Crypto World

Bitcoin’s Next Move May Hinge on U.S. Credit and Debt Conditions

Published

5 hours ago

3 February 2026

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) dipped below $73,000 on Tuesday as a confluence of tightening credit conditions and elevated debt costs test market nerves. The macro backdrop shows a paradox: credit spreads remain compressed even as debt levels and borrowing costs stay elevated, a dynamic some analysts say could define BTC’s trajectory over the coming months. In this environment, an intriguing pattern emerges: the gap between credit pricing and actual credit-market stress has become a potential predictor for Bitcoin’s next move, echoing how similar dislocations played out in prior cycles.

Key takeaways

The ICE BofA US Corporate Option-Adjusted Spread is at 0.75, its lowest level since 1998.
US debt stands at about $38.5 trillion, while the 10-year Treasury yield is hovering near 4.28%.
Bitcoin whale inflows to exchanges have risen, but on-chain profit-taking is easing despite the higher turnover on centralized venues.
Historical cycles show BTC often forms a local bottom several months after credit spreads widen, a pattern that could repeat if liquidity tightens further.
Analysts have signaled that a renewed accumulation phase could unfold in the months ahead, potentially after a period of market stress becomes more visible.

Market context: The current setup places Bitcoin at a crossroads where tight credit conditions and escalating debt costs contrast with a risk-off tilt in broader markets. The macro backdrop remains complex: while spreads compress, signaling relatively contained credit risk by some measures, the debt burden and the path of yields continue to constrain liquidity and appetite for risk assets, including BTC. This divergence—cheap-ish credit against a backdrop of financial strain—has historically preceded pronounced price moves for Bitcoin, underscoring why market participants are watching the bond and credit markets as a leading indicator for crypto trajectories. For reference, the data point often cited is the ICE BofA Corporate OAS, which has been moving in a way that ties into Bitcoin’s price rhythms during stress episodes.

In previous cycles—2018, 2020 and 2022—Bitcoin tended to bottom after credit spreads began to widen, with the delay ranging roughly three to six months. The suggestion of a lag between financial-market stress and crypto-price bottoms has resurfaced as traders parse the current dislocation. Some analysts have argued that if liquidity tightens further and spreads rise, Bitcoin could enter another phase of accumulation before broader market stress becomes fully evident. For instance, commentary from Alphractal founder Joao Wedson highlighted the potential for an accumulation phase if liquidity conditions deteriorate and credit spreads widen in the months ahead, a scenario that could set the stage for a multi-month consolidation before fresh directional moves. Argued.

Bitcoin whale activity and on-chain dynamics

Over the past few days, on-chain data show a spat of activity that peers at broad selling pressure yet also hints at longer-term fatigue among holders. Analysts have observed intensified transfers of BTC from large wallets to centralized exchanges, including a notable spike when wallets holding more than 1,000 BTC deposited roughly 5,000 BTC on a single day—an amount that mirrors a similar spike seen in December. The pattern of inflows from high-value wallets has raised questions about near-term selling pressure, especially amid a broader market lull.

In parallel, a broader cohort—holders in the six- to twelve-month age category—also moved 5,000 BTC to exchanges, marking the largest inflow from this segment since early 2024. Yet despite these near-term inflows, a counterpoint is evident: long-term holder behavior appears less aggressive, with spending output profit ratio (SOPR) sliding toward 1, its lowest reading in a year as BTC tested a year-to-date low near $73,900.

The tension between supply-side selling signals and longer-term holder exhaustion is a focal point for traders trying to gauge whether price weakness will endure or consolidate into a base. SOPR’s retreat toward equilibrium suggests fatigue among sellers in the longer horizon, a sign that a more durable bottom might require additional macro catalysts or clearer liquidity signals. The data, including real-time movement patterns and on-chain profitability metrics, remains a key input for analysts weighing the likelihood of a new accumulation window amid ongoing macro stress.

