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The crypto market in Seoul may get a little clearer about who’s talking and why. According to recent reports, lawmakers in South Korea are drafting rules that would force people who give investment tips on social media to show what they own and what they are paid to promote.

Influencer Crypto Holdings Must Be Public

Reports say the measure would cover anyone who repeatedly recommends stocks or crypto on livestreams, short videos, blogs or broadcasts, and would require disclosure of asset types, quantities and any payments tied to a promotion. That includes both token holdings and publicly listed shares.

The proposal is being led by Kim Seung-won, who has pushed amendments to the Capital Markets Act and the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, according to multiple outlets. Rules like these aim to flag conflicts of interest where someone might hype an asset and then sell into the resulting price spike.

Who Would Face Penalties

Reports note that penalties for breaches could mirror existing sanctions for unfair trading, which means fines and possible criminal charges for the worst cases. That legal weight is seen as a way to deter pump-and-dump style promotions that can harm small investors.

Many observers point out that public officials in the country already disclose crypto holdings to ethics bodies, so this step is an extension of established transparency practices into the private social media sphere.

The move arrives as regulators worldwide test new ways to police online promotions and reduce investor harm.

Crypto: Practical Questions Remain

How the rules will be enforced is still an open issue. Reports say lawmakers want to link the rules to market surveillance systems and to give regulators clearer powers to investigate suspicious activity.

It will likely take time to settle the details on thresholds for who qualifies as an influencer, and what exact data must be published.

What This Means For Creators And Users

Creators who earn from promotions may need to change how they post. Some will disclose voluntarily. Others might stop recommending specific assets to avoid filing regular reports.

Ordinary investors could benefit if conflicts of interest become easier to spot, but the rules will only help if they are enforced.

Reports have disclosed that this bill is part of a larger tightening of oversight by agencies including the Financial Supervisory Service, which has been more active after recent market incidents.

The aim is clear: reduce hidden promotion and give crypto and retail investors clearer signals about who stands to gain from a recommendation.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Спустя более 17 лет после появления первой криптовалюты ее создатель Сатоси Накамото остается главной загадкой индустрии. Почему криптосообщество до сих пор не может установить личность разработчика Биткоина и возможно ли это в принципе?

Ethereum continues to face sustained selling pressure as broader crypto market sentiment shifts toward caution and, in some segments, outright panic. Price action has struggled to regain stability in recent weeks, with repeated rebound attempts failing to produce sustained upside momentum. Elevated volatility, tightening liquidity conditions, and persistent macro uncertainty have reinforced a defensive posture among both retail and institutional participants, leaving Ethereum vulnerable to further short-term weakness.

A recent CryptoQuant report provides additional context through on-chain activity. According to the data, the ETH Binance User Deposit Address metric has recorded a sharp increase. The number of unique addresses depositing Ethereum to Binance has surged from roughly 360,000 to more than 450,000, representing the highest level observed since August 2025. Metrics tracking deposit addresses often serve as a proxy for potential sell-side intent, since assets transferred to exchanges are typically more accessible for liquidation, collateral usage, or portfolio rebalancing.

However, such spikes do not automatically translate into immediate selling. In some cases, they reflect positioning adjustments, hedging activity, or preparation for derivatives trading. Even so, the scale of the recent increase suggests heightened market anxiety and warrants close monitoring as Ethereum navigates an increasingly fragile market environment.

Exchange Deposits Surge As Price Correction Deepens

The report highlights that this metric breakout has occurred alongside a severe price correction. Ethereum has declined sharply from its October peak near $4,900 to roughly the $1,900 region. The simultaneous drop in price and surge in exchange deposit addresses suggests two primary on-chain interpretations that merit careful consideration.

The first scenario points to retail capitulation. A rapid increase in unique depositing addresses often reflects panic behavior among smaller investors. Participants who held through earlier stages of the decline may now be transferring assets to exchanges to exit positions, reinforcing short-term sell-side pressure.

The second interpretation relates to derivatives market positioning. With ETH trading below the $2,000 threshold, some deposits likely represent collateral replenishment. Traders facing liquidation risk may be adding margin to maintain leveraged long positions rather than outright selling their holdings.

In the near term, increased deposits elevate potential supply on exchanges, which can intensify volatility if selling materializes. However, historically, extreme spikes in deposit activity have frequently appeared during late-stage corrective phases. Such conditions sometimes precede seller exhaustion.

Monitoring exchange outflows, spot volume absorption, and derivatives positioning will be critical to determine whether this activity signals continued downside risk or the early formation of a local market bottom.

Ethereum Tests Structural Support As Downtrend Persists

Ethereum continues to trade under sustained pressure, with the weekly chart showing a clear loss of bullish momentum following the rejection near the $4,800–$5,000 region. Price has now retraced toward the $1,900 area, a zone that previously acted as consolidation support during earlier cycle phases. The inability to hold above the mid-cycle moving averages suggests that sellers still maintain structural control.

The 50-week moving average has rolled over and now acts as overhead resistance, while the 100-week average appears to be flattening. Meanwhile, price is approaching the longer-term 200-week moving average, a level historically associated with major cyclical support. A decisive breakdown below this region could expose deeper downside, whereas stabilization here may encourage medium-term accumulation.

Volume patterns indicate intermittent spikes during declines, which typically reflect distribution rather than sustained buying interest. This reinforces the interpretation of a defensive market phase rather than a confirmed recovery trend.

Despite the weakness, volatility compression near long-term averages sometimes precedes transitional periods. Confirmation, however, would require sustained closes above reclaimable resistance levels and improving participation metrics. Until then, Ethereum remains in a fragile technical posture with risk skewed toward continued consolidation or downside drift rather than immediate bullish continuation.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

A man in his thirties has been charged with attempted murder after a business partner fell ill following a meeting at a café, reports say. The case stems from a dispute over failed crypto investments.

