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Tag: Bitcoin

  • Top Analyst Says ‘Paper Bitcoin’ Is Driving The Market, Not The 21 Million Supply Cap

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    A new theory circulating in the crypto market is challenging how investors interpret Bitcoin’s recent price decline. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), market analyst Crypto Rover argued that Bitcoin is no longer trading as a simple supply-and-demand asset, and that this structural shift is a major reason behind the current sell-off.

    A ‘Parallel Financial Layer’

    Rover’s central claim is that although Bitcoin’s on-chain supply cap of 21 million coins has not changed, the way Bitcoin is traded in modern financial markets has effectively diluted its scarcity. 

    According to him, focusing only on spot buying and selling misses what is really driving price action today. BTC, he says, no longer moves primarily based on physical ownership of coins, but on activity in massive derivatives markets that now dominate price discovery.

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    As the analyst highlighted, in Bitcoin’s early years, its valuation rested on two fundamental principles: a strictly fixed supply of 21 million coins and the impossibility of duplicating that supply. 

    These features made Bitcoin uniquely scarce, with prices largely determined by real buyers and sellers exchanging coins in the spot market. However, over time, Rover asserts that a “parallel financial layer” developed on top of the blockchain itself.

    This financial layer includes cash‑settled futures, perpetual swaps, options contracts, prime brokerage lending, wrapped Bitcoin products such as WBTC, and total return swaps. 

    None of these instruments create new Bitcoin on the blockchain, but they do create synthetic exposure to Bitcoin’s price. According to Rover, this synthetic exposure now plays a central role in determining how Bitcoin trades.

    As derivatives trading volumes grew and eventually surpassed spot market activity, Rover argues that Bitcoin’s price stopped responding mainly to on‑chain coin movement. 

    Instead, prices increasingly reflect leverage, trader positioning, margin stress, and liquidation dynamics. In practical terms, this means Bitcoin can move sharply even when there is little actual buying or selling of real coins.

    Why Bitcoin Moves Without Spot Selling

    Rover also highlights the concept of synthetic supply, explaining that a single Bitcoin can now be used simultaneously across multiple financial products. 

    One coin may back an exchange-traded fund (ETF) share while also supporting a futures contract, a perpetual swap hedge, options exposure, a broker loan, or a structured investment product. 

    While this does not increase Bitcoin’s actual supply, it dramatically increases the amount of tradable exposure linked to that same coin. When this synthetic exposure grows large compared with the real supply of Bitcoin, the market’s perception of scarcity weakens. 

    This phenomenon, often described as synthetic float expansion, changes how prices behave. Rallies are more easily shorted using derivatives, leverage builds rapidly, liquidations become more frequent, and volatility increases. 

    According to Rover, this structural shift makes price movements feel disconnected from on‑chain fundamentals. Yet, the analyst notes that the leading cryptocurrency is not unique in this regard. 

    Similar transitions occurred in markets such as gold, silver, oil, and major equity indices. In each case, once derivatives markets overtook physical trading, price discovery moved away from supply alone and became increasingly influenced by financial positioning.

    This framework also helps explain why Bitcoin sometimes declines even in the absence of heavy spot selling. Price pressure can come from forced liquidations of leveraged long positions, aggressive futures shorting, options hedging activity, or ETF arbitrage trades. 

    Importantly, Rover emphasizes that Bitcoin’s hard cap has not changed at the protocol level. The 21 million limit remains intact on the blockchain. 

    What has changed, he argues, is the financial structure surrounding Bitcoin. He concluded his analysis by asserting that in today’s markets, “paper Bitcoin” has become more influential than physical ownership, and that dominance is playing a key role in the market’s recent instability.

    The 1-D chart shows BTC’s recovery above $70,000 on Friday. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com

    Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

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    Ronaldo Marquez

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  • Dow crosses 50,000 for first time as stocks enjoy strongest day since May 2025

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    The U.S. stock market roared back on Friday, as technology stocks recovered much of their losses from earlier in the week and bitcoin halted its plunge.

    The S&P 500 rallied 2% for its best day since May, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,206 points, or 2.5%, and topped the 50,000 level for the first time. The Nasdaq composite rose 2.2%.

    The S&P 500 jumped 134 points to close at 6,932. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,207 to 50,115.67 and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 491 points to 23,031.

    “Stocks are wrapping up a volatile week of trade on a high note. The S&P 500 has once again bounced directly off support at the 100-day moving average and surpassed resistance at 6,900. Broad-based buying pressure powered today’s rally as advancing shares are outpacing decliners by over 3:1,” Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial, said in an email.

    Tech companies helped drive the widespread rally, with chipmaker Nvidia jumping 7.8% to trim its loss for the week. Semiconductor company Broadcom climbed 7.1% and erased its drop for the week.

    The two companies propped up the S&P 500, boosted by hopes for continued spending by customers on artificial-intelligence. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, for example, said late Thursday it expects to spend about $200 billion on investments this year to take advantage of “seminal opportunities like AI, chips, robotics, and low earth orbit satellites.”

    Such immense spending, similar to what Alphabet announced a day earlier, is creating concerns of its own, though. The question is whether all those dollars will generate profits to eclipse the spending. Amazon’s stock dropped 5.6% amid ongoing doubt about whether investment in AI will pay off for tech giants.

    Even with Friday’s surge, the S&P 500 still fell to its third losing week in the last four. Concerns about AI potentially taking away market share from software companies also hurt the market. Software stocks suffered after AI firm Anthropic released free tools to automate things like legal services.

    Bitcoin rebound

    Bitcoin, meanwhile, steadied following a weekslong plunge that sent it more than halfway below its record price set in October. It climbed back above $70,000 after briefly dropping close to $60,000 late Thursday.

    Prices in the metals market also calmed a bit following their own wild swings. Gold rose 1.8% to settle at $4,979.80 per ounce, while silver added 0.2%.

    Their prices suddenly ran out of momentum last week following jaw-dropping rallies, which were driven by turning to the safe-haven asset amid concerns over mounting global geopolitical uncertainty. 

    On Wall Street, the recovery for bitcoin helped stocks of companies enmeshed in the crypto economy. Robinhood Markets jumped 14% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500. Crypto trading platform Coinbase Global rose 13%. Strategy, the company that’s made a business of buying and holding bitcoin, soared 26.1%.

    Improving consumer sentiment

    Stocks of smaller U.S. companies also helped lead the market, as well as those that depend on U.S. households spending more money, which benefited from encouraging consumer sentiment data.

    A preliminary report from the University of Michigan suggested sentiment among U.S. consumers is improving slightly, surprising economists. The improvement was strongest among households that own stocks, which are benefiting from the S&P 500 setting a record late last month.

    “Market sentiment improved after today’s positive report out of the University of Michigan. Median 1-year inflation expectations hit the lowest since January 2025, providing some comfort for investors eager to see improving inflation metrics,” Jeffrey Roach, chief economist for LPL Financial, said in an email. “We think the markets may have to work through more jitters with a new Fed chair, but in the end, we think the Fed will cut rates later this year, which will grease the skids for more market appreciation.”

