Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Bitcoin steadied above $70,500 after a sharp selloff and quick weekend rebound, with traders and chartists highlighting $72,000–$75,000 as the critical zone that will likely determine the next market direction. On Binance two-day charts, BTC traded around $70,572 after rising roughly 2.5% from an open near $68,854 to a high near $70,983, but remained below resistance near $72,825. Trader TedPillows noted prior support/demand zones at ~$65,944, $60,421 and $55,123 and flagged $72,000 as the main level — a break could shift targets toward $76K–$80K; $68,800 was also noted as a CME gap level. Analyst Ali Charts compared Bitcoin’s recent drop-and-bounce to the S&P 500’s recovery pattern, saying reclaiming $75,000 as support would “significantly increase the odds” of a sustained advance. Key trading levels: immediate support ~$68,800 (CME gap), demand zones ~$65,944 and ~$60,421; resistance/pivot region $72K–$75K and overhead targets $76K–$80K. Primary keyword: Bitcoin price; secondary keywords: BTC resistance, CME gap, support zones, weekend rebound.

Livepeer (LPT) is a decentralized video transcoding and streaming protocol on Ethereum that uses LPT for staking, delegation and securing the network. The article examines Livepeer’s 2026–2030 outlook, stressing that price direction hinges on network adoption, staking rates, protocol upgrades (notably AI-powered video tasks), and broader crypto market conditions. Key growth drivers include expansion of the global video streaming market (projected 15%+ CAGR through 2030), developer activity, enterprise partnerships, reduced Ethereum gas costs, and successful deployment of AI-enabled features such as content moderation, object recognition and real-time analytics. Analysts present scenario-based frameworks (base, bull, bear) rather than price targets, highlighting milestones like increased daily streams processed, higher stake ratios, and capture of market share from centralized CDNs. Risks include scalability challenges for ultra-HD streaming, competition from Web2 and Web3 compute providers, Ethereum fee dynamics, and general crypto market volatility. Traders should monitor on-chain metrics (Livepeer Explorer: total stake, active orchestrators, job volume), roadmap progress (AI subnetworks), staking ratio and partnership announcements. The piece concludes that Livepeer’s fundamentals and first-mover position in decentralized video + AI present upside potential, but outcomes remain contingent on execution and macro/regulatory factors. This is not financial advice.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes engaged in a public exchange on X after Holmes posted commentary about U.S. federal conviction rates; Garlinghouse replied “Not true,” and Holmes referenced the SEC v. Ripple matter to contrast civil settlements with criminal charges. Separately, Shiba Inu (SHIB) saw a 71.6% jump in 24‑hour trading volume to $235.8 million after lead developer Shytoshi Kusama hinted at a UX/UI alpha test and posted the cryptic string “1326” ahead of an “Eclipse” briefing (Feb. 17). SHIB’s price remained consolidated near $0.000006822 with a market cap around $4.02 billion; analysts say a sustained break above $0.000007 could signal short‑term momentum change. Fundstrat/Bitmine chairman Tom Lee said the market may have hit its low or will do so before April 2026, predicting the end of the crypto winter by Q2 2026 — a view framed as cyclical recovery. Key near‑term catalysts for traders: ETHDenver (Feb. 17–21), FOMC minutes (Feb. 18) and U.S. GDP data (Feb. 20). Primary keywords: Ripple, SHIB, Shiba Inu, Tom Lee, crypto winter, trading volume, UX/UI alpha. Secondary/semantic keywords included: SEC v. Ripple, Elizabeth Holmes, “1326” tease, Eclipse briefing, market catalysts.

