A cryptocurrency analyst has pointed out how the recent Bitcoin price action could echo the bear flag formation from the 2021-22 period. Bitcoin May Be Inside A Bear Flag Right Now In a new post on X, analyst Ali Martinez has highlighted a similarity that has been emerging between the Bitcoin price trend from 2021-22 and that from 2025-26. Related Reading: Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index Nears Neutral As Price Recovers Below is the chart shared by Martinez that puts the two periods side-by-side. As is visible in the graph, Bitcoin saw a 54% drawdown during the first half of 2021, before witnessing another leg of the bull run to a new all-time high (ATH) above $69,000 later in the year. This high was followed by a bearish shift, with the price quickly sliding off as 2022 arrived. In 2022, the cryptocurrency observed consolidation inside a technical analysis (TA) pattern known as a Bear Flag. As the name suggests, Flag patterns look like a flag on a pole. In the case of a Bear Flag, the setup is oriented in the reverse direction; an initial sharp downward move represents the “pole,” while a parallel consolidation channel makes up for the “flag.” When the asset is trading inside the flag, it finds support at the lower level of the channel and resistance at the upper one. A break out of either of these bounds can signal a sustained move in that direction. Flags are considered to be continuation patterns, meaning that breakouts from them are likely to lead into the same direction as the preceding price trend. That is, a breakout could occur in the same direction as the pole. From the chart, it’s apparent that this appears to be what happened with Bitcoin back in 2022, with the price escaping downward from the Bear Flag with a sharp crash. Jumping to the recent Bitcoin price action, the cryptocurrency saw a similar trajectory in 2025 as in 2021, with an initial leg of the bull run leading to a second one that resulted in a new ATH (this time above $126,000). One difference, however, was that the legs of this bull market were separated by a price decline of just 30%. Since the latest record, BTC has once again faced a bearish transition, with its price plummeting to a low in November and beginning a period of consolidation. The analyst thinks that the latest phase of sideways movement could be occurring inside a Bear Flag, similar to the one from 2022. Related Reading: Bitcoin Funding Rates Improve, But Signal Still Not Decisive: Glassnode It now remains to be seen whether the cryptocurrency’s trajectory is indeed similar this time around as well or if the two cycles will diverge. BTC Price Bitcoin has seen a setback in its recovery as its price has dropped back to $91,000. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com
YZi Labs is challenging CEA Industries’ newly adopted poison pill and bylaw changes, accusing the board of entrenchment and misrepresenting its commitment to a BNB treasury.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared his vision for the network on X on January 8, comparing Ethereum to two well-known systems: BitTorrent and Linux. Both are decentralized, open-source, and used by millions. Buterin believes Ethereum is heading in the same direction. “One metaphor for Ethereum is BitTorrent, and how that p2p network combines decentralization and …
Tariff trade war is once again escalated after President Trump signed off on a bipartisan bill imposing at least 500% tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil, including India, China, and BrazilThe impact was immediate, with the crypto market dropping 3.4%. Is this just a short-term shock, or the start of a much bigger crypto sell-off? …
The largest corporate ETH holder started 2026 with a $105 million Ether purchase, while surpassing $2.87 billion in staked Ether, seeking to generate passive yield on its holdings.