    To be sure, sentiment “remained at dismal levels for consumers without stock holdings,” according to Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu.

    Airline stocks strengthened with hopes that more confidence among U.S. households will translate into more spending on trips. That included gains of 9.3% for United Airlines, 8% for Delta Air Lines and 7.6% for American Airlines.

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  • Strategy: Balance Sheet Stable Unless BTC Falls Below This Critical Level

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    Strategy’s Bitcoin reserves cover debt, and only a prolonged drop to $8,000 could possibly force restructuring.

    Strategy CEO Phong Le told investors on Thursday that the company’s balance sheet remains stable despite recent crypto market turbulence, though extreme scenarios could pose challenges.

    The firm, the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin (BTC) holder, says it would only need to consider restructuring or additional capital if the cryptocurrency fell to $8,000 and remained there for five to six years.

    Balance Sheet Holds Amid Bitcoin Sell-Off

    According to reporting by The Block, Le, speaking during Strategy’s fourth-quarter earnings call, emphasized that even after recent market losses, the company’s Bitcoin reserves comfortably cover its convertible debt.

    “In the extreme downside, if we were to have a 90% decline in Bitcoin price, and the price was $8,000, that is the point at which our Bitcoin reserve equals our net debt, and we would then look at restructuring, issuing additional equity, issuing additional debt,” he said.

    The call came after a sharp sell-off across crypto markets, with BTC down roughly 7% in 24 hours, trading just under $66,000 at the time of writing. Strategy’s stock, MSTR, slid 17% to $107, erasing much of its gains from late 2025 and leaving it down about 72% over six months.

    Analysts on social media noted that today’s session saw Bitcoin drop more than $10,000, the first time it has ever dipped by such an amount in a single day, according to The Kobeissi Letter. The dramatic loss in value was part of a structural market downturn that has wiped out $2.2 trillion in crypto market value since mid-October 2025.

    Executive Chairman Michael Saylor also spoke in the call, dismissing concerns about quantum computing threats to Bitcoin as “horrible FUD” and outlining plans for a security initiative to support potential upgrades, including quantum resistance.

    He reiterated that Strategy’s long-term approach is designed to withstand volatility, pointing to supportive U.S. regulatory developments and the growing integration of Bitcoin into credit markets and corporate balance sheets.

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    Strategic Outlook

    Strategy is still expanding its Bitcoin holdings despite short-term price swings. Earlier this week, the company acquired 855 BTC for $75.3 million at an average price near $88,000, bringing its total reserves to over 713,500 units.

    The buy followed a $25 billion accumulation in 2025 and a $1.25 billion purchase in early 2026, funded largely through capital raises.

    Saylor has argued that the significance of Bitcoin treasury companies lies in credit optionality and institutional adoption rather than daily price action. According to him, firms holding BTC on balance sheets can leverage assets for debt issuance, lending, or financial services, giving them flexibility that ETFs lack.

    While sentiment has deteriorated sharply in recent months, he framed these developments as part of a long-term integration of digital capital into global financial systems, rather than a short-term price event.

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    Wayne Jones

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  • Bitcoin Shaken By Major Capitulation Event As Price Drops To $65K

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    They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that’s not just a metaphor, it’s a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

    Christian’s journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

    Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling – right up his alley!

    So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he’s one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

    Think Christian’s all work and no play? Not a chance! When he’s not at his computer, you’ll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

    Speaking of chill, Christian’s got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

    Here’s the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day – and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

    Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors – and bosses – he deeply respects.

    So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

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    Christian Encila

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  • Trump’s Pick for Fed Chair Points to Growing Bitcoin-Dollar Synthesis

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    On Friday, it was revealed that President Trump’s pick to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in May will be Kevin Warsh, who previously served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors during the Bush and Obama administrations. The pick has garnered strong attention in the crypto industry, as Warsh has made mixed statements on bitcoin, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, and blockchain technology over the years.

    While Warsh previously espoused the benefits of CBDCs over stablecoins, he was also an investor in stablecoin startup Basis, which developed a specific type of stablecoin, known as an algorithmic stablecoin, similar to the one involved in the crypto collapse of 2022. Additionally, Warsh was involved in the early days of Bitwise Asset Management, which now operates publicly-traded exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for bitcoin and other crypto assets.

    In terms of bitcoin specifically, Warsh has made remarks that range from neutral to positive. He once told CNBC that bitcoin is effectively gold for anyone under the age of 40. More recently, he defended bitcoin in an interview on Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, stating, “Bitcoin doesn’t trouble me. I think of it as an important asset that can help inform policy makers when they’re doing things right and wrong. It is not a substitute to the dollar. I think it can often be a very good policeman for policy.”

     

    When you put together Warsh’s comments on bitcoin and stablecoins, it gels with the Trump administration’s policies on crypto, which include the use of stablecoins to reinforce U.S. monetary hegemony and the establishment of a national bitcoin reserve. Warsh’s remarks on bitcoin acting as a method of keeping policymakers in check will also jive with research from Jal Toorey, who has long-argued bitcoin is the ideal basis for mathematician John Nash’s (yes, the one from A Beautiful Mind fame) Ideal Money concept.

    All of this may sound generally positive for bitcoin; however, the reality is the price of the crypto asset initially fell on the news of Warsh’s impending nomination. According to a report in CoinDesk, this was likely due to Warsh’s past remarks that point to a generally more hawkish stance on Fed policy than what was expected from Trump, who has constantly derided Powell for not lowering interest rates. That said, it’s important that the Fed chairman does not have unilateral power over central bank policy.

    Although bitcoin is often touted as a safe haven asset similar to gold, it has more often than not moved as a risk-on asset in times of economic uncertainty, as illustrated by the recent tension around Greenland. Of course, gold itself has also been acting much more like bitcoin when it comes to price volatility lately.

    At the end of the day, it’s still extremely early in terms of central bank interest in bitcoin, with Governor of the Bank of France François Villeroy de Galhau recently revealing that he didn’t know bitcoin has no central issuer during a discussion with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong at The World Economic Forum. That said, the Czech National Bank did acquire some bitcoin as part of a pilot program last year, not long after European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said such activity would never happen.

    It’s difficult to know what Warsh’s exact policy preferences will be once he’s back at the Fed, but his nomination does further the discussion around a potential synergistic relationship between bitcoin and the U.S. dollar. With U.S. debt having reached unsustainable levels and foreign central banks holding more gold than U.S. treasuries for the first time since 1996, one has to wonder if an economic adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin was right to call out the United States for their alleged crypto-focused plan to maintain monetary dominance in an increasingly digital and seemingly multi-polar world. That said, as the use of Tether stablecoin USDT by the Maduro regime in Venezuela and the Central Bank of Iran has shown, crypto can also be a double-edged sword for the U.S.

    Of course, there’s also the matter of the Trump family fortune now being tied to the success of the crypto industry in the U.S. to consider, with $1.4 billion in crypto profits enjoyed last year amid allegations of unprecedented corruption and pay-to-play schemes. This sort of profiteering could eventually lead to political backlash, as Senate Democrats have repeatedly stated these conflicts of interest need to be addressed in the CLARITY Act.

