Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

JPMorgan forecasted that gold prices could reach $6,300 per ounce by the end of 2026 and raised its long-term gold price target to $4,500/oz. The note, reported by PANews on Feb. 25, 2026, reflects the bank’s revised outlook for bullion amid macroeconomic and monetary trends. The report was presented as market information and not investment advice. No cryptocurrencies or crypto projects were directly mentioned in the article.

The crypto market cap rebounded ~2.7% to $2.32 trillion on Feb. 25 after buyers stepped in following a >7.5% Bitcoin pullback the previous day. BTC climbed ~5.5% intraday to $66,233 and consolidated near $65,000, while ETH moved toward $1,900 and SOL led large-cap gains (~7% to reclaim $80). Leveraged shorts triggered a outsized recovery: CoinGlass data shows roughly $154M of short liquidations in futures and nearly $343M liquidated across markets in 24 hours, amplifying a short squeeze. Institutional dip-buying—highlighted by Michael Saylor’s Strategy adding BTC—and a positive Coinbase Premium for the first time in 40 days signaled U.S. buying pressure. Risk-on moves in tech equities (KOSPI, S&P 500, software shares) and easing U.S.–Iran tensions also supported the rally, reducing demand for safe havens like gold. Traders should note heightened short-liquidation risk, renewed institutional demand, and cross-market correlations with tech equities as key drivers influencing near-term price action. This is market commentary and not investment advice.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan told clients that DeFi is positioned to lead the crypto market out of the current bear cycle as several protocols now show real user activity and revenue. He highlighted Uniswap’s DEX volumes rivaling centralized exchanges and Aave generating over $100 million in annual revenue. Hougan argued the next cycle will reward “real users, real revenue, real value,” and singled out an Aave governance proposal to route protocol income into a token-holder-controlled DAO as a potential game changer that could link protocol income to token value. Institutional capital is already entering DeFi: BlackRock listed a tokenized US Treasury fund (BUIDL) on Uniswap and bought UNI, while Apollo agreed to acquire up to 90 million MORPHO tokens (~9% of supply) over four years. Separately, Michael Saylor (Strategy) acknowledged a “crypto winter” in a Fox Business interview but said this downturn is milder and likely shorter than past cycles, citing stronger banking support, continued capital inflows, and a friendlier policy backdrop. Strategy continues to accumulate BTC and remains bullish long term. Key takeaways for traders: DeFi fundamentals and institutional flows could support mid-to-long-term upside for protocols with real revenue; governance changes that tie income to token economics may become major catalysts; short-term volatility remains as market digests macro and policy signals.

Bitcoin prices are weakening and edging toward the estimated long-term holder (LTH) cost basis of about $38,900, putting LTH unrealized profit — currently ~74% on average — under pressure. CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost and on-chain tracker Glassnode say the market has entered an "excess loss-realization" regime: Glassnode reports the 90-day moving average of the Realized Profit/Loss Ratio has fallen below 1. Historically, bear markets see price fall below the LTH cost basis and a final capitulation phase with realized losses near 20%, after which markets eventually recover. Analyst James Check noted nearly five consecutive red monthly candles, a 1-week realized volatility spike above 150% (levels typical of capitulation), and an extremely oversold weekly RSI. James Van Straten highlighted ~10 million BTC currently in loss (fourth-highest ever), circulating supply reaching 20 million BTC next week, and about 50% of supply in loss—conditions he says often precede a bear-market bottom. BTC saw a small, likely fragile rebound to ~$66,000, but sentiment remains bearish and technicals show lower highs with $60,000 as a key support. Key metrics to watch: LTH cost basis (~$38.9k), realized profit/loss ratio (90-day MA), realized volatility, weekly RSI, and supply in loss.

Bitcoin slid toward $60,000 during the U.S. session as worsening macro risk sentiment — driven in part by renewed concerns about artificial intelligence — weighed on risk assets. Traders reported roughly 3% intraday losses for BTC alongside about 2% drops in gold and declines in U.S. equities amid geopolitical and trade tensions. Technical analysts flagged a bearish signal after weekly closes below the 200-week EMA/SMA, a shift that can turn long-term moving averages from support into resistance. Crypto analysts (Rekt Capital, Jelle, Crypto Scient) expect continued downward pressure, citing likely tests of the $50,000 area and a “fair value” gap near $45,000 — a low-liquidity inefficiency that markets may fill before a durable bottom forms. The $40k–$50k band remains the focal support range. This update synthesizes earlier and later reports: the later coverage reiterates the bearish technical setup and emphasizes the fair-value gap as a probable interim target for sellers. No investment advice is provided.

