bitcoin

ethereum

tether

ripple

usd-coin

solana

tron

dogecoin

hyperliquid

cardano

bitcoin-cash

chainlink

monero

zcash

ethena-usde

stellar

memecore

multi-collateral-dai

litecoin

avalanche

paypal-usd

hedera

shiba-inu

toncoin

cronos

tether-gold

pax-gold

bittensor

mantle

uniswap

polkadot

near-protocol

falcon-finance

aave

aster

pepe

usdd

ripple-usd

ondo-us-dollar-yield

internet-computer

ethereum-classic

ondo-finance

pump-fun

quant

morpho

algorand

polygon

kaspa

nexo

cosmos

ethena

Aptos

filecoin

Arbitrum

official-trump

beldex

vechain

jupiter-ag

just

dexe

usual-usd

bonk1

artificial-superintelligence-alliance

layerzero

dash

virtual-protocol

pudgy-penguins

chiliz

euro-coin

first-digital-usd

tezos

decred

sun-token

aerodrome-finance

curve-dao-token

apenft

injective

lido-dao

spx6900

bitcoin-sv

celestia

floki-inu

frax

kaia

The Graph

pyth-network

zebec-network

optimism-ethereum

olympus

iota

terra-luna

ethereum-name-service

the-sandbox

grass

null (MOVE) is a cryptocurrency token without publicly available details on its consensus mechanism, use case, launch year, or founder. Its unique aspect lies in the limited information, which distinguishes it from other tokens with more transparent backgrounds.

movement

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">WLFI Lending Move Freezes User Withdrawals</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token, closely associated with Donald Trump and his family, has seen its value tumble after a controversial lending maneuver locked up user funds on a major decentra</p>
<p class="mb-6">These deposits enabled World Liberty Financial to borrow up to $150 million in stablecoins like USD1 and USDC. However, this move drained Dolomite’s USD1 lending pool so thoroughly that other users were left unable to withdraw their own funds. On paper, the protocol is decentralized, but in reality, control over such a large portion of collateral left ordinary depositors stranded.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">World Liberty Financial did not directly dispute the details of these transactions when questioned, instead stating it would add more tokens as collateral to avoid forced liquidation—leaving many investors uneasy about the project’s transparency and priorities.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Millions in Buybacks, But Price Tanks</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Despite aggressive buyback efforts, WLFI’s price continues to spiral downward. Over the past six months, the team disclosed open-market repurchases totaling $65.58 million for 435.3 million tokens at an average price of $0.1507 each. Yet today’s trading price stands roughly 48% below that average, with WLFI hitting its lowest level since its launch in 2025.</p>
<br><p class="mb-6 italic text-slate-600 my-8">WLFI fell to a record low of $0.07714 on Saturday, down 83% from its September 2023 peak of $0.46, according to CoinMarketCap.</p>

<p class="mb-6">The gap between buyback cost and current value highlights mounting pressure on the project’s treasury and raises questions about whether further interventions could stabilize the token. Three billion additional WLFI tokens were transferred to an intermediary wallet on April 2 and April 7—worth about $234 million at current prices—signaling continued movement behind the scenes even as public confidence wanes.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Stablecoin Borrowing Raises Red Flags</h2>
<p class="mb-6">World Liberty Financial’s use of its own governance token as loan collateral has drawn scrutiny for both scale and timing. Wallets linked to the project posted nearly $400 million worth of WLFI—representing about 98% of all WLFI on Dolomite—as backing for stablecoin loans totaling $75 million or more. According to decrypt.co, more than $40 million of these borrowed funds were transferred to Coinbase Prime, fueling speculation about whether proceeds are being used for operational needs or other undisclosed purposes.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">Some observers worry that so much borrowing against illiquid assets could amplify risk if market conditions worsen.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Dolomite currently ranks nineteenth among all DeFi lending protocols by total value locked, but its exposure to one dominant borrower has put everyday users at a disadvantage—and left them unable to access their deposits while World Liberty manages its positions above liquidation thresholds.</p>

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<p class="mb-6">As market turmoil intensifies, World Liberty Financial faces growing backlash from early investors over token unlock schedules. The project is now preparing a community proposal for phased unlocking of WLFI purchased by early retail buyers—a move coming roughly 18 months after its mid-October 2024 public sale. Currently, only about 24.67% of WLFI’s massive 100 billion supply has been released into circulation; around 75% remains locked or subject to future governance decisions.</p>
<p class="mb-6">This debate follows a March 16 vote that introduced a six-month lock-up rule for certain transfers, reflecting ongoing tension between investor liquidity needs and concerns over sudden increases in circulating supply. At least one self-identified presale buyer claims legal action is underway in both the United States and Netherlands against World Liberty Financial and its backers—though it is unclear if any formal lawsuits have been filed at this point.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Why it matters: Practical Impact for Users</h2>
<p class="mb-6">For regular users and investors, these developments have immediate consequences: with so much of the token supply locked or tied up as lending collateral, liquidity is thin and withdrawals can be blocked without warning. The draining of Dolomite’s USD1 pool means some depositors cannot access their funds until World Liberty either repays its loans or adds even more tokens as collateral—neither outcome guaranteed given current price volatility.</p>
<p class="mb-6">The situation underscores how concentrated control over governance tokens can disrupt decentralized platforms in practice—even when protocols are designed to be open and permissionless. As World Liberty Financial weighs phased unlocks amid mounting legal threats and price declines, users are left navigating extreme uncertainty with little recourse beyond governance votes or public pressure campaigns.</p><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">What may drive the next phase</h2>
<p class="mb-6">If World Liberty Financial proceeds with its planned governance vote on a phased unlock schedule for early WLFI holders—currently open for community input but not yet formally scheduled—the immediate outcome will determine whether a significant portion of the 75.33% locked token supply remains restricted or begins entering circulation.</p>

WLFI Lending Move Freezes User Withdrawals The World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token, closely associated with Donald Trump and his family, has seen its value tumble after a controversial lending maneuver locked up user funds on a major...

