Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

The Australian dollar (AUD) has remained resilient against the US dollar (USD), holding above the psychological 0.7100 level despite rising inflation expectations that would normally weaken a currency. Technicals show support near 0.7100–0.7080 and resistance at 0.7180 and 0.7250, with the 50-day moving average acting as dynamic support and price action inside an ascending channel. Traders note neutral RSI readings and measured Bollinger Band moves, while volume patterns point to sustained institutional long interest. Fundamentals driving AUD strength include higher commodity prices (iron ore +8.2% quarter, natural gas +12.7%, coal +5.3%, wheat +3.9%), improving trade receipts, and market expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may tighten policy sooner than previously priced — creating relative yield advantages versus the Federal Reserve. Risk sentiment, Chinese stimulus supporting commodity demand, Australia’s political stability and robust liquidity also bolster the currency. Positioning data show balanced speculative exposure with commercial hedgers long AUD and options demand skewed toward upside protection. Key takeaways for traders: monitor 0.7100 and 0.7080 as support, 0.7180–0.7250 as resistance, watch RBA and Fed communications for policy divergence cues, and track commodity prices and China growth data for directional bias. This is not trading advice.

Hong Kong-based DePin firm zkME Technology won the $20,000 PitchFest prize at Consensus Hong Kong after a two-day startup competition. zkME, which says it has 3.5 million users and is raising a Series A round, pitched an identity verification solution it describes as essential infrastructure to help DeFi reach mainstream adoption. Founder and CEO David Alexander Scheer argued 2026 will deepen TradFi–DeFi convergence. Judges included representatives from Bullish Capital Management, CMT Digital, Fabric Ventures and YZi Labs. Runner-up Hubble AI presented an AI-powered platform for building bespoke trading strategies via natural-language prompts, stressing it supplies infrastructure rather than finished strategies. Other finalists included Onchain Labs (tokenized real-world assets), Coinbax (DePin infrastructure with a planned mainnet rollout in Q2) and several semi-finalists across tokenized RWA, DePin and AI sectors. Key takeaways for traders: zkME’s win highlights investor interest in identity and compliance primitives for mainstream DeFi growth. Hubble AI’s runner-up showing signals growing crossover between AI and trading infrastructure. Projects focused on tokenized real-world assets and DePin infrastructure continue to attract attention, suggesting potential flow of venture funding into RWA, identity, and AI-enabled trading tools.

Commerzbank warns that persistently elevated global oil prices are raising upside inflation risks for Switzerland and could challenge the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) price-stability mandate. Switzerland imports nearly all crude and refined petroleum; sustained Brent crude strength over the past 18+ months is feeding higher costs for transportation, heating and imported goods, which will filter into the CPI. Key CPI components sensitive to oil include transportation (~7% weight), housing & energy (~15%), and import-dependent goods (~30%). A historically strong franc has helped blunt imported inflation, but concurrent supply shocks across commodities weaken that buffer. Commerzbank flags geopolitical tensions and OPEC+ production choices as primary drivers. Implications for policy and markets: the SNB may reduce currency interventions or accelerate rate normalization to contain inflation, potentially diminishing the franc’s safe-haven appeal and raising volatility in FX and export sectors. Higher inflation could erode real returns on franc assets and squeeze household purchasing power, while a firmer franc would hurt export competitiveness for watchmaking, pharmaceuticals and machinery. Traders should monitor SNB communications, Brent crude trends, and OPEC+ signals — shifts could alter FX flows, interest-rate expectations and risk allocation. (Main keywords: Swiss franc, inflation, oil prices, SNB, Brent crude.)

