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Token prices fool investors. Santiago Santos made that clear during his February 25, 2026 appearance, where the crypto analyst spent considerable time breaking down why stablecoins and fundamental analysis matter more than flashy price movements that grab headlines but don’t reflect real value.

Santos thinks the wild swings in token prices create a pretty warped picture of what crypto projects are actually worth. Most investors get sucked into the speculation game, which leads them down some really bad paths. He’s seen it happen over and over – people chase pumps and dumps instead of looking at the actual tech behind these projects. The volatility doesn’t tell you much about whether something’s going to work long-term or just crash and burn next week.

Stablecoins change everything.

They give you a solid place to park money when the market goes crazy, since they’re tied to stable stuff like the dollar. Santos sees stablecoin adoption growing fast, and he thinks they’re becoming essential for anyone serious about crypto investing. You can’t really build a proper portfolio without them anymore, especially when Bitcoin can drop 20% in a day and wipe out your gains.

“Informed decisions come from understanding the core,” Santos said during the discussion. He’s big on this idea that you need to dig into the fundamentals instead of following whatever’s trending on crypto Twitter. The approach takes more work, but it helps you spot the real opportunities while everyone else is getting burned by hype coins that go nowhere.

The combination of stablecoins and serious research could totally transform how people invest in crypto. Stablecoins give you the stability to think long-term, while fundamental analysis helps you figure out which projects actually solve problems. Santos thinks this combo is the key to sustainable growth instead of the boom-bust cycles that keep wrecking people’s portfolios.

He pointed to several projects that focus on utility over quick gains. These projects keep building even when prices tank. Related coverage: White House Cuts Stablecoin Deal as.

Santos also talked about the regulatory mess that’s still hanging over everything. The crypto space is young, and nobody really knows what the rules are going to be. He wants clearer guidelines so the industry can grow up without killing innovation in the process. But getting regulators and crypto people to agree on anything seems pretty tough right now.

Some industry players don’t buy Santos’s vision though. They think volatility and speculation are just part of what makes crypto attractive to investors. Take away that wild energy, and maybe you lose what draws people to the space in the first place. It’s an ongoing debate that doesn’t have easy answers.

Santos brought up decentralized finance during the same February 25 discussion, calling DeFi a potential game-changer for traditional banking. The platforms let users borrow, lend, and earn yields without banks or other middlemen taking their cut. DeFi growth shows people want more control over their money, according to Santos.

Ethereum’s role in all of this can’t be ignored. Santos mentioned that Ethereum’s smart contracts power most DeFi projects, and the network’s importance goes way beyond its $1,800 price tag on that date. The tech matters more than the token value, which kind of proves his whole point about looking past prices.

Central bank digital currencies caught Santos’s attention too. He talked about trials from the European Central Bank and People’s Bank of China as signs that governments are taking blockchain seriously. These experiments might shape how regulators think about crypto going forward, though it’s unclear how that plays out. More on this topic: TruStage Teams With Block Time Financial.

Santos wrapped up with a warning about leverage in crypto markets. Recent liquidation events showed what happens when people borrow too much and prices drop fast. He told investors to stay careful and remember that high leverage in volatile markets is basically gambling. The advice seems pretty solid given how many people got wiped out in previous crashes.

The conversation keeps going among regulators, investors, and crypto fans who are watching how everything develops. Regulatory bodies didn’t comment on Santos’s remarks, leaving more questions than answers about where the industry heads next.

The European Central Bank’s digital euro pilot program launched in November 2023 with participation from five major banks including Deutsche Bank and Santander. Initial results showed transaction speeds averaging 2.3 seconds, significantly faster than traditional banking systems. The People’s Bank of China reported over 260 million digital yuan wallets by early 2024, processing roughly $14 billion in transactions during their extended trial phase.

Recent liquidation data from major exchanges supports Santos’s leverage concerns. Binance recorded $2.1 billion in forced liquidations during January 2026’s market downturn, while Bybit saw similar patterns with $890 million wiped out in 48 hours. These events particularly hit retail traders using 10x leverage or higher, echoing the analyst’s warnings about excessive borrowing in unpredictable markets.

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Was Jane Street Dumping BTC Daily?$Bitcoin recently broke above $67,000–$68,000 in a sharp rally that triggered a wave of short liquidations and added over $100 billion to its market cap within 24 hours.

But beyond the price action, a different narrative took over Crypto Twitter:

“The 10AM dump has stopped.”“Jane Street was behind it.”“The lawsuit changed everything.”So what is the so-called “10AM dump”? And is there any evidence that Jane Street was systematically selling Bitcoin every day?

Let’s separate narrative from facts.

What Is the “10AM Dump”?The “10AM dump” is an informal term used by traders to describe a pattern where Bitcoin often sold off around 10:00 AM Eastern Time.

Why that time?

US stock markets open at 9:30 AM ETThe first 30–60 minutes bring the highest liquidityMajor macroeconomic data is often released at 8:30 AM or 10:00 AMInstitutional hedging and ETF adjustments occur during this windowMany traders noticed that after overnight gains during Asia and Europe sessions, Bitcoin frequently reversed lower during the early US session.

Over time, this repeated behavior turned into a narrative:
that a large institutional player was deliberately “slamming” the market at 10AM.

However, time-based volatility around the US open is common across asset classes — not unique to crypto.

Why Was 10AM Important Today?What made today different is that Bitcoin did not dump during the US open window.

Instead:

BTC broke resistanceShorts were liquidatedMomentum acceleratedPrice reclaimed key levelsWhen a widely observed intraday pattern suddenly breaks, traders interpret it as:

Selling pressure exhaustedA large seller stepping awayPositioning flippingA short squeeze beginningThe absence of a dump became the signal.

But a pattern breaking does not automatically prove prior manipulation.

What Is the Lawsuit About?The legal narrative centers around Terraform Labs — the company behind the 2022 collapse of $LUNA and $UST.

Terraform has alleged that certain trading firms, including Jane Street, engaged in structured trading activity related to UST during its peg defense period.

Key points circulating online include:

Allegations of coordinated trading strategiesClaims of benefiting from UST depeg mechanicsStructured derivatives positionsImportant clarification:

These are legal allegations within litigation.No court ruling has concluded wrongdoing regarding Bitcoin markets.The lawsuit relates to events surrounding UST and Terra — not proven daily BTC manipulation.There is currently no verified evidence that Jane Street was systematically dumping Bitcoin at 10AM every day.

Was Jane Street Dumping BTC Daily?Objectively speaking:

There is no confirmed proof of coordinated daily BTC dumping by Jane Street.

More plausible explanations for repeated 10AM volatility include:

ETF hedging adjustmentsMarket maker gamma positioningOptions expiry dynamicsLiquidity concentration at US openAlgorithmic rebalancingMacro data releasesLarge quantitative firms do trade during peak liquidity windows — because that is when execution is most efficient.

That does not automatically imply manipulation.

What Likely Drove the Recent Bitcoin Rally?The recent breakout aligns more closely with:

Short squeeze dynamicsHeavy positioning imbalanceLiquidity vacuum above resistanceBroader macro volatility (tariffs, gold surge, debt concerns)Institutional participation during US sessionWhen markets are heavily shorted, the absence of expected selling pressure can trigger rapid upside cascades. That fits today’s structure more convincingly than the “manipulation stopped” theory.

Final VerdictThe “10AM dump” is a trader-observed pattern — not confirmed evidence of daily coordinated manipulation.

The lawsuit involving Terraform and Jane Street relates to Terra’s collapse, not proven systematic Bitcoin dumping. Bitcoin’s recent strength likely reflects positioning shifts and liquidity dynamics rather than the sudden disappearance of a single large seller.

In markets, narratives move fast.
But evidence moves slower.

And so far, the evidence does not support the claim that Jane Street was dumping BTC daily at 10AM.

TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRTether integrates USDT and USAT into the Whop platformExpansion plans follow Tether investmentGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Tether invested in Whop to expand stablecoin payments for digital creators worldwide. Whop will integrate Tether’s Wallet Development Kit to enable self-custodial wallets. The platform will support transactions in USDT and the newly introduced USAT token. Users will access on-chain settlement along with lending and borrowing features. Whop serves more than 18 million users across 144 countries. Tether has invested in fintech marketplace Whop to expand stablecoin payments for digital creators worldwide. The companies announced the deal on Wednesday and outlined plans for wallet integration and on-chain settlement. The partnership aims to connect millions of users with dollar-denominated digital assets for daily transactions.

Tether integrates USDT and USAT into the Whop platform Tether will integrate its Wallet Development Kit into Whop to power self-custodial wallets for users. The system will support USDT and the newly introduced USAT token for platform payments.

Whop users will transact directly on-chain, and they will access features such as lending and borrowing. Tether’s open-source kit will also support Bitcoin and the Lightning Network for broader asset access.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said stablecoins gain value through daily commercial use. He stated, “Tether’s partnership with WHOP supports a digital dollar infrastructure aimed at improving payment speed, accessibility, and economic participation.”

