Из жизни альткоинов

The conversation around real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is heating up, and the numbers are staggering. After digital asset securities firm Securitize highlighted the potential for a $400 trillion global asset market to move on-chain, attention quickly shifted to the blockchains positioned to support that scale. The XRP ecosystem, specifically the XRP Ledger, is increasingly being discussed as a possible infrastructure layer for this next phase of financial digitization.

How The XRP Ledger Supports Asset Tokenization

Crypto commentator Archie is sounding the alarm for the XRP community, pointing to Securitize teasing a massive $400 trillion real-world asset (RWA) opportunity that could reshape global finance and potentially position the XRP Ledger at the center of the shift. According to Archie’s post on X, a recent update from the tokenization giant stated that only about $25 billion in assets have been tokenized, with an estimated $400 trillion in traditional assets. 

This includes global stocks, bonds, real estate, private funds, and other traditional instruments that are still sitting on outdated ledgers and are all ready to move on-chain. Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo has repeatedly emphasized the figure, framing it as the total addressable market for tokenization. The thesis is that tokenization can deliver instant settlement, 24/7 trading, fractional ownership, and enhanced liquidity.

A key part of this narrative involves Securitize integration efforts with the Ripple ecosystem, including its RLUSD partnership, which connects institutional tokenized assets with the Ledger. Meanwhile, major institutional products such as BlackRock’s BUIDL and VanEck’s VBILL, with other large institutional funds, are already tokenized on the Ledger. Users can now swap holdings into RLUSD on Securitize’s platform, a development that could channel utility and flow directly into the XRPL network.

Archie highlighted that the Ledger’s fast settlement speeds, low transaction fees, and native compliance features make it suitable for institutional adoption. Thus, if a fraction of these project trillions in real-world assets were to settle natively on XRPL, it could significantly boost demand for the token through liquidity provisioning and transaction fees.

Framing the development as more than speculation, Archie describes the ongoing tokenization push as a structural shift in global finance that could lead to one of the largest wealth transfers in modern history.

Why The Token Could Rise Parabolically Instead Of Gradually

The future trajectory of XRP may not rise gradually like other cryptocurrencies. Instead, it could explode parabolically as seen during the 2017 bull cycle. An analyst known as Ripple Mother has noted that with the right market conditions and adoption, the altcoin could potentially surge above $100 within a single day, delivering gains of over 30,000% and dramatically reshape the broader crypto market.

Former Ripple Chief Technology Officer (CTO) David Schwartz has addressed speculation that the crypto firm can block transactions on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). He explained the only way this could happen amid claims that the network is centralized. 

Ripple CTO Emeritus Explains How An XRP Transaction Can Be Blocked

In an X post, the former Ripple CTO said that there is no way to prevent valid transactions on the XRP Ledger unless users agree to change the validity rules to make them invalid. Schwartz made this statement in response to whether Ripple or he, as one of the original developers, can freeze a wallet and prevent a transaction. 

Meanwhile, in response to who can unlock and lock escrows, the former Ripple CTO said that anyone who wants to escrow tokens can lock them in escrow. Once an escrow expires, anyone can unlock it. Schwartz also addressed claims that the XRPL Ledger was centralized because Ripple has a “Unique Node List,” which effectively makes the validators permissioned.

The former Ripple CTO described the claims that the crypto firm could have absolute power and control of the chain as “objectively nonsensical.” He noted that this is similar to claiming that someone with a majority of mining power can create a billion BTC. Justin Bons, Cyber Capital’s founder, who made the claim, explained that he meant Ripple could double-spend or censor the network, similar to someone holding a majority of mining power on the Bitcoin network.

Schwartz rebutted this claim, stating that the XRP Ledger and Bitcoin don’t work the same. He noted that on the XRPL, one can count the number of validators that agree with one’s node. The former Ripple CTO added that a node will not agree to double-spend or censor unless there is a particular reason why the validator wants to do so. 

XRPL ‘Carefully’ Designed To Be Decentralized

The former Ripple CTO reiterated that they carefully and intentionally designed the XRP Ledger so that they could not control it. He explained that they did so, given the regulatory environment and practical realities of being a company and having investors. As such, there was no guarantee that they would always have control over their own actions. 

Schwartz gave an example of how Ripple must honor U.S. court orders, as it cannot refuse such requests. As such, they decided from the onset that they did not want control over the XRP Ledger and that it would be to their benefit not to have control. He also mentioned that it would not make sense if Ripple ever censored transactions or double-spent, even if they had the power to do so, because if they ever did, it would destroy trust in the XRPL.   

