Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Singapore-based Startale Group raised $63M in Series A funding, led by Japan’s SBI Group and Sony Innovation Fund. The round follows a prior $13M raise in January. For crypto markets, the key focus is Startale’s Strium platform for tokenized securities and RWA (real-world assets). The company plans to scale Strium to enable trading of tokenized securities and tangible assets for both institutions and retail users. Startale also targets stablecoin adoption. It operates JPYSC (yen-backed) and USDSC (US-dollar-backed), and said the funding will be used to expand demand and usage. Another pillar is Soneium, Startale’s layer-2 network, with Sony backing supporting technology and collaboration. Startale’s app uses Soneium to deliver onchain financial services, and management plans to upgrade it into a broader platform for asset management and payments. New takeaway from the later report: CEO Sota Watanabe said part of the investment will go toward launching tokenized Japanese equities, and that it expects to expand yen-backed stablecoins within the year amid strong demand for regulated digital assets. Implication for traders: this is a Japan-focused catalyst for tokenized finance rails (Strium) and yen/USD stablecoins (JPYSC/USDSC), aligning with broader policy momentum to integrate digital assets into regulated venues.

Xage Security’s “Xage Extended Privileged Access Management (XPAM)” has won a Cybersecurity Excellence Award in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) category. The company says XPAM is built to close legacy PAM gaps in visibility and protection. The latest details add a “protection on day one” claim, with a unified Zero Trust PAM platform that governs privileged control end-to-end across identities, assets and environments. XPAM combines PAM, Secure Remote Access, Zero Trust Network Access, and asset protection into a single architecture, emphasizing native zero standing privileges and just-in-time access to reduce fragmentation, hardware dependence and licensing complexity. XPAM also targets faster enforcement through multi-hop access across security zones without extra infrastructure, and supports distributed deployments for converged OT/IT/cloud environments. For resilience, it uses a decentralized model with consensus-based enforcement so policies keep running if connectivity to a central site or cloud is lost. The article further mentions layered security controls, multi-layer MFA validation, cross-zone session termination, and “quantum-proofed” credential vaulting. Separately, Xage is also referenced as participating in a public Community Choice Award vote, with voting closing July 18, 2026. Crypto-trader relevance: this is an enterprise security win for Xage’s Zero Trust PAM approach, with no direct link to specific crypto assets. Any market effect would be indirect—mainly sentiment toward tech/security-adjacent narratives rather than immediate token price drivers.

Ethereum (ETH) is trading around $2,150, hovering near the estimated realized price near $2,300. Analysts say this realized-price zone often works as support or resistance, which can dampen momentum and turn breakouts into rejection. A standard-deviation model projects a wide short-term corridor for ETH, with an upside band near $5,300 and a downside band around $1,150. With ETH sitting near the middle, the outlook is mixed rather than clearly bullish or bearish. The latest note also flags that realized price can become a break-even reference for many holders, potentially increasing selling pressure as ETH approaches $2,300. Traders are also watching broader market structure: Bitcoin (BTC) is described as range-bound, and the altcoin complex is framed as an ABC-style correction. A key confirmation level is cited around $185B total altcoin market cap; without it, direction may stay unclear. Implication for traders: ETH appears range-bound. Look for a confirmed breakout above the realized-price resistance zone or a breakdown below the lower band to shift risk-reward.

Coinbase Markets announced it has added Mezo (MEZO) to its asset listing roadmap on Base, and included the token’s verified contract address on the Base network. For traders, this is a gradual but noteworthy signal. A Coinbase listing roadmap update can lift expectations for liquidity and pre-spot attention, but the language suggests planning rather than an immediate spot listing. Key actions to watch: follow-through after the roadmap update, signs of market maker activity, and Base MEZO pair volume/volatility changes. If MEZO advances to full listing approval, liquidity may improve and spreads could tighten. Still, delays, technical hurdles, and compliance review outcomes can keep near-term price moves choppy. Relevant keyword: Coinbase listing roadmap.

