CryptoFrontNews

Binance helped fund major exchanges like Coinbase & Huobi, showing a centralized flow of crypto funds.

Connections span FTX affiliates, leveraged tokens, and risky devs, hinting at potential market vulnerabilities.

Shared wallets and cross-platform ties suggest complex, sometimes opaque networks with financial and geopolitical risks.

Worlds largest exchange Binance finds itself under intense scrutiny as the exchange confronts the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in court. Analysts warn that the platform’s opaque history may signal broader risks for the crypto market. 

Tyler Reed, a founder at TruthLabs, noted a set of concerning on-chain links that featured Binance and created a connection to other exchanges and prominent figures in the crypto world. According to Reed, these relationships indicate potential liquidity compression for the system as a whole.

Reed emphasizes that Binance has historically funded and set up several major exchanges, including Coinbase and Huobi. "Did you know that all of @coinbase public exchange address' were originally funded/setup thru #binance and #crypto.com?" he tweeted. 

These links suggest a centralized flow of funds that could eventually influence market stability. Furthermore, Binance’s connections extend to former FTX affiliates, leveraged token deployers, and notable developers, raising questions about transparency.

Binance’s Network and Market Influence

Research shows Binance often served as a primary funder for emerging exchanges. Reed documents that Huobi’s initial exchange addresses were funded by Binance, while Binance also supported TUSD’s deployer wallet. 

Additionally, connections with Multichain’s development team indicate ties to large-scale rug pulls. Reed states, "If you follow my research, you will recognize that Multichain's Dev (and Binance) are connected to some of the most prolific rugs in Crypto." These revelations imply a network where funds move freely, often bypassing standard oversight.

Furthermore, Binance and Crypto.com also seem to share Ethereum addresses. It is also important to note that the previous Binance CEO for Turkey also owns equity in FTX Turkey, pointing to further connections. However, Reed also indicates that such connections can result in affiliated members of the Chinese Communist Party.

The post Binance Faces Scrutiny Over Deep On-Chain Connections appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

A glitch gave users 2,000 BTC each instead of $1.37 rewards—almost $40B—but Bithumb recovered nearly all funds fast.

No hack occurred; Bithumb added AI monitoring, stricter limits, and compensation to protect users and prevent future errors.

Incident highlights how human mistakes in finance can spiral, emphasizing automated controls and regulatory oversight.

A massive cryptocurrency error shocked South Korea this week as Bithumb accidentally airdropped 620,000 bitcoins to customers. The glitch briefly created multi-millionaires overnight, with more than $40 billion mistakenly credited. 

Bithumb had intended to give users a small reward of 2,000 won, roughly $1.37, but the system instead distributed 2,000 bitcoins each. The exchange quickly restricted trading and withdrawals for 695 affected accounts within 35 minutes. Hence, almost all the misallocated funds were recovered, with Bithumb reporting a 99.7% recovery rate.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, commented on the incident, stating, "We helped in this recovery effort, a tiny bit. I didn't tweet when it first happened, to not spread FUD. A human error of $134m vs $1,340. All airdrop features should have a maximum value check." His observation highlights the need for stricter risk controls and automated limits in crypto operations. 

Moreover, Bithumb emphasized that the incident involved no external hacking or security breach. The exchange confirmed that its system and customer assets remained secure throughout the error.

Regulatory and Corporate Response

South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service held an emergency meeting after the incident. They promised to actively look for any suspected illegal acts. Bithumb also promised to cooperate. Lee Jae-won, the CEO of Bithumb, promised that the company "will take this accident as a lesson and focus on 'customer trust and peace of mind,' not on external growth."

As a result, the platform has promised compensation of 20,000 won (13.66 U.S. dollars) to all users at the time, as well as waiving fees for trades and enhancing their verification procedures. Furthermore, the platform intends to use AI technology to monitor abnormal trade transactions, which should help the platform avoid any further mistakes.

This present episode is similar to the massive error that happened in April 2024, whereby, due to a massive error, Citigroup mistakenly credited a customer with $81 trillion as opposed to the actual amount of $280. This episode, therefore, emphasizes the large consequences of errors in the system. Besides, there is the role played by AI in maintaining trust, especially in crypto as well as traditional financial markets.

The post Bithumb Recovers 99.7% of Mistakenly Airdropped Bitcoin appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Before the crash, Hyperliquid silver perps showed tighter spreads than COMEX for small trades despite much thinner depth.

During the selloff, spreads widened on both venues, with Hyperliquid seeing brief dislocations that mean-reverted quickly.

After COMEX closed, Hyperliquid handled heavy weekend volume and aligned prices smoothly when futures reopened.

Silver markets faced extreme stress last week as prices collapsed during heavy global trading activity. Hyperliquid and CME’s COMEX both processed heavy silver flows as prices dropped sharply. The event tested Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 silver perpetuals against traditional futures benchmarks.

Pre-Crash Trading Shows Tight Spreads for Small Trades

Before the selloff, Hyperliquid’s silver perpetual traded competitively with CME’s COMEX Micro Silver futures. According to market data, median spreads on Hyperliquid measured 2.4 basis points. COMEX posted slightly wider median spreads near 3 basis points during overlapping hours.

Trade sizes on Hyperliquid skewed smaller, with a median trade near $1,200. However, execution quality remained close to institutional benchmarks. Median slippage reached about 2 basis points, only slightly above COMEX levels.

Depth differed sharply between venues. COMEX carried about $13 million within five basis points. Hyperliquid held roughly $230,000 in the same range. Still, for retail-weighted trades, tighter top-of-book pricing reduced immediate execution costs.

Crash Triggers Liquidity Stress Across Both Venues

At roughly 17:00 UTC, silver prices collapsed as leveraged positions unwound. Reports of a potential Federal Reserve leadership change intensified volatility. Silver fell roughly 31% from intraday highs, triggering forced liquidations.

During the crash, spreads widened on both venues. Hyperliquid’s median spreads expanded 2.1 times, while COMEX widened 1.6 times. Execution quality degraded more sharply on Hyperliquid, with about 1% of trades printing over 50 basis points from mid-price.