Hyperliquid (HYPE) has shown renewed buying and improving technicals after defending a $28 support zone. Spot and derivatives activity surged: recent reports show spot volume between $323M–$480M (24h), derivatives volume up to $1.63B, and open interest rising to $1.39B–$1.57B, indicating fresh positioning by traders. On-chain moves include Arthur Hayes adding ~20,274 HYPE (~$603K) and Nasdaq-associated Hyperliquid Strategies building a large treasury—buying 5M HYPE for $129.5M (avg $25.90) in one report and holding ~12.6M–17.6M HYPE with ~$125M–$300M cash across summaries—further tightening circulating supply. Other spot accumulation occurred in the $22–$28 range and significant staking by large holders has reduced liquid supply. Technical indicators improved: price reclaimed the 50-day MA (~$30.4), RSI around mid-40s–50s, MACD recently crossed bullish, and Bollinger Bands show a $23–$24 lower band and ~$37 upper band. Key levels: support $28 (invalidated below ~$27 daily close), immediate resistance $32–$35, decisive breakout would target $37–$40 (and psychological $48–$50 in earlier analysis). Risks: rising open interest can amplify liquidations if price fails to follow through; a daily close below $27 would negate the bullish setup. Trader takeaways: watch $32–$35 for confirmation of a breakout, monitor open interest and derivatives flows for aggressive positioning and liquidation risk, and consider institutional/treasury accumulation and whale buys as bullish fundamental catalysts that could reduce supply and increase demand for HYPE.

Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley said a wealth-management client purchased $11 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) during the recent market correction — their first crypto investment after roughly two years of discussions with the firm. Horsley said some institutional and high‑net‑worth investors view the recent price decline as an entry opportunity rather than a risk, citing Bitcoin’s limited supply and long‑term value proposition. The move illustrates continued institutional interest in Bitcoin despite short‑term volatility and underscores demand from wealth managers exploring crypto allocations. Analysts quoted by Bitwise recommend risk‑management strategies to handle volatility. Key points: $11M Bitcoin purchase, first-time investor after ~2 years of engagement, institutional/HNW interest framed as buying opportunity, emphasis on BTC’s long-term narrative and limited supply.

Flipster FZE, the Middle East arm of global crypto trading platform Flipster, has received in-principle approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to progress toward offering regulated virtual asset services in the UAE. The approval clears the path for Flipster to launch spot trading as its initial regulated product. Flipster cites VARA’s clear regulatory framework as a key reason for expanding into the UAE and the wider Middle East. The firm has bolstered compliance and market security by partnering with Chainalysis for transaction monitoring and risk management. Benjamin Grolimund, Flipster FZE’s General Manager and a veteran from Rain and Bloomberg, was appointed to lead the regional expansion announced in May 2025. Flipster positions itself as a regulated exchange focused on dependable execution, transparent pricing and security, aiming to use the UAE’s evolving virtual asset regulation as a base for broader global growth. This is a sponsored press release and not investment advice.

BYDFi sponsored Solana Accelerate APAC during Consensus Hong Kong 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, marking the exchange’s first deeper involvement in Solana-focused programming. The presence aimed to connect BYDFi with Solana builders, institutional participants, policymakers and developers across the Asia–Pacific region. At its booth BYDFi promoted a CEX+DEX dual-engine approach and showcased MoonX, its onchain trading engine with Solana support for fast execution and onchain market discovery. The firm emphasized operational safeguards to build trust: over 1:1 Proof of Reserves with periodic public reports, an 800 BTC Protection Fund, and 24/7 multilingual customer support. BYDFi said its goals were to gather feedback from Solana-native users, explore collaborations to strengthen product coverage, improve user experience and expand market access as the crypto market matures. Founded in 2020, BYDFi serves over 1 million users in 190+ countries and is Newcastle United’s official crypto exchange partner. For traders: the sponsorship signals BYDFi’s strategic push into Solana ecosystem integration and onchain trading infrastructure (MoonX), which could increase liquidity and trading venues for SOL if integrations advance and attract Solana-native order flow.

