Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

This guide explains how Australian investors can include cryptocurrency in a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) in 2026, covering tax benefits, legal requirements, setup steps and risks. Over $3 billion in digital assets are now held in SMSFs, driving interest in crypto as a retirement allocation. Key tax advantages include concessional income and capital gains rates in the accumulation phase (typically 15%, 10% after 12 months) and possible tax-free treatment in retirement. Compliance requirements set by the ATO and SIS Act include: trust deeds that permit crypto, a documented investment strategy that justifies crypto holdings, adherence to the sole-purpose test, holding crypto in wallets/accounts registered to the SMSF (not personal accounts), thorough record-keeping and annual audits, and prohibition on related-party crypto transactions. The step-by-step setup roadmap: establish the SMSF (trust deed, trustees, ABN/TFN, bank account), roll over existing super, document an investment strategy including crypto, choose an exchange or business wallet registered to the SMSF, buy/manage crypto per the strategy, and complete annual audits and reporting. Major risks include high price volatility, regulatory and compliance burden, security threats (lost keys, hacks) and penalties for non-compliance. The guide recommends seeking professional SMSF or tax advice before proceeding.

Crypto analyst Egrag Crypto posted a fractal overlay comparing XRP’s current price structure with Bitcoin’s 2019–2023 trajectory, arguing XRP sits in a pre-rally accumulation phase analogous to BTC’s pre-2023 bottom. The analysis stresses fractals are probabilistic indicators—useful when confirmed by volume, liquidity and adoption—but not certain. Egrag projects that if volume and on-chain/institutional inflows align, XRP could follow a similar path toward a long-term target near $27 by late 2026. The article recommends traders combine fractal signals with on-chain metrics, institutional flow data and macro conditions to identify accumulation zones, manage risk, and time breakouts. A disclaimer notes the piece is informational and not financial advice.

Commerzbank analysis finds China’s record trade surplus in early 2025 — and foreign-exchange reserves above $3.5 trillion — is materially strengthening the People’s Bank of China’s managed-yuan framework. Continuous export inflows have increased intervention capacity, reduced reliance on foreign capital and lowered external vulnerability, allowing the PBOC to maintain exchange-rate stability within its managed float bands with fewer interventions. Structural upgrades in manufacturing, expanded regional trade agreements and resilient domestic demand are cited as drivers of the surplus. Key sector surpluses include electronics & technology, industrial machinery and renewable energy equipment. Commerzbank notes accelerated reserve accumulation despite global monetary tightening, more stable market expectations, and gradual international use of the yuan in trade settlement. Risks highlighted include a potential global recession, geopolitical tensions and domestic economic rebalancing. For traders, the analysis implies muted FX volatility from China-related flows through 2025, a possible stabilizing spillover for emerging-market currencies, and shifts in global capital flows as investor risk perceptions adjust.

Demand for tokenized real‑world assets (RWAs) climbed 13.5% over the past 30 days despite a roughly $1 trillion marketwide crypto sell‑off, driven by increased issuance and more unique wallet holders, RWA.xyz and market data show. Net on‑chain RWA inflows were concentrated on Ethereum ($1.7B), Arbitrum ($880M) and Solana ($530M). Excluding stablecoins, tokenized securities and yield‑bearing instruments — especially tokenized US Treasurys and money‑market style funds — account for the largest RWA category, with more than $10B outstanding on‑chain. Institutional participation is rising: asset managers including BlackRock (BUIDL), JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have moved into tokenized treasury and money‑market products; BlackRock listed its tokenized Treasury fund on Uniswap. Traders report tokenized money‑market funds are increasingly being used as DeFi collateral. Ethereum’s technicals show a short‑term downtrend (price near $1,980, support ~$1,966, resistance ~$2,065; RSI in the low 30s, bearish Supertrend on futures), highlighting persistent derivatives‑led deleveraging and fragile sentiment in spot markets. Key takeaways for traders: growing demand for on‑chain yield products may redirect capital from volatile crypto risk assets into tokenized fixed‑income-like instruments, potentially reducing short‑term volatility; networks hosting RWAs (ETH, Arbitrum, Solana) could see higher transaction volumes and fee activity; monitor institutional listings, Treasury token flows, and RWA collateralization trends as potential liquidity and price‑support signals. This is informational, not investment advice.

