
📈 Economic and Market Impact
- Oil Infrastructure: Venezuela’s key oil infrastructure, including the Jose port, Amuay refinery, and Orinoco Belt oil areas, remains operational and was not affected by the airstrikes. Chevron, operating under a special US Treasury license, said it is focused on staff safety and asset integrity.
- Asian equities opened higher on Monday following the operation.
· South Korea’s Kospi rose more than 2.4%.
· Japan’s Nikkei gained more than 2%.
- Gold and silver rose more than 1.4% as investors sought safe-haven assets.
- Oil prices edged slightly lower.
Key to Note:
- Trump has framed the Venezuela operation as a war against “narco-terrorism.” Critics argue this rationale is weak:
· Fentanyl, the drug responsible for most US overdose deaths, enters the US via Mexico from China.
· Most cocaine consumed in the US originates from Colombia.