Trump-Linked WLFI Token Plunges After DeFi Lending Controversy and Unlock Debate

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Bhutan’s Bitcoin Stash Down 70 Percent</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Bhutan’s experiment with large-scale bitcoin accumulation is entering a new phase. The Himalayan kingdom, which once quietly amassed a peak of 13,000 BTC through hydropower-backed mining, has now reduced its holdings to just under 4,000 BTC—a drop of roughly 70% in only 18 months. According to coindesk.com, the Royal Government of Bhutan moved approximately 319.7 BTC, valued at $22.68 million, to two separate addresses on Thursday. This latest transaction follows a string of significant outflows earlier in 2024, including sales of 284 BTC ($22 million) in February and another transfer of 175 BTC ($11.85 million) in March.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">These transactions have left Bhutan with an estimated 3,954 BTC worth about $280.6 million, a sharp decline from their October 2024 peak. Despite this rapid reduction, Bhutan remains among the top ten sovereign holders of bitcoin globally—ranking seventh behind countries like El Salvador (7,616 BTC) and the United Arab Emirates (6,420 BTC).</p>
<br><p class="mb-6 italic text-slate-600 my-8">In March 2024 alone, Bhutan transferred 175 bitcoins valued at $11.85 million to an external crypto wallet.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Millions Sent to Unlabeled Wallets</h2>
<p class="mb-6">A closer look at blockchain data reveals that much of Bhutan’s recent bitcoin outflow has been routed through opaque channels. Of the $215.7 million in BTC that exited government-controlled addresses in 2024 alone, $162.6 million went to wallets that remain unlabeled and untraceable by public analytics platforms. In the latest transaction, about 250 BTC was sent to a wallet previously used for sales via Galaxy Digital and OKX—two major crypto service providers—while another 69.7 BTC landed at a new, unidentified address.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">The pattern suggests an ongoing selloff rather than temporary transfers between internal accounts.</p>

<p class="mb-6">Such movements have fueled speculation about Bhutan’s motives and raised questions about transparency in state-level crypto management. On paper, these are standard asset transfers; but the persistent use of unlabeled wallets makes it difficult for observers to determine whether these are outright sales or part of more complex financial maneuvers.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Sudden Silence From Druk Holdings</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The entity at the center of Bhutan's mining operation is Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), a state-owned company tasked with managing national wealth projects. Despite repeated attempts by journalists over the past week—including emails and calls—DHI has not issued any public statement regarding the recent bitcoin transfers or the current status of its mining facilities.</p>
<p class="mb-6">This silence stands out because DHI had previously been lauded for leveraging Bhutan’s abundant hydropower resources to mine bitcoin since 2019. The country was even described as a pioneer in “green” bitcoin mining due to its exclusive use of renewable energy sources.</p>

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<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">No Fresh Mining Since 2023</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Adding to the uncertainty is blockchain evidence indicating that Bhutan has not received any significant new inflows of freshly mined bitcoin for over a year. The last recorded inflow exceeding $100,000 dates back more than twelve months, suggesting that mining operations may have slowed or halted altogether.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">It’s unclear whether this pause is temporary or permanent; Druk Holdings’ lack of comment leaves open both possibilities.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Why It Matters</h2>
<p class="mb-6">For everyday investors and policy watchers alike, Bhutan’s retreat from large-scale bitcoin holding and possibly mining highlights several practical issues. First, it demonstrates that even countries with low-cost renewable energy are not immune from shifting strategies in volatile markets: despite being considered a model for sustainable mining just last year, Bhutan has liquidated most of its digital reserves within months.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Second, the movement of hundreds of millions into unnamed wallets raises questions about transparency and accountability when governments manage digital assets at scale. It also provides a cautionary tale for those who see sovereign crypto holdings as inherently stable or long-term plays; market conditions or internal policy shifts can trigger sudden reversals without warning or explanation.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Finally, while Bhutan still holds more bitcoin than most nations—with reserves valued near $280 million as of this week—the lack of clear communication leaves investors guessing about future moves and overall strategy.</p><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">What remains under scrutiny</h2>
<p class="mb-6">If Druk Holding and Investments publicly confirms whether its hydropower-backed bitcoin mining operation—responsible for Bhutan's accumulation of up to 13,000 BTC by October 2024—has been halted, it would immediately clarify whether the recent 70% reduction in national bitcoin reserves and the absence of inflows exceeding $100,000 for over a year signal a permanent exit from mining or merely a pause; as of now, Druk Holdings has not responded to repeated requests for comment, leaving the status of mining operations unclear.</p>

Bhutan’s Bitcoin Stash Down 70 Percent Bhutan’s experiment with large-scale bitcoin accumulation is entering a new phase.

Bhutan’s Bitcoin Reserves Shrink by 70% as Mining Activity Stalls

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Attackers Posed as Trading Firm</h2>
<p class="mb-6">In a striking example of targeted deception, the group behind the Drift Protocol exploit first approached contributors at a major crypto conference in the fall of 2025.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">On paper, these interactions resembled standard networking within the crypto sector, but beneath the surface, a coordinated infiltration was underway.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Six Months of Careful Infiltration</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The operation spanned roughly six months, with attackers embedding themselves within Drift’s ecosystem. Between December 2025 and January 2026, they went so far as to onboard an Ecosystem Vault on Drift and deposit over $1 million—an unusually high commitment for an outside party. This move granted them deeper access and trust among core contributors.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Drift’s internal investigation revealed that working sessions—ostensibly for collaboration—were used to share malicious links and tools. The attackers exploited vulnerabilities in widely used code editors such as VSCode and Cursor, along with a TestFlight app masquerading as a legitimate wallet product. By leveraging these entry points, they compromised key devices belonging to team members responsible for protocol security.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">It’s unclear if any warning signs were detected during this prolonged engagement.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Vaults Drained in Under a Minute</h2>
<p class="mb-6">On April 1, 2026, the attackers executed their plan, draining approximately $270 million from Drift’s vaults in less than sixty seconds. External estimates put total losses closer to $285 million, making this one of the most significant exploits on a Solana-based platform so far this year. The speed and precision of the attack left little opportunity for any immediate response by Drift’s team or its automated defenses.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Immediately after extracting funds from multiple vaults, the perpetrators wiped their digital presence and ceased all communication channels previously used with Drift contributors. The stolen assets were distributed across four Ethereum wallets; one identified address is 0xAa843eD65C1f061F111B5289169731351c5e57C1. In response, Drift sent an on-chain message from wallet 0x0934faC45f2883dd5906d09aCfFdb5D18aAdC105 to these wallets stating: “Critical information of parties related to the exploit have been identified.”</p>