Whop CEO Steven Schwartz said the integration will remove friction from online payments. He stated that payments will “move as freely as the internet itself” through stablecoin rails.

Whop will embed the wallet into its existing social commerce system for digital sellers. Users will control their assets directly, and they will settle transactions without intermediaries.

The companies confirmed that the integration will roll out in phases across the platform. They expect the upgrade to reach Whop’s global user base during the expansion process.

Expansion plans follow Tether investment Whop launched in 2021 under founders Steven Schwartz and Cameron Zoub in Brooklyn. The platform positions itself as an alternative to Shopify and Patreon for digital products.

The company reports more than 18 million users across 144 countries. It also reports roughly $3 billion in annual payouts to creators and entrepreneurs.

Tether will support Whop’s growth across Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The funding will also back new artificial intelligence tools for income generation.

Whop plans to use AI systems to help users create and market digital products. The company will integrate these tools alongside the new stablecoin infrastructure.

Tether operates from El Salvador through its investment arm. The firm reports more than $180 billion in issued digital dollars worldwide.

The company states that its broader network now reaches over 530 million users globally. It has deployed capital across energy, biotechnology, and digital media sectors.

Published: Feb 25, 2026 at 18:55
Updated: Feb 25, 2026 at 19:04

BNB's price has been moving sideways since 6 February, when it fell to a low of $574 before recovering to a high of $669.

BNB price long-term prediction: ranging Today, BNB dropped to a low of $577 but has since recovered. The cryptocurrency price is approaching resistance at the 21-day SMA.

According to the price analysis by Coinidol.com, if buyers break through the 21-day SMA barrier, the altcoin could rise to a high of $760 or encounter resistance at the 50-day SMA. If buyers are unable to close above the 21-day SMA, the cryptocurrency is likely to reverse and continue its sideways movement. BNB is currently at $611.

Technical indicators:   Resistance Levels – $1,000, $1,050, $1,200

Support Levels – $900, $850, $800  

BNB price indicators reading The 21-day and 50-day SMAs have both declined to $610. The 21-day SMA has acted as resistance to the price bars. BNB is expected to resume its bullish trend once the 21-day SMA is breached.

On the 4-hour chart, the moving average lines are horizontal, with the price bars positioned between them. Price action is dominated by Doji candlesticks.

What is the next direction for BNB/USD? BNB is in a sideways trend near the $580 support level. Since February 6, BNB has been range-bound, remaining above the $580 support and below the $640 resistance. Doji candlesticks have limited price movement. The cryptocurrency price has fluctuated both below and above the horizontal moving average lines.

Today, buyers pushed the price above the moving averages, but selling pressure has emerged around the $640 level.

Disclaimer. This analysis and forecast are the personal opinions of the author. The data provided is collected by the author and is not sponsored by any company or token developer. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coinidol.com. Readers should do their research before investing in funds.

Michael Saylor has stated that trillions of dollars from traditional bond markets could be sent into Bitcoin-backed instruments through digital credit markets. According to Saylor, new yield products pegged to Bitcoin have the potential to dominate traditional fixed-income markets. According to him, the structure turns Bitcoin into a stable flow of cash without having to sell assets.

Michael Saylor Predicts Bitcoin Bond Shift During his Digital Credit keynote speech at Strategy World 2026 in Las Vegas, Saylor said that the global credit market is approximately $300 trillion and may likely double within 10 years. Michael Saylor estimated that digital credit might take up 5 to 10% of the global credit market.

That means that it will move about $50 trillion to $60 trillion out of classic bonds into Bitcoin-backed credit. He mentioned that greater yields and better taxation would help attract more investors.

Michael Saylor further said that more issuance of the Bitcoin-backed credit would necessitate continued Bitcoin purchases. Saylor defined Bitcoin as a digital capital convertible into income-producing securities. Under the model, volatility is transferred into equity, and investors are able to receive guaranteed payouts.

Digital Credit Structure Explained An asset class that was also discussed by Michael Saylor is digital credit, which he said is based on Bitcoin collateral. According to him, the structure yields a consistent revenue flow.

He cited STRC as the main credit product of Strategy. The instrument’s dividend payout is monthly, and it’s in the form of a capital return, which allows investors to defer taxes.

He claimed that STRC sustained its principal value and continued to make distributions during the latest Bitcoin drawdowns. As per market data, BTC price declined by approximately 45% from approximately $126,000, its peak as of October 2025, to $70,000 at the beginning of 2026.

As CoinGape reported, the U.S.’s first federally chartered crypto bank, Anchorage Digital, revealed holding STRC but did not indicate the quantity of shares.

Last year, Strategy, a firm chaired by Michael Saylor, submitted a $4.2 billion offering with the U.S. SEC for STRC, and intended to use the proceeds to acquire additional BTC. The company bought 592 BTC earlier this week, marking its 100th purchase.

Digital Credit Solves Bitcoin Accounting Issue for Corporations According to Michael Saylor, accounting volatility discourages many corporate Bitcoin treasuries. The most recent case is GD Culture Group, which reported an unrealized loss of $332 million on its $841.5 million BTC purchase and intends to exit its whole BTC position. The company will use the sale to finance a stock buyback program as previously announced.

However, Saylor claimed that digital credit instruments offer indirect exposure but offer a steady income. Additionally, he mentioned that a Bitcoin-backed credit would boost cash flow without any losses.

Michael Saylor described digital credit as an alternative to traditional fixed-income vehicles for institutions. This makes it easy to get board approval as opposed to direct possession of Bitcoin.

Peter Schiff has a number. And he wants everyone to see it. The longtime gold supporter and Bitcoin critic took to social media this week to argue that when Bitcoin’s price is measured in gold rather than dollars, the flagship cryptocurrency has lost more than 66% of its value since hitting its all-time high in November 2021.

The Math Behind Schiff’s Claim To make his case, Schiff reframed the comparison in a way that sidesteps the usual dollar-based charts. Back in November 2021, one Bitcoin could buy roughly 34.5 ounces of gold. Today, that same Bitcoin buys just 12 ounces — a drop of more than 64% in purchasing power relative to the precious metal.

The dollar figures tell a similar story, at least from that starting point. According to Schiff, a $10,000 investment in Bitcoin at the November 2021 peak would be worth around $9,100 today. That same $10,000 put into gold over the identical period would have grown to more than $27,000. Gold was trading near $1,770 in late 2021 and has since climbed past $5,000 — a gain of roughly 185%.

Bitcoin, by contrast, peaked at $69,000 during that same bull run. It has since pulled back sharply from a high of $126,200 reached in October 2025, and now sits around $63,000.

Bitcoin is now down over 66% when priced in gold since its Nov. 2021 peak over four years ago. Putting that into perspective, had you invested $10,000 in Bitcoin back then, it would be worth about $9,100 today. But that same $10,000 invested in gold would be worth over $27,000.

— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) February 24, 2026

Bitcoin’s ‘Safe Haven’ Story Gets Complicated For years, Bitcoin was pitched to investors as a modern alternative to gold — scarce, decentralized, and resistant to inflation. The idea was simple: fixed supply would protect wealth the same way gold has for centuries. But recent market behavior has put that story under strain.

When economic anxiety rises, many investors have continued to move money into gold rather than Bitcoin. Reports note that Bitcoin has, in several instances, moved more like a high-risk tech stock than a safe haven asset during periods of broader market stress. That pattern has made it harder for Bitcoin to claim the same defensive reputation that gold has built over a much longer history.

BTCUSD trading at $65,443 on the daily chart: TradingView CNBC crypto commentator Ran Neuner has also weighed in on the subject, saying that the store-of-value case for Bitcoin now faces serious scrutiny.

Bitcoin supporters, for their part, push back on the framing. They point out that November 2021 was Bitcoin’s peak — about as unfavorable a starting point for comparison as one could choose. They also point out that the alpha crypto has climbed 320% from its cycle low of $15,000 in November 2023, while gold gained 150% over that same timeframe.

For the first time in 12 years, I’m questioning Bitcoin’s thesis.

It’s not the drawdown that concerns me; it’s how Bitcoin responded when markets genuinely moved into risk and uncertainty.$BTC evolved from “peer-to-peer cash” into “digital gold.”

We fought for ETF approval.… pic.twitter.com/dblggAsanJ

— Ran Neuner (@cryptomanran) February 16, 2026

Cycles, Not Trends, Say Bitcoin Supporters Reports say Bitcoin advocates cointend the crypto has always moved through boom-and-bust cycles, with steep recoveries typically following major beat-downs. Supply halvings, shifts in available liquidity, and swings in investor sentiment have historically been the impetus to those rebounds.