Featured image from GitHub, chart from TradingView

British gamblers searching for ways to bet with cryptocurrency are more likely to end up on an illegal website than a regulated one. That is part of what prompted the UK Gambling Commission to start asking whether something needs to change.

Tim Miller, the regulator’s executive director for research and policy, told an industry gathering in London last Thursday that the Commission now wants to look seriously at allowing crypto to be used as a payment method at licensed online gambling platforms in Great Britain.

Illegal Sites Are Driving The Conversation

Miller’s case for taking another look at crypto payments was not built purely on demand, though he acknowledged that appetite among bettors is growing. He made the remarks during the Betting and Gaming Council’s annual general assembly.

The more pointed argument was about where that demand currently goes. According to reports, Miller told attendees that crypto ranks among the two most common search terms that lead British gamblers straight to unregulated, illegal sites.

Blocking crypto from licensed platforms, in other words, may be sending consumers somewhere far less protected rather than discouraging them altogether.

That framing marks a shift. For years, the default position from regulators has been that crypto and gambling together create too much risk. Miller’s comments suggest the Gambling Commission is now weighing whether the bigger risk is doing nothing.

No deadline was attached to the review. Miller said he had asked the Industry Forum — an advisory group made up of representatives from across the gambling sector — to map out the available options.

Whatever path is chosen, he made clear it would come with strict conditions. Affordability checks, suitability assessments, and full compliance with UK gambling rules would all still apply. Accepting crypto would not give casinos any special treatment or exemptions.

A Bigger Regulatory Framework Sets The Timeline

The Gambling Commission’s exploration does not exist in isolation. Any move toward crypto payments at licensed venues would be tied directly to the Financial Conduct Authority’s new crypto oversight framework, which is currently being finalized.

According to reports, the FCA is expected to wrap up its consultation process in March, with the full regime set to take effect in October 2027. Companies wanting to operate under the new rules will need to seek authorization from the FCA, with the application window expected to open in September 2026.

Crypto firms that miss that window face a more restricted path. Reports say they would be allowed to continue running existing products under transitional rules but would not be permitted to roll out new offerings until full authorization is granted.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin’s long-term structure has always been examined through the perspective of its halving cycle, and one crypto pundit believes the pattern is pointing to a clear price bottom. 

The analysis centers on a recurring time-based rhythm tied to each halving event, and it proposes a specific window for when accumulation could begin again. Crypto pundit Blockchainedbb projected that the Bitcoin phase may be heading into another structured reset phase that drags on for a while, and it may not be until Q4 2024 before the best time for buying BTC presents itself.

The Bitcoin 135-Week Rule Before Halving

The timing framework is based on a recurring pattern observed ahead of Bitcoin’s halving events, highlighted by pundit Blockchainedbb. According to his analysis, each previous major Bitcoin cycle price low formed somewhere around 135 weeks before a halving takes place.

The weekly chart shared in the analysis shows previous halving dates, including May 11, 2020, and April 19, 2024, and overlays green accumulation zones around profitable long-term entry points. Price compression into those zones in previous cycles came before explosive upside moves that eventually led to new all-time highs.

Applying the same calculation forward, Blockchainedbb estimates that the next meaningful bottom could form in late Q4 of this year. The projected price range for that bottom is between $50,000 and $58,000. This range is derived by extrapolating the current cycle’s structure from the previous halving-era bottom.

If the pattern repeats itself again, that means Bitcoin will continue trading in a range of lower lows for most of the year, then position Q4 as the accumulation window before the next sustained uptrend of higher highs kicks in.

Q2 And Q3: A Trader’s Market

Under this approach, Q1 and Q4 are considered by the pundit as the primary windows for investors looking to build longer-term exposure. Q4 is seen as the likely bottoming phase, while Q1 is projected for investors to exit at an approximate price of $75,000. 

On the other hand, Bitcoin price history shows that the remaining quarters, Q2 and Q3, are environments better suited for active short-term traders than long-term holders. According to the pundit, Q2 and Q3 have always been characterized by directional moves and breakdowns below key technical levels, particularly the 200-week exponential moving average for altcoins. During these phases, short-term positioning and tactical trades tend to dominate.

Therefore, the most positive long-term technical outlook is for investors to wait for the more favorable structural window in the fourth quarter of 2026. As it stands, the next Bitcoin halving is projected to take place sometime in April 2028. It will happen at block height 850,000, reducing the block reward from 3.125 to 1.5625 BTC.