<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">Despite this direct communication attempt, experts like Michael Egorov of Curve Finance have noted that North Korean hackers historically do not engage in negotiation or show concern for law enforcement intervention.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Ties to Previous Radiant Capital Hack</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Drift Protocol’s post-mortem indicates with “medium-high confidence” that the same actors are responsible for both this exploit and the $58 million Radiant Capital hack from October 2024. Both attacks shared key operational patterns: social engineering through industry events, malware-laced communications via platforms like Telegram, and rapid fund extraction followed by digital disappearance. In Radiant Capital’s case, malware was delivered under the guise of an ex-contractor—a tactic mirrored by Drift's attackers during their six-month infiltration.</p>

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<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">According to coindesk.com, attribution points toward UNC4736—a group also tracked as AppleJeus or Citrine Sleet—based on similarities in on-chain fund flows and overlaps with known DPRK-linked personas.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Attribution Points to North Korean Group</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Several blockchain security experts have linked this operation directly to North Korea’s Democratic People’s Republic (DPRK). The group UNC4736 has been implicated in previous high-profile crypto thefts totaling $6.5 billion over recent years. The attack on Drift fits into an established pattern: long-term social engineering culminating in swift technical exploitation and immediate laundering of stolen funds through complex wallet networks.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">While Drift has reached out publicly via on-chain messages to negotiate or recover funds, history suggests such overtures are unlikely to succeed given past DPRK-linked incidents.</p>
        <div class="border-l-4 border-blue-500 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 pl-6 pr-4 py-5 my-8">
            <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-4 text-gray-800 dark:text-white p-2">The Gist</h3>
            <ul class="space-y-2 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 p-4">
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>On April 1, 2026, attackers drained $270–$285 million from Drift Protocol in under one minute.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>The exploit followed a six-month social engineering operation by North Korean group UNC4736, starting at a crypto conference in fall 2025.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Attackers deposited over $1 million into Drift’s Ecosystem Vault between December 2025 and January 2026 to gain trust and access.</li>
            </ul>
        </div><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">What could influence sentiment</h2>
<p class="mb-6">If Drift Protocol’s on-chain messages to the four Ethereum wallets holding the stolen funds—including 0xAa843eD65C1f061F111B5289169731351c5e57C1—result in any response or movement of assets, it would immediately signal a shift in the hackers’ intentions or risk profile; however, whether the North Korea-linked actors will engage remains unclear.</p>

Attackers Posed as Trading Firm In a striking example of targeted deception, the group behind the Drift Protocol exploit first approached contributors at a major crypto conference in the fall of 2025.

Drift Protocol Exploit Traced to North Korean-Linked Social Engineering Operation

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Jury Deadlock Sparks New Legal Battle</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Roman Storm, co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash, is once again at the center of a high-stakes legal fight.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Storm was found guilty last summer of conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. However, jurors were deadlocked on whether he also conspired to commit money laundering and to violate U.S. sanctions law, both of which carry significantly heavier potential sentences. These two unresolved counts could result in up to 40 years in prison if Storm is convicted.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Prosecutors Push for October Showdown</h2>
<p class="mb-6">On Monday, federal prosecutors led by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton filed a letter in the Southern District of New York requesting that Judge Katherine Polk Failla set a new trial date for Storm in October 2024. They proposed starting the retrial between October 5 and 12, estimating that proceedings would last approximately three weeks. This request comes after prosecutors indicated they were prepared to move as early as spring, but Storm’s defense team countered that they would not be available until late 2026.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">The scheduling dispute highlights just how contentious this case has become.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">According to coindesk.com, Storm remains free on bail while his legal team pursues a motion for judgment of acquittal, with oral arguments scheduled for April 9—a concrete date that may affect whether or when a retrial actually takes place.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Two Charges Still Hang in Balance</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The government’s renewed focus is on counts one and three of their indictment: conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions law. These charges stem from allegations that Tornado Cash facilitated the movement of illicit funds, including transactions linked by authorities to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. The U.S. Treasury had blacklisted Tornado Cash in August 2022, claiming $7 billion had been laundered through its protocol since 2019—a figure central to the prosecution’s case.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Yet, there is a twist: an appellate court later questioned whether the Treasury had proper authority to sanction open-source smart contracts like those underlying Tornado Cash, leading to those specific sanctions being lifted. On paper, Storm faces severe criminal exposure; but with regulatory uncertainty now clouding some foundational claims, the legal landscape is far from settled.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Defense Calls Retrial Request Premature</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Storm’s attorneys argue that setting a new trial date is premature given their pending motion for acquittal on all charges. Judge Failla has scheduled oral arguments for April 9, and the outcome could render a retrial unnecessary if she rules in Storm’s favor. Defense counsel has also cited scheduling conflicts that would prevent them from preparing for any retrial before late 2026—a timeline starkly at odds with prosecutors’ push for an October start.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Amanda Tuminelli, legal chief at the DeFi Education Fund, publicly criticized the Department of Justice’s decision to pursue another trial against Storm so soon after the mixed verdict. The defense maintains that further prosecution only adds uncertainty for developers working on privacy tools in crypto.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Why it matters</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The outcome of Roman Storm’s case could have broad implications for software developers and crypto innovators across the United States. If convicted on either remaining count—money laundering or sanctions violations—Storm could face up to 40 years behind bars, sending a strong signal about personal liability even for those who build decentralized protocols. The government’s pursuit comes as other privacy-focused projects attract investment; notably, Josh Swihart's Zcash Open Development Lab recently raised $25 million to expand development of privacy-centric wallets and protocols.</p>
<p class="mb-6">For now, all eyes are on April 9 when Judge Failla will hear arguments on Storm’s acquittal motion—a hearing that may determine whether this high-profile crypto case heads back into court this fall or drags out even longer due to scheduling disputes and ongoing legal debates over open-source software liability.</p><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">What remains unresolved</h2>
<p class="mb-6">If Judge Katherine Polk Failla grants the U.S. prosecutors' request for a retrial of Roman Storm on the unresolved money laundering and sanctions violation charges, with a proposed start date between October 5 and 12, 2024, the immediate outcome will be the scheduling of a new three-week trial; however, this remains unclear pending the outcome of Storm’s motion for acquittal, which is set for oral argument on April 9.</p>