The accused is alleged to have put the pesticide methomyl into the partner’s coffee during a meeting in November. The victim collapsed, was taken to hospital, and regained consciousness three days later.

Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office opened the case and brought the charges. According to local outlets, the dispute grew out of heavy losses tied to a shared Bitcoin investment program in the crypto market that began in 2022.

Reports say about ₩1.17 billion was lost — an amount that, by the parties’ account, included both company funds and money the accused had put in personally.

Alleged Poisoning

The man accused is said to have met his partner at a café and offered a drink. After taking a few sips, the partner lost consciousness. Emergency services were called. He was rushed to hospital and stayed under care for several days.

He later told reporters his life had been shaken; he had been planning a wedding and his partner’s illness hit his family hard.

Dispute Over Crypto Investment Funds

Reports note the two ran an investment operation that handled pooled money for Bitcoin bets within the crypto sector. The exact business setup is not fully explained in public reports. It is not clear whether outside investors were involved or if the money was only theirs.

That detail matters because it changes how the loss would be seen — as private failure or as potential misconduct affecting others. For now, prosecutors are focused on the poisoning charge and a breach of the Pesticide Control Act.

Crypto Deal Disaster: The Human Toll

Chosun and Asia Business Daily carried quotes and timelines from investigators and from the victim. The reporting has emphasized the human toll: sleepless nights, hospital visits, and a ruined wedding plan. Those details give a face to what might otherwise read as a financial dispute.

Court Date

A trial is scheduled for March 10 at the Seoul Eastern District Court. Prosecutors will present evidence linking the accused to the pesticide and to the drink served that day.

The accused faces serious penalties if convicted, including prison time and fines under the pesticide law.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin is struggling to push decisively above the $66,000 level as persistent selling pressure continues to weigh on sentiment across the crypto market. Price action remains fragile, with bears maintaining short-term control while buyers show limited conviction. The broader environment — marked by cautious liquidity conditions and subdued risk appetite — has kept Bitcoin locked in a consolidation phase rather than a clear recovery trend.

A recent CryptoQuant report offers additional context through the Coinbase Premium Gap, a metric that measures the price difference between Coinbase Advanced and Binance. The indicator has recently returned to positive territory for the third time this year, currently standing at approximately $10.18. While this premium remains relatively modest, its direction provides useful insight into underlying market positioning.

A positive Coinbase Premium Gap typically reflects stronger demand from US-based institutional or professional participants, who are more active on Coinbase Advanced. This platform tends to serve sophisticated traders and institutional infrastructure, whereas Binance remains the dominant global exchange, particularly among retail investors and liquidity-driven participants.

Consequently, this shift may indicate a gradual improvement in institutional demand even as broader market momentum remains weak. However, the modest size of the premium suggests that conviction is still limited, leaving Bitcoin in a cautious transitional phase.

Coinbase Premium Turns Positive As Institutional Demand Tentatively Reemerges

The report explains that since February 4, when Bitcoin entered a more pronounced corrective phase, the Coinbase Premium Gap has gradually recovered after an extended period of weakness. The metric has now moved back into positive territory, suggesting that demand on Coinbase Advanced — typically associated with professional and institutional participants — is stabilizing relative to global retail-driven liquidity on Binance.

This development remains tentative and should be interpreted cautiously. The current premium is still relatively modest, indicating that institutional conviction has not fully returned. Nevertheless, the gradual recovery suggests that current price levels may increasingly be perceived as attractive entry zones for professional investors, particularly those with longer investment horizons.

At the same time, short-term volatility could easily push the indicator back into negative territory. Such fluctuations are common during transitional phases, especially when broader market sentiment remains fragile, and liquidity conditions are uncertain.

While the return to a positive premium can be considered constructive, it does not yet signal a confirmed trend reversal. For that to occur, the premium would need to expand consistently and hold positive levels over time. Until then, the signal primarily reflects cautious positioning rather than a decisive shift in investor behavior or a clear return of sustained institutional demand.

Bitcoin Price Structure Weakens As Key Support Faces Pressure

Bitcoin’s daily chart reflects a clear deterioration in short- to medium-term structure following the breakdown from the $90,000–$95,000 region. Price has now retraced sharply toward the $65,000 area, which is acting as an interim support zone after the recent capitulation leg. The move lower was accompanied by expanding red volume, suggesting aggressive distribution rather than orderly consolidation.

Technically, BTC is trading below the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day simple moving averages. The 50-day average has rolled over decisively and now trends downward, while the 100-day is also beginning to slope lower. The 200-day average, previously a dynamic support, has turned into overhead resistance. This alignment typically reflects a bearish momentum regime.

The most recent bounce toward $66,000 appears corrective rather than impulsive, with no clear higher-low structure established yet. For bulls to regain control, Bitcoin would need to reclaim the $70,000–$72,000 range and sustain acceptance above the declining short-term averages.

If $63,000 fails to hold on a closing basis, downside liquidity could extend toward the next structural support zone near $58,000–$60,000. Until a clear reversal pattern forms, the chart favors cautious positioning within a defensive market phase.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto asset manager Bitwise just made one of its boldest moves yet. The company has acquired Chorus One, a staking infrastructure firm that manages more than $2.2 billion in assets across dozens of blockchain networks. The deal brings 50 Chorus One employees into Bitwise’s growing onchain division, where several billion dollars in crypto assets are already being staked by clients.

Financial Terms Undisclosed

Chorus One has been in the staking business since 2018. Over those years, it built a client base that includes family offices, large funds, exchanges, high-net-worth individuals, and custodians — the kind of institutional relationships that take years to earn. Its founder and CEO, Brian Crain, will stay on in an advisory role as the rest of the team folds into Bitwise Onchain Solutions.