Cipher Digital (CIFR) jumped after announcing a 15-year lease for its third data center campus, targeting HPC and AI compute for an “investment-grade hyperscale tenant.” Cipher Digital also closed a $200m revolving credit facility, with a $50m accordion option, maturing in March 2030; the undrawn cost is SOFR + 1.25% to 1.75%, with pricing step-downs tied to total debt versus market cap. This reinforces Cipher Digital’s pivot away from Bitcoin mining toward selling compute capacity for AI workloads. In February, it rebranded from Cipher Mining and reduced exposure by selling down joint mining interests and some mining rigs. Broader context: the article also notes Core Scientific may sell “substantially all” of its BTC to fund an AI/HPC transition—highlighting a sector pattern of monetizing Bitcoin to finance data center builds. For crypto traders, the near-term takeaway is a sentiment tailwind for the “crypto-to-AI infrastructure” theme, while the medium-term watch item is how much BTC selling pressure could accompany AI-capex ramps.

BlackRock’s crypto ETF push is gaining momentum. In Larry Fink’s 2026 shareholder letter, he projected that BlackRock could reach about $500M in annual revenue from digital assets and related ETF activity within five years—using its Bitcoin ETF as the core earnings engine. The latest figures center on the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which became the fastest ETF to reach $100B in assets, supported by both institutional and retail demand. The fee “engine” matters even during pullbacks: IBIT collected about $47.5M net sponsor fees in its 2024 launch year and about $174.6M in 2025, while IBIT plus the spot Ethereum ETF (ETHA) generated roughly $241.4M cumulative net sponsor-fee revenue across their first two calendar years. To hit $500M in yearly sponsor fees at a ~0.25% rate, the complex would need roughly $200B in fee-bearing AUM. At the time of reporting, BlackRock’s crypto ETF complex holds about $61.6B AUM (IBIT ~$54.64B, ETHA ~$6.70B, and a smaller ETH staking-linked product), implying an annualized run-rate near $153.7M. The gap likely closes if inflows stay strong. SoSoValue-style flow data in the article suggests the complex could reach the $500M fee milestone as early as 2027 in a higher-asset scenario, later in a downturn. For traders, the key takeaway is that BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF fee guidance can reinforce the institutional “bid” narrative—meaning continued ETF net creations may boost BTC and ETH liquidity and sentiment, while any shortfall could increase sensitivity to ETF flow volatility.

STS Digital has launched a structured crypto products platform built around crypto options strategies, using Kraken as its first distribution partner. The platform packages predefined payoff structures that eligible clients can use to generate yield and manage exposure in a rules-based way. Kraken integrated via API and will use the system to power its “Dual Investment” product, offering fixed returns linked to BTC and ETH. STS Digital said the goal is to expand institutional access to more complex derivatives strategies, including covered call-style approaches, positioning structured crypto products as an alternative return source beyond staking or lending. The partnership follows STS Digital’s $30 million funding round led by CMT Digital, with participation from Payward (Kraken’s parent), aimed at expanding its crypto options trading platform and institutional market access. Structured products operate under a Bermuda Monetary Authority license, though risks remain tied to crypto volatility, liquidity, and counterparty exposure. For crypto traders, the near-term impact is likely incremental: better institutional access and a stronger product framing for BTC/ETH options and structured yield, rather than a direct spot catalyst.

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) said crypto outflows reached 90 trillion won (about $60B) in 2H 2025, up 14% from the first half. The outflows were linked to cross-border transfers, with regulators “presuming” assets moved overseas for arbitrage and similar activity, often to overseas platforms and private wallets. Despite higher crypto outflows, exchange usage kept growing: accounts rose to 11.1 million (+3%) and customer deposits climbed 31% to about 8.1 trillion won (~$5.4B). But profitability deteriorated. For 18 active exchanges, operating profit fell 38% to 380.7 billion won (~$253.4M), while trading activity weakened—average daily trading volume fell 15% to 5.4 trillion won (~$3.6B). Market conditions also turned softer. Total crypto market cap in South Korea was estimated at 87.2 trillion won (~$58B) at end-2025, down 8% from mid-year. Overall, rising crypto outflows alongside falling volumes and exchange earnings suggests a near-term risk-off backdrop for exchange-related flows.

