Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Spot silver (XAG/USD) slipped to $82.50 amid profit-taking after a multi-week rally, with trading volumes above the 30-day average. The $82.50 level now functions as critical technical and psychological support: holding it suggests continued bullish structure, while a break could invite further selling toward near-term support around $81.00. Market focus shifts to upcoming US Retail Sales data (consensus +0.5% month-over-month). A stronger-than-expected print would likely strengthen the US dollar and pressure silver prices; a downside surprise could weaken the dollar and lift XAG/USD. Analysts note structural bullish drivers—industrial demand from solar and EV sectors, mining supply constraints, and supportive moving-average alignment (50/200-day bullish)—are balanced by short-term macro headwinds such as real yields and Fed expectations. Possible near-term scenarios: strong retail sales → dollar appreciation → bearish pressure testing $81.00; in-line → consolidation around $82–$83.50; weak → bullish rebound toward ~$84.50. Traders should watch the $82.50 support, retail-sales core figures, USD moves, and real yields for trade signals. This is not financial advice.

Canaan (CAN) shares fell about 6.9% on Nasdaq after the company reported its strongest quarter in three years. Q4 revenue rose 121.1% year‑on‑year to $196.3 million, driven by record hardware sales (14.6 EH/s shipped) and improved mining performance. Bitcoin mining revenue grew 98.5% YoY to $30.4 million, and Canaan boosted its treasury to a record 1,750 BTC (≈$120M) and 3,950 ETH (≈$7.9M). Installed hashrate reached 9.91 EH/s with 7.65 EH/s operational. Despite these gains, shares slipped to $0.56, leaving the company below Nasdaq’s $1 minimum bid rule and at risk of delisting unless it closes above $1 for 10 consecutive trading days by the July 13 deadline. The stock is down 18.1% year‑to‑date and 70.2% over 12 months. Key keywords: Canaan, Bitcoin miner, Nasdaq delisting risk, hashrate, hardware sales, BTC treasury.

U.S. credit card balances reached a record $1.28 trillion at the end of Q4, a $44 billion quarterly increase and a 5.5% rise year‑over‑year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s quarterly household debt report. The rise signals growing reliance on revolving credit as household finances remain under pressure. The report tracks multiple consumer debt categories including mortgages, auto loans and student loans; credit card debt now represents the highest level on record for American consumers. Key figures: $1.28T total credit card balances, +$44B quarter‑on‑quarter, +5.5% year‑on‑year. Implication: elevated consumer leverage could weigh on spending and broader financial stability, with possible knock‑on effects for risk assets and cyclical sectors.

Coinbase’s Base network has shifted the Base App away from creator rewards and Farcaster social features to focus on tradable assets, raising questions about whether a native BASE token is necessary. The Creator Rewards program — which paid roughly $450,000 to ~17,000 creators (about $26 each) over seven months — will end with final payouts on Feb. 18. Base’s trading ecosystem has been the main driver: decentralized exchanges on Base processed $15.2 billion in trading volume over the past 30 days, led by Aerodrome Finance (AERO). Token Terminal data shows Base has generated $190.6 million in cumulative fees and revenue to date, with steady weekly inflows. Coinbase’s strategic reorientation toward trading and revenue monetization — plus high-profile branding such as Coinbase’s Super Bowl ad — suggests Base can bootstrap growth through usage and fees rather than a native token. For traders, the implication is that Base’s on-chain activity and fee generation are current value drivers; a launch of a BASE token looks optional rather than essential in the near term.

AUD/USD entered a strategic consolidation around 0.6650 as global forex traders trimmed risk and liquidity ahead of the US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) release. The pair traded in a roughly 40‑pip range, situated between the 50‑day and 200‑day moving averages, with thin liquidity above 0.6680 and below 0.6620. Recent Australian retail sales supported the AUD earlier in the week, but hawkish-leaning FOMC minutes lent support to the US dollar. Traders are focused on three NFP components: headline payrolls, the unemployment rate and average hourly earnings—wages being the critical inflation proxy that could reprice US rate expectations. Market microstructure shows reduced spot volumes (~35% below average) and increased short-dated options hedging, with a slight put skew indicating defensive positioning. Broader drivers include commodity linkages (iron ore), Chinese economic data, and US Treasury yields; a strong NFP (jobs and wages) would likely strengthen the USD and press AUD/USD lower, while a weak report could relieve AUD pressure. Technical levels to monitor: resistance at 0.6680, 0.6725 (200‑day SMA) and 0.6800; support at 0.6620, 0.6580 and 0.6520. Traders typically avoid large directional bets ahead of NFP, favoring volatility strategies or waiting for post-release consolidation.