From that view, the current stretch of underperformance against gold is seen as a normal part of Bitcoin’s cycle rather than a permanent reversal. Bitcoin completed a full market cycle last year, and a period of price correction is consistent with its historical behavior.

Still, the gap between gold’s steady climb and Bitcoin’s volatile ride has given critics plenty of material. Schiff, who has maintained his skepticism of Bitcoin for well over a decade, shows no sign of changing his position anytime soon.

Featured image from Unchained Podcast, chart from TradingView

TLDR Austin Arnold said Bitcoin has a higher chance of reaching $1,000,000 than falling to $0. Bitcoin is trading near $66,700, which is 48% below its previous all-time high. Peter Schiff urged holders to sell, claiming that Bitcoin will eventually drop to zero. Spot Bitcoin ETFs currently hold about 1.45 million BTC valued at roughly $96 billion. Public companies own more than 1 million BTC, reflecting growing corporate adoption. Bitcoin trades near $66,700 after a sharp pullback from its prior peak. Altcoin Daily founder Austin Arnold said the asset has a higher chance of reaching $1,000,000 than falling to $0. His comments sparked fresh debate as market participants weigh long-term outcomes.

Bitcoin Outlook Gains Support From Institutional Growth Arnold stated that Bitcoin is more likely to reach $1 million than collapse completely. He argued that adoption trends and capital inflows support his position.

100%, the earliest we'll get there is 2028. I definitely don't think we'll get there that early, (probably by 2032), but we WILL get there. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/kCCvbB76Yv

— MacroPulse Weekly (@Macropulse98) February 25, 2026

Bitcoin currently trades 48% below its previous all-time high. However, historical cycles show that the asset often rebounds after corrections.

Peter Schiff urged holders to sell while prices remain near $60,000. He claimed that Bitcoin will eventually fall to zero.

Other market commentators rejected that view and cited expanding institutional involvement. They pointed to exchange-traded funds and corporate treasury allocations.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs now hold about 1.45 million BTC valued at nearly $96 billion. Public companies control 1.088 million BTC worth more than $34.55 billion.

Private firms also hold roughly $28 billion in Bitcoin. These holdings reflect deeper integration into global financial markets.

One social media user wrote, “If BTC reaches $0, we’re gonna buy the entire supply.” That response suggested strong demand would emerge at extreme lows.

Supply Limits and Corporate Holdings Shape Long-Term View Another commentator said the zero argument weakened after large asset managers entered the market. He referenced firms such as BlackRock that offer Bitcoin products.

Arnold’s stance mirrors comments from Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor. Saylor said that if Bitcoin does not go to zero, it heads to $1 million.

Strategy holds 717,722 BTC at an average price of $76,020. The company reports a paper loss of $6.97 billion at current prices.

Despite that loss, Strategy continues to acquire more Bitcoin. Saylor said the firm will never sell its holdings, even at $1 million.

Bitcoin traded for $0.04865 in July 2010. It later reached $126,200 during the October 2025 cycle peak.

Supporters cite the fixed supply of 21 million coins as a core factor. They argue that rising demand and limited supply can drive higher valuations.

TL;DR:

The MCP server allows AI agents to execute complex operations on Injective using natural language. The tool is open-source and integrates advanced security with AES-256-GCM encryption to protect private keys. The system automates technical tasks such as margin calculations and signing, simplifying the workflow for developers. Injective has announced the launch of its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, a pioneering tool created to facilitate AI-driven perpetual futures trading in a native and efficient manner.

This new tool allows intelligent agents, including Anthropic’s Claude, to connect to the network’s financial modules without the need for complex custom integrations. With this innovation, any user can turn a simple conversation into a signed transaction on the blockchain in a matter of seconds.

Advanced Infrastructure for an Autonomous Agent Economy Injective’s MCP server is more than just a chat interface; it is a full-execution backend that includes 22 specialized tools. Its functions range from real-time market data queries to managing leveraged positions and bridging assets across various networks such as Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum.

Furthermore, security was a determining factor in its development, ensuring that private keys are stored locally and never exposed to the AI model. The server automatically handles price quantization and ticket sizes, eliminating the technical barriers that traditionally delayed the creation of trading applications.

Injective is positioning itself as the base infrastructure for the next generation of market participants: autonomous agents. These agents will not only be able to trade but also deploy protocols and optimize smart contracts independently, operating 24/7 without constant human intervention.

In summary, the integration of the MCP protocol marks the beginning of an on-chain economy where AI serves as the primary interface. Injective continues to lead this space, providing the necessary rails for machine intelligence and programmable capital to coexist in a fully decentralized environment.

Cardano was trading at $0.29, up 11% in the past 24 hours as Bitcoin reclaimed $67,500 and top altcoins like Ethereum, XRP, and Solana moved towards key levels.

Crypto market's bounce pushed the global market cap to $2.33 trillion, up 5% in the past 24 hours.

The ADA token was trading higher on rising daily volume, and the uptick suggested bulls are ready to test supply zones above the recent hurdle around $0.30.

Gains see Cardano price extend its weekly uptick as data suggests large holders have used recent selling bouts to add to their holdings.

Whales accumulate Cardano despite price crashCardano's native token is among the top altcoins whose price trajectory suffered downward acceleration following the October 10, 2025, crypto crash.

ADA fell from near $0.88 during the dump to lows of $0.63, and then plummeted further as the bloodbath on Feb 5 sent prices to $0.24.

Unsurprisingly, whales have aggressively accumulated the altcoin through this downtrend.

On-chain analytics from Santiment highlighted this scenario via a post on X.

According to details, wallets holding 100,000 to 100 million ADA have amassed substantial tokens over recent months.

These whales and sharks have essentially tapped into the downturn to buy low, with large holders buying more than 819 million ADA over the past six months.

The accumulation amounts to over $213 million over the period, despite Cardano’s price falling by more than 71%.

Buying aligns with the sentiment among high-conviction investors, and such activity has typically marked late bear phases.

As resilient holders absorb supply from panicked retail traders, the price consolidates above the given support and allows for a notable reversal amid favourable market conditions.

In this case, a shift in macro headwinds and broader crypto resilience stand as crucial factors.

The bullish outlook may also strengthen amid ecosystem developments, including DeFi adoption and ETF traction.

Cardano price technical analysisADA's daily chart reflects a multi-month bearish trend with lower highs and lows since prices peaked at $1.01 in August 2025.

The crash in October accelerated the plunge below $0.80, with Cardano trading below the 20- and 50-day exponential moving averages since.

Bulls’ attempt for an upside faded around $0.42 in January 2026, with the 50 EMA acting as a robust supply wall area.

Despite this, the RSI has pierced the 50 mark after bouncing off oversold conditions.

This is likely to ease selling pressure. Cardano price on the daily chart also boasts a bullish MACD.

Cardano price chart by TradingView Bitcoin's surge to $67,500 means a breakout to $70k could follow. ADA bulls can capitalize if volume confirms a close above the 50-day EMA.

Further short-term recovery could see buyers eye $0.50.

Currently, the $0.27–$0.28 level acts as key support, while the moving averages serve as overhead resistance at $0.31 and $0.48.

Circle reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that significantly exceeded market expectations, pushing its shares up 15% on Wednesday.

The company announced earnings of 43 cents per share, compared to the consensus estimate of around 16 cents according to FactSet data. Total revenue for the quarter reached $770 million, 77% more than the same period the previous year, while net income came in at $133.4 million, a figure more than 40 times higher than that recorded in Q4 2024.

USDC issuance grew 72% throughout the year, with a market cap approaching $75 billion that consolidates the token as the world’s second-largest stablecoin, behind Tether’s USDT. Circle CEO and co-founder Jeremy Allaire noted that the stablecoin market operates in practice as a duopoly, where high entry barriers allow both companies to maintain their positions.

The Circle Payments Network added 55 financial institutions, with another 74 in the process of being enabled. Investment bank William Blair recommended maintaining a long position in the company’s shares, describing it as one of the few high-quality crypto infrastructure bets available in public markets, alongside Coinbase.

Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260225882643/en/Circle-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Fiscal-Year-2025-Financial-Results

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News are based on verified public and official sources. Their purpose is to provide fast, factual updates about relevant events in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem.

This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendation. Readers are encouraged to verify all details through official project channels before making any related decisions

The online marketplace said it will embed Tether's crypto wallet tools and USDT, USAT tokens to power crypto payments for over 18 million users. Feb 25, 2026, 5:27 p.m.

Tether, the crypto company behind the world's largest stablecoin USDT USDT$1.0004, is investing $200 million in online marketplace Whop to boost stablecoin payments.

The deal values the startup at $1.6 billion, Whop CEO Steven Schwartz said in an X post.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Whop runs a digital marketplace where creators sell access to software tools, trading groups, online communities and learning courses. The platform said it has 18.4 million users and that participants earn about $3 billion each year. It's growing fast, with gross transaction volume increasing about 25% month-over-month, it added.