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    Kyle Torpey

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  • Bitcoin Adjusted SOPR Shows Market At Pivotal Junction — What’s Next?

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    Semilore Faleti is a cryptocurrency writer specialized in the field of journalism and content creation. While he started out writing on several subjects, Semilore soon found a knack for cracking down on the complexities and intricacies in the intriguing world of blockchains and cryptocurrency.

    Semilore is drawn to the efficiency of digital assets in terms of storing, and transferring value. He is a staunch advocate for the adoption of cryptocurrency as he believes it can improve the digitalization and transparency of the existing financial systems.

    In two years of active crypto writing, Semilore has covered multiple aspects of the digital asset space including blockchains, decentralized finance (DeFi), staking, non-fungible tokens (NFT), regulations and network upgrades among others.

    In his early years, Semilore honed his skills as a content writer, curating educational articles that catered to a wide audience. His pieces were particularly valuable for individuals new to the crypto space, offering insightful explanations that demystified the world of digital currencies.

    Semilore also curated pieces for veteran crypto users ensuring they were up to date with the latest blockchains, decentralized applications and network updates. This foundation in educational writing has continued to inform his work, ensuring that his current work remains accessible, accurate and informative.

    Currently at NewsBTC, Semilore is dedicated to reporting the latest news on cryptocurrency price action, on-chain developments and whale activity. He also covers the latest token analysis and price predictions by top market experts thus providing readers with potentially insightful and actionable information.

    Through his meticulous research and engaging writing style, Semilore strives to establish himself as a trusted source in the crypto journalism field to inform and educate his audience on the latest trends and developments in the rapidly evolving world of digital assets.

    Outside his work, Semilore possesses other passions like all individuals. He is a big music fan with an interest in almost every genre. He can be described as a “music nomad” always ready to listen to new artists and explore new trends.

    Semilore Faleti is also a strong advocate for social justice, preaching fairness, inclusivity, and equity. He actively promotes the engagement of issues centred around systemic inequalities and all forms of discrimination.

    He also promotes political participation by all persons at all levels. He believes active contribution to governmental systems and policies is the fastest and most effective way to bring about permanent positive change in any society.

    In conclusion, Semilore Faleti exemplifies the convergence of expertise, passion, and advocacy in the world of crypto journalism. He is a rare individual whose work in documenting the evolution of cryptocurrency will remain relevant for years to come.

    His dedication to demystifying digital assets and advocating for their adoption, combined with his commitment to social justice and political engagement, positions him as a dynamic and influential voice in the industry.

    Whether through his meticulous reporting at NewsBTC or his fervent promotion of fairness and equity, Semilore continues to inform, educate, and inspire his audience, striving for a more transparent and inclusive financial future.

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    Semilore Faleti

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  • Why Gold & Silver’s All-Time Highs Are Very Bullish For Bitcoin And Altcoins

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    Gold and silver have recently dominated headlines, outperforming both Bitcoin and altcoins in the broader crypto market. While both precious metals recorded new all-time highs in 2026, many altcoins failed to reach similar milestones. Bitcoin, by contrast, did achieve an ATH in 2025; however, following that peak, its price retraced sharply to new lows. With this in mind, analysts argue that the strength of gold and silver does not pose a threat to digital assets. Instead, they interpret the divergence as a major bullish signal for Bitcoin and altcoins. 

    Gold And Silver ATH Signals Bitcoin And Altcoins Upside

    Crypto market expert Mark Chadwick delivered a detailed analysis of precious metals and cryptocurrencies on X this week, pointing to what he calls “the biggest price divergence” ever recorded between gold and Bitcoin. His chart and analysis suggest that a strong performance in gold could be a major indicator for a potential rally in cryptocurrencies. 

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    Chadwick noted that gold has surged aggressively, reaching an ATH of over $5,600 in January 2026. This price rally has pushed the metal into extreme overbought levels on higher timeframes. In contrast, Bitcoin is facing prolonged weakness and negative sentiment in 2026, despite reaching an all-time high above $126,000 in October 2025. 

    Source: X

    The analyst suggested that this performance imbalance has reached levels that typically signal a major market shift. Gold and silver have been boosted by factors such as central bank accumulation, inflation hedging, and geopolitical pressures. At the same time, Bitcoin has been weighed down by tighter liquidity, reduced investor interest, and risk-off conditions. As a result,  traditional safe-haven assets have entered overbought territory, leaving BTC and altcoins largely overlooked. 

    Chadwick argues that markets move in cycles driven by sentiment and positioning. When one asset becomes excessively overbought, returns diminish, and capital seeks higher upside elsewhere. In past macro cycles, periods of strong performance in gold and silver have often been followed by capital rotating into higher-risk assets once fear subsides. 

    Based on his analysis, Bitcoin’s current positioning reflects exhaustion rather than structural weakness. Chadwick believes that when manipulation ends and capital starts flowing out of gold and silver into BTC, it could set the stage for a sharp rebound in the leading cryptocurrency. Since altcoins typically follow Bitcoin’s performance, the analyst expects that once Bitcoin regains momentum, some of that profit could also rotate into select altcoins, fueling a price rally. 

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    How High Bitcoin And Altcoins Could Rally 

    Chadwick has stated that Bitcoin’s price could easily surge 10x as capital flows back into it and market sentiment and liquidity improve. However, the chart outlines a short-term rally, projecting a 91.60% rise to $170,000 from the $82,000 region. The analyst also predicted that altcoins could rise 50-100x, reflecting a staggering potential for gains in the crypto market. 

    He concluded his analysis by emphasizing that smart money knows massive returns often come from diversification. From this perspective, the current ATHs of gold and silver do not undermine cryptocurrencies but signal an upcoming shift in capital. 

    Bitcoin price chart from Tradingview.com
    BTC falls to $82,000 | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com

    Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

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    Sandra White

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  • Why Is Bitcoin Lagging Gold And Silver? Anthony Pompliano Explains

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    Gold and silver have gone on a record-setting tear in recent months, ripping through fresh all-time highs, while Bitcoin has been stuck grinding sideways in a tight $84,000–$94,000 box since mid-November. In a January 27 video posted to X, Anthony Pompliano argued the gap is less about a single catalyst and more about shifting demand drivers, market structure, and a new fight for attention and risk capital.

    Pompliano framed the disconnect with blunt scorekeeping. “We have gold, which is up 80% in the last year. Silver’s up 250%, copper’s up 40%, and platinum’s up nearly 200% over the last 12 months,” he said, before turning to the contrast: “At the same exact time, Bitcoin is down 16% over the last year.”

    In his telling, the metals aren’t moving as a monolith, they’re responding to different sources of demand. Gold, he said, is benefiting from central banks accumulating reserves and what he described as “a definitization of the global economy,” where flows rotate out of dollars not into other fiat, but into gold.

    Silver, by contrast, is less about store-of-value positioning and more about industrial pull. Pompliano pointed to defense equipment, AI hardware, and self-driving cars as examples of end-demand, arguing that “the world is building things again” and that re-industrialization makes silver a direct beneficiary.