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has opened a sanctions review into Bithumb after the exchange erroneously distributed a large amount of Bitcoin to users. Regulators are using the Virtual Asset User Protection Act (effective July 2024) to assess whether Bithumb breached user-protection rules and whether individual users who sold the mistakenly received BTC knowingly committed unfair trading. Authorities allege mass selling of the erroneously sent BTC caused artificial price declines and harmed other investors — a novel application of the law that targets retail traders rather than institutions. Key issues for enforcement include proving user knowledge and intent, demonstrating measurable market impact, and showing investor harm. The review increases operational and reputational pressure on Bithumb, may deter opportunistic selling after future exchange errors, and could influence upcoming digital-asset legislation. Traders should note heightened legal risk for profiting from obvious exchange errors and expect greater regulatory scrutiny across South Korea’s crypto market.

United Overseas Bank (UOB) upgraded its Singapore GDP forecast for 2025 to a 2.5%–3.5% range after stronger-than-expected Q3 2024 data. Key drivers cited include an 8.2% year-on-year expansion in the electronics cluster, manufacturing output up 7.8%, services growth of 5.2% (financial services +6.1%), a construction rebound and resilient trade with non-oil domestic exports rising 5.8%. Core inflation moderated to about 3.2%–3.4%, reducing immediate pressure for Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) policy tightening. MAS continues to manage monetary conditions via its exchange-rate-based framework rather than interest-rate targeting. UOB highlighted tight labour markets (unemployment ~1.9%), positive business sentiment, and S$18.3bn in manufacturing commitments in H1 2024 as supportive structural factors. Markets responded with a firmer Singapore dollar, modest equity gains—particularly in banks—and stable bond yields. Risks include global growth slowdown, geopolitical tensions, inflation persistence and domestic manpower constraints. For crypto traders, the main takeaways are: (1) a stronger Singapore economy and stable MAS stance tend to support local FX stability and risk appetite, (2) banking and regional equity strength can lift risk-on flows into crypto, but (3) moderated inflation lowers the chance of abrupt monetary surprises that often trigger sharp crypto volatility. Primary keywords: Singapore GDP upgrade, UOB forecast, MAS policy, inflation, manufacturing growth.

EUR/USD dropped below the critical 1.1900 level after unexpectedly hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials pushed market expectations for higher US rates. The move broke multiple technical supports, with trading volume at ~150% of the 30-day average and EUR options volatility rising to a three-month high. Major banks revised forecasts and hedge funds increased euro short positions (CFTC data showed ~25% growth). Key US data cited: non-farm payrolls +275,000, CPI at 3.1% YoY, retail sales +0.8% MoM, and Manufacturing PMI 50.5. Fed balance sheet reductions (~$95bn/month) versus continued ECB accommodation widened the policy divergence, supporting Dollar strength. Technical support now sits at 1.1850 and 1.1800; resistance at 1.1900 and 1.1950 (50-day MA). Indicators: RSI ~32, MACD bearish, ATR expanded to 0.0085. Short-term outlook: likely continued dollar strength barring dovish Fed surprises or markedly stronger Eurozone data. Watch upcoming ECB and Fed communications and next US/Euro inflation prints; potential scenarios range from further declines toward 1.1800 to a range-bound 1.1800–1.1950. Traders should monitor support/resistance, options volatility, and interest-rate repricing for risk management.

