Crypto World
Liquid Staking Protocol Lido Launches stVaults on Mainnet to Expand Ethereum Staking
Ethereum-based liquid staking giant Lido contributors have announced the mainnet release of stVaults, a new staking primitive designed to open Lido’s staking infrastructure, liquidity, and integrations to external builders.
The launch marks Lido’s expansion from a single liquid staking product into shared staking infrastructure, allowing teams to run custom validator configurations and, optionally, mint stETH.
According to the announcement, stVaults introduce isolated staking environments that make it easier for developers, Layer 2 networks, and institutional operators to build new staking products without bootstrapping infrastructure from scratch.
A Structural Shift in Ethereum Staking Design
The release represents a broader evolution in how Ethereum staking products are built and deployed. Until now teams launching staking solutions typically needed to develop validator infrastructure, liquidity pathways, and ecosystem integrations independently. stVaults offer an alternative: purpose-built staking environments that connect directly into Lido’s existing staking and liquidity network.
According to the update Lido’s core protocol remains unchanged and continues operating as before, while stVaults run alongside it, creating a framework for multiple staking setups to operate in parallel.
As Ethereum staking matures the ecosystem is moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach toward more specialized staking designs tailored to different users and applications.
Layer 2 Adoption Begins With Linea
Initial deployments of stVaults are already underway across Layer 2 networks, professional node operators, institutional staking providers, and application builders.
Linea is the first network to adopt the model through its “Linea Yield Boost” design. The approach stakes a portion of bridged ETH via stVaults and redirects staking rewards toward liquidity providers and ecosystem incentives, while remaining connected to stETH liquidity.
Declan Fox, Head of Linea, said the integration allows bridged ETH to become productive capital at the protocol level without requiring users to change how they use ETH on the network.
Institutional Node Operators Join at Launch
stVaults are also being deployed by professional validator operators including P2P.org, Chorus One, Pier Two and Sentora (with Kiln).
The system enables operators to offer staking products on dedicated validator infrastructure while still accessing shared liquidity, supporting configurations designed for institutional requirements and more specialized strategies.
Artemiy Parshakov, VP of Institutions at P2P.org, said stVaults help Ethereum staking move beyond generic delegation toward clearer validator environments with stronger accountability and operational separation.
Expanding Shared Staking Infrastructure
The launch comes as liquid staking reaches traditional financial markets. VanEck has filed for a Lido-staked ETH ETF, while WisdomTree recently introduced a fully staked ETH ETP backed by stETH.
Isidoros Passadis, Chief of Staking at Lido Labs Foundation, said stVaults demonstrate how Ethereum staking is evolving, with different users requiring different setups, including Layer 2 integrations and institution-ready configurations.
Lido said stVaults are rolling out with conservative limits initially, ensuring stable operation before broader expansion across the Ethereum ecosystem.
The post Liquid Staking Protocol Lido Launches stVaults on Mainnet to Expand Ethereum Staking appeared first on Cryptonews.
Onchain perpetual futures trading has cooled for five straight months since peaking in October 2025.
Perp volume on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) fell to $699 billion in March 2026 from October’s $1.36 trillion, according to DefiLlama data.
The decline has been steady across the period, with volumes slipping through November and December before losses extended through the first quarter of 2026.
Daily activity also shows signs of softening. On April 4, perp DEX volume fell to $8.4 billion, the first time it dropped below $10 billion since Sept. 6, 2025. This also marks the lowest level since July 5, 2025, according to DefiLlama.
The trend signals a sustained cooldown in onchain perpetual futures trading following the 2025 surge. Perp volumes serve as a proxy for speculative demand and leveraged positioning in crypto markets.
Hyperliquid leads perp DEX volumes over the past 30 days
DefiLlama data shows that trading activity remains concentrated among the top perp DEX platforms. In the past 30 days, Hyperliquid put up about $185.5 billion in reported volume, accounting for roughly 34% of total volume among the top 10 perp DEXs.
This puts the platform significantly ahead of rivals such as edgeX, which reported $73 billion, and Aster, at $68 billion.
Related: Bitcoin shorts risk $2.5 billion liquidation at $72K: Are bears in danger?
Other platforms recorded notably lower volumes over the same period, including Lighter at about $50 billion and Grvt at nearly $40 billion. Smaller venues like ApeX Protocol, Variational and StandX each recorded between roughly $16 billion and $33 billion in 30-day volume.