Silver prices slid as markets scaled back expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts and navigated ongoing geopolitical tensions. Strong January CPI and upbeat employment data reduced the probability of a June rate cut from roughly 68% to 42%, bolstering the U.S. dollar and raising the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding metals. Physical and market signals added to downward pressure: silver breached its 100-day moving average near $23.50, the RSI fell to 42, and global silver ETFs saw net outflows (down ~8.2 million ounces in February). Supply-side strains persist—mine output rose only 2% in 2024 while industrial demand grew about 5%, with photovoltaics and EVs driving long-term consumption growth. LBMA inventories fell ~12% since December, and options put/call ratios rose as institutions sought downside protection. Analysts are mixed: Goldman Sachs remains neutral citing robust industrial demand, while JPMorgan warns of near-term weakness; managed-money net longs have declined for weeks. Key indicators traders should watch: Fed communications and inflation prints, DXY/dollar strength, ETF flows, CFTC positioning, LBMA inventories, and technical levels (support $22.80–$23.20; resistance ~$24.40). Short-term outlook favors continued pressure from tighter Fed expectations and dollar strength; structural supply deficits and rising industrial use provide medium-to-long-term support.

Morpho Association and Apollo have signed a cooperation agreement to collaborate on decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure. The partnership aims to integrate Morpho’s peer-to-peer liquidity routing and lending optimization technology with Apollo’s protocol services to improve capital efficiency and lending yields. Key objectives include technical integration, joint research, and shared governance initiatives to enhance protocol resilience and user experience. The agreement signals a strategic alliance focused on boosting DeFi liquidity, reducing borrowing costs, and expanding product interoperability. Stakeholders expect the collaboration to deliver engineering roadmaps, cross-protocol support, and coordinated community engagement, with both parties committing to ongoing development and mutual audits. This cooperation has potential implications for lending markets and liquidity providers by improving capital utilization and competitive loan rates.

Bitcoin has slid back to price levels last seen in October 2024 — the zone where large holders began a significant accumulation phase — and on-chain data shows continued whale buying amid the recent downturn. Analyst CW8900 reports steady accumulation of BTC and ETH by large addresses; Ethereum whales presently hold positions with losses similar to prior cycle lows, interpreted by some as buy-the-dip behaviour ahead of a rally. Current market prices: BTC trading around $68,000–$71,000 (~$69,000), down ~2% this week and ~28% month-to-date; ETH near $2,000, down ~13% in two weeks and ~40% in a month. Conflicting signals exist: Fundstrat’s Tom Lee expects ETH to fully rebound citing past V-shaped recoveries, while Trend Research’s recent liquidation of $2.1B in leveraged ETH longs (an $869M realized loss per Arkham) highlights downside risk. Technical analyst Wise Crypto warned the recent 9% BTC rebound may be a trap, pointing to bearish divergence and elevated NUPL; support levels to watch: $65k–$66k and major floor at $60k. Sentiment polls and Santiment data show crowd fear, which historically can precede moves contrary to expectations. Key takeaways for traders: whale accumulation suggests institutional buying appetite and potential medium-term bullish pressure; high short-term volatility and recent large leveraged exits increase downside risk — monitor on-chain accumulation metrics, NUPL, and support at $65k–$60k for trade signals.

