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Michael Saylor, the outspoken Bitcoin (BTC) advocate and Strategy (previously MicroStrategy) co-founder, said on Tuesday that the company remains firmly committed to its long‑standing Bitcoin strategy, despite growing concerns about its financial risks. Strategy Will Buy Bitcoin Every Quarter Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Saylor said Strategy plans to continue buying Bitcoin on a regular basis, regardless of price swings or skepticism from market observers.  He said the company intends to add to its Bitcoin holdings every quarter and has no plans to reverse course. “I expect we’ll be buying bitcoin every quarter forever,” Saylor said. Related Reading: Strategy Expands Bitcoin Holdings With $90M Purchase, Bitmine Follows With ETH Addressing concerns about the company’s debt load, Saylor was dismissive of the idea that a prolonged Bitcoin downturn could threaten Strategy’s finances.  He said that even in a severe scenario, the company would manage its obligations through refinancing. “If Bitcoin falls 90% for the next four years, we’ll refinance the debt,” he said. “We’ll just roll it forward.” Strategy currently carries more than $8 billion in total debt, much of it tied to convertible notes the company issued to fund Bitcoin purchases. Despite this leverage, Saylor said he believes lenders will continue to support the company even if Bitcoin prices decline sharply.  Asked whether banks would still be willing to lend under those circumstances, he replied that Bitcoin’s inherent volatility does not undermine its long‑term value. “Yeah,” he said, “because the volatility of Bitcoin is such that it’s always going to be a value.” Saylor also rejected any suggestion that Strategy might be forced to sell its Bitcoin holdings to shore up its balance sheet. He emphasized that liquidation is not part of the company’s plan and reiterated his belief in Bitcoin as a long‑term asset. Short Sellers Increase Bets  Market sentiment around Strategy, however, has grown more cautious. Short interest in the company’s stock has risen sharply, increasing about 40% from a low point in September 2025, according to an analysis published by Barron’s.  Roughly 30.5 million shares are now sold short, representing about 10% of the company’s public float. At the same time, long‑term investors have pulled back, with Strategy’s shares, MSTR, falling around 70% to current trading prices of $134.  Related Reading: Bernstein Calls Bitcoin Crash A ‘Crisis Of Confidence,’ Maintains $150,000 Target Despite the pressure on its stock, Strategy remains the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. According to figures published on the company’s website, it holds 714,644 BTC, valued at approximately $49 billion at the time of writing.  Saylor also noted that the company has sufficient liquidity to support its obligations, stating that Strategy has roughly two and a half years’ worth of cash on its balance sheet to cover dividend payments. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at around $69,192, registering losses of nearly 8% over the past seven days and 3% over the past 24 hours.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto market maker Wintermute published a detailed market update on Tuesday via X (previously Twitter), offering a comprehensive breakdown of Bitcoin’s (BTC) recent collapse, who was behind the selling pressure, and what conditions must change for a meaningful recovery to take hold. Wintermute Details Brutal Bitcoin Crash The firm described the past week as exceptionally severe for Bitcoin. Prices fell below $80,000 for the first time since April 2025 and continued sliding to around $60,000 before stabilizing in the low $70,000 range by the weekend.  According to Wintermute, the decline erased all of Bitcoin’s gains that followed Donald Trump’s election victory in November 2024, accompanied by widespread liquidations.  Related Reading: Bernstein Calls Bitcoin Crash A ‘Crisis Of Confidence,’ Maintains $150,000 Target More than $2.7 billion in leveraged positions were wiped out as months of range‑bound trading encouraged excessive leverage that ultimately unraveled.  Wintermute also pointed to the growing influence of Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) on price action, noting that BlackRock’s IBIT ETF alone saw more than $10 billion in notional trading volume on Thursday.  Wintermute identified three major catalysts that struck the market at the same time. The first was the January 30 nomination of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair, which altered expectations around monetary policy.  The second was a wave of disappointing earnings from large technology firms, highlighted by Microsoft shares dropping 10%. The third was a dramatic reversal in precious metals, where silver plunged 40% in just three days after briefly reaching $121.  The Key Conditions For BTC’s Next Recovery Data from spot markets suggest that selling pressure was structural rather than isolated. The Coinbase premium remained in negative territory throughout the decline, a pattern that has persisted since December and signals sustained selling by US investors.  Wintermute said its internal over‑the‑counter (OTC) flow data confirmed that US counterparties were heavy sellers throughout the week, a trend that was reinforced by ongoing ETF redemptions. Institutional demand, which had supported prices earlier in the cycle, has largely faded. Since November, spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded approximately $6.2 billion in cumulative net outflows, representing the longest continuous stretch of redemptions since these products launched.  Wintermute explained that when ETF sponsors are forced to sell spot Bitcoin into falling markets, it creates a negative feedback loop that amplifies downside pressure.  The firm also highlighted growing fragility in derivatives markets. IBIT and Deribit together now account for half of the crypto options market. Wintermute said the sharp sell‑off reflected investor complacency after periods of low volatility and sideways trading, which left positioning vulnerable once prices began to move. Related Reading: Strategy Expands Bitcoin Holdings With $90M Purchase, Bitmine Follows With ETH Beyond crypto‑specific factors, Wintermute argued that the broader investment landscape has been dominated by artificial intelligence. The firm pointed to a viral chart showing Bitcoin’s performance closely mirroring software stocks in the S&P 500.  According to Wintermute, the more important takeaway is that AI has been absorbing a disproportionate share of global capital, often at the expense of other asset classes, including crypto. Looking ahead, Wintermute expects a period of uneven and volatile price discovery. The firm said it is difficult to envision a sustained rally unless several conditions align: the Coinbase premium turning positive, ETF flows reversing back into inflows, and basis rates in derivatives markets stabilizing.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Reports say Cardano’s price has slid low enough that a fresh wave of buyers is talking about picking up ADA on weakness. Crypto Jebb, a YouTuber with a big following, argues current levels create an attractive “buy the dip” opportunity because the downside looks smaller than the upside from here. Related Reading: After Predicting XRP’s Drop, Analyst Says The Bottom May Be In He notes ADA sits more than 90% below its all-time high and roughly 77% under its December 2024 level near $1.32. That gap, he says, changes how risk looks for someone adding to a long-term position. Market Structure Shows Patterns Traders Recognize Weekly charts are at the center of the case being made. Reports note ADA has a history of long consolidation before large rebounds, and some of those moves returned 100% or more. Momentum readings have been on flat surface lately, which can mean selling pressure is easing after long falls. Support zones have held in prior cycles and buying interest later helped push prices higher. These are technical signs only; they do not promise a repeat. Still, for many traders this setup signals an asymmetric bet — limited room to lose in proportion to the reward if things flip. On-Chain Signals And Broader Context According to various commentaries, the bullish view is not based solely on price charts. Relative weakness against Bitcoin is being watched closely. ADA is at historic lows versus BTC, a level that in prior cycles preceded big runs when capital flowed back into altcoins. Analysts point to RSI bottoms and matching time cycles as further clues that a turning point could be forming. Reports also emphasize that broader market calm and continued interest in altcoins are necessary to make these patterns matter. Price Targets And Reward Estimates Reports say price scenarios stretch from $1.50 up to near $2 over the coming 12 to 24 months if momentum returns. From recent levels near $0.33, those targets imply gains greater than 300% in a favorable environment. Risk-to-reward figures above eight times have been floated by some commentators who calculate potential upside against possible downside from current prices. Those numbers are attractive on paper, but they depend on macro factors and renewed investor appetite for alternative tokens. Where The Argument Is Thin And How To Frame Risk Reports note the trade is mainly pattern-driven and light on fresh on-chain growth or developer activity as proof that a major rally is coming. That matters. If ecosystem adoption or meaningful protocol updates are missing, past chart patterns may fail to repeat. Related Reading: Tron Accumulates TRX, Price Pops As Justin Sun Weighs In Position sizing, stop levels, and a clear view of where the thesis breaks should be part of any plan, because the market can stay stressed out for longer than expected. Some investors treat this as a buy-the-dip window; others view it as a high-risk stance that must be managed carefully. Crypto Jebb sees Cardano’s current slide as a good entry point, with limited downside compared to potential gains. He suggests long-term investors consider adding ADA now, while stressing that careful risk management is still essential. Featured image from Newsbit, chart from TradingView

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 

Ripple has enabled staking for Ethereum and Solana within its institutional custody business, expanding beyond safekeeping to include asset servicing features that large investors increasingly consider standard. The new capability, delivered through a partnership with staking infrastructure provider Figment, enables Ripple Custody clients to offer staking on major proof-of-stake networks without setting up validator infrastructure. […]
The post Ripple Custody just unlocked Ethereum and Solana staking, and institutions may finally get XRP yield without messy validator risk appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Circle Ventures has invested an undisclosed sum in decentralized trading platform edgeX ahead of the project’s planned token launch.

