Market Signal Briefing

10h05 ▪ 3 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

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While volatility establishes itself as a new norm, the recent drop in bitcoin goes beyond a simple technical correction. It reflects a brutal disengagement of institutional capital and a questioning of crypto market dynamics. Between ETF panic and rarely observed undervaluation signals, the crypto leader finds itself at a critical crossroads.

In brief Bitcoin is experiencing a sharp decline, reaching a valuation zone described as a “fire sale” by Bitwise. The 2-year MVRV z-score drops below -1, indicating a historically undervalued asset. Bitcoin ETFs face massive outflows, with $1.35 billion withdrawn in a single week. Bitwise notes a sharp decline in market sentiment, comparable to October 2023 levels. A Historically Low Valuation According to Bitwise While bitcoin has just spent four months in the red, Bitwise’s analysis team in their February 1st report warns: “we have entered a fire sale valuation zone.”

This warning is based on the two-year MVRV z-score indicator, a reference tool in on-chain analysis. It has now fallen below the -1 threshold, signaling an extreme undervaluation of bitcoin, a level rarely crossed outside of major capitulation phases.

Bitwise reminds that these levels have historically marked the lows of a cycle or prolonged accumulation zones.

Meanwhile, data on institutional capital flows show a massive withdrawal movement from BTC-exposed products. The report records cumulative net outflows of $1.35 billion on ETPs, including $1.1 billion just in the previous week.

These disengagements are accompanied by a collapse in general investor sentiment. Bitwise highlights in particular :

A clear disinterest in spot Bitcoin ETFs, despite expectations of inflows ; A particularly marked outflow dynamic on American platforms, especially via Grayscale and large asset managers ; A Cryptoasset Sentiment Index fallen to levels similar to those of the October 2023 crash, synonymous with extreme fear on the market. The combination of these elements fuels a tense atmosphere, where the optimism surrounding the arrival of spot ETF products seems to have dissipated as quickly as it appeared.

The First Technical Signs of a Possible Rebound Despite this intense stress phase on valuations, some market elements reveal a different short-term dynamic.

Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI), measured in daily data, has now fallen between 20 and 25. This extreme oversold zone has historically preceded rebounds of over 10 %, in four of the five occurrences since August 2023. Bitwise specifies that this configuration could “open a technical window for reversal, even temporary, in a structurally weakened market.”

Furthermore, cumulative volume data (CVD) on Binance and Coinbase show a resumption of purchases, which could signal emerging support from spot investors. Bitwise emphasizes this point: “these bullish pressures seem to come from the spot market rather than the leveraged market, which limits the risks of forced liquidation.”

This configuration suggests that actors in position are not exposed to massive margin calls, thus reducing the likelihood of a new mechanical shock on the bitcoin price.

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Luc Jose A.

Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

Tether has expanded support for USDT and Tether Gold (XAUT) within Opera’s MiniPay wallet, as it hopes to expand into emerging markets where mobile-first access to stable assets is growing quickly.

The latest phase of the partnership allows MiniPay users to send, receive, and hold USDT, and also convert part of their balance into XAUt0, a tokenized gold product issued by Tether. 

According to the Feb. 2 announcement, the added functionality is aimed at helping users protect against inflation and local currency volatility.

“By supporting USDT and XAUt0 in MiniPay, we’re helping create tools that make digital assets genuinely useful, whether for sending money, saving in dollars, or protecting value in gold,” Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said.

MiniPay, a self-custodial wallet built on the Celo blockchain, is embedded in Opera’s mobile browser and is currently available in 60 countries.

According to the companies, the app has seen strong traction in regions like Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, with 50% growth in Q4 2025 alone.

The wallet is live on both Android and iOS, with over 12.6 million activations. 

MiniPay first introduced support for USDT in July 2024 during the rollout of MiniPay V2, which introduced Pockets, a drag-and-drop swap feature powered by the Mento protocol, that allowed users to move between cUSD, USDT, and USDC with sub-cent fees.

Since then, MiniPay has seen strong demand for USDT. As of December 2025, the wallet reportedly boasted over 7 million phone-verified USDT accounts. 

During that month alone, users processed more than 96 million USDT transfers and made 3.5 million peer-to-peer payments.

Across all integrations, MiniPay handled over $153 million in volume in December, the announcement said.

Opera’s EVP of Mobile, Jørgen Arnesen, said MiniPay has helped bring stablecoins to new users who may be holding or saving in digital dollars for the first time.

Users now also have access to Tether’s tokenized gold product, XAU₮, which surged to an all-time high of $5,600 in late January alongside gains in the spot gold market. 

XAUT has a circulating supply of 712,747 tokens and a market cap of $3.4 billion, according to CoinGecko.

Tether, which has been buying significant amounts of gold over the past months, has also recently introduced a new GENIUS Act-compliant stablecoin USAt, alongside its other offerings, the Chinese yuan-pegged CHNt and the Mexican peso-linked MXNt.

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Opera, which has gradually built out its Web3 features over the past few years, from integrated stablecoin wallets to decentralized app support, saw its shares rise sharply after the announcement. 

OPRA rallied roughly 18% after the announcement, before retracing some of the gains and closing the day up 13.5%.

The stock added another 3.55% in after-hours trading.

Key NotesVirtuals launched a 60-day reversible token trial.The framework lets founders test demand before committing capital permanently.If founders walk away, liquidity is drained and eligible funds refund automatically to holders. Virtuals Protocol VIRTUAL $0.64 24h volatility: 3.8% Market cap: $426.15 M Vol. 24h: $78.73 M has introduced a new launch framework called “60 Days,” giving early-stage founders a reversible way to test products, tokens, and market demand.

Instead of forcing immediate and permanent commitment, founders build publicly for 60 days while capital forms through trading activity and optional growth pools.

At the end of the window, founders choose whether to commit. If they commit, funds unlock over time and the project continues.

If they don’t, the token winds down and all eligible funds are returned to holders. The framework removes the usual one-way risk tied to early token launches.

https://t.co/Z5VZNCzD4Y

— Virtuals Protocol (@virtuals_io) February 2, 2026

How the 60 Days Mechanism Works Each project launches a token on the Base network using a standard bonding curve. Tokens trade during the 60-day trial while founders ship updates, engage users, publish metrics, and collect feedback.

Projects begin in private pools. Once cumulative volume reaches 42,000 VIRTUAL, liquidity migrates to a Uniswap V2 pool for open trading.

All trades carry a 1% fee and 30% goes to the protocol while 70% is allocated to the founder but remains locked during the trial.

If the founder commits, those funds unlock. If not, they are redirected into the refund pool.

Capital Formation and Founder Support Virtuals uses Automated Capital Formation (ACF) to allocate funds to founders based on trading activity.

Released ACF funds support operations and early scaling. Unreleased allocations stay locked and are excluded from refunds until formally released.

Founders may also open a Growth Allocation pool by selling up to 5% of team tokens at a fixed valuation.

These funds are held in escrow and fully refunded if the founder does not commit. If the founder commits, Growth Allocation tokens vest linearly over six months.

To cover living and operating costs, founders receive stipends every 30 days. The stipend equals 10% of collected funds from founder trading fees and released ACF, capped at $5,000 USDC per payout.

It is important to note founders can commit early or wait until Day 60. A commitment unlocks founder trading fees, releases ACF funds, and starts Growth Allocation vesting.

If the founder does not commit, liquidity is drained, token issuance stops, and refunds trigger automatically.

VIRTUAL Attempts a Comeback VIRTUAL token is up almost 3% in the past 24 hours, currently trading at $0.6374. However, the token has dropped more than 20% in the last 30 days alone.

The chart below shows prices below a descending trendline and the main demand zone sits near the $0.60 area.

VIRTUAL price chart with momentum indicators. | Source: TradingView

If VIRTUAL holds the current support and breaks the descending trendline, a test of the $0.95 to $1.50 range is possible. However, A clean break below support would expose the $0.38 area.

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.

Cryptocurrency News, News

A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.

