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China Reduces U.S. Treasury and Asset Exposure to Lowest in Over a Decade
China’s combined holdings of U.S. assets — including Treasuries, stocks and various bonds — have declined to around $1.56 trillion, marking levels not seen in roughly 14 years, according to recent data compiled by analysts. This trend reflects Beijing’s continuing strategy to diversify away from U.S. dollar-denominated assets while strengthening its own financial buffers and reducing reliance on the dollar-based system.
Official figures show China’s position in U.S. Treasury securities fell to around $688.7 billion in late 2025 — the lowest since 2008 — after years of gradual reduction from a 2013 peak of over $1.3 trillion. Analysts attribute this shift to reserve diversification, geopolitical tensions with Washington, and concerns about U.S. fiscal sustainability.
The move forms part of a broader de-dollarization narrative in which China has increased gold reserves and non-dollar holdings while reducing its exposure to U.S. sovereign debt and other dollar-linked assets. Although the overall U.S. Treasury market remains deep and liquid, China’s pullback highlights a long-term strategic pivot in global reserve portfolios.
Market Implication: Sustained reductions in Chinese and other foreign holdings of U.S. assets may gradually influence Treasury demand dynamics and add pressure on the dollar, though near-term volatility remains limited given the scale of global Treasury markets.
$2.9B in Whale Positions Seen on Hyperliquid Derivatives, Data Shows
On-chain derivatives data from Coinglass via ChainCatcher shows that whale positions on the Hyperliquid platform currently total approximately $2.899 billion, with the long-short ratio near parity — signaling balanced directional bets from large traders. Recent numbers indicate long or bullish exposure around $1.3 billion and short or bearish exposure near $1.4 billion, reflecting slightly heavier short positioning by top whales.
The profit-and-loss profile also shows unrealized losses on longs and profits on shorts, consistent with broader market weakness in crypto since earlier in the quarter. Analysts note that large derivatives positions like these — especially from whale addresses with high leverage — can influence short-term volatility on Hyperliquid and related on-chain futures markets.
Though less than earlier peak estimates in prior months, the nearly $3 billion whale footprint underscores that institutional and high-net-worth traders remain deeply active in crypto perpetuals, using Hyperliquid’s high-leverage infrastructure to express macro views and spot directional bets.
Strong Jobs Data Eases Rate-Cut Urgency, UBS Says Fed May Delay Cuts
UBS has updated its expectations for U.S. monetary policy, maintaining that rate cuts by the Federal Reserve are still likely this year but pushing back the timing as stronger economic data reduces the urgency for immediate-action easing. The bank now forecasts that cuts may occur later in mid-to-late 2026, rather than in the earlier meetings previously priced by markets.
According to UBS analysts, recent robust jobs reports and inflation indicators have complicated the rate-cut path by showing the U.S. economy remains resilient, which in turn argues for the Fed to hold policy longer before trimming rates. While the Federal Open Market Committee hasn’t struck an aggressively hawkish tone, the stronger labor market and inflation persistence indicate that cuts will likely be more gradual and potentially shifted into July or October rather than sooner.
UBS’s revised outlook underscores that, even with a continued easing bias, markets should prepare for a slower reduction cycle and remain data dependent as fresh labor and inflation statistics emerge.
Market Implication: Investors may need to reprice expectations for “higher for longer” interest rates, supporting U.S. assets that benefit from stable yields while moderating expectations for aggressive easing.
What’s Driving the Mood? The overall crypto market continues to feel pressure from broader sell-offs and risk aversion.
👉 Bitcoin price has slid sharply, trading below key psychological levels near ~$66k–$69k in recent sessions.
👉 Markets are testing support amid macro uncertainty, with heightened fear and weak sentiment. The Fear & Greed Index sitting near extreme fear underscores caution among traders.
👉 Spot Bitcoin ETF outflows — with losses pushing some BTC ETF assets below $100 B — reflect institutional repositioning and reduced appetite for long BTC exposure.
Market Implication: Continued outflows combined with extreme fear suggest short-term downside risk, but heightened volume also points to high trader engagement and volatility, often associated with inflection zones in downtrends.