XRP’s recent slide has left traders asking whether the worst is over. Prices have been weak since Q4 2025, and reports say the token has lost roughly half its value from an October opening near $2.80 to about $1.42 as we speak. That drop came with a sharp move in momentum indicators, which traders rarely ignore. Related Reading: After Predicting XRP’s Drop, Analyst Says The Bottom May Be In Extreme RSI Readings Near A 12-Year Low According to market reports, the daily relative strength index fell to about 17 on Feb. 5, pushing readings to levels not seen in over a decade. That is an extreme number for RSI on a daily chart. When readings hit this depth, past action has often produced strong, quick rebounds. History does not promise a repeat, but it does give a pattern that many traders watch closely. Patterns From The Past Offer Both Hope And A Warning Reports note several prior episodes when low RSI numbers lined up with sharp recoveries. After an October low, a bounce of roughly 70% came in just nearly half a month. Other lows in mid-2024 and April 2024 produced gains of about 65% and 35% within short windows of days. Those moves were fast, and they were driven by buyers jumping in when momentum looked exhausted. Still, past rebounds can be followed by renewed selling, and what happened before isn’t guaranteed to happen again. XRP just hit an RSI of 20 on the daily—the most oversold it’s ever been in its history. Every single time XRP has hit these extreme levels, a 15-40% bounce followed within two weeks. Not sometimes. Every time. Relief bounce to $2.20-$2.50 is the highest probability setup we’ve… pic.twitter.com/F8e7WBRbyu — Ripple Bull Winkle | Crypto Researcher ???????? (@RipBullWinkle) February 5, 2026 Major Bounce In The Offing? A vocal market commentator, crypto researcher Ripple Bull Winkle, has pointed to those patterns and argued that a 15%–40% bounce often follows such extreme readings. Based on reports, that view has traction with some traders, who are watching for signs of a short squeeze or a flush that shakes out weak hands. Other traders caution against leaning on a single signal. The broader market, macro news, and funds’ behavior can overwhelm technical cues. Large short-liquidity zones above $2.25 and between $4.20 and $4.40 are on the chart; if price hits those spots, moves can accelerate quickly. XRP’s Position Versus Major Coins XRP has not been alone in losing ground, but its pair trades show some relative strength. The XRP/ETH pair has been in a range since August 2025, and XRP/BTC recovered after a brief breakdown. Dominance metrics have held near the 3.5% area and have even bounced to roughly 3.6%. These data points mean XRP isn’t collapsing in isolation; it’s moving inside a market that’s broadly weak. What Traders Might Watch Next Volume will matter. So will daily closes above key resistances and whether the RSI climbs out of extreme territory with conviction. A clean break above the $2.25 level could put the next targets in view, while failure to sustain a bounce would likely keep sellers in control. Related Reading: Tron Accumulates TRX, Price Pops As Justin Sun Weighs In Risk control is expected to be important; many moves after deep oversold readings were sharp but short-lived, so position sizing and stop rules have a practical role. For now, reports say the setup is one of opportunity and danger at once. Traders who are watching momentum see a chance for a quick recovery. Others note that structural selling and wider market pressures could blunt any rally. Either way, the coming days should show whether this is a relief bounce or the start of something larger. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView

Despite a sharp decline in Bitcoin (BTC) prices since last October, analysts at Bernstein argue that the current downturn does not resemble a traditional crypto bear market.  In a note to clients released on Monday, the firm described the pullback as “the weakest Bitcoin bear case in its history,” even as the asset has fallen about 44% from its all‑time highs in current trading. Bernstein Defends Bitcoin’s Fundamentals The analysis was led by Bernstein’s Gautam Chhugani, who said the recent sell‑off reflects a loss of confidence rather than deeper structural problems.  The analysts emphasized that Bitcoin’s core fundamentals remain intact and that the decline should not be mistaken for a systemic breakdown. Bernstein reaffirmed its long‑term outlook, maintaining a $150,000 price target for Bitcoin by the end of 2026. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Set To Break Out Against Bitcoin, But How High Can It Go? Bernstein noted that many of the “red flags” that have historically preceded major Bitcoin crashes are missing this time. The analyst asserts that there have been no large institutional collapses, no exposure of hidden leverage, and no widespread failures across the crypto ecosystem.  Instead, the firm sees a market weighed down by negative sentiment, even as broader conditions appear unusually favorable. The analysts pointed to what they described as strong institutional support for Bitcoin.  This includes a pro‑Bitcoin US president, the continued expansion of spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs), growing adoption by corporate treasuries, and sustained interest from large asset managers.  In Bernstein’s view, these factors clearly distinguish the current cycle from past downturns that were driven by excess risk and fragile market structures. Holders And Miners Can Weather Long Downturn The firm also addressed shifting narratives around technology trends. Bernstein noted that some investors now argue Bitcoin has become irrelevant as global attention turns toward artificial intelligence (AI).  The analysts dismissed that view, saying it reflects changing investor focus rather than a genuine threat to Bitcoin’s role. They added that fears around quantum computing have similarly been overstated, pointing out that such risks would affect all critical digital systems, not just Bitcoin. The firm further downplayed fears of forced selling driven by corporate treasuries or miner capitulation. Bernstein said major companies holding Bitcoin have structured their balance sheets to withstand prolonged downturns.  Related Reading: After Predicting XRP’s Drop, Analyst Says The Bottom May Be In Referencing comments from Strategy’s recent earnings call, the analysts noted that only an extreme scenario—Bitcoin falling to $8,000 and remaining there for five years—would trigger a need for restructuring. Miners, they added, are also better positioned than in past cycles. Many have diversified their revenue by reallocating power resources toward AI data center demand, reducing reliance on Bitcoin mining alone and easing pressure from production costs. As of this writing, Bitcoin is trading at $70,627, having recorded losses of 20% and 22% over the past fourteen and thirty days, respectively.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, is continuing its long‑standing Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation strategy despite ongoing market weakness and growing concerns around the firm’s unrealized losses.  At the same time, Bitmine Immersion Technologies, chaired by well‑known market strategist Tom Lee, has revealed a major expansion of its Ethereum (ETH) holdings, underscoring a broader trend of corporate crypto accumulation even as prices remain under pressure. Strategy Adds 1,142 BTC Despite Rising Losses  In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed on Monday, Strategy reported the purchase of an additional 1,142 Bitcoin for approximately $90 million.  The acquisition was made between February 2 and February 8 at an average price of $78,815 per coin, according to the company’s 8‑K filing with the regulator. The move extends Strategy’s aggressive Bitcoin buying campaign, even as the value of its massive crypto treasury remains below its total acquisition cost on paper. Related Reading: After Predicting XRP’s Drop, Analyst Says The Bottom May Be In With the latest purchase, Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings have climbed to 714,644 BTC, a position currently valued at roughly $49 billion based on prevailing market prices.  The company has spent about $54.4 billion to build its Bitcoin reserves, including fees and related expenses. Across all acquisitions, Strategy’s average purchase price now stands at $76,056 per Bitcoin, well above current trading prices. Concerns around Strategy’s balance sheet have resurfaced amid the recent Bitcoin sell‑off. As previously reported by NewsBTC, CEO Phong Le stated that Bitcoin would need to fall by roughly 90% from current levels for the value of Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings to merely match the value of its outstanding convertible debt.  Even under such an extreme scenario, Le said the company would explore restructuring options if converting the debt into equity were not feasible. Bitmine’s Crypto And Cash Holdings Reach $10B  On Monday, Bitmine disclosed that its combined crypto holdings, cash, and so‑called “moonshot” investments now total approximately $10 billion. As of February 8, the company’s crypto portfolio includes 4,325,738 ETH valued at $2,125 per token, alongside 193 Bitcoin. Beyond cryptocurrencies, Bitmine reported additional investments including a $200 million stake in Beast Industries, a $19 million stake in Eightco Holdings (ORBS), and total cash reserves of $595 million.  Related Reading: Ethereum Price Set To Break Out Against Bitcoin, But How High Can It Go? The company noted in a Monday press release that its Ethereum holdings represent approximately 3.58% of the total ETH supply, which currently stands at around 120.7 million tokens. Thomas Lee, Executive Chairman of Bitmine, said the company acquired 40,613 ETH over the past week alone. He described the recent pullback in Ethereum prices as an attractive opportunity, arguing that the market is underestimating ETH’s long‑term utility.  Bitmine also revealed that a significant portion of its Ethereum holdings is actively staked. As of February 8, 2026, the company had 2,897,459 ETH staked, valued at approximately $6.2 billion at current prices. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading near $69,495, reflecting an almost 11% decline over the past week. Strategy’s shares showed a modest rebound, rising 0.82% on Monday to trade around $136 per share. Bitmine’s stock, BMNR, also moved higher, climbing roughly 2% during Monday’s session to trade near $20.91. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Tron’s blockchain operator has been adding to its stash of TRX and that activity is getting attention. Reports say the platform recently bought 179,408 TRX at an average cost of $0.28, lifting its treasury to about 680 million tokens. The buy was one more in a series of purchases that show a clear pattern: steady accumulation over several days. Related Reading: After Predicting XRP’s Drop, Analyst Says The Bottom May Be In Tron Increases Treasury Holdings According to on-chain records, the platform purchased tokens at slightly different prices across recent days. On February 7, it bought more than 184,000 TRX at $0.27 a piece. On February 8, another 181,000+ TRX were added at $0.28. The most recent move of 179,400 TRX followed those buys. These are not one-off trades. They read as deliberate, repeated steps to build a reserve of native tokens over time. Tron Inc. (NASDAQ: TRON) acquired 179,408 TRX tokens today at an average price of $0.28, further increasing its TRX treasury holdings to more than 680.7 million TRX in total. The company aims to further grow its Tron DAT holdings to enhance long term shareholder value. For live… — Tron Inc. (@TRON_INC) February 9, 2026 Tron’s founder, Justin Sun, posted a short message that read “Keep Going.” That simple line was taken by some traders as a vote of confidence. Reports note Sun’s public backing came while his legal fight with regulators remains on pause, and that political voices have criticized the pause. TRX Sees A Small Bounce, Volume Falls Market moves have been modest. The token is trading near $0.27, up about 0.75% from earlier in the day. Still, TRX has slipped 1.5% over the past week and 6% in the last month. Trading activity has cooled; 24-hour volume fell by 20% to roughly $520 million. That lower volume suggests fewer hands are moving funds, which can make any price uptick look fragile. What The Buying Might Mean Large-scale accumulation by a project is usually read two ways. For followers, it can be a sign the team expects future value or wants to support liquidity. For skeptics, it can also look like internal reshuffling or an effort to control supply dynamics. The repeated purchases at nearby price points point to a steady plan rather than panic buys, but steady plans don’t guarantee price rebounds when broader market sentiment is soft. Related Reading: Breathe… XRP Is The ‘Oxygen’ Of The New Financial System, CEO Says Reports say Tron intends to keep buying. If that continues over the next 10 days or longer, the treasury will grow and the narrative around its reserve will strengthen. Yet the wider market’s mood and regulatory pressure will probably matter more for TRX’s path than a handful of buys. Investors watching the token should note the low turnover and the modest nature of the price rise; both hint that stronger momentum has not yet arrived. Featured image from Yellow.com, chart from TradingView

Kevin Warsh’s push for a new Fed–Treasury “accord” is reigniting a familiar market argument: whether Washington is drifting toward a softer-rate, higher-liquidity regime that tends to favor hard assets, including bitcoin and crypto, even if it raises the stakes for bonds. The debate flared after Bloomberg reported that Kevin Warsh floated the idea of “a new accord with the Treasury Department,” echoing the 1951 agreement that redefined the relationship between the two institutions. Bloomberg reported over the weekend that the concept could amount to a limited bureaucratic revamp, but a more ambitious effort could “see increased volatility and concern over the US central bank’s independence,” depending on how explicitly it links the Fed’s balance sheet decisions to Treasury financing. Looming over the idea is the political pressure to treat debt-service costs as a policy constraint. Bloomberg pointed to interest costs “running at an annual clip of around $1 trillion,” and quoted SGH Macro Advisors’ Tim Duy warning that an accord could be read as something more than process reform. “Rather than insulating the Fed, it could look more like a framework for yield-curve control,” Duy said. “A public agreement that synchronizes the Fed’s balance sheet with Treasury financing explicitly ties monetary operations to deficits.” Related Reading: Retail Dumps, Bitcoin Inflows Surge: On-Chain Data Flags Capitulation Can Bitcoin Get The Bid? In bitcoin circles, the accord conversation is being interpreted through the lens of yield-curve control (YCC) and debt monetization, not just the path of the policy rate. Luke Gromen framed it bluntly, citing a recent FFTT view: “Our base case is that Warsh will be as dovish as Trump needs.” He added a familiar punchline for macro traders: “Math > Narratives (again).” “Our base case is that Warsh will be as dovish as Trump needs.” -FFTT, last week Math > Narratives (again) pic.twitter.com/aHMDlz2jzM — Luke Gromen (@LukeGromen) February 8, 2026 Analyst Lukas Ekwueme took the argument further: “Warsh, the next Fed chair, will inflate the debt away. He is in favor of yield curve control. This means pegging US short-term interest rates to an artificially low level. The Fed commits to buying unlimited amounts above that level to push interest rates down.” In that telling, the Fed pegs yields at “an artificially low level” and backs the peg with potentially unlimited purchases — a structure Ekwueme compared to the World War II era. He argued the political logic is straightforward: nominating someone “more hawkish than Powell” would clash with Trump’s prior attacks on the Fed for being too hawkish, making a dovish tilt the more consistent outcome. Bull Theory, a crypto-focused account, echoed the historical parallel while stressing that Warsh’s public framing is also about reducing the Fed’s entanglement in long-duration government financing. The account argued Warsh could prefer a portfolio shift toward Treasury bills, a smaller balance sheet, and clearer limits on when large bond-buying programs can occur — potentially with “closer coordination with the Treasury on debt issuance.” But it also warned the market shouldn’t confuse “limits” with “tightening” if the end result is a policy mix that suppresses real yields and keeps liquidity conditions easy. CoinFund President Christopher Perkins added: “I continue to think that the crypto markets got the Warsh appointment wrong. A new Fed-Treasury Accord is the plan…has been all along. Additional coordination, or any shift in responsibilities to Scott Bessent and the US Treasury will bullish for crypto IMO–once things settle. At least for the next 3 years.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Taker Buy Ratio Signals Peak Bearish Sentiment — Relief Soon? For bitcoin, the central question is the direction of real yields and the credibility of the “independence” anchor because both feed into how investors price fiat debasement risk and liquidity scarcity. The pro-crypto interpretation is consistent: if an accord evolves into a framework that caps parts of the curve or otherwise lowers real yields, it can push capital out the risk-free complex and into assets that behave like inflation hedges or duration substitutes. Bull Theory put it in plain terms: “If Warsh’s framework leads to lower real yields, rate cuts, and easier liquidity conditions, that usually supports risk assets like equities, gold, and crypto. Because when bond returns fall, capital looks for higher-return alternatives.” The caveat is that the same setup could increase volatility in rates markets. Bloomberg flagged that an ambitious accord could spook investors about the Fed’s independence, while Bull Theory argued that reduced Fed support for long-term yields alongside heavy Treasury issuance could steepen the curve and lift term premiums. For crypto traders, that combination can create a two-speed regime: supportive liquidity narratives on one hand, and sudden risk-off impulses if bond volatility spills into broader financial conditions. At press time, BTC traded at $69,151. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Big players in crypto appear ready to buy up smaller projects, and the shakeup could speed up now that prices have cooled. Related Reading: After Predicting XRP’s Drop, Analyst Says The Bottom May Be In According to Bullish CEO Tom Farley, the same consolidation that reshaped traditional exchanges is likely to play out across digital-asset firms, with acquisitions replacing a long run of stand-alone hopefuls. Farley says overblown price tags kept many weak businesses afloat longer than they should have, and that reality is finally catching up. Bigger Crypto Firms Eye Smaller Players Farley, who led the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) until 2018, said during an interview on CNBC on Friday that many teams mistook products for businesses — a distinction he argues is costly. Companies with modest or stalled revenue were being talked about as if they were ready for blockbuster buyouts. That story, he added, ends when confidence in inflated valuations fades and buyers demand scale and repeatable income. Mergers will pick winners. Some teams will be swallowed; others will vanish. Valuations And VC Discipline Reports say venture capitalists have already tightened their grips. Eva Oberholzer, chief investment officer at Ajna Capital, said last September that VCs are far more selective now, shifting toward projects with steady revenue and clearer business models. That change in funding behavior has left many early-stage plays without the runway they once enjoyed. The money that once chased ideas now chases proof. Bitcoin Price Action Bitcoin’s swings are part of why buyers are cautious. Based on real-time data, BTC has been trading in the $68k-$70k lately, well off the October peak above $126,000. Daily moves of multiple thousands of dollars are common, and traders are jittery as broader markets wobble. Reports note that the recent volatility followed heavy losses across risk assets and a spike in hedging activity, which made short-term momentum hard to read. Related Reading: Breathe… XRP Is The ‘Oxygen’ Of The New Financial System, CEO Says What That Means For Teams And Workers When companies merge, duplication often follows. Engineers, product leads, and support staff may find roles cut as overlapping systems are folded together. Some projects will be integrated and given new life inside larger platforms; others will be wound down. For holders and small investors, the change can be abrupt. Buyers will prize clear revenue lines and strong custody, not dreams of a future payout. Featured image from AFP/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