Parth Dubey on LinkedIn

Key NotesSpot BTC ETFs registered a net inflow of nearly $562 million.Investors are also aiming to sell Bitcoin with a $252.6 million CEX inflow.Ethereum investors accumulated more than $335 million in ETH tokens. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the US recorded strong net inflows on Feb. 2, while the asset’s price hovers below the $80,000.

According to data from SoSoValue, spot BTC ETFs saw a net inflow of $561.9 million, led by FBTC and IBIT’s $153.3 million and $142 million inflows.

These products saw a net outflow of $1.61 billion in January.

However, spot Ethereum ETFs continued their selloff with a net outflow of $2.86 million on the same day, SoSoValue data shows.

Bitcoin’s BTC $78 273 24h volatility: 1.9% Market cap: $1.57 T Vol. 24h: $62.30 B inflows came as it fell below $75,000 for the first time since April 2025. With the latest rebound, BTC is trading at $78,500 at the time of writing.

Ethereum ETH $2 288 24h volatility: 1.8% Market cap: $279.20 B Vol. 24h: $37.96 B is also down 26% over the past 30 days, a level last seen in May 2025. The leading altcoin is currently hovering close to $2,300.

Selling Bitcoin, Buying Ethereum The mixed signals don’t end with the ETF flows for the top two digital assets.

Bitcoin holders deposited 3,220 BTC into leading centralized crypto exchanges, recording a net inflow of $252.6 million, according to data from Coinglass.

On the other hand, Ethereum registered a net outflow of 143,640 ETH from CEX platforms, worth just over $335 million at current prices.

One of the most prominent ETH buyers is BitMine. The Ethereum investment company purchased 41,000 ETH on Feb. 2, according to a press release.

The accumulation brings BitMine’s ETH holdings to 4.285 million tokens, accounting for 3.55% of the ETH circulating supply. The firm also added that its staked ETH stands at 2.873 million.

Lookonchain also shared on X that a crypto whale bought the ETH price dip late on Feb. 2.

This OTC whale continues to buy the dip!

He bought another 33,000 $ETH($76.6M) and 250 $CBBTC($18.95M) today.https://t.co/I0txyh8k3n pic.twitter.com/4GKW0cRpdV

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) February 2, 2026

The whale accumulated 33,000 ETH, worth $76.6 million, and 250 Coinbase Wrapped BTC (CBBTC), worth $18.95 million.

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.

Bitcoin ETF News, Cryptocurrency News, News

Wahid has been analyzing and reporting on the latest trends in the decentralized ecosystem since 2019. He has over 4,000 articles to his name and his work has been featured on some of the leading outlets including Yahoo Finance, Investing.com, Cointelegraph, and Benzinga. Other than reporting, Wahid likes to connect the dots between DeFi and macro on his newsletter, On-chain Monk.

Wahid Pessarlay on X

Tether and Opera integrate USDT and Tether Gold (XAU₮0) into Minipay to expand dollar and gold‑denominated access in emerging markets.

China seeks to make the renminbi a true reserve currency, but the numbers reveal a story in which Beijing's capital controls create conditions for Bitcoin and dollar stablecoins to thrive as workarounds rather than competitors.

The International Monetary Fund's latest reserve data shows the renminbi holding just 1.93% of global foreign exchange reserves in the third quarter of 2025, down from a 2.83% peak in early 2022.

That translates to approximately $251 billion in a $13 trillion reserve pool, where the dollar still accounts for 56.92% and the euro for 20.33%.

The renminbi's share has been sliding for three years, even as China builds faster payment rails and pushes its digital currency into cross-border settlement.

The gap between what Beijing can control (the infrastructure) and what it cannot (actual reserve demand) is where crypto finds its opening.

The renminbi's global reserve share fell from a 2.83% peak in early 2022 to 1.93% by 2025's third quarter.Rails without reservesChina's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System processed 175.49 trillion yuan in 2024, up 43% year-over-year across 8.2 million transactions. The network now reaches 4,900 banks through 190 direct participants and 1,567 indirect members spanning 189 countries.

The People's Bank of China frames this expansion as insurance against payments infrastructure that Western powers can weaponize, and the digital yuan reinforces that bet.

Domestic e-CNY transactions hit 3.4 billion in 2024, moving 16.7 trillion yuan, an 800% jump from 2023. The mBridge platform, designed for wholesale cross-border central bank digital currency settlement, has processed $55.5 billion across 4,000 transactions, with e-CNY accounting for 95% of volume.

However, faster pipes don't automatically create reserve demand.

Central banks hold reserves in liquid, convertible assets that they can deploy without permission, exactly what China's capital account restrictions prevent.

Beijing can increase CIPS transaction volume and mBridge adoption without materially affecting reserve accumulation, because reserves depend on counterparties willing to hold renminbi-denominated securities at scale.

The renminbi's reserve share rose from $90.8 billion at the end of 2016 to $337.3 billion in late 2021 before retreating, a trajectory that shows central banks testing the asset class and then pulling back as convertibility constraints became clearer.

The IMF changed its reserve methodology in the third quarter of 2025 by imputing previously unallocated holdings back to 2000, which makes clean historical comparisons more difficult.

Yet the trend is unambiguous: the dollar's share drifts lower, while the renminbi fails to sustain the delta. That creates a vacuum, and markets fill vacuums with tools that work.

China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System processed 175.49 trillion yuan in 2024 while renminbi reserve share declined from 2.83% to 1.93%.The shadow dollar infrastructureDollar-denominated stablecoins now exceed $305 billion in circulation and account for more than 99% of all stablecoin issuance, according to data from Artemis.

Visa and the blockchain analytics firm Allium track $56.7 trillion in total on-chain stablecoin volume, with $11.1 trillion in adjusted volume after high-frequency trading and arbitrage noise are filtered out.

The IMF estimates $2 trillion in international stablecoin flows for 2024, using a methodology that captures cross-border flows, with $633 billion in North America and $519 billion in the Asia-Pacific leading regional totals.

A separate IMF departmental paper estimates cross-border stablecoin payment flows at approximately $1.5 trillion, narrowing the definition to transactions that resemble traditional payment use cases.

Those numbers matter because stablecoins function as offshore dollar wrappers with 24/7 settlement and no permission layer.

Chinese exporters increasingly receive payment in Tether's USDT to sidestep capital controls and currency conversion friction, according to Hong Kong over-the-counter desk Crypto HK, which reports that monthly USDT trade settlement by Chinese clients has risen fivefold since 2021.

At the same time, the renminbi's share of global payments tracked by SWIFT fell to 2.89% in May, a two-year low, while the dollar accounted for 48.46%.

The faster China builds renminbi payment rails, the more those rails compete with an already liquid, already global dollar alternative that operates outside the traditional banking system and reinforces demand for US short-term assets through stablecoin reserve backing.

The IMF notes that cross-border flows of stablecoins overtook those of unbacked crypto assets in 2022, and the gap has widened since, reflecting a shift from speculative instruments to settlement infrastructure.

Net stablecoin outflows correlate with global dollar demand and tend to rise when the dollar strengthens, suggesting that the market treats stablecoins as a means of accessing dollars when traditional channels tighten.

China's restrictions don't eliminate demand for dollar liquidity, they redirect it to instruments Beijing can't control.