EUR/JPY has broken above its 50-, 100- and 200-day simple moving averages, signaling a potential shift to bullish momentum. Technicals show RSI ~62 (bullish, not overbought), expanding MACD histogram, higher high/higher low structure, and volume ~35% above the 20-day average during the breakout. Immediate resistance sits at 183.50 with the primary psychological barrier at 184.00; support cluster lies between 182.00–182.50 and critical support at the 200-day MA (~181.20). Fundamentals support Euro strength: ECB’s relatively hawkish stance vs BOJ’s accommodative policy, upside Eurozone inflation surprises, stronger German industrial data, and persistent Japanese trade deficits. Options and futures flows also point to increased net-long positioning and gamma exposure around 184.00. Risks include potential BOJ policy shifts, disappointing Eurozone data, failed technical breakouts, or rejections that could retest the 200-day MA. Trading implications: breakout traders may target 184.00 with partial profit-taking; range traders may wait for pullbacks to the moving average cluster. Monitor price action, volume, options gamma, and central bank signals for confirmation or reversal cues.

Nvidia is due to report quarterly earnings after the U.S. market close, prompting a cautious rally across global stocks and crypto markets. U.S. futures were modestly higher (Dow futures +27, S&P 500 futures +0.1%, Nasdaq 100 futures +0.3%) after a strong cash session in which the S&P 500 rose ~0.8%, Nasdaq ~1% and the Dow climbed ~0.8% (Dow +370 points). Asian markets led gains—Japan’s Nikkei jumped to a record, South Korea’s Kospi cleared 6,000 for the first time, Taiwan notched a fifth straight record close, and major indexes in Australia, Hong Kong and China also rose. AMD rallied ~8.8% after Meta announced a multiyear deal for up to 6GW of AMD GPUs; Nvidia was up ~0.7% ahead of its report. Bitcoin rebounded roughly 2% back toward $65,000 after briefly dipping below $63,000. Market attention centers on Nvidia’s results and commentary around AI chip demand and hyperscaler capital spending. Key implications for traders: volatility around the after-hours report, possible spillover into large-cap tech and AI-related crypto sentiment, and short-term directional moves in risk assets depending on revenue, guidance and AI-sales cadence reported by Nvidia.

Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin reduced tracked holdings by roughly 17,000 ETH (~$43m) in February, Arkham Intelligence data shows. His wallets fell from about 241,000 ETH to ~224,000 ETH after a steady series of small sales. Many trades were routed through the DEX aggregator CoW Protocol and executed as multiple smaller swaps to limit slippage and market impact. The disposals align with a January pledge of about 16,384 ETH to fund privacy, open‑hardware and verifiable‑software projects; Buterin said funds would be deployed gradually over years. The sales occurred amid a broader market decline — ether fell roughly 37% over the prior month to near $1,900 and staking yields compressed to ~2.8% — increasing headline pressure on ETH and amplifying unrealised losses for large holders. Traders should note the slow, repeated nature of the sell program (not a single block trade), the use of CoW Protocol to minimize impact, and the wider context: a large portion of ETH supply is staked (locking supply) while yields have fallen, which can reduce liquidity and heighten volatility. Primary keywords: Vitalik Buterin, ETH sell‑off, CoW Protocol, Arkham Intelligence, ether price drop, staking yields.