AI.com went live during Super Bowl LX after Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, reportedly paid $70 million to acquire the AI.com domain. The launch aimed to position AI.com as a major AI touchpoint and accelerate work on autonomous agents and AGI, according to Marszalek. The Super Bowl ad drove intense traffic that caused 504 gateway timeouts and Google rate limits; Marszalek said the team had prepared for scale but were overwhelmed. The live site currently functions as a beta that lets users reserve handles for future autonomous agents; onboarding requires Google account connection and credit card verification to prevent abuse. Critics highlighted the lack of functioning agents, questioned technical depth, and compared the interface to the recent OpenClaw agent platform. AI.com’s spokesperson said the product combines proprietary specs and open-source components and that a broader rollout was planned within days. The purchase follows Marszalek’s prior high-profile domain buy of Crypto.com and represents a strategic, long-term play to own a leading domain in the AI category.

Senior banking executives and crypto industry leaders met at the White House to try to resolve a standoff over stablecoin reward/yield programs that has stalled the Senate’s Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. The central dispute: whether crypto platforms should be allowed to offer rewards or yield on US dollar–pegged stablecoins. Crypto firms (Coinbase, Ripple, a16z, Crypto Council for Innovation, Blockchain Association) argue rewards are needed to attract users and keep US crypto markets competitive. Banking representatives say stablecoin yields threaten insured deposit franchises and could shift large sums from banks into unregulated crypto products; banks reportedly resisted concessions and remained firm in opposition. Additional negotiating points included Democrats’ proposals to limit senior government officials’ crypto involvement, stronger anti–illicit finance protections, and completing staffing at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The Clarity Act has passed the House and cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee but still awaits approval from the Senate Banking Committee; a separate Senate scheduling and DHS funding fight complicate timing. Participants described the White House meeting as constructive but producing little immediate progress. For traders: the talks prolong regulatory uncertainty around stablecoin yield programs, keeping policy risk elevated for exchanges, stablecoin issuers and DeFi platforms. Key keywords: stablecoin rewards, Clarity Act, White House meeting, banks vs crypto, regulatory uncertainty.

DYDX (DYDX/USDT) traded around $0.1104 on Feb 10, 2026, slipping ~6% in 24h with 24h volume near $18–23M. Technical indicators point to dominant bearish momentum: RSI(14) sits in deep oversold territory (~24), MACD shows a negative histogram and bearish crossover, and price remains below EMA20/EMA50/EMA200. Key levels: resistances at $0.1121, $0.1260 and $0.1992; supports at $0.1059 and critical $0.0948 (score 83/100), with a distant lower target at $0.0205 if breakdown occurs. Short-term reaction bounces are possible given oversold RSI, but lack of volume reduces the odds of sustainable recovery. BTC weakness (trading near $68.6k) adds downward pressure—failure of BTC to reclaim higher levels raises risk of DYDX testing $0.0948 or lower. A clear break above $0.1059 (and then EMA20) would be required to shift momentum. Analysis emphasizes monitoring RSI divergence formation, MACD histogram moving toward zero, volume confirmation, and BTC moves for trading decisions. Not investment advice.

Sam Bankman‑Fried’s retrial filing alleges prosecutors suppressed an affidavit and financial data proving FTX was solvent during the November 2022 crisis. The defense claims prosecutors omitted billions in assets and relied on cooperating witnesses while excluding evidence that customer claims were later repaid at 119–143%. The filing raises Brady disclosure and judge‑recusal motions and accuses witness intimidation. If true, the withheld solvency evidence could be material to fraud convictions and prompt a new trial. The case may affect cryptocurrency regulation, exchange solvency assessments, and investor confidence as courts determine how to evaluate financial evidence for crypto platforms.

Ether (ETH) has dipped below $2,000, with recent lows around $1,736. Analysts note the 31% decline in 2026 fits a recurring price fractal seen in prior bull cycles, suggesting the current move may be a "first low" within a longer base-building phase. On-chain UTXO realized price distribution (URPD) and cost-basis data highlight clustered supply and demand between roughly $1,300 and $2,000, with meaningful support concentrated near $1,237, intermediate support at about $1,584, and stronger acceptance around $1,881. Overhead realized supply at $2,822 and $3,119 creates resistance. Derivatives data show $4–6 billion of long liquidation risk down to ~$1,455, while more than $12 billion of short liquidity sits up to $3,000 — implying potential squeeze once downside liquidity is absorbed. Exchange net outflows have surged (net >220,000 ETH recently; Binance ~158,000 ETH outflow on one day), indicating accumulation or off-exchange storage. Stablecoin activity on Ethereum has risen ~200% over 18 months despite ETH trading ~30% lower, a divergence cited as a potential driver for future appreciation. Analysts warn more downside tests toward $1,500–$1,600 remain possible before a sustained bottom. Key takeaways for traders: monitor the $1,300–$2,000 demand band (especially $1,237, $1,584, $1,881), watch liquidation clusters and short liquidity above $3,000 for squeeze potential, and track exchange flows as a gauge of accumulation.