The crypto market has slipped into a mild correction after starting the week on a strong note. Total market capitalization is down around 1–1.2%, hovering near $3.17 trillion, as traders lock in profits following Bitcoin’s repeated failure to clear the crucial $94,000–$94,500 resistance zone. This marks Bitcoin’s third rejection at this level in just five …
In the lead-up to the potential passage of the crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, Faryar Shirzad, Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase, shed light on the ongoing discussions surrounding key provisions of the already enacted GENIUS Act. GENIUS Act Under Fire Shirzad noted that the stablecoin rewards provisions of the GENIUS Act are currently a central topic of debate among lawmakers. Shiraz remarked, “reopening it now only creates uncertainty and risks the future of the US Dollar as commerce moves onchain.” Shirzad emphasized the importance of protecting the GENIUS Act, arguing that rewards benefit consumers without adversely affecting community banks. Related Reading: Solana Shatters Records: 2025 Annual Review Reveals New All-Time Highs In Key Metrics He alleged that the motivation behind banks’ opposition to stablecoin rewards is evident. He claimed that US banks currently generate approximately $176 billion annually from the $3 trillion they hold at the Federal Reserve (Fed) and another $187 billion from card swipe fees, which averages to nearly $1,440 for each household. This results in over $360 billion yearly from payments and deposits, in addition to substantial unused lending capacity, as the Federal Reserve incentivizes banks to maintain reserves rather than deploy them. According to Shirzad, stablecoin rewards pose a challenge to these financial margins—not by impeding banks’ ability to lend, but by introducing real competition in payment systems. Shirzad further expressed alarm at how, during these Senate discussions, China has recognized the opportunity presented by the bank lobby. The country has recently announced interest payments to users of its Digital Yuan, aiming to undermine the supremacy of the US dollar. He warned that banning rewards in the Senate would inadvertently aid China’s efforts to challenge the dollar’s dominance. Concluding his remarks, Shirzad asserted that the opposition from banks toward stablecoin rewards is not based on prudential concerns but stems from a desire to protect lucrative revenue streams threatened by competition. Deaton Critiques ABA’s Threat To Stablecoin Rewards John E. Deaton — attorney for XRP holders in the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) lawsuit against Ripple Labs and a former Senate candidate — also reacted to these developments. He emphasized the importance of the situation as China officially began offering interest on the digital yuan. He highlighted that the American Bankers Association (ABA) is exerting pressure on the Senate to close a “third-party loophole” in the GENIUS Act, which would restrict companies like Coinbase (COIN) and Kraken from offering rewards to consumers. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Queue Grows: What Does This Mean For ETH Prices Moving Forward? Deaton argued that banning American firms from providing yield to everyday citizens does not protect banks, as claimed by the ABA; rather, it risks forcing global reliance on China’s currency over the US dollar. He emphasized that major banks are threatened by the concept of digital dollars because they are unable to “rent” that money back to consumers if individuals are earning yield themselves. The criticism also extended to banking officials, with Deaton asserting that the Banking Policy Institute, led by figures like Jamie Dimon, has crafted an anti-crypto bill last year that undermines the interests of average Americans. He contended that if the Senate capitulates to the bank lobby, it effectively imposes a hidden tax on retail investors and customers nationwide to safeguard Wall Street’s profits. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Crypto markets have entered a consolidation phase as traders adopt a wait-and-watch approach ahead of a closely monitored US Supreme Court ruling on Trump-era tariffs. Bitcoin and Ethereum remain range-bound after marking recent local highs, with momentum fading as macro uncertainty takes centre stage. Rather than reacting to speculation, market participants are increasingly focused on …
India’s tax authorities flagged risks from offshore exchanges, private wallets and DeFi tools that make tracking crypto income difficult.
In the week of Crypto regulation news, the SEC is taking a more hands-on and noticeably softer approach to crypto regulation, with its Crypto Task Force set to meet early-stage builders in Miami on January 27. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce confirmed the visit, inviting small crypto projects to directly engage with regulators and share feedback …
XRP ETFs logged their first net outflow day since launch, breaking a multi-week inflow streak after more than $1 billion poured into the funds.
Binance's move into TradFi perpetual contracts could enhance market accessibility and diversification, potentially attracting more traditional investors.
The post Binance launches TradFi perpetual contracts, starting with gold and silver appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Talk of an altcoin season is growing louder as 2026 begins, and this time it is being driven more by real data than hype. From Ethereum and XRP to Solana and BNB, key data points are starting to align.Now, the big question is when the altcoin season actually begins, and what early signs should investors …
The dip in Bitcoin's price highlights the volatility of cryptocurrency markets and underscores the impact of ETF flows on investor sentiment.