Bitcoin (BTC) is struggling to hold key levels near $71,890, while weekly performance is about -1.5%. Against weak near-term risk appetite, major finance institutions issued highly divergent BTC price forecasts for end-2026, spanning roughly $50,000 to $266,000. Standard Chartered cut its BTC target to $100,000 and warned BTC could drop to $50,000 before any recovery, citing fading hopes for immediate Fed rate cuts and slower corporate treasury adoption. Bernstein kept a $150,000 target, arguing the 2025 late-to-early-2026 sell-off is the weakest bear case in BTC history and driven more by sentiment than fundamentals. It pointed to resilient spot ETF demand and ongoing institutional participation. JPMorgan was constructive for 2026, framing BTC as a lower-volatility hedge versus gold. Its volatility-adjusted scenario could reach $266,000 if BTC captures a share of private-sector safe-haven flows. CoinShares projected a $120,000–$170,000 range and expected better momentum in the second half. Citi offered a scenario ladder largely tied to ETF inflows and U.S. regulatory clarity: base ~$143,000, bull ~$189,000, bear ~$78,500. Fidelity sees 2026 as a consolidation year after BTC’s 2025 peak near ~$126,000, forecasting a narrower $65,000–$75,000 range. Carol Alexander (studying high volatility) suggested $75,000–$150,000, while Peter Brandt warned of a worst-case technical breakdown toward $25,000 if key support fails. For traders, the key trading variable remains BTC ETF flows plus U.S. regulatory progress. The dispersion of forecasts implies a high-variance market: upside opens if ETF demand re-accelerates, but downside risk rises if liquidity conditions or risk appetite deteriorate.

Banks still struggle to support crypto customers, and bank account freezes remain a key friction point. New reports describe blocked or delayed bank transfers to crypto exchanges, followed by customer complaints that accounts can be frozen after crypto activity. A case highlighted by Anodos Labs CEO Panos Mekras shows a transfer attempt from an exchange to Revolut that resulted in a three-week freeze, leaving him unable to access funds. The UK Cryptoasset Business Council says about 40% of bank transfers to crypto exchanges face restrictions, while 80% of exchanges report increased friction over the past year. It warns against blanket bans and trading limits that ignore exchanges’ legal status. Revolut, which supports crypto transfers and debit cards, says freezes are a last resort under AML/KYC. It claims that since Oct 1, only 0.7% of accounts that deposited crypto were restricted after investigation, typically tied to abnormal behavior or links to platforms alleged to involve criminal activity or sanctioned actors. In the US, the OCC’s latest work on “Chokepoint 2.0” reinforces that de-risking continues, but banks may assist crypto trading in a broker-like role. For traders, the market impact is mainly operational: bank account freezes can raise short-term deposit/withdrawal uncertainty and liquidity timing risk at fiat on/off-ramps, even as longer-term regulatory clarity improves.

A public debate has emerged over how effectively the Solana Foundation supports builders. Vibhu Norby (Chief Product Officer) defended the Foundation against “glaring inaccuracies,” citing measurable funding and visibility efforts. The Solana Foundation says Colosseum accelerator alumni have raised over $650M in venture capital. It also highlights large prize hackathons and non-equity grants, including Superteam awards up to $10,000, up to $50,000 for early founders on major accelerator tracks (e.g., Y Combinator), and a $2M prediction markets fund with Kalshi. For open-source and “public good” work, it cites average grant checks around $40,000. Norby also claims tens of millions of dollars per year are distributed by the Foundation and affiliates (Monke Foundry, Metaplex, Wormhole, Bonk), without taking equity. On visibility, Norby says 300+ ecosystem companies have been spotlighted since Jan 1, alongside videos, 10 podcasts per year, and a network of 50+ “Luminaries.” A Demo Day livestream at mtndao reportedly drove thousands of new downloads for the Tapestry team after Solana Foundation channel exposure. Market snapshot for SOL: around $92.60, slightly up day-over-day but mixed over the week. Traders note potential near-term upside paths (wave C) with cited targets near $92.7–$94.8, while key support is cited around $88.5 and $86.5. For traders, the core signal is that “builder support” is being positioned as quantifiable (VC + grants + promotion). That can support Solana sentiment, but near-term price still depends on broader risk appetite.

