Market Signal Briefing

Bitcoin price started a decent increase above $68,000. BTC is now consolidating above $66,250 and might aim for more gains above $68,800.

Bitcoin started a fresh increase after it settled above the $67,200 support. The price is trading above $67,200 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is a new bearish trend line forming with resistance at $68,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might dip again if it trades below the $66,500 and $66,250 levels. Bitcoin Price Dips To Support Bitcoin price managed to form a base above the $66,500 zone. BTC started a fresh increase and was able to surpass the $68,000 resistance zone.

The price even rallied above the $68,800 resistance. Finally, the bears appeared near $70,000. A high was formed at $70,000, and the price recently corrected some gains. There was a move below the 38.2% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $62,500 swing low to the $70,000 high.

Bitcoin is now trading above $67,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. If the price remains stable above $67,000, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $68,000 level. There is also a new bearish trend line forming with resistance at $68,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com The first key resistance is near the $68,250 level. A close above the $68,250 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $69,500 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $70,000 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $70,500 and $71,200.

Downside Continuation In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $68,000 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $67,000 level. The first major support is near the $66,250 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $62,500 swing low to the $70,000 high.

The next support is now near the $65,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $65,000 support in the near term. The main support now sits at $63,500, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $67,000, followed by $66,500.

Major Resistance Levels – $68,000 and $68,500.

XRP demand is accelerating on Bitrue as the exchange reports increased institutional participation, driving triple-digit trading growth and sustained inflows, amid ongoing ETF-related investment activity. XRP Buying Frenzy: 212% Surge Overwhelms Sellers on Bitrue Rising institutional demand is fueling bullish momentum for XRP as market participation accelerates.

📊
No votes yet – Be the first to vote

Authorities busted a crypto mining scam. A 39-year-old guy in Zelenets got caught running an illegal Bitcoin farm in his shed, and now he’s looking at serious jail time.

Security services announced the criminal case Thursday. The man operated without any permits or registration, which pretty much guarantees trouble with Russian authorities. His setup consumed massive amounts of electricity, probably straining the local power grid. Investigators say he tapped into the electrical system illegally to power his operation. Energy theft is common with these underground mining farms since Bitcoin mining eats up so much power.

Not really surprising stuff here.

The suspect allegedly focused on Bitcoin mining specifically. Bitcoin’s sky-high prices make these unauthorized operations tempting for people willing to risk it. Authorities grabbed all his mining equipment during the raid, though they didn’t say exactly how much gear he had running.

And the timing couldn’t be worse for crypto miners in Russia. The government keeps tightening rules around digital currencies, trying to crack down on illegal operations while still wanting to encourage legitimate tech innovation. Officials haven’t named the suspect yet, keeping his identity under wraps during the investigation. Legal proceedings are coming, but no trial date got set.

Local folks expressed shock about the whole thing. They had no clue their quiet village neighbor was running a major crypto operation right under their noses. Zelenets rarely sees this kind of high-profile criminal case.

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs is running the investigation. They said the suspect faces up to five years in prison if convicted under current laws. The ministry stressed that people need to follow legal frameworks for crypto activities, period.

Local media reported February 25 that seized equipment included over 100 mining rigs. Each rig costs several thousand dollars, showing just how big this operation was. The financial value highlights why someone would risk running an illegal facility.

Regional utility company Komienergo noticed weird electricity usage spikes in the area. That anomaly triggered more scrutiny, eventually leading investigators straight to the mining farm. The utility company is helping law enforcement figure out exactly how much unauthorized power got used. For more details, see Bitcoin Crashes on Mass Position Unwinding,.

The Federal Security Service ramped up efforts against illegal crypto activities recently. FSB launched raids February 22 targeting several suspected mining operations across the region. Part of the government’s bigger push to stop unauthorized crypto activities nationwide.

Local prosecutor Ivan Petrov thinks organized crime might be involved. He said the sophisticated mining setup suggests possible connections to larger criminal networks. The prosecutor’s office is working with other regional agencies to explore those links.

The Economic Security Department of the Komi Republic issued warnings February 24. They told residents about legal risks from unregistered crypto operations. The department made it clear – people caught doing this stuff face severe penalties including big fines and prison time.

Russian media is watching developments closely. State broadcaster Russia-24 aired a segment February 26 discussing broader implications of the case. The broadcast highlighted tension between encouraging tech innovation and enforcing existing laws.

February 27, the Komi Republic’s Energy Commission released statements about strain on the local power grid. They noted unauthorized crypto mining can cause outages and higher costs for regular consumers. The commission urged residents to report suspicious energy usage activities.

Ministry investigators say the suspect used sophisticated software to hide his operation’s energy consumption patterns. Power masking techniques make detection harder for authorities. The ministry is considering new tech measures to spot similar setups more effectively. See also: Bitcoin Adoption Surges as Price Stagnates.

Local businesses worry about damage to Zelenets’ reputation. Alexei Smirnov owns a nearby hardware store and thinks the incident could scare off future investment and development. Smirnov wants clear communication from authorities to reassure residents and potential investors.

The suspect’s legal team stayed quiet so far. Attempts to reach his lawyer failed completely. The defense’s silence adds uncertainty about the case outcome and any possible plea deals.

The case comes as Russia’s Ministry of Finance proposed new crypto legislation last month. That proposal is still getting discussed in the State Duma, trying to clarify legal status of digital currencies. Timing suggests this criminal case might influence future policy decisions as officials look at regulatory gaps.

Investigators haven’t commented on potential penalties beyond the five-year maximum. The full impact of the operation remains under review as the case develops.

Regional banking authorities flagged unusual financial transactions linked to the suspect’s accounts in early February. Sberbank and VTB reported suspicious cryptocurrency-related transfers totaling over 2.3 million rubles to federal regulators.

The Central Bank of Russia issued guidance February 23 warning financial institutions about crypto-mining related money laundering schemes. Bank compliance officers received instructions to monitor accounts showing patterns consistent with illegal mining operations across the Komi Republic.

Post Views: 15

It started as an idea. Now it processes more lending volume than most people will ever see in a lifetime. Aave, the decentralized finance protocol that lets users borrow and deposit crypto without going through a traditional bank, has crossed $1 trillion in total cumulative lending — a milestone that has never been reached by any other protocol in the DeFi industry.

From A 2017 Startup To A Trillion-Dollar Lending Machine Aave was not always called Aave. Its founder, Stani Kulechov, first launched the platform under the name ETHLend in November 2017 before rebranding it in September 2018.

What began as a small peer-to-peer lending experiment on the Ethereum blockchain has grown into the dominant force in decentralized lending, with over $27 billion in total user funds currently secured on the platform.

Aave crossed $1 trillion all-time loans.

A first in DeFi history. pic.twitter.com/9zMKhtGq6R

— Aave (@aave) February 25, 2026

Over the past 30 days alone, Aave generated more than $83 million in fees — nearly four times more than its nearest competitor, Morpho. Other well-known lending platforms including JustLend, SparkLend, Maple, and Compound Finance each hold over $1 billion in total value locked, but none come close to matching Aave’s scale.

“A decade ago, DeFi and Aave didn’t exist. They were just ideas. Today, Aave stands as the backbone of onchain lending, powering a new financial system that is open, global, and unstoppable,” Kulechov said in a post on X following the announcement.

AAVEUSDT now trading at $115. Chart: TradingView His longer-term ambitions are even bigger. Kulechov has said he wants Aave to become the largest and most efficient liquidity network on the planet — one that banks, builders, and financial technology companies connect to by default.

Big Finance Names Are Already At The Table Aave is no longer just for crypto enthusiasts. In August last year, Aave Labs launched a new product called Aave Horizon, a lending market built on Ethereum and designed specifically for traditional financial institutions.