Gold pared early intraday losses to close near $5,048/oz after a volatile session, remaining just below the $5,050 psychological level. The recovery followed growing market expectations for a dovish Federal Reserve in 2025 — CME FedWatch now puts a ~68% chance of at least two rate cuts this year — and a 0.6% drop in the US Dollar Index (DXY). Technicals showed a hammer candlestick, support at $5,000 and the 50-day moving average near $4,980, with immediate resistance at $5,080 and $5,100. Market volume rose ~22% versus the 30-day average; managed-money futures added 8,423 net long contracts while global gold ETFs saw modest outflows (~$85m). Treasury yields eased (10-year -8bps to 4.12%), silver gained 0.4% to $28.75, and miners underperformed (GDX -1.1%). Broader drivers include softer US inflation/employment prints, central bank gold buying (~25t added by EM banks in February), and geopolitical risks supporting safe-haven demand. Key trader takeaways: watch Fed communications and US data for shifts in rate-cut probabilities, monitor DXY and 10-year yield for directional bias, and track futures positioning vs ETF flows for potential short-covering or continuation moves around $5,000–$5,080.

An analyst argues that XRP is mounting a challenge to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), claiming the token’s on‑chain activity and market dynamics indicate a competitive shift among top cryptocurrencies. The piece highlights metrics such as rising XRP transaction volumes, active addresses, and liquidity improvements as evidence that XRP’s ecosystem growth could lead to market share gains. The analyst frames this as an ongoing “battle” for investor allocation between BTC, ETH and XRP, suggesting traders watch flows, exchange order books, and relative performance. No firm price target is provided; the commentary is framed as a narrative that XRP could “flip” or outpace BTC/ETH in certain metrics if current trends continue. The article notes that macro factors and crypto market sentiment remain important context, so outcomes are uncertain.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) remains below the key 97.00 level after statements from China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) recommending a gradual reduction in US Treasury allocations. The DXY traded in a 96.40–96.85 range amid euro and yen strength. Technicals show a 50-day moving average below the 200-day (a “death cross”) and elevated volumes; speculative funds have increased net short positions according to CFTC data. China holds around $1 trillion in US Treasuries within its $3+ trillion reserves; SAFE urged diversification into other sovereign bonds, gold and SDRs without calling for a rapid sell-off. Analysts expect any reallocation to be slow and measured to avoid market disruption. Immediate market implications include upward pressure on US yields, weaker dollar exchange rates, greater volatility in global bond markets, and increased demand for alternative reserves. Key drivers to watch are Federal Reserve policy, US fiscal deficits, geopolitical developments and adoption of alternative reserve currencies. While a disorderly shift away from the dollar is unlikely, traders should prepare for increased FX and bond volatility as reserve diversification narratives gain traction.

DBS Group Research finds the Thai baht notably resilient, supported by stable macro fundamentals and strong tourism recovery. Key drivers include a current account surplus (~3.1% of GDP), foreign reserves above $200 billion, controlled inflation within the Bank of Thailand’s 1–3% target, and manageable public debt (~60% of GDP). Tourism reached about 35 million arrivals in 2024 (≈85% of pre-COVID levels) and now contributes roughly 12% of GDP, with average tourist spending up ~15% versus pre-pandemic levels. Export recovery—led by electronics and auto parts—and sizable foreign direct investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (over $15 billion committed since 2023) further support capital inflows. DBS’s regional comparison shows the baht up ~2.3% year-to-date against the USD, outperforming the Indonesian rupiah, Malaysian ringgit and Philippine peso. The Bank of Thailand’s data-dependent, balanced monetary stance and investment-grade sovereign ratings from major agencies add to stability. Risks flagged include South China Sea geopolitical tensions, climate impacts on agriculture, and long-term demographic pressures from an aging population. Overall, DBS projects the baht will likely remain relatively strong within ASEAN through 2025, backed by tourism, FX reserves, prudent fiscal policy and diversified exports.