Deribit will settle about $14.16B in Bitcoin options on Friday, with expiry at 08:00 UTC (15:30–16:00 local via Deribit Index 30-minute TWAP). The focus is the estimated “Max Pain Price” around $75,000, a level often viewed as a “magnetic price” where options hedging can mechanically drive BTC toward key strikes as settlement approaches. BTC is around $71,617, leaving roughly $3,400 to the $75,000 area. This expiry is highlighted as one of the month’s biggest risk events, with the expiring contracts representing nearly 40% of Deribit open interest. “Max Pain” refers to the strike where option buyers are most disadvantaged (or sellers least disadvantaged) at settlement, and Deribit stresses the settlement uses a time-weighted index window rather than a single tick. Sentiment looks mixed. Downside protection demand remains elevated even with BTC above $70K, implying traders may expect churn and range behavior rather than a clean breakout. Volatility has reportedly compressed (DVOL down for BTC/ETH), suggesting calmer conditions into expiry, while market commentary frames this period as “price compression but stabilization,” potentially setting up the next move after Friday. Key trader watchpoints: whether hedging flows pull spot toward $75,000 into the TWAP window, and whether implied volatility stays contained instead of spiking.

The article lays out multi-scenario projections for Polkadot (DOT) from 2026 to 2030 and asks whether DOT can reach a $60 milestone. It argues that Polkadot (DOT) valuation will be driven more by network fundamentals than short-term hype—especially parachain performance and real adoption. Key drivers include parachain ecosystem health (deployed parachains, crowdloan demand for future slots, active developers, and cross-chain message volume). It also highlights technical upgrades such as asynchronous backing and Agile Coretime, which aim to improve scalability and resource efficiency. For valuation, the piece references models using projected fee revenue (DCF), peer comparisons with interoperability networks like Cosmos (ATOM), and Metcalfe’s Law-style network growth thinking. Regulatory clarity—particularly around staking and decentralized governance in the US and the EU (MiCA)—could reduce risk premiums and support a stronger DOT narrative. A $60 outcome is framed as an optimistic “bull case” requiring sustained crypto market growth, successful relay-chain/roadmap execution, and a “killer app” that increases real user demand and strengthens staking/governance utility and fee linkage. Competition is a major downside factor: Cosmos (ATOM), Avalanche (AVAX), and Ethereum rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism) could take share if they provide easier or more flexible interoperability. Trading takeaway: watch Polkadot (DOT) on-chain metrics, governance decisions, and parachain/developer milestones rather than extrapolating from past price action.

Pump.fun creator fees rules have tightened again. Token creators can redirect Pump.fun creator fees to a different fee-recipient wallet only once after launch. After that single update, the fee-wallet settings are permanently locked. Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen said the change targets “griefing” and manipulation that could happen when fee recipients are altered after a token gains attention. The update also closes a trust gap from earlier tweaks, when the higher-level fee model (including trader-oriented options such as “Cashback Coins”) may already have been selected, yet specific fee wallets could still be modified post-trading. For traders, the practical impact is reduced post-launch flexibility around Pump.fun creator fees, which may affect creator behavior and the liquidity/attention dynamics of new meme tokens. At the same time, platform activity remains weak versus 2025. The report cited DefiLlama data showing Pump.fun fees fell to about $31.8M in Jan 2026 (roughly -75% YoY) and monthly trading volume dropped from ~$11.6B (Jan 2025) to about $2.1B (Jan 2026). February 2026 volume was about $1.91B, also down sharply YoY. Community reactions were mixed—some see limited relief, others call it “a drop in the bucket.”