Jury Deadlock Sparks New Legal Battle Roman Storm, co-founder of the cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash, is once again at the center of a high-stakes legal fight.

Tornado Cash Developer Faces October Retrial as Prosecutors Target Unresolved Charges

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Dollar’s Surge Amplifies Bitcoin Slide</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Bitcoin’s price retreated sharply into the weekend, falling to $67,960 by Saturday morning and marking a 3.4% drop over the previous 24 hours. This downturn came as the U.S.</p>
<p class="mb-6">The greenback’s rally coincided with declines across major cryptocurrencies: Ether dropped 4.4% to $1,974, Solana fell 4% to $84.31, and Dogecoin lost 2.9% to $0.09. Even as Bitcoin had rallied up to $74,000 earlier in the week—a level it last touched in early February—the rebound proved short-lived, with the coin giving back about a third of those gains by Saturday.</p>
<br><p class="mb-6 italic text-slate-600 my-8">The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) climbed above 99 as the dollar posted its steepest weekly gain in a year.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Oil Spikes, Crypto Stumbles in Tandem</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran have sent oil prices soaring and rattled digital asset markets. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude surged to nearly $90 per barrel—a multi-year high—after President Donald Trump declared there would be “no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.” The disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has kept oil elevated throughout the week.</p>
<p class="mb-6">As energy prices climbed more than 5% in just 24 hours, Bitcoin tumbled alongside tech stocks and other riskier investments. Nasdaq futures dropped by 1.8%, while crypto-related equities like MicroStrategy and Coinbase also traded lower before markets opened. The synchronized slump highlights how closely digital assets remain tied to broader macroeconomic shocks.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">On paper, Bitcoin is often touted as a hedge against turmoil—but this week’s events showed otherwise.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Iran Tensions Rattle Digital Markets</h2>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">The ongoing standoff between Washington and Tehran has injected fresh volatility into global markets. With no diplomatic breakthrough in sight and military posturing intensifying, investors have grown wary of further escalation. According to coindesk.com, the conflict showed no signs of resolution this week, keeping both oil prices high and digital currencies under pressure.</p>
<p class="mb-6">This heightened anxiety was reflected not only in falling prices but also in market structure: Messari tracked a dramatic 415% spike in net stablecoin inflows over the week, reaching $1.7 billion as traders sought refuge in dollar-pegged tokens rather than volatile cryptocurrencies or equities.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">43% of Bitcoin Holders in Red</h2>
<p class="mb-6">A striking data point emerged amid the selloff: Glassnode reports that 43% of all bitcoin supply is now held at a loss relative to its purchase price. This means nearly half of holders are underwater after this week’s quick reversal from highs near $74,000 down below $68,000.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Despite this pain for recent buyers, Bitcoin still managed a modest gain of 3.6% over seven days—underscoring just how volatile swings have been since last weekend’s low near $64,000. Ether fared similarly; despite dropping below $2,000 on Friday, it remains up about 2.6% for the week.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Why it matters</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The latest episode underscores how quickly sentiment can shift in crypto when global risks flare up. For everyday investors, these moves highlight that Bitcoin is not immune from traditional market forces—especially when safe-haven demand lifts the dollar or energy prices spike due to geopolitical shocks.</p>
<p class="mb-6">With U.S. payrolls declining by 92,000 jobs in February and unemployment ticking up to 4.4%, hopes for an imminent Federal Reserve rate cut have faded fast; current odds stand at just 17% for April action. In this environment of tightening liquidity and rising uncertainty abroad, digital assets may continue facing turbulence until macro pressures ease or diplomatic progress emerges between Washington and Tehran.</p><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">What could still change</h2>
<p class="mb-6">If the U.S. jobs report due at 13:30 UTC shows nonfarm payrolls dropping below the forecasted 59,000 or the unemployment rate rising above 4.3%, bitcoin could see further immediate price movement as traders react to the labor market data.</p>

Dollar’s Surge Amplifies Bitcoin Slide Bitcoin’s price retreated sharply into the weekend, falling to $67,960 by Saturday morning and marking a 3.4% drop over the previous 24 hours.

