Из жизни альткоинов

Участник исполнительного совета Европейского центрального банка (ЕЦБ) Пьеро Чиполлоне (Piero Cipollone) на заседании исполнительного комитета Итальянской банковской ассоциации сообщил, что до конца марта европейский финансовый регулятор проведет отбор поставщиков платежных услуг (PSP) для цифрового евро.

Прокуратура Южной Кореи получила от неназванного хакера биткоины на сумму около $21,4 млн, которые были украдены из кошелька с конфискованными криптовалютными активами.

Сыновья президента США Эрик Трамп и Дональд Трамп-младший назвали криптовалюту быстроразвивающейся альтернативой традиционным валютам, а значит, и американским долларам.

В регионах Северо-Кавказского федерального округа за прошлый год российские силовики закрыли 128 майнинг-ферм — втрое больше, чем годом ранее. Ущерб от кражи электроэнергии превысил 1 млрд рублей, увеличившись по сравнению с 2024 годом на 42,6%, сообщили «Россети Северный Кавказ».

On-chain data shows the crypto sector has witnessed the largest decline in the monthly Realized Cap since the previous bear market.

Crypto Realized Cap Has Seen A Deep Negative Change Recently

In a new post on X, Glassnode analyst Chris Beamish has discussed the latest trend in capital flows for the crypto market. While the digital asset sector is large, most of the capital that enters or leaves it does so through three main segments: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the stablecoins.

Investors first inject capital into these primary assets, and then it rotates out into the riskier altcoins. Similarly, when exiting from the market, traders tend to sell altcoins first and move their capital into Bitcoin or stablecoins.

An on-chain indicator that can be used to track sector flows is the Realized Cap. This capitalization model calculates an asset’s total value by assuming that the ‘real’ value of any token in circulation is equal to the last spot price it was moved at. This approach is different from that of the usual market cap, which simply sums up the supply at the current spot price.

The last transaction price of any coin can be thought to represent its current cost basis, so the Realized Cap is essentially a sum of the acquisition value for the entire supply. As such, the indicator can be considered as a measure of the total amount of capital that investors have put into the cryptocurrency.

Whenever this metric’s value changes, capital leaves or enters the asset, based on the direction of the change. Below is the chart shared by Beamish that shows the trend in the monthly change in the Realized Cap for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the stablecoins.

As displayed in the graph, the Realized Cap netflow for these primary assets, serving as a proxy of the demand in the crypto sector as a whole, has plummeted deep into the negative zone recently.

During most of 2025, this indicator was at positive levels, indicating that capital was consistently flowing into the sector. The trend ended up flipping in December, as outflows started taking place instead.

As the crypto market downturn has only deepened in 2026, capital outflows have also intensified on a monthly scale. Today, the indicator is at its most red level since the 2022 bear market.

In the same chart, the data for Bitcoin + Ethereum and the stablecoins is also separately displayed. It would appear that the recent outflows are mostly driven by the combined BTC and ETH Realized Cap, while the stables have seen their netflow sit at a more-or-less neutral level.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $67,100, up 1% over the last week.

The long‑awaited crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, remains stuck in the US Senate, but Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong says he still expects a positive resolution.

Coinbase CEO Remains Optimistic

Speaking Wednesday on CNBC during the World Liberty Forum at Mar‑a‑Lago, Armstrong expressed confidence that lawmakers will ultimately deliver what he described as a “win‑win” outcome for the crypto industry, the banking sector, and American consumers. 

“There is now a path forward,” he said, framing the legislation as an opportunity to bring regulatory certainty while strengthening the country’s position in the global digital asset race.

The legislation cleared the House of Representatives in July 2025 with a strong bipartisan vote of 294–134. It was later referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in September 2025, where it has yet to receive a floor vote. 

Planned committee markups in mid‑January 2026, including sessions scheduled for January 15 and January 27, were canceled or indefinitely postponed amid industry pushback and internal disputes.

In late January and early February, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a related measure that included elements of the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act (S. 3755) on a narrow party‑line vote. However, that step has not resolved the broader stalemate over market structure reform.

Senator Moreno Opposes Stablecoin Rewards 

One of the main sticking points continues to be stablecoin yield — whether issuers should be allowed to offer rewards or interest to holders. Senator Bernie Moreno has argued that such rewards should not be included in the framework. 

During the CNBC interview, Moreno suggested that, unless one owns a bank, one likely should not be concerned. He contended that consumers would benefit from greater competition for their deposits. 

Nonetheless, the Senator from Ohio further expressed confidence that the crypto legislation would ultimately pass the current deadlock, saying, “We are going to get this bill across the finish line,” and adding that he hopes it happens by April.

