THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently navigating a trading range between $60,000 and $73,000, entering what analytics platform CryptoQuant describes as “the most frustrating phase in the cycle.”  According to a recent analysis by CryptoQuant contributor MorenoDV, Bitcoin finds itself in a period characterized by heightened uncertainty, with market signals indicating more hesitation than firm conviction. Bear Market Signals Three key on-chain metrics point to a psychologically challenging phase for market participants, specifically Apparent Demand, the CryptoQuant Bull Market Cycle Indicator, and the Long-Term Holder SOPR. Related Reading: Ripple Launches $750 Million Share Buyback, Boosting Valuation To $50 Billion After the most recent sell-off, Apparent Demand initially showed signs of recovery, suggesting that opportunistic buyers were stepping in to capitalize on the recent price drop. However, this uptick was short-lived, quickly retreating to negative territory.  Moreno also emphasized the absence of persistent buying pressure in the Bitcoin market, which he believes shows that market players are still cautious and hesitant to aggressively accumulate BTC at current prices. The CryptoQuant Bull Market Cycle Indicator, as seen in the chart below, further reinforces this sentiment, as it currently signals a phase typically associated with bear market consolidation.  Moreover, the analyst noted that the behavioral dynamics at play can influence the cost bases of various market cohorts. He asserts that as short-term holders realize losses or transition to longer-term holders, the realized prices of Bitcoin can decline.  Lastly, the Long-Term Holder SOPR metric is beginning to show that even seasoned investors are starting to realize losses, dropping below the crucial threshold of 1. Historically, this tends to arise in the later stages of bear markets when extended uncertainty erodes even the staunchest beliefs in the asset’s value.  Bitcoin Eyes $72,000–$73,000 Resistance Level In the context of geopolitical events, Bitcoin has demonstrated resilience, outperforming gold and traditional stocks during the recent US-Israeli attack on Iran.  Crypto stocks have also benefited, given their ability to be traded at any hour, unhindered by banking schedules. Gabe Selby, head of research at CF Benchmarks, told Fortune:  Crypto’s 24/7 structure is increasingly an edge for the asset class. When the Iran conflict escalated over the weekend, crypto-native markets were the only venue open for global risk trading, a structural advantage that traditional markets cannot replicate. Additionally, Bitcoin has seen a positive uptick of about 4% following President Trump’s comments suggesting that the war may be winding down. Trump stated, “I think the war is very complete, pretty much,” adding that Iran has “nothing left in a military sense.” Related Reading: XRP Price Outlook: Analyst Foresees New All-Time Highs Above $40 In 2026 While attempting to consolidate near $70,000 at the time of writing, Bitcoin is also seeking to break through its recent local high in the $72,000-$73,000 resistance zone, which was unsuccessfully tested last week.  Selby emphasized that a sustained close above this threshold with significant volume could shift the narrative from a mere short squeeze to a genuine momentum recovery. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

No progress has been made recently on the delayed CLARITY Act, the crypto market structure bill, primarily due to opposition from the banking sector over stablecoin rewards. Despite this stalemate, White House Crypto Advisor Patrick Witt has been vocal in advocating for the bill’s passage. Witt Calls Out Banks For Undermining Crypto Progress In a social media post on Tuesday, Witt emphasized the importance of keeping the CLARITY Act a pro-innovation piece of legislation. He criticized efforts to co-opt the legislative process into an anti-competition framework, labeling such actions as “shameful.”  Related Reading: Ripple Launches $750 Million Share Buyback, Boosting Valuation To $50 Billion His comments echo President Donald Trump’s recent support for the cryptocurrency industry, in which Trump alleged that banks are attempting to undermine both the overarching crypto framework and the GENIUS Act, signed last year.  The President accused financial institutions, despite their record profits, of resisting policies that aim to create greater opportunities within the digital asset sector.  However, on Wednesday, Witt intensified his criticism of the banking sector’s opposition to stablecoin rewards, stating: Arguably my favorite part of this rewards/yield debate has been when bankers say, ‘if we allow this, then we’ll see massive deposit flight.’ Crypto has already been offering rewards/yield on stablecoins FOR YEARS. Where is the deposit flight? Is it in the room with us right now? CLARITY Act In Jeopardy?  The traditional banking sector contends that stablecoin products offering rewards could siphon deposits from traditional banking institutions, ultimately diminishing the funds available for local lending activities.  In response, crypto executives have been defending the concept of consumer choice and the benefits of open competition. Some contend that restrictions on stablecoin rewards would disproportionately protect bank profit models while limiting individuals’ control over their finances. Related Reading: XRP Price Outlook: Analyst Foresees New All-Time Highs Above $40 In 2026 Witt has previously stated that a lack of compromise on the CLARITY Act equates to no restrictions on intermediaries providing stablecoin rewards. He added, “If you believe the banks’ argument about deposit flight, this would be catastrophic.”However, the CLARITY Act faces additional unresolved challenges. Some Democratic senators are pushing for stronger anti-money laundering (AML) safeguards, measures addressing alleged risks associated with decentralized finance (DeFi), and tighter restrictions on personal crypto holdings for senior government officials. While the Senate Agriculture Committee has approved its section of the bill, ongoing discussions within the Senate Banking Committee aim to address these remaining issues. As of now, it remains uncertain when a compromise will be reached, leaving the future of the CLARITY Act hanging in the balance. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

The XRP price has experienced a modest 5% recovery in the last 24 hours, managing to reclaim the crucial support level at $1.40. However, it remains substantially below its all-time highs reached in 2025.  Despite this, technical analyst Egrag Crypto believes that this year could see the XRP price soaring to a price point as high as $42, meaning a potential gain of up to 2,900% from its current levels. XRP Price Cycles Egrag delineates his forecast by identifying four macro formations on the cryptocurrency’s monthly chart, each of which follows a similar cyclical pattern over the past decade.  These cycles demonstrate that the XRP price tends to undergo a period of compression into a tight range before breaking out and embarking on a significant rally, ultimately resetting before the next structure emerges. Related Reading: What’s Fueling Hyperliquid’s Surge? HYPE Outperforms Top 100 Cryptos In Latest Rally The first formation occurred in October 2014, when XRP rose from $0.0046 to $0.028 by December. Following this initial surge, the price consolidated within the range of $0.006 to $0.009 for nearly three years until early 2017.  The second formation initiated in March 2017, leading to a breakout that pushed the XRP price from under $0.01 to $0.40 by May of the same year, resulting in over 4,000% gains.  After another consolidation period through November 2017, XRP reached a peak of $3.31 in January 2018 before experiencing a prolonged decline that ultimately brought it down to around $0.17 by June 2020. The fourth formation began from the $0.17 low in June 2020, where XRP rallied to $1.96 by April 2021. After another extended period of consolidation around the $0.50 mark, XRP broke through a significant descending trendline in November 2024, which had been constraining its price since 2018.  This breakout propelled the XRP price to $3.65 by July 2025. The current price pullback to the $1.30–$1.40 range is effectively retesting that breakout level. If XRP continues along the same proportional trajectory as previous cycles, Egrag’s target of $42 could be within reach. Two Scenarios To Keep An Eye On It’s important to note that Egrag does not position $42 as the immediate target. Instead, he has laid out intermediate goals that are much lower—such as $4.50 if a breakout occurs, and potentially $10–$13 if the rally expands further.  