Despite this, price dislocations remained brief. Hyperliquid’s silver basis briefly exceeded 400 basis points versus COMEX. However, the gap lasted less than two minutes and mean-reverted within 19 minutes.

Weekend Trading 

After COMEX closed Friday, Hyperliquid continued trading through the weekend. Over 49 hours, the platform processed 175,000 trades and $257 million in silver notional. Median weekend spreads compressed to 0.93 basis points.

Trade sizes declined, but execution improved for small clips. Median slippage fell below weekday levels. Silver prices continued adjusting ahead of the Sunday reopen.

When COMEX reopened, prices converged within seconds. Hyperliquid’s final weekend price aligned closely with the opening auction. The episode highlighted Hyperliquid’s role as a continuous venue during traditional market closures.

The post Hyperliquid vs CME: Silver Crash Tests HIP-3 Market Design appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Crypto trades face 0.1% personal tax; foreign investors included—like treating digital coins as stock trades.

Companies pay 20% tax on crypto profits but must meet huge capital and strict rules to operate in Vietnam.

Pilot program starts licensing exchanges Jan 2026, pushing crypto trading from planning to real regulated markets.

Vietnam is regulating its cryptocurrency market, proposing a tax system that aligns digital assets with securities trading. The Ministry of Finance circulated a draft policy outlining a 0.1% personal income tax on crypto transactions through licensed service providers. 

The tax will also cover foreign investors executing transfers. The draft also exempts crypto transfers from value-added tax, signaling a targeted approach that mirrors existing stock trade rules. Consequently, the country aims to formalize crypto trading and attract responsible market participation.

The draft defines crypto assets as digital tokens relying on cryptographic or similar technology for issuance, storage, and transfer verification. Moreover, companies operating in Vietnam face distinct rules. Institutional investors earning income from crypto transfers will pay a 20% corporate income tax, calculated after deducting purchase costs and related expenses. 

However, there is a stringent requirement for firms. The exchange needs to maintain charter capital of at least 10 trillion Vietnamese Dong, or $408 million, which is well beyond even banks and most other industries. The limit of 49 percent remains applicable for foreign ownership.

Pilot Program and Licensing

Vietnam launched a five-year pilot program for a regulated crypto market in September 2025. No companies had applied by October 2025, given the requirement of having to meet the strict eligibility and capital requirement threshold criteria. In this respect, the Ministry of Finance also started applications regarding licenses for operating digital asset platforms.

“Applications for the aforementioned administrative procedures will be accepted beginning January 20, 2026,” the State Securities Commission of Vietnam stated. Hence, the regulatory framework is moving from planning to operational reality.

The draft rules also promote oversight at the same time by retaining strict entry standards. Firms have to comply with capital requirements and operational standards before they can take part. Additionally, by formally treating crypto transactions similarly to securities, Vietnam also models its market along global regulatory standards. Besides taxation, the strategy also creates a clear legal definition for crypto assets.

The post Vietnam Unveils New Crypto Tax Framework appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Tom Lee says the selloff resembles past cycles, driven by sentiment shocks and leverage despite stronger crypto fundamentals.

Record IBIT ETF and options volumes suggest U.S.-led leverage, not exchange liquidations, amplified the downturn.

Removal of ETF options caps expanded leverage, worsening volatility as Bitcoin and Ethereum saw sharp dips.

Crypto markets recorded sharp losses over the past 10 days, with Ethereum down 40% and Bitcoin down 30%. Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee discussed the selloff. Lee attributed the decline to reflexive sentiment, external shocks, and structural leverage tied to U.S. trading activity.

Sharp Price Declines and Historical Dips

According to Tom Lee, recent losses triggered widespread “rage quitting” across crypto markets. He noted that many commentators blamed structural problems for the decline. However, Lee said similar volatility has appeared repeatedly in crypto history.

Since 2018, Lee said Ethereum has suffered drawdowns of 60% or more seven times. He added that this pattern appeared almost every year. In 2025, Ethereum recorded a 64% decline, according to his data.

Lee said the 2026 drop felt worse because prices fell alongside improving crypto fundamentals. He contrasted this with 2022, when NFT failures and collapses at Three Arrows Capital and FTX defined the downturn. In comparison, Lee said recent pressure came from events outside crypto markets.

He cited the October 10 market shock, followed by a Truth Social post linked to Greenland, rising gold and silver prices, and a Kevin Warsh announcement. Lee said these factors weighed on sentiment despite limited direct crypto exposure.

IBIT Volume, Options, and Trading Dynamics

Lee pointed to analysis from Parker, shared on X, regarding unusual activity in BlackRock’s IBIT ETF. Parker reported that IBIT posted its highest-ever trading volume at $10.7 billion. Options premiums also reached a record $900 million.

Notably, Parker said Bitcoin and Solana fell together during U.S. trading hours. Meanwhile, centralized exchange liquidations remained relatively low. He suggested that a large IBIT options position drove the selloff.

Parker added that some IBIT holders operate single-asset funds, many based in Hong Kong. He said these structures likely isolate margin risk. Parker also noted links to unwinding yen carry trades and heavy losses in silver markets.

Contract Limits, Leverage, and Market Structure

Lee highlighted that Nasdaq recently removed options contract caps for major Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Parker said Nasdaq requested immediate approval from the SEC, which granted the change on January 21. Bitcoin prices dropped sharply on January 29.

Parker said the removal expanded leverage through IBIT beyond crypto-native venues. Lee also said excessive leverage worsens volatility during unstable periods.

Lee added that Bitcoin has never posted a negative four-year return. He also said Ethereum continues to show strong usage growth. He noted that Bitmine holds no debt and earns staking and cash interest, while MicroStrategy stock reacted positively to recent earnings.

The post Tom Lee on 2026 Crypto Crash, IBIT Volumes, and Volatility appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Tether blocked $544M in crypto after Turkish authorities flagged illegal gambling wallets.

