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Mother of Olympics TV host kidnapped for bitcoin ransom

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Mother of Olympics TV host kidnapped for bitcoin ransom

Nancy Guthrie, the 84 year-old mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, was kidnapped from her rural Tuscon, Arizona home on February 1. While law enforcement has refused to confirm or deny whether two ransom notes sent to TMZ, KOLD, and KGUN were real, the media is operating under the assumption that they are.

The notes included two deadlines — one that passed without any updates and another that TMZ states has “an element of ‘or else’” — and demanded $6 million worth of bitcoin (BTC).

Media outlets haven’t clarified if the abductors are demanding a specific amount of BTC or a specific amount valued in dollars. If they’re demanding a specific number of BTC, the recent fall in the price could actually suggest that more than $6 million worth of the cryptocurrency was originally demanded.

As of today, $6 million would equate to roughly 85 BTC, on February 1, it would be 75-76 BTC.

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Savannah Guthrie has hosted NBC’s coverage of three recent Olympic games, however, she’s understandably unable to host this year.

During the opening ceremony, three hosts acknowledged her difficult situation and wished her well.

A hoax and a second note

In a confusing set of circumstances, a man from California sent the Guthries a fake ransom demand shortly before the likely real kidnappers, who had originally stated they wouldn’t contact any media or the family in the first note, sent a second ransom note.

A local reporter at KOLD spoke to CNN and stated that the note was shorter than the first and seemed to be an attempt to provide some sort of proof they still had Guthrie in their possession.

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Reporters have suggested that the emailed ransom demands are extremely secure and unlikely to be traced.

Read more: Crypto execs hiring private security after high-profile kidnappings, report

Sloppy or brilliant?

It is difficult to establish whether the Guthrie abductors are brilliant, investigators have been sloppy, or some combination of the two.

Surprises have included that there has reportedly been no footage obtained of either the perpetrators or the vehicle(s) in which they escaped, no suggestion that a so-called “proof-of-life” has been shared with the family, and that the abductors used BTC instead of a coin that is easier to shield, such as Monero or Zcash.

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It’s unknown if the kidnappers have demanded the BTC be sent to a single wallet address or want it broken up, or if they believe they know an exchange or mixer that would reliably accept the BTC and not be easily traced.

Damning for law enforcement is the fact that they have combed through the crime scene in Tuscon at least three times and have yet to come up with any leads or new information to share with the public.

A deadline and an introduction

It’s still unclear which timezone the 5:00pm deadline refers to or what threat is being levelled. The Guthries have sent out a distressing, public video in which they speak directly to the kidnappers.

“We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way that we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

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While there’s little doubt that this horrifying crime has had a profound effect on the Guthrie family, Savannah Guthrie’s co-workers at Today, and others close to her, it’s also becoming more clear that entirely new demographics of the US population are about to be introduced to one of the absolute darkest sides to crypto.

The Today show averages almost 3 million viewers a day, with those who regularly tune in skewing older.

This means that an ongoing and growing global problem — that crypto is enabling kidnappers and extortionists to set up scam call centers or abduct the mother of a wealthy celebrity — will begin to finally worry older Americans.

Perhaps a new issue for the “Crypto President.”

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Not surprising, but shocking

Anyone who’s been following crypto for the past several years has heard about pig butchering.

The scam works by luring victims, usually from developing nations like China and Thailand, to vast scam call center campuses almost always located in Cambodia, Laos, or Myanmar.

Once the victim arrives, they’re imprisoned in apartment blocks and offices where they’re forced to cold text and call Westerners and romance them in a long con to get crypto.

Read more: Bitcoin torture suspects granted bail in Manhattan court

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An underreported, but important, element of the pig butchering scam is that victims are often able to contact family members to demand a ransom for their eventual release.

While an outsized ransom, such as the $6 million in BTC being demanded by the Nancy Guthrie kidnappers, is never asked for, the numbers are still high enough as to be out of reach for an average Chinese or Thai family.

This leads to victims languishing in the compounds for months or years at a time, but also leads pig butcherers to a secondary, less profitable source of income: kidnapping.