But when averaging across all four macro scenarios, Egrag estimates that an XRP price around $11 would be plausible, suggesting a market cap of about $670 billion for the altcoin.  Related Reading: BitMine Acquires 60,000 ETH; Chair Discusses Outlook For Ethereum And Crypto Prices Lastly, Egrag presents a cautious perspective regarding the $42 target, outlining two potential scenarios moving forward. One possibility is that the bullish structure may fail, leading the XRP price into a deeper bear market.  Alternatively, Egrag leans toward the thought that the current drawdown is merely a retest within a new growth cycle. He emphasizes that this structural framework must remain intact for his projections to hold. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Solana (SOL), currently the seventh-largest cryptocurrency by market cap—trailing behind Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDT, Binance Coin (BNB), XRP, and USDC—may be on the path of surpassing its closest competitor, XRP. This potential shift is largely attributable to the intensifying infrastructure race between the two projects, as highlighted by market analyst Alex Carchidi from The Motley Fool in a Tuesday report.  The Race For Tokenization Capital  While XRP holds a larger market cap of approximately $87 billion compared to Solana’s $50 billion at the time of writing, both assets are vying to become the backbone for the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), such as stocks and commodities converted for trading on blockchains. Carchidi notes that Solana’s strengths lie in its speed and cost-effectiveness, making it particularly suited for managing tokenized assets that require rapid movement at scale—like stocks, bonds, and commodity contracts.  The Solana platform currently has around $272 million in tokenized stocks circulating within its ecosystem, marking a 14% increase over the 30-day period that ended on March 5. Related Reading: What’s Fueling Hyperliquid’s Surge? HYPE Outperforms Top 100 Cryptos In Latest Rally Predictions suggest the total market value of tokenized stocks could climb to over $38 billion by 2035, up from about $1 billion today, indicating a substantial growth area ripe for competition.  The argument for Solana’s potential to overtake XRP hinges on its aspiration to become the central hub for trading equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and institutional funds around the clock—all at minimal costs.  Carchidi asserts that Solana doesn’t necessarily need to capture 100% of the tokenized assets market to see significant price appreciation.  Its current market cap is already so close to that of XRP’s that even a modest gain at XRP’s expense could tip the scales in Solana’s favor. Carchidi acknowledges that Solana may indeed flip XRP. However, the path for SOL to surpass XRP is not without challenges.  XRP’s Edge Against Solana  At present, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) holds approximately $453 million in tokenized assets specifically available for trading, rather than just for record keeping. The stablecoin base on XRPL is currently around $432 million.  A substantial portion of XRP’s tradeable tokenized assets comprises US Treasury bills and government bonds valued at about $294 million. On the surface, this setup may not seem to threaten Solana’s growth trajectory.  Yet, the analyst contends that XRP has its own advantages. Known for its speed and low transaction costs, XRP also benefits from a robust compliance infrastructure that is integrated into its blockchain.  Related Reading: BitMine Acquires 60,000 ETH; Chair Discusses Outlook For Ethereum And Crypto Prices This allows financial institutions looking to tokenize assets—such as bonds, stocks, or securities—to avoid the time-consuming process of developing a compliance framework from scratch. As a result, XRP may attract more capital inflows related to tokenization over the next few years.  Despite these challenges, the analyst believes that Solana would eventually outperform XRP in terms of valuation, possibly in 2030 and beyond, owing to its plans for a larger ecosystem.  At the time of writing, Solana was trading at roughly $88.48, up 2.7% in the previous 24 hours. XRP, on the other hand, has surpassed SOL’s growth over the same period, with gains approaching 5% and the token trading at $1.43.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), the largest corporate holder of Ethereum (ETH) worldwide, announced on Monday that it had made a significant new purchase of nearly 61,000 ETH.  BitMine Holds 3.7% Of Total Ethereum Supply BitMine’s latest transaction, comprising 60,976 Ethereum tokens, marks the company’s largest weekly acquisition in terms of tokens so far in 2026. Following this acquisition, BitMine’s total ETH holdings have risen to 4.5 million tokens. Notably, BitMine now holds around 3.76% of the total Ethereum supply, positioning itself over 75% of the way toward its ambitious target dubbed the “Alchemy of 5%” within just eight months. Related Reading: Why A U.S. Court Says Binance Is Not (Yet) Liable for Terrorist Crypto Flows In addition to its cryptocurrency holdings, BitMine disclosed that it has 3,040,483 ETH staked, which is valued at approximately $6 billion based on an ETH price of $1,965 at the time of the company’s disclosure.  The firm’s total assets, including cash and other cryptocurrencies, have reached $10.3 billion, comprising 4.535 million ETH tokens, $1.2 billion in cash holdings, and various other crypto assets.  As Ethereum prices stabilize above the crucial $2,000 support level, CEO Tom Lee highlighted the resilience of ETH amidst rising geopolitical tensions and increasing oil prices. Final Stages Of ‘Mini-Crypto Winter’  Lee commented on the current market conditions, expressing confidence that crypto prices are entering the final stages of what he referred to as a “mini-crypto winter.” Ethereum prices showed resilience this week, in the face of rising war concerns and surging oil prices. We continue to believe that crypto prices are in the late/final stages of the ‘mini-crypto winter. Lee also noted that ETH price movements are tracking trends observed in the S&P 500 during the falls of 2011 and 1987. According to analyses from BitMine’s advisor, Tom DeMark of DeMark Analytics, these historical connections show correlations of up to 89% and 93% with the S&P 500’s behavior during those periods.  The analyst also predicts that Ethereum prices are likely to reach their lowest point between 8 and 14 March, potentially dipping just below the recent low of $1,740. This could equate to a decline of around 14% from current trading prices. Related Reading: Expert Trader Shows ‘Simple Math’ To Calculate The Bitcoin Price Bottom Lee also added that BitMine’s strategy involves slightly increasing the pace of its ETH accumulation, enhancing its recent buying activity from an average of 45,000 to 50,000 ETH per week to the latest purchase of 60,976 ETH. On Monday, Ethereum experienced a 4% gain, allowing the token to reclaim the $2,000 mark after a brief dip below that key level over the weekend. Concurrently, BitMine’s stock, BMNR, also showed positive movement, trading at $20.70 per share at the time of writing, marking a significant 10% rally for the company. 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 has fallen back below $70,000 as selling pressure continues to dominate among crypto traders. Notably, there is currently little sign of strong buying demand that could stop further downside and the current structure still leaves room for a Bitcoin price drop below $60,000. Interestingly, technical analysis shows that the Bitcoin price action is beginning to resemble the pattern it created during the 2022 bear market, with long-term data showing that Bitcoin’s bear cycles have gradually become less severe over time. Related Reading: Stablecoin Market Breaks Records — USDC Controls 70% Of $1.8 Trillion Volume Bitcoin’s Bear Market Cycles Are Shrinking Technical analysis of Bitcoin’s entire price history shows that post-cycle drawdowns have been compressing with almost mechanical precision. This pattern hiding in plain sight was laid out by crypto analyst CrypFlow on the social media platform X. According to the analyst, each major bear market has produced a smaller percentage decline than the previous one, starting with a 93% collapse after the 2011 top. The 2013 top was followed by an 87% collapse. After the run of 2017, the market gave back 84%. Lastly, when the 2021 bull cycle peaked, the subsequent bear market stopped at a comparatively modest 78% decline. The argument is that Bitcoin’s growth into a deeper, more liquid market has gradually reduced the kind of downside volatility that defined its early years. Based on that context, the next major bear market low would not need to rival the bloodshed of prior cycles. Therefore, it is safe to assume a worst-case scenario of a 70% drawdown from Bitcoin’s 2025 peak price of $126,080. Extrapolating that compression forward, a 70% crash from the 2025 cycle top would place Bitcoin somewhere around $37,000. However, the analyst also noted that this price is not a bottom forecast. It is also worth noting that Bitcoin has never closed a monthly candle below the previous cycle top during a bear market. In this case, that previous cycle top is 2021’s peak around $69,000. Familiar 2022 Bull Trap And Possible Drop To $50,000 Bitcoin’s bear market cycles might be shrinking, but a look at the current price pattern shows it might be playing out just like it did in the 2022 bear market. This was revealed in a setup by a crypto analyst that goes by the name Chiefy on X.  