Market Signal Briefing

TL;DR

SDM says it sent $1 million to Kraken over Lightning on Jan. 28, calling it the largest reported payment and a clean proof point. The transfer cleared in 0.43 seconds via Voltage infrastructure, and executives framed it as an enterprise KPI versus the prior record near $140,000. Lightning capacity fell from 5,400 BTC to 4,200 BTC by mid 2025, then rebounded above 5,600 BTC; exchanges and firms cite institutional upside. A $1 million Bitcoin Lightning payment between Secure Digital Markets (SDM) and Kraken has put institutional readiness for Bitcoin’s main scaling layer under a brighter spotlight. This transfer repositions Lightning as a credible settlement rail for regulated counterparties. SDM said the Jan. 28 transaction is the largest publicly reported Lightning payment to date and a proof of concept for seven figure value moving in a single shot. SDM added the payment cleared in 0.43 seconds and was routed through Voltage’s managed Lightning infrastructure, designed for uptime and pre provisioned liquidity, for institutional payment routing.

From headline milestone to operational roadmap Voltage CEO Graham Krizek called the payment an important moment for Lightning and for institutional Bitcoin payments, arguing the network can meet enterprise requirements at meaningful size. The milestone is being framed as a KPI for treasury and trading desks evaluating new rails. SDM contrasted the test with the previously publicized record single payment of about 1.24 BTC, roughly $140,000 at the time, underscoring how uncommon six figure Lightning transactions have been. The parties positioned the exercise as a controlled proof point, not a marketing stunt, with clear audit trails and predictable controls throughout.

The seven figure test lands amid mixed network metrics that are improving but still small versus Bitcoin’s overall market value. Lightning capacity has been volatile, then pushed into a new high that supports bigger ambitions. Public channel capacity fell from over 5,400 BTC in late 2023 to about 4,200 BTC by mid 2025, before rebounding above 5,600 BTC by December globally today. Documented usage has tilted toward smaller payments, although exchange limits are gradually loosening. Bitfinex lifted Lightning deposit caps from 0.04 BTC to 0.5 BTC per payment and 2 BTC per channel.

Institutional narratives are being reinforced by incumbents and infrastructure providers focused on reliability, cost, and operational efficiency. The industry is shifting from experimentation to production grade Lightning adoption playbooks. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether and CTO of Bitfinex, said Lightning can handle higher volumes with predictable settlement, lower costs, and reduced onchain congestion, which matter for institutional use cases. Fidelity Digital Assets noted average Lightning capacity is up 384% since 2020 and called it transformative for financial institutions. Blockstream highlighted Core Lightning work on latency and LSP support, plus Greenlight for lean deployments.

That target is “unrealistic” this year, but possible “over the long term” once negative sentiment reverses, according to the analysts.

In brief Shares of BitMine Immersion Technologies hit a 7-month low Thursday, falling to its lowest point since the firm announced its Ethereum treasury strategy last July. The firm's unrealized Ethereum losses have continued to pile up, now around $8 billion as ETH trades near $1,930. BMNR is down about 11% on the day and more than 45% in the last six months. Shares in publicly traded Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) have fallen 11% on Thursday to trade at a seven-month low price as unrealized losses from its ETH holdings purchases hit approximately $8 billion. 

BMNR recently changed hands around $18.05, its lowest mark since its July ascent amid news the company was shifting its focus to accumulating ETH. At that time, trading of BMNR shares was halted multiple times due to volatility, ultimately ending the day with more than a 400% gain and peaking at $161.00 per share.

When poked on X about the mounting unrealized losses earlier this week, BitMine chairman and Fundstart co-founder Tom Lee said that “crypto is in a downturn, so naturally ETH is down.”

These tweets miss the point of an ethereum treasury:
- BitMine is designed to track the price of $ETH
- outperform over the cycle (think up ETH)
- crypto is in a downturn, so naturally ETH is down$BMNR will see “unrealized” losses on our holdings of ETH during these times:
-… https://t.co/VpoNjAnJdC

— Thomas (Tom) Lee (not drummer) FSInsight.com (@fundstrat) February 3, 2026

“BMNR will see ‘unrealized’ losses on our holdings of ETH during these times,” he posted. “It’s not a bug, it’s a feature. Shall we call out all index ETFs for their losses?”

“Bottom line: Ethereum is the future of finance,” he added.

The firm, which maintains a treasury of 4,285,125 ETH or $8.4 billion worth, was down more than $6 billion on its holdings earlier this week as ETH had fallen to $2,300. 

Now with Ethereum falling another 10% in the last 24 hours to a recent price of $1,932, down nearly 32% in the last seven days, Bitmine’s have extended to around $8 billion.

Though the firm doesn’t report its unrealized losses in real time, the tally based on the firm’s cost basis reporting from a late November 10-Q filing, plus estimates from its reported purchases since that time. Data from analytics platform DropsTab notes that the firm is down nearly 49% on its overall investment, notching unrealized losses of $8.02 billion in total.

Despite the losses, Lee and BitMine remain convicted in Ethereum’s future, telling investors earlier this week that the firm saw the ETH dip as “attractive, given the strengthening fundamentals.” 

BitMine most recently accumulated 41,788 ETH—currently about $82 million worth—last week, as it announced this past Monday. In total, the firm holds more than 3.5% of the circulating Ethereum supply. It ultimately aims to hold 5% of the circulating supply, a goal shared by fellow Ethereum treasury firm, SharpLink Gaming. 

At its recent price of $1,921, Ethereum was trading more than 61% off its August all-time high of $4,946, according to data from CoinGecko.

Users on Myriad—a prediction market operated by Decrypt's parent company, Dastan—foresee further losses ahead for ETH, currently penciling in a nearly 72% chance that Ethereum falls to $1,500 sooner than it can rebound to $3,000.

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The following article is adapted from The Block's newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.

Forced selling spiked as leverage reset, but on-chain data shows Bitcoin holding up better than altcoins.

Published: February 5, 2026 │ 7:25 PM GMT

Created by Kornelija Poderskytė from DailyCoin

Bitcoin (BTC) hit its second-largest capitulation spike in two years this week, signaling a sudden surge in forced selling and heightened market stress. 

According to blockchain analytics firm Glassnode, such events often push investors to de-risk, driving higher volatility as positions are adjusted. Historical data show that these spikes typically precede consolidation periods, where participants remain active but hesitant to take major directional bets.