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LayerWhat it measuresValueScale vs RMB reserves ($251B = 1.0x)Why it mattersOfficial reserve anchorRMB share of global FX reserves (2025Q3)$251B1.0xThis is the “real” reserve demand Beijing wants to growShadow-dollar stockUSD stablecoins in circulation>$305B>1.22xThe stock of offshore dollars on-chain already rivals RMB’s reserve stockShadow-dollar activityStablecoin on-chain volume (adjusted)$11.1T44.2x“Payment-like” on-chain activity scale (after filtering HFT/arbitrage-style noise)Shadow-dollar activityStablecoin on-chain volume (total)$56.7T225.9xGross throughput: highlights the sheer velocity/liquidity of the stablecoin layerCross-border significanceIMF international stablecoin flows (2024)~$2.0T8.0xCross-border flow proxy at multiples of RMB’s entire reserve stockCross-border significanceIMF “payment-like” cross-border stablecoin flows (2024)~$1.5T6.0xNarrower definition closer to “payments,” still several times RMB reservesRegional cross-borderNorth America share of international stablecoin flows (2024)$633B2.5xOne region’s cross-border stablecoin flow exceeds RMB’s whole reserve stockRegional cross-borderAsia-Pacific share of international stablecoin flows (2024)$519B2.1xRelevant to your China corridor argument: flows are already huge in APACComparator (trad rails)SWIFT payments share (May): RMB vs USDRMB 2.89% vs USD 48.46%—Traditional rails still USD-dominant; stablecoins expand that dominance off-railTwo futures, one trade-offIf global reserves grow to $15 trillion later this decade, a 5% renminbi share would require roughly $500 billion more than today's holdings, which means doubling from current levels.

An 8% share would need $950 billion in net new accumulation. Those are large moves, but not impossible. The renminbi added $246 billion to its reserve holdings between the end of 2016 and late 2021, before the reversal began, proving that central banks will test diversification when conditions align.

The question is whether China opens convertibility enough to sustain that momentum or whether it doubles down on controlled rails.

Beijing has signaled interest in both. JD.com and Ant Group are lobbying for offshore yuan stablecoins in Hong Kong, and the city expects to issue its first stablecoin licenses in March 2026.

That strategy would enable China to compete directly with dollar stablecoins by offering a tokenized, partially convertible renminbi instrument that operates on-chain while remaining within a regulatory perimeter.

It's a middle path: not full capital account liberalization, but enough flexibility to make renminbi-denominated settlement viable in corridors where dollar stablecoins currently dominate.

If it works, it erodes the dollar's share of the stablecoin market without requiring China to relinquish control over domestic capital flows.

The alternative scenario, in which China expands CIPS and mBridge but renminbi reserves remain near 2%, favors dollar stablecoins and Bitcoin as the default workaround.

Forecasts of the stablecoin market size by 2028 range from $500 billion at JPMorgan to roughly $2 trillion at Standard Chartered, with the IMF reporting similar estimates.

The wider the range, the more stablecoins behave like money market fund wrappers for offshore dollars, reinforcing dollar dominance even as official reserves diversify.

And Bitcoin benefits as a neutral, non-sovereign asset that neither China nor the US controls, positioned as a hedge against both renminbi restrictions and dollar weaponization.

What's at stakeThe question of reserve plumbing is not whether China can build faster rails, as it already has.

The question is whether Beijing can convince central banks and market participants to hold renminbi assets at scale without opening the capital account in ways that threaten domestic financial control.

Each quarter that gap persists, dollar stablecoins and Bitcoin solidify themselves as the infrastructure of choice for actors who require settlement speed and cross-border reach without permission.

The renminbi's reserve share can inch higher, but unless China solves the convertibility constraint, the real winners are the assets that route around it.

Mentioned in this articlePosted in

The convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized infrastructure just hit a new gear. ING, one of Europe’s banking heavyweights, is reportedly deepening its exposure to the crypto ecosystem through a strategic alignment with Bitwise.

This isn’t just a standard balance sheet adjustment. It signals a fundamental shift in how institutional capital views digital asset custody and yield generation.

For years, banks sat on their hands, paralyzed by regulatory fog. Now, with Bitwise providing the regulated rails, institutions like ING are effectively bypassing the technical friction of direct ownership while capturing the upside. That validates the ‘Bitcoin as collateral’ thesis in a big way. When a global systemically important bank (G-SIB) moves into the space, it forces competitors to re-evaluate their risk models.

The flow of capital is no longer just speculative retail volume, it’s sticky, long-term institutional allocation.

But here’s the catch: simply holding Bitcoin is becoming insufficient for sophisticated actors. The market is demanding utility. As trillions of dollars in potential liquidity seek entry, the limitations of the Bitcoin Layer 1 (L1), specifically its lack of native smart contract capability and slow transaction times, have become the ecosystem’s primary bottleneck.

That infrastructure gap has triggered a capital rotation into Layer 2 solutions capable of handling institutional throughput. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) has emerged as a primary beneficiary of this trend, positioning itself to solve the scalability trilemma right as the institutional gates swing open.

Buy your $HYPER here.

Bitcoin Hyper Brings Solana Speeds to Bitcoin Liquidity While the market obsesses over ETF inflows, developers are focused on the execution layer. The core innovation driving interest in Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is its integration of the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM). Historically, Bitcoin Layer 2s have faced a brutal trade-off: inherit Bitcoin’s security but suffer from slow block times, or build a sidechain that sacrifices security for speed.

Bitcoin Hyper dismantles this dichotomy. By utilizing the SVM for execution while anchoring state to Bitcoin L1, it allows for transaction speeds that rival Solana, sub-second finality and negligible costs, while utilizing Bitcoin as the ultimate settlement layer.

For developers, this is a massive unlock. It enables the creation of high-frequency trading platforms, gaming dApps, and complex DeFi protocols using Rust (a language preferred for high-performance applications), all within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

The implications for DeFi are profound. Frankly, billions in BTC are currently sitting idle. By offering a high-performance execution environment, Bitcoin Hyper allows that capital to be mobilized in ways previously restricted to Ethereum or Solana. Plus, the protocol’s Decentralized Canonical Bridge facilitates trustless transfers, solving the fragmentation issue that has plagued previous bridging attempts.

Check out the technical breakdown in the Bitcoin Hyper whitepaper.

You can buy $HYPER here.

Whales Accumulate $HYPER as Presale Crosses $31 Million It looks like smart money is front-running the public launch of this SVM-integrated Layer 2.

According to the official presale dashboard, Bitcoin Hyper has raised an impressive $31.2M to date. That level of capital commitment during a presale phase suggests high conviction from early backers regarding the project’s ability to capture L2 market share.

Currently priced at $0.013675, the token offers an entry point that stands in stark contrast to the valuations of established L2s.
Beyond the raw capital inflows, the project’s staking incentives are driving retention. Investors can stake immediately after the Token Generation Event (TGE), with a short 7-day vesting period for presale participants.

This structure incentivizes long-term alignment rather than mercenary capital rotation. With the roadmap including a mainnet launch that activates the SVM capabilities, the window for early accumulation is narrowing.

View the official Bitcoin Hyper presale.

The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile; conduct your own due diligence before investing.

Journalist

Posted: February 3, 2026

Bitcoin [BTC] is attempting a rebound after the weekend dip that sent shockwaves across the markets. Bitcoin rebounded toward the $77,000–$77,500 zone after a sharp weekend sell-off.

The dip triggered over $2.5 billion in long liquidations, forcing the price down to a low near $74,700.

Source: TradingView

From there, the rebound began to take shape. Strong bids emerged around the $74,800 support zone, while long downside wicks signaled aggressive buying at lower levels.

These wicks show that sellers attempted to push prices lower but failed. As the price recovered, trading volume normalized, suggesting that the initial panic had subsided.

Momentum indicators support this stabilization. RSI rebounded toward the low-50s, reflecting balance rather than excess.

At press time, the MACD bars were compressing, showing that selling pressure is fading. Still, upside remains capped below $78,000–$80,000.

Until that zone breaks, the move reflects recovery from liquidation stress rather than a confirmed trend reversal.

Whale accumulation signals confidence  Bitcoin is stabilizing after a sharp decline. Large holders are showing growing confidence in the anticipated rebound. The number of whale entities holding 1,000 BTC or more continues to rise steadily.

This is an indication they view the move into the $74,000–$75,000 range as an opportunity to accumulate at lower prices rather than a reason to reduce exposure.

Source: Bitfinex/X

Meanwhile, retail participants are reducing exposure. Some of this selling reflects forced liquidations, while some reflects caution as smaller holders attempt to preserve profits amid heightened volatility.

As the price rebounds toward $77,000, sentiment improves gradually. This shift supports whale accumulation, suggesting cautious optimism around a recovery rather than widespread market stress.

