BeInCrypto Global

Bitcoin (BTC) has extended its downward trajectory. Over the past 24 hours, the asset has declined 1.39%, pushing its total losses for the month beyond 30%.

While the broader bear market environment remains the primary driver of weakness, emerging on-chain signals suggest that concentrated whale activity could reportedly be amplifying BTC’s downside. 

Whale Activity Raises Concerns Over Short-Term Bitcoin Volatility 

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain reported that a whale’s (3NVeXm) deposits have coincided with Bitcoin’s price drops. Data from Arkham showed that the whale started depositing Bitcoin to Binance three weeks ago, starting out with modest amounts. 

However, activity accelerated this week. On February 11, the whale transferred 5,000 BTC into the exchange. The string of transfers has continued with the wallet sending another 2,800 coins just today.

Whale 3NVeXm Bitcoin Transfers. Source: Arkham

Lookonchain suggested that the timing of these deposits may have influenced short-term price action.

“Every time he deposits BTC, the price drops. Yesterday, I warned when he made a deposit — and soon after, BTC dropped over 3%,” the post read.

As of the latest available data, the address still holds 166.5 BTC, valued at over $11 million at current market prices. Large exchange inflows are often interpreted as a precursor to selling, as investors typically move assets to trading platforms to liquidate or hedge positions. 

While correlation does not necessarily imply causation, the scale and timing of these transfers could have increased immediate sell-side pressure in an already fragile market structure. In periods of heightened sensitivity, even the perception of whale-driven selling can amplify downside moves as traders react to on-chain signals and adjust positions accordingly.

Capitulation Signals Point to Market Stress 

The transfers come at a time of pronounced weakness across the Bitcoin market. An analyst noted that Bitcoin’s realized losses surged to $2.3 billion.

“This puts us in the top 3-5 loss events ever recorded. Only a handful of moments in Bitcoin’s history have seen this level of capitulation,” the analysis read.

Bitcoin’s Realized Loss. Source: CryptoQuant

The analyst added that short-term holders, defined as those holding coins for less than 155 days, appear to be driving much of the current capitulation. Investors who accumulated BTC at $80,000-$110,000 are now locking in significant losses, suggesting that overleveraged retail participants and weaker hands are exiting their positions.

In contrast, long-term holders do not appear to be the primary source of this latest wave of selling. Historically, this cohort tends to hold through drawdowns.

“In the past, extreme loss spikes like this triggered rebounds. We’re seeing it now: BTC bounced from $60K to $71K after the capitulation. But this could still be the beginning of a deep and slow bleed-out. Relief rallies happen even in prolonged bear markets,” the analyst stated.

Meanwhile, BeInCrypto previously highlighted several signals suggesting that BTC may still be in the early stages of a broader bear cycle, leaving room for further downside risk. CryptoQuant analysts have pointed to the $55,000 level as Bitcoin’s realized price, a level historically associated with bear market bottoms. 

In previous cycles, BTC traded 24% to 30% below its realized price before stabilizing. Currently, Bitcoin remains above that level.

When BTC approaches its realized price zone, it has historically entered a period of sideways consolidation before staging a recovery. Some analysts argue that a deeper correction toward the sub-$40,000 range could mark a more definitive bottom formation.

Hedera price has declined in recent sessions, forming a descending broadening wedge pattern that typically signals a potential bullish breakout. HBAR trades at $0.0923 at publication, remaining below the $0.0938 resistance level. 

While the technical structure suggests upside potential, Bitcoin’s direction could determine whether that breakout materializes.

HBAR Holders Are Pulling Back On Selling

The Money Flow Index, or MFI, is forming a bullish divergence against HBAR price action. While HBAR recently posted a lower low, the MFI printed a higher reading. This divergence signals weakening selling pressure beneath the surface.

Bullish divergences often precede reversals in cryptocurrency markets. When momentum indicators improve during price declines, it reflects reduced conviction among sellers. Investors appear to be slowing distribution, which may allow HBAR to stabilize and attempt a rebound.

HBAR MFI. Source: TradingView

A confirmed breakout from the descending broadening wedge could trigger forced short liquidations. Liquidation data shows a concentration of short positions near the $0.1012 level. A move above that threshold would likely pressure bearish traders.

The liquidation map indicates most short liquidations sit at up to $0.1012. A rally through that zone could trigger approximately $4.34 million in liquidations. Forced buying from liquidated shorts often accelerates bullish momentum and strengthens breakout structures in volatile altcoins.

HBAR Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass Bitcoin Remains a Problem

Despite improving technical signals, Bitcoin remains the dominant influence. Hedera has shown increasing correlation with BTC over recent months. When Bitcoin declines, HBAR frequently mirrors that weakness regardless of its internal setup.

A brief divergence occurred between June and July 2025, when Bitcoin advanced while HBAR moved sideways. Outside that period, price behavior largely aligned. With correlation now stronger, HBAR could struggle if Bitcoin fails to generate upward momentum.

HBAR Correlation To Bitcoin. Source: TradingView HBAR Price Breakout On The Cards

HBAR price sits at $0.0923, trading within the descending broadening wedge. Immediate resistance at $0.0938 continues to cap upside attempts. A confirmed breakout requires flipping $0.1005 into support and breaching $0.1071 decisively.

Clearing those levels would strengthen the bullish outlook and open the path toward $0.1300, which represents a recovery of recent losses. However, $0.1071 remains the primary short-term objective before any extended rally becomes sustainable.

HBAR Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Conversely, renewed Bitcoin weakness could invalidate the bullish thesis. Failure to overcome $0.0938 or loss of $0.0855 support would increase downside risk. A drop toward $0.0780 would confirm continued consolidation and delay any breakout scenario.

Coinbase’s latest quarterly results have rattled investors and sparked heated debate across the crypto industry after the exchange reported a surprise loss and missed Wall Street expectations.