BYDFi will sponsor Next Block Expo (NBX) 2026 on March 24–25 in Warsaw, as the exchange looks to expand its European crypto trading reach. The event’s sixth edition expects thousands of attendees, 140+ speakers, and dozens of Web3 brands, with sessions spanning DeFi and RWA, trading and investing, legal/compliance, infrastructure, AI, gaming, and startup fundraising. Key NBX speakers include Robby Yung (Animoca Brands), Marouane Essaidi (Solana Foundation), and Polish MP Sławomir Mentzen. BYDFi says its on-site focus will be trading infrastructure and user experience, emphasizing “reliability” through consistent standards and clear communication. As part of the booth activation, BYDFi plans a blind-box giveaway with limited-edition merchandise tied to its Newcastle United partnership. Starting April 1 (ahead of its 6th anniversary), BYDFi will also run a month-long community program featuring platform campaigns, limited-time rewards, and exclusive X activations. For crypto traders: this is primarily BYDFi’s industry-marketing and community push. There are no announced token or protocol changes, so the direct price catalyst is unlikely—though regional visibility and engagement could improve sentiment around the platform.

Silver price today rose after a consolidation, with Bitcoin World data pointing to firmer spot prices and follow-through potential. The rally was linked to three near-term drivers. First, a weaker U.S. dollar index supported silver for USD-based buyers. Second, silver reportedly cleared short-term resistance, pulling in technical buying. Third, industrial demand stayed resilient, especially from solar photovoltaic and electronics where silver is used for conductive materials and cell components. In the wider precious-metals complex, silver outperformed while gold appeared comparatively muted. Traders are watching the gold-to-silver ratio for shifts in relative demand. On the fundamentals, the supply side remains constrained: primary mine production has faced headwinds, and recycling has not fully offset the gap. Demand is also structural because a large share of silver consumption is industrial and not recovered. On positioning and investment flow, physically backed silver ETF holdings were described as stabilizing after earlier outflows, while COMEX futures positioning (large speculators vs. commercial hedgers) is monitored for sentiment change. For crypto traders, silver price today strength is mainly an indirect read-through on broader “risk-on” and inflation-hedge behavior. It may influence sentiment around BTC, but the linkage is not direct. Key trading implication: if silver price today continues to hold breakout levels with volume support, it could reinforce macro-driven risk sentiment; a reversal in USD or industrial data would likely weaken the momentum.

An Indian court cleared CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Surendra Gupta and Niraj Ashok Khandelwal in a name-fraud complaint and granted bail. In a preliminary review, the Thane (Mumbra-area) court said the complainant failed to establish a prima facie case linking the two founders to the alleged impersonation. The allegations relate to a fake platform impersonating CoinDCX. The court’s joint order dated March 23 recorded “no objection” from investigators to their release, and noted the applicants were not present at the Kausa Mumbra café at the time of the incident. The order also points to a possible third-party acting as the defendant, which the complainant acknowledged in court. Each founder was released on a 50,000 INR bond, with conditions to cooperate with the investigation and trial. CoinDCX said the outcome supports a “third-party impersonation” scenario. On March 24, it reiterated that the scam reportedly operated through the lookalike site coindcx.pro and urged users to verify domains and use only official channels. For crypto traders, the immediate legal overhang on CoinDCX management appears reduced, but phishing and impersonation risk remains a live market narrative that can impact user flows and sentiment around Indian exchanges.

SIREN jumped 127% to an intraday high of $2.34 and then held around $2.19, making it the day’s top performer. Early price action also previously pushed SIREN to a new all-time high before a pullback, underscoring high momentum and volatility. Later reporting points to futures-led positioning. SIREN futures open interest rose nearly 120% (to about $121M), while the long/short ratio stayed above 1, signalling bullish sentiment among derivatives traders. However, there were no major development or ecosystem announcements tied to the rally. Traders should focus on reversal risk for SIREN. Prior history shows sharp downside after peak levels, with on-chain reports highlighting heavy supply concentration among large holders. If whales take profit, fast selling could unwind the move. Futures crowded positioning also raises the odds of a liquidation-driven drop if momentum flips. Net takeaway: SIREN is being driven more by derivatives positioning than fundamentals, so expect strong swings—good for tactical longs, but risky if leverage unwinds.

