Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

South Korean exchange Bithumb said it recovered about 99.7% of Bitcoin mistakenly credited to users during a Feb. 6 reward event that should have issued small Korean-won incentives. A system configuration error caused BTC to be distributed; some recipients sold instantly, briefly driving BTC/KRW prices on Bithumb sharply lower versus global markets. Bithumb blocked affected accounts, restored balances by Feb. 7, and used its own funds to reconcile remaining losses after some BTC was sold. The exchange said the incident was an operational failure, not a hack, and pledged compensation and fee relief to traders who sold at unusually low prices. Bithumb has formed an internal task force to tighten controls and prevent recurrence. Key data: ~99.7% of misplaced BTC recovered; all affected balances restored by Feb. 7. Primary keywords: Bithumb, Bitcoin, airdrop error, BTC/KRW, exchange operational error. Secondary/semantic keywords: recovery, compensation, liquidity shock, price divergence, operational controls.

Jeff Park argues the Feb. 5 BTC -13.2% crash was driven more by traditional-finance plumbing than crypto-specific news. Key points: unusually high trading and options volume in BlackRock’s IBIT (about 2x prior high, ~10B+), a put-heavy options skew, and broad deleveraging among multi‑asset/multi‑strategy funds after a severe risk-off event on Feb. 4. Despite the steep price drop, spot ETF flows showed net creations (IBIT added ~6M shares, ≈$230M AUM) and the broader spot ETF complex saw net inflows (~$300M+), contradicting expectations of large redemptions. Park contends forced deleveraging triggered short‑gamma/hedging dynamics (dealers selling IBIT/Bitcoin as hedges updated), amplified by unwind of CME basis (near-dated basis jumped from 3.3% on Feb. 5 to 9% on Feb. 6 per cited data) and pressure from structured products with barrier levels. The sharp Feb. 6 recovery (+10%+) is attributed to positioning reset as CME open interest rebuilt and relative‑value trades redeployed. For traders: the move highlights how cross‑asset deleveraging, ETF mechanics, short‑gamma and basis unwinds can cause large, fast price moves even without visible ETF outflows; persistent ETF inflows paired with expanding basis would signal more durable demand. BTC traded near $70.6K at publication.

BTC perpetual futures across Binance, OKX and Bybit show a modest bullish tilt, with an aggregated 24‑hour long/short split around 51.0% long vs 49.0% short. Exchange-level readings from the latest update: Bybit ~52.5% long, Binance ~52.2% long and OKX ~51.4% long. Funding rates remain near neutral and open interest is steady, indicating balanced positioning rather than crowded directional bets. Compared with historical extremes (longs >60–65% during 2021 and shorts ~55–60% in 2022), current ratios point toward consolidation and range-bound price action instead of an imminent breakout. Traders should use these long/short ratio signals alongside price action, volume, funding-rate trends and open interest: short-term strategies should watch for divergences (for example, price rising while long share declines), while a sustained move in long share coupled with rising open interest would better confirm a bullish trend. This sentiment snapshot is useful for timing entries, sizing positions and avoiding overcrowded trades but is not standalone trading advice.

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Chan-jin has warned that crypto exchange Bithumb may face maximum penalties under current law and even harsher sanctions, including potential license restrictions or revocation, once pending digital asset legislation passes. The escalation follows an ‘‘erroneous payment’’ incident in which Bithumb processed billions of won to multiple users; most funds were recovered but the event exposed serious operational weaknesses. The FSS has expanded its probe to investigate alleged ‘‘ledger trading’’ — trading assets the exchange does not actually hold — which regulators view as a fundamental breach that can create artificial market activity and delivery risk. The announcement arrives amid intensified South Korean enforcement: stronger AML rules, operational security mandates, and forthcoming digital asset framework provisions that would formalize licensing and penalties. Markets reacted with increased volatility and higher scrutiny of major exchanges; competitors have emphasized reserve transparency and enhanced compliance. The investigation is expected to take months, with potential penalties possibly timed to the passage of the new bill. Primary keywords: Bithumb, Financial Supervisory Service, ledger trading, license sanctions, South Korea crypto regulation.

