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SummaryAir Products and Chemicals is rated a 'Buy' for growth investors, blending stability, expanding margins, and disciplined capital allocation.APD is focusing on risk-adjusted returns, and its long-term offtake agreements supporting double-digit capital returns.APD’s strong balance sheet, 2.7% dividend yield, and exposure to clean hydrogen position it for low-teens annual total returns.Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of iREIT®+HOYA Capital get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More »Daniel Grizelj/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Owning hard infrastructure assets at reasonable prices can be a good way to hedge against market volatility. Such may be the case in this volatile market. As of late, Gold (GLD), Silver (

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in APD over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

I am not an investment advisor. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute as financial advice. Readers are encouraged and expected to perform due diligence and draw their own conclusions prior to making any investment decisions.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this article should be taken as a solicitation to purchase or sell securities. Before buying or selling any stock, you should do your own research and reach your own conclusion or consult a financial advisor. Investing includes risks, including loss of principal.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Disney+ logo is seen in this illustration taken August 5, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesFeb 2 (Reuters) - The board of Walt Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab is close to promoting theme-park division chairman Josh D'Amaro to the role of chief executive officer and will vote on naming a new leader next week, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday citing people familiar with the matter.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Succession planning at the media conglomerate has been in focus for investors after Disney delayed CEO Bob Iger's retirement several times before bringing him back in 2022 to replace his handpicked successor, Bob Chapek, after the pandemic hobbled its business.

“The board has not yet selected the next CEO of the Walt Disney Co. and once that decision is made, we will announce it,” a Disney spokesperson said in an emailed statement, according to Bloomberg.

Iger had told associates he plans to step down as CEO and pull back from daily management before his contract expires on December 31, the Wall Street Journal reported last month citing people familiar with the matter.

Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Barcelona; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Diane Craft

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In DeFi Technologies To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in DeFi Technologies between May 12, 2025 and November 14, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against DeFi Technologies Inc. ("DeFi Technologies" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DEFT) and reminds investors of the January 30, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (i) DeFi Technologies was facing delays in executing its DeFi arbitrage strategy, which at all relevant times was a key revenue driver for the Company; (ii) DeFi Technologies had understated the extent of competition it faced from other DAT companies and the extent to which that competition would negatively impact its ability to execute its DeFi arbitrage strategy; (iii) as a result of the foregoing issues, the Company was unlikely to meet its previously issued revenue guidance for the fiscal year 2025; (iv) accordingly, Defendants had downplayed the true scope and severity of the negative impact that the foregoing issues were having on DeFi Technologies' business and financial results; and (v) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On November 6, 2025, DeFi Technologies issued a press release purporting to report an arbitrage trade by DeFi Alpha. The press release disclosed, inter alia, that "[DAT]s have absorbed or delayed a significant share of arbitrage opportunities over the past year."

On this news, DeFi Technologies' stock price fell $0.13 per share, or 7.43%, to close at $1.62 per share on November 6, 2025.

Then, on November 14, 2025, DeFi Technologies issued a press release reporting its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Among other items, DeFi Technologies reported a revenue decline of nearly 20%, falling well short of market expectations. The Company also significantly lowered its 2025 revenue forecast, from $218.6 million to approximately $116.6 million, and attributed this reduction to "a delay in executing DeFi Alpha arbitrage opportunities previously forecasted due to the proliferation of [DAT] companies and the consolidation in digital asset price movement in the latter half of 2025."

Concurrently, DeFi Technologies announced that Defendant Newton would leave his role as CEO and transition to an advisory position.

Following these disclosures, DeFi Technologies' stock price fell $0.40 per share, or 27.59%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $1.05 per share on November 17, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding DeFi Technologies's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the DeFi Technologies class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/DEFT or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282206

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Endeavor To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you sold Endeavor Class A common stock between January 15, 2025 and March 24, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. ("Endeavor" or the "Company") (NYSE: EDR) and reminds investors of the March 18, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose in the January 15, 2025, Information Statement and subsequent amendment issued by Defendants, and related filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Among other things, the Complaint alleges the Information Statement and other solicitation materials misled investors regarding the true value of Endeavor's shares, failed to adequately disclose the earnings of Endeavor's executives under the terms of the Merger, and failed to disclose conflicts of interests with Endeavor's special committee and financial advisor.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Endeavor's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Endeavor class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/EDR or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282207

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Bitdeer To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Bitdeer between June 6, 2024 and November 10, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Bitdeer Technologies Group ("Bitdeer" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: BTDR) and reminds investors of the February 2, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that among other things, confidence in the Company's mass-production of its fourth-generation SEALMINER (A4) rigs using its SEAL04 ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) chip technology was expected to have a chip energy efficiency of as low as 5J/TH. Defendants provided these positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating false and materially misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Bitdeer's SEALMINER A4 project. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose that the SEAL04 chip projected to have a chip-level energy efficiency of 5 J/TH would be ready for use in the A4 rigs with an expected mass production to begin in the second quarter 2025. Such statements absent these material facts caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Bitdeer's securities at artificially inflated prices.

On November 10, 2025, Bitdeer issued a press release reporting its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Among other items, Bitdeer reported earnings per share of -$1.28, significantly missing the consensus estimate of -$0.22. Bitdeer also disclosed that "development of [its] next-generation Seal 04 [ASIC chip] is significantly delayed."

On this news, Bitdeer's stock price fell $2.63 per share, or 14.9%, to close at $15.02 per share on November 11, 2025.

Then, on November 12, 2025, Bitdeer issues a press release "reporting a fire incident at its under-construction facility in Massillon, Ohio." According to the press release, "[t]he fire incident occurred on the afternoon of November 11" and "2 of the 26 buildings currently under construction sustained fire damage."

On this news, Bitdeer's stock price fell another $2.83 per share, or 20.3%, to close at $11.11 per share on November 13, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Bitdeer's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Bitdeer Technologies class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/BTDR or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282204

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Bitcoin crashed hard today. The digital currency plunged into the $75,000 range after sellers dumped massive amounts, wiping out more than 10% from recent highs and pushing prices below the $80,000 mark for the first time since April 2025.

The drop happened fast and brutal. Within just a few hours, Bitcoin fell from its 24-hour peak of $84,356 all the way down to $75,644. That’s a pretty nasty dive that caught a lot of traders off guard. The selling pressure got so intense that it triggered widespread liquidations across derivatives markets, with sellers basically steamrolling any buyers who tried to step in.

Things got really ugly once Bitcoin couldn’t hold $82,500.

After that support level broke, prices just fell through what traders call “thin liquidity zones” – basically areas where there aren’t many orders to catch the falling knife. Most pros didn’t see it as a normal pullback. They called it a deleveraging event, which is Wall Street speak for “people got forced out of their positions.”

The daily chart tells the whole story. Bitcoin broke below a key rising trendline and also smashed through the 50-day exponential moving average sitting near $90,000. That level’s now turned into resistance, which means Bitcoin will have to fight to get back above it. Volume surged during the drop too, and that’s important because it shows this wasn’t just weak hands selling – it was forced exits.