Reports say the financial terms of the deal were not made public. Bitwise did not disclose how much it paid.

What is clear, though, is what the company gets out of it. The acquisition extends Bitwise’s staking reach across more than 30 proof-of-stake networks — among them Solana, Avalanche, Sui, Aptos, Hyperliquid, Monad, and Tezos. That is a wide net, and it signals the company is not thinking just about Ethereum.

Staking, for those unfamiliar, works like this: holders of certain crypto tokens lock them up on a blockchain to help keep the network running. In return, they earn rewards — typically somewhere between 2% and 10% a year, on top of any gains from the token itself.

Why The Timing Matters

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has been warming up to a wider range of crypto investment products. That shift has opened the door for new types of exchange-traded funds, including ones that could one day offer staking rewards to ordinary investors. Bitwise appears to be positioning itself for exactly that possibility.

Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley described staking as “one of the most compelling growth opportunities” the firm sees for its clients. The company already runs more than 40 investment products and oversees roughly $15 billion in assets under management. Its flagship offerings include the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF and the Bitwise Ethereum ETF, which have pulled in over $2 billion and $387 million in flows respectively since launching in 2024.

Room To Grow

With nearly 200 employees now spread across the world, Bitwise has been steadily building out beyond its core ETF lineup. Reports note that its other products include ETFs tied to Solana, XRP, Chainlink, and even Dogecoin. The Chorus One deal adds staking muscle to that already broad product shelf.

Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView

Solana (SOL) is attempting to stabilize after weeks of selling pressure, with price action now centered around a critical technical zone that could determine its next directional move.

Related Reading: MoneyGram Joins Cardano’s Midnight As Federated Mainnet Validator

After falling from recent highs near $86, the Solana price rebounded from support around $75–$76 and climbed back above $80, drawing renewed attention from traders and institutional investors watching for signs of a broader recovery.

Recent market data shows Solana price in a consolidation phase, where improving derivatives positioning and fresh ETF inflows are beginning to offset weak sentiment caused by declining network activity and external market shocks.

ETF Inflows Signal Institutional Re-Engagement

A key catalyst behind the latest recovery has been renewed institutional demand. U.S. spot Solana ETFs recorded approximately $3.78 million in net inflows on February 24, reversing a stretch of outflows that had coincided with price weakness.

Cumulative inflows into Solana-linked ETFs have now surpassed $900 million, suggesting continued interest from regulated market participants despite volatility.

Derivatives markets also show improving sentiment. OI has risen while long positions increasingly outweigh shorts, indicating traders are adding exposure rather than exiting positions. Short liquidations following the rebound from $76 helped remove near-term selling pressure, allowing price to reclaim the $80 region.

Technically, SOL is holding above key short-term averages and the 50% Fibonacci retracement of its recent decline. Momentum indicators such as the RSI moving above neutral levels suggest buyers are regaining control in the short term.

Solana Price Key Resistance Levels Between $85 and $90

Despite improving momentum, resistance remains concentrated between $85 and $88, a zone that previously rejected multiple recovery attempts. A confirmed close above this band could open a path toward $90–$94, where higher-timeframe resistance and trend indicators converge.

Chart patterns are also drawing attention. Analysts point to a potential triple-bottom formation near $75, often interpreted as a reversal structure if followed by strong volume. However, failure to maintain support above $79–$80 could expose Solana price downside levels near $77 and potentially $74 again.

Risks Persist After Ecosystem and Activity Declines

The recovery comes amid ongoing ecosystem concerns, including a platform shutdown following a major hack and declining on-chain activity. Falling active addresses and total value locked signal weaker engagement.

Related Reading: Odds Of Crypto Market Structure Bill Passing This Year Fall To 40% On Polymarket

Currently, Solana’s outlook now depends on whether institutional inflows and technical stability can offset soft network metrics. Holding $80–$83 as support could open a move toward $90, while failure may keep price consolidation in place.

Cover image from ChatGPT, SOLUSD chart from Tradingview

Open interest in the derivatives markets for Dogecoin and XRP has fallen back to levels last seen in 2024, according to data from Coinglass. Slower capital inflows into the broader crypto market and extended outflows have weighed on the price action of these cryptocurrencies, and the impact is now visible in their futures markets, where investor positioning has been scaled back.

Dogecoin’s open interest, for one, is now below $1 billion, while XRP’s figure is now back to late November 2024 territory, effectively erasing over a year of position buildup in the futures market.

Dogecoin Open Interest Falls Below $1 Billion

Data from Coinglass shows that Dogecoin’s total open interest currently stands at 10.63 billion DOGE across multiple exchanges. Based on the current price action of Dogecoin, this total open interest is valued at $992.65 million. 

Interestingly, this is a return of Dogecoin’s open interest to sub-$1 billion levels in USD terms, something not seen since October 2024. Since late 2024, Dogecoin’s open interest has consistently held above the $1 billion mark, even during periods of price consolidation. However, this is not the case anymore in February 2026. Most of this can be attributed to the fact that Dogecoin has lost major price support levels since the beginning of 2026. 

A breakdown of exchange data shows that Binance holds 2.09 billion DOGE in open interest, worth approximately $195 million, accounting for 19.64% of the total. Gate leads in USD terms with about $228.99 million in open positions, representing 23.06% of the market share. OKX follows with $99.74 million, while Bybit holds $86.52 million.

In the past 24 hours, the total Dogecoin open interest across exchanges is down 3.11%, reflecting continued deleveraging. Some exchanges have seen more declines, with Gate down 13.83% and BingX down 24.75% over the same period.

XRP Open Interest Returns To Late November 2024 Levels

XRP’s open interest has also suffered the same fate as Dogecoin, with total open contracts now standing at 1.65 billion XRP, valued at $2.27 billion. This brings XRP’s derivatives exposure back to levels last seen in late November 2024, when the XRP open interest was hovering just below $2.5 billion.