Bitcoin (BTC) experienced sharp short-term moves on a US bank holiday as thin order books allowed large-volume players to trigger liquidity squeezes that liquidated traders on both sides. BTC spiked to about $70,000 before returning into a narrow range; CoinGlass recorded roughly $120 million in crypto liquidations over a four-hour window. Trading desks and on-chain monitors described the activity as “breakouts and shakeouts,” with blocks of bids and asks cleared and new walls placed to pressure price. Material Indicators and other analysts noted sustained net buying on most exchanges except OKX. Separately, weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) dipped to about 27.8 — the lowest since June 2022 — drawing comparisons to mid-2022 bear market behavior where weekly RSI hit “once per cycle” oversold lows. Analysts cautioned that while historical parallels are noteworthy, they do not guarantee a repeat pattern; past instances (2015, 2018) marked cycle bottoms, whereas 2022 led to extended consolidation. The report highlights increased short-term volatility during low-volume sessions and advises traders to monitor liquidity, whale activity, and weekly RSI for directional clues. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC, liquidity squeezes, weekly RSI, liquidations. Secondary/semantic keywords: fakeouts, shakeouts, thin order books, whale activity, exchange liquidity.

Market analysts warn that Dogecoin’s touted 2027 rally lacks supporting market evidence as on-chain metrics and trading data point to weakness across major memecoins. Alphractal CEO Joao Wedson highlights a gap between promotional claims (including Elon Musk’s comments) and measurable indicators. Trading-volume shares show fragmentation: FLOKI 39.7%, BONK 32.2%, DOGE 30%, SHIB 28.5%, PEPE 26.8%, indicating no clear sector leader. The Memecoin Index has fallen to historical lows after steady decline since late 2024, a pattern that often precedes broader market corrections. The Altcoin Season Index reads 32/100, signaling Bitcoin-dominant market conditions that typically impede altcoin performance. Technically, DOGE faces resistance at $0.0885–$0.10; SHIB must defend $0.00000720; FLOKI support sits near $0.000045; BONK needs to reclaim $0.0000074–$0.0000078. Analysts conclude that fragmented volume, weak sector metrics, Bitcoin dominance and immediate technical resistances lower the probability of a sustained memecoin rally in 2027. Traders should watch sector liquidity, Memecoin Index trends, Altcoin Season readings and key resistance/support levels for short-term opportunities or further downside risk.

Spartans, a crypto-first online casino, has rolled out Spartans Originals — bespoke versions of Roulette, Baccarat and Blackjack — and kicked off a site-wide Mansory Koenigsegg Jesko supercar giveaway in which every bet counts as an entry. The platform accepts major cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP) for deposits and withdrawals and touts fast crypto payouts, high-availability infrastructure to handle peak traffic, weekly challenges, new game drops and exclusive in-house titles to increase player retention and engagement. Compared with traditional, fiat-first operators (e.g., Coral) and other crypto-friendly casinos relying on third-party libraries (e.g., BigClash), Spartans markets its crypto-native stack, deeper game selection, rapid withdrawals and large real-world incentives as differentiators. The later coverage emphasizes the high-profile Jesko prize, live progress tracking across a 210-day entry period, and the platform’s focus on replayability and promotional momentum. This is a paid press release and not investment advice.

Evgeny Gokhberg, founder and managing partner of Re7 Capital, argues that market-neutral DeFi yield strategies are essential for surviving crypto’s volatility. Re7 — which has deployed roughly $1.2 billion in DeFi liquidity since 2021 — focuses on earning yield without exposure to price direction by converting capital to stablecoins and providing liquidity. Gokhberg highlights that early DeFi offered very high stablecoin yields (up to ~40%), but the sector’s core risk remains platform-level software hacks, largely uncorrelated with traditional markets. He warns that simple diversification is insufficient — DeFi risk resembles repeatedly selling a put option: profits accrue until a catastrophic protocol failure. To manage this, he proposes formalizing attack-vector checklists and assessing three layers of risk (asset, platform, chain). Key facts and views: DeFi annual default rates have fallen from double digits to an estimated 2–5%; TVL has not meaningfully grown since 2021, leaving the sector structurally starved of capital; supply-demand dynamics favor allocators; on-chain trading returns vary widely with market cycles (bull: ~25–30%, bear: ~5–10%); and Re7 targets being flat on the year through diversification and risk controls. Gokhberg also discusses broader market structure: Bitcoin as digital gold, most altcoins facing a cleansing (many may reach zero), convergence of CeFi/DeFi/TradFi, liquidity-driven narratives, and the importance of patience and position sizing. For traders, the takeaway is to prioritise explicit platform-security analysis, avoid overtrading, apply a barbell between established projects and speculative bets, and use benchmarks (eg. ETH) to manage risk.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has approved a virtual asset trading platform (VATP) licence for Victory Fintech, operator of the VDX exchange — the first new SFC crypto licence in eight months. The approval raises the number of SFC‑licensed VATPs to 12 under the licensing regime launched in June 2023. Victory Fintech passed SFC assessments for corporate governance, custody, cybersecurity, AML controls and capital requirements and may now offer trading services to retail and professional investors under ongoing supervision. Analysts say the decision shows the SFC remains selective but active, prioritising operational resilience and investor protection. The approval could encourage other applicants and strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a regulated crypto hub by lowering counterparty risk and potentially attracting institutional interest. Key points for traders: total licensed VATPs = 12; regime start = June 2023; latest licence = Victory Fintech (VDX) — April 2025. Regulatory focal areas going forward include staking services, tokenised securities guidance, cross‑border coordination, and monitoring licensed platforms’ compliance and performance. This development is regulatory rather than token‑specific and contains no immediate market‑moving listings or trading pairs.