The market just hit a heavy washout, and traders are now parsing whether that selling finished the move or only paused it. Based on reports, XRP fell hard after a January peak and then suffered another brutal day in early February that pushed prices deep enough to force many sellers out. Related Reading: Breathe… XRP Is The ‘Oxygen’ Of The New Financial System, CEO Says Based on reports, crypto expert Blockchain Backer correctly anticipated the recent XRP drop. The analyst warned in early January that the rally to $2.41 was temporary and that prices could fall sharply, a prediction that proved accurate when XRP lost nearly half its value over the following month. Markets that see huge volume during a drop often settle afterwards, but that is not a guarantee. Capitulation Volume And What It Means Based on reports, Coinbase recorded a one-year intraday surge in trading when roughly 666 million XRP changed hands during the February 5 tumble. That was about double the 333 million seen during an October drop last year and sits below a February three spike when 975 million tokens traded. High volume like that often shows panic selling. It can also mark the point where weak hands are exhausted. Some traders call that capitulation. Some do not. Blockchain Backer’s Call And Technical Warnings Reports note Blockchain Backer flagged the January run-up as a short rebound rather than the start of a long climb. The analyst pointed to long-term MACD and RSI readings that were flashing weakness, and those warnings have proven prescient. After the rise to around $2.40, price resistance appeared and the decline deepened. Traders who watched the indicators closely were better prepared for the move. That track record matters when weighing current claims that the worst may be over. XRP Sees $45M ETF Inflows Amid Market Crash ETF money flowed into XRP while other top assets saw outflows during the same sell-off. Reports say ETFs added about $45 million to XRP exposure even as BTC, ETH, and SOL saw withdrawals. That is a curious split. Institutional or index buyers dipping in during a rout can offer a base of demand. Still, inflows do not erase price risk. They can, however, help stabilize a market that is otherwise dominated by retail panic. Comparing To Past Capitulations Some traders are comparing this episode to past crypto capitulations, pointing to Bitcoin’s late 2018 slide where most of the selling finished before a smaller, final leg down. History is a useful frame, but every market cycle has its own rules. A pattern that held for one asset under one set of conditions might not repeat exactly for another. It is possible that a small additional drop happens before buyers fully return. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sell-Off May Be Done, Analyst Flags Recovery Signs Reports say the drop totaled about 48% from the January high, and while the largest daily sell-off drew the most attention, a steady rebound is not guaranteed. For now, the market shows signs of damage being priced in and some institutional interest arriving. That combination supports the argument that the bulk of the decline may be behind, but the timeline for a recovery remains unclear. Traders and longer-term holders will want to watch volume levels, key support bands, and whether buy-side flows continue before assuming a clear trend change. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView

The price of Bitcoin experienced one of the most bearish periods in its history over the past week, losing one crucial technical level after the other. According to data, the cryptocurrency market has seen $1 trillion worth of capital flow out since mid-January. With no doubt about the emergence of the bear season, investors are now approaching the market with greater skepticism and caution. One of the on-chain metrics highlighting this shift in behavior is the Bitcoin taker buy ratio, which has fallen to new lows. BTC Taker Buy Ratio Drops To 0.48 In a new Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, market analyst CryptoOnchain shared a fresh on-chain angle to the ongoing selling pressure in the Bitcoin market. This observation is based on the declining Taker Buy Ratio on Binance, the world’s largest centralized exchange by trading volume. Related Reading: Why The Market Cap Argument For XRP Price Not Reaching $10,000 Is ‘Flawed’ The Bitcoin Taker Buy Ratio is a sentiment indicator that estimates the proportion of trading volume owned by buyers against that of the sellers. Typically, values below 1 signal that taker sell volumes (aggressive selling) are outpacing taker buy volumes, which implies that sellers are overwhelming the buyers in the market. Highlighting data from CryptoQuant, CryptoOnchain revealed that the Bitcoin Taker Buy Ratio (14-day Moving Average) on Binance has dropped to 0.48, marking its lowest level since October 2025. Such a negative market sentiment on the world’s largest exchange spotlights a worrying trend in the general derivatives market. CryptoOnchain said:  A drop to such a significant low suggests that sellers are overwhelmingly dominating the order book, aggressively hitting bids without sufficient buying resistance. As the crypto pundit also pointed out, this drop in the Bitcoin Taker Buy Ratio coincided with the recent price correction, which saw the premier cryptocurrency fall to around $61,000. CryptoOnchain noted that this metric needs to stabilize and begin to rise again if the BTC price is to see any relief. The Quicktake post concluded: For a potential reversal or a local bottom, we need to see this metric stabilize and begin to trend upwards, indicating that aggressive selling is exhausted and buyers are stepping back in. Until then, caution is advised as the momentum remains heavily in favor of the bears. Bitcoin Price At A Glance After one of the largest “red” days in the crypto market, the price of BTC appears to be recovering nicely, having returned above the $70,000 on Friday. As of this writing, the flagship cryptocurrency is valued at around $70,263, reflecting an over 11% price jump in the past 24 hours. Related Reading: 5 Red Months In A Row: What’s Going On With Bitcoin And The Crypto Market?   Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView

The crypto market that surged on Donald Trump’s campaign promise of a friendlier US posture is now back near where it started, after an 18-month round trip that added close to $2 trillion in value and then erased roughly the same amount. Data compiled by CryptoSlate put the total crypto market value at about $2.4 […]
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Arthur Hayes, co‑founder of BitMEX, has pointed to hedging tied to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as a major driver behind the recent Bitcoin sell‑off. Related Reading: Bitcoin Edges Past Gold In Appeal, JPMorgan Says According to Hayes, dealer hedging related to IBIT and similar structured products can force large, mechanical selling when markets move against those positions. Reports note that such moves can amplify a price drop already set off by other pressures. Heavy Hedges Can Trigger Sudden Selling Pressure: Hayes Hayes argues that banks and dealers who underwrite structured notes and ETF‑linked products often hedge their exposure in the spot and derivatives markets. Those hedges can be heavy and fast. When a large product faces outflows or redemption triggers, hedges are adjusted quickly. That can translate into sudden selling pressure that pushes prices down further, especially if liquidity is thin. $BTC dump probably due to dealer hedging off the back of $IBIT structured products. I will be compiling a complete list of all issued notes by the banks to better understand trigger points that could cause rapid price rises and falls. As the game changes, u must as well. pic.twitter.com/9DF8VE9XBL — Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) February 7, 2026 Market Moves And Liquidity Stress The market behaved like a room of people trying to leave at once. Prices plunged, then bounced. Reports say Bitcoin fell steeply from its recent highs before staging a partial recovery. Bitcoin has fallen to around $68,500 Saturday, down 16% in the last seven days, data from Coingecko shows. Trades and order books showed spikes in volume, which is one sign that hedging flows and quick rebalancing were at play. Some analysts say macro news and trader positioning also mattered. The truth likely sits in the overlap of these causes. Who Bears The Risk Dealers carry risk when they underwrite complex products. In certain moments, that risk is passed back into the market through hedging. That’s how, according to Hayes, a few large issuers can indirectly set off a chain reaction that affects many other holders and traders. The moves can be sudden and mechanical, not always driven by sentiment. A Watchful Washington Reports say the role of spot ETFs in crypto markets is now on regulators’ and policymakers’ radar. US President Donald Trump’s economic team has been monitoring big flows into and out of institutional vehicles, while market participants debate whether ETFs stabilize prices or add new stress points. Whatever the view, structured products now form a clear link between traditional finance and crypto volatility. Broader Takeaways This episode underlines how new financial plumbing can create new channels for contagion. Some see the presence of large, regulated players as a net positive for long‑term adoption. Others warn those same players introduce conventional market mechanics that can behave unpredictably when stretched. Reports note both perspectives are useful when piecing together why prices moved the way they did. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sell-Off May Be Done, Analyst Flags Recovery Signs Who Is Right, And What Next Hayes has laid out a theory that ties observable hedging flows to the crash. It is a compelling thread that fits many of the market signals seen in recent days. Still, other factors—macro shifts, concentrated profit‑taking, and liquidity gaps—likely played parts as well. Traders will watch flows closely, and structured product issuers will be asked hard questions. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

