Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Kalshi issued the first public insider-trading penalty on Feb 25, 2026, fining Artem Kaptur — a MrBeast video editor — $20,397.58 (confiscating $5,397.58 in illicit gains plus a $15,000 penalty) and banning him for two years after detecting near-perfect wins on MrBeast-related event contracts. The US CFTC followed with a formal enforcement advisory citing potential federal violations, signaling heightened regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets. PANews’ on-chain analysis of Polymarket found suspicious activity around "Who will win Beast Games Season 2?" contracts: one candidate’s implied win probability rose to 94% three weeks before the finale. Among 26,40 unique addresses, 795 traded only the eventual winner; PANews flagged 147 highly suspicious addresses and 16 exhibiting textbook insider patterns (100% win rate in relevant markets). Top suspected addresses cumulatively earned over $100,000; individual clusters showed tightly synchronized trades and mirror-like behavior, suggesting coordinated access to nonpublic information from production staff, post-production teams, contestants, or distribution personnel. The report contrasts centralized, KYC-able Kalshi — able to trace and penalize trades — with anonymous, wallet-based Polymarket, where chain transparency cannot reveal real-world identities. Polymarket’s CEO has previously framed insider trading as an inherent “feature,” while regulators and exchanges treat it as a violation. For traders, the case underscores elevated regulatory risk for centralized prediction markets, liquidity and fairness concerns on anonymous DEX-like prediction platforms, and the potential for large, pre-event price moves driven by privileged information rather than public fundamentals.

SBI Holdings and Startale Group announced plans to issue JPYSC, Japan’s first trust-backed yen stablecoin, pending regulatory approval and targeted for launch in Q2. The token will be issued through SBI Shinsei Trust Bank under a trust structure, with SBI VC Trade acting as the primary distributor and Startale responsible for technical development. JPYSC is aimed at institutional use and cross-border settlement, offering a regulated yen-denominated alternative to USD-dominated stablecoins. The project emphasizes interoperability with traditional finance infrastructure and multiple blockchain networks. Startale’s CEO Watanabe noted future use cases including AI agent payments and on-chain asset distribution. The initiative seeks to position a regulated yen stablecoin within markets currently dominated by US dollar stablecoins.

Influential figures and institutional shifts point to a turning point for crypto in 2026. The article identifies seven trends likely to shape the next cycle: 1) Tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA) — including stablecoins and asset-backed tokens — driven by institutional interest and a ~300% sector expansion over 18 months, improving liquidity and global access; 2) Private use of AI — algorithms for trading, risk analysis, on-chain monitoring and decentralised AI services; 3) Smart wallets (account abstraction) — smart-contract-based accounts enabling easier onboarding, flexible security, fee payment in any currency and automated flows; 4) Zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) — privacy-preserving verification that supports compliance, enabling regulators and institutions to verify without revealing data; 5) Crypto cards — mainstream payment rails integrating with Visa/Mastercard for seamless fiat conversion, cashback and ATM access; 6) A broader shift toward user experience (UX) — simplifying interfaces to reach mass adoption without sacrificing decentralisation; 7) A paradigm shift away from sole reliance on Bitcoin halving cycles toward external drivers: ETFs, US policy shifts and rising institutional ownership (around 19% of Bitcoin held by funds, corporations and states). The piece frames these trends as mutually reinforcing signs that crypto is integrating with traditional finance, which could support sustained adoption and market growth in 2026. Note: the article is a paid post and not investment advice.

