Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Aman Khan republished a post adapted from a conversation with Aakash Gupta outlining five practical skills an AI product manager (AI PM) uses daily: rapid AI prototyping, observability (LLM tracing), structured AI evaluations, technical intuition for choosing between prompt engineering/RAG/fine-tuning, and close PM-engineer collaboration. Khan emphasizes hands-on practice—coding simple prototypes with tools like Cursor, tracing AI interactions with APMs, creating small eval sets to measure qualities (accuracy, conciseness, friendliness), and working directly with engineers on labeling and model reviews. He provides a four-week transition plan (tool setup, observation, measurement, collaboration) and urges PMs to embrace being beginners, iterate quickly, and treat eval metrics as new product north stars. Primary keywords: AI product management, AI PM skills, prototyping, observability, AI evals. Secondary/semantic keywords: LLM tracing, RAG, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, model evaluation, PM-engineer partnership. This guidance is practical for product teams adopting LLMs and agents and is aimed at accelerating effective AI product development through measurable QA and closer cross-functional workflows.

El Salvador’s Central Reserve Bank (BCR) purchased 9,298 troy ounces of gold (~$50 million), raising national gold holdings to 67,403 ounces (≈$360 million). The BCR said the buy strengthens long-term international reserves and keeps reserve composition balanced; it did not set a future target. President Nayib Bukele amplified the announcement as the government continues on-chain Bitcoin accumulation. Arkham Intelligence on-chain data and other sources show El Salvador buying roughly one BTC per day, bringing holdings to about 7,547–7,546 BTC (≈$618–$619.5 million at recent prices). The moves come amid a broader central-bank and institutional shift into bullion and safe havens — global central banks added substantial gold in 2025 — and a strong year-to-date rally in gold. Market reaction has included short-term pullbacks in both gold and Bitcoin from recent intraday highs. For traders: the dual accumulation of gold and BTC signals a continued state-backed bid for Bitcoin that may provide underlying demand support, while the gold purchase reflects reserve diversification amid safe-haven flows. Primary keywords: El Salvador gold purchase, Bitcoin accumulation, central bank reserves. Secondary/semantic keywords: on-chain buys, bullion reserves, international reserves, Bukele.

Hong Kong will establish a comprehensive stablecoin licensing regime and new crypto tax reporting framework to position itself as a leading digital-asset hub. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) plans phased implementation beginning in 2025: legislation for stablecoin issuer licensing and reserve, redemption, governance, audit and transparency rules will be submitted to the Legislative Council this year. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will introduce custody licensing with mandatory security measures (cold storage, multi-signature), asset segregation, insurance and independent audits. From 2028 the Inland Revenue Department will expand tax reporting for virtual assets and enable automatic international information exchange under frameworks aligned with the OECD’s CARF and CRS; technical specs and consultations run through 2025–2028. The rules will cover fiat-, commodity- and algorithmic stablecoins with stricter safeguards for algorithmic types. Regulators aim to boost institutional participation, protect consumers, and reduce tax-evasion risks while maintaining Hong Kong’s competitiveness. Market impact: clearer rules may attract regulated stablecoin issuers and custodians, encourage banks and asset managers to offer crypto services, and raise compliance costs—especially for smaller firms. Implementation will require new monitoring, reporting and secure data-exchange infrastructure and could prompt industry consolidation and increased hiring in compliance and legal teams.

Istanbul prosecutors have frozen roughly €460 million in cryptocurrency connected to an illegal gambling investigation centered on suspect Veysel Şahin. Financial analysis by Turkey’s anti-money-laundering unit (MASAK) identified proceeds allegedly derived from criminal betting operations and infrastructure support. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office expanded the probe to include violations of Law 7258 and money laundering, seizing moveable and immovable assets, company and partnership shares, and bank and exchange accounts. Magistrates approved seizure requests to block asset transfers. The €460 million was frozen by global firms holding the accounts abroad; Turkish authorities say legal and technical steps are ongoing to repatriate those crypto assets through international cooperation. Prosecutors stressed that cryptocurrencies are being actively tracked as part of broader efforts to combat financial crimes. Keywords: cryptocurrency freeze, illegal gambling, money laundering, asset seizure, MASAK, international cooperation.