On a 24-hour basis, total XRP open interest is down 0.61%. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) currently leads with 378.89 million XRP in open contracts, valued at $519.11 million. Binance comes second with 339.57 million XRP worth $465.17 million, accounting for 20.52% of open interest.

Other notable positions include Bybit with $225.82 million and Gate with $200.67 million in open contracts. However, some exchanges have seen sharp daily declines, including Gate, which is down 17.24% over the past 24 hours, and BingX, which is down 31.19%.

The crypto market is showing renewed strength after several days of volatility, with prices rebounding as traders reposition ahead of key U.S. economic data. A mix of technical recovery, macroeconomic expectations, and market structure dynamics has helped digital assets regain momentum.

After recent selling pressure drove prices toward critical support levels, buyers stepped back in, triggering a broad recovery led by Bitcoin and several high-performing altcoins. The move comes as investors increasingly focus on upcoming U.S. labor market data.

Market Rebound Signals Bearish Exhaustion

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has added tens of billions of dollars over the past 24 hours, climbing back toward the $2.3 trillion region after earlier losses. Analysts point to signs of bearish exhaustion, with stabilizing price action suggesting that sellers may be losing control in the short term.

Bitcoin reclaimed the $65,000 level and continues to trade within a multi-week consolidation range between roughly $65,000 and $70,000. This rangebound structure reflects a balance between buyers and sellers, but the latest rebound indicates improving risk appetite.

Ethereum also advanced, holding near the $1,900 zone, while large-cap assets posted moderate gains of over 3%. Meanwhile, leveraged markets contributed to the rally, as widespread short liquidations forced automated buybacks that accelerated upward price movement.

Altcoins mirrored the broader trend, with tokens such as UNUS SED LEO (LEO) posting double-digit gains amid steady capital inflows. Smaller-cap assets recorded sharper percentage moves, although volatility remains elevated across that segment of the market.

U.S. Economic Data and Liquidity Expectations Drive Momentum

A major catalyst behind today’s crypto surge is anticipation surrounding upcoming U.S. initial jobless claims data. Historically, weaker labor market readings have strengthened expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, which tend to support risk assets like cryptocurrencies by improving liquidity conditions.

Recent market behavior suggests traders are positioning ahead of the data release. Bitcoin has repeatedly reacted positively to jobless claims reports this month, reinforcing the connection between macroeconomic indicators and crypto price action.

Similarly, improving sentiment in global equity markets, particularly technology stocks, has added support. Crypto assets often move alongside risk assets, and gains in equities have encouraged investors to re-enter digital markets following the recent dip.

Key Levels to Watch as Breakout Pressure Builds

Despite the recovery, the market remains at a critical technical juncture. For the broader crypto market, a decisive move above the $2.30 trillion capitalization level could confirm stronger bullish momentum. Failure to hold current support, however, may reopen downside risks.

Bitcoin faces a similar test, with resistance near the $67,000–$70,000 range acting as the next major hurdle. A confirmed breakout above this zone would strengthen the bullish outlook, while a drop below recent support levels could revive volatility.

Even as the Fear and Greed Index remains in extreme fear territory, improving price stability and macro catalysts suggest traders are preparing for a potential breakout, one that may ultimately depend on the direction set by upcoming U.S. economic data.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart on Tradingview

With the persistent downside performance of the Cardano price over the past few weeks, its short-term outlook is turning out to be uncertain and highly volatile. However, investors’ action is telling a different story as sentiment quietly recovers among key ADA holders, which could impact and change the course of the altcoin in the near future.

ADA Investors Taking Action Behind The Scenes

Cardano (ADA) retested the $0.25 price level once again after the broader cryptocurrency market drawdown, reflecting a weakening and cautious environment. Yet beneath the surface, investor behavior is beginning to tell a different story.

Despite this downside performance, which has persisted for months, investors’ activity is hinting at a growing bullish interest in the altcoin as accumulation steadily builds. On-chain trends and wallet activity suggest that long-term traders remain resilient, a segment of the market that is currently drawing attention in the space.

This divergence between price performance and investor activity reinforces the idea of a growing conviction and dependence on the cryptocurrency and its future prospects. At this point, ADA may face an extension of its bearish phase or trigger a rebound as investors continue to add to their positions.

Data from Santiment, a leading market intelligence and on-chain data analytics platform, revealed that the growing accumulation is centered around key whales and sharks. After examining the amount of Cardano held by these key investors, the platform highlighted that they have been quietly buying up their holdings over the past 6 months.

During the period, the whales and sharks, wallet addresses holding between 100,000 and 100 million ADA, have cumulatively acquired more than 819.4 million ADA, valued at over $213.9 million despite ongoing market pressure. 

Even with the price of Cardano falling by over 71% from $0.90 to $0.26, these investors remain unshaken by the pullback and have amassed about 1.6% of the total supply in the market. When investors are buying during heightened volatility, it often suggests that they could be preparing for a long-term recovery beneath the surface.

A Shift In Cardano’s Monthly Structure

Following the sharp pullback in price, speculations are that Cardano may have flipped its monthly structure. Bitcoinsensus, a market analyst on the social media platform X, has offered insight into the current structure of ADA and its possible next direction.

Looking at the monthly chart, ADA is undergoing a multi-year correction range following the prior expansion cycle. As seen in the past, this correction phase preceded a massive pump phase, which Bitcoinsensus believes could repeat itself this cycle. There is a recent reaction from the lower boundary of the range.

The chart shows early signs of higher timeframe momentum attempting to build. Bitcoinsensus noted that significant expansions historically followed prolonged compression stages; the structure is currently in a crucial transition zone.