XRP’s price crash earlier this week has kept many bullish investors in the XRP community on edge, but one outspoken voice in the community believes the move is not as random as it looks.  A crypto pundit known as Stellar Rippler has encouraged XRP holders to pull their cryptocurrencies off centralized exchanges immediately, with the outlook that the recent volatility is not just another routine market dip but a warning sign of what’s to come. Related Reading: Bitcoin Edges Past Gold In Appeal, JPMorgan Says Engineered XRP Crash? Stellar Rippler’s position is based on the idea that XRP is being treated differently from most digital assets behind the scenes. He pointed to past remarks from David Schwartz, co-creator of the XRP Ledger, where XRP was described as a form of pre-allocated liquidity for institutional use, as well as statements suggesting that XRP currently held in escrow can be sold to institutions but will not be circulated until NDAs are disclosed.  He went further to name large financial players, including BlackRock, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and institutions linked to the BRICS, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and European central banking structures. According to the pundit, all these institutions have bought the right to buy the XRP currently held in escrow by Ripple. At the time of writing, there are no public filings that confirm coordinated buying of XRP escrows by these entities, but the argument has found receptive ears among investors unsettled by the recent sell-off. From that angle, the pundit noted that sudden downside moves, such as the recent drop to $1.15, are engineered. By “engineered,” this means the price crash serves a strategic purpose of creating opportunity for large financial players to accumulate XRP at lower prices before any market repricing takes place. Should You Take Your XRP Off Exchanges? Another part of the warning focused on user experience at major crypto exchanges. According to the pundit, Binance and Coinbase users have reportedly been facing difficulties getting their crypto off the exchanges. This, in itself, is a warning for XRP holders to get their cryptos off crypto exchanges and into a cold wallet. That message taps into conversation in crypto about self-custody versus keeping holdings on crypto exchanges.  Calls to be your own bank tend to resurface whenever price action turns volatile. The alarm was sounded against the backdrop of a Bitcoin price crash below $70,000 that pulled most cryptocurrencies lower. XRP, in particular, dipped to around $1.15 during the sell-off before rebounding.  Related Reading: Bitcoin Sell-Off May Be Done, Analyst Flags Recovery Signs At the time of writing, XRP is trading near $1.42, easing some immediate pressure but not fully restoring confidence. On the subject of confidence, sentiment surrounding XRP on social media is relatively optimistic. Data shows XRP is drawing more positive commentary than other large-cap assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum despite the recent market-wide crash. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

XRP is being talked about in a different way now — not just as a token to trade, but as something that could plug into real finance. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sell-Off May Be Done, Analyst Flags Recovery Signs The talk is shifting from ticker-watchers to companies that want reliable settlement rails and liquid collateral for on-chain assets. That shift shows up in moves on the ledger and in comments from people building businesses around it. XRP Seen As Financial Lifeline According to Jake Claver, CEO of Digital Ascension Group, XRP should be thought of as foundational collateral rather than a short-term bet. He called it “the most pristine collateral” and warned that 99% of holders “have no clue” what they actually hold. Those are strong words, and they line up with wider signals from developers and some institutional players who are testing XRPL’s features for real-world use. 99% of people that own XRP have no clue what it really is…. It’s the most pristine collateral the world has ever seen… It’s the oxygen the new financial system will need to breathe.. I do not know how to impress upon you how important XRP will be for the world moving forward. — Jake Claver, QFOP (@beyond_broke) February 4, 2026 Growing Tokenized Commodity Activity Reports say the XRPL now hosts roughly $1.14 billion in tokenized commodities. That number is important. It shows companies are putting things like energy-linked tokens and diamonds onto the ledger, and it positions XRPL just behind Ethereum in the specific area of tokenized commodity value. These assets aren’t just experiment tokens; they are intended to be tied to physical goods and cash flows, which changes how XRP might be used in settlement and collateral roles. Ripple’s Plan For Institutional DeFi Based on reports from Ripple’s roadmap, the ledger is being prepared for deeper institutional use. Permissioned domains and credentials are being highlighted as tools to let regulated firms operate with KYC and compliance baked in. XRP Price Action Market moves reacted to these developments. After a slide to about $1.11 amid broad market stress, XRP climbed back to roughly $1.53 on February 7, a move of over 35% from the recent low. Trading has since cooled off a little. Some traders point to renewed institutional flows and accumulation by large wallets, while others say global risk sentiment and macro headlines remain the main drivers of day-to-day swings. Institutional Steps Toward On-Chain Credit Meanwhile, reports note early institutional participants are preparing to put capital to work to increase yield and liquidity on XRPL. Planned features like a permissioned DEX, confidential transfers, and smarter escrow controls are meant to make the ledger easier for banks and regulated funds to plug into existing processes. Related Reading: Bitcoin Edges Past Gold In Appeal, JPMorgan Says XRP As ‘Oxygen’ If those pieces arrive and are adopted, XRP’s role as an on-ledger liquidity provider and settlement asset would be reinforced. There are good reasons to watch both the tech and the market. The ledger’s growing base of tokenized goods and the roadmap for lending give a clear use case for XRP as operational collateral. At the same time, price swings show that broader macro forces and speculation still matter a great deal, and adoption by banks and funds will be what really tests the claim that XRP can act as the “oxygen” for a new financial plumbing. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

A new theory circulating in the crypto market is challenging how investors interpret Bitcoin’s recent price decline. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), market analyst Crypto Rover argued that Bitcoin is no longer trading as a simple supply-and-demand asset, and that this structural shift is a major reason behind the current sell-off. A ‘Parallel Financial Layer’ Rover’s central claim is that although Bitcoin’s on-chain supply cap of 21 million coins has not changed, the way Bitcoin is traded in modern financial markets has effectively diluted its scarcity.  According to him, focusing only on spot buying and selling misses what is really driving price action today. BTC, he says, no longer moves primarily based on physical ownership of coins, but on activity in massive derivatives markets that now dominate price discovery. Related Reading: What Went Wrong With Crypto? A Postmortem As the analyst highlighted, in Bitcoin’s early years, its valuation rested on two fundamental principles: a strictly fixed supply of 21 million coins and the impossibility of duplicating that supply.  These features made Bitcoin uniquely scarce, with prices largely determined by real buyers and sellers exchanging coins in the spot market. However, over time, Rover asserts that a “parallel financial layer” developed on top of the blockchain itself. This financial layer includes cash‑settled futures, perpetual swaps, options contracts, prime brokerage lending, wrapped Bitcoin products such as WBTC, and total return swaps.  None of these instruments create new Bitcoin on the blockchain, but they do create synthetic exposure to Bitcoin’s price. According to Rover, this synthetic exposure now plays a central role in determining how Bitcoin trades. As derivatives trading volumes grew and eventually surpassed spot market activity, Rover argues that Bitcoin’s price stopped responding mainly to on‑chain coin movement.  Instead, prices increasingly reflect leverage, trader positioning, margin stress, and liquidation dynamics. In practical terms, this means Bitcoin can move sharply even when there is little actual buying or selling of real coins. Why Bitcoin Moves Without Spot Selling Rover also highlights the concept of synthetic supply, explaining that a single Bitcoin can now be used simultaneously across multiple financial products.  One coin may back an exchange-traded fund (ETF) share while also supporting a futures contract, a perpetual swap hedge, options exposure, a broker loan, or a structured investment product.  While this does not increase Bitcoin’s actual supply, it dramatically increases the amount of tradable exposure linked to that same coin. When this synthetic exposure grows large compared with the real supply of Bitcoin, the market’s perception of scarcity weakens.  This phenomenon, often described as synthetic float expansion, changes how prices behave. Rallies are more easily shorted using derivatives, leverage builds rapidly, liquidations become more frequent, and volatility increases.  According to Rover, this structural shift makes price movements feel disconnected from on‑chain fundamentals. Yet, the analyst notes that the leading cryptocurrency is not unique in this regard.  