VistaShares launched BitBonds 5 Yr Enhanced Weekly Option Income ETF (BTYB), an actively managed ETF that combines a U.S. 5‑year Treasury core (roughly 80% allocation) with a Bitcoin options overlay (about 20%) to generate weekly distributions. The fund obtains BTC‑linked exposure synthetically by buying and selling options on a Bitcoin trust (using synthetic covered calls and covered‑call spreads) rather than holding spot Bitcoin. BTYB targets roughly twice the yield of 5‑year Treasuries by collecting option premiums and Treasury income. Key risks include NAV declines if Bitcoin falls sharply, potential return of capital if distributions exceed realized income, and monthly rebalancing that can amplify losses during rapid sell‑offs. An analyst assigned a Hold rating given elevated term premia in fixed income and Bitcoin’s recent ~50% drawdown, noting the fund may suit income‑seeking investors willing to accept crypto volatility. For traders: BTYB offers yield‑enhanced, asymmetric exposure to BTC via options with limited upside capture and concentrated downside risk tied to Bitcoin moves; suitability depends on yield needs, risk tolerance for crypto drawdowns, and views on interest‑rate term premia.

XRP ETFs recorded net inflows of roughly $45 million last week, making XRP the only major crypto to see positive ETF flows amid a broader market sell-off that erased $310 billion in market value on Feb. 5. XRP’s price plunged about 19.6% on Feb. 5 and hit a 15-month low of $1.11 on Feb. 6 before a partial rebound; it still finished the week down about 10%. Coinglass data show daily inflows on four of five days, with $19.46M (Feb. 3), $4.83M (Feb. 4), $5.91M (Feb. 5) and $15.16M (Feb. 6); one small outflow of $404K occurred on Feb. 2. The Franklin Templeton XRP ETF (XRPZ) and Bitwise’s XRP ETF contributed most of the inflows — about $20.51M and $20.014M respectively — together accounting for over 90% of the week’s XRP ETF gains. Other XRP products (Canary Capital, Grayscale) posted modest inflows; 21Shares saw a $348K outflow. By contrast, Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana ETF products suffered outflows: BTC ETFs lost ~$358M, ETH ETFs ~$170.4M and SOL ETFs ~$9.3M. This was XRP’s first positive weekly ETF performance in three weeks after roughly $92.9M in outflows over the prior two weeks. Data are informational and not financial advice.

Binance’s Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) executed its fourth major Bitcoin purchase, acquiring 4,225 BTC (about $300 million) as part of a plan to convert $1 billion of stablecoin reserves into Bitcoin. Reported by Onchain-Lense, the move shifts SAFU’s asset composition from stablecoins toward Bitcoin to reduce counterparty risk, enhance censorship resistance, and align reserve strategy with cryptocurrency-native principles. SAFU — established in 2018 and funded by 10% of trading fees — maintains a $1 billion valuation as a user protection reserve. Large purchases of this kind are typically routed through OTC desks or algorithmic execution to limit market impact. The transaction underlines broader industry trends: exchanges increasing Bitcoin allocations, stronger proof-of-reserves scrutiny, and evolving regulation (e.g., MiCA). For traders, the purchase signals continued institutional demand for BTC and a reduction in available supply over time, supporting longer-term bullish fundamentals while immediate price impact is likely muted due to execution methods and market liquidity.

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is intensifying oversight of local crypto exchanges after a Bithumb systems error mistakenly credited some users with roughly 2,000 BTC each (an apparent valuation peak of about $44 billion). The incident forced Bithumb to restrict trading and withdrawals for 695 affected accounts within 35 minutes and coincided with a ~30% local BTC price drop versus global averages as recipients attempted to sell. The FSS said it will investigate high‑risk practices including large-scale price manipulation by whales, trades tied to suspended deposits/withdrawals, and social‑media driven pump schemes. Regulators plan to deploy AI-powered, second/minute-level trading surveillance and text‑analysis tools to detect suspicious patterns in real time. The agency also announced plans for punitive fines for IT incidents, greater security accountability for CEOs and CISOs of financial firms and exchanges, and a preparatory team for the broader Basic Digital Asset Act. The moves form part of President Lee Jae‑myung’s wider push to crack down on abusive financial practices and strengthen enforcement against fraud and voice‑phishing. Primary keywords: South Korea crypto regulation, Bithumb error, market manipulation, AI surveillance. Secondary/semantic keywords: BTC price drop, exchange outage, IT incident fines, Basic Digital Asset Act, executive security accountability.