Bybit has announced the spot listing of privacy-focused token ZAMA, opening trading pairs against USDT and USDC. The exchange confirmed the listing on November 15, 2024, with trading to begin within days. Bybit will apply its tiered fee structure and standard security measures—multi-signature wallets, cold storage, and its high-throughput matching engine. ZAMA is a privacy coin using zero-knowledge proof research from academic teams, with a circulating supply of 85 million and a max supply of 210 million. Recent on-chain and DEX metrics show ~47% quarterly volume growth and a 30-day average daily volume near $18.5M. Industry data suggests new exchange listings often produce short-term volume spikes (300–500%) and price bumps (historically 15–25% in 48 hours), though outcomes vary with market conditions. Bybit’s listing committee cited technical audits, liquidity and regulatory review in its selection process. Initially spot-only, derivatives or margin products may follow if demand and regulatory clarity allow. For traders: expect increased liquidity and accessibility for ZAMA, potential short-term volatility around listing, and longer-term implications tied to privacy-coin regulatory developments.

Nubank has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a federal U.S. branch, marking a key regulatory step toward offering integrated banking and crypto custody services in the United States. The OCC’s conditional license allows Nubank to operate under a federal banking framework once it meets specified pre-opening requirements — including cybersecurity, liquidity, capital levels, Bank Secrecy Act/AML controls and other operational and compliance conditions — during a defined preparation period. After meeting OCC conditions, Nubank must also secure FDIC deposit insurance and Federal Reserve approvals, fully capitalize the U.S. entity within 12 months and open the branch within 18 months. Nubank has already identified Miami, the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern Virginia and North Carolina’s Research Triangle as initial U.S. hubs and previously launched crypto services in Brazil via a Paxos partnership in 2022. Analysts say the OCC signpost could create a regulatory playbook for other banks seeking to custody digital assets and may increase legitimacy for bank-backed crypto custody solutions. For crypto traders, implications include potential competitive pressure on U.S. neobanks and custodians, greater regulatory clarity for bank-hosted custody (which can shift retail flows toward federally regulated solutions), and possible changes in on-chain liquidity and exchange volumes as retail users access federally insured services. No final charter has been issued; timelines typically span several months and depend on Nubank meeting the OCC’s specific conditions.

A Reuters investigation says wealthy Iranians moved about $1.5 billion to Dubai banks and cryptocurrency platforms in recent months, driven by fears of widening protests and potential strikes following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. The transfers included formal bank deposits and crypto conversions, with funds routed through UAE banks and regulated crypto exchanges. Sources told Reuters that some transfers used conventional banking channels while others used digital assets to bypass scrutiny. Dubai’s financial institutions and exchanges acknowledged customer inflows but emphasized compliance with regulations. The report highlights increased capital flight from Iran, the growing role of crypto as a conduit for cross-border transfers, and heightened scrutiny by international banks and regulators. Primary implications include risks to regional financial stability, enforcement challenges for sanctions, and potential regulatory responses targeting crypto on-ramps.

President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair when Powell’s term ends in May. Warsh, a former Fed governor and ex‑Morgan Stanley banker, has known ties to the crypto sector: he invested in the algorithmic stablecoin project Basis and has advised crypto‑focused venture firm Electric Capital. The nomination was announced on Truth Social. The pick follows earlier reports that Warsh was a finalist among candidates including Kevin Hassett, Rick Rieder and Christopher Waller. Markets and crypto outlets note Warsh’s past commentary and policy positions have led some to view him as potentially bearish for bitcoin and other risk assets. Traders should expect elevated volatility around the nomination and confirmation process, possible shifts in interest‑rate expectations, and changes to liquidity conditions if perceived White House influence alters Fed policy. Watch price reactions in BTC and other major tokens, as well as rates and risk‑asset flows, for short‑term trading opportunities and updated positioning for medium‑term macro-driven trends.