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    Copper and platinum, in his framework, are even cleaner industrial stories. Copper rides electrification (EVs, grid buildouts, renewables) and “significant industrial demand.” Platinum’s move, he argued, is supply constrained, describing “very, very low supply” that creates a market structure favorable to holders. Pompliano also highlighted what he called a rotation within metals where gold led, then silver, and more recently copper and platinum, a sequence he dubbed “the metals mania.”

    So Why Hasn’t Bitcoin Joined The Run?

    Pompliano’s first answer was structural: Wall Street’s adoption is changing who holds Bitcoin and how it trades. He described an “IPO moment of Bitcoin,” (referring to Jordy Visser’s theory), where long-term holders have been handing coins off to institutional players.

    In Pompliano’s view, some early holders owned Bitcoin precisely because it was “outside the system,” and the asset’s migration into mainstream finance may reduce enthusiasm from that cohort. He also pointed to public comments from Peter Thiel and others suggesting Bitcoin’s future may be less “asymmetric” than its early years.

    The second structural shift is the proliferation of financial instruments around BTC. “It used to be really hard to short Bitcoin. Well, now you can do it very simply,” Pompliano said, arguing that options and shorting change the market’s plumbing and dampen volatility. “Bitcoin used to be an 80 vol asset. Now it’s more like a 40 vol asset,” he added, positioning the trade-off as fewer parabolic upside phases but also fewer catastrophic drawdowns.

    From there, Pompliano moved to narrative demand — specifically, the idea that Bitcoin had been treated as a “chaos hedge.” He argued that recent perceptions of rising geopolitical stability have reduced the perceived need for that insurance bid, while central banks, with far larger pools of capital, continue to express their hedge preference through gold. “It seems like there is not as much of a bid for Bitcoin coming as this insurance hedge,” he said, stressing he viewed it as a flow and narrative issue rather than a loss of utility.

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    He made a similar point about inflation hedging, claiming disinflation has undercut one of Bitcoin’s most effective recent narratives. Citing Trueflation, Pompliano said the metric showed 1.2% inflation, “150 basis points lower than it was just 90 days ago,” and argued that AI and tariffs are deflationary forces. If investors don’t expect inflation to run hot, he reasoned, some capital simply won’t reach BTC.

    Finally, he argued Bitcoin is losing mindshare and speculative oxygen to AI and to a broader set of “risk-taking” outlets. “There is simply more competition,” Pompliano said, extending the idea beyond markets into an attention economy where every asset competes when users open a financial app and decide where to allocate leftover cash. In that framing, Bitcoin is no longer the default high-upside wager for younger participants; it’s competing with AI equities, prediction markets, and sports betting.

    Pompliano’s closing message was that laggards can catch up and that he sees Bitcoin as “more interesting sitting at $87,000 than it was at $126,000.” But he also cautioned that a lower-volatility, more institutional Bitcoin may demand a different temperament from holders. “If you actually get impatient, you’re going to be disappointed. You’re going to get shaken out,” he said, arguing that the trade increasingly resembles a waiting game rather than a yearly sprint.

    At press time, BTC traded at $88,131.

    Bitcoin still trades between the 0.618 and 0.786 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com

    Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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    Jake Simmons

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  • Gold Hits Record $5K While Bitcoin Struggles To Keep Pace

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    Gold shone brightly today, racing to a new high while crypto took the back seat, and the gap between the two assets opened wide.

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    On Monday, the precious metal moved past the $5,000 mark, registering a price point market sentinels had not witnessed before. Bitcoin, by contrast, failed to keep pace and traded well below its recent highs.

    Gold Hits Record Levels

    Safe-haven demand pushed gold sharply higher. Prices were up above $5k an ounce and inked roughly $5,110 at the peak. Silver, for its part, did not go unnoticed, jumping to fresh peaks near $107/ounce.

    Source: Gold Price

    Traders pointed to simmering geopolitical friction and talk of tougher trade moves led by US President Donald Trump as fuel for the rally.

    A weaker greenback made metals more attractive to customers overseas, and central bank buying provided steady backing. Liquidity in some corners were thin as investors rushed to shift cash into things that feel stable when risk elevates.

    Bitcoin Falls Behind

    Market numbers show Bitcoin hovering in the mid-$80,000s range, retreating from peaks seen late last year. Reports note the alpha crypto is roughly 30% below the highest level it hit reached in October 2025, leaving some holders quite jittery.

    Volatility was another factor. Where bullion is being sought for safety, Bitcoin is viewed more as a growth or speculative play, and that difference in investor application becomes clear when markets tighten. Some funds slashed their crypto exposure, signaling a short reroute away from high-risk gambits.

    BTCUSD currently trading at $87,832. Chart: TradingView

    Why Investors Are Shifting

    Analysts and traders described a simple choice: shelter or swing for gains. When headlines push worry, money flows into assets that are widely trusted across markets and governments.

    Metals fit that ticket. Based on market chatter, fears of a US government funding clash and fresh tariff announcements stacked pressure on stocks and added a sense of urgency to safe-haven acquisition.

    Options and futures trading hinted at a more cautious perpective, with volatility indexes rising and bond yields behaving in ways that made the yellow metal look more appealing by comparison.

    Related Reading

    What Traders Are Watching

    Market watchers said eyes will be glued on a few key metrics: The dollar’s path, moves by major central banks, and any sign that US politics escalates could keep metals elevated.

    For Bitcoin, network activity, large wallet flows, and regulatory headlines will likely set the tone. Some traders expect swings both ways. Others caution that when risk appetite is back, crypto may bounce hard, but that outcome is not a sure thing and will be dependent on a string of policy and macro moves.

    Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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    Christian Encila

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  • New Jersey Man Gets 12 Years After Using Bitcoin to Pay Chinese Fentanyl Suppliers

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    Prosecutors say the conspirators moved fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine, distributing bulk drugs and fake pills.

    A Passaic County man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale fentanyl distribution and money laundering conspiracy that involved the use of Bitcoin to pay overseas drug suppliers, according to the latest press release shared by the US Department of Justice.

    William Panzera, 53, of North Haledon, New Jersey, was sentenced following his conviction for drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy.

    Counterfeit Pills, Real Fentanyl

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Panzera was a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for importing and distributing hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues and other controlled substances. Prosecutors said Panzera and his co-conspirators agreed to import and distribute fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine.

    The drugs were sourced from suppliers in China and were distributed across New Jersey, both in bulk form and as counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that contained fentanyl analogues rather than legitimate medication.

    Authorities said the conspiracy resulted in the importation of more than a metric ton of fentanyl-related substances and other drugs into the United States. To pay for the shipments, members of the organization sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using a combination of wire transfers and Bitcoin (BTC).

    Panzera was convicted at trial in January 2025. The Justice Department stated that eight other defendants connected to the case have previously pleaded guilty.

    Fentanyl Trafficking on Dark Web

    This case comes as part of a broader crackdown on fentanyl trafficking and illicit drug networks coordinated by US and international authorities. In May 2025, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation RapTor, a large-scale international law enforcement initiative targeting dark web drug markets.