In this sense, perhaps the Guthrie kidnapping, while equal parts disturbing, terrible, and disheartening, is an important spotlight on what is now becoming a problem for everyone: cryptocurrency providing kidnappers a new, innovative way to actually get away with it.

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CryptoGames Advances Transparency and Mathematical Fairness in iGaming

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CryptoGames Advances Transparency and Mathematical Fairness in iGaming

[PRESS RELEASE – Willemstad, Curaçao, February 9th, 2026]

CryptoGames announced that players on its platform have placed over 9.5 billion Dice bets, marking a notable usage milestone and reflecting consistent engagement with its provably fair gaming system. The volume of verified wagers underscores the platform’s ongoing focus on transparency, statistical fairness, and game integrity.

Founded in 2020, CryptoGames was built around a clear guiding principle: to offer a gambling environment where fairness can be independently verified, odds are fully understood, and competition takes place on equal terms. Rather than relying on large libraries of third-party games with opaque mechanics, CryptoGames delivers a focused portfolio of internally developed titles, each engineered with some of the lowest house edges available online.

House Edge as a Foundation of Long-Term Value

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In gambling mathematics, house edge defines the casino’s statistical advantage over time. While short-term outcomes can vary, long-term results are shaped almost entirely by this single metric. Even small differences in house edge can have a measurable impact when applied across a high volume of bets.

CryptoGames emphasizes transparency in house edge as a core aspect of its platform design. The platform offers low-margin games, which may result in higher value retention for players over extended periods of play, compared to traditional online casinos where house edges typically range from 4% to 10%.

In-House Development Enables Competitive Margins

All games on CryptoGames are developed internally. This approach removes the need for third-party licensing fees and external profit margins, allowing the platform to operate efficiently while offering leaner house edges.

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Standard House Edge Across Games

CryptoGames maintains consistent and competitive margins across its game selection:

  • Dice – 1.0%
  • DiceV2 – 1.0%
  • Keno – 1.0%
  • Minesweeper – 1.0%
  • Blackjack – 1.25%
  • Roulette – 2.7%
  • Plinko – 1.72%
  • Slot – 1.97%

The Lottery game stands out with a 0.0% house edge, an uncommon structure that reinforces CryptoGames’ commitment to fairness and transparency.

By comparison, these margins offer players a measurable advantage over conventional casino offerings over time.

Provably Fair Technology Built Into Every Bet

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Transparency is reinforced through full implementation of provably fair gaming across the CryptoGames platform.

Before each wager, the server seed is hashed and presented to the player. Once the bet concludes, the original seed is revealed, allowing independent verification of the outcome using the published algorithm.

By design, this eliminates one of the most common trust concerns in online gambling.

Broad Cryptocurrency Support and Flexible Access

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CryptoGames supports betting with 14 cryptocurrencies, accommodating a wide range of blockchain users.

Through ChangeNow integration, users can also deposit more than 50 additional altcoins, which are automatically converted into supported assets. For those new to crypto, CryptoGames integrates the Swapped fiat-to-crypto gateway, enabling purchases via credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Ongoing Rewards Designed for Consistent Engagement

CryptoGames emphasizes long-term engagement through recurring rewards rather than one-time promotional offers.

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Monthly Wagering Contest With Major Prize Pools

The platform hosts a monthly wagering contest offering rewards of up to $500,000 USD, depending on market conditions.

Leaderboards are separated by cryptocurrency, ensuring fair competition among players using the same assets. Participants also receive lottery tickets throughout the month, adding additional reward opportunities tied to consistent participation.

VIP Program Focused on Statistical Advantage

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CryptoGames’ VIP program is tailored for high-volume and competitive players.

VIP Benefits

  • Reduced dice house edge of 0.8%
  • Removal of server-side betting delays
  • Increased daily exchange limits up to 1 BTC
  • Access to a private VIP chat room
  • VIP chat identification
  • $100 Bitcoin birthday bonus (Tier 3 KYC required)
  • Additional faucet level
  • Monthly voucher distributions

Players who maintain VIP status for three consecutive months retain most benefits even if they do not immediately requalify, reinforcing long-term loyalty.

