Из жизни альткоинов

Президент Euro Pacific Capital, экономист Питер Шифф (Peter Schiff) посоветовал инвесторам побыстрее избавиться от биткоинов, так как первую криптовалюту ждет резкое падение.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse used a Feb. 18 appearance on Fox to argue that US crypto policy is nearing a turning point, predicting the long-stalled CLARITY Act will pass by the end of April and framing regulatory certainty as a direct catalyst for broader industry growth, including for XRP, which he emphasized has already cleared a key legal hurdle.

Why Ripple CEO Garlinghouse Is Bullish

Garlinghouse pointed to shifting Washington momentum and said prediction markets have moved in favor of passage. “The CLARITY Act spiked because of comments yesterday, from [a] senator […] I think now 90% will pass by the end of April,” he said. “I said a couple weeks ago I thought at the end of April […] people talked about [being] optimistic.”

He added that the White House is now actively pressing stakeholders, describing a meeting “today with a lot of leaders on both sides (crypto and banking) in the White House, […] [with] the White House pushing hard.”

Pressed on Ripple’s position, Garlinghouse argued the bill’s flaws are less important than ending what he cast as a policy vacuum that has pushed the sector into enforcement battles. “Our position [is] very much, don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress,” he said. “No bill is perfect […] we need clarity.”

He contrasted Ripple’s posture with the broader industry’s situation by referencing the company’s long-running US legal fight. “Ripple has been fortunate — sued by [the] government — a judge […] say[ing] XRP is not a security. We have clarity,” Garlinghouse said, before reiterating the point in starker terms when asked directly: “Not a security. Courts ruled clearly.”

In his telling, the CLARITY Act is meant to keep crypto from being forced into a securities regime that doesn’t map cleanly onto how many networks and tokens function. “If something is a security, all kinds of obligations because […] you own part of the company,” he said, contrasting that with crypto tokens where holders typically don’t receive dividends or governance rights analogous to electing a board. He also claimed the prior administration’s approach “failed in courts,” arguing that a modern framework is required for the US to compete.

Ripple’ Strategy And XRP

The interview also touched on the sector’s pullback from highs. Garlinghouse tied some of that weakness to policy delays. He said the CLARITY Act getting “pushed [and] stalled, late January […] did not help,” while arguing Ripple entered 2026 with strong momentum after what he called “a tremendous year in 2025.”

On relative performance, he claimed XRP has held up better than other majors. “To your point, crypto markets, XRP best performing major crypto, down 20%,” he said, while noting other assets were down materially more from peaks.

He framed Ripple’s strategy as proving demand through enterprise use cases rather than retail narratives: “The more we demonstrate real practical utility using technologies to solve real problems, [the] more you see that play out in a positive way.”

Garlinghouse cited Ripple’s M&A push as part of a broader effort to build infrastructure that appeals to corporate finance teams. He said Ripple has spent “three billion dollars [on] acquisitions since 2023,” including expanding into “custody, prime [brokerage], treasury management, stablecoin [and] payment” capabilities.

He highlighted the treasury-management firm it acquired, saying it “processed 13 trillion dollars payments last year,” and emphasizing how early institutional stablecoin adoption still is: “Crypto-enabled, zero of those were stablecoin enabled.”

For now, he suggested dealmaking is taking a back seat to integration. “We bought two big companies last year […] the first half of this year [is] very much on let’s pause […] integrate,” he said, adding: “For time being, we’re going to slow down, before we speed up.”

Garlinghouse also argued the CLARITY fight is no longer “crypto versus banks,” pointing to big incumbents wanting a rulebook. He said the “vast majority of the crypto industry” is prepared to accept imperfect language, including around customer rewards, because it would be “a major step forward.” He added that banks are now leaning in as well, citing Goldman Sachs leadership as wanting “the same level playing field” to compete as traditional finance moves deeper into crypto.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.4196.

CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, announced Thursday that it will introduce nearly round‑the‑clock trading for its cryptocurrency derivatives, with the new schedule set to begin on May 29, pending regulatory approval.

The exchange announced that its crypto futures and options will transition to continuous trading on the CME Globex platform, providing broader access beyond the traditional weekly schedule. While the platform will operate on an almost 24/7 basis, it will still include a minimum two‑hour maintenance break each weekend.

‘All‑Time High’ Demand For Crypto Risk Tools

Under the updated framework, trades executed between Friday evening and Sunday evening will be assigned a trade date of the next business day. CME added that clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting for those transactions will also be processed on the following business day.