AI-powered auditing tools are transforming smart contract security by automating code reviews, behavior simulations, and continuous monitoring. Machine learning systems scan large codebases quickly to detect vulnerabilities such as reentrancy and overflow errors, assign predictive risk scores, and simulate real-world performance under heavy loads or unusual conditions. Continuous, real-time monitoring flags suspicious transactions and anomalous behavior, enabling faster incident response. Benefits include lower audit costs, parallel auditing of multiple contracts, optimization suggestions (eg. gas savings and redundant-code removal), and automated checks for regulatory compliance such as AML and token issuance rules. Integration of AI into development cycles provides immediate feedback to programmers, improving code quality before deployment. For developers and users, AI-generated objective audit reports increase transparency and trust, while projects scale security coverage without slowing releases. Overall, AI enhances speed, accuracy, and efficiency of smart contract audits, reducing operational risk for DeFi and NFT platforms.

XRP was used as the bridging asset in a live on‑chain swap between RLUSD and EUROP on the XRP Ledger decentralized exchange, demonstrating counterparty‑free market making and euro settlement capability. The trade routed RLUSD to EUROP through XRP liquidity pools, meaning assets on XRPL only need an XRP pair to access other tokens. EUROP (EURØP), issued by Schuman Financial, is a MiCA‑compliant euro stablecoin on XRPL backed by audited reserves (KPMG) and regulated by France’s ACPR; Schuman integrated EURØP to XRPL in May. XRPL counts about six million active wallets, 200+ validators and over 3.3 billion transactions historically, positioning it for institutional stablecoin use. Ripple operations lead Cassie Craddock and Schuman founder Martin Bruncko commented on compliance and euro‑native liquidity. The demonstration highlights reduced counterparty exposure for market makers, expanded DeFi and real‑world asset settlement in euros, and improved capital efficiency for liquidity providers on XRPL.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell below 10 in February 2026, signaling an Extreme Fear environment that increased volatility, stressed liquidity, and widened pricing dispersion. Traders saw higher volumes, wider bid-ask spreads, pronounced slippage and greater sensitivity to latency. BTC/USDT — normally a deep liquidity pair — exhibited meaningful execution divergence across exchanges, aggregators and liquidity pools. Key execution factors affecting realized USDT receipts included liquidity source, spread width, fee structure, slippage controls and rate refresh frequency. Aggregated liquidity and real-time rate discovery reduce exposure to isolated inefficiencies: SwapSpace, cited as an example, compares offers from 37 partners across ~4,000 tokens, and offers fixed-rate and floating-rate execution, no preset upper limits, and 24/7 support. The article concludes that in extreme fear episodes the measurable variables (spread paid, slippage, deviation from midpoint, confirmation speed) matter more than headline sentiment; infrastructure and execution model determine actual trade outcomes. This is informational content, not investment advice.

Buck, a dollar-pegged yield token branded as a “SavingsCoin,” raised its annual yield to 10% APY from 7% and launched automated rewards distribution. Yield now accrues in real time and is collectable monthly; holders no longer need to claim rewards manually. Buck’s team positions the token as a user-friendly, non-staking passive income product that preserves a dollar peg while delivering yield. The upgrade increases Buck’s competitive stance among DeFi yield products and stablecoin alternatives, emphasizing automation, composability, and interoperability to reduce user friction and attract non-technical savers. The team says the move makes Buck a yield leader and signals further improvements ahead. (Keywords: Buck, SavingsCoin, yield, APY, automated rewards, stablecoin, DeFi)

Wells Fargo has posted a job opening for a Head of Digital Asset Services, seeking an executive to design a three- to five-year strategy covering tokenized deposits, on-chain collateral, intraday liquidity, and 24/7 programmable payments. The role requires integration with traditional payment rails including wire transfer, ACH, RTP, FedNow and SWIFT. The posting was noted by The Block’s Frank Chaparro. The move follows recent senior crypto hires at other major banks such as Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan, signalling continued institutional staffing and planning around digital-asset infrastructure. No trading guidance or product launch timeline was disclosed.