ARK Invest argues that by 2026 Bitcoin has shifted from an optional, fringe asset to a strategic allocation for institutions. Four structural trends underpin this view: (1) Macro and policy tailwinds — easing monetary conditions, early Fed rate cuts, and large low-yield cash pools rotating into risk assets; (2) Structural ownership — rapid adoption of spot Bitcoin ETFs, corporate treasuries and Digital Asset Trusts (DATs) absorbing newly mined and dormant supply; (3) Sovereign and corporate reserves — some U.S. federal holdings and state-level purchases (e.g., Texas) plus corporate holders like MicroStrategy and DATs increasing long-term reserves; (4) Bitcoin’s evolving relationship with gold — Bitcoin seen as a high-beta, digital store-of-value with ETF AUM growth outpacing gold’s early ETF adoption. ARK cites data showing ETFs and DATs holding a material share of circulating BTC (over 12% by 2025 in their projection) and large institutional and sovereign positions (e.g., a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve of ~325,437 BTC). Market structure has matured: drawdowns and volatility have compressed compared with prior cycles, liquidity and custody infrastructure improved, and long-term holding has historically outperformed timing strategies. ARK concludes the strategic question for investors has moved from “whether to allocate” to “how much and via which channels.” Primary keywords: Bitcoin, spot Bitcoin ETF, institutional adoption, store of value. Secondary/semantic keywords: BTC, ETF AUM, digital asset custody, sovereign reserve, market maturity.

Huobi HTX announced support for Aztec Network (AZTEC). Deposits for AZTEC opened on Feb 12 at 17:30 (GMT+8). AZTEC/USDT spot trading begins Feb 12 at 19:00 (GMT+8). Withdrawals will be enabled Feb 13 at 19:00 (GMT+8). Aztec Network is a general-purpose Layer-2 solution that supports both public and private smart-contract states, allowing developers to build applications that keep transaction data, balances and contract logic confidential. This listing may increase AZTEC liquidity and market visibility, providing traders direct access to spot pairs on a major exchange. Primary keywords: Aztec, AZTEC, Huobi HTX, spot trading, Layer-2. Secondary keywords: privacy, deposits, withdrawals, AZTEC/USDT.

The Indian rupee staged a sharp recovery in early 2025 after suspected Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervention in spot and futures markets. USD/INR has dropped about 0.8% in two sessions, pulling back from December multi-month highs near 83.40 and focusing market attention on the 82.00–82.50 support zone. Reports cite dollar sales by state-run banks acting for the RBI; India’s forex reserves (around $650bn) provide the firepower for these operations. Key drivers reinforcing the rupee include a narrower current account deficit, renewed foreign portfolio inflows, strong GDP growth projections for FY2025, and a consolidating US dollar (DXY). Elevated global oil prices and Fed policy remain important external risks. Market responses: importers are hedging at improved rates, exporters are adjusting hedges, and options markets show reduced demand for dollar-call protection. Traders view RBI intervention as effective for arresting one-way speculative moves, though economists note intervention affects short-term volatility more than long-term trends, which depend on fundamentals such as trade balances, interest-rate differentials, and inflation. Primary keywords: USD/INR, RBI intervention, Indian Rupee, forex reserves. Secondary keywords: current account deficit, FPI inflows, DXY, oil prices, currency hedging.

Russia has moved to restrict access to Meta’s WhatsApp, with authorities attempting to fully block the service and push users toward Max, a state-aligned multifunction app developed by VK. Meta warned the action could cut off over 100 million Russian users from end-to-end encrypted messaging, harming privacy and safety. Russian regulators say foreign platforms must comply with local laws on data storage and law-enforcement cooperation; Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said restrictions could be lifted if Meta meets these requirements. Max, preinstalled on new phones by mandate, combines messaging, payments, digital ID and government services but lacks strong end-to-end encryption, raising surveillance and privacy concerns. The move is part of a broader “sovereign internet” push: regulators have also throttled Telegram and limited other foreign services (e.g., FaceTime). Critics — rights groups, privacy advocates and some independent media — warn the strategy centralises control over digital communications and could enable state monitoring. For crypto traders, continued restrictions on WhatsApp and Telegram risk disrupting market communications, trading groups, and information flow used for price discovery and coordination.

