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Zcash’s Original Builders Split from ECC, Echoing OpenAI and Anthropic Rift
Zcash’s original creators have formally broken away from the Electric Coin Company (ECC) and launched a new independent development entity, marking the clearest structural split in the privacy coin’s history.
The team announced today that the Zashi wallet will be rebranded as “Zodl,” confirming that Zcash’s flagship wallet and its original engineers now operate outside ECC’s control.
Original Builders Continue Zcash Development Outside ECC
The announcement formalizes a break that began in January, when the entire ECC staff resigned following a governance dispute with Bootstrap, the nonprofit that owns ECC.
That conflict centered on control, autonomy, and the future direction of Zcash development.
The newly formed ZODL now includes the same engineers and product team that built Zcash’s core privacy technology and developed its flagship wallet.
The organization said it will continue building tools to expand shielded ZEC adoption, independently of ECC and the Zcash Development Fund.
Critically, this means Zcash’s original creators did not leave the ecosystem.
Instead, they regrouped under a new entity and retained operational continuity through the wallet infrastructure. The Zodl wallet remains fully compatible with the Zcash blockchain.
Meanwhile, ECC still exists as a legal entity under Bootstrap ownership. However, it no longer employs the original team that designed and maintained much of Zcash’s modern infrastructure.
As a result, Zcash now has two separate organizational centers tied to its future development.
Zcash Price Chart in 2026 So Far. Source: CoinGecko Split Mirrors OpenAI and Anthropic’s Structural Break
The split closely resembles the OpenAI–Anthropic divide, where former OpenAI leaders left to form a new independent AI company after disagreements over governance and strategic direction. In both cases, the founding engineers and technical leadership exited the original organization and launched a parallel development effort aligned with their original mission.
Importantly, the Zcash blockchain itself has not forked. Blocks continue to process normally, and the ZEC asset remains unchanged.
However, development leadership and technical direction now exist outside the original corporate structure.
This distinction highlights a growing pattern in decentralized ecosystems, where developer continuity can matter more than institutional ownership.
In practice, the engineers who build and maintain protocol infrastructure often shape its long-term trajectory.
Ethereum Price Stuck Near $2,000 as Holder Exodus Slows Recovery
Ethereum continues to trade in a narrow range near $2,000. ETH has struggled to generate sustained upside momentum in recent weeks.
While on-chain data suggests selling pressure may be nearing exhaustion, another concern is emerging. A decline in new network participation could restrict fresh capital inflows.
Ethereum Holders Are Realizing Losses
Ethereum’s Spent Output Profit Ratio, or SOPR, recently slid to 0.92. This marks the deepest level since April 2025. A reading below 1 indicates that investors are selling at a loss. Such behavior often reflects panic and fear during prolonged consolidation phases.
Historically, extreme lows in SOPR have preceded reversals. Selling at a loss tends to saturate at these levels. As panic fades, investors often shift to holding rather than exiting positions. Many choose to accumulate at discounted prices. Similar behavior could support ETH stabilization if confidence gradually returns.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
Ethereum SOPR. Source: Glassnode
Despite potential loss exhaustion, broader network metrics raise caution. The number of new Ethereum addresses recently fell to an eight-week low. New participants typically inject fresh liquidity and support recovery phases.
Over the past 48 hours, new addresses declined by 34%. The figure dropped from 336,000 to 221,000. This sharp contraction suggests waning retail interest. Reduced onboarding can limit capital inflows, which may constrain short-term Ethereum price appreciation despite improving sentiment among existing holders.
Ethereum New Addresses. Source: Glassnode ETH Price Is Stuck At $2,000
Ethereum is trading at $1,970 at the time of writing. The asset remains above the $1,902 support level. However, it continues to struggle below the $2,051 resistance, which aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level. Failure to reclaim this zone keeps upside limited.