Prominent British multinational bank Barclays Plc is exploring the development of a blockchain platform to support payments, signaling a deeper push by traditional finance lenders into digital-asset technology. Notably, the move places Barclays alongside global rivals that are racing to modernize payment infrastructure amid rising adoption of blockchain products, especially stablecoin.

Barclays Mulls Blockchain Payments Infrastructure

According to a Friday report by Bloomberg, Barclays Plc is assessing the creation of a blockchain payment platform capable of supporting payments and settlement services, according to people familiar with the matter. The banking giant has sent out requests for information (RFIs) to prospective technology partners as part of its evaluation process and is aiming to select providers as early as April.

Barclays is exploring new offerings, and the potential use cases for the blockchain platform reportedly include stablecoin-based payments and tokenized deposits. Notably, this move aligns Barclays with peers that have already launched similar initiatives.

Last year, JPMorgan Chase & Co. launched its blockchain-based deposit token, JPM Coin, to serve institutional clients, enabling faster internal transfers and cross-border payments. Meanwhile, BNP Paribas, Bank of America, and Citigroup, alongside six other banks, have united to launch a jointly backed stablecoin. 

In January 2026, Barclays announced a strategic investment in Ubyx on January 7, 2026, marking its first direct stake in a US-based stablecoin settlement firm to develop regulated, tokenized money. With intentions to launch a blockchain payment platform, the UK bank looks to advance its interest in the digital asset ecosystems.

Stablecoins To Gain Momentum In Mainstream Payments

Without a doubt, stablecoins remain one of the most attractive blockchain products to traditional banks. These digital tokens, typically pegged to fiat currencies like the US dollar, are increasingly seen as a disruptive force in global payment.

In July 2025, US President Donald Trump assented to the GENIUS Act, thereby creating a regulatory framework that would encourage institutional participation in the stablecoin operations, among other benefits. 

According to Bloomberg Intelligence, stablecoins could account for more than $50 trillion in annual payments by 2030 if present adoption continues to accelerate. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is predicting a total stablecoin market cap of $2 trillion by 2028 and $3 trillion by 2030.

At press time, the stablecoin market cap is valued at $315 billion based on data from CoinMarketCap. Tether’s USDT accounts for 60% of these figures with a market cap of $187 billion, followed by Circle’s USDC.

Recent on-chain data shows a significant increase in Bitcoin flowing into certain wallets, suggesting renewed accumulation. Despite experiencing months of bearish pressure and major sell-offs, some investors appear to be using the ongoing market downturn as an opportunity to strengthen their positions. With the recent accumulation ramp-up, the question remains whether now may be the time to get back into the market. 

Bitcoin Accumulation Rise Amidst Price Downturn

The Bitcoin price has been grinding lower in recent trading sessions, slipping below $64,000. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has failed to hold multiple support levels, with each leg down further suppressing any meaningful upside momentum.  

Related Reading: Expert Trader Who Correctly Predicted Bitcoin Top Just Shared A Chart Pointing Below $4,000

Yet beneath the surface of this declining price and market sell-offs, certain holders are quietly accumulating BTC. On-chain data from Glassnode reveals that over the past three weeks, so-called ‘old supply,’ which refers to wallets holding BTC that have sat dormant for at least six months, has risen by a whopping 188,000 BTC. This substantial amount of coins is valued at more than $12.75 billion.

Notably, the recent rise in BTC accumulation among old supply indicates that many seasoned investors are choosing to sit and hold their coins rather than sell into weakness, as many retail participants have been doing. The renewed accumulation also comes as whales continue to execute large-scale BTC withdrawals, with Whale Alert recently reporting a recent outflow of more than $266 million from exchanges.

Adding more fuel to the ongoing accumulation trend, Spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded significant inflows. Data from SoSoValue shows that Bitcoin ETFs had attracted a combined inflow of $1.02 billion between February 24 and 26. This rise in demand further indicates that investors are now entering the market, likely positioning for a potential rebound. 

BTC Sell-Offs Show Signs Of Exhaustion

Prominent Bitcoin analyst Willy Woo has shared relatively good news, issuing a sobering outlook for BTC’s price. In a recent X post, Woo suggested that the market may be entering an extended period of weakness before any meaningful recovery takes shape. The bearish outlook comes as the analyst acknowledges that the recent wave of selling pressure from investors appears to have exhausted, potentially giving Bitcoin more room to consolidate sideways for about a month.

