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The crypto market continues to struggle with recovery as sustained capital outflows and persistent selling pressure weigh on sentiment. After months of volatility and declining liquidity, attempts to stabilize prices have repeatedly faced resistance, leaving investors cautious and positioning defensively. While corrective phases are common following strong rallies, recent price action reflects a more prolonged adjustment period, with both retail and institutional participants reassessing exposure amid uncertain macro and market conditions.

However, recent on-chain analysis from CryptoQuant highlights a potentially important shift in investor behavior within specific segments of the market. Data focused on Compound (COMP) activity on Binance shows a pronounced change in exchange flows. The weekly Netflow chart has turned sharply negative, indicating that significant amounts of COMP are being withdrawn from the exchange rather than deposited.

Such movements are often interpreted as a reduction in immediate selling intent, as assets transferred off exchanges typically move toward long-term storage, DeFi deployment, or strategic repositioning. While this development does not necessarily signal an imminent market reversal, it suggests evolving sentiment beneath the broader market weakness.

Record COMP Outflows Suggest Accumulation Trend

The CryptoQuant report adds further context by highlighting the scale of recent capital movements involving Compound (COMP). Over the past week, the Netflow indicator dropped to roughly -$1.8 million, marking the largest negative weekly reading since October. This sharp decline signals a substantial withdrawal of COMP from Binance, indicating a notable shift in crypto investor positioning. Large exchange outflows often reflect reduced immediate selling intent, particularly when they occur during periods of broader market uncertainty.

This development contrasts sharply with the situation observed in late October, when the Netflow chart recorded a strong positive spike driven by heavy inflows to Binance. Such crypto inflows typically precede elevated selling pressure as traders position assets on exchanges for potential liquidation. The current pattern, however, suggests the opposite dynamic. A significant outflow of approximately $1.8 million implies that holders may be opting for longer-term custody, whether through cold storage solutions or deployment within decentralized finance protocols.

From a structural standpoint, record exchange outflows can act as a supply-side constraint, reducing available liquidity for immediate sales. While not a definitive bullish signal on its own, this behavior often aligns with early accumulation phases. If sustained, it could support price stabilization or eventual recovery across segments of the broader crypto market.

Total Crypto Market Cap Faces Weakness After Failed Breakout

The Total Crypto Market Cap chart shows a clear transition from bullish expansion to corrective consolidation, with recent price action reflecting sustained selling pressure. After peaking above the $4 trillion mark in late 2025, the market has retraced sharply and now trades near the $2.3 trillion region, indicating a significant contraction in aggregate valuation across digital assets.

Technically, the structure suggests a failed breakout rather than a simple pullback. Price has decisively fallen below key moving averages, with shorter-term averages rolling over first, followed by broader trend indicators. This alignment typically reflects weakening momentum and reduced inflow of fresh capital. Volume behavior also supports this interpretation, as spikes during declines imply distribution rather than accumulation.

The current level near $2.3 trillion appears to function as an interim support zone, but it remains structurally vulnerable. Previous cycles show that once macro trend support breaks, markets often require prolonged consolidation before establishing a new base. The absence of sustained upward momentum suggests liquidity conditions remain constrained.

From a macro perspective, this environment points to a transitional phase rather than immediate recovery. Stabilization of capital inflows, improved sentiment, and confirmation of higher lows would be necessary before a durable bullish structure can realistically re-emerge.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Ethereum has remained locked in a consolidation phase below the $2,000 level since the sharp market decline seen in early February. Despite occasional rebound attempts, price action continues to reflect caution among traders, with volatility elevated and momentum limited. The inability to reclaim this psychological threshold has reinforced a defensive market posture, as investors weigh macro uncertainty, liquidity conditions, and broader crypto sentiment.

A recent CryptoQuant report provides additional context from an on-chain perspective. According to the analysis, the Ethereum Coinbase Premium Index has stayed predominantly in negative territory, signaling relatively weak demand from US-based investors. This metric compares spot prices on Coinbase with those on other major exchanges, offering insight into regional buying pressure. Persistent negative readings suggest that aggressive spot accumulation from US participants has been largely absent during the current corrective phase.

This pattern aligns with the broader technical structure visible on price charts, where rallies have struggled to gain follow-through. While consolidation does not necessarily imply further downside, sustained weakness in spot demand typically delays recovery phases, leaving Ethereum sensitive to shifts in liquidity, macro conditions, and investor confidence in the near term.

Coinbase Premium Rebound Signals Potential Shift In Demand

The report further notes that the Coinbase Premium Index has recently shown a noticeable upward rebound. Although the indicator remains below the neutral threshold, the strength of the move suggests that selling pressure from US-based investors may be starting to ease. This shift is relevant because the index reflects the difference between Ethereum spot prices on Coinbase and those on other major exchanges, making it a proxy for regional demand dynamics.

If the current upward momentum continues and the index moves into positive territory, turning green, it would indicate renewed spot buying interest from US market participants. Historically, sustained positive readings have often coincided with phases of stronger accumulation, which can help stabilize price action after periods of corrective pressure.

Such a development could become particularly significant if it aligns with a technical breakout from the triangle structure currently visible on the charts. In that scenario, improving on-chain demand and constructive price structure would reinforce each other. While this does not guarantee an immediate rally, the combination could increase the probability of a more durable recovery phase, especially if broader liquidity conditions and market sentiment also begin to improve.

Ethereum Holds After Sharp Breakdown

Ethereum remains under clear technical pressure after losing momentum below the $2,000 level, with the chart showing a sustained downtrend following the late-2025 peak near $4,800. Price action has shifted decisively bearish, marked by a sequence of lower highs and lower lows that confirms a broader corrective structure rather than a temporary pullback.

The recent breakdown accelerated once ETH lost confluence support around the 200-period moving average, triggering a sharp decline toward the $1,900–$2,000 zone. This area now functions as a fragile stabilization range rather than firm support. Trading volumes increased during the selloff, suggesting forced positioning adjustments rather than organic accumulation.