The $BTC capitulation metric has printed its second-largest spike in two years, highlighting a sharp escalation in forced selling.
These stress events typically coincide with accelerated de-risking and elevated volatility as market participants reset positioning.… pic.twitter.com/mcvVqXJcYq

— glassnode (@glassnode) February 5, 2026 Despite the turbulence, institutional sentiment remains constructive. On-chain and survey data indicate Bitcoin continues to maintain a stronger footing than most altcoins, suggesting professional investors view the cryptocurrency as a core portfolio asset.

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Market caution persists, however, as Bitcoin’s Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL), a metric tracking holders’ unrealized gains and losses, remains in a phase often associated with restrained risk-taking.

Institutional sentiment remains constructive on Bitcoin. On-chain and market data, supported by investor survey insights, point to BTC’s stronger relative footing than most of the altcoin market.

Download the full Q1 report 👇
https://t.co/8Cj01LuhAV

— glassnode (@glassnode) February 3, 2026 Derivatives Shake-Up and Market ResilienceThe market’s structure has shifted following last October’s liquidation event, which slashed systemic leverage. Perpetual futures positions were largely unwound, reducing overall leverage to roughly 3% of total crypto capitalization, excluding stablecoins.

Rather than exiting risk entirely, traders shifted exposure to options markets, where open interest now surpasses perpetual futures and leans toward defensive strategies.

“From a market structure standpoint, this transition supports a more resilient trading environment, even if near-term sentiment remains guarded,” Glassnode reported.

Overall, Bitcoin faces episodic stress and cautious sentiment, but structural changes in derivatives markets, combined with continued institutional backing, suggest the cryptocurrency is consolidating rather than capitulating.  Analysts note that if volatility stabilizes and macro conditions remain steady, investor confidence could gradually recover.

Why This MattersThe spike in forced selling, combined with reduced leverage and continued institutional demand, suggests Bitcoin is undergoing a structural reset rather than a breakdown, shaping expectations for volatility, liquidity, and market resilience.

Dig into DailyCoin’s popular crypto scoops today:
Crypto Slides Sharply as Tech Sell-Off Sparks Liquidations, ETF Outflows
XRP Debuts Modular Lending On Flare: What’s Coming Up?

People Also Ask:What is Bitcoin capitulation and why does it happen?

Bitcoin capitulation occurs when large-scale selling forces a sharp price drop, often triggered by panic, high leverage, or sudden market stress.

How does Bitcoin leverage affect market volatility?

Higher leverage amplifies both gains and losses, making the market more sensitive to liquidations and sudden sell-offs, while lower leverage can stabilize price swings.

How do options markets differ from futures in Bitcoin trading?

Options allow defined-risk exposure with capped losses, while futures carry higher leverage and unlimited risk, making options a safer tool during volatile periods.

What does a market consolidation phase mean for Bitcoin?

Consolidation occurs after sharp price swings, where traders remain engaged but avoid major directional bets, often stabilizing the market before the next trend.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

Market Sentiment

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This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Bitcoin prediction market contracts across multiple platforms are converging around a narrow price band for early 2026, with traders broadly assigning low probabilities to aggressive upside scenarios and treating six-figure outcomes as long-shot events.

Bitcoin fell right through the $70,000 mark on Thursday, with over $1.5 billion in liquidations sweeping through the markets. Cryptocurrency Ticker Price Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) $65,948.45 Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) $1,927.92 Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) $82.26 XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) $1.24 Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) $0.09185 Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) $0.

Ethereum price remains under bearish pressure, with price rotating lower within a high-timeframe range and downside risk building toward the $900 support zone.

Summary

Loss of value area high confirms bearish structure, keeping sellers in control Point of control is the final support, before a possible range-low test $900 range low is critical, historically triggering strong bullish reversals Ethereum (ETH) price action has turned increasingly bearish following the loss of key value levels, signaling a shift in short- to medium-term market control. After failing to hold above the value area high, ETH has continued to print consecutive lower highs and lower lows, reinforcing downside momentum.

While selling pressure remains dominant, the broader technical picture suggests Ethereum is still trading within a well-defined high-timeframe range, raising the probability that the current move is a range rotation rather than a full trend breakdown.

As price continues to drift lower, attention is now focused on the point of control (POC), which represents the final major support before a test of the range low. Historically, this area has acted as a gateway toward capitulation-style moves, often preceding sharp reversals once downside liquidity is fully absorbed.

Ethereum price key technical points Loss of value area high confirms bearish momentum, shifting control back to sellers Point of control is being tested, acting as the last defense before the range low $900 range low remains critical, with historical reversals forming at this level ETHUSDT (1W) Chart, Source: TradingView Bearish structure dominates the short-term trend From a market-structure perspective, Ethereum has clearly entered a bearish phase. The rejection from the value area highlighted a significant structural failure, confirming that buyers were unable to sustain acceptance at a higher value. Since then, price action has unfolded in a controlled but persistent decline, forming a sequence of lower highs and lower lows across the daily timeframe.

This type of structure typically signals trend continuation rather than consolidation, especially when accompanied by declining bullish volume. Each attempt at stabilization has been met with renewed selling, reinforcing the idea that downside liquidity remains a magnet for price discovery.

Point of control signals final support before range low Ethereum is now trading closer to the point of control, a critical technical level that often acts as a pivot between balance and imbalance. Within a broader trading range, the POC often serves as the final structural support before the price rotates toward the range low.

A clean loss of this level would significantly increase the probability of a capitulation-style move toward $900. Importantly, this is not necessarily a bearish breakdown, but rather a natural rotation within a high-timeframe range, designed to fully reset positioning and flush remaining weak hands from the market.

$900 range low holds historical significance The $900 region stands out as a highly significant support zone, aligning with the value area low of the broader range. Historically, every retest of this area has resulted in a strong bullish response, suggesting that long-term buyers are active at these levels.

A move into this region would likely coincide with heightened volatility and emotional selling, characteristics commonly associated with capitulation events. These conditions often precede local bottoms, especially when the price reaches range extremes after extended periods of directional movement.

What to expect in the coming price action From a technical, price-action, and market-structure perspective, Ethereum appears to be undergoing a high-timeframe range rotation rather than a structural collapse. As long as the broader range remains intact, a move toward $900 remains a valid scenario and may represent the conditions needed to form a local bottom.

If capitulation occurs near the range low, Ethereum could then begin a rotational move back toward higher-value areas, including the value-area high and the high-timeframe resistance near $4,700.

Ethereum cryptocurrency co-founder Vitalik Buterin (Photo by Marcos BRINDICCI / AFP) (Photo by MARCOS BRINDICCI/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

ERC-8004, a draft Ethereum standard for AI agent identity and reputation, is now live on mainnet. It standardizes a set of registries as a practical answer to an awkward gap in the agent economy: agents can talk, act and transact, yet they still struggle to prove who they are and why anyone should trust them.