According to the firm’s press release, the decision reflects the surging demand for cryptocurrency risk management tools amid falling cryptocurrency prices, including a 50% drop in Bitcoin’s value in just four months. 

Notably, Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Equities, FX, and Alternative Products, said client appetite for digital asset exposure has reached unprecedented levels. 

In 2025 alone, the exchange recorded $3 trillion in notional trading volume across its cryptocurrency futures and options suite, a record for the platform.

“Client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all-time high,” McCourt said, noting that continuous access to regulated crypto derivatives will allow traders to manage exposure whenever market conditions shift. 

While he acknowledged that not every asset class is suited for nonstop trading, he emphasized that always‑on access to transparent and regulated cryptocurrency products will enable clients to trade with greater flexibility and confidence.

Futures Lead 47% Jump In CME Group Digital Asset Activity

CME Group’s crypto complex has continued to expand in 2026. The exchange reported average daily volume of 407,200 contracts so far this year, marking a 46% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Average daily open interest reached 335,400 contracts, up 7% year over year (YoY). 

Futures activity on the platform has been particularly strong, with the average daily volume climbing 47% from a year earlier.

Although CME Group has confirmed May 29 as its target launch date, the exchange noted that the extended trading schedule remains subject to regulatory review and final approval. 

If cleared, the move would mark a significant step in aligning regulated crypto derivatives trading more closely with the around‑the‑clock nature of underlying digital asset markets.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Федеральная налоговая служба России (ФНС) сообщила, что с начала действия закона о контроле за добычей криптовалют свою деятельность легализовали свыше пяти тысяч майнеров. В феврале 2025 года это число едва превысило шестьсот.

Торговля криптовалютами на подконтрольных государству площадках может начаться уже в этом году, сообщила директор департамента стратегического развития финансового рынка Банка России Екатерина Лозгачева.

A hacker has returned 320 Bitcoin (BTC) stolen from South Korean prosecutors throughout a phishing scam last year. As authorities face backlash over repeated incidents, officers have pledged to continue the investigation to uncover the full details and strengthen their custody practices.

Stolen Bitcoin Returned To Gwangju Prosecutors

On Thursday, the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office announced it recovered 320.8 Bitcoin lost in August to a phishing attack after the malicious actors willingly sent back the assets earlier this week.

Local news outlet Digital Asset reported on Tuesday that the on-chain data showed the lost BTC, worth $21 million, had been transferred to a wallet managed by South Korean authorities. The assets were seemingly moved through multiple addresses before being transferred to a domestic crypto exchange wallet.

As reported by Bitcoinist, South Korean prosecutors faced backlash last month after discovering that a large stash of seized BTC had gone missing months ago. Authorities reportedly learnt of the loss during a routine check of seized financial assets held as criminal evidence.

After an internal review, prosecutors found that the crypto assets were lost to a scam in August during the handling of the sized assets. Reportedly, malicious actors drained the wallets after investigators mistakenly accessed a phishing website.

Notably, the lost Bitcoin was originally seized during a 2021 investigation into an illegal gambling website. Prosecutors launched an investigation after discovering the incident. They also took measures to recover the assets, including blocking transactions from the perpetrator’s address to domestic exchanges and sending cooperation requests to overseas exchanges.

According to the report, authorities believe that these measures exerted pressure on the hackers, ultimately pushing them to return the funds. Meanwhile, prosecutors are currently continuing to track down the malicious actors while also conducting related investigations and inspections.

“(Regardless of the recovery of the Bitcoin), we will do our utmost to apprehend the perpetrators in the future,” The Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office stated. “We plan to continue conducting a rigorous investigation to clearly uncover the full details of the case.”

Authorities Slammed Over Repeated Incidents

The Gwangju incident has led to a nationwide review of law enforcement’s handling of virtual assets. The review has revealed another security breach at the Seoul Gangnam Police Station.

Last Friday, the Gangnam station announced it had lost 22 BTC that were voluntarily submitted to authorities during an investigation in November 2021. According to local reports, the leak had not been detected until now, since the investigation into that case had been suspended.

The inspection revealed that the cold wallet storing the Bitcoin was not stolen, but the assets stored inside “had vanished without a trace.” As a response, the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency launched a full-scale internal investigation to determine the details of the leak and whether any internal personnel were involved.

The incidents have raised concerns about South Korea’s Bitcoin custody practices, just as the country prepares for the Second Phase of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which is expected to serve as a comprehensive framework for the entire industry.

Financial authorities are also conducting an inspection of local exchanges’ internal controls following the “ghost Bitcoin” incident at Bithumb. Earlier this month, the crypto exchange accidentally distributed 620,000 BTC, worth over $40 billion, to 249 users due to an employee’s mistake.