The post Bitcoin suddenly dips under $90K, triggering over $100M in long liquidations in past hour appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Following a remarkable performance in the first trading days of the year, CNBC anchors have named XRP the breakout trade of 2026, arguing that it has been the silent outperformer during the recent crypto market volatility. Related Reading: Bitcoin At A Crossroads: $93,500 Reclaim Holds The Key For Next Move XRP Becomes The Hottest Trade Of The Year CNBC’s Brian Sullivan highlighted XRP’s strong start to the year, calling the cryptocurrency the “new cryptocurrency darling” of 2026 and placing it ahead of the market’s leading assets. During the Power Lunch segment, the network’s anchor affirmed that “the hottest crypto trade of the year is not Bitcoin, it is not Ether, it is XRP,” arguing that there’s “big money behind this trade.” In his initial remarks, he pointed out the altcoin’s remarkable seven-day rally toward the recent highs. XRP has seen a notable performance since the start of the year, climbing over 30% from its yearly opening to its two-month high of $2.41 on Tuesday morning. Amid this recent performance, the altcoin recently flipped BNB again to become the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a place it had lost during the December market volatility. Moreover, it has outperformed most of the largest cryptocurrencies in the weekly timeframe, including BTC’s and ETH’s 4.3% and 6.2% respective rallies. CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos weighed in on XRP’s performance on various segments, affirming that “XRP has been the quiet outperformer for months now.” She addressed whether XRP is taking its place as “the next cool thing to know about” or whether it has a different and more relevant use case that sets it apart from the leading cryptocurrencies, emphasizing its role in cross-border payments as one of its key appeals. What’s Driving The Rally? Sigalos cited three main reasons for the strong star-of-the-year performance. First, she stated that “the regulatory overhang has finally cleared as Ripple has fully wrapped up its SEC fight as of August 2nd.” Second, she asserted that people consider the cryptocurrency “a less crowded trade than Bitcoin or Ether,” which “proved out to be true” just in the first trading days of January. For the third reason, she pointed out that “the flows have held up even during the Q4 dip,” arguing that investors continued to add to XRP-based funds, while the largest crypto ETFs’ flows fell with the price. Well, it’s actually been interesting is that during the doldrums of Q4, you actually saw a lot of people piling into those XRP ETFs, which is the exact opposite of what happens with the spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, where people really move in tandem with the price of the coin. But it was the fact that it is a way to have a higher percentage jump. Related Reading: Ethereum’s Q1 Outlook: Analyst Shares Historical Setup As Price Nears Key Resistance Notably, XRP funds had a remarkable performance since their launch in Q4 2025. The investment products, which first debuted in November, have recorded cumulative net inflows of $1.25 billion, according to data from SoSoValue. The ETF category has not recorded a single day of negative net flows in nearly two months, with consistent inflows since going live. During the first three trading days of the year, XRP funds have seen a total inflow of $78.81 million. As of this writing, XRP is trading at $2.19, a 20% increase in the weekly timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
The entire Electric Coin Company team behind Zcash resigned after a governance dispute with its nonprofit board, says CEO Josh Swihart.
RNDR, the native token of Render, is once again in the limelight as the broader crypto market is showing signs of a new surge. In addition to the optimistic mood concerning both AI and decentralized computing, the RNDR price has begun to trend upwards after several months of consolidation. The recent sharp reversal, backed by …
A little-known U.S. government research paper from 2018–2019 is now gaining community attention, as it sees Ripple (XRP) as a trusted ledger for its role in a regulated financial environment. The paper was written for government and aerospace use, not for crypto trading or speculation, making its findings especially important for Ripple XRP’s future. US …
Spot bitcoin and ether ETFs reported net outflows as well, with one analyst pointing to profit-taking after the recent market rally.