Ripple CTO Emeritus David “JoelKatz” Schwartz pushed back against claims that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is effectively centralized, after founder and CIO of Cyber Capital Justin Bons argued that XRPL’s Unique Node List (UNL) structure makes validators “permissioned” and gives Ripple-aligned entities “absolute power & control over the chain.”

The exchange, sparked by Bons’ broader thread calling for the industry to “reject all centralized ‘blockchains’,” quickly narrowed into a technical dispute over what XRPL validators can and cannot do in practice and what “control” means in a system that relies on curated validator lists rather than Proof-of-Work or Proof-of-Stake.

The XRP Ledger Centralization Allegation

In his thread, Bons lumped Ripple alongside Canton, Stellar, Hedera, and Algorand as networks with permissioned or semi-permissioned elements. His XRPL-specific charge was straightforward: because XRPL nodes typically rely on a published UNL, “any divergence from this centrally published list would cause a fork,” which in his view concentrates power in the hands of whoever publishes that list.

Bons framed it as a binary question: “either fully permissionless or it is not” and argued that even partial permissioning is a deal breaker. He also extended the critique into a broader institutional-adoption thesis: banks and incumbents may prefer controlled environments, but “those institutions will be left behind,” while “crypto natives” win by building and using fully permissionless systems.

Schwartz’s opening rebuttal attacked the logic of Bons’ “absolute power” framing. “‘…effectively giving the Ripple Foundation & company absolute power & control over the chain…’” Schwartz wrote, calling it “as objectively nonsensical as claiming someone with a majority of mining power can create a billion bitcoins.”

Bons responded that he wasn’t alleging supply manipulation or fund theft, but insisted majority influence can still matter. “They can not steal funds, either, but they could potentially double-spend & censor,” Bons said. “Which, again, is exactly the same if someone controlled the majority of mining power in BTC.” He then suggested they debate live on a podcast.

Schwartz rejected the equivalence on mechanics, emphasizing that XRPL nodes do not accept censorship or double-spend behavior simply because a validator says so. “That’s not true. XRPL and BTC don’t work the same,” Schwartz wrote. “You count the number of validators that agree with your node and your node will not agree to double spend or censor unless you, for some reason, want it to.”

He continued the point across multiple posts, leaning on a simple intuition: a dishonest validator is not an oracle; it’s just one vote. “If a validator tried to double spend or censor, an honest node would just count it as one validator that it did not agree with.”

What Schwartz Says The Real Attack Looks Like

Schwartz acknowledged there is still a failure mode, but described it as a liveness problem rather than a theft or double-spend scenario. “Validators could conspire to halt the chain from the point of view of honest nodes,” he said. “But that’s the XRPL equivalent of a dishonest majority attack except they never get to double spend. The cure is to pick a new UNL just as with BTC you’d need to pick a new mining algorithm.”

He also argued the empirical record matters, contrasting XRPL with other major networks. “The practical evidence tells this story,” Schwartz wrote. “Transactions are discriminated against all the time in BTC. Transactions are maliciously re-ordered or censored all the time on ETH. Nothing like this has ever happened to an XRPL transaction and it’s hard to imagine how it could.”

Schwartz later laid out a more detailed explanation of XRPL’s consensus model, emphasizing fast “live consensus” rounds—“every five seconds”—where validators vote on whether a transaction is included now or deferred to the next round. In that framing, the system’s key requirement is not blind trust in validators, but agreement on whether a transaction was seen before a cutoff.

He argued XRPL needs a UNL for two reasons: to prevent an attacker from spawning unlimited validators that force excessive work, and to prevent validators from simply not participating in a way that makes consensus impossible to measure. “That’s it. There’s no control or governance here other than coordinating activation of new features,” Schwartz wrote, adding that validators cannot force a node to enforce rules it does not have code for.

Schwartz closed with a longer, unusually candid rationale: that XRPL’s architecture was intentionally built to reduce Ripple’s ability to comply with demands to censor, even if Ripple itself wanted to be trusted.

“We carefully and intentionally designed XRPL so that we could not control it,” he wrote. “Ripple, for example, has to honor US court orders. It cannot say no… We absolutely and clearly decided that we DID NOT WANT control and that it would be to our own benefit to not have that control.”

He added a blunt incentive argument: even if Ripple could censor or double-spend, using that power would destroy trust in XRPL and therefore destroy the network’s utility. “And the best way to be able to say ‘no’ is to have to say ‘no’ because you cannot do the thing asked,” Schwartz wrote.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.3766.

Ripple, a crypto payments company and the largest XRP holder, has been aggressively expanding and developing its infrastructure for the past three years. Within this short timeframe, the crypto firm has acquired six different companies, spending more than $2.7 billion. While these acquisitions have significantly expanded Ripple’s use cases and demand, many in the crypto community are concerned about how these ecosystem developments could impact XRP’s price. 

Why Ripple Spent $2.7 Billion On Acquisitions

On Monday, February 23, an XRP commentator identified as ‘Ledger Man’ on X outlined several key reasons behind Ripple’s aggressive buying spree over the past three years. Ledger Man noted that the crypto company, led by CEO Brad Garlinghouse, has been incredibly busy since 2023, buying six different companies and expanding into new markets. 

He noted that during this short period, Ripple has spent a total of $2.7 billion on company acquisitions. Among the crypto firm’s largest purchases are:

• Hidden Road, a London-based prime brokerage and credit network, was acquired for $1.25 billion.
• GTreasury, a cloud-based SaaS treasury and risk management platform, was acquired for $1 billion.  
• Metaco, a Swiss-based technology company, was acquired for $250 million. 