In the broader lens, the trend of exchange inflows paired with mixed on-chain signals mirrors what happened in prior cycles: weakness in price often coincides with attempts at price discovery amid shifting risk sentiment. The bond market’s stress indicators—how spreads widen or compress—tend to precede or align with crypto-market inflection points in ways that traders have tracked for years. As yields remain elevated and debt continues to accrue, the path of least resistance for Bitcoin may hinge on whether liquidity tightens enough to widen credit spreads, thereby unlocking a new phase of accumulation that could endure into the latter half of the year.

Looking ahead, investors will be watching two intertwined channels: the projected movements in credit-spread dynamics, and the cash-flow environment that governs risk appetite more broadly. If spreads begin a sustained widening trend, and liquidity tightens toward the 1.5%–2% range in coming weeks and months, BTC could see more pronounced bottom-building dynamics. Conversely, if credit conditions stay contained while yields drift higher, the downside might be tempered, and the market could pivot toward a range-bound phase that emphasizes accumulation rather than rapid sell-offs. The narrative remains contingent on macro developments, but the structural data—ranging from the debt mountain to the nuanced behavior of large BTC holders—provides a framework for parsing the next leg of the BTC story.

Why it matters

The observed disconnect between credit pricing and underlying market stress matters because it feeds into a broader risk-management framework for crypto investors. When traditional markets signal rising caution through widening stress or tighter liquidity, crypto assets can behave as a leveraged proxy—at times drawing demand from hedging flows, at other times succumbing to capitulation. The current data set—debt totals, yield levels, and evolving on-chain activity—offers a lens into how Bitcoin might respond as macro signals evolve. For users and builders in the ecosystem, the takeaway is to monitor liquidity proxies alongside price action, recognizing that a sustained shift in credit conditions could precede meaningful regime changes for BTC and related assets.

At the same time, the data remind market participants that crypto markets are not isolated from macro forces. Central bank policy expectations, debt dynamics, and financial-market stress indicators continue to weave a complex tapestry that shapes capital allocation. Understanding these interconnections can help traders anticipate whether the coming months will favor accumulation, consolidation, or renewed volatility as global liquidity conditions adapt to shifting fiscal and monetary landscapes.

What to watch next

Watch credit-spread movements toward the 1.5%–2% range through April, which could precede renewed BTC downside or a gradual bottoming process.
Monitor the trajectory of US debt and the 10-year yield, especially any sustained retreats or surprises that could alter liquidity dynamics.
Track on-chain SOPR levels and exchange-inflow patterns, especially among holders in the six- to twelve-month window, for signs of seller exhaustion or renewed demand.
Look for a potential accumulation window after July 2026, as suggested by macro-cycle analyses that link credit stress to longer-term price basins.

Sources & verification

ICE BofA US Corporate Option-Adjusted Spread data and related macro signals (BAMLC0A0CM) from the Federal Reserve’s data repository.
U.S. debt levels and the 10-year Treasury yield data points reflecting the January-end totals and current yields.
CryptoQuant insights on whale and holder activity and SOPR trends used to interpret near-term market dynamics.
Analyst commentary on liquidity and bond-market stress scenarios that inform Bitcoin’s potential accumulation phase.

Market reaction and macro signals shaping BTC trajectory

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has moved to test new support near the lower end of its recent range as macro indicators paint a mixed picture for risk assets. The corporate credit market continues to offer a strange juxtaposition: spreads are tight on the surface, yet the debt landscape remains heavy, and yields persist in a tight corridor. This bifurcation creates a testing ground for BTC, where a failure to sustain prices could reflect broader risk-off dynamics, while a stabilization or rebound could indicate the onset of an accumulation period as liquidity conditions slowly improve, or at least stop deteriorating.