Still, executives point to strong long-term growth metrics and progress in diversification.

Coinbase Q4 2025 Earnings Report: All You Need to Know

The company released its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings on February 12, reporting revenue of roughly $1.78 billion and a GAAP net loss of about $667 million, with earnings per share of –$2.49.

Analysts had broadly expected Coinbase to remain profitable, making the miss particularly striking.

The disappointing results contrasted sharply with optimistic projections circulating earlier in the quarter, reflecting the difficulty of forecasting performance in a highly cyclical crypto market.

Trading Slump and Accounting Losses Weigh on Results

A major driver of the weak quarter was declining trading activity that saw even Hyperliquid dethrone Coinbase.

Transaction revenue, historically Coinbase’s core business, fell significantly year-over-year as falling crypto prices and reduced retail participation dampened volumes across digital asset markets.

The broader market environment also played a role. Bitcoin and other major tokens declined sharply in Q4. This compelled exchanges and trading platforms to adjust to lower activity and reduced fee generation.

However, not all of the damage reflected operational weakness. A substantial portion of the reported loss stemmed from unrealized losses on Coinbase’s crypto investment portfolio and strategic stakes, which were marked down as asset prices fell.

“What drove the big GAAP loss? The headline -$667 million net loss was heavily distorted by non-cash accounting hits: $718 million unrealized loss on Coinbase’s own crypto investment portfolio (marked down as Bitcoin and other tokens fell sharply in Q4). Additional losses from strategic investments (e.g., stake in Circle, which dropped ~40% QoQ),” macro analyst Marty Party commented.

These non-cash charges amplified the headline loss but do not necessarily reflect cash outflows or deteriorating core operations.

Without these accounting adjustments, underlying profitability metrics appeared less severe, though still below expectations.

Management Emphasizes Long-Term Transformation

Despite the negative headline numbers, CEO Brian Armstrong struck an optimistic tone, arguing that the company has made significant structural progress.

“2025 was a strong year for Coinbase, and we built a solid foundation for continued growth in 2026. Our thesis is actually very simple: crypto is updating all financial services, and we’re the best-positioned company to capitalize on this transformation,” Armstrong said, highlighting several operational milestones.

According to the company, total trading volume grew sharply year-over-year, market share expanded, and multiple products now generate more than $100 million in annualized revenue.

Assets held on the platform have also increased significantly over the past three years.

These metrics reflect Coinbase’s strategy to diversify beyond spot trading, expanding into custody, derivatives, subscriptions, and infrastructure services.

Diversification Strategy Shows Mixed Signals

One of the most closely watched segments, subscription and services revenue, proved relatively resilient compared with trading fees.

Recurring revenue streams tied to stablecoins, custody, and premium services have become a growing share of Coinbase’s overall business.

This shift is critical to reducing dependence on volatile retail trading cycles, long viewed as Coinbase’s biggest vulnerability.

However, critics remain skeptical, pointing to declining consumer transaction revenue and a weak near-term outlook for trading volumes as signs that the company still faces significant cyclical exposure.

Industry Headwinds and Investor Reaction

Coinbase’s results arrive amid broader pressure across the crypto sector. Several exchanges and trading platforms have reported declining revenue, layoffs, or executive changes in recent weeks, reflecting the impact of lower market activity.

Investor sentiment has been mixed. Some analysts view the earnings miss and steep loss as evidence that crypto-linked equities remain highly sensitive to market downturns.

Others argue the quarter reflects temporary macro and market conditions rather than a fundamental deterioration of Coinbase’s business model.

Compounding the negative sentiment, some users experienced trading disruptions shortly before the earnings release, which drew criticism and added to market unease.

Coinbase (COIN) Stock Performance. Source: TradingView

As of this writing, COIN stock was trading for $140.97, down by over 45% year-to-date.

Anthropic, the strongest rival to OpenAI, has officially announced a record-breaking $30 billion fundraising round. The deal lifts the company’s post-money valuation to $380 billion, highlighting the powerful pull of capital into the artificial intelligence sector.

Behind the headline number, however, lie complex second-order effects that could increase pressure on the cryptocurrency market.

Why Anthropic’s $30 Billion Raise Could Be a Problem for Bitcoin

Anthropic confirmed it raised $30 billion in a Series G round at a valuation of $380 billion. The round was led by GIC and Coatue, with participation from major investors including Founders Fund, Sequoia, BlackRock, Temasek, Microsoft, and NVIDIA.

The company’s financial momentum is notable. Revenue run-rate has reached $14 billion, expanding more than tenfold annually over the past three years.

Claude Code has gained strong enterprise traction, with eight of the Fortune 10 companies now using Claude. The number of customers spending more than $1 million per year has surged from 12 to over 500.

Anthropic Run-rate Revenue Growth. Source: Anthropic

Anthropic now expects annual revenue to nearly quadruple this year, reaching approximately $18 billion.

As AI tools become capable of autonomously executing complex tasks, demand for traditional software is likely to decline sharply. Instead of paying monthly subscriptions for dozens of SaaS products, enterprises may increasingly rely on a single general-purpose AI assistant to manage operations.

Bloomberg recently reported that advances in new AI automation tools from Anthropic triggered a sell-off of up to $285 billion in software stock market capitalization during the first week of February.

Bitcoin, meanwhile, continues to show a strong correlation with software stocks. Private credit flows largely drive this relationship.

“Software stocks are struggling again today. $IGV (iShares Software ETF) is essentially back to last week’s panic lows. Don’t forget there’s another type of software—‘programmable money,’ crypto. Bitcoin (blue) with the software index (orange). They are the same thing,” analyst Jim Bianco stated.

Bitcoin vs Software Stock. Source: Bianco Research

According to a BeinCrypto report, the $3 trillion private credit industry plays a central role in this dynamic. Software accounts for roughly 17% of investments by deal count.