The idea is to allow established finance firms to borrow stablecoins using real-world assets as collateral. According to reports, VanEck, WisdomTree, and Securitize were among the first major institutions to participate in the offering — a sign that the gap between conventional finance and decentralized protocols is narrowing.

Kulechov has also been vocal about what he sees as the next big opportunity for DeFi lending. Reports say he believes that tokenizing what he calls “abundance assets” — things like solar energy infrastructure, battery storage systems, and robotics used in labor — could open an entirely new category of collateral for decentralized lending. He expects those types of assets to be worth a combined $50 trillion by 2050.

Featured image from BTCCard, chart from TradingView

In brief MARA will convert select mining sites into AI-focused campuses. Shares rose as much as 16% before dipping slightly in after-hours trading following the announcement. Analysts say MARA remains a Bitcoin proxy until leases are signed. MARA Holdings, one of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin miners in the U.S., said Thursday it will team up with Starwood Property Trust to develop AI-focused data centers, sending its shares higher in after-hours trading.

Under the agreement, MARA will work with Starwood to convert a portfolio of its U.S. Bitcoin mining sites, excluding those already held in third-party joint ventures, into hyperscale data center campuses, with projects structured on a site-by-site basis.

The partnership will allow the two to turn select Bitcoin mining sites into large-scale data centers that could also serve enterprise and AI workloads, transforming “power certainty into capacity certainty," Fred Thiel, chairman and CEO of MARA, said in a statement.

MARA closed at $8.45 on Thursday, down 1.4% in the U.S trading session, before inching higher to $9.62 in after-hours, a gain of about 13.9%, according to Google Finance data. Shares reached as high as $9.9 in extended trading, up roughly 16% from the regular-session’s close.

MARA said the partnership targets sites with low-cost power and strong grid access, positioning them to support both Bitcoin mining and AI workloads.

By pairing its energy-heavy infrastructure with Starwood’s development and operating capabilities, the company aims to scale the campuses into digital infrastructure that can shift compute between mining and AI, depending on pricing and demand.

The move is “strategically meaningful because it moves MARA from a “hashrate and Bitcoin price beta” toward “power-to-compute monetization,” Ram Kumar, core contributor at AI and blockchain infrastructure firm OpenLedger, told Decrypt.

“That said, until there are signed hyperscale/enterprise leases with disclosed economics, MARA will still trade primarily as a Bitcoin price proxy, because mining remains the cleanest, most observable driver of near-term cash flows, while data center conversion is execution-heavy and timeline-dependent,” Kumar said.

Meaningful changesThe move could meaningfully shift MARA’s long-term earnings profile, but it remains dependent on future AI expenditure curves, Siwon Huh, researcher at crypto analytics firm Four Pillars, told Decrypt.

“The lack of immediate AI revenue suggests that the short-term impact will be limited,” he said, noting that, unlike Core Scientific, which secured AI contracts last year, or TeraWulf, which has signed long-term hosting deals, MARA is still at the partnership stage and has not announced confirmed AI tenants.

MARA can elect to hold between 10% and 50% equity in each joint venture, while Starwood will act as managing member and lead development, tenant sourcing, and financing efforts.

“Without signed tenant agreements, it is premature to discuss a fundamental shift in their earnings profile,” Huh said. One decisive catalyst that could come into play would be “a binding, long-term lease agreement with a hyperscale-tier tenant,” he added.

For MARA to generate meaningful AI revenue, its strategies for GPU procurement and power allocation need to be finalized.

“Clear guidance on the power distribution ratio between Bitcoin mining and AI compute is essential for investors to accurately model the demand for both segments,” Huh said.

Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has identified and proposed a plan to address four areas of the network that he sees as most quantum-vulnerable.

Quantum computing and crypto have been in the headlines recently as concerns mount over Bitcoin and other blockchains’ resistance to quantum-capable supercomputers.

Buterin posted his quantum resistance roadmap for Ethereum on Thursday, stating that the four areas are: validator signatures, data storage, user account signatures, and zero-knowledge proofs.

He said that replacing the current BLS (Boneh-Lynn-Shacham) consensus signatures with “Lean” quantum-safe hash-based signatures would fix that component. The tricky part is picking the right hash function, since this choice will likely stick around for a long time.

“This may be ‘Ethereum’s last hash function’, so it's important to choose wisely,” he said. 

Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake proposed “Lean Ethereum,” a plan to make the network quantum-secure, in August 2025. 

Quantum safe data storage and accounts  Regarding data storage, or “blobs”, Ethereum currently uses a system called KZG (Kate-Zaverucha-Goldberg) for storing and verifying data. 

The plan is to swap this out for STARKs (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge), which are quantum-resistant. “It’s manageable, but there's a lot of engineering work to do,” said Buterin.

The third challenge is user accounts. Ethereum currently uses ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) signatures, which are standard cryptographic keys. The fix is to upgrade the network so that accounts can use any signature scheme, including “lattice-based” quantum-resistant ones.

However, quantum-safe signatures are much heavier computationally and would consume more gas.

“The long-term fix is protocol-layer recursive signature and proof aggregation, which could reduce these gas overheads to near-zero,” he said. 

Quantum-resistant proofs are very expensive Quantum-resistant proofs are extremely expensive to run onchain so “the solution again is protocol-layer recursive signature and proof aggregation,” said Buterin.

Instead of verifying every signature and proof individually onchain, a single master proof or “validation frame” would verify thousands of them at once, keeping costs near zero.

“This way, a block could ‘contain’ a thousand validation frames, each of which contains either a 3kB signature or even a 256kB proof,” he explained. 

Buterin floated the concept of a recursive-STARK-based bandwidth-efficient mempool in January. Source: ETHresearchButerin also commented on the Ethereum Foundation’s “Strawmap” on Thursday, stating that he expects to see “progressive decreases of both slot time and finality time.” 

Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum: BIP-360 co-author

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

📊
No votes yet – Be the first to vote

Bitcoin traders got slammed hard Sunday. Short positions worth $500 million vanished as the cryptocurrency rocketed past $45,000, catching bearish bets completely off-guard and sparking wild speculation about whether we’re seeing the start of another crypto bull run.

The liquidation cascade started fast and didn’t stop. Felix Yang from CryptoEdge watched it unfold in real time, describing the carnage as traders scrambled to cover their positions. “It’s like a domino effect,” Yang said during the chaos. “Once the price hit a critical level, shorts had no choice but to exit.” The speed caught everyone by surprise – even seasoned traders who’ve seen Bitcoin’s volatility before. Major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase recorded massive trading volumes as positions closed rapidly across the globe.

Half a billion dollars. Gone.

The immediate aftermath split the crypto community down the middle. Some traders see this liquidation event as the catalyst for Bitcoin’s next major upward move, while others remain skeptical about the sustainability of any rally built on forced buying. Laura Chen from Digital Asset Research urged caution amid the excitement. “We’ve seen these kinds of swings before,” she warned. “It’s crucial to stay grounded.” But her words might be falling on deaf ears as institutional money starts flowing back into Bitcoin.

Reports surfaced Tuesday showing hedge funds and family offices ramping up their Bitcoin purchases. The institutional interest represents a stark shift from the cautious approach many large investors took throughout 2025’s sluggish crypto performance. Trading platforms like Robinhood and eToro didn’t miss the action either – both reported significant spikes in new account openings on February 27 as retail investors rushed to join the party.

Yet skepticism runs deep. Critics argue this surge looks more like market mechanics than genuine fundamental strength. Related coverage: Bitcoin Hits K Before Sharp Pullback.

Veteran trader Alex Becker isn’t buying the hype. “We’ve seen these spikes before, and they don’t always lead to sustained growth,” he said. “Investors should be wary of jumping in based solely on short-term movements.” His concerns aren’t unfounded – Bitcoin’s history is littered with false starts and failed breakouts that left late buyers holding the bag. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange seems to share some of these worries, announcing a review of margin requirements for Bitcoin futures on February 25.