Sonic (formerly Fantom) announced a strategic overhaul to adopt vertical integration, aiming to retain more economic value inside its ecosystem and boost the S coin’s intrinsic value. Sonic Labs will build or acquire high-throughput financial applications — trading, lending, payments and risk management — rather than relying solely on low gas fees and open block space. Network-generated revenue from these flagship products will be funneled into open-market buybacks of S coin, creating a feedback loop intended to make S coin a genuine investment asset instead of only a utility or governance token. The plan complements the existing FeeM system (developers keep 90% of tx fees) and leverages Sonic’s high-speed, low-latency chain capable of processing hundreds of thousands of transactions per second. Sonic cited industry trends—Layer‑2s, modular designs and abundant block space—that have weakened the traditional gas-fee revenue model and motivated the pivot. The approach is inspired by tightly integrated platforms like Hyperliquid and follows moves by figures such as Andre Cronje (notably his Flying Tulip exchange) to blend application and protocol. Sonic positions this overhaul as a blueprint for infrastructure providers to become financial platforms, with strategic acquisitions and in-house products intended to minimize “value leakage” and inject profits directly into the S coin.

Binance has finished converting its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) into roughly $1 billion of Bitcoin, accumulating about 15,000 BTC at an average cost near $67,000 per coin. Arkham on-chain tracking shows a final tranche of ~4,545 BTC (~$304.6M) completed in under two weeks, faster than the initially announced 30-day plan. Binance says it will rebalance SAFU if the fund value falls below $800 million. The move effectively makes BTC Binance’s core reserve asset and aligns with other large institutional BTC holdings reported in the market. Market context: Bitcoin experienced a sharp correction (briefly below $60k) amid extremely low Fear & Greed readings and increased short positioning by sophisticated traders. Technicals show BTC in a downtrend with RSI near oversold (~30), support levels around $65.8k and $60k, and resistances near $69.3k and $73.1k. Derivatives data indicate neutral-to-slightly-negative funding and stable open interest, suggesting reduced leverage and cautious positioning rather than a broad liquidation-driven squeeze. Implications for traders: Binance’s large reserve purchase can underpin institutional confidence and reduce counterparty reserve risk, possibly providing structural support for BTC. However, near-term price pressure remains likely given prevailing negative sentiment and net-short positioning among “smart money.” The $800M rebalance threshold sets a potential safeguard level that traders can watch as a technical/catalyst point. Overall, expect elevated volatility; traders should monitor on-chain flows, funding rates, open interest, and any SAFU rebalancing activity for directional clues.

The American Bankers Association (ABA) has asked the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to delay approvals of national trust bank charters for crypto and stablecoin firms until the regulatory framework under the GENIUS Act is clarified. In comment letters on the OCC’s proposed national trust charter rulemaking, the ABA warned that digital-asset applicants face overlapping, unsettled oversight from federal and state regulators and that conditional charters could grant firms access to Federal Reserve services and national licensing before their full regulatory obligations are defined. The ABA flagged unresolved safety-and-soundness, operational and resolution risks for uninsured, limited-purpose digital-asset trust banks, citing customer-asset segregation, conflicts of interest, cybersecurity and potential circumvention of SEC/CFTC oversight. It requested greater transparency on capital, operational and resilience requirements in conditional approvals and urged the OCC to bar non-bank trust firms from using “bank” in their names to avoid consumer confusion. The plea follows recent OCC conditional approvals for several crypto firms (including BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, Ripple, Paxos and others). For traders: the move could delay crypto firms’ access to Fed rails and regulated settlement, prolong regulatory uncertainty around stablecoins and custody, and increase compliance scrutiny — factors that can affect liquidity, institutional flows and market structure decisions.