As part of the deal, Whop will integrate Tether’s crypto wallet tool, allowing users to hold and transact in stablecoins such as Tether's USDT and U.S.-focused USAT directly on the platform. The integration also gives creators the option to accept digital dollar payments and settle globally without relying on banks or card networks, the press release said.

The funding round is aimed at supporting Whop's expansion across Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific while adding lending and borrowing tools powered by decentralized finance infrastructure.

With the investment, Tether pushes its stablecoins deeper into consumer-facing platforms and everyday online commerce. The company's flagship stablecoin, the $185 billion USDT token, is a popular tool to access and transact in U.S. dollars in emerging countries.

More For You

Blockfills co-founder and CEO Nicholas Hammer has stepped down

25 minutes ago

The crypto lender suspended client deposits and withdrawals earlier this month due to recent market and financial conditions.

What to know:

Blockfills co-founder Nicholas Hammer has stepped down as CEO of the crypto lender.Some clients were urged to withdraw assets before the platform froze deposits and withdrawals on February 11, the source said.The Chicago-based firm, which handled over $60 billion in 2025 trading volume, was hit during a broader market downturn and is said to be seeking a buyer.

David Schwartz says the XRP Ledger was deliberately designed to prevent Ripple or any single actor from controlling the chain.

Ripple CTO David Schwartz has said that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) was deliberately designed so that neither the company nor any single entity could control it.

His remarks came hours after Cyber Capital founder Justin Bons argued that XRPL is effectively permissioned and centralized, with the exchange cutting to a long-running debate in crypto over what decentralization actually means and whether validator lists amount to hidden control.

Clash Over Control and the Unique Node List Bons wrote in a February 24 thread on X that networks such as Ripple, Stellar, Hedera, Canton, and Algorand rely on permissioned elements. He claimed XRPL’s Unique Node List, or UNL, gives Ripple and its foundation “absolute power and control over the chain,” arguing that divergence from the published list could cause a fork.

However, Schwartz rejected that characterization, calling it “objectively nonsensical.” He said XRPL nodes individually decide which validators to trust and will not agree to double-spends or censorship unless their operators explicitly choose to.

If a validator attempts to censor or double-spend, “an honest node would just count it as one validator that it did not agree with,” he wrote.

However, Schwartz acknowledged that validators could conspire to halt the chain from the perspective of honest nodes but said they could not force double-spends. In such a case, node operators could switch to a different UNL, which he compared to changing the mining algorithm in Bitcoin after a majority attack.

The XRPL co-architect also addressed regulatory pressure, noting that Ripple must comply with U.S. court orders and cannot refuse them. For that reason, he argued, XRPL was intentionally built so that Ripple itself could not censor transactions.

You may also like: Ripple Announces Institutional Support for Hyperliquid Ripple Secures Preliminary Electronic Money Institution License in Luxembourg Ripple Notches Major Regulatory Victory From the UK’s FCA: Details “The best way to be able to say ‘no’ is to have to say ‘no’ because you cannot do the thing asked,” Schwartz wrote.

Regulatory Pressures and Network Resilience The exchange comes as XRPL activity metrics have shown significant declines, with analyst Arthur reporting on February 23 that active users fell to roughly 38,000 from more than 200,000, while payment volume dropped to about 80 million XRP from over 2.5 billion.

However, the on-chain observer attributed the drop to the February 18 activation of XLS-81, a permissioned decentralized exchange system that moves institutional transactions off public dashboards.

Questions about validator power also surfaced late last year, when Schwartz proposed a two-tier staking model intended to add rewards without concentrating influence in Ripple’s hands. The idea involved a separate governance token to manage validator lists, with the option to fork if governance failed.

For now, the February 25 exchange highlights a familiar divide. Critics argue that publishing validator lists creates soft control, even if anyone can technically run a node. However, Schwartz maintains that XRPL’s consensus model was built to limit the power of validators and companies alike, even if that means Ripple itself cannot intervene when pressured.

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Bitcoin Treasury company GD Culture Group has approved a plan allowing management to sell digital assets to fund a previously announced stock repurchase program. The decision comes as the company faces sustained market pressure and a prolonged decline in crypto prices in recent months.

GD Culture Advances Bitcoin Treasury Sale Plan According to a recent press release, GD Culture Group has approved the sale of a part of its 7,500 BTC reserve. The board members have given the executives permission to make a sale at a specific time and for a specific amount. There is no specified amount that must be sold. The program can be changed or stopped at any time, as the firm stated.

GD Culture’s Bitcoin Treasury is currently valued at $513.5 million. The total acquisition cost is $841.5 million. The firm is reporting an unrealized loss of $328.01 million. This is a 39% decrease from the initial purchase price.

GD Culture is a publicly listed firm and is ranked 15th among public Bitcoin treasury firms, just ahead of Galaxy Digital and Trump-backed American Bitcoin. It is worth noting that the directors recently approved a $100 million share repurchase program.

This move aims to boost GDC’s stock price, which is down over 12% year-to-date (YTD) amid Bitcoin’s decline. The crypto stock is notably up over 11%, rallying alongside BTC, which has broken above $68,000.

More Pain To Come For BTC In an X post, analyst Alex Thorn suggested that the worst Bitcoin pain may already be behind the market, while cautioning that further downside remains possible. According to the analyst, this was based on the proximity of Bitcoin to its 200-week moving average and realized price.

Source: X In addition, there was a reference to data indicating that more than half of the coins were underwater. The relative strength index was said to be in line with capitulation levels.

Thorn also indicated that the recovery phase still needs time. The possibility of extended periods of sideways action was indicated. According to the analyst, weakness in equities was highlighted as a factor that would put further pressure on the market. The lack of catalysts and quantum risks were identified as concerns.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that GD Culture won’t be the first Bitcoin treasury firm to offload its holdings amid this downtrend. As earlier reported by CoinGape, Bitcoin miner Bitdeer stated that it had sold off its entire BTC holdings after mining 189.8 BTC and selling an equivalent amount. The remaining reserves, 943.1 BTC, were also sold off.

At the end of 2025, Bitdeer held approximately 2,000 BTC in reserves. The reserves then fell to 1,530 BTC at the end of January 2026. Later, the reserves fell to 943.1 BTC by February 13th. In another announcement, Bitdeer stated that they had produced 183.4 BTC but sold an equivalent amount of 179.9 BTC. In the last part of last year, Riot Platforms also sold off some of their BTC reserves.

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Crypto analyst BitQuant says investors won’t touch Bitcoin at $65,000. The reason? Everyone’s scared of a potential U.S. attack on Iran that could send Bitcoin crashing to $50,000.

Only MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor keeps buying the dip, according to BitQuant’s recent analysis. Most traders are sitting on their hands, worried that geopolitical tensions could trigger a massive selloff. Ethereum faces the same problem – nobody wants to catch a falling knife when war drums are beating. BitQuant pointed out how Bitcoin already dropped from $90,000 to $60,000 without any major news catalyst, so further declines seem pretty likely regardless of Middle East tensions.

Market sentiment is brutal right now.

BitQuant thinks current prices don’t really matter for Bitcoin and Ethereum’s long-term trajectory. He’s still bullish on both cryptocurrencies but admits the short-term outlook is murky. “People treat Bitcoin like a football match – when there’s no action, interest dies,” he said in his latest post. The analyst criticized investors for having goldfish memories, forgetting how volatile crypto can be even during supposedly calm periods.

CryptoQuant’s data paints an even darker picture. Their research suggests Bitcoin could fall below $40,000, getting close to the long-term holders’ cost basis of $38,900. Bear markets historically push Bitcoin below this threshold, triggering what analysts call a “final capitulation phase” with losses around 20%. After that bloodbath, markets usually rebuild and set up for the next bull run.

But we’re not there yet.

The Coinbase Premium Index shows barely any signs of recovery, according to another CryptoQuant study. The 30-minute moving average briefly popped above zero but couldn’t hold the gains. That lack of sustained buying pressure from U.S. investors is probably contributing to the ongoing price weakness across major cryptocurrencies.

Macroeconomic factors are making things worse. The Federal Reserve’s February 20 meeting minutes hinted at potential interest rate hikes, adding another layer of uncertainty. Higher rates typically hurt risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, so investors are understandably cautious about deploying capital in this environment. BlackRock reportedly paused its crypto investments, citing volatile market conditions that make it hard to justify increased exposure.

Trading volumes tell the same story. Binance saw a significant drop in Bitcoin and Ethereum trades over the past week, suggesting even active traders are stepping back. When the world’s largest crypto exchange sees volume dry up, it’s a clear sign that market participants are waiting for clearer signals before making their next move. More on this topic: BitMine Drops Million on Ethereum.