Bitcoin climbed briefly toward $66,000 before settling near $64,900 as equities rallied ahead of Nvidia’s earnings. Traders called the move a relief rally after recent tariff and legal volatility. On-chain data from Material Indicators showed a $4.5 million spot purchase by large investors, interpreted as renewed whale interest. Technicals point to oversold conditions: weekly RSI fell to 25.71 — levels not seen since July 2022 — and BTC is trading roughly 9% above its 200-week exponential moving average (~$58,855), a historically important long-term support. Analysts warned that a daily close below the 200-EMA could turn it into resistance and accelerate downside risk, while others noted a drawn-out bottoming process tied to mining costs and supply-profit metrics. Separately, Strategy Inc. (formerly MicroStrategy) has become the most shorted large-cap US stock, with about 14% of its float sold short following nearly $7 billion of unrealized Bitcoin-linked losses. Market sentiment is being driven by macro catalysts (Nvidia earnings, tariff and Supreme Court developments) rather than political speeches. Key takeaways for traders: 1) Short-term upside driven by risk-on positioning and whale accumulation; 2) Extreme weekly RSI and proximity to the 200-week EMA suggest possible longer-term buying opportunities but with downside risk if 200-EMA is lost; 3) Watch institutional flows, large spot buys, and Nvidia earnings as immediate catalysts.

Anchorage Digital acquired preferred stock (STRC) in treasury strategy firm Strategy, a move reported by CoinDesk that signals deeper institutional integration of Bitcoin into capital structures. Preferred shares give Anchorage dividend priority, liquidation preference and potential conversion upside — a hybrid instrument offering stable income and downside protection while preserving equity participation. CEO Nathan McCauley framed the deal as evidence that institutions are reorganising capital around Bitcoin, citing improved regulatory clarity, growing institutional demand, infrastructure maturity and stronger risk management. The transaction reflects the evolution of crypto banking from custody to broader capital markets services and highlights strategic partnerships between custodians and asset managers. For traders, the deal is a signal of increasing institutional confidence in Bitcoin infrastructure and may support further development of Bitcoin-linked financial products.

CryptoQuant data shows Binance’s exchange stablecoin reserves fell by roughly $9.5–10 billion since late November, declining from about $50.9B to $41.4B (≈18.6%) and returning to levels last seen around October 2024. Binance still holds roughly 64% of centralized exchange stablecoin reserves, so its outflows materially reduce immediately deployable liquidity on major venues. Analysts link the drain to weak market momentum after the October 2025 correction, constrained stablecoin inflows, and macro headwinds (strong US labor data and a persistent Fed rate stance). Broader market context: total crypto market capitalization has dropped from a 2025 peak near $4T to roughly $2.1–$2.2T, price action is under the 50-week moving average and approaching the 100-week MA, and volumes suggest distribution rather than accumulation. Historical patterns show renewed stablecoin inflows often precede renewed risk appetite and price support; without fresh inflows, liquidity will likely remain thin and downside volatility may increase if key technical supports fail. Key figures: ~-$10B Binance stablecoin outflow; reserves down to $41.4B; Binance ≈64% share of CEX stablecoin reserves; total market cap ≈$2.1–$2.2T. Primary keywords: Binance stablecoin reserves, stablecoin outflows, liquidity drain, CryptoQuant.

Dogecoin (DOGE) appears deeply discounted by several on-chain indicators, but history and structural metrics suggest the downtrend may persist. Glassnode-derived metrics show DOGE’s “number of days spent at profit” has reached an all-time high (1,100 days), meaning a large share of holders are currently underwater. The Hodler Net Position Change indicates sustained long-term accumulation through 2024–2025, with significant selling at past cycle tops (notably in 2021). Heavy buying as DOGE fell from about $0.35 to $0.092 has left many long-term holders exposed. MVRV pricing bands show DOGE has traded at or below ~0.8x realized price for roughly two years in previous cycles before reclaiming realized-price support; the current realized price level sits near $0.140. If historical patterns repeat, DOGE may require up to two more years of a prolonged downtrend before convincingly retesting realized-price support, implying ongoing overhead supply and pressure on price. Primary keywords: Dogecoin, DOGE, on-chain metrics, MVRV, hodlers. Secondary/semantic keywords included: realized price, number of days at profit, Glassnode, long-term holders, memecoin.

