BeInCrypto Global

Cardano has shown early signs of stabilization after weeks of pressure. The ADA price is attempting a bounce from recent lows. Market data suggests the recovery is being supported by two key investor groups.

Large holders and long-term investors appear to be stepping in. Their activity is shaping short-term sentiment around the altcoin. As volatility persists across the crypto market, these cohorts may play a decisive role in ADA’s next move.

Cardano Holders Are Seemingly Bullish

On-chain data indicates that Cardano whales have been consistently supportive. Addresses holding between 10 million and 100 million ADA have accumulated heavily in recent days. These wallets added more than 220 million ADA, valued at over $61 million at the time of writing.

Such accumulation during price weakness often reflects strategic positioning. Whales likely took advantage of discounted prices. Their buying signals conviction in ADA’s recovery potential.

Large-scale accumulation can also reduce circulating supply, which may support price stability in the near term.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Cardano Whale Holdings. Source: Santiment

Beyond whale activity, long-term holders are reinforcing confidence. The Mean Coin Age metric, which tracks the average age of circulating coins, has been steadily increasing. This indicator reflects whether older coins are moving or remaining dormant.

During bear markets, a decline in Mean Coin Age often signals transactions and potential selling. However, the current rise places the metric at a three-month high.

This suggests long-term holders are opting to HODL rather than liquidate positions. Sustained dormancy typically indicates expectations of future ADA price appreciation.

Cardano MCA. Source: Santiment ADA Price Breach On The Cards

Cardano price is trading at $0.278 at the time of writing. The altcoin is attempting to secure the $0.271 level, which aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci Retracement. Holding this support would strengthen the bullish structure. A confirmed rebound could open the path toward $0.303.

Whale accumulation combined with long-term holder conviction may inject needed stability. If buying pressure continues, ADA could extend gains beyond $0.303.

The next resistance stands near $0.354. A decisive move above that zone could push Cardano toward $0.391, reinforcing recovery momentum.

Cardano Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, risks remain in volatile market conditions. If ADA fails to breach $0.303, sellers may regain control. Renewed pressure could force the price below the $0.271 support again.

A breakdown would likely expose $0.245 as the next downside target, invalidating the current bullish outlook.

MYX Finance ir publicējis vienu no straujākajiem nedēļas kritumiem digitālo aktīvu tirgū. Tokena vērtība ir kritusies par 72% pēdējo septiņu dienu laikā, nepārspējot lielāko daļu salīdzināmo altcoin. Pārdošana izdzēsa mēnešus ilgas peļņas un pazemināja MYX līdz trīs mēnešu zemākajam līmenim.

Pirmajā mirklī šāds sabrukums bieži signalizē protokola neveiksmi vai samazinātu lietderību. Tomēr ķēdes dati un atvasinājumu rādītāji stāsta citu stāstu.

MYX Finance joprojām labi darbojas DeFi telpā

Asas kritums parasti rada bažas par pieprasījuma vājināšanos vai lietotāju migrāciju. Investori bieži pārbauda kopējo bloķēto vērtību, vai TVL, lai novērtētu platformas veselību. Decentralizētajā finansē TVL mēra kapitāla apjomu, kas nodrošināts protokola viedajos līgumos.

The relationship between Binance and FTX has long been one of the most debated rivalries in crypto. Now, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is offering one of his most detailed public accounts yet.

CZ describes how cooperation turned into competition well before FTX’s 2022 collapse.

CZ Lifts the Curtain on Binance’s Secretive Break With FTX

Speaking on the All-In Podcast, the former Binance CEO traced the relationship back to early 2019, when he first met Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), then running Alameda Research.

“Uh, I think I first met him in January 2019 in one of the Singapore conferences Binance organized. I think FTX did not exist at the time… Sam… was running Alameda,” CZ said, recalling that Alameda was then a major trading client on Binance and relations were initially friendly.

According to CZ, Alameda and the future FTX team soon approached Binance with proposals to collaborate on a derivatives platform. Several offers were made over time, including a joint venture structure that would have favored Binance.

Eventually, in late 2019, Binance agreed to invest.

“Yeah… we invested in them only 20% as equity at some point, and then we exited a year… later… we didn’t stay there for very long,” CZ said.

The deal included a token swap involving BNB and FTT, and Binance became a minority shareholder. CZ emphasized that:

He remained a passive investor throughout the relationship

Chose not to request financial statements because both firms operated competing futures businesses.

“Because of the competitive nature in the businesses… I never really… ask them for financial statements… I’m a very passive investor. So when I invest, I don’t get involved in their business,” he said.

Binance-FTX Tensions Beneath the Surface

Despite the early cooperation, CZ said relations deteriorated quickly. Reportedly, he began hearing reports that SBF was criticizing Binance in policy and regulatory circles in Washington.

“And then almost as soon as we did that deal, I kept hearing from my friends… SBF badmouthing us in the Washington circles,” CZ said.

He also described frustration over hiring practices, alleging that FTX recruited Binance staff by offering dramatically higher salaries. Allegedly, FTX would then use those hires to approach Binance’s VIP clients with competing offers.

While CZ said he attempted to maintain a cooperative tone publicly and even agreed to appear jointly at industry events, he suggested the rivalry was already intensifying behind the scenes.

Why Binance Exited

By early 2021, FTX was raising capital at valuations reportedly reaching $32 billion. CZ said Binance had contractual veto rights over future funding rounds but chose not to exercise them.

“So… we said… why don’t we exit, actually?” CZ recalled, explaining that Binance preferred to compete freely rather than remain a shareholder in a fast-growing rival.

The exit was finalized in July 2021, roughly a year and a half before FTX collapsed in November 2022.

“This is like a full year and a half before they had issues… at the time we didn’t know,” he said, rejecting claims that Binance exited because of inside knowledge. “That’s categorically not true.”

FTX Collapse and Its Aftermath

FTX ultimately failed after revelations that customer funds had been misused to cover losses at Alameda Research, triggering a liquidity crisis and bankruptcy.

Binance’s decision in November 2022 to liquidate its FTT holdings accelerated a bank run. However, subsequent investigations and court proceedings concluded that the core cause of the collapse was internal fraud and mismanagement.

CZ declined to comment extensively on ongoing legal disputes, including efforts by the FTX bankruptcy estate to recover funds from the 2021 exit. However, he reiterated that Binance had no visibility into FTX’s internal finances while it was a shareholder.

Taken together, CZ’s account portrays the Binance–FTX relationship not as a sudden breakdown but as a gradual unraveling. If his remarks are any guide, the relationship was marked by early cooperation, growing rivalry, and a strategic exit long before the crisis that reshaped the crypto industry.

SBF did not immediately respond to BeInCrypto’s request for comment about CZ’s claims.

XRP price surged sharply, nearly posting an 18.7% intraday gain before surrendering half of that advance. The token now trades near $1.53 after closing with a 9% rise. 

Premature profit-taking by holders capped momentum and may influence XRP price direction in the coming sessions.

XRP Selling Continues

Exchange net position change data indicates that selling among XRP holders remains consistent. Green bars on the metric show continued inflows to exchanges, which typically signal intent to sell. This steady movement suggests holders are offloading XRP during price rallies.

Outflows continue to dominate net flows despite the recent surge. Investors appear eager to secure profits after weeks of volatility. Such behavior often suppresses sustained breakouts and reinforces consolidation near resistance levels.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

XRP Exchange Net Position Change. Source: Glassnode

The MVRV Long/Short Difference highlights the dominance of XRP short-term holder profits. This metric measures the distribution of unrealized gains between long-term and short-term investors. Current low readings indicate that short-term holders hold a larger share of profits.

Short-term holders typically react quickly to price increases. Their tendency to sell at the first sign of gains likely contributed to the rally’s abrupt halt.

As long as STH profits dominate, upward momentum may encounter repeated resistance.

XRP MVRV Long/Short Difference. Source: Santiment XRP Price May Face Some Resistance

XRP nearly recorded an 18.7% rise during the latest trading session before settling at a 9% gain. The long wick and rapid reduction in upside reflect early profit booking. Such behavior highlights fragile bullish conviction despite renewed interest.

The immediate objective is securing $1.51 as a support floor. XRP trades slightly above that level at $1.53.

Resistance near $1.62 may cap gains, and renewed selling from short-term holders could pull the price back toward $1.36.

XRP Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

If distribution slows and demand stabilizes, XRP could regain upward traction.

A decisive move above $1.62 would strengthen the technical structure. Sustained buying could drive the price toward $1.76, invalidating the bearish thesis and reinforcing recovery momentum.

Ethereum (ETH) has fallen 6.6% in the last 24 hours, trading around $1,947, as broader crypto markets continue to navigate volatility and macroeconomic headwinds.

Yet amidst the price turbulence, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is pointing to a surprising source of optimism: retail investor resilience.

Retail “Diamond Hands” Hold Strong Despite Ethereum’s 7% Drop

Armstrong highlighted that, beyond weathering the market downturn, Coinbase’s retail users are actively buying the dip, resulting in net increases in BTC and ETH holdings.

“Retail users on Coinbase have been very resilient during these market conditions, according to our data,” Armstrong wrote. “They’ve been buying the dip.

According to the Coinbase executive, they have seen a native unit increase for retail users across BTC and ETH on the exchange.

Citing diamond hands, Armstrong says most of Coinbase’s customers had native unit balances in February equal to or greater than their balances in December.

The Coinbase CEO framed this trend as a bullish counter-narrative to the current market gloom. While Bitcoin has pulled back toward the $68,000–$69,000 range and Ethereum has seen a 7% drop to levels below $2,000, retail investors are demonstrating conviction rather than panic.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Performance. Source: TradingView

The “diamond hands” phenomenon, where users maintain or increase their crypto holdings despite drawdowns, suggests a maturing retail base that may help stabilize prices and underpin long-term adoption.

Mixed Views Emerge as Retail Conviction Faces Market Risks

However, not everyone shares Armstrong’s optimism. Some critics argue that holding through sharp declines merely reflects significant drawdowns rather than true resilience.

Beyond holding behavior, community members are also voicing broader policy and market access concerns.

“Retail users deserve access to yield on stablecoins and the reversal of the accredited investor law,” commented Wendy O.

This suggests that expanded DeFi participation and yield opportunities could further strengthen retail confidence.

The context is important, coming days after Coinbase’s Q4 2025 earnings revealed declining trading volumes amid an 11% drop in broader crypto market capitalization.

Yet the exchange continued to see inflows of native units from retail users, hinting at a floor of accumulation that may cushion the market during bearish stretches.

Historical crypto cycles show that periods of sustained retail conviction often precede rebounds, as retail holders absorb volatility while institutional participants adopt more cautious postures.

Investor Decision Quality Between 2002 and 2025. Source: Doctor Profit on X

Therefore, while Armstrong’s message reassures the crypto community and subtly defends Coinbase’s performance amid a turbulent quarter, it also shows that the retail market is changing from short-term speculation to longer-term accumulation.

While prices may remain choppy in the near term, these patterns suggest that retail investors are increasingly acting as stabilizing forces in the market, potentially serving as a catalyst for recovery when broader sentiment shifts.

Strategy (MicroStrategy) today asserted it can fully cover its $6 billion debt even if Bitcoin falls 88% to $8,000. However, the bigger question is what happens if the Bitcoin price falls below that line?

The company’s post highlights its $49.3 billion Bitcoin reserves (at $69,000/BTC) and staggered convertible note maturities running through 2032, designed to avoid immediate liquidation.

Strategy Reiterates What Happens If Bitcoin Price Drops to $8,000

Only days after its earnings call, Strategy has reiterated the $8,000 prospective Bitcoin price and what would happen to the company in such an event for the second time.

“Strategy can withstand a drawdown in BTC price to $8,000 and still have sufficient assets to fully cover our debt,” the company stated.

At first glance, the announcement signals resilience in the face of extreme volatility. However, a deeper dive reveals that $8,000 may be more of a theoretical “stress floor” than a true shield against financial peril.

MicroStrategy’s infographic shows debt coverage at various Bitcoin price levels (Strategy via X)

At $8,000, Strategy’s assets equal its liabilities. Equity is technically zero, but the firm can still honor debt obligations without selling Bitcoin.

“Why $8,000?: This is the price point where the total value of their Bitcoin holdings would roughly equal their net debt. If BTC stays at $8,000 long-term, its reserves would no longer cover its financial obligations through liquidation,” investor Giannis Andreou explained.

Convertible notes remain serviceable, and staggered maturities give management breathing room. The firm’s CEO, Phong Le, recently emphasized that even a 90% decline in BTC would unfold over several years, giving the firm time to restructure, issue new equity, or refinance debt.

“In the extreme downside, if we were to have a 90% decline in Bitcoin price to $8,000, which is pretty hard to imagine, that is the point at which our BTC reserve equals our net debt and we’ll not be able to then pay off of our convertibles using our Bitcoin reserve and we’d either look at restructuring, issuing additional equity, issuing an additional debt. And let me remind you: this is over the next five years. Right, so I’m not really worried at this point in time, even with Bitcoin drops,” said Le.

Yet beneath this headline figure lies a network of financial pressures that could quickly intensify if Bitcoin drops further.

Below $8,000: Covenant and Margin Stress

The first cracks appear at roughly $7,000. Secured loans backed by BTC collateral breach LTV (Loan-to-Value ratio) covenants, triggering demands for additional collateral or partial repayment.

“In a severe market downturn, cash reserves would deplete rapidly without access to new capital. The loan-to-value ratio would exceed 140%, with total liabilities exceeding asset value. The company’s software business generates approximately $500 million annually in revenue—insufficient to service material debt obligations independently,” explained Capitalist Exploits.

If markets are illiquid, Strategy may be forced to sell Bitcoin to satisfy lenders. This reflexive loop could depress BTC prices further.

At this stage, the company is technically still solvent, but each forced sale magnifies market risk and raises the specter of a leverage unwind.

Insolvency Becomes Real at $6,000

A further slide to $6,000 transforms the scenario. Total assets fall well below total debt, and unsecured bondholders face likely losses.

Equity holders would see extreme compression, with value behaving like a deep out-of-the-money call option on a BTC recovery.

Restructuring becomes probable, even if operations continue. Management could deploy strategies such as:

Debt-for-equity swaps

Maturity extensions, or

Partial haircuts to stabilize the balance sheet.

Below $5,000: The Liquidation Frontier Comes

A decline below $5,000 crosses a threshold where secured lenders may force collateral liquidation. Combined with thin market liquidity, this could create cascading BTC sell-offs and systemic ripple effects.

In this scenario:

The company’s equity is likely wiped out

Unsecured debt is deeply impaired, and

Restructuring or bankruptcy becomes a real possibility.

“Nothing is impossible…Forced liquidation would only become a risk if the company could no longer service its debt, not from volatility alone,” commented Lark Davis.

Speed, Leverage, and Liquidity As The Real Danger

The critical insight is that $8,000 is not a binary death line. Survival depends on:

Speed of BTC decline: Rapid drops amplify margin pressure and reflexive selling.

Debt structure: Heavily secured or short-dated debt accelerates risk below $8,000.

Liquidity access: Market closures or frozen credit exacerbate stress, potentially triggering liquidation spirals above the nominal floor.

What Would It Mean for the Market?

Strategy is a major BTC holder. Forced liquidations or margin-driven sales could ripple through broader crypto markets, impacting ETFs, miners, and leveraged traders.

Strategy BTC Holdings. Source: Bitcoin Treasuries

Even if Strategy survives, equity holders face outsized volatility, and market sentiment could shift sharply in anticipation of stress events.

Therefore, while Strategy’s statement today suggests the firm’s confidence and balance-sheet planning, below $8,000, the interplay of leverage, covenants, and liquidity defines the real survival line beyond price alone.

Demokrātu senators Elizabete Varen un Endijs Kims izaicināja finansu ministru Skotu Besentu izmeklēt 500 miljonu dolāru ārzemju ieguldījumu prezidenta Donalda Trampa ģimenes kriptovalūtu biznesā, World Liberty Financial.

Vēstulē, kas nosūtīta uz finansu ministriju, likumdevēji norādīja uz pirkumu, kas pārcēla 49% kapitāla daļu projektā uz Apvienoto Arābu Emirātu atbalstītu transportlīdzekli tikai 96 stundas pirms Trampa zvēresta došanas.

ASV likumdevēji pieprasa finansu ministrijas izmeklēšanu WLFI

Varen un Kims pieprasīja, lai Ārzemju ieguldījumu komiteja ASV (CFIUS) noteiktu, vai šī kapitāla injekcija WLFI apdraud nacionālo drošību.

The Cardano blockchain ecosystem will integrate USDCx, a variant of Circle’s USDC stablecoin, by the end of February.

On February 15, Philip DiSaro, CEO of the smart contract development firm Anastasia Labs, confirmed that “USDCx” will go live on the network before the end of the month.

Cardano Targets Stablecoin Deficit With Upcoming USDCx Debut

USDCx is a dollar-denominated stablecoin backed 1:1 by USDC held through Circle’s xReserve infrastructure. Circle is the issuer of USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization.

According to DiSaro, USDCx will function identically to native USDC for retail users, allowing for seamless transactions across decentralized applications.

However, he noted that the asset differs slightly in its redemption mechanics compared to USDC.

“USDCx is functionally identical to native USDC for retail users. The literal only difference in functionality is that USDC can be redeemed directly for USD in a bank account through Circle EXCLUSIVELY by institutional partners of Circle. That means this is not possible and doesn’t matter to retail users, or even DeFi power users because they are not able to do this with USDC either,” DiSaro stated.

Still, DiSaro emphasized that the new stablecoin retains full USDC utility for the broader Cardano ecosystem.

“USDCx is not scuffed USDC; it has all of the functionality that USDC has for retail. You can bridge USDCx to any CCTP enabled chain in a single transaction, which would be the same amount of transactions if we had native USDC. Anything that you can pay for with USDC in a transaction, you can pay for with USDCx in a transaction,” DiSaro explained.

Nonetheless, market observers have noted that the launch represents a critical infrastructure upgrade for Cardano.

Notably, the Charles Hoskinson-led blockchain has historically struggled to attract the deep, stablecoin liquidity seen on rival chains such as Ethereum and Solana.

Data from DeFiLlama shows it hosts less than $40 million in stablecoin supply, compared with the billions held on rivals such as Ethereum.

Previous attempts to bootstrap stablecoin liquidity on Cardano have largely failed to gain traction, leaving the network at a competitive disadvantage in the decentralized finance sector.

So, this move is designed to address the network’s long-standing liquidity fragmentation and bolster its decentralized finance capabilities.

Meanwhile, the initiative arrives as Cardano attempts to shed its reputation for isolation through an integration with LayerZero. This interoperability protocol facilitates communication between separate blockchains.

By leveraging LayerZero, Cardano applications can theoretically interact trustlessly with more than 50 other networks, including Ethereum and Solana.

However, investors have yet to react positively to these structural changes.

BeInCrypto’s data shows that the network’s native ADA token has declined more than 25% over the past month to a 2-year low of $0.24. It has recovered to $0.28 as of press time.

This price performance reflects the broader crypto market downtrend and skepticism about the chain’s ability to capture market share in an increasingly crowded crypto economy.

Rūpnieciskie metāli pēkšņi ir kļuvuši par vienu no visvairāk piepildītajiem darījumiem Ķīnā, ar nākotnes līgumu apjomiem alumīnijā, varā, niķelī un tinā strauji pieaugot, kad mazumtirdzniecības tirgotāji ieplūst tirgū.

Darbības pieaugums ir licis biržām un regulatoriem atkārtoti iejaukties, radot bažas, ka spekulāciju viļņš - nevis pamati - virza cenas un svārstības.

Mazumtirdzniecības tirgotāji veicina sprādzienbīstamu izaugsmi metālu apjomos

Nesenie tirgus dati parāda, ka tirdzniecības aktivitāte galvenajos pamatmetālos paātrinās izcilā tempā. Apvienotais nākotnes līgumu apjoms alumīnijā, varā, niķelī un tinā Šanhajas nākotnes biržā strauji pieauga no mēneša uz mēnesi, sasniedzot līmeņus, kas ir daudz augstāki par neseno vidējo.

Hedera cena pēdējās sesijās ir pieaugusi, pozicionējot HBAR izlaušanās no bullish diagrammas modeļa.

Nesenā kustība atspoguļo uzlabojumus noskaņojumā starp izvēlētām altcoinām. Tomēr izlaušanās prasa turpmāku pirkšanu.

HBAR investori iegādājas

Naudas plūsmas indekss norāda uz pieaugošu pirkšanas spiedienu HBAR. Indikators ir tendēts uz augšu, signalizējot, ka kapitāls atgriežas aktīvā.

Ieguldītāji šķiet, ka uzkrāj, kad cena sāk kāpt. Palielināta dalība nodrošina likviditātes atbalstu un nostiprina bullish struktūru. Ja pirkšanas spiediens turpinās pieaugt, HBAR varētu saglabāt augšupejošu momentum aiz tuvāko pretestību.

Morgan Stanley, $9 triljonu banku milzis, agresīvi attīsta savu kripto infrastruktūras iespēju DeFi un reālās pasaules aktīvu tokenizācijā.

Šis solis ir saskaņots ar plašāku tradicionālo finanšu iestāžu vilni, kas meklē prasmīgus darbiniekus, lai izmantotu ASV pašreizējo pro-kripto nostāju.

Morgan Stanley palielina DeFi un tokenizācijas centienus

Saskaņā ar darba sludinājumu LinkedIn, Wall Street milzis meklē augsta līmeņa inženieri, lai vadītu savu blokķēdes arhitektūru.

Pamanāmi, darba aprakstā skaidri minēts “decentralizēta finansēšana (DeFi)” kopā ar tokenizāciju kā galveno uzmanības jomu.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is calling for a fundamental restructuring of decentralized prediction markets. He argues that the sector’s current reliance on speculative gambling threatens its long-term viability.

This view comes as prediction marketplaces like Polymarket have enjoyed significant success over the past year.

Buterin Calls for Structural Overhaul of Prediction Markets

On February 14, Buterin contended that while platforms like Polymarket have achieved significant volume and mainstream attention, they are currently suffering from an “unhealthy market fit.”

“[Prediction markets] seem to be over-converging to an unhealthy product market fit: embracing short-term cryptocurrency price bets, sports betting, and other similar things that have dopamine value but not any kind of long-term fulfillment or societal information value,” Buterin argued.

He warned that the sector is dangerously over-reliant on “naive traders,” defined as speculators seeking short-term payouts.

This speculative behavior contrasts sharply with the markets’ intended purpose: facilitating information discovery and risk management.

Buterin categorized current market participants into two distinct groups: “smart traders” and “money losers.” Currently, the latter category is dominated by retail gamblers.

He argued that if prediction markets continue to prioritize revenue extraction from these users over societal utility, they risk collapsing during bear markets when speculative fervor cools.

“There is nothing fundamentally morally wrong with taking money from people with dumb opinions. But there still is something fundamentally “cursed” about relying on this too much. It gives the platform the incentive to seek out traders with dumb opinions, and create a public brand and community that encourages dumb opinions to get more people to come in,” the Ethereum co-founder contended.

To secure a sustainable future, Buterin proposed that these platforms transition to “hedging”—effectively serving as insurance mechanisms rather than betting platforms.

In this model, a user would not bet on an outcome to make a profit, but rather to offset real-world risks, such as a business owner betting on a policy change that could negatively impact their supply chain.

AI-Driven Hedge System to Replace Fiat

The Ethereum co-founder’s recommendations extended into radical economic territory, suggesting that prediction markets could eventually render fiat-pegged stablecoins obsolete.

Buterin proposed creating granular price indices covering major categories of global goods and services.

Under this theoretical framework, users would utilize local Large Language Models (LLMs) to analyze their personal spending habits. The AI would then construct a personalized “basket” of asset shares that mirrors the user’s specific cost of living.

By holding these prediction market shares rather than U.S. dollar-pegged assets such as USDC or USDT, users could theoretically maintain their purchasing power against inflation without relying on traditional banking infrastructure.

“We do not need fiat currency at all! People can hold stocks, ETH, or whatever else to grow wealth, and personalized prediction market shares when they want stability,” he wrote.

Buterin acknowledged that transitioning from the current “info buying” phase to an advanced hedging economy would require new infrastructure.

However, he maintained that replacing fiat currency with diversified asset baskets remains the technology’s ultimate evolution.

Ethereum price remains under pressure after a recent decline that stalled recovery momentum. ETH trades at $2,087 and has reclaimed the $2,000 level, but is failing to build sustained upside. 

The challenge facing Ethereum is not just resistance levels, but indecision among key holder cohorts.

Ethereum Whales Sell… Then Buy Again

Whales and long-term holders represent two of the most influential cohorts in any cryptocurrency market. In Ethereum’s case, both groups are sending mixed signals. This lack of alignment is contributing to prolonged sideways price action.

Addresses holding between 100,000 and 1 million ETH sold approximately 1.3 million ETH between February 9 and February 12. That selling equates to roughly $2.7 billion in value. However, the same cohort purchased 1.25 million ETH within the following 48 hours.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Ethereum Whale Holding. Source: Santiment

The rapid reversal represented nearly $2.6 billion in buying during the same week. Such large-scale back-and-forth activity creates liquidity without directional bias. As a result, the Ethereum price remains range-bound rather than trending decisively upward or downward.

Ethereum LTHs Accumulated… But They Are Now Selling

The HODLer net position change metric reinforces this indecision. This indicator tracks movements of long-term holder balances. Since late December 2025, long-term holders had been steadily accumulating ETH.

At the beginning of February, that trend shifted. Long-term holders reduced buying activity and began modest distribution. While the selling pressure has not been aggressive, it signals growing uncertainty among investors, typically associated with strong conviction.

Ethereum HODLer Net Position Change. Source: Glassnode

Mixed whale activity, combined with cautious long-term holders, limits bullish momentum. Without sustained accumulation from these cohorts, the Ethereum price faces difficulty breaking above major resistance levels.

ETH Price Is Stuck Around $2,000

Ethereum trades at $2,087 and has successfully reclaimed the $2,000 threshold. The next major resistance sits at $2,241. A move toward that level requires a clear bullish bias from dominant holder groups.

Given the current absence of decisive accumulation, consolidation remains the most probable scenario. Ethereum may continue hovering near $2,000 while defending the $1,902 support level. Sideways momentum could persist until directional conviction emerges.

Ethereum Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

If whales and long-term holders shift back toward accumulation, Ethereum could break above $2,241. A sustained rally may extend toward $2,395 and potentially test $2,500. Clearing $2,500 would invalidate the bearish thesis and confirm a stronger recovery trend.

Pi Coin price surged 25% in the past 24 hours, marking its strongest single-day gain since November 2025. The move also represents the first consecutive advance in nearly six weeks. 

The rally comes as broader crypto market sentiment stabilizes. Unlike previous brief spikes, this uptick reflects improving technical and derivatives signals. 

Pi Coin Holders And Traders Change Stance

The Relative Strength Index, or RSI, shows Pi Coin rebounded after spending nearly a month in oversold territory. RSI readings below 30.0 typically indicate heavy selling pressure. In this case, extended bearishness followed the broader market downturn.

Oversold conditions did not signal an immediate reversal. Instead, they reflected prolonged weakness. Historically, Pi Coin has staged rallies after exiting oversold zones. The recent move above the neutral threshold suggests strengthening bullish momentum.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Pi Coin RSI. Source: TradingView

As RSI climbs higher, buying pressure appears more consistent. Improved momentum signals that sellers may be losing control. If sustained, this shift could support additional upside in Pi Coin price action.

Derivatives data reinforces the improving outlook. Pi Coin’s funding rate has shifted from negative to positive. A positive funding rate indicates long positions now dominate the futures market.

Previously, negative funding reflected heavy short positioning. The reversal suggests traders are rotating from bearish to bullish exposure. Reduced short dominance lowers the probability of aggressive downside volatility in the near term.

Pi Coin Funding Rate. Source: Glassnode Pi Coin Price Is Finding Support

Pi Coin price is trading at $0.171 at publication, remaining just below the $0.173 resistance level. This barrier represents the immediate hurdle for continued recovery. A decisive breakout requires sustained buying pressure.

If bullish momentum persists, Pi Coin could climb above $0.180 and target $0.197. A move toward $0.212 would confirm a stronger structural recovery. Reclaiming that level would signal broader investor confidence returning.

Pi Coin Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, risk remains from underwater long-term holders. If profit-taking accelerates, Pi Coin’s rally may stall. A pullback toward $0.150 or closer to the all-time low of $0.130 would invalidate the bullish thesis and reintroduce downside pressure.

Solana cena ir palikusi nemainīga pēdējās sesijās, parādot konsolidāciju, nevis izšķirīgu atgūšanos. Neskatoties uz šo lēcienu, investoru uzvedība liecina, ka uzticība joprojām ir ierobežota plašākajā kriptovalūtu tirgū.

Pēdējās 10 dienas ir atspoguļojušas relatīvu stabilitāti noteiktā tirdzniecības diapazonā. Tomēr stabilitāte nav pārvērtusies atjaunotā uzkrāšanā.

Solana zaudē jauno turētāju uzticību

Jaunie Solana investori bija pirmie, kas samazināja aktivitāti. Adreses, kas veikušas savu pirmo darījumu tīklā, tiek klasificētas kā jaunas adreses. Agrāk šogad Solana reģistrēja gandrīz 10 miljonus jaunu adresu lielākajā iesaistē.

The Digital Chamber, a leading cryptocurrency advocacy group, has urged the US Congress to preserve yield-generating capabilities for payment stablecoins.

In its latest proposal, the group argued that current legislative drafts in the CLARITY Act threaten to outlaw the fundamental mechanics of DeFi.

Digital Chamber Urges Congress to Preserve Stablecoin Yields

The group specifically petitioned lawmakers to retain the exemptions in Section 404 of the proposed CLARITY Act.

These provisions distinguish between traditional “interest,” which banks pay on insured deposits, and other interest rates. They effectively separate this income from “rewards” derived from liquidity provision (LP) activities on decentralized exchanges.

The Chamber warned that removing these exemptions would not only stifle domestic innovation but also “undermine dollar dominance.”

The group posits that if US-regulated stablecoins are legally barred from participating in DeFi markets, global capital will inevitably flow to foreign-issued digital assets or unregulated offshore entities.

This shift, they argue, would effectively reduce demand for the US dollar in the digital economy.

Furthermore, the advocacy group stressed that a total ban on yields would force users into passive holding strategies.

According to them, this could, ironically, increase financial exposure to “impermanent loss.” This is a risk associated with asset volatility in liquidity pools.

Digital Chamber Offers Regulatory Concessions

Notably, the banking lobby contends that allowing stablecoins to offer yield without complying with banking capital requirements creates a dangerous arbitrage opportunity.

They argue that this regulatory gap threatens to destabilize the entire financial system. They also claimed that high-yield stablecoins would siphon liquidity away from community banks.

As a proposed compromise, the Chamber suggested mandating clear consumer disclosures to clarify that stablecoin yields are not comparable to bank interest rates and are not FDIC-insured.

Additionally, they recommended that regulators conduct a federal “Deposit Impact” study two years after the bill becomes law.

The group argues that this empirical data will prove that stablecoins complement, rather than disrupt, the traditional banking sector.

The recommendations arrive as negotiations on a comprehensive market-structure bill (CLARITY Act) reach a critical impasse.

A high-stakes meeting at the White House earlier this week between banking representatives and cryptocurrency executives reportedly ended in deadlock.

Wall Street lobbyists remain staunchly opposed to any measure that would allow non-bank stablecoin issuers to pass yields to customers, viewing such products as a direct threat to the traditional depository model.

Bitcoin price is attempting another breakout toward $70,000 after weeks of choppy consolidation. BTC trades at $69,815 at publication, sitting just below the $70,610 resistance level. The largest cryptocurrency is trying to recover recent losses, yet mixed on-chain and derivatives signals present an uncertain short-term outlook.

Market participants are closely watching this psychological threshold. A sustained move above $70,000 could shift sentiment decisively. However, persistent bearish positioning suggests that volatility may intensify before a clear trend emerges.

Bitcoin Shorts Resemble The Past

Aggregated funding rate data across major crypto exchanges shows an extreme surge in short positioning. Current negative funding levels are the deepest since August 2024. That period ultimately marked a significant Bitcoin bottom.

In August 2024, traders crowded into downside bets as funding rates plunged. Instead of continuing lower, Bitcoin reversed sharply. The reversal triggered widespread short liquidations and fueled an approximately 83% rally over the following four months.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Bitcoin Shorts Note a Jump. Source: Santiment

Deeply negative funding rates signal heavy bearish positioning and widespread fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). While this setup does not guarantee immediate upside, it creates a fragile structure. If price rises, forced short-covering could amplify volatility and accelerate upward momentum.

Bitcoin Towards Capitulation

The Net Unrealized Profit and Loss, or NUPL, indicator has returned to the Hope/Fear zone near 0.18. This reading shows that profit cushions among holders are thin. When NUPL enters this regime, market behavior tends to become reactive.

Historically, declines into this zone often preceded extended weakness. Panic selling typically intensifies before a durable bottom forms. Unless capitulation resets sentiment, Bitcoin may remain vulnerable to deeper pullbacks before stabilizing.

Bitcoin NUPL. Source: Glassnode What Does The Short-Term Outlook Look Like?

Short-term technical cues suggest improving momentum. The Chaikin Money Flow, which measures capital inflows and outflows, is approaching the zero line. A confirmed move into positive territory would signal renewed demand for Bitcoin.

Simultaneously, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator is nearing a bullish crossover. A confirmed crossover would indicate a shift from bearish to bullish momentum. However, early signals require validation through sustained price strength.

Bitcoin Netflows And Market Momentum. Source: TradingView

Even with improving indicators, broader sentiment remains cautious. Shorts are unlikely to close voluntarily under weak conditions. This dynamic increases the probability that a price-driven liquidation event becomes the catalyst for recovery.

BTC Price Needs a Strong Push

Bitcoin trades at $69,815 and remains capped below $70,610 resistance. The $70,000 level represents a critical psychological barrier. A decisive close above this threshold could trigger renewed bullish momentum and attract fresh capital inflows.

However, bearish pressure persists in derivatives markets. Continued dominance of short contracts could keep BTC below $70,000. A breakdown below $65,156 support may trigger long liquidations and intensify downside volatility.

Bitcoin Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

If Bitcoin secures strong investor support and overcomes selling pressure above $70,000, upside targets emerge. A rally toward $73,499 could develop quickly.

Sustained strength may extend gains toward $76,685, invalidating the bearish thesis and confirming a broader recovery attempt.

Coinbase, the largest US-based crypto exchange, is backing a Federal Reserve proposal to grant non-bank financial institutions access to specialized payment accounts.

The San Francisco-based exchange submitted a letter to the U.S. central bank advocating for special-purpose Reserve Bank payment accounts. It argued that these accounts are vital for modernizing the nation’s domestic financial infrastructure.

Coinbase Challenges Fed Over ‘Restrictive’ Terms for Payment Rails

Coinbase argues the proposal would grant fintech and crypto-native firms direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment rails.

This change would allow these entities to utilize the global economy’s core “plumbing” without the need for a full commercial banking charter.

Currently, most crypto firms must rely on intermediary banks to settle dollar transactions. This process adds cost, latency, and counterparty risk to these services.

“By reducing reliance upon FDIC-insured partner banks as intermediaries for core payment functions, the Payment Account would allow account-holding institutions to offer safe and efficient services to U.S. consumers and businesses and, at the same time, reduce costs and ensure the ability of emerging payment providers to scale with growing demand,” the exchange remarked.

Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s chief policy officer, also noted that similar access is already available in the United Kingdom, the European Union, Brazil, and India.

Shirzad argued that these jurisdictions have seen accelerated competition and reduced settlement risks, helping their financial sectors remain globally competitive.

However, the crypto giant warns that the current framework risks being “dead on arrival” due to overly restrictive limits.

Coinbase argues that the Federal Reserve’s current proposal contains “unnecessarily constraining” limitations. According to the firm, these restrictions could ultimately undermine the account’s utility for large-scale operations.

“Combining all of the proposed restrictions risks unnecessarily constraining the account in a way that could limit its adoption by eligible institutions for the use intended,” the exchange stated.

Specifically, the exchange criticized the lack of interest paid on end-of-day balances and the imposition of low overnight balance limits.

Coinbase also urged regulators to reconsider the “flawed” logic regarding balance-sheet limits. It noted that risks in payment services are primarily operational rather than credit-related.

“The risks associated with payments processing are operational and not credit, market, or liquidity risks of the sort that generally require a capital cushion anchored to the size of a balance sheet. As such, a balance sheet metric is not fit for purpose,” the firm wrote.

Furthermore, the company advocated for the ability to hold “omnibus” customer balances. The Brian Armstrong-led exchange argued that such moves would enable firms to pool user funds to enable more efficient settlement.

By advocating for a “simplified framework” that ensures commercial viability, Coinbase is positioning itself as a systemic player seeking to move from the periphery of finance into its regulated core.

Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is set to integrate stock and cryptocurrency trading directly into user feeds.

This move marks a significant escalation in Elon Musk’s bid to transform the platform into a dominant player in financial technology.

X Confirms Crypto Trading Rollout via ‘Smart Cashtags’

On February 14, Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, said the new functionality will allow users to execute trades immediately after discovering an asset on their timeline.

The feature centers on “Smart Cashtags,” an evolution of the platform’s existing indexing system. Currently, users prefix ticker symbols with dollar signs—such as $BTC for Bitcoin—to create clickable links.

Under the new system, tapping these symbols will display live price charts and related posts, and offer direct trading options.

This development is the company’s latest move to reduce friction when switching between social media and brokerage applications. By bridging these functions, the update potentially accelerates how quickly retail investors can act on information

The integration is a cornerstone of Musk’s broader strategy to evolve X into an “everything app.” Notably, he has championed this concept since acquiring the company in 2022.

The vision mirrors the utility of Asian “super apps” that combine messaging, social networking, and payments.

Over the past years, X has ramped up efforts to build a financial ecosystem. The firm has laid the groundwork for peer-to-peer transfers, daily consumer payments, and now, active investing.

However, the intersection of social media hype and financial speculation poses moderation challenges.

Bier noted that while the company intends for cryptocurrency to proliferate on the platform, it remains cautious regarding user experience.

He warned that applications that create incentives for spam, raiding, or harassment will not be supported. According to him, such behavior “meaningfully degrades the experience for millions of people.”

So, as X transitions from a town square to a trading floor, the company faces the dual challenge of competing with established brokerage firms while navigating the regulatory complexities inherent in facilitating financial transactions for a global user base.

The Ethereum Foundation appointed Bastian Aue as interim co-Executive Director on February 13. The organization positioned the move as a strategic pivot toward institutional longevity and “cypherpunk” values.

Aue replaces Tomasz Stańczak, who steps down after nearly a year in the role. He would be leading the Foundation alongside Hsiao-Wei.

ETH Reclaims $2,000 as Foundation Outlines New Strategic Mandate

The transition comes as the non-profit steward of the Ethereum blockchain seeks to balance operational efficiency with a mandate to ensure the network’s survival for “1,000 years or more.”

Aue, who previously worked with the executive team on grants and operations, brings deep institutional knowledge to the role.

In a statement, he emphasized a return to the network’s ideological core and pledged to prioritize “real permissionless infrastructure.”

“The mandate of the EF is to make sure that real permissionless infrastructure, cypherpunk at its core, is what gets built. Ethereum should outlast us, and it has been our job from the beginning to make sure it is robust enough to do so,” Aue said.

This rhetoric suggests a strategic reprioritization for the blockchain network. The goal is to ensure the protocol is robust enough to survive centuries of geopolitical and technological shifts, rather than reacting to short-term industry trends.

Notably, Stańczak’s tenure marked the beginning of a critical restructuring phase of the blockchain network’s leadership.

He was appointed approximately 12 months ago, during a period when the Foundation faced mounting industry criticism for perceived laxity and bureaucratic inertia.

Under him, the Foundation shifted gears as he injected a sense of urgency into the organization. Stańczak helped to streamline internal teams and expand the EF’s engagement with the broader developer ecosystem.

The Foundation noted his guidance was instrumental in “maturing” the organization’s operations during a volatile market cycle.

“In his year at the EF, Tomasz helped to greatly increase the efficiency of many parts of the foundation, and turn the EF into an organization that is much more responsive to the world outside. He brought fresh new energy to the organization, and as a result of his encouragement and support, the Ethereum Foundation is regularly doing things well outside its previous comfort zone,” Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum co-founder, said.

With the organizational ship steadied, the appointment of Aue signals a shift in focus from operational triage to existential durability.

Meanwhile, the leadership continuity plan was announced amid broader market volatility.

Ethereum traded roughly 5.5% higher over the past 24 hours, reclaiming the $2,000 level to trade near $2,051 as of press time.

This price appreciation contrasts with the broader market’s poor performance since the beginning of the year.

ETH remains down approximately 36% over the last quarter, highlighting the turbulent environment Aue inherits as he attempts to steer the Foundation toward its millennial vision.