Notably, after Ripple completed its acquisition in October 2025, Hidden Road was officially rebranded as ‘Ripple Prime’ and now operates as an institutional prime brokerage for the crypto payments firm. GTreasury has also been repositioned under the name ‘Ripple Treasury’ while Metaco has continued operating under its original brand name as a subsidiary digital asset custody unit. 

Beyond these companies, Ripple has also bought Rail, Standard Custody, and Dom Kwok. Ledger Man noted that the primary reason for these acquisitions stems from Garlinghouse’s long-term vision to bridge the gap between Traditional Finance (TradFi) and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). 

In addition, the XRP commentator highlighted that Garlinghouse previously shared an intriguing fact about Ripple Treasury, revealing that the company had processed $13 trillion in payments last year, yet not a single transaction involved cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. The Ripple CEO also mentioned that over 1,000 big companies use Ripple Treasury’s technology, and many of their leaders are now showing interest in using crypto-based tools. 

For now, Ledgerman has stated that Ripple plans to slow its aggressive buying spree. Moving forward, the company will focus on combining all of its acquired companies and integrating them into a unified system during the first half of 2026. Ledger Man also noted that the crypto payments company is particularly enthusiastic about two major deals that are already exceeding expectations.  

What This Has To Do With XRP

Many in the crypto community have expressed concerns that Ripple’s acquisitions have not been a major driver for the XRP price. As the largest holder of the token, Ripple’s initiatives typically act as a catalyst for XRP. However, recent price action and market activity offer little evidence of a significant change following the company’s latest acquisitions.

One crypto member laments that Ripple’s buying spree has done “nothing” for the XRP price, while others argue that, although the crypto company thrives, token holders are getting left behind.

Соучредитель рухнувшей криптобирж BTC-e Александр Винник посоветовал потерявшим деньги клиентам попытаться взыскать средства с властей США.

After several attempts, the Bitcoin price finally reclaimed the $65,000 mark, but ongoing volatility and uncertainty across the cryptocurrency market still linger. With BTC falling below this support level, pressure on investors appears to have increased significantly, as evidenced by the number of BTC supply now in loss.

Record Levels of Bitcoin Now Sitting At A Loss

The pressure on the market and investors has increased following the recent pullback in Bitcoin’s price. Given the price pullback, the BTC supply that is positioned at a loss has spiked sharply, indicating a bearish outlook for the market and the flagship asset.

A recent data reading is showing that Bitcoin is coming into a critical stress point, with the percentage of supply held at a loss rising to one of the highest levels ever seen. This dramatic increase, which reflects the severity of the recent price downturn, indicates that an increasing proportion of owners are now underwater.

As seen in the chart shared by James Van Straten, an advisor and senior analyst at the popular CoinDesk news outlet, the number of BTC supply now caught in the loss side just rose to 10 million BTC. It is worth noting that this figure marks the fourth-highest reading ever since its existence.

According to the reading, an additional 70,000 BTC from those purchased between February 6 and 24 are in loss. As a result of this, the circulating supply is believed to hit 20 million BTC next week, which represents a 50% in loss. Given the massive supply loss, the potential of a market bottom already taking place is high. This is because history suggests that it would be sufficient capital destruction for a bear market bottom.

BTC’s Investors’ Action In The Current Market State

Darkfost highlighted that it is crucial to continue examining the actions of the various investor cohorts in the market as long as the BTC situation does not improve. BTC Long-Term Holders are the primary investors in the framework, known to be less sensitive to short-term price fluctuations.

The average profit of the long-term holders is currently positioned at 74%, but this is steadily dropping as prices move closer to the LTH cost basis estimated at around $38,900. However, this cost base is static and continues to increase over time as STHs that purchased Bitcoin at higher prices move into the LTH category. 

Historic data reveal that a final capitulation phase defined by realized losses of about 20% has been triggered by price breaching below this cost basis in every bear market. Meanwhile, the market tends to rebuild the necessary foundations for a trend reversal after this phase has concluded.

Darfost noted that this should be viewed as an observation based on a small number of instances rather than a rule. However, it remains a scenario worth considering and preparing for. Given how this cycle has evolved, with the arrival of institutions, corporate entities, and even sovereign actors, the possibility of these structural changes being sufficient to shift the outcome becomes high. 

Darkfost has warned against following those claiming uncertainty on this matter. “Nothing is predictable, and the market ultimately dictates the outcome,” the expert added.

Ripple’s aggressive expansion strategy is once again under scrutiny from disgruntled XRP investors. What was presented as a milestone moment for the company has instead reignited debate over whether Ripple’s ecosystem growth is translating into measurable value for XRP holders.

XRP Price Slumps Despite Ripple’s Hidden Road Deal

In late 2025, Brad Garlinghouse announced the completion of Hidden Road’s acquisition, now rebranded as Ripple Prime. For many XRP investors, such announcements carry expectations. If XRP is foundational to Ripple’s ecosystem, then major corporate wins should, in theory, reflect in the token’s market performance. Instead, the price action has told a different story.

Over the past two months alone, XRP has declined by more than 25%, underperforming during a period that included positive corporate developments. Historically, similar announcements have triggered short-lived volatility but rarely sustained upward momentum. The pattern has created a perception gap between corporate growth narratives and investor outcomes.

Amid XRP’s continued price weakness, an analyst resurfaced Garlinghouse’s post on the Hidden Road deal, arguing that investors are funding corporate expansion that mainly benefits executives. He maintained that billions tied to the ecosystem have been used to acquire traditional financial firms, while token holders have seen little in return. For price-focused investors, acquisitions mean little unless they materially lift XRP’s value.

This disconnect explains the mounting frustration, as holders are primarily concerned with capital appreciation, liquidity growth, and long-term upside. When high-profile acquisitions are announced, expectations rise. When price charts fail to respond meaningfully, those expectations turn into skepticism. The recurring cycle of optimism followed by muted market reaction has intensified scrutiny around whether Ripple’s expansion strategy directly benefits XRP investors.