Bitcoin’s sentiment remains fragile The Fear and Greed Index points to strong caution in the crypto market.

At press time, the reading fell to 14, placing sentiment deep in Extreme Fear and showing that confidence has continued to weaken rather than stabilize.

Despite Bitcoin’s recent short-term rebound, many investors remain unconvinced and appear to treat the move as a possible trap before further downside.

Source: Alternative.me

That caution increased after Kevin Warsh was nominated to the Federal Reserve, a development markets viewed as reinforcing a hawkish policy outlook ahead of the weekend sell-off.

For recovery, investors should watch for sentiment to improve, volatility to ease, and Bitcoin to hold key support levels alongside stronger spot demand.

Final Thoughts Bitcoin’s rebound from $74,700 shows liquidation stress easing, though price remains capped below $78,000–$80,000 without trend confirmation.

Whale accumulation persists amid retail, yet ‘extreme fear’ points to selective confidence under fragile sentiment.

TLDR: Stablecoin market grew from $205 billion to over $300 billion throughout 2025, with USDC reaching $75B cap.  Operating regulated stablecoins requires continuous reserve management, banking relationships, and 24/7 compliance.  Approximately 95% of launched stablecoin projects fail to achieve sustainable global scale despite 300+ attempts.  USDC has processed over $60 trillion in lifetime transaction volume as of January 30, 2026, demonstrating trust. Circle’s Chief Commercial Officer Kash Razzaghi has advised enterprises to reconsider building proprietary stablecoins as the market surpasses $300 billion. 

The company argues that integrating established regulated stablecoins like USDC offers strategic advantages over creating new tokens. 

This recommendation comes amid growing enterprise interest in digital currency solutions. Circle emphasizes that operating trusted stablecoins demands continuous regulatory oversight, reserve management, and banking relationships beyond simple token deployment.

Strategic Complexities Behind Stablecoin Operations The stablecoin market expanded from approximately $205 billion on January 1, 2025, to over $300 billion by year’s end. 

Circle’s USDC closed 2025 with a market cap exceeding $75 billion. Despite this growth, the company warns that launching tokens represents the simplest aspect of stablecoin operations.

Razzaghi explains that the decision involves more than technical considerations. “Do you want a stablecoin for your business, or do you want to get into the stablecoin business?” he asks. This question frames the strategic choice facing enterprises evaluating digital currency options.

Operating regulated stablecoins requires real-time reserve management across market cycles and daily reconciliation with banking partners. 

Companies must establish compliance, risk, treasury, and liquidity operations running continuously. These capabilities compound in cost and complexity as operations scale. 

Independent attestations and regulatory reporting across multiple jurisdictions become mandatory requirements.

Circle shared its perspective through X, noting the common enterprise question about issuing proprietary stablecoins. 

As stablecoins surpass $300B in market cap, many enterprises are asking the same question: should we issue our own?

As Circle CCO @KashRazzaghi explains, this isn’t a technical decision. It’s a strategic one.

Operating a trusted, regulated stablecoin at scale requires…

— Circle (@circle) February 2, 2026

The company states that this “isn’t a technical decision” but rather “a strategic one” about whether issuing money aligns with core business models. 

Proprietary stablecoins fragment liquidity and trust at the system level according to Circle. Each new issuer duplicates reserves, compliance frameworks, and redemption infrastructure.

Market Concentration and Trust Dynamics Over 300 stablecoin projects have launched, yet approximately 95 percent never achieve sustainable global scale. 

The market demonstrates clear concentration around a limited number of issuers. Technology alone fails to differentiate successful stablecoins from failed projects.

Trust compounds through transparency, scale, and consistent redeemability across varying market conditions. USDC has processed over $60 trillion in lifetime volume as of January 30, 2026. 

This volume reflects the network effects that emerge from established banking relationships and proven operational controls.

Operational failures carry significant consequences in stablecoin markets. Earlier this year, one issuer accidentally minted $300 trillion in tokens due to operational errors. 

Another prominent stablecoin temporarily lost its peg during market turbulence. These incidents demonstrate how infrastructure weaknesses cascade under pressure.

Circle advocates partnership over independent development for most enterprises. “For institutions defining their stablecoin strategy, the first move shouldn’t be deciding what to build,” the company advises. “It should be deciding who to build with.” 

Integration with USDC and EURC provides near-instant settlement and global reach across multiple blockchains. Companies gain these capabilities without assuming regulatory and reserve management burdens.

Bitcoin’s fall toward the $75,000 level did not come as a surprise to analysts. The move was not caused by panic selling or bad news. Instead, experts say the drop is the result of a long-term technical breakdown that has been building for months.

According to analysis shared by The Block Vlog, Bitcoin has shifted from a strong uptrend into a broader correction phase after losing key support levels.

Bitcoin Trend Shift Started in Late 2025The first warning signs appeared in November 2025, when Bitcoin failed to hold its important $91,000 daily support. This level had supported the bullish trend for weeks.

Once that support broke, the market structure changed. Bitcoin stopped making higher highs and higher lows, confirming that the previous bull market cycle had ended. A rising wedge pattern also broke down, which is often a bearish signal.

At the same time, momentum indicators across higher timeframes turned weak. Weekly momentum slowed, medium-term indicators flipped bearish, and monthly candles began closing below short-term moving averages. Together, these signals pointed to a deeper correction, not just a short pullback.

Why Bitcoin Falling to $75,000 Was ExpectedAfter losing the $91,000 support, downside targets between $76,900 and $71,800 became active. Bitcoin reached the $75,000 zone within days, confirming those technical predictions.

The speed of the drop stood out, especially because it happened over the weekend, when markets usually move more slowly. This suggested strong selling pressure rather than normal profit booking.

Although $75,000 is an important psychological level, analysts say it is not a strong long-term support. From a weekly view, Bitcoin already lost the more critical $85,000 support, leaving the price vulnerable to further declines.

Ethereum Price Outlook Depends on ETH/BTC PairFor Ethereum, analysts are paying more attention to the ETH/BTC chart than the dollar price. While Ethereum remains bullish in the long run, it must hold the 0.026–0.029 support range against Bitcoin.

If Ethereum fails to show strength relative to BTC, it is unlikely to outperform Bitcoin in the near term, even if the broader market stabilizes.

What Next For BTC Price?If the downtrend continues, a larger measured move from the weekly chart points toward the $63,000 region as a possible next target. This does not mean an immediate fall, but it remains a realistic risk if weakness continues.

On the upside, short-term relief rallies may face resistance near $78,500. Stronger selling pressure is expected between $84,500 and $87,200. A rejection from these zones would likely strengthen the bearish trend again.

The bearish outlook would only change if Bitcoin can reclaim and hold above the $93,000–$94,000 range on a weekly close. Until then, analysts expect high volatility, with downside risks still very much in play.

FAQsHow low could Bitcoin price go in this correction?

Technical projections point to $63,000 as a potential downside target if the current bearish trend continues.

When could Bitcoin price stabilize?

Bitcoin may stabilize once selling slows near major weekly supports or after a period of high volatility and consolidation.

Can Bitcoin recover above $80,000 soon?

Short-term rallies could test $78,500–$80,000, but sustained recovery requires stronger demand and trend reversal signals.

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The crypto market’s recent correction only accelerated on Sunday, with Bitcoin falling to around $74,000 — its lowest level since April 2025 — as liquidations piled up.

Despite being a self-proclaimed Bitcoin holder, CNBC markets commentator Jim Cramer suggested that the violent price drawdown is conclusive proof of Bitcoin’s volatility and limitations as a short-term currency.

“The demonstration of what can happen in a weekend with bitcoin demonstrates its unreliability, on a short-term basis, to be a currency,” Cramer said on X. “And I write that as someone who owns bitcoin.”

According to him, the weekend’s market sell-off may have been caused by short sellers frontrunning Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which is set to report its earnings later this week. “Saylor reports this week, Feb 5. So the shorts are probably trying to break him before that,” Cramer cautioned, adding that bullish narratives from “the usual defenders” might not be enough to provide enough buy-side pressure to stop a deeper break. 

