As of January 18, 2026, Shiba Inu's lead ambassador, Shytoshi Kusama, has maintained a public silence on social media platform X for 18 days into the new year. His last recorded activity was on December 7 and 8, 2025, where he interacted with a few posts from the crypto community. This extended quiet period defied community expectations for a new year announcement and aligns with Kusama's previously stated philosophy of speaking only when he deems the time "right and perfect." Speculation suggests he may be waiting for key announcements or developments related to Shiba Inu's next phase before re-engaging publicly.
This silence coincides with a period of acknowledged difficulty for the Shiba Inu ecosystem. In a year-end message, Shiba Inu developer Kaal Dhairya described 2025, particularly its final months, as "the hardest period in Shiba Inu's history," referencing the September Shibarium bridge hack incident. The team's plan to compensate affected users, dubbed "SHIB Owes You" (SOU) via NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, is underway, with community-powered initiatives launched, though the official SOU NFTs are not yet live.
Team member Lucie recently emphasized commitment over certainty, stating in a Sunday read that the path forward is "less about commentary but more about participation." She noted the Shib Army has matured past equating volume with value, highlighting that the strongest contributors often work quietly on unglamorous improvements.
Meanwhile, broader market analysis reveals significant struggles for major cryptocurrencies. XRP is exhibiting a concerning combination of stagnant price action and collapsing trading volume, with participation virtually disappearing. The asset remains below all key moving averages, with the 100 EMA and 200 EMA acting as strong resistance. Analysts note the near-zero volume indicates market exhaustion rather than consolidation, making any bullish narrative premature as the asset remains in a broader bearish phase.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) itself is positioned in a state of compressed volatility, trading near short-term moving averages with a notable lack of significant overhead resistance up to the 100 EMA. This structure, combined with occasional spikes in buying interest, suggests the potential for a sharp move if liquidity increases, particularly at the week's start. However, the setup remains fragile and dependent on maintaining short-term support.
Bitcoin is also showing signs of struggle, failing to sustain momentum after a run into six-figure territory. It faces repeated rejection near the 100-day and 200-day moving averages, with recent price attempts accompanied by declining volume—a bearish divergence. Analysts warn that without a confirmed breakout above key resistance, Bitcoin is in a precarious position that could lead to deeper retracements, negatively impacting the wider altcoin market.