XRPUSDT Showing Short-Term Strength — Relief Bounce in Play
XRP is trading near $1.403, holding above recent lows after a sharp sell-off. The structure shows a short-term recovery from the $1.35–$1.36 demand zone, with buyers stepping in aggressively. Volume remains healthy, suggesting this move isn’t just a dead-cat bounce.
Key levels to watch:
Resistance: $1.42–$1.45 (previous supply zone)
Support: $1.36–$1.38
My View: As long as XRP holds above $1.38, upside continuation toward $1.45 is possible. A rejection near resistance, however, could keep the broader downtrend intact. Momentum traders should stay nimble.
India CPI Inflation Update — January Headline at 2.75%
India’s retail Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose to 2.75 % year-on-year in January, according to the first official release under the revised CPI series (base year 2024) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. This marks the first inflation reading using updated weights and reflects everyday consumption patterns more accurately than previous data. Inflation for rural areas stood at 2.73 %, while urban inflation was slightly higher at 2.77 %.
The updated CPI series reduces the weight of volatile food items and adds new categories like online media and rural housing, which can influence how price movements are captured. Despite the headline uptick, inflation remains well within the Reserve Bank of India’s 2 %–6 % tolerance band, signalling continued moderation in price pressures at the start of 2026. Food inflation under the revised index was reported around 2.13 %.
Market Implication: With headline inflation comfortably below the RBI’s target range, pressure on monetary policy easing may be reduced, though the shift to a new CPI methodology will be closely watched by policymakers, financial markets and economists in the coming months.
Developers are increasingly drawn to Vanar Chain because it combines speed, low-cost execution, and a familiar toolset that accelerates Web3 development. Vanar offers full EVM compatibility, so teams can use existing Ethereum tools like Solidity, MetaMask, and standard SDKs without rewriting code — lowering barriers and saving time. The platform’s ultra-low gas fees and 3-second finality make it ideal for real-time apps such as gaming, DeFi, and AI-driven solutions. Plus, Vanar’s comprehensive docs, RPCs, and testnets provide all the building blocks needed for smooth onboarding and rapid deployment.
Binance Integrates Ripple USD (RLUSD) on XRP Ledger — Deposits Open
Binance has completed the integration of Ripple USD (RLUSD) — Ripple’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin — on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and opened deposit services for users, according to the exchange’s official announcement. Deposits are live now, and withdrawals will be enabled once sufficient liquidity is available on the network.
This milestone follows Binance’s earlier spot listing of RLUSD — which launched January 22 with zero-fee trading and multiple pairs including RLUSD/USDT and RLUSD/U — and marks a deeper rollout of the stablecoin across chains.
RLUSD is fully backed 1:1 by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. Treasury securities and cash equivalents held under a New York Department of Financial Services trust charter, aiming at regulated stablecoin utility and institutional demand.
Market Implication: Native support for RLUSD on the XRP Ledger enhances on-chain USD liquidity options, boosts stablecoin access for XRP users, and may foster broader adoption of compliant, multi-chain settlement assets within Binance’s vast liquidity ecosystem.
Binance Completes $1 B Bitcoin SAFU Buy at ~$70,000 Average Price
Binance has completed its planned $1 billion Bitcoin acquisition for the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU), acquiring a total of 15,000 BTC at an average price of roughly $70,000 per coin, according to official disclosure and on-chain analysis. The transaction was executed in multiple tranches as part of Binance’s 30-day reserve conversion strategy announced on January 30.
Details from the final conversion show a staggered accumulation structure, including buys at varying price levels — from around $76,045 to $66,006 — as Binance pursued liquidity across market conditions. This multi-tranche approach helped bring the blended average cost near the $70,000 mark despite Bitcoin’s recent volatility.
The SAFU fund — originally held largely in stablecoins — now holds 15,000 BTC, equivalent to just over $1 billion in value, reinforcing Binance’s long-term confidence in Bitcoin as a store of value and user-protection asset. Binance has said it will monitor the fund and rebalance if its market value dips below predefined thresholds.