During the Super Bowl, influencer Logan Paul appeared to place a $1 million wager on Polymarket’s prediction market, prompting a promotional clip from Polymarket. Crypto investigators quickly found the account shown had no funds and top holders of the market did not match Paul’s alleged bet. Researcher ZachXBT called the stunt a “scam,” citing Paul’s prior controversial CryptoZoo project and noting his earlier livestreams promoting Polymarket. The incident reignited legal and ethical scrutiny of crypto prediction markets: Polymarket is suing Massachusetts over attempts to shut down its sports markets, while rival Kalshi faces criticism for marketing that may encourage risky, gambling-like behaviour among young adults. Critics including commentator DeFi_Dad and BetHog CEO Nigel Eccles warned that such ads mislead users into treating betting as investment and likened the marketing risk to past youth-focused scandals. The outcome meant Paul incurred no loss after Seattle beat New England 29–13, but the episode highlights ongoing regulatory, reputational and consumer-protection risks for crypto prediction platforms and the potential hazards when celebrities promote gambling-like crypto products.

Bernstein analysts, led by Gautam Chhugani, reiterated a bullish forecast that Bitcoin (BTC) could rally to $150,000 by year‑end despite recent declines to around $60,000–$70,000. They describe the current drawdown as the “weakest bear case” in Bitcoin’s history and attribute it to a “self‑imposed crisis of confidence” rather than systemic failures or a major negative catalyst. Bernstein highlighted stronger fundamentals — including growing institutional adoption via BTC ETFs and corporate buyers — and a regulatory environment they view as favourable under President Donald Trump. The note addressed quantum‑computing security concerns, saying the threat affects many industries and will be managed with quantum‑resistant standards; Michael Saylor’s Strategy is cited as preparing a Bitcoin security program. Bernstein also downplayed forced corporate liquidations, citing statements from corporate holders (e.g., Strategy) that their balance sheets can withstand the current market without large sell‑offs unless extreme, prolonged lows occur. The analysts expect Bitcoin to resume rallying as liquidity conditions ease and ETFs and corporations continue accumulation. At publication BTC traded near $69,700.

A recent 30-hour kidnapping in France, targeting a magistrate and her elderly mother, has highlighted a growing threat to cryptocurrency holders. Kidnappers seized the women and demanded a ransom in crypto because the magistrate’s partner works in the cryptocurrency sector. The victims escaped and six suspects were arrested, two while attempting to flee to Spain. Authorities say such “wrench attacks” and crypto-linked abductions have increased in France since 2023, with roughly one reported incident per week. The case underscores key risks for self-custody holders: irreversible and visible blockchain transactions, exposed personal data, and organized crime exploiting public records or data leaks. Experts point to rising interest in privacy-focused solutions and “compliant privacy” models as a response. For traders, the incident elevates the security and privacy narrative: it may increase demand for privacy coins and custodial services, shift investor sentiment toward assets tied to privacy and security, and prompt heightened regulatory scrutiny on data protection. Primary keywords: crypto kidnapping, holder security, privacy coins. Secondary keywords: self-custody risks, wrench attacks, France crime spike.

Gold is trading in a consolidation range between $2,150 and $2,250 per ounce as investors await critical US economic releases, notably the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Technical charts show a pennant formation, converging moving averages and neutral momentum indicators (RSI), suggesting a potential breakout within 5–10 sessions once a catalyst appears. Key support sits at $2,150–$2,180, with resistance at $2,240–$2,250. Drivers include inflation expectations, central bank purchases, geopolitical tensions, and seasonal Asian physical demand; headwinds are dollar strength, positive real yields on TIPS and competing risk assets. Institutional commentary (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock) frames gold as strategic portfolio insurance and structural diversification despite near-term consolidation. Historical behavior shows higher volatility on CPI days (avg. ~1.8%), with inflation surprises typically boosting gold. Traders should monitor CPI, retail sales, industrial production, jobless claims and PPI — and watch volume and moving-average behavior for breakout confirmation. Risk management is advised: stronger-than-expected inflation would likely be bullish for gold, while stronger economic growth and higher real yields could pressure prices. This setup has neutral-to-catalyst-dependent implications for risk assets and hedges.

Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao defended the exchange’s outsized holdings of USD1 after a Forbes report showed Binance-controlled wallets and user balances account for about $4.7B of the $5.4B USD1 supply (≈87%). The concentration attracted criticism — including concerns about custody risk if wallets are tied up in legal or operational disputes — and questions over whether USD1 was intended as a broad stablecoin. CZ argued the pattern reflects user demand, noting Binance holds the largest share of many top stablecoins (USDT, USDC, USD1) compared with other centralized exchanges. The report cites Arkham Intelligence data; CryptoQuant data from January 2026 is referenced to show Binance captured ~41% of spot volume and ~42% of BTC perpetuals in 2025 and held ~72% of combined USDT/USDC reserves on major platforms. The story sits amid wider scrutiny of CZ and Binance following CZ’s 2025 presidential pardon tied to prior AML-related guilty pleas, and alleged coordinated smear campaigns and fake social accounts targeting the exchange. Key figures: Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Forbes, Arkham Intelligence, CryptoQuant, Molly White (researcher), and Corey Frayer (former SEC adviser). Primary implications concern counterparty and custody concentration risk for USD1 and broader exchange centralization across stablecoins and spot/futures liquidity.

Flapping Airplanes, a neuroscience-focused AI research lab founded by Ben and Asher Spector and Aidan Smith, closed a $180 million seed round on Feb 10, 2026. Investors include Google Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures. The lab aims to develop brain-inspired (neuromorphic) AI that learns with dramatically higher data efficiency—targeting up to 1,000x less training data than current large models—by researching sparse hierarchical representations, active/curiosity-driven learning, and lifelong continual learning. The funding reflects investor appetite for foundational, long-horizon ’neolabs’ that prioritize scientific discovery over near-term products. If successful, the approach could lower compute and energy costs, enable advanced models on edge devices, and shift investment from pure scaling of transformer architectures toward alternative learning paradigms. The announcement underscores a broader industry trend: diversification of AI R&D strategies toward data-efficient, biologically inspired methods.

DEXE trades near $2.04 after a -2.77% weekly loss, holding a tight range of $2.03–$2.13 with low volume (~$753k). Technical indicators show a prevailing downtrend: price below EMA20 ($2.50), weekly Supertrend bearish crossover, MACD negative histogram and weekly RSI in oversold territory (~29–32). Key supports are $2.0280 (current base) and $1.7260 (major support; breakdown risk high). Immediate resistances: $2.1324 (short-term pivot) and $2.3549. Analysts recommend a bullish trigger only after a daily close above $2.1324 or EMA20 weekly breakout, with targets to $2.35–$3.83 and tight risk sizing (2–3%). Bearish scenario activates on a break below $2.0280 targeting $1.7260 and potentially $0.2254. DEXE shows high correlation to Bitcoin (~0.85); further BTC weakness (key supports $65,786 / $62,152) would likely accelerate DEXE downside. Traders should watch volume increase and RSI crossover (above 50) for reversal confirmation; otherwise, maintain caution and prefer positions aligned with BTC direction. This analysis is from COINOTAG analysts Michael Roberts and Chief Analyst Devrim Cacal. Not investment advice.

ING warns that EUR/GBP faces heightened upside risk as renewed political uncertainty in the United Kingdom is undermining sterling. The pair is trading around 0.8600, with technical resistance at 0.8650 and 0.8700 and support near 0.8550. ING highlights political factors — parliamentary divisions, by-elections, leadership tensions and policy U-turn risk — as currently outweighing economic data. Volatility has spiked during parliamentary debates (e.g., a recent government proposal moved the pair ~50 pips within minutes). Option markets show elevated implied volatility and risk reversals skewed toward sterling weakness. Fundamental drivers include the Bank of England’s cautious messaging, higher UK inflation despite tightening, deteriorating growth forecasts and widening fiscal concerns, while the eurozone shows relatively steadier inflation and growth. ING’s multi-factor framework (econometric models, political risk analysis, positioning and technicals) suggests traders should monitor parliamentary votes, leadership moves, fiscal announcements and bond yields. Recommended trader actions include tightened risk management, hedging (options), conservative position sizing and watching liquidity during news events. Short-to-medium-term sensitivity is high; political resolution will determine the medium-term direction of EUR/GBP.