Pressure that began building in mid-2025 has tightened capital conditions. This shift has increased the risk of reduced lending, early repayments, and forced asset sales, with spillover effects reaching the cryptocurrency market.

As demand for AI tools rises—not only from Anthropic but across the sector—expectations for SaaS companies may weaken. That shift could elevate loan default risks. UBS has warned that U.S. private credit default rates could reach 13%.

Such stress may negatively affect Bitcoin and the broader crypto market through correlation channels.

AI threatens traditional software revenues by displacing demand. It also competes with crypto in areas such as quantum security. As a result, closely monitoring private credit flows and AI development has become increasingly important for crypto risk management.

Anthropic is not the sole driver of these risks. Its swift ascent, however, may signal a larger wave of volatility ahead.

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) activated the XLS-85 amendment on February 12, 2026, bringing native escrow to all Trustline-based tokens (IOUs) and Multi-Purpose Tokens (MPTs). This upgrade opens new use cases for secure, programmable asset settlement.

Moreover, the move expands XRPL’s utility, and market watchers suggest the upgrade could pave the way for institutional capital deployment. But will this impact XRP’s price? That is a question that remains to be answered.

XLS-85 Amendment Extends Escrow Functionality Beyond XRP 

XLS-0085 expands how escrow works on the network. Until now, XRPL’s native escrow functionality was limited to XRP. With XLS-85, that restriction is removed.

“From stablecoins like RLUSD to Real World Assets, the XRPL now supports secure, conditional, on-chain settlement for all assets,” RippleX stated.

XLS-85 upgrades the existing EscrowCreate, EscrowFinish, and EscrowCancel transaction types. Importantly, token issuers retain control. Tokens must explicitly allow escrow functionality through issuer-level flags. This preserves compliance controls and token governance structures already in place.

This is not just a minor tweak. It shifts XRPL from being a network where only XRP could be escrowed to one where assets gain native time-lock and conditional release functionality.

That opens the door to:

Token vesting schedules

Institutional settlement workflows

Treasury management for issued assets

Conditional stablecoin payouts

Structured financial products built directly on XRPL

“Token Escrow (XLS-85) is an upgrade to the #XRP Ledger, which plugs directly into it and makes the DEX institution-ready. The Institutions will begin deploying CAPITAL on #XRPL starting 12 February,” an analyst wrote.

The latest update comes shortly after XRPL activated Permissioned Domains earlier this month to expand institutional use cases.

XRPL’s Token Escrow Upgrade Raises Questions About XRP’s Long-Term Price Impact

It’s worth noting that while the activation of XLS-0085 does not directly increase demand for XRP, it could influence the asset’s long-term price trajectory through broader network effects.

The amendment extends native escrow functionality to Trustline-based tokens and Multi-Purpose Tokens, rather than expanding escrow usage for XRP itself. That means the upgrade does not automatically create additional XRP lockups or immediate supply constraints.

However, the structural implications are more nuanced. If token issuers, including stablecoin providers, RWA platforms, or institutions, adopt XRPL because it now supports native token escrow:

Token issuance on XRPL could increase

Transaction volume may rise

The number of active accounts could expand

Demand for XRP may grow due to fees and reserve requirements

That increases network usage, and XRP is still the gas and reserve asset of the ledger. Higher utility → potentially higher demand for XRP → possible price appreciation. But this depends entirely on real adoption.

Upgrades like XLS-0085 signal that XRPL is positioning itself as a tokenized finance infrastructure. If markets perceive XRPL as becoming more competitive with Ethereum or other token platforms, sentiment alone can influence price. Crypto markets often price in narrative and positioning, not just usage.

In the short term, price impact may depend more on market sentiment than on immediate usage metrics. Over the longer term, sustained ecosystem growth driven by token-enabled escrow could contribute to stronger network fundamentals, which historically play a role in digital asset valuation.

XRP Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto Markets

For now, XRP continues to face challenges along with the broader market. At press time, it was trading at $1.36, down 1.35% over the past day.

Dnes v 08:00 UTC na Deribit expiruje téměř 3 miliardy $ v opcích na Bitcoin a Ethereum, což vystavuje trhy s deriváty intenzivnímu zkoumání.

S blížící se expirací dnešních opcí bude zájem o to, zda nedávná stabilizace cen označuje dočasnou přestávku nebo začátek nového směrového pohybu.

Expirace opcí Bitcoin a Ethereum v hodnotě 3 miliardy $ testuje nervy trhu po šoku z likvidace

K datu tohoto psaní se Bitcoin obchodoval za 66 372 $, s maximálním tlakem kolem 74 000 $ a celkovým nominálním otevřeným zájmem přesahujícím 2,53 miliardy $.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) bear market has weighed heavily on investors across the spectrum. Corporate treasuries, major whales, and even nation-state holders have all felt the pressure.

The cryptocurrency’s slide has slashed the value of El Salvador’s holdings as credit default swaps rise to a five-month high, raising concerns over the country’s IMF program and debt outlook.

El Salvador’s Bitcoin Bet Under Pressure as Portfolio Drops

According to the latest data from El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office, the country’s Bitcoin reserves stand at 7,560 BTC, worth approximately $503.8 million. Bloomberg reported that the portfolio’s value has fallen from around $800 million at Bitcoin’s October 2025 peak, marking a drop of nearly $300 million in just four months.

El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings. Source: El Salvador Bitcoin Office

Bukele, an ardent Bitcoin advocate, has continued purchasing one Bitcoin per day. However, this strategy increases the country’s exposure to market volatility.

In contrast, Bhutan recently sold $22.4 million worth of Bitcoin. The divergent strategies of El Salvador and Bhutan reflect fundamentally different risk philosophies. 

Bhutan’s Bitcoin mining operations generated more than $765 million in profit since 2019. However, the 2024 Bitcoin halving significantly increased mining costs, compressing margins and reducing returns. Bhutan now appears to be liquidating part of its holdings, while El Salvador continues to prioritize long-term accumulation.