Current indicators suggest continued consolidation between $1,902 and $2,241. ETH may face repeated rejection near $2,051 until stronger demand emerges. Without confirmation of this level as support, recovery attempts are likely to remain capped, reinforcing range-bound price action.
Ethereum Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
However, a decisive breakout could shift sentiment quickly. If Ethereum secures $2,051 as support and breaches the $2,241 resistance, bullish momentum may strengthen. Such a move could propel ETH toward $2,395 and higher, invalidating the prevailing bearish outlook and signaling renewed market confidence.
3 Altcoins That Could Hit New All-Time Highs In The Third Week Of February 2026
Capital is rotating into select mid-cap altcoins as momentum builds near critical technical levels. Several names are compressing just beneath record highs, while others are stabilizing after shallow pullbacks with trend structure still intact.
Thus, BeInCrypto has analysed three such altcoins that could form new all-time highs in the third week of February.
Kite (KITE)
KITE is among the closest altcoins to retest its recent all-time high of $0.242. The token is trading less than 17% below that peak. Strong short-term momentum has kept KITE within reach of record levels, reflecting sustained trader interest and speculative demand in the broader altcoin market.
The Chaikin Money Flow indicator shows a slight downtick but remains above the zero line. This suggests capital inflows are still present despite cooling momentum. Continued buying pressure could help KITE break above $0.242. A confirmed breakout may push the altcoin toward $0.270, establishing a new high.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
KITE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
However, profit-taking remains a key risk near record levels. If investors begin exiting positions, downside pressure could increase quickly. A drop below the $0.207 support level would weaken the bullish structure. Further selling could drive KITE toward $0.163, invalidating the current upside thesis.
Rain (RAIN)
Another altcoin poised for new all-time highs in the coming week is Rain. Despite a recent price dip, the altcoin has preserved a bullish structure. The Ichimoku Cloud indicator continues to show supportive momentum, signaling that trend strength remains intact within the broader cryptocurrency market.
Sustained buying pressure could drive RAIN back toward its $0.0110 all-time high. The token currently trades about 12.5% below that level. A decisive breakout above $0.0110 would confirm continued strength. That move could push RAIN toward $0.0113, establishing a fresh record high.
RAIN Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
However, technical momentum must remain stable to support further upside. If buying interest weakens, downside risk could increase. A decline toward the $0.0097 support level would signal fading bullish control. Breaking that level would invalidate the current bullish thesis and shift sentiment bearish.
Stable (STABLE)
STABLE has emerged as one of the stronger-performing altcoins this week, advancing 45% over the period. The token now trades roughly 21% below its all-time high of $0.0325. Sustained momentum has strengthened bullish sentiment, positioning STABLE within reach of record price levels.
The Money Flow Index remains above the neutral 50.0 mark, signaling active buying pressure. Positive capital inflows suggest demand continues to outpace supply. If accumulation persists, STABLE could break above $0.0325. A confirmed breakout may extend gains toward $0.0368, establishing a new all-time high.
STABLE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
However, short-term holders may begin locking in profits after the recent rally. Increased selling activity could weaken upward momentum. A pullback toward $0.0225 would indicate cooling demand. Further downside toward $0.0189 would invalidate the current bullish outlook.
3 Meme Coins To Watch In The Third Week Of February 2026
Momentum is rotating aggressively within the meme coin sector, with select names breaking structure and attracting speculative inflows.
Several tokens are pressing into key technical inflection points, where confirmation could unlock continuation moves. BeInCrypto has analysed three such meme coins that the investors should watch in the third week of February.
Pippin (PIPPIN)
PIPPIN has gone vertical, rallying by 142% in the last seven days and trading at $0.690 at the time of writing. It’s currently the best performer in the meme coin space this week. Structurally, price has broken out of the descending broadening wedge, a setup that typically precedes high-volatility expansion if confirmed.