In that setup, Bitcoin’s current price action was placed side by side with the 2022 bear market, with both periods showing what a textbook sequence of a bear trap followed by a bull trap.  In September 2022, Bitcoin staged what appeared to be a recovery bounce at $18,000 after a brutal descent. However, this led to a bull trap around $21,000 that lured buyers in before the price action rolled over and carved out fresh lows.  Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Bleed $349M In A Day As Whales Dump, Small Buyers Step In: Analysts The script playing out in early 2026, according to this analysis, is identical. The bear trap in this case was Bitcoin’s fall to $60,000 in February and then another bull trap as it pushed to $74,000. If the 2022 analogy holds, that bounce is not a recovery. It is a setup, and the next Bitcoin price low, the analyst warns, is around $50,000. Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: @0xChiefy On X Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The possibility of a massive surge in the XRP price has been raised again following comments made by financial commentator Jake Claver during an interview on the Paul Barron podcast.  During the discussion, Claver suggested that XRP could eventually move into three or four digits, suggesting that the cryptocurrency might reach as high as $1,000 under the right conditions. Notably, the ‘right conditions’ are based on institutional adoption of Ripple’s financial infrastructure and the continued expansion of the company’s acquisitions. Related Reading: SEC Vs. Justin Sun Case Ends In $10M Settlement, Traders Eye TRX Price Reaction XRP Could Hit $1K By End Of The Year Claver’s comments came as part of discussions among crypto analysts about how blockchain infrastructure is increasingly being adopted by major financial institutions. In the Paul Barron YouTube podcast interview, he stated that XRP could eventually trade in three or four digits in 2026, with an emphasis on the potential role of the asset in global financial settlement. XRP is currently trading below $1.40, which is far below the double-digit threshold, let alone three digits yet. However, according to Claver, the single biggest factor behind a price move to three or four digits would be a full-scale adoption of XRP by major banks and institutional players.  He cited Monica Long, President of Ripple Labs, as pointing to institutional adoption as the defining growth story for XRP in 2026. Claver named specific institutions he believes are positioned to lead the charge, including BNY Mellon, Fidelity, Citi, Franklin Templeton, and JPMorgan. In his view, XRP needs to reach a high and stable market cap before institutions will feel comfortable moving significant capital into it. “If you have a huge market cap for XRP, something much higher than people can comprehend, it will be very difficult to move that price with the inflows or outflows,” Claver said. He added that spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) will contribute massively to the adoption of XRP by financial institutions. Recent market dynamics have already seen steady inflows into US-based Spot XRP ETFs, although not currently at a scale that would lead to a surge to $1,000 by the end of the year. Ripple’s Unique Position To Capitalize Claver also pointed to Ripple’s recent strategic moves as evidence that the company is positioning itself for institutional growth. These strategic moves are related to Ripple’s acquisitions that are now placing the company outside of simple payment processing. During the interview, he noted that Ripple is now involved in treasury management solutions and updates on RLUSD that could increase the use of its ecosystem. “They’re doing treasury management at this point, so if they did want people to hold RLUSD and be able to generate a return on, that’d be great,” Claver said. Related Reading: Solana Stablecoins Hit $650 Billion In Monthly Transactions He added that Ripple’s acquisitions, like the purchase of Hidden Road, which has been integrated into Ripple Prime, along with the acquisition of GTreasury and launch of Ripple Treasury, have expanded Ripple’s institutional offerings. According to Claver, these developments form part of the broader Ripple One product stack. “They’re in a very unique position to capitalize on this,” he said. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView

XRP is at the center of ultra-bullish calls after two crypto commentators pointed to a 2017-style fractal as the basis for a major breakout. The latest discussion started with analyst CryptoBull, who predicted that the XRP price is on track for $10 to $11 by the end of March if its price action continues to follow its 2017 structure.  That outlook then led to a much bigger response from Remi Relief, who said his own conservative target for this cycle is four digits between $1,200 and $1,700. Related Reading: Solana Stablecoins Hit $650 Billion In Monthly Transactions CryptoBull’s Fractal Call To Double Digits CryptoBull’s prediction is built around a familiar XRP talking point: that the cryptocurrency is tracing a structure similar to its 2017 breakout. A 2017 comparison is one of the strongest bullish narratives available for the crypto because it points to the one period in XRP’s history when price moved from relative quiet into a parabolic run in a short time period. In his technical analysis, CryptoBull said he now believes XRP is following the 2017 fractal and that this setup could take the cryptocurrency to $10-$11 by the end of March, adding that he expected six more days sideways before a push higher. The chart attached to that post shows XRP moving through a flat, compressed range under a horizontal resistance zone on the daily candlestick chart, with the green fractal path projecting a rally once that resistance is broken. The structure is simple enough to explain: long consolidation, breakout through resistance, brief pause, then a vertical continuation. In other words, the chart is not presenting a slow grind upward like you might expect considering XRP’s recent price action. It is presenting a replay of XRP’s most explosive behavior back in 2017. XRP Price Chart. Source: @CryptoBull2020 On X Remi Relief Takes The Same Setup To An Extreme Remi Relief took that same broad idea and pushed it far above CryptoBull’s target. In his response, he said that in 2024 he had already stated XRP would follow the 2017 run and go to $1,200 conservatively in this cycle. The move was delayed, although this is something he warned about back in June 2025 and after revising his thinking, his target range became $1,200 to $1,700. CryptoBull’s $10 to $11 call is already a massive move from current levels, but it still sits within the realm of numbers that are possible based on XRP’s current circulating supply. A $10 price would imply a market capitalization of about $610 billion, and $11 would imply about $671 billion. On the other hand, a move to $1,200 would imply about $73.2 trillion, while $1,700 would imply about $103.7 trillion in market cap. Related Reading: SEC Vs. Justin Sun Case Ends In $10M Settlement, Traders Eye TRX Price Reaction The real significance of these predictions may not be whether XRP actually reaches four-digit prices. It may be what they say about sentiment among XRP traders right now. At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $1.37, with an intraday range of $1.35 to $1.41. This shows that the cryptocurrency is far below the predicted price levels. However, there are many traders with an ultra-bullish bias who are still willing to rally around any setup that resembles 2017. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin (BTC) began the week with a sharp rebound that briefly lifted the world’s largest cryptocurrency back toward the $74,000 mark on Wednesday for the first time in more than a month. However, as the week comes to a close, that momentum has faded, with BTC sliding back to roughly $68,260. Even with the choppy price action, on-chain analytics firm Amber Data argues that the broader outlook for Bitcoin remains constructive. In its latest market report, the firm suggests that new all-time highs are still possible this year.  