Optimized User Experience and Community Engagement

CryptoGames delivers a clean, high-performance interface designed for speed and efficiency. Betting remains smooth even at high volumes. An active chatbox, blog, and forum further support transparency and community interaction.

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A Platform Built for Fairness, Strategy, and Confidence

With more than 9.5 billion Dice bets placed, CryptoGames continues to demonstrate the scalability and reliability of its provably fair systems. Through in-house development, transparent odds, extensive crypto support, and competitive reward structures, CryptoGames sets a disciplined standard in the crypto gambling space.

For users focused on long-term value, verifiable fairness, and confident decision-making, CryptoGames represents a clear and data-driven approach to crypto gaming.

About CryptoGames

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CryptoGames is a cryptocurrency-focused iGaming platform founded in 2020, built around the principles of transparency, mathematical fairness, and player-verifiable outcomes. The platform offers a curated selection of internally developed games with consistently low house edges, supported by provably fair technology that allows every wager to be independently verified. By combining in-house development, broad cryptocurrency support, and data-driven game design, CryptoGames provides a gambling environment designed for informed decision-making and long-term value.

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Cardano Price Near Breakout as Selling Hits 6-Month Low

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Bullish Pattern

The Cardano price is down nearly 4% over the past 24 hours and remains about 33% lower over the past month. Despite this weakness, several technical and on-chain signals suggest that selling pressure is fading.

The share of ADA supply in profit has dropped by roughly 75% since January, sharply reducing profit-taking incentives. At the same time, a potential reversal pattern is forming on lower time frames. Together, these signals raise a key question: is this Charles Hoskinson-led token preparing for a rebound toward $0.34, or is this just another failed recovery attempt?

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Inverse Pattern And Divergence Hint At Buyers Regaining Control

On the 4-hour chart, Cardano is forming an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern. This structure often appears near local bottoms and signals that sellers may be losing control. It consists of a left shoulder, a deeper central low, and a higher right shoulder.

In this case, the neckline is sloping downward. A downward-sloping neckline makes breakouts harder because buyers must push through falling resistance. For this pattern to activate, ADA needs a clear four-hour close above the $0.275–$0.280 zone.

A momentum indicator, the Relative Strength Index (RSI), also supports this early recovery attempt. Between January 31 and February 9, Cardano seems to be printing lower lows on price, while the Relative Strength Index or RSI is printing higher lows. This developing bullish divergence shows that selling pressure is weakening even as price tests new short-term lows.

The divergence signal would confirm if the next ADA price candle forms above $0.259.

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Bullish Pattern
Bullish Pattern: TradingView

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

In simple terms, sellers are becoming less aggressive. Buyers are slowly stepping in. But this setup only works if demand continues to build. Without follow-through, these patterns usually fail. That brings attention to whether sellers still have strong reasons to exit.

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Profit-Taking and Coin Activity Have Collapsed, Reducing Sell Pressure

On-chain data shows that selling incentives have dropped sharply over the past month.

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The percentage of total ADA supply in profit has fallen from above 33% in mid-January to about 8% in early February. That represents a decline of roughly 75%. It places profitable supply close to its lowest level in six months.

Profitability Drops
Profitability Drops: Santiment

When so few holders are in profit, fewer investors are motivated to sell into small rallies. Most are either at break-even or sitting on losses. This reduces natural selling pressure.

Another supportive signal comes from spent coins age data, which tracks how many coins, across old and young cohorts, are being moved. During the February 6 sell-off, coin activity surged to around 168 million ADA. Since then, it has dropped to roughly 92 million. That is a decline of about 45%.

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Spent Coins Dip post ADA Crash
Spent Coins Dip post ADA Crash: Santiment

This shows that long-term holders are no longer rushing to move or sell their coins. Panic-driven exits have slowed. Many investors are choosing to wait. When falling profit supply aligns with declining coin movement, it usually means distribution is easing. This does not guarantee a rally, but it creates space for one to develop.

With fewer motivated sellers, the next move depends mainly on buyer strength.