The pattern projects a target rally of roughly 221%. The key trigger level sits at $0.772, the current ATH. A decisive reclaim and hold above that level — turning resistance into support — would confirm the breakout and open the door for continuation. Even a conservative follow-through could see momentum carry price toward $1.000, with the technical projection extending toward $1.357.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
PIPPIN Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
That said, risk management matters here. If the NVT ratio starts climbing while exchange inflows increase, it would suggest weakening on-chain activity relative to valuation — a classic early warning sign. In that scenario, a retrace toward $0.514 becomes likely, with $0.372 as deeper structural support. A breakdown to those levels would invalidate the bullish setup and flip short-term momentum bearish.
Mubarak (MUBARAK)
MUBARAK is changing hands at $0.0189, having reclaimed the $0.0174 (0.5 Fib) and is now pressing into $0.0189 (0.618 Fib) — a key decision level. Flipping this level into support suggests continuation toward higher retracement targets.
The MFI at 64.37 reflects strong buying pressure without flashing overbought conditions above 80.0. A strong daily close above $0.0189 would confirm bullish control and expose the meme coin $0.0210 (0.786 Fib) as the next upside objective, followed by $0.0237 (1.0 Fib).
MUBARAK Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
On the downside, $0.0174 now acts as immediate support, with $0.0159 (0.382 Fib) and $0.0141 (0.236 Fib) below. A decisive daily close back under $0.0174 would weaken structure, while a breakdown through $0.0141 would invalidate the bullish setup.
Comedian (BAN)
BAN has emerged as one of the stronger-performing meme coins this week, climbing 30% to trade at $0.0987 at the time of writing. The rally pushed the price above the $0.0914 resistance level. This breakout reflects growing speculative interest and improved short-term trading momentum.
The altcoin is now eyeing a move above the $0.1000 psychological barrier. BAN’s correlation with Bitcoin stands at -0.27, indicating mild inverse movement. As Bitcoin trends lower, BAN may benefit from independent momentum. Sustained demand could drive the meme coin toward the $0.1094 resistance zone.
BAN Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
However, volatility remains elevated across the cryptocurrency market. If investors begin locking in profits, selling pressure could intensify quickly. A decline toward $0.0846 would signal weakening momentum. Losing that support may expose BAN to further downside near $0.0752, invalidating the current bullish outlook.
Crypto Funds Bleed $173 Million Amid US Outflows, XRP and Solana Buck the Trend
Crypto funds recorded a fourth consecutive week of net outflows, shedding $173 million, as investor caution persisted across major digital assets.
However, the pace of withdrawals has slowed markedly from the heavy selling seen in late January and early February, while select altcoins have continued to attract fresh capital.
Crypto Outflows Persist but Slow from January Peaks
According to the latest weekly fund flows report from CoinShares, cumulative outflows over the past four weeks have reached $3.74 billion, reflecting sustained weak sentiment following earlier market volatility.
While outflows continued, last week’s figure was broadly in line with the previous week’s $187 million decline, suggesting the sharp liquidation phase may be easing.
Earlier in the cycle, digital asset funds experienced much steeper withdrawals, including roughly $1.7 billion in each of the final weeks of January.
Market activity also cooled significantly, with ETF trading volumes dropping to $27 billion, down sharply from the record $63 billion reported the week before.
The decline in turnover suggests investors may be stepping back from aggressive repositioning, even as broader uncertainty persists.
Despite the overall negative flows, sentiment improved slightly toward the end of the week. Softer-than-expected US inflation data helped spark $105 million in inflows on Friday.
“Sentiment improved slightly on Friday following weaker-than-expected CPI data,” wrote James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares.
This suggests macroeconomic signals continue to play a decisive role in shaping short-term crypto demand.
Regional Divergence Becomes More Pronounced as Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead Withdrawals
One of the most notable trends in the latest data was a widening regional divide. The US accounted for $403 million in outflows. This made it the primary driver of the global decline.
While US investors remain cautious, potentially reflecting macro uncertainty and positioning shifts, institutions in other markets may be viewing the recent price weakness as an opportunity to accumulate.