Post-Liquidation Reset Amber Data describes Bitcoin as entering 2026 in an unusual position. The market, it says, has been “de-risked” following October’s liquidation event, which they assert flushed out excessive leverage from the market.  In the report, they contend that open interest had climbed to “unsustainable levels,” the basis trade had become overcrowded, and funding rates reflected stretched positioning.  Related Reading: Bank Resistance Puts 2026 Passage Of Crypto Market Structure Bill In Doubt, Reuters When headlines surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariff policies hit the market, the overleveraged structure was unable to withstand the selling pressure. The result was a cascade of liquidations that wiped out weak hands and reset positioning. While painful, the correction served a purpose. Valuations have since normalized, leverage has been largely cleared from the system, and the Bitcoin market structure appears healthier, Amber Data noted.  Yet the recovery remains fragile. Liquidity is still impaired, and the carry trade — once a major driver of activity — is no longer especially attractive. In Amber Data’s view, the market is now structurally sound but lacks a clear catalyst to define its next major move. ‘Muddle Through’ Phase  In its base case, which it assigns a 50% probability, Bitcoin trades between $90,000 and $120,000. This outcome envisions extended consolidation until a meaningful macro catalyst emerges.  Under this “muddle through” scenario, conditions neither worsen dramatically nor improve significantly. Volatility compresses, enthusiasm cools, and both bullish breakout expectations and bearish collapse predictions are repeatedly frustrated.  Early signs supporting this scenario would include basis annual percentage rates recovering to 8–10%, spot Bitcoin ETF inflows turning consistently positive, order book depth returning toward pre-crash conditions, and funding rates stabilizing in positive territory. 25% Chance Bitcoin Breakout To $180,000 Amber Data assigns a 25% probability to a more optimistic outcome, with Bitcoin climbing between $120,000 and $180,000. In this bull case, institutional participation accelerates alongside sovereign adoption, creating a feedback loop of expanding flows.  Early confirmation signals would include weekly Bitcoin ETF inflows exceeding $1 billion, basis rates expanding beyond 15% as leverage demand surges, and new accumulation cohorts appearing in HODL wave data, indicating fresh capital entering at scale. Bear Case Targets $60,000 On the downside, Amber Data assigns a 20% probability to a bearish scenario in which Bitcoin trades between $60,000 and $80,000. This would occur if macroeconomic conditions deteriorate more sharply than currently expected and global markets shift decisively into risk-off mode.  Warning signs would include sustained ETF outflows exceeding $1 billion per week, basis yields collapsing below 3%, widespread stablecoin redemptions signaling capital flight, and a potential test of the $80,000 ETF cost basis level.  Related Reading: XRP Faces High Risk Of Breakdown Below $1.30, Expert Flags Bitcoin As Main Threat Finally, the firm outlines a 5% probability “volatility and chop” scenario, in which Bitcoin trades between $75,000 and $110,000 with no sustained directional trend.  Indicators would include sharply fluctuating funding rates, repeated spikes and collapses in open interest as positions are liquidated on both sides, and inconsistent ETF flows alternating between inflows and outflows without a clear pattern. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

In a report published Thursday, Reuters said the long-anticipated crypto market structure legislation, known as the CLARITY Act, may be at risk of not being signed into law in 2026. The uncertainty comes as opposition from the banking sector intensifies, particularly over key provisions tied to stablecoin regulation. Deadlock In Crypto Legislation Per the report, the legislation has run into a fresh stalemate after banks declined to support a compromise proposal advanced by the White House. That breakdown in negotiations has cast serious doubt on whether Congress can move the bill forward before the legislative window narrows ahead of the midterm election season. Banks have objected to provisions that would permit stablecoin issuers and other crypto firms to offer yield-bearing products and customer rewards. Lenders argue that such incentives could siphon deposits away from traditional banks, making it more difficult for them to fund loans and support credit creation. Related Reading: XRP Price Retests Decade-Old Trendline That Previously Triggered 630%+ Rallies Crypto companies, for their part, maintain that the ability to offer rewards is essential to attract users and remain competitive. They argue that prohibiting such incentives would amount to an anti-competitive restriction designed to protect incumbents. In an attempt to break the deadlock, the White House stepped in last month to broker a compromise. The administration proposed allowing stablecoin rewards in limited contexts, such as for peer-to-peer (P2P) payment activity, while prohibiting rewards on idle balances.  Four individuals familiar with the private negotiations said the proposal was intended to strike a balance between innovation and deposit stability. Crypto firms have reportedly accepted that compromise. However, banks have signaled they still cannot support it.  Banking Sector Seeks Stricter Reward Rules Two sources told Reuters that lenders want far stricter limits on the types of activities eligible for rewards. A senior White House official indicated that banks remain concerned that even the narrower framework could accelerate deposit flight.  A banking industry source added that some lenders believe the permitted activities under the compromise would still meaningfully weaken deposit bases. Several senators are said to back the banking sector’s position, and industry representatives believe they may be able to secure more favorable terms with that political support. Beyond the stablecoin dispute, the bill faces additional political hurdles. Lawmakers are divided over provisions related to ethics and illicit finance.  Time Running Out For CALRITY Act’s Approval Time is another significant obstacle. Senate floor time is limited, particularly as lawmakers prepare to leave Washington in the summer to begin campaigning for the midterm elections.  Adrian Wall, managing director of the Digital Sovereignty Alliance, a pro-crypto advocacy group, said the window for passage is rapidly closing. If the bill is not approved and sent to the President by July, he argued, it will become increasingly difficult to revive momentum before the elections.  Related Reading: Bitcoin Tops $73,000, Expert Explains Why The Rally Isn’t Over Yet The political calculus could become even more complicated after November. If Democrats gain seats in Congress, prospects for passing crypto-friendly legislation could diminish further.  Geopolitical developments are adding further uncertainty. According to Brian Gardner, chief Washington strategist at Stifel, the war in Iran is making it even more challenging for Congress to devote attention to crypto regulation this year. In a note published Tuesday, Gardner wrote that the legislative calendar is increasingly working against the bill. “The calendar is becoming the enemy of this bill,” he said. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

