The Cryptonomist

Investor demand for blockchain-based exposure to precious metals is surging, with tokenized gold now anchoring the fast-growing tokenized commodities segment.

Tokenized commodities sector races past $6.1 billion

The tokenized commodities market has climbed to more than $6.1 billion in value, up from just over $4 billion at the start of January 2026. According to Token Terminal data, the sector expanded 53% in less than six weeks, making it the fastest-growing vertical in the broader real-world asset tokenization space.

Two gold-backed products dominate the landscape. Tether Gold (XAUt) holds a market cap of $3.6 billion after rising 51.6% in the past month, while PAX Gold from Paxos has reached $2.3 billion following a 33.2% gain over the same period. Together, these two tokens now account for more than 95% of all on-chain commodity value.

Year-over-year, the tokenized commodities sector has expanded by 360%. Moreover, this growth rate exceeds that of tokenized equities and on-chain funds, underscoring how quickly investors are adopting gold backed digital tokens as an alternative to traditional exposure.

Comparison with tokenized stocks and funds

Despite its rapid rise, the commodities segment remains smaller than other real-world asset categories. Tokenized stocks currently hold a market capitalization of $538 million, reflecting a 42% increase since January 1, 2026. However, tokenized funds still dominate with $17.2 billion in value, even though they have grown only 3.6% this year.

The commodities market now represents just over one-third the size of the funds segment. That said, its acceleration suggests tokenized assets growth is increasingly being driven by investor interest in gold-linked products rather than traditional securities mirrored on-chain.

Tether’s $150 million bet on Gold.com

In a move that could expand market access further, Tether announced a $150 million investment in precious metals platform Gold.com on Thursday. The firm said the deal aims to broaden access to tokenized gold products for mainstream investors who want digital exposure without relinquishing a link to physical bars.

The stablecoin issuer plans to integrate its XAUt token directly into Gold.com’s infrastructure. Moreover, Tether is exploring options that would allow users to buy physical gold using its USDT stablecoin, potentially creating a seamless bridge between digital tokens and real-world bullion.

Each Tether Gold unit represents ownership of one fine troy ounce of gold, held in London Good Delivery bars stored in secure vaults. Likewise, PAX Gold follows a similar model, with each token equating to one fine troy ounce from a 400-ounce London Good Delivery bar, reinforcing the link between blockchain entries and vaulted metal.

Physical gold prices hit new highs

The explosive rise in tokenized bullion comes against the backdrop of a powerful rally in spot prices. Over the past year, gold’s spot price has surged more than 80%, drawing renewed attention from both traditional and crypto-native investors seeking a hedge.

The precious metal reached a record high of $5,600 on January 29. A subsequent pullback took prices down to $4,700 earlier this month. However, gold has since recovered, trading around $5,050 at the time of writing, reinforcing its status as a defensive asset during uncertainty.

Bitcoin diverges from gold’s safe-haven role

While gold has marched to new highs, Bitcoin has traced a very different path. The leading cryptocurrency has fallen 52.4% from its early October peak of $126,080, eroding part of the narrative that it can reliably track the behavior of traditional safe-haven assets.

Bitcoin dropped to around $60,000 on Friday before rebounding to $69,050. The broader crypto market has struggled since October 10, when a sharp crash triggered $19 billion in liquidations. Moreover, this volatility has further separated its risk profile from that of physical bullion.

Strike CEO Jack Mallers argued that Bitcoin is still treated like a software stock by many market participants, even though it shares some characteristics with hard assets like gold. That said, its recent trading pattern has aligned more closely with high-risk growth assets than with defensive commodities.

Digital gold narrative under pressure

Crypto asset manager Grayscale weighed in on Bitcoin’s recent performance, noting that the coin’s long-standing narrative as “digital gold” has come under increasing pressure. The firm observed that Bitcoin’s price behavior now resembles that of a speculative technology asset far more than a safe-haven store of value.

This divergence has highlighted the contrasting roles of Bitcoin and physical gold in portfolios. While the latter has reinforced its safe-haven reputation amid macro uncertainty, the former has remained highly sensitive to risk appetite and liquidity conditions. Consequently, investors have been reassessing how each asset fits within a diversified strategy.

Analysts point out that the widening gap between gold’s record prices and Bitcoin’s drawdown is steering some capital into on-chain bullion products. In particular, the tether gold market and PAX Gold are drawing attention from traders who want programmable exposure without moving entirely away from the metal’s traditional risk profile.

How tokenized gold products work

The core appeal of tokenized gold lies in its blend of physical backing and digital convenience. Each unit of these tokens corresponds to a specific quantity of vaulted metal, allowing investors to hold fractional claims without managing logistics such as storage, insurance, or transport.

These structures also enable 24/7 trading across global venues. Moreover, investors can move value quickly between exchanges, DeFi protocols, and self-custody wallets, using the same underlying exposure they would get from allocated bullion accounts.

Underpinning these instruments is blockchain infrastructure that provides transparent, immutable records of token issuance and circulation. That said, users still rely on issuers and custodians to maintain accurate reserves of London Good Delivery bars, making due diligence crucial for participants seeking long-term exposure.

Market impact and trading dynamics

The rise of gold-pegged tokens is reshaping how investors access commodities. On-chain instruments provide fractional ownership of physical assets, enabling smaller ticket sizes than most traditional bullion products while preserving a direct link to the underlying metal.

Unlike conventional commodity exchanges, these markets typically operate with lower fees and around-the-clock access. Moreover, investors can integrate on-chain gold into decentralized finance tools, using it as collateral or a trading pair without leaving the crypto ecosystem.

As the tokenized commodities sector continues to expand, its share of the broader real-world asset landscape is likely to increase. For now, Tether Gold and PAX Gold remain the dominant gateways, but their rapid growth suggests institutional and retail demand for digitally native, metal-backed instruments is far from saturated.

Outlook for tokenized bullion and real-world assets

The convergence of record-high bullion prices, maturing blockchain infrastructure, and large capital inflows from issuers like Tether has created a powerful backdrop for further expansion. If current trends persist, tokenized metals could increasingly serve as a bridge between traditional commodity markets and digital finance.

Looking ahead, analysts will be watching whether more financial institutions launch competing products or integrate existing tokens into their platforms. That said, the current dominance of Tether Gold and PAX Gold, combined with strong growth since January 1, 2026, suggests tokenized commodities will remain a key pillar of real-world asset tokenization.

In summary, a combination of surging spot prices, infrastructure investments, and investor appetite for blockchain-based exposure has propelled tokenized bullion to new heights, positioning gold-backed tokens at the center of the next phase of digital asset market development.

Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), today announced the release of The UEX Security Standard: From Proof to Protection, a joint research report authored with blockchain security firm BlockSec. The report outlines a system-level security framework designed for exchanges operating across crypto, tokenized assets, and traditional financial markets within unified account environments.

As trading platforms evolve into Universal Exchanges, security challenges extend beyond single-asset custody and on-chain safeguards. Unified margin systems, shared settlement infrastructure, and cross-market access introduce new risks, with failures at the account, data, or permission layer capable of rippling across products and asset classes. The report addresses these challenges by shifting the security conversation from isolated controls toward continuous, verifiable resilience.