JPMorgan released a report on February 24 that tried to find some silver lining. The investment bank said current price levels might attract long-term investors looking to capitalize on an eventual recovery. But even JPMorgan warned against short-term speculation, calling the current market environment “unpredictable” and “challenging for most investment strategies.”

The derivatives market reflects this caution too. Chicago Mercantile Exchange data from February 22 showed declining open interest in Bitcoin futures contracts. Traders are reducing their exposure to potential price swings, preferring to sit on the sidelines rather than bet on which direction the market will move next.

Network activity is declining as well. Glassnode reported on February 23 that active Bitcoin addresses dropped over the past month. Fewer people are actually using Bitcoin, which could signal broader reluctance among retail and institutional participants to engage during this volatile period.

Grayscale Investments announced on February 24 that it won’t add new cryptocurrencies to its portfolio in the short term. The firm manages one of the largest crypto funds but wants to assess macroeconomic pressures before making any major moves. That’s pretty telling when even dedicated crypto investment firms are pumping the brakes.

Saylor remains defiant though. The MicroStrategy CEO reiterated on February 21 that his company will keep holding Bitcoin as a strategic asset. He still believes in Bitcoin’s long-term potential despite the current downturn, calling it a “critical component” of MicroStrategy’s corporate strategy.

Smaller cryptocurrencies are getting hammered even worse. Solana dropped to $20 on February 23, hitting its lowest level in months as traders fled to cash. Some investors think Solana’s technology could drive future recovery, but they’re not willing to bet on it right now. Related coverage: Bitcoin Developer Pushes Discord to Ditch.

The NFT market is crashing alongside everything else. OpenSea reported declining transaction volumes over the past two weeks, showing that appetite for digital collectibles is disappearing fast. When people are worried about paying rent, they’re not buying cartoon apes.

DeFi is bleeding too. Total value locked across various platforms fell below $100 billion on February 24, according to DeFi Pulse. That’s the first time TVL dropped that low since last year, reflecting cautious sentiment among DeFi participants who are pulling their money out of yield farming protocols.

The SEC is making things worse by scrutinizing crypto exchanges. On February 22, reports emerged that regulators are examining compliance practices related to anti-money laundering and customer protection. More regulatory pressure is the last thing the crypto market needs right now.

Bitcoin closed Friday at $64,800, down 3.2% for the week.

Iran’s military capabilities have expanded significantly since 2020, with advanced missile systems that could disrupt global energy markets if conflict erupts. Oil prices typically spike during Middle East tensions, historically correlating with Bitcoin selloffs as investors flee to traditional safe havens like gold and U.S. Treasury bonds.

Several major crypto hedge funds have reduced their positions by 40-60% over the past month, according to industry sources. Three Arrows Capital’s former executives warned that institutional money remains “extremely risk-averse” given the current geopolitical climate and potential for cascading liquidations across leveraged trading positions.

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A crypto rally is happening today, with Bitcoin and most altcoins being in the green.

Bitcoin (BTC) price jumped to $68,000, while the market capitalization of all coins rose by 6% to over $2.34 trillion.

Filecoin (FIL) rose by over 25% to $1.10, while Polkadot (DOT) jumped by 21%. Other tokens like Aptos (APT), Morpho (MORPHO), Uniswap (UNI), and Avalanche (AVAX) soared by over 15%. 

Bitcoin and these altcoins jumped as investors embraced a risk-on sentiment across the board. For example, American stocks, including the Dow Jones, Nasdaq 100, and S&P 500, rose by 250, 260, and 35 points, respectively.

The risk-on sentiment happened as investors bought the dip as they waited for the Nvidia earnings, which will come out after the US market closes. NVIDIA is the most influential American company because of its size and role in the artificial intelligence industry.

Additionally, the tokens jumped as the futures open interest rebounded cautiously, a sign that demand is rising. Open interest rose by over 6% in the last 24 hours to $99.4 billion, much higher than this week’s low of $93 billion.

Filecoin’s open interest rose to $154 million, while Morpho soared to over $34 million. The futures open interest of other tokens like Aptos and Polkadot continued soaring.

Still, it is too early to determine whether this is the start of a new crypto bull run or whether it is just a dead-cat bounce. In the past, most crypto market rallieshave turned out to be dead-cat bounces.

A dead-cat bounce is a situation where an asset in a free-fall rebounds temporarily and then resumes the downtrend.

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has added new trading pairs to its Cross Margin platform. The move affects several prominent altcoins, including Dogecoin (DOGE), Pepe (PEPE), Cardano (ADA), and Bittensor (TAO). The newly introduced pairs, TAO/USD1, ADA/U, DOGE/U, and PEPE/U give traders more flexibility in how they manage leveraged positions across these assets.

Cross Margin trading pools all available funds in a margin account to support open positions. If one trade moves against a trader, the remaining account balance absorbs the loss. This mechanism reduces the risk of forced liquidation and allows positions to stay open longer during volatile market conditions. The addition of these pairs signals Binance's continued push to deepen liquidity options for major altcoin markets.

Altcoins React Positively — But the Market Tells a Bigger StoryAll four assets posted gains on February 25. TAO, ADA, DOGE, and PEPE recorded 6%, 12%, 11% and 8% price increases respectively in the last 24 hours. While the Binance announcement may have contributed to the upward movement, broader market dynamics likely played a larger role.

The entire cryptocurrency market rebounded sharply in the past 24 hours. Bitcoin climbed back above $68,000. Ethereum approached the psychologically significant $2,000 level. When market leaders recover, altcoins tend to follow. The timing of the Binance update coincided with this broader resurgence, making it difficult to attribute price gains solely to the new trading pairs.

It is also worth noting how Binance announcements typically affect token prices. The most significant price reactions occur when Binance lists a token for the first time, not when it adds additional trading pairs. A clear example came in September of last year, when Binance listed Avantis (AVNT). The token's price surged by 50% almost immediately after the announcement. Adding new pairs for already-listed assets produces a more modest effect, if any.

The Role of U (United Stables) in Binance's Expanding EcosystemThe new trading pairs share a common element: the U stablecoin, issued by United Stables. Launched in late 2025, U is pegged to the U.S. dollar and has been gaining traction across the Binance platform. The exchange has moved quickly to integrate U across multiple markets.

Prior to the Cross Margin additions, Binance had already introduced U-denominated spot pairs, including XRP/U, SUI/U, ASTER/U, and PAXG/U. The pattern suggests a deliberate strategy. Binance appears to be positioning U as a mainstream trading base currency alongside USDT and USDC.

For traders, this matters. More stablecoin options mean more flexibility in how capital is deployed. U offers an alternative for those looking to avoid exposure to any single stablecoin issuer. As regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins intensifies globally, having multiple pegged assets available on a major exchange gives traders more tools to manage risk.

Journalist

Posted: February 25, 2026

KITE bounced back from a $0.21 slip and touched an intraday high of $0.2718 before a slight retracement. As of this writing, Kite [KITE] traded at $0.2715, up 23.04% on the daily charts, extending its week-long uptrend. 

Over the same period, its market cap jumped 23% to $488 million, reflecting steady capital inflow.

KITE buyers return with conviction and defend key levels After KITE dropped to a low of $0.21, buyers returned with conviction to avoid further downside. In fact, the altcoin recorded 1.3 billion in Buyer Volume compared to 805 million in Seller Volume. 

As a result, the market recorded a positive Buy Sell Delta of 542 million while the SMA rose to 929 million. Such a massive jump in demand-side liquidity signaled aggressive spot accumulation. 

Source: TradingView

Additionally, buyer dominance rose to 308 million while seller dominance dropped to -237 million. With buyers overwhelming sellers, it signalled a significant shift in market sentiment toward bullishness. 

On the futures side, risk appetite recovered, and investors significantly increased their exposure. According to Coinglass data, KITE saw $70.72 million in Futures Inflows compared to $60.66 million in Outflows. 

Source: CoinGlass

As a result, the altcoin’s Futures Netflow jumped 203% to $10.06 million, indicating increased demand for futures positions. 

Strangely, most of these funds flowed into short positions. According to Coinalyze data, on Binance and Bybit, the Long Short Ratio dropped to 0.62, with shorts accounting for 61% of the total.

Source: Coinalyze

A higher demand for shorts implies that most participants are bearish and expect prices to drop in the short term.

Historically, higher capital inflows across spot and futures markets have accelerated upside price momentum, leading to higher prices, as witnessed.

Is the upside momentum sustainable? KITE rebounded on its price charts as buyers returned with strength, bringing along fresh capital across the spot and futures markets.

For that reason, the altcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) made a bullish crossover and settled at 66 as of this writing. A bullish crossover here signaled strong upward momentum driven by considerable demand.

Source: TradingView

However, with the RSI signal line also holding at 65, it suggests that traders are also increasingly active in the market, and their threat is significant. In fact, the altcoin still holds below its Parabolic SAR.