But here’s something interesting that’s getting overlooked. On-chain data shows a spike in new Bitcoin addresses over the past 24 hours. That’s actually the highest number we’ve seen in nearly two months. So while prices are getting hammered, new people are still jumping into Bitcoin.

The crypto market got hit harder than traditional assets, but Bitcoin actually held up better than gold, which suffered an even steeper fall. With Bitcoin down 6% to 8%, everyone’s watching to see if it can find its footing or maybe even reclaim that $82,000 to $84,000 range.

And there’s more drama happening in Washington. The U.S. government faces a partial shutdown after Congress missed the deadline to pass a full-year spending plan. Several departments had to temporarily halt funding. The Senate approved a deal to keep most agencies open, but it still needs House approval. Lawmakers return from recess on Monday, so that’s another thing markets are watching.

Right now Bitcoin trades at $77,825, down 7% over 24 hours. Trading volumes hit $75 billion, which shows just how intense the selling got. The digital currency sits 8% below its seven-day high but only 1% above its weekly low.

The Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy meeting on February 15, 2026, has investors on edge. Any unexpected announcements about interest rates or monetary policy could really shake things up, especially given how sensitive crypto markets have become to macro factors.

Sarah Thompson, a prominent crypto analyst, thinks the market’s reaction shows just how jumpy traders have gotten about macroeconomic stuff. She said any shifts in global financial conditions could make crypto volatility even worse.

Institutional players are getting cautious too. Grayscale Investments reported on January 30, 2026, that it’s temporarily pausing activity in its Bitcoin Trust fund. The company said it needs to evaluate market conditions, which just adds more uncertainty about where Bitcoin goes from here.

Traders are now eyeing the next big support level around $70,000. That’s basically the line in the sand – if Bitcoin can’t hold above there, things could get really messy.

The sell-off didn’t just hit Bitcoin either. Ethereum, the second-biggest crypto, fell to $4,850, marking a decline of more than 9% in the same 24-hour period. Altcoins like Solana and Cardano got crushed too.

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao weighed in on Twitter on January 31, 2026, saying the volatility is unsettling but not unprecedented. He told investors to keep long-term perspectives and remember that crypto markets are cyclical. Easy for him to say when he’s not watching his portfolio get destroyed.

Some investors are running to stablecoins for safety. Tether and USD Coin have seen increased trading volumes as traders try to avoid the price swings. That shows just how scared people are getting.

The U.S. Department of Labor releases its latest employment report on February 1, 2026. Market watchers are really focused on this data because it might give clues about what the Federal Reserve does next with interest rates. Any hint of tighter monetary policy could make this market volatility even worse.

Coinbase announced on January 30, 2026, that it’s beefing up its risk management protocols because of all the market chaos. The exchange wants to keep trading stable for users despite the challenging conditions.

The European Central Bank meets on February 3, 2026, to discuss monetary policy amid rising inflation worries. Their decisions could ripple through global markets, including crypto. Investors are particularly watching for any changes to the ECB’s asset purchase program.

Michael Saylor tweeted on January 31, 2026, saying he still believes in Bitcoin as a store of value long-term. His company MicroStrategy holds a ton of Bitcoin, so his words carry weight in the crypto community. But reassuring tweets don’t stop the bleeding when markets are in freefall mode.

Bitcoin remains trapped below $80,000 with $75 billion in daily volume showing the intensity of current selling pressure.

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Bulls frame Bitcoin’s drop as a long-term accumulation opportunityAnalysts flag weak inflows and stalled realized cap as warning signsCross-asset deleveraging exposes Bitcoin’s reliance on concentrated capitalBitcoin’s recent sell-off has exposed a growing tension in crypto markets, pitting seasoned “buy-the-dip” investors against mounting evidence of structural vulnerabilities.

As the digital asset fell alongside a broader risk-off move in global markets, analysts offered sharply contrasting interpretations of the downturn and its implications for investors.

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Bitcoin’s Sell-Off Reveals a Deepening Clash Between Conviction Buyers and Structural Market WeaknessFor long-time Bitcoin bull and author Robert Kiyosaki, the decline represents a rare buying opportunity. He compared market behavior to retail sales, noting that while many rush to buy discounted goods in stores, investors often panic during asset-market sell-offs.

“The gold, silver, and Bitcoin market just crashed… I am waiting with cash in hand to begin buying more,” Kiyosaki said, framing the current market conditions as a discounted entry point for long-term accumulation.

Other experts, however, urge caution. CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju pointed to a lack of fresh capital inflows and flatlined Realized Cap—a metric tracking the value of coins at their last moved price—as signals that the sell-off reflects profit-taking rather than sustainable market growth.

“Bitcoin is dropping as selling pressure persists. When market cap falls in that environment, it’s not a bull market,” he said, noting that while a dramatic crash akin to previous cycles seems unlikely, the market bottom remains uncertain.

The weakness in Bitcoin is also part of a broader cross-asset correction. Macro strategists at Bull Theory described the decline as a sequential chain reaction, beginning with small-cap equities and the US dollar, cascading through stocks and precious metals, and finally spilling into highly leveraged crypto markets.

“This wasn’t random. It was a chain reaction: small caps, dollar, equities, metals, crypto,” the firm noted, highlighting the interconnectivity of global markets.

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Quant Models Highlight Bitcoin’s Undervaluation Amid Structural Market RisksDespite these bearish indicators, some quantitative analyses suggest Bitcoin may be historically undervalued.

A recent power-law model indicates that BTC is trading roughly 35% below its 15-year trend, placing it in an “oversold” range historically associated with sharp mean-reversion.

According to this model, Bitcoin could rebound to $113,000 by mid-2026 and exceed $160,000 by early 2027, with projected returns over the next 12 months potentially exceeding 100%.

Yet the sell-off also illustrates a deeper structural lesson. Analyst JA Maartun emphasized that markets consistently test concentration and conviction.

When price action depends on continuous buying by a few participants, any slowdown exposes weaknesses.

Past events, from Terra/LUNA to MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings, show that reliance on concentrated inflows can amplify volatility once those flows pause.

As Bitcoin searches for stability, the market appears caught between two forces: conviction-driven investors seizing discounted prices and structural pressures stemming from a lack of fresh capital and leveraged positions.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCryptoAs of this writing, Bitcoin was trading for $76,819, down by 0.34% in the last 24 hours.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

The “Bye America” trade has a habit of returning when markets stop debating whether the US is still the safest house on the block and start debating the price of living in it.

Over the past week, that debate has shown up in the dollar. A weaker dollar is rarely a story by itself, but it often arrives with a familiar set of consequences: global portfolios reassess how much US exposure they want, hedges get recalculated, and risk budgets get rewritten.

Bitcoin has been catching some of that wind, but the move only makes sense once you look past the simple chart logic and into the mechanisms that FX moves into crypto.

Bitcoin doesn't trade the dollar directly. It trades the conditions created by whatever is moving the dollar, especially real yields, hedging costs, and the way risk is rationed across portfolios.

When those inputs line up, Bitcoin can behave like a macro alternative. When they don't, it tends to behave like a high beta liquidity asset that gets sold when cash becomes scarce.

What “Bye America” really means in market terms“Bye America” might sound like a political slogan with a pretty unhinged message, but in markets, it's just accounting.