Bitcoin is stabilizing around $68,000–$69,000 after rebounding from the low $64,000s, but market structure and fund-flow data point to limited institutional conviction. February is tracking as the lowest month for Bitcoin spot trading volumes since early 2024, per analyst Darkfost. Major exchanges show significant spot-volume contractions: Binance (~$198B → ~$75B monthly), Gate.io (~$53B → ~$25B) and Bybit (~$41B → ~$20B). Open interest also fell sharply after the October 10 shock, down more than ~70,000 BTC (~$8B). Technically, BTC remains below the 50-, 100- and 200-day moving averages, with the 50-day crossing below the 100-day—signs of bearish momentum. Short-term resistance sits at $68K–$69K; a sustained recovery requires reclaiming $72K–$75K and expanding spot volume. Continued low liquidity raises the risk that rallies will lack durability and that downside toward the $60K support cluster remains possible. Key implications for traders: monitor spot volume recovery and exchange flows for confirmation of trend; treat rallies as vulnerable until moving averages are reclaimed with expanding volume.

Crypto commentator Alexander Lin outlines 23 structural defects in prediction markets that, collectively, constrain liquidity, capital efficiency and scaling. Key points: prediction markets require full collateralization with no leverage, making capital usage 10–20x less efficient than perpetual futures; capital turnover is structurally impaired because positions lock until binary settlement; LP pools face asymmetric loss at settlement (half the pool can go to zero) and lack rebalancing; natural hedgers are absent, increasing adverse selection and worsening as settlement nears; new markets struggle to bootstrap liquidity (a structural liquidity trap) and depend on external event attention rather than endogenous demand loops like funding rates in perps; market creation is cheap so noise proliferates; question design, oracle risks, cross-platform settlement inconsistencies and potential for real-world event manipulation increase systemic vulnerability. Additional issues: inflated nominal volume reporting, subsidy-driven liquidity, lack of complex financial primitives, fragmented regulation, and an innovator’s dilemma that discourages architectural change. The article compares platforms (Polymarket vs Kalshi), notes custody/oracle and manipulation risks, and stresses prediction markets’ weak fit with institutional asset-allocation frameworks. For traders: these flaws imply higher counterparty and execution risk, unpredictable liquidity around settlement, and potential for sudden market failures once incentives or subsidies stop. Primary keywords: prediction markets, liquidity, capital efficiency, oracles, manipulation.

Oman says Iran and the United States have made “significant progress” in Omani-mediated diplomatic talks that could mark a turning point for regional stability and global energy markets. Negotiations — conducted indirectly through Oman (a neutral intermediary since 2013) — reportedly cover nuclear program limitations and verification, timelines for sanctions relief, prisoner exchanges, and regional security arrangements including Persian Gulf maritime safety. Technical measures include proximity talks, written exchanges, modular working groups and advanced monitoring proposals with phased implementation. Analysts cite shifting regional dynamics, economic pressure, and leadership changes as drivers. Potential impacts: more predictable Iranian oil exports (energy market stabilization), reduced proxy tensions in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, improved maritime security through the Strait of Hormuz, and increased regional trade and investment. Key uncertainties remain around verification mechanisms, sequencing of sanctions relief, security guarantees for Gulf partners, and domestic political constraints in both Washington and Tehran. Oman’s role as neutral mediator and trusted interlocutor is highlighted as central to progress. Information remains confidential; further developments are expected in the coming weeks. (Main keyword: Iran–US talks)

A bullish ABC pattern is forming on Cardano (ADA) on the 4-hour chart, identified by analyst SmellyTaz. Wave A ran from $0.22 to $0.28 on Feb 6, Wave B corrected to $0.25 around Feb 11, and Wave C began but stalled near $0.30–$0.31 on Feb 15–25. ADA recently rebounded from a macro support zone at $0.24–$0.26 and pumped ~14% to $0.31 before a 6% pullback. The analyst highlights a secondary BC2 support zone at $0.27–$0.28 as a “reload” area; a retest and lower-timeframe market structure shift (MSS) or strong rejection there would confirm momentum and could target a Wave C upper band near $0.38. The bullish view invalidates if price falls below BC2. Traders should watch BC2 ($0.27–$0.28), the $0.24–$0.26 macro support, price action around $0.30–$0.31, and confirmation signals (MSS or strong rejection) for entries or invalidation.

Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR) is expanding beyond HELOCs into first‑lien mortgages and preparing to target the $1.6 trillion auto‑loan market through tokenization and securitization. Q4 showed a strong year‑over‑year performance: first‑lien mortgage originations rose roughly 3x to $506M and accounted for 19% of originations as FIGR diversifies product mix. The company highlights blockchain‑enabled securitization via Figure Connect and its Agora Data unit as central to scaling into auto lending. However, earlier coverage flagged sequential stagnation in Q4, a sharp post‑IPO share pullback and insider selling, raising concerns about sustainability and near‑term downside risk. Key catalysts for traders: upcoming quarterly results and 2026 guidance, adoption and revenue contribution from new products (OPEN, Figure Connect, Agora Data), and market reaction to insider selling and valuation compression. Primary keywords: FIGR, Figure Technology Solutions, loan tokenization, first‑lien mortgages, auto lending, securitization, Figure Connect, Agora Data.

Morgan Stanley is building a three-phase institutional digital-asset platform that will include Bitcoin lending, yield products and native custody. Phase 1 (H1 2026) will enable direct spot trading of BTC, ETH and SOL for E*Trade customers via a Zero Hash partnership. Phase 2 (target end-2026) introduces institution-grade custody integrated with existing accounts. Phase 3 allows clients to use crypto holdings as collateral for loans and access income-generating yield products, informed by DeFi lending models. The bank manages roughly $8–9 trillion in client assets and plans to bring off‑platform crypto exposure into a regulated environment, later offering tokenization of traditional assets (private equity, real estate) to hold alongside crypto in digital wallets. Morgan Stanley is also pursuing exchange-traded products for BTC, ETH and SOL, and has historically advised limiting Bitcoin exposure to low single digits of portfolios. For traders: the roadmap signals growing institutional on‑ramp, potential increases in institutional custody flows and new yield/lending products that could change supply dynamics for BTC and other supported tokens.

Canary Capital CEO Steven McClurg says XRP-focused ETFs have drawn steady inflows even on days when Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) funds saw outflows, signaling a rotation of capital toward XRP. McClurg estimates XRP products capture roughly 50% of fresh capital entering altcoin ETFs, with Solana (SOL) and Hedera (HBAR) taking about 30% and 20% respectively. XRP ETFs saw continuous inflows from mid-November until their first outflow on January 7, 2026. Cumulative net inflows into XRP ETFs total $1.24 billion, with total AUM around $1.06 billion. Canary’s spot XRP ETF (XRPC) leads with about $280.38 million in net assets, narrowly ahead of Bitwise’s XRP ETF at $278.22 million. By contrast, BTC and ETH investment products recorded larger and more frequent outflows; in one recent week BTC and ETH products jointly lost $250 million while XRP drew $3.5 million. McClurg highlights XRP’s resilience on “red days” and growing investor preference for altcoins with utility. Disclaimer: informational only, not financial advice.

Analyst EGRAG Crypto identifies a long-term curved “Nike” formation on XRP’s price chart that began after the $3.31 peak in January 2018 and transitioned from two years of lower lows into a sequence of higher lows from March 2020. Within this macro curved structure, XRP has followed a five-wave Elliott Wave sequence since June 2022: Wave 1 ran from $0.28 to $3.4 (peak Jan 2025), and XRP is currently in a corrective Wave 2. The analyst highlights a potential Wave 2 capitulation zone near $0.85 that aligns with structural support. Projected upside targets are $11–$13 (initial), $23–$27 (high-probability Wave 3 peak), and a tail-risk Wave 5 blow-off target around $100. The piece frames the pattern as a macro reset rather than a dead market and stresses that Wave 3 historically delivers the strongest gains. Disclaimer: informational only, not financial advice.