Market Implication: The completion of this large accumulation plan highlights institutional demand and strategic allocation toward Bitcoin, potentially signaling support at key technical levels during periods of broader market pressure.
How Plasma Removes the Native-Token Friction Holding Back Blockchain Adoption
One of the least discussed but most damaging problems in blockchain adoption is native-token friction. It’s not volatility, not scalability, and not even regulation — it’s the simple fact that users are forced to hold a separate token just to use the network.
Plasma was designed to eliminate this friction at the protocol level. After studying Plasma’s architecture and stablecoin-first approach in detail, it becomes clear that this decision is not cosmetic — it fundamentally changes how people interact with blockchain systems.
This article breaks down what native-token friction really is, why it blocks adoption, and how @Plasma removes it in a way that feels natural, intuitive, and scalable for both retail users and institutions.
Understanding Native-Token Friction
On most blockchains, users must first acquire the network’s native token to pay for gas fees. This creates multiple layers of friction:
👉 Users must understand a second asset 👉 They must manage price volatility unrelated to their goal 👉 They must maintain balances just to keep using the network
For experienced crypto users, this is an inconvenience. For new users, businesses, and institutions, it’s often a deal-breaker.
If someone wants to send USDT, the logical expectation is simple: send USDT and pay in USDT. Anything else feels unnecessary.
Why This Friction Matters More Than People Realize
Native-token friction quietly kills real-world use cases.
Payment flows break. UX becomes confusing. Support costs rise. Compliance teams hesitate.
For businesses building payment systems, forcing customers to acquire a volatile token just to complete a transaction introduces operational risk and user drop-off. For institutions, it introduces balance-sheet complexity and accounting friction.
This is one of the core reasons blockchain payments have struggled to replace traditional rails — not because the technology doesn’t work, but because the experience doesn’t match user expectations.
Plasma’s Stablecoin-First Design Philosophy
Plasma flips the model entirely.
Instead of asking users to adapt to blockchain mechanics, Plasma adapts the blockchain to real financial behavior.
On Plasma:
• Stablecoins are first-class citizens • Fees can be paid in stablecoins • Users are not forced to hold a native token
The network is built for stablecoin settlement first, not speculative activity.
This decision aligns Plasma with how money actually moves in the real world.
Removing Friction at the Protocol Level
Plasma doesn’t solve native-token friction through workarounds or abstractions — it removes it at the base layer.
Gas logic is designed so that stablecoins themselves can be used to cover transaction fees, eliminating the requirement for a separate utility token in everyday usage.
This means:
• No onboarding complexity • No token juggling • No unexpected transaction failures due to missing gas tokens
Users interact with Plasma the same way they interact with digital cash.
A Real-World Example: Freelancers and Cross-Border Payments
Consider a freelance designer in Southeast Asia receiving USDT payments from international clients.
On a traditional blockchain, the freelancer must:
1. Hold USDT for income
2. Acquire a volatile native token for gas
3. Monitor balances to avoid failed transactions
On Plasma, the experience is simple: • Receive USDT • Send USDT • Pay fees in USDT
There is no mental overhead, no extra asset management, and no exposure to unnecessary volatility.
This simplicity isn’t just convenient — it makes blockchain payments viable for daily use.
Why This Matters for Institutions and Payment Providers
Institutions don’t think in terms of tokens — they think in terms of settlement risk, compliance, and predictability.
By removing mandatory native-token usage, Plasma enables:
This is one of the reasons Plasma positions itself as infrastructure for payment companies, fintechs, and financial institutions, not just crypto-native users.
Where Does XPL Fit Into This Model?
Plasma’s approach doesn’t eliminate the need for a native token — it redefines its role.
But Plasma deliberately avoids forcing $XPL into user flows where it doesn’t belong.
This separation between user experience and network economics is a mature design choice — one rarely seen in Layer-1 blockchains.
Why This Design Choice Is a Long-Term Advantage
Removing native-token friction isn’t about convenience alone. It’s about unlocking scale.