Regulatory shadows loom large over any potential rally. Governments worldwide keep tightening their focus on cryptocurrency oversight, and upcoming policy decisions could easily derail any bullish momentum. The market knows this – it’s why many traders remain cautious despite the recent price action. But for now, the momentum belongs to the bulls, and they’re not backing down.

Ethereum jumped to $3,200 following Bitcoin’s lead, though it’s unclear whether the second-largest crypto can maintain pace with its bigger sibling. The relationship between these two giants often signals broader market sentiment, and their synchronized movement suggests something bigger might be brewing. Tether saw massive trading volume during the liquidation event, with traders using the stablecoin as a safe harbor while Bitcoin prices whipsawed.

Grayscale Investments made headlines Wednesday by boosting their Bitcoin holdings by 5%. CEO Michael Sonnenshein doubled down on their long-term crypto commitment during a press briefing, signaling institutional confidence despite market uncertainty. But retail investors tell a different story – Glassnode data shows small Bitcoin wallets decreased slightly on February 28, suggesting individual investors might be taking profits or reducing exposure. More on this topic: Bitcoin Holds Above K Despite Trading.

The market waits for Bitcoin’s next move above the $45,000 resistance level. Holding this price could signal genuine investor confidence, but crypto markets remain notoriously unpredictable. Traders are watching closely, knowing that one wrong move could send prices tumbling back down and trigger another wave of liquidations – this time hitting the bulls instead of the bears. For now, the shorts have been taught a $500 million lesson about betting against Bitcoin’s volatility.

The liquidation event exposed deeper structural issues within crypto derivatives markets. Perpetual swap contracts, which allow traders to bet on Bitcoin’s direction without expiration dates, accumulated massive short interest throughout February before the squeeze. Data from Coinglass reveals that funding rates had turned deeply negative across major exchanges, indicating widespread bearish sentiment that made the market ripe for exactly this kind of violent reversal. BitMEX and Bybit saw particularly severe liquidations as their highly leveraged products amplified losses.

Market makers and algorithmic trading firms played a crucial role in accelerating the price surge. Jump Trading and Cumberland DRW, two major crypto market makers, reportedly pulled back their sell-side liquidity as volatility spiked, creating a feedback loop that pushed prices higher with each liquidated short position. The phenomenon mirrors similar events in traditional markets where institutional liquidity providers step aside during extreme moves, leaving retail traders to face the full brunt of market dislocations.

Post Views: 13

TL;DR:

Ondo solidifies its leadership with over $2 billion in tokenized Treasury bills. The platform connects directly with NYSE and Nasdaq liquidity to minimize price slippage. Regulatory expansion in Europe will grant access to more than 500 million potential investors. A transition is unfolding in the financial industry, where stock tokenization is not merely a technological upgrade but a total redefinition of asset ownership. Major institutions such as BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and J.P. Morgan are already backing this shift toward blockchain efficiency.

The success of this sector has evolved from stablecoins to Treasury bills, now culminating in the integration of stocks and ETFs. This third wave allows traditionally static assets to become productive capital, available 24/7.

Unlike other protocols that fragment liquidity, Ondo has managed to unify its digital assets with traditional markets. Thanks to the firm’s approach, trading slippage remains below 5 basis points, ensuring institutional-grade execution.

The Future of Real-World Assets (RWA) in DeFi The permissionless architecture offered by Ondo facilitates the use of tokenized assets as collateral in decentralized lending protocols. This means an investor can maintain their exposure to stocks while simultaneously obtaining liquidity without the need to sell their positions.

In addition to its technological dominance, the firm is making steady progress in regulatory compliance after receiving key approvals in Europe. This strategic move opens the doors of U.S. markets to millions of global investors, eliminating geographic barriers and restricted trading hours.

In summary, with over $12 billion in processed volume, the platform proves that the most liquid assets are the best suited for the blockchain. The convergence of regulation and on-chain technology is creating a much more efficient, transparent, and accessible financial ecosystem for everyone.

SUI has repeatedly tested key support, but every breakdown attempt has been aggressively absorbed. Instead of accelerating lower, the price has stabilized and begun to compress, a classic sign of underlying demand. With volatility tightening and pressure building, the question now is whether this absorption phase is setting the stage for a powerful upside expansion.

SUI Re-Enters the Spotlight at $0.9884 A fresh analysis from Altcoinpedia highlighted that SUI is trading around $0.9884, with accelerating ecosystem metrics bringing the high-performance network back into focus among traders and builders. Its strong transaction throughput remains a core advantage, allowing applications to scale efficiently without congestion while maintaining low latency for users.

Developer activity continues to expand, with new DeFi protocols, gaming projects, and consumer applications launching to leverage SUI’s object-centric architecture. Liquidity across ecosystem-based decentralized exchanges has grown steadily, signaling meaningful participation rather than short-term speculation. At the same time, broader institutional access is creating regulated exposure pathways, while on-chain data shows increasing wallet growth and consistent network utilization, which are clear signs of genuine traction.

Source: Chart from Altcoinpedia on X The conversation around SUI is shifting from early potential to proven execution. Markets tend to reward ecosystems where technical performance aligns with usability, and that alignment is becoming increasingly visible. With price consolidating near zones that historically attract strategic accumulation, the overall structure appears constructive.

As liquidity deepens, developer momentum strengthens, and institutional awareness expands, the foundation for a larger move continues to build. The key elements for expansion are in place, and with breakout energy forming, the broader market may soon begin to reflect that progress.

Volatility Expansion, But Breakdowns Absorbed SUI’s price against Bitcoin tapped 0.00001351, and the reaction was immediate. According to crypto analyst Umair Crypto, volatility expanded sharply, yet every attempt to close below that level failed. Each breakdown was met with absorption, resulting in roughly 2 days and 8 hours of tight consolidation, with 14 consecutive candles holding right at support. That kind of behavior signals active defense, not randomness.

Now, price is beginning to push higher, but confirmation is still required. The next major trigger comes from the BTC pair. Sustained closes above 0.00001372 would break the RSI trendline and signal a potential structural shift in momentum.

If that breakout materializes, it could lead to the USDT pair reclaiming the 50 SMA, a recovery of the black box resistance zone, activation of an inverse head and shoulders pattern, and a measured move targeting approximately $0.96.

Until the BTC pair decisively breaks structure, the USDT pair remains constrained, trading near range lows and below the 50 SMA. In this setup, the BTC pair dictates direction, and the USDT pair follows.

SUI trading at $0.94 on the 1D chart | Source: SUIUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from YouTube, chart from Tradingview.com

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Michael Saylor used his Strategy World 2026 keynote on Feb. 25 to argue that Bitcoin-backed “digital credit” is moving beyond Wall Street wrappers and toward programmable distribution on crypto rails, naming Solana and Ethereum as part of that future. The pitch matters because it pushes Strategy’s Bitcoin treasury model into a broader product thesis: use Bitcoin as the capital base, then package credit, yield and liquidity for corporates, retail investors and eventually tokenized markets.

Bitcoin Capital, Credit Product Saylor framed Bitcoin as the foundation of the stack and Strategy’s Stretch (STRC) as the credit layer built on top of it. In his telling, the company’s business is no longer just accumulating Bitcoin, but “converting capital into credit” by using long-duration capital structures to strip cash flow from a volatile asset and deliver it as a steadier yield product.

“What is Strategy doing? Our company is converting capital into credit. We’re converting economic wealth into a stream of cash flows,” Saylor said. “You need an operating company in order to take a block of economic energy and turn it into a currency, peg it to a currency, strip away the risk, damp the volatility, extract the cash flows in the form of yield and compress the duration to now.”