Crypto lender Nexo has relaunched U.S. operations through a partnership with regulated digital-asset solutions provider Bakkt (BKKT). The return follows Nexo’s January 2023 settlement with the U.S. SEC, which included a $45 million penalty, and comes after nearly three years out of the U.S. market. Nexo will deliver flexible and fixed-term yield programs, an integrated exchange for trading, crypto-backed credit lines, fiat on/off-ramps (ACH and wire), and a loyalty scheme — all routed through Bakkt’s regulated market infrastructure to improve compliance and institutional suitability. Nexo said it has processed over $371 billion in transactions globally and framed the move as a strategic reset as U.S. regulatory clarity and institutional standards evolve. For traders, the relaunch signals renewed access to U.S. retail and institutional demand for NEXO’s products and could support positive sentiment around NEXO-linked services, though legacy regulatory history and product details (custody, yield mechanics, limits) remain key risk factors.

Elon Musk publicly accused Jeffrey Epstein of running a campaign to short Tesla and of persuading Bill Gates to take a 1% short position when Tesla’s market value was about $40 billion. Musk posted that the short position has reportedly remained open for years and may have cost Gates up to $10 billion as Tesla shares climbed. The claims come after the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of pages of Epstein-related records, which include email exchanges between Musk and Epstein from 2012–2013 and further material indicating Epstein provided advice related to Tesla financing discussions in 2018. Musk noted SpaceX servers began rejecting Epstein’s emails in 2014 and said he cut off contact. The story has coincided with commentary on institutional flows into Tesla—Vanguard, Geode, Norges Bank, Legal & General and Amundi have adjusted stakes—and recent analyst ratings range from Morgan Stanley’s Hold ($415 target) to Tigress Financial’s Buy ($550 target). Market context: Tesla shares closed recently around $417.44, up ~17% over 12 months and ~100% over three years. No independent confirmation of Gates’s current short position was provided in the reporting.

A new WisdomTree report identifies a structural shift in crypto markets from retail-led speculation to institutional, portfolio-driven investment. Key drivers include the launch and rapid growth of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, corporate Bitcoin treasury allocations, and expanded institutional products such as derivatives and custody services. The report links these developments to declining realized volatility for major assets, deeper order books, and more predictable price behavior. Regulatory clarity (e.g., EU MiCA and evolving SEC/CFTC guidance) is reframed as a filter that enables compliant projects and institutional entry rather than a barrier. On-chain metrics and AUM growth in crypto funds, plus TradFi firms expanding digital-asset desks, support the trend. The shift, accelerated by spot-ETF approvals in late 2023–early 2024, moves market focus from short-term speculation to long-term allocation, risk management, and integration of digital assets into diversified portfolios. For traders, the report implies lower episodic volatility but growing importance of macro, regulatory signals, ETF flows, and institutional allocation decisions for price action.

