Back said Epstein was a limited partner in a fund that briefly held a minority stake in Blockstream, which was later divested.
The start of this year brought a hard reminder: people remain the weakest link. Reports note that roughly $370 million in crypto were taken in January, a sharp climb from earlier months. Related Reading: Crypto Funds Bleed $1.80 Billion As Metals Rally Heats Up That surge was driven mostly by one massive social-engineering con that emptied a single victim of about $284 million. Simple lies and well-crafted messages beat code this time. Phishing Dominates Losses According to CertiK, phishing-style scams grabbed about $311 million of the January haul. That means most losses came from attackers tricking users and insiders rather than breaking cryptographic systems. Social pressure, fake links, and impersonation were used to push victims into moving funds. People clicked. Money moved. Accounts were drained. A Bigger Picture Of Monthly Swings Based on reports, January’s total is nearly four times the $98 million stolen in January 2025 and more than triple December’s close to $118 million. The month is the largest since February 2025, when roughly $1.5 billion was taken, most of that tied to the huge Bybit heist. Those big events show how a single breach or scam can tilt an entire month’s tally. Numbers can look calm one month and explosive the next. That unpredictability keeps wallets and treasuries on edge. #CertiKStatsAlert ???? Combining all the incidents in January we’ve confirmed ~$370.3M lost to exploits. ~$311.3M of the total is attributed to phishing with one victim losing ~$284M due to a social engineering scam. More details below ???? pic.twitter.com/uXhi0P6dl5 — CertiK Alert (@CertiKAlert) January 31, 2026 Major Technical Exploits Hit Treasuries PeckShield flagged several large protocol attacks. Step Finance lost nearly $29 million after treasury wallets were compromised and over 261,000 SOL vanished. Truebit suffered a $26.4 million hit when a smart contract flaw allowed near-free minting, which also crushed its token price. SwapNet and Saga were among other victims, with losses around $13.3 million and $7 million respectively. Those hacks were technical, aggressive, and fast. #PeckShieldAlert In Jan. 2026, the crypto space saw 16 hacks totaling $86.01M in losses, representing a slight 1.42% YoY decrease compared to Jan. 2025 ($87.25M) but a notable 13.25% MoM surge from Dec. 2025 ($75.95M). Meanwhile, #phishing remains staggering with losses… pic.twitter.com/pxugbsPcZ7 — PeckShieldAlert (@PeckShieldAlert) February 1, 2026 Why This Matters Now Reports say there were 40 exploit and scam incidents over January, though the bulk of value lost was concentrated in a few cases. That pattern means the raw count of incidents doesn’t tell the whole story; a single, well-executed con can dwarf many smaller breaches combined. Some months will show many small thefts. Other months will be defined by one enormous fraud. What Needs To Change Security teams and project treasuries must tighten both human and technical safeguards. More rigorous wallet controls, staged approvals, and stronger identity checks would blunt social-engineering strikes. At the same time, independent code audits and quicker response plans can limit damage from smart contract bugs. Education programs for staff and users are cheap compared with the cost of a single large loss. Related Reading: Gold Vs. XRP: One Asset Just Added 20x The Other’s Market Value The recent spike is a clear message: attackers are mixing social skill with technical know-how. The playbook now often starts with a message in a chat app or an email, then turns into code-level theft. Patching software helps. Teaching people how to spot scams will stop many attacks before they ever reach the code. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView
The $100 million transfer follows the exchange's Jan. 30 announcement that it would shift the SAFU fund toward bitcoin over a 30-day period.
Bitcoin bets on Polymarket show elevated downside risk in 2026 as analysts point to bearish trends and tight US liquidity conditions.
The crypto market has entered a sharp corrective phase, dragging the cryptos from the recent highs. As predicted, the Bitcoin price dropped to $75,000 in early February as the selling and liquidations reached peaks. Initially, it appeared to be a routine pullback, which further transformed into a broader sell-off. This is reflecting the weakening prices, …
Spot ETF investors are now sitting on paper losses, which sets the stage for potential large redemptions.