Coinbase CEO has taken a different view on stablecoins, arguing that rewards are essential to building a competitive domestic market. “To build the stablecoin industry in America, we have to have stablecoin rewards,” he said. 

The executive also noted that some financial institutions are already embracing the technology, adding that the “smartest banks” are leaning into crypto and forming partnerships with Coinbase.

“It is good for the banking industry to embrace innovation,” Armstrong said, stressing that the United States has historically succeeded by adapting rather than protecting incumbents. 

“America has never been one to be stagnant and protect the incumbents. We want to lean into the future and make sure America stays competitive. We are existing on a global stage here.”

Bitcoinist reported Tuesday that the White House is considering convening another meeting as soon as Thursday to address the stablecoin yield issue, signaling that high‑level efforts to break the impasse are continuing.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Криптовалютная кредитная компания Ledn привлекла $188 млн на выпуске облигаций, обеспеченных залогом в виде биткоина. Держатели ценных бумаг получают выплаты за счет денег, генерируемых криптокредитами.

Крупнейший по величине активов американский банк Bank of America увеличил свою долю в компании BitMine более чем в 17 раз, до 3,1 млн акций. BitMine является крупнейшим корпоративным держателем эфира.

Russia is preparing to restrict access to global crypto exchanges this summer, experts said, suggesting that authorities are planning to shift trading from foreign platforms to domestic ones under the upcoming regulatory framework.

Russia To Restrict Foreign Crypto Exchanges

On Tuesday, experts said Russia will likely block foreign crypto exchanges by summer 2026 as lawmakers advance the highly anticipated domestic framework, expected by July 1, to bring the industry out of the shadows.

According to a report by local news outlet RBC Crypto, industry participants believe authorities will soon begin restricting access to overseas exchanges, similar to the Telegram and YouTube block.

Nikita Zuborev, senior analyst at crypto exchange aggregator Bestchange.ru, told the news media outlet that this scenario is likely, asserting that as soon as the domestic market enters the new regulatory regime, “there is an almost 100% chance that the fight against major competitors will begin.”

“We expect that Roskomnadzor may begin mass blocking of websites of crypto exchanges and large exchangers not registered in Russia as early as this summer. Most likely, they will act according to the YouTube blocking model — they will delete DNS records in the Russian segment of the Internet and continue to fight against means of circumventing the blocks,” the analyst stated.

However, Zuborev cautioned that if global exchanges are not allowed to obtain licenses or to operate as agents of domestic exchanges or brokers, a part of the market will move underground, increasing fraud, complicating regulation, and resulting in higher commission fees.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Machikhin, lawyer and founder of BitOK, considers a “Belarusian scenario” highly possible. Notably, only companies operating under Belarus’ special regime can conduct cryptocurrency transactions, while individuals are prohibited from buying and selling digital assets on foreign platforms.

Machikhin noted that completely restricting operations is impossible, citing Binance as an example. The global exchange still has over 1 million Russian customers despite its departure from the country’s market. Therefore, the chances of a direct ban on transactions using foreign exchanges are low, the lawmakers added.

EU Explores Broader Sanctions

Ignat Likhunov, founder of Cartesius law agency, agreed with the other two experts, affirming, “It seems that blocking measures are being prepared in parallel with the creation of a ‘white’ zone, and conditions for ‘illegal’ exchangers and unfriendly foreign exchanges will deteriorate.”

He pointed out that the lack of “real levers of influence” over foreign exchanges, noting that the platforms don’t need to hurry to comply with any requirements of Russian legislation.

As a result, authorities will likely hold them accountable in absentia and block access to the foreign exchanges that enforce sanctions against Russia for various reasons, including economic or non-compliance with the law on data landing.

It’s worth noting that the European Union has been exploring implementing strict sanctions on all crypto transactions linked to Russia to limit sanctions evasion. As reported by Bitcoinist, the European Commission is strengthening its crackdown on the country’s use of digital assets to evade sanctions by considering measures to ban all Russia-related crypto transactions.

Legal documents show that the Commission has proposed a broader prohibition “instead of attempting to ban copycat Russian crypto entities spun out of already sanctioned platforms.” The proposal focuses on stopping the growth of successors to Russia-linked crypto exchange Garantex, while aiming at payment platforms such as A7 and its related ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5.

The Commission also suggested adding 20 banks to the list of sanctioned entities and a ban on any digital ruble-related transactions.

Инвестиционный директор управляющей криптоактивами компании Bitwise Мэтт Хоуган (Matt Hougan) заявил, что крипторынок из медвежьего цикла может вывести сектор децентрализованных финансов (DeFi).