Zach Abrams, CEO and co‑founder of Bridge (acquired by Stripe for $1.1bn in 2025), argues stablecoins are positioned to revolutionize payment rails by enabling faster, cheaper cross‑border payments. He highlights that payment innovation can occur across multiple layers — including money storage — and cites Cash App’s creative use of existing banking infrastructure as an example. Abrams praises the US dual banking system for fostering fintech competition but warns the country still lags in payment performance despite robust infrastructure. He says successful financial products prioritize speed, cost efficiency and durability, and sees stablecoins as an economically rational winner over time. Current stablecoin use remains concentrated in trading and DeFi, leaving significant untapped potential for commercial and cross‑border payments. Abrams stresses that regulatory clarity is the critical bottleneck: businesses and boards often avoid stablecoin projects because regulators and banks classify stablecoin activity as higher risk compared with equivalent non‑stablecoin operations. The long‑term growth of stablecoin payments, he concludes, depends on regulatory adaptation and market acceptance.

CSWAP has launched a native Bitcoin staking protocol on Bitcoin Testnet 4 that maps Bitcoin UTXOs one-to-one to Cardano UTXOs without custodians or wrapped BTC. Reward accounting and distribution are handled on Cardano (preprod) while BTC remains in its native Bitcoin UTXOs, creating a trust-minimized on-ramp for Bitcoin holders into Cardano DeFi. The public testnet runs alongside Cardano Preprod; testers need a Unisat wallet for Bitcoin Testnet 4 and any Cardano preprod-compatible wallet. Mainnet timing was not disclosed. CSWAP positions this UTXO mapping as the top layer of a Cardano Bitcoin DeFi funnel, removing bridge custody risk and enabling composability layers to follow once users accept this minimal-assumption entry point.

Roundhill Investments has filed with the SEC to launch six exchange-traded funds that let retail investors bet on 2028 election outcomes through standard brokerage accounts. The proposed ETFs come in pairs for each contest — President (BLU P / RED P), Senate (BLU S / RED S) and House (BLU H / RED H) — with one fund paying out if Democrats win and its counterpart paying out if Republicans win. These funds would primarily hold event contracts whose payout converges to $1 for the winning party and near zero for the losing party once results are certified. Unusually, the funds would not terminate after 2028 but roll forward to the next cycle (2032), exposing investors to multi-election political and regulatory risk. The filing follows recent regulatory shifts: the CFTC in February 2026 abandoned plans to ban political betting exchanges and instructed staff to craft rules permitting such products with protections. The SEC must still approve Roundhill’s filing; approval would mark a policy turning point by enabling large-scale political wagering via brokerage channels. Supporters call the idea “potentially groundbreaking” for broadening access beyond prediction markets; critics warn of impulsive speculation, potential market distortions and risks from changing rules. Roundhill’s prospectus highlights that regulations could change and advises wary investors to avoid these products.

Binance’s XRP reserves have fallen to roughly 2.5–2.6 billion tokens — the lowest level of 2024 — after about 700 million XRP left the exchange since November 2024. The outflows coincided with a rapid price move (up ~4–4.5%) toward the $1.45–$1.50 area. On-chain data suggest tokens moved to private or cold wallets, removing supply from exchange order books and reducing immediate sell pressure. XRP perpetual futures funding rates have dropped to multi-month lows, signaling increased short interest that historically can precede sharp moves when buying returns. Technical levels traders should watch are near-term support around $1.45, a breakout threshold near $1.55, and a next upside target at $1.80 if momentum continues. Analysts note that a smaller exchange float increases sensitivity to inflows — raising the potential for amplified rallies — while sustained low reserves reduce the likelihood of large-scale sell-offs in the short term. Ripple’s ongoing engagement with US regulators is cited as a supportive sentiment factor. For traders, key actions are to monitor on-chain exchange reserve metrics, funding rates, and the $1.45–$1.55 price band for short-term entries and risk management. This is market commentary, not investment advice.