BTC volatility has expanded, but on-chain and market signals point to a shift from panic selling to a “cash buffer” strategy. On March 22, stablecoin activity surged: USDC and USDT transfers totalled about $440B, hitting a weekend peak. This suggests traders are parking value in cash-like assets and waiting to buy BTC on potential discounts. BTC price action remains choppy. BTC fell about 3.75% to around $67,300 on Sunday, then rebounded above $71,700 on Monday. Realized volatility is still elevated across shorter horizons (notably 3M and 6M), while 1Y realized volatility stays near ~180%, implying uncertainty rather than full capitulation. Derivatives positioning is calmer. Over the past six months, BTC open interest (USD) declined by roughly $19B, and funding rates cooled to around 0.01% from near 0.1% earlier in the year. Perpetuals continue to trade at a discount to spot, reflecting weaker directional conviction and slightly bearish leverage demand. Spot activity also looks soft, with Binance reportedly set for its lowest monthly spot volume since Sep 2023 (~$52B). Net-net: liquidity appears available, but BTC inflows have not broadly accelerated yet—traders may stay in a wait-and-see mode until BTC volatility and stablecoin flows confirm the next move.

Enlivex said it raised $21M via debt financing to expand its prediction-markets treasury tied to RAIN. The company bought 3B RAIN at a 62% discount and extended its option to purchase another 272.1B RAIN tokens at the same price through Dec 2027. Earlier, Enlivex also exercised an option to buy another 3B RAIN for $10M, again at a 62% discount. It additionally approved a $20M share buyback. For RAIN traders, the key linkage is the protocol’s on-chain buyback-and-burn model: Rain charges a 2.5% trading fee and uses it to buy back and burn RAIN. Rain runs on Arbitrum, and the platform is ranked among the top prediction markets by DeFiLlama metrics for value locked and fees. Price action was mixed: RAIN jumped about 7% to ~$0.009 after the announcement, then cooled to around ~$0.0088. Overall, the incremental treasury buying around RAIN is a near-term momentum narrative, while traders may watch option execution timing and ongoing fee/burn flows for follow-through.

DV8Thailand announced a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire an equity stake in Thailand-based digital asset custodian Rakkar Digital, disclosed on Mar 24, 2026. The move is intended to support DV8Thailand’s Bitcoin treasury build-out through licensed Bitcoin custody infrastructure. Rakkar Digital holds a Thailand SEC digital asset custodian license and reported over $700M in assets under custody as of Dec 24, 2024. The platform was formed via cooperation between SCBX (Siam Commercial Bank’s parent) and Fireblocks, and received a $10M seed investment from SCB 10X in 2022. The latest article also frames Bitcoin custody as essential to any credible institutional crypto framework, citing licensing, compliance capability, and sustained regulatory engagement. DV8Thailand’s broader shift began in mid-2025, including a July 2025 tender offer involving Sora Ventures, UTXO Management, Kliff Capital, AsiaStrategy, Moon Inc., and Mythos Group, plus a warrant program raising about THB 241M (~$7.4M) for treasury and infrastructure. Leadership developments include ownership/balance-sheet restructuring in Aug 2025 and Jason Fang joining as Co-CEO in Sep 2025. Traders should note: this is unlikely to trigger immediate BTC spot buying, but it can improve longer-term sentiment around regulated custody rails and institutional on-ramps in Asia—supportive for products tied to BTC. Keywords: Bitcoin custody, regulated custody, Thailand SEC, Rakkar Digital, institutional crypto.