Компания World Liberty Financial (WLFI), связанная с президентом США Дональдом Трампом, объявила о планах токенизировать права на получение дохода от финансирования строительства курорта Trump International Hotel & Resort на Мальдивах. Это первый проект токенизации реальных активов (RWA) под брендом WLFI.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) announced on Wednesday that its Foundation will back the creation of the Hyperliquid Policy Center (HPC), a new Washington, D.C.-based organization designed to advocate for clearer federal rules governing decentralized finance (DeFi).

Jake Chervinsky To Lead Hyperliquid Policy Center 

The new center will be led by Jake Chervinsky, who previously held senior roles at the Blockchain Association, one of the industry’s leading trade groups, and at venture capital firm Variant.

As HPC’s inaugural CEO, he is expected to lead efforts to engage lawmakers and regulators at a time when digital asset policy is shifting away from previous roadblocks that hampered the sector’s growth in the United States.

In comments to Fortune, Chervinsky said the United States is at a pivotal juncture in determining how decentralized finance should be integrated into the country’s financial framework. 

The center’s mission will be to help members of Congress and federal agencies better understand how DeFi protocols function and to offer technical expertise as regulators craft rules that can accommodate the technology, the executive asserted.

He emphasized that much of today’s financial regulatory system was designed for an earlier, analog era. In his view, those frameworks are poorly suited to decentralized protocols, which enable users to trade digital assets on automated platforms that operate without centralized intermediaries. 

HPC Backs Perpetuals Framework

Among the center’s top priorities will be establishing a legal structure for perpetual derivatives, commonly known as “perps.” These instruments, which do not have expiration dates, are widely traded on offshore crypto exchanges and account for a significant share of global digital asset activity. 

Chervinsky contends that perpetuals offer advantages over traditional options and futures contracts because they are simpler and provide more direct exposure to underlying assets. Despite their popularity abroad, they have yet to gain a foothold in mainstream US finance, in part due to regulatory uncertainty.

To fund the initiative, the foundation affiliated with Hyperliquid is contributing 1 million HYPE tokens. At current prices of $28.75 per token, that allocation is valued at approximately $28.7 million.

In addition to Jake Chervinsky’s role in the new venture, the founding team includes Policy Counsel Brad Bourque, formerly an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and Policy Director Salah Ghazzal, who previously served as Policy Lead at Variant. 

The Hyperliquid Policy Center is also building out its leadership bench and is currently recruiting for key roles, including Chief of Staff, Head of Communications, and Head of Government Relations.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Гендиректор крупнейшей американской криптобиржи Coinbase Брайан Армстронг (Brian Armstrong) заявил, что текущая коррекция биткоина связана не с экономическими факторами или квантовыми рисками, а с психологией инвесторов.

Крупнейшая итальянская банковская группа Intesa Sanpaolo раскрыла инвестиции в криптовалютные биржевые фонды (ETF), направив отчет в Комиссию по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC).

Эксперты блокчейн-платформы Arkham Intelligence опубликовали исследование распределения BTC среди крупнейших держателей, оценив концентрацию активов у частных лиц, компаний, бирж и государственных структур.

Momentum around Hyperliquid cooled quickly this week after HYPE failed to hold a breakout above $31, sending the token back to a familiar battleground between buyers and sellers. With price hovering near key support, traders are now watching closely for signals that could define the next directional move.

Related Reading: Crypto Lobby Group Sounds Alarm Over Senate’s Crypto Bill Threat

The recent pullback reflects a broader consolidation trend that has defined price action for months, as shifting market sentiment, weakening technical momentum, and cooling network activity reshape short-term expectations.

Data tracked across major market platforms shows HYPE fluctuating within a well-established range, roughly $28 to $30. While the structure has offered predictable trading levels, repeated rejection near resistance suggests buyers are becoming cautious after recent gains.

Range Trading Defines the Current Market

Hyperliquid (HYPE) briefly moved above $31 earlier this week before retracing, supporting resistance between $32 and $35. Analysts note that the $27.50–$28.50 region remains the most important support area, where buyers have consistently stepped in during recent volatility.

Holding above roughly $28.98 is viewed as critical for maintaining bullish continuation. A successful defense could allow a renewed attempt toward $32.28 and potentially $35 if momentum returns.

However, failure to hold this zone may expose the token to deeper downside, with projections pointing toward $25–$26 as the next support band. The consolidation comes after the token declined nearly 25% from its yearly high near $37.8, reflecting broader crypto market weakness and reduced risk appetite across digital assets.

Bearish Signals Emerge as Hyperliquid’s  Activity Slows

Technical indicators are sending mixed signals. A bearish MACD crossover and weakening momentum readings suggest selling pressure has increased, while neutral RSI levels indicate the market has not yet reached oversold conditions.

Fundamentals have also softened. Weekly protocol revenue recently dropped more than 50%, alongside a decline in total value locked. Lower activity reduces the platform’s capacity to fund token buybacks, easing deflationary pressure that previously supported price recovery.