The data shows that a large share of onchain perpetual futures activity is concentrated in the top platforms, as overall volumes have declined from late-2025 highs.
Perp DEX slowdown follows rapid growth
The slowdown follows a period of rapid growth in onchain derivatives trading. In 2025, perp DEXs nearly tripled cumulative volume to $12.09 trillion, with about $7.9 trillion, about 65%, generated in 2025 alone.
This was largely driven by monthly activity averaging nearly $1 trillion each month in the fourth quarter.
Perpetual futures exchanges are becoming a key battleground across crypto ecosystems. Blockchains have been racing to launch or host perpetual DEXs to capture trading activity, though liquidity has historically tended to consolidate around a small number of dominant platforms.
Magazine: Aster delisting exposes DeFi’s growing integrity crisis
Crypto World
Crypto Liquidations Top $75 Million As Bitcoin Tests $70,000 For the First Time in April
Bitcoin reclaimed above the $70,000 psychological level on Monday, testing levels last seen in March.
The move caught traders off-guard, especially the naysayers, blowing tens of millions in positions out of the water.
Bitcoin Briefly Tests $70,000, Liquidates Over $70 Million Short Positions
The move above $70,000 lasted only briefly, with the pioneer crypto trading for $69,743 as of this writing after recording an intra-day high of $70,283 on the Binance exchange.
The move was abrupt, blowing out $71 million in short positions while nearly $4 million in positions were also liquidated. Total liquidations in the last hour reached $75 million.
According to data from Coinglass, 85,506 traders were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with total liquidations totaling $324.83 million.
The move above $70,000 inspired bullish bets among Bitcoin traders, as the Weighted Volume Profile Pivot Points (WVPPP) indicator showed a strong bullish signal above the $70,000 psychological level.
Looking at the above 4H BTC/USDT chart with the WVPPP indicator, above $70,000, the WVPPP bars thin out dramatically. Buy-side dominance runs 70–80% at current levels near $70,283, but participation drops fast above $70,500.
The $70,500–$71,500 range is a low-volume gap with minimal resistance. Sellers only clustered near the $71,961 high. Thin air fast moves likely in either direction.
The post Crypto Liquidations Top $75 Million As Bitcoin Tests $70,000 For the First Time in April appeared first on BeInCrypto.
By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)
It’s risk-on again for markets after a Reuters report suggested a ceasefire plan between the U.S. and Iran could come into effect on Monday, potentially reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Bitcoin has climbed over 4% over 24 hours to nearly $70,000, lifting sentiment across the broader market. The CoinDesk 20 Index and XRP (XRP) also added 4%, while ether (ETH) jumped over 5%, alongside a 3% gain in solana (SOL).
The tone is reinforced by bullish signals in the futures market, a continued decline in bitcoin’s 30-day implied volatility index, and a 0.8% gain in Nasdaq 100 futures.
Meanwhile, Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy — the world’s largest publicly listed bitcoin holder — hinted at another BTC purchase. The company already holds 762,099 BTC, underscoring its dominant reserve position and long-term accumulation strategy. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to increase oil output quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for May, a symbolic effort to relieve energy market stress.
Together, these point to potential for further upside in crypto.
But there’s a caveat. Recent ceasefire headlines citing unidentified sources have proven unreliable, often being debunked or outright rejected by Iran. If that pattern repeats, markets could quickly reverse course.
Another key question is whether any U.S.-Iran ceasefire would be binding on Israel. If not, the current risk-on sentiment may prove short-lived.
Notably, the latest ceasefire push is being described as a last-ditch effort to prevent the “massive strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure,” President Donald Trump threatened over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the oil market continues to inject inflationary pressure into the global economy. Earlier today, Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia raised the price of its Arab Light crude for Asia-bound shipments in May to a record-high premium over Middle Eastern benchmarks.
Some observers warned that oil prices are nearing a danger zone. The 12-month rate of change in oil stands at 92%. Historically, a move to 100% has coincided with stock market collapses. Stay alert!
Read more: For analysis of today’s activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today
What to Watch
For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.
- Crypto
- April 6, 12 p.m.: DeFi Dev Corp. (DFDV) to host a March 2026 recap and Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on X Spaces.
- Macro
- April 6, 09:00 a.m.: U.S. ISM Services PMI for March est. 55 (Prev. 56.1)
- Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)
Token Events
For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.