It's a shorthand for global investors becoming less comfortable holding US risk at current prices, or less willing to hold it unhedged, or both at the same time.

Graph showing the US Dollar Index (DXY) from Sep. 26, 2022, to Jan. 30, 2026 (Source: Barchart)That can happen for several different reasons that can all happen at the same time. The market can be repricing the path of Fed policy, especially if growth is cooling and rate cuts move closer. It can be repricing fiscal risk through the lens of deficits and future issuance.

It can also be repricing policy uncertainty, which shows up quickly in FX because FX is where global investors express discomfort without having to liquidate entire equity or credit books.

The key point here is that the headline sounds like negative sentiment, but the trade itself is mostly mechanical. Investors don't need to burn down the American flag to reduce exposure to USD assets. They just need the expected return, adjusted for currency, hedging costs, and volatility, to look worse than the alternatives.

Bitcoin can benefit from that rebalancing, but only through those same mechanics. It gets pulled into the trade when investors are already in the business of looking for assets that are less tied to US policy outcomes, less tied to US duration, or simply less tied to US institutional risk.

Four ways FX can turn into a Bitcoin bidThe first channel is financial conditions, and it's the one that trips people up. A weaker dollar can loosen conditions globally because so much credit and trade are still priced in dollars.

When the dollar weakens because of repricing toward easier policy, global risk appetite can improve, and Bitcoin often benefits as part of the broader risk complex.

But a weaker dollar can also show up during stress. If the reason is disorder, political noise, or volatility in rates, the same move can arrive with much tighter risk limits. In that case, the dollar chart can look “risk on” while the actual portfolio response is to reduce exposure.

That is why the relationship between the dollar and Bitcoin is unreliable as a rule, even when it feels clean in hindsight.

The second channel runs through real yields, because real yields compress a lot of macro inputs into one number. When real yields fall, long-duration assets often breathe easier since the discount rate drops and the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets declines.

Bitcoin often trades like that, even though it's not a bond and doesn't produce cash flow. It sits in a part of markets where liquidity and discount rates matter, and falling real yields can create the kind of environment where investors are willing to pay for scarce assets.

This also explains why Bitcoin behaves differently from gold. Gold has a long history as reserve collateral and can hold its role across many regimes. Bitcoin’s version of that role is newer and more dependent on market structure.

When liquidity is abundant and the macro inputs are supportive, Bitcoin can look like an alternative to gold. But when liquidity tightens, it can behave like a risk asset that gets sold first because it's liquid and easy to cut.

The third channel is hedging and cross-border flows, which is the hidden math behind a lot of big moves. For a non-US investor, owning US assets is a combined bet on the asset and on the dollar. If they hedge the currency exposure, the return becomes more stable, but the hedge has a cost.

That cost is shaped by rate differentials and by the state of dollar funding in the swap market. When hedging gets more expensive, investors face a simple choice: ride the currency swings or reduce exposure.

You don't need a dramatic shift in reserve status for this to matter; you just need hedging to become less attractive on the margin. When enough investors make that same decision, it can influence the pricing of US assets and the flow into alternatives.

Bitcoin doesn't automatically receive that flow, but a world where investors are more cautious about unhedged USD exposure is also a world where non-sovereign alternatives get discussed more seriously, especially inside portfolios that already treat Bitcoin as a small diversifier next to commodities or gold.

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The fourth channel is crypto’s own leverage engine, and it's often the one that determines whether a move holds. Bitcoin rallies can be spot-led or leverage-led. A spot-led move tends to build more slowly and is easier to sustain because it relies on cash buyers.

However, with the size of the derivatives market and the rate of institutional adoption, we rarely get to see those anymore.

On the other hand, a leverage-led move can look powerful at first, but it becomes fragile because it depends on traders paying to keep positions open, which can flip into forced selling if the price stalls.

This is why crypto plumbing matters more here than the macro narrative. A macro bid that is being expressed through spot demand can absorb volatility. A macro bid that is mostly being expressed through futures leverage can vanish in a day.

How to tell if this is real, and where it can breakFor the “Bye America” frame to matter for Bitcoin, the evidence will have to look boring at first, more like persistence than fireworks.

You would expect the macro inputs that tend to support Bitcoin to stay in place. That doesn't mean the dollar must fall every day, but that the broader setup needs to keep pointing toward easier conditions, lower real yields, and manageable volatility.

When those inputs are stable, investors can keep expressing the allocation, and Bitcoin can keep grinding higher even without the dramatic single-day moves that dominate the news.

You would also expect the demand to be expressed in a way that doesn't rely on constant leverage. ETF flow tape can help confirm whether there's steady underlying demand, even though daily prints can be noisy and sometimes misleading.

Derivatives pricing matters too, because it tells you whether traders are paying up to stay long, which is often where fragility begins.

The failure mode is usually a snapback. FX narratives die fast when the dollar bounces hard, and real yields move higher at the same time, because that combination tightens conditions and raises the cost of holding scarce assets that don't produce yield.

Even more importantly, a sharp jump in volatility can force funds with mechanical risk controls to cut exposure across the board. Bitcoin doesn't get special treatment in those moments, and it gets sold for the same reason other liquid positions get sold: because risk limits are binding and cash is king.

So the clean way to think about the fate of Bitcoin in the coming weeks is which channel is doing the work.

If the wind behind Bitcoin is coming from easing real yields and steady allocation, it can carry further.

If the wind is coming from crowded leverage built on sentiment, it can disappear the moment the story meets a hawkish print, a sudden rate move, or a volatility spike that forces risk to be cut.

Posted in

Journalist

Posted: February 2, 2026

Aptos [APT] has been in a bearish longer-term trend throughout 2025. The token was down 8.55% for the day, having made a new all-time low at $1.14.

Further downside appeared highly likely, though a minor relief rally is possible before Monday.

In December 2025, AMBCrypto noted that Sui [SUI] outperformed Aptos in DeFi liquidity, though both were powered by the Move programming language. More recently, it was observed that Sui had maintained this lead.

The monthly active developers count for Sui was twice that of Aptos, and a similar disparity was seen in their Total Value Locked (TVL). On the price action front, APT’s fall to new lows was disheartening for holders.

No light at the end of the tunnel

Source: APT/USDT on TradingView

On the 3-day timeframe, Aptos has possessed a bearish swing structure since June 2025, when the $4.32 was breached.

Over the past few months, the 23.6% southward extension level at $1.72 has also been tested, then flipped from support to resistance.

The 20-period moving average served as a dynamic resistance and captured the strength of the downward momentum. The CMF was well below -0.05 for over two months to signal heavy capital outflows.

More losses appeared highly likely.

The chance of a brief APT relief rally The liquidation map showed that the cumulative short liquidation leverage outweighed the nearby long leverage.

Therefore, it is highly likely that APT would see a bounce toward $1.50-$1.55. It is unclear if this bounce will come immediately.

Traders’ call to action – Sell the bounce

Source: APT/USDT on TradingView

Using the latest H4 impulse move lower to plot a set of Fibonacci levels, the $1.44 and $1.52 retracement levels immediately stand out.

What’s more, they line up well with the high-leverage short liquidations on the liquidation map earlier.