Broader Acquisition Strategy May Shape Long-Term Outcomes

Hidden Road is only one component of Ripple’s recent expansion. Garlinghouse also pointed to GTreasury, Rail, Standard Custody, and Metaco as part of a concentrated acquisition push over the past two years.

The 2023 acquisition of Metaco strengthened institutional-grade custody infrastructure. Standard Custody, added in 2024, enhanced regulated asset safeguarding capabilities. Rail expanded payment rails, while GTreasury integrated enterprise treasury management tools into Ripple’s ecosystem. Each deal broadened Ripple’s operational footprint across custody, settlement, payments, and financial services.

Beyond acquisitions, Ripple has maintained partnerships with financial institutions and payment providers across global corridors, steadily embedding its infrastructure into traditional finance frameworks. Collectively, these moves represent vertical integration and long-term positioning rather than short-term market catalysts.

While XRP’s immediate price response has been limited, these integrations may serve as foundational infrastructure for future demand dynamics. Institutional custody, treasury management, prime brokerage, and payment rails could, over time, increase the token’s utility within Ripple’s ecosystem.

For now, price performance remains the primary concern for holders. However, the accumulation of regulated entities and enterprise-grade platforms may indicate that Ripple is building structural depth before potential market repricing. Whether that foundation ultimately translates into sustained XRP appreciation remains to be seen, but the company’s acquisition strategy suggests a long-term roadmap that extends beyond immediate market reactions.

Crypto analyst Crypto Patel has stated that this is not the first time that XRP has crashed 69%. He provided a positive outlook for the altcoin, noting that it recorded a parabolic rally the last time this happened. 

XRP Pumped 835% Last Time It Crashed 69%

In an X post, Crypto Patel stated that XRP rallied 835% the last time it crashed 69%, suggesting that this was a reason to remain positive despite the current downtrend. The analyst noted that the altcoin is trading around $1.39 after breaking down from the $2 support zone. It is currently retesting the higher time-frame demand level, which previously served as the upper boundary of the multi-year accumulation zone.  

Crypto Patel also noted that XRP already a 69% correction from its recent all-time high (ATH) of $3.66, with a classic breakout-retest setup forming. Furthermore, price is testing a critical support zone after an explosive 835% rally from accumulation. The analyst also alluded to on-chain indicators, noting that XRP has just posted its largest realized loss spike since November 2022. There has been $1.93 billion in weekly losses as holders capitulate. He indicated that this may be a positive, as extreme capitulation often signals a local bottom. 

The analyst also touched on the current technical structure for XRP. The bullish support zone is between $0.86 and $0.66. As such, the price must hold above $0.66 for bullish continuation. A multi-year breakout, retest, and accumulation zone confluence will signal strong demand. A massive capitulation event and key support will signal a high probability reversal zone. Meanwhile, a weekly close below $0.66 will invalidate the bullish thesis, the analyst said.

Upside Targets For The Altcoin

Crypto Patel stated that the upside targets for XRP are $2, $3, $5, and $10, which represent a 10x rally from the accumulation zone below $1. The analyst opined that the altcoin is currently trading at a generational re-accumulation zone after a breakout retest. He added that the $1.93 billion capitulation event often marks the bottom as smart money accumulates while weak hands exit. 

In the meantime, crypto analyst CasiTrades has warned that XRP could still drop lower. She noted that price is starting to gather sell strength and the trendline break is looking to form resistance. She further remarked that the altcoin is losing the B-wave low, shifting momentum towards support, with the $1.11 and $0.87 levels as the main downside targets. 

CasiTrades also mentioned that the local resistance is at $1.40 and that, as long as the altcoin stays below it, the market is likely headed lower. As such, she declared that this is still a no-trade zone and urged market participants to wait for lower supports to be reached or a flip of the $1.65 macro resistance. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.37, up over 3% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Americans lost $333 million to crypto ATM fraud last year alone. That staggering number sits at the heart of why Bitcoin Depot, the country’s biggest Bitcoin ATM operator, just made a sweeping change to how it does business — one that affects every single person who walks up to one of its machines.

Starting this February, the company began rolling out a requirement for customers to show identification before completing any transaction, not just when signing up for the first time. No ID, no Bitcoin. Simple as that.

A History Of Half-Measures

It is not as though Bitcoin Depot had never tried to address fraud before. Back in October 2025, the company introduced ID checks for new users joining the platform. But returning customers? They could keep transacting without further scrutiny. Critics say that gap was wide enough for bad actors to slip through — and the numbers suggest they did exactly that.

The FBI’s data on crypto ATM-related fraud losses last year made it impossible to ignore the scale of the problem. Scammers, many of them targeting elderly Americans, have perfected a disturbing routine: they coach victims into feeding cash into Bitcoin ATMs under false pretenses — fake government notices, phony tech support calls — then vanish once the money clears. Because Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed, victims are almost always left with nothing.

Legal Heat From All Directions

Bitcoin Depot has not just been dealing with bad headlines. It has been dealing with lawyers. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell filed a lawsuit against the company this month, alleging it knowingly allowed crypto scams to happen while stripping away fraud protections.

Campbell’s office asked a court to block Bitcoin Depot from accepting any transaction above $10,000 unless additional fraud-prevention steps were taken.

Maine told a different story — one with a price tag. The company reached a $1.9 million settlement with that state’s consumer credit bureau after agreeing to return money to scam victims. And Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled, somewhat controversially, that Bitcoin Depot was legally permitted to keep cash deposited through scams, since customers must confirm they own the receiving wallet.

According to reports, at least 17 US states have now passed laws demanding better protections at crypto ATMs, including daily spending limits and clearer fraud warnings posted on the machines.