Nonetheless, the country has also diversified its portfolio. Last month, it spent $50 million to acquire gold as demand for the safe-haven metal rose amid macroeconomic tensions.

IMF Loan Talks Face Strain Over El Salvador’s Bitcoin Policy

El Salvador’s deepening commitment to cryptocurrency has impacted relations with the International Monetary Fund. The government’s continued Bitcoin purchases, combined with delays in implementing pension reforms, have complicated the country’s IMF agreement. 

The Fund has expressed concern about Bitcoin’s potential impact on fiscal stability. A disruption to the IMF program would weaken one of the key supports behind El Salvador’s sovereign debt recovery. Over the past three years, the country’s bonds have returned more than 130%, making them one of the standout turnaround stories in emerging markets.

“The IMF may take issue with disbursements potentially being used to add Bitcoin. Bitcoin being down also doesn’t help to ease investors’ concerns,” Christopher Mejia, an EM sovereign analyst at T Rowe Price, told Bloomberg.

The IMF approved a 40-month Extended Fund Facility on February 26, 2025, unlocking about $1.4 billion in total, according to official IMF documentation. The first review ended in June 2025, with $231 million disbursed.

However, the second review has remained on hold since September, following the government’s delay in publishing a pension system analysis. During that period, El Salvador continued to add to its Bitcoin reserves despite repeated warnings from the IMF. 

A third review is scheduled for March, with each review tied to additional loan disbursements.

“The continued purchase of Bitcoin, in our view, does create some potential challenges for the IMF reviews. The market would react quite poorly if the anchor provided by the IMF were no longer present.” Jared Lou, who helps manage the William Blair Emerging Markets Debt Fund, said.

Meanwhile, bond markets are signaling rising concern over El Salvador’s fiscal outlook. Credit default swaps have climbed to a five-month high, reflecting increasing investor anxiety about the country’s repayment capacity.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, El Salvador faces $450 million in bond payments this year, with obligations increasing to nearly $700 million next year.

El Salvador’s Bitcoin policy now sits alongside key fiscal and IMF negotiations. The outcome of upcoming IMF reviews and the country’s bond repayment schedule will play a significant role in shaping investor confidence and the sustainability of its debt trajectory.

Prediction platform Polymarket recently launched a new feature that lets users bet on cryptocurrency price movements every five minutes.

The event signals rising demand for real-time crypto sentiment data among traders and investors.

Real-Time Sentiment Drives Short-Term Contracts

For now, the new market is limited to Bitcoin, though support for major altcoins is expected to follow.

Price will update dynamically, in tune with market sentiment and immediate price reaction. All trades will be executed on-chain to ensure transparency and security. 

Polymarket’s five-minute Bitcoin price bets. Source: Polymarket.

The feature targets day traders and crypto enthusiasts looking for a fast-paced experience. With Bitcoin’s recent dip, price swings have grown increasingly erratic, amplifying short-term volatility.

The initiative builds on existing contracts with varying durations, ranging from 15-minute and hourly intervals to four-hour time frames. It also comes as prediction markets are seeing exponential growth in usage, with individual polls recording trading volumes in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

It also reflects growing concern that shifting attention toward these platforms could distort crypto’s core purpose and use cases.

Market Weakness Fuels Betting Activity

Among the wide range of polls offered by prediction platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, a significant share involves crypto bets. More specifically, many of these contracts focus on forecasting the future price of major digital assets.

Interest in these wagers has surged in recent months. 

Tens of millions in trading volume have been directed toward Bitcoin’s February price alone, alongside heavily traded contracts linked to Ethereum, XRP, and Solana.

These forecasts have gained traction as the broader crypto market struggles to regain momentum. In this environment, volatility itself appears to be fueling participation, with traders using market weakness as an opportunity to place short-term bets.

While the proliferation of such polls has generated substantial trading activity, it is also drawing capital and attention away from underlying fundamentals.

Instead of sustained focus on integration or real-world use cases, crypto narratives risk shifting toward probabilities and crowd positioning.

Polymarket’s new five-minute betting feature further amplifies that dynamic.

If price-based wagering continues to attract more capital than long-term allocation, the market could increasingly revolve around price movements rather than durable value creation.

Israel indicted two citizens for allegedly using classified information to place wagers on the prediction platform Polymarket, according to a statement made by authorities on Thursday. 

The news renewed concern that prediction markets make it easier to engage in insider trading for profit. 

Israeli Agencies Target Military Insider Betting Case

In a joint statement, the Israeli Defense Ministry, Israel Police, and the Shin Bet said the suspects — an army reservist and a civilian — were arrested on suspicion of placing bets on Polymarket about potential military operations. 

“This was allegedly based on classified information to which the reservists were exposed through their military duties,” the statement said.

The announcement comes weeks after Israeli public broadcaster Kan News reported on the matter. The outlet said security agencies had opened an investigation into the suspected misuse of classified information within the defense establishment.

The report alleged that the information was used to place bets on Polymarket, including on the timing of Israel’s opening strike on Iran during the 12-day war in June 2025.

These platforms have seen a surge in wagers on geopolitics, crypto, politics, and sports. Although marketed as alternatives to traditional gambling, their structure closely mirrors conventional betting markets.

Users buy and sell shares tied to real-world outcomes, with prices ranging from $0.01 to $1.00 reflecting the market’s implied probability of each outcome.

Their accessibility, pseudonymity, and ease of use have also prompted concerns about potential insider trading and misconduct.

Are Prediction Markets Exploitable Profit Machines?

Since the start of the year, several incidents have emerged, raising questions about whether individuals with confidential information are using these platforms to generate substantial profits.

In early January, a cluster of newly created Polymarket accounts placed large, precisely timed wagers on contracts predicting Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro would be removed from office. 

These wallets netted more than $630,000 in combined profits just hours before reports of his capture broke.