Bitcoin fell toward $81,000 (near-term lows since November), triggering coordinated interventions from major crypto firms. Binance said it will convert its user protection fund from stablecoins into bitcoin and commit to repurchasing BTC to restore the fund to $1 billion if it dips below $800 million. Tron founder Justin Sun said Tron will also buy more bitcoin. The sell-off pushed BTC down more than 6% in 24 hours to roughly $82,700 at one point; other large tokens including ETH, XRP, SOL, DOGE and BNB logged similar losses. BTC dominance slipped to ~59%. U.S. macro factors cited as headwinds include tightening dollar liquidity and the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed chair, both of which can weigh on risk assets. Spot BTC ETFs registered heavy outflows (~$818m daily), while spot ETH ETFs saw ~$156m net outflows. Market indicators: BTC ~ $82k, ETH ~ $2.7k, BTC funding on Binance low positive, CME futures OI ~117,145 BTC. Traders should watch liquidity, ETF flows, and whether buy-support from exchanges/foundations provides a durable price floor or only temporary relief.

OSL Group, a Hong Kong–listed digital-asset firm, completed a $200 million equity financing round to accelerate expansion of institutional stablecoin trading and global digital payment services. Proceeds will fund acquisitions of licensed trading and payments businesses, product development for payments and stablecoins, core technology upgrades, and working capital. The raise follows a prior $300 million round and builds on recent moves including the Banxa acquisition and launch of OSL BizPay for corporate payments. OSL says the funding strengthens its balance sheet, diversifies shareholders, and provides flexibility to pursue regulated trading and payment licences as demand for compliant blockchain settlement grows amid tighter regulation. Key SEO keywords: OSL Group, stablecoin trading, digital payments, equity financing, USDGO. OSL’s emphasis on compliant fiat-backed settlement and institutional market-making suggests potential increased liquidity and adoption for its USDGO stablecoin and related trading pairs; traders should monitor liquidity changes, custody and settlement announcements, and any regulatory approvals or acquisitions that could shift market access or counterparty risk.

US Senate leaders and the White House have reached a tentative bipartisan framework to avert a partial federal government shutdown, but key congressional votes are still required before the current stopgap funding expires. The uncertainty and last-minute negotiations—especially over Homeland Security funding and immigration—have coincided with notable moves across crypto and commodity markets. Bitcoin fell toward the low $80,000s after recent volatility; spot BTC and ETH ETFs recorded roughly $1 billion in outflows this week. Market participants and traders attribute the pullback more to tightening dollar liquidity than to loss of conviction in crypto: analysts cited a near $300 billion decline in US dollar liquidity linked to a rising Treasury General Account (TGA). Precious metals and oil also swung sharply—silver dropped over 20% from recent highs and briefly entered bear-market territory, while gold dipped below $5,000/oz before recovering. Geopolitical developments, including a US national emergency over Cuba and comments on potential action against Iran, added to risk-off sentiment. Historical precedent suggests government shutdowns increase volatility across equities, bonds, the dollar and crypto rather than creating clear directional trends. Traders should watch liquidity indicators (TGA balances, USD funding), ETF flows, and congressional votes; near-term trading may remain headline-sensitive and prone to abrupt repricing while longer-term trends will depend on policy clarity and monetary conditions.

Bitcoin (BTC) plunged below the key $84,000 support zone to about $81,000 after roughly $1.6 billion in long liquidations across crypto markets, including more than $750 million in BTC long liquidations. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell to 16 (Extreme Fear). The move breached the 2026 yearly open (~$87,000), the 100-day moving average and the $84K–$86K demand band, signaling technical weakness. Analysts and traders warned of extended downside pressure: common near-term targets range from $50,000 to $58,000, with the 200-week moving average (~$57,974) highlighted as a potential long-term accumulation zone. Some technical commentators expect intermediate tests of prior 2021–2022 pivot levels near $69,000–$74,500 before any durable recovery. Economists noted weak consumer sentiment is reducing risk appetite, which could deepen selling. Short-term implications for traders include elevated volatility, more liquidation risk, and low odds of an immediate sustained bull reversal absent major positive catalysts. For longer-term investors, the 200-week MA remains a key area to watch for accumulation opportunities. This report is informational and not investment advice.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Kevin Warsh will serve as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. Trump expressed confidence that Warsh "will not disappoint." The brief report provides no further details on timing, Senate confirmation, policy plans, or Warsh’s policy stance. Market participants will be watching for more information about Warsh’s views on interest rates, inflation and monetary policy, which could influence Treasury yields and risk assets. Primary keywords: Kevin Warsh, Federal Reserve chair, Trump appointment. Secondary/semantic keywords: monetary policy, interest rates, inflation, market reaction.