Bitcoin Tumbles Below $68,000 as US-Iran Standoff and Oil Rally Shake Markets

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Crypto gets seat at Fed table</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Kraken Financial, the Wyoming-chartered banking subsidiary of Kraken, has become the first crypto-focused institution to obtain a Federal Reserve master account. This development, reported by coindesk.com, gives Kraken direct access to Fedwire—the core interbank payment network used by traditional banks and credit unions across the United States. The approval came through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, which oversaw Kraken’s application process.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Founded in 2011, Kraken has steadily expanded its operations beyond digital asset trading. Its move into banking was formalized under Wyoming’s special charter for crypto banks, allowing it to operate in a regulatory framework designed for digital asset institutions. The master account now enables Kraken Financial to interact with the U.S. central bank’s payment systems without relying on intermediary banks—a first for any company in the crypto sector.</p>
<br><p class="mb-6 italic text-slate-600 my-8">Kraken’s master account was approved by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City after a review process that set it apart from other applicants like Custodia Bank.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Limited privileges, but historic first</h2>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">On paper, Kraken’s master account opens up new infrastructure possibilities for digital asset firms; however, the privileges are not identical to those enjoyed by traditional banks.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Kraken will not be able to earn interest on reserves held at the Fed or tap into emergency lending facilities—two key benefits typically available to conventional financial institutions. This “limited” access means that while Kraken can move funds directly on the same rails as legacy banks, it does not gain full membership status within the Federal Reserve system. The distinction is significant: other crypto banks like Custodia have sought similar access but have faced delays or legal hurdles as recently as late 2025.</p>
<p class="mb-6">The approval nonetheless changes the framework. Until now, no crypto company had managed to secure this level of integration with America’s central banking infrastructure. Several industry players have attempted to follow this path, but Kraken is the only one so far to clear all regulatory checkpoints and receive the green light from a regional Fed bank.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Direct Fedwire access changes game</h2>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">For Kraken Financial, direct Fedwire access means faster and potentially cheaper settlements for customers transacting in both fiat and digital assets.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Previously, crypto firms had to rely on partner banks for wire transfers and settlement services—often leading to delays or higher fees. Now, with its master account in place, Kraken can process payments on the same system as major U.S. banks. enhance its competitiveness among both retail and institutional clients who require rapid fund movement between traditional finance and digital assets.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Kraken’s parent company Payward has been aggressively expanding its footprint in both technology and financial services over the last two years. In 2023, Payward acquired NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion and Small Exchange for $100 million—two deals that signaled its ambition to bridge mainstream trading infrastructure with crypto markets. More recently, in May 2024, Payward added token management platform Magna and tokenized stock issuer Backed Finance to its portfolio.</p>
<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Rivals left waiting in line</h2>
<p class="mb-6">While Kraken moves forward with its new status, other U.S.-based crypto banks remain in limbo. Custodia Bank—founded by Caitlin Long—has been seeking a master account through court petitions as recently as late 2025 but has yet to secure approval from any regional Fed branch. The difference underscores how challenging it remains for digital asset firms to gain direct access to federal payment systems.</p>
<p class="mb-6">It’s unclear whether Kraken’s breakthrough will lead regulators to accelerate or slow down future approvals for other applicants. For now, Kraken stands alone as the only crypto company with this level of integration into America’s banking backbone.</p>
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            <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-4 text-gray-800 dark:text-white p-2">The Gist</h3>
            <ul class="space-y-2 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 p-4">
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Kraken Financial became the first crypto firm to secure a Federal Reserve master account, approved by the Kansas City Fed in 2024.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>The master account grants Kraken direct access to Fedwire but excludes interest on reserves and emergency lending privileges.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Kraken Financial operates under a Wyoming charter specifically designed for crypto-focused banks.</li>
            </ul>
        </div><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Key indicators to follow</h2>
<p class="mb-6">If other crypto firms such as Custodia Bank, which is pursuing a master account through a court petition in late 2025, also secure Federal Reserve master account approval, it would immediately signal expanded direct access to Fed payment systems for the sector; however, whether additional approvals will be granted remains unclear.</p>

Crypto gets seat at Fed table Kraken Financial, the Wyoming-chartered banking subsidiary of Kraken, has become the first crypto-focused institution to obtain a Federal Reserve master account.

Kraken Secures Federal Reserve Master Account, Marking Crypto Industry Milestone

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Kraken Bets Big on Wyoming Newborns</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Kraken, the Wyoming-based cryptocurrency exchange, is making headlines with its latest initiative: sponsoring Trump Accounts for every child born in Wyoming in 2026.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Kraken’s co-CEO Dave Ripley confirmed that the company will provide additional funding to these accounts, though the exact amount remains undisclosed. The announcement underscores Kraken’s decision to make Wyoming its global headquarters, citing the state’s favorable regulatory environment for digital assets. Notably, Wyoming enabled Kraken to become the first Special Purpose Depository Institution in the U.S., a regulatory status that allows crypto firms to operate more like banks.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">On paper, this is a windfall for newborns in Wyoming; in practice, it also signals how major crypto players are seeking to shape financial infrastructure at the earliest stages of life.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Unanswered Questions on Funding Details</h2>
<p class="mb-6">While families and outside entities can contribute to Trump Accounts beyond the initial $1,000 government seed, it remains unclear whether Kraken’s sponsorship will match that figure or take another form. There is also uncertainty about whether these accounts will be invested directly in cryptocurrencies or held as cash until children turn 18. This ambiguity leaves families and observers waiting for specifics from both Kraken and policymakers.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">Transparency on these points could determine whether Trump Accounts become a meaningful entry point into crypto for a new generation—or remain a symbolic gesture.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Trump-Backed Bitcoin Firm Hits 6,000 BTC</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Meanwhile, American Bitcoin Corp. (ABTC), which counts members of the Trump family among its backers, has surpassed 6,000 BTC in reserves according to blockchain data tracked by Arkham Intelligence. As of early February 2026, ABTC holds approximately 6,060 BTC—valued near $413 million at current prices—after adding or mining about 217 BTC over the past month. This places ABTC among the top 20 largest public bitcoin holders globally; for comparison, Galaxy Digital holds around 6,894 BTC.</p>
<p class="mb-6">The company’s shares have reflected this activity but not without volatility: after trading above $2 in January 2026, ABTC shares closed last Friday at roughly $1.14—a drop of about 45% year-to-date despite a reported bitcoin yield of approximately 116% since its Nasdaq debut in September 2025 through late January 2026.</p>