Therefore, APT traders can wait for a price bounce to this zone before selling.

Final Thoughts The Aptos price trend has been bearish for many months, leading to the token setting new all-time lows. The 4-hour price chart showed there was potential for an APT bounce to $1.52 before a bearish move commenced. Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.

Akashnath S is a Senior Journalist and Technical Analysis expert at AMBCrypto. He specializes in dissecting price action, identifying key market trends through advanced chart patterns, and forecasting both short-term and long-term asset trajectories. His distinct analytical method is grounded in his academic training as a Chemical Engineer. This background provides him with a systematic, process-oriented approach to market data, enabling him to analyze the complex dynamics of financial markets with precision and objectivity. Having actively covered the cryptocurrency space since the landmark 2017 market cycle, Akashnath possesses years of experience navigating both bull and bear markets. This seasoned perspective is critical to his insightful reporting on market volatility and evolution. As an active market participant, Akashnath enhances his analysis with crucial, hands-on experience. This practical application of his technical skills ensures his insights are not merely theoretical, but are also relevant and actionable for an audience looking to understand and navigate trading opportunities. He is dedicated to educating readers on the nuances of technical analysis, empowering them with the knowledge to make more informed financial decisions.

TLDR: Binance stablecoin dominance declined while other exchanges increased, indicating selective risk management.  Market behavior below $85,000 shifted from decline to accumulation as stablecoin ratios reversed direction.  Current pattern suggests weak long positions being flushed before potential move toward higher price levels.  Rising stablecoin dominance across the system signals capital preparation for deployment into Bitcoin. Stablecoin dominance patterns across major exchanges reveal a strategic liquidity shift rather than widespread risk aversion as Bitcoin navigates critical price levels.

Market analyst BorisD presents evidence showing divergent stablecoin flows between Binance and other platforms, suggesting institutional repositioning ahead of potential upside movement.

The data indicates systematic position flushing below $85,000 while maintaining accumulation across the broader market infrastructure.

Divergent Exchange Patterns Indicate Strategic Positioning Recent market structure shows stablecoin dominance rising across most exchanges while Binance experiences declining ratios.

This split behavior emerged as Bitcoin approached $96,000 and continued through subsequent price action. The pattern suggests risk reduction concentrated on Binance rather than system-wide deleveraging.

Trading activity demonstrates selective exposure management instead of panic selling. Liquidity continues building outside Binance even as the exchange sees reduced stablecoin presence. This concentration shift points toward deliberate capital allocation decisions by large participants.

Source: Cryptoquant

The movement contradicts traditional risk-off scenarios where all platforms would show similar behavior. Market depth remained stable across alternative venues throughout Bitcoin’s climb. Professional traders appear to be managing positions tactically rather than exiting the market entirely.

Exchange-specific flows provide insight into institutional strategy during volatile periods. The data shows sophisticated participants maintaining exposure while adjusting venue allocation. This behavior typically precedes significant directional moves in either direction.

Below $85,000 Triggered Strategic Liquidity Redistribution Bitcoin’s decline toward $85,000 marked a continuation of Binance’s stablecoin dominance reduction.

However, behavior shifted once prices dropped below this threshold. Stablecoin ratios on Binance reversed course and began increasing again.

According to BorisD’s analysis, this reversal suggests intentional market manipulation to clear weak positions.

The free-fall below $85,000 allowed systematic liquidation of over-leveraged longs. Liquidity then repositioned across the exchange infrastructure following this flush.

Current market conditions remain in early signal territory with long positions under continued pressure.

The analyst notes a plausible scenario where Bitcoin could briefly touch levels below $75,000. Such a move would serve as final capitulation before a broader upside trend develops.

Successful execution of this pattern requires sustained stablecoin dominance growth across the system. The metric serves as a leading indicator for capital readiness.

Rising stablecoin presence suggests dry powder accumulating for potential deployment into risk assets like Bitcoin.

Bitcoin’s price action has fallen into bearish territory after dropping below an important previous low that had supported the rally for months. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $78,560 after falling to as low as $77,082 in the past 24 hours, a move that crypto analyst XForceGlobal says represents a significant change in the technical structure. 

According to his detailed Elliott Wave analysis shared on X, the price action has now invalidated the bullish framework many traders were relying on, and lower levels are becoming more likely in the coming weeks and months.

Breakdown Below Previous Low Changes Primary Wave Count According to XForceGlobal, Bitcoin had been working through a complex sideways structure, specifically a WXY combination that was expected to resolve through distribution rather than outright breakdown. 

Bulls managed to complete three of the five required components of this triangle-like structure, but the failure to defend the prior low was the signal that led to a structural shift. This prior low refers to the $82,000 low in November 2025. Bitcoin bulls failed to defend this low when the price action broke below $80,000 in the most recent 24 hours.

Bitcoin is currently trading at $78,940. Chart: TradingView Once that level gave way, the primary wave count could no longer be maintained. In terms of the Elliott Wave count, that lower low means that price action from the all-time high should now be treated as separated and corrective, not part of a healthy continuation. This restructuring gives the current decline more room to develop from a Fibonacci extension perspective and changes how minimum and maximum downside targets should be evaluated.

Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: @XForceGlobal On X

Two Bearish Scenarios Point To The Same Zone The resulting analysis shows two main scenarios of how Bitcoin’s price action can continue from here, both of which are converging on similar downside levels. The first is a flat correction, where Bitcoin is currently unfolding a C wave. Although XForceGlobal describes this as the least attractive option, it would still imply a full distribution range that invalidates a bullish structure and drags the Bitcoin price to as low as $60,000. 

The second scenario is a macro ending diagonal structured as a WXY move to the downside. This scenario uses the October 2025 all-time high above $126,000 as a cut point to improve wave separation of the current price action. Interestingly, the price projection from this scenario also aligns with targets in the same $60,000 area. Despite different technical paths, both interpretations point to comparable downside risk over the medium timeframe.

Now that the larger structure is now compromised, XForceGlobal says it makes sense to adopt a shorter-timeframe bearish bias while reorganizing the next wave count. The outlook is that Bitcoin continues its decline to at least $60,000 before rebounding to stage a return above $100,000.

Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView

Onyxcoin Holders Sold in Panic, But Technical Charts Show Breakout PotentialXCN selling surged as 350 million tokens moved to exchanges.MVRV data suggests short-term selling pressure is nearing exhaustion phase.Bullish flag pattern projects potential 150% upside if breakout confirms.Onyxcoin price has declined in recent sessions, prompting concern among short-term holders. The drop appeared bearish on the surface, yet underlying signals tell a different story. 

Instead of confirming weakness, the pullback created a potential accumulation window. Many investors failed to recognize this shift and sold into declining prices.

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Onyxcoin Holders Make An Early ExitInvestor behavior turned sharply bearish over the past week. Exchange balances for Onyxcoin increased by roughly 350 million XCN during this period. At current prices, the inflow is valued at nearly $2 million. Such movements typically reflect growing sell intent rather than long-term positioning.