Ledger has completed a $50M secondary share sale in Q4, allowing early investors to exit while keeping the company’s corporate path flexible. CEO Pascal Gauthier said the Ledger secondary share sale fits broader planning to preserve long-term options, with no confirmed decision on a U.S. IPO. Gauthier declined to disclose the valuation. The transaction was led by Gauthier and involved an existing shareholder selling their stake. Ledger earlier explored a potential U.S. IPO and was at times linked to a valuation above $4B, but the latest update still leaves the outcome unconfirmed. In 2023, Ledger raised primary capital at about a $1.5B valuation. Operationally, Ledger is pushing deeper into the U.S.: it hired former Circle executive John Andrews as CFO and opened a New York office to strengthen ties with banks and asset managers. Product momentum is also growing, including a next-generation Nano device and upgrades to the Ledger Wallet app. The app adds in-app trading, portfolio analytics, and a redesigned “Earn” section. Ledger says the wallet app now contributes over 50% of revenue and it targets doubling business this year. For crypto traders, this Ledger secondary share sale reinforces bullish sentiment around “crypto security” infrastructure moving toward higher-margin software and services, rather than relying only on hardware demand. However, the news is company-level and doesn’t directly signal immediate price action for a specific token.

Gold price slid sharply after the latest FOMC minutes signaled a more hawkish stance, keeping the market focused on “higher for longer.” Rate-cut expectations were pushed back, and the odds of a hike rose (CME FedWatch). Real yields also climbed, raising the opportunity cost of holding gold, which pays no yield. At the same time, geopolitical stress did not deliver a durable safe-haven bid for gold. Instead, it supported the US dollar (DXY up about 2.1%) and US Treasuries, pressuring dollar-priced bullion. Trading activity reportedly rose during the sell-off, and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) saw net outflows. Technicals deteriorated: the $4,550 support level broke on heavy volume. Traders now watch the $4,450–$4,480 zone (including the 100-day moving average). A further breakdown could expose around $4,300, though the weekly uptrend still hints this may be a correction. Next catalysts are US PCE inflation and further Fed guidance, which will likely determine whether the gold price sell-off extends or stabilizes. For crypto traders, the key read-through is that firmer USD and higher real yields typically tighten liquidity and can pressure risk appetite.

Bitcoin Yardstick, a valuation metric described by Capriole Investments’ Charles Edwards as “PE-like” (market cap divided by normalized Hashrate), is flashing “deep value.” The metric has fallen to below the mean minus one standard deviation, implying BTC is historically cheap versus the network’s mining energy work. Edwards says this level is deeper than during the 2022 bear market, but he warns it does not guarantee an immediate bottom. In the prior cycle, Bitcoin Yardstick stayed undervalued for months before turning. The article also notes a short-lived rebound in the Yardstick in late January while BTC traded sideways. It attributes that anomaly to a major US snowstorm that disrupted electricity supply, forcing miners to cut power and temporarily reduce Hashrate. After power conditions improved, the Yardstick later dropped again when BTC sold off into early February. At the time of writing, BTC has rebounded toward the ~$71,000 area after a quick retracement. For traders, the main takeaway is valuation support potential from the disconnect between depressed price and resilient mining activity, but timing remains uncertain.

Cardano (ADA) traders are watching a contrarian “rebound setup” as two extreme indicators line up. First, ADA’s 365-day MVRV sits near -43%, meaning holders who bought over the past year are, on average, down about 43%. Historically, such deeply negative MVRV readings have often preceded mean reversion toward higher valuations. Second, derivatives positioning is getting stretched bearish. Binance perpetual funding for ADA has fallen to the most negative level since June 2023, a signal that shorts dominate and are effectively paying longs. Crowded short conditions can increase the odds of a short squeeze if price starts to rise, forcing forced buybacks and potentially amplifying upward moves. The later update adds more context: weekly RSI is in oversold territory, volume/accumulation appears near current levels, and exchange netflows suggest selling pressure is easing. Options sentiment also looks skewed toward downside protection (puts richer than calls). Still, the squeeze may unwind gradually, and broader macro/crypto conditions—plus BTC dominance—could limit alt follow-through. For traders, ADA’s MVRV extreme plus deeply negative funding creates “maximum pain” dynamics: expect elevated volatility, and look for confirmation that any bounce can turn into a sustained uptrend.