Ricursive Intelligence, founded by AI veterans Anna Goldie (CEO) and Azalia Mirhoseini (CTO), raised $335 million within four months — a $35M seed led by Sequoia Capital followed by a $300M Series A led by Lightspeed Venture Partners — valuing the startup at $4 billion. The company commercializes AI-driven chip-design software that automates layout, placement and verification using reinforcement learning and large language models. The founders’ prior Alpha Chip work at Google demonstrated the approach by generating high-quality layouts in hours versus the year-plus timeline of manual design, and was used in Google’s TPUs. Ricursive positions itself as a toolmaker for chipmakers rather than a hardware competitor; strategic investors reportedly include Nvidia, AMD and Intel. The startup claims its platform can accelerate chip design cycles, improve performance-per-cost by up to 10x for AI labs, and enable faster co-evolution of AI models and custom silicon — a potential long-term contributor to AGI development. While early work drew internal controversy at Google, Ricursive says it’s engaged with major chipmakers and offers a highly demanded solution to the industry bottleneck of slow ASIC development. This funding round highlights investor confidence in AI-driven semiconductor design automation and signals a shift toward software-led acceleration of hardware innovation.

STABLE jumped 12.72% in 24 hours to about $0.027 as spot volume surged 148.7% to $57.46M, signaling strong buyer participation. The daily chart shows a developing cup-and-handle: a rounded base near $0.009 (cup) followed by a handle around $0.016–$0.020. Reclaiming the $0.027–$0.030 zone shifted short-term control to bulls; a decisive close above $0.030 projects a measured target near $0.045. Momentum supports the move — RSI sits at 63.17 (above neutral but not overbought) — and Open Interest rose 46.35% to $44.93M, indicating fresh leveraged positions. Binance top-trader data shows a 55.41% long bias (Long/Short ratio 1.24), reinforcing upside conviction but raising crowding risk. Key levels: bullish if price clears and holds above $0.030; failure to break could lead to consolidation toward $0.020 or heightened volatility from leveraged liquidations. Primary keywords: STABLE price, cup-and-handle, breakout, RSI, Open Interest.

Economist and gold proponent Peter Schiff renewed his long-running critique of Bitcoin, arguing BTC poses a risk to retail buyers rather than a systemic threat. Responding to crypto commentators including Jeff Swanson, Schiff reiterated that Bitcoin lacks intrinsic value, called it speculative (and has previously likened it to a Ponzi), and warned of a deep long-term downside—forecasting possible collapse toward $10,000 with that level as potential support. Schiff pointed to Bitcoin’s weakening performance against gold and argued that investors who swapped gold for Bitcoin have erred. Pro-Bitcoin voices pushed back: Swanson and others said persistent debate from gold advocates underscores Bitcoin’s relevance and predicted gold could lose ground to BTC over decades. The articles note recent BTC price action around $66k–$69k and frame the exchange as part of an ongoing narrative and market-sentiment battle between gold advocates and crypto proponents. For traders, the confrontation highlights persistent macro-narrative risk, potential for increased volatility around Bitcoin price levels cited by critics, and continuing diversity in safe-haven preferences that can shift capital flows between BTC and gold.

Kraken announced it will sponsor Trump Accounts (Wyoming’s state-supported financial accounts) for every child born in Wyoming in 2026 by making a financial contribution to each account. The move is presented as part of Kraken’s long-term commitment to Wyoming — its global headquarters — and follows the company’s history in the state, including chartering Kraken Financial as a Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) and launching the Frontier Stable Token (FRNT). Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi framed the program as an investment in Wyoming’s future and reward for the state’s crypto-friendly regulation. U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis publicly praised the initiative as a meaningful financial head start for Wyoming children. Kraken also highlights local ties such as support for the University of Wyoming’s blockchain programs and partnerships with local initiatives. The announcement reiterates standard regulatory and investment risk disclaimers.