Chainalysis reports a 50% rise in ransomware leak events in 2025, approaching 8,000 incidents, even as documented on‑chain ransom payments declined 8% year‑over‑year to $820 million. The shift reflects attackers moving from a few high‑profile victims to many small and medium enterprises and increased use of cheaper ransomware‑as‑a‑service (RaaS), infostealer logs and AI‑assisted tooling that lower entry barriers and boost attack volume. At the same time, improved enforcement, stricter regulations, better corporate defenses, and a falling dark‑web “price for victim access” (from $1,427 in early 2023 to $439 by early 2026) have reduced visible on‑chain payment flows. Chainalysis and related reports note higher median ransom demands (driven by targeted “big‑game hunting”, triple‑extortion tactics and greater reconnaissance) even though aggregate traceable payments are lower; privacy coins and off‑chain settlements likely mean the $820M figure is a lower bound. The coverage also flags a spike in crypto exploits and scams in early 2026 (CertiK reported $370.3M stolen in January, mainly via phishing), underscoring persistent counterparty and security risks for traders. For crypto traders: expect elevated systemic cyber‑risk to corporates and critical sectors, potential short‑term volatility around high‑profile breaches or major crypto exploits, and continued regulatory and compliance pressure that may affect on‑ramp/off‑ramp flows, exchange scrutiny and liquidity.

On-chain investigator ZachXBT published an investigation alleging that Axiom Exchange employees — specifically New York–based senior BD manager Broox Bauer — abused internal customer-support tools to access private wallet addresses, referral codes and full transaction histories. Leaked dashboard screenshots and audio clips in the report reportedly show Bauer describing how he tracked an initial set of 10–20 wallets, then scaled up and compiled lists of crypto key-opinion-leader (KOL) wallets into shared documents. Several named KOLs confirmed the leaked addresses matched their wallets. ZachXBT traced related on-chain addresses and flagged one suspected insider who placed roughly $59,800 in bets across two new wallets about three hours before the public disclosure, yielding nearly $109,000 in profit; however, the investigator noted that definitive proof of trading gains tied to internal access would require Axiom’s internal logs. The report criticises Axiom’s weak access controls and monitoring and suggests possible SDNY jurisdiction because the alleged employee is NYC-based. Axiom said it revoked the tool access, is investigating, and will pursue responsible parties. The revelation spurred speculative activity on Polymarket (reported $27.6M contract volume) and produced at least one short-term on-chain bettor profit (~$39k). Implications for traders: monitor Axiom-related addresses and liquidity flows, watch for exchange or regulatory actions, and consider reputational and counterparty risk stemming from potential insider-like trading and wallet deanonymization.

Fabric Foundation will open the ROBO token claim portal on Feb 27 at 09:00 UTC (Feb 27 17:00 Beijing time). Eligible users who have signed the terms and conditions may claim ROBO until Mar 13 at 03:00 UTC (Mar 13 11:00 Beijing time). The announcement comes from the foundation and only applies to users who completed the required agreement. No additional distribution details (such as total supply, per-user allotment, or snapshot criteria) were provided in the announcement. This notice is informational and not investment advice.

Jimmy Wales, co‑founder of Wikipedia, said Bitcoin’s protocol is robust and unlikely to go to zero absent catastrophic cryptographic failure or a sustained 51% attack, but he considers Bitcoin a failure as money and a store of value. Wales predicted that Bitcoin could revert to an "enthusiast" or collectible asset by 2050, with a price in today’s dollars below $10,000 (possibly lower). He cited high fees, slow confirmations, extreme volatility and weak mainstream adoption — noting expectations that AI agents will drive crypto use are exaggerated. Wales also dismissed institutional inflows as largely speculative. The remarks, reported by PANews, drew strong pushback from Bitcoin supporters but reignited debate about Bitcoin’s long‑term monetary utility versus its role as a speculative asset. Traders should note this is market commentary, not investment advice; the commentary may weigh on sentiment and contribute to volatility in BTC trading.