Bithumb’s system failed to block the transaction and distributed assets that did not actually exist, distorting market prices. Lawmakers highlighted that the incident exposed “structural vulnerabilities” in the sector that must be addressed in the upcoming legislation.

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced last month that it is studying a proposal for prosecution measures against suspects of crypto asset price manipulation. Some officials argue it’s necessary “to complement the current Virtual Asset User Protection Act by implementing measures for the confiscation of criminal proceeds or the preservation of recovery funds in advance.”

Россиянам будут грозить штрафы за использование иностранных криптобирж и обменников, а сами зарубежные криптоплощадки смогут работать в России только если откроют здесь свои дочерние структуры, заявила директор департамента стратегического развития финансового рынка Банка России Екатерина Лозгачева.

Bitcoin on-chain data shows both the Daily Active Addresses and Network Growth indicators have seen sharp drops compared to five years ago.

Wallet-Related Bitcoin Metrics Have Declined In Recent Years

As highlighted by on-chain analytics firm Santiment in an X post, there is a staggering difference between the level of activity on the Bitcoin network today and February 2021.

There are several on-chain metrics that can be used to gauge blockchain activity, but two in particular are of focus here: the Daily Active Addresses and Network Growth.

The first of these measures the total number of BTC addresses that are coming online every day. A wallet is said to come ‘online’ when it participates in some kind of transaction activity on the network. Thus, the Daily Active Addresses essentially tracks the unique daily count of addresses making at least one transfer on the network.

The other indicator, the Network Growth, tells us about the amount of addresses that are coming online on the blockchain for the first time. In other words, it tracks the amount of new addresses joining the network every day.

Now, here is the chart shared by Santiment that shows the trend in the Daily Active Addresses and Network Growth for Bitcoin over the last several years:

As displayed in the above graph, both the Bitcoin Daily Active Addresses and Network Growth witnessed a significant drop at the start of 2024. The former made some recovery as the cryptocurrency observed its bull rally in the second half of the year, but the latter still remained at relatively low levels despite a jump.

In 2025, both indicators again slumped and took to sideways movement, despite the fact that Bitcoin explored fresh highs. Santiment noted that “there was a clear bearish divergence that had been forming throughout 2025 as market caps continued to hit new heights while Bitcoin’s utility declined.”

During the recent market downturn, the indicators have gone a notch lower. Currently, there are 650,000 unique addresses interacting on the blockchain per day, which is down 42% compared to February 2021, five years ago. Similarly, the Network Growth is sitting at a value of 291,000, reflecting a 47% drop for the same window.

So, what does the sharp drop in activity mean for Bitcoin? According to the analytics firm, it doesn’t imply that “crypto is dead” or that the digital asset is entering a multi-year bear market. That said, the return of bullish winds could still depend on the trend in the network metrics. As Santiment explained:

A justification for crypto beginning to see a true long-term relief rally will be when metrics like active addresses and network growth begin to rise.

BTC Price

Bitcoin continues to move sideways as its price trades around the $66,400 level.

SG-FORGE, криптовалютное подразделение французского банковского холдинга Société Générale, запустило привязанный к евро стейблкоин EUR CoinVertible (EURCV) на блокчейне XRP Ledger американской компании Ripple.

As momentum in Washington around the proposed CLARITY Act slows, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins outlined how the agency intends to proceed with crypto regulation, despite congressional delays, at a public appearance this Wednesday at ETH Denver. 

Speaking alongside Commissioner Hester Peirce, a longtime advocate for clearer crypto rules, Atkins signaled that the regulator is preparing a broad regulatory push in the months ahead.

SEC Details 2026 Crypto Agenda

Responding to a question about what the industry can expect this year, Atkins said the SEC will continue coordinating with lawmakers while advancing its own agenda through “Project Crypto,” an initiative that is now being jointly carried out with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). 

Atkins said the Commission and staff are preparing several initiatives for consideration in the near term. Among them is a formal framework explaining how the SEC determines when a crypto asset involves an investment contract, including how such a contract is created and under what circumstances it may cease to exist. 

He also previewed an “innovation exemption” designed to allow limited trading of certain tokenized securities on new types of platforms, with the broader goal of shaping a durable regulatory structure over time.

The agency is also developing a rule proposal intended to create what Atkins called “common-sense” avenues for raising capital through crypto asset sales. 

In addition, the SEC plans to issue no-action letters and exemptive orders to provide greater certainty to market participants, including guidance for digital wallets and other user interfaces that may not fall under registration requirements of the Securities Exchange Act.