Cramer Calls Out The Silence Of Bitcoin’s Most Vocal Bulls Cramer highlighted a potential support zone around $73,000, citing strategist Jessica Inskip, while suggesting bitcoin needed to strongly bounce above $77,000 as a “launching pad” back toward the $82K level.

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Cramer questioned why some of the industry’s biggest bulls were silent following the Jan. 31 market-wide pullback. “Where are the usual Bitcoin defenders? I figure they have until Monday to get it back to $82,000, so they can claim double bottom, and I say that as a long-standing owner of bitcoin!!! Ahoy??”

He repeatedly mentioned Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor, asking whether the ardent BTC bull had “dry powder” to step in.

“come Sail away, where is Michael Saylor and his acolytes? Bitcoin needs to use this $77,000 launching pad to get to $83,000 at least by Feb 7. Does he have any dry powder?  Where are all the usual gang of crypto supporters? Egads! MISTER.”

Notably, Strategy bought the weekend dip, acquiring an additional 855 BTC for roughly $75 million.

U.S. spot bitcoin BTC exchange-traded funds recorded $561.9 million in net inflows on Monday, snapping a four-day streak of outflows and marking the strongest single-day intake since mid-January. 

Monday's inflows came amid continued volatility in bitcoin, which slid to around $75,000 earlier in the day before rebounding to roughly $78,500 late Monday — still well below levels seen before the sell-off.

Fidelity's FBTC led the inflows on Monday with $153.4 million, followed by BlackRock IBIT's inflows of $142 million, according to SoSoValue data. Bitwise's BITB saw $96.5 million in net inflows, while funds from Grayscale, Ark & 21Shares, VanEck, Invesco, WisdomTree also posted inflows.

Vincent Liu, CIO at Kronos Research, described the move as a sign of renewed conviction among large allocators.

"Large allocators are using regulated ETFs to scale exposure as part of macro positioning shifts, portfolio rebalancing, or positioning ahead of catalysts," said Liu. "If this trend continues, spot buying can tighten liquid supply and support a firmer near-term market backdrop."

Ending outflow streak Monday's inflows follow two consecutive weeks of net outflows, with spot bitcoin ETFs shedding $1.49 billion last week and $1.33 billion the week before.

Tim Sun, senior researcher at HashKey Group, said the earlier withdrawals were largely driven by the rapid convergence of price spreads between spot ETFs and bitcoin futures, which eroded arbitrage returns and prompted a phased exit of related capital. At the same time, weaker overall risk appetite pushed some allocators to actively de-risk.

"However, as bitcoin prices tested the bottom twice in a short period and broke below the previous consolidation range, the market has gradually completed the pricing of pessimistic expectations," Sun said. As a result, some medium- to long-term capital now views current levels as a "cost-effective allocation level," driving a partial return of ETF inflows, he added. 

Sun cautioned, however, that the move represents a phased recovery rather than confirmation of a new trend-driven rally.

Meanwhile, spot Ethereum ETFs saw $2.86 million in net outflows on Monday, compared with outflows of $252.87 million last Friday.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

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Bitcoin entered the weekend under heavy selling pressure, decisively losing the $80,000 support and sliding to the $74,000 area for the first time since April 2025. The move has intensified concerns that the market is no longer in a corrective pause but is instead transitioning into a broader bearish phase. Price weakness has coincided with fading demand signals, particularly from US-based investors, a dynamic now standing out clearly in on-chain data.

A recent CryptoQuant report highlights a structural shift when comparing the February–April 2025 period with market conditions from November 2025 to today. During the first half of 2025, the Coinbase Premium Index frequently dipped into negative territory, but only briefly. Discounts appeared, were absorbed relatively quickly, and did not persist. That behavior was consistent with tactical selling into strength, rather than a sustained absence of buyers.

The current environment looks materially different. Negative Coinbase Premium readings have become deeper and more persistent, suggesting that US spot demand is no longer stepping in to absorb downside moves. Even after significant price adjustments, discounts remain unresolved, pointing to buyers staying on the sidelines. As Bitcoin trades at levels not seen in nearly a year, this weakening spot demand raises the risk that further downside could unfold before a durable base is formed.

The report explains that the current behavior of the Coinbase Premium marks a clear departure from earlier phases of this cycle. Negative prints are no longer brief or episodic. Instead, they are deeper and persist for extended periods, with only short-lived and shallow recoveries. This pattern goes beyond simple selling pressure. It reflects a sustained absence of US spot demand, even as prices move lower.

Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Index | Source: CryptoQuant Short-term discounts can emerge for many reasons, including macro shocks, liquidation events, or temporary risk aversion. However, when the premium remains negative after the price has already adjusted, it typically signals that buyers are not stepping in. In other words, the market is not finding support from US-based spot participants who have historically played a stabilizing role during drawdowns.

In practice, this shift is visible in several ways. Downside moves are not being absorbed by spot inflows on US venues. Rebounds occur, but they lack confirmation from spot demand and fade quickly. As a result, price action becomes increasingly driven by derivatives, leverage, and short-term positioning rather than sustained capital allocation.

Compared with spring 2025, US spot demand is now weaker both in magnitude and persistence. Until the Coinbase Premium turns positive and holds for a sustained period, upside momentum remains structurally fragile, leaving Bitcoin vulnerable to further downside pressure.

Bitcoin’s weekly chart shows a clear structural deterioration following the loss of the $80,000 support zone. After topping above $120,000 in mid-2025, price has formed a sequence of lower highs and lower lows, signaling a transition from expansion to distribution. The recent breakdown toward the $74,000–$77,000 area marks the first visit to these levels since April 2025, confirming that prior demand has failed to hold.

BTC testing fresh demand | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView From a trend perspective, Bitcoin is now trading below its 50-week moving average, which has started to roll over. This level previously acted as dynamic support throughout the bull phase, but the failure to reclaim it suggests weakening medium-term momentum. The 100-week moving average, currently near the mid-$80,000s, has also flipped into resistance, reinforcing the bearish structure. Meanwhile, the 200-week moving average remains well below price, near the low-$60,000 region, defining a potential downside magnet if selling pressure persists.

Volume dynamics add to the caution. Selling waves during the breakdown are accompanied by elevated volume compared to recent consolidation phases, indicating distribution rather than passive drift. Although the latest candle shows a modest rebound, it lacks follow-through and remains corrective in nature.

The chart suggests Bitcoin is in a transition phase toward a broader bearish regime. Unless price can decisively reclaim the $85,000–$90,000 zone, rallies are likely to be sold, with risk skewed toward a deeper test of long-term demand levels.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

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Sebastian's journey into the world of crypto began four years ago, driven by a fascination with the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize financial systems. His initial exploration focused on understanding the intricacies of various crypto projects, particularly those focused on building innovative financial solutions. Through countless hours of research and learning, Sebastian developed a deep understanding of the underlying technologies, market dynamics, and potential applications of cryptocurrencies. As his knowledge grew, Sebastian felt compelled to share his insights with others. He began actively contributing to online discussions on platforms like X and LinkedIn, focusing on fintech and crypto-related content. His goal was to expose valuable trends and insights to a wider audience, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Sebastian's contributions quickly gained recognition, and he became a trusted voice in the online crypto community. To further enhance his expertise, Sebastian pursued a UC Berkeley Fintech: Frameworks, Applications, and Strategies certification. This rigorous program equipped him with valuable skills and knowledge regarding Financial Technology, bridging the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The certification deepened his understanding of the broader financial landscape and its intersection with blockchain technology. Sebastian's passion for finance and writing is evident in his work. He enjoys delving into financial research, analyzing market trends, and exploring the latest developments in the crypto space. In his spare time, Sebastian can often be found immersed in charts, studying 10-K forms, or engaging in thought-provoking discussions about the future of finance. Sebastian's journey as a crypto analyst and investor has been marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a dedication to sharing his insights. His ability to navigate the complex world of crypto, combined with his passion for financial research and communication, makes him a valuable asset to the industry. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, Sebastian remains at the forefront, providing valuable insights and contributing to the growth of this revolutionary technology.