TEAMZ Summit 2026, billed as Japan’s largest Web3 and AI conference, has opened its final round of sponsor recruitment. The event aims to bring together industry leaders, startups, investors and developers to showcase advances in blockchain, decentralized finance, AI integration and Web3 applications. Organizers expect extensive exhibitor participation, pitch sessions, keynote talks and networking opportunities designed to accelerate project exposure and business partnerships. The summit is positioning itself as a major industry hub for collaboration between crypto and AI firms, with sponsorship packages targeting brand visibility, speaking slots, exhibition booths and bespoke partnership deals. Final sponsorship slots are limited, and organizers are encouraging interested companies and VCs to apply promptly to secure premium placement and access to a focused audience of Web3 and AI decision-makers. The recruitment push underscores ongoing institutional interest in crypto and AI convergence in Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific market.

Filecoin (FIL) jumped 13% to $1.05 with 24-hour volume surging to $314.6 million amid a shift in network strategy toward paid on-chain deals and stronger network economics. Market cap rose to roughly $769 million as buyers aggressively defended a support band near $0.87 after a bearish pennant breakdown. Technical indicators show early bullish signs: daily MACD is converging (MACD line toward -0.044, histogram ~0.022) while the 90-day Spot Taker CVD flipped to buy dominance, indicating sustained buy-side activity. Liquidity and liquidation heatmaps reveal dense leverage clusters above $1.10 and around $0.95 (notably ~322.69K near $0.98–$1.00), creating potential for a short squeeze if price clears $1.10. Immediate scenarios: a decisive break above $1.10 could accelerate upside toward $1.60 via short liquidations and higher liquidity targets; failure to hold above $1.00 risks renewed selling toward sub-$0.95 triggers. For traders: watch volume continuation, Spot Taker CVD persistence, and price action around $1.00–$1.14 to gauge whether this rebound is a durable recovery or a temporary bounce.

WTI crude plunged about 4.2% to near $65.00 per barrel after the United States and Iran announced the resumption of nuclear negotiations next week. Traders see a link between the diplomatic development and a potential increase in Iranian oil exports — analysts estimate a successful deal could add 1.0–1.5 million barrels per day within months. The drop was the largest single-day fall in three months and was accompanied by similar weakness in Brent (down ~3.8%) and energy equities (S&P 500 Energy sector -2.7%). Contributing factors included recent strategic petroleum reserve releases, demand concerns amid slowing economies, OPEC+ production decisions, currency moves, and technical pressures (higher-than-average trading volume and a shift toward contango in the WTI forward curve). Market-watchers should track negotiation outcomes, timing of sanctions relief, Iran’s ramp-up capability, OPEC+ responses, and options/futures positioning. Short-term effects: increased volatility, downside pressure on oil-linked assets and currencies (e.g., CAD, NOK). Longer-term: if sanctions ease and Iranian exports return, global supply would rise materially, weighing on oil prices and energy-sector revenues—benefiting oil-importing economies and easing inflationary pressure. This is not trading advice.

Santiment reports 19,993 unique wallets currently hold at least 100 BTC — just seven short of a 20,000‑wallet milestone. At current prices each 100 BTC wallet is worth roughly $6.7m. Rising counts of 100+ BTC wallets suggest wider distribution among large holders and reduced concentration risk from a small number of whales, which can lower the chance of extreme price swings. However, Santiment notes the share of total Bitcoin supply held by this cohort has not materially changed, implying some long‑term holders are selling as new wallets cross the 100 BTC threshold — a dynamic that can suppress price. Market context and developments from the later update: Bitcoin trades near $67k–69k after a ~24.6% drop over the past 30 days and is ~47% below the October all‑time high. Technicals show RSI in a neutral zone and price below the EMA20. BTC perpetual futures have recovered from a recent low, pushing weekly candles positive. Institutional moves include GD Culture Group (GDC) planning to sell from its ~7,500 BTC reserve to fund a share buyback, and reported interest from a major UAE bank, which may support institutional adoption. Analysts quoted (Will Clemente, Michael van de Poppe) suggest OG long‑term holders may have paused aggressive selling and that BTC needs to form a higher low to resume an uptrend. Implications for traders: the combination of rising large‑wallet counts, some institutional interest, and futures recovery is a constructive mix for market structure, potentially reducing extreme downside risk. Offsetting this, unchanged supply concentration and ongoing liquidation by some long‑term holders help explain recent price weakness. Short‑term volatility remains likely; traders should watch wallet‑count trends, on‑chain supply metrics, futures flows, and whether BTC establishes a clear higher low before increasing long exposure. (Not investment advice.)