With the sharp trend reversal, KITE is currently testing its ATH at $0.28. A close above its SAR will validate the bullish structure, flip $0.28, and surpass $0.3.

However, if the selling threat persists and bears overwhelm bulls, the altcoin will pull back to $0.22.

Final Summary Kite [KITE] bounced back from a $0.21 slip, soaring 23% to a local high of $0.27.  KITE saw fresh capital across the spot and futures market, accelerating upside momentum. 

Cited in the 2008 Bitcoin white paper, Back argued volatility is typical even as regulatory clarity and institutional access expands. Feb 25, 2026, 6:05 p.m.

MIAMI BEACH — Bitcoin’s BTC$65,121.75 recent slide has frustrated investors who expected a smoother ride after a wave of institutional milestones, but Adam Back, one of the early cypherpunks cited in bitcoin’s 2008 white paper, said the volatility should not surprise long-time observers.

“Bitcoin is generally volatile,” Back said at the iConnections conference in Miami Beach on Tuesday. “There's a lot of positive news [...] and in the previous four year market cycles, this has been about a time in a cycle where price runs lower.”

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

He suggested that some market participants may be trading around that historical pattern rather than reacting to fundamentals. “There was some expectation or possibility that, because there are different types of investors, the market can be different. So I think some people are thinking the price may come back later in the year.”

Bitcoin entered the year with a tailwind. A more crypto-friendly administration in Washington and long-awaited regulatory clarity around spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were expected to unlock deeper institutional participation.

For many investors, this was also meant to be a proving ground. Bitcoin’s core pitch has long centered on scarcity and independence from government monetary policy and to be a digital store of value designed to hedge against currency debasement. At a time when U.S. fiscal deficits remain large and questions about the dollar’s long-term purchasing power persist, the backdrop appeared aligned with that thesis.

Yet the market has not followed the script. Bitcoin is down roughly 26% over the past year, even as the policy environment turned more supportive and institutional access improved. Instead of decoupling from macro uncertainty, the asset has at times traded in line with broader risk markets.

Meanwhile, traditional safe havens have rallied. Gold has climbed to fresh all-time highs, with silver also reaching multi-year peaks. Capital seeking shelter from inflation concerns and geopolitical risk appears to have flowed, at least in part, into metals rather than digital assets.

Back, who is now the CEO of Blockstream as well as the Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (BSTR), also pointed to structural dynamics in who holds bitcoin.

“The ETF holders [...] are more sticky investors than the retail bitcoin exchange traders,” he said. Retail participants often deploy most of their capital during rallies, leaving little dry powder during downturns. Institutions, by contrast, can rebalance across portfolios.

Still, Back cautioned that institutional adoption remains early. “I think there isn't that much institutional capital yet.”

In his view, large pools of capital have not yet fully entered the market, even though major regulatory hurdles have been resolved and clearer rules could pave the way for more institutional inflows.

Over time, he expects broader adoption to reduce volatility. He compared bitcoin’s current phase to early high-growth equities. “You can look at analogies of, say, early Amazon (AMZN) stock, which had wild swings in price, basically because the market was uncertain.”

“The kind of rapid adoption curve inherently brings with it volatility,” he said. As adoption matures and more institutions, companies and sovereigns gain exposure, Back said bitcoin’s price swings should moderate. He does not expect volatility to disappear, but said he believes it could begin to resemble gold, which trades with less dramatic moves than a younger asset.

Back also said he measures bitcoin’s long-term potential against gold’s total market value. He argued that comparing the two market capitalizations offers a rough benchmark for adoption, and in his view bitcoin remains roughly 10 to 15 times smaller than gold today, suggesting room for further growth if it continues to capture share as a store of value.

Despite short-term price swings, Back argued bitcoin’s long-term investment case remains intact. “Bitcoin as an asset class has stood out from everything, every other asset class for the last decade generally, in having the highest annualized return,” he said.

For Back, volatility is not a contradiction of bitcoin’s thesis but a feature of its adoption phase. “Volatility [...] is part of the picture,” he said.

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Bitcoin climbs above $68,500, Circle leads crypto stocks higher, as bounce strengthens

2 hours ago

Ether, solana and dogecoin are among the altcoins posting 10% or more advances.

What to know:

Bitcoin rebounded more than 6% to about $68,500, triggering a broad crypto relief rally. Major altcoins such ETH, SOL, DOGE, ADA and LINK more than 10%.The surge followed weeks of extreme bearish sentiment and crowded short positions, with nearly $400 million in leveraged bearish bets liquidated over the past 24 hours.Crypto-related stocks rallied alongside digital assets, while a positive Coinbase Premium Index and the strongest U.S. spot bitcoin ETF inflows since early February signaled a tentative return of U.S. buyers and risk appetite.

A governance dispute within the Aave ecosystem intensified this week after Aave Chan Initiative (ACI) founder Marc Zeller published what he called an “audit” of Aave Labs' track record, seven hours after Aave Labs released its own contributions report ahead of a major funding vote.

Bitcoin (BTC) rallied to a weekly high of $68,600 on Wednesday, surging from lows near $62,400 in less than 24 hours. The rebound aligned with a renewed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows and firmer macroeconomic sentiment after the recent US policy signals helped steady broader risk markets.

Derivatives data shows that BTC’s open interest is falling and funding rates are staying relatively contained, indicating the move was largely driven by spot demand rather than a buildup of leveraged positioning.

Bitcoin one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewBitcoin receives a macro boost and a positive ETF flipUS President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening framed the first 12-months of his leadership as an “economic turnaround for the ages,” highlighting falling mortgage rates and a 1.7% decline in core inflation over the final three months of 2025.

Markets interpreted the remarks as a sign of reduced near-term policy uncertainty following tariff and Supreme Court volatility, lifting the risk appetite across equities and crypto.

The US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $257.7 million in net inflows on Feb. 24, ending five consecutive weeks of redemptions totaling $3.8 billion. Fidelity drew roughly $83 million, and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust added close to $79 million.

Bitcoin futures data clears excess downside riskAs Bitcoin trades near $69,000, futures data shows that its aggregated open interest has stabilized around 235,167 BTC, after previously reaching levels above 240,000 BTC earlier in the week.

The drop in open interest suggests that the excess leveraged positioning has already been flushed out during the recent volatility.

Bitcoin one-hour chart, aggregated funding rate, open interest, and volume. Source: Velo.chartAt the same time, aggregated funding rates remain slightly negative at -0.0037%. Negative funding indicates that short positions are still paying longs, signaling that traders are not aggressively chasing upside exposure despite the price rally.

This combination of cooling open interest and negative-to-neutral funding points to a market that has reset leverage rather than overheated. The rally toward $69,000 appears to be occurring without an aggressive buildup of long positioning.

The cumulative volume delta (CVD) has edged higher, showing that spot buyers are stepping in and are one of the primary drivers of this rally. 

Market analyst BackQuant noted that derivatives activity is still playing a large role, and options data shows that dealers, the firms that sell options and hedge their exposure, are holding what’s known as positive gamma.

When gamma is positive, dealers tend to buy as the price falls and sell as the price rises to stay hedged. That behavior can smooth out volatility and slow sharp breakouts in either direction.

Likewise, trader LP also pointed to BTC’s order book dynamics around the $60,000–$63,000 region, where strong bid pressure previously absorbed selling. Since tapping that zone, the price has expanded roughly 8% to the upside. 

Bitcoin orderbook analysis by LP. Source: XThe trader added that if sell pressure builds again at these levels, it may signal a slowdown in buy-side aggression and trigger another lower reversal.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Traders betting against the prices of major cryptocurrencies are feeling the pain Wednesday as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other top assets are well in the green, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of short position liquidations.

Bitcoin (BTC) has rebounded to nearly $69,000 for the first time in more than a week, recently trading for $69,869 after falling below the $63,000 mark on Tuesday. While up more than 7% on the day, the price of the leading cryptocurrency remains down more than 21% over the last 30 days.

Altcoins Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) are the biggest gainers among the top 10 coins by market cap, with Ethereum rising 12% on the day to a recent price of $2,075 while Solana has jumped almost 14% to just shy of $89. Both coins had shown substantial losses in recent weeks, but are swinging back the other direction on Wednesday.

Overall, the crypto market has climbed by about 6.6% over the last 24 hours, per data from CoinGecko. Other major gainers with double-digit rises during that span include Polkadot (DOT), Filecoin (FIL), Uniswap (UNI), Aptos (APT), Avalanche (AVAX), and Chainlink (LINK).

More than $400 million worth of short positions have been liquidated in the last 24 hours, per data from CoinGlass, making up the vast majority of the $463 million worth of total liquidations during that span.

Bitcoin currently leads the list with about $200 million worth of liquidations, with Ethereum next up with $153 million worth and Solana well behind in third with about $22 million.