CoinShares’ report says an imminent quantum‑computing threat to Bitcoin is overstated. The firm focuses on legacy Pay‑to‑Public‑Key (P2PK) addresses, estimating ~1.6 million BTC (~8% of supply) are exposed because public keys are revealed on‑chain. However, only about 10,200 BTC are concentrated in large single UTXOs that could cause meaningful market disruption if stolen; the remainder is spread across ~32,000 UTXOs averaging ~50 BTC each, making mass theft slow and detectable. CoinShares and cited experts (Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet, Bitcoin developers) argue practical attacks need fault‑tolerant quantum computers with millions of qubits — roughly 100,000× the power of current devices — placing material risk at least a decade away. The report recommends gradual adoption of post‑quantum signatures (wallet upgrades and proposals such as BIP‑360) rather than emergency measures. For traders: the immediate market impact on BTC is limited and largely theoretical today, but monitor wallet migrations, institutional wallet upgrades, and any large UTXO movements tied to legacy P2PK addresses that could increase short‑term volatility.

Japan’s landslide election win for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has turbocharged the so‑called “Takaichi trade”: expectations of aggressive fiscal stimulus, tolerance for a weaker yen, and looser monetary conditions. Equity markets in Japan jumped (Nikkei above 57,000) while the yen weakened toward 157 per dollar. As portfolios rebalance toward Japanese government bonds and domestic assets, inflows into U.S. equity ETFs have slowed, tightening marginal liquidity in global markets. Over the past week U.S. indices fell (Nasdaq -5.59%, S&P 500 -2.65%, Russell 2000 -2.6%), and that equity weakness has spilled into crypto markets. CryptoQuant/XWIN Research Japan report that Bitcoin’s recent pullback is driven by cross‑asset risk rebalancing — futures unwind, falling open interest and reduced leverage — rather than on‑chain capitulation. Traders are prioritizing capital preservation, trimming crypto exposure as U.S. stocks correct. Medium‑term prospects remain distinct: Takaichi’s administration plans structural reforms and clearer Web3/stablecoin rules that could attract institutional flows later in 2026. But in the near term, the shift in global capital flows and tighter liquidity conditions increase downside risk for BTC until equity markets and flows stabilize.

Bitcoin’s Sharpe ratio has plunged into negative territory (around -10), reaching levels historically seen near bear-market lows, according to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost. The metric — a measure of risk-adjusted returns — signals an extreme risk/reward profile for holding BTC but does not guarantee an immediate market bottom. COINOTAG technicals show BTC trading near $70,400 with a downtrend bias: RSI ~35 (oversold), Supertrend bearish, short-term supports ~ $70,900 and $65,842, and resistances near $72,200 and $78,962. Price action saw a drop to about $60,000 followed by a ~15% rally to above $68,000 within 15 hours; BTC remains roughly 44% below its October peak (~$126,000). On-chain activity highlights a large 5,000 BTC (~$351m) deposit to Binance by Garrett Jin, flagged as potential selling pressure. Analysts including 10x Research caution the broader downtrend persists and there is no clear catalyst to prompt sustained buying. Key takeaways for traders: the negative Sharpe ratio indicates elevated downside risk relative to expected returns; technical indicators are oversold but biased bearish, so short-term rebounds are possible yet unreliable; large exchange inflows increase the risk of further price pressure. Traders should prioritise disciplined risk management, avoid aggressive entries without a confirmed reversal or catalyst, and watch on-chain flows and key support/resistance levels for signs of a genuine turn.

Dogecoin (DOGE) acquisition cost has fallen to a local low, improving the token’s risk-reward profile and making accumulation more attractive for sidelined capital. On-chain metrics show a steady holder base—number of holders has risen significantly—and a Mean Dollar Invested Age of 53, indicating coins are not being moved aggressively. Technical structure shows DOGE consolidating in a flag pattern with Stochastic RSI bouncing from oversold, suggesting potential bullish continuation. Crucially, CoinGlass liquidation heatmap data identifies a $1.63 million liquidity cluster around $0.11, a price zone that often acts as a magnet for market moves. If fresh capital flows into DOGE and buyers act with conviction, the $0.11 liquidity target could draw price action and potentially break the flag consolidation.