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    The operation led to the arrest of 270 individuals worldwide and the seizure of more than $200 million in cash and digital assets.

    According to the DOJ, the effort focused on vendors, buyers, and administrators involved in the online trafficking of opioids, particularly fentanyl, and other narcotics. Operation RapTor was conducted in coordination with law enforcement agencies from 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, and Brazil, and was described as the largest takedown in the history of the agency’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team.

    Authorities seized more than two metric tons of drugs, including 144 kilograms of fentanyl-laced substances, in addition to over 180 firearms. The investigation relied on intelligence gathered from previously dismantled darknet markets such as Nemesis and Tor2Door. The operation also saw the first use of sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control as part of a JCODE action.

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  • Record Dormant Bitcoin Supply Enters Market — What’s Next?

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    According to on-chain trackers, a big wave of old Bitcoin has started moving after long dormancy. Coins that sat untouched for more than two years have been transferred in numbers larger than what was seen during past peaks in 2017 and 2021.

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    CryptoQuant analyst Kripto Mevsimi said on-chain data shows that 2024 and 2025 marked the largest release of long-held Bitcoin supply ever recorded. He tracks “revived supply,” or coins that stayed dormant for more than two years before being moved.

    That kind of movement usually means deep-pocketed holders are changing their plans, not small traders chasing a quick gain.

    A Shift Without A Party

    Reports say this release of long-held supply arrived with little fanfare. There was no mass retail mania. Prices did not spike in a frenzy. Instead, the transfers came during a stretch when the market has been under steady pressure from broader financial stress.

    Some of those older coins were likely sold for profit. Some may have been moved for other reasons — custody upgrades, private trades, or to back financial products. On-chain signals show the coins moved, but they do not write the reasons on the blockchain.

    Source: CryptoQuant

    Long-Term Holders Change Course

    Based on reports from analysts tracking these flows, the pattern suggests a changing of the guard. Early adopters who held through multiple cycles and pointed to scarcity and self-control have been trimming positions.

    New buyers are appearing who watch price swings and macro headlines. Institutions, fresh large accounts, and price-driven traders are now shaping much of the market’s short-term activity.

    Global Risk Pressures Risk Assets

    Reports have linked recent weakness in Bitcoin to rising global risk. Research ties part of the pullback to tariff moves by US President Donald Trump, which have pushed investors away from risky assets.

    BTCUSD now trading at $88,992. Chart: TradingView

    Tariffs can dent corporate profits, stir up inflation uncertainty, and change how the market views future rates — all of which hits sentiment. When big markets wobble, crypto often follows. That pressure helps explain why long-held coins moved without the usual hype.

    New Buyers Step Forward

    According To on-chain and price data, institutions and new “whales” are stepping into the gaps left by sellers. Bitcoin has been trading near the high $80k range, with recent figures around $89,140 as markets test demand. The old holders may have taken gains, but the market did not collapse. That shows there is still appetite, even if it is different from the past.

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    This cycle feels different because selling came without euphoria, and buying looks more tactical. That does not mean the story is over. The market might be shifting toward price-sensitive participants and outside financial forces.

    Or the recent calm could be a pause before fresh buying. Either way, these on-chain moves matter. They change where the coins sit, and that changes how future price swings may play out.

    Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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    Christian Encila

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  • Bitcoin Beats S&P 500 Since ETF Launch, Analyst Rebuts Peter Schiff

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    Peter Schiff claimed Bitcoin is now one of Wall Street’s worst-performing assets, renewing his long-running criticism.

    Nate Geraci has responded to Peter Schiff’s latest criticism of Bitcoin (BTC), challenging his claim that the cryptocurrency is lagging behind.

    This comes as data reveals that investors have shifted toward precious metals over the past year.

    Schiff Calls Out Bitcoin’s Poor Performance

    Schiff, a long-time Bitcoin skeptic, recently took to social media to say that the flagship cryptocurrency is now one of the “worst performing assets” on Wall Street.

    “Bitcoin was the best performing asset during a time period when hardly anyone owned it. But ever since Wall Street embraced it and most people bought it, it’s been one of the worst performing assets,” he wrote.

    However, Geraci, president of NovaDius Wealth Management, has disagreed with this view. The analyst responded to him on X, pointing out that Bitcoin has been outperforming the S&P 500, stating:

    “Spot BTC ETFs shattered every ETF launch record (i.e., ‘Wall St embraced it & most people bought it’).”

    He further explained that the cryptocurrency has risen roughly 90% since the ETFs debuted, compared with gains of less than 50% in the broader stock market, expressing frustration with the economist’s constant bearish outlook of the digital asset.

    Schiff has repeatedly criticized Bitcoin on social media in recent months, arguing that it has failed to live up to its reputation as “digital gold,” while also praising the performance of its traditional precious metals counterparts. Last December, he celebrated gold’s surge past $4,400 by challenging his followers with a poll asking whether the metal would hit $5,000 first or the leading cryptocurrency would plunge to $50,000.

    The financial commentator has also previously suggested that Bitcoin’s collapse will occur before any crisis involving the U.S. dollar unfolds.

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    Shifting Market Dynamics

    A new report from Santiment shows that market dynamics are changing, with rising uncertainty about the world’s future outlook pushing investors toward precious metals.

    Data indicates that over the past year, silver has surged by 214%, gold has climbed 77%, and Bitcoin has dropped 16%. This divergence could be interpreted as a bullish sign for the lagging crypto market, as the performance of “digital gold” and metals has frequently alternated over the past decade, with Bitcoin often leading during specific cycles.

    However, some analysts argue that this preference for physical assets could represent a new long-term trend in the market. Overall, institutional investors have been steadily accumulating crypto, a pattern that has been consistent since late November last year.

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  • Bitcoin Supply Overhang Likely To Cap Rallies Above $98,400, Glassnode Says

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    On-chain analytics firm Glassnode has pointed out in a new report how Bitcoin is facing supply overhang beyond the $98,000 region.

    Bitcoin Could Find Resistance Beyond $98,000

    In its latest weekly report, Glassnode has discussed about how the recent Bitcoin rally stalled near the Realized Price of the short-term holders (STHs). The “Realized Price” is an on-chain metric that tracks the cost basis of the average investor or address on the BTC network.

    The STH Realized specifically measures the average acquisition level of traders who purchased within the past 155 days. As the below chart shows, this indicator is located at $98,400 right now.

    This level is around where the recent recovery run hit an obstacle, potentially due to selling from underwater recent buyers who used the rally to exit near their break-even mark.

    Glassnode explained:

    The recent rejection near the Short-Term Holder cost basis at ~$98.4k mirrors the market structure observed in Q1 2022, where repeated failures to reclaim recent buyers’ cost basis prolonged consolidation.

    The STH Realized Price provides a look at the average break-even level of a broad section of the market. For a more granular look, another indicator called the UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD) exists.