Robert Mitchnick, head of BlackRock Digital Assets, warned at Bitcoin Investor Week that pervasive leveraged speculation on crypto derivatives platforms is amplifying Bitcoin volatility and could weaken its appeal as an institutional hedge. He said Bitcoin’s fundamentals as a scarce, decentralized monetary asset remain intact, but short-term trading increasingly resembles a “levered Nasdaq,” with cascading liquidations and auto-deleveraging on perpetual futures platforms producing large forced selling. Mitchnick disputed claims that spot Bitcoin ETFs are the main source of recent instability, noting BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) experienced only about 0.2% redemptions during a turbulent week while billions were liquidated on leveraged venues. BlackRock maintains it is bridging traditional finance and digital assets, but the executive highlighted leverage risk and the higher entry barriers this creates for risk-averse institutions.

Lalitesh Katragadda, founder of Indihood and former Google engineering leader who created Google Map Maker, explains how crowdsourcing transformed global mapping and can enable decentralized governance and population-scale platforms. Crowdsourced mapping—users drawing and labeling features over satellite imagery—expanded Google’s map corpus to serve billions and was driven initially by altruistic community mappers. Katragadda argues digital maps are critical for disaster response and community coordination, and that farmer incomes could rise substantially if they coordinated and owned supply chains. He highlights the technical and financial complexity of building population-scale platforms, describing a declarative distributed system his team built that turns specifications into software and reduces required code by roughly 30x. Katragadda also describes emergent agent-based coordination on shared “blackboards,” trust-based moderation, and the limits of the current global economy that serves roughly 2–3 billion people while many struggle. Key themes: crowdsourcing, decentralized governance, disaster mapping, supply-chain ownership for farmers, and scalable platform engineering.

FLOKI rose ~12% after defending $0.00003 support and hitting a local high of $0.0000359 amid a broader memecoin market rebound. Trading volume jumped 135% to $70.9M and market cap rose to $329M as both retail and whale buyers accumulated the token. Over four days FLOKI recorded a positive buy-sell delta (349B buy vs 326B sell), with whale buy volume around 203.4B and average whale purchases of ~60B. Nansen data show top holders increased holdings by 57.56B FLOKI while offloading 33.8B, bringing top holdings to 9.7T. Technicals: RSI climbed from 31 to 47 and price crossed the EMA20; a sustained rally would target EMA50 at $0.000039, while heavy profit-taking could push price back to $0.00003. Key keywords: FLOKI, memecoin rally, whale accumulation, buy-sell delta, RSI, EMA20/50.

Analyst commentary and market observers say a BlackRock filing for a spot XRP ETF could act as a major catalyst for XRP. Proponent Amonyx stated that XRP “could surge 100%” if BlackRock files an ETF tied to the token. Market rationale: BlackRock (over $10 trillion AUM) has precedent with spot Bitcoin and Ethereum products, and its involvement would signal regulatory and market maturity for XRP following Ripple’s 2025 settlement with the SEC. At February 2026 prices near $1.40–$1.50, a 100% rise would put XRP at roughly $2.80–$3.00, approaching its 2025 high of $3.65. Analysts point to potential supply tightening if institutional funds need to acquire large XRP volumes to collateralize ETF shares, amplifying price moves. Cautionary notes: the claim is speculative until an official filing appears on the SEC’s EDGAR system; past false ETF reports (e.g., 2023) temporarily moved markets. Broader macro factors — inflation, interest rates, liquidity — could moderate or amplify any ETF-driven rally. This development is primarily a bullish institutional-adoption narrative contingent on an actual BlackRock S-1 filing.