The UEX Security Standard defines five core benchmarks for the next generation of exchange security: verifiable solvency, multi-asset risk isolation, data security and privacy protection, AI-driven dynamic monitoring, and resilient application and infrastructure defense. Together, these standards aim to ensure that risks can be contained, correctness can be verified, and trust can scale alongside platform complexity.

The framework is grounded in measurable safeguards already in place at Bitget, including a regular Proof of Reserves reporting and a strong Protection Fund. These measures are reinforced through collaboration with BlockSec, spanning real-time monitoring, offensive security testing, incident response readiness, and compliance-grade controls such as AML screening and fund tracing.

“The transition to Universal Exchanges changes the nature of security risk,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Security can no longer focus on individual assets or reactive disclosure. It must operate at the system level, where risks are identified early, isolated by design, and verified under real-world conditions.”

From BlockSec’s perspective, the report reflects a broader industry shift toward integrated security architectures. “UEX is not just a product upgrade. It is a structural shift in how trading infrastructure and security must work,” said Yajin Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of BlockSec. “When you combine crypto-native assets with stocks, ETFs, and other off-chain instruments, the security boundary expands dramatically. Platforms must prove asset transparency, ensure pricing integrity, and secure off-chain dependencies to the same standard as on-chain systems. UEX demands a unified, verifiable security framework that can protect multi-asset trading at scale.”

Beyond technical architecture, the report also emphasizes transparency, emergency response readiness, and user education as part of a comprehensive security model. It positions security not as a static feature, but as an operating discipline that must evolve alongside market structure and product complexity.

The UEX report is intended to serve as a reference point for exchanges, regulators, and market participants navigating the next phase of multi-asset trading infrastructure.

For the full report, visit here.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry’s lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice, nor an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments or digital assets. Any views expressed are based on current market observations and are subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Digital assets are volatile and may not be suitable for all investors. Readers should conduct their own independent research and seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.

After a violent washout that has shaken confidence, Bitcoin price today is trading well under key technical levels as fear and forced de-risking dominate the tape.

BTC/USDT — daily chart with candlesticks, EMA20/EMA50 and volume.

Daily bias: clearly bearish, with early oversold conditions

Bitcoin price today sits around $66,800–67,000 (BTCUSDT), trading below the $70k psychological line and under every major moving average on the daily chart. The dominant force right now is forced de-leveraging and risk aversion: spot and derivatives have both been hit, fear is extreme, and liquidity is thinning out on the downside rather than the upside.

This moment matters because the market is testing whether the recent high-volatility washout was a simple shakeout inside a broader bull cycle, or the start of a deeper regime shift back toward a prolonged corrective phase. The daily structure has flipped decisively bearish, while intraday timeframes are edging toward short-term exhaustion but have not yet built a credible base. Bulls are on the back foot; bears are in control, but they are also starting to lean into a crowded trade.

On the daily (D1), BTCUSDT is firmly in a bearish regime:

Price: $66,868

20-day EMA: $76,314

50-day EMA: $83,394

200-day EMA: $95,155

Regime tag: bearish

Price trading almost $10k below the 20-day EMA and far under the 50- and 200-day EMAs confirms a strong downside trend, not just a mild pullback. The entire short- to medium-term moving-average stack is above spot, which is classic downtrend structure. Moreover, rallies are, by default, at risk of being sold.

Daily RSI (14): 29.94 – dipping into oversold

RSI 14 (D1): 29.94

Daily RSI has slipped just under 30, which is early oversold territory. That tells us the selloff has been aggressive and emotional, but we are not yet in the kind of prolonged sub-25 capitulation that often marks full-blown bottoms. In practice, sellers are clearly in control, but they are starting to stretch the rubber band. Shorting fresh lows down here carries more squeeze risk than it did a few days ago.

Daily MACD: negative and widening – momentum still points down

MACD line: -5,824.35

Signal line: -4,964.61

Histogram: -859.73

The MACD line is deeply negative and below the signal, with a sizeable negative histogram. That is a clean read: downside momentum is still dominant and has not yet meaningfully reversed. Any bounce for now is suspect; the trend-following signal remains short-biased on the daily, and it will take several strong green candles to flip this.

Daily EMAs: all resistance, no support

20 EMA (D1): $76,313.98

50 EMA (D1): $83,393.99

200 EMA (D1): $95,155.15

Price is well below all three EMAs, and each one now acts as a potential overhead supply zone:

The gap between spot and the 20-day EMA is particularly important. When price trades this far under the short-term EMA, two things usually follow: either sharp mean-reversion rallies toward the 20 EMA, or a grinding downside channel where the EMA itself chases price lower. Given the current macro fear backdrop, the path of least resistance in the very short term remains down. However, the distance to the 20 EMA also tells you that late shorts are entering at poor levels.

Daily Bollinger Bands: riding the lower band, volatility still elevated

BB mid (20 SMA): $78,182.26

Upper band: $95,487.67

Lower band: $60,876.85

Bitcoin is trading well below the middle band and closer to the lower band. That fits with a downside expansion phase: price has broken out of the prior volatility envelope to the downside and is attempting to walk the lower band. The lower band near $60.9k is the next obvious volatility-anchored reference; if sellers push price into that zone, that is where you would expect liquidation-driven wicks and potential short-term capitulation.

Daily ATR (14): 5,504 – wide daily ranges, risk per trade is high

ATR 14 (D1): $5,504.74

Daily ATR north of $5.5k means one-day swings of 7–8% are absolutely on the table. That is not the quiet grinding uptrend BTC had earlier; it is a high-volatility corrective environment. Position sizing needs to account for the fact that a normal day can easily run several thousand dollars against you even if the broader idea is right.

Daily pivot levels: price hovering around the pivot, downside support nearby

Pivot point (PP): $67,573.09

Resistance 1 (R1): $68,588.20

Support 1 (S1): $65,853.31

Spot is sitting roughly just below the daily pivot. That puts the market in a delicate balance zone. A push back above the pivot and then above $68.6k would mark an intraday attempt to reclaim some upside momentum, while a clean break under $65.8k opens room for a retest closer to the lower Bollinger Band around the $61k area. Traders will be watching how price reacts on either side of this $66–69k band.

Intraday structure: bearish, but short-term momentum is tiring

1-hour (H1): still in a downtrend, mild signs of seller fatigue

Price: $66,926

20 EMA (H1): $68,254.5

50 EMA (H1): $68,968.29

200 EMA (H1): $71,416.82

RSI 14 (H1): 31.72

MACD hist (H1): -186.67

Bollinger mid (H1): $68,497.79 (bands: $70,232 up / $66,763 down)

ATR 14 (H1): $556.23

Pivot point (H1): $66,956.38 (R1: $67,104.21, S1: $66,778.34)

On the 1H chart, the picture is consistent with the daily: price trades beneath all key EMAs, confirming a short-term downtrend. RSI around 32 shows selling pressure is still present, but we are inching toward intraday oversold territory. The negative MACD histogram says momentum is still down, but the size of that histogram is not extreme, hinting that the pace of the selloff is cooling a bit.