Over a 24-hour period ending 21 March 2025, perpetual futures experienced roughly $154 million in estimated forced liquidations across major contracts, driven by sharp position unwinds and funding-rate dynamics. Bitcoin led with $71.59M liquidated (69.31% longs), and Ethereum saw $64.51M (60.48% longs), indicating a wave of long-position forced closures and short-covering pressure in BTC/ETH. Emerging token POWER recorded $18.07M in liquidations, dominated by shorts (86.05%), consistent with a short-squeeze dynamic and outsized moves in low-liquidity altcoins. Earlier reports had cited higher headline figures for a similar event; reconciliation shows the later, consolidated figure (~$154M) is the current estimate. The episode highlights how perpetual futures mechanics — no expiry, funding payouts every eight hours, and high leverage (often up to 100x) — amplify liquidation risk and can trigger cascade effects. Exchanges’ risk controls (isolated margin, partial-liquidation engines, insurance funds, and auto-deleveraging) mitigate but do not eliminate systemic impact, especially for low-liquidity tokens. Traders should take this as a signal to reduce leverage, size positions with liquidation buffers, monitor funding rates and open interest as sentiment indicators, and consider hedges (options or regulated futures). This is market information, not trading advice.

South Korean authorities arrested a cryptocurrency CEO and a co-operator for allegedly stealing 22 BTC (about 1 billion won, ~$750,000) from the Gangnam Police Station’s evidence storage. The same executives had reported a fabricated 2020 hack claiming billions of won in lost tokens; investigators say the coins were never relinquished and private keys remained under executive control. Chainalysis and S2W forensic analysis traced coin movements across multiple exchanges and wallet clusters, supported by exchange KYC data and international cooperation via FATF channels. Charges include embezzlement from police custody, false reporting, obstruction of justice and money laundering. Authorities plan tougher custody rules for seized crypto — mandatory multi-signature wallets, stricter access controls, independent audits — and exchanges will face enhanced reporting for legal-case-linked transfers. The case underscores rising insider and institutional risks in crypto custody, highlights the growing role of blockchain forensics in investigations, and may accelerate regulatory and compliance tightening in South Korea.

Silver (XAG/USD) has advanced from prior consolidation to clear resistance around $88.75–$89.25 and is now consolidating above the key pivot at $89.50, signaling renewed bullish momentum. Technicals support continuation: daily and weekly MACD bullish crossovers, RSI ≈62, rising volume on advances, ascending-triangle patterns and higher lows. Immediate supports: $89.50 and $88.25; near-term resistances: $90.75 and $92.50 with upside targets toward $92–$95 if $89.50 holds. Fundamentals back the move — rising industrial demand (notably photovoltaic solar ~15% of annual demand and electrification in autos), growing investment demand, and only modest mine production growth (2023: 843.2M oz; 2024: 856.7M oz; 2025P: 872.4M oz) point to a projected structural deficit (2025P ≈ 167.5M oz). Macros remain important: real rates, Fed policy, dollar strength and geopolitical risk can quickly alter the outlook. Key risks: economic slowdown reducing industrial demand, delayed mining supply response, material substitution, regulatory shifts and dollar appreciation. Trading plan for market participants: treat $89.50 as the decisive pivot — holds support for bullish continuation toward $92–$95 on breakout confirmation with rising volume; a break below risks a deeper pullback into the mid-$80s or toward the 50-day MA (previously noted near mid-$70s in earlier coverage). This combined view merges the earlier consolidation/accumulation bias with the later confirmed breakout, giving traders a cautiously bullish bias focused on breakout confirmation, volume and macro risk monitoring.