With the bearish sell-down easing, Woo predicts Bitcoin could initiate a brief rebound back to the mid-$70,000 range. However, he cautioned that such a recovery would likely be rejected. The analyst pointed to deteriorating liquidity across both spot and futures markets as a key reason for this rejection. He stated that he had never seen Bitcoin rally when both sources of liquidity were trending bearishly at the same time.

Looking further ahead, Woo projected that Bitcoin’s current bearish trend could persist well into the year, with a potential turning point expected to arrive sometime in Q4 2026. Subsequently, he suggested that BTC’s bullish momentum may also return in either Q1 or Q2 of 2027. 

On the question of how far current prices could fall, Woo estimated that a plunge to $45,000 could mark a bear market bottom for BTC. He also stated that if global macro breaks down, $30,000 could be the fallback support level, with $16,000 highlighted as the final line of defense to maintain Bitcoin’s bull trend.

Bitcoin has experienced another net loss over the past week, with the premier cryptocurrency struggling to reclaim key technical levels. Meanwhile, a recent market evaluation shows that while price action is volatile, it is largely range-trapped between $60,000 to $70,000.

Bitcoin’s $60,000 Shield: Long-Term Holders Refuse To Fold

In a recent QuickTake report, a pseudonymous analyst with the username GugaOnChain analyzed Bitcoin’s current market structure, describing a battle between long-term conviction and short-term pressure.  According to data from the on-chain platform, Bitcoin remains in a mature bear market, consistent with projections made in December 2025.

Analyst GugaOnChain noted that at the $60,000 support level, long-term holders are described as the primary defensive force. In particular,  the 12 -18-month UTXO cohort has grown from 9.67% to 11.09%, indicating that more Bitcoin is aging into long-term storage. 

This suggests strengthening conviction among holders who accumulated over a year ago and are choosing not to sell despite market weakness. However,  he notes that historical bear market bottoms have seen this cohort reach much higher levels (30-44%), implying that while structural support is forming. A definitive macro bottom may not yet be confirmed.

BTC’S Next Move Hinges On US Institutions Returning

Interestingly, a low Binary Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) reading of 0.14 reinforces the idea that older coins remain dormant. Long-term holders are not distributing or panic selling, effectively acting as a liquidity anchor that prevents a deeper collapse below $60,000. 

On the resistance side near $70,000, active whales holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC are identified as the main source of selling pressure. Their distribution directly counters long-term holders’ resilience and caps upward momentum. Meanwhile, the Coinbase Premium Index remains negative (-0.04), signaling weak US institutional demand and a broader macro environment marked by risk aversion. Without strong institutional inflows, the market lacks the catalyst needed for a sustained breakout.

Additionally, short-term holders are experiencing capitulation, reflected in an MVRV-STH (Market value to Realized value – Short-term holders) ratio of 0.74, meaning many are holding at a loss and exiting positions. Overall, this shows that Bitcoin is undergoing a cleansing phase. While long-term value is gradually emerging, sustainable upside depends on the return of US institutional demand and a shift in macro conditions.

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $63,823, reflecting a 5.75% jump in the past 24 hours. 

A piece of paper ruined everything. South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) published an official press release last Thursday meant to highlight its crackdown on tax dodgers — and somewhere in the process, a full wallet seed phrase was photographed, printed, and sent out to the public without anyone apparently noticing.

By the time someone did, $4.8 million worth of tokens had already walked out the door.

One Photo, One Mistake, Millions Gone

The press release included an image of a Ledger hardware wallet placed next to a handwritten sheet containing the wallet’s complete mnemonic phrase — the string of words that functions as the master key to any crypto wallet.

No blurring. No masking. Nothing. According to reports from Korean media outlets including Naver and Chosun, the release was part of a broader NTS enforcement campaign targeting people who owed taxes, with seized crypto assets shown as evidence of the agency’s work.

What was meant to showcase government action instead handed anyone with sharp eyes full access to the funds inside.

Blockchain researchers who examined the wallet’s transaction history found three separate incoming transfers totaling 4 million PRTG (Pre-Retogeum) tokens, followed by a single outgoing transfer that swept the entire balance to another address. Clean. Quick. Gone.

Researcher Says Actual Losses May Be Smaller Than They Appear

Associate professor Jaewoo Cho of Hansung University’s Blockchain Research Center confirmed the theft publicly on X, writing that the 4 million tokens — valued at roughly $4.8 million — were taken directly from the mnemonic phrase exposed in the NTS release.