Morgan Stanley’s decision to file for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs caught even seasoned ETF watchers off guard and in Jeff Park’s telling, it’s a stronger signal about crypto’s next leg of adoption than another round of flows into the existing market leaders. The surprise wasn’t merely that a major wirehouse wants in. It was the branding and the timing. Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst James Seyffart said he “didn’t see this coming,” amplifying Eric Balchunas’ “SHOCKER” reaction to the filings. Seyffart then pointed to Matt Hougan’s framing of what made it unusual: “Morgan Stanley manages 20 ETFs, but mostly under the Calvert/Parametric/Eaton Vance brands. These will be the 3rd and 4th ETFs to bear the ‘Morgan Stanley’ brand. Pretty remarkable.” Park, the head of alpha strategies at Bitwise and ProCap CIO, argues the late-cycle entry is precisely why the filing matters. “It is unheard of for a vanilla ETF product to launch two years after the first to market has already secured the liquidity throne,” he wrote. “IAU famously tried a year later, and never caught up.” Park’s point was that Morgan Stanley wouldn’t make that bet unless internal channels were flashing something the broader market still underestimates. Why This Is ‘The Most Bullish Thing’ For Bitcoin Park framed the filing as a total addressable market story, not a product story. “It means the market is MUCH bigger than even crypto professionals anticipated, especially to reach NEW customers,” he said. “This signals that despite IBIT being the fastest ETF in history to reach $80Bn in AUM (roughly 1/5th the time it took for second place VOO), there is enough untapped interest as viably researched and ascertained through MS’ proprietary wealth channels that they are willing to bet that a branded product has commercial viability.” He finished that thought with the kind of line that reads like a thesis statement for 2026: “It means we are still so early.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Wins As Trump Pumps GDP, Suppresses Oil: Arthur Hayes The “why now” also fits with Seyffart’s longer-running view that institutional platforms would eventually shift. “I’ve been saying for literal years that most of these firms will change their tune on crypto,” he wrote. “But it really was just a couple months ago that Morgan Stanley advisors were barred from buying crypto ETFs for their clients.” In other words: the timeline is compressing, and the posture is moving from cautious access to product ownership. Park’s second argument is that Morgan Stanley is treating Bitcoin as an identity product as much as an allocation sleeve. “It means that Bitcoin is ‘socially’ important just as much as it is ‘financially’ important as a product to offer to customers,” he wrote. “Consider the fact that for being ‘digital gold’ there are virtually no branded gold ETFs in existence, yet for Bitcoin there is.” In his view, that difference is the tell: a house-branded Bitcoin ETF isn’t only about exposure, it’s about what the firm signals to clients and recruits by having it at all. Park argued the branding functions as a credibility marker with a specific audience in mind. “This is because every asset manager knows that having a Bitcoin ETF communicates that they are forward thinking, young, and a little edgy that allows targeting the most challenging investor cohort that everyone wants to reach: UHNW Independent Investors,” he said.“ Related Reading: Bitcoin Funding Rates Improve, But Signal Still Not Decisive: Glassnode Morgan Stanley is making the bet that even if their ETF doesn’t scale to blockbuster success, there’s an intangible benefit that will help build their clout.” The third pillar is defensive: platform economics. “It is at the core a defensive move against platform disintermediation and fee leakage,” Park wrote. “By launching their own BTC ETF after IBIT already consolidated liquidity, Morgan Stanley is implicitly acknowledging a hard truth: DISTRIBUTION owns the customer, not product superiority.” He added why that matters strategically: “They are not going to let advisors default to third parties by outsourcing the economic rent. That’s why at first glance while this launch looks irrational through a pure AUM lens, also totally inevitable through a PLATFORM ECONOMICS lens.” That logic also surfaced in Seyffart’s exchange with James Van Straten, who asked why anyone would be surprised if a firm has “own distribution” and “huge demand from clients.” Seyffart’s answer didn’t dispute demand; it underscored that Morgan Stanley historically “doesn’t do a ton of ETF launches,” and that the decision to do so here is itself informative, even if, as he put it, “there’s plenty of demand” for many products that platforms never bother to manufacture. On timing, Seyffart said approval is “at least 75 days from now,” emphasizing that 75 days can be the fastest possible path under current processes, but also that “there’s plenty of products that don’t launch right at 75 days.” At press time, Bitcoin traded at $91,256. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Washington is heading into a defining week for crypto policy as US lawmakers move closer to setting firm rules for the digital asset industry. After years of uncertainty, enforcement-heavy oversight, and stalled negotiations, Congress is finally positioning itself to vote on legislation that could reshape how crypto is regulated in the United States. Senate Advances …