Volume and Cardano Price Levels Will Decide If $0.34 Comes Into Play

Despite improving structure and weaker selling pressure, buying strength remains limited.

On-Balance Volume, which tracks whether volume supports rising or falling prices, is still trending lower. It remains below a descending trendline. This shows that recent rebounds have not been supported by sustained demand.

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The last major surge in buying happened on February 6, when ADA rallied from near $0.220 to around $0.285 in one day, almost 30%. Volume expanded sharply during that move. Since then, participation has cooled.

For a true breakout to develop, volume must expand again and push OBV above its downtrend. Without that, rallies are likely to fade. Key ADA price levels reflect this balance.

The first major resistance sits near $0.275. A confirmed break above this zone would validate the inverse pattern. Above that, $0.285 becomes the next hurdle. Clearing both would open the path toward $0.346, almost 30% from the pattern’s neckline.

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Cardano Price Analysis
Cardano Price Analysis: TradingView

On the downside, $0.259 is critical support. A break below this level would weaken the right shoulder and damage the bullish setup. Full invalidation occurs below $0.220, which would place the price back under the pattern’s base.

In simple terms, Cardano is approaching a decision point. Selling incentives have dropped about 75%. Coin activity has cooled. Momentum is improving. But volume has not yet confirmed buyer control.

If strong participation returns and $0.275 breaks, a move toward $0.34 ($0.346 to be exact) becomes realistic. If not, the ADA price risks drifting lower again.

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Axie Infinity price jumps 15% after bounce, dead cat bounce risk remains

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A single Axie Infinity (AXS) token coin placed in front of a blurred cryptocurrency candlestick trading chart background.
A single Axie Infinity (AXS) token coin placed in front of a blurred cryptocurrency candlestick trading chart background.
  • AXS jumps over 15% after bouncing off $1.20 support amid rising trading activity.
  • bAXS rollout and higher volume fuel rally, but broader market sentiment stays weak.
  • Failure above $1.60 may signal a dead cat bounce, with downside risk toward $0.80.

Gaming token Axie Infinity is up by more than 15% in the past 24 hours as bulls show a notable bounce off the $1.20 support level.

The AXS price ticked up amid heightened trader activity, with the intraday surge pushing the cryptocurrency towards the top 100 by market capitalization.

However, with sentiment across the market still fragile, the big question is whether the upward move signals renewed bullish momentum or merely a fleeting “dead cat bounce”.

Why is Axie Infinity price up today?

AXS is among the top altcoin gainers with double-digit advances on February 9, 2026, posting gains that outpace all top 10 coins by market cap.

This outperformance coincides with Bitcoin’s steady hold above $70,000, bolstered by fresh institutional buying such as Binance’s acquisition of 4,225 BTC as it looks to convert its $1 billion SAFU Fund into BTC.

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While the buying, much like Strategy’s (formerly known as MicoStrategy) BTC purchase over the past weeks, has not triggered bulls, stability has benefited small altcoins.

Notably, trader interest in AXS has also spiked following recent announcements from Sky Mavis, the developer behind Axie Infinity, regarding the rollout of bAXS.

The token offers in-ecosystem utility as well as staking and gameplay rewards, and bulls have shown excitement since the news.

Axie Infinity price outlook: Momentum or dead cat bounce?

AXS recently surged to highs near $3 earlier in the year, before plummeting sharply amid last week’s market bloodbath.

The intraday gains of over 15% has therefore emboldened bulls, who targeted strength above $1.50.

Accompanied by a 250% spike in trading volume, AXS rose to above $1.56 as of writing.

The 4-hour chart shows a potential falling wedge breakout, with the RSI and MACD signaling room for more gains.

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Axie Infinity Price Chart
Axie Infinity price chart by TradingView

However, the broader crypto market remains mired in bearish sentiment.

Weakness, despite the impending bAXS airdrop, also saw bears retest the downtrend line from above $4.54.

Losses may mean fleeting gains or what analysts call a “dead cat bounce” scenario.

The outlook of the RSI on the 4-hour chart suggests fresh selling may strengthen this prospect.