That framework sits at the center of his case for STRC. Saylor said Strategy arrived there only after working through what he described as increasingly durable forms of leverage, from exchange leverage and margin loans to senior debt, junior debt, convertibles and preferred structures.

The key variable, in his view, is not just headline maturity, but the “stochastic duration” of capital, how long a company can realistically rely on it before covenants, mark-to-market stress or refinancing pressure force a problem.

He argued that variable preferred credit offered the best compromise short of common equity because it maximized optionality and reduced the risk of getting squeezed out of the position during a drawdown.

Saylor also laid out a simple quantitative case for digital credit. Strategy, he said, uses three internal metrics: BTC rating, or collateral coverage; BTC risk, the probability that collateral falls below required levels by the end of the term; and the implied credit spread needed to compensate investors. He contrasted current benchmarks of 78 basis points for investment-grade bonds and 288 basis points for high-yield debt with what he said digital credit could deliver if Bitcoin compounds faster than traditional assets.

His model depends heavily on a constructive view of Bitcoin’s long-run returns. If Bitcoin appreciates at 30% annually, Saylor said, sizable volumes of investment-grade credit can be created against it. If Bitcoin goes nowhere, the same structure starts to look like distressed debt.

He used recent performance to sharpen that distinction. Since Bitcoin’s all-time high about four and a half months ago, Saylor said, Bitcoin had fallen 45%, while STRC had lost “0% of its value” and paid 4.5% in dividends through the drawdown. That, he argued, is the commercial opening: offer a less volatile yield instrument to buyers who want Bitcoin-linked economics without owning the asset outright.

Solana And Ethereum As Distribution Rails The keynote’s most consequential turn came when Saylor described digital credit as “programmable.” He was not using the term narrowly.

“Programmable means I take the credit and I create it. I turn it into a token, a private fund, a public fund, an ETF, an ETP. I make it a bank account. I make it a crypto account,” he said. “Then I put it on a platform — the NASDAQ, the London Stock Exchange, Solana, Ethereum, Binance, Coinbase Base. There are a lot of different platforms I can put that on.”

BREAKING: Michael Saylor says the future of programmable digital credit will be deployed on Solanapic.twitter.com/F4scOmDaU3

— Solana (@solana) February 25, 2026

He went further, arguing that once credit is packaged as a modular product, issuers can tune volatility, liquidity, staking periods, payout frequency and currency exposure. In that framework, Solana and Ethereum are not the capital base (Bitcoin remains that in Saylor’s model) but potential rails for distributing tokenized versions of the credit product.

That leaves Strategy with a larger ambition than simply selling preferred stock. Saylor said the company intends to deepen STRC liquidity and scale the underlying asset base, while partners build “digital money” and “digital yield” products around it.

If that thesis holds, Strategy is betting Bitcoin-backed credit can move from a public-market niche into a cross-platform product category spanning brokerages, ETFs and on-chain ecosystems.

At press time, Solana traded at $86.97.

Solana must reclaim the 0.618 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: SOLUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) remained a drag as heavy US BTC-spot ETF outflows weighed on sentiment.

Nevertheless, resilient demand for US XRP-spot ETFs and hopes that the US Senate will pass the Market Structure Bill continued to support the bullish medium-term (4-8 weeks) outlook for XRP, with a price target of $2.0.

Below, I will explore the key drivers behind recent price trends, the medium-term outlook, and the technical levels traders should watch.

XRP Dips on US Labor Market Data and Waning Fed Rate Cut Bets US initial jobless claims rose from 208k (week ending February 14) to 212k (week ending February 21), coming in below a forecast of 215k.

The resilient jobless claims data followed the US jobs report, which indicated tighter labor market conditions and robust wage growth. A tight labor market and steady wage growth could boost consumer spending. An upswing in consumer spending would likely fuel demand-driven inflation, supporting a more hawkish Fed rate path. Elevated borrowing costs may curb speculative and leveraged positioning in risk assets such as XRP.

The token dropped from $1.4454 to a session low of $1.3862 after the data release.

XRPUSD – 30-Minute Chart – 270226 – US Labor Market Data US XRP-Spot ETFs Extend Inflow Streak While US economic data influenced sentiment, spot ETF flows continued to cushion the downside. On February 26, the US XRP-spot ETF market saw net inflows of $0.5 million, following the previous day’s inflows of $3.09 million.

Robust institutional demand for XRP-spot ETFs underscored optimism that the US Senate will pass crypto-friendly legislation. Importantly, clear rules of the road would likely boost XRP utility, tilting the supply-demand balance firmly in the token’s favor.

Year-to-date flow trends more closely reflect institutional demand relative to investor appetite for BTC-spot ETFs. The US XRP-spot ETF market has seen $70.26 million in net inflows YTD. Meanwhile, the US BTC-spot ETF market has reported net outflows of $2.52 billion YTD, weighing on the broader crypto market.

Importantly, increased XRP utility, resilient demand for XRP-spot ETFs, and the progress of the Market Structure Bill on Capitol Hill could see XRP decouple from BTC. A decoupling would support a constructive medium- to long-term bias.

XRP Price Forecast: Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Targets XRP has dropped 14.7% in February, affirming a cautiously bearish short-term outlook (1-4 weeks), with a target price of $1.0.

However, the progress of the Market Structure Bill, XRP-spot ETF flows, and increased XRP utility reinforce the bullish medium- to long-term price projections:

Medium-term (4-8 weeks): $2.0. Longer-term (8-12 weeks): $3.0. Key Downside Risks to the Bullish Medium-Term Outlook Several events could challenge the constructive medium-term bias. These include:

A US-Iran conflict. US economic data temper expectations of an H1 2026 Fed rate cut. Delays and/or partisan opposition to the Market Structure Bill. Extended periods of XRP-spot ETF net outflows. These events would weigh on XRP, send the token toward $1.0, and reinforce the cautiously bearish short-term outlook.

XRP and Yen Carry Trade Unwinds Additionally, traders should consider Bank of Japan chatter and USD/JPY trends, given the impact of the mid-2024 yen carry trade unwind on XRP.

However, a hawkish Bank of Japan neutral rate estimate (1.5%-2.5%) would imply multiple rate hikes. Multiple rate hikes would narrow US-Japan rate differentials in favor of the yen. Narrowing rate differentials could trigger another yen carry trade unwind. For context, the BoJ previously announced a wide neutral rate band of 1%-2.5% but stated it would declare a tighter range at a later date.

Historical price action underscores XRP’s sensitivity to the BoJ and USD/JPY trends. The BoJ’s more hawkish-than-expected July 2024 monetary policy decision sent USD/JPY tumbling from 153.889 to 139.576. The sharp drop triggered a yen carry trade unwind, drying up market liquidity. XRP dropped from a July 31, 2024, high of $0.6591 to an August 5, 2024, low of $0.4320.

Journalist

Posted: February 27, 2026

STABLE has surged 13.12% in the past 24 hours as trading volume has expanded by more than 2,200%, signaling aggressive capital inflows across spot markets. 

At the time of press, Stable [STABLE] traded around $0.0335 after reclaiming the $0.0308 region, reflecting renewed upside strength. This expansion has followed weeks of compression within a defined structure. 

Buyers were pushing the price toward the $0.0350 resistance zone, where prior supply previously capped advances. Market cap has climbed toward $576.37 million, reinforcing broader participation. 

However, this rally aligns closely with structural breakout signals rather than random volatility, suggesting that capital rotation is actively unfolding.

Inverse head and shoulders breakout takes control Price has completed an inverse head and shoulders formation across the $0.0160 to $0.0308 range. The left shoulder formed near $0.0225, while the head extended toward $0.0160. 

The right shoulder stabilized above $0.0269 before the price attacked the neckline resistance. As of press time, STABLE reclaimed the $0.0308 neckline level. This reclaim transforms prior resistance into active support. 