Griff Green announced plans to stake unclaimed ETH left in contracts from the 2016 DAO hack to create a dedicated Ethereum security fund. Most DAO victims reclaimed funds after the 2016 hard fork, but roughly $200 million in ETH remains unclaimed across assorted contracts, including about $6 million held via special-case multisig wallets Green helped manage. The proposal is to lock (stake) the leftover ETH and use staking rewards to finance security work — audits, tool development, retroactive funding, quadratic funding and community-driven grant mechanisms — rather than building projects directly. Distribution would use decentralized processes such as conviction voting and ranked-choice or quadratic-style funding, with the developer community vetting grants. The move connects to broader protocol security discussions, including Vitalik Buterin’s distributed validator technology (DVT) proposals. For traders, staking the unclaimed ETH reduces immediate circulating-supply selling pressure, converts idle reserves into locked, yield-generating assets, and signals community-driven investment in network resilience. Key names: Griff Green, Vitalik Buterin. Main keywords: DAO ETH, staking, Ethereum security, retroactive funding, DVT.

Bitcoin Everlight proposes a parallel transaction-routing and fast-confirmation layer for Bitcoin that does not change Bitcoin’s base protocol. Targeting traders and payment use cases, Everlight routes transactions through a network of nodes that perform signature checks and quorum-based confirmations measured in seconds, while leaving Bitcoin as the final settlement layer. Operators must stake BTCL (14-day lock) to run Light, Core or Prime nodes; rewards (target base range 4–8% cited) come from routing micro-fees and are weighted by uptime, routing volume and quorum participation. BTCL has a fixed supply of 21,000,000,000 with allocations: 45% public presale (20 staged price points from $0.0008 to $0.0110), 20% node rewards, 15% liquidity, 10% team (vested) and 10% ecosystem/treasury. Presale tokens: 20% unlocked at token generation event, then linear vesting over 6–9 months; team tokens have a 12-month cliff and 24-month linear vesting. The project reports third‑party smart-contract and security audits (SpyWolf, SolidProof) and team KYC (SpyWolf, Vital Block). BTCL utility focuses on routing fees, node staking and optional Bitcoin anchoring. This is sponsored content and not investment advice.

Canary Capital CEO Steven McClurg said major institutions are moving beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum and could push for spot ETFs on alternative tokens. Citing existing entrants such as Fidelity, Franklin Templeton and Invesco (which filed for a Solana ETF), McClurg predicted BlackRock may file for an XRP — and possibly a Solana — ETF by late 2026 or 2027. He argued providers evaluate tokens based on demand, market capitalization and stability; XRP’s liquidity and institutional adoption make it a likely candidate. McClurg said observed demand from investors and other institutional filings would influence BlackRock’s timing. The outlook implies that an XRP spot ETF could increase liquidity, institutional inflows and mainstream legitimacy for XRP, but filings depend on further market signals. This is commentary, not financial advice.

Revolut has received regulatory approval to operate as a digital bank in Mexico, marking a strategic expansion into the Latin American market. The fintech — known for its multi-currency accounts, cryptocurrency trading, and app-based financial services — will offer local banking services under Mexican rules, aiming to onboard retail customers and small businesses. This move follows Revolut’s broader strategy of geographic growth after previous product launches and regulatory milestones in Europe and other markets. Leadership commented that Mexico’s large, underbanked population and growing digital adoption present significant opportunities. The expansion could accelerate Revolut’s deposit base, local payment capabilities, and crypto-related services availability in the region. Key implications include increased competition for incumbent Mexican banks and regional fintechs, potential growth in Revolut’s user numbers and transaction volumes, and further regulatory scrutiny as the firm scales. Traders should watch for customer growth metrics, deposit and revenue guidance from Revolut, and any regulatory disclosures tied to its Mexico operations, as these will influence investor sentiment and, indirectly, crypto market activity where Revolut provides trading services.