From a trend perspective, ETH continues to trade below all major moving averages, which remain downward sloping. This configuration typically reflects persistent macro weakness and limited buyer conviction. Any sustained recovery would likely require reclaiming the $2,400–$2,600 region, where previous support has turned into resistance.

Until that happens, market structure remains vulnerable. Continued consolidation near current levels could indicate base formation, but another rejection below $2,000 would increase the probability of a deeper retracement toward historical demand zones near the mid-$1,600 range.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Speculation around institutional XRP accumulation intensified after claims surfaced that SBI Holdings had acquired $10 billion worth of the digital asset. The narrative gained traction quickly, feeding bullish sentiment and reinforcing assumptions about deep corporate exposure to XRP. However, a direct clarification from the company’s leadership has now reframed the conversation, replacing viral figures with verifiable financial reality.

Where The $10 Billion XRP Claim Originated

The controversy began with social media commentary on X (formerly Twitter) by @Strivex_, linking SBI Holdings’ expanding crypto footprint—particularly its Singapore activity—to a presumed multi-billion-dollar XRP treasury. The claim suggested the Japanese financial giant was holding approximately $10 billion in the token on its balance sheet. This interpretation positioned SBI not just as a strategic partner within Ripple’s ecosystem but as one of the largest direct corporate holders of the asset.

CEO Yoshitaka Kitao moved swiftly to dismantle that narrative. Responding publicly, he clarified that the circulating figure misrepresented the firm’s exposure structure. SBI does not custody $10 billion worth of XRP tokens, nor does it maintain a treasury position of that scale in the cryptocurrency itself. Kitao emphasized that such a holding would introduce significant volatility risk, an exposure profile inconsistent with SBl’s balance-sheet management strategy.

Instead, the company’s financial linkage to XRP is indirect, operating through corporate ownership rather than token accumulation. This distinction is critical because equity exposure and digital asset custody carry fundamentally different risk, liquidity, and accounting implications. By correcting the misunderstanding, Kitao repositioned SBI’s involvement as strategic and institutional.

Indirect Exposure, Direct Influence

SBI Holdings’ actual stake sits in Ripple Labs, where it owns roughly 9% equity. This shareholding provides economic participation in Ripple’s enterprise growth, technology deployment, and institutional payment expansion – without requiring direct XRP token holdings. Based on private market estimates that place Ripple’s valuation above $50 billion, SBI’s stake translates to an implied value of approximately $4.5 billion. While substantial, this figure is less than half the viral $10 billion claim and reflects ownership in corporate infrastructure rather than cryptocurrency reserves.

Kitao has described this Ripple stake as a “hidden asset” within SBl’s broader valuation framework. The characterization signals that the market may not fully price in the upside tied to Ripple’s expansion, particularly as blockchain settlement and cross-border payment rails scale globally.

The partnership itself is longstanding, dating back to 2016, and extends beyond passive investment. SBI has actively supported Ripple’s institutional penetration across Asia. Its recent acquisition of a majority stake in Singapore-based exchange Coinhako illustrates this operational alignment, establishing a digital asset corridor between Japan and Southeast Asia. Further collaboration includes participation in Ripple’s $1 billion treasury initiative alongside Evernorth Holdings, designed to accelerate institutional XRP utilization.

Through these initiatives, SBI maintains exposure to XRP’s real-world deployment across liquidity provisioning, settlement infrastructure, and payment corridors – even without holding the token directly.

Businessman and TV personality Kevin O’Leary, known as “Mr. Wonderful” from Shark Tank, has won a $2.8 million judgment after a US federal court entered default against popular YouTuber Ben “BitBoy” Armstrong.

The ruling comes after Armstrong failed to respond to a defamation lawsuit related to false claims he made on social media, which accused O’Leary of involvement in a 2019 boating accident that resulted in fatalities.

Those claims were never proven in court, and reporters have noted the legal action focused on restoring reputation and seeking damages for harm caused by the statements.

Court Enters Default Judgment

The court award totals roughly $2.8 million in combined damages. That figure breaks down into about $78,000 for reputational injury, $750,000 for emotional distress, and $2,000,000 in punitive damages meant to punish the conduct.

#bitboy #Mrwonderful pic.twitter.com/mCUsuwESm6

— F Joe (@FJOE_CRYPTO) February 14, 2026

Judge Beth Bloom presided over the matter in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, which handled filings and issued the judgment. The ruling came after procedural steps that allow a plaintiff to obtain judgment when a defendant fails to respond.

Allegations And Timeline

Reports say the posts at the center of the case appeared in March of last year. They accused the businessman of being connected to lethal conduct and alleged a cover-up. O’Leary has never been charged in relation to that incident, and later court records showed related parties were cleared at trial.

The defamation suit alleged the statements crossed the line from opinion into false factual claims that damaged reputation and caused distress. Because Armstrong did not appear or meaningfully answer the complaint, the court treated the claims as conceded for purposes of final judgment.

Crypto Connection And Implications

Armstrong is a well-known personality in the world of cryptocurrency, operating the popular site BitBoy Crypto. His messages reach thousands of cryptocurrency fans and investors, which helped to spread the false claims.

Although the case itself is not related to cryptocurrency, it shows the legal danger that cryptocurrency influencers may face when posting unverified or defamatory information online. This decision may make other personalities in the cryptocurrency world more careful about what they post online.

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Ric Edelman says Bitcoin can reach $500,000 by the end of the decade and, unlike many headline-grabbing forecasts, he’s putting a simple allocation math behind it.

In a Feb. 15 interview with Altcoin Daily, the longtime financial adviser and founder of Edelman Financial (now managing roughly $330 billion, by his account) framed his target as the “conservative” case in a range of increasingly aggressive calls circulating in crypto. “I believe that Bitcoin can reach $500,000 by the end of the decade,” Edelman said. “And there are other predictions that are even more bold than mine… many are predicting a million. Others are predicting as much as two to 5 million in pricing.”

Why Edelman Calls $500,000 Bitcoin ‘Conservative’ By 2030

What he objects to, he said, is not optimism, it’s the lack of disclosed assumptions. “The problem I have with a lot of the predictions is that they are opaque. They haven’t explained why they believe what they’re saying,” Edelman said. “So I’ll be transparent and tell you how I get to 500,000 by 2030… this is not a straight line… it’s going to be very bumpy along the way.”