Bollinger Bands on H1 show price leaning toward the lower band near $66.8k, indicating intraday pressure remains to the downside. H1 ATR around $550 says hour-to-hour swings of almost $1,000 are normal right now, so tight stops will get hunted easily.

The H1 pivot sits almost exactly at spot. Holding below this pivot keeps the intraday bias bearish; a push above the pivot and R1 (roughly $67.1k) would be the first baby step toward a short-covering bounce. Right now, the 1H chart is saying that the market is still down, but not as violently as before.

15-minute (M15): tactical execution zone, early signs of compression

Price: $66,886

20 EMA (M15): $67,327.93

50 EMA (M15): $67,969.77

200 EMA (M15): $69,014.25

RSI 14 (M15): 33.02

MACD hist (M15): +20.47

Bollinger mid (M15): $67,271.87 (bands: $68,091 up / $66,453 down)

ATR 14 (M15): $301.39

Pivot point (M15): $66,899.08 (R1: $66,912.62, S1: $66,871.99)

On the 15-minute chart, the structure is still bearish, with price below all EMAs, but there is a subtle shift. The MACD histogram has flipped slightly positive even though the MACD line is still negative overall. That is the kind of micro-signal you get when downside momentum pauses and short-term traders start probing for a bounce.

RSI in the low 30s echoes that message: bears are pressing, but not accelerating. The ATR on M15 around $300 confirms that even intra-bar noise is substantial.

Price is trading right around the 15m pivot. Hanging here without a decisive breakdown or breakout points to a short-term consolidation inside a broader downtrend. For execution, that usually means you either wait for a clear break below the local range, under the lower band and S1, to join momentum, or a reclaim of the 20 EMA plus local highs to play for a squeeze. Chasing inside this range is where traders get chopped up.

Sentiment and macro context: extreme fear with BTC dominance rising

The broader market data adds important context:

BTC dominance: 56.75%

Total crypto market cap: ~$2.35 trillion

24h market cap change: -2.89%

Fear & Greed Index: 11 – Extreme Fear

Bitcoin is gaining dominance while the total market cap is shrinking. That is classic flight to relative safety within crypto: capital that stays in the space is consolidating into BTC while alts bleed harder.

The fear reading at 11 is important. We are well into the panic zone, where headlines are uniformly negative, large players de-risk, and retail tends to capitulate. Historically, these conditions often coincide with or precede attractive long-term entry zones, but the timing is noisy. Markets can stay in extreme fear and grind lower longer than most expect.

News flow reinforces the shift in psychology: pieces about whales and ETFs bailing out, banks reiterating that crypto is not an asset, and commentary about Bitcoin being $70,000 too high are the typical narratives that cluster near sentiment troughs. However, from a technical perspective, none of this is yet backed by concrete reversal structures. It is just emotional fuel sloshing around a trend that is still down.

Bullish scenario: oversold bounce and mean reversion toward $75–80k

The bullish case from here is tactical, not yet structural. It relies on oversold conditions, extreme fear, and short-covering rather than clear evidence of a new uptrend.

What bulls want to see

For a durable bounce, the sequence would look roughly like this.

First, on the intraday side, BTC needs to hold above or at least quickly reclaim the $65.8k S1 daily support. Repeated rejection below that level would damage the bounce setup.

Next, on the H1 chart, bulls want to see price reclaim and hold above the 1H pivot and 20 EMA. That means sustained trading back over roughly $68.2–68.5k. This move would show that the immediate selling pressure has cooled and that shorts are starting to cover.

On the daily, an ideal bullish progression would include:

RSI climbing back above 35–40, indicating that the worst of the oversold pressure is unwinding.

MACD histogram shrinking toward zero, signalling decelerating downside momentum.

A daily close back above the daily pivot (~$67.6k) and then above $70k, which would start to rebuild a higher base.

If that path plays out, a logical upside target for a mean-reversion swing is the 20-day EMA near $76.3k, with extension into the $78–80k band around the Bollinger mid and prior congestion. That is where you would expect supply to re-emerge unless the macro picture has genuinely turned.

What invalidates the bullish scenario

The bullish bounce thesis breaks down if Bitcoin prints a clean daily close below $65k and starts walking the lower Bollinger Band toward $61k with RSI stuck under 30. A continued expansion of the negative daily MACD histogram alongside that move would confirm that the market is not done flushing yet.

In that case, attempts to buy the dip are more likely to be catching a falling knife than front-running a reversal.

Bearish scenario: continuation toward $61k and potentially lower

The bearish case currently has the stronger backing from the charts: trend, momentum, and structure all lean in that direction.

What bears want to see

For continuation lower, bears want BTC to remain capped below $70k and more specifically below the cluster of intraday resistance formed by the H1 20 EMA (~$68.3k) and H1/15m Bollinger mids (~$67.3–68.5k).

A break below $65.8k (daily S1) that holds on retest would be the next signal that the path is opening toward the daily lower band around $60.9k. If price starts to ride that lower band with daily RSI hovering in the mid-20s and MACD staying deeply negative, the market is in a proper trend phase down, not just a quick spike.

From there, the obvious downside roadmap is:

First leg: probe into $61–63k (lower Bollinger Band and volatility support).

Potential extension: if that zone fails to attract real buyers, a deeper washout into the high $50ks becomes plausible, especially if macro or ETF flows remain hostile.

What invalidates the bearish scenario

The bearish continuation view weakens materially if Bitcoin can:

Reclaim and hold above $70k on a daily closing basis.

See daily RSI recover back into the 40s, showing that sellers have lost dominance.

Print a daily MACD that starts to turn upward, with the histogram shrinking toward zero, while price holds higher lows above the recent bottom.

A weekly close back above the $76k 20-day EMA area would be a clear statement that the down-leg was corrective within a larger bull market and that bears have likely exhausted their advantage, at least in the short to medium term.

Positioning, risk, and how to think about this tape

Right now, daily trend and sentiment are aligned bearish, but the market is also short-term oversold with extreme fear. That is a tricky combination: the bigger picture favors the shorts, but the timing edge on new shorts is poor, and sharp countertrend rallies can come out of nowhere.

For active traders, this is an environment where:

Timeframe discipline matters. Aligning with the daily downtrend but using the 1H and 15m to avoid selling right into intraday supports is key.

Risk per trade should reflect the elevated ATR. Stops that would be wide enough in calmer markets can easily be noise here.

Patience around key levels, $65.8k on the downside and $68–70k overhead, is likely to pay better than chasing impulsive moves in the middle of the range.

For longer-term participants, extreme fear and readings like a sub-30 daily RSI are the signs you normally see somewhere in the bottoming process, but not always at the final low. Staggered entries and a tolerance for further volatility are typically required if one is building exposure into conditions like these.

The only thing that is clear from the data is that volatility and uncertainty are high. The market has left the comfortable, trending phase and moved into a shakeout regime where both bulls and bears can be wrong-footed quickly. Overall, respecting the trend and the risk, and letting the chart confirm a turn, remains crucial before treating this as anything more than a high-volatility correction in 2024.

After a lengthy regulatory process, Blockchain.com has secured crucial blockchain com fca clearance that cements its position in the UK digital asset market.