USDt wallets now top 24.8M, handling $4.4T in transfers despite market turbulence.

Regulators stay watchful as stablecoins like USDt link to high-risk and sanctions-evasion activity.

Tether has frozen more than $544 million in cryptocurrency at the request of Turkish authorities, targeting wallets tied to an alleged illegal gambling and money-laundering operation. Prosecutors in Istanbul said the seized assets, valued at around €460 million ($544 million), belong to Veysel Sahin, who is accused of running unlawful betting platforms.

CEO Paolo Ardoino told Bloomberg that Tether acted on information provided by law enforcement and in compliance with Turkish law. “Law enforcement came to us, they provided some information, we looked at the information and we acted in respect of the laws of the country,” Ardoino said. “And that’s what we do when we work with the DOJ, when we work with the FBI, you name it.”

Besides Turkey, Tether has assisted authorities in more than 1,800 investigations across 62 countries, freezing over $3.4 billion in USDT linked to criminal activity. According to analytics firm Elliptic, Tether and Circle have blacklisted around 5,700 wallets containing approximately $2.5 billion, with three-quarters holding USDT at the time. 

Consequently, regulators and blockchain researchers continue to scrutinize USDt despite its wide adoption, with cases involving Venezuelan nationals laundering $1 billion using the token.

Stablecoins Under the Lens

Furthermore, stablecoins often interact with high-risk blockchain addresses. According to a report from Bitrace, $649 billion in stablecoins-5.14% of the total transaction volume-flowed through such addresses in 2024. More than 70% of this flow was from Tron-based USDt. Moreover, large USDt transactions have been linked with sanctions-evasion schemes that increase regulatory pressure worldwide.

Despite this, USDt managed to achieve a record-high market capitalization of $187.3 billion in Q4 2025, increasing by $12.4 billion even amidst market volatility. The number of monthly active USDT wallets was up at 24.8 million, which represented around 70% of total stablecoin accounts, while quarterly transaction volume rose significantly to $4.4 trillion within 2.2 billion transactions. Other stable coins like Circle’s USDC saw flat performance, while Ethena’s USDe saw its value decrease by 57%.

The post Tether Freezes $544M in Turkey Amid Illegal Gambling Probe appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

CFTC revised Staff Letter 25-40 to explicitly include national trust banks as permitted issuers of payment stablecoins.

Futures commission merchants can now accept bank-issued stablecoins as margin collateral under the no-action framework.

The update aligns with OCC policy and the GENIUS Act as debate over broader stablecoin regulation continues.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Dec. 8, 2025, revised its guidance to widen who can issue payment stablecoins. The update came from the CFTC’s Market Participants Division through a reissued Staff Letter 25-40. The change clarifies that national trust banks may issue stablecoins used as margin collateral by futures brokers.

What Changed in CFTC Staff Letter 25-40

According to the CFTC, the division reissued Staff Letter 25-40 with a limited but specific revision. The updated definition of “payment stablecoin” now explicitly includes national trust banks as permitted issuers. Previously, the letter did not clearly state this point.

The original no-action letter, released on Dec. 8, 2025, allowed futures commission merchants to accept certain non-security digital assets as margin collateral. These assets included payment stablecoins held in segregated customer accounts. After publication, staff learned that some qualifying stablecoins were issued by national trust banks.

However, the original language did not reflect that reality. As a result, the division said the omission was unintentional. It therefore reissued the letter to ensure the definition matched existing issuance structures already operating under federal oversight.

Role of National Trust Banks and Regulatory Context

Michael S. Selig, chairman of the CFTC, said the revision aligns with policies established during President Donald Trump’s first term. At that time, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency authorized national trust banks to custody and issue payment stablecoins.

Notably, the revised guidance allows futures brokers to accept bank-issued stablecoins as margin collateral. This was previously unclear under the no-action framework. Selig said the change fits within the CFTC’s eligible collateral framework and the recently enacted GENIUS Act.

Meanwhile, debate continues in Washington over stablecoin oversight. Lawmakers are weighing the CLARITY Act, which faces resistance from both banking groups and parts of the crypto industry. The GENIUS Act, by contrast, supports integrating stablecoins into existing financial systems.

Market Context and Stablecoin Activity

Retail sentiment around USDC remained bearish. Online discussion also declined from normal to low levels during the past day. These developments coincide with regulatory adjustments that now formally recognize national trust banks as stablecoin issuers.

The post CFTC Expands Payment Stablecoin Definition for Trust Banks appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

World Liberty Finance sold 173 WBTC for USDC as Bitcoin fell, likely to cut risk and protect value during volatility.

The Bitcoin sales happened in quick bursts, showing a defensive move toward stablecoins rather than panic selling.

The firm is also under U.S. scrutiny over a $500M UAE-linked deal, raising concerns about politics and foreign influence.

World Liberty Finance, a crypto project tied to the Trump family, sold 173 Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) for approximately $11.75 million in USDC on February 5. The sales happened during heightened Bitcoin price swings, suggesting the firm reduced exposure to market risk. 

According to the data, there have been major transactions where 73 WBTC was sold for $5.04 million, while 100 WBTC was sold for $6.71 million. However, the transactions were made when Bitcoin’s price was going down—showcasing the firm’s strategy for sticking with stablecoins.

These WBTC offloads came in two separate bursts, first at 13:40 UTC and 13:41 UTC, followed by a larger sale at 17:25 UTC. Hence, World Liberty Finance managed to secure a significant portion of capital in USDC, effectively shielding itself from further volatility. 

Analysts note that such moves are typical when entities aim to preserve value during sharp market drops. Moreover, timing these trades during a price decline can indicate risk mitigation rather than speculative selling.

$500M UAE Deal Under Congressional Scrutiny

Besides crypto sales, World Liberty Finance faces a U.S. congressional investigation over a $500 million deal linked to Donald Trump’s return to the White House. House Democrats, led by Rep. Ro Khanna, are probing the firm after reports revealed a UAE-linked entity acquired a major stake just days before Trump’s second inauguration. 