An Israeli national, Michael (Mike) Greenberg, was detained in Dubai roughly three months ago in connection with the suspected murder of Russian crypto figure Roman Novak and his wife, Anna. Authorities say Greenberg — a private investigator based in Thailand — is not accused of carrying out the killings but is linked to eight other suspects already arrested. Russian investigators traced leads from suspects’ mobile phones to Greenberg. Novak is alleged to have raised about $500 million via a fraudulent crypto application and had a prior 2020 fraud conviction in St. Petersburg. After his 2023 release he reportedly continued fundraising abroad. The couple went missing after being dropped near a lake in the Hatta area on Oct 2, 2025; they were lured to a rented villa under the pretense of an investment meeting. Investigators allege attackers sought access to crypto wallets, found them empty, and then killed and dismembered the couple; remains were found Oct 3. Authorities used surveillance footage and phone data to track suspects across Oman and South Africa before their disappearance. The case is being reported amid rising physical assaults on crypto holders — so-called “wrench attacks” — with recent high-profile incidents including attempted abductions and ransom extortion in Europe. Law enforcement warnings underline the risk of violent targeting of individuals with digital asset holdings.

Amberdata analysis shows World Liberty Financial token (WLFI) experienced abnormal activity more than five hours before a major Bitcoin (BTC) crash on October 10, 2025. WLFI’s hourly volume surged to $474M (≈21.7x normal) shortly after tariff-related news, its perpetual futures funding rate hit 2.87% per 8 hours (equivalent to ~131% APR), and its price decoupled sharply from BTC. That day about $6.93 billion in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated within an hour: BTC fell ~15%, Ether (ETH) ~20%, and smaller tokens dropped up to 70%. Amberdata and Cointelegraph-cited researcher Mike Marshall suggest WLFI’s concentrated ownership and extreme leverage likely amplified early liquidations and may act as a leading indicator during market shocks, though this does not prove insider trading. The report highlights WLFI’s potential to trigger stress in liquid assets and urges monitoring of futures and funding rates. Key trading levels noted: BTC supports near $60k–$65k and resistances around $70k–$78k; current technicals showed BTC oversold (RSI low) and trading below EMA20. This is informational, not investment advice.

Ethereum (ETH) fell below $2,000, sliding 4.23% intraday amid broader crypto weakness and rising risk-off sentiment. The move followed profit-taking after recent gains and was accompanied by a modest rise in volume, indicating active selling rather than a low-liquidity anomaly. Technicals show ETH has broken key psychological support at $2,000 and earlier support near $2,200–$2,300, increasing the risk of further downside toward $1,900–$1,850 and, if momentum continues, toward $1,800. Traders are watching on-chain indicators (exchange flows, staking), derivatives signals (funding rates, open interest, liquidations) and macro drivers (USD strength, US data, Fed commentary) for catalysts. Short-term traders should prioritize risk management: tight stops, reduced position sizes and volatility-adjusted entries. Longer-term investors may view the dip as an accumulation opportunity depending on conviction in ETH’s fundamentals — DeFi usage, NFT activity and protocol developments — which could support recovery over months. Key levels to monitor: support $1,900–$1,850; resistance $2,100–$2,200. Relevant keywords: ETH, Ethereum price, crypto market, technical analysis, market sentiment.

CoinFound has formed a strategic partnership with blockchain security firm CertiK to integrate CertiK’s Skynet security intelligence into CoinFound’s institutional data platform. The integration will add real-time on-chain security monitoring, a structured security scoring framework, and additional monitoring signals directly into CoinFound’s analytics layer. The collaboration targets four areas: data and information synergy to standardize attribution and improve traceability; co-developed research and institutional insights on on-chain asset structures and market trends; joint ecosystem and educational initiatives; and enhanced security insights and risk disclosure for users. CoinFound provides real-world asset data terminals, on-chain risk graph analytics and AI research tools for institutional investors; CertiK is a leading Web3 security company known for its Skynet monitoring system. The firms say the move aims to meet institutional demand for reliable, standardized data, continuous monitoring and clearer attribution as crypto markets mature. No product release timeline was disclosed, but both describe the integration as a long-term effort to support institutional adoption and stronger information standards across Web3.