Senator Richard Blumenthal has launched a formal Senate inquiry into Binance after reporting that the exchange processed roughly $1.7 billion in transactions tied to sanctioned Iranian entities and Russia’s ‘shadow fleet.’ The probe seeks documents from CEO Richard Teng and Binance on internal compliance practices, flagged accounts, and personnel actions after reports that more than 1,500 accounts were accessed from Iran and intermediary firms such as Hexa Whale and Blessed Trust routed funds to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and to Russian ship personnel evading sanctions. Senators want records on why internal investigators who raised alarms were reportedly suspended or fired, whether Binance ignored warning signs or facilitated sanctions evasion despite its 2023 US settlement requiring stronger AML controls, and details of lobbying ties and relationships with firms like World Liberty Financial. Binance denies knowingly facilitating evasion, says it has offboarded flagged accounts and cut sanctions exposure about 96% between early 2024 and mid‑2025, and asserts it is cooperating with regulators. The inquiry increases political and regulatory pressure on Binance in the US; traders should watch for potential reputational damage, compliance-driven operational changes, increased scrutiny from US regulators, and possible legal or market-access consequences that could affect Binance-listed liquidity and asset flows.

Anchorage Digital, the first U.S. federally chartered crypto bank, disclosed it holds perpetual preferred shares (STRC) issued by Michael Saylor’s bitcoin treasury firm Strategy on its balance sheet. STRC, launched mid-2025, is a short-duration high-yield perpetual preferred that pays an 11.25% annual dividend (paid monthly) with rate adjustments designed to keep trading near a $100 par value. Strategy is the world’s largest publicly listed bitcoin holder with 717,722 BTC. Anchorage’s CEO Nathan McCauley framed the purchase as “conviction compounding,” while Saylor said “conviction is contagious,” signalling closer operational and capital ties among major institutional bitcoin players. Anchorage provides custody, trading, staking and stablecoin services and is building U.S.-compliant stablecoin rails for international banks. The move is effectively a capital endorsement of the bitcoin treasury strategy and may encourage other institutions to buy yield-bearing, bitcoin-backed securities.

Pi Network marked one year since its Open Network mainnet launch with notable growth across users, KYC, nodes and merchant adoption. The project reported 16.2 million mainnet users and 17.4 million KYC completions, a 60% rise in mainnet migrations over 12 months. Active network nodes rose to over 420. Merchant acceptance expanded to more than 148,000 stores (up from ~70,000 a year earlier), with 2.1 million local commerce users. Founders Nicolas Kokkalis and Chengdiao Fan outlined near-term priorities: increase utility, boost investments, introduce validator rewards and develop KYC-as-a-Service; an AI feature was added to speed identity checks. The update did not detail token burns, further decentralization, or new exchange listings. Pi Coin price hit $0.2067 on Feb 15 before pulling back to about $0.1615; technicals show a potential short-term rebound target near $0.2057. Primary keywords: Pi Network, Pi Coin, mainnet users, KYC, merchant adoption. Secondary/semantic keywords: validator rewards, KYC-as-a-Service, node growth, token price action.

Bitcoin developer and commentator Jameson Lopp criticized BIP-110 in a Feb. 23 post, warning the proposed soft-fork change could trigger a disruptive chain split and significant coordination risk. BIP-110, led by Luke Dashjr, would add seven transaction-validity restrictions to limit arbitrary data in transactions. Lopp argues the proposal’s 55% miner-signaling threshold for a user-activated soft fork (UASF) and mandatory activation at block height 961,632 materially raise the chance of competing chains if miners, exchanges, wallets and other infrastructure do not align. He notes BIP-110 nodes would reject non-compliant blocks, increasing enforcement risk compared with softer-deployed upgrades. Lopp also contests claims of grassroots momentum, saying node-counts and Tor-based signaling are weak proxies for consensus and reporting miner support as effectively zero at publication; he cites public opposition from F2Pool and suggests miners lack incentive to back changes that could reduce fee revenue. The broader concern is governance: even a failed activation push could impose costly operational burdens, forcing businesses to plan for low-probability but high-impact coordination failures. At the time of reporting, BTC traded near $62,800.

DeXe (DEXE) surged 17% after breaking out and retesting a falling-wedge pattern, decisively clearing the $3.17 resistance on the daily chart. Spot volume rose 145% to $65 million while futures volume climbed 83% to $6.55 million, signalling broad market participation. Open interest increased by $1.2 million to $6.4 million, suggesting fresh long positioning from larger traders. With technical structure and derivatives metrics aligned, the $4.00 psychological/liquidity zone is the next logical short-term target if momentum holds. A failure to sustain elevated volume could trigger a short correction before any renewed rally. Primary keywords: DeXe, DEXE, falling wedge breakout, $4 target, volume, open interest.