Historical context provides a framework for interpretation. In past cycles, periods of widening credit stress often preceded a trough in BTC prices by a few months, followed by a phase of quiet accumulation as investors waited for clearer macro direction. The present discussion centers on whether current signals will produce a similar pattern or whether a new regime will emerge where BTC acts more as a hedge against macro risk rather than a tradable risk-on asset. The ongoing debate among market observers highlights a spectrum of possible outcomes, with some arguing that the next leg could hinge on how the bond market absorbs liquidity stress, while others point to on-chain signals that may foretell a more durable bottom forming in the months ahead.

The conversation also touches upon practical implications for market participants. If liquidity tightens and spreads widen, Bitcoin could see renewed volatility as traders reposition portfolios to weather the stress. If, on the other hand, the stress signals abate and the price finds support, the market could shift toward gradual accumulation—a phase that has historically offered a quieter backdrop for long-term investors to build positions. The data and commentary from industry analysts keep bridging macro indicators with on-chain realities, providing a nuanced view of the evolving crypto-market landscape.

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Crypto World

Wirex Powers Chimera Card Launch for Self-Custodial Bitcoin Spending

Published

4 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Wirex Powers Chimera Card Launch for Self-Custodial Bitcoin Spending

Wirex, a full-stack crypto card issuer and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) provider, today announced it is powering the launch of the Chimera Card — a Bitcoin-funded debit card that brings practical, everyday Bitcoin spending to users worldwide.

Wirex BaaS: One Integration, Complete Infrastructure

Through a single API integration, Chimera Wallet gains access to Wirex’s complete BaaS stack:

Non-Custodial Card Issuance — Virtual and physical debit cards that let users spend while maintaining full control of their assets. Includes seamless Apple Pay and Google Pay integration.
EUR & USD IBAN Accounts — Named virtual IBANs with SEPA Instant and Faster Payments connectivity for seamless fiat on/off ramping across 30+ countries.
Unified Balance Management — Real-time stablecoin-to-fiat conversion at point of sale, with zero prefunding requirements.
DeFi Yield with Enterprise Controls — Integrated yield opportunities on idle balances with full compliance and risk management.

“Our BaaS platform exists so that innovators like Chimera can focus on building great products instead of navigating payment infrastructure complexity,” said Daniel Rowlands, General Manager, Onchain Finance at Wirex.“With a single integration, Chimera gets non-custodial cards, banking rails, and DeFi — everything needed to launch a world-class Bitcoin spending experience globally. That’s the power of full-stack BaaS.”

Rapid Global Deployment

By leveraging Wirex BaaS, Chimera avoids the complexity of building payment infrastructure from scratch — no separate card issuers, banking partners, or compliance frameworks to manage. The result: a debit card accepted at 80+ million merchants worldwide, with users maintaining self-custody of their Bitcoin throughout.

The Chimera Card is a natural extension of our vision to make Bitcoin usable in everyday life without compromising self-custody,” said Simone De Gaspari, Chimera Chief Strategy Officer.

“By enabling direct wallet-based funding and pairing it with global debit card acceptance, we’re giving users a transparent way to spend Bitcoin while remaining in control of their assets.

Key Features of the Chimera Card

Direct wallet-based funding via Bitcoin or the Lightning Network
Global acceptance at any merchant accepting debit and credit cards worldwide
Truly self-custodial, with card balances held fully onchain with private keys managed by the end users — eliminating commingling risk and providing protection in the event of issuer insolvency
Bitcoin-to-fiat conversion at prevailing market rates with transparent pricing
Permanent 1.5% transaction fee for pre-order customers (vs. 2% standard), with zero monthly and top-up fees for life
Travel-friendly FX rates and ATM access for global spending
The card also features seamless Apple Pay and Google Pay integration for contactless payments, along with travel-friendly FX rates and ATM access for global spending.

Pre-Orders Now Open

Pre-orders for the Chimera Card are now open for a limited time. Customers who reserve their card during the pre-order period will receive permanent fee protection. Both virtual and physical cards are expected to be available by the end of Q1 2026.

Reservation link | Pre-order fee: 20 CHF

About Wirex

Wirex is a global payments platform serving both consumers and businesses, offering card-based payment products alongside card issuance and banking infrastructure for partners. For end users, Wirex provides payment cards and banking features designed for everyday spending.