Solana-based decentralized exchange Jupiter is taking a significant step beyond token swaps by integrating Polymarket into its ecosystem. The move brings prediction markets to Solana through Jupiter for the first time, signaling a strategic shift toward building a more comprehensive on-chain financial platform. By adding event-based trading to its offerings, Jupiter is positioning itself as …
The crypto market has seen a sharp sell-off, with total market value falling to $2.52 trillion, down by 6% in the last 24 hours. Bitcoin, the pioneer cryptocurrency, dropped heavily from $89,200 to a low of $74,561. Other major coins like ETH, XRP, SOL, BNB, and ADA also faced strong losses of around 8% to …
Bitcoin slid sharply over the weekend, breaking below $76,000 in thin trading and briefly dipping through the $75,000 area as selling accelerated late Saturday into Sunday. The move pushed BTC into a zone that technician Aksel Kibar has identified as a key band of horizontal support, roughly between $73.7K and $76.5K. The move didn’t come in a vacuum. Macro markets were already in a forced-risk-off posture, with a violent sell-off in precious metals feeding broader deleveraging dynamics, exactly the kind of tape that can amplify weekend volatility when liquidity thins out and stop levels get tested. Is The Bitcoin Bottom In? Kibar, a Chartered Market Technician and the founder of Tech Charts LLC, said in a series of posts on X that he’s watching the $73.7K and $76.5K closely, but not treating it as an automatic green light for longs. His message to traders: price reaching support is a location, not a signal, and the difference matters most when you’re trying to avoid catching a falling knife. In several posts dated Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 he stated that his process is built around classical chart patterns rather than “guessing” the low. “Reaching a support area is not in itself a classical chart pattern buy signal,” he wrote. “We need to see a bullish reversal chart pattern forming around support areas. But trading tactics differ. You might have a different way to take advantage of the recent price action.” Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Digital Gold Thesis Faces Reality As Gold Surges Ahead Kibar framed the current range as an area where a bottom could form, but emphasized that his approach is to wait for structure, specifically a reversal formation that changes the odds profile. On Jan. 30 he laid out why he won’t chase a level just because it’s on the map. “I’m not interested to find the support because I’m not trying to catch the falling knife,” he wrote. “I’m interested to find a bottom reversal pattern. A double bottom. A H&S bottom. I will always miss the boat if it is a V reversal.” That trade-off is deliberate, he added, and it’s part of knowing your own constraints: “Important to know your strength and weaknesses.” In a separate post, Kibar linked the “base building” concept to a concrete trigger: a breakout above $91.2K, which he described as the completion point of a double-bottom scenario he had referenced earlier. “When I say we need a base building, some sort of a classical chart pattern (preferably with horizontal boundaries), I’m referring to the breakout above 91.2K (completion of a double bottom),” he wrote, adding that confirmation is “even more crucial because we are below long-term average,” before he can “submit for bullish interpretation.” Kibar’s posts also pushed back on a common psychological trap in bottom-calling: confusing caution with fear. Responding to an X user who suggested he sounded bullish but reluctant to “make a call” to avoid being wrong, Kibar agreed with the setup but sharpened the motive. “Everything correct,” he replied. “Except not I don’t want to be wrong but to have higher conviction. We can’t act in markets with the fear of being wrong.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Is The Money Of The AI-Powered Economy: CryptoQuant CEO That distinction matters because it explains why his framework requires visible evidence of buyers stepping in, rather than a single level holding by default. When another user asked whether Bitcoin could be forming the right shoulder of a potential head-and-shoulders bottom, Kibar dismissed the timing: “Too early to start thinking about this.” In his most recent update, Kibar described the kinds of behaviors that, in his view, can hint at demand emerging around support. Instead of treating it as a checklist, he framed it as the “signs” that can show buyers are willing to defend the area: a pickup in activity and volatility, candlesticks that show rejection(such as doji-like structures with long lower wicks) and short-term reversal structures like double bottoms or head-and-shoulders bottoms. Kibar also introduced a market-structure point he said he learned while managing a large fund in the United Arab Emirates: “If there are no sellers, there will be no buyers.” He argued that large buyers often need meaningful supply to build size without moving price against themselves, and that heavy selling can sometimes be the condition that allows that accumulation, depending on motives and liquidity. He briefly extended that idea to Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), noting he wasn’t sure whether the firm “will be required (from an accounting perspective) to sell any assets,” but adding that, in his words, the market can be a “wild wild west,” where “some buyer out there might be after that chunk at a reasonable price.” At press time, Bitcoin traded at $76,713. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Nomura's crypto subsidiary, Laser Digital, saw losses in Q3, leading Nomura to report lower-than-expected quarterly net profit.
Binance just turned its emergency insurance fund into a public, auditable pledge. And it reads like a crisis-repair letter in balance sheet form. The exchange announced Jan. 30 that it will convert SAFU's roughly $1 billion stablecoin reserves into Bitcoin within 30 days, with an explicit promise: if BTC price movements push the fund below […]
The post Binance commits to gigantic Bitcoin purchase as an implicit apology for October liquidation meltdown appeared first on CryptoSlate.
A Nevada state court has issued a two-week temporary restraining order preventing Blockratize, the operator of the prediction market Polymarket, from offering sports and event contracts to residents, saying those activities likely violate Nevada’s gambling laws. The judge agreed with the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s civil complaint that Polymarket is operating without a state gaming …
The recent drop in Bitcoin price has put the, Michael Saylor’s Strategy in a sharp paper loss of $900 million after BTC slipped below the $75,000 level. Although the loss remains only on paper, the drop in BTC value has also dragged down Strategy’s stock price, raising concerns among investors about whether Strategy will liquidate …
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says the future of on-chain system design will rely on a two-layer structure. The first layer focuses on open and accountable execution, such as prediction markets, where correct decisions are rewarded, and wrong ones face losses. The second layer handles preferences and judgment, using decentralized, anonymous, and non-token-based voting systems like …
Tron Founder Justin Sun has again found himself in fresh allegations after a woman named Ten Ten, who claims to be his ex-girlfriend, shared a series of posts on X accusing him of manipulating the price of TRX. The claims have drawn attention across the crypto community, and calls for stricter action from law enforcement …
Despite thousands of alternative tokens and institutional adoption, crypto markets in 2026 still largely move in lockstep with bitcoin, offering little real diversification.