- Governance votes & calls
- Aave DAO is voting to adjust oracle configurations, reduce liquidation thresholds, and modify interest-rate models across its V2 markets to support their continued deprecation. Voting ends April 6.
- Decentraland DAO is voting to require the DAO Council and Regenesis Labs to formally publish a 2030 definition of success and contingency plan. The proposal currently has support from voters. Voting ends April 6.
- Unlocks
- April 6: Hyperliquid (HYPE) to unlock 0.14% of its circulating supply worth $11.94 million.
- Token Launches
Conferences
For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.
Market Movements
- BTC is up 3.56% from 4 p.m. ET Friday at $69,805.19 (24hrs: +4.23%)
- ETH is up 4.34% at $2,154.80 (24hrs: +5.42%)
- CoinDesk 20 is up 3.78% at 1,977.26 (24hrs: +4.06%)
- Ether CESR Composite Staking Rate is unchanged at 2.69%
- BTC funding rate is at 0.0058% (6.3400% annualized) on Binance
- DXY is down 0.11% at 99.91
- Gold futures are up 1.60% at $4,726.10
- Silver futures are up 1.00% at $73.46
- Nikkei 225 closed up 0.55% at 53,413.68
- Hang Seng closed down 0.70% at 25,116.53
- FTSE 100 closed on Thursday up 0.69% at 10,436.30
- Euro Stoxx 50 closed down 0.70% at 5,692.86
- DJIA closed down 0.13% at 46,504.67
- S&P 500 closed up 0.11% at 6,582.69
- Nasdaq Composite closed up 0.18% at 21,879.18
- S&P/TSX Composite closed up 0.46% at 33,108.20
- S&P 40 Latin America closed up 4.26% at 3,623.86
- U.S. 10-Year Treasury rate is down 1 bps at 4.31%
- E-mini S&P 500 futures are unchanged at 6,644.00
- E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are unchanged at 24,370.25
- E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are unchanged at 46,779.00
Bitcoin Stats
- BTC Dominance: 59.02% (unchanged)
- Ether to bitcoin ratio: 0.030877 (1.02%)
- Hashrate (seven-day moving average): 954 EH/s
- Hashprice (spot): $31.75
- Total Fees: 1.61 BTC / $108,359
- CME Futures Open Interest: 106,600 BTC
- BTC priced in gold: 14.9 oz
- BTC vs gold market cap: 4.66%
Technical Analysis
- The chart shows swings in WTI oil’s price since 1986 in the upper pane. The lower pane shows the 12-month rate of change (ROC).
- Historically, whenever the ROC rises to 100%, stock markets have collapsed. And now, the ROC is approaching that marker again.
- “Every major market crash since 1987 was preceded by one signal,” Jack Prandelli, a commodity market analyst and author of the Substack-based Merchant’s News said on X.
Crypto Equities
- Coinbase Global (COIN): closed on Friday at $171.46 (–0.88%), +3.80% at $177.97 in pre-market
- Galaxy Digital (GLXY): closed at $17.64 (+1.55%), +2.44% at $18.07
- MARA Holdings, Inc. (MARA): closed at $8.71 (+8.33%), +3.10% at $8.98
- Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT): closed at $12.86 (+2.47%), +2.49% at $13.18
- Core Scientific, Inc. (CORZ): closed at $16.23 (+6.08%), +1.79% at $16.52
- CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK): closed at $8.79 (+1.97%), +3.30% at $9.08
- Exodus Movement, Inc. (EXOD): closed at $6.10 (–8.68%)
- CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI): closed at $35.76 (+2.58%)
- Bullish (BLSH): closed at $36.37 (+3.71%), +2.06% at $37.12
- Circle Internet Group (CRCL): closed at $90.26 (–0.53%), +4.20% at $94.05
Crypto Treasury Companies
- Strategy (MSTR): closed at $119.83 (–2.40%), +4.04% at $124.67
- SharpLink (SBET): closed at $6.19 (–4.18%), +4.52% at $6.47
- Strive Asset Management (ASST): closed at $9.75 (–4.04%), +3.59% at $10.10
- Upexi (UPXI): closed at $0.98 (–1.32%), +3.59% at $1.01
- Lite Strategy (LITS): closed at $1.12 (–0.88%)
ETF Flows
Spot BTC ETFs
- Daily net flows: $9 million
- Cumulative net flows: $55.93 billion
- Total BTC holdings ~1.29 million
Spot ETH ETFs
- Daily net flows: -$71.2 million
- Cumulative net flows: $11.51 billion
- Total ETH holdings ~5.68 million
Source: Farside Investors
While You Were Sleeping
China’s regulators are pushing for banks to upgrade the “bank-tax interaction” model in a bid to expand financing for small businesses.