As crypto markets compress, Bitcoin price heads towards the crucial support at around $90,500. Meanwhile, the XRP price also plunges below $2.2 in times when the whales have suddenly become active. The crypto extended its short-term decline on Tuesday, trading near $2.16, even as on-chain data revealed a sharp surge in large whale transactions. The …
The US crypto industry has launched a unified push for Congress to pass federal market-structure legislation, known as the “Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025” (H.R. 3633). The legislation is viewed by industry proponents as the necessary “missing layer” of federal law to allow the industry to thrive. While the “GENIUS Act” established baseline […]
The post Crypto firms like Ripple are betting on a Senate deal that is rapidly unraveling behind closed doors appeared first on CryptoSlate.
World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm linked to the Trump family, has announced that WLTC Holdings LLC has applied for a national trust bank charter to issue and custody its USD1 stablecoin. The move follows USD1’s rapid rise to $3.38 billion in circulation within one year, signaling a push toward full federal regulation. World Liberty …
Morgan Stanley has an “intangible benefit” up its sleeve even if its spot Bitcoin ETF isn’t a huge success, says ProCap investment chief Jeff Park.
Bitcoin has struggled to break through the $94,000 level and is now attempting to stabilize above the $90,000 mark, a zone that has become critical for short-term structure. While bulls are making an effort to defend recent gains, the broader market context remains fragile, with several risk factors limiting upside conviction. Price action reflects a market caught between relief-driven buying and persistent sell-side pressure near major resistance. Related Reading: Bitcoin Enters Accumulation Regime: Market Supported By Seller Exhaustion, Not Buying Surge A recent CryptoQuant analysis highlights that Bitcoin is currently testing an important technical and on-chain confluence. On the daily timeframe, BTC has managed a strong rebound from the Point of Control (POC) around $85,000, an area that previously concentrated significant trading volume. This recovery pushed price back into the $92,000–$94,000 supply zone, where sellers have consistently stepped in. From a momentum perspective, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests that bullish pressure is building, signaling improving short-term sentiment. However, on-chain data paints a more cautious picture. Key flow and positioning metrics indicate that the market may be approaching a zone where distribution risk increases, especially if buyers fail to absorb available supply. This divergence between improving technical momentum and warning signals from on-chain indicators places Bitcoin at a pivotal moment. Whether BTC can consolidate above $90,000 or faces renewed rejection will likely define the next directional move, making this level critical for traders and investors alike. Rising Sell-Side Risk at Key Resistance Levels The report explains that Bitcoin is currently trading just below a major technical resistance block, highlighted as a critical supply zone. Price has entered this area multiple times, but each attempt has lacked the conviction needed for a clean breakout. Historically, when Bitcoin fails to decisively clear such resistance, the market often responds with a liquidity sweep toward lower levels, targeting areas where unfilled demand remains. On-chain data reinforces this technical caution. An analysis of Binance’s exchange netflow over the past seven days reveals a sharp increase in assets moving onto the exchange. Bitcoin net inflows reached approximately $3.6 billion, while Ethereum saw an additional $1.15 billion. Combined, this represents roughly $4.75 billion in potential sell-side pressure entering centralized venues in a short period. Related Reading: XRP Shows “Coiled Spring” Setup As Network Liquidity Hits Record Levels This creates a clear divergence. While price action suggests an attempt to break higher, the rapid expansion of exchange reserves points to a different dynamic beneath the surface. Large holders and institutions may be positioning to sell into strength or establish short exposure near resistance, rather