Related Reading: Why The Market Cap Argument For XRP Price Not Reaching $10,000 Is ‘Flawed’ Similar transitions occurred in markets such as gold, silver, oil, and major equity indices. In each case, once derivatives markets overtook physical trading, price discovery moved away from supply alone and became increasingly influenced by financial positioning. This framework also helps explain why Bitcoin sometimes declines even in the absence of heavy spot selling. Price pressure can come from forced liquidations of leveraged long positions, aggressive futures shorting, options hedging activity, or ETF arbitrage trades.  Importantly, Rover emphasizes that Bitcoin’s hard cap has not changed at the protocol level. The 21 million limit remains intact on the blockchain.  What has changed, he argues, is the financial structure surrounding Bitcoin. He concluded his analysis by asserting that in today’s markets, “paper Bitcoin” has become more influential than physical ownership, and that dominance is playing a key role in the market’s recent instability. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Strategy’s leadership is pushing back against growing concerns that the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin (BTC) could face serious financial stress as the cryptocurrency’s price continues to slide.  Speaking after the company released its fourth‑quarter results, CEO Phong Le sought to reassure investors that the firm remains well-positioned, even as Bitcoin fell close to $60,000 on Thursday. Bitcoin Sell‑Off Tests Strategy’s Financial Resilience Bitcoin dropped roughly 50% since reaching all‑time highs of $126,000 in October of last year, a period during which Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, was aggressively accumulating the digital asset.  The sell‑off has weighed heavily on the company’s share price. Strategy’s stock, trading under the ticker MSTR, sank to about $104 on Thursday, its lowest level since August 2024, after plunging more than 17% during the session. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crash Exposes Colossal Corporate Losses — Here’s Who’s Most Impacted For now, investors are focused on two key factors: the price of Bitcoin itself and Strategy’s ability to meet its financial obligations if the downturn deepens. Those questions loomed large as founder Michael Saylor and CEO Phong Le addressed analysts during the firm’s earnings call. Much of the attention centered on how Strategy would navigate a prolonged “Bitcoin winter,” should one materialize. Saylor has already taken steps to bolster the company’s financial flexibility, including raising a $2.25 billion cash reserve to cover preferred dividend payments totaling $888 million annually.  However, investors remain uneasy about the company’s $8.2 billion in low‑ and zero‑interest convertible bonds, which could begin facing early redemptions starting in September 2027, particularly now that MSTR shares have fallen sharply. Politics, Leverage, And Valuation In Focus Saylor reiterated that the company is keeping its options open, including the possibility of selling Bitcoin if market conditions require it.  He also framed crypto investing as inseparable from politics, pointing to President Donald Trump’s pro‑crypto stance and noting that Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve (Fed) chair, Kevin Warsh, is viewed as supportive of digital assets.  Still, Bitcoin fell through its post‑2024 election lows on Thursday, reflecting skepticism that the federal government will actively support Bitcoin purchases. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced those doubts this week, telling Congress he lacks the authority to rescue Bitcoin markets. On the balance‑sheet front, CEO Phong Le addressed worries about Strategy’s leverage. He said the company operates with roughly one‑third the leverage of a typical high‑yield firm.  Related Reading: Bitcoin Crashes Below $67,000 As Stifel Warns Of Potential Drop To $38,000 According to Le, Bitcoin would need to decline by about 90% for Strategy’s Bitcoin reserves to merely equal the value of its convertible debt. Even in that extreme scenario, he said, the company would explore restructuring options if it could not convert the debt into equity.  Strategy’s own disclosures show an enterprise value of about $49.95 billion, compared with roughly $45.33 billion worth of Bitcoin on its balance sheet. Enterprise value includes the company’s market capitalization, preferred shares, and convertible bonds, minus cash.  If Bitcoin drops once again near $63,000, Strategy’s market cap of $35.57 billion would need to fall about 13% from its recent closing price of $106.99 to eliminate the valuation premium over its Bitcoin holdings. However, since Thursday’s crash, both Bitcoin and Strategy’s stock have made a significant recovery. Bitcoin, for example, has surged to around $69,256. MSTR has recovered above $130, marking a 20% increase in less than 24 hours and offering short-term relief.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

According to Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, much of the crypto complex already went through a down cycle last year even though headline coins looked steadier. Related Reading: Russia’s Biggest Exchange To Launch XRP Indices And Futures He points to heavy buying from ETFs and companies that kept Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP from showing the full brunt of those losses. Some tokens, without that same support, fell hard — in many cases by about 50%–60% — and behaved like past bear phases. Institutional Buying Accelerates Hougan Says ETF flows and corporate accumulation have shifted the balance. When institutions buy more than new supply, price pressure changes. That is what he highlights. “We ran the four-year cycle last year,” Hougan said. “We’re already at the bottom. I think we’re coming back up.” ETF purchases and corporate hoarding at times outpaced newly mined Bitcoin, creating a persistent bid under the market. Reports note the comparison to gold, where steady central bank buying first steadied prices and later helped fuel much bigger moves. “Just like gold eventually entered a parabolic move, Bitcoin will follow suit,” Hougan said. We’re just earlier in that process.” A Selective Altcoin Cycle Expected Investors are getting pickier. The next up-cycle, according to this view, will reward projects with clear use and steady activity, not every token with hype. Networks tied to stablecoins, tokenization, and real infrastructure work stand a better chance of drawing capital. Lower-quality projects that lack users or clear purpose could see little interest and remain sidelined. Bitcoin Price Action In the middle of these structural shifts, Bitcoin’s price has kept traders busy. Recently BTC slid from earlier peaks to roughly 60,000–65,000 before finding buyers and moving back above 65,000 amid a broader rebound. Geopolitical headlines pushed risk appetite up and down, and those swings helped produce one of Bitcoin’s rougher stretches in weeks. Reports say traders are watching headlines closely because news can prompt sudden outsized moves. Related Reading: Bitcoin Edges Past Gold In Appeal, JPMorgan Says A Slow Transfer From Old Hands To New Buyers Long-term holders are selling some coins while institutions move in. That hand-off can feel messy. A sale wall forms when investors who bought early decide to take profit, and large institutions step in to absorb that supply. That process has been observed in other asset classes as they mature, and it does not automatically mean demand is weakening over the long run. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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

Crypto’s latest drawdown hit the majors in size: bitcoin fell about 8.1% over the past 24 hours and is down roughly 29.5% over the past 30 days, while Ether dropped about 9.4% on the day and about 41.4% over the past month; XRP was off about 10.3% in 24 hours and roughly 42.7% over 30 days, and Solana slid about 12.3% on the day and around 42.8% over the month. While many point to the nomination of Kevin Warsh as next US Federal Reserve chair, renowned macro analyst Alex Krüger argued on X on Friday that it is the cumulative effect of narrative fatigue, weakening marginal demand, and a macro regime wake-up call that hit after the market had already started to roll over. What Went Wrong For Crypto? Krüger framed the move as a momentum break that turned into a seller’s market. In his telling, the “10/10 slaughter” — a nod to the sharpness of the unwind, with a pointed aside about whether he’d “get sued” for mentioning Binance — was less a mystery than a pileup of factors that steadily drained risk appetite and then yanked away the last hope of a liquidity tailwind. Related Reading: Bitwise CIO Warns Market Is Facing A ‘Full-Bore’ Crypto Winter, Not A Pullback He pointed first to the hangover from Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs), and then to a reversal in flows tied to criminal networks. Krüger said “major flows reversed after the DoJ indictment of the Cambodian Prince Group last October,” describing it as a material shift in demand that the market may have been underappreciating while price was still holding up. What went wrong with crypto 1. 10/10 slaughter (will I get sued if I mention Binance?). 2. Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) hangover. 3. Reversed flows from crime syndicates: major flows reversed after the DoJ indictment of the Cambodian Prince Group last October. 