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped below the key $65,000 level, trading around $64,990 on April 10, 2025, after a short-term run of stability. The move coincided with heavier BTC trading volume, thinning buy orders under $65k, increased transfers from long-term wallets to exchanges, and brief profit-taking indicated by a dip in SOPR. Macro pressure — stronger U.S. Treasury yields and Fed commentary suggesting a higher‑for‑longer rate path — weighed on risk assets and contributed to the decline. Market cap for crypto fell roughly 3.2% in 24 hours while exchange reserves remained broadly stable, implying a spot-driven correction rather than large custodial outflows; futures funding rates normalized, reducing immediate liquidation risk. On-chain and network fundamentals (hash rate, active addresses) remain robust. Technical levels to watch: immediate resistance near $68,000, support at $65,000 and $60,000, with the 200‑day moving average around $58,000. Analysts view the 5–10% pullback as typical in bull-market volatility and note potential accumulation opportunities for longer-term holders, but traders should expect elevated short‑term volatility and correlated weakness across major altcoins (notably ETH). Recommended trader actions: monitor exchange net flows, funding rates, MVRV and Fear & Greed sentiment; use disciplined risk management (position sizing, stop-losses, DCA and diversification).

Bitcoin (BTC) perpetual futures across major exchanges show an almost even long/short split, signalling limited directional conviction among traders. Aggregate and exchange-level readings: overall ~50.5% long vs. 49.5% short; Binance ~50.66% long; OKX ~49.48% long (slightly net-short); Bybit ~50.8% long. Funding rates remain neutral and open interest is near yearly highs, indicating substantial capital deployed despite uncertain bias. Compared with earlier reporting that showed a slightly different split and historically extreme readings (multi-60% long in 2021, >60% short in 2022), the latest data underscores continued balanced positioning. Since 2023–2024, increased institutional participation and clearer US/EU/UK regulation have improved data reliability and reduced extreme crowding. For traders: monitor BTC long/short ratios alongside funding rates, open interest, spot volume and technical indicators. Balanced ratios often imply range-bound action until a clear catalyst emerges; sharp moves historically follow sustained compression or extreme skew (below ~45% or above ~55% long). Employ risk management — position sizing, stop losses and options hedges — and watch for shifts in funding or a spike in open interest that could presage a directional breakout.

A River analysis cited by Cointelegraph finds accelerating institutional and national Bitcoin adoption despite BTC trading roughly 50% below its all-time high. Institutional accumulation totaled about 829,000 BTC over the past year across corporations, governments, funds and ETFs. Registered Investment Advisors were net buyers for eight straight quarters, and spot Bitcoin ETFs averaged roughly $1.5 billion in quarterly inflows over the last two years. Corporate holdings rose 2.5x year‑over‑year, attributed to clearer regulation, improved custody and growing acceptance of Bitcoin as a treasury reserve. Five countries — Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, Brazil and Taiwan — added official Bitcoin exposure, bringing the total number of nations holding BTC to 23 via sovereign funds, central-bank holdings, mining or seized assets. The report argues that improved regulatory frameworks, standardized accounting and institutional-grade infrastructure are reducing friction for large-scale allocation, creating market structure changes where adoption metrics increasingly diverge from short-term price moves. Key figures: ~829,000 BTC accumulated by institutions, ~$1.5B quarterly ETF inflows, 2.5x corporate investment growth, 23 countries with official holdings. Traders should note that sustained, diversified institutional demand can underpin longer-term price resilience even if short-term volatility persists.