EUR/USD has entered a consolidation phase after rising to one-week highs and is stalling near resistance around 1.0950–1.0965 as markets await US Retail Sales. Technicals on the 4-hour chart show smaller overlapping candlesticks and RSI retreating to ~55, signaling faded bullish momentum. Key short-term supports: 1.0900 and 1.0870 (50-period MA); resistance: weekly high 1.0965. Consensus forecasts expect headline Retail Sales +0.4% month-over-month and core +0.3%; deviations >0.3pp historically often move EUR/USD ~40 pips within an hour. Market positioning shows rising speculative net-long Euro exposure, increasing the risk of a sharp unwind if a USD-positive print appears. Scenarios: strong USD print (>0.6%) risks a break below 1.0870 toward 1.0820; in-line prints likely keep a 1.0900–1.0965 range; weak print (<0.2%) could push EUR/USD above 1.0965 toward 1.1000–1.1020. Traders are advised to reduce size or use hedges/options ahead of the release due to expected intraday volatility. The wider backdrop includes narrowing ECB–Fed policy divergence and geopolitical uncertainties, but the immediate driver is the Retail Sales print.

Bitcoin plunged sharply after liquidations topped $2.7 billion and institutional demand weakened, lifting selling pressure beyond leverage-driven moves. BTC fell almost 50% from October’s ~$126,000 peak, briefly touching about $60,000 over the weekend before rebounding to the low $70,000s. U.S. selling dominated: Coinbase showed a persistent spot premium deficit, and spot BTC ETFs recorded roughly $6.2 billion in cumulative net outflows since November. Heavy ETF trading (IBIT traded >$10 billion notional in a single day) and redemptions amplified downward momentum, creating a loop of forced spot sales. Options flow concentrated around IBIT and Deribit, funding rates turned sharply negative, and volatility spiked as crowded positions were cleared. Macro factors — including investor concern after Kevin Warsh’s Fed nomination and a rotation into AI stocks — reduced risk appetite and liquidity for crypto. Wintermute’s analysis describes recent activity as structural pressure and a leverage reset, with roughly $25 billion in unrealized losses across institutional treasuries weighing on new demand. Spot trading remains light, limiting recovery potential; without renewed spot demand, price action is likely to remain choppy.

Backpack, a crypto exchange founded by former FTX employees, announced a 1 billion-token issuance plan. The initial release will be 25% of supply (250 million tokens); a further 37.5% (375 million) will unlock only after the company meets predefined business milestones such as entering new markets or launching products and will be released prior to any public listing. The remaining 37.5% (375 million) will remain locked in the corporate treasury until one year after a future IPO. CEO Armani Ferrante emphasized the structure aims to prevent insiders from selling early, noting insiders and investors cannot profit from the token until Backpack achieves significant growth or completes an IPO — while also acknowledging an IPO is not guaranteed or time-bound. Backpack recently began private beta testing of a Unified Prediction Portfolio platform. Key facts: total supply 1,000,000,000 tokens; 250M (25%) initial unlock; 375M (37.5%) milestone-tied pre-IPO unlocks; 375M (37.5%) locked until 1 year post-IPO. Primary keywords: Backpack token, token unlock, IPO-linked token, tokenomics. Secondary/semantic keywords: insider lockup, exchange token launch, supply schedule, corporate treasury.

Mrinank Sharma, head of safeguards research at Anthropic, resigned and published a public departure letter citing widening gaps between stated AI safety principles and operational decisions. Sharma, who worked for two years on defenses against AI-enabled biological threats, internal accountability tools, and early safety documentation for Claude, said he grew uneasy about systemic value misalignment within AI organizations and in society. He highlighted concerns about how chatbots can reinforce biases and reshape human judgment. Sharma praised colleagues’ technical skill and moral seriousness but signaled a move away from corporate AI work toward writing, coaching and possibly poetry graduate study. His exit comes amid broader scrutiny of how leading AI developers handle internal dissent, disclose risks and balance rapid capability growth with safety research.