A similar controversy emerged last December. A Polymarket user earned nearly $1 million by placing highly accurate bets on Google’s 2025 Year in Search rankings. The precision prompted speculation about possible insider access. 

The wallet achieved an unusually high success rate, correctly predicting nearly all outcomes, including several low-probability results. However, there is no evidence confirming any internal connection.

Together, the incidents have intensified debate over the role of prediction markets. Critics question whether they function as efficient information aggregators or enable the monetization of privileged, non-public information.

Binance Co-CEO Richard Teng has defended the exchange against claims that it was responsible for the October 10, 2025, “10/10” crypto crash, which saw roughly $19 billion in liquidations.

Speaking at CoinDesk’s Consensus Hong Kong conference on February 12, 2026, Teng argued the sell-off was driven by other factors besides any Binance-specific failures.

Richard Teng Gives Binance’s Side of the Story on October 10 Crash

The Binance co-CEO cited macroeconomic and geopolitical shocks between the US and China. Specifically, he cited:

Fresh US tariff threats, including potential 100% duties on Chinese imports, and

China’s imposition of rare-earth export controls.

The combination, he said, flipped global risk sentiment, triggering mass liquidations across all exchanges, centralized and decentralized alike.

“The US equity market plunged $1.5 trillion in value that day,” Teng said. “The US equity market alone saw $150 billion of liquidation. The crypto market is much smaller. It was about $19 billion. And the liquidation on crypto happened across all the exchanges.”

The majority of liquidations (roughly 75%) occurred around 9:00 p.m. ET, coinciding with the release of macro news.

Teng acknowledged minor platform issues during the event, including a stablecoin depegging (USDe) and temporary slowness in asset transfers.

However, he stressed these were unrelated to the broader market collapse. He also emphasized that Binance supported affected users, including by compensating some of them.

“…trading data showed no evidence of a mass withdrawal from the platform,” he added.

Last year, Binance reportedly facilitated $34 trillion in trading volume and served over 300 million users.

It is worth noting that the October 10 crash has been a persistent cause of Binance FUD over the past several months. The exchange has faced criticism from far and wide, with the heaviest attacks coming from rival exchange OKX and its CEO, Star Xu.

Traders Reject Teng’s Macro Shock Explanation Amid $19 Billion 10/10 Liquidation

Despite Teng’s detailed defense, traders on social media have responded swiftly and critically. On X (Twitter), users accused Binance of locking APIs and engineering conditions that forced liquidations, only to deflect responsibility with the “macro shock” explanation.

“Blaming macro shocks is the new ‘it was a glitch.’ $19B liquidated and somehow nobody at Binance is responsible lol,” one user challenged.

Naysayers go further, with some users likening Teng’s claims to colloquial phrases in harsh criticism.

“‘It wasn’t us, it was the macro’ is the crypto exchange version of the dog ate my homework. $19B in liquidations and every platform just points at the guy next to them,” another said.

However, the majority of responses revolved around alleged fake API responses and questioned internal coordination at Binance. The general sentiment is that users feel the exchange is not fully transparent.

The backlash illustrates the ongoing tension between centralized exchanges and leveraged traders during high-volatility events.

While retail demand has cooled compared to previous years, Teng highlighted that institutional and corporate participation in crypto remains strong.

“Institutions are still entering the sector,” he said. “Meaning the smart money is deploying.”

Teng also framed the 10/10 event as part of a broader cyclical pattern in crypto markets. He argued that despite short-term turbulence, the sector’s underlying development continues, with institutional capital driving long-term confidence.

Still, the exchange faces a twofold challenge:

It must defend its role during unprecedented market stress

Binance must also restore trust with a skeptical trading community.

While the $19 billion liquidation wiped out positions across the market, the debate over who or what should be held accountable continues to simmer online. This is expected, given the fragility of confidence in high-leverage crypto trading.

Argentina fintech skupiny uvítaly možnost, že by poprvé mohli pracovníci vkládat své platy do virtuálních peněženek. Nicméně, zákonodárci tuto klauzuli odstranili, což bylo široce vnímáno jako zvýhodnění tradičních bankovních zájmů.

Během jednání o zajištění širší podpory pro zákon se strana prezidenta Javiera Mileiho dohodla na vyloučení článku, přestože průzkumy ukazovaly, že velká většina Argentineců dává přednost svobodě volby, kde budou jejich platy vkládány.

Nedůvěra v banky podporuje přijetí peněženek

The Monero price has remained under pressure since mid-January, even as parts of the crypto market attempt to stabilize. After falling sharply through late January, the XMR price found support near $276 on February 6 and has since moved slightly higher.

But this recovery looks shaky. Chart patterns, weak dip buying, and mixed sentiment data suggest Monero may still be heading toward another major decline.

Bear Flag Breakdown and Weak Dip Buying Put XMR Under Pressure

Since January 14, Monero has been trading within a declining structure resembling a bearish pole-and-flag pattern. A bear flag is a short consolidation that forms after a sharp drop (ended on February 6 for XMR) and often signals that the downtrend may continue.

After falling more than 60% from its January peak, XMR moved sideways and slightly upward inside this flag. However, as of February 12, the price began slipping below the lower boundary, signaling a potential breakdown. This confirms the bearish breakdown at press time, unless, in the next few hours, some buyers can push XMR back inside the flag.

Momentum data shows that dip buyers are still present, but their strength remains limited. One useful indicator here is the Money Flow Index, or MFI. MFI tracks buying and selling pressure by combining price and volume, making it useful for spotting dip-buying strength.

XMR Sees Dip Buying: TradingView

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Since February 1, Monero’s MFI has trended upward (higher lows) while XMR moved sideways and lower. This suggests that some investors are buying dips. But MFI has failed to break above its upper trendline or form a clear higher-high structure. That means buying interest is present, but not strong enough to reverse the pattern weakness.