South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party is fast‑tracking a Virtual Asset Phase‑2 bill to set comprehensive rules for won‑pegged stablecoins and limits on major shareholders of crypto exchanges ahead of the Lunar New Year. Key proposals include a statutory minimum capital of 5 billion won (~$3.46M) for stablecoin issuers, shareholder caps for exchange owners (proposed 15%–20%), and a new inter‑ministerial Virtual Asset Committee chaired by the Financial Services Commission. The Bank of Korea (BoK) is pushing for stricter controls: it wants banks to hold majority ownership (50%+1) of KRW stablecoin issuance and is exploring a domestic issuer registration system to protect monetary policy and capital controls. The Financial Services Commission and industry groups favour allowing private tech firms to issue stablecoins to speed market entry; the People Power Party opposes tight shareholder limits citing risks of capital flight and governance disruption. Remaining debates include central bank authority, limits on major shareholders, and whether issuance should be restricted to bank‑led consortia. The bill aims to align stablecoin treatment with electronic‑money standards and adds mechanisms to coordinate responses to hacks, system failures and large market disruptions. Traders should note several likely market effects: possible reduction in the number of private stablecoin issuers, slower rollout of new KRW stablecoins if banks are mandated, increased regulatory compliance costs and stronger balance sheets among issuers, and potential shifts in institutional participation depending on final rules. The timeline is short — sponsors aim to submit the bill for deliberation before Feb 17, 2026 — so outcomes could swiftly affect issuance, liquidity and on‑shore institutional activity in KRW stablecoins.

Bitcoin plunged about $14,700 (nearly 15%) from a recent peak around $98,000 to roughly $83,000, marking its lowest level in two months and reigniting debate over market direction. On-chain and technical indicators show weakening liquidity and contracting trading volumes, while altcoin underperformance has increased selling pressure. Analysts point to psychological support at $80,000 and a deeper historical support band near $74,000–$75,000. Crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen likens the move to prior cycle pullbacks and warns Bitcoin may have entered a bear phase similar to 2019’s slow decline; historical bear markets have averaged about a year. Downside scenarios cited include retractions to $50,000 or, in a severe sell-off, the $30,000 range. Traders should watch liquidity, volume, and the $80k/$74–75k levels for short-term direction; reduced liquidity and cautious buyer behavior increase volatility and downside risk.

ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood warned that the recent parabolic gold rally may be near a late-cycle extreme and vulnerable to a pullback if the US dollar strengthens. Wood cited the gold-to-M2 ratio hitting historic highs — surpassing levels seen in 1980 and 1934 — as a valuation “flash warning.” She noted the US economy is not in runaway inflation or deflation, and highlighted that the 10-year Treasury yield has fallen from near 5% in late 2023 to about 4.2%, arguing fundamentals do not fully justify gold’s spike. Wood referenced the 1980–2000 period when a stronger dollar coincided with a prolonged gold decline, suggesting a similar dollar resurgence could unwind the current rally. Critics dispute Wood’s framework: some macro traders say M2 is a less reliable metric post-QE and digital finance. Robin Brooks (Brookings/former Goldman Sachs FX strategist) challenged the narrative that central bank buying is behind the rally, noting IMF data show no spike in official-sector gold volumes and arguing recent gains look more like retail speculation than institutional accumulation. During publication, spot gold had pulled back roughly 2.6% from an ATH of $5,595.46 to about $5,232.81 per ounce. Key takeaway for traders: monitor dollar strength, 10-year Treasury yields, and official-sector buying data; a stronger dollar or declining retail momentum could trigger a sharper gold correction.

Crypto markets tumbled as bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) extended declines amid an accelerating unwind of leveraged positions. BTC and ETH fell about 2.7% and 3.5% overnight, respectively, compounding earlier losses. The rout coincided with sharp drops in precious metals—silver plunged ~20% from its record high and gold fell ~11%—and a stronger U.S. dollar. Roughly $1.8 billion of crypto leverage was liquidated in 24 hours. Open interest across major futures contracts declined, funding rates flipped negative for BTC, ETH and other tokens, and 30-day implied volatility for BTC rose (BVIV from 40% to 47%), signaling heightened demand for hedges. Deribit data showed puts pricier than calls, and traders executed bearish put spreads on BTC and put butterflies on ETH. Bitcoin dominance slipped to ~58.7% as traders rotated into riskier altcoins; notable moves included CC (Canton) gaining ~3.3% while privacy coins XMR, ZEC and DASH fell ~5%. Speculative names saw extreme swings—RIVER lost ~55% since Monday after an 884% January rally. The selloff pressured ETFs and tokenized metal positions, with a $47m long on tokenized silver liquidated. Market indicators point to increased downside hedging and shorting activity, suggesting elevated short-term volatility and constrained risk appetite for leveraged trades.