Prominent crypto stocks are skyrocketing Wednesday as the risk-on appetite grows in equities, with USDC stablecoin issuer Circle showing a 29% spike to $79 per share after reporting earnings, while blockchain lender Figure is up 15% to $34 per share and Ethereum treasury leader BitMine Immersion Technologies has swung up almost 14% to $22.

Other notable crypto stock gainers today include Coinbase with a 13% swing to $183, Bitcoin treasury giant Strategy rising nearly 9% to above $135 per share, and Bitcoin miner MARA Holdings with a 7% rise to $8.66.

While still bearish overall, users on Myriad—a prediction markets platform operated by Decrypt's parent company, Dastan—are gaining more confidence that Bitcoin will continue rising. They currently pencil in a 43% chance that Bitcoin will next rise to $84,000 rather than fall to $55,000, with odds rising about 14% in the last day.

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

Key Takeaways JAZZ posted Q4 EPS of $6.64 and revenues of $1.2B, topping estimates; shares rose 5% after hours.Jazz's neuroscience sales rose 8%, led by 16% growth in Xywav and 12% gain in oxybate franchise.JAZZ guides 2026 revenue of $4.25B-$4.50B, expecting double-digit epilepsy and oncology growth. Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $6.64 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.62. Earnings rose 2% year over year.

Total revenues rose 10% year over year to $1.2 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.18 billion.

Shares of Jazz rose 5% in after-market trading yesterday, likely due to the better-than-expected results.

Year to date, the stock has gained 2% compared with the industry’s 9% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

More on JAZZ’s EarningsNet product sales increased 10.5% year over year to $1.13 billion. The reported figure beat both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate of $1.11 billion.

Jazz recorded about $56 million in royalty revenues from high-sodium oxybate authorized generic (AG), up 1% year over year. The metric beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $53 million and our model estimate of $51 million.

Other royalties and contract revenues were about $10 million, up 28% from the year-ago period levels.

JAZZ’s Neuroscience SegmentSales of Jazz’s neuroscience products rose more than 8% year over year to $792 million.

Net product sales for the combined oxybate business (Xyrem + Xywav) rose 12% to $503 million. This combined figure beat both the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $481 million and our model estimates of $485 million.

Sales of the sleep disorder drug Xyrem declined more than 23% year over year to $37.8 million due to patients switching to Xywav and the launch of AGs in 2023.

Xywav, a low-sodium formulation of Xyrem, recorded sales of more than $465 million in the quarter, up 16%. This upside can be attributed to the encouraging uptake of the drug in narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia indications. This drug is currently Jazz’s most extensive product by net sales.

Sales of the epilepsy drug Epidiolex/Epidyolex rose 4% to $287 million. Per Jazz, the drug’s sales growth was negatively impacted by higher-than-normal inventory levels in the year-ago period. This likely caused Epidiolex sales to miss the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $297 million and our model estimate of $300 million. Despite this soft performance, the drug achieved blockbuster status in 2025.

Cannabis-based mouth spray Sativex recorded sales of $1.5 million in the quarter, down 71% year over year.

JAZZ’s Oncology SegmentOncology product sales rose 16% to over $337 million.

Chemotherapy drug Rylaze/Enrylaze posted sales of more than $108 million, up nearly 7% year over year. This figure beat both the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $106 million and our model estimate of $107 million.

Zepzelca, approved for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), recorded sales over $90 million, up 15% year over year. This upside was primarily driven by initial demand for the drug in the recently approved front-line SCLC setting.

Acute myeloid leukemia drug Vyxeos generated sales of about $35 million, down 35% from the year-ago period’s level. Defitelio sales rose 2% to $59 million.

Sales of Ziihera, which was approved by the FDA in December 2024 for the biliary tract cancer indication, added $8.5 million to the top line compared with $8.3 million in the previous quarter.

Jazz recorded revenues worth $36.5 million from the sales of its recently launched brain tumor drug Modeyso, compared to $11 million in the previous quarter. This drug was approved by the FDA last year in August.

Discussion on JAZZ’s Operating CostsAdjusted selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) rose about 12% year over year to $360.5 million. This uptick was primarily attributed to higher compensation-related expenses incurred during the quarter.

Adjusted research and development (R&D) expenses declined 14% to $190 million, mainly due to lower clinical program costs incurred during the quarter.

Full-Year 2025 ResultsJazz reported adjusted EPS of $8.38 for the full year, down 54% year over year.

Total revenues in the reported quarter rose 5% year over year to $4.3 billion. The top line included neuroscience and oncology net product sales of $2.9 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively.

JAZZ’s 2026 GuidanceJazz issued fresh financial guidance for the full year. Total revenues are expected to be in the range of $4.25-$4.50 billion, suggesting 2.5% year-over-year growth at the midpoint compared with the 2025 level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this metric is pinned at $4.54 billion.

While the company expects double-digit growth across its combined epilepsy and oncology franchises, Xywav sales are projected to either remain flat or rise by a mid-single-digit percentage.

While adjusted SG&A expenses are anticipated to be between $1.26 billion and $1.32 billion, adjusted R&D expenses are expected to be in the range of $725-$775 million.

The effective tax rate is expected to be between 11.5% and 13.5%.

JAZZ’s Zacks RankJazz currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Key Picks Among Biotech StocksSome better-ranked stocks from the sector are Castle Biosciences (CSTL - Free Report) and Immunocore (IMCR - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Castle Biosciences’ loss estimates for 2026 per share have improved from $1.06 to 96 cents in the past 60 days.

CSTL’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark on one occasion, delivering an average surprise of 66.11%.

In the past 60 days, Immunocore’s loss estimates per share for 2026 have narrowed from 97 cents to 90 cents.

IMCR’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters but missed the mark once, delivering an average surprise of 53.96%.

As events are leaning toward David Ellison and Paramount prevailing in its $108 billion hostile-takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, almost a dozen Republican state attorneys general are insisting that the federal government heavily scrutinize Netflix‘s bid for the iconic studio.

“We, the undersigned Attorneys General, write to express our concerns that the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Brothers will likely result in undue market concentration that stifles competition and therefore creates higher prices, lower reliability, and less innovation for one of America’s major industries — all to the detriment of American consumers,” wrote 11 red state AGs in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

It added, “Given the stakes, we encourage the Department of Justice to subject this proposed merger to a thorough and exacting review under the Clayton Act.”

Read the full letter, sent Tuesday, here.

This latest political shoe to drop in the battle between Netflix and Paramount for WBD comes just days after the U.S. Department of Justice began a formal antitrust probe into the streamer run by co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters. The letter also comes the same day Paramount CEO David Ellison was a guest of GOP lawmakers at “good friend” Donald Trump’s State of the Union address last night.

Of course, realpolitik aside, the probes into Netflix’s accepted $83 billion bid for WBD’s streaming and studio assets has again been characterized as a form of consumer protection and consumer choice.

“This massive consolidation would place an unprecedented amount of content, distribution power, and market influence into the hands of a single corporation,” Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in a press release of his own regarding the letter. “History shows us what happens when industries become dominated by a few giants: prices rise, choices shrink, and innovation suffers.”

Knudsen joined AGs from Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.

Paramount and Netflix both did not respond to a request for comment on the new letter. However, on various red carpets and in numerous interviews and subcommittee meetings, Sarandos has insisted that the streamer does not have and will not have a monopoly with or without the WBD deal. Taking a big-digital-picture approach, the exec says the real competition for Netflix is [soon-to-be Oscar rightsholder] YouTube, not other streamers.

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New community expands Spartanburg-area offerings from online homebuying leader 

, /PRNewswire/ -- Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS)—a top national homebuilder, industry leader in online home sales, and featured on America's Most Trustworthy Companies and World's Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek—revealed that its Century Complete brand will soon be selling at the Company's newest Spartanburg community, Ellison Townhomes.

Avalon Floor Plan by Century Complete | New Construction Townhomes in Spartanburg, SC | Ellison Townhomes by Century Complete In addition to quality and affordable new construction, this modern townhome community is designed for low-maintenance living. Future residents will also love amenities like community walking trails, a playground, a dog park, access to open space, and convenient proximity to the Daniel Morgan Trail System (known as "The Dan") and Downtown Spartanburg.

Join the Interest List for Grand Opening updates and more: www.CenturyCommunities.com/EllisonTownhomesSC

"Featuring quality, affordable, and low-maintenance townhomes in a prime Spartanburg location, this new community has a lot to offer," said Cliff Niederpruem, Regional President. "Sales will start soon and opportunities are limited, so it's an ideal time to join our interest list and ensure you're the first to know about available homes and special offers."