For businesses, Wirex offers Banking-as-a-Service APIs, card issuance, and payment rails that enable digital platforms to launch compliant, globally accepted card programs. Trusted by over 7 million users since 2014, Wirex has processed $20 billion+ in transactions across 130 countries. As a principal Visa and Mastercard member, it makes crypto spendable anywhere — instantly and effortlessly.

About Chimera Wallet

Chimera Wallet is a next-generation Bitcoin wallet focused on usability, transparency, and real-world functionality. Built on Bitcoin’s VTXO technology, Chimera enables users to manage their Bitcoin, fund everyday spending through an integrated Visa card, access gift cards, and participate in referral programs — all within a single interface.

Chimera Wallet is designed to bridge native Bitcoin infrastructure with practical financial tools, making Bitcoin easier to use in everyday life without unnecessary complexity. For more information, visit chimerawallet.com.

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Crypto World

Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest Leans Into Crypto Dip With Fresh Bitmine And Circle Purchases

Published

12 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest kept buying into the crypto slump, adding to positions tied to digital assets as Bitcoin steadied in the mid $70,000s and sentiment stayed fragile.

Trade disclosures showed the firm’s ETFs bought about $3.25M of Bitmine Immersion Technologies on Tuesday, adding exposure to a stock that has tracked the broader slide in crypto-linked names.

The firm also added roughly $2.4M of Circle Internet Group through its funds, according to the same filings.

In addition, Ark picked up about $3.5M of Bullish, and it bought about $630,606 of Coinbase.

Ark Steps Up Buying As Bitcoin Slips And Risk Appetite Weakens

The purchases landed in a market still shaped by deleveraging and shaky risk appetite. Bitcoin had slipped below $80,000 earlier in the week, and the pullback kept pressure on crypto-related equities as investors reassessed how much risk they wanted to carry.

Ark’s Tuesday trades followed a heavier round of buying on Monday, when the firm disclosed about $24.8M of added exposure across several crypto-exposed names, with Robinhood and Bitmine among the biggest adds.

That earlier filing included roughly 235,077 shares of Robinhood valued at about $21.1M, alongside 274,358 shares of Bitmine worth roughly $6.2M, based on the disclosed figures.

Long-Term Crypto Thesis Drives Ark’s Buy-The-Dip Strategy

The buying fits Ark’s long-running view that steep drawdowns can create entry points in public markets linked to crypto infrastructure, trading and stablecoins, especially when liquidity thins and volatility shakes out fast money.

In its Big Ideas 2026 report, Ark laid out the upside it still sees in the sector. The firm said the market “could grow at an annual rate of ~61% to $28 trillion in 2030”.

The firm also expects Bitcoin to dominate that mix. “We believe Bitcoin could account for 70% of the market,” it said, with the remainder led by smart contract networks such as Ethereum and Solana.

The post Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest Leans Into Crypto Dip With Fresh Bitmine And Circle Purchases appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Crypto World

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Is the $100K “Moon Mission” Back on After the $74K Flush?

Published

19 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Is the $100K “Moon Mission” Back on After the $74K Flush?

Bitcoin (BTC) is trying to hold steady at $76,273 after dropping 3% in the past 24 hours, as the market reacts to a sharp increase in volatility. Even with the recent dip, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $562 million in new investments as buyers took advantage of lower prices, showing that large institutional investors remain active.

Daily trading volume has reached $67.8 billion, setting up a contest between traders betting against Bitcoin and companies looking to buy more.

LSE’s New King: SWC Becomes Britain’s Largest Bitcoin Holder

This week, The Smarter Web Company (SWC) made its official debut on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, marking a significant moment for UK finance. Now the largest publicly listed Bitcoin holder in Britain, the company’s treasury has 2,674 BTC, making it 29th in the world among public companies.

CEO Andrew Webley aims for the company to join the FTSE 250 by 2026, highlighting a major move toward corporate Bitcoin adoption in the UK.