Bitcoin slipped below the key $69,000 support after a brief intraday rally that quickly reversed. The article links the renewed volatility to reports of high-level diplomatic activity involving Trump advisers reportedly engaging with Iran, comments attributed to U.S. Secretary of State Rubio. Traders are watching technical levels closely: a decisive break above $72,000 would signal renewed bullish momentum, while a sustained drop below $60,000 would confirm a bearish phase. Short-term price action has shown rapid, short-lived rallies followed by swift reversals—pattern traders interpret as possible bull traps following previous large short liquidations. The piece warns that forthcoming headlines from diplomatic channels could drive further volatility across crypto and traditional markets, leaving traders focused on the $72,000 and $69,000 levels for directional cues. Disclaimer: this is not investment advice.

ChatGPT assessed Bitcoin’s sharp early-February decline — a drop to roughly $60,000 representing a ~52% fall from the all-time high — and concluded BTC meets the definition of a bear market. The AI noted $60K was a prior breakout-turned-support level; holding there would resemble previous ~50% resets seen in strong cycles. OpenAI’s model assigns ~35% probability that $60K is the final bottom but sees the more likely scenario as at least one more leg down to $50,000–$52,000 (a ~60% drawdown). Two extreme but unlikely scenarios include a capitulation to $40,000–$45,000 or a crash below $35,000, both requiring a major black-swan event. Despite near-term downside risks, ChatGPT remains constructive on long-term Bitcoin fundamentals, citing historical resilience through 80–90% drawdowns. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, bear market. Secondary/semantic keywords: support level, drawdown, bottom, market correction, macro risk.

XRP has rallied about 38% from its Feb. 6 low of $1.12 to around $1.55, outperforming bitcoin and ether which rose roughly 15% over the same period. The price rebound correlates with sharp withdrawals of XRP from Binance: CryptoQuant data shows Binance’s XRP reserves fell by 192.37 million XRP to 2.553 billion between Feb. 7–9, a seven percent drop and the lowest since January 2024. Analysts treat falling exchange reserves as a sign of accumulation and reduced available supply, which can fuel rallies. XRP previously surged from $0.60 to over $2.40 in late 2024 amid a similar decline in exchange balances. Short-term, the moves point to renewed demand and tighter free float for XRP; traders should watch exchange reserves, volume, and price action for continuation or exhaustion. Key keywords: XRP, Binance outflows, exchange reserves, accumulation, crypto rally.

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under key resistance as price fell below $69,000 on Feb 15, with OKX quoting $68,949.90 — an intraday decline of 1.21%. This follows an earlier intraday print on Feb 6 showing BTC around $65,982 (a larger 2.23% drop), indicating short-term volatility in the lead-up to mid-February. Both reports are market updates and do not constitute investment advice; they did not cite specific macro drivers or other market catalysts. Traders should note the short-term weakness in BTC price action, monitor order flow and support around the $66k–$69k area, and watch for broader macro or sentiment shifts that could steer direction. Key SEO keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, OKX, cryptocurrency market.

Argentina’s fintech sector faced a regulatory setback after a major local payment processor (a leading fintech) had its operations suspended following alleged compliance breaches; the move disrupted payments and prompted concern among crypto-friendly startups. Meanwhile, Brazil’s central bank and government officials are weighing the idea of holding Bitcoin as part of official reserves, with policymakers and commentators debating technical, legal and fiscal implications. The Argentina action raises near-term liquidity and operational risks for regional payment firms and could slow crypto adoption domestically. Brazil’s consideration of Bitcoin reserves signals growing institutional interest in crypto at a sovereign level, potentially supporting demand for BTC if policymakers proceed, though practical hurdles — custody, valuation, accounting treatment and volatility — remain. Key themes: regulatory pressure in Argentina, operational impact on fintechs and payments, and sovereign-level discussions in Brazil about adding Bitcoin to reserves.