4. Quantum… — Alex Krüger (@krugermacro) February 6, 2026 Two other themes in his post leaned explicitly on fear and opportunity cost. Krüger flagged “quantum fears (real)” as a psychological overhang, and then argued that the AI boom has become a direct competitor for both capital and talent. He said the pivot isn’t subtle: “capital pivoting to AI,” “talent pivoting to AI,” and even “miners pivoting to AI,” all of which tighten the loop around crypto’s ability to reaccelerate. In parallel, he suggested the market’s global bid has narrowed. Krüger cited a “perception of Bitcoin as American,” adding that there are “few Chinese buyers,” a contrast with the participation he said had been “behind the metals uptrend in large numbers.” He also described a structural shift in who “owns” the trade. “The Swamp & Institutions taking over,” he wrote, arguing the market has moved from “Cypherpunk/Rebel tech to ETF tech.” In his framing, crypto used to be “for misfits & geniuses,” but now “it’s a line item in a 401k” — a change that, in his view, crowds out the volatility-driven momentum that historically pulled in OGs and retail. Other pressure points were more familiar: political risk around Trump association (“what happens once Democrats are back?”), “minimal innovation (since Hyperliquid),” and the brutal reflexivity of the Solana memecoin cycle — “Solana casino massacre (thank Pump Fun & the Memecoin Supercycle).” He paired that with a supply critique: “There are 29.91 million cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap,” he wrote, warning that “almost every coin in the top 200 is grossly overvalued” alongside “never ending” launches that “pump then dump to oblivion where only insiders profit.” He even declared the “dead digital gold narrative” as another drag on marginal buyers. Related Reading: Crypto Isn’t Broken, It’s A US Liquidity Squeeze, Says Raoul Pal The mechanical result, Krüger said, was straightforward: “sellers dumping more aggressively than usual on every pump,” while “buyers not showing up to buy the dips as much any longer.” Then came what he framed as the macro trigger that hardened the selloff. “And then came the Warsh nomination (beating Hassett and Rieder), and the market suddenly became deeply aware that Warsh is a strong advocate of a small balance sheet: goodbye Quantitative Easing (QE) and Yield Curve Control (YCC) dreams, hello Quantitative Tightening (QT) fears. That is what happened.” Krüger stressed he was describing the past, not forecasting the next move, arguing the damage has already been done. Still, he noted that “volume, liquidations, implied volatility and options skew indicate that a local bottom is likely in.” In replies, the conversation turned toward what crypto might still be for in an AI-led cycle. A user said the rotation “makes sense,” but argued the bigger upside is in “agent stacks” that could eventually “manage crypto liquidity,” positioning crypto rails as infrastructure for machine-to-machine value transfer. Krüger largely agreed on the asymmetry. “I don’t know. I was hoping momentum. Momentum can do magic,” he wrote. “I’m very concerned about points #3 and #4. Saylor just started a new initiative on #4, maybe that helps. Reality is crypto can’t compete with AI. It’s impossible. But it could be used by AI. That’s high quality hopium right there. Agent-to-Agent payments would be better served on crypto rails.” At press time, BTC traded at $66,029. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin’s market shook hard on a single day of trading, sending prices tumbling to $65,000 and nerves flaring. Reports note the move wiped out a big chunk of recent gains and pushed many recent buyers into loss. Price action this sharp rarely comes without a story behind it — and this one had several threads pulling at once. Related Reading: Polygon Hits $3.50 Billion In Payments As Crypto Activity Expands Bitcoin: Capitulation And Selling Pressure According to Glassnode, the spike in forced sales is one of the biggest seen in about two years. Traders who had used borrowed money were hit first. Liquidations swept through positions, and many coins moved from hands that bought recently to hands that sold quickly. Realized losses climbed to the highest levels since late 2022, with close to $890 million a day recorded on a seven-day average. The sell-off unfolded over roughly 10 hours of intense trading, with panic and program trades both playing a role. The $BTC capitulation metric has printed its second-largest spike in two years, highlighting a sharp escalation in forced selling. These stress events typically coincide with accelerated de-risking and elevated volatility as market participants reset positioning.… pic.twitter.com/mcvVqXJcYq — glassnode (@glassnode) February 5, 2026 Prices Fall Below Buyer Cost Lines Reports say Bitcoin’s market price has fallen under several on-chain cost markers that many investors watch. Short-term buyers who picked up coins in recent months now sit below their purchase price. That creates a kind of pressure where emotional selling can feed into more selling. Active investor costs and broader market averages were all above the spot price, which made the slide feel deeper. When a market drops under the average cost of recent buyers, volatility tends to rise and traders begin hunting for the next reliable support. News Flow And Timing The move comes after a run of strong gains earlier in the year. Price was last at these levels back in November 2024, just before US President Donald Trump won his reelection. That timing put the fall in sharper relief for some observers who had started to see those prior highs as a fresh floor. Headlines and big trades added friction to the market. Social chatter and rapid shifts in order books amplified selling, and some long-term holders did move to lock in gains or cut risk. Related Reading: Russia’s Biggest Exchange To Launch XRP Indices And Futures What The Numbers Tell Us Based on on-chain measures, the recent drop forced a large group of holders to realize losses, not just paper losses but actual transactions where coins left wallets at a lower price than they were bought. That kind of clearing can remove built-up leverage and leave a cleaner market on the other side. It also leaves fewer buyers near current levels, which means rebounds can be choppy and uneven. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin’s role in big-money talks has shifted in recent weeks. Reports say analysts at JPMorgan now see Bitcoin as more attractive than gold for long-term investors once you adjust how risk is counted. That’s a notable twist given how deeply gold has been ingrained as the go-to safe haven for decades. Related Reading: Russia’s Biggest Exchange To Launch XRP Indices And Futures Gold’s climb has been hard to ignore. After swinging wildly, gold prices rallied back to around $5,000 per ounce following a sharp sell-off earlier in February, with major banks projecting further strength later in 2026. This rebound came after gold reached record highs, and JPMorgan even forecasts it could hit roughly $6,300 per ounce by year-end. At the same time, Bitcoin’s own numbers have looked shaky. Since peaking above $126,000, Bitcoin has slid nearly 50%, settling nearer $65,000-$70,000 in early February. That plunge left BTC below its estimated production cost of around $87,000, according to analysts. A Bridge Between Price And Risk Reports say the real math behind JPMorgan’s view isn’t just about where these assets sit today. It’s about how wild their price swings have been. The soaring price came with rising unpredictability — gold’s volatility has spiked as markets reacted to geopolitical upheaval and macroeconomic moves. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s volatility has softened from its usual extremes. This convergence shows up in what’s called the bitcoin-to-gold volatility ratio. According to JPMorgan, that ratio has plunged to around 1.5, a record low. On its face, that means Bitcoin is carrying only about 1.5 times the risk of gold — tighter than historical norms. That shift makes risk-adjusted returns more competitive for BTC. Under this framework, analysts figure Bitcoin’s market capitalization would have to rise dramatically to match the roughly $8 trillion private sector investment held in gold. If that happened, implied models point to Bitcoin prices near $266,000. JPMorgan says that is not an expected short-term target, but the theoretical math illustrates how much room exists if sentiment changes. Market Movements Tell Another Story In the broader market, tokens like XRP, Ethereum, and Solana have been caught up in the same risk sell-off that clipped Bitcoin. These cryptos have seen sharp drops in recent sessions as traders fled riskier bets, testing buying interest and liquidity conditions. Moves like these show that the relative calm in volatility isn’t guaranteed to last, especially when markets tighten. Gold’s oscillations have also tested investor nerves. Earlier in 2026, gold endured some of its most extreme swings ever — including double-digit plunges and rebounds that challenged its reputation as the “stable” safe haven. But the rebound to near $5,000 per ounce underlines demand from defensive buyers. Related Reading: Polygon Hits $3.50 Billion In Payments As Crypto Activity Expands What Investors Are Weighing Based on reports, JPMorgan’s stance doesn’t say Bitcoin will instantly replace gold in portfolios. Instead, analysts are noting how relative risk and reward are being measured today. Bitcoin’s lower recent volatility plus its huge theoretical upside based on gold’s market size make it a compelling candidate for some long-range thinking. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The latest downturn in Bitcoin (BTC) has begun to weigh heavily on publicly listed companies that built their balance sheets around the market’s leading cryptocurrency. On Thursday, Bitcoin hovered near the $65,000 level, continuing the sharp decline that began last October. This has impacted equity markets, causing the shares of crypto-exposed firms to decline significantly. Bitcoin Slide Pressures Digital Asset Treasury Firms According to a Reuters report, the renewed volatility in digital assets is dragging down the stock prices of companies that hold Bitcoin and other tokens, raising concerns that the stress could spread more broadly across the sector.  The number of publicly traded firms investing in cryptocurrencies surged last year, as many executives bet that digital assets would continue to appreciate over the long-term.  Related Reading: Bitcoin Crashes Below $67,000 As Stifel Warns Of Potential Drop To $38,000 However, the backdrop has shifted. Investor anxiety over stretched valuations in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, combined with uncertainty surrounding the future path of Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cuts, has weighed on risk assets more broadly.  