CryptoQuant contributor Woo Min-gyu warns the Bitcoin Composite Market Index (BCMI) has fallen to the low 0.2s — a range that historically marked the start of major Bitcoin bear markets in 2018 and 2022. The BCMI aggregates four metrics (MVRV, NUPL, SOPR and investor sentiment) and moved from a neutral ~0.5 in October 2024 directly into the low 0.2s without a rebound through the 0.3 range. This composite decline signals simultaneous valuation compression, rising realized losses, weakening sentiment and increased selling pressure. Historically, cycle bottoms occurred near 0.10–0.15; Woo notes the market hasn’t reached that panic-sell level yet, so a final bottom could still be ahead. He advises monitoring recovery to the 0.4–0.5 neutral range as a key threshold; failure to recover would support the view of a structural bear market. Contextual factors — regulation, institutional flows, macro policy — may modulate the outcome. Traders should treat the BCMI as an important risk indicator, using the specified thresholds (0.4–0.5 recovery, 0.10–0.15 bottom) to guide position sizing, stop placement and timeframe decisions. This is not investment advice.

Moonpay has launched Moonpay Deposits, a feature enabling native fiat-to-crypto deposits directly inside crypto wallets, and announced an integration with Telegram Wallet. The deposit product lets users top up wallets in local currencies using multiple payment methods without leaving the wallet app, aiming to reduce friction and improve conversion for on-ramps. The Telegram Wallet integration makes Moonpay’s fiat rails available to Telegram users and developers, expanding access to instant fiat deposits across Telegram’s crypto ecosystem. Moonpay emphasized compliance and local payment options in its rollout and positioned the move as part of broader efforts to embed regulated fiat on-ramps into the wallets and apps where users already interact. The launch targets increased user acquisition and smoother entry for retail crypto buyers while strengthening Moonpay’s distribution through partnerships with wallet providers and platforms like Telegram.

Bitcoin (BTC) remains stalled near $67,000 after failing to sustain a rebound from a recent dip below $66,000; BTC is down about 5% on the week and its market cap sits around $1.34 trillion with dominance at roughly 56.6%. The broader crypto market cap stays below $2.4 trillion. Among altcoins, MYX Finance (MYX) is the day’s biggest loser, plunging nearly 40% to under $3.30. Notable gainers include HYPE and HBAR (each ≈+5% daily), while PIPPIN leads with an 11% daily and ~190% weekly surge toward $0.50. ETH remains below $2,000, XRP under $1.40, and BNB is the only top-five asset holding above $600. Traders should note elevated volatility in small-cap tokens like MYX and PIPPIN and the continued weakness in BTC recovery attempts, which may keep risk-on flows uneven and sentiment fragile in the short term.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has approved rules allowing licensed brokers to offer margin financing for digital assets and establishing a principles-based framework permitting licensed trading platforms to list leveraged perpetual contracts (Perps) for professional investors. Under the new regime — part of the SFC’s ASPIRe roadmap (Access, Safeguards, Products, Infrastructure, Relationships) — only Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) may be accepted as collateral for margin loans. Brokers may extend virtual-asset financing to eligible securities margin clients who meet credit, collateral quality and suitability requirements. Perpetual contracts can be offered to professional investors under strict controls: robust valuation, margining, exposure limits, collateral haircuts, liquidation procedures, operational separation for affiliated market makers and conflict-of-interest safeguards. The SFC says the rules mirror securities-margin structures to enable “responsible leverage” that deepens liquidity and improves price discovery without threatening financial stability. The regulator also plans a Digital Asset Accelerator and broader 2026 proposals covering crypto advisory services. Traders should note: (1) access to institutional leverage in Hong Kong is expanding, likely increasing BTC/ETH derivatives volumes; (2) collateral risk is concentrated on BTC and ETH only; and (3) Perps are limited to professional clients, keeping retail exposure restricted. Keywords: Hong Kong crypto regulation, margin financing, perpetual contracts, Bitcoin collateral, Ethereum collateral, SFC ASPIRe.