In this case, a breakdown below the pivotal $1.20 support could accelerate downside momentum, potentially driving AXS toward lows of $0.80.

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Prior accumulation zones sit here and might offer relief.

On the downside, a decisive close above $1.60 could invalidate the short-term bearish setup and allow buyers to test horizontal resistance near $3.00.

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How 2 Wallet Errors and Phishing Attacks Cost Crypto Users $62M

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How 2 Wallet Errors and Phishing Attacks Cost Crypto Users $62M


Two crypto users lost $12.25 million and $50 million after copying incorrect wallet addresses.

In January, a crypto user lost $12.25 million by copying the wrong wallet address. In December as well, another one ended up losing $50 million in a similar way.

Together, the two incidents cost $62 million, according to the popular Web3 security solution, Scam Sniffer.

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Crypto Blunders

Signature phishing attacks also surged in January. In fact, Scam Sniffer found that $6.27 million was stolen from 4,741 victims, which is a 207% increase from December. The largest cases involved $3.02 million from SLVon and XAUt via permit/increaseAllowance, and $1.08 million from aEthLBTC via permit.

Two wallets alone accounted for 65% of all phishing losses.

Address poisoning is a scam where attackers send small transactions from wallet addresses that closely resemble real ones, hoping users copy the wrong address from their transaction history. This can lead to funds being sent directly to scammers by mistake. Signature phishing further increases the risk by tricking users into signing malicious approvals that give attackers permission to move funds later. As such, these tactics rely on social engineering and human error, and may make even experienced users vulnerable.

In November last year, a crypto holder lost over $3 million worth of PYTH tokens after mistakenly sending funds to a scammer’s wallet. The error occurred when the victim copied a fake deposit address from their transaction history.

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Blockchain analysts at Lookonchain said the attacker created a lookalike address matching the first four characters of the real wallet and sent a tiny SOL transaction to appear legitimate. The victim later transferred 7 million PYTH tokens without fully verifying the address and fell victim to an address poisoning attack. The transferred stash was worth about $3.08 million at that time.

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Coordinated Multisig Scam Attempt

Amidst the growing frequency of such attacks, the non-custodial wallet, Safe, formerly known as Gnosis Safe, also issued a warning for its users about a large-scale address poisoning and social engineering campaign targeting multisig wallets. According to the platform, attackers created thousands of lookalike Safe addresses to trick users into sending funds to the wrong destination. It disclosed that the incident was not a protocol exploit, infrastructure breach, or smart contract vulnerability.

Safe identified around 5,000 malicious addresses, which have now been flagged and removed from the Safe Wallet interface to reduce the risk of accidental fund transfers.

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McHenry predicts fast crypto deal as Witt brokers talks

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McHenry predicts fast crypto deal as Witt brokers talks

Speaking on CoinDesk Live at the Ondo Summit in New York City, former House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry and White House advisor Patrick Witt said a sweeping crypto market structure bill could pass within months.

Latest developments: Optimism is rising across Washington and industry.

  • McHenry and Witt discussed the growing momentum for landmark crypto legislation, even as debates intensify over yield, DeFi, and ethics.
  • McHenry predicted a finalized market structure bill could reach the president’s desk by Memorial Day.
  • Witt said President Trump has personally prioritized the legislation following passage of the Genius Act.

Inside the White House push: Negotiations are narrowing.

  • Witt said a recent White House–brokered meeting on stablecoin yield surfaced “new areas of agreement” while clearly defining remaining red lines.
  • He said the administration’s goal is to move from high-level principles to drafting actual legislative language.
  • Witt emphasized his role is to broker a deal that can survive both Senate and House scrutiny.

The sticking point: Stablecoin yield is the biggest unresolved issue.

  • Witt said there is broad agreement on banning deceptive practices, including marketing stablecoins as FDIC-insured deposits.
  • The dispute centers on whether centralized exchanges should be allowed to pay passive yield on idle stablecoin balances.
  • Banks, especially community lenders, see yield as a threat to deposit funding, while crypto firms argue yield drives platform engagement.

Why DeFi matters: McHenry says it’s foundational.