The selling followed a 12% decline in XCN price over several days. That drop triggered panic among holders, especially short-term participants. Rather than waiting for confirmation, many chose to exit positions early. This reaction added supply to the market and intensified short-term volatility.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

XCN Exchange Balance. Source: SantimentDespite visible selling, macro indicators suggest improving conditions beneath the surface. The MVRV Long/Short Difference has been trending higher. This metric tracks how profits and losses shift between long-term and short-term holders. Rising values indicate reduced profitability for short-term traders.

When short-term holders lose profits, selling pressure often fades. These traders are more likely to exit quickly when gains shrink. As their incentive to sell declines, price stabilization becomes more likely.

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This dynamic gives Onyxcoin a clearer path toward recovery once excess supply is absorbed.

XCN MVRV Long/Short Difference. Source: SantimentXCN Price Has a Bullish TargetOnyxcoin is trading near $0.0057 at the time of writing. The token remains above the $0.0054 support level, which has held during recent volatility. Over the past month, XCN has formed a flag pattern. This structure often signals continuation following consolidation.

The measured move from the flag projects a potential 150% rally. That target places XCN near $0.0156 if the breakout fully develops. Such outcomes typically require broader market support and sustained demand. While ambitious, the setup reflects strong upside potential if conditions align.

XCN Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewA more conservative outlook focuses on nearer resistance levels. Reclaiming $0.0077 would confirm bullish intent and validate the breakout structure. From there, XCN could advance toward $0.0095. Crossing that level would bring the $0.0100 psychological mark into focus, often a trigger for momentum-driven buying.

Downside risk remains if sentiment deteriorates again. Failure to hold current levels could push XCN toward $0.0047. A breakdown below that support would expose $0.0041 as the next downside target. Such a move would invalidate the bullish thesis and delay any recovery attempt.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

A Wall Street Journal report claimed that parties linked to President Donald Trump secretly traded a nearly 50% stake in his family’s crypto company, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), for $500 million. 

The sale was made to a senior UAE royal, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, just four days before the U.S. President’s second inauguration last year.

Did Trump secretly sell off nearly 50% of WLFI? An investigation by The Wall Street Journal has revealed that the Trump family entered into a secret $500 million agreement with a senior United Arab Emirates (UAE) royal just days before Donald Trump’s second inauguration last year.

The deal involved the sale of a nearly 50% stake in the family’s cryptocurrency business, World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

Under the terms of the contract, an Abu Dhabi-based investment vehicle called Aryam Investment 1 agreed to pay $500 million for a 49% stake in the company.

The buyers agreed to pay half of the total amount, $250 million, upfront. Of that initial payment, approximately $187 million was sent directly to Trump-linked DT Marks DEFI LLC and DT Marks SC LLC.

An additional $31 million was directed to entities connected to the family of Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul who co-founded the project and was later appointed as the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East. Another $31 million was paid to the project’s other co-founders, Zak Folkman and Chase Herro.

The investor behind the deal, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is often referred to as the “spy sheikh” due to his role as the UAE’s national security adviser. He also supervises a massive financial empire that includes the AI firm G42 and the investment fund MGX.

As part of the investment, two executives from Aryam Investment, who also hold senior roles at G42, were made part of World Liberty Financial’s five-member board, joining Eric Trump and Zach Witkoff.

World Liberty Financial recently applied for a national trust bank charter to formalize its operations under federal supervision. The Trump family has also launched “American Bitcoin,” a crypto mining company, and continues to benefit from $Trump meme coins and other digital assets.

Was the UAE deal linked to U.S. policy changes regarding AI technology? Under Joe Biden’s administration, American-made artificial intelligence (AI) chips were highly restricted due to national security concerns that the technology could eventually reach China.

However, after the secret deal was signed in May 2025, during a presidential visit to Abu Dhabi, it was announced that the U.S. and UAE had reached an agreement that granted the Gulf state access to roughly 500,000 of the most advanced AI chips every year.

Experts say this quantity is enough to build one of the largest AI data center networks in the world. Notably, about 20% of these chips were allocated to G42, the firm led by Sheikh Tahnoon.

Senator Elizabeth Warren and other lawmakers have called for formal investigations due to the timing of the UAE investment and the approval of AI chip exports.

Ethics experts and lawmakers argue that the $500 million investment creates a massive conflict of interest, as the president’s personal wealth is now directly tied to the financial interests of a foreign government official.

In a recent report titled “Professionalized Corruption,” Democrats on the House Oversight Committee alleged that the Trump family is using digital currencies to accept “backdoor bribery” from foreign interests.

The report claims that since the payments for the UAE deal were sent through private crypto entities, there is very little visibility into who paid the Trump family or what they are receiving in return.

In March 2025, the UAE-backed firm MGX announced it would use World Liberty Financial’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, USD1, to complete a $2 billion investment into Binance. Shortly after this partnership was established, President Trump issued a pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who had been serving a prison sentence for money laundering compliance failures.

The Trump Organization has firmly denied any wrongdoing. A spokesperson stated that the company “takes its ethical obligations extremely seriously” and is “deeply committed to preventing conflicts of interest.”The organization maintains that it follows all applicable laws and that the investment was a standard business transaction.

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Posted: February 2, 2026

Ethereum’s Funding Rates collapsed to FTX-era extremes as derivatives absorbed a violent macro shock.

Rising U.S.–Iran tensions reignited risk aversion, pushing Ethereum [ETH] sharply lower while leverage amplified the move.

As price slid toward the $2300 level, forced selling accelerated, liquidating roughly $1.1 billion in ETH positions within a broader $2.5 billion market-wide wipeout.

Source: Darkforst/X

That pressure drove perpetual prices below their spot, forcing funding on Binance down to -0.028%.

Similar stress hit Bitcoin [BTC] over the weekend, sharing the same catalyst: geopolitical risk tightening liquidity.

Together, ETH and BTC reflected a deleveraging phase, where panic-driven flows dominated and market depth briefly vanished.

BitMine’s ETH position slips into structural drawdown BitMine’s portfolio reflects acute stress as ETH trades near $2,415 against an estimated $3,800 weighted acquisition price.

The catalyst came from a sharp risk-off shock, driven by geopolitical tensions and forced deleveraging, which accelerated ETH’s 7-day decline of roughly 17.7%.

Source: Dropstab

That move pushed unrealized losses to about $5.9 billion on a $15.6 billion position. This drawdown nears 40%, signaling structural pressure rather than noise.

The cost basis now acts as gravity, not guaranteed support. The timing below it reflects liquidity withdrawal and sentiment compression.

A shift would require easing macro risk, renewed inflows, and sustained spot demand. The distance from the cost basis defines the current drawdown distribution.

At press time, Ethereum traded near $2,430–$2,450, extending an 8–9% daily drop as capital rotated out of risk assets and into safe havens like gold and silver.

That shift tightened crypto liquidity, and ETH absorbed the pressure quickly.

Failed breakout hints at bearish structure Price failed to sustain a breakout above $3,400, then slipped back through the $2,780–$2,800 zone as momentum faded.

This rejection reflects more than tired bulls. Macro stress and deleveraging amplified the move, accelerating liquidations and reinforcing a lower-high, lower-low structure.

Source: TradingView

Momentum indicators confirmed the tone. Weekly RSI trended below neutral, signaling weakening demand rather than oversold relief.