Custody rules are another priority. Atkins said the SEC is working on rulemaking related to how broker-dealers may safeguard non-security crypto assets, including payment stablecoins. 

The Commission is also preparing updates to transfer agent regulations to reflect the growing role blockchain technology can play in maintaining ownership records. 

Clear Rules Over Panic

The SEC chair also addressed recent declines in crypto prices, pushing back against the idea that regulators should respond to market downturns. He emphasized that it is not the role of the Commission to react to daily price movements. 

Instead, he said, the agency’s responsibility is to ensure investors receive adequate disclosures so they can make informed decisions. Markets, he noted, fluctuate across asset classes, whether stocks, commodities, or digital assets. 

Regulators, in his view, should focus on maintaining clear and functional rules that allow investors to decide for themselves whether to buy, sell, or hold.

Lastly, Atkins reiterated that the Commission must continue clarifying how tokenized securities fit within the existing regulatory framework and how intermediaries can trade and custody them for clients. 

He stressed that progress will require collaboration and welcomed input from across the spectrum, including critics of the crypto industry.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Крупные держатели биткоина изменили свою стратегию: после примерно шести месяцев распределения и продаж они вновь перешли к накоплению, заявил аналитик ончейн-платформы CryptoQuant Бурак Кешмечи (Burak Kesmeci).

Старший аналитик Bloomberg Intelligence Майк МакГлоун (Mike McGlone) скорректировал свой пост в соцсети X с прогнозом цены биткоина после критики со стороны участников рынка. Теперь он допускает снижение первой криптовалюты минимум до $28 000 вместо первоначально указанного уровня $10 000.

Разработчик Bitcoin Core Мэтт Каралло (Matt Corallo) заявил в подкасте Unchained, что причина вялого роста первой криптовалюты вовсе не в гипотетической угрозе квантовых компьютеров, способных взломать блокчейн Биткоина — сообщество лишь ищет «козла отпущения», на которого можно свалить падение BTC.

Bitcoin is struggling to push decisively above the $69,000 level as persistent selling pressure and rising market anxiety continue to weigh on sentiment. After several failed breakout attempts, price action reflects a cautious environment in which traders remain hesitant to commit fresh capital. Volatility has increased alongside deteriorating confidence, reinforcing the perception that the market is still navigating a corrective phase rather than entering a sustained recovery.

A recent report from analyst Darkfost provides additional context through on-chain data, particularly the Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) heatmap. This indicator measures the number of holding days accumulated by each Bitcoin before it is spent, offering insight into the behavior of long-term holders. When visualized as a heatmap, CDD highlights periods when older coins move, allowing analysts to quickly assess shifts in conviction among historically resilient investors.

Compared with previous cycles, the current market phase appears notable for the elevated activity of long-term holders. The data suggests that this cohort has been more active than in past cycles, potentially contributing to supply dynamics that influence price stability. Whether this reflects strategic redistribution, profit-taking, or broader market repositioning remains a key question for investors monitoring Bitcoin’s next directional move.

Long-Term Holder Activity Adds Complexity To Bitcoin’s Market Signals

According to Darkfost, elevated long-term holder activity has historically intensified near market tops, suggesting that distribution from this cohort has often contributed to the formation of local peaks. When older coins begin moving after extended dormancy, it frequently reflects profit-taking or portfolio rebalancing, both of which can increase available supply and weigh on short-term price stability. In prior cycles, similar spikes in Coin Days Destroyed coincided with phases of overheated sentiment and subsequent corrective moves.

However, interpreting this cycle requires additional nuance. Not all increases in long-term holder activity necessarily signal outright selling pressure. Some of the recent CDD spikes appear linked to operational factors rather than directional positioning. Large entities, including Coinbase and Fidelity Investments, have conducted UTXO consolidation transactions, which can artificially inflate activity metrics without representing net supply entering the market.

Technical changes within the Bitcoin ecosystem have also played a role. The growth of Ordinals and inscription-related activity has encouraged some long-standing holders to migrate funds from legacy addresses toward SegWit or Taproot formats, generating on-chain activity that may distort traditional behavioral signals.

At the same time, deeper institutional liquidity has made it easier for long-term holders to distribute positions gradually, potentially smoothing market impact compared with previous cycles.

Bitcoin Faces Key Technical Test Below Major Moving Averages

Bitcoin’s weekly price structure continues to reflect sustained selling pressure, with the asset struggling to stabilize after losing the $70,000 psychological threshold. The chart shows a decisive breakdown from the late-2025 highs near the $120,000 region, followed by a sequence of lower highs and lower lows that typically characterize a corrective market phase rather than simple consolidation.