Blockchain.com secures UK FCA registration after four-year wait

Blockchain.com has finally obtained full registration from the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, nearly four years after withdrawing its first application in March 2022. The FCA added the company to its official list of licensed crypto firms on Tuesday, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the London-rooted platform.

The new status allows Blockchain.com to operate under the UK's strict anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules. However, the company must still comply with the existing crypto licensing regime, which does not yet grant full financial services authorization. That wider framework is expected to be introduced by the end of 2024, setting the stage for a more comprehensive regime.

Scope of the UK authorization and strategic positioning

With the FCA registration, Blockchain.com is now recognized as a licensed crypto service provider under the UK's regulatory system. The company can offer brokerage, custodial, and institutional-grade crypto services nationwide, operating under standards similar to those imposed on traditional banks and investment firms.

CEO Peter Smith underscored the importance of the approval, stressing the firm's British roots and its strategy to remain closely aligned with UK regulators. Moreover, he highlighted Blockchain.com's intention to help shape the country's evolving digital asset framework. In a post shared on X on Tuesday, the company noted it is now held to the same rigorous benchmarks as established financial institutions.

Looking ahead, Blockchain.com plans to apply for a full financial services license once the UK's new regime is rolled out in 2027. The firm sees this step as essential to consolidating its position in the UK and strengthening its presence across wider European markets, building on its existing MiCA license in the European Economic Area.

From MiCA license to broader UK and European expansion

The recent UK approval complements Blockchain.com's earlier regulatory gains in Europe, where its MiCA authorization already enables it to serve customers across the European Economic Area. This combination of licenses should, in practice, support cross-border expansion and more integrated service offerings for institutional and retail clients.

In the UK, the blockchain com fca registration allows the company to scale products including digital asset custody, crypto wallets, and enhanced brokerage solutions. Furthermore, it gives Blockchain.com a stronger foundation to work with local banks and other regulated financial entities that require partners operating under familiar compliance standards.

Regulatory compliance as a core business pillar

Co-founder Nic Cary described the FCA registration as a meaningful step in Blockchain.com's long-running objective to build within established regulatory frameworks. He pointed to the firm's UK talent base and history in London as factors that support its commitment to long-term compliance and institutional-grade infrastructure.

That said, the company will continue navigating a shifting policy landscape as the UK moves from its current crypto-specific rules to a broader licensing structure by 2027. During this transition, Blockchain.com aims to demonstrate that regulated crypto platforms can meet the same expectations for transparency, risk controls, and governance as traditional finance players.

In summary, Blockchain.com's FCA registration, combined with its MiCA license in Europe, significantly strengthens its regulatory footprint and positions the company to expand compliant crypto brokerage, custody, and institutional services across both the UK and the wider EEA.

In a move that could reshape cross-chain payments, a new tether investment is backing the expansion of LayerZero Labs’ interoperability infrastructure across the digital asset ecosystem.

Tether backs LayerZero Labs with new strategic capital

On 10 February, 2026, Tether Investments announced a new strategic stake in LayerZero Labs, the development company behind a leading interoperability protocol. The deal underlines Tether’s push to back production-grade cross-chain infrastructure used by exchanges, protocols, and institutions worldwide.

Combined with the Wallet Development Kit (WDK) developed by Tether, this stack is positioned as a core rail for digital asset payments, settlements, and custody. Moreover, it is designed from the ground up for agentic finance, enabling AI agents to manage autonomous wallets and transact with stablecoins and other digital assets at scale.

LayerZero’s infrastructure underpins USDt0 and XAUt0

LayerZero Labs is behind one of the most widely used bridging frameworks in the market, providing the core technology that lets digital assets move securely and efficiently across blockchains. Over the past year, its interoperability stack has been used by Everdawn Labs to build and launch USDt0 and XAUt0 under live market conditions.

These assets are built on LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token standard, which enables tokens to move across multiple chains without being fragmented into wrapped versions. That said, the focus is not only on technical elegance but also on delivering liquidity that behaves as a single pool, regardless of which network users interact with.

Since launch, USDt0 has supported more than $70 billion in cross-chain value transfers in under twelve months. This real-world throughput has been highlighted by Tether and LayerZero as evidence of global-scale interoperability and validation of LayerZero Labs’ technology as critical infrastructure for major assets.

Strategic rationale behind the new tether investment

The new tether investment reflects Tether’s confidence in LayerZero Labs’ engineering capability and execution record. Moreover, it underscores the firm’s view that interoperability is fast becoming foundational infrastructure for the digital asset market, rather than an optional add-on.

The commitment aligns with Tether’s wider strategy of backing systems that reduce fragmentation, improve liquidity efficiency, and allow stablecoins to function as global settlement instruments. In practice, that means supporting networks where the same asset can move seamlessly across diverse blockchain environments without splintered liquidity or complex user experience.

Executive views on interoperability and agentic AI

“Tether invests in infrastructure that is already delivering real-world utility,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “LayerZero Labs has built interoperability technology that allows digital assets to be transferred in real-time across any transport layer and distributed ledger, enabling a fundamental utility within the financial industry.”

Ardoino added that this infrastructure is designed to support an emerging economy driven by autonomous agents: “This enables digital assets to serve the infinite agentic AI economy that will require such primitives to orchestrate micro-payments at an unprecedented scale.” However, he stressed that the focus remains on robust, proven infrastructure rather than experimental systems.

“Tether is a company the world envies. They have turned a vision of borderless money into a reality,” said Bryan Pellegrino, CEO of LayerZero. “The success of USDt0 was an important stepping stone. Having Tether deepen its commitment with this investment is the ultimate validation.” Pellegrino said the two firms are “thrilled to continue building the rails for global permissionless markets together.”

Role of Tether Investments in the wider ecosystem

Tether Investments operates as the independent investment arm of Tether, which it describes as the largest company in the digital assets industry. Based in El Salvador, the firm deploys capital from Tether’s profits and excess reserves into sectors where technology, infrastructure, and real-world utility converge.

Its portfolio spans artificial intelligence, financial services, energy, biotechnology, education, and digital media. Furthermore, it holds strategic positions in areas such as commodities, remittances, and sports and entertainment, often targeting projects that can scale globally.

Through these investments, Tether Investments aims to back ventures with long-term potential to improve access, efficiency, and resilience in both emerging and developed markets. The unit’s mandate supports Tether Group’s broader mission to strengthen decentralized systems, enhance infrastructure resilience, and widen real-world access to open, transparent technologies.

Overall, the new capital backing for LayerZero Labs underlines Tether’s view that cross-chain interoperability, agentic finance, and scalable settlement rails will be central pillars of the next phase of digital asset and stablecoin adoption.

Banca Angliei lansează o nouă etapă a experimentelor cu titluri de valoare pe blockchain, iar soluționarea Chainlink este acum în centrul celui mai recent pilot.

Banca Angliei invită Chainlink în laboratorul său de Sincronizare

Pe 10 februarie 2026, Banca Angliei a confirmat că Chainlink, rețeaua de oracle descentralizată, se va alătura laboratorului său experimental de Sincronizare. Programul este conceput pentru a testa cum activele bazate pe blockchain pot fi soluționate în pas cu banii tradiționali ai băncii centrale în întregul sistem financiar din Marea Britanie.