The Jan. 16, 2025 agreement gave Aryam Investment 1, a firm registered in Delaware and Abu Dhabi, a 49% stake in WLFI. Aryam paid $250 million upfront, with $250 million due by July 2025.

Eric Trump signed the deal on behalf of WLFI, directing $187 million to Trump-affiliated entities, $31 million to WLFI co-founders, and $31 million to Zak Folkman and Chase Herro. 

Importantly, the UAE investor did not receive governance token rights, limiting exposure to equity only. Consequently, lawmakers question potential conflicts of interest and foreign influence, considering Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan backed Aryam Investment 1.

The post Trump-Linked Firm Dumps $11.75M in Bitcoin Amid Market Drop appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Ethereum saw 28 major updates, expanding its role across institutional finance, AI agents, governance, and public infrastructure.

Tokenization and finance advanced with Fidelity’s stablecoin, new ETH ETF plans, and over 200 tokenized equities.

AI standards, scaling upgrades, and tooling shipped as L1 activity hit highs and Layer 2 networks rolled out upgrades.

Ethereum developers and ecosystem teams shipped 28 major updates this month, spanning AI, finance, infrastructure, and governance. The releases occurred across the global Ethereum ecosystem during the past month and involved institutions, startups, and core contributors. According to Ethereum ecosystem updates, the changes aim to expand Ethereum’s role across AI systems, financial markets, and public infrastructure.

Institutional Finance and Tokenization Expand on Ethereum

Notably, Fidelity Digital Assets announced FIDD, a U.S. dollar stablecoin built and issued on Ethereum. The launch reinforced Ethereum’s role as settlement infrastructure for regulated institutions. In addition, Morgan Stanley proposed a spot Ethereum ETF, expanding regulated access to ETH.

Meanwhile, Ondo Finance expanded Ondo Global Markets with 98 new tokenized stocks and ETFs on Ethereum. This brought total tokenized equity offerings to over 200. Following its NYSE debut, tokenized BitGo also became accessible through Ondo’s platform.

Aave integrated with Balance, allowing institutional clients to earn yield on assets held in offline or warm storage. Separately, thedaofund launched and will activate over 75,000 ETH to strengthen network security. These funds originated from unclaimed assets tied to the original DAO recovery.

AI, Identity, and Cryptography 

However, financial growth coincided with major AI-focused developments. ERC-8004 launched as a new standard for AI agents on Ethereum. According to ecosystem data, over 24,000 agents registered, with 80 verified services and hundreds of feedback interactions.

Worldcoin released a redesigned World App, positioning it as a consumer platform for human verification in AI-driven environments. Allora launched mainnet on Base, enabling predictive AI signals for lending and trading systems.

At the protocol level, the Ethereum Foundation formed a post-quantum cryptography research team. This move addressed long-term security risks from quantum computing and future-proofed Ethereum’s cryptographic foundations.

Scaling, Infrastructure, and Developer Tooling Advance

Meanwhile, Ethereum Layer 1 reached a new all-time high in transaction activity. The BPO2 fork went live, increasing blob limits to improve data availability under the Fusaka upgrade path.

Several Layer 2 networks upgraded simultaneously. Arbitrum activated the ArbOS Dia upgrade, while Optimism introduced OP Enterprise for managed blockchain deployments. Mantle transitioned to Ethereum blobs as its primary data layer.

Polygon surpassed $1 billion in daily USDC peer-to-peer payments. ENS data also became available on Google Cloud BigQuery, expanding analytics access. Across wallets and interfaces, Zapper launched a redesigned mobile app, while Jumper introduced unified portfolio and yield tools.

The post Ethereum Ships 28 Upgrades as Institutions and AI Move Onchain appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

21Shares aims to be first with a US ETF tied to ONDO, letting investors gain exposure without buying the token themselves.

The filing adds cash-based creation/redemption and dual custody, shifting trading costs to market makers, not the fund.

Approval could come as early as late Feb–April 2026, as ONDO gains traction via MetaMask and major backers.

21Shares has updated its US exchange-traded fund (ETF) filing to track ONDO, the token from the real-world asset tokenization platform. The crypto ETP firm submitted the amended S-1 document with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday. 

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas highlighted the filing on X, joking that the product’s name “sounds like a planet in Star Wars.” The updated filing rebrands the trust as the “21Shares Ondo ETF” and targets a Nasdaq listing, pending regulatory approval.

The move marks 21Shares as the first asset manager aiming to bring ONDO exposure to mainstream brokerage products. Originally filed in July 2025 as the “21Shares Ondo Trust,” the fund intends to hold ONDO passively while tracking its dollar price using a third-party benchmark. Hence, investors would gain exposure to ONDO without directly purchasing the token.

Key Changes in the Amended Filing

The revised filing introduces several operational updates. Basket sizes for share creation and redemption are now set at 10,000 shares per block, affecting how market makers arbitrage premiums or discounts. 

Additionally, brokers can create shares by depositing cash, which the fund uses to buy ONDO through a third party, ensuring token delivery to custody accounts. Conversely, cash redemptions involve transferring ONDO to a counterparty for sale, with proceeds returned to the fund. Notably, any trading costs or slippage fall on authorized participants, not the fund.

Moreover, 21Shares has shifted from a single-custodian model with Coinbase to a dual-custodian setup, adding BitGo Bank & Trust, N.A., a federally chartered national trust bank. The amendment also clarifies asset storage, distinguishing between “Cold Vault Balance” for long-term holdings and “Hot Vault Balance” for settlement purposes.

Broader Implications and MetaMask Partnership

The SEC’s new ETF review process gives three potential approval paths, with registration potentially live 20 to 75 days after the amendment, possibly between late February and mid-April 2026. 

ONDO has gained attention from World Liberty Financial, affiliated with President Trump’s family, which bought $500,000 worth of the token last year. Additionally, MetaMask now allows eligible non-US users to access 200 tokenized US assets, including ETFs and commodities, via Ondo Finance.

The post 21Shares Revises US ETF Filing for Ondo Token Exposure appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Coinbase added full Sui token standard support, expanding SUI assets across wallets, custody, and internal infrastructure.