Edelman’s case rests on a broad-based shift in global portfolio construction, not a single catalyst. He argues Bitcoin still isn’t owned by the “average investor” worldwide but that adoption can expand through sovereign and institutional channels over time. He listed potential buyers across the capital stack: “government holdings, sovereign wealth funds and institutional holdings, endowments, pension funds, hedge funds, insurance companies, banks, brokerages, etc.”

From there, Edelman zooms out to the size of the global asset pool. He estimated the combined value of global stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, and cash at roughly $750 trillion. The key step is the portfolio slice: if diversified investors ultimately assign just 1% to Bitcoin, that implies about $7.5 trillion of inflows, which he says would translate into roughly $500,000 per coin when combined with Bitcoin’s existing value.

“It’s simple arithmetic,” Edelman said. “If you take the attitude… that everybody who owns a diversified portfolio ends up owning just 1% of their portfolio in Bitcoin — that’s inflows of $7.5 trillion… That plus the current value of Bitcoin translates to about $500,000 per coin. It’s really that simple.”

He added two reinforcing observations: that allocations are already happening, and that when they happen they may be larger than 1%. “We’re beginning to discover… more and more people are allocating,” he said. “And… they’re allocating closer to 5% of assets.”

While Edelman emphasized Bitcoin’s long-term adoption curve, he also argued the broader crypto stack matters, particularly Ethereum, which he tied to stablecoin growth. He called it “funny” that investors can be bearish on crypto prices while simultaneously bullish on stablecoins, given where much of that activity settles today.

“If you believe stablecoins are the winner, how can you not be a supporter of Ethereum? Because almost all the stablecoins are trading on Ethereum,” Edelman said. Pressed for a number, he suggested Ethereum could reach “between $4,000 and $10,000,” adding that a doubling would be “very easy to suggest” in his view.

At press time, BTC traded at $68,986.

Russia’s crypto scene is bigger than many realize, and regulators are sounding the alarm. Reports say daily crypto turnover inside the country may be around 50 billion rubles. That adds up fast — more than 10 trillion rubles a year by simple math — and officials say much of it moves beyond formal oversight.

Russia’s deputy finance minister, Ivan Chebeskov, raised the figure while speaking about the need for clearer rules. According to reports, he warned that millions of people are taking part, and that those flows are largely happening outside official systems.

That puts the state in a tight spot: clamp down and push activity further underground, or bring it under some kind of control and monitoring.

Regulators Move To Catch Up

The central bank’s tone has shifted. Once favoring a hard ban, the Central Bank of Russia now talks about licensing and limits.

On the same panel, Vladimir Chistyukhin, the first deputy chairman of Russia’s central bank, said lawmakers could take action during the spring session of the State Duma, which would give firms time to prepare for new rules.

The proposed approach aims to let ordinary people have small exposure while keeping bigger wagers in regulated hands.

Sanctions And The Push For Rules

Meanwhile, European Union officials have been worried about crypto being used to get around sanctions. Reports have disclosed that the EU is pushing for tougher limits on transactions tied to the country.

That pressure changes incentives. Some of the crypto use is likely about savings and protection from ruble swings. Some could be about moving value across borders.

Investor Limits And Traceability

A draft rule floated by regulators would cap what non-qualified buyers can hold each year. Reports note a proposed limit of 300,000 rubles for casual investors. At the same time, privacy coins would be excluded from the list of allowed assets.

Together, those steps show the goal is clear: allow participation, but keep tight limits and ensure transactions can be tracked. Requiring licenses also points to a push to shift activity away from shadow networks and into supervised, formal systems.

The Blind Spot: Annual Flows Escape Oversight

For now, the picture looks like a maze — billions in yearly crypto flows moving through channels the state does not fully see. The $129 billion estimate underscores how large and complex this market has become inside Russia.

Whether new rules can bring those funds into clearer view, or simply reroute them deeper into the shadows, will determine if authorities regain their footing or continue losing sight of one of the country’s fastest-growing financial arenas.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao pushed back on a viral claim that the Japanese financial group holds $10 billion worth of XRP, arguing instead that SBI’s more consequential exposure sits in its equity position in Ripple Labs, a stake he suggested the market may be underappreciating.

The exchange began after an X account described SBI as “a major partner of Ripple” and “holder of $10 billion in XRP,” tying the claim to SBI’s growing footprint in Asia through the acquisition of Coinhako, a regulated crypto platform based in Singapore. Kitao replied directly, disputing the framing and pointing to SBI’s ownership in Ripple rather than a headline XRP number.

“Not $10 bil. in XRP but around 9% of Ripple Lab. So our hidden asset could be much bigger,” Kitao wrote in a Feb. 15 post.

SBI CEO Dials Up Ripple Valuation Speculation

Kitao’s response effectively reframed the conversation from balance-sheet token inventory to private-market ownership. Rather than validate a specific XRP figure, he emphasized SBI’s stake in Ripple Labs, a detail that matters because equity value is ultimately a function of Ripple’s overall valuation, not the spot price of XRP.

In a separate post the same day, Kitao went further, explicitly tying his view to Ripple’s broader footprint. “When it comes to Ripple Lab’s total valuation which obviously include its ecosystem that Ripple has created, that would be enormous,” he wrote. “SBI owns more than 9 % of that much.”

Community member “BankXRP” amplified the implications by referencing recent reports that place Ripple’s valuation at “$50B+,” arguing that such a mark would put SBI’s 9% stake at “$4.5B+,” with “massive future upside as the CEO hints.”

While Kitao did not put a dollar figure on SBI’s stake, the 9% number sets a clean valuation yardstick. If SBI’s Ripple ownership were worth more than $10 billion, Ripple’s implied valuation would need to exceed roughly $111 billion, because $10 billion divided by 0.09 equals about $111.1 billion.

Put differently, at a $90 billion Ripple valuation, a 9% stake would be about $8.1 billion; at $50 billion, it would be about $4.5 billion. The threshold for “more than $10 billion” is therefore not a subtle rounding error, it requires a triple-digit billions valuation for Ripple.