than supporting a sustained upside move. The timing is critical. The convergence of heavy inflows with Bitcoin testing the $92,000–$94,000 range skews risk to the downside in the short term. Unless buyers can absorb this supply and secure a strong daily close above $94,000, the probability of a pullback toward the $85,000 Point of Control remains elevated. Bitcoin Consolidates Below Key Weekly Resistance Bitcoin’s weekly chart shows price stabilizing after a volatile correction, with BTC currently trading around the $92,000 area. The recent rebound followed a sharp drawdown from the $120,000 region, where strong selling pressure emerged and broke the previous bullish structure. Since then, the price has entered a consolidation phase, attempting to build a base above former support turned resistance. From a trend perspective, Bitcoin is still trading below the weekly 50-period moving average, which now acts as a dynamic resistance around the mid-$90,000s. This level has capped upside attempts so far, indicating that bulls have not yet regained full control. At the same time, the weekly 100-period moving average continues to slope upward well below the current price, suggesting that the broader macro trend remains constructive despite the correction. Related Reading: Venezuela, Geopolitical Risk, And Bitcoin: What On-Chain Data Really Shows Price action over the last several weeks shows higher lows forming near the $85,000–$88,000 zone, signaling that buyers are stepping in on dips. Volume has decreased compared to the distribution phase near the highs, which is typical during consolidation periods and suggests selling pressure is easing rather than accelerating. However, the structure remains fragile. A failure to reclaim and hold above the $95,000–$98,000 range could keep Bitcoin trapped in a broader corrective range. Conversely, a decisive weekly close above the 50-week moving average would improve the technical outlook and increase the probability of a renewed push toward the $105,000–$110,000 area. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Electric Coin Company CEO Josh Swihart says the firm's entire team left and will start a new company over disagreements with the nonprofit board that supports Zcash.
CoinDesk and the Solana Foundation said the developer event will kick off Consensus Hong Kong on Feb. 11, setting the tone for a week focused on builders, capital, and policymakers.
Claude maker Anthropic is aiming to nearly double its valuation to $350 billion, with The Wall Street Journal reporting a planned $10 billion raise.
Dogecoin started a major increase above $0.1520 against the US Dollar. DOGE is now consolidating and might decline if it trades below $0.140. DOGE price started a fresh increase above $0.1480 and $0.1520. The price is trading below the $0.150 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There is a contracting triangle forming with resistance at $0.150 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The price could aim for a fresh increase if it remains stable above $0.140. Dogecoin Price Consolidates Gains Dogecoin price started a fresh increase after it settled above $0.1420, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. DOGE climbed above the $0.1450 resistance to enter a positive zone. The bulls were able to push the price above $0.150. A high was formed at $0.1541 and the price is now correcting some gains. There was a move below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.1155 swing low to the $0.1541 high. Dogecoin price is now trading below the $0.150 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. Besides, there is a contracting triangle forming with resistance at $0.150 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair. If there is another increase, immediate resistance on the upside is near the $0.1480 level. The first major resistance for the bulls could be near the $0.150 level. The next major resistance is near the $0.1540 level. A close above the $0.1540 resistance might send the price toward $0.1625. Any more gains might send the price toward $0.1680. The next major stop for the bulls might be $0.1720. More Losses In DOGE? If DOGE’s price fails to climb above the $0.150 level, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $0.1450 level. The next major support is near the $0.140 level. The main support sits at $0.1360 or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.1155 swing low to the $0.1541 high. If there is a downside break below the $0.1360 support, the price could decline further. In the stated case, the price might slide toward the $0.130 level or even $0.1280 in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for DOGE/USD is now losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for DOGE/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $0.1450 and $0.1400. Major Resistance Levels – $0.1500 and $0.1540.