XRP has climbed back above the $1.40 mark this week, a level that previously acted as resistance, but analysts warn that the rally does not eliminate the risk of a deeper pullback.  The cryptocurrency’s most critical support zone at $1.30 remains under pressure, and broader market forces—particularly Bitcoin’s (BTC) price action—could determine what happens next. XRP Locked Between $1.30 Support And $1.50 Resistance In a recent report, analyst Sam Daodu described $1.30 as the most heavily tested support level for XRP so far in 2026. Since February, the token has repeatedly slipped into the low $1.30 range, only to find buyers stepping in before a decisive breakdown could occur.  Related Reading: Bitcoin Tops $73,000, Expert Explains Why The Rally Isn’t Over Yet According to Daodu, a key reason XRP has continued to defend this area is that it is slightly lower, around $1.27. On-chain cost basis data indicates that roughly 443 million XRP were accumulated at that price level.  As the market approaches this entry point, many of these holders have added to their positions, creating buying pressure that has consistently pushed the price back above $1.30.  For now, Daodu sees XRP trading within a clearly defined range, with $1.30 acting as the floor and $1.50 serving as resistance. The analyst said a meaningful shift in trend would require a breakout beyond one of those levels, and the direction of that move will likely depend on external catalysts. Bitcoin And Middle East Tensions As Key Threats Bitcoin stands out as the most significant variable. XRP and BTC are currently moving in close alignment, with a reported correlation of 0.84. Historically, XRP has tended to magnify Bitcoin’s price swings by roughly 1.8 times.  In practical terms, that means a 10% decline in Bitcoin could translate into an 18% drop for XRP. Daodu cautions that if Bitcoin were to fall below $60,000 again, XRP would likely follow, regardless of the token’s individual fundamentals or technical structure. Geopolitical factors are also contributing to market fragility. Rising tensions in the Middle East have already sparked risk-off sentiment across the crypto market in early March.  Should the situation worsen, Daodu said investors could reduce exposure to more speculative assets first, placing additional pressure on altcoins such as XRP. BTC As The Key To Break $1.50? On the upside, a sustained breakout above $1.50 would likely require more than just stability in Bitcoin. Historically, altcoins gain momentum when Bitcoin advances decisively, drawing fresh capital into the broader market.  Daodu posits that XRP is no exception; a strong upward move in BTC could provide the tailwind needed for the altcoin to attempt surpass higher resistance levels. Related Reading: Crypto Treasury Inflows Slide To October 2024 Levels—What Happened? Between $1.58 and $1.60 lies a substantial supply zone. Approximately 2 billion XRP were purchased at those levels, leaving many holders underwater for months.  As the price approaches that range, investors seeking to exit at breakeven could generate heavy selling pressure, the analyst reported. Clearing $1.50 would signal renewed strength, but absorbing supply closer to $1.60 may prove to be the more difficult challenge. At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $1.41, marking a 3% loss over the previous 24 hours.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

The XRP price returned to a technical level that, historically, has defined some of its most explosive rallies. After enduring a sharp 62% correction that culminated in a drop toward $1.10 on February 6, the token is once again testing its long-term ascending support trendline. Amid this, the broader crypto market has shown signs of recovery this week, offering some relief. On Wednesday, the XRP price rebounded roughly 6%, while Bitcoin (BTC) climbed back above the critical $70,000 level, restoring a measure of optimism across risk assets despite ongoing global tensions. Historic XRP Price Support  In a Wednesday report, market analyst Sam Daodu pointed out that the XRP price is sitting on the same rising trendline that has historically preceded dramatic upside moves — including a 630% rally in 2024 and an extraordinary surge of more than 60,000% in 2017.  Related Reading: CFTC Chair Says Crypto Perps Approval Is Close — Why This Is Huge For Hyperliquid? What makes this retest different, Daodu noted, is that it is happening for the first time with a fully established spot XRP Exchange-traded fund (ETF) infrastructure behind it. Since their launch in November 2025, US spot XRP exchange-traded funds have attracted $1.24 billion in cumulative inflows over four consecutive positive months. Approximately 797 million XRP are now held in ETF custody.  At the same time, institutional wallets accumulated an additional 170 million XRP during the most recent price dip. Ripple also re-locked 700 million XRP into escrow on March 1, maintaining its standard release cycle and limiting new supply from entering the market. March seasonality adds another layer to the setup. Over the past 12 years, XRP has delivered an average return of 18% in March, making it statistically the strongest month of the first quarter.  $4 Target Emerges From a technical standpoint, the $1.27 level represents the first area of support to monitor. It aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level and has served as a bear market floor throughout the correction.  Below that, the $1.10–$1.11 zone marks the precise location of the long-term ascending trendline that held in February. A decisive break beneath $1.10 would represent the first failure of this channel since 2015 and could expose the XRP price to a deeper pullback toward $0.85–$1.00. Related Reading: MARA Revises Bitcoin Treasury Strategy, Opens Door To Selling $3.5 Billion In BTC On the upside, $1.47 stands as the nearest Fibonacci resistance, followed closely by the $1.50 neckline of the double bottom. A sustained close above $1.50 would confirm the pattern and project a move toward $1.68–$1.70. Beyond that range, on-chain data shows roughly 1.85 billion XRP accumulated between $1.76 and $1.80, a zone where holders may look to exit at breakeven, potentially creating substantial resistance.  The most significant supply cluster lies between $2.40 and $2.60; a weekly close above that band would invalidate the broader descending structure and signal a more decisive trend reversal. Combining historical March strength, capitulation signals, and structural supply constraints, Daodu suggests the XRP price could potentially reach a range between $2.50 and $4.00 by late 2026. 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 

Bitcoin (BTC) has wrapped up February with its fifth straight monthly loss, marking only the second time in its history that the leading cryptocurrency has printed five consecutive red candles on the monthly chart.  Upside Call Options Surge The latest decline saw Bitcoin fall to around $63,000 last Saturday, representing a roughly 15% drop for the month of February. However, the start of March has brought a modest rebound.  The asset opened the first week of the month at $68,600, posting gains of just over 3% as it attempts to reclaim the $70,000 level, which has continuously acted as a significant resistance barrier over the past several weeks. Related Reading: Dogecoin (DOGE) Slips Toward Critical Support, Breakdown Threat Emerges Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, market participants appear relatively composed. Markus Thielen, head of research at 10x Research, said traders do not anticipate the Iran conflict causing major economic disruption.  In a note to Bloomberg, Thielen said that demand for upside Bitcoin call options has increased in recent days, suggesting that some investors are positioning for a potential rally ahead of the upcoming Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting. The current setup has also reignited historical comparisons. The last time Bitcoin experienced a similar string of red monthly candles was during the 2018–2019 bear market.  In that earlier cycle, the asset went on to print six consecutive monthly losses. What followed was a sharp reversal: five straight green candles and a 308% surge, with Bitcoin climbing from roughly $3,400 to $14,000. Market Watchers Split On Bitcoin Outlook Market expert Ash Crypto recently highlighted this pattern on social media, suggesting that if history were to repeat, Bitcoin could be approaching a cyclical bottom after its fifth red month.  A comparable 300% advance from current trading levels would imply a potential move toward $272,000. Such a projection, however, depends on whether the recent lows ultimately prove to be the final bottom of this correction. Related Reading: XRP Faces $650 Million Sell Risk As US-Iran Conflict Sparks Risk-Off Move Not all analysts are convinced that the downside is over. Technical analyst Virtual Bacon has outlined the possibility of further retracement before a sustained recovery can be expected.  He identified $65,000—previously an all-time high—as the first key level, noting that the price has already revisited that zone. For those who subscribe to the thesis that former highs often turn into support, he suggested that the opportunity may already be present. A deeper pullback, in his view, could bring Bitcoin toward $58,000, where the 200-week simple moving average (SMA) currently sits. Historically, that long-term indicator has played a critical role in defining market bottoms.  It helped contain the sharp selloff during the 2020 COVID-19 crash, marked the absolute low in 2018, and was tested multiple times in 2015 without ever closing below it every week.  Because of this track record, the 200-week moving average has been widely regarded as one of the most reliable long-term accumulation zones in Bitcoin’s history. 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 

Bitcoin has continued to trade defensively near the mid-$60,000s as traders balance rising Iran-related war risk and interest-rate pressures.