ELLISON TOWNHOMES | SPARTANBURG, SC
Coming soon from the low $200s

Low-maintenance modern townhomes Contemporary design with open-concept layouts 3 bedrooms and 1,402 square feet Attached 1-bay garages Standard features include quartz countertops, Kohler® water fixtures, LG® stainless-steel appliances, and luxury vinyl-plank flooring Easy commute to prime regional hubs like Greenville, along with area colleges and universities Quick access to local attractions like Downtown Spartanburg, the Daniel Morgan Trail System, additional parks and recreational opportunities—such as fishing, biking and kayaking—plus dining, shopping, farmers markets and more along E. Blackstock Road Convenient location near I-85 Community Location
4010 Chessgrove Way
Spartanburg, SC 29307
864.509.9195

VISIT OUR SALES STUDIO

While our state-of-the-art online homebuying process allows you to buy on your terms—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—we also offer in-person assistance from local experts at our Upstate Sales Studio.

Upstate Studio
1401 Woodruff Road, Suite B
Greenville, SC 29615
864.509.9195

THE FREEDOM OF ONLINE HOMEBUYING

Century Complete is proud to feature its industry-first online homebuying experience on all available homes in South Carolina, allowing homebuyers to easily find their best fit and purchase when they're ready—all while continuing to work with their local real estate agent of choice. Homebuyers can further streamline the homebuying process by financing online with Century Complete's affiliate lender, Inspire Home Loans®.

How it works:

Shop homes at CenturyCommunities.com Click "Buy Now" on any available home Fill out a quick Buy Online form Electronically submit an initial earnest money deposit Electronically sign a purchase contract via DocuSign® Learn more about the Buy Online experience at www.CenturyCommunities.com/online-homebuying.

About Century Communities
Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a recognized industry leader in online home sales. Newsweek has named the Company one of America's Most Trustworthy Companies for three consecutive years. Century Communities has also been designated as one of U.S. News & World Report's Best Companies to Work For (2025–2026). Through its Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century's mission is to build attractive, high-quality homes at affordable prices to provide its valued customers with A HOME FOR EVERY DREAM®. Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding — including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Company operates in 16 states and over 45 markets across the U.S., and also offers mortgage, title, insurance brokerage, and escrow services in select markets through its Inspire Home Loans, Parkway Title, IHL Home Insurance Agency, and IHL Escrow subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com. 

SOURCE Century Communities, Inc.

Key Takeaways Ovintiv posted Q4 EPS of $1.39, beating estimates as output and gas prices rose.Revenues fell 1.9% Y/Y to $2.1B on lower oil volumes and weaker realized oil prices.OVV closed the NuVista buy, sold Anadarko assets and plans up to 75% FCF returns in 2026. Ovintiv Inc. (OVV - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $1.39, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 98 cents. The bottom line also increased from the year-ago level of $1.35. The outperformance was driven by higher plant condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas production volumes and higher average realized natural gas prices.

The Denver, CO-based oil and gas exploration and production company’s total revenues of $2.1 billion decreased 1.9% from the year-ago quarter’s figure due to lower oil production volumes and lower average realized oil and plant condensate prices. However, the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.2%.

On Feb. 23, 2026, Ovintiv's board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share, which will be paid on March 31, to its shareholders of record as of March 13.

The company demonstrated a strong commitment to shareholder value in 2025, distributing a total of approximately $612 million. This was achieved through $304 million in share buybacks, representing 7.8 million shares and $308 million in base dividend payments.

The company completed the $2.7 billion acquisition of NuVista Energy Ltd. on Feb. 3, 2026, adding roughly 100 MBOE/d of production, about 930 net equivalent well locations and nearly 140,000 net acres of land. In parallel, it agreed to divest its Anadarko assets, making an announcement in February 2026 of a definitive deal to sell them for total cash proceeds of $3 billion.

OVV’s Q4 Production & PricesTotal fourth-quarter production was 623,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) compared with 579,900 BOE/d in the prior-year period. The figure beat our prediction of 620,000 BOE/d.

Natural gas production increased to 1,905 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 1,680 MMcf/d in the prior-year quarter. Additionally, the figure marginally missed our estimate of 1,906 MMcf/d.

Total liquids production increased to 305.9 thousand barrels per day (Mbbls/d) in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 299.8 Mbbls/d in the prior-year quarter. Furthermore, the figure beat our prediction of 304 Mbbls/d.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, natural gas contributed approximately 50.9%, and liquids accounted for about 49.1% of the total production.

Ovintiv's realized natural gas price was $2.65 per thousand cubic feet compared with the year-ago level of $2.42. The realized oil price decreased to $61.89 per barrel from $67.93 in the prior-year quarter.

OVV’s Costs, Capex & Balance SheetTotal expenses of $1.7 billion decreased 21.7% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $2.2 billion. However, the figure was higher than our projection of $1.6 billion.

Ovintiv’s cash from operating activities in the quarter under review was $954 million, compared to the year-ago figure of $1 billion.

OVV's capital investments were $465 million compared with $552 million in the year-ago period. The company generated a non-GAAP free cash flow of $508 million in the reported quarter.

As of Dec. 31, the company had cash and cash equivalents worth $35 million and long-term debt of $4.4 billion. Its debt-to-capitalization was 28.2%.

OVV’s Asset PerformanceIn the fourth quarter of 2025, average production from the Permian Basin reached approximately 219 MBOE/d, with liquids making up 79% of the total. A total of 30 net wells were brought online during the period. For the full year 2026, capital spending in this region is projected to be between $1.325 billion and $1.375 billion, supporting the development of around 5 rigs and 125-135 net wells.

From the Montney play, fourth-quarter output averaged 305 MBOE/d, with liquids contributing about 25% of the volume. The company turned in 20 net wells during the quarter. Full-year 2026 capital expenditures for Montney are expected to be between $875 million and $925 million, supporting the development of 6 rigs and 130-140 net well additions.

OVV’s Q1 & 2026 GuidanceOvintiv expects its total production for the first quarter of 2026 to be between 660 MBOE/d and 680 MBOE/d. This includes oil and condensate production between 220 Mbbls/d and 225 Mbbls/d, natural gas liquids production of 96-100 Mbbls/d and natural gas production between 2,075 MMcf/d and 2,125 MMcf/d. Capital investment for the first quarter is projected between $600 million and $650 million.

This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company has projected its full-year 2026 capital investment between $2.2 billion and $2.3 billion. For 2026, OVV anticipates total production to average between 620 MBOE/d and 645 MBOE/d. Full-year oil and condensate production is expected to range from 205 Mbbls/d to 212 Mbbls/d, while NGLs production is projected between 80 Mbbls/d and 85 Mbbls/d. Natural gas production for the year is estimated to be between 2,000 MMcf/d and 2,100 MMcf/d.

Ovintiv expects to return at least 75% of its full-year 2026 non-GAAP free cash flow to shareholders. Over the longer term, the company has updated its capital return strategy to distribute between 50% and 100% of annual non-GAAP free cash flow through a mix of base dividends and share repurchases. To enable execution of the new framework, the company’s board of directors has authorized a share buyback program totaling $3 billion.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Important Earnings at a GlanceWhile we have discussed OVV’s fourth-quarter results in detail, let us take a look at three other key reports in this space.

TechnipFMC plc (FTI - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 70 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents. The bottom line also increased from the year-ago quarter’s reported profit of 54 cents. The outperformance is primarily driven by strong results in both the Subsea and the Surface Technologies segments.

Newcastle & Houston-based oil and gas equipment and services provider’s revenues of $2.5 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25 million. However, the top line increased from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure of $2.4 billion.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, FTI had cash and cash equivalents worth $1 billion and long-term debt of $395.7 million, with a debt-to-capitalization of 10.5%.

ProPetro Holding Corp. (PUMP - Free Report) reported a fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted profit per share of 1 cent, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 13 cents. The bottom line also improved from the year-ago loss of 1 cent per share, backed by a 16.3% year-over-year decline in costs and expenses.

Revenues of $290 million beat the consensus mark of $280 million. This improvement can be attributed to better-than-expected service revenues in the Wireline and Hydraulic Fracturing segments. Revenues in the Wireline segment reached $55.4 million, surpassing the consensus estimate by 7.4%. Revenues in the Hydraulic Fracturing segment reached $203.9 million, surpassing the consensus estimate by 1.4%. However, the top line decreased 9.6% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $321 million. This was due to a year-over-year decline in service revenues from the Hydraulic Fracturing and Cementing segments.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, PUMP had $91.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and $45 million in borrowings under its ABL Credit Facility.

Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $2.51 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.39. The bottom line also increased from the year-ago quarter’s level of $1.44. The outperformance can be attributed to the increased operating margin in the company’s Gathering and Processing segment and Logistics and Transportation segment, and a decrease in the company’s product costs.

Total quarterly revenues of $4 billion decreased from the prior-year quarter’s level of $4.4 billion. The top line also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.2 billion. The weak quarterly revenues can be attributed to lower sales of commodities.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, TRGP had cash and cash equivalents of $166.1 million and long-term debt of $16.7 billion, with a debt-to-capitalization of around 83.9%.