<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">This market movement highlights both opportunity and risk in tying corporate fortunes so closely to bitcoin reserves.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">World Liberty Forum: Crypto Meets Politics</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The Trump family is set to host a high-profile crypto industry event at Mar-a-Lago on February 18: the World Liberty Forum. This gathering will bring together CEOs from Coinbase, BitGo, Franklin Templeton, and Goldman Sachs alongside FIFA’s president and celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Kevin O’Leary. With only 300 attendees—described as “global leaders”—the event reflects an effort to bridge traditional finance with decentralized finance platforms.</p>
<p class="mb-6">World Liberty Financial, founded in 2024 by Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Barron Trump, Zach Witkoff and Alex Witkoff (with Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump listed as emeritus co-founders), positions itself as both a DeFi platform and stablecoin issuer. The timing comes amid ongoing Democratic investigations and after a $2 trillion market downturn—factors likely to influence discussion topics at Mar-a-Lago.</p>
 <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Why it matters</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Kraken’s sponsorship of Trump Accounts links newborn financial security directly to crypto industry engagement—and could make Wyoming’s youngest citizens early participants in digital asset markets if contributions are ultimately allocated toward cryptocurrencies rather than cash. For parents considering long-term savings options starting in 2025 or later, this partnership may offer unique upside—but also exposes families to questions about volatility and regulatory change over an eighteen-year horizon.</p>
<p class="mb-6">At the same time, American Bitcoin Corp.’s accumulation of over $400 million worth of bitcoin shows how political affiliations and corporate strategy are converging around digital assets at scale. The World Liberty Forum’s lineup—featuring figures from banking giants to pop stars—suggests that crypto is now firmly embedded within mainstream economic and cultural debates. As reported by dlnews.com, this intersection between politics and crypto finance is no longer theoretical: it is playing out in real-time across boardrooms and legislative chambers alike.</p>
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            <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-4 text-gray-800 dark:text-white p-2">What Stands Out</h3>
            <ul class="space-y-2 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 p-4">
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Kraken will sponsor Trump Accounts for every child born in Wyoming in 2026, as confirmed by co-CEO Dave Ripley.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Each Trump Account receives a $1,000 federal seed for children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028; Kraken’s contribution amount is undisclosed.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>American Bitcoin Corp., backed by the Trump family, holds 6,060 BTC (about $413 million) as of February 2026.</li>
            </ul>
        </div><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">What remains to be seen</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Whether Kraken will match the $1,000 federal contribution or invest Trump Accounts for Wyoming newborns in crypto or cash remains unclear, and if this is clarified before the World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, it would immediately signal the extent of direct crypto exposure for eligible families in 2026.</p>

Kraken Bets Big on Wyoming Newborns Kraken, the Wyoming-based cryptocurrency exchange, is making headlines with its latest initiative: sponsoring Trump Accounts for every child born in Wyoming in 2026.

Trump, Crypto, and the Wyoming Bet: A New Era of Political Finance

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Jump Trading bets on prediction markets</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Jump Trading, a major player in quantitative trading, is set to acquire minority stakes in two of the world’s largest prediction market platforms—Polymarket and Kalshi. The move comes as both companies have recently achieved multibillion-dollar valuations, with Kalshi reaching $11 billion and Polymarket close behind at $9 billion. Rather than a traditional cash investment, Jump will earn its equity by providing liquidity—essentially acting as a market maker to ensure smoother trading and tighter spreads for users.</p>
<p class="mb-6">This strategy signals a growing institutional interest in the prediction market sector, which allows users to trade contracts based on the outcome of real-world events, from elections to sports matches. Notably, Jump Trading has expanded its team by 20 new hires focused specifically on prediction-market trading in recent months. This expansion underlines the firm's commitment to this emerging asset class.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Liquidity for equity: the new trend</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The core of Jump’s arrangement with both Polymarket and Kalshi is simple: provide liquidity, receive equity. For Kalshi, the deal is for a fixed amount of equity regardless of future trading volume. In contrast, Jump’s stake in Polymarket will increase over time depending on how much liquidity it supplies to the platform’s U.S. operations. This tiered approach aligns incentives between Jump and Polymarket, encouraging deeper engagement as trading volumes grow.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">According to coindesk.com, these deals are not just about ownership—they position Jump as a key infrastructure provider for two platforms that together have defined much of the current prediction market landscape.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Kalshi deal locks in fixed stake</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Kalshi operates as a centralized and federally regulated exchange in the United States. Its latest funding round in December secured $1 billion and pushed its valuation to $11 billion. Jump Trading’s agreement with Kalshi grants it a fixed equity stake in exchange for serving as a market maker—a role that involves providing buy and sell offers to keep markets active and liquid.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">On paper, this gives Jump a predictable ownership share; but unlike Polymarket, there’s no upside tied directly to future trading activity.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Polymarket stake tied to trading volume</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Polymarket stands apart as a decentralized platform built on the Polygon blockchain, enabling onchain settlement of contracts—a technical distinction that appeals to crypto-native traders. Its $9 billion valuation was buoyed by a $2 billion raise from Intercontinental Exchange, parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. For Jump Trading, equity in Polymarket will be determined by how much liquidity it provides over time; the more capital it commits to making markets, the larger its stake could become.</p>
<p class="mb-6">This approach reflects confidence in growing user demand and trading volumes on decentralized exchanges. Survey data shows that 31% of Americans believe prediction markets are likely to become a “bigger, more important part of culture,” suggesting potential mainstream adoption is on the horizon.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Still, it’s unclear how regulatory scrutiny—especially given past lawsuits involving crypto firms—might impact these partnerships moving forward.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Wall Street enters decentralized prediction platforms</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Jump Trading’s entry into this space is part of a broader institutional movement toward alternative financial products built on blockchain technology. Other Wall Street names have made similar moves: Susquehanna International Group partnered with Robinhood for derivatives exchange LedgerX, while Robinhood itself collaborates with Kalshi for its own prediction market product.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">Sports-related contracts have emerged as a primary growth driver within these platforms; research from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming indicates that sports betting could account for nearly half of all projected expansion in the sector.</p>
<p class="mb-6">As institutional players like Jump deepen their involvement—and as both centralized (Kalshi) and decentralized (Polymarket) models attract billions—the lines between traditional finance and crypto-native innovation continue to blur. Whether this convergence can withstand regulatory challenges remains an open question.</p>
        <div class="border-l-4 border-blue-500 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 pl-6 pr-4 py-5 my-8">
            <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-4 text-gray-800 dark:text-white p-2">The Wrap-Up</h3>
            <ul class="space-y-2 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 p-4">
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Jump Trading will receive a fixed equity stake in Kalshi and a scalable stake in Polymarket for providing liquidity.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Kalshi and Polymarket recently reached valuations of $11 billion and $9 billion, respectively.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Jump Trading has hired 20 staffers in recent months to focus on prediction-market trading.</li>
            </ul>
        </div><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Key points still in play</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Jump Trading’s stake in Polymarket will increase if it provides greater trading capacity to the platform’s U.S. operation, so if Jump ramps up its market-making activity, its equity share will immediately rise beyond the initial small package; the exact scale and timing of this increase remain unclear.</p>