국세청에서 보도자료로 유출(공개)한 니모닉에서 10시간 전에 PRTG 토큰 400만 개, 약 480만 달러어치가 탈취된 것을 확인했습니다.https://t.co/q6Ck7lxazK pic.twitter.com/JWnVI5Ua0N

— 조재우(Jaewoo Cho) (@clayop) February 27, 2026

He also examined other wallets whose seed phrases may have been visible in the same image and said those did not appear to carry significant risk.

Cho added that because PRTG tokens are hard to convert into cash, the real financial damage could be far smaller than the headline number suggests. He expressed hope that the incident would push South Korean government agencies to finally build proper systems for holding seized crypto assets.

The NTS has not issued a public response to the incident as of this writing.

A Pattern Of Custody Problems In South Korea

What makes this story harder to ignore is that it did not happen in isolation. Reports say South Korean police separately discovered in February 2026 that 22 Bitcoin seized during a 2021 hacking case had gone missing from a cold wallet kept inside a Gangnam police station vault.

Two suspects were arrested after investigators determined the coins had been moved using a mnemonic phrase that authorities had never held control over.

The coins, worth roughly $1.4 million, are gone.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Bitcoin price performance was quite disappointing over the past month. The flagship cryptocurrency has struggled to break sustainably above $70,000 throughout February, with prices only reaching $71,000 before facing sharp reversals.

It, then, becomes intuitively evident that this price region might be a key level acting as resistance to Bitcoin’s bullish attempts. Below are some other crucial levels to watch for in March and what they could potentially mean for the Bitcoin price.

BTC Realized Price Sits At $54,600 – What This Means 

In a Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, market analyst Burak Kesmeci highlighted five “cost clusters” that might reveal the next move for the Bitcoin price. For context, Cost clusters are essentially price levels that represent the average acquisition price of an asset (Bitcoin, in this case) by different investor cohorts

To start with, Kesmeci immediately revealed Bitcoin’s surest support price — the realized price — to be around the $54,600 mark. The realized price is a strong support region because it reflects the average cost basis of all the BTC in circulation.

Also, realized prices have historically served as long-term price support during bear phases. As a result, when the Bitcoin price trades above this level, it is often a sign of extant structural strength, while a break beneath the realized price is usually a sign of impending doom.

Bitcoin Could Switch Bullish In March — But On This Condition

While the Bitcoin price may be displaying its higher timeframe backing, it is also true that the world’s leading cryptocurrency has a series of battles to fight as it ascends. According to the crypto pundit, four resistance zones lie in wait to reject possible upward recovery. 

The first of these zones is the 1 – 4-Week Realized Price, which reveals the average price at which recent buyers entered the BTC market. According to the highlighted CryptoQuant data, this cost basis stands at around the $71,600 level. 

When the Bitcoin price trades beneath this level, it signals that the latest participants are under severe heat. Hence, recovery attempts towards this price level would typically be met with significant resistance, as this cohort would want to exit at break-even.

The analyst further highlighted that the Short-Term Holder Realized Price (STH RP) is around $90,800; this concerns investors who have held BTC for less than 155 days. If the Bitcoin price manages to overcome the evident resistance at this level, it could signal a change in Bitcoin’s trend from bearish to bullish. 

Beyond the STH RP, the 365-day Simple Moving Average sits, occupying the $98,900 price level; then, a little more up North, the 3–6 Month Realized Price stands around $100,800. These metrics reflect the activity of Bitcoin’s medium-term holders, showing their realized price and average closing prices over the past year.

In the grand scheme, Bitcoin is clearly in a bearish phase. Thus, before March can stand as the pivotal month for market participants, BTC has to overcome those critical resistance levels. As of this writing, Bitcoin is valued at around $63,696, reflecting an over 5% decline in the past 24 hours.

In a significant move, Morgan Stanley has submitted an application for a new national bank charter that will enable it to offer crypto custody and staking services. This report comes days after the recently appointed head of digital asset strategy, Amy Oldenburg, confirmed the financial services giant’s digital asset push.

Morgan Stanley Continues To Bet On Digital Asset Industry With Fresh OCC Filing

According to a Bloomberg report on Friday, February 27th, Morgan Stanley filed for a de novo national trust bank charter to allow it custody digital assets. The Wall Street behemoth said in its application that the charter will also be used to conduct crypto trading and staking for its investment clients.