Binance confirmed that its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) completed the final tranche purchase of 4,545 BTC, finishing a planned BTC conversion worth roughly $1 billion within the pledged 30‑day window. The move brings SAFU’s total BTC holdings to 15,000 BTC (about $1.005 billion) and fully allocates SAFU as a long‑term Bitcoin reserve. The conversion was executed via on‑chain transactions previously tracked and announced; Binance states the purchases followed the scheduled plan and offers the update as market information, not investment advice. For traders: the conversion increases Binance’s direct on‑chain BTC reserves and could modestly reduce exchange‑available liquidity if coins move to cold storage, which can create short‑term supply pressure. Monitor on‑chain flows and any further Binance communications for possible short‑term volatility around large transfers, but the company frames this as a risk‑management step rather than a response to an immediate solvency issue.

Binance Co‑CEO Richard Teng told Consensus Hong Kong that the large crypto liquidation event on Oct. 11 (reported also as Oct. 10 in some time zones) was a systemic, macro-driven shock affecting both centralized and decentralized venues, not caused by Binance. Roughly 75% of crypto liquidations clustered around 9:00 p.m. ET and totaled about $19 billion, coinciding with a stablecoin depeg and temporary asset-transfer slowdowns amid broader macro news — Chinese rare‑earth export controls and a new round of U.S. tariffs. Teng said Binance saw no evidence of mass withdrawals, cited two isolated operational issues that day (a stablecoin depeg and transfer delays), and said the exchange assisted affected users while facilitating $34 trillion in 2023 trading volume across 300 million users. He contrasted crypto liquidations with larger equity-market impacts that day and said institutional capital continues to flow into crypto despite geopolitical and interest‑rate uncertainty, even as retail demand softens. Trader takeaways: the event appears systemic and macro-driven rather than exchange-specific; concentrated liquidation timing raises cross‑exchange contagion risk; monitor macro policy, geopolitical developments, stablecoin stability, and exchange withdrawal/transfer activity as near‑term market drivers.

ARK Invest purchased a sizable stake in crypto-related stocks as Bitcoin fell below $66,000. The firm acquired 433,806 Robinhood (HOOD) shares for about $33.8 million, 364,134 Bullish (BLSH) shares (~$11.6M) and 75,559 Circle (CRCL) shares (~$4.4M). The buys came while the three stocks were trading lower (Robinhood down ~9%) and after ARK reduced its Coinbase (COIN) position last week by selling roughly $17M. Robinhood is now the largest crypto-linked holding in ARK’s ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), representing ~4.1% (~$248M) of the fund. The purchases coincided with Robinhood’s testnet launch of Robinhood Chain (an L2 focused on financial services and tokenized real-world assets) and the company reporting record Q4 2025 net revenue of $1.28B, which missed Street estimates and pressured the stock. Broad market weakness extended to US spot Bitcoin ETFs, which saw $276.3M of net outflows on the day and reduced total AUM to $85.7B—the lowest since early Nov 2024. Ether ETFs recorded $129.2M in outflows; Solana funds had modest inflows. At publication, BTC traded near $67K. For traders: ARK’s accumulation signals institutional interest in crypto-adjacent equities despite ETF outflows and BTC weakness; Robinhood becoming ARK’s top crypto holding may boost demand for HOOD shares but ETF outflows and revenue misses introduce short-term volatility.

Bitcoin has slipped beneath the average cost basis of short-term holders, intensifying market concerns and signaling early bear-market dynamics. CryptoQuant data show short-term investors entered near ~$94,200 and face unrealized losses near 28% as BTC traded around $67,000–$67,200. Analysts highlight evaporating capital inflows and heightened illiquidity, reducing buyers who would normally “buy the dip.” Technicals worsened after BTC breached the .382 Fibonacci retracement; the next key support cited is the .618 level near $57,800. Bitfinex analysts note long-term holders have resumed accumulation, increasing reserves to ~14.3 million BTC, which could indicate a mid-cycle reset rather than a terminal collapse. Ethereum also weakened, sliding below the $2,000 psychological level to about $1,950, with limited altcoin recovery. Traders should watch for renewed capital inflows, macroeconomic data, and potential institutional moves as catalysts that may determine whether supports hold or lower zones are tested.