Notably, SBI’s roughly 9% position appears to be the product of a long-running strategic relationship rather than a single headline trade: SBI’s own investor materials describe the Ripple relationship as having been “established” in September 2012, with the group later investing in Ripple in March 2016 and then deepening operational ties through the SBI Ripple Asia joint venture (SBI 60%, Ripple 40%) launched in May 2016.

SBI also participated as an investor in Ripple’s $200 million Series C financing announced in December 2019, a round that included SBI alongside other backers, one of the clearer public datapoints showing continued equity exposure as Ripple raised capital.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.46.

Figure Technology confirmed that some customer files were stolen after an employee was tricked, according to reports. The company says the intrusion happened when an internal account was used to download a limited batch of records. The breach did not stem from a flaw in its blockchain system, but from human error.

Reports say the stolen material was later posted online by a hacker collective that claimed responsibility. The group is said to have released about 2.5GB of data after alleging that ransom talks broke down. That public dump quickly drew attention across the crypto and fintech space.

Customer Names, Contact Details Among Items Exposed

Based on reports that reviewed samples of the leaked files, the exposed data includes full names, home addresses, dates of birth, and phone numbers. These are the kinds of details often used in identity fraud or targeted scams.

The exact number of affected customers has not been shared publicly. That missing figure leaves uncertainty about how large the fallout could be.

Security researchers warn that even when bank accounts or crypto wallets are untouched, personal data alone can create serious risk. Phishing calls, fake loan offers, and account takeover attempts often follow this type of leak.

Figure Hit By Social Engineering Attack

According to coverage of the incident, attackers used a social engineering method to gain access to an employee’s credentials or active session. Instead of breaking through code, they relied on deception. Once inside, files were downloaded through that employee’s access rights.

The company said it detected suspicious activity and moved to block it. Outside forensic specialists were brought in to review system logs and determine what was accessed. A broader internal review is also under way.

ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach on its leak site. The group has been linked to prior data exposures involving tech and finance firms. In this case, the data was made public after payment demands were reportedly rejected.

Figure said it will notify customers whose information was involved. Free credit monitoring services are being offered to those who receive formal notice. Impacted individuals are being advised to watch for unusual activity and unsolicited messages.

Funds And Core Services Secure

Reports note that lending operations and on-chain systems were not breached. The platform’s core financial infrastructure was not described as affected. Still, the exposure of personal records carries its own weight.

Financial companies remain frequent targets because they hold detailed customer files. A single employee account, if misused, can open a door wider than expected. That lesson has surfaced again here.

Regulators may seek further details in the coming weeks. Customers will be waiting for clearer numbers. The long-term cost, both financial and reputational, will depend on how widely the data spreads and how quickly protective steps are taken.

Featured image from Yahoo Finance, chart from TradingView

The Bitcoin bear market caught some parts of the crypto crowd by surprise, as several investors expected prices to recover at different stages of the correction. However, some sections of the market saw this corrective phase, using on-chain data as the basis of their prognosis.

One such group is the on-chain data analysts who called the emergence of the bear market based on the decline in apparent demand. Using this same model, a prominent market researcher has come forward with a potential catalyst for Bitcoin’s price recovery.

Bitcoin ETFs Kick Off 2026 With $1.8 Billion Outflows

In a recent post on the social media platform X, pseudonymous analyst Darkfost shared that spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) may play a huge role in the crypto market turnaround. According to market data, demand for crypto via exchange-traded funds has been weak so far in 2026.

This cautious stance from investors and “contraction in liquidity” has had a significant effect on the market, as prices keep tumbling to new lows every other week. Darkfost highlighted that early 2026 has looked more like a period of risk reduction on the spot Bitcoin ETF side, which has been largely driven by substantial capital inflows and strong speculative momentum.

Darkfost wrote in the X post:

Market participants appear to be reassessing their risk exposure in a more uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment. 

Unsurprisingly, recent on-chain data support the increasing apathy of investors towards the Bitcoin ETF market. According to data highlighted by Darkfost, the year 2026 is starting with around $1.8 billion in net outflows, which is in stark contrast to the strongly positive levels witnessed in 2024 and at the start of 2025.

Sustained capital inflows and a significant expansion in market liquidity characterized these periods. However, it is worth mentioning that 2025 ended on a more negative note, with ETF inflows declining from $27 billion to around $20 billion by year’s end.

Hence, this trend shows that the current weakness in demand seems more like a gradual decline than a sudden drop. In any case, this demand weakness has left the Bitcoin market unprotected and more vulnerable to selling pressure and short-term volatility.

Darkfost concluded that a sustained run of Bitcoin ETF inflows could be a “key catalyst” to restoring a stronger market structure and investor confidence. The signs, however, have not been encouraging so far, as the US-based BTC exchange-traded funds bled roughly $360 million in net outflows over the past week.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $70,600, reflecting an almost 2% jump in the past 24 hours.

US lawmakers on Friday stepped up pressure over a reported foreign stake in a crypto firm tied to US President Donald Trump, asking the Treasury’s foreign-investment watchdog to explain whether the deal threatens national security or should be reviewed.

Trump And The $500 Million Deal

Reports say an Abu Dhabi-linked vehicle paid about $500 million for roughly 49% stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI). That investment is said to have put a foreign investor in line to be the largest outside shareholder and to win board seats.

Based on reports, critics worry about what access a large shareholder could have to customer data, system controls, or strategic decision-making at a company that handles stablecoins and user wallets.

Sheikh Named As A Backer

Accounts point to an investment vehicle tied to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Reports say the deal closed in January 2025, a timing that has drawn extra attention from legislators, given its proximity to the transition in Washington.

Some money from the transaction reportedly flowed to entities linked to the company’s founders and affiliates. That detail has raised questions about disclosure and whether any rules governing foreign deals were followed.

Lawmakers Want Answers

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and New Jersey Senator Andy Kim have written to Scott Bessent asking whether the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US — CFIUS — has reviewed the transaction or should now open a formal probe into the Trump-linked crypto venture.