Jump Trading bets on prediction markets Jump Trading, a major player in quantitative trading, is set to acquire minority stakes in two of the world’s largest prediction market platforms—Polymarket and Kalshi.

Jump Trading Secures Stakes in Polymarket and Kalshi Through Liquidity Deals

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Warsh’s Crypto Skepticism Haunts Markets</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next U.S. Federal Reserve chair has reignited debate over the central bank’s stance on digital assets. Warsh, age 55, brings a complex history to the role: he served as the youngest-ever Fed governor from 2006 to 2011 and was a key player during the 2008 financial crisis. Despite his Wall Street pedigree at Morgan Stanley and his policy background under George W. Bush, Warsh’s relationship with crypto is anything but straightforward.</p>
<p class="mb-6">In 2015, Warsh expressed doubts about bitcoin’s ability to serve as a stable medium of exchange. Yet he acknowledged blockchain technology as “the newest, coolest software,” hinting at its disruptive potential in finance. This duality—skepticism about bitcoin as money but enthusiasm for its underlying tech—has left crypto traders unsure what to expect from his leadership.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Bitcoin’s Slide Follows Fed Shakeup Leak</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The market wasted no time reacting to news of Warsh’s likely appointment. After reports surfaced that Trump intended to replace Jerome Powell with Warsh, bitcoin’s price dropped sharply, falling back to $81,000. The move came despite a brief rally after Trump confirmed the nomination on Truth Social; bitcoin rose 0.7% before settling near $82,600 later in the day.</p>

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<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">Risk markets across the board—including cryptocurrencies—registered immediate volatility following the leak.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">This swift reaction underscores how sensitive digital asset markets remain to perceived changes in monetary policy leadership, especially when uncertainty clouds the incoming chair’s stance on innovation and regulation.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Druckenmiller’s Protégé Faces Digital Dollar Questions</h2>
<p class="mb-6">On paper, Warsh appears to straddle two worlds: traditional finance and emerging fintech. Since leaving the Fed in 2011, he has been a partner at Duquesne Capital Management, working closely with hedge fund billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller—a relationship described as akin to father and son. Druckenmiller told the Financial Times that “no one [is] better equipped” than Warsh for the Fed chair role and emphasized that Warsh is not always hawkish on interest rates.</p>
<p class="mb-6">But Warsh’s direct involvement in crypto ventures adds another layer of intrigue. He invested in Basis, an algorithmic central bank project that sought to create a price-stable cryptocurrency before shuttering due to regulatory concerns. Additionally, Warsh has advised Electric Capital, a venture firm focused on blockchain and fintech startups.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Despite these credentials, it remains uncertain whether Warsh would champion or constrain a digital dollar initiative if confirmed as Fed chair.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Why It Matters: Practical Impact for Crypto Markets</h2>
<p class="mb-6">For traders and industry leaders alike, Warsh’s nomination lands at a critical juncture. Jerome Powell’s current term expires on May 15, 2026—a date now looming larger for anyone watching U.S. monetary policy and its ripple effects on crypto valuations. As recently as July, Warsh argued that bitcoin could serve as a form of “market discipline” without weakening the Fed’s ability to manage the economy, according to cointelegraph.com.</p>
<p class="mb-6">However, his criticism of “ultra-loose” monetary policy and calls for a “regime change” at the Fed could signal tighter conditions ahead—potentially dampening risk appetite across digital assets. The fact that gold and silver prices dropped alongside bitcoin after Trump’s announcement only highlights how broad-based these market jitters have become.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Old-School Banker, New-Tech Challenge</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Warsh is no stranger to navigating uncharted waters; during his tenure at the Fed from 2006 through 2011 he was tasked with bridging communication between central bankers and financial markets amid historic turmoil. Now, he faces an entirely new set of challenges: guiding U.S. monetary policy at a time when cryptocurrencies are both maturing and facing unprecedented regulatory scrutiny.</p>
<p class="mb-6">His previous writings warn against unchecked balance-sheet expansion by central banks—a stance that may affect future decisions about stablecoins or central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Whether this means stricter oversight or more open experimentation is still up in the air.</p>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">Crypto markets may have reacted quickly this week—but their longer-term direction under Warsh remains deeply uncertain.</p>
        <div class="border-l-4 border-blue-500 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 pl-6 pr-4 py-5 my-8">
            <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-4 text-gray-800 dark:text-white p-2">The Core Points</h3>
            <ul class="space-y-2 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 p-4">
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>On the day Trump confirmed Kevin Warsh's Fed chair nomination, bitcoin briefly rose 0.7% before returning to around $82,600.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Following leaks of Warsh’s likely appointment, bitcoin’s price dropped sharply to $81,000 amid broader risk market declines.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>In 2015, Warsh expressed skepticism about bitcoin as a stable medium of exchange but praised blockchain’s disruptive potential.</li>
            </ul>
        </div><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">What to watch closely</h2>
<p class="mb-6">If the Senate schedules a confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh following President Trump’s nomination announced Friday on Truth Social, immediate market reactions—such as Bitcoin’s price movement, which briefly rose 0.7% before returning to $82,600 after the news—will provide a concrete signal of investor sentiment toward his potential leadership at the Fed.</p>

Warsh’s Crypto Skepticism Haunts Markets Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next U.S. Federal Reserve chair has reignited debate over the central bank’s stance on digital assets.