Exchange flow data supports this view. After three days of mild inflows, Monero recorded net outflows again on February 12, with around $372,000 worth of XMR moving out of exchanges. Negative netflow usually signals rising buying pressure.

Spot Flows: Coinglass

This shows that some are still buying. In simple terms, dip buyers are active, but only feebly.

Rising Social Interest Fails to Offset Falling Positive Sentiment

Social data shows another important weakness in Monero’s current setup.

Over the past few days, Monero’s social dominance has started to rise. Social dominance measures how much attention a coin receives compared to the rest of the crypto market. When it increases, it means more people are talking about the asset.

Between February 11 and February 12, social dominance rose from around 0.046% to 0.066%. This shows that interest in Monero is picking up slightly after weeks of decline. Historically, rising social activity has sometimes preceded short-term price rebounds.

For example, on January 12, social dominance surged near 0.92%. Within two days, Monero rallied 25%. A similar pattern appeared on January 18, when social interest rose ahead of another short-term price peak. However, the current rise in social dominance is much weaker than in those past cases. It remains well below the February high near 0.106 and far below January’s major spikes.

More importantly, positive sentiment is moving in the opposite direction. Positive sentiment tracks how much of the social discussion is optimistic rather than neutral or negative. Since February 9, Monero’s positive sentiment score has fallen sharply from about 27.26 to just 7.21, a 74% dip. This is a major decline.

Social Chatter Around XMR: Santiment

In January, when positive sentiment surged above 100, strong rallies followed. Today, sentiment is collapsing even as social chatter rises. This suggests that people are talking about Monero, but not in a confident or optimistic way. Much of the discussion appears driven by concern, speculation, and downside risk. This weak emotional backdrop makes it harder for any Monero price recovery to sustain momentum.

Monero Price Levels That Determine the Next Leg

With technical weakness and fragile demand, the XMR price levels now matter more than narratives. On the upside, the most important resistance sits near $361, discussed at the end of this section.

This level marks the center of the bear flag structure. A sustained move above $361 would suggest that buyers are regaining control and that the breakdown may be delayed. Not invalidated. Without a recovery above this zone, downside risks remain dominant.

One small positive signal comes from the Bull-Bear Power indicator. This metric compares buying strength against selling pressure to show which side is in control. Recently, bearish power has started to weaken even as the price slipped below key support. This suggests that sellers are losing some momentum.

Bears Losing Control: TradingView

If dip buying remains active while bearish pressure continues to fade, buyers could delay the breakdown and attempt to push XMR back above $361. 

On the downside, the first major support lies near $308. This level has acted as a short-term floor several times in recent days. Below $308, the next key support sits near $276, which marked the February low.

Monero Price Analysis: TradingView

If both levels fail, the bear flag projection points toward the $135 region. This target reflects nearly the full measured move of the prior decline and represents the next major historical support zone.

Někteří uživatelé Coinbase v současnosti zažívají dočasné narušení, které jim brání v nákupu, prodeji nebo převodu digitálních aktiv na Coinbase.com.

Problém, o kterém platforma poprvé informovala na sociálních médiích, vyvolal obavy mezi obchodníky, i když společnost ujišťuje zákazníky, že všechny prostředky zůstávají v bezpečí.

Dočasné narušení služby ponechává uživatele Coinbase neschopné obchodovat

Coinbase, největší kryptoburza se sídlem v USA, potvrdila narušení v prohlášení na svém oficiálním Twitterovém podpoře a poznamenala:

Zlato a stříbro se ve čtvrtek ostře propadly, což otřáslo trhy, které již byly na pokraji paniky kvůli rostoucímu finančnímu stresu v USA.

Spotové zlato kleslo o více než 3 %, zatímco stříbro se propadlo o více než 10 %, čímž obrátilo část svého nedávného vzestupu.

Špatné zprávy pro zlato a stříbro uprostřed rekordního amerického dluhu a rostoucích bankrotů

K okamžiku, kdy toto píšu, se zlato obchodovalo za 4 956 USD, dolů 3,97 %, zatímco stříbro se prodávalo za 76,74 USD poté, co ztratilo 10,65 % za posledních 24 hodin.

Náhlý výprodej přiměl analytiky a investory zpochybnit, zda se rozvíjí širší přecenění tvrdých aktiv.

Ethereum price remains under pressure after a sharp decline that unsettled investors across the crypto market. 

Although Ethereum appears to be entering a historically favorable accumulation zone, on-chain indicators reveal mixed conviction among different holder cohorts.

Ethereum Is In a Prime Accumulation Range

Ethereum’s Market Value to Realized Value, or MVRV, ratio indicates that ETH has entered what analysts describe as an “opportunity zone.” This range lies between negative 18% and negative 28%. Historically, when MVRV falls into this band, selling pressure approaches exhaustion.

Previous entries into this zone often preceded price reversals. Investors typically accumulate when unrealized losses deepen. Such behavior can stabilize the Ethereum price and initiate recovery phases. However, historical probability does not guarantee immediate upside.

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Ethereum MVRV Ratio. Source: Santiment

Current macro conditions complicate the outlook. Liquidity constraints and cautious sentiment may delay accumulation. While MVRV suggests undervaluation relative to realized cost basis, broader market weakness could suppress momentum and extend consolidation before any meaningful rebound begins.

Ethereum Holders Are Leaning Differently

Short-term holders are regaining influence over Ethereum price action. The MVRV Long/Short Difference measures profitability between long-term and short-term holders. Deeply negative readings signal greater profitability among short-term holders compared to long-term investors.

Toward the end of January, the metric suggested profitability was shifting away from short-term traders. That trend hinted at an improving structure. However, the recent decline reversed that dynamic, restoring short-term holder profits. These investors typically sell quickly, increasing vulnerability to renewed downside pressure.

Ethereum MVRV Long/Short Difference. Source: Santiment

The HODLer net position change metric reveals another shift. Long-term holders previously exhibited steady accumulation. In recent days, the buying pressure has transitioned into distribution, reflecting reduced confidence among strategic investors.

