A U.S. court sentenced Jingliang Su, a 45-year-old Chinese national, to 46 months in federal prison for laundering more than $36.9 million from a crypto investment scam. The scheme, run from Cambodia, targeted 174 Americans. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner also ordered Su to pay $26.8 million in restitution. Su pleaded guilty in June …
The 2021 playbook is dead. Buying everything no longer works. Ryan Connor, Head of Research at Blockworks, told Milk Road’s John Gillen that most crypto projects fail the moment you look past the surface. The market has moved on, and many investors haven’t caught up. Connor said the last cycle rewarded tokens that had nothing …
After surging toward the $100,000 mark a few days into the new year, the price of Bitcoin looks set to end January in stark contrast to how it started the month. On Thursday, January 29, the flagship cryptocurrency fell to a multi-month low of around $81,500, with the general market sentiment worsening over the past few weeks. Going into the weekend, the price of Bitcoin has somewhat cooled off, recovering above the $93,000 level on Friday, January 30. Interestingly, the latest on-chain data suggests that the market leader is only on the verge of another violent price movement. BTC Setting Up For A Violent Liquidation Cascade In a Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, CryptoOnchain shared insights into the current on-chain condition of the Bitcoin price. According to the market quant, the Bitcoin Estimated Leverage Ratio (ELR) witnessed a notable upswing on Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, while price was undergoing its most recent correction. Related Reading: Bitcoin Needs Deeper Liquidity Before A Real Recovery Takes Shape: Analysts For context, the Estimated Leverage Ratio is an on-chain metric that tracks the ratio between open interest and the reserve of an exchange (Binance, in this case). This metric measures the average amount of leverage used by the traders in a particular market or exchange. A higher ELR signals a higher market risk, suggesting that small price movements could lead to significant liquidations. According to data from CryptoQuant, CryptoOnchain highlighted that the Bitcoin Estimated Leverage Ratio recently spiked to a critical level of 0.188 when the price fell to around $81,500, indicating that the Open Interest is exceptionally high relative to the exchange’s reserves. Furthermore, CryptoOnchain shared that the divergence between rising leverage and falling prices is a classic “bearish divergence” signal in the derivative market. “It indicates that despite the price weakness, traders are aggressively increasing their leverage positions,” the on-chain expert added. What’s more, CryptoOnchain revealed that when the market becomes heavily over-leveraged during a price correction, it implies that the traders are either “buying the dip” with high leverage or increasingly taking short positions. The market quant said this setup usually precedes a “violent liquidation cascade.” Overall, CryptoOnchain concluded that the market is currently in a high-tension zone, with the combination of peak leverage and low prices suggesting that a “squeeze” is imminent. The analyst, however, clarified that the direction of the next violent movement depends on the dominant side (bulls or bears) of the market. Bitcoin Price At A Glance As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $84,200, reflecting a nearly 1% jump in the past 24 hours. Related Reading: Here’s Why The Bitcoin And Ethereum Prices Are Still Trading Sideways Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView
A crypto trader lost 4,556 ETH (about $12.4 million) after mistakenly copying a poisoned wallet address that looked nearly identical to Galaxy Digital’s legitimate deposit address. Scammers had polluted the victim’s transaction history with tiny dust transfers from a fake address that shared the same first and last characters as the real one. Thinking he …
The next inflection point in AI agents isn't coming from frontier labs. It's coming from infrastructure, specifically, the primitives that let agents find each other, verify identity, and communicate directly. Moltbook, a social network billing itself as “built exclusively for AI agents… Humans welcome to observe,” now hosts discussions about agent relay protocols that enable […]
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The October crash highlights the urgent need for stricter risk management and transparency in crypto markets to prevent systemic failures.
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The US Treasury sanctioned two UK-registered crypto exchanges tied to Iran, in OFAC’s first move against digital asset platforms under Iran sanctions.