Australia plans to nearly triple data-centre capacity to almost 6GW by 2030, a buildout valued at about A$150 billion (≈US$105 billion), signalling a major push to become a global AI infrastructure hub. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia highlighted the expansion as part of record investment commitments that position Australia third in AI investment after the US and China. Analysts and CBA economists say AI-driven productivity gains could lift GDP growth by as much as 1 percentage point annually, helping offset currently weak growth and inflationary pressures noted by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The Productivity Commission forecasts AI-linked labour productivity gains of about 0.4 percentage points per year. Separately, Australian AI firm Firmus secured a US$10 billion debt package from Blackstone and Coatue to advance Project Southgate, aiming to deploy national AI training and inference infrastructure with partners CDC Data Centres and Nvidia and target 1.6GW capacity within three years. Key figures: A$150bn (~US$105bn) planned data-centre investment, target ~6GW by 2030, Firmus US$10bn funding, 1.6GW target in 3 years. Primary keywords: Australia AI investment, data centres, AI infrastructure, Firmus, Project Southgate.

Bitcoin’s global hashrate fell about 10% after a miner capitulation, driving mining difficulty down to 125.86 T (from a local high of 155.97 T on Nov. 11). Remaining miners are now finding blocks faster (average block time ~8.92 minutes), setting up an automatic difficulty adjustment that could raise difficulty by ~12.15% within two weeks. Bloomberg data shows mining revenue metrics hit record lows: the hash price dropped to roughly $0.03 per THash, squeezed by lower BTC prices and higher energy costs. Major public miners (CleanSpark, Terawulf, MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms) have seen share-price declines as firms power down equipment. Severe U.S. winter storms and regional outages in Texas and Tennessee have worsened production constraints and raised power costs. Bitcoin Core developer Peter Todd noted that “hash power follows price,” linking the drop to the market downturn. For traders, the key datapoints are the 10% hashrate decline, difficulty at 125.86 T, record-low hash price (~$0.03/TH), and faster block times that will trigger difficulty rebound — factors that can influence short-term block supply, miner selling pressure, and sentiment.

The FDIC has settled a FOIA lawsuit brought by History Associates Inc. (acting for Coinbase), agreeing to pay the plaintiff’s legal costs and to revise internal FOIA procedures after initially refusing to disclose so-called “pause letters.” The letters reportedly urged banks to temporarily stop or reconsider providing services to cryptocurrency firms. The court outcome forces greater transparency around informal regulatory communications tied to alleged “Operation Choke Point 2.0,” a term critics use to describe coordinated pressure by multiple agencies (FDIC, OCC, Fed, SEC) that may restrict banks’ relationships with crypto businesses. While the actual letters remain pending release, the settlement sets a precedent making it harder for agencies to withhold such documents. Implications include increased public access to regulatory guidance, potential evidence for congressional oversight, and pressure on banks to clarify risk policies. For crypto firms, the ruling may reduce opaque debanking risk and improve banking access over time; for traders, greater transparency could lower operational uncertainty that has previously amplified market volatility.

The FDIC agreed to pay $188,440 in legal fees and settle a FOIA lawsuit after a court found the agency improperly withheld bank-related records about so-called crypto “suspension” or “pause” letters. The ruling said the FDIC violated FOIA by applying broad, blanket exemptions without individual review. Under the settlement the FDIC will produce additional responsive documents, revise disclosure policies, and train staff to interpret FOIA requests more broadly — including a commitment not to apply blanket secrecy to bank regulatory records. The case, brought by a firm retained by Coinbase, exposed dozens of suspension letters that critics say reflect a “choke point 2.0” derisking strategy pressuring banks to limit crypto services. Once fees are paid the parties will dismiss the lawsuit. Traders should watch for newly disclosed documents and timelines that could clarify when and how regulatory pressure affected crypto firms’ banking access earlier in the year; such details can influence funding, fiat on‑ramp availability, and short-term liquidity for affected crypto firms.

BitMEX co‑founder Arthur Hayes has realized cumulative on‑chain trading losses exceeding $10.37 million, per on‑chain tracker @0XTiger666. Reported losses exclude undisclosed positions. Notable items: February 2026 — fully exited positions in LDO, ENA and two other tokens after investing $9.35M, resulting in a $3.48M loss; January 2026 — a BIO position with $1.10M deployed and a $0.64M loss (down ~58%); December 2023 — trades in LOOKS, ENS and FXS with over $10.29M deployed and losses exceeding $6.25M, with single‑token drawdowns over 50%. The report is intended as market information and not investment advice.