As a result, Bitcoin has slid to its lowest level since October 2024, putting pressure on companies whose business models rely on holding digital assets. Many of these digital asset treasury firms saw their shares wobble sharply on Thursday. Seven Major Companies Suffer  Strategy (previously MicroStrategy), the largest corporate BTC holder with over 700,000 coins, has been among the hardest hit. Its shares have fallen from around $457 in July to as low as $106 on Thursday.  In December, the company cut its 2025 earnings outlook, pointing to weakness in Bitcoin prices, and announced plans to establish a reserve to help support dividend payments.  The firm led by Michael Saylor said it now expects its full‑year results to range anywhere from a $6.3 billion profit to a $5.5 billion loss, a sharp downgrade from its earlier forecast of a $24 billion net profit. Related Reading: Ripple Throws Weight Behind Hyperliquid, Fueling HYPE’s Rally Toward Crucial Levels Other Bitcoin‑focused firms also felt the impact. Shares of the UK‑based Smarter Web Company fell nearly 18% on Thursday. Rival Bitcoin buyers Nakamoto Inc and Japan’s Metaplanet were also under pressure, dropping almost 9% and more than 7%, respectively. However, the sell-off pressure has not been limited to companies holding only BTC. On Thursday, crypto-related firms that stockpiled other digital tokens also traded lower amid the correction affecting broader digital asset prices.  Alt5 Sigma, which announced last year that it would accumulate the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token, saw its shares drop 8.4%. Similarly, SharpLink Gaming, which holds Ethereum (ETH), declined about 8%, while Forward Industries, a holder of Solana (SOL), slid nearly 6%. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Reports have disclosed that Polygon closed the final quarter of 2025 with higher on-chain usage, driven by payments, stablecoin transfers, and tokenized assets. Related Reading: Crypto Could Bounce Soon As Fundamentals Firm Up, Tom Lee Says While traders watched MATIC drift inside a narrow range, activity on the chain told a different story, one focused on payments, stablecoins, and quiet institutional adoption rather than price momentum. Polygon Payments Use Grows Faster Than Prices According to Messari’s Q4 network review released on January 4, Polygon processed heavy payment traffic as fees stayed low and settlement times remained short. More than 50 apps built for payments handled about $3.50 billion in transfers during the quarter. That figure was 96% higher than the prior quarter and close to four times the level seen a year earlier. Stablecoin-linked cards added another layer of activity. Ten card programs together moved nearly $363 million using Mastercard and Visa rails, with Visa responsible for the larger share. Reports say this growth came from everyday spending rather than one-off events, a sign that Polygon is being used for routine transfers instead of short-term experiments. Beyond card payments, several firms expanded how they move money on the chain. DeCard allowed users to pay with USDC and USDT at a wide range of merchants. Flutterwave chose Polygon for cross-border business payments in 30 African countries. Revolut integrated cheap stablecoin transfers inside its app, while Stripe continued building subscription tools that rely on USDC. None of those moves grabbed market headlines, yet together they pushed steady volume through the network. Tokenized Assets Gain Ground Quietly Away from payments, tokenized real-world assets continued to stack up. Reports note Polygon ended Q4 with nearly $1.10 billion in RWAs, ranking ninth worldwide. Growth was driven less by retail hype and more by regulated structures. Stablecoin supply climbed to nearly 3 billion, led by USDC at $1.34 billion and DAI near $630 million. Latin America stood out as a key region, where non-USD stablecoin volume totaled $1.18 billion. Average daily DEX volume jumped 44% to a little over $200 million. MATICUSD trading at $0.19 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView MATIC Trades Sideways As Activity Builds MATIC’s price action stayed restrained despite the on-chain growth. The token slipped back from short-term resistance during broader market weakness and then stabilized as buyers defended key support zones. Related Reading: Russia’s Biggest Exchange To Launch XRP Indices And Futures Deeper losses were avoided, but strong upside moves failed to appear. Volume has yet to confirm a shift in trend. For now, Polygon shows rising use across payments and tokenized assets, while its token waits for a clearer signal from traders. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Reports say an on-chain analytics account called Rand flagged a new milestone: crypto funds have recorded three straight months of outflows for the first time on record. Related Reading: Crypto Could Bounce Soon As Fundamentals Firm Up, Tom Lee Says That streak stands out because it breaks the pattern of sporadic withdrawals and inflows that marked earlier market cycles. Many investors are watching closely. Outflows Reach A Historic Turning Point According to market watchers, the run of withdrawals covers both retail and institutional flows. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US have been a major focus, with inflows that were once enormous now trimming down. Some of the earlier gains that piled into ETFs have been partially reversed, leaving holders with paper losses that many see as painful right now. US ???????? spot #Bitcoin ETF’s recorded 3 months of net outflows in a row. The first time in history that there has been 3 consecutive months of outflows. pic.twitter.com/WusDpXuSSm — Rand (@cryptorand) February 3, 2026 ETF Investors Holding Their Ground Reports say several prominent analysts have pointed out that, while the recent bleed looks alarming, ETF holders haven’t fled. James Seyffart noted that holders remain largely in place despite steep paper losses. Jim Bianco weighed in too, suggesting the average ETF stake is underwater by a meaningful margin yet still being held. This is not a full-scale selloff; it’s a slow retreat for now. Large sums entered the market during the peak months and those inflows dwarf the recent outflows when measured over the longer run. Sentiment has shifted, but conviction has not collapsed. What The Numbers Show Over 30 days, spot Bitcoin’s price slid by a sizable amount, and that drop helped push ETF positions into the red. Reports show some holders face losses around the low 40%, while shorter windows show steeper swings. The math is simple: big gains came fast, and some of that profit has been given back. At the same time, net positions remain sizable and a fair share of the capital that flowed in earlier is still parked in ETFs. Long Term Gains Versus Short Term Pain According to other market commentators, the bigger picture still favors those who kept faith through the rally years. Since 2022, Bitcoin’s cumulative rise outpaced several traditional stores of value, say analysts tracking long-term performance. That record is raised as a counterpoint to the current outflow story. Some investors see the current weak stretch as a pause; others see it as a warning. Related Reading: Russia’s Biggest Exchange To Launch XRP Indices And Futures What Comes Next The three-month outflow run is a sobering marker. It signals caution has spread beyond a handful of traders and reached products that many thought would smooth volatility. Money can return just as quickly as it left, or the slow drip could continue. For now, reports and the data both show a market in a rare place: bruised, but not emptied. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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

Solana’s market looks like a tightly wound spring right now. Prices have been slipping while futures activity is picking up, and that gap is what traders are watching most closely. Related Reading: Russia’s Biggest Exchange To Launch XRP Indices And Futures It’s a setup that can keep losses rolling — or flip fast if a wave of short covering hits. Either way, the scene is driven more by bets than by steady buying. Derivatives Betting Intensifies According to reports, more futures contracts for SOL are being opened even as the price moves lower. That means fresh bets are being placed, not just old ones being closed. Funding rates for perpetual contracts have moved into negative territory. When funding is negative, those backing short positions are paying those on the long side. It’s a clear sign of bearish leaning in the derivatives market. Leverage A Big Part Of The Story Reports say many of these positions are sized up with leverage. Traders are piling on with borrowed exposure. That raises the odds of violent swings because margin calls can trigger cascades. A squeeze can happen quickly. If a piece of positive news appears or a large buyer steps in, those who are short may be forced to buy back, and that buying itself can push the price up fast. Price is going down. Open Interest is going up. Funding is going down.$SOL is getting heavily shorted here. pic.twitter.com/YuYAy9lzZ0 — Ted (@TedPillows) February 4, 2026 Price Action Shows Weakness Across short-term charts — intraday and daily — SOL has been under pressure. Spot trading volume remains light, which makes every trade count more. Some traders are trimming risk because volatility in larger coins has spooked the market. In plain terms: fewer hands are willing to hold SOL at these levels, and that lack of real buying support keeps the downside pathway open. Volatility Could Swing Either Way This environment is speculative. High open interest plus negative funding is a bearish combo, but it also loads the market with risk. Covered shorts can unwind in a hurry. Liquidity gaps are where big moves start. The same factors that drive downward momentum can, under different circumstances, accelerate a rebound. Related Reading: Crypto Could Bounce Soon As Fundamentals Firm Up, Tom Lee Says Based on reports, the clearest signals to follow are changes in open interest, shifts in funding rates, and sudden spikes in spot volume or order book depth. Also watch news flow closely; a single announcement can change sentiment overnight. Risk management matters here. Size positions so that forced liquidations are avoidable. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView