CryptoNews

Superset raises $4m to build a unified execution layer for fragmented stablecoin, tokenized deposit, and on-chain FX liquidity as crypto infrastructure funding accelerates.

Summary

Superset secured a $4m seed round co-led by 7RIDGE and Exponential Science Capital to build a unified liquidity execution layer for stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and on-chain FX.

The team aims to abstract fragmented cross-chain liquidity into a single connectivity layer serving liquidity providers, market makers, wallets, and aggregators as neutral infrastructure.

The raise lands amid an active funding tape for crypto infrastructure, with recent rounds for privacy-focused stablecoin project Zoth and prediction-market platform Opinion highlighting demand for liquidity and derivatives rails.

Superset, a new liquidity execution layer targeting stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and on-chain FX, has raised $4 million in seed funding co-led by 7RIDGE and Exponential Science Capital, positioning itself squarely at the heart of the rapidly scaling stablecoin infrastructure trade.

Deal structure and strategic focus

The $4 million seed round will fund Superset’s push to build “the unified liquidity layer for the $300 billion stablecoin economy,” with 7RIDGE and Exponential Science Capital joining existing backers focused on market-structure innovation. Superset describes itself as a “unified liquidity execution layer” built specifically for stablecoins, tokenized bank deposits, and on-chain foreign exchange, aiming to sit beneath aggregators, wallets, and trading venues as neutral, infrastructure-style plumbing.

The team argues that while the stablecoin market is “vast and growing rapidly,” it remains “structurally highly fragmented,” with liquidity scattered across chains, venues, and instruments. That fragmentation, Superset says, is “precisely the problem” it is trying to solve by abstracting execution and routing away from individual platforms and toward a single connectivity layer.

Market fragmentation and pipeline

Superset is already working with “liquidity providers, market makers, stablecoin issuers, aggregators, and wallets” as it prepares for a broader product rollout, positioning itself as a neutral bridge between balance-sheet providers and end-user interfaces. The project emerges amid a busy funding tape in crypto market-structure and infrastructure: privacy-focused stablecoin project Zoth recently announced a new strategic round led by Taisu Ventures, while data from ChainCatcher shows 14 crypto financings last week alone, totaling roughly $300 million. Other recent raises include prediction-market platform Opinion’s $20 million Series A, backed by investors such as Hack VC, underscoring sustained appetite for liquidity and derivatives infrastructure even after episodic risk-off episodes.

Related coverage includes ChainCatcher’s report on Zoth’s latest strategic financing, their weekly breakdown of crypto funding flows, and analysis of Opinion’s $20 million Series A round as prediction markets gain institutional attention.

Macro tape and major coins

This parabolic move comes as digital assets continue to trade as the purest expression of macro risk appetite. Bitcoin (BTC) is changing hands near $68,968, with a 24‑hour high around $69,998 and a low near $66,368, on roughly $42.3B in volume. Ethereum (ETH) trades close to $2,050, with a 24‑hour range between roughly $1,995 and $2,107 as derivatives data flag fading intraday breadth. Solana (SOL) sits near $81, down about 3–4% over the last 24 hours, with liquidity increasingly quoted versus ETH as SOL/ETH trades around 0.041 on major venues.

Read more: Bitcoin price prediction ahead of U.S. jobs report: Volatility back in focus

Major financial hubs in Asia are stepping up regulated digital asset efforts in 2026, with Hong Kong preparing to issue its first stablecoin licences as early as March, while Malaysia’s central bank begins testing ringgit-based stablecoins and tokenised deposits under its innovation hub.

Summary

Hong Kong is preparing to issue its first stablecoin licences as early as March 2026, with regulators signaling a cautious rollout limited to a small number of fully compliant issuers.

The framework emphasizes reserve backing, risk management, AML controls, and clear use cases, reinforcing Hong Kong’s push to position itself as a regulated digital finance hub.

In parallel, Bank Negara Malaysia has launched pilots under its Digital Asset Innovation Hub to test ringgit-denominated stablecoins and tokenised deposits for wholesale and cross-border payments.

In Hong Kong, government officials confirmed that the territory is on track to grant its first batch of stablecoin issuer licences in March 2026 under a regulatory framework established by the Stablecoins Ordinance.

The ordinance requires prospective issuers to meet strict standards for use cases, risk controls, anti-money-laundering measures and reserve backing before they are authorized. Only a very limited number of licences is expected initially, as regulators focus on operational readiness and compliance.

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Addressing the regulatory push, Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary and HKMA officials have reiterated their goal of fostering a safe and regulated stablecoin ecosystem, part of the city’s broader ambition to become a regional hub for digital finance, payments and tokenised assets.

Malaysia tests Ringgit stablecoins and tokenised deposits

In Kuala Lumpur, Bank Negara Malaysia’s Digital Asset Innovation Hub (DAIH) has onboarded three initiatives to test ringgit-denominated stablecoins and tokenised deposits for 2026.

These pilots, led by Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia, Capital A, Maybank and CIMB, will explore wholesale payment and settlement use cases, including domestic and cross-border flows. The tests are conducted in a controlled environment to assess implications for monetary and financial stability and to inform policy direction.

Under the DAIH, participants are evaluating how stablecoins and digital deposit tokens might streamline settlement, enhance liquidity and modernise institutional payment infrastructure while preserving regulatory safeguards.

Authorities in Malaysia plan to provide greater clarity on the use and policy framework for ringgit-linked digital assets by the end of 2026.

Together, these developments show a concerted regional trend toward formalising digital financial instruments.

Hong Kong’s move to grant licences for regulated stablecoin issuance dovetails with Malaysia’s ground-level experimentation with tokenised money, reflecting an increasing willingness among Asian regulators to integrate digital asset technologies into mainstream financial systems under strict oversight.

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Bitcoin pioneer Erik Voorhees is raising eyebrows across crypto markets after on-chain data showed the longtime “digital gold” advocate moving millions of dollars into gold-backed tokens.

Summary

Bitcoin pioneer Erik Voorhees has moved $6.81 million into tokenized gold, according to on-chain data, sparking debate among traders over whether the move signals hedging or a strategic pivot.

Voorhees has long promoted Bitcoin as “digital gold,” making the allocation notable as BTC continues to trade more like a risk asset than a traditional safe haven.

The purchase appears to be diversification rather than a BTC exit, with no on-chain evidence of Bitcoin selling, highlighting growing interest in tokenized real-world assets.

From Bitcoin to bullion? Erik Voorhees’ gold bet sparks debate

According to blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain, Voorhees recently created nine new wallets and spent $6.81 million in USDC to acquire 1,382 PAX Gold (PAXG) tokens at an average price of $4,926 per token. PAXG is a tokenized form of physical gold, with each token backed by vaulted reserves.

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Voorhees has been active in Bitcoin (BTC) since 2011 and founded early crypto companies including ShapeShift. Over the years, he became one of the most prominent voices pushing Bitcoin’s “digital gold” narrative, arguing that BTC could ultimately replace physical gold as a global store of value.

The latest move from Voorhees has sparked debate among traders on X, with some questioning whether the purchase represents a strategic pivot or simply prudent diversification.

Erik Voorhees moving millions to gold? Big pivot from BTC OG.

— Startling (@RealLifu) February 11, 2026

While the on-chain activity does not indicate any direct selling of Bitcoin, the decision to allocate fresh capital into gold comes at a time when BTC has been trading more like a risk asset than a safe haven.

For market participants, the move may reflect a hedging strategy rather than a rejection of Bitcoin’s long-term thesis. Tokenized gold allows investors to gain exposure to a traditional store of value without exiting blockchain-based markets, offering liquidity and transparency alongside stability.

Still, traders are watching closely. If similar allocations emerge from other early Bitcoin holders, it could signal a broader shift in how even long-term believers are balancing digital and physical stores of value amid evolving market conditions.

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The Cardano price continued its strong downward trend, reaching its lowest level since October 2023, making it one of the crypto industry’s top laggards.

Summary

Cardano price dropped to a crucial support level this week.

The developers are working on Pentad, which aims to grow the ecosystem.

The coin has become highly oversold, with the RSI moving to 28.

Cardano (ADA), a top layer-1 network, slipped to $0.2640, down over 80% from its December 2024 peak and 91% below its all-time high of $3 in 2021.

ADA extended its sharp decline despite several major catalysts, including this week’s CME futures launch and the upcoming Midnight mainnet debut. The futuress product made it available to American retail and institutional investors. 

Midnight, its upcoming zero-knowledge sidechain, is expected to launch either later this month or in March. Data shows that its testnet continues to perform well, having handled over 185,000 blocks and 295 million slots. NIGHT, its native token, has achieved a market capitalization of over $800 million.

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Cardano’s developers are working to fix the network and attract more creators. They are working on the Leios upgrade, which will make it a faster network than many popular chains. 

At the same time, they are implementing the Pentad program, which aims to attract more oracle network, tier-1 stablecoins like USDT and USDC, and analytics tools. It has already attracted Pyth Network, a top oracle network, and Dune, a popular analytics tool.

Therefore, Cardano price is falling because of the ongoing crypto market crash, which has affected Bitcoin and most altcoins. 

Cardano price prediction: technical analysis

ADA price chart | Source: crypto.news

The weekly timeframe chart shows that ADA token has continued falling in the past few months. It has slumped from a high of $1.3230 in December 2024 to the current $0.2638.

The coin has dropped below the 50-week Exponential Moving Average, a sign that bears remain in control. Also, Cardano token has settled at the key support at $0.2212, the neckline of the head-and-shoulders pattern.

ADA has become oversold, with the Relative Strength Index at 28, the oversold level. The Stochastic Oscillator has also moved below the oversold line. 

Therefore, the coin may rebound in the coming days, potentially to the psychological level of $0.50. However, a drop below the current support level at $0.2212 will confirm more downside, potentially to $0.15.

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Crypto markets are definitely under pressure. The year got off to a shaky start, and weakness has continued as traders remain cautious in a low-liquidity, macro-uncertain environment. That’s left Ethereum and Solana stuck in corrective moves for now.

Table of Contents

Current market scenario

Ethereum price prediction

Solana price prediction

Final thoughts

Let’s take a closer look at ETH and SOL, analyzing recent price moves and network fundamentals to gauge their near-term price predictions.

Summary

Crypto markets remain volatile and risk-off as of February 10, 2026, with large-cap coins like Ethereum and Solana trading below last year’s highs.

ETH is around $2,016, showing short-term bearish momentum, with key support at $1,760 and resistance near $2,150–$2,500.

SOL trades near $84 in a clear downtrend, with short-term support at $80–$90, major downside at $70–$65, and resistance at $100, keeping the SOL outlook cautious.

Current market scenario

As of February 10, crypto markets remain unsettled. Volatility is elevated, sentiment is fragile, and rallies are quickly met with selling pressure. Many large-cap coins are still trading below last year’s highs, highlighting a risk-off environment.

Altcoins have borne the brunt of selling, with investors either rotating into cash or waiting for confirmation of trends. Ethereum and Solana remain technically bearish for now, although network activity continues in the background.

Ethereum price prediction

Ethereum (ETH) is currently trading around $2,016, having failed to hold above the key $2,100 resistance zone. Year-over-year, ETH is down roughly 20–25%, showing the ongoing pressure on large-cap altcoins. Short-term momentum hasn’t helped either, with the ETH price falling 0.9% in the last 24 hours and 11.6% over the past week.

ETH 1-day chart, February 2026 | Source: crypto.news

Technically, the short-term trend is still bearish. On Sunday, a bearish pin bar showed up just under $2,100, meaning sellers are in control there. If price can’t get past this level, the next downside target is around $1,760, which acted as support the last time price dipped this low.

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From a fundamentals perspective, things are still solid for Ethereum. Developers are busy, users are active, and Layer-2 adoption keeps expanding. These network improvements ease congestion and boost throughput, even if the ETH price doesn’t show it yet. They remain a key part of the longer-term ETH forecast.

If buyers step in and push Ethereum over $2,150 for a daily close, the bearish trend would start to fade. After that, a move toward $2,500 looks more likely.

Solana price prediction

Solana (SOL) is currently trading near $84. While the SOL price is up 0.5% on the day, the bigger picture remains ugly, with the token down nearly 18.4% over the past week.

SOL 1-day chart, February 2026 | Source: crypto.news

From a technical standpoint, Solana is still in a clear downtrend. Price recently dropped below a descending channel and is now holding in the $80–$90 zone as short-term support. Trend-wise, nothing much has changed— lower highs and lower lows remain dominant.

If this support breaks, the next downside area to watch is $70–$65, which marks the last strong demand zone before liquidity dries up. On the flip side, $100 is the key resistance bulls need to reclaim to shift sentiment.

For now, the SOL outlook remains cautious, at least until we see buyers show real strength.

Final thoughts

Right now, Ethereum and Solana aren’t having an easy time. Bears are in control in the short term, but Ethereum’s bigger picture is still intact. Until the price can get back above key resistance levels, rallies are likely to be shaky. Patience and waiting for confirmation will be important for anyone following ETH or SOL.

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Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov says the current market cycle is offering a clearer view of where crypto is headed next – not through price action, but through structural changes taking place beneath the surface.

Summary

Chainlink founder Sergey Nazarov says fewer institutional blowups signal a more resilient crypto market.

Real-world asset adoption is accelerating regardless of price cycles.

Infrastructure demand could push RWAs to surpass crypto-native assets over time.

In a post on X, Nazarov argued that the most important signals this cycle are emerging from infrastructure resilience and real-world adoption rather than speculation.

This suggests the industry is entering a more durable phase.

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1. Crypto is surviving volatility with fewer systemic failures

Nazarov’s first signal of progress is the absence of large, cascading institutional collapses during recent market drawdowns. He noted that despite sharp volatility, the industry has avoided the kind of failures that defined the previous cycle.

“This cycle so far has not had the same types of cascading institutional blowups,” Nazarov wrote, pointing to improved risk management and capital discipline across crypto firms.

Cycles are a normal part of the crypto industry, what is important is what those cycles reveal about how far the industry has progressed and what next stage/trends of adoption/value creation will go on to define the industry.So far this cycle reveals two key things for me:…

— Sergey Nazarov (@SergeyNazarov) February 9, 2026

According to Nazarov, this resilience is a critical prerequisite for long-term institutional participation and signals a maturing market structure.

2. Real-world assets are moving on-chain regardless of prices

The second trend shaping crypto’s next era is the steady migration of real-world assets (RWAs) onto blockchains. Nazarov emphasized that tokenization activity is continuing even as broader crypto markets fluctuate.

“The adoption of RWAs is continuing independent of crypto market cycles,” he said, highlighting on-chain issuance and the growth of perpetual markets tied to traditional assets such as commodities.

He added that features like 24/7 trading, transparent collateral, and global access are driving demand beyond speculative use cases.

3. Infrastructure is becoming the core value proposition

Nazarov’s final trend centers on infrastructure. As RWAs scale, he said the need for reliable data, interoperability, and secure coordination between on-chain and off-chain systems is increasing rapidly.

“In the long run, RWAs can become larger than crypto-native assets,” Nazarov wrote, suggesting blockchains are evolving into foundational financial infrastructure rather than niche markets.

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A coalition of fintech trade groups is lobbying for the Federal Reserve to move forward with the Payment Account prototype that would open up direct payments access for eligible non-bank financial firms.

Summary

Fintech trade groups led by the American Fintech Council are pressing the Federal Reserve to advance its Payment Account prototype that would grant non-banks direct access to core payment systems.

Bank industry groups warn that the plan could increase financial stability risks by enabling stablecoin issuers and other non-banks to operate outside traditional supervisory safeguards.

Led by the American Fintech Council, a group of fintech trade associations has submitted a comment letter to the Federal Reserve, where it urged the central bank to move forward with plans for granting direct access to its payment systems for eligible non-bank financial institutions.

“A well-designed Payment Account can expand competition and responsible innovation in payments without introducing new risk or undermining the Federal Reserve’s longstanding prudential safeguards,” American Fintech Council CEO Phil Goldfeder said in a Monday statement.

Payment Accounts are the Federal Reserve’s proposed answer to long-standing calls for access to its payments infrastructure by offering limited settlement capabilities without having to extend full banking privileges.

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Late last year, the central bank opened up the possibility of limited direct access to its payment systems after a prolonged standoff. Governor Christopher Waller proposed a “skinny” master account model, but with limitations such as balance caps, no interest, and restricted use of final-settlement systems such as Fedwire.

According to the coalition, allowing Payment Accounts would reduce operational friction in the current system, which typically involves relying on sponsor banks for access to core infrastructure, an arrangement that tends to increase costs, introduce counterparty risk, and limit competition.

Banking groups, however, have raised concerns over financial instability and unregulated activity outside of the federal supervisory perimeter. Among their key concerns are stablecoins and other crypto-adjacent models that can mimic deposit-taking without deposit insurance, resolution mechanisms, or consolidated oversight.

There’s no mention of crypto-facing entities explicitly in the Fed’s proposal, but bankers argue that crypto firms, especially stablecoin issuers, are expected to benefit most from the direct settlement pathway.

The Fed’s proposal stems from the ongoing legal battle over access to Fed infrastructure. Crypto facing Custodia Bank has been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle over the Fed denying its application for a master account. Courts, however, have consistently sided with the Fed’s discretion to prioritise systemic risk management.

At a Monday Conference, Waller said the central bank is looking to roll out skinny master accounts by the year’s end. These accounts would offer limited payment access without interest on balances or discount window borrowing.

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A U.S. federal court has sentenced a key figure behind a global cryptocurrency investment scam to 20 years in prison, capping one of the largest crypto-fraud prosecutions tied to so-called “pig butchering” schemes.

Summary

U.S. court sentenced a crypto scam mastermind to 20 years over a $73M global fraud

Defendant fled U.S. supervision and was sentenced in absentia

Scheme used fake crypto platforms and shell companies to launder funds

The operation defrauded victims of more than $73 million, largely through fake trading platforms and online deception.

Fugitive sentenced in Absentia

The defendant, Daren Li, was sentenced in the Central District of California despite being a fugitive at the time of sentencing. Li, a dual citizen of China and St. Kitts and Nevis, removed his electronic ankle monitor and fled U.S. supervision in late 2025.

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U.S. authorities said efforts are ongoing to locate and return him to serve the sentence.

Li had pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering, acknowledging his role in moving fraud proceeds generated by overseas scam centers operating primarily out of Cambodia.

Inside the $73 million crypto scam

According to prosecutors, the scam relied on unsolicited social media outreach, fake cryptocurrency investment platforms, and spoofed websites designed to mimic legitimate trading services.

Victims were gradually manipulated into sending funds after building trust through fabricated personal or professional relationships.

Once funds were obtained, Li and his co-conspirators funnelled the money through shell companies and U.S. bank accounts before converting it into cryptocurrency. At least $59.8 million in victim funds passed through U.S.-based accounts as part of the laundering operation.

Eight co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty in related cases. The Justice Department said Li is the first individual directly involved in receiving stolen proceeds to be sentenced, highlighting a broader push to dismantle international crypto fraud networks and hold organizers accountable.

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A wallet linked to the Infini exploit has resurfaced after months of dormancy, spending $13.32 million to buy Ethereum during the recent market dip.

Summary

A wallet linked to the Infini exploit purchased 6,316 ETH worth $13.3 million during the recent price dip before sending funds to Tornado Cash, on-chain data shows.

The address had been inactive for more than 200 days, according to alerts from Lookonchain, PeckShield, and CertiK.

Past transactions suggest the exploiter has repeatedly bought ETH near local lows and sold near cycle highs, highlighting precise market timing.

The funds were later routed through the crypto mixing service Tornado Cash, according to on-chain data and multiple blockchain security firms.

Blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain flagged the activity, showing that the exploiter purchased 6,316 ETH at an average price of $2,109 roughly eight hours before the transfers were detected.

Infini Exploiter bought the dip 8 hours ago, spending 13.32M $DAI to buy 6,316 $ETH at $2,109.He then sent all 15,470 ETH ($32.6M) to #TornadoCash.He seems very good at buying low and selling high:👉 Feb 24, 2025: Stole 49.5M $USDC and bought 17,696 $ETH at $2,798.👉 Jul… pic.twitter.com/hgLV9sWvQd

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) February 9, 2026

Shortly after the purchase, the wallet consolidated its holdings and sent a total of 15,470 ETH, worth about $32.6 million, to Tornado Cash.

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The transactions were also identified by PeckShield and CertiK, both of which confirmed that the address, labeled as the Infini exploiter, deposited the full Ethereum (ETH) balance into the privacy protocol. Thus, marking a resumption of laundering activity after more than 200 days of inactivity.

Pattern of buying lows, selling highs

On-chain records suggest the wallet has repeatedly demonstrated precise market timing. According to Lookonchain, the same entity:

February 2025: Exploited Infini by stealing $49.5 million in USDC, later converting the funds into 17,696 ETH at $2,798.

July 2025: Sent 5,000 ETH to Tornado Cash and sold 1,770 ETH for $5.88 million at $3,322.

August 2025: Sold 1,771 ETH at $4,202, near local cycle highs.

February 2026: Bought 6,316 ETH at $2,109, before transferring the full balance to Tornado Cash.

“He seems very good at buying low and selling high,” Lookonchain noted, pointing to the consistent timing of the exploiter’s trades across multiple market cycles.

Background on the Infini exploit

Infini suffered the exploit in February 2025 after attackers compromised administrative privileges, resulting in a total loss of approximately $49.5 million. The stolen funds were rapidly swapped across stablecoins and ETH before being dispersed through multiple wallets, complicating recovery efforts.

While Tornado Cash remains operational at the smart-contract level, its use has drawn heightened scrutiny from regulators and blockchain investigators due to its frequent role in laundering illicit funds.

As of press time, there has been no indication that the funds sent to Tornado Cash have been frozen or recovered. Investigators continue to monitor the wallet’s activity for further movement.

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Crypto exchange BingX spends $300m on AI tools to turn macro, gold, and crypto volatility into personalized, multi-asset trading decisions.

Summary

BingX commits $300m to an AI-driven exchange stack centered on AI Bingo and AI Master.

UBS lifts its gold price target to $6,200 in 2026, reinforcing demand for tokenized metals on BingX.

BingX reports over $2b in daily TradFi volume and 40m users as AI tools reframe how traders read macro risk.

In a year when crypto markets trade at macro speed, BingX is betting that the next edge will come from artificial intelligence woven into the plumbing of the exchange, not bolted on as an afterthought. The platform has committed $300 million to AI over the long term, positioning itself as what it calls an “all‑in AI” venue that treats automation as core infrastructure rather than marketing gloss.

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BingX’s internal suite runs across multiple models, coordinated by specialized agents mapped to distinct points in the trading process.

Two flagship tools, BingX AI Bingo and BingX AI Master, are designed as decision‑support layers rather than execution engines, with AI Bingo acting as a conversational “trading idea generator” that scans more than 1,000 market pairs and surfaces scenarios, support and resistance levels, and probability forecasts.

“The outcome is an experience that feels less like software and more like a companion who understands you,” BingX product leadership has said of AI Master’s adaptive design, which learns risk tolerance and adjusts recommendations in real time.

This pivot is unfolding just as crypto venues pull in traditional instruments like precious metals and tokenized equity exposure, allowing traders to watch gold, oil, and Bitcoin from a single AI‑powered interface around a major macro release.

UBS has recently raised its gold price target to $6,200 per ounce for March, June and September 2026, while still expecting prices to ease slightly to $5,900 by year‑end, underscoring sustained institutional demand for precious metals even as tokenized versions migrate onto exchange rails. BingX argues that routing these assets through blockchain settlement improves traceability, while AI helps traders read macro‑driven moves across asset classes rather than in isolated order books.

The scale is already non‑trivial: BingX reports more than $2 billion in 24‑hour trading volume in its traditional‑market products alone and says its AI tools have attracted millions of users, with a broader ecosystem now claiming over 40 million accounts globally. As analysts frame AI‑supported, multi‑asset environments as a baseline expectation for 2026, the competitive battlefield is shifting away from raw speed toward interpretation, risk assessment, and personalization. In that contest, BingX’s wager is blunt: the exchanges that win the next decade will be those that turn correlated, cross‑asset noise into usable decisions—secure, simple, and responsive enough to keep pace with markets that no longer sleep.

Broader crypto market reactions

This parabolic move comes as digital assets continue to trade as the purest expression of macro risk appetite. Bitcoin (BTC) is hovering around $70,961, with 24‑hour turnover near $42.3B. Ethereum (ETH) changes hands close to $2,095, on roughly $20.9B in 24‑hour volume. Solana (SOL) trades around $87.6, with about $3.6B in day‑long activity. For BingX and its rivals, those flows are the proving ground for whether AI‑native exchanges can genuinely help traders keep up.coinmarketcap+3

Related coverage: BingX’s rollout of AI Master as a crypto trading “strategist,” a deep dive into the exchange’s AI Bingo and AI Master stack, and the latest UBS upgrade to its 2026 gold price targets as macro demand for safe‑haven assets accelerates.

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Tether has built a portfolio of 140 investments spanning sectors from South American agriculture to a stake in Italian football club Juventus, according to a Financial Times report.

Summary

Tether holds 140 investments, from agriculture to Juventus, funded by USDT profits.

The stablecoin giant plans 150 new hires as it builds a global “freedom tech stack.”

Political ties and a $500B valuation push raise scrutiny over transparency and audits.

The world’s largest stablecoin issuer expanded its workforce to 300 employees and plans to add another 150 staff over the next 18 months, mostly engineers.

CEO Paolo Ardoino presented Tether’s vision at a recent San Salvador conference, describing plans for a “freedom tech stack” across finance, intelligence, communications and energy.

USDT market value reached $185 billion from $5 billion in 2020, serving 500 million users as the main bridge between cryptocurrency and dollars.

The company generates tens of billions of dollars in annual profit from returns on assets backing USDT, which it retains rather than distributing to token holders.

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Hiring spans AI filmmakers to regulatory affairs leads

Tether’s expansion extends beyond engineering roles. LinkedIn job listings show openings for AI filmmakers in Italy, venture investment associates in the United Arab Emirates, and regulatory affairs leads in Ghana and Brazil.

The company registered in El Salvador with a base in Switzerland operates through a small executive circle that has shaped its direction.

A new London-based team now oversees finance and operations under chief financial officer Simon McWilliams. Employees work with limited visibility into other teams outside occasional gatherings in El Salvador or Lugano.

Conference exhibits displayed products including MOS bitcoin mining operating system, QVAC platform for AI agents, and WDK wallets enabling AI agents to accept Tether.

Investments include $775 million in Rumble, the right-leaning YouTube challenger that hosts Truth Social through its cloud service.

Tether shifted headquarters to El Salvador last year, welcomed by pro-crypto president Nayib Bukele.

Previous bases included Isle of Man and British Virgin Islands. The company is building an office tower in El Salvador where executives maintain close relationships with the Bukele administration.

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Trump administration ties raise scrutiny ahead of funding round

Tether maintains close ties to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose bank Cantor Fitzgerald serves as custodian for Tether’s US Treasury holdings and holds an investment in the company.

Brandon Lutnick, who succeeded his father as bank chair, attended the El Salvador conference and called Ardoino “one of Cantor’s closest partners and a close personal friend.”

The company hired experienced American lobbyists and recruited former Trump administration members for its US expansion.

A $15 billion to $20 billion funding round targeting $500 billion valuation faced pushback from some investors.

Tether publishes quarterly attestations from accounting firm BDO Italia but does not provide full audits.

A 2021 settlement with state and federal authorities addressed claims Tether misrepresented assets backing USDT’s dollar peg.

New York District Attorney and State Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to Democratic lawmakers raising concerns that Tether provides law enforcement assistance only in limited circumstances.

Tether said it works closely with American enforcement agencies voluntarily despite lacking blanket legal obligations that bind US-regulated financial institutions.

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Pi Network price continued its strong downward trend this week and is nearing its lowest level on record as traders anticipated a big token unlock this week.

Summary

Pi Network price continued its strong downward trend last week.

The network will unlock 82 million tokens in the next seven days.

A potential catalyst for the coin is Kraken listing.

Pi Coin (PI) token was trading at $0.1450 on Sunday, a few points above the all-time low of $0.1305. It has dropped by over 90% from its all-time high, erasing billions of dollars in value.

Pi token may come under pressure this week as the network unlocks over 82 million coins in the next seven days. At the current price, these coins are valued at over $11 million. These coins are part of the 206 million tokens that come online this month. 

Over 82 million Pi coins are set to unlock over the next 7 days. A significant portion of these may flow into centralized exchanges, potentially impacting market dynamics. @PiCoreTeam @nkokkalis pic.twitter.com/yrxgiKApcb

— Dr Altcoin ✝️ (@Dr_Picoin) February 8, 2026

Token unlocks are risky for a cryptocurrency because they boost the circulating supply. Soaring supply at a time when demand is not rising will always put pressure on the price.

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Pi Network’s supply will also jump in March when the team will issue the validator rewards. In a recent note, they said that they had completed the design and were currently testing it, with the implementation happening in March.

While many validators will hold their tokens, some will dump, leading to lower prices over time. 

On the positive side, Pi Network has a major catalyst in that it was added on Kraken’s roadmap list. In most cases, this is usually the first stage before the company lists a token. A Kraken listing would be highly bullish for Pi because of its scale as the second-biggest American crypto exchange after Coinbase.

Pi Network price prediction: technical analysis

Pi Coin price chart | Source: crypto.news

The daily timeframe chart shows that the value of Pi has remained under pressure in the past few months. It recently crossed the crucial support level at $0.1520, its previous all-time low.

The coin has remained below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages. It also sits below the Supertrend indicator, a highly bearish sign in technical analysis. 

On the positive side, the coin has become highly oversold, with the Relative Strength Index remaining below 30. Therefore, the most likely scenario is where it remains in this range this week. A move above the key resistance at $0.1520 will invalidate the bearish outlook and point to more gains. 

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Pi Network price was stuck in a tight range on Wednesday, February 4, as the crypto market sell-off continued and as its biggest whale started moving his holdings.

Summary

Pi Network price is hovering near its all-time low.

The biggest whale has started moving coins recently.

Technical analysis suggests that the coin will continue falling.

Pi Coin (PI) token was trading at $0.1588, a few points above the all-time low of $0.1487. It has plunged by 95% from its highest point in February last year, a move that has erased billions of dollars in value.

The main reason for the ongoing Pi Network crash is that demand for cryptocurrencies has continued falling in the past few months. Bitcoin (BTC) and most altcoins have all plunged, erasing billions of dollars in value.

Pi Network’s biggest whale has also stopped buying tokens as he used to before. His last purchase was on January 14, when he bought over 1.26 million tokens worth over $200,000. 

The whale has now started moving tokens, a sign that he may be capitulating. He moved over 8.6 million Pi coins worth $1.36 million 11 days ago. He then moved over 8.4 million coins valued at $1.3 million on Monday this week.

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Pi’s crash has also coincided with the weak demand among investors, as its daily volume has remained below $20 million. Also, the Valour Pi Fund, which was launched in August last year, has accumulated just SEK 18,684 in assets worth $2,000. 

At the same time, its supply has continued rising. It will unlock over 193 million Pi tokens worth $30 million in the remainder of the month. It will unlock 1.3 billion coins in the next 12 months.

The decline has accelerated as investors ignored a recent network upgrade that boosted the KYC process. It also launched a new upgrade to ease the implementation of Pi payments in its ecosystem apps.

Pi Network price technical analysis 

Pi Coin price chart | Source: crypto.news

The daily chart shows that the Pi Coin price has crashed and is hovering at its all-time low. It has moved below the key support level at $0.1918, its lowest level in November and December last year. 

The coin has remained below the Parabolic SAR and the 50-day Exponential Moving Average. It is also trading slightly above the Strong Pivot Reverse level of the Murrey Math Lines tool. 

Therefore, a drop below the current support level will point to more downside, potentially to the Ultimate Support at $0.100. This target is about 35% below the current level.

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Pi Network price stabilized near its all-time low as optimism rose that it would be listed on Kraken, a top crypto exchange. 

Summary

Pi Network price crashed to a record low amid the ongoing crypto crash.

Kraken, a top crypto exchange, has added it to its listing roadmap.

Technical analysis suggests that it has more downside to go in the coming days.

Pi Network (PI) rose to $0.1450, a few points above the all-time low of $0.1300. It remains significantly lower than the all-time high of $3, with its market capitalization falling from nearly $20 billion to $1.3 billion today.

One major catalyst for the coin is its addition to Kraken’s page for potential listings. It is listed in the Chains category, which also includes tokens such as TX, Conflux, Pepecoin, MegaETH, and Quai. 

Being listed on this page does not guarantee future listing. However, it has given the community hope that it will be available on one of the largest crypto exchanges today. 

Kraken has over 15 million users globally, with 1.5 million active each month. It generated over $2.2 billion in revenue last year and raised $800 million at a $20 billion valuation in November ahead of its IPO.

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A Kraken listing would be a big thing as Pi has failed to attract any additional exchanges since its mainnet launch in February last year. Most of its trading occurs on a handful of exchanges, including OKX, Gate, Bitget, and MEXC. 

Additionally, the listing will likely encourage more exchanges to list it as well. Some of the most important exchanges that would trigger a Pi Coin price surge are Binance, Coinbase, and Upbit. Binance is the most important, while Coinbase and Upbit have large market shares in the US and South Korea.

Pi Network price technical analysis

Pi Coin price chart | Source: crypto.news

The daily timeframe chart shows that the Pi coin price has been in a steep freefall in the past few months. It dropped to a record low of $0.1304 as the crypto market crash intensified,

The coin has moved below all moving averages and the crucial support level at $0.1530, its previous all-time low. All oscillators are pointing downward, indicating that downward momentum is continuing.

Therefore, the most likely Pi Network price outlook is bearish, with the next key target being the psychological $0.10 level. However, the main risk of going against it is that a Kraken listing would fuel a short-term short squeeze.

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has pushed back against what he described as a lack of originality in the current layer-2 and blockchain scaling landscape.

Summary

Vitalik Buterin criticized the growing trend of launching similar EVM-based layer-2 chains, arguing that copy-paste designs have slowed meaningful innovation in Ethereum’s scaling ecosystem.

He said Ethereum’s base layer is already scaling and will provide significant blockspace, reducing the need for additional generic layer-1 networks or loosely connected EVM chains.

Buterin urged developers to build systems that offer genuinely new capabilities and to align their branding with how closely their projects are actually connected to Ethereum.

In a blog post published earlier today, Buterin said the ecosystem has grown too comfortable with launching similar EVM-based chains that add little technical innovation.

“We don’t need more copypasta EVM chains,” Says Vitalik Buterin

Buterin argued that creating yet another EVM chain with an optimistic bridge to Ethereum (ETH) and a week-long withdrawal delay has become a default approach.

He compared the trend to the early days of DeFi governance, when repeated forks of protocols like Compound stifled innovation.

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According to Buterin, this pattern has “sapped imagination” and pushed infrastructure development into a dead end. He was even more critical of EVM chains that lack a meaningful connection to Ethereum, saying the ecosystem does not need more standalone layer-1 networks.

Buterin also noted that Ethereum’s base layer is already scaling and will continue to provide significantly more EVM-compatible blockspace. While not infinite, he said Ethereum will be able to support a wide range of applications.

Moreover, Buterin has recently raised broader concerns about how decisions are made within the Ethereum ecosystem. In a previous blog post, he argued that governance should move away from informal, sentiment-driven decision-making and toward more structured, accountable mechanisms.

Call for meaningful innovation

Instead, Buterin urged developers to focus on building systems that introduce genuinely new capabilities. He pointed to privacy-focused designs, application-specific efficiency, and ultra-low latency execution as examples.

Buterin also criticized projects that present themselves as tightly connected to Ethereum while maintaining only minimal or superficial links.

He said teams should be honest about how dependent they actually are on Ethereum.

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A 15-foot-tall statue of former President Donald Trump, cast in bronze and gilded in gold leaf, has a home: a 7,000-pound pedestal at one of Trump’s golf resorts.

But this monument, dubbed “Don Colossus,” is not just a tribute to the 34-felony-count president. According to the New York Times, it’s at the heart of a bizarre cryptocurrency venture that’s seen a rollercoaster of financial hopes, legal disputes, and strange alliances — and it may just be the wildest moneymaking scheme of the Trump era.

Summary

A 15-foot statue of Trump was used to promote the struggling PATRIOT memecoin, which lost over 90% of its value shortly after its launch.

The project faced delays, infighting, and a legal dispute with sculptor Alan Cottrill, who claimed he was owed $75,000 for intellectual property rights, stalling the statue’s public debut.

Despite the coin’s failure, the project continues with plans for an official unveiling at Trump’s Doral golf resort.

The statue was funded by cryptocurrency investors who paid $300,000 to commission a sculptor to create it as a homage to Trump. It was then used to promote PATRIOT, a memecoin with little function beyond speculation, designed to capitalize on MAGA hype.

The coin went on sale in late 2024, briefly spiking in value as Trump made bold promises about turning the U.S. into the “crypto capital of the planet.” But as with many memecoin ventures, the excitement didn’t last.

PATRIOT’s price plummeted, losing over 90% of its value within months, marred by delays and infighting among the investors. The statue, initially planned for a grand unveiling, became a symbol of the volatile and often dubious nature of memecoins, which are known for their reliance on viral trends and celebrity endorsements.

However, its sheer size and golden sheen have continued to draw attention, and it has remained the centerpiece of a marketing campaign designed to revive the struggling cryptocurrency.

The project’s backers, including crypto developers and right-wing activists, used social media to promote the statue, hoping to gain enough internet buzz to revive the coin’s value.

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Official Trump ‘trumps’ Patriot

While the statue was being built, it encountered multiple setbacks, including a clash with Ohio-based sculptor Alan Cottrill, who claimed he was owed $75,000 for intellectual property rights. The dispute over the use of his design for marketing purposes led to a bitter standoff, with Cottrill threatening to withhold the statue until he was fully compensated. Despite these tensions, the statue’s construction proceeded, and a concrete-and-stainless-steel pedestal was installed at Trump’s golf complex in January 2026.

Though the Trump family publicly distanced itself from the coin, Trump promoted the project, including a link shared to Breitbart News, and kept the spotlight on PATRIOT.

His own coin, Official Trump (TRUMP), launched shortly before the PATRIOT unveiling, further complicating the situation and leading to a drop in interest in the competing crypto token. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as the price of PATRIOT tanked just as Trump’s official token took off.

The PATRIOT saga, though financially rocky, continues to capture the public’s imagination. The statue, intended as a marketing stunt for the coin, is now poised for an official unveiling in Doral, Florida.

Trump has reportedly expressed interest in attending the event, though no official date has been set.

In the meantime, Cottrill is still waiting for full payment for his work, while the investors continue to promote the project online, hoping the statue’s golden finish will spark renewed interest.

Despite the setbacks, the statue stands as a symbol of one of the stranger intersections between politics, crypto, and celebrity culture. The backers of PATRIOT have insisted that the project wasn’t about getting rich — it was about building a “people’s crypto token” that would celebrate Trump and his supporters.

As of now, it seems more like a monument to memecoins.

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Galaxy Digital stock price remains in a technical bear market after plunging by nearly 50% from its highest level in 2025, and a risky chart pattern points to more downside as its losses rise amid the crypto market crash.

Summary

Galaxy Digital stock has formed a head-and-shoulders pattern on the daily chart.

Technical analysis suggests that the stock is at risk of a deep dive.

The company made a $482 million loss in the fourth quarter as crypto prices dived.

Michael Novogratz’s Galaxy dropped to $24 on Tuesday, its lowest level since January 2 and well below last year’s high of $45. Its valuation has dropped from $16 billion to $9.3 billion today.

The company released weak financial results as the crypto market crash affected its business. Its net loss jumped to $482 million, mostly due to depreciation on its holdings. As a result, its annual loss jumped to $240 million due to a drop in asset value and one-off costs associated with going public.

The company said that it ended the quarter with $12 billion in assets under management, with its net inflows rising by over $2 billion. At the same time, the company has continued to expand its AI data center business, with the capacity of its Helios data center doubling to 830 megawatts.

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Galaxy’s data center business has benefited from its partnership with CoreWeave, a company backed by NVIDIA, the world’s largest firm.

On the positive side, Michael Novogratz believes that Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies will bounce back this year, which will benefit its business. He said:

“I do think we are at the lower end of the range. What I would say is we have been here before, anyone who has been in crypto for more than five years realizes that part of the ethos of this whole industry is pain.”

Galaxy Digital stock price technical analysis

GLXY stock chart |Source: TradingView 

The daily timeframe chart shows that the GLXY stock price has come under pressure in the past few months as the crypto market crash has accelerated.

A closer look shows that the stock may continue to fall in the coming weeks, as it has formed a head-and-shoulders pattern. Its current price is along the neckline of this pattern.

Galaxy Digital share price has moved below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages and the Supertrend indicator, while the Relative Strength Index has moved below the neutral point.

Therefore, the most likely scenario is that it continues to fall as sellers target the key support level at $17.7. A drop below that level will signal further downside to $15.

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PEPE trades at $0.0000043, down 29% monthly. Whales fade rallies but price holds 21-day EMA. Upside targets $0.000007–$0.000012 if liquidity returns.

Summary

Pepe trades at $0.0000043, down 29% over the past month and 64% year-over-year, with $600M daily volume showing bruised but active speculation

Whales continue fading short-term rallies while price reclaims the 21-day EMA, creating potential for mean-reversion spikes if memecoin liquidity rotates back

Hyperliquid trader James Wynn’s $69B market cap forecast by end-2026 anchors community expectations despite current drawdown from late-2024 highs

Pepe (PEPE) is trading in a fatigued downtrend but still primed for sharp mean‑reversion spikes if liquidity rotates back into memecoins over the next quarter.

PEPE price trends in fatigued downtrend with potential for mean-reversion spike, 03 February 2026 | Source: crypto.news Pepe price prediction: market context

Pepe changes hands around 0.00000430.00000430.0000043 dollars, down roughly 29% over the past month and more than 64% over the past year, with 24‑hour volume near 600 million dollars signaling that speculation is bruised, not dead. The selloff followed a brutal slide from the late‑2024 high near 0.0000280.0000280.000028, erasing most of the prior cycle’s blow‑off and resetting positioning. On higher timeframes, recent analysis highlighted a weakening structure with a head‑and‑shoulders pattern and persistent distribution by whales into strength. At the same time, price has started to reclaim the 21‑day EMA on pullbacks, a first sign that aggressive shorts are no longer in total control.

LATEST: Pepe Price Prediction – Best Meme Coin to Buy During Crypto Market Crash? https://t.co/DIFGabDsD4 pic.twitter.com/K4dDaE9udZ

— DreamGirl (@CoinInsightPro) February 2, 2026

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Flows and intent

On‑chain and derivatives data show large holders and “smart money” have been fading short‑term rallies, cutting long exposure even as retail chased double‑digit intraday pops. That behavior is pure memecoin microstructure: whales sell volatility to late buyers, then reload lower once sentiment cracks. Earlier this year, a Hyperliquid top trader openly targeted a 69‑billion‑dollar market cap for Pepe by end‑2026, injecting a new narrative that still anchors community expectations despite the subsequent drawdown. For disciplined traders, that mismatch between retail hopium and cautious pro flow defines the current edge: fade overcrowded spikes, accumulate only when panic volumes flush and derivatives positioning resets.

Price scenarios

Technically, holding above the reclaimed 21‑day EMA keeps a squeeze toward the mid‑range at roughly 0.0000070.0000070.000007–0.0000080.0000080.000008 in play, aligning with prior consolidation and short‑covering zones mapped in recent coverage. A more aggressive upside path, contingent on broad risk‑on conditions and renewed whale accumulation, could extend toward 0.0000100.0000100.000010–0.0000120.0000120.000012, still far below the all‑time high but enough for a two‑to‑three‑times move from current levels. Breaks back below the recent spot lows and value area would invalidate that bull case and reopen a slide toward the low 0.0000030.0000030.000003 region flagged in prior capitulation phases. In other words: Pepe remains a high‑beta sentiment gauge where intent is clear, but execution must be ruthless.

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Pi Network has announced a series of technical updates aimed at expanding participation in its Mainnet ecosystem. With over 16 million users now migrated to Mainnet, the network is pushing forward with key improvements that will unblock millions more for migration and KYC (Know Your Customer) submissions.

Summary

Nearly 2.5 million Pi Network users were previously blocked due to additional security and compliance checks; they’re now able to complete their Mainnet migration.

Pi is also exploring a new palm print authentication feature during the KYC process.

Pi aims to make it easier to join the ecosystem while bolstering security and scalability.

In a significant development, nearly 2.5 million so-called “Pioneers,” who had previously been blocked due to additional security and compliance checks, are now able to complete their Mainnet migration. For those eligible, the system will automatically transfer their balances if they are active miners and have completed the necessary Mainnet Checklist.

The migration process has been unblocked in batches due to unique technical challenges related to account verification, security measures, and KYC status. Each batch requires customized solutions to ensure that only legitimate users move forward while preventing bad actors from entering the network.

Within the next few weeks, Pi will also enable more than 700,000 previously ineligible Pi users to submit KYC applications. They will then be evaluated to determine their KYC status as the network scales its Mainnet migration efforts. Pi urges users to submit their KYC applications as soon as possible to ensure their participation in future network developments.

Pi is also exploring a new palm print authentication feature during the KYC process. In beta testing, this method will provide an additional layer of security for account verification without requiring a face scan. Palm prints could also serve as a part of broader security protocols, including identity verification for account recovery, password resets, and two-factor authentication.

Pi’s long-awaited validator rewards distribution is progressing as planned, with deployment expected by the end of March 2026. The system, which will reward validators for their work in the KYC process, is currently undergoing testing. Given the complexity of the task data—spanning millions of validation tasks—Pi is ensuring the rewards distribution system is accurate and secure before going live.

With these updates, Pi continues to reinforce its dual strengths: a massive, identity-verified community and a fully operational Mainnet blockchain. As the network evolves, Pi aims to make it easier to join the ecosystem while bolstering security and scalability.

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The weekend brought a mood change to the crypto market, as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP all slipped into negative territory.

Table of Contents

Why is XRP under pressure?

XRP price prediction: Can XRP crash below $1.50?

Final thoughts

XRP looked promising at the start of the year, but the upside was short-lived. Continued selling pressure through January and early February has kept prices under pressure.

Summary

XRP has slipped to around $1.64, down roughly 14% over the past week, hitting a nine-month low.

The token’s recent weakness largely follows Bitcoin’s decline, with BTC dropping toward $74,500.

Macro uncertainty, including geopolitical tensions, U.S. government shutdown risks, and high interest rate expectations, is weighing on investor sentiment.

Regulatory delays in the U.S., such as the Clarity Act, are limiting upside potential, keeping the XRP outlook cautious.

Short-term XRP price prediction remains volatile, with support around $1.55 and resistance near $1.65; a drop below $1.50 is possible, while a rebound could target $1.70–$1.83.

Why is XRP under pressure?

As of February 2, Ripple (XRP) is hovering around $1.63 after slipping by over 0.6% in a single session. Over the past week, the token has lost roughly 14%, putting it among the most pressured large-cap cryptocurrencies. Prices are now at a nine-month low, sparking worries about further declines.

XRP 1-day chart, February 2026 | Source: crypto.news

XRP’s weakness has largely mirrored Bitcoin’s. As BTC slid toward $74,500, selling pressure rippled through the altcoin market, pulling XRP down along with it. That close link has made losses feel even bigger.

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On top of that, macro uncertainty is keeping investors on edge. Geopolitical tensions and worries about a U.S. government shutdown have encouraged a pullback from risky assets, while high interest rate expectations are dampening speculative bets.

U.S. regulatory delays, including the slow-moving Clarity Act, are also capping potential gains. As a result, the XRP outlook stays cautious, with the market at large shaping price action more than anything specific to the token.

XRP price prediction: Can XRP crash below $1.50?

XRP is caught in a tricky spot right now, trading sideways with little momentum. Bulls need to break through $1.65 to kickstart a proper recovery.

Buyers are holding $1.55 for now, but if it fails, prices could slide to $1.48–$1.46, with longer-term support between $1.30–$1.24 if the market stays weak.

The short-term XRP forecast is uncertain. A drop below $1.50 can’t be ruled out, but if XRP holds $1.55 and pushes past $1.65, a rebound toward $1.70 and maybe even $1.83 is possible.

Final thoughts

Right now, the short-term XRP price prediction is anything but stable. Price moves are largely dictated by Bitcoin and overall market sentiment. A fall below $1.50 is possible if selling pressure persists, but a positive shift or a Bitcoin recovery could restore momentum. For the time being, XRP price is likely to bounce between $1.55 and $1.83, moving sideways as traders assess the market.

Read more: XRP price prediction ahead of US PCE inflation data and government shutdown risks