Strong Sui developer activity and Move-based design drove deeper integration alongside Ethereum and Solana.

The move follows NY BitLicense approval and growing institutional interest, including a proposed SUI ETF using Coinbase Custody.

Coinbase confirmed it has adopted the Sui token standard, expanding support for SUI-based assets across its infrastructure. The announcement, made this week, brings Sui alongside Ethereum and Solana within Coinbase’s supported networks. The move involves Coinbase and the Sui Network and follows earlier regulatory and market access steps tied to U.S. users.

Coinbase and Sui Expand Platform-Level Integration

Coinbase said the integration enables full token standard support for SUI assets across its platform. This includes wallets, custody, and internal systems. As a result, both retail and institutional users gain broader access to Sui-based tokens.

The collaboration builds on Coinbase’s December decision to enable SUI trading for New York residents. That move followed compliance with the state’s BitLicense framework. As a result, Sui became accessible to one of the most regulated retail markets in the United States.

Coinbase continues to expand its multi-chain infrastructure as competition increases among exchanges. By supporting the Sui token standard, Coinbase places Sui alongside major networks already embedded in its systems. The exchange said developer activity played a central role in the decision.

Developer Activity Drives Coinbase’s Decision

Coinbase stated that Sui ranks among the most active developer ecosystems in crypto. Developer engagement has become a key metric for infrastructure support decisions. Chains with sustained building activity often receive deeper platform integration.

Sui’s ecosystem has grown around its Move-based programming model and similar execution design. These features support high throughput and predictable performance. Developers use these tools to deploy applications without complex scaling solutions.

Coinbase monitors developer usage through tooling and ecosystem participation. According to the exchange, Sui’s growth reflected consistent engagement rather than short-term interest. That distinction influenced Coinbase’s decision to support the token standard.

Market Context and Broader Access

The integration also follows growing institutional interest in Sui-linked products. In December, Bitwise filed for a proposed SUI exchange-traded fund. The filing listed Coinbase Custody as the asset custodian, further linking the exchange to Sui’s institutional footprint.

Token standard support goes beyond simple asset listings. Coinbase integrates supported standards into compliance workflows, transfers, and custody services. This structure reduces friction for token launches and user onboarding.

As a result, Sui projects gain access to Coinbase’s distribution and infrastructure. At the same time, Coinbase users can interact with Sui-based assets through familiar interfaces. The integration connects Sui’s ecosystem with a broader user base while maintaining existing platform controls.

The post Coinbase Adds Sui Token Standard to Core Platform appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Hougan says crypto entered a prolonged winter in Jan 2025, with BTC down 39% and ETH down 53% from cycle highs.

He sees new cycle drivers in blockchain revenue, AI-driven finance, and stablecoins scaling from billions to trillions.

Institutional adoption, regulation, tokenization, DeFi growth, and Ethereum’s renewed focus shape the next market phase.

Crypto markets remain under pressure, yet new themes are already taking shape, according to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan. In recent commentary shared publicly in late January 2026, Hougan outlined nine narratives he believes could shape the next market cycle. His remarks come as prices remain well below prior highs and investors reassess long-term drivers following a prolonged downturn.

Hougan Says Crypto Winter Began Earlier Than Believed

Before outlining future themes, Hougan addressed current market conditions. According to Hougan, the crypto market entered a sustained winter starting January 2025. He said the downturn unfolded gradually across global markets.

Bitcoin has fallen about 39% from its October 2025 all-time high, Hougan noted. Ethereum dropped roughly 53% over the same period. Many other digital assets declined even further.

Hougan said falling prices, leverage unwinds, and profit-taking drove the slide. He compared the pattern to prior bear markets in 2018 and 2022. He cited price data, ETF flows, and investor behavior to support the assessment.

Revenue, AI, and Stablecoins Lead Emerging Themes

Looking ahead, Hougan outlined several narratives gaining attention. First, he pointed to revenue generation. According to Blockworks data cited by Hougan, blockchains generate $7 billion to $8 billion annually. He said that figure could reach hundreds of billions as adoption expands.

Next, Hougan highlighted AI-driven finance, or AiFi. He said AI agents will rely on crypto, stablecoins, and DeFi rather than bank accounts. He also referenced Ray Dalio’s view that weakening fiat currencies could increase demand for hard assets, including Bitcoin.

Hougan further cited Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s comments on stablecoins. He noted stablecoin assets have paused near $300 billion but could grow into the trillions as global payment rails.

Institutions, Regulation, and Tokenization in Focus

Institutional adoption remains another major theme, Hougan said. He described it as a decade-long trend measured in trillions, not a short-term cycle.

He also referenced regulatory progress. Hougan said benefits from clearer rules remain ahead, with the Genius Act not taking effect until January 2027. He added that clearer frameworks could accelerate investment and adoption.

Tokenization also featured prominently. Hougan noted only about $20 billion in assets are tokenized today, compared with trillions across equities, bonds, and real estate.

Finally, Hougan mentioned DeFi growth and Ethereum’s renewed focus under Vitalik Buterin, describing the moment as a turning point for the network.

The post Bitwise CIO Maps Nine Crypto Narratives for Next Cycle appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Key Insights

Solana's price continues to trade within a bearish structure, with lower highs and lows confirming short-term selling dominance.

Support at $78.50-$76.00 remains crucial, with failure to hold this zone likely to trigger further downside pressure toward $67.50.

Multiple resistance layers between $86.80 and $101.40 limit any potential recovery, requiring strong follow-through buying to break through.

Solana (SOL) remains under significant downward pressure, with recent price action showing no signs of a meaningful recovery. On the 4-hour chart, SOL continues to trade within a well-established short-term downtrend. Despite brief attempts at recovery, the market's bearish sentiment has kept sellers in control, with each rebound failing to shift momentum.