Buyers continue defending higher lows, reinforcing structural strength. Meanwhile, price presses toward the $0.0335 to $0.0350 supply region. 

A sustained hold above $0.0308 would validate continuation structure. However, failure to defend that zone would weaken the breakout thesis.

RSI has climbed to 71.49, placing the oscillator firmly in bullish territory. This reading reflects strong upside pressure. 

However, RSI has not yet shown bearish divergence. The indicator previously peaked near similar zones during prior rallies. 

The context suggests continuation remains possible. The signal line near 56.15 confirms underlying strength remains intact. As long as RSI holds above 60, bulls maintain technical control. 

Source: TradingView

Open Interest expands with price strength At press time, Open Interest has climbed 17.50% to $43.07 million as price breaks higher. This expansion signals fresh leveraged exposure entering the market. 

Rising Open Interest alongside price growth confirms participation-driven demand. Traders now position for continuation rather than covering prior shorts alone. 

The increase suggests conviction behind the breakout structure. However, expanding leverage also raises liquidation risk. If volatility spikes, leveraged positions could amplify swings. 

For now, Open Interest growth aligns with structural strength. As long as price holds above reclaimed support, leveraged flows reinforce bullish continuation bias.

STABLE negative funding hints at squeeze risk OI-Weighted Funding Rate remained negative at -0.0365% despite rising price. This imbalance indicates short positioning still dominates derivatives markets. 

Traders continue paying to hold short exposure. That positioning contrasts with spot-driven upside pressure. If the price sustains above $0.0308, short holders may face forced adjustments. 

Such conditions often fuel acceleration phases. However, persistent negative funding also reflects skepticism. 

Therefore, continuation depends on structural defense of higher support. If buyers maintain control, funding imbalance could trigger squeeze dynamics.

Can STABLE sustain breakout strength? STABLE has confirmed a structural breakout supported by rising Open Interest and strong RSI positioning. Funding imbalance now tilts against prevailing price direction. 

If buyers defend the $0.0308 neckline, continuation toward $0.0350 appears structurally favored. The setup currently supports sustained upside rather than immediate reversal risk.

Final Summary Stable [STABLE] surged 13.12% as Spot Volume exploded over 2,200%, signaling aggressive capital inflows. Price reclaimed the $0.0308 neckline, confirming an inverse head and shoulders breakout structure.

In brief Starknet will support a Bitcoin-based asset that enables better privacy The token will be called strkBTC, and it will feature Zcash-like features It will have a viewing key for compliance purposes. Starknet revealed a Bitcoin-based asset on Thursday aimed at enabling people to better maintain their privacy on the Ethereum layer-2 scaling network.

The upcoming token dubbed strkBTC will allow individuals to shield account balances from public view and make confidential transfers, according to a press release shared with Decrypt by the Starknet Foundation and StarkWare, the network’s creators.

Even when the token is held in a way that makes it more difficult to track, strkBTC is designed to maintain its functionality across various decentralized finance applications. Users will also be able to stake the token on the network to earn rewards, the press release stated.

1/ It’s finally time for Bitcoin to get privacy.

Introducing strkBTC [₿]: a new wrapped Bitcoin token with built-in privacy capabilities.

Shield your Bitcoin balances and transfers, or don’t. You choose 🧵 pic.twitter.com/7FsloqN6Br

— Starknet (Privacy x BTCFi arc) 🥷 (@Starknet) February 26, 2026

In some ways, strkBTC mirrors the functionality of Zcash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that enables users to hide key details of transactions using zero-knowledge proofs. Those allow parties to prove the validity of computations without revealing the underlying information.

Like Zcash, strkBTC is designed to be held in public and private addresses, providing flexibility for compliance. The token debuting on Starknet will also be auditable through a viewing key and “other mechanisms designed to be risk management compatible,” the press release stated.

The overlap makes sense, considering that StarkWare co-founder and Starknet Foundation board member Eli Ben-Sasson helped shape Zcash’s privacy-preserving cryptography.

“Privacy is a fundamental requirement for market participation,” he said in a statement. “Zero-knowledge cryptography makes that possible by keeping markets open while participants remain confidential. strkBTC is the first proof of what this approach enables.”

StarkWare General Counsel Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos told Decrypt that individuals will be able to access strkBTC using a bridge that’s powered by Atomiq Labs. That company enables people to swap their Bitcoin for digital assets on other networks, including Starkent and Solana.

Traditional bridges often create a centralized “middleman” risk, where users are forced to trust a third-party with their funds. Atomiq Labs says it avoids this by using atomic swaps, where math—not a company—ensures the trade happens safely, or the money returns.

“We’re trying to mitigate the use of third-parties,” Kirkpatrick Bos said. “There’s certainly a wide spectrum of wrappers and credibility associated with the projects behind those wrappers, so we want this to be as resilient as possible.”

Kirkpatrick Bos noted that the strkBTC viewing key will be held by a third-party, so there’s a mechanism to comply with regulatory inquiries. The press release noted that strkBTC provides privacy at the infrastructure level, not using wallets or off-chain intermediaries.

Over the past couple of years, Starknet has intensified its focus on Bitcoin, positioning itself as a way to leverage the asset beyond transfers. In September, the network began allowing users to bolster its security by staking Bitcoin-based assets, with rewards paid out in its native STRK token.

Last month, Starknet suffered a block issue that led to more than four hours of downtime, marking its second operational outage within the span of a few months.

STRK changed hands around 4.2 cents on Thursday, a roughly 80% decrease over the past year, according to CoinGecko. That was just above an all-time low of 3.9 cents earlier this week.

Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

📊
No votes yet – Be the first to vote

Circle just crushed expectations. The stablecoin giant behind USD Coin posted a massive $770 million in quarterly revenue, way above what Wall Street analysts saw coming.

The Monday announcement caught everyone off guard, especially since most crypto companies can’t seem to catch a break right now. While Bitcoin and other digital assets keep getting hammered, Circle’s USDC stablecoin keeps growing. Trading volumes for USDC jumped 40% compared to last quarter, and circulation numbers don’t lie – more people want stable digital dollars when markets get wild. Circle’s revenue surge comes from transaction fees, interest on reserves, and partnerships that keep expanding USDC’s reach across different platforms. The company basically makes money every time someone uses USDC for payments, trading, or moving funds between exchanges.

USDC circulation hit new highs. Pretty impressive stuff.

CEO Jeremy Allaire didn’t hold back when talking about the results. “We’re building the infrastructure that makes digital money work for everyone,” he said during Monday’s earnings call. Allaire pointed to strategic moves that paid off big time – partnerships with major banks, integration with payment processors, and expanding into new markets where people actually need stable digital currency. The company’s focus on compliance and working with regulators also helped build trust with institutional users who were nervous about other stablecoins.

But Circle’s success story gets more interesting when you look at what’s happening with competitors. Tether faces ongoing scrutiny about its reserves, while other stablecoin projects struggle with adoption. Circle’s transparent approach and regular audits give users confidence that each USDC token really does have a dollar backing it up. That trust translates into market share, and market share drives revenue.

The numbers keep getting better.

Circle’s partnerships tell the real story here. The company signed deals with SEPA in February to handle cross-border payments across Europe. CFO Jeremy Fox-Geen called it a “game-changer” for international transactions. “We’re not just another crypto company anymore,” Fox-Geen said. “We’re becoming essential infrastructure for the global payments system.” The SEPA deal alone could add millions in transaction volume as European businesses start using USDC for faster, cheaper international transfers. More on this topic: White House Cuts Stablecoin Deal as.

Asian expansion also picked up steam recently. Circle’s partnership with a major Japanese fintech firm opens doors to millions of potential users who need stable digital currency for trading and payments. Japan’s crypto-friendly regulations make it an ideal testing ground for Circle’s broader Asian strategy.