În mijlocul unei supravegheri politice crescânde, stablecoin-ul usd1 și-a extins rapid amprenta pe piața cripto, cu Binance acum în centrul lichidității sale.

Binance deține 89% din oferta USD1 pe schimb

Platforma de inteligență blockchain Arkham raportează că Binance deține acum o proporție covârșitoare de 89% din stablecoin-ul usd1 legat de familia Donald Trump. Potrivit site-ului de analize DeFi DefiLlama, tokenul legat de dolar, emis de World Liberty Financial, are 5,4 miliarde de dolari în circulație. Cu toate acestea, această concentrare pe un singur loc centralizat este neobișnuită chiar și în sectorul stabilcoin-urilor foarte consolidate.

The UK regulator is escalating its campaign against misleading htx crypto promotions as it clamps down on firms that ignore financial marketing rules.

FCA launches legal action against HTX

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has begun legal proceedings against global crypto exchange HTX, formerly known as Huobi, for allegedly promoting cryptoasset services illegally to UK consumers. Since the marketing rules came into force in October 2023, firms offering crypto products in the UK must comply with stricter standards designed to protect the public.

Under these rules, firms promoting cryptoassets on websites or social media must ensure messages are fair, clear and not misleading. Moreover, advertising cryptoassets to UK users without following these requirements is a criminal offence. The FCA stresses that this framework is central to consumer protection in the rapidly expanding digital asset market.

Crypto advertising rules and HTX breaches

Since October 2023, the FCA has engaged extensively with crypto firms to help them adapt to the new regime, and the majority have, according to the regulator, reacted positively. However, HTX had already been the subject of a prior FCA warning for its illegal promotion of crypto services to UK-based customers.

Despite that warning, the exchange continued to publish financial promotions that breached the rules on its website and across several major social platforms, including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. This pattern of conduct has now triggered full enforcement action by the UK watchdog over the ongoing illegal cryptoasset promotions uk case.

Opaque structure and regulator concerns

The FCA highlighted that HTX operates what it describes as an opaque organisational structure. The exchange has allegedly obscured the identities of its owners and those who operate its website, limiting transparency for both regulators and customers. Moreover, repeated attempts by the FCA to contact and engage with HTX have been ignored.

Following the issue of legal proceedings, HTX has taken steps to block new UK customers from registering accounts on its platform. However, existing UK users can still log in and access what the FCA describes as unlawful financial promotions. The regulator also notes that HTX has provided no assurance that its recent changes will be permanent, leaving the FCA concerned about the ongoing risk of rule breaches.

FCA statement on the UK crypto market

Steve Smart, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, underlined the regulator’s broader goals for the sector. He stated that the rules are designed to support a sustainable and competitive crypto market in the UK, ensuring consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions about high-risk assets.

Smart said that HTX’s conduct stands in stark contrast to most firms that are working to comply with the FCA’s regime. Furthermore, he stressed that this is the first time the FCA has taken enforcement action against a crypto firm for illegally marketing products to UK consumers. He added that the authority will continue to act against businesses that ignore the rules governing crypto advertising rules uk.

Restrictions on HTX apps and social media

To protect users, the FCA has asked social media platforms to block HTX’s accounts from being visible to UK-based consumers. It has also requested that HTX applications be removed from the Google Play store and the Apple app store in the UK. These measures aim to limit the reach of any ongoing unlawful promotions aimed at domestic users.

This intervention underscores the regulator’s growing focus on social media crypto ads, which often target retail investors with high-risk products. That said, the FCA continues to emphasise that consumers should exercise caution when dealing with crypto platforms, particularly when promotions appear on channels that may lack rigorous oversight.

HTX on the FCA Warning List

HTX is currently listed on the FCA’s official Warning List of unauthorised firms. Consumers who choose to deal with this exchange will not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if they later need to make a complaint. Moreover, they will not benefit from UK compensation schemes.

The FCA warns that consumers are unlikely to get their money back if HTX goes out of business. As a result, it urges the public to avoid this and similar unauthorised crypto firms warning where regulatory protections are absent. The regulator continues to underline that crypto investing remains high risk, and users should be prepared to lose all the money they commit.

How UK consumers can protect themselves

Individuals can use the FCA’s online tools to improve their due diligence before interacting with any exchange or platform. In particular, they can check fca warning list entries to see whether a firm is operating without authorisation or targeting UK users illegally with financial promotions.

Moreover, the FCA encourages people to visit its dedicated cryptoasset promotions page, which offers guidance on recognising risky offers and explains the standards firms must meet. These resources form a central part of broader consumer protection crypto uk efforts, aimed at reducing harm as digital assets and related services continue to expand.

In summary, the FCA’s case against HTX marks a significant escalation in UK oversight of crypto marketing. The action is intended both to curb unlawful promotions and to send a clear signal that firms must fully respect the rules governing htx crypto promotions if they wish to reach UK consumers.

Într-un nou manifest despre tehnologie și putere, Vitalik Buterin susține că ethereum ai poate susține un viitor mai sigur și mai descentralizat pentru inteligența artificială.

Vitalik Buterin contestă cursa globală către AGI

Cofondatorul Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, a emis un avertisment ascuțit cu privire la actuala impunere mondială pentru Inteligența Generală Artificială (AGI). El susține că cursa predominantă, condusă în principal de viteză și scară, este fundamental greșită și crește riscul sistemic în loc să îl gestioneze responsabil.

Decidenții din SUA se pregătesc pentru o discuție esențială despre reglementarea bitcoin-ului, pe măsură ce Casa Albă convoacă o întâlnire de înalt nivel cu privire la viitorul supravegherii activelor digitale.

Casa Albă se concentrează pe structura pieței cripto

Casa Albă a anunțat o întâlnire care va avea loc astăzi, 10 februarie 2026, dedicată Bitcoin-ului și structurii mai largi a pieței cripto. Această sesiune subliniază creșterea supravegherii guvernamentale asupra activelor digitale, pe măsură ce volumele de tranzacționare și interesul instituțional continuă să crească în întregul sector.

Instituțiile financiare din întreaga lume accelerează implementarea inteligenței artificiale, iar noua cercetare Finastra subliniază modul în care această schimbare remodela strategii, gestionarea riscurilor și experiența clienților în întregul sector.

Utilizarea AI este acum aproape universală în toate instituțiile financiare

Noi descoperiri de la Finastra, publicate pe 10 februarie 2026 în Londra, indică faptul că serviciile financiare au atins un punct de inflexiune decisiv pentru AI. Doar 2% dintre instituțiile financiare raportează acum că nu folosesc deloc inteligența artificială, semnalizând o tranziție de la experimentare la execuție la scară largă.

There was a change noted in the exchange-traded funds after bitcoin news reported that spot bitcoin etf recorded back-to-back days of net inflows. According to data mentioned by Coin Bureau from SoSoValue, $145 million was injected into bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds on Monday. It marked the first two-day inflow streak in three weeks. This update comes after a period of mixed flows that have defined the recent dynamics.

This comes as Bitcoin, as well as Ethereum, continues to evolve in relation to their trading. Bitcoin ETF received major attention as a result of the increased inflows. However, the digital assets were moving in varied ways. Coin Bureau was also responsible for sharing the latest updates through their public post.