The current price behavior reveals a clear pattern of lower highs and lower lows, confirming that sellers dominate the market in the short term. SOL is trading below several key exponential moving averages (EMAs), including the 20, 50, 100, and 200 periods. These averages are aligned in a bearish manner, intensifying the downside pressure. Furthermore, the Supertrend indicator remains negative, suggesting a continuation of the current trend rather than a reversal.

Fibonacci Levels and Support Zones Under Scrutiny

The loss of crucial Fibonacci retracement levels has added to the bearish outlook for Solana. The break below the 0.382 and 0.236 retracements eliminated key recovery zones, making recent price rebounds appear corrective rather than sustained rallies. Immediate support is found between $78.50 and $76.00, an area where buyers are attempting to defend losses. A decisive drop below this range could push SOL toward the $67.50 mark, a key downside target.

Source: TradingView

To the upside, SOL faces multiple layers of resistance, with the first notable barrier between $86.80 and $89.50. This zone is strengthened by short-term moving averages and a prior retracement level. Further resistance lies between $98.60 and $101.40, an area that marks a former breakdown point. These levels present significant obstacles for any recovery, as a lack of strong buying pressure could lead to renewed selling activity.

Leverage Trends and Derivative Data Provide Caution

Beyond the price charts, Solana’s derivative market data adds another layer of caution. Open interest reached highs above $15 billion during price rallies but has since dropped sharply, reflecting forced liquidations rather than new bearish positions. 

This contraction in open interest, currently near $5.27 billion, suggests traders are unwinding positions rather than adding to short positions. Furthermore, spot flow data shows persistent net outflows, hinting at continued investor caution.

The post Solana Struggles Amid Bearish Pressure, Key Support at $76 in Focus appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Key Insights:

Shiba Inu shows strong bullish reversal signals, potentially leading to a 30% price recovery if momentum continues.

SHIB’s resilience amid broader market downturns suggests a near-term recovery is possible, with technical indicators supporting this.

With the breakout from a tightening wedge and strong buying interest, Shiba Inu may see further upward movement in the near future.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has recently seen signs of a potential bullish reversal after a period of steady decline. While the broader cryptocurrency market remains fragile, Shiba Inu has managed to avoid the extreme sell-offs that plagued other major assets, creating a window for a potential rebound.

A notable candlestick pattern on SHIB’s daily chart points to a possible short-term price recovery. This bullish reversal pattern forms when the asset’s price sharply drops, only to be met with strong buying activity close to local lows. As a result, sellers appear to be losing control, with buyers starting to push the price back up. This development typically signals that demand is beginning to outpace supply, indicating a reversal may be on the horizon.

Resistance Levels in Focus for 30% Bounce

Despite market instability, SHIB has shown resilience. While Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies faced significant declines, Shiba Inu managed to hold its ground, further strengthening its bullish outlook. Traders are now keeping an eye on nearby resistance levels, particularly moving averages that have restricted SHIB’s upward movement in recent weeks. Breaking above these levels could signal a potential 20-30% bounce if the broader market stabilizes.

Source: TradingView

In addition to the bullish candlestick formation, SHIB’s price action follows a breakout from a tightening wedge. This setup is commonly seen as a precursor to a reversal when buying activity quickly overtakes selling pressure. False breakdowns like this often lead to a sharp rebound, especially when short positions are closed, trapping late sellers. As demand continues to grow, SHIB’s recovery becomes increasingly likely.

Stability Amid Bitcoin’s Struggles

Crucially, Shiba Inu’s performance has outpaced Bitcoin’s during recent market turbulence. Bitcoin broke through key support zones, yet SHIB’s price structure has remained relatively stable. This suggests that downside exhaustion for SHIB may be closer than expected, setting the stage for a recovery. If market conditions stabilize, Shiba Inu could see a significant uptick in the coming days.

The post Shiba Inu Shows Bullish Reversal, Targets 30% Recovery in Coming Days appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Key Insights:

Cardano’s price dropped to $0.25, impacted by a 5.2% pullback in the broader crypto market, including BTC's fall below $65,000.

CME will launch Cardano Futures on February 9, offering institutional traders more options, which may lead to market volatility.

Despite CME Futures launch, Cardano's price outlook remains bearish with low open interest and declining market sentiment.

The price of Cardano (ADA) saw a significant drop below $0.26 on Friday, continuing a streak of consecutive red candlesticks throughout the week. Over the past 24 hours, the cryptocurrency has traded at $0.25685 after a sharp 20% drop, fueling concerns among investors. This decline comes amid a broader pullback in the cryptocurrency market, with the overall market capitalization falling by 5.2% to $2.28 trillion. Bitcoin’s (BTC) recent dip below $65,000 has contributed to widespread panic, impacting major coins like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP.

Despite the challenging market environment, a potential catalyst is on the horizon. CME Group will introduce Cardano futures contracts on February 9, 2026. This new offering will provide institutional traders with more exposure to Cardano, further diversifying the growing crypto derivatives market. 

The CME will offer both standard and micro Cardano futures contracts. The standard contract will represent 100,000 ADA, while the micro contract will cover 10,000 ADA, allowing smaller institutional traders to participate. These futures will be priced using the CME CF New York Variant Index, ensuring transparency in pricing.

Impact of Futures Launch on ADA Price

The launch of Cardano futures on the CME derivatives exchange could add volatility to the market, depending on the level of institutional interest. Futures contracts offer traders opportunities for hedging or speculating on the price movements of Cardano, potentially driving demand for the token. 

Source: TradingView

However, the price action remains under pressure due to a larger bearish trend in the market. ADA’s long-to-short ratio fell to 0.90, suggesting that many traders anticipate further declines. Additionally, the open interest (OI) in Cardano futures has dropped to its lowest level since November 2024, standing at $90 million.

Cardano’s Price Struggles Amid Market Uncertainty

Currently, Cardano is testing its support level around $0.25, with fluctuations in price leading to uncertainty. Technical indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 28.10 signal that the token is oversold and may be due for a rebound. However, the MACD indicator shows continued bearish momentum as the MACD line remains below the signal line. Traders and investors alike are closely watching the $0.25 support level, as a further drop could bring ADA closer to $0.23 or even below $0.20.