9,000 Machines, One New Rule

Bitcoin Depot’s reach is enormous. Reports say the company operates over 9,000 kiosks across North America, making it the dominant player in a US market that accounts for 78% of all Bitcoin ATMs worldwide — more than 31,000 machines in total, based on data from Coin ATM Radar.

CEO Scott Buchanan framed the new ID policy as a security upgrade, not just a legal shield. “By requiring identity verification at every transaction, we are taking an additional step to strengthen security, protect customers, and maintain the integrity of our services,” he said.

The company says continuous verification will allow it to flag suspicious behavior tied to specific customers, locations, or amounts before a transaction is even approved.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin may be shaping a bottoming structure that looks like the formation seen at the end of the 2018 bear market, according to crypto analyst Osemka. After reviewing past macro lows, the analyst is of the notion that the current Bitcoin setup is not similar to the 2022 cycle but instead is closer to the drawn-out descending pattern that preceded BTC’s price action in 2019.

The comparison is based on a falling resistance structure, a potential liquidity sweep below $60,000, a bear market bottom, and the development of a bullish divergence on multiple timeframes.

Descending Structure Points To Bear Market Bottom

Bitcoin is currently trading around $65,000, meaning it has dropped by about half from its October 2025 peak price of $126,080. By that measure, BTC has already entered bearish territory, and investor sentiment of extreme fear also supports that view. 

In an analysis posted on X, Osemka explained that after reviewing all major macro lows on Bitcoin, the current setup resembles the 2018 bear market bottom more closely than the 2022 bear market bottom. The chart he shared shows a descending pattern with a falling blue trendline that connects successive lower highs made by Bitcoin’s price action in February.

The structure shows price trading below the descending resistance, much like the late-2018 environment when Bitcoin continued to grind lower. According to the analyst, the present pattern appears to be forming a similar liquidity setup, and Bitcoin’s price is expected to gradually bleed lower before a final decisive move.

Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: @Osemka8 on X

Liquidity Hunt To $60,000, 3D Bullish Divergence As Bottom Signal

An important part of Osemka’s bottom prediction is the possibility of a liquidity sweep just below $60,000. The chart includes a dotted horizontal line near that level as a downside target where resting liquidity may sit.

The idea is that if Bitcoin continues to follow the 2018 price action, then it could continue to fall and briefly dip below $60,000, which would then absorb sell-side liquidity before stabilizing. If a comparable liquidity hunt unfolds, it could complete the descending pattern. Until then, the analyst’s message is patience.

Another major factor highlighted in the chart is the formation of a 3D bullish divergence. This is a case where BTC prints lower lows across multiple time frames, but a momentum indicator like RSI, MACD, or Stochastic makes a higher low. 

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $65,100 and is only a 7.8% correction move away from breaking below $60,000. Bitcoin is increasingly at risk of breaking below this level, with the fear and greed index at an extreme fear level of 11. This trend is reflected in persistent outflows from US Spot Bitcoin ETFs. The funds have now recorded five straight weeks of net withdrawals.

TD Cowen is reiterating a bullish medium-term path for Bitcoin, projecting roughly $225,000 per coin by the end of fiscal 2027, while sketching an upside scenario that would take the asset to around $450,000. The call leans on tokenization as a structural demand driver, but the firm flags that the relationship it’s modeling may not hold if market dynamics evolve differently than expected.

TD Cowen’s Bitcoin Outlook

In a research note dated Feb. 24, 2026, TD Cowen framed its more aggressive scenario around two interacting assumptions: “the number of tokenized assets increases 100-fold (over time)” and transaction velocity tied to those assets falls by 90%. Under those conditions, the firm said its analysis “suggests a potential five-fold increase in the price of bitcoin, to roughly $450k per coin.”

The $450,000 figure is positioned as a “bull case” illustration rather than a point forecast. TD Cowen emphasizes that its current base expectation is lower, writing: “our current forecast calls for Bitcoin to reach a price of ~$225k per coin by the end of FY27.”

The firm adds a key caveat about methodology and uncertainty: “While not a bottom-up forecast, our current Bitcoin price estimate reflects a variety of assumptions, one of which is increased tokenization of real-world assets, potentially including equity securities. Though we believe our assumptions are well-supported by trends observed to date, there can be no assurance that these relationships hold going forward.”

The logic is straightforward: if tokenized real-world assets proliferate and the on-chain “velocity” associated with those assets slows sharply, the implied value captured by the underlying settlement asset in TD Cowen’s framework rises. The note doesn’t present this as a mechanical law, but as a sensitivity to how tokenization adoption and transactional behavior could reshape demand conditions around crypto rails.

Policy remains the other major moving part in TD Cowen’s broader crypto framework. In early January, the firm pointed to market-structure legislation,specifically the CLARITY Act, as a potential catalyst that could formalize jurisdictional lines across the SEC and CFTC and bring clearer rules for staking, custody, and trading platforms.

TD Cowen wrote at the time: “We believe there is room for compromise on all the issues in ways that the crypto sector can accept.” But it warned the harder constraint may be political rather than technical: “The problem will be the White House as Senate Democrats will likely insist on ethics rules for elected officials including the President and his family.”

The bank’s timeline expectation is that Congress acts this year, but not without slippage risk. “We expect Congress will enact legislation in 2026,” TD Cowen wrote, “though there is a risk it could spill into 1H 2027.”

Still, the firm’s Bitcoin targets arrive with fresh scrutiny after a recent miss. In mid-October last year, with Bitcoin around $111,000, TD Cowen projected $141,000 by December; instead, Bitcoin closed the year near $88,000.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $65,422.

Компании, которые копили эфир, стали распродавать криптовалюту в убыток на фоне снижения рыночного спроса и падения цен: FG Nexus потеряла $82,8 млн, Forward Industries — $10,8 млн.