Ethereum (ETH) has rebounded ~18% since falling below $1,800 on Feb 6 and has reclaimed the $2,000 level. Binance 30‑day realized volatility for ETH jumped to about 0.97 — the highest since March–April 2025 — signalling a move from a quiet phase into heightened market activity. The MVRV Z‑score sits near −0.31, placing ETH in a historical accumulation zone that in past cycles preceded multi‑month recoveries. A multiyear ascending trendline provides support in the $1,800–$1,900 band, where on‑chain data show roughly 2.9 million ETH were acquired, reinforcing that range as a demand area. Analysts note fractal similarities to prior setups (including 2020) and identify short‑term liquidity clusters and targets near $2,200–$2,500; a sustained move above $2,100 could expose a retest of the 50‑day SMA around $2,540. Key metrics: +18% price rebound since Feb 6, 30‑day realized volatility ≈0.97, MVRV Z‑score ≈−0.31, ~2.9M ETH accumulated in the $1,800–$1,900 range. These indicators point to oversold conditions and potential for a multimonth recovery, but risks remain and this is not investment advice.

MARA Holdings has struck a joint-venture-style partnership with Starwood (Starwood Property Trust / Starwood Digital Ventures) to convert select U.S. Bitcoin-mining sites into hyperscale, AI- and cloud-ready data center campuses. Target sites will be chosen site-by-site, exclude locations already in third-party joint ventures, and are selected for low-cost power and strong grid access. Starwood will lead design, construction, tenant sourcing and financing while MARA can hold between 10% and 50% equity in each project and contributes access to low-cost power and existing infrastructure. The partners aim for flexible capacity that can dynamically switch between Bitcoin mining and AI/enterprise compute depending on pricing and demand; initial projects target large-scale capacity (the earlier announcement referenced aims up to 1 GW initially and potential expansion beyond 2.5 GW). MARA named JLL as strategic advisor and retained legal counsel; Starwood brings large-scale data-center development experience. The announcement followed MARA’s recent financial results (a large impairment-driven net loss but material quarterly revenue) and sent MARA shares up roughly mid-teens in after-hours trading. Analysts caution near-term revenue impact will be limited until hyperscale/enterprise leases are signed, GPU procurement and power-allocation economics are clarified, and execution milestones are met; if AI/enterprise leases materialize, the move could meaningfully alter MARA’s long-term earnings profile but short-term trading may remain tied to Bitcoin price dynamics. Key trading takeaways for crypto traders: the deal reduces MARA’s pure hashrate exposure in strategy but does not immediately de-risk revenue — watch lease announcements, GPU procurement, and published JV economics for any meaningful shift in MARA’s correlation with BTC price.

Claims that Jane Street executes a programmatic daily sell-off of Bitcoin around 10:00 AM ET to force prices down and accumulate BlackRock’s IBIT ETF lack empirical support. The allegation, amplified after Terraform-related litigation and social-media speculation, pointed to apparent 2–3% dips after the U.S. equity open and suggested large IBIT holdings could mask net short exposure. On-chain analysts and derivatives researchers (e.g., Julio Moreno, Alex Krüger) examined trade and on-chain data and found no systematic sell pattern in the 10:00–10:30 AM ET window; year-to-date cumulative returns in that slot were slightly positive. The observed intraday moves align with broader U.S. risk-asset repricing (especially Nasdaq) and common delta-neutral strategies that buy spot while selling futures to capture basis rather than to depress prices. Experts note Bitcoin’s 24/7 global liquidity and the fragmented spot/derivatives ecosystem make sustained control by a single firm unlikely. Other plausible drivers include macro uncertainty, liquidity shifts around U.S. market open, ETF flows, and rotation into sectors such as AI. For traders: treat the Jane Street manipulation narrative cautiously. Monitor intraday flow, exchange order books, funding rates, and ETF flows instead of presuming a single actor is orchestrating daily squeezes. Relevant SEO keywords: Jane Street, Bitcoin, IBIT, ETF flows, market flows, delta-neutral, intraday volatility.