Bitcoin slipped below $84,000 after repeated rejections near the $94K–$97K resistance zone, triggering concerns of a deeper pullback toward $74K–$76K if it fails to recover. Crypto analyst Dami-Defi warned that daily or weekly closes under $84K could open the path to that support band and noted the move appears linked to broader market risk-off conditions. Short-term volatility intensified: BTC dropped over 6% in 24 hours, more than 274,000 traders were liquidated (nearly $2 billion per CoinGlass), and the intraday range hit roughly $81.3K–$88.3K, with CoinGecko listing BTC just above $82.6K at the time of reporting. Geopolitical tensions (U.S. carrier strike group near Iran) and macro developments (possible Fed nominee Kevin Warsh) added to trader caution. Some analysts remain constructive: Egrag Crypto points to support from the 21‑month EMA and a rising channel, saying BTC is only bearish on monthly closes below key levels and assigning a 60%–65% chance of a run to $200K before any major correction. Others referenced historical cycle drawdowns—one trader suggested a worst-case analogous bear move could target ~ $32K if history repeats. Key implications for traders: watch daily/weekly closes around $84K, monitor liquidations and options expiries, and track macro/geopolitical headlines that could amplify flows. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, $84K support, $76K target, liquidations.

Binance will re-denominate its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) entirely into Bitcoin over the next 30 days, converting roughly $1 billion — about 12,000+ BTC at current prices — and custoding the coins in its licensed Abu Dhabi Global Market clearing house with on-chain verifiability. The exchange says it will maintain SAFU near $1 billion and use treasury reserves to top up the fund if value falls below $800 million. SAFU, launched in 2018 and funded from trading fees, is intended to reimburse users in extreme events; Binance previously used it after the 2019 7,000 BTC hack. This change removes stablecoins from SAFU and aligns the reserve with Bitcoin as a long-term store of value; future reviews may consider other “core assets” such as BNB. Separately, Binance aims to complete restitution for South Korea’s GoFi users in 2026 after acquiring Gopax. The crypto for repayment is already set aside under third-party custody and mirrors original asset amounts (including 775.11 BTC, 5,766.62 ETH and 706,184.46 USDC). Binance still awaits additional South Korean regulatory approvals before distribution and is finalizing a cost-efficient repayment structure. The exchange also plans operational upgrades to Gopax and sees growth opportunities in South Korea across stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization and institutional adoption.

Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds registered roughly $817 million in net outflows as BTC dropped to a nine‑month low, coinciding with a broader sell-off across spot markets. Earlier coverage reported larger multi‑day ETF redemptions totaling $1.62 billion over a four‑day window, highlighting concentrated withdrawals from several spot Bitcoin ETF products and heightened on‑chain transfers. Market participants attributed the latest outflows to profit‑taking, risk‑off institutional repositioning, and retail selling amid macroeconomic uncertainty and possible regulatory developments. The outflows reduced ETF AUM and liquidity, amplifying short‑term volatility and downward price pressure. Traders should monitor daily ETF flow reports, futures open interest, on‑chain whale movements, and order‑book liquidity to judge whether these outflows are a transient reallocation or the start of a broader distribution phase. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC, Bitcoin ETF, ETF outflows, crypto volatility. Secondary keywords: institutional flows, liquidity, sell‑off, market risk.