ETF Warriors: The $562 Million “Dip Buy”

After four days in a row of withdrawals spot Bitcoin ETFs had a robust comeback on Monday bringing in $562 million in new investments. This shows that some investors are “buying the dip” as Bitcoin recovers from weekend weakness partially offsetting last week’s massive $1.5 billion sell-off.

Institutional Conviction: Analysts note that Bitcoin is currently trading below the ETF average cost basis of $84,000, which is acting as a magnetic support zone for major funds.

Recovery Rally: The recovery from weekend lows below $75,000 back toward the $79,000 mark helped reignite demand, though macro uncertainty around US monetary policy remains a looming headwind.

The Gold Token Surge: A $6 Billion Market Test

The market for digital gold tokens such as PAX Gold and Tether Gold has grown four times larger since late 2024.

Flight to Safety: As spot gold hit a record $5,594.82, tokenized gold demand surged, though a recent historic one-day decline in precious metals is putting these assets to the test.

Custody Concerns: Experts warn that extreme price swings could trigger a rush for physical gold, raising questions about audits and actual ownership in the digital space.

Bitcoin (BTC/USD) Technical Analysis: Bulls Defend the $74,000 “Line in the Sand”

Bitcoin price prediction is currently navigating a period of stabilization after a “liquidity hunt” pushed prices to a nine-month low of $74,500. Before the correction, BTC was coiled in a massive symmetrical triangle. While the breach below $80,000 weakened the immediate bullish case, the long-term resolution target remains a psychological $100,000.

***Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview***

The Daily RSI has dipped into the 28–30 range, which typically signals an oversold market ripe for a reversal. A bullish Stochastic crossover further suggests that selling exhaustion is setting in.

Immediate structural support is anchored at $74,420–$74,666, while a reclaim of the $78,400 (0.236 Fibo) level is necessary to retest the $84,000 overhead resistance.

Conclusion

The current market setup points to a healthy reset of over-leveraged positions. With the Smarter Web Company leading corporate adoption on the LSE and ETF inflows picking up again, the main reasons for a bullish outlook remain strong. If buyers can keep Bitcoin above $74,000, reaching $100,000 may be more achievable than it appears.

Bitcoin Hyper: The Next Evolution of BTC on Solana?

d for security, Bitcoin Hyper adds what it always lacked: Solana-level speed. The result: lightning-fast, low-cost smart contracts, decentralized apps, and even meme coin creation, all secured by Bitcoin.

Audited by Consult, the project emphasizes trust and scalability as adoption builds. And momentum is already strong. The presale has surpassed $31.2 million, with tokens priced at just $0.013675 before the next increase.

As Bitcoin activity climbs and demand for efficient BTC-based apps rises, Bitcoin Hyper stands out as the bridge uniting two of crypto’s biggest ecosystems. If Bitcoin built the foundation, Bitcoin Hyper could make it fast, flexible, and fun again.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Is the $100K “Moon Mission” Back on After the $74K Flush? appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Crypto World

Payward Revenues Soar 33% as Traders Flock to Kraken

Published

26 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Kraken’s parent company, Payward, reported 2025 revenue of $2.2 billion, a 33% increase from the prior year, driven by a combination of higher trading activity and strong performance from newly integrated businesses. For the year, total transaction volumes reached $2 billion, up 34% year over year, signaling robust activity across the platform as it leveraged a strategic wave of acquisitions to broaden its revenue base. Payward described the mix of income as well balanced, with about 47% derived from trading revenue and the remaining 53% from asset-based and other sources. The results come as the group advances toward a potential public listing after filing confidentially for an IPO in November, underscoring a broader push to diversify beyond traditional exchange services into broader financial technology offerings.