The lawmakers set a response deadline and asked for documents and a clear statement on any national security concerns. Their letter frames the matter as one of foreign access to sensitive financial and identity information, and of potential influence over a firm connected to a sitting president.

Board Appointments And Tech Ties Add To Scrutiny

Reports note that executives with ties to G42 were named to the company’s board after the deal. That link has prompted fresh questions, since G42 has been inspected in past US intelligence reviews for its foreign partnerships.

Lawmakers say those kinds of connections merit a close look when the investor traces back to a foreign government official or agency.

Trump-Linked Crypto: What Happens Next

If CFIUS opens a formal review, it could demand documents, interview executives, and impose mitigation steps or block parts of the deal. If no review is launched, lawmakers say they will press further through oversight hearings and document requests.

The unfolding inquiry highlights a knot of issues: foreign capital in crypto, the handling of consumer data, and how political ties intersect with cross-border investments.

Featured image from David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Ethereum price might have experienced some modest recovery late last week. However, the popular altcoin still reflects a broader bearish structure. Interestingly, a recent on-chain evaluation has surfaced, which paints a dark picture for Ethereum’s mid-term future, as opposed to imagined sustained relief.

Taker Buy Sell Ratio Plummets To November 2025 Lows

In a recent post on QuickTake, market analyst CryptoOnchain reveals that Ethereum derivatives traders are currently being dominated by aggressive sellers as indicated by the Ethereum: Taker Buy Sell Ratio on Binance, smoothed over with the 30-day moving average.

For context, this metric measures whether aggressive market buyers or aggressive sellers are dominating the ETH futures market, and specifically on Binance (the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume). When the Taker Buy Sell ratio drops below the 1.00 threshold, it is a sign that taker sell volume is more than the taker buy volume.

Basically, this means that there are more aggressive sellers than there are buyers. On the other hand, sustained readings above 1.00 signal that the futures market is currently being dominated by aggressive buyers.

CryptoOnchain points out in his post that the metric’s readings currently sit around the 0.97 level, indicating that Ethereum’s current price action is being driven more by aggressive selling pressure.  The 0.97 zone, interestingly, is the lowest since November, 2025. CryptoOnchain explains that this reveals a bigger sentiment shift among Ethereum futures traders over the past month, rather than being a temporary reaction to price action.

 

What It Means For ETH Price

The decline of the Taker Buy Sell ratio to 0.97 does not guarantee an immediate sell-off; more accurately, it shows that the bears are more likely to profit from Ethereum in the short-term. In the event that this bearish pressure is absorbed by spot demand, a sell-off would not ensue. On the other hand, if demand at key support levels fails to buffer Ethereum’s fall, the second-largest cryptocurrency could fall further. 

In addition, if there is a sudden injection of demand, the futures market simultaneously retains its extremely bearish sentiment; the Ethereum market could see a short squeeze, where the leveraged short positions are wiped out, thereby pushing prices to the upside with momentum.

Hence, the Ethereum market is still in a very unstable phase, as prices could go in either direction, and with high momentum, depending on what happens first. As such, market participants are advised to tread the charts with caution. As of this writing, Ethereum holds a valuation of $2,085, reflecting a slight 1.7% gain since the past day, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Featured image from Flickr, chart from Tradingview

The US Bitcoin Spot ETFs continued to experience capital flight last week, recording significant net outflows across major issuers. The sustained withdrawals reflect cautious institutional sentiment amid Bitcoin’s recent price struggles, as the premier cryptocurrency is presently down by 30% on its monthly chart.

Grayscale’s BTC Shines With $110M Amid Market Struggles 

According to data from SoSoValue, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded total net outflows of $359.91 million in February’s second week, driven primarily by mid-week capital withdrawals. The week began on a bullish note, with investors making a combined net deposit of $311.56 million between Monday and Tuesday. However, the optimism proved short-lived as the ETF market registered $686.87 million in net withdrawals between Wednesday and Thursday. Friday closed the week with a modest $15.20 million inflow, suggesting slight stabilization in investor sentiment.

In analyzing individual fund performance, there was mixed performance across the market. The largest outflows came from market leader BlackRock’s IBIT, which saw $234.65 million in net withdrawals, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC, recording $124.73 million in outflows. Grayscale GBTC also experienced notable aggregate redemptions totaling $77.03 million, though its secondary product, Grayscale BTC, attracted $110.08 million in net inflows, partially offsetting losses.

Ark Invest/21Shares’ CBOE and Bitwise’s BITB posted net outflows of $19.44 million and $29.81 million, respectively, while VanEck’s HODL each recorded modest inflows of $4.03 million. Meanwhile, Franklin Templeton’s EZBC attracted $2.35 million, while WisdomTree’s BTCW recorded a stronger inflow of $14.06 million. Similarly, Invesco’s BTCO lost $6.84 million, and Valkyrie BRRR saw small inflows of $2.08 million, while Hashdex’s DEFI registered no notable movement during the period.

Bitcoin Spot ETFs Outlook

The recent weekly losses contribute to a broader trend of declining ETF flows in 2026. So far, February has recorded total net outflows of $677.86 million, with aggregate 2026 withdrawals now at $2.28 billion, reflecting persistent institutional caution. The sustained redemptions appear closely tied to Bitcoin’s recent price volatility, which appears to dampen risk appetite among institutional investors.

Nevertheless, the ETF ecosystem remains strong, with total net assets across all Bitcoin spot ETFs currently at approximately $87 billion. Additionally, cumulative net inflows since the launch in January 2024 remain robust at $54.33 billion, suggesting that long-term institutional adoption remains intact even amid short-term capital rotation.

At press time, Bitcoin continues to trade at $69,479, reflecting a minor 0.99% gain in the last day. 

The current market landscape for Bitcoin remains largely bearish following a net 2.41% loss over the past week. While Bitcoin is presently stabilizing around $68,000, the digital asset remains about 46% off its all-time high ($126,100) recorded in late 2025.