The U.S. Treasury has taken a decisive step into crypto enforcement, sanctioning two UK-registered exchanges for allegedly helping Iran evade long-standing U.S. sanctions. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Zedcex and Zedxion, accusing them of facilitating large-scale financial flows tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The move marks a major shift …
Speaking on CNBC, BitMine CEO Tom Lee explained why gold prices have risen strongly while Bitcoin has struggled. He said metals are moving higher due to a weak U.S. dollar and strong global demand. At the same time, the crypto market remains under pressure and has not been able to keep up with gold’s rally. …
A sharp and unexpected sell-off in silver sent shockwaves well beyond traditional commodity markets, spilling directly into crypto trading venues. In a rare twist, tokenized silver futures became the most liquidated assets over the past 24 hours, overtaking both Bitcoin and Ether. The episode highlighted how crypto platforms are increasingly being used as macro trading …
Tether closed out the year with numbers that turned a few heads in finance circles. Reports say the firm posted net profits above $10 billion for 2025 while the stablecoin USDT grew to roughly $186 billion in circulation — a new high for the token and a sign of how central it has become to crypto markets. Related Reading: Bitcoin Suppression? Analyst Claims Single Force Keeping Price Under $90K Strong Balance Sheet And Big Reserves Reports note that Tether’s balance sheet shows solid backing after dividends and payouts. The issuer reportedly ended the year with several billion in excess reserves and total assets that comfortably outmatched liabilities. That cushion has calmed investors who worry about backing for so much stablecoin. Tether’s cash and short-term holdings are heavy on US Treasury exposure. Based on reports, a large slice of its reserves sits in Treasuries and similar instruments that generate steady interest income. That income helped drive the large profit number, even as the company moved into other assets. The numbers came from Tether’s most recent annual attestation, prepared by independent accountants at BDO, highlighting the company’s status as one of the top earners in the digital asset sector. Gold Buys And A Shift In Mix Reports say Tether has been increasing its holdings of physical gold alongside Treasuries. Recent filings and public comments show roughly 27 tons of gold purchased in the final quarter of the year, and the firm has said it may aim for between 10% and 15% of its portfolio in gold over time. That move is meant to diversify reserves and trim exposure to any single market. Stock And Market Effects The profit and the increase in the USDT supply have spillover effects. Market makers and exchanges usually use Tether as the primary dollar substitute in the crypto market, and the increased USDT supply improves trading and payment liquidity. On the other hand, some rating agencies and analyst firms have pointed out some concerns. There are potential issues with transparency and risk if markets turn against them due to increased allocations to non-Treasury assets. What This Means For Users And Regulators For users, the first thing to note is that the increased supply of USDT in the market typically means improved on-ramps for trading and moving value between platforms. For regulators and big lenders, the numbers underline why stablecoins attract scrutiny. Reports note that watchdogs want clearer, repeatable disclosures to match the scale of these holdings. Related Reading: Ethereum Boost: Vitalik Buterin Sets Aside $45M In ETH For Privacy And Open Tech Tether’s recent performance frames a larger story about how crypto handles dollar-like liquidity in practice. The company says its reserves and reporting meet its own standards, while independent commentators push for still greater clarity. Either way, USDT’s role has grown, and the conversation about risk, disclosure, and where those backing assets sit is only getting louder. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Pi Network price is showing early signs of stabilization after an extended decline, as fresh progress on mainnet migration shifts market attention back to fundamentals. While broader crypto market sentiment remains cautious, Pi’s latest update has sparked renewed interest among holders who had been waiting for clarity on network access and usability. The move is …
Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and venture capitalist Tim Draper are backing Grow California, a new political effort aimed at countering union-backed wealth tax proposals.
Banks at Davos are done watching from the sidelines. At this year’s World Economic Forum, major financial institutions said they need crypto infrastructure to stay competitive. A recent Altcoin Buzz video broke down three signals pointing to a potential crypto rally. “The biggest banks in the world are clearly telling us here that they need …
ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said many people seem to be forgetting that Bitcoin “spanked everything so bad” in 2023 and 2024, while other asset classes “still haven’t caught up.”
Binance says October 10’s crypto flash crash was driven by a macro risk-off shock, cascading liquidations and thin liquidity, while acknowledging two platform-specific issues that occurred after most losses had already hit.