Binance will delist seven spot trading pairs at 03:00 UTC on February 27, 2025: DOT/BRL, GALA/BRL, GALA/EUR, GRT/ETH, GRT/EUR, OP/EUR and SOL/ARS. The exchange will suspend trading at the specified time, cancel any remaining open orders automatically, and remove the pairs from its Spot Market. The underlying tokens (DOT, GALA, GRT, OP, SOL) remain tradable on Binance via other pairs such as USDT, BTC or BUSD. Binance cited routine liquidity and market-quality reviews—factors include low trading volume, poor liquidity, network/wallet health and compliance thresholds—for the targeted removals. Affected users are advised to cancel open orders before the cutoff, migrate positions to more liquid markets (typically USDT/BTC pairs), or withdraw assets to private wallets. Historically, pair delistings cause limited, short‑term volatility for affected pairs but little broader market impact when core markets remain active. Traders should expect liquidity to consolidate into deeper pools, potentially tightening spreads and improving execution, while monitoring for brief price moves around the event.

Asian currencies moved sharply as traders weighed newly announced US tariffs and surprise Australian inflation data. Australia’s consumer price index rose 1.2% quarter-on-quarter versus an expected 0.8%, triggering the Australian dollar’s largest one-day gain in three months and pushing Australian government bond yields higher (notably the two-year yield to its highest since November). Markets repriced a greater chance of Reserve Bank of Australia tightening, and interest-rate futures reflected increased hawkish bets. Other regional currencies initially weakened on tariff-related trade concerns but mostly recovered as investors parsed tariff scope, timing and likely sectoral impacts. The Japanese yen held relatively steady; the Chinese yuan stayed in range aided by central bank support. Traders increased position adjustments and hedging activity, with AUD/USD breaking key resistance (near 0.6800) and higher trading volumes in AUD crosses. Analysts warned that currency moves will depend on interest-rate differentials, commodity prices, trade exposure to affected sectors and central bank communications. Historical comparisons to 2018–19 tariff episodes suggest initial depreciation can be followed by measured recoveries as markets adapt. Key watch-items for traders: upcoming economic data (PMIs, trade balances), central bank statements, tariff implementation details, and bond-market moves that could shift carry and risk flows.

Bitcoin adoption accelerated sharply in 2025 even as BTC fell roughly 50% from its all-time high. Institutions accumulated about 829,000 BTC during the year, driven by continued buy-ins from registered investment advisers (net buyers for eight consecutive quarters) and steady ETF flows averaging roughly $1.5 billion per quarter over the past two years. Around 60% of top U.S. banks are developing Bitcoin products now that custody and offerings face a friendlier regulatory environment. Businesses and crypto treasuries were major buyers: U.S. merchant adoption tripled, global on-chain commercial usage rose ~74%, and crypto treasury adoption grew ~2.5x. Lightning Network payments jumped roughly 300%, to an estimated $1.1 billion+ monthly. Five nation-state or sovereign entities (including entities linked to Luxembourg, Saudi sovereign wealth, the Czech central bank, Brazil and Taiwan) added Bitcoin in 2025, bringing River’s count to 23 countries with some official Bitcoin exposure. BTC volatility moderated toward gold and S&P 500 levels, reinforcing its maturing store-of-value profile. Short-term price signals showed BTC near $66k in a downtrend with RSI ~34 (near oversold); supports near $64.3k and $60k and resistances at ~$68.6k–$71.1k were noted. Traders should weigh persistent institutional accumulation, growing real-world usage and Lightning adoption against near-term price pressure and liquidation risks highlighted by warnings from major banks. Primary keywords: Bitcoin adoption, BTC, institutional Bitcoin, Bitcoin ETFs, Lightning Network.

MicroStrategy (MSTR) has become the most shorted US stock, with a net short position of about $4.85 billion — roughly 11% of its market capitalization. Short interest has risen in recent weeks after short sellers profited more than $3.2 billion last year from volatility tied to Bitcoin. Traders view MicroStrategy as a proxy for Bitcoin because the company holds substantial BTC reserves; the stock often tracks Bitcoin price swings. The surge in bearish bets has reignited debate over valuation, volatility and risk tied to the company’s Bitcoin strategy. MicroStrategy has not issued a statement on the short-interest spike and continues its dual focus on Bitcoin accumulation and its software business. Key points: MSTR net short ≈ $4.85B (~11% of market cap); $3.2B+ in short profits last year; strong correlation between MSTR and BTC noted; increased shorting seen as a hedge or speculative bet amid crypto volatility.