Venture capitalist Fred Wilson basically called Circle unstoppable in a recent blog post. “They figured out how to make stablecoins actually useful instead of just speculative,” Wilson wrote. He’s probably right – while other crypto projects chase quick gains, Circle built something people use every day. DeFi protocols need USDC for liquidity, exchanges use it for trading pairs, and businesses want it for payments that settle instantly.

Regulatory challenges haven’t slowed Circle down much. The company joined a Treasury Department working group in February to help shape new digital asset rules. Smart move – instead of fighting regulators, Circle wants to help write the playbook. That’s probably why major banks feel comfortable partnering with them while staying away from other crypto companies.

Market volatility remains a concern though. JP Morgan’s February report warned that crypto price swings could hurt Circle’s business if trading volumes drop. The bank’s analysts think Circle needs better risk management as markets get more unpredictable. Circle’s management seems aware of these risks but hasn’t shared specific details about how they plan to handle major market downturns.

Wall Street clearly didn’t see Circle’s blowout quarter coming. Most analysts expected modest growth at best, given the brutal crypto winter that’s been crushing other companies. Instead, Circle proved that building useful infrastructure beats chasing speculative bubbles. USDC’s growing role in international payments, DeFi protocols, and institutional trading created multiple revenue streams that keep growing even when crypto prices tank. See also: Goliath Ventures CEO Busted for Alleged.

Circle hasn’t revealed much about upcoming projects or potential new partnerships. The company’s next earnings call is scheduled for May, but management stayed pretty quiet about specific growth targets or expansion plans. Industry insiders expect more partnership announcements as traditional finance companies look for ways to offer digital payment services without the regulatory headaches of launching their own tokens.

The stablecoin market keeps consolidating around a few major players, and Circle’s positioning itself as the institutional favorite. USDC’s transparent reserves, regulatory compliance, and growing ecosystem of partners make it the safe choice for businesses that need reliable digital dollars. That competitive advantage should keep driving revenue growth even if overall crypto markets stay volatile.

The Federal Reserve’s recent policy shifts have created unexpected tailwinds for Circle’s business model. When the Fed raised interest rates throughout 2023, Circle’s revenue from reserves increased dramatically since USDC backing funds now earn higher yields in Treasury securities and bank deposits. Industry data shows stablecoin issuers collectively earned over $8 billion in interest income last year, with Circle capturing a significant portion through its conservative investment approach.

Traditional payment giants are taking notice of Circle’s momentum. Mastercard announced a pilot program in March to integrate USDC settlements for cross-border transactions, while Visa quietly expanded its stablecoin payment capabilities after seeing Circle’s European success. PayPal’s recent stablecoin launch actually validates Circle’s market thesis – even established fintech companies now recognize that digital dollars represent the future of instant, low-cost payments rather than speculative investments.

Post Views: 15

Journalist

Posted: February 27, 2026

Bitcoin traded at $68,006 on the 26th of February. The daily candle held above the $60K–$72K range floor.

MACD printed expanding green histogram bars as the signal line crossed higher. RSI recovered from oversold territory and climbed toward 42.

Source: TradingView

That move aligned with visible range stabilization after February’s sharp selloff.

However, price still remained inside the broader $60K–$72K structure. A confirmed break beyond this range has not occurred.

The next major daily resistance sits near $94,085, as marked on the chart. Until that level breaks, the structure remains range-bound.

This left traders focused on whether flows would confirm continuation.

Half-a-billion returns to ETFs On the 25th of February, Bitcoin [BTC] ETFs recorded their first >$500M net inflow day in over three weeks. This reflected a clear institutional conviction returning to the market.

Source: X

BlackRock led with $297.37 million, while Grayscale added $102.49 million. Demand was broad and structured across products, not concentrated in a single vehicle.

Such inflows historically aligned with sustained upside phases. Therefore, continuation from here would reinforce confidence across markets.

“Golden Cross” nears as momentum builds The Inter-exchange Flow Pulse climbed as BTC flowed into derivatives exchanges.

CryptoQuant analysts monitored a potential bullish golden cross closely. Historically, this crossover aligned with transitions into expansion phases.

Meanwhile, rising derivatives inflows signaled renewed speculative participation.

Source: CryptoQuant

Momentum signals strengthened across indicators. This suggested positioning was shifting toward trend continuation rather than exhaustion.

Whale activity accelerates Whales holding 1,000+ BTC have accumulated steadily since 2021. Buying accelerated sharply through 2025 into early 2026.

The last two months reflected volumes comparable to much of 2025. This reinforced the narrative of strategic positioning.

Source: CryptoQuant

Recent activity matched levels seen before prior expansion cycles.

That history matters.

Long-term holders increased balances while the price consolidated below $72K. Supply tightened during range compression. This behavior aligned with the “Mother of All Rallies” thesis, which projects a structural move toward $500,000 over the cycle.

However, such targets depend on sustained capital inflows and multi-quarter continuation.

Even so, whale accumulation during consolidation historically reduced circulating supply ahead of breakout phases. That kept attention locked on $72K.

A decisive break above it could initiate the next expansion leg. Failure to hold $60K would delay the broader $500K thesis.

Final Summary U.S. Bitcoin ETFs recorded $506.6M in net inflows on 25 February. BlackRock’s IBIT led with $297.4M, while Grayscale’s BTC added $102.5M.

Over the last 24 hours, the PIPPIN price on Solana recorded a solid increase of 11.6%, reaching a trading price of $0.83 and positioning itself as the leader of the AI-memecoin segment. Nicolai Sondergaard reported that this rally occurs within a context of capital rotation toward narrative-based technological assets, outperforming larger-cap cryptocurrencies.

This market action pushed PIPPIN’s market capitalization above $880 million, reflecting renewed investor appetite for the convergence of AI and memecoins. However, experts from CoinGecko and Bubblemap warn of a possible 80% supply concentration in interconnected wallets, suggesting centralized control that could inject volatility into the asset.

The token’s behavior will remain under market scrutiny, watching whether it manages to break the psychological resistance of one dollar or if a correction occurs due to profit-taking by “insiders.” The evolution of social media sentiment and activity on exchanges like Gate.io will be decisive in determining whether this upward trend is sustainable or a transient speculative phenomenon.

Source: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/pippin/

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News is compiled from official and public sources verified by our editorial team. Its purpose is to provide rapid information on relevant facts within the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendations. We recommend always verifying the official channels of each project before making related decisions.

More than 2 billion XRP tokens—roughly 3.5% of the circulating supply—are effectively inactive, representing nearly $3 billion in sidelined liquidity. The issue isn’t XRP’s price; it’s usability. A large portion of these tokens sits in Xaman wallets, disconnected from decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities due to the technical barriers of bridging assets, managing multiple wallets, and handling gas fees across blockchains.

That may be about to change. Xaman has partnered with the Flare blockchain to streamline XRP’s access to DeFi through a single-transaction process embedded directly within the Xaman wallet. The integration aims to remove friction and unlock XRP liquidity without requiring users to leave the ecosystem they already know.

At the core of this system are FAssets, which create a trust-minimized, wrapped version of XRP on Flare. This allows XRP to interact with smart contracts and DeFi protocols. Flare Smart Accounts eliminate the need for managing a second wallet by enabling users to authorize transactions using their existing XRPL credentials. Xaman serves as the user-facing layer, integrating the functionality directly into its wallet interface.

Behind the scenes, Flare’s Data Connector validates transactions, while Smart Account controllers mint wrapped XRP, allocate assets into curated vault strategies, and manage yield distribution. What once required complex cross-chain bridging and multiple decentralized applications is now condensed into one seamless workflow.

Vault strategies are managed by Upshift and curated by Clearstar, focusing on lending markets, collateralized positions, and structured DeFi products. Although yield targets remain undisclosed, early traction is evident. Flare’s FXRP has surpassed 100 million in minted supply, with over 60 million deployed in staking and structured products.

