As Bitcoin (BTC) seeks to solidify its position around $71,000, the cryptocurrency faces a challenge from the $74,000 resistance level that has so far prevented a decisive breakout. However, recent insights from Bloomberg indicate that a collection of indicators, historically associated with the conclusion of downward trends, suggest the current sell-off may be reaching its final phase. Bitcoin Recovery In Sight? Brett Munster of Blockforce Capital said that one of these indicators has already entered a range that has frequently preceded past lows. Meanwhile, two others are indicating figures between $54,000 and $58,000, which is lower than the current price range of between $65,000 and $73,000 that was set during the month. Although a definitive price floor is not guaranteed, Munster asserts that “the majority of the drawdown appears to be behind us,” suggesting that a market turnaround could potentially materialize by mid-year. Related Reading: Bitcoin Historically Surges 54% On Average Post-US Midterm Elections, Binance One of the critical indicators currently highlighting Bitcoin’s potential for recovery is the MVRV Z-Score. This measure signals when Bitcoin is trading above or below its on-chain cost basis. When this score dips below 0.4, it typically indicates that the cryptocurrency is undervalued. Presently, the score is around 0.38, indicating that Bitcoin may indeed be undervalued, although other metrics have not yet confirmed this trend. Potential Upside Emerges The realized price of Bitcoin—the average price at which it has last moved on-chain—currently hovers near $54,000, while the 200-week moving average (MA), which has historically marked important support levels, is positioned around $58,000. Related Reading: Hyperliquid (HYPE) Under The Lens: These 3 Metrics Point To Severe Undervaluation Moreover, the pattern of diminishing peak-to-trough drawdowns suggests a potential bottom could lie between $45,000 and $55,000. Collectively, these indicators define what Munster terms “a high-probability accumulation zone” ranging from approximately $45,000 to $60,000. Although pinpointing an exact market bottom is inherently uncertain and bear markets can last longer than anticipated, Munster believes that Bitcoin presently offers a more favorable risk-reward profile with greater upside potential. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Hyperliquid oil-linked perps cleared over $1 billion as crude spikes toward $100 dollars amid Middle East turmoil. Hyperliquid: “The Place To Be” As we reported this past Monday, Hyperliquid continues to cement its reputation as “the room where it happens” for a new class of traders that are turning into Hyperliquid’s tokenized oil perpetuals, as well to metals and other “essential assets”. In a post on the social network X this Thursday morning, Hyperliquid’s official account announced that the trading of Real World Assets (RWA) on the platform continues to break records, as it’s now “surpassing $1.3B in open interest and $1.4B in weekend volume”. As stated on Monday, this times of extreme geopolitical chaos seem to finally have outgrown TradFi, as traders search for alternatives to act as fast as their unrest demands: Hyperliquid is always available, even while legacy futures markets close for the weekend. Over the past 2 weeks, RWA trading on Hyperliquid has repeatedly broken records, surpassing $1.3B in open interest and $1.4B in weekend volume. When traditional markets are closed, Hyperliquid is the premier venue for 24/7 price discovery on oil, metals, indices, and other… — Hyperliquid (@HyperliquidX) March 12, 2026 The structural advantages of a DEX like Hyperliquid are unmatchable when rapidly changing circumstances prompt equally volatile feelings: 24/7 access, permissionless HIP‑3 listings, and the ability to size into oil, gold, and equity index perps without going through a broker. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Holds Near $70K As Markets Brace For Key Event The Rise Of HYPE Hyperliquid’s native token, $HYPE, has been rallying alongside the oil: HYPE saw a surge of over 8% over the past 24 hours, reaching $37 dollars, a big improvement from previously sinking nearly below 50% of its past September high. This surge aligns with BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes predictions. On March 9, Hayes shared an essay on his Substack arguing why he believes that $HYPE is going to $150 by August 2026. The piece, titled “$HYPE Man”, frames Hyperliquid as the standout exchange‑token play for a volatile 2026 because it monetizes trading activity regardless of market direction. Hyperliquid is one of the largest fee‑generating protocols in crypto, and Hayes argues that roughly most of those fees are routed back to HYPE through buybacks and burns, turning the token into a direct bet on on-chain derivatives revenue. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Holds Near $70K As Markets Brace For Key Event Hayes believes that, assuming revenue climbs back toward peak levels and the market is willing to rerate Hyperliquid to a higher earnings multiple that still sits below some listed TradFi exchanges, $HYPE could go around the $150 by mid‑2026. In his view, growth in macro‑linked products like oil and gold, listed through HIP‑3, are central to this upside, since more war‑driven oil flow on Hyperliquid means more protocol fees and a stronger buyback engine for HYPE. My essay on why $HYPE is going to $150 by August 2026. https://t.co/M1la2HpdzT — Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) March 9, 2026 The Iran war, tanker incidents, and supply fears are reviving the classic “oil shock” playbook just as DeFi venues like Hyperliquid make commodity risk tradable via tokens. If conflict and energy shocks persist, tokenised oil on Hyperliquid could increasingly shape sentiment and pricing across both DeFi and TradFi. HYPE'S price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: HYPEUSDT on Tradingview Cover image from Perplexity, HYPEUSDT chart from Tradingview
Blockchain payments giant Ripple has initiated a share buyback program that positions the company at a substantial valuation of $50 billion. Ripple Revives Share Buyback Effort According to a Wednesday report from Bloomberg, Ripple plans to repurchase up to $750 million in shares from both investors and employees. The plan is set to run through April, as disclosed by sources familiar with the situation. This new buyback effort follows a previous attempt in September, when Ripple aimed to buy back $1 billion worth of shares. However, that initiative fell short, as the company’s participation rate was notably low compared to earlier rounds of tender offers. Related Reading: XRP Price Outlook: Analyst Foresees New All-Time Highs Above $40 In 2026 During that attempt, Ripple had valued the company at $40 billion but struggled to attract interest from current shareholders, suggesting that many were reluctant to part with their stakes in what they believed to be a promising venture. Despite the recent buyback news, the blockchain payment company has consistently maintained that it has no plans to take Ripple public in the United States. Meanwhile, a growing number of crypto firms, including giants such as Circle (CRCL) and Gemini (GME), have launched their own initial public offerings (IPOs) in the US over the past year, amid a notable shift toward a pro-crypto environment among regulators. XRP Price Sees Minor Recovery In connection with the buyback announcement, XRP, Ripple’s associated digital asset, experienced a slight rebound, reaching approximately $1.39 at the time of writing. Related Reading: Top Analyst Suggests Solana May Surpass XRP In Market Value: Here’s Why And When However, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization continues to face challenges in all time frames, recording losses between 4% and 5% over the past seven to fourteen-day period, respectively. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Oil-linked trading on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid (HYPE) has recently surpassed $1 billion in volume within a 24-hour period, leading to a significant 10% rally in the platform’s native token, HYPE, allowing it to outperform the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. In fact, oil-linked trading on Hyperliquid hit over $1.2 billion, making it the second-most traded market on the platform, just behind Bitcoin (BTC). Hyperliquid’s Oil Contract Trading Soars The driving force behind the recent HYPE performance has been the CL-USDC perpetual contract, which tracks West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices. This contract’s trading volume recently eclipsed Ethereum (ETH) trading on the platform. Related Reading: Bitcoin At The Bottom? The 23-Month Cycle That Has Never Failed The increase in activity coincides with a dramatic rise in oil futures, which jumped over 30% to nearly $120 a barrel on traditional exchanges. This spike followed escalating tensions in the Middle East that have disrupted global supply chains. Before these developments, daily volumes for the CL-USDC contract hovered around $21 million. However, following the recent geopolitical events, that figure skyrocketed to more than $1.2 billion as of Monday. Additionally, open interest in this contract surged to $183 million. $150 Price Target For HYPE Further fueling the excitement surrounding the HYPE rally is a bullish outlook from Arthur Hayes, co-founder of cryptocurrency platform BitMEX. In a recent essay, Hayes set a price target of $150 for HYPE by August 2026, asserting that Hyperliquid can continue to expand its revenue streams even if broader cryptocurrency markets experience difficulties. Related Reading: Dogecoin Remains Inside Falling Channel, Bulls Target Surge Above $0.1 While HYPE has been on the rise, with the token retesting the $35 resistance wall, major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have shown modest recoveries during the same period. Bitcoin gained approximately 2.5%, while Ethereum saw a slightly higher increase of 3.4%. Analyzing HYPE’s daily trading chart reveals critical support levels that investors should watch. Key support zones are anticipated around $32, $29, and $28, with the latter acting as a significant accumulation point over the past two weeks. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin (BTC) has climbed back above the $73,000 level for the first time since early February, marking a notable recovery for the cryptocurrency. As momentum builds, some analysts believe the move could extend further if current trends remain intact. Among them is market analyst Ali Martinez, who shared his outlook in a recent post on X. According to Martinez, Bitcoin may be positioning itself for what he describes as a potential relief rally. ETF Accumulation And Thin On-Chain Resistance From an on-chain standpoint, Martinez highlighted the role of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which continue to absorb supply at a steady pace. He noted that ETFs purchased approximately $776 million worth of BTC last week alone. The pace has not slowed this week. Since the week began on March 2, ETF inflows have already reached around $789 million — and the week is still ongoing. That scale of accumulation points to sustained institutional demand, which can provide meaningful support during breakout attempts. Related Reading: MARA Revises Bitcoin Treasury Strategy, Opens Door To Selling $3.5 Billion In BTC Beyond capital flows, Martinez also pointed to blockchain data that suggests limited resistance immediately above current price levels. Using the URPD (UTXO Realized Price Distribution), he observed that a major resistance cluster previously sat near $70,685. With Bitcoin now above the key price zone of $72,000, the supply concentration between this area and $81,000 appears comparatively thin. According to CoinGecko data, the BTC price has surged 7% to $73,200 at the time of writing. In practical terms, this means there are fewer historically established sell levels within that range. If buying pressure continues to build, Martinez believes that the Bitcoin price could move more freely through this “low supply” area. Bitcoin Rally Could Extend Toward $84,000 The next significant concentrations of supply, according to Martinez, are positioned around $83,307 and $84,569. Those levels may serve as stronger resistance should Bitcoin’s rally extend into that territory. Related Reading: CFTC Chair Says Crypto Perps Approval Is Close — Why This Is Huge For Hyperliquid? Martinez concluded that a confirmed breakout above current levels, supported by persistent ETF inflows, lighter on-chain resistance, and strengthening technical structure, could create the conditions for a short-term expansion higher. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, is expanding its footprint in crypto with the launch of new futures contracts tied to Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM). In a blog post published Monday, the exchange confirmed that the crypto contracts went live on February 9, marking another step in the steady buildout of its regulated cryptocurrency product suite. New Futures And Index Launch Plan With the addition of ADA, LINK and XLM, CME now offers futures products covering seven major crypto assets. According to the company’s own estimates, the expanded lineup represents exposure to more than 75% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization. Related Reading: Bitcoin And Ethereum Prices Are Recovering Again, But Will The US-Israel War Derail It? The new crypto contracts are cash-settled and reference the CME CF Reference Rates. Each token is available in both standard and micro-sized contracts, allowing for participation from a broad range of institutional and smaller market participants. The first LINK and XLM futures trades were executed between FalconX and Marex, while the inaugural ADA transactions took place between Cumberland DRW and Wintermute. In addition to the new token-specific contracts, CME revealed plans to roll out a Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures product, targeted for launch on March 16, pending regulatory approval. Crypto Derivatives Hit Record Volumes In 2025 In its blog post, the company also highlighted the rapid growth of its crypto derivatives business. In 2025, CME recorded a milestone year for its digital asset product suite, reporting an average daily volume of 278,300 contracts. Related Reading: Wall Street Giant JPMorgan Sees Clarity Act Driving Second-Half Upside That figure translates to roughly $12 billion in notional value traded each day. Growth has also been reflected in rising average daily open interest, underscoring sustained institutional engagement since the product line’s inception. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is once again facing mounting scrutiny in Washington, as lawmakers question whether the company is living up to the terms of its 2023 settlement with US authorities — an agreement that ultimately led to the resignation of its founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ). Democrats Urge DOJ And Treasury Investigation On Friday, journalist Eleanor Terrett of Crypto In America reported that eleven Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee, led by crypto-skeptic Elizabeth Warren, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urging their departments to examine Binance’s operations. Related Reading: Jane Street Faces New Lawsuit: Trump Media Calls For Federal Investigation The lawmakers pointed to recent media reports alleging illicit finance activity on the platform, including transactions reportedly linked to Iran, and warned that such conduct could place Binance in violation of its 2023 settlement. In their letter, the senators also referenced Binance’s expanding business relationships with President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures, as well as Trump’s pardon of Zhao. They called for what they described as a “thorough, impartial” investigation into whether the exchange is adhering to its legal obligations. The latest pressure follows a separate inquiry launched earlier in the week. As previously reported by Bitcoinist, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal initiated a formal probe through the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Binance Denies Sanctions Violations In a letter dated February 24 and addressed to Binance co-CEO Richard Teng, Blumenthal cited reporting that suggested the exchange may have facilitated “large-scale violations” of US and international sanctions on Iran. Related Reading: Circle Tops Q4 Revenue Forecasts, Shares Surge 30% — Key Numbers Inside Blumenthal noted that Binance appeared to ignore warnings and recommendations aimed at reducing Iranian money laundering operations. He also referred to the same reports cited by the Senate banking committee Democrats, indicating that $1.7 billion in transactions to Iran may have passed through the platform. Binance has strongly denied the allegations. The company said it conducted an internal review and found “no evidence of violations of applicable sanctions laws.” The exchange also rejected claims that it had dismissed investigators for raising concerns related to sanctions compliance. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Jane Street, one of the world’s largest market-making firms, has come under growing scrutiny as a series of allegations have surfaced linking the company to major disruptions in the crypto market. The firm is already facing a federal lawsuit tied to the collapse of Terraform Labs, and now new claims circulating on social media suggest that Trump Media has accused Jane Street and other trading firms of “naked short selling” in a letter to Congress. Jane Street Rejects Terra Allegations The legal troubles began earlier this week. On February 23, a lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York accusing Jane Street of using confidential information obtained from Terraform Labs to shield itself from heavy losses before the Terra/Luna ecosystem unraveled in May 2022. Related Reading: Coinbase Stablecoin Revenue Could Surge 7x Under GENIUS Act, Bloomberg Analysts Say According to the complaint, Jane Street allegedly leveraged insider knowledge to avoid more than $200 million in potential losses ahead of the implosion. The firm has strongly denied the accusations, characterizing the lawsuit as “desperate” and describing it as a “transparent attempt to extract money.” Beyond the courtroom, additional claims have gained traction online. Some market participants have alleged that Jane Street manipulated Bitcoin (BTC) prices by operating an algorithm that allegedly triggered consistent sell-offs at 10 a.m. each day for months. According to these claims, the strategy involved pushing prices lower, triggering liquidations among retail traders, and then repurchasing Bitcoin at reduced levels in a repeated cycle. Naked Short Selling Inquiry Adding another layer to the controversy, market commentator MartyParty stated on Thursday that Trump Media had sent a letter to members of Congress calling for a full investigation into Jane Street, Citadel and other firms over alleged naked short selling. Naked short selling refers to the practice of selling shares without first borrowing them, a tactic that is restricted under US securities law. Related Reading: Circle Tops Q4 Revenue Forecasts, Shares Surge 30% — Key Numbers Inside As of Thursday afternoon Eastern Time, there had been no official confirmation of such a letter, nor any public statement from Trump Media, Jane Street, or Citadel verifying the claim. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The recent Bitcoin (BTC) price performance may appear subdued, with the leading crypto currently trading below the $65,000 level and sitting around 50% under all-time highs, but a new report from River suggests that adoption trends in 2025 tell a very different story. According to the firm, the network’s growth across institutions, businesses, financial advisors, and even nation-states accelerated sharply over the past year, despite market weakness. Institutional Bitcoin Demand One of the most notable developments has been the scale of institutional accumulation. River reports that institutions acquired approximately 829,000 Bitcoin in 2025 alone. These buyers included corporations, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), investment funds, and government-related entities. Related Reading: History Repeating? XRP Flashes Signal Last Seen Before Explosive 60,000% Rally Investment advisors have also emerged as steady buyers. Registered investment advisors (RIAs), which collectively oversee around $146 trillion in client assets, have been net purchasers of Bitcoin exposure for eight consecutive quarters. Their participation largely began after the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in 2024. Over the past two years, RIAs have invested approximately $1.5 billion per quarter into Bitcoin ETFs, without a single quarter of net selling. Adoption within this group is already widespread: 29 of the top 30 US RIAs hold Bitcoin exposure. However, allocations remain minimal, averaging just 0.008% of assets, leaving considerable room for expansion. Surge In Bank, Corporate And Retail Adoption Traditional banks are also moving closer to the asset. Around 60% of the largest US banks are reportedly developing Bitcoin-related products. Corporate adoption accelerated as well. Public company ownership of Bitcoin increased by 2.5 times in 2025, with businesses collectively ranking as the largest net buyers during the year. Much of this demand came from Bitcoin treasury companies, but River notes that many established corporations have been quietly adding BTC in smaller amounts. The firm expects this type of balance sheet adoption to expand across the S&P 500 in the years ahead. Merchant usage has grown at a rapid pace. In the United States, the number of businesses accepting BTC payments tripled in 2025, while global merchant adoption rose by 74%. River, which serves more than 3,000 businesses across multiple industries, reports that the strongest growth is occurring among small, privately held companies, many of which do not publicly disclose their Bitcoin strategies. Nation-States Expand BTC Holdings Nation-state involvement also increased. Five additional countries became Bitcoin holders in 2025. Among them were Luxembourg and Saudi Arabia, whose sovereign wealth funds acquired exposure, and the Czech Republic. Governments have accumulated Bitcoin through a variety of channels, including state-backed mining operations, direct purchases, ETF exposure, asset seizures, donations, and even hacking-related recoveries. Related Reading: World Liberty Financial Cites ‘Coordinated Attack’ — But Are There Deeper Issues? Looking ahead, River argues that the divergence between price performance and adoption is striking. While the current phase of growth may not immediately translate into dramatic price multiples, it reflects a deeper form of progress: We expect that in the coming years, Bitcoin adoption will not only continue its current trend but meaningfully accelerate. As of this writing, BTC is trading at $64,459, marking losses of 26% and 31% over the past thirty days and year-to-date, respectively. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the decentralized finance (DeFi) venture associated with President Donald Trump and his sons, said early Monday that it had been targeted in what it described as a “coordinated attack” involving its stablecoin, USD1. According to CoinGecko data, USD1 — which carries a market capitalization of nearly $4.8 billion — briefly lost its dollar peg before recovering to $1. The temporary dislocation drew immediate attention across crypto markets, particularly given the project’s political ties and growing profile within the digital asset sector. World Liberty Financial Addresses Incident In a statement posted on its official account on X (previously Twitter), the project alleged that multiple attack vectors were deployed simultaneously. “A coordinated attack was launched against USD1 this morning,” WLFI wrote. The team claimed that hackers compromised several cofounder accounts, paid influencers to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), and opened significant short positions in the WLFI token in an attempt to profit from market disruption. Related Reading: Why The XRP Price Bottom Could Be In, And A Jump Above $2 Is Coming A spokesperson for World Liberty told Bloomberg that the company’s engineering and security teams had successfully countered the incident. The spokesperson described the event as a multi‑pronged attempt to undermine confidence in the project, but said internal systems functioned as intended. Beyond the temporary depeg itself, online speculation quickly shifted toward another development that some community members believe could be connected. A social media user known as Chris Coffee suggested that the alleged attack might relate to a forthcoming insider trading investigation teased by on‑chain investigator ZachXBT. Insider Probe Speculation Grows ZachXBT announced on X that he plans to publish a report on February 26 detailing alleged insider trading by employees of “one of the most profitable crypto companies.” The timing has fueled conjecture. Some users pointed to reports that Eric Trump, who has been publicly supportive of WLFI, deleted several posts related to the project following the stablecoin’s volatility. He later posted again about WLFI, further drawing attention to the situation. In crypto circles, speculation intensified that World Liberty Financial could be the subject of the pending investigation, though no evidence has been presented to confirm such claims. Related Reading: Expert Crypto Trader Predicts The Exact Year Bitcoin Will Reach $250,000 The conversation has even extended to prediction markets. On Polymarket, bettors are placing odds on which company ZachXBT’s investigation might target. Current probabilities cited on the platform assign roughly a 20% chance to Pump.fun, 18% to World Liberty Financial, and 14% to Binance. For now, there is no confirmed link between Monday’s reported “coordinated attack” on USD1 and the investigation scheduled for release on February 26. Whether the two events are related or simply coincidental remains uncertain. As of this writing, the company’s native token, WLIF, is trading at $0.1121. This represents a 66% gap between the current trading price and the token’s all-time high of $0.33. Featured image from Sky, chart from TradingView.com
The industry’s largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), are enduring one of their most difficult openings to a year on record, according to a recent analysis by Fortune, with both digital assets trading sharply below their previous peaks. Bitcoin is currently down roughly 46% from its all-time high, while Ethereum has fallen about 60% from its record level. The steep declines mark what the publication describes as historically poor year-to-date performances for the assets. Bitcoin, Ethereum Lag While S&P 500, Gold Post Gains While Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with broader crypto prices, have often moved in tandem with equities in recent years, that relationship has weakened over the past two months. Since January, major US stock indices have edged higher. The S&P 500 has gained approximately 0.4%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed 2.3%. Precious metals have also performed strongly. Gold has surged about 17% since the start of the year, while silver has advanced roughly 14%, even after experiencing a brief drop several weeks ago. Related Reading: ‘Sell Bitcoin Now,’ Peter Schiff Warns, Predicts $20,000 Target On Breakdown The disconnect between cryptocurrencies and broader market gains has prompted some industry observers to declare the arrival of another “Crypto Winter.” “We’re certainly in a Crypto Winter,” said Danny Nelson, a research analyst at crypto asset manager Bitwise. He pointed to investor behavior as evidence of deteriorating sentiment. “You can tell by how investors react to good news,” Nelson said. “They don’t.” ‘We’re Really Close To The End’ Despite the current pullback and the increased challenges for prices seen since the October 10 liquidation event, Nelson argues that the underlying foundation of the industry is strengthening. “Crypto’s reality is getting stronger,” he said, adding that the structural changes underway are likely to outlast the current downturn. Related Reading: House Democrats Urge Treasury Probe Into Trump Family’s Crypto Venture Similar sentiments have been expressed by Tom Lee, cofounder of research firm Fundstrat and a long-time supporter of Ethereum. In a recent interview, Lee suggested the market may be nearing a turning point, stating, “We’re really close to the end.” Whether the latest slump proves to be a temporary correction or a deeper cycle shift remains uncertain. For now, however, the data underscores a challenging start to the year for the cryptocurrency market, even as other asset classes continue to surge. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $67,595, which is a slight 1% increase compared to Thursday’s prices. Ethereum is trading at around $1,968, with similar gains over the past 24 hours. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Economist and longtime Bitcoin (BTC) critic Peter Schiff has issued a fresh warning to cryptocurrency investors, arguing that the world’s largest digital asset could face a steep decline if a key price level fails. Schiff Predicts 84% Bitcoin Crash In a Thursday social media post on X, Schiff said that a break below $50,000 would likely open the door to a much deeper selloff. “If Bitcoin breaks $50K, which looks likely, it seems highly likely it will at least test $20K,” he wrote. Related Reading: Revealed: The Biggest Bitcoin Holders Of 2026, According To Arkham Data A drop to that level, he noted, would represent an 84% fall from Bitcoin’s all‑time high of $126,000 reached last October. While acknowledging that Bitcoin has experienced similar collapses in the past, Schiff argued that the current environment is different. He pointed to what he described as unprecedented hype, higher leverage in the system, greater institutional ownership and a much larger overall market capitalization. “Sell Bitcoin now!” he urged. BTC ‘Not Fit’ As Reserve Asset Schiff, who has long championed gold as a superior store of value, has repeatedly questioned Bitcoin’s role in the global financial system. In a previous interview, he said BTC is unsuitable as a reserve asset for central banks, contending that its volatility would make it impractical to hold in large quantities without causing market instability. Related Reading: Goldman Sachs CEO Says US Must Codify How Crypto ‘Will Operate’ According to Schiff, although some sovereign wealth funds and governments have taken limited positions in Bitcoin‑related products, those allocations remain small and are often motivated by performance pressure rather than deep conviction. He has also expressed skepticism about the durability of institutional demand. Schiff predicted that professional investors’ interest in Bitcoin could wane over time and warned that more recent entrants to the market may ultimately suffer losses if prices retreat sharply. At the time of writing, the leading cryptocurrency is trading at $66,900, with the largest resistance level at $70,000 and support floors at $65,800 and $62,800, limiting additional losses in the near term. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The World Liberty Forum held this week at Mar‑a‑Lago featured remarks from President Donald Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., who used the event to reaffirm their strong support for Bitcoin (BTC) and repeat their long‑standing $1 million price projection for the cryptocurrency. ‘Never Been More Bullish On Bitcoin’ Speaking on Wednesday, Eric Trump described himself as “a huge proponent of Bitcoin” and said he has never felt more optimistic about the asset’s future. “I’ve never been more bullish on bitcoin in my life,” he said, arguing that the digital currency has the potential to eventually reach $1 million per coin. Related Reading: Macro Wobbles May Send Bitcoin Back To The $50,000s, Industry CEO Claims However, amid falling Bitcoin prices, Eric acknowledged the asset’s volatility and characterized price swings as typical for an emerging technology with significant growth potential. In his view, Bitcoin’s upside contrasts sharply with traditional fixed‑income investments such as municipal bonds or US Treasuries (T-Bills), which generally offer lower yields. At the same time, Donald Trump Jr. offered sharp criticism of the traditional banking system, calling it a “Ponzi scheme” and arguing that the family’s move into crypto was not driven by trend‑chasing but by necessity. Trump Brothers Accuse Banks Of Political ‘Debanking’ During an interview with CNBC at the forum, Donald Trump Jr. said his family turned to digital assets after banks closed “hundreds of accounts” belonging to the Trump Organization in early 2021. “You know, we didn’t get into crypto because we were on the leading edge,” Trump Jr. said. “We got into it out of necessity. They basically forced us into it.” The brothers attributed the account closures to the political fallout following the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, when supporters of their father stormed the building while contesting the 2020 presidential election results. Related Reading: $274 Billion In Potential Bitcoin Selling Could Hit Markets, Expert Says They also claimed that banks had “debanked” other smaller clients over their conservative political views. Eric Trump said their crypto initiative, World Liberty Financial, is part of a broader effort to reshape the financial system. “We’re trying to modernize finance,” he said, adding that the family felt ostracized by mainstream institutions during that period. “We’re the most canceled people in the world in 2020, 2021,” he said. As of this writing, Bitcoin is still consolidating at approximately $66,258. This represents a 50% difference from the current trading prices and the all-time high of $126,000, which was reached last October. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The British financial giant Standard Chartered sharply reduced its price outlook for XRP, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency. The company trimmed its end-of-2026 target by 65% following the severe downturn in the broader crypto market in the past month. The revision comes even as the altcoin posted a modest 2% rebound over the past week, trading around $1.47 per token at the time of writing. Despite that short-term recovery, the bank’s digital assets team now believes the token is unlikely to reach a new all-time high this year. New XRP Price Prediction The updated forecast was first reported on Monday by DL News, with Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, outlining the changes in a note to investors. Related Reading: Can XRP Hold Above $1? Token Tumbles 11% as Breakdown Fuels Crash Concerns Kendrick, who leads the bank’s crypto research efforts, acknowledged that recent market conditions have forced a broad reassessment of price expectations across the sector. “Recent price action for digital assets has been challenging, to say the least,” Kendrick wrote. “We expect further declines near-term, and we lower our forecasts across the asset class.” Under the revised outlook, Standard Chartered now expects XRP to reach $2.80 by the end of 2026, a substantial cut from its previous $8 projection. The earlier target had been issued in December, when the bank took a far more optimistic stance. At that time, Kendrick pointed to increasing regulatory clarity surrounding XRP’s status as a financial asset, along with progress toward exchange-traded fund (ETF) products, as key catalysts that could drive significant price appreciation. Broad Forecast Cuts Across Major Tokens The $8 forecast was made roughly two and a half months after the sharp market crash on October 10, when sentiment had begun to stabilize. However, as February draws to a close, the broader crypto market has yet to mount a sustained recovery. That prolonged weakness has prompted Standard Chartered to reassess not only XRP but the wider digital asset landscape. Related Reading: Bitcoin Should Be Flying—Instead, Quantum Risk Keeps It Grounded: Analyst Bitcoin’s (BTC) expected price has been reduced from $150,000 to $100,000. Ethereum’s (ETH) forecast has been revised down from $7,000 to $4,000, while Solana’s (SOL) target has been cut from $250 to $135. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Companies linked to President Donald Trump are expanding their presence in the cryptocurrency industry, with the Trump Media & Technology Group taking another formal step into digital asset markets. Truth Social Funds, an affiliate of Trump Media, has submitted a registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking approval to launch two new cryptocurrency exchange‑traded funds (ETFs). Trump Media Latest Crypto Proposal The filings outline plans for Crypto.com’s native token, Cronos (CRO), the Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF, and the Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs. Related Reading: Standard Chartered Lowers Bitcoin Forecast: Predicts Price Dive To $50,000 Before Rebound The Cronos-focused product is designed to provide exposure to CRO, the native token of the Cronos blockchain, while also capturing staking rewards associated with holding the asset. The second fund would track the performance of Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market value, and incorporate Ether staking yields into its strategy. Under the proposed structure, Crypto.com would play a central operational role. The digital asset platform is set to provide custody, liquidity, and staking services for the funds. Meanwhile, Yorkville America Equities has been named as the investment adviser, with the filings indicating a 0.95% annual management fee. Bitcoin Struggles Below $70,000 Friday’s announcement builds on a broader strategic partnership formed last year between Trump Media and Crypto.com. As part of that agreement, Trump Media was set to acquire 684.4 million Cronos (CRO) tokens at an approximate price of $0.153 per token. The transaction was structured as a 50% stock and 50% cash exchange and included the creation of a Trump Media Group CRO Strategy aimed at integrating Cronos into the company’s broader digital asset plans. Related Reading: Cardano Founder Hoskinson Warns Of 90-180 Days Of Pain Ahead: Here’s Why The expansion into crypto-linked investment products comes at a time when Bitcoin continues to face technical resistance. Although the leading cryptocurrency has posted gains of roughly 5% over the past 24 hours, it remains unable to decisively break above the $70,000 level. Shares of Trump Media (DJT) also moved modestly higher during Friday’s trading session, rising about 2.5% to trade near $11.18. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Uniswap’s native token, UNI, posted a sharp gain on Wednesday after the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, announced plans to bring its Treasury‑backed digital fund, BUIDL, onto the decentralized finance (DeFi) platform. The move, which also includes BlackRock’s intention to purchase UNI tokens, fueled a strong rally in the token during the trading session. BUIDL Launch On Uniswap The development was detailed in a joint press release from Uniswap Labs and Securitize. The two companies revealed a strategic integration that will allow shares of the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) to be traded using UniswapX technology. Through the integration of UniswapX with Securitize’s infrastructure, investors will be able to access market quotes and swap BUIDL directly with whitelisted participants around the clock, every day of the year. Related Reading: Ripple Wins Key UAE Bank Partnership To Support Digital Asset Infrastructure The companies described the move as an important step in bridging traditional financial products with decentralized trading systems. Robert Mitchnick, BlackRock’s Global Head of Digital Assets, characterized the collaboration as a meaningful development in the convergence of tokenized assets and decentralized finance. He said integrating BUIDL into Uniswap represents significant progress in enabling interoperability between tokenized US dollar yield funds and stablecoins. UNI Outperforms Sluggish Crypto Market Following the announcement, Uniswap climbed to a weekly high of $4.50 earlier on Wednesday. However, the upward momentum eased later in the session, with the token pulling back to around $3.68 at the time of writing. Related Reading: Strategy Unfazed By Bitcoin Crash, Michael Saylor Vows Quarterly Purchases Even with the retracement, UNI stood out as one of the few cryptocurrencies recording gains during the day, as Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader digital asset market continued to face bearish pressure. From a technical perspective, Uniswap investors will need to watch the $3.14 level, which has served as support since Friday of last week. On the upside, the $4.70 level may act as short‑term resistance if renewed buying interest pushes prices higher in the coming days. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Ripple has secured a new strategic partnership in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the country continues to position itself as a regional hub for digital assets and blockchain innovation. The company announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its relationship with Zand, a UAE‑based digital bank built around artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology, to support the development of the digital economy through stablecoins and distributed ledger solutions. Expanded Ripple And Zand Deal Under the collaboration, Zand and Ripple will work together on a range of initiatives centered on Zand’s UAE dirham‑backed stablecoin, AEDZ, and Ripple’s US dollar stablecoin, RLUSD. According to both parties, the goal is to create new infrastructure and use cases that connect traditional financial services with on-chain systems within a regulated environment. Related Reading: Bernstein Calls Bitcoin Crash A ‘Crisis Of Confidence,’ Maintains $150,000 Target Reece Merrick, Ripple’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa, said in a social media post that the agreement builds on an earlier payments partnership between the two firms. He explained that Ripple and Zand are now expanding their cooperation to explore several areas, including support for RLUSD within Zand’s regulated digital asset custody platform, as well as direct liquidity solutions between RLUSD and AEDZ. XRPL Deployment In The UAE According to the official statement, the expanded partnership will also focus on examining the feasibility of seamless liquidity between the two stablecoins and issuing AEDZ on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). Any deployment on XRPL would be accompanied by appropriate compliance standards, monitoring tools, and risk management controls, the companies said. Related Reading: Strategy Expands Bitcoin Holdings With $90M Purchase, Bitmine Follows With ETH Zand’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Chan, said the bank views stablecoins, blockchain technology, and tokenization as key building blocks as traditional finance increasingly moves on-chain. He described the partnership with Ripple as an important milestone for the growth of the digital asset ecosystem in the UAE, adding that it could reshape how governments and businesses interact with secure and trusted blockchain‑based solutions. At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $1.40. It has registered major losses of 26% and 33% over the past fourteen and thirty days, respectively. This positions the fifth-largest cryptocurrency 61% below its all-time high of $3.65. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin (BTC) has officially entered a new bear market after suffering a steep 50% decline from its all‑time high. The leading crypto fell as low as $60,000, marking its weakest level since October 2024 and intensifying debate over how much further prices could slide before the next long‑term bottom is reached. As markets search for direction, crypto market expert NoLimit has shared a detailed framework outlining when and where he believes Bitcoin could ultimately bottom in this cycle. Rather than focusing solely on price targets, NoLimit argues that time plays an equally important role in identifying major turning points in Bitcoin’s market cycles. Potential Bitcoin Low In Oct–Nov According to his analysis, past Bitcoin bear markets show a relatively consistent pattern when measured from all‑time highs to cycle lows. Following the first Halving cycle in 2012, Bitcoin reached its bottom after 406 days. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crash Exposes Colossal Corporate Losses — Here’s Who’s Most Impacted The second Halving cycle in 2016 saw a bottom after 363 days, while the third cycle following the 2020 Halving bottomed after 376 days. The current cycle, following the 2024 Halving, has not yet completed this process. Based on these historical timeframes, NoLimit believes there is a high statistical likelihood that Bitcoin’s next major capitulation point will occur between October and November 2026. What NUPL Data Suggests In his analysis, NoLimit also highlighted an institutional‑grade on‑chain indicator known as Net Unrealized Profit/Loss, or NUPL. Historically, when NUPL enters what is referred to as the “blue zone,” Bitcoin has reached generational lows. Related Reading: Analyst Who Predicted XRP’s 600% Rally Forecasts The Bottom And A Target Of $10 This signal successfully identified the bottom during the 2018 bear market, the COVID‑19 crash, and the 2022 market low. According to NoLimit, Bitcoin has not yet entered this zone in the current cycle and remains some distance away from it. Taking all factors into account, NoLimit said he would not be surprised to see Bitcoin trading between $45,000 and $50,000 by the end of 2026. He described that range as his ultimate bottom target. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin (BTC) extended its sharp sell‑off on Thursday, briefly falling below the $67,000 level and marking its lowest price since November 2024. The renewed pressure follows commentary from market analyst Hugo Crypto, who pointed to a recent report from investment bank Stifel outlining a notably bearish outlook for Bitcoin. Deeper Bitcoin Drawdown Ahead? According to Stifel’s analysis, the leading cryptocurrency could continue declining toward $38,000. If reached, that target would represent an additional drop of roughly 43% from current levels and would place Bitcoin back at prices last seen in January 2024. Related Reading: Ripple Throws Weight Behind Hyperliquid, Fueling HYPE’s Rally Toward Crucial Levels Stifel’s forecast is built on several macro and market‑specific factors. The firm cited the impact of tighter US Federal Reserve (Fed) policy, ongoing uncertainty and stagnation around US crypto regulation, shrinking market liquidity, and sustained outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs). The bank also framed its outlook within the context of historical Bitcoin market cycles. According to Stifel, Bitcoin’s peak near $126,000 in October 2025 fits a familiar pattern seen in prior cycles, which have typically been followed by extended and deep drawdowns. Additional warnings were echoed by market observer Walter Bloomberg, who highlighted weakening demand, a sharp slowdown in ETF inflows, and growing stress in derivatives markets. Futures markets, in particular, appear to be entering what he describes as a “forced deleveraging” phase, where leveraged positions are unwound rapidly, adding to selling pressure. BTC Faces Key Technical Test ETF data from Thursday further illustrates the strain on market sentiment. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have so far recorded net outflows of approximately 7,925 BTC on the day, equivalent to about $533 million. Over the past seven days, net outflows have totaled roughly 19,090 BTC, or around $1.28 billion, reinforcing concerns that institutional demand is fading rather than providing support. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crash To $72,000 Signals Major Reset: On-Chain Metrics Deteriorate From a technical perspective, analyst MartyParty highlighted the importance of the $68,000 level, which Bitcoin would need to reclaim to stabilize in the near term. This area aligns with the 200‑week exponential moving average, a level often viewed as critical during major market corrections. Failure to hold above that zone could open the door to a move toward the 200‑week simple moving average, currently near $58,000, according to technical analysts. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading around $67,100, down roughly 8% on the day and more than 20% over the past week, based on CoinGecko data. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Ripple has announced new support for Hyperliquid, one of the fastest‑growing decentralized exchanges (DEXs) in the crypto sector, a move that has added momentum to the platform’s native token, HYPE, even as the broader market remains under pressure. Ripple Expands Prime Brokerage Platform With Hyperliquid In a press release issued on Wednesday, Ripple confirmed that Ripple Prime, its institutional prime brokerage platform, has integrated support for Hyperliquid. Related Reading: Bitwise CIO Warns Market Is Facing A ‘Full-Bore’ Crypto Winter, Not A Pullback According to Ripple, the integration allows institutional clients to tap into on‑chain derivatives liquidity on Hyperliquid while cross‑margining their decentralized finance (DeFi) positions alongside other assets already supported by Ripple Prime. These include digital assets, foreign exchange, fixed income products, over‑the‑counter swaps, and cleared derivatives. The structure is designed to give professional traders greater capital efficiency while operating across both decentralized and traditional markets. Michael Higgins, International CEO of Ripple Prime, said the move reflects the company’s broader strategy of bridging DeFi and traditional financial infrastructure. He noted that Ripple Prime aims to offer direct support for trading, yield generation, and an expanding range of digital assets. Higgins added that extending the prime brokerage platform into decentralized finance is intended to improve client access to liquidity while delivering the efficiency and innovation institutional customers increasingly expect. HYPE Surges As XRP Slides The announcement comes at a time when market performance has sharply diverged between the largest cryptocurrencies and Hyperliquid’s ecosystem. Ripple’s associated cryptocurrency, XRP, has fallen roughly 20% over the past week, broadly tracking the downturn across the wider crypto market. In contrast, Hyperliquid has surged by about 64% over the past two weeks, standing out as one of the strongest performers during a period of overall market weakness. That rally has pushed HYPE toward what traders see as a critical technical zone. At the time of writing, the token is trading just above $34, with the $35 level emerging as an important short‑term support area. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Crashes Below $73,000, Hitting Lowest Level Since 2024 Over the past week, Hyperliquid has struggled to hold above that threshold on a sustained basis, despite briefly breaking through it on Tuesday. During that move, the token climbed as high as $38, marking its highest price since November of last year. On the downside, Hyperliquid’s price action suggests that buyers have established a solid base around the $30 level. Daily chart data shows this area acting as a key support floor, repeatedly halting declines and helping to preserve the recent recovery in the weekly time frame. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The market’s leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), slid to its lowest price level seen since November 2024 on Tuesday, falling below the $73,000 threshold. The asset dropped to around $72,900 as growing concerns about a prolonged bear market continued to weigh on investor sentiment. Data from CoinGecko shows that BTC is down roughly 4% over the past 24 hours and about 15% over the last seven days. Yet, the sell‑off has not been limited to Bitcoin. Other digital assets have also come under pressure, with Ethereum (ETH) losing 25% over the past week and XRP falling approximately 17% during the same period. Bitcoin May Drift Lower For Months Augustine Fan, a partner at Hong Kong‑based crypto options platform SignalPlus, said to Bloomberg that confidence among traders has sunk to extremely low levels, further contributing to the ongoing sell-off. He noted that volatility, which had been trending lower for nearly a year, has finally picked up as traders rushed to hedge their positions. According to Fan, markets are now firmly operating in bear‑market conditions. Related Reading: What’s Next For Bitcoin? Two Key Scenarios: Will It Crash To $60,000 Or Surge To $100,000? Some analysts warn that Bitcoin’s weakness could persist. Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, said recent price action suggests Bitcoin may continue to drift lower in the coming weeks or even months. He pointed to the 200‑week moving average (MA), currently near $58,000, as a potential downside target. He added that there is a noticeable supply gap between the $70,000 and $80,000 range, which could add to near‑term volatility. Bearish Bets Build Market analyst DarkFost observed that funding rates on the Binance platform have moved into what he described as an “extreme zone,” signaling a buildup of short positions and a growing bearish consensus among traders. Related Reading: Hyperliquid Unveils HIP‑4, Sending HYPE 14% Higher On Outcome Trading Plans Nonetheless, as of this writing, Bitcoin has briefly recovered from Tuesday’s lows, currently trading just above $75,000. From a technical perspective, DarkFost identified two key price levels now in focus for the leading cryptocurrency: resistance around $74,000 and support near $69,000. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin (BTC) came under heavy selling pressure over the weekend after failing to hold the $84,000 level, a move that culminated in a sharp decline on Monday. The sell‑off pushed the cryptocurrency down to around $74,000, marking its lowest price in roughly 10 months and reigniting debate over where the market could be headed next. Bitcoin’s Make‑Or‑Break Level In a recent Monday post on the social media platform X (previously Twitter), analysts at Bull Theory outlined two potential paths forward for Bitcoin as volatility remains elevated. They noted that after briefly rebounding toward $79,000, Bitcoin is now trading above the $75,000 area, a level they describe as a critical weekly support zone. This region has already been tested, and how price behaves here is expected to determine the next major trend. Related Reading: Dogecoin Crash Sends It To Key Demand Zone, Here’s The Level To Watch From a broader technical perspective, Bitcoin’s weekly chart has deteriorated. The price has slipped below both the 20‑week and 50‑week moving averages (MAs), levels that are commonly used to gauge medium‑ and long‑term market momentum. While this development has raised concerns, Bull Theory argues that the situation is not yet decisive and hinges on whether key support levels continue to hold. In the first scenario outlined by the analysts, Bitcoin manages to defend the April 2025 low, with $75,000 ultimately marking the bottom of the current correction. For this outcome to unfold, Bitcoin would need to hold above that April low and begin forming a higher low on the chart. If successful, the broader bullish structure would remain intact, defined by a pattern of higher highs and higher lows. In this case, the recent drop toward $75,000 would be viewed as a corrective pullback rather than a breakdown of the long‑term trend. Risk Of Deeper Correction The second scenario is more bearish and hinges on a failure to hold current support. If Bitcoin breaks below the April 2025 low, Bull Theory warns that the market structure would change meaningfully. A breakdown would invalidate the higher‑low formation that has defined the broader uptrend and signal that the $75,000 support level has failed. Under this scenario, downside risk would increase, opening the door to a move into the $50,000 to $60,000 range. Related Reading: How To Trade The XRP Price In The Short Term After The Massive Crash According to Bull Theory, the outcome ultimately depends on two clear factors: whether Bitcoin can hold above $75,000 on weekly closing prices, and whether the April 2025 low remains intact. If both levels continue to hold, the first scenario — a corrective pullback within a broader uptrend — remains in play. If either level gives way, the second scenario becomes the more likely path, with significantly lower prices potentially ahead. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin (BTC) continued to slide on Thursday, extending the downward trend seen throughout the week and briefly falling below the closely watched $85,000 level, despite progress on long-awaited US crypto legislation failing to lift market sentiment. Crypto Prices Fall Despite Regulatory Progress The decline came on the same day the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its portion of the proposed crypto market structure legislation, known as the CLARITY Act. While the committee’s action was widely viewed as a positive development for the digital asset industry, it did little to support prices in the short term. Related Reading: White House To Host Crypto And Banking Leaders In Push To Break Regulatory Deadlock Instead of triggering a rally, the news coincided with a sharp market sell‑off. Bitcoin dropped by roughly $2,700 in a short period, setting off a wave of liquidations that erased an estimated $356 million in long positions. Data from Coinglass further shows that total liquidations across the crypto market reached about $803 million over the past 24 hours, including roughly $693 million in long liquidations and $109 million in short liquidations. Bitcoin Hovers Near Breakdown Levels As earlier reported by Bitcoinist, the CLARITY Act cleared an important procedural hurdle earlier on Thursday when the Senate Agriculture Committee approved its section of the bill during a scheduled markup. The legislation aims to establish a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States. With the Agriculture Committee’s approval secured, lawmakers must merge the provisions that expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) role with parallel sections overseen by the Senate Banking Committee, which address the Securities and Exchange Commission’s jurisdiction. At the same time, legislators will need to determine whether bipartisan backing can still be achieved for a measure that could significantly reshape crypto regulation in the US. Related Reading: Bitcoin Supply In Loss Begins To Rise, Raising Early Bear Market Concerns From a technical perspective, market analyst Rekt Capital said that in the near term, Bitcoin needs to prevent the former range low around $86,000 from turning into resistance on lower time frames. He added that a weekly close above that level would be necessary to avoid a deeper breakdown. According to his analysis, a decisive break below the roughly $86,000 area could open the door to another test of the macro triangle bottom near $82,500. A further drop below that level, he cautioned, would signal an acceleration of bearish momentum. As of now, the market’s leading cryptocurrency has only briefly recovered to $85,135. However, it is still far from reaching the critical level outlined by the analyst. Therefore, Friday’s price action will be crucial in determining Bitcoin’s next move. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The White House is set to bring together senior figures from the banking and crypto industries on Monday in an effort to break the deadlock over the crypto market structure bill, namely the CLARITY Act, according to a Reuters report. The planned meeting comes as progress on the bill has stalled amid growing tensions between the two sectors over how digital assets should be regulated. White House Crypto Council To Lead Talks People familiar with the matter said the meeting will be organized by the White House’s crypto council and will include executives from several industry trade groups. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Braces For FOMC Volatility As History Shows Major Post‑Fed Sell‑Offs Discussions are expected to focus on one of the most contentious aspects of the legislation: whether and how crypto firms should be allowed to offer interest or other rewards on customer holdings of stablecoins. The anticipated market structure legislation has been under consideration in the Senate for several months. It is intended to establish a comprehensive federal framework for regulating digital assets following the passage of the GENIUS Act last July. Stablecoin Rewards Clash With Bank Stability Fears The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill in July, but progress in the Senate has been slower. Earlier this month, the Senate Banking Committee was scheduled to debate and vote on the measure. However, the markup was postponed after cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (COIN) withdrew its support for the bill and criticized various elements of it, including stablecoin rewards. Crypto representatives argue that offering rewards such as interest is essential to attracting and retaining customers. Related Reading: Crypto Funds Funneled To Money Launderers Hit $82 Billion, According To Chainalysis Banks, on the other hand, have raised alarms that allowing crypto platforms to pay yield on stablecoins could draw deposits away from insured lenders. Since deposits are the primary source of funding for most banks, industry representatives warn that a significant outflow could pose risks to financial stability. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis has released a new report highlighting a sharp escalation in crypto-based money laundering, warning that Chinese-language money laundering networks are emerging as one of the most serious and rapidly growing threats in the digital asset ecosystem. The Rise of Chinese‑Language Networks In Crypto Crime According to the report, illicit on‑chain money laundering activity has expanded dramatically over the past five years. In 2020, crypto-related laundering was estimated to be around $10 billion. By 2025, that figure had climbed to more than $82 billion. A key driver behind this growth has been the rapid rise of Chinese‑language money laundering networks, often referred to as CMLNs. In 2025, these networks accounted for roughly 20% of all identified illicit crypto laundering activity on‑chain. Related Reading: XRP Outlook For 2026: AI Model Signals New Record Ahead — Can Price Reach $6? Chainalysis noted that this regional concentration is further supported by off‑ramping behavior observed on the blockchain. As detailed in the report, CMLNs now routinely launder more than 10% of funds stolen through so‑called “pig butchering” scams. The pace at which these networks have grown stands out even within the broader crypto crime landscape. Since 2020, inflows to identified CMLNs have increased 7,325 times faster than those to centralized exchanges (CEXs). Growth has also outstripped other laundering channels, expanding 1,810 times faster than decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and 2,190 times faster than illicit on‑chain flows that remain within criminal ecosystems. While CMLNs are not the only actors involved in crypto laundering, Chainalysis found that Chinese‑language, Telegram‑based services now represent a disproportionately large share of attributed global laundering activity. Cross‑Border Crime At Scale The report also shows that CMLNs function openly across multiple platforms and rely on complex, multi‑layered systems. Their operations are characterized by industrial‑level processing capacity and a high degree of technical sophistication. In 2025 alone, Chainalysis identified six distinct service types that together form the CMLN ecosystem. Combined, these services processed $16.1 billion in illicit inflows during the year. The number of active entities within these networks has also grown rapidly, expanding from a small number of wallets just a few years ago to more than 1,799 active on‑chain wallets in 2025. Related Reading: Tether Reveals Massive Gold Accumulation In Q4: Adds 27 Tons To Reserves Tom Keatinge, Director at the Centre for Finance & Security at the Royal United Services Institute, said the speed and scale of these networks are the result of converging global forces. He noted that Chinese money laundering networks have rapidly evolved into “multi‑billion‑dollar cross‑border operations” offering efficient and competitively priced services to organized crime groups across Europe and North America. Chris Urben, Managing Director at Nardello & Co, highlighted another major shift within these networks. He explained that Chinese money laundering groups have increasingly moved away from informal value transfer systems, such as traditional underground banking methods. Instead, Urben emphasized that these criminals have embraced cryptocurrencies as a “faster and more discreet way” to move funds across borders, eliminating the need for complex manual ledgers spread across multiple jurisdictions. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
A new controversy has surfaced around Bitcoin (BTC) and other crypto assets held by the US government, following allegations raised by blockchain investigator ZachXBT. Controlling Millions In Stolen Government Crypto In a series of posts on social media platform X (previously Twitter), ZachXBT accused John “Lick” Daghita of stealing millions of dollars’ worth of seized digital assets from wallets linked to the US government. John Daghita is the son of Dean Daghita, the president of CMDSS, a firm that publicly states it provides critical services to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Defense. Related Reading: Expert Who Nailed The Bitcoin Top Now Says Buy At These Levels According to the investigation, the alleged theft came to light after a young hacker was provoked during a heated “band for band” argument on social media app Telegram. During the exchange, which was fully recorded, the individual reportedly began screen-sharing his cryptocurrency wallets while boasting about his holdings. Those wallets were later traced to more than $40 million in seized crypto assets that belonged to the US government. ZachXBT’s findings go further, claiming that the individual known online as “John (Lick)” was observed controlling wallets tied to more than $90 million in suspected illicit funds. Among those assets were cryptocurrencies linked to US government seizure addresses associated with the Bitfinex hack. In the recordings reviewed by the investigator, John is seen actively managing multiple wallet addresses while millions of dollars’ worth of Ethereum (ETH) and Tron (TRX) were moved in real time, strongly suggesting direct control over the funds. CMDSS Goes Dark, Suspect Alters Online Identities Shortly after the allegations were made public, CMDSS appeared to remove its digital footprint. The company scrubbed its website, X account, and LinkedIn page. Around the same time, John reportedly began changing his online usernames and deleting non-fungible token (NFT)-related handles from Telegram. Related Reading: XRP Ledger Congestion Could Burn 1 Billion Coins A Year, Developer Claims Despite these efforts, ZachXBT noted that John continued to taunt investigators and even sent him a small amount of ETH from one of the flagged wallets. ZachXBT stated that he plans to return those funds directly to a US government seizure address, underscoring his position that the assets belong to the government. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has taken a significant step toward strengthening its regulatory standing in Europe by establishing a formal presence in Greece and applying for a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license ahead of the July 1 deadline. Binance’s Greek Subsidiary Corporate filings show that Binance has set up a new wholly owned subsidiary in Greece under the name “Binary Greece.” The entity has been incorporated as a single-shareholder public limited company with an initial share capital of €25,000. Related Reading: ‘I’m Very Bullish’: Ripple CEO Forecasts Record Performance For Crypto In 2026 Binary Greece has been structured as a holding company. According to its articles of association, its primary activities include acquiring and managing equity stakes in companies both within Greece and internationally. It is also authorized to provide advisory services related to capital structuring, investment strategy, and liquidity management. Leadership of the new entity has been assigned to Gillian Majella Lynch, a senior executive with experience in banking, fintech, and digital assets. Lynch joined Binance in mid-2025 as Head of Europe and the United Kingdom. Greece’s Regulatory Stability Key In License Bid A Binance spokesperson confirmed to Fortune that the besides formally applying for a MiCA license in Athens, the cryptocurrency exchange is currently engaged in discussions with Greece’s Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC). The spokesperson emphasized that Binance sees the MiCA framework as a positive development, offering regulatory clarity and a consistent set of rules that support innovation while ensuring compliance across the European Union. Related Reading: Crypto Boom Ahead? Pantera Capital Pinpoints Major Catalysts For 2026 Success Commenting on the choice of Greece, the exchange’s spokesperson noted that the country plays an important role in the European economy, highlighting that Greece’s economy is growing faster than the EU average and operates within a regulatory environment that Binance considers essential. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
On Wednesday, Pantera Capital, one of the largest venture capital firms in the crypto industry, released its latest blockchain letter. In this edition, the firm reflects on the challenges faced in 2025 while projecting optimism for the remaining months of 2026. Pantera Capital Identifies Growth Catalysts Pantera begins by acknowledging that last year was not fundamentally driven when it came to returns within the crypto markets. It cites macroeconomic factors, market positioning, and structural influences as the main drivers that shaped performance, particularly for assets beyond Bitcoin (BTC). Related Reading: Where Does Hyperliquid (HYPE) Stand Now? A Deep Dive Into Key Metrics Post-2025 The firm highlights several positive developments, including the passage of the GENIUS Act and the rise of digital asset treasuries (DATs). These factors contributed to a more stabilized market sentiment, especially with the onset of Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts. However, the firm also describes a challenging fourth quarter in 2025, where a significant selloff on October 10 led to the largest liquidation cascade in crypto history. Despite this and many other setbacks during last year’s performance, Pantera expresses optimism about the future, identifying several catalysts poised to drive growth in the coming months. First and foremost, institutional adoption of blockchain technology continues to expand. Many enterprises are now integrating blockchain into their core offerings, with examples like Robinhood’s tokenized equities and JPMorgan’s initiatives. Moreover, the firm distinguished that there has been a notable drop in barriers to entry for major financial players into the crypto market, including sovereign reserves and large asset management firms. Crypto Sectors Set To Rise In 2026 Pantera Capital also explored specific sector predictions for 2026. They anticipate that Real-World Assets (RWAs) will take off. They expect that treasuries and private credit could double, with tokenized stocks and equities experiencing rapid growth as well. The firm further forecasts that prediction markets will attract acquisition interest as they consolidate around institutional infrastructure. The demand for sports-focused platforms is also expected to grow, expanding their presence in the market. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bear Market Depths: A Closer Look At How Low BTC Could Go In terms of banking innovation, ten major banks are reportedly exploring the issuance of a consortium stablecoin pegged to G7 currencies, which could provide a compliant and risk-managed way for people and institutions to utilize digital currencies. The macro perspective remains positive as well, with a significant percentage of Bitcoin now held by public companies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and nations, indicating a shift towards compliance and institutional investment in the crypto market. Finally, Pantera asserts that 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in the digital asset space. Following a significant uptick in 2025, expectations for further growth in crypto-friendly listings are high, as companies look to tokenize assets and expand their portfolios. Featured image from DALL-E, char from TradingView.com
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (DJT) has officially announced the date for its highly anticipated distribution of a new digital token to its shareholders, as part of its partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com. The record date for this digital token initiative will be February 2, 2026. Trump Media’s New Crypto Initiative According to the announcement, eligible shareholders will include ultimate beneficial owners and registered holders of at least one whole share of DJT stock as of the record date. In order to ensure a smooth distribution process, Trump Media will gather information from broker participants about eligible holders. Related Reading: Is A New XRP Price Record Imminent? Analyst Forecast Colossal Short Squeeze Ahead After the record date, Trump Media plans to collaborate with Crypto.com to mint the digital tokens, which will be displayed on the blockchain and held in custody until distribution. In addition to the digital tokens, Trump Media has indicated that various rewards will be made available to record-date shareholders throughout the year. These rewards may include benefits or discounts associated with Trump Media’s offerings, such as Truth Social, Truth+, and Truth Predict. CRO Token Plummets The partnership between Crypto.com and Trump Media dates back to August last year, when the Trump-linked company announced a $6.4 billion investment in the crypto exchange’s native token, CRO, as part of a strategic reserve. Related Reading: Ethereum Poised For $4,000 Breakout? Expert Pinpoints On-Chain Triggers For Potential Rally Devin Nunes, Trump Media’s CEO and Chairman, expressed his enthusiasm about the latest move and the partnership with Crypto.com, stating: We look forward to leveraging Crypto.com’s blockchain technology consistent with Securities and Exchange Commission guidance to benefit our shareholders and promote transparency, including by obtaining a clear picture of bona fide beneficial ownership as of the record date. Despite the latest announcement, Crypto.com’s native token failed to capitalize on the news, dropping to $0.089 on Tuesday amid the broader crypto market’s retracement. It has recorded an 11% drop in the past week alone. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
A significant short squeeze may be on the horizon for XRP investors, potentially serving as the main catalyst for a rally that could push prices beyond the all-time high of $3.90. Market analyst Bird made these predictions in a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighting key observations from his analysis. Key Liquidity Zones For XRP Bird shared a chart that illustrates where leveraged positions—both long and short—are concentrated in the market. He explained that the colored bands on the chart indicate levels of liquidity, where the potential for forced buying or selling could occur due to stop-loss orders and liquidations. Related Reading: Why The Dogecoin Price Could Outperform Bitcoin Again The analysis of the altcoin’s daily chart heatmap categorizes liquidity into two distinct zones: red, signifying deep liquidity, and lighter colors indicating less liquidity. From his observations, Bird noted that price movements away from low liquidity areas tend to occur rapidly. He explained this process: when prices approach zones with significant stop-loss clusters, they often trigger large sell-offs, wiping out long positions. Price Targets $4.20 Following these movements, the price typically rotates back toward shorts, leading to additional liquidation events. Bird pointed out that on Sunday, a number of long XRP positions were liquidated. Related Reading: 4 In 5 Hacked Crypto Projects Don’t Bounce Back, Expert Says Now, he sees a dense liquidity pocket forming around the $4.20 mark, primarily from short XRP positions. This situation incentivizes market makers to drive prices toward this liquidity to close out those trades, rather than moving away from it. As a result, Bird expressed confidence that the current XRP price rally is far from over. He believes that a new all-time high is imminent, as the potential for a substantial short squeeze looms. At the time of writing, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency on the market was trading at $2, having briefly dropped to $1.84 earlier on Monday. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com