Bloomberg reported that the application, through Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, was filed on February 18th, according to the website of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The firm will offer its digital asset management services throughout the United States, with its main office in Purchase, New York, the filing showed.

This move reinforces Morgan Stanley’s strategic push for crypto and the broader digital asset industry. Earlier in January, the financial services giant filed for Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States, while also forging a new head of digital-asset strategy role for Oldenburg.

As reported by Bitcoinist, Oldenburg revealed that Morgan Stanley’s near-term goal is to enable E*Trade clients to buy and sell spot crypto, initially via a partnership before possibly moving to a native custody and exchange solution.

Oldenburg said about crypto custody:

It’s a totally different environment to know that you are custodying your assets,” Oldenburg continued. “You have legal custody with Morgan Stanley, and Morgan Stanley is overseeing those assets for you. There’s always those that are going to want to self-custody. That’s a natural part of this space, especially in the Bitcoin space.

Morgan Stanley’s recent moves highlight a growing trend since the start of President Donald Trump’s latest administration, especially among Wall Street firms, as they soften their crypto stance and venture into the digital asset industry. The United States president has been a vocal supporter of the crypto industry, while pushing for regulatory clarity in the space.

Crypto Market Capitalization Takes A Tumble

As of this writing, the global cryptocurrency market capitalization stands at $2.34 trillion, reflecting an over 2% decline in the past 24 hours.

Курс первой криптовалюты опустился ниже $64 000 после сообщений о скоординированных ударах США и Израиля по территории Ирана.

Министерство юстиции США сообщило о заморозке и изъятии криптовалют на сумму более $580 млн, связанных с китайскими преступными организациями.

Аналитики платформы Lookonchain сообщили об обнаружении группы инсайдеров, заработавших около $1,02 млн на событиях, связанных с расследованием блокчейн-детектива ZachXBT в отношении платформы Axiom.

Data shows a large amount of crypto long contracts have been liquidated as the Bitcoin price has plunged below the $66,000 level.

Crypto Market Has Faced $267 Million In Liquidations Over The Past Day

According to data from CoinGlass, a mass amount of liquidations have just occurred in the crypto market. A “liquidation” is a forceful closure that occurs when a derivatives market contract accumulates a loss of a specific percentage (as defined by the platform).

The risk of a contract being liquidated depends on how volatile the asset is behaving, as well as on how much leverage the trader has opted for. In the crypto market, coins tend to show volatility on a regular basis and contracts are usually leveraged, so it’s not uncommon for a mass amount of liquidations to take place at once.

During the past day, Bitcoin and other assets have seen some sharp price action and once again, liquidations have piled up on derivatives exchanges. Below is a table that shows the numbers related to this liquidation event.

In total, the crypto market has faced liquidations of nearly $268 million in the last 24 hours. Out of these, $188.5 million of the contracts involved have been bullish bets.

Long contracts being disproportionately affected by the event is naturally down to the fact that prices have overall moved down inside the window. Bitcoin has slipped under $66,000, while Ethereum is edging toward $1,900.

In terms of the contribution to the event by individual symbols, ETH has beaten BTC to the top spot this time around, as the below heatmap showcases.

Usually, Bitcoin racks up the highest amount of liquidations in the sector. Though, while behind this time, BTC with contracts amounting to $86 million is still almost level with ETH’s $88 million figure. Ethereum being ahead of the original cryptocurrency may be down to the fact that its price has seen a swing of a larger percentage over the past day.

In some other news, the Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are looking to end the week with net inflows, as data from SoSoValue shows.

During the last five weeks, the Bitcoin spot ETFs saw consecutive net outflows. It would appear, though, that the streak could break with the current week. So far, this week has seen net inflows of almost $815 million into the US funds.

BTC Price

Bitcoin is down to the $65,600 mark following its drop of 3% during the past day.

Бывший генеральный директор обанкротившейся биржи MtGox Марк Карпелес (Mark Karpelès) предложил внести разовое изменение в правила консенсуса сети Биткоина, которое позволило бы вернуть около 80 000 BTC, похищенных с площадки в 2011 году.

Minnesota lawmakers are weighing a proposal that would prohibit Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrency kiosks across the state, as concerns mount over the role the machines play in financial scams.

According to a CBS report, members of the Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee took up the issue Thursday after DFL Rep. Erin Koegel, the committee’s co-chair, introduced House File 3642. The legislation would ban crypto kiosks commonly referred to as Bitcoin ATMs.