Kevin Warsh’s Fed Chair Nomination Sends Crypto Markets Spinning

<h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Metals Fever Draws Eyes From Crypto</h2>
<p class="mb-6">In a week marked by historic milestones for precoius metals, gold and silver have surged to all-time highs, reshaping investor attention and trading behavior across digital asset markets. Gold briefly topped $5,100 an ounce on Monday before settling near $5,043, while silver soared as high as $118 during intraday trading—its largest one-day swing since 2008—before closing at $108. These moves represent a 15% gain for gold over the past month and a staggering 57% jump for silver since the start of the year. The dramatic rallies have coincided with subdued action in major cryptocurrencies, leaving bitcoin and ether range-bound amid declining volumes.</p>
<p class="mb-6">The timing is notable: the U.S. dollar index (DXY) dropped to its weakest level since September, falling more than 1% against the yen to 154.07 on Monday. As metals rallied, many traders shifted focus away from crypto, especially with the Federal Reserve widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its policy meeting on Wednesday. With traditional safe-haven assets dominating headlines, digital assets have struggled to maintain momentum.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Bitcoin Volume Plunges As Gold Shines</h2>
<p class="mb-6">Trading activity in bitcoin has slowed dramatically as metals attract speculative flows. Over the past 24 hours, daily trading volume for bitcoin fell by 25%, dropping to just $35 billion. Ether fared no better: its volume shrank by 21% to $24.6 billion in the same period. This decline in liquidity has left prices stagnant—bitcoin hovered near $88,000 early in the week, modestly lower from late Friday’s $90,000 mark and down about 4% over seven days.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">According to coindesk.com, cumulative outflows from spot bitcoin ETFs exceeded $1.3 billion last week, underscoring waning institutional interest even as metals set new records.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Other major cryptocurrencies followed suit: ether traded around $2,300–$2,940 depending on the session; solana (SOL) held near $124.64; XRP at $1.9033; and dogecoin (DOGE) at $0.1223—all posting small declines as traders stayed cautious. Glassnode data shows bitcoin’s spot cumulative volume delta has flipped sharply negative, reflecting persistent sell pressure and risk-off sentiment among participants.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Silver’s Wild Ride Jolts Derivatives Markets</h2>
<p class="mb-8 text-lg font-medium">Silver’s surge hasn’t just been confined to spot markets—it has electrified derivatives trading as well.</p>
<p class="mb-6">On Hyperliquid, a popular derivatives exchange catering to crypto-native traders, silver futures contracts (SILVER-USDC) posted nearly $994 million in daily trading volume during Asia hours alone. Open interest for these contracts reached approximately $154.5 million—a level rarely seen for non-digital assets on such platforms. For context, silver futures now trail only bitcoin and ether pairs in terms of volume on Hyperliquid, surpassing established altcoins like solana and XRP.</p>
<p class="mb-6">This influx of activity comes with its own volatility: funding rates for SILVER-USDC remain slightly negative as traders bet both ways on continued price swings following silver’s recent spike above $117 an ounce before retreating. The sheer scale of this movement has revived memories of previous market crises—the bitcoin-to-silver ratio is approaching levels last observed during the FTX collapse in late 2022.</p>
<p class="mb-6">On paper, crypto exchanges are built for digital assets—but this week they’re seeing record volumes driven by old-world commodities instead.</p> <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Low Liquidity Squeezes Crypto Traders</h2>
<p class="mb-6">As metals capture attention and capital flows out of crypto funds, liquidity conditions have tightened further for digital asset traders. Bitfinex analysts expect bitcoin to remain trapped between $85,000 and $94,500 until a significant catalyst emerges—such as regulatory clarity or a shift in macroeconomic policy. Yet with U.S. lawmakers potentially delaying key legislation like the Clarity Act due to government shutdown risks, uncertainty prevails.</p>
<p class="mb-6">Meanwhile, KuCoin has managed to buck broader trends: it captured a record share of centralized exchange volume in 2025 with over $1.25 trillion traded as its growth outpaced that of the overall crypto market.</p>
<p class="mb-10 max-w-xl">For now, most crypto traders remain on the sidelines—waiting for either momentum to return or metals fever to subside.</p>
        <div class="border-l-4 border-blue-500 bg-white dark:bg-slate-800 pl-6 pr-4 py-5 my-8">
            <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-4 text-gray-800 dark:text-white p-2">What You Should Know</h3>
            <ul class="space-y-2 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 p-4">
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Gold briefly surpassed $5,100 an ounce on Monday, up 15% over the past 30 days before retreating to $5,043.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Silver reached an intraday high of $118, its biggest one-day swing since 2008, and is up 57% year-to-date.</li>
                <li class="flex items-start"><span class="mr-2 text-blue-500 italic">•</span>Bitcoin daily trading volume dropped 25% to $35 billion in 24 hours, with cumulative ETF outflows exceeding $1.3 billion last week.</li>
            </ul>
        </div><h2 class="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">Factors to watch closely</h2>
<p class="mb-6">The Federal Reserve's policy meeting on Wednesday, where rates are widely expected to be held steady, could trigger immediate moves in both gold and crypto markets if the outcome diverges from expectations; if spot bitcoin ETF outflows, which exceeded $1.3 billion over the past week, persist or accelerate, further downward pressure on BTC prices is likely in the near term.</p>

Metals Fever Draws Eyes From Crypto In a week marked by historic milestones for precoius metals, gold and silver have surged to all-time highs, reshaping investor attention and trading behavior across digital asset markets.

Gold and Silver’s Record Surge Leaves Crypto Markets in the Shadows

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