Key takeaways

2025 revenue rose to $2.2 billion, up 33% from $1.6 billion in 2024, reflecting gains across trading and asset-backed activities.
Total transaction volumes climbed to $2 billion, a 34% year-over-year increase, signaling stronger platform usage.
Revenue mix remained balanced: roughly 47% from trading activity and 53% from asset-based and other revenues, indicating diversified income streams.
Strategic acquisitions—NinjaTrader, Breakout, Small Exchange, Capitalise.ai, and Backed—expanded product offerings and supported a 119% rise in daily average revenue trades.
Assets on the platform grew to $48.2 billion, with funded accounts increasing 50% to 5.7 million, highlighting growing user engagement and custody depth.

Sentiment: Bullish

Market context: The results align with a crypto ecosystem where exchange activity remains sensitive to macro trends and regulatory developments, while diversified product lines help firms capture a broader share of trading and asset-management activity. Payward’s performance underscores a shift toward modular offerings and cross-segment efficiency within a consolidating market.

Why it matters

The 2025 performance marks a notable inflection for Payward as it monetizes scale and breadth. By deriving nearly half of its revenue from trading while more than half comes from asset-based and ancillary services, the group appears to be hedging against volatility in a single segment. This balance matters for users and investors who seek a platform capable of weathering cyclical swings in crypto markets while continuing to generate recurring income from tokenized assets, derivatives, and automated trading tools.

Central to this shift is Payward’s active pursuit of product-level specialization. The company has drawn inspiration from tech giants in how it segments its offerings so each product tackles a distinct customer segment. This approach—designed to boost usage by making each product a tailored solution—addresses both retail and institutional needs, from advanced traders seeking derivative exposure to users exploring tokenized stock concepts. The acquisitions carried out over 2025 are the operational backbone of that strategy, providing Payward with more tools to engage users across geographies and risk appetites.

The 119% increase in daily average revenue trades underscores the impact of integrating platforms like NinjaTrader and Breakout, which broaden trading capabilities and expand the client base. While NinjaTrader’s ecosystem emphasizes futures and active trading, Breakout adds a proprietary-trading edge that helps Payward capture higher-margin activity. Together, these assets contribute to a more resilient revenue engine by feeding more orders through Payward’s systems and enabling a wider set of use cases for clients. The full effect of these acquisitions—along with Small Exchange and Capitalise.ai—appears in the asset mix and in the expansion of both trading and automation-enabled workflows on the platform.

Beyond trading desks, Payward’s foray into tokenized assets and AI-driven automation signals a broader strategic convergence. The purchase of Backed—a company active in tokenized stocks and the backbone of the xStocks platform—signals Payward’s intent to offer institutional-grade access to tokenized equity products. This kind of diversification aligns with industry trends toward hybrid models that blend traditional financial instruments with digital representations, expanding the addressable market for crypto-enabled finance. The company’s asset base, reported at $48.2 billion, and its burgeoning funded account base—5.7 million—indicate a growing footprint that could attract further liquidity and potential listing interest from a broader investor audience.

In addition to the earnings figures, Payward’s leadership emphasized a long-term, risk-adjusted throughput strategy over chasing short-term cyclic metrics. Arjun Sethi, Payward’s co-CEO, described a path focused on compound efficiency across a single system rather than pursuing a handful of standalone products. This philosophy suggests a framework where future growth hinges on the integration of existing platforms, the cross-pollination of product capabilities, and the sustained scaling of operations across multiple asset classes and jurisdictions. The company’s public-listing ambitions, having progressed to a confidential IPO filing in November, indicate that Payward seeks to translate its internal efficiencies into external value for a wider pool of investors while continuing to evolve its platform economics.

The disclosed results also reflect a broader industry pattern where sizable crypto-focused platforms are layering revenue streams to reduce reliance on a single line item, all while expanding product suites to attract diverse participant cohorts. The highlighted acquisitions demonstrate Payward’s appetite for strategic bets that can be integrated into a unified operating model, enabling cadence and scale without sacrificing the quality of user experience.