Crypto ATMs As ‘Effective Tools’ For Scammers

The proposal was formally presented and debated with input from lawmakers and law enforcement officials. Representatives from both sides of the aisle indicated they share concerns about the growing number of scams linked to the machines and expressed interest in curbing their use.

Koegel said authorities have repeatedly warned that the kiosks are being exploited to target vulnerable residents. “We have heard from our law enforcement officials that they are a prime target who are looking to take advantage of our loved ones,” she said.

Local investigators echoed those concerns. Detective Lynn Lawrence of the Woodbury Public Safety Department told lawmakers that scammers routinely rely on crypto kiosks to move stolen funds. “These machines remain one of the most effective tools that scammers are continuing to use to steal money,” Lawrence said.

Sgt. Jake Lanz of the St. Cloud Police Department described a recent case in which an elderly woman was manipulated into handing over $80,000 through such a machine. He noted that older residents are frequently targeted. 

“It’s definitely a target of our aging population,” Lanz said, adding that these investigations are especially challenging because once funds are deposited into a crypto ATM, they are often transferred rapidly and routed overseas, making recovery difficult.

 CoinFlip Urges Balanced Rules

The Minnesota Department of Commerce has also voiced support for the measure. Sam Smith, speaking on behalf of the department, said officials back HF 3642 and plan to introduce a broader consumer protection package in the coming days that would include the proposed ban. 

“The department strongly supports HF 3642. In the coming days, the department will also present a broader protection proposal that includes this ban,” Smith said.

Not everyone in the industry agrees with eliminating the machines. In a statement provided to WCCO, a spokesperson for CoinFlip defended the role of crypto kiosks in the financial system. 

The company argued that, much like traditional banks operate physical branches and ATMs, cryptocurrency also requires a physical access point to serve consumers who want to participate in the digital economy. 

The spokesperson described kiosks as a practical bridge between physical cash and digital assets, using a familiar interface that allows hundreds of thousands of people worldwide to engage with cryptocurrencies.

CoinFlip said it takes consumer protection seriously and maintains high standards for compliance and transparency. The company pointed to its public support of Minnesota’s existing regulatory framework and said it favors clear rules and disclosures applied consistently across the industry. 

The spokesperson added that CoinFlip is prepared to work with state lawmakers and other stakeholders to strengthen protections against bad actors while preserving residents’ ability to purchase cryptocurrency in the manner they prefer.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Руководитель по развитию продукта хранения цифровых активов в Citibank Ниша Сурендран (Nisha Surendran) представила инициативу на Всемирном стратегическом форуме, назвав ее шагом к тому, чтобы «сделать биткоин банковским активом».

Сотрудники налоговой службы Южной Кореи случайно опубликовали сид-фразу конфискованного криптокошелька. В результате неизвестные вывели с него 4 млн токенов PRTG на сумму $4,8 млн.

US Federal authorities announced Thursday that more than $580 million in crypto tied to Chinese transnational criminal organizations has been seized or frozen as part of an aggressive crackdown on large-scale investment and confidence scams targeting Americans.

The action was carried out by the D.C. Scam Center Strike Force, a joint initiative involving the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 

DOJ, FBI Dismantle Major Crypto Fraud Pipeline 

According to a statement released by the DOJ, the digital assets were allegedly stolen by Chinese transnational criminal organizations that operate sophisticated crypto investment fraud schemes and other confidence scams designed to drain victims of their life savings.

Prosecutors said these criminal networks rely heavily on US-based internet services and social media platforms to identify and contact victims. Recent estimates suggest that the broader scam industry is siphoning nearly $10 billion each year from Americans.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the strike force was formed in November specifically to coordinate efforts against these operations. In just three months, she said, authorities have made substantial progress. 

“Freezing, seizing, and forfeiting cryptocurrency worth more than $578 million from these criminals” represents a major step forward, Pirro stated. She emphasized that the organizations behind the schemes are motivated solely by profit and are willing to exploit anyone. 

“These criminals don’t care who you are, what you believe in, or what you ate for breakfast — all they want is to steal from good and honest Americans to line the pockets of Chinese organized crime,” she said.

Pirro added that recovering crypto is only one element of the broader strategy. Her office intends to pursue forfeiture proceedings through the courts in an effort to return as much of the recovered funds to victims as possible. 

Addressing those who have been defrauded, she said authorities are committed to fighting to reclaim stolen savings from what she described as Chinese organized crime groups.

How Overseas Fraud Networks Trap American Victims

The strike force is focusing much of its attention on large scam compounds operating in Southeast Asia. Investigators say Chinese criminal networks run many of the most notorious facilities, often located in countries such as Burma, Cambodia and Laos. 

Teams are working to identify and pursue senior figures within these organizations, including affiliates of Chinese organized crime groups believed to be directing operations from within those countries.

Many of the scams fall under the category of Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud, commonly referred to by fraudsters as “pig butchering.” The term reflects the method used: perpetrators spend weeks or months building relationships with victims — “fattening” them up — before persuading them to invest increasing sums of money. 

Victims are typically encouraged to buy legitimate cryptocurrency through established platforms. Once trust is secured, they are directed to transfer their holdings into fraudulent investment websites or mobile applications controlled by the scammers.

Law enforcement officials say these schemes frequently begin with unsolicited messages on social media or text messages sent to US-based phone numbers. 

After initiating contact, scammers cultivate personal relationships and present fabricated investment opportunities promising high returns. By the time victims realize the platforms are fake, their funds have already been moved beyond reach.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Binance expanded its product suite on January 5 with the launch of gold futures trading, offering users 24/7 access to price exposure on the precious metal. The move reflects a broader trend within digital asset platforms: the convergence of traditional macro assets and crypto-native infrastructure. By introducing round-the-clock gold derivatives, Binance is positioning itself at the intersection of commodities and digital trading liquidity, enabling participants to hedge, speculate, or diversify without relying on legacy market hours.

According to analysis shared by top analyst Darkfost, the timing is not coincidental. Since the beginning of 2024, gold has delivered an exceptional performance, rising nearly 160%. This sustained rally has reinforced gold’s role as a macro hedge amid inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions, and shifting monetary expectations. As capital increasingly rotates toward hard assets, demand for flexible trading vehicles has intensified.

The strong price momentum has naturally encouraged the development of gold-linked derivatives within crypto markets. For exchanges, this represents both a diversification strategy and a response to evolving trader preferences. For market participants, it offers continuous access to a traditionally time-restricted asset class.

Gold Volumes Surge As Crypto Traders Seek Macro Exposure

The rapid adoption of Binance’s gold futures product reveals more than opportunistic speculation — it reflects structural demand for macro exposure within crypto-native infrastructure. Reaching nearly $35 billion in cumulative trading volume, with over $4 billion recorded on the most active day, indicates that this is not a niche experiment but a product resonating with significant liquidity.

A weekly average of $4.7 billion in volume further confirms sustained participation rather than a short-lived launch spike. Importantly, trading activity accelerated sharply after gold experienced a rapid two-day correction exceeding 20%. That reaction suggests traders are not merely passively holding exposure; they are actively managing volatility, using crypto rails to access macro hedges in real time.

This behavior highlights a broader shift: crypto investors increasingly treat exchanges as multi-asset platforms rather than purely digital token venues. The ability to trade gold derivatives continuously, without the constraints of traditional market hours, creates tactical flexibility that legacy markets cannot match.

For Binance, the strategic implication is clear. By integrating late-cycle macro assets like gold into its derivatives ecosystem, the exchange reinforces its position as a cross-market liquidity hub. It is not simply listing products — it is structuring access to global risk themes through crypto-native infrastructure.

BNB Holds Macro Structure As Binance Expands Market Reach

BNB remains technically constructive on the weekly timeframe despite recent volatility. After rallying toward the $1,300 region, price corrected sharply but is now stabilizing near the $600–$650 zone. Importantly, BNB continues to trade above its 200-week moving average, which remains upward sloping — a signal that the broader macro structure is still intact.

While the 50-week average has flattened and short-term momentum has cooled, the asset has not broken down into a lower macro range. The recent pullback appears corrective rather than structurally destructive. Volume expanded during the selloff phase, reflecting de-risking across the broader crypto market, but has since moderated as price consolidates.

From a structural standpoint, BNB’s resilience is closely tied to Binance’s dominant market position. The exchange continues to lead global spot and derivatives liquidity, and the recent success of its gold futures product — generating tens of billions in volume — reinforces its role as a cross-asset liquidity hub. As Binance expands beyond crypto-native products into macro-linked derivatives, it strengthens the utility layer supporting BNB.

BNB’s long-term trajectory remains correlated with Binance’s ecosystem growth. If the platform continues capturing multi-asset volume — including gold — structural demand for BNB could remain supported despite broader market turbulence.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com