    Bitcoin URPD

    From the chart of the Bitcoin URPD, it’s visible that a notable amount of the STH supply has a cost basis between the current level and $98,000 (colored in blue). This supply represents the tokens that were redistributed by top buyers into newer market participants during the price rally.

    Not all top buyers sold, however, as it’s apparent in the graph that at levels around and above $100,000, the long-term holder (LTH) supply is becoming a notable force (shaded in red).

    Coins count under the LTH cohort once they mature past the 155-day age bracket. The fact that LTH supply is building up at these levels suggests some bull market entrants are willing to hold.

    The analytics firm noted:

    This unresolved supply overhang remains a persistent source of sell pressure, likely to cap attempts above the $98.4k STH cost basis and the $100k level. A clean breakout would therefore require a meaningful and sustained acceleration in demand momentum.

    It now remains to be seen how Bitcoin’s upcoming price action would look, particularly in the context that major supply clusters are still sitting underwater.

    BTC Price

    Bitcoin has been following a downward trajectory since its rejection from the STH Realized Price as its value is now trading around $89,100.

    Bitcoin Price Chart

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    Keshav Verma

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  • Coinbase Exec Points Out The Big Difference Between Bitcoin And Central Banks

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    Bitcoin’s role in the global financial system remains widely misunderstood, even at the highest levels of policy and finance. That disconnect surfaced during a major international forum, prompting a pointed clarification from a Coinbase executive. The moment centered on a fundamental question with growing relevance: what truly separates Bitcoin from central banks?

    Bitcoin’s Structural Design Sets It Apart – Coinbase Executive

    During the World Economic Forum in Davos, where global policymakers and financial leaders were debating the future of money and tokenization, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, responded to remarks made by François Villeroy de Galhau, Governor of the Banque de France, who argued that central banks deserve greater trust than Bitcoin because they operate under democratic mandates and institutional oversight.

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    Armstrong’s response focused on how Bitcoin is designed. Bitcoin operates as a decentralized protocol with no issuing authority, no governing committee, and no single entity capable of altering its monetary rules. Its supply is fixed, its issuance is algorithmic, and its operation depends on a distributed network of participants rather than institutional oversight. This design makes Bitcoin structurally independent in a way no central bank can replicate.

    By contrast, central banks sit at the top of national monetary systems. They control currency issuance, influence interest rates, and adjust monetary policy in response to political and economic pressures. Even when described as “independent,” they remain tightly connected to governments and fiscal policy. Armstrong highlighted that this link introduces discretion, policy shifts, and long-term currency debasement through money creation—a vulnerability Bitcoin was explicitly built to avoid.

    This distinction becomes especially relevant during periods of aggressive deficit spending. Because Bitcoin’s supply cannot be expanded, it functions as a constraint rather than a tool. In Armstrong’s view, this makes Bitcoin a direct counterweight to systems where new money can be introduced at will, gradually reducing purchasing power over time. That structural constraint is the foundation of Bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge during periods of uncertainty.

    Trust, Accountability, And Individual Choice

    The exchange also exposed a deeper disagreement about how trust is formed. Villeroy de Galhau emphasized trust in central banks as institutions backed by legal authority and democratic systems. Armstrong countered by reframing trust as something derived from transparency and verifiability rather than institutional reputation. 

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    Armstrong further positioned Bitcoin as an accountability mechanism. Because its supply cannot be adjusted to accommodate government spending, it imposes discipline by design. In this sense, Bitcoin functions less as a policy tool and more as a constraint—similar to how gold historically limited monetary excess. This characteristic has driven its growing perception as a store of value during times of economic uncertainty.

    Importantly, Armstrong did not frame the relationship between Bitcoin and fiat currencies as a zero-sum battle. Instead, he described it as a healthy competition that leaves the ultimate decision with individuals. Users can choose between systems: one based on institutional control and policy flexibility, and another based on fixed rules and decentralization.

    BTC struggles to hold $90,000 | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com

    Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

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    Sandra White

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  • Crypto startup ZBD raises $40 million to power video game payments | Fortune

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    Gamers have long bought and sold digital items like swords, jewels, and spaceship parts. Cryptocurrencies, which are inherently digital, seem like an obvious tie-in. In a bid to make good on that combination and build blockchain payments rails for video games, the Bitcoin payments startup ZBD has raised $40 million in a Series C fundraise.

    Based in New Jersey, the company sells access to video game payments software that can process a variety of transactions, including Bitcoin ones. Blockstream Capital, a crypto investment firm connected to early Bitcoiner Adam Back, led ZBD’s most recent funding round and put in $36 million, Simon Cowell, the startup’s cofounder and CEO, told Fortune. He declined to name the other investors and at what valuation ZBD raised its most recent round.

    “We’re talking about a payment solution for the entire industry that actually really enables them to have a direct financial relationship to the player,” Cowell added.

    Zebedee

    ZBD’s fundraise comes amid a climate of growing pessimism regarding the integration of crypto into video games. Long hailed as one of blockchain’s most obvious use cases, the combination hasn’t achieved the same mainstream adoption that boosters promised during crypto’s bull cycle in 2021 and 2022, when advocates said that NFTs were a clear evolution of in-game collectibles.

    ZBD, though, has never been in the business of NFTs or crypto-based gameplay, and the startup is piggybacking off a crypto use case that has seen adoption: payments. Especially with the rise of stablecoins, or cryptocurrencies pegged to real-world assets like the U.S. dollar, blockchains as payments rails have become a talking point from big fintechs like Stripe and even big banks like JPMorgan Chase.

    It’s apt, then, that Cowell’s background is in financial services, not games. Spending most of his career in asset management, he began working in 2016 for NXMH, a family office that would eventually acquire the crypto exchange Bitstamp. Three years later, the U.K.-native Cowell decided to team up with his other cofounders André Neves and Christian Moss to launch ZBD–named after a character called Zebedee from a French cartoon show. “It didn’t really mean anything,” Cowell said of the company’s name, adding that they just liked the sound of it.

    Rather than stablecoins, the trio focused on Bitcoin and built a company that lets games pay out users in the world’s largest cryptocurrency. But ZBD’s chief strategy officer, Ben Cousens, stressed that crypto payouts aren’t the company’s only area of expertise. Instead of relying on fintechs like Stripe, developers can integrate ZBD’s tech to let gamers more directly send money to each other as well as earn loyalty rewards for repeatedly loading up a video game, he added. “You retain that user because you don’t need to send them out to a third party, because we’re providing the rails,” said Cousens.

    While ZBD’s cofounder Cowell said the startup wasn’t yet profitable and declined to disclose revenue figures, he did say they’ve achieved traction among mobile game developers. The startup of 70 employees worked with 55 games in 2025, he said. And the $40 million the team raised will help it roll out a broader suite of payments products over the next year. “Where we’re moving to is expanding into a more fulsome payment suite,” said Cowell.

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    Ben Weiss

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  • Tom Lee Still Sees Bitcoin At $250,000 But Warns 2026 Gets ‘Jagged’

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    Fundstrat’s Tom Lee reiterated his $250,000 Bitcoin target while cautioning that 2026 could be a “jagged” year for crypto adoption and a turbulent one for broader risk assets, framing any major pullback as a buying window rather than a signal to de-risk.