Reportedly, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon confronted Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, calling him a liar over his comments about banks trying to kill crypto legislation. The Wall Street Journal reported that Dimon interrupted a coffee meeting between Armstrong and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. He pointed …
United States President Donald Trump has unveiled former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh as his pick for the next chair of the US central bank. This move confirms the circulating rumors after the former Fed governor reportedly met with Trump at the White House on Thursday, January 29. Trump Pushes Warsh To Senate For Fed Chair Position On Friday, January 30, Trump, via his social media platform Truth Social, announced his nomination of ex-Fed official Kevin Warsh as the successor of Jerome Powell as the Federal Reserve chairman. Prior to this announcement, prediction platforms had heavily tipped Warsh as Trump’s likely pick. Related Reading: Why Litecoin Price Going To $2,000 Is Not A Fantasy, But Market Cap Math Warsh previously served on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011 and held senior roles at the White House National Economic Council during former President George Bush’s administration. The former Morgan Stanley banker was considered for the Fed chair job in 2017 before Powell was eventually appointed. Trump said in his announcement: I have known Kevin for a long period of time, and have no doubt that he will go down as one of the GREAT Fed Chairmen, maybe the best. On top of everything else, he is “central casting,” and he will never let you down. Congratulations Kevin! Warsh has been a vocal critic of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy long before Powell became chair. Unsurprisingly, his recent stance appears to align with Trump’s agenda of lowering interest rates. In fact, the former Wall Street executive said in an interview last July that President Trump was right to push the Fed to cut rates. Trump’s nomination of Warsh as the Fed chair still needs to be confirmed by the US Senate, with many commentators expecting a battle between the executive and legislative arms. While Trump seeks a Fed chair that listens to the White House, a homage that Powell has refused to pay, the Senate believes the Federal Reserve should function independently. What Does Warsh’s Selection Mean For Crypto? Warsh and Powell seem to be on opposite sides of the divide when it comes to the cryptocurrency industry and Bitcoin. While the current Federal Reserve chair has consistently played down BTC’s relevance in the greater US economy, Warsh has been fairly positive about the world’s largest cryptocurrency. In a recent conversation hosted by the Hoover Institution, Warsh said that Bitcoin is an important asset that doesn’t trouble him, and he doesn’t view the coin as a substitute for the dollar. “Bitcoin can help inform policymakers when they are doing things right or wrong,’ the former Morgan Stanley banker said. Related Reading: Bitcoin Needs Deeper Liquidity Before A Real Recovery Takes Shape: Analysts Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView
As the United States enters a partial government shutdown with the House now scheduled to take action on Monday, crypto traders are bracing for a potentially volatile start to the week. The uncertainty after the gold & silver price crash has already influenced crpyto market wipping out nearly $200 billion from the market. U.S. Government …
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, reported more than $10 billion in net profit for 2025, highlighting another blockbuster year for the crypto heavyweight. The figures were disclosed in the company’s latest annual attestation released by independent accounting firm BDO, reinforcing Tether’s position as one of the most profitable players in the …
In the high-velocity world of decentralized finance, a specific mathematical threshold often separates casual traders from the newly minted wealthy: the “Penny Breakout.” As the cryptocurrency market gears up for a projected super-cycle in 2026, a new contender on the Solana blockchain is drawing significant attention from retail investors hunting for that elusive breakout moment. …
Today, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin turns 32. Born on 31 January 1994 in Russia and raised in Canada, Buterin began coding at an early age and co-founded Bitcoin Magazine before publishing Ethereum’s whitepaper in 2013. He launched Ethereum in 2015, creating a platform that now powers decentralized finance, NFTs, smart contracts, and thousands of blockchain …
Tokenized silver futures recorded the largest liquidations across crypto markets over the past 24 hours, overtaking bitcoin and ether as a sharp pullback in metals collided with leverage-heavy trading on crypto venues.
While the broader crypto market remains weighed down by macro uncertainty and defensive positioning, Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Jupiter (JUP) are emerging as clear outliers. Both tokens advanced close to 7%, signaling selective capital rotation into assets where supply dynamics, participation metrics, and price structure are aligning constructively. Rather than tracking the market lower, HYPE and …
DeFi exclusions sound protective, yet the CLARITY Act’s Bank Secrecy expansion may target your access points While supporters say the CLARITY Act could bring long-awaited regulatory certainty to crypto markets, not everyone is on board. Critics argue the bill doesn’t need to “ban DeFi” to reshape it. Their claim is that CLARITY can leave base-layer […]
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Bitcoin fell toward $83,000 as the U.S. entered a partial shutdown, with traders leaning defensive ahead of a House vote expected Monday.