Paramount Skydance has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, alleging that the company’s generative AI tools (Seedance video and Seedream image platforms, including the new Seedance 2.0) are engaging in blatant copyright infringement. The letter, addressed to ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo and sent by Gabriel Miller (Paramount Skydance’s head of intellectual property), claims the AI outputs reproduce Paramount-owned characters and franchises—naming South Park, SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Trek, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Godfather, Dora the Explorer and Avatar: The Last Airbender—often indistinguishably in visual and audio form. Paramount demands ByteDance stop using its content, remove infringing material, and prevent future violations. The action follows similar complaints from other studios and groups: Disney reportedly sent a comparable notice, and the Motion Picture Association and industry-backed Human Artistry Campaign (with union support including SAG-AFTRA) have publicly criticized Seedance 2.0 for enabling large-scale unauthorized use of copyrighted works. Seedance 2.0 launched in China via the Jianying app and is slated for wider release on CapCut; studios warn the tool lacks adequate safeguards against IP misuse. Primary keywords: Seedance 2.0, ByteDance, copyright infringement, cease-and-desist.

American Bitcoin Corp has increased its corporate Bitcoin reserves to about 6,028 BTC (~$403m at $70k/BTC), rising from roughly 30th to 18th among publicly traded firms by BTC holdings. The company, led by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., uses a hybrid accumulation strategy that combines in-house mining with open-market purchases to build reserves and preserve balance-sheet flexibility during volatile markets. Since its Nasdaq debut in September 2025 the firm’s implied BTC yield and reserves have grown substantially (adding more than ~1,800 BTC since Q3 2025 in earlier reports). The company reported profitability and revenue growth after expanding mining capacity. Shares trade at a notable premium to net asset value (around 3.25x in recent coverage), reflecting investor optimism despite broader macro uncertainty and weaker bitcoin prices. Future reserve growth will depend on mining output, market prices and potential acquisitions. For traders: this signals continued miner accumulation as a structural demand source for BTC, supports medium-term supply tightening among listed miners, and may raise volatility around miner-related liquidity events and company-specific news.

Bitcoin traded under $72,000 as price action tightened within a decision zone that could send the asset toward either $80,000 or $60,000. Recent technical signals show compression (reduced volatility and narrowing range) after a run-up, with key support near $70,000 and resistance around $76,000–$80,000. Analysts highlight that a clear breakout above $80,000 would confirm bullish continuation, while a failure to hold support and a decisive move below $70,000 could trigger momentum selling toward $60,000. Volume and on-chain metrics — including funding rates and whale activity — are noted as critical indicators to watch; elevated long funding or concentrated whale selling could accelerate downside, while balanced funding and steady inflows would favor upside. Traders are advised to monitor breakout confirmation, stop-loss placement around support levels, and position sizing given compressed volatility that can precede sharp moves. Key keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, decision zone, support and resistance, breakout, trading volume, on-chain metrics, funding rates.

Economist Bob Murphy (Mises Institute, infineo) told The Pomp Podcast that in times of true economic uncertainty investors tend to favour gold over Bitcoin as a panic-era safe haven, and may liquidate crypto holdings to raise cash. He argues the global economic order is shifting toward a multipolar system, reducing US dominance, while central banks are actively diversifying reserves away from the dollar — a development Murphy describes as the end of dollar hegemony. Murphy highlighted the Federal Reserve’s outsized role in financing U.S. debt (roughly $4 trillion in treasuries, more than the next several countries combined) and warned that a one percentage-point upward shift in the Treasury yield curve could add about $380 billion in annual interest costs. He also questioned the Fed’s practical independence, pointing to political alignment of Fed actions with fiscal needs during large deficits and calling for restoration of its original, more independent remit. Murphy flagged potential housing-market risks in 2026 tied to Fed policy changes. Key takeaways for traders: preference for gold over BTC during acute uncertainty, central-bank de-dollarization pressures, Fed balance-sheet and interest-rate sensitivity that could spike bond yields and borrowing costs, and heightened geopolitical shifts likely to affect currency and macro risk sentiment.