Long-term holder selling adds structural risk. These participants often provide foundational support during downturns. Without renewed accumulation from this cohort, the Ethereum price may struggle to absorb supply. Current data shows limited evidence of strong counterbalancing demand.

Ethereum HODLer Net Position Change. Source: Glassnode ETH Price May Look At Consolidation

Ethereum price trades at $1,983 and remains above the $1,811 support level. Despite this stability, the altcoin recently marked a nine-month low at $1,743. Maintaining $1,811 is critical to prevent deeper technical deterioration.

Given ongoing selling from both short-term and long-term holders, recovery may face resistance near $2,238. Continued weakness could keep ETH trading closer to support rather than challenging overhead barriers. A confirmed breakdown below $1,811 may expose Ethereum to $1,571.

Ethereum Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Alternatively, reduced selling from short-term holders could ease pressure. If long-term holders resume accumulation, Ethereum may attempt a stronger rebound. A decisive move above $2,238, followed by a rally past $2,509, would invalidate the bearish thesis and improve the medium-term outlook.

Decentralizovaná platforma pro obchodování s perpetualy Lighter viděla, jak její nativní token LIT vzrostl téměř o 10% během brzkých hodin americké seance.

Následují zprávy, že uzavřela významnou dohodu o sdílení příjmů s emitentem USDC, společností Circle.

Lighter uzavírá dohodu o sdílení příjmů ve výši $920 milionů s Circle — výhra pro DeFi obchodníky.

LIT, pohánějící token pro ekosystém Lighter, explodoval téměř o 10% na tuto zprávu a obchodoval se za $1.46% na tuto zprávu.

Dohoda pokrývá přibližně $920 milionů v USDC vkladech na platformě Lighter, což představuje významný milník pro mladou DeFi burzu.

Hedera’s HBAR is outperforming the broader crypto market. While Bitcoin and Ethereum are up around 2% over the past day, HBAR price today has gained nearly 10% over the past week and about 8% in the last 24 hours, trading near $0.096 at press time.

The rally has raised expectations of a breakout. But momentum, volume, and derivatives data suggest risk is rising faster than conviction.

Falling Wedge Breakout Hopes Build, But With A Risk

HBAR has been trading inside a falling wedge pattern since late 2025.

Since early February, HBAR has rebounded from close to the lower boundary of this structure and climbed toward the upper trendline near $0.098. This level has capped the price multiple times and now acts as key resistance.

If HBAR breaks and holds above this zone, the wedge’s measured move points toward an upside of over 50% from current levels. However, momentum is starting to weaken. The Relative Strength Index, or RSI, measures buying and selling strength. When RSI rises, momentum improves. When it weakens, momentum fades.

Between February 6 and February 12, HBAR struggled to move decisively above $0.098 and began forming a potential lower high. At the same time, RSI continued making higher highs.

Building RSI Risk: TradingView

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This creates a hidden bearish divergence. It happens when the price fails to confirm improving momentum. It often signals that buyers are becoming stretched near resistance.

This does not indicate a trend reversal. But it shows that upside efficiency is declining as the price approaches a critical level. The divergence threat passes if the current HBAR price candle touches $0.098, invalidating the lower-high theory.

Money Flow and Derivatives Data Show Rising Risks

Money and leverage indicators reinforce this warning. One key metric is Chaikin Money Flow, or CMF. CMF tracks whether large capital is flowing into or out of an asset by combining price and volume. When CMF stays above zero, strong institutional buying is present. When it remains below zero, major inflows are missing.

Between December 31 and February 11, HBAR’s CMF has trended higher while the price trended lower. This divergence supported the recent rebound. CMF has also broken above its descending trendline. But CMF remains below the zero line.

Money Flow Risk: TradingView

This means selling pressure has eased, but strong accumulation has not returned. The rally is still driven mainly by short-term traders rather than large wallets. Derivatives data adds further risk. Open interest measures the total value of active futures contracts. When it rises, leverage in the market increases.

Since February 11, HBAR’s open interest has climbed from about $26.96 million to nearly $29.38 million, an increase of roughly 9% in one day. This jump happened as the price approached resistance. At the same time, funding rates turned sharply positive.

Funding shifted from around -0.018 to near +0.05 within 24 hours. This shows that long positions are building rapidly. There is also a divergence between price and leverage.

HBAR Open Interest: Santiment

The HBAR price formed a local peak on February 8 and another on February 12. The second peak is lower, showing weaker price strength. But open interest made a higher high during the same period. More leverage is entering the market even as the price momentum weakens. This combination often precedes pullbacks. When leverage rises near resistance and momentum fades, even small declines can trigger forced liquidations.

In simple terms, risk-taking is rising while conviction remains weak.

Key Levels Will Decide Whether HBAR Price Breaks Out or Pulls Back

With optimism clashing with weak participation, price levels now matter most. The main upside trigger remains $0.098.

This level aligns with wedge resistance and recent swing highs. A clean break and hold above it would invalidate the bearish divergence and reduce liquidation risk. If that happens, HBAR could target $0.107 first, followed by the $0.145 zone, potentially realizing the wedge target.

That would confirm that real demand has returned. Until then, the rally remains vulnerable. On the downside, $0.090 is the first key support. This level has held multiple times during recent consolidation. A breakdown below it would likely trigger long liquidations.

HBAR Price Analysis: TradingView

Below $0.090, the next major support sits near $0.076. A move to this zone would erase around 20% from current levels and signal that the breakout attempt has failed.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “criminal aggression.” He advocates applying crypto-inspired governance principles to transform Russia’s political system.

His remarks, published ahead of the fourth anniversary of the invasion on February 24, 2026, link blockchain concepts to the long-term security of Europe and Ukraine.