Looking ahead, Payward’s management continues to frame growth as a systemic improvement—an emphasis on operational efficiency, cross-product usage, and geographic diversification rather than chasing isolated performance metrics. The confidential IPO filing from November remains a key milestone, offering a framework for how Payward intends to position its diversified platform to investors. The earnings narrative, underpinned by rising assets and a widening product footprint, suggests a company that is betting on a longer horizon where liquidity, product breadth, and disciplined integration drive sustainable returns rather than a single blockbuster quarter.

What to watch next

Progress and timing of the confidential IPO filing: any updates on the path to a public listing and the anticipated markets open date.
Performance of key acquisitions (NinjaTrader, Breakout, Small Exchange, Capitalise.ai, Backed) and their contribution to trading volumes and revenue mix in 2026.
Trends in assets under custody and funded accounts, with any new geography or client segments adding material volume.
Regulatory developments and macro conditions that could influence liquidity, market structure, or crypto-adjacent financial products.

Sources & verification

Payward/ Kraken 2025 financials report, detailing revenue, volumes, and the asset mix.
Confidential IPO filing status and coverage in November, outlining the company’s listing trajectory.
Breakout acquisition and related product diversification mentioned in Kraken’s filings.
Small Exchange and Capitalise.ai acquisitions and their impact on the platform’s trading and automation capabilities.
Backed and tokenization-related developments within the Payward ecosystem and their role in the xStocks framework.

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Crypto World

XRP holders can now earn yield or borrow against FXRP without selling their holdings

Published

33 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

XRP holders can now earn yield or borrow against FXRP without selling their holdings

The Flare blockchain has introduced lending and borrowing for XRP-linked assets through an integration with Morpho, a crypto lending protocol that runs across multiple Ethereum compatible chains.

The update lets users lend and borrow with FXRP, a version of XRP designed for use on Flare, the team behind the blockchain said on Monday. Flare pitched the move as a step toward giving XRP holders more ways to earn yield and use their tokens beyond holding or trading.

For years, XRP has had fewer decentralized finance (DeFi) options than tokens built on smart contract networks. Flare has been trying to change that by building tools that let XRP be used in onchain apps while keeping the original XRP on the XRP Ledger.

FXRP holders can now deposit their tokens to earn interest, or use FXRP as collateral to borrow other assets such as stablecoins.

Flare said these positions can also be combined with other features on the network, including staking and yield products, for users who want more active strategies.

Morpho works differently from older lending apps that mix many assets into one shared pool. Each lending market is set up with one collateral asset and one borrowed asset, and the rules for that market are set when it is created. This structure is meant to keep problems in one market from spilling into others.

The first access point is Mystic, a separate app that shows the available vaults and lets users deposit funds or borrow against collateral. Flare said more ways to access the markets may be added later, including through Morpho’s main app.

Some vaults are being offered by independent curators, including Clearstar. These vaults include options backed by FXRP, Flare’s own token FLR and USDT0.

The rollout is part of a broader push by several networks to bring lending and borrowing to large token communities that have mostly stayed outside of onchain finance.

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Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Slips 3% To $76K As Asian Stocks Track US Tech-Led Selloff

Published

41 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Slips 3% To $76K As Asian Stocks Track US Tech-Led Selloff

Bitcoin slipped 3% on Wednesday to $76,000 as investors carried a sour mood into the Asia session after a tech-led sell-off hit US benchmarks and encouraged a shift toward more economically sensitive industries.

In early trade, Japan and Australia opened lower, and futures pointed to losses in Hong Kong.

Market snapshot

Bitcoin: $78,719, up 2%
Ether: $2,334, up 1.8%
XRP: $1.61, up 0.5%
Total crypto market cap: $2.72 trillion, up 2.6%

Software Rout Drags US Indexes Lower As Rotation Away From Big Tech Deepens

Overnight, falling software names pulled down the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100, even as most stocks in the S&P 500 finished higher and value shares continued to outpace growth in 2026 amid a broader rotation away from the “Magnificent Seven”.