Gate has launched a PIX on-ramp for Brazilian users, enabling crypto purchases via Brazil’s central-bank-backed instant payment system PIX. The channel offers zero fees, real-time settlement, competitive exchange rates, and allows payments directly from bank accounts linked to users’ CPF. Gate says transfers and currency conversion complete within minutes. PIX has been Brazil’s mainstream payment rail since 2020, covering over 160 million users. Gate introduced the integration to streamline local fiat on-ramps, reduce payment costs and delays, and improve traceability and compliance. Since launch, trading volume through Gate’s PIX channel has risen steadily, hitting a recent high and recording over 40% week-on-week growth compared with early month figures. Gate plans further localized integrations worldwide to enhance its local fiat services. (Note: informational only; not investment advice.)

LayerZero DAO has on-chain burned all remaining STG tokens it held, transferring approximately 303 million STG to a black-hole address, according to Etherscan records and a statement from co-founder Bryan Pellegrino. The project formally reassigns the STG ticker to ZRO; an exchange contract remains available for users to convert STG into ZRO. The move consolidates the token supply and finalizes the protocol’s token rebranding. Key facts: ~303,000,000 STG burned, announcement by LayerZero co-founder Bryan Pellegrino, STG now corresponds to ZRO, swap contract still open for conversions. Primary keywords: LayerZero, STG, ZRO, token burn, rebrand. Secondary/semantic keywords: token supply, on-chain burn, Etherscan, DAO governance, token swap.

The Pound Sterling plunged below the key 1.3500 support against the US Dollar amid renewed UK political uncertainty and ahead of the US Producer Price Index (PPI) release. The technical breach was accompanied by higher selling volumes during the London session; the 50-day moving average has crossed below the 200-day average and RSI readings are in oversold territory. Immediate support clusters sit near 1.3480, with stronger support at 1.3400 and 1.3300–1.3350; resistance now lies around 1.3520–1.3540. Political drivers include disputes over budget policy, stalled regulatory legislation, leadership speculation, and post‑Brexit trade negotiations—factors that widened UK CDS spreads by ~15 basis points and pushed Sterling options-implied volatility to a three-month high. Analysts note that political risk complicates the Bank of England’s rate outlook. The upcoming US PPI (13:30 GMT) is the next major catalyst; a hotter-than-expected reading would likely strengthen the US Dollar and put further downward pressure on GBP/USD. Markets currently price about a 65% probability of a Fed cut by June, but that is data-dependent. For traders: monitor UK political headlines, UK risk-premium metrics, and the US PPI print. Key technical levels to watch are 1.3480 (near-term order cluster), 1.3400, and 1.3300–1.3350 on the downside, with 1.3520–1.3540 as immediate resistance. The convergence of domestic political risk and US inflation data will likely determine near-term direction for GBP/USD.

The Australian Dollar fell sharply in early 2025, sliding about 2.3% versus the US dollar within 48 hours of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) February policy meeting despite the RBA’s cautious, data‑dependent stance. Major drivers were higher US interest rates (Fed policy rate ~5.25%), weaker commodity prices—iron ore fell ~8% month‑on‑month—and continued soft demand from China, which together shifted global risk appetite and capital flows away from resource‑linked currencies. Correlations show AUD’s link to iron ore rose to 0.78 while its tie to Australia‑US rate differentials fell to 0.42. Institutional flows reportedly included increased AUD short positions by hedge funds. Sector effects are mixed: exporters and tourism gain competitiveness, while importers face higher costs and potential inflationary pressure. Analysts note this is the largest policy‑currency disconnect since 2018 and expect continued volatility in AUD pairs; markets may normalize over 6–12 months as global monetary conditions and commodity cycles stabilize. Key figures and data: AUD -2.3% vs USD; RBA policy rate ~4.10%; Fed ~5.25%; iron ore -8% M/M; AUD–iron ore correlation 0.78. Traders should watch US Fed updates, China commodity demand indicators, iron ore and coal prices, and RBA communications for short‑term volatility and directional clues.