Summary
- China has urged banks to upgrade the bank tax interaction model using blockchain and shared data to improve financing access for small businesses.
- Authorities are pushing for better credit models and faster approvals, with a focus on extending loans to compliant and tax paying enterprises.
According to a policy notice issued by the State Administration of Taxation and the National Financial Regulatory Administration, banks and taxpayers should standardize data sharing to reduce information asymmetry between tax authorities, banks, and enterprises.
Further, the agencies suggested improving credit models, enhancing approval efficiency, and increasing the supply of financing services to “honest, tax-paying enterprises.”
China published a National Development and Reform Commission roadmap in January 2025 that directed the integration of blockchain into data infrastructure, with nationwide implementation expected by 2029.
Key officials like Shen Zhulin, deputy director of the National Data Administration, believe the initiative could attract around 400 billion yuan (about $58 billion) in yearly investments.
Meanwhile, in 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called blockchain a “breakthrough” and urged its integration into the real-world economy; subsequently, China expanded the country’s first blockchain-based electronic invoice system through the Shenzhen Tax Bureau.
China’s anti-crypto push
Despite backing blockchain development, China has remained strict on cryptocurrencies and speculative digital asset trading.
In 2021, authorities issued a joint circular effectively imposing a nationwide ban on crypto transactions and mining.
More recently, in February 2026, regulators expanded this framework to explicitly cover stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets, requiring prior approval for any RMB-pegged stablecoin issuance and warning that unlicensed tokenization activities will be treated as illegal financial operations.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Quantum computing advances raise concerns over crypto security and volatility for major assets.
Summary
- Quantum computing advances raise concerns over crypto security and volatility, reshaping investor strategies
- AI-driven trading gains momentum as investors seek to navigate increasingly complex crypto market conditions
- ConfluxCapital promotes automated trading bots, highlighting high daily earning potential amid market volatility
Amidst continuous breakthroughs in quantum computing, the cryptocurrency market is entering a phase characterized by heightened complexity and uncertainty. Mainstream assets — exemplified by Bitcoin and Ethereum — may face a dual challenge in the future, grappling with issues of both security and volatility.
Given this trend, relying solely on manual trading has become increasingly inadequate for keeping pace with market dynamics; consequently, AI-driven automated quantitative trading is emerging as the preferred choice for a growing number of investors. Taking the ConfluxCapital fully automated quantitative trading bot as an example, its core advantages and operational steps are outlined below.
Core advantages: Why choose AI quantitative trading?
First and foremost, the most significant advantage lies in “24/7 Operation.” The system enables uninterrupted market monitoring around the clock — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — eliminating the need for manual market surveillance and ensuring that no potential trading opportunities are missed. This is particularly critical in the cryptocurrency market, an environment that never closes.
The second advantage is “Execution Speed and Precision.” Quantitative systems can complete data analysis and execute trading decisions within milliseconds — a distinct advantage over manual trading. When the market experiences extreme volatility — such as that potentially triggered by expectations surrounding quantum computing — this difference in speed often directly determines the ultimate profit or loss outcome.
The third advantage is “Emotional Detachment.” Manual trading is often susceptible to the influence of emotions such as fear and greed; AI systems, however, operate entirely based on data and algorithms. This allows them to maintain consistent strategy execution even during extreme market conditions, thereby preventing irrational decision-making.
Furthermore, these platforms typically possess “Multi-Strategy Synergy Capabilities.” By combining various quantitative models, the system can flexibly switch between strategies to adapt to different market regimes, whether ranging, trending upward, or trending downward, thereby enhancing the stability of overall returns.
Finally, there is the “Intelligent Risk Management System.” The system automatically adjusts position sizing and risk exposure in response to market fluctuations, minimizing drawdown risk as much as possible within highly volatile environments. This feature will be particularly vital in mitigating the potential market shocks that may arise from future advancements in quantum computing.
From a practical operational standpoint, the entire participation process is relatively simple and straightforward:
Step 1: Account Registration
Visit the ConfluxCapital platform, complete the basic information registration, and set up a personal trading account.