Ark Investment Management purchased about $16 million of crypto-related equities on Feb. 11, 2025, buying $11.6 million of Bullish (regulated exchange) and $4.4 million of Circle (USDC issuer). Disclosed in regulatory filings and reported by The Block, the trades were executed via Ark funds and continue Cathie Wood’s focus on disruptive innovation and crypto infrastructure rather than direct token exposure. Analysts interpret the larger allocation to Bullish as a bet on exchange infrastructure and liquidity, while the Circle stake underscores strategic emphasis on compliant stablecoins amid advancing US and EU regulation. Market reaction was muted: both equities saw small upticks in volume and modest price movement, and broader crypto markets registered limited immediate impact. The purchases signal growing institutional interest in regulated exchange and stablecoin providers, potentially attracting more analyst coverage and validating these firms’ roles in crypto infrastructure. For traders, the move suggests increased institutional confidence in regulated infrastructure plays, offering a pathway for diversified crypto exposure while regulatory and market volatility remain key risks.

The January 2025 US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report surprised to the upside with a +275,000 payroll gain (consensus +200k) and an unchanged 3.7% unemployment rate. Average hourly earnings (YoY) moderated to +4.3% and labor force participation edged up to 62.8%. Standard Chartered says these metrics support its “gradual recovery” thesis—steady, moderate growth without a sharp recession or runaway inflation—and expects the Fed to remain patient on rate cuts through mid‑2025. Sector gains were concentrated in healthcare, government and leisure; manufacturing and retail were weaker. Market reactions included modestly higher Treasury yields, a stronger USD, and rotation toward cyclicals such as financials and industrials. Key stats: NFP +275K, unemployment 3.7%, wages +4.3%, participation 62.8%, 3‑month avg payrolls ~225K. For traders, the report implies a “higher for longer” rate outlook, reduced probability of near‑term rate cuts, and potential pressure on interest‑sensitive assets—while benefiting risk assets if growth expectations hold. Primary keywords: NFP, Nonfarm Payrolls, Federal Reserve, gradual recovery, labor market. Secondary/semantic keywords: payrolls, unemployment rate, wage growth, treasury yields, USD strength, sector rotation.

Binance announced it will delist 13 spot trading pairs on Feb 13, 2025 at 08:00 UTC as part of routine market optimization. Affected pairs: AT/BNB, AVAX/BNB, BANANA/BTC, COTI/BTC, FF/BNB, HIVE/BTC, IO/BNB, LRC/BTC, MANA/BTC, SAGA/BNB, W/FDUSD, XPL/BNB, and ZK/BTC. The move targets underperforming pairs with low volume and liquidity; the underlying tokens remain available on Binance via other pairs (e.g., AT/USDT, AVAX/USDT). Traders should close or adjust positions and cancel open orders before the deadline — after delisting pending orders will be cancelled and funds remain withdrawable. Binance frames the action as routine maintenance aligned with its listing/maintenance criteria: trading volume, liquidity depth, network stability, project activity and compliance. Market effects typically include short-term volatility and temporary volume spikes as users rebalance, followed by liquidity consolidation into fewer, deeper markets which can improve price discovery and reduce slippage. For traders: monitor affected pairs, migrate positions to alternative pairs, and follow official Binance channels for updates. Keywords: Binance delisting, delist trading pairs, liquidity consolidation, AT/BNB, AVAX/BNB.