Elon Musk announced on X (February 8, 2026) that he will pay legal defense costs for anyone who speaks the truth about the Jeffrey Epstein case and is subsequently sued. The pledge follows the U.S. Department of Justice’s January 30 release of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents, which named multiple high-profile figures — including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk himself. Exposed records reportedly include a 2012 email exchange mentioning Musk and references to his brother Kimbal Musk more than 100 times. Musk’s statement responded to a public-service ad shared by commentator Matt Walsh showing alleged victims urging more people to identify perpetrators. Bloomberg noted potential brand impact to Tesla from the disclosures; critics suggest Musk’s pledge could be seen as deflecting attention given his own mention in the files. Separately, victim advocates have accused the DOJ of numerous redaction errors that allegedly exposed private details of nearly 100 survivors, calling it one of the worst single-day privacy breaches in U.S. history. As further documents are released, developments may continue to affect reputations across politics and business. Primary keywords: Elon Musk, Jeffrey Epstein, legal fees, DOJ document release. Secondary/semantic keywords: whistleblowers, privacy breach, reputational risk, Tesla brand.

Turkish authorities, in cooperation with stablecoin issuer Tether, froze roughly $500 million in cryptocurrency tied to an illegal online betting network. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor ordered seizure of the portfolio belonging to Şeref Yazıcı, owner of crypto exchange Darkex, alleging links to betting kingpin Veysel Sahin. Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) identified signs of illicit gambling proceeds; a criminal court approved confiscation of movable and immovable assets including shares, bank deposits and crypto holdings. International crypto firms have frozen accounts and are in the process of repatriating funds to Turkey. The move forms part of a broader government crackdown on illegal gambling and payment channels, including suspensions of money‑service licenses and targeting of payment platforms. The $500 million seizure is one of Turkey’s largest crypto confiscations, signaling stronger state capability to trace digital assets and increased willingness of crypto firms to act on court orders.

Forced deleveraging drove a rapid crypto market collapse that confirmed a bear market after Bitcoin fell nearly 50% from recent all-time highs. Analyst Ted Pillows and market data attribute the sell-off primarily to liquidation cascades across futures and options as leveraged positions were closed. Intraday liquidations reached roughly $1 billion (CoinGlass data), with long positions bearing the bulk of losses. Spot-Bitcoin ETF outflows and losses also weighed on sentiment — BTC investment funds lost about $1.25 billion between February 2–5, 2026. Macroeconomic stress (high interest rates, persistent inflation) pushed global risk assets into risk-off mode, amplifying selling pressure. Large transfers by long-term holders (96,000 BTC moved in seven days) and whale selling added further supply, while Bitcoin failed to act as a safe-haven versus assets like gold. Traders should note key stats: near-50% BTC drop to low $70k, ~$1B intraday liquidations, ~$1.25B ETF fund losses, and 96,000 BTC redistribution by long-term holders. Market impact: short-term liquidity-driven volatility and forced selling dominated price action; expect continued downside pressure until deleveraging completes and liquidity normalizes. Primary keywords: crypto bear market, forced deleveraging, Bitcoin liquidation, ETF outflows, market liquidity.

A wallet linked to World Freedom Finance (managed by Donald Trump’s son) reportedly withdrew ~173 packaged BTC from Aave V3 on Feb 5 and sold them to repay $11.75M in stablecoin debt, an example of active deleveraging as BTC slid below $63,000. Aave V3 saw roughly $140M in liquidations within 24 hours, while weekend market-wide liquidations reached billions. The sell-off highlights a broader shift: large holders are reducing collateral and repaying debt to avoid forced protocol liquidations, increasing market volatility and downside risk (technical models note possible support near $38,000). In response, some investors are moving away from high-leverage trading toward yield-generating platforms. XRPstaking — promoted here — offers multi-chain custody, AI-driven yield management, and staking plans across assets (XRP, BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, SOL, DOGE, LTC, BCH). The article frames XRPstaking-style products as alternatives for risk-averse allocations amid ongoing deleveraging and elevated liquidation pressure. Disclaimer: not investment advice.