(Sign up now and receive a $20 bonus)
Step 2: Capital Preparation
Determine an appropriate capital allocation based on personal circumstances, then deposit funds into your account to support the subsequent execution of trading strategies.
Step 3: Strategy Selection or Bot Activation
Select a quantitative strategy that aligns with risk tolerance, or directly activate a fully automated trading bot to initiate system operations.
Step 4: Automated Trade Execution
The platform will analyze real-time market data to automatically execute buy and sell orders, requiring no manual intervention.
Step 5: Profit Management and Compound Growth
Users can monitor their earnings at any time and, as needed, choose to withdraw profits or reinvest them to facilitate long-term capital growth.
Strategy Name
unit price
Days
Total Revenue
Starter Strategy
$100
2 days
$100+$6
Basic Strategy
$600
5 days
$600+$45
Advanced Strategies
$5,000
15 days
$5,000+$1,215
Elite Strategy
$25,000
25 days
$25,000+$11,250
Quantum Strategy
$90,000
20 days
$90,000+$36,000
Infinite Strategy
$200,000
25 days
$200,000+$110,000
A critical juncture: Why act early?
We are currently at an extremely critical stage: while quantum computing has not yet fully disrupted cryptographic systems, the pace of its development is already accelerating rapidly. This implies that there is still room to capitalize on market opportunities — though this window of opportunity is gradually narrowing.
By leveraging ConfluxCapital’s fully automated, free trading bot, users can capitalize on current market volatility to unlock a potential daily earning capacity of up to $5,000. Compared to the potentially more complex and volatile market environments that may lie ahead, now could be the most advantageous time to get involved.
Conclusion
When technological change arrives, the market never waits for the hesitant.
Against the backdrop of the continuous advancement of quantum computing, the landscape of cryptocurrency investment is undergoing a profound transformation.
For more information, visit the official website or download the application.
Email: [email protected]
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.
Key Takeaways
- The number of Chainlink whale wallets holding more than 1 million LINK has increased by 25% year over year.
- Tighter LINK supply from institutional involvement is pushing prices higher.
- LINK is trading within a range but may be ready to break out to $27.
Accumulation of Whales Points to Building Confidence
The whales have shown strong activity around Chainlink’s coin in the last year, indicating growing confidence in this asset.
According to statistics, the number of addresses holding at least one million LINK has risen from 100 in April 2025 to 125 in April 2026, a 25% increase.
Although whales have been accumulating LINK tokens, prices have not responded positively.
However, accumulation by whales is generally a positive long-term outlook as opposed to short-term speculation and price increases.
Institutional Adoption Narrows Supply-Demand Dynamics
Other than whale actions, institutional adoption has become key in dictating Chainlink’s future prospects. The Chainlink Reserve fund has increased consistently by over 137,000 LINK tokens worth about $1.17 million. The total amount held in the reserve fund stands at over 2.93 million LINK tokens, thus decreasing the amount of LINK in circulation.
Moreover, Chainlink’s platform infrastructure keeps gaining traction among enterprises. Applications using Chainlink’s oracle technology are providing fee revenues, thus boosting the ecosystem’s operations. Specifically, token distribution and stablecoin distribution applications are providing enhanced liquidity and higher demand for LINK tokens.
The development of data-based platforms has led to more growth. More transactions have been seen in data feeds and oracle networks, leading to billions of dollars worth of trading volumes with thousands of active users.
Imminent Breakout Hints at Price Consolidation Point
Technically speaking, LINK has been consolidating around $8-$9.40 during the last few weeks after early February.
The period of consolidation means uncertainty in the market when neither bulls nor bears fully control the situation.
Nonetheless, the creation of a slanting resistance trend line means that the price might soon break out. Currently, the MACD is mildly bearish but the declining red histogram hints that selling strength is fading away.
In general, past history has shown that similar consolidation points have usually been followed by a breakout towards new highs in LINK’s price action. Prior times in which the asset experienced such a consolidation phase ended up in substantial rallies once the resistance was breached.
A potential breakout from the slanting resistance trend line will probably increase the bullish activity as well as the ongoing accumulation among whales.
Will LINK Return to $27?
The $27 level is a crucial resistance point for Chainlink. Although the price currently stands well below this level, it should be noted that there is nothing theoretically stopping LINK from reaching these heights.
Breaking out of the current consolidation pattern with the help of continued accumulation by whales and institutions would trigger the beginning of an uptrend. Nevertheless, traders must keep in mind other elements, including the state of the cryptocurrency market and the economy as a whole.