Public has launched crypto IRA trading on its brokerage platform, letting investors buy, sell, and hold approved cryptocurrencies inside existing IRA accounts. The initial coverage includes Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). Public says Crypto IRA holdings receive the same custodial safeguards and insurance protections as other assets via qualified custodians and institutional-grade security. For traders, the key change is tax treatment. In a Traditional IRA, crypto gains are tax-deferred, while in a Roth IRA, qualified withdrawals can be tax-free. However, IRA contribution limits still apply, and early withdrawals before 59½ typically face a 10% penalty plus income taxes. Public also emphasized ongoing SEC/IRS compliance on custody, reporting, and prohibited transactions, and it will list only cryptocurrencies it views as sufficiently compliant and liquid. Separately, earlier reporting noted Public’s acquisition of Alto’s crypto retirement account business for $65 million, adding roughly $600M AUM. Net effect: this is a regulated “retirement account” mainstreaming step that may support retail demand over time, but near-term price action for BTC/ETH/SOL is still likely driven more by broader ETF flows, macro liquidity, and risk sentiment than by this single product launch.

On-chain analysts report a Bhutan-linked transfer of about 519.7 BTC (≈ $36.75M). The coins were moved in a single transaction from an address associated with the Bhutanese government to two fresh wallet addresses, including one reportedly linked to QCP Capital in Singapore. Investigators say the originating wallet was first identified in 2022 and accumulated Bitcoin during the 2022–2023 bear market. The transfer split funds across new addresses and used relatively low fees, which suggests operational efficiency and improved custody security rather than an immediate sell-off. Both articles frame this as potential Bhutan treasury management—shifting from passive holding toward active portfolio operations—rather than liquidation. The move is also connected to Bhutan’s broader “green Bitcoin” narrative tied to hydropower-powered mining, strengthening the ESG-style framing. For traders, the direct market impact is expected to be limited: about $36.75M is roughly 0.12% of typical BTC daily trading volume. Still, visible sovereign behavior and the use of a regulated institutional counterparty may be interpreted as a confidence signal for Bitcoin custody and execution. Overall, this looks more like confirmation of ongoing state-level BTC treasury participation than a catalyst for near-term volatility.

South Korea’s crypto tax repeal has gained political momentum as the People Power Party adopted a repeal position in its platform, targeting a planned virtual asset income tax due to start in 2025. The proposal would scrap a 20% income tax on annual virtual asset gains above 2.5 million won (about $1,900). Lawmakers argue the tax framework raises fairness and tax-logic issues and could risk double taxation, while also weighing on South Korea’s digital asset and wider tech sector competitiveness. Reported key figures noted uncertainty on the legislative path: the ruling Democratic Party’s official stance has not yet been received, and secondary legislation details remain unresolved, stalling talks. For traders, the South Korea crypto tax repeal is a near-term sentiment catalyst. If the repeal passes, individual crypto gains would remain effectively tax-exempt under the current approach, which may support risk-on positioning and local liquidity. If negotiations stall or the repeal is rejected, regulatory overhang could return and add to volatility. Wider crypto rules (e.g., real-name trading and banking restrictions) would likely remain in place, so the impact is primarily fiscal rather than fully deregulating the market.

Fira launched a fixed-rate DeFi lending market on Ethereum, reporting about $450M in deposits at launch. The fixed-rate DeFi lending design targets predictable long-term credit by letting users structure loans around specific maturity dates, rather than relying on floating utilization-rate pricing. Fira says the initial capital came from a Jan. 8 pre-launch migration, with Euler Finance users “reallocated” assets to the first market (UZR). About 1,000 users moved from Euler-related products. On-chain, DeFiLlama places Fira TVL at roughly $451.6M, far smaller than Aave’s ~$25.3B. Security and execution are also highlighted: Fira reports six independent smart-contract audits from Nov. 2025 to early 2026 and a Sherlock bug bounty with rewards up to $500,000. For traders, this is a demand signal for fixed-rate DeFi lending on Ethereum, but the scale is still niche versus Aave, limiting immediate systemic impact.