Bitcoin News Tracks ETF Inflows After Volatile Sessions

Bitcoin price recent news is seen through a clear data point from SoSoValue, a platform that tracks daily ETF flows for listed spot Bitcoin products. The platform shows that there were net inflows of $145 million experienced for that session, as prices confirmed a second day of gains.

Source: X/@coinbureau

It is clear that this streak had not happened for several weeks.

The inflows were preceded by sessions where there were either outflows and flat trading activity. The ETF flow data recorded such flows before the change. Market participants tend to look for movements as a gauge of the market. However, it is necessary to note that such activity reflects only flows and nothing else.

SoSoValue Data Shows Asset Levels and Market Context

Data from SoSoValue also reflected total net assets for Bitcoin spot ETFs at close to $90 billion at the time of writing. The chart accompanying the update included daily inflow and outflow bars, providing context about recent volatility. Bitcoin traded near the $70,000 level during the session, the same dataset indicated.

Coin Bureau’s reporting of Bitcoin news did not present the inflows as a reversal into a trend. In fact, the post was more about the fact that such inflows have happened consecutively. The manner of presentation of these facts focused on when and how large, not for how long. This is typical in the way ETF flow metrics are usually reported.

Bitcoin News Sources Highlight Public Market Signals

Coin Bureau made the announcement via their verified social media post, attributing the information to SoSoValue. The post indicated that the consecutive increases were recorded after three weeks, stating that the figure of $145 million represented the ‘daily net increase’ rather than the cumulative rise.

The information made headlines due to the timing of the inflows, and it should be noted that there are many headlines that can be expected out of public data on ETF flows, as this information has a reputation for making headlines when there is consolidation within the market. There are many different indicators of this that can be expected, as Bitcoin news headlines tend to look at metrics like this because they give insight into funds in a transparent way.

ETF Activity Adds Context to Bitcoin and Ethereum Markets

Even though the focus of the information was on Bitcoin ETFs, there was an overall active market for digital currencies. The price of Bitcoin and Ethereum was within their usual range during this session. There was an emphasis on the ETFs that track Bitcoin due to the confirmation of inflows, while there was minimal mention of Ethereum ETFs during this update.

For example, recent Bitcoin news also reports on movements with exchange-traded funds, which are being included in overall market updates. As can be seen, flow data is merely part of overall data that analysts monitor. The most recent data is merely an update on overall trends, which will be made clear over coming sessions.

Cererea instituțională pentru finanțele tokenizate în Asia se accelerează pe măsură ce colaborarea FinChain Avalanche își propune să aducă activele tradiționale pe blockchain la scară.

FinChain își adâncește cooperarea strategică cu Avalanche

FinChain, o platformă de finanțe pe blockchain sub Fosun Wealth Holdings, a intrat într-o cooperare strategică profundă cu Avalanche pentru a extinde serviciile financiare bazate pe blockchain în întreaga Asie. Inițiativa, anunțată pe 10 februarie 2026 în Hong Kong și New York, își propune să deblocheze zeci de miliarde de dolari din canalele financiare tradiționale prin implementarea activelor financiare standardizate pe blockchain.

LMAX Group is expanding its institutional footprint with the launch of the omnia exchange, a new venue designed to connect FX markets and digital assets on a single infrastructure.

LMAX introduces unified multi-asset trading venue

Institutional exchange operator LMAX Group has unveiled Omnia Exchange, a platform built to let clients trade FX, crypto, stablecoins and other digital assets in one place. The company announced the launch on Tuesday, positioning the venue as an institutional-grade multi asset exchange with global reach.

According to LMAX, Omnia provides what it calls a “unified multi-asset infrastructure layer”. The new venue allows users to trade any supported asset directly against any other, with trading available 24/7 and no restrictions on size or type. Moreover, the design is aimed at institutional workflows rather than retail order flow.

Blockchain and traditional settlement rails combined

One of Omnia’s core features is settlement flexibility. Trades can be settled over traditional rails, such as existing banking networks, or through blockchain instant settlement, allowing near-immediate on-chain delivery of assets where supported. However, LMAX emphasized that both routes are intended to meet the standards required by institutional participants.

This hybrid approach seeks to address a long-standing operational gap between fiat FX markets and digital assets. That said, it also responds to demand from clients who want the speed of on-chain transfers while maintaining the controls, reporting and compliance frameworks of established capital markets infrastructure.

LMAX’s institutional crypto footprint

LMAX has become a significant player in institutional crypto trading through its existing LMAX Digital business. The group reported $8.2 trillion in institutional crypto trading volume last year, underscoring the scale of demand from banks, funds and other professional counterparties.

Whereas LMAX Digital operates as an institutional crypto execution venue and custodian focused primarily on crypto-FX pairs, Omnia is designed to go further. A spokesperson said via email that the new platform aims to bring FX, crypto, stablecoins and other digital assets under one roof, enabling any asset to be traded directly against any other, rather than limiting flows to crypto versus fiat pairs.

Cross-asset connectivity and liquidity

The lmax omnia platform is intended to act as an fx crypto integration platform, making it possible to route orders and manage risk across currencies and tokenized instruments from a single venue. Moreover, by concentrating flows in one place, LMAX is targeting deeper cross asset liquidity for institutional clients.

This approach aligns with a broader industry trend, where crypto trading platforms target institutional market participants by offering access to both digital and traditional instruments. However, Omnia’s focus on direct pairings between any supported assets seeks to differentiate it from venues that still segment trading by asset class.

Bridging traditional and digital capital markets

LMAX CEO David Mercer framed the launch in strategic terms, saying Omnia “crosses the rubicon” between traditional markets and digital marketplaces. In a statement, Mercer described the venue as “the foundation for a new paradigm in capital markets” that allows institutions to exchange any asset, at any time and from any location.

“By opening access to wholesale FX and digital asset markets globally, we are removing barriers, reducing friction and unlocking liquidity,” Mercer said. Moreover, he argued that institutions could “exchange value as simply as sending a message,” which he claims will create what he called “hyper-efficient capital.”

Stablecoins and institutional access

A recent deal between LMAX Group and Ripple to integrate Ripple’s RLUSD into the group’s infrastructure highlights the role of stablecoins in this strategy. The partnership signals that stable-value tokens are increasingly viewed as tools for stablecoin institutional access rather than solely for crypto-native activity.

This focus on tokenized cash instruments complements LMAX’s institutional trading crypto business and reflects demand for on-chain settlement options in wholesale markets. However, it also positions Omnia to serve clients that want to move between FX, stablecoins and other digital assets without leaving an institutional framework.

Positioning in the institutional crypto landscape

The launch of the omnia exchange comes as more players race to build infrastructure for institutional crypto trading platform offerings that combine regulated market practices with digital asset technology. LMAX is betting that its history in FX and its existing institutional client base can help it capture a meaningful share of this growing segment.

Overall, by unifying trading and settlement for FX, cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets, LMAX aims to lower operational barriers and deepen liquidity for large market participants, while preserving the controls and standards expected in global capital markets.

Într-o mișcare care subliniază competiția în creștere din DeFi, integrarea Sushi Solana este pregătită să lărgească accesul la tranzacționarea de mare viteză pentru milioane de utilizatori de criptomonede.