Vitalik Buterin Condemns Aggression Amid Support for Ukraine

The Russo-Canadian innovator directly rejected narratives that frame the conflict as morally ambiguous. He emphasized that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cannot be justified.

Drawing on his Russian heritage and Canadian upbringing, he highlighted the dramatic contrast between:

Ukraine’s institutional improvements over the past decade and

Russia’s escalating repression, imperial ambitions, and military aggression.

“Ukraine needs a lot of help — to continue defending itself and to minimize human suffering from attacks on residential buildings, the energy system, etc.,” Buterin wrote, urging sustained international support to protect civilians and maintain Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Buterin also criticized Western narratives that downplay Russian responsibility, asserting that Moscow’s leadership currently lacks incentive to pursue peace.

Based on this, he suggests that only continued military and economic pressure could compel meaningful negotiations.

Applying Crypto Principles to Political Reform

Drawing parallels from his experience in Ethereum and blockchain governance, Buterin proposed that long-term reform in Russia could benefit from:

Decentralized governance

Quadratic voting, and

Digital democracy

These mechanisms, already explored in crypto ecosystems, are designed to spread power, prevent authoritarian consolidation, and allow citizens to influence decisions proportionally.

“The goal is to build a country that, when the objective is improving people’s lives, will be maximally strong, but when the goal is oppressing minorities or aggression against neighbors, will be maximally uncoordinated and weak,” he explained.

Buterin emphasized that decentralization is not merely a conceptual exercise; it could guide real-world political transitions.

Systems like https://pol.is, which enable large-scale consensus-building and public deliberation, could help identify shared priorities among citizens and inform policy without relying solely on traditional hierarchical structures.

The remarks come only weeks after internet providers began blocking access at the network level, barring several crypto news sites on Russian home internet connections.

Vision for a “Beautiful Russia of the Future”

Nonetheless, beyond immediate conflict resolution, Buterin argued that European and Ukrainian security depends on fundamentally transforming Russia.

He envisioned a state in which internal governance structures prioritize public welfare and economic prosperity over military aggression, thereby reducing the likelihood of future conflicts.

Buterin stressed that this transformation requires new leadership and novel ideas within Russia’s political opposition.

Drawing lessons from crypto, he noted that entrenched systems rarely yield progress without fresh strategies, experimentation, and inclusive participation. He framed this approach as a two-step process:

First, Ukraine must receive every possible form of support to weaken the Russian military and compel a ceasefire.

Second, after Putin, the focus should shift to empowering moderate factions in Russia willing to adopt reform, peace, and decentralized governance principles.

Buterin’s proposal reflects a growing intersection between technological governance models and international politics.

While blockchain-inspired methods have been tested primarily in digital networks, applying these concepts to national governance represents a radical, untested approach.

Nonetheless, the Ethereum co-founder’s perspective offers a novel lens on conflict resolution and state-building. It suggests that beyond diplomacy or military pressure, systemic innovation may be essential for lasting peace.

Cena Berachain ohromila krypto trh po náhlé a prudké rally. BERA vzrostla téměř o 210 % během středečního intradenního maxima, než se stáhla zpět.

Explozivní pohyb vyvolal široký zájem, přesto však on-chain data naznačují, že rally byla převážně poháněna spekulacemi spíše než trvalými kapitálovými toky.

Co způsobilo rally ceny BERA?

Hlavním katalyzátorem za rally BERA se zdá být velké krátké squeeze. Financování kolísalo násilně, protože medvědí obchodníci byli překvapeni. Zprávy ukázaly, že financování kleslo na mínus 5 900 %, což signalizovalo extrémní nerovnováhu v pozicích derivátů.

Chainlink (LINK), one of the leading oracle platforms, has struggled to find a recovery throughout February. Despite multiple pieces of positive news, selling pressure has remained persistent.

As price action reaches a support level that has held for six years, February could be the decisive moment for LINK to enter a new price phase.

Positive Developments in February Fail to Offset Selling Pressure

Price data shows that the current level around $8.4 aligns with a long-term support trendline that has held since 2020. This makes LINK’s price behavior in the coming days a key reference point for analysts when forming longer-term projections.

Chainlink (LINK) Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Recent signals from strategic partnerships could, in theory, strengthen LINK’s appeal.

Robinhood has launched a public testnet for Robinhood Chain, a Layer 2 network on Arbitrum designed for tokenized assets. More importantly, Chainlink serves as the platform’s oracle provider. The integration allows developers to leverage Chainlink’s data feeds, interoperability, and compliance standards to support advanced tokenization use cases.

Similarly, Ondo Finance, a platform focused on tokenized real-world assets, has selected Chainlink as its official data provider. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of tokenized stocks and ETFs. This collaboration enables tokenized U.S. securities to operate across Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem, secured by institutional-grade data.

“Using Chainlink, DeFi protocols can now price Ondo Global Markets assets with best-in-class accuracy, manage positions safely, and provide users with more protection during volatile market conditions,” Ondo Finance stated.

The benefits from the Robinhood and Ondo partnerships have not translated into an immediate price increase. Weak overall market sentiment appears to be the main constraint. LINK showed no clear rebound from the six-year support level when these announcements were released.

On another front, exchange-side selling pressure has intensified. Exchange Inflow (Top 10) rose sharply in February 2026.

Chainlink Exchange Inflow (Top 10). Source: CryptoQuant

This metric measures the total amount of coins from the top 10 inflow transactions to exchanges. Elevated values indicate that large volumes of LINK are being deposited at once. This behavior often signals rising sell-side pressure.

A similar spike occurred in September last year. LINK’s price began to decline shortly afterward. The metric has now started rising again. This trend may suggest that some large holders are preparing to liquidate, adding to downward price pressure.

Sustained selling pressure could push LINK below its six-year support. However, partnerships with Robinhood and Ondo still provide long-term optimism. A meaningful recovery will likely require a more favorable market environment to align with Chainlink’s underlying fundamentals.