Bitcoin saw its price crash toward $60,000 last week, and naturally, investor sentiment took a plunge with it. Now, while the sentiment has been in a decline for the better part of five months, what stands out this time is how low the score on the Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index has gotten. In fact, the sentiment surrounding the crypto market has dropped so low that it has gotten to a point that has only been hit twice in the history of Bitcoin. Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index Crashes To 9 Since hitting its all-time high of $126,000 back in August 2025, the sentiment has been ping-ponging, but now, it seems to have determined a direction. The trend has been mainly downward, and then last week, the index dropped to a low of 9. Related Reading: Analyst Says XRP’s $15 Target Has Still Not Changed – Here’s Why The Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index tracks the sentiment across the market using a number of factors, such as social sentiment and volume, among others. Thus, it gives a rather comprehensive view of how investors are feeling toward the market. The index ranges from 1-100, with 100-75 being Extreme Greed, 74-54 being Greed, 53-47 being Neutral, 46-26 being Fear, and 25-1 being Extreme Fear. Presently, the market is sitting in Extreme Fear, which means that investors are wary of getting into the market. More importantly, though, the last two times that the market sentiment was this low were the 2018-2019 bear market and then the FTX crypto exchange crash back in 2022. What’s interesting about these two different posts in history is what followed after the sentiment dropped this low. The initial reaction to this seems to be very similar, with a long accumulation trend following each time. Usually, this trend lasts for a few months, suggesting that the market is using this time to build up momentum. Related Reading: How High Will The Dogecoin Price Be If Bitcoin Reaches $200,000? However, like clockwork, there has been a steady upward move, meaning that sentiment this low could mark the end of the bear market. This then leads to the start of the bull market, and by the next year, the price is often hitting new all-time highs. Using this trend, it is likely that the Bitcoin price has hit or is close to hitting its bottom. In that case, a long period of accumulation could be the next course of action, and this could inevitably lead to the start of the next bull market. However, it is important to keep in mind that there have been points where Bitcoin has deviated from its set historical trend as new investors and macro factors begin to affect the financial markets. Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com

The past few days have seen shocking developments on the geopolitical front, with the United States and Israel launching coordinated strikes against Iran. The operation took place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, and because cryptocurrency markets trade around the clock, Bitcoin’s price action quickly reflected the shock. Bitcoin became the world’s real-time measure of fear, plunging, recovering, and leaving traders bracing for what comes next. Related Reading: Vitalik Buterin Lays Out A Plan To Make Ethereum 1,000 Times More Capable The Initial Shock: Bitcoin Tumbles Below $64,000 Bitcoin’s price action took a hit almost as soon as reports emerged that US and Israeli forces were conducting military operations inside Iran. Notably, Bitcoin plunged from a price of $65,572 to $63,176 in about an hour overnight following word of the strikes.  According to data from The Kobeissi Letter, over $100 million worth of leveraged Bitcoin longs were liquidated in just 15 minutes after the news broke out. The scale of the sell-off was significant: about $128 billion was wiped off the overall crypto market in a single hour as liquidations surged across global exchanges.  However, Bitcoin did not stay down for long after the initial plunge. The largest cryptocurrency started to stage a rebound as traders speculated on unfolding developments, including confirmation of the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei during the attacks. Early Asian trading saw BTC climb back above $67,000, regaining some ground as markets reevaluated the situation and eased momentary panic.  Bitcoin rose as much as 2.21% above $68,000 following the news of Khamenei’s death, with Coingecko data pointing to an intraday high of $68,043. Still, the recovery has been uneven, with price action reflecting ongoing uncertainty over how the geopolitical tensions will be resolved. At the time of writing, Bitcoin’s price action has corrected a bit from this intraday high and is now trading at $66,310. What Comes Next: Analysts Warn The Rally May Be Fragile Despite the bounce, market analysts across social media platforms are recommending caution. The real price reaction will happen on Monday when US equity markets and Bitcoin ETFs reopen. As it stands, the attacks are not yet a contained event, with missiles still hitting Dubai and Iranian retaliation across the Gulf. There is also the risk of a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sell-Off Slows Down, But The Road To Recovery Is Long — Analyst Bitcoin is already currently down by almost 50% from its all-time peak of over $126,000 earlier in October 2024, unable to latch on to rallies in gold, silver, and other assets. All eyes will be on Monday’s market open, when the entire traditional investment niche starts to react to the full weight of the world’s most dramatic geopolitical escalation in years. Bitcoin is already in a fragile state, and because of that, a move to $60,000 could play out during the week if there’s any form of selling pressure. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have finally returned to positive territory after enduring five straight weeks of capital withdrawals. Flow data shows that the just-concluded week delivered a strong rebound in investor demand, although the late surge was not enough to fully repair the damage recorded earlier in February. Investors Pour $787 Million Into Spot Bitcoin ETFs According to data from SoSoValue, Spot Bitcoin ETFs posted a combined $787.31 million in net inflows during the week, which was the first green weekly print after five consecutive weeks of outflows. The turnaround was mostly facilitated by three straight days of positive flows on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, which helped tip the balance back into positive territory. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sell-Off Slows Down, But The Road To Recovery Is Long — Analyst Last week’s numbers and the change in momentum show that institutional and ETF-based investors chose last week to step back into Bitcoin after an extended period of consecutive outflows. However, despite the strong weekly performance, the entire monthly net flow still ended in red due to the depth of withdrawals that occurred earlier in the month. As such, February ultimately closed with a total net outflow of $206.52 million from Spot Bitcoin ETFs. Spot Bitcoin Weekly Netflows. Source: SoSoValue The resilience of ETF holders was also highlighted by crypto pundit Nate Geraci on the social media platform X. He noted that investors in Spot Bitcoin ETFs have largely maintained conviction during recent Bitcoin downturns.  Geraci’s remarks described the recent withdrawals as modest in the broader context of the asset class’s overall growth. He pointed out that since Bitcoin reached its record high in early October, Spot Bitcoin ETFs have experienced about $6.5 billion in net outflows. However, he also noted that this figure is small relative to the $55 billion that the funds have attracted since their launch in January 2024. He also referenced the over $1 billion in inflows from Tuesday to Thursday, which is another example of how quickly sentiment can change. Spot Ethereum ETFs Follow The Recovery The rebound was not limited to Bitcoin-based funds. Spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded investor interest midweek, breaking what would have become a six-week streak of consecutive outflows. For the week, Spot Ethereum ETFs finished with a net inflow of $80.46 million. Although smaller in scale compared to Bitcoin’s figures, the inflow is the first broader stabilization in crypto ETF sentiment. Spot Ethereum Weekly Netflows. Source: SoSoValue Related Reading: Vitalik Buterin Lays Out A Plan To Make Ethereum 1,000 Times More Capable Taken together, the inflows into both Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs indicate that institutional appetite may be rebuilding after several weeks of consecutive withdrawals. Whether this is the beginning of a sustained recovery or a short-term relief bounce will also depend on broader market conditions and how current geopolitical tensions resolve in the weeks ahead. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Ethereum users may soon interact with the blockchain in ways that were not possible before. According to co-founder Vitalik Buterin, native smart accounts — a feature that has been in the works for over a decade — are now expected to arrive within the year as part of the network’s upcoming Hegota upgrade. Related Reading: Bitcoin In The Line Of Fire: Price Dips To $63k As US, Israel Launch Strikes On Iran Privacy Tools Stand To Benefit Most For privacy-focused users, this shift could matter more than most people realize. Protocols like Railgun have long depended on middlemen called “public broadcasters” to push transactions through. These go-betweens have been a persistent source of headaches for users. Reports say Buterin wants to remove them entirely by replacing that system with a general-purpose public memory pool — cutting out the intermediary and putting more control directly in the hands of the user. His words were direct: “Intermediary minimization is a core principle of non-ugly cypherpunk Ethereum — maximize what you can do even if all the world’s infrastructure except the Ethereum chain itself goes down.” That is a strong statement. And it signals just how seriously the Ethereum team takes self-sufficiency at the protocol level. Now, account abstraction. We have been talking about account abstraction ever since early 2016, see the original EIP-86: https://t.co/HYLSTLHgWH Now, we finally have EIP-8141 ( https://t.co/jYqeS55j6P ), an omnibus that wraps up and solves every remaining problem that AA was… — vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 28, 2026 A Decade In The Making Buterin acknowledged the long road to get here. He pointed out that account abstraction has been discussed since early 2016. Now, with EIP-8141 bundled into the Hegota fork, the goal is to finally tie up every problem the concept was originally meant to fix — and then some. The Ethereum Foundation’s public roadmap, called the “Strawmap,” places native account abstraction in the second half of 2026. The technical approach being proposed centers on what Buterin calls “frame transactions.” Rather than a transaction being one single action, it becomes a series of frames. Each frame can point to another’s data, and each can authorize a sender or a gas payer. One frame handles the signature check. Another handles execution. It is modular by design and built to be broadly useful. This also means paying transaction fees without holding ETH becomes possible. Users could pay in other tokens through a paymaster contract or a specialized exchange that supplies ETH on the spot — no third party needed. Related Reading: Vitalik Buterin Lays Out A Plan To Make Ethereum 1,000 Times More Capable Quantum Resistance Also In Scope The Hegota upgrade is not stopping at smart accounts. Buterin also rolled out a separate quantum resistance roadmap earlier in the week, identifying four areas of concern: validator signatures, data storage, user account signatures, and zero-knowledge proofs. Existing accounts are expected to fit into the new framework without being left behind, gaining access to batch operations and transaction sponsorship along the way. After 10 years of promises, the pieces finally appear to be falling into place. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Hyperliquid (HYPE), one of the largest decentralized exchanges (DEXs) in the crypto sector, is preparing a significant upgrade that could reshape how new projects launch tokens on its platform.  The proposal, known as HIP-6, introduces a framework designed to enable permissionless, on-chain token launches without relying on the off‑chain capital-raising methods that many teams currently use. New Hyperliquid Proposal  Details of the proposal were shared on social media by James Evans of Reciprocal Ventures. According to Evans, HIP-6 establishes a permissionless token launch auction for new HIP-1 assets, specifically tailored for teams seeking to issue tokens directly on Hyperliquid.  The system adapts Uniswap’s continuous clearing auction model to function within Hyperliquid’s central limit order book (CLOB) environment, allowing token launches to occur natively within the exchange’s infrastructure. Related Reading: Jane Street Faces New Lawsuit: Trump Media Calls For Federal Investigation At present, while HIP-1 and HIP-2 already allow permissionless token deployment and automated liquidity provisioning, gaps remain in capital formation and price discovery.  Teams launching tokens on Hyperliquid often need to secure funding off chain, manually provide their own liquidity to seed HIP-2 pools, or release tokens into relatively thin order books.  These limitations have meant that, despite its technical strengths, Hyperliquid has not yet reached feature parity with other high-performance ecosystems and exchanges when it comes to initial token offerings.  HIP-6 is designed to close that gap, though participation will remain optional for projects. By integrating capital raising and liquidity seeding into a single on-chain flow, the proposal aims to simplify the process for founders.  Funds raised during the auction would be split automatically between the token deployer and liquidity provision through HIP-2, reducing operational friction and reliance on external arrangements. Auction Structure And Ecosystem Growth A core component of the proposal is its approach to price discovery. Instead of a one‑time auction vulnerable to timing strategies, HIP-6 uses a continuous clearing auction that unfolds over multiple blocks.  This structure is intended to determine a fair market price while minimizing the “sniping” and last‑minute bidding behavior often seen in traditional token launches. The upgrade also seeks to strengthen the broader ecosystem around Hyperliquid. By creating utility for aligned quote assets, HIP-6 could contribute to higher total value locked (TVL) in those assets and generate yield for the platform’s Assistance Fund.  Related Reading: Circle Tops Q4 Revenue Forecasts, Shares Surge 30% — Key Numbers Inside While HIP-6 addresses how new tokens raise funds and establish initial liquidity, it does not dictate how those tokens create long-term value or how their governance systems operate.  Mechanisms such as revenue sharing, buybacks, staking rewards, treasury oversight, or voting rights would remain up to individual projects.  Similarly, tokenholder protections—such as treasury lockups, on-chain transparency requirements, or vesting schedules affecting both buyers and team allocations—would need to be built on top of the HIP-6 framework. The proposal’s stated objective is to make the initial auction process as efficient and equitable as possible, leaving post-launch design choices to the creativity of the Hyperliquid community. At the time of writing, HYPE, the platform’s native token, was trading at $27.430, representing a 3% drop over the previous 24 hours.  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 

Shares of Circle Internet Group (CRLC) climbed nearly 30% during Wednesday’s trading session after the company delivered fourth-quarter (Q4) 2025 results that comfortably exceeded Wall Street expectations.  The strong earnings report, driven largely by growth in its USDC stablecoin and higher reserve income, pushed the stock to around $79.13 at the time of writing, marking a 29.2% gain over the past 24 hours. Circle Earnings Soar On USDC Expansion For the fourth quarter, Circle reported earnings of $0.43 per share, sharply ahead of the $0.16 per share analysts had projected. Total revenue and reserve income reached $770 million, representing a 77% increase compared with the same period a year earlier and surpassing consensus estimates of $747.4 million. Growth in USDC circulation and transaction activity played a central role in the company’s performance. By the end of 2025, USDC in circulation had risen to $75.3 billion, a 72% year-over-year (YoY) increase.  Related Reading: Bitcoin May Be In A Price Slump—But Adoption Is In A Bull Market On-chain transaction volume involving USDC reached $11.9 trillion in the fourth quarter alone, up 247% from the prior year’s quarter. Net income from continuing operations totaled $133 million in Q4, an improvement of $129 million compared with the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter came in at $167 million, up 412% YoY. Looking at the full fiscal year, Circle generated $2.7 billion in total revenue and reserve income in 2025, a 64% increase compared with 2024. Despite that top-line growth, the company posted a net loss from continuing operations of $70 million for the year.  That figure was significantly affected by $424 million in stock-based compensation expenses tied to vesting conditions triggered by its 2025 initial public offering (IPO).  By comparison, Circle had recorded net income of $157 million from continuing operations in 2024. On an adjusted basis, EBITDA for the full year rose 104% to $582 million. CEO’s Long-Term Vision Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s co-founder, CEO, and chairman, described the quarter as another milestone in the company’s long-term strategy. He said the results reflect continued progress in building infrastructure for what he called an open and programmable internet-based financial system.  According to Allaire, USDC adoption has expanded across enterprises, developers, and public institutions, with digital dollars increasingly used for payments, treasury management, and on-chain financial operations.  Related Reading: Expert Forecasts $5 Trillions Pouring Into Crypto Post CLARITY Act Passage The executive also pointed to advancements toward launching the Arc mainnet, rising transaction volume across Circle’s CPN network, and growing traction for the company’s euro-backed stablecoin EURC and tokenized treasury product USYC.  Circle, which went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in June last year, has experienced significant volatility since its debut. Although the latest rally lifted shares close to $79, the stock remains roughly 73% below its all-time high of $299, reached just weeks after its market debut. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