Sushi se lansează pe Solana pentru a-și extinde reach-ul multichain

Pe 9 februarie 2026, în New York, schimbul descentralizat Sushi a anunțat lansarea oficială pe rețeaua Solana, marcând un pas semnificativ în strategia sa de expansiune multi-chain. Implementarea extinde gama de produse de tranzacționare și lichiditate a Sushi către unul dintre cele mai rapid crescătoare ecosisteme blockchain din industrie.

Cererea instituțională pentru servicii de active digitale securizate crește rapid, iar custodia Ripple este îmbunătățită pentru a captura acest segment în expansiune cu noi capacități.

Ripple întărește custodia instituțională cu noi parteneri

Ripple a dezvăluit o serie de parteneriate strategice pentru a îmbunătăți platforma sa de custodie instituțională, Ripple Custody, lărgind rolul său ca o soluție de custodie pentru active digitale instituționale de vârf. Noi colaborări cu Securosys și Figment, combinate cu integrarea recentă cu Chainalysis și achiziția Palisade, extind semnificativ funcționalitatea serviciului.

Franța intră într-o fază decisivă pentru reglementarea cripto, deoarece firmele se confruntă cu un termen limită strict pentru autorizarea Mica în cadrul reglementării piețelor de Active Cripto europene.

Regimul de tranziție în Franța se încheie pe 1 iulie 2026

Regulatorul francez AMF a reamintit tuturor Furnizorilor de Servicii cu Active Digitale (DASP) că regimul de tranziție va expira pe 1 iulie 2026. Sub acest regim, firmele active înainte de intrarea în vigoare a Regulamentului European MiCA ar putea continua să ofere servicii de active cripto în Franța fără o licență completă.

Într-un nou semn al investițiilor agresive în centrele de date AI, un împrumut Apollo Nvidia se apropie de finalizare pentru a sprijini o strategie ambițioasă de închiriere a chipurilor legată de Elon Musk.

Apollo aliniază finanțare de miliarde de dolari pentru hardware Nvidia

Un împrumut de aproximativ 3.4 miliarde de dolari de la Apollo Global Management este aproape de a fi finalizat pentru un vehicul de investiții care va cumpăra chipuri Nvidia și le va închiria către xAI, conform raportului The Information publicat pe 9 februarie. Outletul a citat o persoană familiarizată cu problema, sugerând că termenii sunt într-o etapă avansată.

Investor interest in AI, crypto, and Web3 is accelerating as the AI.com domain purchase by a major exchange founder shines a spotlight on emerging creator platforms.

Crypto.com founder secures AI.com for $70 million

According to the Financial Times, Kris Marszalek, founder of Crypto.com, has bought the premium domain AI.com for about $70 million. The report notes that other bidders for the address reportedly included OpenAI and X.ai, underscoring how strategic AI-related web properties have become.

However, the acquisition is drawing attention not only because of its price tag, but also due to what it signals about the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain ecosystems. Major brands are increasingly positioning themselves at this crossroads.

AI and blockchain converge in the content-creation economy

The article places the move within the fast-growing content-creation economy, estimated at roughly $85 billion. In this market, legacy platforms still dominate distribution and take sizable fees while maintaining tight centralized control over creators’ audiences and revenues.

Moreover, a new wave of Web3 projects is targeting these frictions by combining smart contracts, tokenized incentives, and AI-driven automation. Backers argue that such designs could support lower fees, greater creator ownership, and programmable revenue sharing across communities.

SUBBD protocol: AI tools with on-chain creator controls

Within this context, the report highlights SUBBD, a protocol built on an Ethereum-based architecture that blends generative AI features with decentralized controls for creators. The project is positioned as an example of how AI and blockchain can be fused into a single product experience.

SUBBD’s platform reportedly includes an AI Personal Assistant designed to help automate repetitive engagement tasks, such as responding to fan queries or scheduling content. In addition, the protocol offers voice-cloning capabilities to help creators scale branded audio and video output while maintaining a consistent personal style.

That said, supporters argue that the full primary_keyword of ai domain purchase and similar moves are creating a halo effect around AI-powered creator tools that can be integrated directly with on-chain payment rails.

SUBBD token presale and economic design

Presale data cited in the article indicates that SUBBD had already raised more than $1.4 million, pointing to early investor interest. During this phase, the SUBBD token was listed at a price of $0.057495, setting the initial valuation parameters for the ecosystem.

Moreover, the protocol reportedly features a staking program that offers a fixed 20% APY for the first year to users who lock their tokens. This is framed as an incentive mechanism intended to reward long-term participation and stabilize token circulation during the platform’s growth phase.

HoneyHive governance and creator-focused features

Beyond staking, SUBBD is said to integrate an on-chain governance module called HoneyHive. Through this framework, token holders can vote on significant platform decisions, including which creators are onboarded, what platform themes are prioritized, and how new features are rolled out.

However, the emphasis on governance also reflects a broader trend in Web3, where projects attempt to align the interests of users, investors, and developers via tokenized voting systems. In theory, this can provide creators with a more direct say in the rules and economics that shape their work environment.

Investor sentiment around AI-blockchain utility protocols

The high-profile AI.com deal, combined with growing coverage of creator-focused protocols like SUBBD, is being interpreted as evidence of deepening ties between AI systems and blockchain infrastructure. Market participants see potential in products that merge automated content tools with transparent payment and governance rails.

Overall, the reported domain acquisition and subsequent attention suggest that investors are increasingly focused on utility-driven protocols, where AI capabilities, staking incentives, and token-holder governance converge to challenge incumbent platforms within the rapidly expanding digital creator economy.

Bringing institutional discipline to digital assets, DeFi Technologies has introduced the DVIO index to turn regulated capital flows into a forward-looking lens on crypto markets.

A new benchmark built on real investor flows

DeFi Technologies Inc., through its subsidiary Valour, has launched the DEFT Valour Investment Opportunity (DVIO) Index, an institutional-grade benchmark that tracks how regulated investor capital is allocated across digital assets using real flows through Valour’s ETP platform. The index is updated weekly and covers the top 50 assets in Valour’s ecosystem by assets under management (AUM) and flows.

According to the company, the index aims to deliver higher signal quality than typical crypto data sources by relying on a consistent, regulated product structure and execution framework. Moreover, it is designed to function not only as a benchmark but also as the core of a broader insights and commercial platform for recurring analytics, market barometers, and future index-linked products.

Launch details and strategic positioning

On February 9, 2026, in Toronto, DeFi Technologies announced that Valour Inc. and Valour Digital Securities Limited had jointly launched the DVIO Index, positioning it as a regulated, capital-based reference for the digital asset market. The index is intended to show how regulated capital is allocated across crypto assets, using observable flows through Valour’s listed products.

The index provides a forward-looking view of investor positioning, sentiment, and capital rotation by tracking real flows on Valour’s regulated ETP infrastructure. That said, DeFi Technologies argues that this approach delivers a level of signal quality and market efficiency not available from traditional price, on-chain, or exchange volume data sets.

From fragmented data to capital-flow intelligence

Crypto markets generate large volumes of information, yet much of it remains fragmented, noisy, and backward-looking. Prices, on-chain metrics, and exchange volumes often explain market moves after they occur, rather than indicating how institutional capital is positioned in real time.