What made ERC-8004 unusual wasn’t just the spec. It was how builders treated it like a common good. During roughly three months on testnet, the ecosystem registered 10,000+ agents and logged 20,000+ feedback entries, with community-built scanners and tooling emerging alongside the draft. Inside the builder Telegram group, it moved faster than any one person could read, which is usually what real adoption looks like.

On January 29, 2026, the core registries were finally deployed on Ethereum mainnet, putting a reference implementation of agent identity and reputation onto the same rails that already secure trillions in value.

Ethereum Is For AIThe choice of Ethereum is not random branding. If the thesis is that agents become economic participants allocating capital, calling APIs, delivering work products - then the trust layer needs to sit on neutral infrastructure, not inside a single vendor’s marketplace or identity stack.

Ethereum’s value proposition here is boring and therefore powerful: it has operated since 2015, it is credibly neutral, globally accessible, censorship-resistant and it is composable across a large on-chain ecosystem. If agent identity and reputation are meant to be discoverable and valuable, they need to be hard to rewrite, hard to disappear, and easy to plug into everything else.

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That framing has become increasingly explicit inside the Ethereum ecosystem. In late 2025, reporting described the Ethereum Foundation organizing a “decentralized AI” effort, signaling that “AI on Ethereum” is being treated as a strategic direction rather than a hackathon theme.

What ERC-8004 Actually Standardizes8004 is simple by design: it describes lightweight registries intended to be deployed as one canonical registry contract per chain that let agents be discovered and evaluated without a centralized gatekeeper.

A useful mental model is: ENS-like identity + Yelp-like feedback + optional verification hooks, tailored for machine-to-machine commerce.

Importantly, the standard is not trying to replace agent communication or payments. The spec explicitly positions ERC-8004 as complementary to existing agent protocols and tooling (for example, communication frameworks and payment protocols) rather than a monolithic “agent stack.”

The Registries1) Identity Registry (live on mainnet)

The Identity Registry gives each agent a persistent on-chain handle. In the ERC-8004 reference implementation, that handle is an ERC-721-style identifier that points to an agent registration file with metadata describing what the agent is, what it does, and how to reach it (e.g., endpoints, capabilities, supported protocols).

On Ethereum mainnet, the Identity Registry is deployed at:

0x8004A169FB4a3325136EB29fA0ceB6D2e539a432

2) Reputation Registry (live on mainnet)

Reputation is where the standard starts to matter economically. After an interaction, humans or other agents can submit feedback that becomes part of an agent’s public history. That history can then be used by marketplaces, credit systems, routing layers or other agents deciding who to hire.

On Ethereum mainnet, the Reputation Registry is deployed at:

0x8004BAa17C55a88189AE136b182e5fdA19dE9b63

3) Validation Registry (part of the design; still evolving)

Validation is the third leg: ways to verify claims like “this agent actually ran the code it says it ran,” or “this output was produced under specific constraints.” The EIP describes verification paths that can include staking and cryptographic attestations, including approaches that rely on zero-knowledge proofs or trusted execution environments.

The Real Problem ERC-8004 Is Solving: Trust At Internet ScaleMost “agent” systems today work because trust is smuggled in through closed assumptions: API keys, platform accounts, enterprise contracts, or a single marketplace acting as the arbiter of identity. That breaks the moment agents are expected to interact across organizations and across networks.

ERC-8004’s contribution is not that it makes agents behave well. It makes their behavior legible and more portable - who an agent is, what it claims, what it has done, and how others have scored it - without requiring a central reputation database.

That shift matters because the “agent economy” is, at its core, a market design problem. A world with millions of agents but no shared trust signals devolves into spam, spoofing and counterparties that can’t be priced.

What this could unlock Credit and resource provisioning
Agents need resources: compute budgets, API spend, working capital. Yet most systems still fund them manually or require privileged whitelists. Portable reputation changes the underwriting input. An agent won’t pledge a house or a passport. It can pledge a verifiable operational history.

That doesn’t automatically create a functioning credit market, but it creates something that looks like collateral: a record that can be priced, monitored and penalized (e.g., bond.credit is already developing the Credit Layer for the Agentic Economy).

Task markets and hiring based on track record
Interoperable identity makes it possible for agents to carry a track record across marketplaces instead of restarting from zero each time.

With a shared identity primitive, marketplaces have to compete on execution and pricing rather than locking users into proprietary reputation graphs.

Verification tooling that separates claims from proofs
As agent systems grow, “it said it did X” becomes a security boundary. Validation mechanisms, especially those anchored in cryptographic proofs or TEEs, are one of the few scalable ways to reduce blind trust in agent narratives.

The hard parts (and why they matter more than the launch)Reputation systems are famously gameable: Sybil attacks, collusion rings, bribed reviews, “whitewashing” identities, and subtle forms of manipulation that look like organic feedback. The agent context adds LLM-specific failure modes: hallucination, prompt-injection susceptibility, and unpredictable behavior under adversarial inputs.

Recent academic work comparing trust models across agent protocols argues that reputation alone is brittle, and that safer agent markets likely require hybrids: proof and stake gating high-impact actions, with reputation as an additional signal rather than the foundation.

There’s also a governance question embedded in any “standard”: who curates best practices, how quickly the spec changes, and whether major platforms actually integrate it. ERC-8004 being marked “Draft” is a reminder that the spec is still moving, even if the contracts are live.

Bottom lineERC-8004’s mainnet deployment is a foundational moment for Crypto x AI because it makes a previously fuzzy idea concrete: a shared trust layer for agents that is not owned by any single company.

But the launch is not the finish line. The near-term signal to watch is not slogans but adoption: in-production agents, agentic commerce, and whether third-party scoring and verification tools emerge that make the registries useful under real adversarial pressure.

Infrastructure is usually boring, until it becomes the default.

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VivoPower has confirmed it is exiting its digital asset exposure amid a broad crypto market crash. The XRP treasury exit has led to VVPR stock dropping. The company said it will stop adding crypto assets as Bitcoin slid below $70,000.

VivoPower Confirms Exit Plan Through Ripple Labs Share Deals In a company disclosure, VivoPower said it has completed a definitive agreement with KWeather, giving the partner economic rights to part of its Ripple Labs shareholdings. In return, VivoPower will receive 20% of KWeather shares valued at $4.3 million. The company described the transaction as a structured path to unwind its crypto-linked exposure.

However, the exit plan does not stop with KWeather. VivoPower said the remaining Ripple Labs shares it holds will be acquired by Lean Ventures of South Korea. The acquisition will occur under a definitive partnership agreement announced in December 2025.