Tomasz Stańczak, co-director at the Ethereum Foundation, published a five-step blueprint to transition Ethereum governance to large language models (LLMs). The plan proposes: 1) validator operators delegating decision power to AI agents for upgrade approvals and parameter tuning; 2) EIP authors using LLMs to draft and submit proposals; 3) EIP editors employing AI review tools; 4) core developers relying on LLMs to moderate All Core Dev (ACD) meetings and vote on EIP inclusion; and 5) client teams generating fully specified, formally verified codebases from specs via AI. Stańczak argues Ethereum has an advantage because existing specs, recorded ACD calls and archived governance debates provide rich training data for LLMs. The Ethereum Foundation has already hired tooling coordinators and formed a dAI team; the proposal prioritizes real-time AI moderation, improved tooling for EIP workflows, and a cross-client team to build an AI-generated, formally verified client running in parallel with existing clients until it becomes canonical. Stańczak framed AI governance as an infrastructure upgrade to scale decision-making without replacing human oversight: validators would still accept agent recommendations and editors/authors retain final authority. Challenges cited include the technical difficulty of real-time NLP moderation and generating formally verified client code from specs alone. If executed, the plan could speed upgrades, reduce client divergence, and cement Ethereum’s lead in AI-driven blockchain governance.

CoinMarketCap has launched CMC Labs, an in-house accelerator that gives selected crypto startups direct exposure to the platform’s audience of over 340 million monthly visitors. The program uses a seven-step intake (application, team review, founder meeting, committee vote, acceleration, graduation, and post-program support) and is open via a rolling online application. Key features include Learn & Earn campaigns that pay users in project tokens for watching educational content and completing quizzes, airdrop campaigns that require adding projects to watchlists and enabling app notifications, Deep Dive articles and infographics to boost SEO and social distribution, community-live audio events for Q&A, and YouTube video creation from CMC content. CMC claims 250 million monthly pageviews to coinmarketcap.com and a partner network of 50+ active partners (exchanges, wallets, data platforms, media) to help startups scale. The program is selective, emphasizes ongoing post-acceleration support, and does not list application fees publicly. For traders, CMC Lab-backed projects gain faster visibility, potentially accelerating token distribution, watchlist growth, and short-term liquidity as projects hit exchanges or run airdrops and reward campaigns.

Bhavin Vaid, co‑founder of Birch Hill and former Principal at 1RoundTable, says risk curation and greater transparency are becoming essential infrastructure for DeFi as tokenized credit markets scale. Curators—entities that vet and present tokenized and real‑world assets—help set appropriate lending and borrowing rates, improve pricing efficiency and liquidity matching, and will evolve into infrastructure providers and consultants for asset managers migrating on‑chain. Vaid warns that composability of on‑chain risk (for example oracle depegs or a single stablecoin depeg) can trigger cascading liquidations, so platforms must implement stronger guardrails, isolate risk, and improve operational security (phishing remains a major attack vector). He expects Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) to remain dominant base layers due to liquidity and institutional demand for block space, and highlights growing CeFi–DeFi integration (citing Morpho/Morpho v2) that will expand fixed‑rate, fixed‑duration credit products and tokenized real‑world assets (RWAs). Key market implications include demand for high‑quality RWA origination, the need for accurate real‑time on‑chain NAV reporting, new revenue models (consulting, asset management), and opportunities in tokenized credit products yielding quoted returns (eg. 8–11%). Overall, Vaid says the debate has shifted from whether on‑chain products will arrive to when they will scale — increasing demand for curators, transparency, and operational guardrails as the market matures.

Harvard Management Company (HMC), manager of the $56.9 billion Harvard endowment, reduced its holding in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust by about 21% in Q4 2025, trimming the position from roughly $442.9 million (6.8 million shares) to $265.8 million (5.4 million shares) as of Dec. 31. At the same time, HMC opened a new position in BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust, acquiring about 3.8–4.0 million shares valued near $86.8–$87 million. Combined exposure to BlackRock spot crypto ETFs is roughly 0.62% of the endowment. These moves occurred amid notable crypto volatility — BTC fell from six-figure levels (~$120k+) in mid‑2025 to below $90k by Jan. 2026; ETH likewise declined from above $4,000 to under $3,000. The filing also noted broader equity rebalancing (e.g., increased Alphabet, reduced Amazon). For traders, the reallocation signals institutional rotation between Bitcoin and Ether via spot ETFs, may affect liquidity in large-cap crypto ETFs, and could influence investor sentiment given the scale of Harvard’s disclosed positions.