In traditional finance, capital flows are widely regarded as among the most reliable leading indicators of market behavior. The dvio index applies this discipline to digital assets, grounding its insights in observable, regulated investment decisions rather than speculative wallets or unregulated trading venues. As a result, the index seeks to transform capital allocation data into genuine market intelligence.

Why Valour flows offer differentiated signals

Access to crypto assets is usually fragmented across multiple exchanges, each with different fees, spreads, liquidity conditions, and execution quality. Consequently, observed flows can be skewed by platform mechanics rather than reflecting true investor conviction in a particular asset.

Valour’s ETP platform is designed to remove much of this distortion. Uniform pricing and internal market making aim to minimize slippage across products, while fees are transparent, regulated, and fully disclosed in prospectuses and final terms. Moreover, risk profiles, liquidity models, and pricing frameworks are aligned across the platform, and terms and flows of cross-listed products remain tightly coordinated regardless of trading venue.

This structure creates an environment in which capital allocation decisions are driven primarily by asset fundamentals and investor conviction. Therefore, Valour’s flows can serve as a distinctive and cleaner indicator of market behavior.

A diversified, rational investor base

With 102 ETPs spanning 74 unique digital assets, Valour operates one of the most extensive regulated digital asset ETP platforms worldwide. Investors can allocate across majors, Layer 1s, DeFi projects, and emerging themes, all within a consistent execution and risk framework.

As a result, capital flows on Valour’s platform reflect the actions of investors operating under rational, institutionally aligned constraints in an efficient market structure. That said, this makes those flows a uniquely powerful source of intelligence on crypto allocation trends and gives Valour a broad view of how institutional exposure to digital assets is evolving.

Index design and methodology

The DEFT Valour Investment Opportunity Index tracks the top 50 individual crypto assets by AUM and flows within Valour’s ETP ecosystem. Constituents and weights are updated weekly to capture both current capital allocation and the way that allocation is changing over time.

Anchored in regulated infrastructure and real investor capital, the index seeks to provide a credible reference point for institutions seeking transparency in an otherwise opaque market. Moreover, its systematic construction is focused on maximizing signal quality for professional users.

The methodology is rules-based and designed to capture meaningful shifts in investor behavior while filtering out short-term market noise. It is anchored in AUM but dynamically responsive to changes in flows, balancing stability with adaptability through a weekly rebalancing schedule.

This methodology provides a foundation for investors, asset managers, and product issuers to develop index-linked products, structured strategies, research frameworks, and risk models built on capital-flow signals. In doing so, it positions the index as both a benchmark and a practical tool for strategy design.

Insights framework and barometers

Beyond its role as a benchmark, the DVIO Index underpins an insights framework that converts flow data into actionable intelligence. Outputs include weekly analyses of flow and weight changes, as well as indicators designed to highlight divergences between price action and capital allocation patterns.

Among these tools are market-level measures such as the DVIO Index Flow Sentiment Barometer and the DVIO Index Altcoin Barometer, which seek to quantify shifts in market risk appetite and sector rotation. Additionally, the index maintains a Watchlist of assets outside the top 50 by AUM to surface early-stage flow momentum before those assets become index-eligible.

This Watchlist is intended to enable more predictive, rather than purely reactive, analysis of emerging opportunities. Moreover, it supports the development of digital asset sentiment indicators that move beyond simple price-based metrics.

Business model and commercial roadmap

The DEFT Valour Investment Opportunity Index is also a strategic platform for advancing Valour’s broader commercial objectives. It provides a unified narrative for engaging investors worldwide across the full range of Valour ETPs, anchored in the strength and consistency of the signals the index generates.

In parallel, DeFi Technologies will offer subscription-based access to weekly insights and monthly analytical reports derived from DVIO data. However, the company also sees a longer-term opportunity in building out an analytics ecosystem around the benchmark.

Looking ahead, DeFi Technologies plans to develop a DVIO-derived analytics terminal offering more granular, data-driven insights. The index is being engineered to support licensing by third-party asset managers and financial institutions, enabling the creation of index-linked products under licence.

Over time, this ecosystem is expected to reinforce the DVIO Index’s role as a market reference while helping funnel additional capital into Valour’s underlying ETPs. This aligns the benchmark with Valour’s growth strategy and expands the potential for etp platform insights across the digital asset space.

Data, AI, and analytical infrastructure

The DVIO initiative marks a significant enhancement and scaling of DeFi Technologies’ and Valour’s data operations. It is built on an integrated data architecture optimized to leverage trading, flow, and pricing information across Valour and its wholly owned subsidiary Stillman Digital.

This infrastructure is designed to support the development of innovative structured instruments and to apply advanced analytics and AI techniques. Moreover, it aims to deepen understanding of how investment behavior interacts across decentralized finance (DeFi), traditional finance (TradFi), broader technology trends, and macroeconomic indicators.

By combining regulated market data with advanced analytical capabilities, DeFi Technologies is positioning the DVIO Index as both a benchmark and a research engine for next-generation digital asset investment strategies. This framework also opens the door for future index derived analytics products targeted at institutional users.

A differentiated vantage point on crypto markets

As one of the issuers with the largest and most diverse digital asset ETP offerings globally, Valour claims a distinctive vantage point for launching this benchmark. The DEFT Valour Investment Opportunity Index is based on the actual collective decisions of rational investors allocating real capital through regulated instruments, rather than on theoretical models or indirect proxies.

In doing so, it sets out to establish a new regulated crypto benchmark grounded in efficiency, transparency, and observable capital behavior. Moreover, it highlights how regulated infrastructure and disciplined data architecture can turn flows into a strategic resource for the digital asset industry.

About the companies behind the index

DeFi Technologies Inc. is a financial technology company focused on bridging traditional capital markets and decentralized finance. As the first Nasdaq-listed digital asset manager of its kind, the company offers equity investors diversified exposure to the decentralized economy through an integrated business model.

Its operations include Valour, which provides access to more than one hundred of the world’s most innovative digital assets via regulated ETPs; Stillman Digital, a digital asset prime brokerage and liquidity provider focused on institutional-grade execution and custody; and Reflexivity Research, which produces in-depth research on the bitcoin and digital asset industry. The group also includes Neuronomics, focused on quantitative trading strategies and infrastructure, and DeFi Alpha, the internal arbitrage and trading business line.

Valour Inc. and Valour Digital Securities Limited issue ETPs that allow retail and institutional investors to access digital assets in a simple and secure way via traditional bank accounts. Valour forms part of DeFi Technologies’ asset management business line and is central to the flow data underpinning the DVIO benchmark.

Reflexivity Research LLC is a research firm dedicated to producing high-quality, long-form reports on bitcoin and digital assets, aimed at equipping investors with detailed insights. Meanwhile, Stillman Digital offers liquidity solutions for businesses, with a focus on trade execution, settlement, and technology.

By integrating regulated capital flows, robust data infrastructure, and institutional-grade analytics, DeFi Technologies and Valour are positioning the DEFT Valour Investment Opportunity Index as a forward-looking reference point for understanding how real money navigates the crypto market.