Despite this, market participants continue to monitor institutional developments around Hyperliquid, including expanding liquidity access through integrations and growing participation from larger traders.

Can HYPE Reclaim Momentum?

Short-term direction now depends largely on whether support near $28 holds. A bounce from this region could trigger renewed buying interest and reopen the path toward $34–$35. Conversely, a confirmed breakdown may accelerate losses if broader crypto market conditions remain weak.

Related Reading: Bitcoin ‘Ghost Whale’ Emerges: New Hong Kong Filer Tops Q4 IBIT Buys

Declining volume and cautious sentiment suggest traders are waiting for clearer confirmation. Price action near current levels is increasingly viewed as a decision zone, one that may determine whether HYPE resumes its upward trend or enters a deeper corrective phase.

Cover image from ChatGPT, HYPEUSD chart on Tradingview

Глава исследовательского подразделения брокерской компании K33 Research Ветле Лунде (Vetle Lunde) заявил, что сегодняшняя ситуация на рынке биткоина напоминает заключительный этап медвежьего цикла 2022 года.

Гендиректор одного из крупнейших инвестиционных банков Уолл-стрит Goldman Sachs Дэвид Соломон (David Solomon) рассказал на форуме World Liberty Forum во Флориде, что владеет небольшим количеством биткоина.

Bitcoin is struggling to maintain stability around the $70,000 level as persistent selling pressure continues to weigh on market sentiment. Repeated rejection near this psychological threshold has reinforced a cautious environment, with volatility elevated and traders closely monitoring liquidity conditions and macro signals. While consolidation above key support levels can sometimes indicate resilience, the current price structure suggests a market still searching for direction after months of corrective momentum.

Recent on-chain analysis from Darkfost offers additional context regarding whale activity. The report notes that although inflows from large holders to exchanges have increased in recent weeks — often a sign of potential short-term selling pressure — total whale-held supply has continued to expand overall. This distinction is important when evaluating broader market structure.

Exchange inflows typically capture immediate positioning behavior and can precede temporary price weakness. However, the chart referenced in the analysis focuses on the medium-term evolution of whale-held supply using a monthly average, providing a more structural perspective. From this viewpoint, the continued growth in holdings suggests that larger investors may still be accumulating despite ongoing volatility.

Whale Accumulation Returns As Large Holders Rebuild Bitcoin Positions

According to Darkfost, recent on-chain data suggests a notable shift in Bitcoin whale behavior following the sharp contraction observed late last year. After the monthly average of whale-held supply dropped to nearly -7% on December 15, accumulation appears to have resumed. Over the past month, holdings attributed to large investors have increased by roughly 3.4%, signaling renewed positioning despite ongoing market uncertainty.

This rebound translates into a rise in whale-controlled supply from approximately 2.9 million BTC to more than 3.1 million BTC. In absolute terms, that represents an accumulation exceeding 200,000 BTC within a relatively short period. Historically, movements of this magnitude have tended to coincide with transitional phases rather than immediate trend reversals.

A comparable accumulation wave occurred during the April 2025 correction, when sustained whale buying helped absorb selling pressure and contributed to Bitcoin’s subsequent rally from about $76,000 to $126,000. While past patterns do not guarantee repetition, the parallel provides useful context for interpreting current flows.

With Bitcoin still consolidating roughly 46% below its most recent all-time high, current price levels may be perceived by large holders as relatively attractive. However, Darkfost cautions that persistent selling pressure remains a dominant factor, meaning accumulation alone may not yet be sufficient to drive a decisive recovery.

Bitcoin Holds Fragile Support As Weekly Trend Weakens

Bitcoin price action on the weekly timeframe continues to reflect a structurally corrective phase following the rejection from the late-2025 highs near $125,000. The chart shows a clear transition from bullish trend continuation into a sustained downtrend, with lower highs forming since November, and the price recently breaking decisively below the 100-week moving average. This breakdown typically signals weakening medium-term momentum and often precedes extended consolidation or further downside exploration.

Currently, BTC is trading around the $67,000 area, which appears to be acting as a tentative stabilization zone after the sharp decline from the $90,000–$95,000 range earlier this year. The 50-week moving average has rolled over and now acts as dynamic resistance, while the 200-week moving average near the mid-$50,000 region remains the primary structural support level if selling pressure intensifies.

Volume spikes during the recent decline suggest forced deleveraging and defensive repositioning rather than gradual distribution. Historically, similar patterns have marked transitional phases between late bull cycles and early accumulation periods.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Компания Chainalysis, занимающаяся аналитикой блокчейнов, сообщила, что объемы криптовалютных платежей, связанных со схемами торговли людьми, к 2025 году выросли на 85% и достигли сотен миллионов долларов.