Meanwhile, MACD remained negative and compressing, showing bearish momentum persists but may be slowing.

Support now clusters around $2,400–$2,600, where buyers test conviction.

A clean break risks a deeper slide toward $2,000–$2,200, while stabilization would require easing macro pressure and renewed spot inflows.

Final Thoughts Geopolitical risk drained liquidity, triggered $2.5 billion in liquidations, and dragged both ETH and BTC into a synchronized unwind. ETH’s slide below the ~$3,800 institutional cost basis left large holders facing a near 40% drawdown, turning that level into gravitational resistance while price probes fragile support near $2,400–$2,600.

TLDR: Austin Hill told Epstein that Ripple and Stellar were “bad for the ecosystem” Blockstream was building. Blockstream co-founders demanded Epstein reduce his allocation due to competing protocol investments. Joi Ito and Reid Hoffman were copied on the 2014 email discussing strategic investor alignment issues. Gary Gensler taught crypto at MIT while Ito facilitated Epstein donations to the same institution.
Newly surfaced correspondence from 2014 shows Jeffrey Epstein held an investment allocation in Blockstream, a Bitcoin infrastructure company.

The email from CEO Austin Hill to Epstein reveals strategic pressure to divest from competing protocols Ripple and Stellar.

The communication, which included MIT Media Lab Director Joi Ito and investor Reid Hoffman, demonstrates active enforcement of ecosystem loyalty among early cryptocurrency investors.

Strategic Investor Conflicts in Early Blockchain Development Austin Hill’s July 31, 2014 email to Epstein outlined a direct request from Blockstream’s co-founders. According to the original message, Hill stated he had “been asked by the other cofounders to reduce or take your allocation away.”

The CEO explained that Ripple and Jed McCaleb’s new Stellar “are bad for the ecosystem we are building.” Hill further noted that having investors “backing two horses in the same race” would damage the company’s strategic positioning.

The Anti-Ripple, Anti-Stellar Hit Team

Blockstream, Hill, Epstein, Ito, MIT, Hoffman, Gensler, SEC & DOJ

1. Jeffrey Epstein held (or was expected to hold) an investment allocation in @Blockstream, where Austin Hill served as Founder/CEO at the time.
2. Hill was acting on behalf… pic.twitter.com/zSAgHwGQ0R

— Rob Cunningham | KUWL.show (@KuwlShow) February 1, 2026

The correspondence treated Epstein as a strategic investor whose portfolio choices affected Blockstream’s governance and capital strategy.

These were not incidental social exchanges but direct operational communications about investment policy. The email exchange occurred during a critical period for blockchain technology development when competing visions for distributed ledger architecture were taking shape.

Blockstream positioned itself around Bitcoin and the Lightning Network infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ripple’s XRP Ledger and Stellar represented alternative approaches to distributed ledger technology.

These competing protocols created tensions among investors and developers about which system would become the dominant base layer for cryptocurrency transactions.

The involvement of Joi Ito added another dimension to these networks. As MIT Media Lab Director from 2011 to 2019, Ito served on multiple technology boards and advised governments on digital policy.

His presence in the email chain demonstrated connections between cryptocurrency investment decisions and academic institutions researching blockchain technology.

MIT Connections and Regulatory Developments Ito’s role at MIT Media Lab positioned him as a bridge between cryptocurrency investors and academic research. The lab expanded corporate funding under his leadership while focusing on AI, digital identity, and cryptocurrency projects.

Epstein’s ties to MIT later became controversial when 2019 reporting revealed the Media Lab had accepted donations linked to him. Ito resigned after admitting errors in judgment regarding these financial relationships.

Gary Gensler taught cryptocurrency courses at MIT before his 2021 appointment as SEC Chairman under President Biden.

His academic work occurred within the same institutional environment where Ito facilitated donor relationships. The regulatory approach toward Ripple and other cryptocurrency projects would later become a defining feature of Gensler’s SEC tenure.

Rob Cunningham’s analysis on KUWL.show examined these overlapping relationships. His post noted that “Epstein functioned as a capital node in overlapping elite tech networks.”

The connections between Blockstream, MIT, and later regulatory actions suggest coordinated efforts to shape cryptocurrency market development according to specific ecosystem preferences.

The 2014 correspondence reveals that ecosystem competition extended beyond technical differences. Investor alignment and narrative control played substantial roles in early blockchain development.

Bitcoin infrastructure companies viewed alternative protocols as existential threats to their position as the primary decentralized rail for digital assets.

By PYMNTS  |  February 1, 2026

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Bitcoin fell to a nine-month low Saturday (Jan. 31) as it dipped below $80,000.

The downturn was part of a wider drop for digital assets, according to a report by Bloomberg News, which points out that the world’s most popular cryptocurrency fell to $75,709 at one point, while other coins saw larger losses.

The selloff erased around $111 billion from the crypto market’s total value in the space of 24 hours, the report added, citing CoinGecko data. Around $1.6 billion in short and long positions were liquidated in the same time frame, according to market tracker Coinglass.

The report also noted that bitcoin’s price could be affected by increasing tensions between Israel and Iran, but had seen no measurable impact from a sharp downturn in gold and silver prices last week.

“The levels right now are reading in pretty extreme disinterest” from retail investors, said Needham analyst John Todaro, who added that trading volumes could still be depressed for “another quarter or two.”

The Bloomberg report noted that a delay in new market structure legislation for the crypto industry has also dampened investor enthusiasm for digital assets.

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As PYMNTS wrote last week, the legislation is happening as federal regulators are “building the machinery” to answer the crypto question.

The report pointed to a joint Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) event in which the heads of the two agencies argued that there needs to be clarity around the structure of the crypto markets before innovation can scale in a responsible fashion.

“That market structure clarity, however, showed growing pains on Thursday during the Senate markup,” that report said. “Amendments that would have banned federal officials from issuing or endorsing digital assets, cracked down on crypto ATM fraud and prohibited bailouts for crypto firms were all rejected along party lines.”

Making matters more complicated: The crypto legislation put forth by the Senate Agriculture Committee is only one half of the puzzle. Provisions dealing with securities regulation fall under the Senate Banking Committee’s jurisdiction and will need to be melded into a final package. 

“That reconciliation process will test whether harmonization can survive partisan and jurisdictional divides,” PYMNTS wrote.

Meanwhile, analysts for Citi said last week that while the CLARITY Act could still pass this year, there is a growing chance it could be delayed past 2026. The bank’s analysts say the bill’s definitions around decentralized finance (DeFi) are the largest obstacle to progress on the crypto market structure legislation.

XRP is facing renewed downside pressure after a sharp and extended sell-off wiped out months of prior gains, pushing the asset dangerously close to the critical $1 psychological level. Market sentiment around XRP remains heavily bearish, with sellers firmly in control and bulls struggling to find any meaningful foothold. After previously trading above $3 several months ago, XRP’s price action on the daily chart has formed a clear bearish market structure characterized by persistent lower highs and lower lows.

Each recovery attempt has been short-lived, quickly meeting selling pressure that reinforces the prevailing downtrend. The latest decline forced XRP to break below multiple key support zones, including an important trendline that had provided stability during December’s consolidation phase. This breakdown has significantly weakened the technical outlook, as former support levels have now flipped into resistance.