Lighter has launched Lighter EVM, adding Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) support to let developers build and run smart contracts on its platform, marking a shift from a pure trading engine to a broader blockchain and DeFi ecosystem. The upgrade will support DeFi apps like Uniswap and Aave, integrating trading, lending, and shared liquidity pools for …
A shareholder suit claims Coinbase insiders, including Armstrong and Andreessen-linked entities, sold nearly $3 billion in stock.
Hyperliquid (HYPE) has emerged as one of the few large‑cap cryptocurrencies showing sustained strength across multiple time frames, even as the broader digital asset market remains under pressure. While Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and most major tokens have struggled amid a market‑wide pullback, Hyperliquid has continued to post notable gains, setting it apart during what many consider the early stages of a bear market. What’s Driving Hyperliquid Higher Market data from CoinGecko shows that HYPE surged roughly 31% over the past week, pushing the token toward the $34 level earlier in the week, and marking its highest price in more than a month. Over the past 14 days, HYPE is up around 17%, while gains of 13% and 8% were recorded over the 30‑day and year‑over‑year periods, respectively. By comparison, Bitcoin has fallen 12% over two weeks, slipped 4% over the past month, and is down roughly 21% year‑over‑year. Related Reading: Bitcoin Supply In Loss Begins To Rise, Raising Early Bear Market Concerns Experts have pointed to fundamental and structural developments as key drivers behind HYPE’s performance. Crypto analyst Elite Crypto highlighted the impact of Hyperliquid’s HIP‑3 upgrade, which introduced permissionless perpetual contracts tied to real‑world assets (RWAs) such as gold, silver, and other commodities. According to the analyst, trading activity in these products has expanded rapidly, with silver‑based perpetuals alone exceeding $1 billion in daily volume on many occasions. Elite Crypto also pointed to signs of institutional accumulation, noting that decentralized autonomous traders, including strategies operating directly on Hyperliquid, have been steadily increasing their exposure. In addition, research firm Citrini has published bullish commentary on the platform, and speculation around a potential HYPE exchange‑traded fund (ETF) has added to market interest. HYPE Faces Crucial Technical Test From a technical perspective, analysts see important levels coming into focus. DeFi Guru noted that HYPE is currently testing its primary descending resistance, describing recent price action as impulsive and confidence‑driven, suggesting a shift in momentum. The analyst identified $30 as a key level to reclaim decisively. A clean move above that area could open the door to the next major target near $35, which aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level. Related Reading: Bitcoin Slides Toward $85,000 Despite Progress On US Crypto Market Structure Bill Another analyst, Efloud, offered a more cautious view and outlined potential support and resistance zones for Hyperliquid. He identified a key support region near the $23.7 level, which is crucial in determining whether the cryptocurrency will continue its rally. Efloud noted that price has already reached an intermediate resistance area and suggested that short‑side setups would only be considered if bearish market structure appears on lower time frames, either at current levels or closer to the $38–$39 range. Despite the broader bullish narrative, Hyperliquid has not been immune to short‑term volatility. Over the past 24 hours, HYPE has pulled back by roughly 10%, falling toward around $29. Analyst Ox Kaize described the recent dip as a normal market reaction, particularly given recent developments affecting both gold and Bitcoin. He asserts that a recovery in those markets could provide additional upside momentum for Hyperliquid, potentially pushing the token toward the $50 level. Additional catalysts remain on the horizon. A second Hyperliquid airdrop is expected in the near future, and Kaize believes the timing could be deliberate, as distributing tokens while prices remain below peak levels may support longer‑term ecosystem growth. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has rejected claims that Binance was responsible for the massive $19 billion crypto market crash seen last October, calling the accusations exaggerated and disconnected from reality. Speaking during a live AMA session on Binance’s platform, the former CEO said it was “far-fetched” to pin such a historic liquidation event on a single …