The cryptocurrency market staged a broad recovery on Wednesday, led by a sharp rebound in the Bitcoin price that pushed the digital asset close to the $70,000 level once again. Bitcoin climbed roughly 8% on the day, approaching a price zone that has acted as firm resistance since it was lost earlier this month. The renewed strength was not limited to Bitcoin. Ethereum (ETH) advanced 12%, XRP gained 8%, and Solana (SOL) surged 13%, reflecting a wider return of risk appetite across digital assets.  Bitcoin Price Nears $70K As Altcoins Outperform Market experts suggest the bounce may be driven largely by investors stepping in after an extended period of weakness. Caroline Mauron, co-founder of Orbit Markets, told Bloomberg that the upward move likely reflects dip-buying activity following the recent selloff.  She added that a decisive move back above $70,000 for the Bitcoin price could alter the broader market narrative, potentially restoring confidence after weeks of pressure. Related Reading: Bitcoin May Be In A Price Slump—But Adoption Is In A Bull Market Recent trading patterns also suggest a change in investor positioning. Although demand for cryptocurrencies in the US has softened in recent weeks, it seems that capital is now rotating into altcoins, as evidenced by the gains made by ETH, XRP and SOL, which have outperformed Bitcoin in the last 24 hours.  Daniel Reis-Faria, chief executive officer of ZeroStack, noted that Bitcoin increasingly trades within the context of the broader financial system. When liquidity conditions tighten, he said, volatility tends to increase.  In that environment, assets such as Solana — which he described as generating “real yield” — may prove more resilient than tokens that were previously driven primarily by momentum. Still, some analysts caution against interpreting the rebound as a definitive turning point.  Is Bitcoin Forming A New Bottom? Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, drew comparisons to the market environment in 2022, when a steep decline was followed by months of sideways consolidation before a sustained recovery eventually took hold.  He observed that after the 2022 Bitcoin price downturn, it took more than a year for the market to regain and surpass prior highs, suggesting patience may be required this time as well. Galaxy Digital’s head of research, Alex Thorn, offered a nuanced view in his latest Bitcoin price outlook. He argued that the most intense phase of downside pressure is likely already behind the market.  Among the supportive signals he cited were Bitcoin trading near its 200-week moving average (MA) and realized price, historically important technical levels.  Related Reading: Expert Forecasts $5 Trillions Pouring Into Crypto Post CLARITY Act Passage In addition, more than half of all Bitcoin in circulation is currently underwater, the relative strength index has reached levels often associated with capitulation, and several other on-chain indicators are flashing signs that a bottom may be forming. However, Thorn also warned that even if the worst of the decline has passed, further challenges could lie ahead for the Bitcoin price. He said that market bottoms typically take time to fully develop, and prolonged sideways movement remains a possibility.  A downturn in equities could exert additional pressure on digital assets, and the broader market still appears to lack a strong catalyst to drive sustained upside momentum.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (COIN) could be one of the biggest corporate beneficiaries of the United States’ first comprehensive crypto legislation, the GENIUS Act, which was signed into law in July 2025 and established a federal framework for stablecoin issuance and oversight. Coinbase Stablecoin Revenue Jumps 48% According to Bloomberg analysts Paul Gulberg and Samuel Radowitz, the new framework may significantly strengthen Coinbase’s fast-growing stablecoin business, particularly if adoption of dollar-backed tokens expands into mainstream payments. Related Reading: Bitcoin May Be In A Price Slump—But Adoption Is In A Bull Market In 2025, Coinbase generated an estimated $1.35 billion in revenue tied to stablecoins, a 48% increase from $911 million in 2024. That segment represented 19% of the company’s total annual revenue, underscoring how important stablecoins have become to the exchange’s overall business model. Unlike trading fees, which tend to rise and fall sharply alongside crypto market volatility, stablecoin-related income is derived from interest earned on reserves backing Circle’s USDC.  Those reserves are primarily invested in US Treasuries and other low-risk instruments, producing yield. Coinbase receives a significant share of that interest income, making the business more predictable and generally higher margin than transaction-based revenue. The importance of this revenue stream became particularly evident in late 2025. During a period when Bitcoin (BTC) and broader crypto prices declined sharply, and Coinbase’s fourth-quarter revenue dropped 20%, income generated from stablecoins remained comparatively stable.  Paul Gulberg and Samuel Radowitz argue that this consistency could become even more meaningful if regulatory clarity accelerates broader USDC adoption. GENIUS Act Expected To Accelerate USDC Growth  The GENIUS Act is central to that outlook. By providing a national regulatory structure for stablecoin issuers, the legislation could remove barriers that have limited the use of USDC in areas such as cross-border payments and merchant settlements.  If businesses and financial institutions adopt stablecoins more widely for real-world transactions, the overall supply of USDC could expand substantially. An increase in USDC circulation would require additional reserves to back those tokens, which in turn would generate more interest income from the underlying Treasury holdings.  Because Coinbase shares in that yield, greater adoption directly translates into higher potential revenue. Bloomberg analysts estimate that under favorable conditions, Coinbase’s USDC-related revenue could grow by two to seven times its current level. Related Reading: Expert Forecasts $5 Trillions Pouring Into Crypto Post CLARITY Act Passage Yet, reaching the upper end of that projection depends on whether Coinbase can continue offering rewards to customers who hold USDC. If customer reward mechanisms remain in place, analysts believe USDC adoption could accelerate more rapidly.  However, even if those programmes are limited or scaled back in the ongoing negotiations on the CLARITY Act, the clearer regulatory environment created by the GENIUS Act is still expected to support meaningful growth in stablecoin usage. At the time of writing, the exchange’s stock, trading under the ticker name COIN, surged towards $185 during Wednesday’s trading session, marking a 22% increase in the 24-hour time frame.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Although final passage of the CLARITY Act—commonly referred to as the crypto market structure bill —has been delayed in Congress, some experts believe its eventual approval could unleash an unprecedented wave of capital into the crypto sector. Trillions On Hold In a recent post on X (previously Twitter), the expert known as 360Trader argued that trillions of dollars in institutional money are waiting on regulatory certainty before entering digital assets.  Related Reading: History Repeating? XRP Flashes Signal Last Seen Before Explosive 60,000% Rally According to his assessment, the CLARITY Act could act as the trigger that opens Wall Street’s doors to crypto in a meaningful way, potentially driving more than $5 trillion into the space over time. 360Trader pointed to comments from White House Digital Asset adviser Patrick Witt, who stated that trillions in institutional capital are effectively sidelined as firms wait for legal clarity.  Large asset managers, including BlackRock, are often cited as examples of institutions constrained by the current patchwork regulatory environment.  If the CLARITY Act becomes law, the expert believes the crypto market capitalization could surge beyond $4 trillion, drawing comparisons to the rally that followed the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) back in 2024. Catalyst For Next Crypto Bull Run? Stablecoins are another key element of the discussion. Under the proposed framework, banks would receive clearer authorization to issue stablecoins.  The stablecoin market has already expanded significantly, reaching a reported $300 billion in supply in 2025 and processing approximately $33 trillion in transaction volume—figures that exceed the total throughput of Visa’s network.  The possibility of major banks such as JPMorgan launching fully integrated stablecoins backed by substantial payment activity has been described as a potential turning point for the sector. The yield component is also drawing attention. Some stablecoin products currently offer returns in the range of 3% to 5%, compared with traditional savings accounts that average roughly 0.07%.  Related Reading: World Liberty Financial Cites ‘Coordinated Attack’ — But Are There Deeper Issues? 360Trader suggested that this disparity could prompt a significant reallocation of capital—potentially as much as $6 trillion—from conventional bank deposits into crypto-linked instruments. Pension funds, university endowments and retail investors could all gain broader exposure to higher-yielding crypto products.  In parallel, traditional financial institutions may begin integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure to enable faster settlement and more efficient transaction rails. Yet, the traditional banking sector has consistently pushed back against stablecoin yield structures, citing concerns about the impact on their deposit bases. This has resulted in the current delay and the ongoing White House meetings. In the expert’s words: …I’m bullish on CLARITY unlocking trillions in dormant capital. This could be the catalyst that separates the next bull run from everything we’ve seen before.  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 

Analysts warn the bitcoin market is vulnerable to a deeper flush amid ETF outflows, miner selling and macro shocks.