Bull Or Bear? Decoding Bitcoin’s SSR Liquidity Signals 

In a QuickTake post on the CryptoQuant platform, a pseudonymous analyst, MorenoDV, explained how the Stablecoin Supply Ratio (SSR) acts as a liquidity signal for Bitcoin and why the current level around 9.5–9.6 is important.

SSR measures Bitcoin’s market cap relative to stablecoin supply. In other words, it reflects how much “dry powder“ (buying power) exists in the market. High SSR shows that Bitcoin’s market cap is large relative to stablecoins – less sidelined buying power, while Low SSR indicates stablecoin supply relatively strong to Bitcoin — more potential buying power available.

 

According to analyst MorenoDV, the SSR is not a straightforward bullish or bearish indicator; its significance depends on the direction of the market’s approach to the 9.5 level. When the SSR falls towards 9.5 from higher levels, it typically signals strengthening stablecoin liquidity, which has often led to Bitcoin finding support or reversing upward in past cycles.

Conversely, if the SSR rises toward 9.5 from lower levels, it suggests fading liquidity, historically preceding local tops and short-term corrections.

Analyst MorenoDV describes the 9.5 level as a liquidity equilibrium zone due to its ability to act as support or resistance based on the market approach. As the SSR navigates this critical zone, market traders will closely observe if stablecoin inflows are maintained at a constant level, or if there is an impending liquidity exhaustion, which would be indicated by a rejection at this equilibrium zone.

Bitcoin Price Overview

As of writing, Bitcoin’s price stands at ~$68,840, reflecting a 3.97% increase over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, its daily trading volume is down by 15.3% and valued at $37.33 billion. According to data from Coincodex, the Fear and Greed index stands at 9, indicating extreme levels of caution among investors.

However, Coincodex analysts and investors will gradually adopt a more bullish stance, as their projections hint at a $73,769 target in five days and $77,687 in a month. Meanwhile, a three-month target of $72,480, suggest some levels retracement following the initial surge, in line with a classic ascending pattern.

Featured image from XVerse, chart from Tradingview.com

Speculation around XRP is gaining momentum after reports surfaced of a private, closed-door meeting between executives from SWIFT and Ripple. While no official statements have been released, the idea that leaders from the world’s dominant interbank messaging network and one of blockchain’s most established payments firms may have met discreetly has captured the market’s attention.

Could Institutional Adoption Of XRP Be Accelerating?

Reports suggest that executives from SWIFT and Ripple may have held a private lunch in Miami, reigniting speculation that SWIFT could be preparing to move forward with XRP. An analyst known as Skipper noted on X that the discussion gains additional context from comments last year by Brad Garlinghouse, who stated that the XRP Ledger could capture roughly 14% of the transaction volume currently processed by SWIFT within five years.

Tokenization is no longer a dream; it is becoming a new reality. The ability to unlock and move trillions of dollars in real-world assets onto blockchain rails is accelerating. At the same time, RealFi is reportedly finalizing an agreement with a global Tier-2 exchange processing roughly $580 billion in annual volume to list the REAL Token, signaling that institutional-scale markets are preparing to migrate onto XRPL-based rails.

The next wave of blockchain innovation is quietly taking shape in Sydney. According to Wave Of Innovation on X, on February 28 and March 1, serious builders will converge for a 24-hour sprint at XRP Australia 2026, an event designed for real construction, not surface-level experimentation. 

Participants will have direct access to work with core protocol developers and architects, enabling deep technical guidance, real-time problem-solving, and the opportunity to build alongside those actively shaping the XRPL stack. The objective is to deliver working functional MVPs that can live beyond the event.

Builders are encouraged to develop across a wide range of verticals, including RLUSD-powered applications, DeFi protocols, developer tooling, infrastructure, and real-world utility use cases, all natively on the Ledger. Beyond the prize pool, the sprint represents a gateway to the ecosystem. Exceptional teams may be considered for future XRPL funding programs, making this a potential launchpad for builders who are seriously focused on adoption. 

How The Altcoin Is Preparing For The Next Directional Move

A bullish scenario is beginning to take shape for the token. Crypto investor and trader Xaif Crypto has highlighted that a breakout in the volume Z-Score above +2 could ignite the next expansion. Currently, Binance volume Z-Score is hovering near zero, indicating a state of pure equilibrium.

However, with the price trading around $1.37 and volume closely aligned with its 30-day average, the data is signaling consolidation rather than exhaustion. Historically, the altcoin’s most powerful moves have followed sharp volume Z-Score expansions. These calm phases often precede strong directional moves.

A US court has sentenced the CEO of Bitcoin trading firm, Praetorian Group International (PGI), to 20 years in prison after convicting him of operating a large-scale Ponzi scheme. The fraudulent investment platform, which falsely claimed to generate profits through cryptocurrency trading, misappropriated substantial capital from tens of thousands of investors globally.

Over 8,000 Bitcoin In Palafox Scam Operation – DOJ 

According to a recent release by the DOJ, Ramil Ventura Palafox, a 61-year-old dual citizen of the United States and the Philippines, orchestrated a sophisticated fraudulent operation through his registered trading company, PGI. The DOJ notes explain that, as chairman, chief executive officer, and lead promoter, Palafox marketed PGI as a Bitcoin trading firm capable of generating daily returns ranging from 0.5% to 3%. However, investigations revealed that the company was not conducting legitimate bitcoin trading at a scale that could support such profits.

The scheme reportedly operated between December 2019 and October 2021. During this period, PGI attracted at least 90,000 investors globally who collectively invested more than $201 million into the platform. This included over $30 million contributed in fiat currency and approximately 8,198 bitcoin valued at more than $171 million at the time of investment. Despite these significant inflows, authorities discovered that investor payouts were largely funded using money obtained from newer participants rather than genuine trading profits.

To sustain investor confidence, Palafox took another drastic step in establishing an online portal that displayed fabricated investment performance data. Between 2020 and 2021, the portal consistently showed increasing account balances, convincing investors that their funds were secure and generating reliable returns. 