VivoPower said the transactions provide the mechanism for a strategic exit from its digital asset holdings. It also confirmed it will not acquire any further digital assets on its balance sheet. Notably, the company said it has not recorded any aggregate realized or unrealized losses on its digital asset positions. This comes as other crypto treasury companies, such as Michael Saylor’s Strategy, record unrealized losses on their investments. 

Meanwhile, VivoPower added that all Ripple Labs share transactions with KWeather and Lean Ventures will be conducted at market value. It also said the deals will follow the Ripple Labs approval process. As the company restructures, it said it will focus capital and resources on scaling its powered land and data center infrastructure business.

The company also referenced Vivo Federation, its digital asset arm. VivoPower said Vivo Federation focuses on XRPL-based real-world blockchain applications while maintaining exposure to Ripple Labs shares and digital assets.

VivoPower adopted its crypto strategy in May 2025 after becoming the first corporate XRP treasury. This followed a $121 million private placement that priced shares at $6.05. It also partnered with Crypto.com for custody support and expanded stock listing exposure to its reported 150 million users. The strategy continued through XRP yield deployment on Flare, RLUSD stablecoin adoption, and a dedicated Vivo Federation unit.

VVPR Stock Slides as XRP Drops Hard  After the announcement, VivoPower stock fell sharply. At the time of writing, VVPR was trading at $1.45, down by 11.04% or $0.18 in 24 hours as per Yahoo Finance data. The crypto stock previously closed at $1.63, with a daily range of $1.43 to $1.65.

Source: Yahoo Finance

The broader stock metrics showed volatility. VVPR posted a year range of $0.62 to $8.88 and a market cap of $18.23 million. Average daily volume is near 513,420 shares.

Meanwhile, the token VivoPower focused on, XRP, has also declined. XRP was trading at $1.28, down 16.28% in 24 hours. It also fell 28.07% over the past week and 44.15% over the past month.

Alongside XRP weakness, the overall crypto market dropped 8.13% to $2.3 trillion in 24 hours. The selloff has aligned with macro-driven pressure and tracks correlations of 71% with the S&P 500 and 71% with gold.

Crypto stocks also fell. Strategy shares (MSTR) hit a 16-month low ahead of quarterly results, down 5.8%. BMNR fell 8.33%, while Coinbase (COIN) dropped 8.43%. Circle’s CRCL declined 5.74%, and Robinhood’s HOOD slid 5.83%. Additionally, the selloff led to more than $332 million in long Bitcoin liquidations within 24 hours.

XRP has been misunderstood as just another retail-traded crypto asset, when in reality, it was engineered from the ground up to serve institutional finance. Most retail investors approach XRP through the lens of short-term price action, but that framing misses what the asset was actually built to do.

XRP was never built for retail investors. Crypto trader Adam highlighted on X that from the outset, XRP was designed as institutional-grade infrastructure, powering liquidity corridors, cross-border settlements, and the movement of value between financial systems fast and efficiently.

How Early Liquidity Providers Sit Ahead Of Demand The goal isn’t hype or speculation, but rather plumbing for global money flow. In this framework, the retail participant isn’t the target audience. Instead, retail holders occupy an early position, providing optional liquidity and gaining front-row access while the underlying rails are still being built.

Related Reading: Ripple’s Next Steps: Where XRP Stops Being Trade And Starts Being Infrastrucutre

As institutional adoption continues to expand, retail holders are positioned ahead of the curve and may benefit from utility demand, which ultimately drives long-term value. In this contest, being early doesn’t mean being excluded; it simply means being advantaged ahead of the curve.

XRP has already transitioned into an institutional-grade asset. Analyst Xfinancebull has pointed out that the narrative from just two years ago was that many believed institutions would avoid XRP due to its uncertainty, perceived risk, and regulatory clarity, but that landscape has shifted.

Currently, XRP exposure is available on major institutional platforms, including Vanguard, which manages over $10 trillion in assets and serves more than 50 million investors globally, and is second only to BlackRock. Multiple XRP ETFs are now live and accessible, including the Bitwise XRP ETF, Franklin Templeton XRP ETF, Canary XRP ETF, and Teucrium 2x XRP ETF.

Despite this progress, XRP’s price remains low, and institutions are not emotional about the dip because they don’t buy green candles; they accumulate during the times of fear, and position their capital when retail interest is distracted or discouraged. XRP is now available on the same platforms used in managing retirement funds for millions of Americans and now offers direct XRP exposure.

Once institutional allocations begin to flow, available supply can be absorbed quickly. “You’re either positioned before institutions move, or chasing after they’ve already entered,”  Xfinancebull noted.

Banks Are Already Testing XRPL Infrastructure According to Jake Claver, the CEO of DAGFamilyOffice, the global banking system currently has roughly $27 trillion locked in pre-funded accounts, which only exist because banks can’t settle transactions in real-time. Meanwhile, the XRP ledger alternative can handle that settlement in seconds, and banks are already testing this infrastructure.

The key question, as Claver frames it, is not whether real-time settlement is possible, but how long the current system can persist before the efficiency gains become impossible for banks to ignore.

XRP trading at $1.36 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com

SHIB spot flows spike as price stays under pressureShiba Inu skyrocketed 1,546% in spot flows as crypto market intensifies sell-off.

Inflow surge. Shiba Inu spot flows surged 1,546% in the past 24 hours, yet the token continues to trade in the red.Shiba Inu spot flows have seen a positive increase of 1,546% in 24 hours, but the SHIB price continues to trade in the red. According to CoinGlass data, Shiba Inu saw spot inflows of $12.43 million, which estimates the amount of SHIB being moved from holder wallets to exchanges over the last 24 hours.

Sell-off. The inflow dominance coincided with a broader market sell-off on Wednesday.On the other hand, spot outflows — which estimates the amount of SHIB moved from exchanges to holder wallets in the last 24 hours — came in at $11.99 million. Cryptocurrencies being moved to or away from exchanges indicate an intent to sell or buy.

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The dominance of spot inflows in the last 24 hours comes as the market faced selling on Wednesday. The drop has seen $714 million in total crypto liquidations over 24 hours, largely from long positions, CoinGlass data shows.

XRP futures activity skyrockets on Bitmex amid crypto market sell-offSurge in derivatives activity follows as the broader crypto market experienced a sell-off.

Futures spike. XRP futures volume on Bitmex surged 5,419% in the last 24 hours, reaching $82.27 million.XRP saw a significant surge in futures volume on major derivatives crypto exchange Bitmex as the crypto market saw volatility in the last 24 hours.

According to CoinGlass data, XRP futures volume rose 5,419% on Bitmex in the last 24 hours to $82.27 million. The surge in derivatives activity follows as the broader crypto market faces a sell-off, with the XRP price in red. At press time, XRP was down 0.78% in the last 24 hours to $1.59 and down 17.08% weekly.

OI decline. XRP open interest fell 3.93% over the last 24 hours to $2.66 billion.The number of outstanding contracts are down for most cryptocurrencies, including XRP, according to data from CoinGlass. XRP's open interest has dropped 3.93% in the last 24 hours to $2.66 billion.

CZ pushes back on Bitcoin manipulation claimsEx-Binance CEO believes that no one out there is manipulating Bitcoin and would be crazy to even try.

Market manipulation. CZ rejected claims that major players or exchanges deliberately manipulate Bitcoin’s price.Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, recently refuted allegations that big players or major exchanges intentionally manipulate the price of Bitcoin. 

CZ contended that macroeconomic news, rather than exchange failures or concerted manipulation, caused the severe market crash occurring around Oct. 10. 

He also emphasized that neither he nor Binance directly profits from cryptocurrency trading, and that purposefully altering the price of Bitcoin would require capital on a scale few actors would dare to deploy. 

Market participants. CZ argued that Bitcoin’s scale as a multitrillion-dollar asset makes sustained price manipulation unrealistic.Zhao claims that since Bitcoin is now essentially a multitrillion-dollar asset class, sustained manipulation is not feasible, as manipulators would face enormous financial risk if they attempted to significantly alter the market.

While reminding participants that no technological system can guarantee perfect uptime, he noted that users impacted by previous system outages were compensated. 

Key NotesThe platform transitions from Polygon-bridged USDC.e to Circle's native stablecoin for direct dollar redemption.Native integration removes vulnerabilities associated with cross-chain bridges, crypto's most exploited infrastructure weakness.Polymarket processed $22 billion in 2025 volume, positioning itself as the second-largest prediction market globally. Circle and Polymarket announced a partnership today that will bring native USDC to the prediction market over the next few months, replacing the bridged stablecoin version traders currently use.

Polymarket runs entirely on Bridged USDC (USDC.e) through Polygon right now. Native USDC comes directly from Circle’s regulated entities and can be redeemed one-to-one for US dollars. Bridged tokens need intermediary protocols to move between blockchains, creating extra steps, issues and costs. Native versions eliminate that middleman, making transactions faster and more reliable for users trading billions monthly.

Some crypto analysts on X say that with this upgrade, Polymarket is eliminating bridging risk. It is well known in the industry that cross-chain bridges are the weakest link in hacking blockchains.

Circle 🤝 @Polymarket

Circle has partnered with Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market, to support the next evolution of onchain financial markets.

This partnership focuses on:
→ Bringing transparent, fully-reserved stablecoin infrastructure to prediction markets… pic.twitter.com/5lNfUPG3xu

— Circle (@circle) February 5, 2026

“Circle has built some of the most critical infrastructure in crypto, and partnering with them is an important step in strengthening prediction markets,” said Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket, in Circle’s announcement. “Using USDC supports a consistent, dollar-denominated settlement standard that enhances market integrity and reliability as participation on the platform continues to grow.”

Polymarket Volume Growth Pushes Upgrade Polymarket handled $3 billion in trading volume on Polygon during October 2025 with over 338,000 traders, and more than $22 billion in notional trading across the first eleven months of 2025—a 57% increase from 2024. Monthly volume stood at $7.66 billion in January 2026, according to The Block data, making it the second-largest prediction market worldwide.

Currently, Kalshi is the largest prediction market, with $9.55 billion in volume over the last month, likely driven by its alliance with Coinbase.

Monthly volume for Polymarket and Kalshi | Source: The Block data

Other platforms made similar switches in 2025 to improve liquidity and reduce settlement friction, as did the Aptos blockchain. Each migration streamlines how money moves through these systems.

The shift positions Polymarket closer to the settlement standards that major financial institutions expect. With regulators watching crypto prediction markets more closely, even jurisdictions like Portugal ordering a stop to political betting, standardized stablecoin infrastructure provides the platform with a stronger foundation as it scales toward mainstream finance.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

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José Rafael Peña Gholam is a cryptocurrency journalist and editor with 9 years of experience in the industry. He wrote at top outlets like CriptoNoticias, BeInCrypto, and CoinDesk. Specializing in Bitcoin, blockchain, and Web3, he creates news, analysis, and educational content for global audiences in both Spanish and English.

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A bitcoin light is displayed at the "Bitcoin Treasuries Unconference" cryptocurrency event, in New York City, New York, U.S., September 17, 2025. REUTERS/Joy Malone Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesTrump's policies initially boosted crypto investments, now facing pressure from Fed changesStrategy's shares plummet, impacting earnings forecast for 2025Smarter Web Company shares fall nearly 18%, joining other struggling crypto firmsFeb 5 (Reuters) - Turbulence in the cryptocurrency market is dragging down shares of companies that hold bitcoin and other digital assets on their balance sheets, sparking concerns over potential broader strains in the sector.

The number of publicly traded companies investing in cryptocurrencies in the hope they would appreciate boomed last year.

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Many were buoyed by U.S. President Donald Trump's crypto-friendly stance and inspired by the meteoric success of billionaire Michael Saylor's Strategy (MSTR.O), opens new tab, which started out as software company MicroStrategy and began buying and holding ​bitcoin in 2020.

However, concerns over the valuations of artificial intelligence companies and uncertainty over the path of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts are weighing on risk assets, pushing bitcoin to its lowest level since November 2024 and sending many "digital asset treasury" or DAT companies wobbling.

Shares in Strategy, the best known of these bitcoin buyers, have fallen from $457 in July to as low as $111.27 on Thursday, the lowest since August 2024. Strategy was last trading down more than 11% on the day.

Strategy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In December, Strategy slashed its 2025 earnings forecast, citing a weak run in bitcoin, and announced plans to create a reserve to support dividend payments. The company said it expected to report earnings between a $6.3 billion profit and $5.5 billion loss for the full year, compared to its previous forecast of a net profit of $24 billion.

Shares of the UK's Smarter Web Company (SWC.L), opens new tab, another bitcoin buyer, were also hard-hit on Thursday, down nearly 18%. Rival bitcoin buyers Nakamoto Inc (NAKA.O), opens new tab and Japan's Metaplanet (3350.T), opens new tab fell almost 9% and more than 7%, respectively.

Bitcoin is down nearly 20% since the start of the year, with selling pressure intensifying after Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair, which analysts have said could lead to a smaller Fed balance sheet - a negative for risk assets like cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin has wiped out all of its gains since the election of Trump, who pledged on the campaign trail to overhaul policies toward digital assets. The world's biggest cryptocurrency was last trading at $67,651.