XRP is also trading well below major moving averages that once acted as dynamic support. These indicators now cap upside attempts, with every bounce being sold aggressively. The situation is further aggravated by notable spikes in trading volume during the recent sell-off, signaling panic-driven exits rather than orderly profit-taking. Such behavior often reflects fear and uncertainty, making buyers hesitant to step in with confidence.

Currently trading near the $1.60 area, XRP is entering what many traders describe as “deep waters,” a zone where sentiment turns defensive and liquidity thins. Momentum indicators continue to trend downward, suggesting that bearish pressure has not yet been exhausted. With no strong technical support visible until the $1 level, the risk of further downside remains elevated.

Adding to XRP’s challenges is the broader weakness across the cryptocurrency market, which is amplifying selling pressure. Unless XRP can quickly reclaim lost support zones and break above descending resistance levels, recovery scenarios appear increasingly unlikely in the short term. For now, the XRP price outlook remains fragile, and traders are closely watching whether the $1 level will hold as a last line of defense.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

Bitcoin trading under $80,000 stirred debate after Jim Cramer questioned the silence of vocal bulls, spotlighting weekend liquidity gaps, psychological price levels, and recurring tensions between short-term market moves and longer-term crypto fundamentals.

The tech titan loss hundreds of billions of dollars of market value.

Investors are questioning Microsoft's (MSFT 0.83%) artificial intelligence (AI)-driven growth strategy.

Shares of the software giant fell more than 7% this past week, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, following its fiscal 2026 second-quarter earnings release.

Image source: Getty Images.

Azure's shortfall Revenue for Microsoft's Azure and other cloud services jumped 39% in the quarter ended Dec. 31. That was slightly below Wall Street's estimates.

During a conference call with analysts, chief financial officer Amy Hood said Azure's growth would have been over 40% if Microsoft had allocated all its available graphics processing units (GPUs) to its cloud infrastructure business. But it instead chose to use some of those advanced AI chips for its first-party applications, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot.

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CEO Satya Nadella said Microsoft was taking a longer-term view by allocating its supply constrained chips to areas that optimized the lifetime value of its customers.

However, judging by the stock's performance this week, many investors don't have quite as much patience as Microsoft's senior leadership team.

The OpenAI question More worrisome is Microsoft's growing reliance on the rapidly expanding, yet staggeringly unprofitable, OpenAI.

Microsoft's remaining performance obligations ballooned to a stunning $625 billion by Dec. 31. Yet a whopping 45% of that figure is tied to OpenAI's planned expansion initiatives.

That's a concern, as the AI model developer's losses are reportedly set to triple to $14 billion in 2026, according to a recent report by The Information.

OpenAI's mounting cash burn has investors questioning whether Microsoft will actually earn the full amount of its expected future revenue, particularly if its largest customer is unable to afford its massive capital spending requirements.

Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The cosmetics stock has blown past the S&P 500 during the first few weeks of the year.

Last year was a brutal one for cosmetics giant e.l.f. Beauty (ELF 0.05%). Its shares plummeted nearly 40% as tariffs and concerns about the economy weighed down its valuation. So far, 2026 has been much better for the company. As of Jan. 26, the stock is up an incredible 17% to start the year, while the S&P 500 has risen by less than 2%.

The uncertainty around tariffs hasn't gone away, but investors appear to be taking a second look at e.l.f.'s beaten-down valuation, and may be seeing some intriguing potential. Is the stock destined to go even higher in the months ahead, or has it already gotten too hot to buy right now?

Image source: Getty Images.

The company showed resilient growth last quarter One of the reasons investors may be encouraged by e.l.f.'s stock is the company's versatility. While tariffs did result in the company raising prices on many products, its recent performance has by no means been catastrophic.

When e.l.f. last reported earnings in November, the company's sales rose by 14% to $343.9 million for the period ending Sept. 30, 2025. The company's gross margin worsened by 165 basis points, primarily due to tariffs, but it remained fairly strong at 69%. But with the company's selling, general, and administrative expenses rising by 24%, e.l.f.'s overall profit for the period ended up declining by a staggering 84%, to $3 billion (versus $19 billion in the prior-year period). The results did, however, include acquisition and other one-time expenses that skewed its overall numbers; its adjusted earnings were down by a more modest rate of less than 10%.

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Why the stock still looks like a good buy If the courts rule that tariffs are illegal and are no longer in effect, e.l.f.'s stock could be among the biggest winners on such developments. But even if that doesn't end up happening, the stock may still be a great buy for long-term investors. With e.l.f. being a popular cosmetics brand with young people and the business still looking to be in good shape, I'm optimistic it can continue rallying this year and beyond.

The stock currently trades at 27 times its estimated future earnings (based on analyst expectations), which may seem a bit high, but that could improve if economic conditions become more favorable. Its low-priced items have demonstrated strong demand and resiliency even amid economic uncertainty, which are great signs for investors that the business may not be as vulnerable to tariffs as it may have first appeared to be.

While e.l.f.'s stock has proven to be volatile over the past year, this can be an excellent investment to hang on to for the long haul.

Nvidia's infusion supports a major customer, but CoreWeave still has debt.

Nvidia (NVDA 0.72%) has become a cash-generating machine. As demand for its GPUs soars amid the AI boom, its free cash flow has climbed to $77 billion over the last 12 months. It recently put $2 billion of that cash to work, adding to its investment in CoreWeave (CRWV 6.37%). The chipmaker now owns 11.5% of the company.

CoreWeave is a "neocloud" company, specializing in data centers designed for AI training and inference. It builds data centers and rents them out to big tech companies, including Microsoft, Meta, and one of its biggest investors, Nvidia. The news of Nvidia's increased stake in the business sent CoreWeave shares higher, so investors may be wondering whether they should follow suit after the big move.

Image source: Getty Images.

Close ties with the AI leader CoreWeave's tight relationship with Nvidia puts it in an excellent position to serve its customers. It has ample access to Nvidia's powerful GPUs, and the new deal with Nvidia ensures it'll be able to build new cloud infrastructure using Nvidia's Rubin platform, its Vera CPUs, and its BlueField storage system.

Additionally, Nvidia is acting as a backstop for CoreWeave's buildout. Nvidia is obligated to pay for any unused CoreWeave capacity through April of 2032, up to $6.3 billion.

The plan is to use the $2 billion cash infusion from the stock sale to accelerate CoreWeave's buildout of 5 gigawatts of AI data centers by 2030. But the cost of building those data centers is far greater than $2 billion. CoreWeave spent $1.9 billion on capital expenditures in the third quarter, and it spent $6.9 billion on "construction in progress," which it excludes from capex until its deployed. Meanwhile, the company's operating cash flow came to $1.5 billion through the first nine months of the year. As such, CoreWeave will still need to take on substantial debt to accelerate its data center buildout plans.

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Taking on more debt Lenders are willing to give CoreWeave money based on its close relationship with Nvidia (and its backstop) and the massive backlog of contracts CoreWeave has accumulated. As of the end of the third quarter, CoreWeave had a backlog of $55.6 billion in customer contracts.