Price is now trading below the shorter-term moving average, which has rolled over and is beginning to act as dynamic resistance. The intermediate trend average is also flattening, suggesting weakening bullish momentum, while the longer-term average remains upward sloping but distant from current price levels. This configuration often appears during transitional phases where the market shifts from expansion toward redistribution.

Volume patterns reinforce the defensive tone. Recent selloffs have been accompanied by elevated trading activity, indicating active distribution rather than passive drift lower. However, participation has moderated slightly following the most recent drop, which may hint at temporary seller exhaustion.

From a technical standpoint, the $65,000–$68,000 region represents immediate support. Failure to hold this zone could expose deeper retracement levels closer to long-term trend support, while a sustained reclaim of $70,000 would be required to stabilize sentiment and reopen the path toward recovery.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Сервис Google Trends зафиксировал резкий рост поисковых запросов по фразе «биткоин упадет до нуля». Показатель достиг отметки 100 пунктов, что соответствует максимальному уровню интереса пользователей.

Президент Федерального резервного банка (ФРБ) Миннеаполиса Нил Кашкари (Neel Kashkari) усомнился в фундаментальной ценности криптовалют, назвав их «словесной окрошкой» — технологией с привлекательным маркетингом, но без реальной практической пользы.

Markets are tilting back toward the oldest cryptocurrency. Prices have found a busy band between $65,000 and $72,000. Trading in that range has become a focal point for big players and long holders. Some traders are piling in. Others are stepping aside.

Trading Volume Rotation

According to exchange figures, Bitcoin’s share of trades has climbed while many altcoins have lost ground. Reports say Bitcoin made up close to 37% of total trading on a recent snapshot, with a chunk of the market now shifting away from smaller tokens.

Ethereum still holds a large piece at roughly 28%, but the combined altcoin share has fallen sharply from late last year, down from roughly 59% to levels near 35%. That drop looks large on the charts. It shows money moving back to the most familiar asset.

Altcoin Volumes Shrink by 50% as Capital Rotates Back to Bitcoin

“This pattern has appeared repeatedly during previous corrective phases, including April 2025, August 2024, and October 2022 near the end of the bear market.” – By @Darkfost_Coc

Link https://t.co/B0ZFeiMukl pic.twitter.com/jVRTOkaTic

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) February 18, 2026

The Price Band That Draws Attention

Large orders and institutional flow have gravitated to the mentioned price band. Whales and long-term holders are active there; accumulation and sales are both visible. Some of the activity appears to be profit-taking after strong runs.

Some moves are defensive, as traders favor the perceived safety of the oldest coin when the broader market feels uncertain. Liquidity concentrates where market participants expect it. When that happens, price swings can be sharper on one side than the other.

What Market Caps And Dominance Reveal

Reports note Bitcoin’s market cap has slipped from near $1.55 trillion to about $1.34 trillion over recent weeks, while many altcoins saw much smaller declines in total market value.

The shift in volume does not always match market cap changes, but it is meaningful: more trading in Bitcoin means more attention and faster price discovery for that asset.

Dominance readings have edged down slightly over a short window, yet Bitcoin remains the most traded token on major platforms. Historical patterns show capital rotating into Bitcoin during corrections, and this cycle fits that mold.

Why Traders Are Watching

Some traders expect stability to return if Bitcoin holds its current range. Others warn that heavy concentration of orders can produce sudden pressure when sentiment flips.

The movement out of altcoins may create missed opportunities for selective buyers, but it also compresses risk for those who prefer a single market leader. Market watchers will be watching volume flows and order books closely over the next sessions.

Bitcoin Reclaims The Spotlight

Based on reports, Bitcoin has reasserted itself as the main focus of crypto trading for now. Short-term behavior will depend on whether buyers in the $65,000–$72,000 zone keep adding or whether selling pressure builds and forces a wider move.

Either way, the rotation away from many altcoins is clear, and traders are recalibrating where they place their bets.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Глава департамента инфраструктуры финансового рынка Банка России Кирилл Пронин заявил, что хранением и управлением криптовалютами смогут заниматься компании без лицензии регулятора.

Федеральная налоговая служба России (ФНС) подала в Арбитражный суд Бурятии заявление о банкротстве майнинговой компании «Битривер-Б», входящей в состав крупнейшего майнера BitRiver.

Председатель Комиссии по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC) Пол Аткинс (Paul Atkins) заявил, что краткосрочные падения крипторынка не должны становиться поводом для ужесточения регулирования. Он отметил, что ведомство сосредоточится на разработке четких правил для отрасли.