“As Bitcoin continues its slide below the psychological barrier of $70,000, it’s clear the crypto market is now in full capitulation mode," said Nic Puckrin, investment analyst and co-founder of crypto analysis platform Coin Bureau.

"If previous cycles are anything to go by, this is no longer a short-term correction, but rather a transition... and these typically take months, not weeks."

COMPANIES STOCKPILING OTHER TOKENS ALSO SLIDEWhile institutional investors can buy tokens directly, DATs offer the chance to leverage returns and let more cautious investors gain crypto exposure through regulated public firms.

Still, sustained pressure on the shares of crypto treasury companies could complicate the ability of these firms to raise additional capital to buy more crypto tokens, the crux of their business model.

Many executives at such firms say their success will be rooted in their ability to make smart investing decisions and are looking for new ways to boost shareholder value, Reuters previously reported.

Companies stockpiling other crypto tokens were also trading lower on Thursday. Alt5 Sigma, a company that announced last year it would stockpile the Trump family's WLFI token, was down 8.4%. SharpLink Gaming, which holds ether, was down 8%, while Forward Industries, which holds solana, was down nearly 6%.

Reporting by Hannah Lang in New York; Editing by Nia Williams

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Hannah Lang covers financial technology and cryptocurrency, including the businesses that drive the industry and policy developments that govern the sector. Hannah previously worked at American Banker where she covered bank regulation and the Federal Reserve. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and lives in Washington, DC.

TLDR: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $817M in two days, led by major withdrawals from BlackRock and Fidelity funds. Liquidations and negative funding rates signal stress, yet analysts see fewer systemic risks than past crash cycles. Fidelity launched a dollar-backed stablecoin, expanding regulated on-chain settlement options for clients. Institutions are favouring Futures, staking, and DeFi integration despite short-term market volatility. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $545 million in net outflows in the latest session, with BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC leading withdrawals as Bitcoin trades near $71,000.

Derivatives data shows over $1.8 billion in liquidations, reflecting elevated volatility across crypto markets.

Bitcoin ETF Outflows Intensify Amid Liquidation-Driven Volatility U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs registered $545 million in net redemptions on Wednesday, marking a second consecutive day of withdrawals. BlackRock’s IBIT led the decline with $373 million, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC, which recorded $86 million. 

Combined losses over two sessions reached $817 million as Bitcoin slid nearly seven percent toward $71,000. Market researchers described the action as resembling past cycle downturns. 

K33 Research said the absence of forced selling events reduced the probability of an extreme drawdown. The firm expects that institutional participation will continue to anchor longer-term positioning.

Derivatives data also reflects the heightened stress across leveraged markets. Liquidations have exceeded $1.8 billion, and funding rates have turned negative.

This indicates traders paid to hold short exposure. Technical analysis placed a potential for a move toward $58,000 if that zone fails to hold.

The rapid ETF redemptions also reshaped short-term sentiment around U.S. regulated products. ETFs now serve as transmission channels for risk-off positioning. 

Portfolio managers reduced allocations as volatility rose, reinforcing the feedback loop between spot prices and fund flows.

Institutions Advance Stablecoins, Futures, and Staking Infrastructure Despite Bitcoin ETF outflows dominating headlines, large financial firms continued expanding crypto market infrastructure. Tether reduced its fundraising target from $20 billion to a possible $5 billion after investor pushback on valuation and regulatory risk. 

According to a report by Financial Times, advisers proposed the lower figure due to concerns about governance and operational transparency. Tether’s leadership stated that higher figures were only theoretical maximums.

Fidelity launched its first stablecoin, the Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD), backed one-to-one by cash and short-term Treasuries. The token operates on Ethereum and is accessible through Fidelity’s digital asset platforms and partner exchanges. 

Fidelity executives said the product supports continuous settlement for institutional trading and on-chain payments for retail users.

Regulated derivatives also expanded with Bitnomial listing the first U.S. CFTC-regulated Tezos futures contracts. 

Tezos co-founder Arthur Breitman stated on X that regulated futures remain central to mature price discovery. The contracts allow margining in both crypto and U.S. dollars, meeting generic listing standards for institutional trading venues.

Ripple Prime integrated Hyperliquid to provide institutions with direct access to on-chain derivatives while maintaining unified risk management. 

An XRPL developer known as Bird posted that the move connects decentralized liquidity with traditional collateral frameworks. At the same time, Bitwise acquired staking provider Chorus One, adding $2.2 billion in staked assets to its platform.

These developments show parallel trends in crypto markets. Bitcoin ETF outflows reflect short-term stress, while institutions continue building stablecoins, futures, and staking systems designed for longer-term participation.

While retail traders hold or accumulate ETH, on-chain data shows US institutions selling Ethereum at a discount.

Ethereum (ETH) broke below the crucial $2,100 price level after a fresh 8% decline amid a severe market correction. On-chain data now points to a major shift in sentiment among US investors.

In fact, those market participants are aggressively de-risking the world’s largest altcoin, even pushing the Coinbase Premium to its most negative reading since July 2022.

Institutional Exit According to CryptoQuant, the Ethereum Coinbase Premium Index, measured on a 30-day moving average, has fallen to its lowest level since July 2022. The index tracks the price difference between the ETH/USD pair on Coinbase Pro, which is widely used as a proxy for US institutional trading activity, and the ETH/USDT pair on Binance, often viewed as a proxy for global retail participation.

CryptoQuant said that the deeply negative reading on the 30-day basis indicates that selling pressure is largely coming from US entities. While global retail traders may be holding positions or buying into the price decline, US institutions appear to be actively de-risking or exiting their Ethereum holdings.

The analytics platform revealed that the last time the Coinbase Premium Index reached similarly negative levels was during the depths of the 2022 bear market. Based on this comparison, it detailed two possible interpretations. One is that bearish momentum could continue, as US demand, described as an important driver of crypto market rallies, is currently absent, potentially limiting any near-term price recovery.

The alternative interpretation presented is that such extreme negative premiums have historically aligned with capitulation phases, which can sometimes coincide with local market bottoms once aggressive selling pressure is exhausted. CryptoQuant concluded that the $2,100 level represents an important psychological and technical zone, and added that a reversal would likely require the Coinbase Premium to normalize or turn positive.

“As long as US investors are selling at a discount compared to the global market, upside momentum will likely remain capped.”

Another Historical Warning Signal A sharp increase in Ethereum network activity has further raised questions about potential market risks. Ethereum’s total transfer count surged to 1.17 million on January 29th, in one of the highest recorded levels for the metric, and represents a sudden, vertical rise in transaction activity across the network. Historical comparisons reveal that similar spikes have previously occurred around major turning points in ETH’s price cycle. In January 2018, for example, a comparable surge in transfer counts coincided with the market cycle top and was followed by a prolonged bear market.