Ethereum (ETH) entered the week under heavy pressure, falling nearly 8% today and slipping decisively below the $2300 level amid a broader crypto market selloff. The move unfolded quickly, with downside momentum accelerating as leveraged long positions were forced out and spot demand failed to stabilize prices. While on-chain behaviour shows capital moving toward exchanges …
Nomura's CFO, Hiroyuki Moriuchi, reportedly reaffirmed the company's long-term commitment to digital assets but said it had to manage short-term risks.
January 2026 opened with a sharp reminder of crypto’s volatility. Bitcoin slipped toward the $82,000 mark, while total market liquidations surged past $1.7 billion in a single wave of selling. Investor sentiment deteriorated rapidly, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index falling into extreme fear territory. Amid this market stress, a high-profile meme coin collapse …
The amount of crypto stolen in January is also a 214% increase from the month before, with a majority of the value lost due to a single phishing incident.
Jupiter said Polymarket will be integrated on its platform, while ParaFi Capital has made a $35 million strategic investment in JUP with an extended lockup.
Following its weekend rout, Bitcoin dropped to $74,600 on Monday, marking a nine-month low for the cryptocurrency.
The Finance Bill introduced daily fines and a flat penalty for incorrect crypto disclosures while leaving the existing tax and TDS framework untouched.
Nevada's court ruling against Polymarket comes as prediction markets face global regulatory pressure and bans across multiple jurisdictions.
Dogecoin started a recovery wave above the $0.10 zone against the US Dollar. DOGE is now facing hurdles near $0.1065 and might struggle to continue higher. DOGE price started a recovery wave from $0.095 and climbed above $0.10. The price is trading below the $0.110 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There was a break above a bearish trend line with resistance at $0.1060 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The price could continue to move up if it stays above $0.10. Dogecoin Price Runs Into Resistance Dogecoin price started a recovery wave from the $0.0950 zone, beating Bitcoin and Ethereum. DOGE climbed above the $0.10 and $0.1050 resistance levels. There was a decent upward move above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.1185 swing high to the $0.0948 low. Besides, there was a break above a bearish trend line with resistance at $0.1060 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair. However, the bears are active near the $0.1065 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.1185 swing high to the $0.0948 low. Dogecoin price is now trading below the $0.1065 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. If there is another recovery wave, immediate resistance on the upside is near the $0.1060 level. The first major resistance for the bulls could be near the $0.1065 level. The next major resistance is near the $0.1120 level. A close above the $0.1120 resistance might send the price toward the $0.1185 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $0.120 level. The next major stop for the bulls might be $0.1250. Another Decline In DOGE? If DOGE’s price fails to climb above the $0.1065 level, it could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near the $0.10 level. The next major support is near the $0.0980 level. The main support sits at $0.0950. If there is a downside break below the $0.0950 support, the price could decline further. In the stated case, the price might slide toward the $0.0880 level or even $0.0850 in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for DOGE/USD is now gaining momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for DOGE/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $0.1000 and $0.0950. Major Resistance Levels – $0.1065 and $0.1120.
Vitalik Buterin said the current creator token model favors those already popular and rewards mass content creation over high-quality content.
Traders are zeroing in on a cluster of bids near $87,500 and repeated sell pressure under $90,000, a setup that looks like a tug of war into month end.
Team and investor tokens now set to unlock in August 2026 as the IP-focused blockchain moves to slow new supply, tighten token economics and buy time to build network usage amid weak market sentiment.
The bounce came as China factory data showed only mild growth, offering background support while dollar strength and thin exchange depth limit upside.
XRP price extended losses and traded below $1.60. The price is now consolidating and might decline further if it remains below $1.50. XRP price started a fresh decline below the $1.650 zone. The price is now trading below $1.60 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.650 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could continue to move down if it stays below $1.650. XRP Price Dives 15% XRP price failed to stay above $1.80 and started a fresh decline, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price declined below $1.720 and $1.650 to enter a short-term bearish zone. The price even spiked below $1.550. A low was formed at $1.50, and the price is now consolidating losses. There was a recovery wave above $1.550. The price even cleared the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1.938 swing high to the $1.50 low. The price is now trading below $1.60 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh upward move, the price might face resistance near the $1.60 level. The first major resistance is near the $1.650 level. There is also a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.650 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. A close above $1.650 could send the price to $1.720 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1.938 swing high to the $1.50 low. The next hurdle sits at $1.770. A clear move above the $1.770 resistance might send the price toward the $1.80 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $1.8350 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $1.90. Another Decline? If XRP fails to clear the $1.60 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.540 level. The next major support is near the $1.5150 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.5150 level, the price might continue to decline toward $1.50. The next major support sits near the $1.4650 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.420. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $1.540 and $1.50. Major Resistance Levels – $1.60 and $1.650.