As stablecoin usage grows globally, especially in high-adoption markets, networks that demand extra steps will be bypassed. Systems that feel invisible will win.
Plasma’s architecture anticipates this shift.
By making blockchain usage feel like normal digital finance, Plasma positions itself as a settlement layer people can actually use — not just experiment with.
Final Thoughts
After studying Plasma’s design closely, it’s clear that removing native-token friction is not a minor UX improvement — it’s a foundational decision.
Plasma doesn’t ask users to learn blockchain. It lets blockchain disappear into the background.
Allowing users to pay blockchain fees directly in stablecoins like USDT or BTC removes a major onboarding hurdle and significantly boosts adoption. Most blockchains force users to hold a separate native token just to pay gas, adding cost, confusion, and friction — especially for everyday payments and new users. Plasma’s native support for stablecoin gas payments lets users send value and pay fees in the same asset they’re already using, simplifying UX and lowering barriers for global payments, remittances, and merchant settlement.
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, Binance’s founder, recently hosted a high-impact AMA session on Binance Square, addressing key community concerns and market narratives in a deeply watched discussion. CZ tackled widespread misconceptions — including claims that Binance manipulated Bitcoin prices during the October 2025 crash, clarifying that the downturn was driven by macro factors like tariffs and not exchange action. He emphasized that Binance now operates under global regulatory oversight, with authorities able to review trading activity, making manipulation implausible.
Throughout the AMA, CZ highlighted facts over fear, addressed product clarifications around Alpha and Meme Rush, and advised users to take responsibility for their own trading decisions rather than follow hype. He also shared conservative views on market cycles and encouraged caution amid volatility.
The session sparked significant community engagement and renewed focus on thoughtful market participation rather than speculative noise.
What’s Driving the Mood? The overall crypto market continues to feel pressure from broader sell-offs and risk aversion.
👉 Bitcoin price has slid sharply, trading below key psychological levels near ~$66k–$69k in recent sessions.
👉 Markets are testing support amid macro uncertainty, with heightened fear and weak sentiment. The Fear & Greed Index sitting near extreme fear underscores caution among traders.
👉 Spot Bitcoin ETF outflows — with losses pushing some BTC ETF assets below $100 B — reflect institutional repositioning and reduced appetite for long BTC exposure.
Market Implication: Continued outflows combined with extreme fear suggest short-term downside risk, but heightened volume also points to high trader engagement and volatility, often associated with inflection zones in downtrends.
In a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump’s trade policy, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly voted 219–211 to oppose and move to rescind tariffs on Canadian goods that were imposed under a national emergency declaration last year. Six Republicans joined Democrats in backing the measure, signaling bipartisan dissatisfaction with the controversial levies.
The resolution — largely symbolic due to the president’s expected veto and the absence of a veto-proof majority — reflects mounting congressional concern that Trump’s tariffs on Canada have acted as a tax on U.S. consumers and strained a key ally relationship.
Lawmakers used the vote to challenge Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs previously justified on security grounds, with critics arguing that trade policy should be shaped by Congress, not unilateral executive action.
Although actual repeal requires Senate approval and a presidential signature or veto override, today’s vote marks a significant political pushback against Trump’s protectionist approach and could influence future trade debates.
ZROUSDT is trading at $2.2837, pulling back -1.85% after an explosive +28.62% daily rally. Price is now retesting the $2.28–$2.30 zone, which previously acted as resistance and is now support. The asset maintains strong weekly (+29.82%) and monthly (+54.31%) momentum.
Trade Plan
👉 Entry (Long): $2.26–$2.28 (Pullback to support zone) 💥 Target 1: $2.50–$2.55 (Resistance before 24h high) 🚀 Target 2: $2.58–$2.60 (24h high retest) 🤕 Stop Loss: $2.20 (Below recent swing low and support)
My View
ZRO is in a strong uptrend with a healthy pullback after a parabolic move. The current retest of the $2.26–$2.28 support zone offers a high-probability long entry for continuation toward $2.58+. This is a trend-following setup, not a counter-trade. Wait for bullish rejection candles or consolidation near support before entry. No short setup as trend remains bullish.