As the market sentiment remains negative and with market volatility expected around the futures launch, it remains unclear whether Cardano’s price will see a major rebound in the coming weeks.

The post Cardano Price Faces Decline Ahead of CME Futures Launch on February 9 appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

CRV shows late-stage accumulation behavior similar to Silver and XRP before major upside expansions.

Extended price silence often signals absorption rather than market failure.

Historical base breakouts demonstrate how compressed ranges can unwind rapidly.

CRV price accumulation is being compared with historical base structures in Silver and XRP. Market observers note that prolonged silence and compressed volatility often precede sharp expansions after years of consolidation.

Markets Often Build Strength During Extended Silence

Long periods of inactivity have historically shaped some of the most powerful market reversals. Silver spent nearly two decades trading inside a narrow range while investor interest steadily disappeared. 

By the early 2000s, it was widely dismissed as irrelevant within both industrial and monetary discussions. Technical analysts later described that period as absorption rather than decline.

Selling pressure weakened as strong holders accumulated positions over time. Volatility contracted until the price structure could no longer contain further compression. 

When Silver finally broke upward, the move covered decades of resistance within only a few years. A similar narrative appeared in XRP’s multi-year trading range. 

https://twitter.com/CredibleCrypto/status/2018865992668250301?s=20

After prolonged regulatory pressure and persistent negative commentary, price action stabilized within a defined high-timeframe zone. 

When the breakout occurred, it reached prior range highs within weeks, reflecting stored liquidity rather than new fundamental discovery.

CRV Price Accumulation and Structural Position

CRV price accumulation now draws attention because of comparable multi-year compression. Since its early volatility phase, CRV has trended lower before entering extended horizontal movement. 

Repeated tests of the same demand region have reduced speculative interest and thinned short-term participation. Market structure observers describe this pattern as late-stage accumulation behavior. 

Distribution typically appears with expanding volatility and unstable ranges. CRV instead shows narrowing price bands and declining momentum across higher timeframes. 

These conditions resemble earlier phases seen in Silver and XRP before their rapid expansions.

The post From Silence to Surge: CRV Tracks the Historic Bases of Silver and XRP appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Hyperliquid, Aster, and Lighter led Feb 5 trading, showing strong user preference for major perpetual DEXs.

Daily perp volumes spiked repeatedly since October, signaling a dynamic and fast-moving crypto trading market.

Early 2026 saw a rebound in activity, hinting at renewed trader confidence despite ongoing market sell-offs.

Perpetual decentralized exchanges (DEXs) surged to historic trading volumes on February 5, recording over $70 billion. According to DeFiLlama, this marked the second-highest daily volume in history, trailing only the October 10, 2025 “1011” flash crash. 

Hyperliquid led the charge with $24.7 billion, followed by Aster at $10 billion, edgeX at $8.7 billion, and Lighter at $7.5 billion. This extraordinary activity reflects both market volatility and renewed trader interest amidst ongoing sell-offs.

Total daily volumes across the top 20 perpetual protocols were tracked by DeFiLlama from October 2025 through early February 2026. The result shows regularly recurring spikes and protocol-specific dominance. During the first period, from October up to early November, daily volumes often peaked around $75–$80 billion.

Lighter Perps and Hyperliquid Perps consistently drove these spikes, supported by Aster Perps and EdgeX Perps. Meanwhile, smaller protocols such as Extended, Grvt, Apex Omni, Variational, and Nado Perp contributed marginally.

Fluctuating Volumes and December Spikes

After mid-November, the market settled into a lower range, averaging $20–$60 billion daily. However, December saw several sharp volume bursts, signaling sporadic but intense trading activity. Traders seemed to respond quickly to market signals, exploiting short-term opportunities. 

Additionally, protocol dominance remained consistent, with Hyperliquid, Aster, and Lighter retaining the largest market shares. Hence, these platforms continued attracting the bulk of trading capital.

Entering 2026, the market initially cooled, with daily perp volumes between $15–$40 billion. Nevertheless, late January and early February brought a clear resurgence, pushing total volumes near $70 billion. Consequently, traders demonstrated renewed confidence, possibly anticipating larger price movements. 

Moreover, Hyperliquid, Aster, and Lighter Perps again led the surge, highlighting persistent user preference for top-tier protocols. Overall, the market shows both resilience and selective growth among dominant platforms.

The post Perpetual DEXs Hit $70B Amid Market Turmoil appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Big Bitcoin holders offload coins, while small wallets keep buying dips, showing retail confidence amid market turmoil.

Over $2B in crypto positions liquidated; traders watch $60K support, a break could push prices to $50K–$55K.

Crypto-hoarding firms risk “narrative contagion,” creating potential market swings if selling pressure continues.

Bitcoin faced a sharp downturn this week, falling to $60,001 for the first time since October 2024. The crash, driven by whale and institutional selling, triggered liquidations across exchanges. According to Santiment, wallets holding 10–10,000 BTC now control just 68.04% of the total Bitcoin supply, marking a nine-month low. In the past eight days alone, these large holders offloaded 81,068 BTC. 

Meanwhile, smaller “shrimp” wallets, holding less than 0.01 BTC, increased their share to a 20-month high of 0.249%. This accumulation reflects retail investors’ continued appetite to buy dips, even amid heavy selling pressure. Consequently, the market now shows a clear divide between smart money and retail enthusiasm.

Besides large holders selling, leveraged positions added fuel to the decline. Analyst Walter Bloombergan noted, “Bitcoin rebounded nearly 6% after briefly falling more than 50% from its October peak, touching near $60,000 before climbing back to around $65,700.” 

Ether and Solana mirrored the selloff, experiencing sharp declines before partial recovery. Volatility surged, ETF outflows hit $434 million, and over $2 billion in crypto positions were liquidated. Hence, traders now focus on whether Bitcoin can maintain the $60,000 level, as a breach could push prices further into the mid-$50,000s.