Anthropic has rapidly expanded its business in India, doubling its India revenue run rate in four months as developer and enterprise adoption of its Claude models accelerates. CEO Dario Amodei cited intense, technical use by Indian developers—especially for Claude Code—as the primary growth driver. The company opened an office in Bengaluru and announced partnerships to deploy Claude across public sectors including education, judicial and health, and enterprise customers such as Air India, which uses Claude Code to speed custom software development. Anthropic’s India team will offer applied AI services to help organisations design and scale Claude-powered solutions. The firm also highlighted early government projects (Ministry of Statistics) and argued India’s fast-moving, experimental ecosystem is enabling quicker AI deployments than in many other countries. Globally, Anthropic saw a modest post–Super Bowl user bump for Claude after a prominent ad, but Claude still trails ChatGPT and Gemini in overall user base. Key figures: India run-rate revenue doubled in four months; growth driven mainly by developers and enterprise pilots; new Bengaluru office and public-sector partnerships.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will create a concentrated, two-week betting window with surging liquidity and rapidly shifting odds. This guide compares crypto-native sportsbooks (Dexsport, Stake, BetPanda) and regulated fiat platforms (BetMGM, bet365, Fanatics) across five trader-relevant metrics: margin (overround), market depth, live betting speed, settlement/withdrawal times, and betting limits. Crypto sportsbooks offer instant crypto settlements, lower payment friction, anonymity, and competitive live execution — but often operate under offshore licensing and with variable market depth. Dexsport highlights multi-chain support, on-chain wager transparency and instant settlements; Stake offers competitive margins (2–5%) and deep live interfaces; BetPanda emphasizes low-friction crypto deposits and promotional rewards. Regulated fiat sportsbooks generally provide higher liquidity, deeper futures markets and larger limits—advantages on major markets like Olympic ice hockey and medal rounds—though they require KYC and have slower fiat settlements. Sport-by-sport liquidity and volatility matter: ice hockey and major medal events present the highest liquidity and most efficient lines; alpine skiing and biathlon show higher volatility and late odds moves; curling and niche events often offer pricing inefficiencies. Strategic takeaway for traders: there’s no single best book. Use fiat sportsbooks for maximum liquidity and high-limit markets, and crypto venues for faster settlements, privacy, and exploiting live/late market inefficiencies. Compare margins in real time, monitor live odds shifts, and allocate stakes to the platform that best matches your market and execution needs.

Harvard Management Company trimmed its holding in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and initiated a first-time position in BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (spot ETH ETF) during Q4 2025, according to its Form 13F filing. The firm reduced IBIT by about 1.46 million shares (roughly $72–$73 million trimmed in Q4 after a large Q3 accumulation) to end the year with IBIT exposure valued near $266 million. Simultaneously it added approximately 3.873 million shares of the iShares Ethereum Trust worth about $86.8 million, bringing combined spot crypto ETF exposure to roughly $352 million. The move occurred against a backdrop of net outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in late 2025 (monthly Bitcoin ETF outflows ~ $678 million; Ethereum ETF outflows ~ $327 million) and softer prices (BTC trading in the high‑$60k range; ETH around $2,000). Market observers interpret the filing as an intra-crypto rotation rather than an institutional exit from digital assets — possible drivers include relative-value preference for ETH, diversification, liquidity and flow dynamics, regulatory or compliance-driven rebalancing, or portfolio-construction limits on total crypto allocation. For traders, the filing signals institutional rebalancing pressure: potential short-term pressure on BTC relative to ETH, while longer-term implications depend on whether other institutions follow the ETH-tilt or if the change reflects temporary allocation management.

Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin urged a structural shift in prediction markets away from short‑term crypto bets and sports‑style wagering toward generalized hedging and real‑world risk‑management use cases. In a February 2026 thread he warned current platforms encourage ‘dopamine’-driven trading and attract naive loss‑making participants, automated market makers that buy signals, and hedgers—arguing the product‑market fit is skewed toward low‑value entertainment. Buterin proposed personalized prediction‑market baskets: localised indices of expected personal expenses (managed by on‑device LLMs) that issue prediction shares settling in assets users prefer to hold (ETH, wrapped stocks or interest‑bearing fiat equivalents). Users would keep growth assets (ETH, stocks) while using prediction shares to stabilise spending power, avoiding opportunity cost by denominating markets in preferred holdings. He framed this as a potential stablecoin alternative that doesn’t rely on fiat pegs and could attract sophisticated capital, turning prediction markets into information infrastructure for hedging and coordination. Industry figures, including Myriad CEO Loxley Fernandes, echoed the view that hedging‑focused markets could evolve prediction markets beyond entertainment. Buterin offered no technical blueprint or timeline; the idea remains conceptual but could materially shift demand for ETH‑denominated products and DeFi hedging architectures if adopted.

Financial markets have significantly accelerated expectations for Bank of England (BoE) rate cuts after recent data showed inflation easing and softer labour-market indicators. MUFG analysis of derivatives and surveys finds the first cut has been brought forward by about three months since early 2025; traders now price a ~65% chance of a 25bp cut by the June 2025 MPC meeting (up from 35% in December 2024). Key data: headline CPI fell from 3.2% (Nov 2024) to 2.4% (Feb 2025), core inflation slipped from 3.5% to 2.7%, and services inflation and wage growth have moderated. MUFG’s model implies roughly 75bp of cuts priced into 2025, with a terminal rate near 4.5% by year-end. Market effects to date include lower gilt yields (especially 2–5yr), a ~2.5% weaker sterling vs USD, outperformance in rate-sensitive UK equities (real estate, utilities), falling mortgage rates (2-year fixes down ~30bp since January), and tighter corporate spreads. MUFG outlines three scenarios: base case — 75bp cuts starting June (60% prob.), accelerated — 100bp starting in May (25%), and delayed — 50bp from August (15%). Risks that could postpone easing include persistent services inflation, localized wage pressures, geopolitical commodity shocks, supply-chain disruption, or stronger-than-expected growth. For traders, the repricing matters for FX, gilt and swap curves, UK equities, mortgage-backed exposures, and credit spreads; attention should focus on upcoming inflation prints, wage data, and BoE communications for confirmation of the shift.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR) did not announce its usual weekly Bitcoin (BTC) purchase during the Asian New Year market lull, despite expectations it could buy up to ~1,459–1,600 BTC after raising capital via STRC preferred share sales. STRC dipped below $100, halting further preferred issuance and leaving it unclear whether Strategy will make a buy later in the week or preserve funds as cash reserves. The skip came amid extreme market fear (BTC Fear & Greed Index ~12) and after Strategy bought 1,142 BTC the prior week. Meanwhile, XRP faces concentrated liquidation risk: open interest sits just under $1B, and more than $62M in liquidations would occur if XRP falls to about $1.44 (it was trading around $1.49). XRP remains heavily traded in South Korea and is among the most shorted altcoins; Standard Chartered cut its year-end price forecast to $2.80 from $8. Weakness across altcoins (SOL, TRX, DOGE, HYPE) and low volumes during holidays may amplify downside pressure and market volatility. Key takeaways for traders: Strategy’s paused buying removes a predictable source of BTC demand, potentially raising short-term downside risk for BTC; XRP’s concentrated open interest and proximity to critical liquidation levels increase the chance of abrupt price moves; low Asian holiday liquidity can exacerbate volatility and widen spreads. Keywords: Bitcoin buy pause, Strategy MSTR, STRC preferred, BTC purchase skip, XRP liquidation risk, open interest, Asian New Year liquidity.