BTCUSDT is trading at $67,590.6, attempting a low-volume bounce after hitting the 24h low of $65,718.5. Price is now retesting the $68,000–$69,000 breakdown zone, which previously acted as support and now serves as resistance. The bounce lacks conviction, suggesting selling pressure remains active.
Trade Plan
👉 Entry (Short): $67,800–$68,200 (On retest of breakdown resistance) 💥 Target 1: $66,500 (Immediate support) 🚀 Target 2: $65,700–$65,000 (24h low retest and next support zone) 🤕 Stop Loss: $68,800 (Above breakdown resistance and recent high)
My View
BTC remains in a clear downtrend. The current bounce is a low-volume retracement within bearish structure, not a reversal. Higher probability trade is SHORT on retest of the $68,000–$69,000 resistance zone for continuation toward $65,000. Wait for bearish rejection candles near entry. No long setup until price forms a higher low and breaks above key resistance with volume.
ETHUSDT is trading at $1,951.29, attempting a minor bounce after hitting the 24h low of $1,901.22. Price is retesting the $1,960–$2,000 breakdown zone, which previously acted as support and now serves as resistance. The bounce appears weak with low volume, suggesting selling pressure remains.
Trade Plan
👉 Entry (Short): $1,960–$1,980 (On retest of breakdown resistance) 💥 Target 1: $1,910–$1,900 (24h low retest) 🚀 Target 2: $1,850–$1,820 (Next major support zone) 🤕 Stop Loss: $2,010 (Above breakdown resistance and recent high)
My View
ETH is in a strong downtrend with no signs of reversal. The current bounce is likely a dead cat bounce within the bearish structure. Higher probability trade is SHORT on retest of the $1,960–$1,980 resistance zone for continuation toward $1,900 and lower. Wait for bearish rejection candles near entry zone. No long setup until a clear higher low formation and structure change.
#USNFPBlowout : U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Smash Expectations, Boost Dollar & Shake Markets
The U.S. labor market delivered a significant “blowout” nonfarm payrolls report for January, far exceeding forecasts and underscoring ongoing resilience despite broader economic headwinds. Employers added 130,000 jobs, almost double the ~70,000 consensus estimate, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.3% from 4.4%.
The stronger-than-expected job gains — the largest monthly increase in over a year — surprised markets that were bracing for softer data amid recent labor market cooling trends. Wage growth and participation also held firm, reinforcing signs of continued labor demand in key sectors such as healthcare, social assistance and construction.
Market Reaction: 💥 The U.S. dollar rallied, as robust employment data pushed back expectations for imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts and reinforced a cautious monetary policy stance. 💥 Treasury yields climbed and equity markets displayed mixed responses, with markets recalibrating around a later timeline for easing. 💥 Analysts note that deeper benchmark revisions showing weaker job growth in 2025 complicate the broader labor narrative, suggesting the January surge may be partly statistical.
Implication: The blowout NFP print has reset market pricing on interest-rate expectations, highlighting labor market strength while injecting volatility into FX, bond and equity markets.
XRP Community Day 2026 Kicks Off With Global Participation and Institutional Focus
XRP Community Day 2026 has kicked off as a global virtual event drawing significant attention from the Ripple community, developers, institutional partners and broader market observers. Hosted across three live X Spaces covering the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions, the event serves as a central gathering for XRP holders, ecosystem builders and financial institutions to discuss adoption, utility and the future direction of the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Speakers include Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and President Monica Long, with sessions focused on regulated XRP products like ETFs and ETPs, DeFi and tokenization, wrapped XRP, and XRPL innovations. Institutional partners such as Grayscale, Gemini and other ecosystem players are also participating, highlighting growing cross-sector interest in XRP’s role in capital markets.
The event follows Ripple’s resolution of its long-running legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a development that has removed major regulatory uncertainty and helped revive community momentum.
Market Implication: The broad participation — spanning retail holders, developers and institutions — underscores renewed engagement around XRP adoption, product development and real-world integration, positioning Community Day as a potential catalyst for ecosystem visibility in 2026.