ENS (Ethereum Name Service) has cancelled its planned Namechain Layer‑2 rollout and will deploy the ENSv2 upgrade directly on Ethereum L1. Lead developer nick.eth said the decision follows a 99% reduction in ENS registration gas costs over the past year and rapid Ethereum scaling after upgrades such as Fusaka, which raised the block gas limit to 60 million and set core developers’ sights on 200 million in 2026. ENS originally proposed Namechain in November 2024 to lower registration costs via rollups, but improved L1 throughput and much lower fees made a full L2 unnecessary. ENS will continue to deliver performance and utility improvements—new registry architecture, improved ownership and name‑expiry handling, and per‑name registries—while keeping ENSv2 interoperable with L2s and cross‑chain registration flows. Key points: 99% drop in registration gas costs, Fusaka raised gas limit to 60M, potential 200M target in 2026, Namechain L2 cancelled, ENSv2 to launch on L1 with L2 interoperability.

APEMARS (APRZ) is in a staged 23-round presale and has moved from Stage 6 into Stage 7. Organizers report presale proceeds rising from roughly $148k in earlier stages to about $162k–$175k, with 700+ then 800–840+ holders and billions of APRZ tokens already distributed. Stage 7 price is $0.00005576; sponsors claim a projected exchange listing price of $0.0055 in Q2 2026 — a theoretical upside of about 9,700% from Stage 7. Stage 8 is priced 19% higher at $0.00006651. The project uses timed seven-day stages (or until sold out), staged token burns at select rounds, and a 9.34% dual referral bonus (minimum $22 investment to receive a referral code) to incentivize growth. The press coverage is a sponsored release that gives step-by-step participation instructions (connect MetaMask/Trust/ Coinbase Wallet; pay with ETH/USDT) and includes an illustrative return example (a $10,000 Stage 7 buy would yield ~179.34M APRZ, worth ~ $986k at the sponsor’s listing target). The article is promotional, contains speculative price targets, and includes a standard disclaimer that it is not financial advice. For traders: the news highlights a limited-time entry window before a planned 19% price jump at the next stage, heavy promotional incentives, and optimistic listing targets that are speculative; exercise standard due diligence and treat returns projections as unverified marketing claims.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the Senate Banking Committee to begin confirmation hearings for Fed nominee Kevin Warsh despite an ongoing DOJ grand-jury investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell over multi-year Fed building renovation spending. Republican Senator Thom Tillis has signalled he may block or delay the process to protect Fed independence, creating procedural uncertainty. The dispute amplified market volatility: bitcoin (BTC) jumped roughly 15% in about 15 hours, climbing from near $60k to above $68k (article shows recent prints ~ $70.9k). On-chain activity included a large whale deposit — reported by the outlet as Garrett Jin moving 5,000 BTC to Binance (~$351M) — which may increase liquidity or signal positioning ahead of potential macro shifts. Analysts note Warsh is seen as a more hawkish Fed pick, potentially delaying rate cuts; such policy expectations could pressure risk assets if confirmed. Technical indicators cited: RSI ~35 (suggesting oversold), EMA20 near $78k, with support/resistance levels at ~70.6k (S1), 67.3k (S2) and resistances at ~72.2k and ~79.0k. Traders should expect heightened volatility while the nomination and DOJ probe unfold — watch confirmations, committee votes, on-chain whale flows, and BTC key levels for short-term entries and risk management. This is informational and not investment advice.

A prominent XRP community figure, Coach JV, warned investors to understand XRP’s market dynamics or risk being repeatedly “played” by emotion-driven trading. He described a recurring pattern where retail buyers pile in during hype (around $2–$3) and then label XRP a “scam” when it falls to $1.20–$1.50, highlighting fear-and-greed behavior over disciplined strategy. Web3 Alert founder Nick and other commentators echoed the point after XRP’s February 5 crash, when the token briefly dropped to $1.13 from prior highs and later rebounded to $1.53 following Ripple’s institutional DeFi roadmap release. XRP currently trades near $1.44; some traders view this as a discounted accumulation level given expanding utility (payments, spot ETFs, reserve use cases, XRPL DeFi), while others warn of further downside with targets as low as $0.50. The article emphasizes the psychological risks for retail traders, the potential for continued volatility, and the need for strategy-driven decisions rather than panic buying or selling. (Keywords: XRP, XRP price, Ripple, XRPL, DeFi, market psychology)