But interest on its debt is a huge drag on its profits, and the economics of building and renting data centers isn't quite panning out just yet. Interest expense totaled $841.4 million through the first nine months of 2025, roughly quadruple the amount from the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, operating income fell to just $43.6 million through the first nine months of 2025, down from $211.7 million. Even as CoreWeave scales and turns around its operating margin, interest and depreciation will continue to eat into its net income.

There's considerable execution risk for CoreWeave as it takes on more debt. It needs to figure out how to scale its operations profitably, and in the meantime, any slowdown in its buildout can have significant financial repercussions, since it can't rent what it hasn't built. We saw that happen after its third-quarter earnings included a disclosure that a CoreWeave developer experienced delays. We might see it again as the company tries to scale to 5 gigawatts of capacity by 2030.

Adam Levy has positions in Meta Platforms and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Focused on ultra-short U.S. Treasury exposure, VBIL targets liquidity and capital preservation for institutional and individual investors.

What happenedAccording to a SEC filing dated January 21, 2026, Westfuller Advisors initiated a new stake in Vanguard Institutional Index Fund - 0-3 Months Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL +0.03%), purchasing 42,962 shares. The estimated transaction value was $3.24 million, based on the average closing price for the quarter. The stake’s quarter-end value also totaled $3.24 million, reflecting both the purchase and market price movements.

What else to knowThis was a new position for the fund and accounted for 1.31% of Westfuller Advisors, LLC’s 13F reportable AUM after the trade.Top five holdings after the filing:NYSEMKT: SGOV: $25.16 million (10.2% of AUM)NYSEMKT: VOO: $8.73 million (3.5% of AUM)NASDAQ: AAPL: $8.31 million (3.4% of AUM)NASDAQ: NVDA: $7.76 million (3.1% of AUM)NYSEMKT: NUBD: $7.04 million (2.8% of AUM)As of January 21, 2026, VBIL shares were priced at $75.57, up 3.9% over the past year and 0.1% below the 52-week high.The fund reported an annualized dividend yield of 3.11% as of January 21, 2026.

NASDAQ: VBILVanguard Institutional Index Funds - Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF

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ETF overviewMetricValuePrice (as of market close 2026-01-21)$75.57Net Assets $4.64 billionDividend Yield3.56%ETF snapshotOffers exposure to short-term U.S. Treasury bills with maturities of three months or less, providing liquidity and capital preservation for investors.Operates by tracking an index of investment-grade Treasury bills, using a sampling strategy to mirror the index's risk and return characteristics.Serves institutional and individual investors seeking low-risk, short-duration fixed income solutions and cash management alternatives.Vanguard Institutional Index Fund - 0-3 Months Treasury Bill ETF provides investors with a vehicle for accessing the U.S. Treasury bill market, focusing on securities with very short maturities to minimize interest rate risk. The fund's disciplined, index-based approach aims to deliver stability and liquidity, appealing to investors seeking capital preservation and predictable income. Its competitive edge lies in its low-cost structure and adherence to a transparent, rules-based investment process.

What this transaction means for investorsWestfuller Advisors' decision to add VBIL alongside its existing SGOV position reveals a portfolio heavily tilted toward ultra-short-term cash management. The firm's top holding is SGOV at over 10% of assets, and now VBIL brings the combined Treasury bill allocation even higher—a noteworthy defensive stance for an equity-focused portfolio that also holds Apple and Nvidia among its top five positions.

Both ETFs are virtually identical, holding Treasury bills maturing in three months or less with the same government backing and zero credit risk. The key difference is cost: VBIL charges a 0.07% expense ratio compared to SGOV's 0.09% fee. While that gap seems tiny, over time it compounds, and Vanguard's track record suggests fees could drop further. The funds deliver nearly identical yields around 3.5% and track different but equivalent Treasury indexes.

VBIL suits conservative investors who need a safe parking spot for cash they'll access soon, for emergency funds or money set aside for near-term expenses like a home purchase. The ultra-short duration means virtually no price volatility, though yields will drop when the Fed cuts rates.

Sara Appino has positions in Apple and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Nvidia, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, and iShares Trust - iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The media and entertainment landscape is on the cusp of another massive deal.

In less than two decades, Netflix (NFLX +0.40%) went from a doubted industry innovator to a dominant force in the global media and entertainment landscape. Its shares reflect the monster success it has achieved, soaring 826% in the past decade (as of Jan. 28).

But is Netflix about to make an $83 billion mistake?

Image source: Netflix.

This merger proposal is kind of a big deal Netflix refreshed its offer to take over certain assets of Warner Bros. Discovery, now making it an all-cash deal at $27.75 per share. Based on data from Dec. 4, this puts the equity value of the proposed transaction at $72 billion. Netflix will use cash on hand of $20 billion and take on debt of $52 billion. Adding in the target's studios and streaming net debt pushes the deal size to an enterprise value of $82.7 billion.

This is a material transaction. Netflix's market cap is currently $357 billion. A move of this size is out of the ordinary for the company.

Historically, Netflix has expanded mainly via organic growth. It has avoided large deals, which makes it stand out in the industry. Walt Disney spent $71 billion in 2019 to buy certain assets of 21st Century Fox. Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022. Last year, Disney received the 33% stake in Hulu that it didn't own for $9 billion in total.

Netflix has also been hesitant to step into the live sports waters, a strategy it has warmed up to. Tech giants like Amazon, Alphabet, and Apple aren't sparing any expense in this regard.

The company argues that this transaction will benefit all stakeholders. This includes consumers, people who work in the entertainment industry, and investors.

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Will the WBD investment pay off? Netflix's leadership hopes to realize $2 billion to $3 billion in annual cost savings by the third year post-close. And they believe that in year two, the deal will be accretive to earnings per share.

But is that enough to justify a nearly $83 billion price tag? Netflix executives deserve some credit for building the business into the streaming leader.

However, investors should be critical about the company being able to achieve an adequate return on such a big spending decision. The odds aren't stacked in Netflix's favor. Data from KPMG shows that 57% of mergers and acquisitions between 2012 and 2022 destroyed shareholder value in the two years following the transaction's close.

Since this proposed deal was announced on Dec. 5, Netflix shares have fallen 16%. The market clearly has a downbeat view of the proposal.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 1, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) between June 6, 2024 and November 10, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important February 2, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Bitdeer securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Bitdeer class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49102 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 2, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided investors with material information concerning Bitdeer's research and technology roadmap for its SEALMINER Bitcoin mining machine. Defendants' statements included, among other things, confidence in Bitdeer's mass production of its fourth-generation SEALMINER (A4) rigs using its SEAL04 ASIC ("application-specific integrated circuit") chip technology expected to have a chip energy efficiency of as low as 5J/TH. Defendants provided these positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating false and materially misleading statements and/or concerning material adverse facts concerning the true state of Bitdeer's SEALMINER A4 project. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose that the SEAL04 chip projected to have a chip-level energy efficiency of 5 J/TH would be ready for use in the A4 rigs with an expected mass production to begin in the second quarter 2025. Such statements absent these material facts caused investors to purchase Bitdeer securities at artificially inflated prices. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Bitdeer class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=49102 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282230

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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