Bitcoin’s on chain supply is flashing early bear market conditions, with losses spreading even as price stays above realized value, analyst Woominkyu said. However, another chart shared by Ali Charts argued the current structure still resembles a consolidation that can break into a fresh uptrend, similar to Alphabet’s past setup.

Supply in loss signals early bear market phase, analyst saysBitcoin may be shifting from a normal correction into a broader bearish cycle as losses spread across the supply, according to Woominkyu.

He said the key warning sits in how the on chain distribution changes, not in a single price candle. Supply in loss has climbed fast and now sits around the mid 40% range. At the same time, supply in profit has moved lower. He argues that this pairing has not typically shown up during “healthy pullbacks” inside strong bull trends. Instead, he says it has appeared when markets start to weaken structurally and transition into a bear phase.

Bitcoin Supply in Loss and Realized Price. Source: CryptoQuant

In his read, the signal comes from breadth. More coins sit underwater, yet the market has not shown the kind of visible panic that often marks late stage capitulation. That mix matters because it can mean the sell pressure spreads quietly through the supply first, and then accelerates later when more holders flip from profit to loss and liquidity thins out. He described it as deterioration that builds under the surface rather than a clean reset that clears leverage and restarts expansion.

He also tied the setup to a repeated cycle pattern. When supply in loss pushes above the rough 40% area while supply in profit falls, and price still holds above realized value, he says history has more often favored extended downside than a quick rebound. In past cycles, he added, durable bottoms tended to form only after supply in loss expanded further and price compressed more, which is why he views the current condition as early stage bear market behavior rather than the end of a correction.

Based on that framework, his conclusion is that downside risk remains unresolved. He expects more pressure unless the loss share stops expanding and the market regains strength through a sustained improvement in the profit share, which would signal that the supply is recovering rather than slipping deeper into drawdown.

Bitcoin chart echoes Alphabet’s past structure, analyst saysMeanwhile, Bitcoin may be tracing a price structure similar to Alphabet’s historical breakout phase, according to a chart shared by Ali Charts on X.

The comparison aligns Alphabet’s past advance with Bitcoin’s current consolidation and recovery pattern. In the Google setup, price spent months grinding sideways, absorbed volatility, and then broke higher into a sustained expansion. The Bitcoin side of the chart shows a comparable sequence, with a volatile range giving way to stabilization near current levels before a projected move higher.

Alphabet vs Bitcoin Price Structure Comparison. Source: Ali Charts via X

If the analogy holds, the structure implies Bitcoin could be transitioning from consolidation into a renewed expansion phase rather than entering a prolonged decline. The projected path suggests upside continuation following the range resolution, similar to Alphabet’s move once resistance gave way.

The comparison does not rely on timing precision. Instead, it focuses on structural similarity, where extended consolidation precedes trend continuation. Based on that framework, the chart implies Bitcoin’s current phase may be a setup for a larger directional move rather than the end of the broader cycle.

BitRiver, Russia’s largest bitcoin mining operator, has entered formal insolvency proceedings after a Russian arbitration court accepted creditor claims linked to unpaid debts.

The case marks one of the most significant financial failures in the country’s crypto mining industry and highlights the pressure facing energy-intensive operators as costs rise and access to capital tightens.

The court moved to open bankruptcy proceedings after reviewing multiple claims from creditors tied to unpaid service fees, power supply contracts, and data centre operations.

According to reports from Russian business daily Kommersant, creditors argued that repeated payment delays had left them with few options to recover outstanding balances.

After assessing the filings, the court approved the launch of formal insolvency procedures.

As part of the ruling, restrictions were imposed on several BitRiver bank accounts to secure remaining assets while the case proceeds.

The court also appointed a temporary administrator tasked with reviewing the company’s financial position, including liabilities, assets, and any potential restructuring paths under judicial supervision.

🚨BREAKING: RUSSIA’S BIGGEST BITCOIN MINER FACES BANKRUPTCY – POSSIBLE SELL OFF? BitRiver, Russia’s largest $BTC mining operator, is facing bankruptcy, per Kommersant. The insolvency proceedings were triggered by unpaid debts of more than $9 million. Accounts have been frozen

Energy debts disrupt operations Copy link to section

Mounting power-related debts have played a central role in BitRiver’s financial deterioration.

Several regional energy suppliers reportedly limited or suspended electricity deliveries to BitRiver-linked mining facilities after unpaid balances accumulated.

These actions reduced mining output across multiple sites and disrupted both hosting clients and BitRiver’s own mining operations.

Industry sources cited by Kommersant said some data centres have fully halted activity, while others continue to operate at reduced capacity.

The interruptions have affected equipment utilisation and revenue generation, adding further strain as the insolvency process unfolds.

The asset freezes imposed under the court order have also constrained the company’s ability to pay contractors and restore normal operations.

With access to funds restricted, routine payments linked to maintenance, staffing, and energy supply have become increasingly difficult, reinforcing the operational slowdown already triggered by power disruptions.

Ownership talks and management exits Copy link to section

Court filings indicate that negotiations are underway regarding a possible change of ownership.

Discussions reportedly centre on settling outstanding debts while maintaining operations at key facilities.

No agreement has been finalised, and there has been no official announcement outlining a clear path forward for the business.

The insolvency process has coincided with changes at the management level.

Several senior managers have reportedly left the company amid mounting financial pressure and ongoing legal reviews.

These departures have added uncertainty around governance and day-to-day decision-making during a period when the company is under close court supervision.

Any restructuring or ownership transfer would require approval within the insolvency framework, with the temporary administrator overseeing negotiations to ensure creditor interests are prioritised.

Legal scrutiny and asset questions Copy link to section

BitRiver’s founder, Igor Runets, has been placed under house arrest on tax-related charges, according to local media reports.

Authorities have not released detailed information, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The legal proceedings involving the founder run alongside the insolvency case but add another layer of complexity to the company’s situation.

BitRiver built one of the largest bitcoin mining infrastructures in Russia by leveraging low energy costs and climate conditions that support mining efficiency.

The company has long worked closely with regional power providers and operated large-scale facilities designed to host both in-house mining and third-party clients.

There is no official confirmation that BitRiver intends to sell any bitcoin holdings.

Court documents focus on debt recovery, asset valuation, and creditor claims.

Any sale of digital assets would require approval from the court-appointed administrator as part of the insolvency process.

The bankruptcy proceedings continue under legal oversight as the administrator assesses options and creditors pursue recovery.

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Bitcoin has managed to claw its way back to $78.5K, a psychological level that has bulls calling for a run to six figures. But pop the champagne just yet? Probably not.

A closer look at the order books reveals a troubling divergence: price is rising, but conviction is thinning.

The bounce looks driven largely by derivatives leverage rather than spot demand. Order block analysis suggests a massive liquidity gap between $72,000 and the current price. Meaning? Any sudden selling pressure could cascade rapidly without structural support to catch the falling knife. It’s a fragile setup where volatility is the only guarantee.

While price action remains choppy, the underlying ecosystem is shifting gears. Smart money is looking past the daily candles—often noise anyway, and focusing on the structural limitations plaguing the network. Every time Bitcoin rallies, fees spike and confirmation times drag.

That bottleneck has catalyzed a rotation of capital into infrastructure plays designed to solve these exact friction points.
Investors are increasingly hedging their spot exposure by moving into high-performance Layer 2 protocols. The logic is sound: if Bitcoin succeeds, the network needs scaling; if it stalls, innovation happens on the layers above.

Leading this charge is Bitcoin Hyper, a project that’s becoming a focal point for institutional-grade interest by integrating Solana’s speed directly onto Bitcoin’s security layer.

Buy $HYPER today.

Bitcoin Hyper Merges SVM Speed With Bitcoin Security The market has long debated whether Bitcoin should remain a store of value or evolve into a programmable platform. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) renders that debate moot by offering both. As the first Bitcoin Layer 2 to integrate the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), it delivers technical prowess that legacy sidechains just haven’t achieved.