Last Week’s Crypto Outflows by Country. Source: CoinShares
Meanwhile, the largest digital assets continued to bear the brunt of negative sentiment. Bitcoin investment products saw $133 million in outflows, the weakest performance among major assets.
Interestingly, short Bitcoin products also recorded outflows totaling $15.4 million over the past two weeks.
Crypto Outflows by Asset. Source: CoinShares Report
Historically, declines in demand for bearish positions have sometimes coincided with periods of market capitulation. Therefore, it may signal that the worst of the selling pressure could be nearing exhaustion.
Ethereum funds also struggled, posting $85.1 million in outflows as investors reduced exposure to the second-largest crypto. Smaller products were not immune either, with Hyperliquid seeing modest withdrawals of around $1 million.
Altcoins Show Signs of Rotation
In contrast to the broader trend, several altcoins continued to attract capital. XRP led inflows at $33.4 million, followed closely by Solana at $31 million, while Chainlink added $1.1 million.
These inflows point to a selective rotation rather than a wholesale exit from the crypto sector. Investors appear to be reallocating toward assets perceived to have stronger narratives or relative momentum, even as exposure to larger-cap tokens declines.
Taken together, the latest data paints a picture of a market still under pressure but stabilizing compared with the intense selling seen earlier in the year.
Crypto outflows remain persistent, yet their reduced scale, coupled with regional inflows and continued interest in certain altcoins, suggests investors are adjusting portfolios rather than abandoning the asset class outright.
Quantum Computing May Be Impacting Bitcoin’s Valuation: Here’s How
Quantum computing risks are weighing on Bitcoin’s (BTC) relative valuation against gold, according to analyst Willy Woo.
The development of quantum computing has spread concerns across the tech and financial sectors, as future breakthroughs could potentially undermine current encryption standards. Although such capabilities are not considered imminent, the long-term threat has raised questions about Bitcoin’s security model and how markets price that uncertainty.
Has Quantum Computing Entered the Bitcoin Valuation Equation?
Woo argued that Bitcoin’s 12-year outperformance relative to gold has broken, marking a significant structural shift. He pointed to the rising market awareness of quantum computing risks as a reason behind this shift.
“12 YR TREND BROKEN. BTC should be a valued a LOT HIGHER relative to gold. Should be. IT’S NOT. The valuation trend broke down once QUANTUM came into awareness,” Woo said.
Bitcoin’s Valuation Against Gold Breaks 12-Year Trend as Quantum Computing Awareness Rises. Source: X/Willy Woo
Bitcoin’s security relies on elliptic curve cryptography (ECDSA over secp256k1). A sufficiently advanced, fault-tolerant quantum computer running Shor’s algorithm could theoretically derive private keys from exposed public keys and compromise funds associated with those on-chain addresses.
Such technology is not yet capable of breaking Bitcoin’s encryption. Nonetheless, a key concern, Woo argues, is the potential reactivation of an estimated 4 million “lost” BTC. If quantum breakthroughs made those coins accessible, they could re-enter circulation, effectively increasing supply.
To illustrate the scale, Woo explained that corporations following MicroStrategy’s 2020 playbook and spot Bitcoin ETFs have accumulated approximately 2.8 million BTC. The possible return of 4 million lost coins would exceed that total, equivalent to roughly eight years of enterprise-level accumulation at recent rates.
“The market has started pricing in the return of these lost coins ahead of time. This process completes once the Q-Day risk is off the table. Until then, BTCUSD will price in this risk. Q-Day is 5 to 15 years away… that’s a long time trading with a cloud over its head,” he emphasized.
He acknowledged that Bitcoin would likely adopt quantum-resistant signatures before any credible attack becomes feasible. However, upgrading cryptography would not automatically resolve the status of these coins.
“I’d say it’s 75% chance that lost coins will not be frozen by a protocol hard fork,” the analyst remarked. “Unfortunately the next 10 years is when BTC is most needed. It’s the end of the long term debt cycle, it’s where macro investors and sovereigns run to hard assets like gold to shelter from global debt deleveraging. Hence gold moons without BTC.”