  • McHenry said market structure legislation “doesn’t work without DeFi.”
  • He argued decentralization is the source of crypto’s efficiency, transparency and lower costs compared with traditional finance.
  • McHenry said tokenized lending products are already cheaper than traditional securities lending, signaling strong market demand.

The politics: Ethics concerns loom but may not block passage.

  • McHenry said ethics rules should apply permanently to all officials, not target any single administration or family.
  • Witt said some Democratic proposals would have imposed sweeping restrictions on officials’ spouses and were “grossly over-scoped.”
  • Both said a narrower ethics compromise could still unlock bipartisan support, though Republicans could move the bill forward on partisan votes if needed.

What comes next: A compressed legislative timeline.

  • Witt said drafting teams are now “trading paper” and working through specific statutory language.
  • He said the White House is pushing banks and crypto firms to negotiate in good faith.
  • McHenry said Senate action could come before Easter, setting up a rapid sprint toward final passage.

Watch CoinDesk Live from Ondo Summit here.

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Bitcoin, Ethereum, Crypto News & Price Indexes

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Cryptocurrencies, Federal Reserve, Dollar, Government, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading above $70,000 as traders attempt to stabilize price action following the sharp sell-off last Friday, which briefly pushed BTC below $60,000 and erased nearly $10,000 in a single session.

Onchain data shows long-term holders (LTHs) reduced exposure at the fastest pace since December 2024, but the total supply held by long-term investors continued to rise in 2026, a divergence that may indicate traders repositioning and what may prove to be discounted Bitcoin.

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin long-term holders recorded a –245,000 BTC net position change last week, the largest daily outflow since December 2024.

  • Despite selling, LTH supply rose to 13.81 million from 13.63 million BTC in 2026, showing investors believe the sell-off generated discounted buying opportunities.

Cryptocurrencies, Federal Reserve, Dollar, Government, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Bitcoin distribution rises, but supply continues to age

Glassnode data shows that the BTC LTH net-position change over 30 days reduced exposure by 245,000 BTC last Thursday, marking a cycle-relative extreme in daily distribution. Similar spikes in LTH net position change appeared during the corrective phases in 2019 and mid-2021, when prices consolidated rather than transitioning into downtrends.

Cryptocurrencies, Federal Reserve, Dollar, Government, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin long-term holder net position change. Source: Glassnode

Meanwhile, CryptoQuant data shows total LTH supply increased to 13.81 million from 13.63 million BTC in 2026, despite the ongoing distribution. This divergence reflects the time-based nature of LTH classification. 

As the short-term holders reduce trading activity during periods of uncertainty, supply continues to age into long-term status. As a result, the LTH supply can rise even while older cohorts sell.

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Cryptocurrencies, Federal Reserve, Dollar, Government, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Price Analysis, Market Analysis
Bitcoin long-term holder flow. Source: CryptoQuant

The long-term holder spent-output profit ratio (SOPR) regained a position above 1 on Monday, signaling recovery after a period of realized losses. With Bitcoin above the overall realized price of $55,000, this condition may be aligned with a base or bottom building phase. 

Related: Bitcoin whales took advantage of $60K price dip, scooping up 40K BTC

Macro conditions continue to dominate near-term risk

Macroeconomic factors may remain the main driver of near-term volatility, with January U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data due Wednesday amid elevated policy uncertainty.

Markets currently assign 82.2% odds of no rate cut at the March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, according to CME FedWatch, reflecting persistent inflation pressure and a restrictive policy outlook.

Uncertainty around Kevin Warsh’s anticipated appointment as the US Federal Reserve chair has added pressure to risk assets. Elevated treasury yields and tight financial conditions continue to pressure risk assets, with the US 10-year yield holding near multi-month highs of 4.22% and credit spreads remaining compressed. Periods of high real yields have coincided with lower crypto liquidity and muted BTC spot demand.

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Meanwhile, the US dollar index (DXY) has dropped below 97 on Monday, after rebounding from January lows, remaining a key source of volatility for Bitcoin.

Related: BTC traders wait for $50K bottom: Five things to know in Bitcoin this week