That matters. Ethereum’s dominance in DeFi stemmed largely from Bitcoin’s inability to handle complex smart contracts. By using the SVM, Bitcoin Hyper introduces low-latency execution to the Bitcoin ecosystem. The architecture is modular: it uses Bitcoin L1 for final settlement and a real-time SVM L2 for execution. The result? Sub-second finality, a stark contrast to the main chain’s 10-minute crawl.

Developers (usually the first to spot technical breakouts) are eyeing the ‘Decentralized Canonical Bridge.’ This infrastructure unlocks high-speed payments in wrapped BTC and enables sophisticated DeFi applications, from lending protocols to NFT platforms, all built with Rust-based SDKs. It solves the “trilemma” by keeping the base layer secure while outsourcing the heavy lifting to a hyper-efficient execution layer.

Check out the Bitcoin Hyper ecosystem.

Smart Money Rotates Into $31M Presale Event While the broader market stays tentative about short-term price action, capital allocators are aggressively positioning themselves in the $HYPER presale. The project has raised over $31.2M, a figure that underscores the demand for scalable Bitcoin infrastructure.

On-chain metrics back this up. According to Etherscan records, two whale wallets have accumulated over $1M in $HYPER tokens.

The largest single transaction ($500K) hit the chain on Jan 15, 2026, signaling that high-net-worth individuals are securing positions well before public trading starts. With tokens currently priced at $0.013675, these early entries suggest a belief that the asset is undervalued relative to its utility.

The tokenomics look designed to incentivize long-term holding. The protocol offers high APY staking immediately after the Token Generation Event (TGE), with a modest 7-day vesting period for presale stakers. That structure mitigates the risk of immediate post-launch dumping while rewarding governance participants. For investors weary of Bitcoin’s current chop at $78.5K, the $HYPER presale represents a calculated bet on the future of scalability.

Visit the official presale site.

Disclaimer This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry high risks, including the potential for total loss. Always verify presale details independently.

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The decentralized derivatives landscape isn’t just shifting; it’s mutating. Hyperliquid, currently the heavyweight champion of on-chain perps, has signaled a direct expansion into prediction markets.

The market’s reaction was immediate and violent: the HYPE token surged 20% following the revelation, proving there is an immense appetite for infrastructure that bridges traditional trading with event wagering.

Why does this matter? Liquidity consolidation. Until now, prediction markets like Polymarket lived in silos, isolated from high-frequency perp trading. Hyperliquid’s integration hints at a future where capital efficiency rules supreme—traders can hedge election outcomes and leverage long ETH positions from a single collateral pool.

That 20% surge wasn’t just speculation. It was a rapid repricing of the protocol’s total addressable market.

But look closer at the liquidity flowing into high-performance chains. There is a secondary trend brewing: a resurgence of ‘high-conviction’ trading culture.

The traders on Hyperliquid aren’t passive allocators; they’re hunting volatility, leverage, and competition. That specific mindset is exactly what’s now fueling Maxi Doge ($MAXI), a project built for the ‘degen’ trader who treats markets like a contact sport.

Buy $MAXI today.

Maxi Doge Targets the ‘Leverage King’ Demographic While Hyperliquid builds the plumbing for risk, Maxi Doge captures the culture of the risk-taker. Forget the passive ‘hold and hope’ mechanics of yesterday’s meme coins. Maxi Doge positions itself as a 240-lb canine juggernaut, embodying the ‘1000x energy’ of the current bull cycle. Its ethos: ‘Never skip leg-day, never skip a pump’, resonates with retail traders who know the market is a grind requiring serious conviction.

Frankly, the utility goes deeper than just aesthetics. Maxi Doge (unexpectedly for a meme token) integrates Holder-Only Trading Competitions, gamifying the experience like the leaderboards on major perp DEXs. It rewards top ROI hunters, aligning tokenomics with active participation. Plus, the ‘Maxi Fund’ treasury backs this ecosystem, ensuring liquidity for partnerships and high-impact marketing.

Sound familiar? It’s the strategies of top DeFi protocols applied to meme culture.

That cultural alignment counts. In a market where attention is the scarcest asset, projects mirroring their holders’ psychology often cook the hardest. Maxi Doge isn’t trying to be a currency; it’s a badge of honor for the “Leverage King” demographic.

Learn more about the project’s tokenomics.

Whales Accumulate $503K as Presale Momentum Builds Smart money seems to agree with this thesis. While retail chases green candles elsewhere, on-chain data from Etherscan shows two whale wallets accumulated $503K in recent transactions within the Maxi Doge ecosystem. The largest single clip, a massive $314K transaction, executed on Oct 11, 2025.

That suggests high-net-worth players are positioning themselves well before the token hits public trading venues.

Presale metrics show demand accelerating. According to the official site, Maxi Doge has already raised over $4.5M, with tokens priced at $0.0002802. In a landscape fragmented across L2s and Solana, that’s no small feat. For an Ethereum mainnet token to command this level of early-stage capital signals real confidence in the ‘meme-first, utility-second’ hybrid model.

And then there’s the staking architecture. It’s designed to lock up supply while rewarding conviction. The smart contract governs a dynamic APY with daily automatic distribution from a 5% staking allocation pool. This setup encourages the long-term holding behavior seen in blue-chip DeFi governance tokens, aiming to dampen volatility.

Visit the official site for presale details.

The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Crypto assets are highly volatile.

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Hyperliquid price rallied over 40% this week as whales showed renewed demand for the token. Can it recover back to its October highs of around $50 now that a bullish crossover has been confirmed on its charts?

Summary

Hyperliquid price is up 40% over the past week. HYPE’s gains were largely supported by whale buying and its expansion plans into prediction markets. A bullish crossover was confirmed on the daily chart. According to data from crypto.news, Hyperliquid (HYPE) rose 21% in the past 24 hours to a 10-week high of $38 last check Tuesday, Feb. 3. The rally extended its gains to over 40% in the past 7 days.

Hyperliquid price gains were largely supported by renewed buying from whales. Data from HyperDash shows that whales holding $1 million to $5 million worth of HYPE tokens have been accumulating more tokens over the past week. The trend was also observed among sharks and dolphins holding $50k-$500k worth of tokens. 

Such accumulation from large buyers tends to rub off onto retail investors who often interpret these moves as signs of long term price potential. The buying activity was triggered shortly after the development team behind HyperCore, the core infrastructure powering the Hyperliquid layer 1 network, said it would support the HIP 4 proposal to expand into prediction markets.

The integration would reportedly allow fully collateralized contracts on Hyperliquid, enabling traders to wager on a wide variety of real-world outcomes. This pivot comes at a time when prediction markets have been booming lately. 

As more investors join the hype on the platform, they would be staking HYPE tokens to participate in governance or secure the network. The more HYPE tokens are staked, the more the circulating supply effectively tightens.

As reported by crypto.news, Hyperliquid’s HIP 3 upgrade has been a strong catalyst behind HYPE’s recent gains and has led to increased trading activity on the platform, especially from commodities markets like silver and gold.

Increased trading activity on the Hyperliquid network indirectly benefits the token owing to the platform’s unique buyback and burn mechanism. Notably, 97% of net fees generated from the platform are used to buy back tokens from the open market, effectively reducing the total supply and creating deflationary pressure that could support HYPE’s gains over the long run.

Hyperliquid price analysis On the daily chart, Hyperliquid has confirmed a bullish crossover of the 20-day simple moving average over the 50-day one, suggesting that bulls have gained significant strength over bears in the short term. 

Hyperliquid price has formed a bullish crossover on the daily chart — Feb. 3 | Source: crypto.news The last time such a bullish crossover occurred, Hyperliquid rallied nearly 35% in a little over a month’s time.

The MACD and Supertrend indicators also present a bullish outlook, at least in the short term. Notably, the MACD lines are trending upward while the Supertrend indicator has flashed a green signal.