Chainlink is currently at an important crossroads, with whales accumulating and institutions adopting the project, but its price failing to rise correspondingly. It is clear that the limited supply and expanding network serve as a great starting point.
Although LINK appears to be in a range-bound situation, it should not be forgotten that technical analysis points toward an eventual breakout. If the momentum rises, achieving new price levels—including $27—becomes a possibility.
Solana (SOL) is trading just above $82 at the time of writing on Monday, marking its fourth consecutive day of recovery. While funding rates for SOL futures have climbed, a simultaneous drop in Open Interest suggests sentiment remains divided. From a technical perspective, the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $88.80 stands out as the key resistance level to watch.
Derivatives signal optimism, but participation declines
Market data points to rising bullish positioning among traders, even as overall participation in SOL futures contracts declines. According to CoinGlass, the OI-weighted funding rate has increased to 0.0067% from 0.0042% on Sunday, indicating that long-position traders are willing to pay a premium—typically a sign of growing confidence in further upside.
However, this optimism is not fully supported by market activity. Open Interest in SOL futures has dropped to $4.97 billion from $5.07 billion on Friday, signaling a reduction in total capital committed to the market. This divergence—rising funding rates alongside falling Open Interest—highlights a mixed sentiment, where bullish bias exists but conviction appears limited.
Institutional demand remains soft
On the institutional side, demand for Solana continues to show weakness. Data from Sosovalue reveals that SOL-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded net weekly outflows of $5.24 million, marking a second straight week of withdrawals. If this trend persists, it could represent the longest streak of weekly outflows so far, potentially adding downward pressure to SOL’s spot price in the near term.
Will Solana extend its recovery to $93?
The SOL/USD 4-hour chart is bullish and inefficient, with the coin up by nearly 4% in the last 24 hours. At press time, SOL is trading at $82.50 per coin.
The near-term bias is mixed as SOL holds well below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages, keeping a broader corrective structure.
The momentum indicators have also switched bullish, with further gains in the near term. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) line remains above its signal line, signaling persistent buying pressure.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 60 is above the neutral 50, signaling a growing bullish momentum.
If the rally persists, Cardano would meet an immediate resistance at the 50-day EMA near $88.81, which caps rebounds and guards a stronger move toward $98.02, close to the 100-day EMA at $102.18.
However, if the sellers regain control, the support zone between $75.63 and $77.60 could serve as a bounce-back spot. An extended selling pressure would bring into focus the February 6 low at $67.50.
China’s tax and financial regulators on Monday urged banks and local authorities to use blockchain and privacy computing to upgrade the “bank-tax interaction” model and expand financing for small businesses.
The State Administration of Taxation and National Financial Regulatory Administration said in a joint policy notice that banks and taxpayers should standardize data sharing and reduce information asymmetry between tax authorities, banks and enterprises.
The report also urged banks to improve credit models, enhance credit approval efficiency and increase the supply of financing services to “honest, tax-paying enterprises.”
The directive aligns with China’s broader effort to integrate blockchain into data infrastructure, following a National Development and Reform Commission roadmap released in January 2025 targeting nationwide implementation by 2029.
Shen Zhulin, the deputy director of the National Data Administration, said in a January 2025 press conference that China expects blockchain-based data infrastructure to attract 400 billion yuan (about $58 billion) in yearly investments.
Chinese regulators outline data infrastructure push with 400 billion yuan target
While China has issued strict controls on cryptocurrencies and speculative digital asset trading, it also pushed for the incorporation of blockchain initiatives in finance and data infrastructure.
In October 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the technology as an important “breakthrough” for independent innovation of core technologies, urging the acceleration of the development of blockchain-based applications and their integration in the real-world economy.
Related: Trump: US has to ‘make it so that China doesn’t get the hold‘ of crypto
In April 2021, the Shenzhen Tax Bureau expanded the country’s first blockchain electronic invoice system.
However, in September that same year, China issued a nation-wide ban on crypto transactions and mining as part of a wider crackdown across multiple government agencies.
Despite the ban, China is still cited as the third-largest Bitcoin (BTC) mining country. In January 2026, it accounted for 11.7% of the global hashrate, according to data from Compass Mining.