Woo’s analysis does not suggest that quantum attacks are imminent. Instead, it positions quantum computing as a long-term variable factored into Bitcoin’s relative valuation, particularly in comparison to gold.
Meanwhile, Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, offered a complementary perspective on how quantum risk may be influencing market behavior. According to Edwards, concerns surrounding the quantum threat were likely a key factor that drove Bitcoin’s price lower.
The quantum threat is also shaping real portfolio moves. Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood reduced a 10% Bitcoin allocation in favor of gold and mining stocks, citing quantum concerns. This highlights that institutional investors see quantum computing as a significant risk, not a remote one.
Coinbase Faces Backlash Over Delayed Super Bowl Predictions Payouts
Coinbase is facing mounting criticism from users after many participants in its Super Bowl “Big Game Challenge” prediction market contest reported delayed or missing payouts, even after qualifying for shares of the advertised Bitcoin prize pool.
Community complaints and technical issues highlight the growing pains of prediction markets as they surge in popularity while confronting regulatory, operational, and infrastructure challenges.
On Reddit and other forums, users described confusing and frustrating experiences with the payout process. Reportedly, some users correctly predicted outcomes in the Big Game but “still haven’t been paid.
Others reported winnings showing briefly in their account balances before disappearing without explanation, or payouts reflected in USD without transferability or access.
Amidst these frustrations, some are calling the situation a “rug pull,” claiming Coinbase’s app initially confirmed a win after five correct picks, the threshold for eligibility, only for a later email to declare they had not won.
“According to the Coinbase app, I had won the Big Game Predictions with 5 correct predictions with $5 bet on each prediction. It told await my payout. However, I just received an email from Coinbase stating that I did not win. Does anyone else feel like this was a rug pull or a scam in some way? They said.
However, support responses seen in some threads indicate that rewards are being held until all prediction markets and mail‑in entries are settled, in line with the contest’s official rules.
Coinbase has previously said winners will receive Bitcoin rewards directly into their accounts by February 23, 2026.
However, the lack of transparency and account migrations has frustrated users trying to confirm settlement status.
“We completely understand how important this is to you. Verified winners will receive their prize directly into their Coinbase account. The prize amount will be a share of $1,000,000 in Bitcoin, divided equally among all winners. Prizes are expected to be fulfilled no later than February 23, 2026,” Coinbase explained.
Infrastructure Strains, Regulatory Hurdles, and the Rising Stakes for Crypto Prediction Markets
The timing of these complaints coincides with broader strains in crypto-linked prediction markets. Partner platform Kalshi, which provides the backend for Coinbase’s event contracts, suffered deposit and transaction delays during the Super Bowl due to overwhelming traffic.
“Kalshi does all this ad investment just for their app, not to let you deposit on Super Bowl Day, sounds about right,” one user lamented.
Kalshi co-founder Luana Lopes Lara acknowledged slowdowns but assured users that funds were “safe and on the way.
These operational stretches highlight how infrastructure designed for everyday trading may struggle with spikes tied to major events.
Similar technical pressure was observed across the industry on prediction markets during the championship. This suggests systemic scalability challenges for platforms offering event contracts under high demand.
The Coinbase backlash arrives amid a broader regulatory and legal battleground. State gaming regulators, such as the Nevada Gaming Control Board, have sued Coinbase to block its prediction markets. They argue that they constitute unlicensed sports wagering.
These legal actions fuel uncertainty around the regulatory status of event contracts, complicating rollout and user experiences.
Meanwhile, critics from within the crypto community note that prediction markets must mature beyond short-term speculative betting.
Voices like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin have warned that over-reliance on speculative contracts may create products lacking deeper utility, urging a focus on hedging and risk‑management applications.
The current Coinbase backlash highlights the operational and communication gaps that can accompany rapid product expansion.