Together, all these signals seem to suggest more potential upside for Hyperliquid in the weeks ahead. The key target is $51, which aligns with the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level drawn on the chart. 

However, this prediction would be invalidated if the HYPE price falls below the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $29.6, which has acted as a critical structural anchor throughout the last quarter of 2025.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Solana failed to settle above $112 and extended losses. SOL price is now recovering above $102 but faces many hurdles near $108 and $110.

SOL price started a decent recovery wave above $100 and $102 against the US Dollar. The price is now trading below $110 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There is a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $108 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The price could continue to move up if it clears $108 and $110. Solana Price Faces Resistance Solana price remained stable and started a decent recovery wave from $95, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. SOL was able to climb above the $100 level.

There was a move above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $119 swing high to the $95.81 low. However, the bears are active below $110. There is also a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $108 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair.

Solana is now trading below $105 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $108 level, the trend line, and the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $119 swing high to the $95.81 low.

Source: SOLUSD on TradingView.com The next major resistance is near the $110 level. The main resistance could be $115. A successful close above the $115 resistance zone could set the pace for another steady increase. The next key resistance is $122. Any more gains might send the price toward the $125 level.

Another Decline In SOL? If SOL fails to rise above the $108 resistance, it could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near the $101 zone. The first major support is near the $95 level.

A break below the $95 level might send the price toward the $88 support zone. If there is a close below the $88 support, the price could decline toward the $80 zone in the near term.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for SOL/USD is gaining pace in the bullish zone.

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

Major Support Levels – $101 and $95.

Major Resistance Levels – $108 and $115.

Analysts cautioned that the move likely reflects a technical bounce rather than the start of a sustained recovery.

Still, ING Deutschland noted that crypto ETPs carry significant risks and stated that crypto has no intrinsic value.

Ted Hisokawa Feb 03, 2026 06:33

Binance launches February Dual Investment Challenge with up to 8,888 USDC in total rewards. Top 100 users compete for prizes through March 14.

Binance has rolled out its February Monthly Challenge for Dual Investment users, dangling up to 8,888 USDC in combined rewards for traders willing to lock up significant capital in the structured product.

The promotion runs from February 3 through February 28, 2026, with rewards distributed within 14 days after the challenge ends.

How the Reward Structure WorksThe challenge splits rewards into two pools. The primary leaderboard competition offers up to 5,888 USDC distributed among the top 100 participants, ranked by average subscription amount. There's a catch though—positions must be held for a minimum of seven days to qualify.

A separate bonus tier targets whale-sized accounts. Users maintaining average Dual Investment subscriptions exceeding $5 million earn an additional 100 USDC for every $100,000 subscribed beyond that threshold, capped at 3,000 USDC.

What Is Dual Investment?For those unfamiliar, Dual Investment is Binance's structured product letting users commit to buying or selling crypto at a predetermined future price and date. In exchange for this commitment, participants earn yield—currently advertised at 15% APR or higher depending on market conditions and selected parameters.

The product supports major tokens including BTC, ETH, SOL, and BNB. It's essentially a covered call or cash-secured put strategy packaged for retail users who want yield but can stomach potential assignment risk.

Participation RequirementsEntry requires completed identity verification (KYC) and clicking the 'Join Now' button on the promotion page. Given the $5 million threshold for bonus rewards, Binance is clearly targeting institutional-sized retail accounts and high-net-worth traders rather than casual participants.

The timing coincides with Binance delisting several perpetual contracts—BIDUSDT, DMCUSDT, ZRCUSDT, and TANSSIUSDT—which settled on January 21. The exchange appears to be redirecting user attention toward its yield products as it prunes lower-volume derivatives.

Rewards hit accounts by March 14, 2026. Whether the yield-plus-bonus math beats simply holding spot positions depends entirely on where BTC and ETH land by month's end.

Image source: Shutterstock

binance usdc dual investment crypto rewards trading promotion

Ripple has secured a seat at the highest table in Washington.

On Monday afternoon, representatives from the blockchain payments company joined an elite group of crypto heavyweights and traditional banking lobbyists at the White House for a high-stakes summit on stablecoin regulation. 

The two-hour closed-door meeting focused on one of the most contentious issues stalling current market structure legislation: stablecoin yield and rewards.

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The guest list The attendee list included some major representatives from crypto and (Ripple, Coinbase, Tether, Kraken, Crypto.com, Paxos, Circle, and PayPal) as well as banking and traditional finance heavyweights (Fidelity, Cantor Fitzgerald, SoFi, and so on).  

According to reporter Eleanor Terrett, sources inside the room described the atmosphere as "constructive" with "positive vibes" and "no yelling".

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The discussion reportedly focused on the "risks and opportunities" of allowing stablecoin issuers to offer yield (interest) to holders. 

Banks argue that unregulated stablecoin yield acts as a shadow banking product that siphons deposits from regulated lenders, while crypto firms argue that banning yield stifles innovation and consumer benefit.

Terrett noted that the issues were "framed so that both sides know where boundaries are." 

Despite the cordial tone, distinct friction remained in how the two sides approached the negotiation.

Brendan Pedersen, a reporter covering the intersection of finance and policy, noted a sharp contrast in strategy.

"Folks in the room of WH crypto-bank meeting have told me the two industries had very different approaches to initial negotiations. Crypto reps wanted to talk specific potential solutions on yield. Bank trade reps mostly avoided details, did not want to discuss discrete solutions," he said.

Patrick Witt's reaction Patrick Witt, the Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, claims that there has been progress on several "seemingly intractable" policy issues. 

Over the course of the past few months, we have achieved breakthroughs on several seemingly intractable policy issues. I am confident we will be able to resolve this one, too.

He is confident that the issue of stablecoin yields will eventually be resolved as well. 

After dropping from last week’s high of $90,562 bitcoin price is now facing one of its toughest market phases in recent years. Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy Digital, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, may fall much lower in the coming weeks. 

He believes Bitcoin could slide toward the $56,000 level as market weakness continues. Here’s Why!

Why Bitcoin Price May Drop to $56,000According to Alex Thorn, Bitcoin’s recent performance shows clear weakness following a big sell-off in late January. The price fell nearly 15% in one week and dropped to around $74,551, close to its April 2025 low. 

This sudden crash also triggered more than $2 billion in long-position liquidations, one of the largest in Bitcoin history.

Another major concern Thorn highlighted is that Bitcoin has fallen below the average buying price of U.S. Bitcoin ETFs, which is around $84,000. ETF investors are usually long-term holders, so this drop is a negative sign. 

In the last two weeks, Bitcoin ETFs saw outflows of about $2.8 billion, showing weaker confidence from big investors.

What is more concerning is that Bitcoin has failed to rise along with traditional safe-haven assets like gold and silver, which hit new ATHs. This has weakened Bitcoin’s image as a hedge against currency devaluation. 

Nearly Half of Bitcoin Supply Now in LossRight now, Bitcoin is trading near $78,392, which is almost 38% below its all-time high of $126,296. Because of this drop, on-chain data shows that around 46% of the total Bitcoin supply is now in loss. This means nearly half of all BTC was last bought at prices higher than today.

In past bear markets like 2015, 2018, and 2022, major Bitcoin bottoms have often formed when the number of holders in profit and loss was nearly equal. 

Right now, it’s moving toward that point, suggesting the market could be nearing a bottom.

Why Bitcoin Price May Drop to $56,000Further into the analysis, Alex Thorn noted that Bitcoin has already lost an important technical level, the 50-week moving average. In past market cycles, whenever BTC breaks below this level, the price often falls toward the 200-week moving average.

Currently, the 200-week moving average is near sept 2024 low of $58,000, while Bitcoin’s realized price stands around $56,000. These levels have historically acted as strong long-term support zones, and Thorn believes BTC could test these ranges in the coming weeks or months.

And one of the biggest reasons for this to happen is the supply gap between $70,000 and $80,000, where fewer coins were bought, making support weak. 

If demand doesn’t pick up, Bitcoin could first dip toward $70,000 and then possibly reach $58,000–$56,000, which are strong long-term support levels.

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