With XRP recently rising 6% alongside a 212% surge in retail trading volume and continued ETF inflows, market interest is strong. However, XRP’s DeFi growth—often called “XRPFi”—depends more on accessibility than price momentum. By reducing technical barriers, this integration could transform idle XRP into productive on-chain capital and reshape the token’s DeFi future.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has revealed a long-term roadmap aimed at protecting the Ethereum blockchain from potential threats posed by quantum computing. The announcement follows the Ethereum Foundation’s creation of a dedicated post-quantum research team focused on strengthening the network’s cryptographic security.

While powerful quantum computers capable of breaking modern encryption do not yet exist, experts warn they could eventually compromise the digital signatures and cryptographic systems that secure Ethereum. In a recent post on X, Buterin highlighted four key areas of vulnerability: validator signatures used in consensus, Ethereum’s data availability framework, everyday wallet signatures, and certain zero-knowledge proofs powering applications and layer-2 networks.

A major priority is replacing the current BLS digital signatures used by Ethereum validators. These signatures secure block confirmations but may become vulnerable in a quantum computing era. Buterin proposed transitioning to hash-based signatures, widely considered more resistant to quantum attacks and better suited for long-term blockchain security.

Ethereum’s data availability system, which currently relies on KZG commitments, would also require upgrades. Although quantum-safe alternatives exist, implementing them would demand substantial engineering work and could increase system complexity.

For users, the proposed solution centers on EIP-8141, a planned Ethereum upgrade designed to enhance wallet flexibility. Today, most Ethereum wallets rely on a single signature standard to authorize transactions. EIP-8141 would allow accounts to adopt new cryptographic schemes, including quantum-resistant signatures, ensuring future-proof transaction security.

Zero-knowledge proofs, essential for privacy tools and layer-2 scaling solutions, present another challenge. Quantum-safe versions are currently more expensive to verify on-chain. To address this, Buterin referenced “validation frames” within EIP-8141, which would bundle multiple signatures and proofs into a single compressed proof, reducing verification costs while maintaining security.

Together, these measures aim to position Ethereum as a quantum-resistant blockchain prepared for the next era of cryptographic innovation.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

Journalist

Posted: February 27, 2026

As plans to upgrade the Aptos [APT] blockchain continue, the altcoin has outperformed the total crypto market cap by daily gains of 13%, at press time. This surge resulted in APT’s price reclaiming the $1 level but has since dropped below it.

Worth noting, this spike in both price and volume was common across the altcoin market. However, it was those altcoins that had real backing behind them that thrived.

Indicators signal possible APT trend shift Aptos has broken above the slanting trendline resistance that had capped its price since the start of the year. From a low near $0.80, APT rallied more than 37% to above $1.10. However, bears quickly cut into those gains, pushing back at this key psychological level

Interestingly, the current breakout was symmetrical across most altcoins. This hinted that Aptos could be rallying at the expense of a broader altcoin rotation.

As the breakout signaled a potential trend shift, the indicators were aligning with this outlook. For instance, the RSI Divergence had printed another bull signal, the second one for the year 2026.

Source: APT/USDT on TradingView

Moreover, the Money Flow Index (MFI) was above 70, which indicated capital inflow was at its peak. MFI tends to revert to these levels, as seen previously. However, for the APT price to remain bullish, this capital inflow needs to continue.

What really fueled Aptos’s rally? Further analysis revealed that price action alone did not drive the rally. In fact, sentiment from the fundamentals was at the center of it.

Participants were betting on the Decibel upgrade, designed to strengthen the chain’s DeFi ecosystem. A key feature is the launch of Decibel’s USDCBL stablecoin, which aims to boost liquidity across the network.

Additionally, the chain capped the maximum supply at 2.1 billion APT and reduced emissions by 50%. Moreover, the chain increased gas fees by 10x, where 100% of transaction fees would be burned. All these developments, alongside buybacks, would reduce inflation.

Source: X

Meanwhile, META announced it would be integrating stablecoins in its platforms through the Movement Network [MOVE]. This put Aptos and Sui Network [SUI] in a place of gain since they use the MOVE programming language.

Weekly transactions and active accounts peak As per Aptos Explorer, its network activity over the past week had been growing as the market stayed silent.

However, price has exploded as user transactions hit a high of 8.679 million. The number of monthly active accounts also surged during this period, surpassing the 10.4 million mark.

Source: Aptos Explorer

Given the high number of transactions, the network lagged in terms of speed. The TPS fell from a peak of 19,286 to 1,708. This indicated that the network was straining to maintain high speed when activity increased sharply.

Final Summary  Aptos rallied 37% amid altcoin rotation, the ongoing Decibel upgrade, and rising transaction and active accounts.  APT’s bullish outlook was dependent on continued capital inflow and the ability to stay above the slanting trendline resistance. 

Bitcoin is now inching towards $70,000, but there is enough to worry about around $64,000. Crypto analyst Tara expressed concern that Bitcoin’s fifth wave may not be complete, with a prediction that further downside could still be ahead. 

In a recent post on X, the analyst noted that the current move could either be the start or the final stretch of a fifth wave decline, and there’s still a possibility of the Bitcoin price falling to as low as $52,000.

Double Bottom Support At $59,900 And $60,500 Technical analysis done by crypto analyst Tara shows that Bitcoin has built a major support around the $59,900 to $60,500 range. This area is based on prior swing lows and a visible double bottom formation on the 4-hour candlestick price chart. It also coincides with deeper Fibonacci retracement levels projected from above $70,000.

According to the analyst, Bitcoin could see a strong reaction if the price were to fall to that region. A bounce from this support could drive the Bitcoin price back to $64,400, which would then be tested as resistance instead of support.

However, such a rebound may only be temporary. If the macro fifth wave structure continues to play out, the market could still be setting up for one final push lower after that retest. According to Tara’s wave interpretation, this final push lower could extend to as low as $52,000. 

Source: Chart from TARA on X This level is not yet fixed and will be remeasured as price action develops, but it represents a possible completion zone for the broader fifth wave. It is important to note that Bitcoin actually managed to hold above $60,000 throughout February, so therefore, the outlook to $52,000 is a worst-case scenario.

Interestingly, the Relative Strength Index indicator on the 4-hour timeframe is trending lower and approaching oversold territory. Tara advised traders to watch for bullish divergence on the RSI during the next drop. A bullish divergence on the RSI could be the first sign of the end of the corrective structure.

Bitcoin Might Register Higher Support At $64,000 Over the past few weeks, the $64,000 region has stood out as a decisive pivot for Bitcoin, repeatedly flipping between support and resistance depending on the direction of price. In a separate update, Tara highlighted that Bitcoin recently backtested the macro 0.5 Fibonacci level at $64,400 as resistance before attempting to push higher.

Reclaiming $64,000 would be an important step toward reversing the current bearish macro trend. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $68,220, up 4% over the past 24 hours. Even so, there is still a risk of a pullback. 

A drop back below $64,000 would weaken the short-term recovery and could expose the prior swing low at $60,500. On the flip side, bullish momentum would be confirmed if Bitcoin breaks above $70,000.

BTC trading at $68,508 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP is currently experiencing a volatility squeeze, a technical market condition where price action tightens into a narrow range and strong directional momentum temporarily fades. While this consolidation phase may appear stable, such low-volatility environments in the crypto market often precede a significant breakout.

At the moment, XRP is trading below critical moving averages, with the 26-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) acting as the primary resistance level. Multiple recovery attempts have failed to break above this technical barrier, confirming that sellers still control short-term momentum. As long as XRP remains under the 26 EMA, bullish continuation remains limited and upside attempts are likely to stall.