Brent crude prices climbed sharply as escalating geopolitical tensions raised fears of supply interruptions, Deutsche Bank’s commodity research team says. The bank attributes roughly 40% of the recent price rise to geopolitical risk premiums — driven by renewed Middle East conflicts, shipping-route vulnerabilities (notably the Strait of Hormuz), attacks on production facilities, and instability in regions including the Arctic, Africa and parts of South America. Key structural vulnerabilities cited include maritime chokepoints, pipeline security, production concentration and storage logistics. Deutsche Bank’s models combine production data, inventories and geopolitical risk indices; their economists estimate a 10% jump in Brent can add about 0.3–0.4 percentage points to global inflation in following quarters. The report highlights that today’s market differs from earlier crises because of higher interest rates, accelerated energy-transition investments and changed strategic reserve policies, increasing volatility as algorithmic trading reacts to real-time news. Traders typically raise hedging and reduce position sizes during such episodes, which can lower liquidity and amplify price swings. For traders, this means heightened short-term price risk, opportunities from volatility-driven dislocations, and the need for stricter risk management while monitoring regional developments and supply-chain indicators.

Solana (SOL) shows short-term price weakness on the one‑hour chart despite a record spike in network activity. H1 price action indicates fading upside momentum after a failed rebound from the low‑$90s; SOL traded near $82.9 after losing a consolidation band around $85–$88, turning prior range support into resistance and exposing overhead supply in the low‑to‑mid $90s. On-chain metrics paint a contrasting picture: Artemis data (via SolanaFloor) recorded roughly 959 million transactions for the week ending Feb. 8, the highest weekly total in the dataset and a sharp jump from recent 400–600M weeks. The broader trend since late 2023 shows higher highs and higher lows in weekly transactions, signaling expanding baseline usage despite volatile week‑to‑week readings. Key takeaways for traders: short-term technical bias is bearish unless SOL reclaims and closes above the $85–$88 range; strong network throughput may support longer-term fundamentals, but price remains vulnerable to follow‑through selling and overhead supply in the low‑$90s.

BlockFills, a Chicago-based institutional crypto trading and lending firm backed by Susquehanna Private Equity and CME Group’s VC arm, has temporarily suspended client deposits and withdrawals after a sharp market sell-off that saw Bitcoin drop toward $60,000 before partially rebounding. The firm calls the move a precaution to protect clients and its operations. Trading (opening and closing positions) remains available but with restrictions: positions or loans requiring additional margin may be closed. BlockFills provides spot and derivatives execution, structured products and crypto-backed lending to miners, hedge funds and professional counterparties. The company has not given a timeline for restoring full deposit/withdrawal access and cited heightened market volatility as the reason without further detail. Market context: BTC fell roughly 2% in 24 hours and about 8% over seven days in cited data, with ETH, XRP and SOL also showing declines. The suspension revives memories of 2022 liquidity crises (Celsius, Voyager, BlockFi, Genesis) when withdrawal freezes contributed to contagion and insolvencies. For traders: expect elevated volatility, wider lending and funding spreads, constrained exit options and potential margin squeezes on leveraged positions until deposits/withdrawals resume. Monitor official BlockFills updates, on-chain flows, futures basis and institutional lending rates for signs of contagion, liquidity stress or resolution.

OCBC analysis finds USD/JPY trading in a defined range: supportive capital flows (yield differentials, carry trades, Japanese institutional allocations) underpin the dollar, while structural limits cap further appreciation. Key drivers: a ~350bp gap between 10-year US and Japanese yields (early‑2025), corporate hedging and portfolio rebalancing. Caps to upside include Japan’s improving current account, possible Bank of Japan yield curve control normalization, historical intervention zones and valuation-driven mean reversion. OCBC flags resistance around 152.00, 153.50, 155.00 and 157.50 — areas of elevated volatility and hedging. Trading implications: range-bound strategies, close monitoring of central bank guidance and yields, cautious position sizing near intervention levels. For traders, the main keyword is USD/JPY: expect stability from structural flows but limited trend continuation unless yield differentials widen or BOJ policy shifts materially.