Meanwhile, investigations also uncovered extensive misuse of investor funds for personal luxury expenditures. Palafox allegedly spent approximately $3 million purchasing 20 high-end vehicles, while splashing equal amounts on accessories such as jewelry, clothing, watches, etc., among other forms of misappropriation. The American-Filipino was found guilty of wire fraud and money laundering and is expected to spend the next two decades in prison.

FBI Explores Potential Restitution For PGI Victims

In other developments, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office is currently working to identify individuals who suffered financial losses through investments in PGI between 2020 and 2021. 

Following an initial conviction of Palafox in September 2025, the federal law agents have encouraged individuals who believe they may be eligible for restitution payments or in need of victim services to reach out and fill the relevant form. Notably, total losses associated with the Bitcoin Ponzi scheme are presently estimated at $62.7 million. 

The price of Bitcoin has been under intense pressure so far in 2026, with the bear market wiping out the profits of several classes of investors. According to the latest on-chain data, this trend could have a broader ripple effect on the premier cryptocurrency in this bear market, especially as it affects an important cohort of the largest BTC investors.

Whales’ Realized Losses Could Put Further Pressure On Price

In a February 13th post on the social media platform X, pseudonymous crypto analyst Darkfost shared an insight into the current holdings of a relevant group of investors known as Bitcoin whales. According to the market pundit, the unrealized profits of this investor cohort are getting wiped out by the current market correction.

Specifically, this on-chain is based on the Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) metric of the “Big Whales,” which represents addresses holding more than 1,000 BTC. For context, the NUPL is a ratio of investors’ unrealized profits and losses; with a high (and often positive) ratio indicating the dominance of unrealized profits, while a negative value suggests otherwise.

According to the highlighted CryptoQuant data, the NUPL value for the largest Bitcoin whales currently stands at around 0.2. As shown in the chart below, this NUPL level (around the yellow region) has historically coincided with well-advanced stages of the bear market, meaning that this group of whales is nearing zero unrealized profits.

While this is yet to be the case, it is worth mentioning that these BTC whales have historically always held mostly unrealized losses at bear market bottoms. Hence, what’s important is what happens with their holdings between now and the end of the current corrective phase. 

According to Darkfost, whales’ holdings being under this much pressure could mean market capitulation, further dragging the Bitcoin price downward. Hints of this trend can already be seen in recent days, especially amongst the new whales.

These short-term Bitcoin whales are currently realizing significant losses at a rapid rate. Between February 3 and 7, more than $3 billion in losses were realized by this new group of whales. In essence, sustained capitulation by this investor cohort could be a fresh source of selling pressure for the BTC price.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $68,710, reflecting an over 5% jump in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the premier cryptocurrency is down by nearly 3% in the past week.

Patrick Witt, a senior White House crypto adviser, told reporters that banks should not see stablecoin yield programs as an existential threat.

He argued that banks and crypto firms can both offer similar products to customers and that the controversy over rewards is fixable through compromise.

Reports note he made the comments in a sit-down with Yahoo Finance as lawmakers and industry groups continue talks.

Banks Can Offer Similar Products

Big lenders have options, and some are already moving to use them. According to meetings and follow-ups, several banks are seeking OCC charters and exploring ways to provide stablecoin-style accounts to customers, which undercuts the idea that yield programs automatically steal deposits from traditional banks.

That dynamic helped bring both sides into a recent White House convening, but the talks did not settle the core dispute over whether platforms should be allowed to pay rewards to holders.

Stablecoin Yields Hold Up Legislation

At the center of the fight is the CLARITY Act, a bill meant to draw lines between the SEC and the CFTC while creating a basic asset taxonomy for cryptocurrencies.

Reports say the debate over rewards and interest has become a major hold-up, with senators and industry groups trading proposals and pushbacks as they try to hash out workable language. SEC and CFTC are both part of the tug-of-war over who gets to police different tokens and services.

A Race Against The Calendar

Pressure to finish a deal is rising because lawmakers face an election calendar that could change the political math. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that if Democrats win back the House the bipartisan coalition working on the bill could fracture, making rapid progress less likely.

That warning is echoed around Capitol Hill by lobbyists and some industry leaders, who say the current window to pass a compromise is dwindling.

A Narrow Window To Act

The White House has signaled it wants a solution before the fall slog of midterm politics takes hold. White House advisers have urged both sides to find middle ground, saying a functioning framework would unlock large pools of institutional capital now sitting on the sidelines.

Reports have disclosed that these investors are reluctant to deploy funds until the rules are clearer, which is one reason the administration is pressing for movement.

The debate is not only technical; it is political and strategic. Lawmakers will need to balance banks’ worries about deposits with crypto firms’ demand to preserve business models that rely on customer rewards.

For consumers, the immediate effect will depend on how any compromise treats protections, transparency and how rewards are funded.

For markets, the bigger prize is legal certainty — and that prize is getting harder to win as the calendar tightens.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, is facing renewed scrutiny following an exclusive report published by Fortune on Friday that raises fresh questions about the exchange’s internal compliance controls and sanctions oversight.

Alleged Sanctions Breaches

According to multiple sources and internal documents reviewed by the publication, members of Binance’s compliance team identified transactions suggesting that entities linked to Iran received more than $1 billion through the platform between March 2024 and August 2025. 

The transfers were reportedly conducted using the stablecoin Tether (USDT) on the Tron blockchain. If confirmed, such activity could represent potential violations of US sanctions laws.

The report states that after internal investigators documented their findings and submitted reports through official channels, at least five members of the compliance team were dismissed beginning in late 2025. 

The individuals allegedly terminated included professionals with prior law enforcement experience in Europe and Asia. At least three of them had held senior roles within Binance, overseeing special investigations and global financial crime inquiries.

In addition to those firings, the report indicates that at least four other senior compliance officials have either resigned or been forced out over the past three months. The individuals cited by Fortune spoke anonymously, citing concerns about potential legal repercussions.

Robert Appleton, a partner at the law firm Olshan Frome Wolosky who previously led sanctions and Iran‑related cases at the US Department of Justice (DOJ), described the situation as surprising. 

“That’s rather shocking that that happened under a monitorship with [Binance] internal investigators,” Appleton told the magazine, referencing the government oversight imposed on the company following earlier enforcement actions.