Declining trading volume further supports the consolidation narrative. Compared to previous price swings, participation has dropped, signaling that traders are waiting for a stronger catalyst before committing capital. In technical analysis, a volatility squeeze combined with falling volume typically indicates that a larger move is building beneath the surface.

For XRP to initiate a meaningful rebound, volatility must expand decisively. A strong move above the 26 EMA would invalidate current bearish pressure and could trigger renewed buying interest. If buyers regain control, the psychological $1.50 level becomes a realistic short-term target. Breaking through that resistance zone with conviction could mark a shift in trend structure and signal the potential end of the broader corrective phase.

However, without a surge in volatility and increased trading volume, XRP risks extended sideways consolidation or gradual price erosion. Momentum indicators suggest that the market is in a waiting phase, and the next breakout direction will likely determine XRP’s medium-term trajectory.

Traders should closely monitor volatility expansion, volume spikes, and a confirmed break above the 26 EMA as key signals for the next major move in XRP price action.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

BlackRock has significantly expanded its Bitcoin exposure, purchasing approximately 4,309 BTC worth around $289.6 million within a single hour on Feb. 26. Blockchain data from Arkham Intelligence, shared by Lookonchain, shows the transfers moved from Coinbase Prime hot wallets to wallets linked to the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF.

The transactions consisted largely of repeated 300 BTC transfers, each valued between $20.1 million and $20.2 million at current market prices. Two of these transfers occurred within the same minute, while others were spaced three to four minutes apart. In addition, a smaller transfer of 108.6 BTC, valued at nearly $7.3 million, was recorded. All activity was timestamped around 5:45 PM UTC, signaling coordinated institutional accumulation.

This latest Bitcoin purchase follows BlackRock’s $64.5 million BTC acquisition five days earlier. That move came shortly after the asset manager transferred $173 million in Bitcoin to Coinbase, which sparked speculation about a potential sell-off. However, renewed inflows into the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF suggest rising institutional demand rather than distribution.

According to SoSoValue data, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $506.51 million in daily net inflows on Feb. 25, marking the highest single-day inflow in two weeks. Total cumulative inflows now stand near $54.57 billion. IBIT led the market with $297.37 million in net inflows, outperforming competitors such as Fidelity’s FBTC, Grayscale’s GBTC, and Bitwise’s BITB. Smaller ETFs reported minimal or zero net flows, reinforcing IBIT’s dominance in assets under management.

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted the inflow spike comes after weeks of consistent outflows, though it remains unclear whether this signals a sustained Bitcoin rally or a short-term rebound. Despite strong ETF demand, Bitcoin price action remains subdued. BTC was trading near $66,900 at press time, down 1.6% on the day. Glassnode data indicates profit-taking has capped upside momentum below the $70,000 resistance level, with signs of demand exhaustion limiting further gains.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

Bitcoin spot trading activity has fallen to its weakest level of the year even as a fresh CryptoQuant signal suggests one important pocket of selling pressure may be starting to fade.

Darkfost, a contributor at CryptoQuant, said February is on pace to finish as the month with the lowest Bitcoin spot volumes since the start of 2024. He tied that slowdown to a broader retreat in risk appetite as traders pull back from directional exposure and wait for firmer macro or technical confirmation.

“February is on track to close as the month with the lowest Bitcoin spot trading volumes since the beginning of 2024. This comes alongside BTC’s price revisiting levels last seen in 2024 as well,” Darkfost wrote on X. “The current climate of uncertainty surrounding BTC has pushed investors toward a more defensive stance, resulting in a marked reduction in risk-taking.”

Bitcoin Liquidity Keeps Thinning Out The scale of the slowdown is visible across the major venues. Darkfost said Binance still leads by a wide margin with nearly $75 billion in February spot volume, ahead of Gate.io at $25 billion and Bybit at $20 billion. Even so, that dominance has not insulated Binance from the broader contraction.

Since Bitcoin’s last all-time high in October, monthly spot volumes have been roughly cut in half across the largest exchanges, according to the post. Binance fell from $198 billion to $75 billion, Gate.io from $53 billion to $25 billion, and Bybit from $41 billion to $20 billion. Rather than an exchange-specific issue, Darkfost framed the move as a market-wide pullback in participation.

Bitcoin spot volume | Source: X @Darkfost_Coc He also linked the deterioration in liquidity to the aftermath of the Oct. 10 shock, when open interest dropped by more than 70,000 BTC, or roughly $8 billion, in a sharp reset of leveraged exposure. In his telling, that event did not just hit derivatives positioning. It appears to have accelerated a broader disengagement from crypto trading activity.

“This phase of disengagement is directly reflected in the steady decline in spot trading volumes observed across major exchanges,” Darkfost wrote. “This dynamic points to a generalized trend affecting all major exchanges.”

That matters because spot flows tend to carry more weight when traders are looking for evidence of durable demand rather than fast-moving leverage. A recovery built on stronger spot participation generally looks sturdier than one driven mainly by derivatives.

Coinbase Pressure Shows Signs Of Easing Against that weak backdrop, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju pointed to a more constructive short-term signal: “Selling pressure on Coinbase is easing.”

Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Index | Source: X @ki_young_ju The chart shows the Coinbase Premium Index moving back into positive territory after spending most of the time in February below zero (with a few exceptions). By the latest reading on the chart, the premium had recovered to roughly 0.006 while Bitcoin traded near $68,300. This suggests the discount on Coinbase relative to offshore venues has narrowed, easing one sign of US-led sell pressure.

That does not contradict Darkfost’s broader caution. If anything, the two signals fit together. Spot liquidity remains thin and the market is still operating in a low-conviction environment, but one of the more closely watched measures of immediate selling intensity is no longer deteriorating.

Darkfost was explicit about what would need to change for the picture to improve in a more meaningful way. “As it stands, this simultaneous contraction in spot volumes reflects a structurally cautious market phase, where participants prioritize capital preservation over directional exposure while awaiting clearer macroeconomic or technical signals. For a bullish recovery to materialize, or for a durable bottom to form, stronger spot volume support will be essential.”

For now, that leaves Bitcoin in a familiar late-cycle holding pattern: sellers may be backing off on Coinbase, but without a broader return of spot demand, the market still lacks the depth that usually underpins a stronger move.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $68,153.

Bitcoin must close above the 200-week EMA, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Assured Guaranty (AGO - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.32 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.54 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.27 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +50.65%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this insurance holding company would post earnings of $1.46 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.57, delivering a surprise of +76.03%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Assured Guaranty, which belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Multi line industry, posted revenues of $226 million for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.62%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $199 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Assured Guaranty shares have lost about 4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 1.5%.

What's Next for Assured Guaranty?While Assured Guaranty has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Assured Guaranty was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.54 on $191.3 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $6.85 on $760.8 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Insurance - Multi line is currently in the bottom 44% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, James River Group (JRVR - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2025. The results are expected to be released on March 2.

This insurance holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.31 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +131.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

James River Group's revenues are expected to be $176.8 million, up 39.5% from the year-ago quarter.

In the latest close session, Signet (SIG - Free Report) was up +1.96% at $100.20. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.54%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.03%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 1.18%.

Shares of the jewelry company have appreciated by 7.15% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector's loss of 5.23%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.58%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Signet in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on March 19, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $5.87, marking a 11.33% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $2.33 billion, reflecting a 0.92% fall from the equivalent quarter last year.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $9.22 per share and revenue of $6.8 billion. These totals would mark changes of +3.13% and +1.42%, respectively, from last year.

Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Signet. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Currently, Signet is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Investors should also note Signet's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 9.57. This denotes a discount relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 16.89.

One should further note that SIG currently holds a PEG ratio of 1.08. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. By the end of yesterday's trading, the Retail - Jewelry industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.56.

The Retail - Jewelry industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 60, putting it in the top 25% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.