Bitcoin climbed about 12% from $62,822 to $70,846 between Monday and Wednesday, prompting debate over whether the move is a sustainable recovery or a technical ’dead cat bounce.’ Analysts point to technical signs of short covering and a short squeeze rather than fresh institutional demand. Key indicators: a negative Coinbase Premium (suggesting weak institutional buying), declining open interest (position unwinding), and trading volume patterns consistent with covering activity. Tiger Research analyst Ryan Yoon and Bitrue head of research Andri Pauzan Azima described the rally as primarily technical, driven by long liquidations and short covering. Broader risks include ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, mixed institutional adoption metrics, and elevated correlations with traditional risk assets. Historical precedent (e.g., 2018 bear-market bounces) and market-structure signals—such as lack of sustained volume, unclear on-chain improvements, and negative premium—support cautious sentiment. Traders should watch for confirmation of genuine demand via sustained volume increases, positive Coinbase Premium, rising open interest, improving funding rates, and stronger on-chain activity. Until such signals appear, the move is more likely a short-term technical bounce than the start of a durable bull run.

Dunamu Inc., operator of South Korea’s largest crypto exchange Upbit, has lodged an administrative appeal against a 35.2 billion won (~$26.5m) fine imposed by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) after a November 2024 inspection. The FIU accused Dunamu of breaches of the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information—principally shortcomings in AML/KYC transaction monitoring and suspicious-transaction reporting. By formally objecting in early 2025, Dunamu has triggered an administrative review that automatically suspends enforcement of the fine until a court decision. The review will require both sides to submit internal procedures, audit records and expert testimony; a court could uphold, reduce or void the penalty. The dispute follows earlier FIU inspections that flagged compliance gaps across other major Korean exchanges, highlighting systemic AML/KYC weaknesses under tighter post-2022 regulations (real-name bank accounts, enhanced transaction reporting, stricter AML/CFT rules). Short-term, Upbit’s trading services remain operational and there is no immediate service impact. Medium to long-term, a ruling for the FIU may force exchanges to increase compliance spending and could raise user costs, while a ruling for Dunamu may narrow enforcement scope and reduce near-term compliance pressure. Traders should monitor the case for potential effects on market confidence, liquidity on Korean venues and any shifts in exchange fee or listing policies.

Block Inc. plans to cut up to 10% of its workforce (about 1,000 employees) following internal performance reviews, part of a multi-year restructuring to simplify the organisation, integrate teams and reallocate resources to higher-growth, higher-margin areas. Management is shifting focus toward Cash App, Square merchant services and Bitcoin-related initiatives while trimming lower-priority work. The company is also increasing automation and productivity tools, including an internal AI assistant called Goose, to drive efficiency and cost control. The move responds to slowing Square merchant growth, margin pressure in payments and intense competition in digital payments. Investors will watch Block’s upcoming quarterly results for signs of margin improvement, cost discipline and progress toward long-term gross-profit targets. Primary keywords: Block workforce cuts, Jack Dorsey, job cuts, Cash App, Square, Bitcoin initiatives, automation, cost controls.

CoinShares says quantum computing is a credible long-term threat to Bitcoin (BTC) cryptography but not an immediate crisis. The firm’s analysis finds current quantum hardware and algorithms remain far from the scale needed to run Shor’s algorithm or otherwise break Bitcoin signatures at scale. Only about 8% of BTC sits in legacy addresses that already expose public keys on-chain; an even smaller share is immediately exploitable in a destabilising way. Bitcoin’s SHA-256 hashing and mining are considered resilient to near-term quantum advances. Recommended mitigations include: users migrating funds from legacy addresses to modern address formats that keep public keys private, and developers preparing contingencies such as a protocol upgrade to quantum-resistant signatures if/when needed. CoinShares cautions against rushed hard forks or deploying untested post-quantum cryptography that could introduce bugs or centralisation risks. For traders, the takeaway is that quantum risk is a long-term engineering challenge likely a decade or more away, giving markets and developers time to monitor quantum hardware progress, follow cryptanalysis breakthroughs, and plan orderly upgrades rather than panic-driven moves.