    Speaking on The Master Investor Podcast with Wilfred Frost in an interview released Jan. 20, Lee said he expects 2026 to ultimately “look like a continuation of the bull market that started in 2022,” but argued markets must first digest several transitions that could deliver a drawdown large enough to “feel like a bear market.”

    $250,000 Bitcoin Call Comes With A 2026 Warning

    Lee pointed to what he described as a “new Fed” dynamic, arguing markets tend to “test” a new chair and that the sequencing of identification, confirmation, and reaction can catalyze a correction. He also warned that the White House could become “more deliberate in picking winners and losers,” expanding the set of sectors, industries, and even countries “in the bullseye,” which he said is already visible in gold’s strength.

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    A third friction point, in his telling, is AI positioning: the market is still calibrating “how much is priced into AI,” from energy needs to data-center capacity, and that uncertainty could linger until other narratives take the baton.

    Pressed on magnitude, Lee said with regards to the S&P 500, the drawdown “could be 10%,” but also “could be 15% or 20%,” potentially producing a “round trip from the start of the year,” before finishing 2026 strong. He added that his institutional clients did not appear aggressively positioned yet, and flagged leverage as a tell: margin debt is at an all-time high, he said, but up 39% year-over-year—below the 60% pace he associates with local market peaks.

    For crypto, Lee leaned on a market-structure explanation for why gold outperformed: he said crypto tracked gold until Oct. 10, when the market suffered what he called “the single largest deleveraging event in the history of crypto,” “bigger than what happened in November 2022 around FTX.”

    After that, he said, Bitcoin fell more than 35% and Ethereum almost 50%, breaking the linkage. “Crypto has periodic deleveraging events,” Lee said. “It really impairs the market makers and the market makers are essentially the central bank of crypto. So many of the market makers I would say maybe half got wiped out on October 10th.”

    That fragility, he argued, doesn’t negate the “digital gold” framing so much as it limits who treats it that way today. “Bitcoin is digital gold,” Lee said, but added that the set of investors who buy that thesis “is not the same universe that owns gold.”

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    Over time, Lee expects the ownership base to broaden, though not smoothly. “Crypto still has a, I think, future adoption curve that’s higher than gold because more people own gold than own crypto,” he said. “But the path to getting that adoption rate higher is going to be very jagged. And I think 2026 will be a really important test because if Bitcoin makes a new all-time high, we know that that deleveraging event is behind us.”

    Within that framework, Lee reiterated his high-conviction upside call: “We think Bitcoin will make a new high this year,” he said, confirming a $250,000 target. He tied the thesis to rising “usefulness” of crypto, banks recognizing blockchain settlement and finality, and the emergence of natively crypto-scaled financial models.

    Lee cited Tether as a proof point, claiming it is expected to generate nearly $20 billion in 2026 earnings with roughly 300 employees, and argued that the profit profile illustrates why blockchain-based finance can look structurally different from legacy banking.

    Lee closed with advice that intentionally cuts against short-horizon reflexes. “Trying to time the market makes you an enemy of your future performance,” he said. “As much as I’m warning about 2026 and the possibility of a lot of turbulence, they should view the pullback as a chance to buy, not the pullback as a chance to sell.”

    At press time, Bitcoin traded at $89,287.

    Bitcoin couldn’t close above the 0.618 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com

    Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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    Jake Simmons

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  • $790 Million In Crypto Longs Decimated As Bitcoin Plunges To $93,000

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    Bitcoin and the altcoins have plummeted during the past day, leading to the liquidation of a large amount of crypto longs in derivatives markets.

    Crypto Sector Has Seen A Notable Amount Of Liquidations In The Last Day

    According to data from CoinGlass, the past day’s volatility in the crypto market has been accompanied by a swath of liquidations. The “liquidation” of a contract occurs when it accumulates losses of a certain degree and is forcibly shut down by the exchange. In the digital asset sector, volatility tends to be high, so a large number of liquidations take place on a regular basis. The last 24 hours involved one such volatile event, as the table below depicts.

    In total, the crypto market has faced $874 million in liquidations within this window. Out of these, long contracts have made up for an overwhelming share: $788 million.

    The reason for liquidations being this lopsided naturally lies in the price action that has developed over the last day. Bitcoin saw a sudden drop from $95,500 to a low of $93,000, while Ethereum went from $3,350 to $3,200. In percentage terms, these drops aren’t too big, but the rapid nature of them is what triggered the liquidations.

    The source of the crash could lie in revitalized US-EU tariff tensions. As reported by Reuters, President Donald Trump vowed over the weekend to implement tariffs on eight European nations.

    Starting February 1st, goods from Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland will face an additional 10% import tariff. If the US isn’t allowed to acquire the Danish territory of Greenland, these tariffs will go up to 25% on June 1st.

    2025 already saw several events where tariff-related uncertainty affected the crypto market, so it’s not surprising to see that the latest news has also been accompanied by volatility. As is usually the case, the latest market volatility has led to Bitcoin-related contracts occupying a disproportionate share of liquidations.

    Bitcoin & Other Cryptos

    As is visible in the above heatmap, Bitcoin has seen liquidations of around $233 million in the past day. Ethereum, the next-ranked coin in this category, has witnessed $156 million in contracts being involved.

    From the altcoins, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin have ranked the highest with $61 million, $41 million, and $35 million in liquidations, respectively. SOL being ahead of XRP despite being smaller in market cap may be because of its 6% plunge being larger than the latter’s 4% drop.

    Bitcoin Price

    Bitcoin has seen a slight rebound from its low as the cryptocurrency’s price is now back at $93,100.

    Bitcoin Price Chart

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    Keshav Verma

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  • More XRP Than Cash? “You’re A Genius”, Analyst Says

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    A sharp comment from a well-known XRP Ledger developer has sparked fresh debate around savings, inflation, and what smart money looks like today.

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    Bird, the developer behind the XRPL-based meme coin DROP, drew attention after saying that anyone holding more value in XRP than in their bank account is a “genius.”

    The word choice was bold, and it quickly spread across social media, pulling in both supporters and critics.

    Genius Or Gamble In An Inflation Era

    According to Bird, the label has less to do with bragging rights and more to do with awareness. He argues that many people trust banks by default, assuming savings accounts protect their future.

    The problem, he says, is math. Savings rates around 4–6% often fail to keep pace with rising prices. Groceries, rent, transport, and healthcare keep climbing.

    Over time, money sitting still can quietly lose strength. In that light, Bird frames holding XRP as a sign of foresight rather than recklessness.

    Risk Still Has A Price

    XRP prices can swing hard in short periods, something banks are built to avoid. A savings account may feel boring, but it offers stability and fast access when bills arrive or emergencies hit.

    That difference matters. Long-term holders respond that XRP was never meant to act like a checking account. It is treated as an asset tied to future payment rails and global transfers, not day-to-day spending money. The “genius” remark, they say, speaks to time horizon, not short-term comfort.