Bitcoin’s recent drop in network hash rate and rising mining costs are increasing near-term downside risk for BTC price. Capriole Investments estimates the average electricity cost to mine one BTC at about $59,450 and net production cost at roughly $74,300 (January). Bitcoin was trading near $82,500, leaving room to fall toward the $59.5K–$74.3K miner cost zone before many miners face unprofitable operations. Founder Charles Edwards warns a "miner exodus"—miners shutting or reallocating capacity—has widened the possible downside. Hash rate fell to mid‑2025 levels in late January; analysts attribute the drop to miners shifting power to AI workloads or to weather-related outages. Historically, significant hash rate declines (for example after China’s 2021 ban) preceded large price drawdowns followed by strong recoveries as mining difficulty adjusted and remaining miners captured higher rewards. Capriole’s energy-value model puts Bitcoin’s fair price near $120,950, implying any prolonged sell-off could eventually mean-revert toward that level. Traders should monitor hash rate, mining profitability bands ($59.5K–$74.3K), difficulty adjustments, and on-chain selling by miners for short-term risk; longer term, energy-value metrics suggest upside if a sustained re-acceleration in network activity occurs. This is not investment advice.

Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin has set aside 16,384 ETH (about $45 million) from his personal holdings to fund privacy‑preserving technologies, open hardware and verifiable secure software systems. Announced on X, Buterin said the funds will be deployed gradually over the coming years and may be supplemented by decentralized staking strategies to generate additional funding. The initiative prioritizes privacy, open infrastructure and self‑sovereign tools while keeping Ethereum core development central; Buterin framed this as taking on responsibilities that might otherwise have been special projects of the Ethereum Foundation, which he says is entering a period of “mild austerity.” No detailed allocation or project list was provided. The move follows recent ETH price weakness (ETH down roughly 30% from around $3,900 in Nov 2025 to ~ $2,700 at reporting) though Buterin did not link the funding decision to price. Traders should note the potential for increased financing of privacy and hardware projects in the Ethereum ecosystem, possible staking‑based funding activity, and the symbolic signaling of continued developer commitment despite foundation budget tightening.

The U.S. Department of Justice has finalized judicial forfeiture of more than $400 million in cryptocurrencies, real estate and financial assets linked to Helix, an early Bitcoin mixer that operated from 2014–2017. A January 21 federal court order in the District of Columbia transferred legal title of seized digital assets and related holdings tied to Helix operator Larry Harmon to the U.S. government. The DOJ says Helix processed at least 354,468 BTC during its operation (roughly $300M at the time) and was integrated via API with darknet drug marketplaces, enabling large-scale laundering. Harmon was arrested in 2020, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in 2021, and was sentenced in 2024 to three years in prison. The recent court order enforces the earlier forfeiture judgment and closes a multi-year law‑enforcement probe led by IRS-CI and HSI. Traders should note the case underscores continued, long-term enforcement against mixers and privacy tools, heightened regulatory and compliance pressure on exchanges, and the demonstrated ability of authorities to trace and seize tainted BTC — factors that reinforce regulatory risk for privacy services and can affect liquidity and on-chain flows for Bitcoin. Primary keywords: DOJ, Helix, Bitcoin mixer, forfeiture, darknet laundering; secondary keywords: money laundering, asset seizure, AML/KYC, blockchain tracing.

Czech National Bank Governor urged understanding of Bitcoin rather than opposing its future, saying he expects more countries to adopt BTC. The comment, reported by The Bitcoin Historian and relayed by PANews, framed Bitcoin as a technological and monetary development that central banks and policymakers should study instead of confronting. No specific timeline, policy changes, or regulatory measures were announced. The remark is intended as market commentary and does not constitute investment advice.

This roundup evaluates leading cryptocurrency exchanges as traders head into February 2026, comparing fees, security features, supported assets, staking and yield options, margin and derivatives offerings, and regulatory compliance. Key exchanges are assessed for trading costs (spot and derivatives), liquidity, fiat on-ramps, insurance or custodial protections, and advanced trading tools such as APIs and charting. The article highlights platforms that suit different trader profiles: low-fee spot traders, high-frequency and professional derivatives traders, institutional services with custody and compliance, and retail users prioritizing ease of use and fiat access. It also flags risk factors — regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions, counterparty risk, and platform-specific outages — and recommends best practices: diversify exchanges, use hardware wallets for long-term holdings, enable strong KYC/2FA, and limit leverage. Primary keywords: crypto exchanges, trading fees, liquidity. Secondary/semantic keywords: spot trading, derivatives, staking, custody, fiat on-ramps, security. The overview is intended to help traders quickly choose platforms aligned with their strategy and risk tolerance ahead of market developments in February 2026.