Institutional Risks and Market Contagion

Additionally, crypto-hoarding firms, or DATs, face heightened risk. Bloombergan highlighted that companies fueling last year’s rally now risk triggering market contagion. With Bitcoin down nearly 50% from its October peak, DATs lacking revenue might sell assets to fund operations. This could spook investors, creating what Bloombergan calls “narrative contagion.” 

Recent sales by firms like Ethzilla and FG Nexus underline the real risk. Falling DAT stock prices and ETF outflows could pressure Bitcoin toward $50K–$55K. Vulnerable firms include Enlivex, Twenty One Capital, and Evernorth. 

Conversely, better-capitalized firms, such as The Smarter Web Company, remain solvent, having avoided risky debt structures. Hughes summarizes it as the “Hotel California trade”: easy to check in, but hard to exit without crashing the market.

Moreover, the combination of retail buying and institutional selling historically fuels bear cycles. Until retail shows signs of capitulation, smart money will likely continue selling confidently. Consequently, the market may experience further swings, with volatility remaining elevated.

The post Bitcoin Slides to $60K Amid Whale Selling, Retail Buying Surges appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Stablecoin inflows to exchanges nearly doubled, showing investors are keeping cash ready to buy despite ongoing crypto sell-offs.

European banks, including BBVA and BNP Paribas, are building a euro stablecoin to speed up payments under clear regulations.

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis wants banks to adopt stablecoins, but worries remain about deposits leaving traditional accounts.

Investor activity in stablecoins has jumped, signaling renewed confidence in crypto markets amid persistent selling. According to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost, weekly stablecoin inflows to exchanges have doubled, rising from $51 billion in late December 2025 to $98 billion today. 

This surge will cause the investments to surpass the 90-day average of $89 billion. This happens as Bitcoin tries to avoid a potential 50% correction from its all-time high in October. These individuals, therefore, seek investment avenues with safe havens, despite the volatility.

Darkfost noted, "This dynamic still needs to strengthen, but some participants are already buying this dip." The move highlights a cautious but clear return of capital deployment. However, selling pressure remains strong and is yet to be fully absorbed. Consequently, while inflows signal growing interest, the market requires sustained support for a more significant recovery.

European Banks Launch Euro-Pegged Stablecoin

In parallel, European financial institutions are embracing stablecoins as mainstream solutions. BBVA joined a consortium of eleven banks, forming Qivalis to develop a euro-pegged stablecoin. The initiative aims to enable faster, cheaper payments and digital asset settlements within a regulated framework. 

Qivalis will operate on the MiCA regime and awaits the authorization of the Dutch central bank. In addition to BBVA, other members are BNP Paribas, CaixaBank, Ing Group, UniCredit, and others. It is set to be launched in the second half of 2026.

The consortium’s plan emphasizes security, governance, and customer protection. Additionally, this stablecoin could allow banks to offer simultaneous exchanges between digital assets and euros. Hence, traditional institutions are now positioning themselves to compete with decentralized finance offerings.

Political Push Supports Stablecoin Adoption

Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) urges banks to adopt stablecoins as a new financial product. She stated, "I'd like to see the banks embrace this rather than resist it." Lummis argues stablecoins offer fresh business opportunities and can integrate into mainstream banking. 

However, negotiations over the market structure bill remain stalled. Banks warn that stablecoin rewards may trigger deposit flight from traditional accounts, particularly in smaller community banks.

The post Stablecoin Inflows Surge Amid Rising Crypto Selling Pressure appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

Marathon moved 1,318 BTC to trusted custodians, showing it actively manages risk instead of holding Bitcoin idle.

The miner’s Bitcoin balance fell sharply as prices dropped, suggesting strategic redeployment rather than panic selling.

Similar moves by miners and firms like BlackRock show institutions reposition assets during volatile crypto markets.

Marathon Digital executed a significant Bitcoin transfer on February 6, moving 1,318 BTC, worth about $86.9 million, to institutional custodians Two Prime, BitGo, and Galaxy Digital. 

Blockchain analysis platform Lookonchain has uncovered this by tracking various transactions within different wallets. While Marathon has now sent 653.77 BTC to Two Prime, there have been other separate transactions of 99.99 BTC and 280 BTC to BitGo’s wallet. 

In addition to this, 50 BTC has been sent to a different wallet, while 305 BTC has been sent via Anchorage Digital Custody. Deposits in smaller quantities, ranging from 3.16 to 3.27 BTC, have been made to different Marathon wallets by Coinbase.

As per the on-chain data provided by Arkham Intelligence, these transactions reflect a long-term capital investment strategy. The miner's on-chain balance experienced a steady rise in 2024 before reaching a peak at around $2.4 billion in early 2025. 

However, as of February 6, 2026, the on-chain value dropped significantly to around $793 million. Presently, Marathon holds around 12,245 BTC valued at around $792.68 million, marking a dip of 9.76%, mirroring the decline in Bitcoin's price to $64,733, or 8.89%, as a result of the drop in value.

Patterns of Strategic Asset Movement

Marathon’s recent transfers mirror past large-scale movements. In November 2025, the firm moved 2,348 BTC, roughly $236 million, to institutional exchanges including Coinbase Prime, FalconX, Galaxy Digital, and Two Prime. 

About $60 million went to FalconX, $45 million to Coinbase Prime, and the remainder to Two Prime and Galaxy Digital. Last month, Lookonchain also noted a transfer of 288 BTC, approximately $26.3 million, to Wintermute, a cryptocurrency market maker.

Such patterns are common among publicly listed Bitcoin miners. Riot Platforms moved 850 BTC in February 2025 to secure equipment financing. In December 2024, CleanSpark transferred 1,200 BTC to diversify its treasury. 

Similarly, Core Scientific moved 600 BTC to fund partnerships. Institutional investors follow similar strategies. BlackRock, for instance, moved over $1 billion in BTC and Ethereum to Coinbase’s institutional custody in early November 2025.

The post Marathon Digital Moves $86.9M in Bitcoin to Institutional Custodians appears on Crypto Front News. Visit our website to read more interesting articles about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.