The damage started with legal software and data services. Experian, London Stock Exchange Group and Thomson Reuters tumbled, and the selling spread across the wider software sector, sending the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF down about 4.5%.

The slide picked up pace late in the session after Advanced Micro Devices sank in after-hours trade on a disappointing sales forecast. Traders also stayed cautious ahead of earnings from Alphabet and Amazon later this week, as investors demanded clearer payoffs from costly AI spending.

Crypto Markets Mirror Global Risk Aversion As Bitcoin Slips

Crypto traders watched the same risk-off undercurrent spill into digital assets. Bitcoin fell for a second day and extended an almost four-month slide, and investor Michael Burry warned that a drop through key thresholds could trigger cascading liquidations and wipe out value.

Tony Severino, market analyst at YouHodler, said Bitcoin remains locked in a tightening range, and he pointed to a signal building on longer timeframes.

“Bollinger Bands on the monthly chart are the tightest they have ever been, reflecting an extreme level of volatility compression,” he said. “At the same time, Bitcoin continues to trade below the monthly basis line, with only days left before a monthly close that would confirm acceptance beneath it.”

Across markets, the shared theme this week looks less about direction and more about pressure building under the surface. Currency volatility has risen. The dollar has softened.

Software Stocks Slide As AI Competition Spurs Fresh Investor Jitters

Metals have held extreme levels without a clear break, and Bitcoin has stayed stuck in one of the tightest volatility regimes in its history, conditions that tend to frustrate short-term traders while signalling markets are working off time rather than trend, he said.

On Wall Street, the focus tightened on software makers seen as vulnerable to AI-driven competition after Anthropic rolled out a legal tool for its Claude chatbot. Nvidia and Microsoft each fell almost 3% as the S&P 500 software and services index slid 3.8% for a fifth straight session.

Away from tech, pockets of the market showed more resilience. FedEx extended a record-breaking rally, and Walmart pushed past $1 trillion in market value. Palantir jumped almost 7% after strong quarterly results, while PepsiCo gained 4.9% after announcing price cuts on core brands like Lay’s and Doritos.

In other moves, oil climbed after the US Navy shot down an Iranian drone heading toward an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

Federal Reserve officials kept the rate outlook in play. Tom Barkin said policy easing has bolstered the jobs market as officials turn back to getting inflation to target, and Stephen Miran said the absence of strong price pressures means rates need to be lowered again this year.

The post Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Slips 3% To $76K As Asian Stocks Track US Tech-Led Selloff appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Payward Revenues Jump 33% as Traders Flock to Kraken

Published

50 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Payward Revenues Jump 33% as Traders Flock to Kraken

Crypto exchange Kraken’s parent company, Payward, reported 33% revenue growth in 2025 as transaction volumes rose and the business capitalized on its acquisitions.

The company’s revenues rose to $2.2 billion last year, up from $1.6 billion in 2024 due to “broad-based performance across trading and asset-based businesses,” with total transaction volumes rising 34% over the year to $2 billion, Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi said in a report on Tuesday.

He added that revenues were “well balanced,” with around 47% coming from trading-based revenue and 53% from asset-based and other revenues.

The report comes as investors closely watch out for Kraken’s public launch, after the company confidentially filed for an initial public offering in November.

Acquisitions helped diversify income

Sethi said Payward’s acquisitions in 2025 helped boost its revenues, and it has taken inspiration from tech giants such as Meta and Amazon to separate its products to increase their usage, allowing “each product to be designed for a specific customer segment.”

Last year, Payward acquired the futures trading platform NinjaTrader, the prop trading firm Breakout, the derivatives trading platform Small Exchange and the trading automation software Capitalise.ai.

Payward also acquired Backed last month, a company operating in the tokenized stocks space that backs the popular xStocks platform.

Sethi said these acquisitions, especially NinjaTrader and Breakout, led to a 119% boost in daily average revenue trades.

The report added that assets on the platform saw an 11% increase to $48.2 billion, while funded accounts grew 50% to 5.7 million, he added.