Former Binance CEO Pushes Back On New Allegations

The latest controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Binance’s significant legal settlement in 2023. That year, the exchange pleaded guilty to violations of anti‑money laundering (AML) and know‑your‑customer (KYC) requirements.

As part of the resolution, the exchange’s co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stepped down as CEO, and Binance accepted government‑imposed monitorships intended to strengthen its compliance framework and usher in what the company described at the time as a new era of “regulatory maturity.”

Zhao has publicly rejected the claims raised in the recent report. In remarks addressing the article, he stated that he does not have detailed knowledge of the situation but argued that the narrative appears inconsistent. 

The former executive suggested that, even if the allegations were accurate, an alternative interpretation could be that investigators were dismissed for failing to prevent the alleged transactions. 

Zhao also questioned whether third‑party anti‑money laundering tools—similar to those used by law enforcement agencies—had identified the transactions in question. Although he no longer runs Binance, Zhao said that during his tenure, every transaction was screened through multiple external AML monitoring systems.

He further criticized reliance on unnamed sources, suggesting that anonymous accounts can be used to construct negative narratives, particularly if the individuals involved are dissatisfied or have ulterior motives.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Data shows the Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen their monthly average netflows in the red zone for most of the last 90 days.

Both Bitcoin & Ethereum Spot ETFs Have Been Facing Outflows

As highlighted by on-chain analytics firm Glassnode in a new post on X, the 30-day simple moving average (SMA) netflows have continued to be in the negative zone for both Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs.

Spot ETFs refer to investment vehicles that allow investors to gain exposure to an asset without having to directly own it. In the United States, funds tracking Bitcoin gained approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) back in January 2024. Ethereum ETFs followed in July 2024.

The advantage of these vehicles is that traders can invest in the cryptocurrencies without dealing with any blockchain component like wallets and exchanges. Whenever an investor puts their capital into an ETF, the fund buys the equivalent amount of the cryptocurrency and custodies it on their behalf.

Some traditional investors were previously wary of the digital asset sector due to the unfamiliar blockchain infrastructure, but the ETFs removed that roadblock, bringing in fresh demand into the market from such traders.

While both Bitcoin and Ethereum funds have enjoyed net inflows for the majority of their lifespan, the trend has shifted recently. First, here is the chart for the US BTC spot ETF netflow shared by Glassnode that shows the trend in its 30-day SMA value over the last couple of years:

As displayed in the above graph, the US Bitcoin spot ETFs have seen their 30-day SMA netflow sit inside the red zone for much of the last three months. The only time when the metric turned positive was during the price recovery surge in January.

The reason behind the outflows naturally lies in the price drawdown that the asset has faced inside this window. Ethereum has also seen a similarly bearish shift, and it’s reflected in the coin’s spot ETF netflow.

For both the cryptocurrencies, the most amount of outflows occurred during the last quarter of 2025, but they have still been occurring at a notable pace in February.

As such, with both the Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETF netflows maintaining at negative values, the analytics firm has concluded that there is no sign of renewed demand in the space yet.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $69,200, up over 5% in the last seven days.

The US Secretary of the Treasury has called for the passage of the long-awaited crypto market structure bill this spring to provide reassurance to the industry amid recent market volatility.

Bessent Calls For Crypto Market Structure Bill

On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the US lawmakers to pass the stalled crypto market structure bill soon, highlighting the importance of getting the legislation on President Donald Trump’s desk before the end of the spring legislative window.

In a CNBC interview, Bessent affirmed that part of the recent market volatility was “self-induced” due to the reaction of some industry participants to the bill. He affirmed that some digital assets firms have been blocking it, which hasn’t been “good for the overall crypto community.”

Notably, the long-awaited CLARITY Act has been stalled for nearly a month after the Senate Banking Committee published its bill draft. The legislation was heavily criticized by crypto industry leaders, who slammed multiple of its policies, including key restrictions for stablecoin issuers.

The Treasury Secretary considers that passing the bill would “give great comfort” to the market at a time of significant volatility. Moreover, he pointed out that there’s a bipartisan working group trying to advance the legislation, with democrats “that want to work with republicans on getting a market structure bill.”

However, Bessent noted that the chances of getting a deal done could fall apart if Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in November, highlighting the Biden administration’s crackdown on the industry.

“There’s a lot of innovation that goes on adjacent to crypto, the blockchain, and DeFi. So, I think it’s important to get this clarity bill done as soon as possible and on the president’s desk this spring,” he concluded.

‘More Work To Be Done’

Similarly, Patrick Witt, executive director of the US President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, discussed the progress on the crypto market structure bill on Friday.

Speaking with Yahoo Finance, Witt stated, “We are working hard to address the issues that were raised that led to the postponement of that markup and hopefully get that back on the book soon.”

He highlighted that lawmakers were able to pass the Senate Agriculture Committee’s half of the CLARITY Act, which handles the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)’s portion of the bill.

The Crypto Council’s executive director outlined that once the Senate Banking Committee’s portion of the bill is passed, the two pieces of legislation will need to be reconciled before a final vote on the Senate floor. “So, more work to be done, but we are a step closer with the passage of the Ag portion of this a couple of weeks ago,” he said.

Discussing who must bend to advance the bill, Witt affirmed that both sides would have to compromise. “It’s unfortunate that this has become such a big issue, because ultimately, this is not the stablecoin bill that was the GENIUS Act,” he said.

“What we’ve encouraged both sides to do is find a middle ground. Let’s use a scalpel heel here to address this narrow issue of idle yield (…). But let’s not take a chainsaw out of this; let’s not let this derail the bill. There is so much goodness in this bill, no matter what your perspective is,” Witt continued.

He listed some of the “excellent measures” proposed in the bill, including the clear line between the SEC and the CFTC, regulatory jurisdiction, and developer protections, which he considers to be “critical to future-proof this industry from a future Gary Gensler or, God forbid, a Secretary of the Treasury Elizabeth Warren.”

Lastly, he shared that the White House might host another meeting between the banking and crypto industry to discuss the payment of stablecoin rewards.