You may also like: Tom Lee Shrugs Off ETH Sell-Off, Says Fundamentals Don’t Match Falling Prices Bitmine’s Ethereum Treasury Faces $6.9B Paper Losses in Market Slump Ethereum Wallet Count Surges Past 175.5M as Staking Drains Exchange Supply A similar pattern appeared on May 19, 2021, when a sharp increase in transfers aligned with a major market crash and a steep price correction. While high network activity is often associated with growing usage, CryptoQuant stated that rapid and parabolic increases near price highs have historically reflected periods of market stress.

Such conditions can indicate high volatility, large-scale asset movements, or distribution by long-term holders moving funds, potentially to exchanges. Based on these historical precedents, the current spike places the crypto asset in a “high-risk” zone, where past patterns have been followed by notable price drawdowns.

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TLDR: Alkimi runs advertising auctions and settlement onchain using the Sui Stack for shared verification. Enterprise campaigns report lower costs and higher performance through transparent execution records. The Sui Stack combines private execution, scalable data, and access control in one integrated system. Advertisers and publishers rely on the same on-chain data to reconcile delivery and payments.
Alkimi Sui Stack on-chain advertising introduces a production model for digital advertising built on verifiable execution.

The platform processes auctions, delivery, and settlement on-chain while preserving enterprise-grade privacy and scalability.

Enterprise Advertising Moves to a Shared On-chain System Alkimi operates a live advertising platform that executes auctions, delivery validation, and settlement directly on-chain.

The approach replaces fragmented reporting systems with a single execution record that advertisers and publishers can independently verify.

Digital advertising traditionally relies on intermediaries that control data flows and reconciliation. Alkimi restructures this workflow by placing outcomes on a shared settlement layer. 

Every transaction becomes auditable, and disputes are reduced through cryptographic proof rather than manual reconciliation.

Enterprise brands already use the platform for active campaigns. These include multinational advertisers across technology, travel, finance, and consumer products. 

Campaign performance is tracked through the same on-chain logic that governs settlement. Public statements shared through social media posts described results from these campaigns as measured. 

Everyone talks about bringing real-world systems onchain. Very few actually rebuild one end to end.@AlkimiExchange did, using the Sui Stack to run live ad auctions, delivery, verification, and settlement for real advertisers.

Here’s how 👇 pic.twitter.com/mftLuDCvC4

— Sui (@SuiNetwork) February 4, 2026

Polestar’s connected television campaigns recorded increases in sales intent and brand association. Video viewability and completion rates reached near total coverage.

AWS video campaigns also showed lower costs per thousand impressions alongside improved completion rates. These figures were attributed to reduced waste and aligned reporting between delivery and payment records.

The platform’s design ensures that advertisers and publishers observe identical datasets. This removes inconsistencies that typically emerge from separate analytics systems. 

How Sui Stack Supports Full-Scale Operations Alkimi initially tested Ethereum-based infrastructure but encountered throughput and privacy limitations. Enterprise advertising required predictable costs and confidential execution that could not be fully achieved through a single-layer blockchain.

The Sui Stack provides four coordinated layers. Nautilus performs private execution inside Trusted Execution Environments. Walrus manages scalable data generated by advertising activity without overloading the blockchain.

Sui functions as the verification and settlement layer. Cryptographic proofs of execution are published on-chain so that campaign results can be independently validated. Seal applies encryption and access control to meet enterprise compliance standards.

These components operate as one system rather than independent tools. Advertising logic, data storage, and settlement remain synchronized within a unified workflow. 

This structure allows Alkimi to process real advertising workloads in production. Auctions, delivery checks, and reconciliation occur without exposing proprietary data or relying on opaque intermediaries.

Alkimi Sui Stack on-chain advertising presents a working example of blockchain-based execution for a major economic sector.

The platform shows how advertising can operate through shared records and automated settlement within a coordinated on-chain system.

BitMine Immersion chairman Tom Lee responded to criticism that the massive unrealized losses from its aggressive Ether bet will weigh on ETH prices, saying the drawdown is an expected part of an Ethereum treasury strategy during crypto market selloffs.

It’s “A Feature, Not A Bug” Tom Lee’s publicly traded company added 41,788 ETH last week, lifting its total holdings to roughly 4.28 million ETH — more than 3.5% of the circulating supply of Ethereum. Since then, prices have been seriously battered, pulling the value of BitMine’s stash to about $9.6 billion —  down from a peak of around $13.9 billion in October.

Notably, BitMine is currently sitting on over $6 billion in paper losses on its ETH holdings as the price of the crypto asset craters. The losses have sparked speculation that the company’s Ether stash would eventually be sold, creating a ceiling on prices. In fact, one X user called Tom Lee an “exit liquidity” for early Ether holders. 

“These tweets miss the point of an Ethereum treasury,” Lee postulated in response, noting that BitMine is designed to track the price of Ether and outperform over the complete market cycle.

Ether slumped to $2,117 lows yesterday as selling accelerated across crypto majors. Despite the depressed prices, the chairman indicated that the growing deficit on its ETH haul is “not a bug, but a feature,” comparing the situation to index exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that register losses during wider market downturns.

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A Painful Reset For Crypto Markets Despite being extremely bullish last year, Tom Lee has now adopted a more cautious near-term stance. In a recent interview, he stated that while longer-term fundamentals remain intact, the crypto market is still reeling from the effects of deleveraging. The pundit cited the devastating Oct. 10 market crash, which annihilated nearly $20 billion in value, as a decisive moment that reset risk appetite for digital assets.

Lee warned that early 2026 could be “painful” before conditions stabilize later in the year.

The BitMine chair has oftentimes touted Ether as foundational to the future of finance, asserting that short-term weakness does not undermine the long-term thesis behind accumulating the second-largest cryptocurrency. “Bottom line: Ethereum is the future of finance,” he summarized.

TL;DR

Kyle Samani leaves the daily management of Multicoin Capital but keeps a strongly optimistic view on Solana and the digital asset sector. The investor plans to convert his fund stake into Forward Industries shares to increase exposure to SOL. The firm states that the transition will not affect operations or investment strategy.
Multicoin Capital confirmed that co-founder Kyle Samani will move to an advisory role after almost nine years leading the company, and the executive reiterated that he remains clearly positive on Solana and the future of the market. The firm manages around $6 billion in assets and has been one of the earliest institutional supporters of the Solana ecosystem since its initial stages.