    XRP market cap currently at $124 billion. Chart: TradingView

    Utility Gains After Years Of Pressure

    XRP spent years weighed down by legal uncertainty while its network continued to expand behind the scenes. With parts of that pressure easing, attention has shifted back to usage.

    Cross-border payments remain a core focus. Stablecoin activity, including RLUSD, has increased. Tokenization of real-world assets is also being explored on the XRP Ledger. Supporters believe this growing use gives XRP value beyond price charts.

    How Much Is Enough Depends On You

    Bird has also raised a question that keeps coming up online: what amount of XRP is “right.” Reports note he often mentions 10,000 XRP as a rough reference, not a target.

    His thinking is simple. If XRP ever trades in double digits, that holding turns into a six-figure sum in US dollars. For some people, that could mean freedom. For others, it might only ease pressure. Living costs, family size, health needs, and location all shape what “enough” really means.

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    Calling someone a genius makes for catchy headlines, but real life sits in the middle. Keeping some money in banks helps cover daily needs. Holding assets like XRP is a bet on future systems and long-term growth.

    Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView

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    Christian Encila

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  • Analyst Reveals How Far Bitcoin Price Will Crash If The Uptrend Doesn’t Continue

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    A warning signal is flashing on the charts, with market analysts predicting that the Bitcoin price could collapse again soon. According to technical analysis, if BTC fails to continue its uptrend, it could repeat the bear-market crash from past cycles, potentially dragging its price down by double-digit percentages. 

    Bitcoin Price To Repeat 2022 Bear Market Crash?

    Crypto analyst Tyrex believes that Bitcoin may be approaching a critical turning point if the current uptrend fails to hold. In his latest BTC price outlook on X, he compares the current market structure to the April 2022 cycle, when Bitcoin made an ATH and then crashed hard for weeks. 

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    Tyrex disclosed that Bitcoin dropped roughly 45% from its all-time high in 2022 before entering an extended consolidation phase that lasted nearly four months. The accompanying chart shows that during that period, prices respected clear horizontal boundaries, creating a false sense of strength and stability, all while underlying weakness continued to build. 

    That consolidation eventually led to an upside fakeout, with the Bitcoin price briefly breaking resistance before reversing sharply. Unfortunately, the rejection triggered a continuation of the broader downtrend that year, resulting in another aggressive price crash that wiped out remaining bullish confidence. 

    According to Tyrex, BTC’s current chart structure closely mirrors the same historical setup from 2022. Bitcoin has once again pulled back sharply after reaching an all-time high of over $126,000. Additionally, the cryptocurrency has spent roughly two months consolidating within a defined range, repeatedly stalling at resistance levels. 

    Tyrex warns that Bitcoin is barely holding above $95,000, which aligns with the resistance zone shown on the chart. If price fails to recover and continues to stall near this level, the move higher could turn out to be a fakeout, potentially leading to another sharp dump— just as it did in 2022. The red-shaded area on the chart shows how far BTC could crash if the uptrend breaks, with the analyst projecting an 11.04% drop to the $86,000-$84,000 range. 

    BTCUSD now trading at $95,259. Chart: TradingView

    Bitcoin Set For March ATH And May Flash Crash

    Another forecast from market expert CryptoXLarge outlines where Bitcoin could be headed over the next four months. The analyst bases the outlook on historical market behavior, suggesting the current cycle may be replicating past cycle peaks. 

    CryptoXLarge points to January 2026 as a phase of quiet accumulation with controlled price action and muted volatility. February is expected to bring a powerful rally as momentum builds rapidly and buyers push the BTC price higher. This surge could set the stage for Bitcoin to reach a new all-time high around $240,000 in March. 

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    After this projected peak, April will likely be a bull trap where the price appears strong but fails to sustain upward momentum. The forecast concludes with a warning of a flash crash in May 2026, during which prices could pull back to fresh lows. 

    Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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    Scott Matherson

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  • Report Shows Massive Increase in Iranian Bitcoin Adoption Amid Nationwide Unrest

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    A new report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis indicates there has been a massive increase in Bitcoin adoption in Iran over the past month, as the country deals with nationwide unrest and protests. The report specifically looks at the increase in withdrawals from crypto exchanges to unknown Bitcoin addresses, which indicates the local population is avoiding centralized financial infrastructure in the country in favor of the decentralized, peer-to-peer digital cash system.

    In terms of specifics, the report shows a 262% increase in the amount of withdrawals valued at more than $10,000 into what are thought to be self-custodial bitcoin wallets since the nationwide protests began. According to the report, reasons for the increased interest in self-custodial bitcoin include the collapse in value in the Iranian rial and the potential increased need for citizens to operate outside of government-controlled financial channels.

    The report also indicates spikes in Iranian crypto activity were seen during other major domestic and geopolitical events such as the Kerman bombings in January 2024, Iran’s missile strikes against Israel in October 2024, and the 12-day war. Nobitex, which is by far Iran’s largest and most popular exchange, was also hacked for $90 million during the 12-day war.

    “This pattern of increased BTC withdrawals during times of heightened instability reflects a global trend we’ve observed in other regions experiencing war, economic turmoil, or government crackdowns,” says the report.

    To Chainalysis’s point, this is not the first time a sharp increase in Bitcoin adoption has been noticed in a country dealing with some sort of crisis. In the past, Chainalysis has issued reports involving increased adoption in Ukraine amid war with Russia, Argentina and Venezuela’s respective currency devaluations, and more.

    More recently, countries like Venezuela and Russia have used bitcoin and stablecoins like Tether’s USDT to avoid economic sanctions. According to another recent report from Chainalysis, this sort of sanctions avoidance was behind crypto’s record year of $154 billion worth of illicit financial use.

    Unrest has persisted in Iran since late December, as protesters are fed up with the devaluation of the Iranian rial and other economic hardships. These grievances are compounded by longer-term issues such as corruption, repression, and general government mismanagement. In this way, the use of Bitcoin itself can also be seen as a form of protest where people are simply opting out of the traditional financial system.

    Ironically, the Iranian regime has also been found to have used crypto for avoiding sanctions and laundering funds. In fact, the same Chainalysis report just released also indicates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accounts for roughly half of all crypto activity taking place in Iran, which is estimated at $7.78 billion. A recent report from TRM Labs also indicated two crypto exchanges in the United Kingdom were effectively fronts for the Iranian regime, and another past report from Elliptic shows Iran has been involved in bitcoin mining for purposes of monetizing their energy resources.

    This situation illustrates the conundrum for authoritarian regimes around the world when it comes to Bitcoin, as the features that make it useful for the regime to avoid restrictions in the US-controlled global banking system also enable it to be used for the local population to gain greater financial freedom.

    Bitcoin is not the only technology that has proven helpful for Iranians during the protests, as the existence of Starlink is one of the only reasons information has been able to get out of the country amid government-imposed internet blackouts. While mesh-networking based Bitchat has seen increased adoption in other countries dealing with turmoil recently, a forked version of the app called Noghteha has gained notoriety in Iran. Although, there has been controversy with Noghteha due to its closed source aspects and collection of donations.

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    Kyle Torpey

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