Magazine: China’s ‘50x’ blockchain boost, Alibaba-linked AI mines Bitcoin: Asia Express
Crypto World
Bitcoin (BTC) price rallies on Iran ceasefire talks, Algorand (ALGO) extends gains: Crypto Markets Today
Bitcoin climbed to near $70,000 as traders reacted to signs of possible de-escalation in the Iran war and amid a short squeeze that liquidated more than $270 million in shorts.
Crypto prices rose, along with equity index futures and equities, as Axios reported that the U.S. and Iran are discussing a potential 45-day ceasefire. The report raised hopes that hostilities could ease, potentially lowering the risks for ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.
That is improving appetite for risk assets across markets, and the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell. The retreat is being amplified as reports suggest Pakistan is brokering what’s being called the “Islamabad Accord.”
Under the deal, a ceasefire would take effect immediately and the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened. Nevertheless, markets still need convincing.
On Polymarket, the odds of a ceasefire this month are at around 30%, up from 18% before the Islamabad Accord came to light. Oil prices remain elevated, and the Federal Reserve is still widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged.
If a ceasefire materializes and the conflict winds down, a relief rally could further benefit risk assets. For now, though, traders appear to be treating the headlines with skepticism.
Derivatives Positioning
- Notional open interest (OI) in bitcoin and ether (ETH) has risen by 7% and 11%, respectively, outpacing spot price gains. This suggests fresh capital inflows into the market, likely chasing bullish exposure, as both funding rates and cumulative volume deltas for BTC and ETH remain positive.
- Among altcoins, ADA, AVAX and LINK stand out with double-digit increases in open interest alongside positive funding rates. In contrast, sentiment appears bearish for BCH and HYPE, which are sporting negative funding rates.
- Bitcoin’s volatility meltdown continues, signaling market calm and supporting bullish price action. The 30-day implied volatility index, BVIV, has dropped below 50% for the first time since early February. Ether’s index, EVIV, also fell to the lowest level in weeks.
- On Deribit, bitcoin’s $60,000 put and the $80,000 call are the most popular options bets, each boasting a notional open interest of $1.40 billion at press time. These, therefore, are key levels to watch, as they represent areas where traders are heavily positioned for either downside protection or upside participation.
- Volatility, therefore, could pick up sharply if prices move outside of the $60,000-$80,000 range.
- Broadly speaking, the mood in options market remains cautious despite bullish hints in futures. BTC and ETH puts remain pricier than calls, a sign of sticky demand for downside hedging. Some of the bias for puts also stems from persistent overwriting of calls, a yield-generating strategy.
Token Talk
- Algorand’s ALGO token has surged nearly 50% in the past 30 days after a Google Quantum AI research paper highlighted its approach to quantum-resistant security.
- The Google report examined how blockchains can defend against future threats from quantum computers, which might be able to break current encryption methods. Algorand drew notable attention for its use of FALCON, a post-quantum signature scheme selected by U.S. standards body NIST.
- The network already uses the system for features like state proofs, which confirm ledger updates, and for certain transaction types.
- ALGO rose from about $0.08 to near $0.12 so far, bringing its market capitalization past $1 billion. It’s up more than 7.3% in the last 24 hours amid a wider market rally.
Warren Buffett said Tuesday he remains closely involved in investment decisions at Berkshire Hathaway even after stepping down as chief executive, adding that he recently made a “tiny” new purchase.
The 95-year-old investor, in an interview with Becky Quick on “Squawk Box,” said he still comes into the office daily and stays engaged with markets, working alongside colleagues on trades. Buffett described a routine that includes calling Mark Millard, Berkshire’s director of financial assets, before the opening bell to discuss market developments.
Millard, whose office sits about 20 feet away, executes trades based on those conversations, Buffett said, underscoring that he remains hands-on despite handing over the CEO role to Greg Abel in the beginning of 2026.
“I won’t make any [investments] that Greg thinks are wrong. … Greg gets the sheet every day,” Buffett said, referring to the firm’s regular investment updates. Asked whether he has made any new investments, he replied that he recently made “one tiny purchase,” without elaborating.
Buffett also downplayed recent market volatility, suggesting current conditions fall far short of past periods that created major buying opportunities.
“Three times since I took over, for sure it’s gone down more than 50%. … This is nothing to make you get excited,” Buffett said.
The “Oracle of Omaha” also revealed that Berkshire purchased $17 billion worth of Treasury bills this week at the weekly auction. Berkshire reported more than $370 billion in cash equivalents on the books at year-end, largely held in Treasury bills.
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