The company informed partners that the change will be orderly and that the current team will continue with the same lines of work. Multicoin gained recognition for identifying infrastructure projects before traditional capital paid attention to the sector. The first SOL purchases were made at prices below one dollar, turning that position into one of the most profitable investments in the industry.

Samani explained that his decision responds to an interest in exploring new technology areas and dedicating more time to personal initiatives. Even so, he stressed that he maintains a long-term stance in SOL and in digital assets in general. The executive does not plan to step away from the ecosystem and will remain linked to Forward Industries as chairman of the board.

Market Conditions And Solana Resilience The move happens during a period of volatility for Bitcoin and most major tokens. Investor sentiment cooled in recent weeks and several indicators showed fear levels not seen since 2024. Despite that scenario, Solana preserved activity in payment applications, prediction markets, and infrastructure platforms, areas that Multicoin considers central for the next cycle.

Industry analysts point out that the network processed millions of daily transactions even on days of price corrections. Developer interest stayed stable and the release of new scalability tools continued without pauses. For specialized funds, this type of real usage is more relevant than short-term price movements.

Increasing Personal Exposure To Solana As part of his departure, Samani will request to receive Forward Industries shares and warrants instead of US dollars. The company holds close to seven million SOL in its treasury and has become a relevant vehicle for institutional investors seeking regulated exposure. The co-founder’s plan implies raising his direct economic participation in that holding.

Multicoin participated with Galaxy Digital and Jump Crypto in a private round of $1.65 billion to support the growth of Forward Industries. The company model combines SOL purchases with yield strategies and professional custody, an approach that Samani considers suitable for the next stage of the market.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has signaled an intention to liquidate his real-world assets and focus on Cardano development. Previously, he announced plans to exit X (formerly Twitter), stating that posts on the platform would be made by an artificial intelligence (AI) twin.

Charles Hoskinson To Sell Everything To Go Punk Rock In an X post, Hoskinson disclosed plans to sell his luxury assets, a move intended to remove distractions amid a flurry of incoming network developments. Hoskinson confirmed that the downsizing will include selling his Blackhawk helicopter, private jet, and Lamborghinis as he plans to be laser-focused on Cardano development.

For Hoskinson, the plan is to go back to the “punk rock” roots, an ascetic and rebellious ideal that characterized the early days of cryptocurrencies. He defended his planned move as the ideal mental state for innovation, describing it as the “most fun” he ever had.

“I’m going to get back to that punk rock root, downsize a little bit,” said Hoskinson. “Why not? I started from nothing.”

He added that Cardano cannot reach its full potential if the development team continues to hedge its position, as other blockchains do. However, it remains unclear whether the proceeds from the asset sale will be allocated to Cardano development.

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Opinion has been divided following Hoskinson’s announcement, with critics poking holes in his accumulation of luxury assets as Cardano’s founder. Others hailed his commitment to network development as a step in the right direction for Cardano and Midnight development.

Since his announcement to downsize, Cardano has braved the broader cryptocurrency market slide, shedding only 1% of its market capitalization over the last day. Per CoinMarketCap data, ADA is trading at $0.29, with experts bullish over the price outlook despite the asset inching toward a two-year low.

Hoskinson’s Activity Levels Spike After The Announcement Since the announcement, Hoskinson’s heat map indicates significant levels of ecosystem activity. The founder confirmed that the deployment of an agentic AI dubbed Logan for 24/7 Cardano posting on Moltbook, a social networking platform for AI agents.

Meanwhile, Hoskinson has previously announced the signing of an integration agreement for USDCx on Cardano. After his hiatus from X, Hoskinson has confirmed plans for a two-week Japan tour to drum up support for Midnight, noting that the Far East country played a crucial role in the development of Cardano.

Investors interested in Retail - Restaurants stocks are likely familiar with BJ's Restaurants (BJRI) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG). But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors?

Investors interested in stocks from the Transportation - Services sector have probably already heard of ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (ZTO) and RXO (RXO). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

Investors interested in Financial - Investment Management stocks are likely familiar with Invesco (IVZ) and Carlyle Group (CG). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

A screen displays the logo and trading information for Bob's Discount Furniture during the company's IPO at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 5, 2026. ... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Bob's Discount Furniture (BOBS.N), opens new tab, backed by private equity firm Bain Capital, secured a valuation of $2.22 billion, after its shares opened flat in their debut on Thursday, as investors stayed selective about new offerings in a packed week.

The home furnishings retailer's stock opened at $17 in its New York Stock Exchange debut, same as its offer price.

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The Manchester, Connecticut-based company raised $330.7 million in its U.S. initial public offering on Wednesday after it sold 19.5 million shares at the lower end of its marketed range of $17 to $19 apiece.

Clearer policy signals from the Federal Reserve and AI breakthroughs have boosted investors' risk appetite for new offerings and encouraged companies across sectors to wade back into markets after a strong backlog from last year.

This has set the stage for a crowded listings week. Bob's makes its market debut alongside Forgent Power and Eikon Therapeutics on Thursday, while at least three other firms are slated to begin trading on Friday.

Bob's, which began as a single store more than three decades ago, has grown into one of the biggest U.S. furniture chains, with more than 200 showrooms nationwide.

J.P.Morgan and Morgan Stanley were joint-lead book-running managers.

Reporting by Prakhar Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Leroy Leo

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Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI:CA) Q1 2026 Earnings Call February 5, 2026 8:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Michael Walton - President & CEO
Jean-Sebastien Couillard - VP of Finance, CFO & Corporate Secretary

Conference Call Participants

Michael Van Aelst - TD Cowen, Research Division
John Zamparo - Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets, Research Division
Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Nathan Po - National Bank Financial, Inc., Research Division
Frederic Tremblay - Desjardins Securities Inc., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the February 5th, Rogers Sugar Inc. First Quarter 2026 Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Before we begin, please be reminded that today's call may include forward-looking statements regarding our future operations and expectations.

Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied today. Please also note that we may refer to some non-IFRS measures in our call. Please refer to the forward-looking disclaimers and non-IFRS measures definitions included in our public filings with the Securities Commission for more information on these items.

A replay of this call will be available later today. The replay numbers and passcodes have been provided in our press release, and an archived recording of this call will also be available on our website. I'll now turn the call over to Mike Walton, President and CEO of Rogers Sugar.

Michael Walton
President & CEO

Thank you, operator, and good morning, everyone. Thank you all for joining us today to discuss our results for the first quarter of 2026. I'll begin by summarizing our results for the quarter with updates from both our Sugar and Maple segments.

I'll also touch on the environment and how we are navigating market developments and positioning Rogers Sugar for the months ahead, including an