The Ethereum Foundation has started on‑chain staking of its treasury ETH, making an initial deposit of 2,016 ETH and signalling a planned allocation of up to 70,000 ETH over time. Staking rewards will be retained by the Foundation to fund protocol R&D, ecosystem grants, long‑term operations and community initiatives. The move implements the Foundation’s recently published treasury policy to actively deploy assets for reasonable returns while maintaining an operational expense (opex) buffer and periodic fiat‑sale rules. The staking initiative is presented as supporting Ethereum network security and increasing treasury transparency by using native ETH rails and accepting staking operational risk. Separately, Vitalik Buterin has been selling ETH in recent weeks (larger reported total sales across updates), with proceeds reportedly directed toward open‑source software, hardware research and biotech projects rather than private cash‑out. Traders should note this combination of on‑chain staking and continued founder ETH sales: staking withdraws ETH supply from liquid markets over time (reducing sell pressure), while periodic fiat sales tied to opex targets introduce predictable selling cadence. Current market context includes recent ETH price weakness and ongoing protocol development (notably upcoming upgrades).

Former Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the BOJ is likely to raise interest rates twice a year in both 2026 and 2027, taking policy rates to around 1.5%–1.75%. Kuroda cited solid economic conditions in Japan and called for tighter fiscal and monetary policy. He said the yen’s recent level near JPY 157/USD is “somewhat weak,” and warned that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s planned spending and tax cuts could boost inflation and push up bond yields. The comments signal a shift toward a firmer BOJ stance over the medium term and could affect currency and bond markets.

On Feb 25, on-chain analytics provider Lookonchain reported that wallet address 0x166f withdrew a total of 20,000 ETH from Binance and Deribit within a two-hour window. At current prices this amount is roughly $38.25 million. The report did not specify whether the withdrawals were transfers to other custody, OTC sales, or on-chain trading activity. No additional addresses or transaction intents were publicly confirmed. The movement was flagged by market observers because large, rapid withdrawals from major exchanges can affect exchange liquidity and spot availability of ETH. Key details: wallet 0x166f; exchanges involved: Binance, Deribit; amount: 20,000 ETH; timeframe: 2 hours; approximate fiat value: ~$38.25M. This notice is informational and does not constitute investment advice.

The White House confirmed that former FTX CEO Sam Bankman‑Fried (SBF) will not receive a presidential pardon. SBF, serving a 25‑year sentence for fraud and conspiracy tied to FTX’s collapse, has mounted a public campaign — using X and other accounts to criticise the Justice Department, praise conservative causes and court President Donald Trump. Trump told reporters in January he did not intend to pardon SBF; the White House reiterated that stance. Observers note SBF’s shift from major Democratic donor to amplifying pro‑Trump rhetoric, but advisers and commentators remain sceptical a pardon would be granted given the severity of his convictions and reputational damage. The report contrasts SBF’s failed bid with other crypto‑adjacent figures who have received clemency, and concludes the public appeals have not altered the president’s decision. For crypto traders: the development removes a key political route to legal relief for SBF and preserves his conviction and 25‑year sentence — a reputational and regulatory milestone that keeps negative sentiment around FTX fallout active but is unlikely to directly move major crypto market drivers.

On-chain data from CryptoQuant show large Ethereum (ETH) holders (whales) have reduced their cohort realised price while simultaneously increasing both whale balances and realised capitalization — a pattern that indicates net accumulation rather than distribution. CryptoQuant analyst CryptoMe notes a falling realised price can result from either high-cost whales selling or existing whales buying at lower prices; balance and realized cap data support the latter. This buying occurs amid a severe market contraction: the crypto market shed roughly $730.6 billion over the past 100 days, with Bitcoin market cap down about $347.9 billion and the top 20 non-BTC assets losing $259.9 billion. Market cap sits near $2.25 trillion and Fear & Greed Index reads 12 (extreme fear). ETH trades around $1,893 (±3.86% at time of report) while BTC is near $65,172. Analysts say Ethereum’s longer-term outlook depends on scaling upgrades and ETF-driven supply tightening, with $2,800–$2,900 cited as a pivotal support zone. For traders, whale accumulation suggests structural support amid volatility — short-term risk remains high given broad market drawdown, but concentrated buying by large ETH holders can blunt selling pressure and provide a bullish undercurrent if sustained.