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Crypto World

$75K or Bearish Regime Shift? 5 Bitcoin Insights This Week

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Crypto Breaking News

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) enters a new week at a critical crossroads as traders weigh the possibility of a fresh short squeeze. The weekly close edged above a key long-term trend line, reinforcing arguments for a potential upside breakout, with the price hovering near the $68,800 mark on Bitstamp. Liquidity conditions remained unsettled, as liquidations stayed elevated and long positions anchored around the current spot, raising the stakes for any sustained move. On the macro front, a slate of U.S. data—most notably the Personal Consumption Expenditures index and fourth-quarter gross domestic product—could inject volatility later in the week. On-chain metrics, meanwhile, painted a cautious picture: the net unrealized profit and loss ratio surged toward multi-year highs, and a chorus of loss-making UTXOs suggested risk of a renewed downside regime if sellers re-enter the market.

At roughly $68,343, the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) remains a pivotal line in the sand for market participants, closely tied to the prior all-time highs at just over $69,000. The pairing of the 200-week EMA and the old peak forms a duo that traders watch as the market negotiates whether to break free from a multi-month range. In recent days, observers noted that Bitcoin had re-entered an area it previously spent seven months defending, fueling conversations about whether the range would persist or give way to a decisive move higher. The sense of an impending decision was reinforced by analyst commentary that highlighted the previous extended range around $69,000 and the tendency for Bitcoin to react to sentiment contrarian to broader market moves.

Prominent traders pointed to a possible path to $75,000 as a potential trigger for a “surprise recovery.” CrypNuevo, a well-known voice in on-chain and chart analysis, referenced the extended range around $69,000 that has dominated price action in 2024. He observed that the price has retraced much of its wick from February’s dip to 15-month lows, suggesting the market could test the range lows before any sustained breakout. The analyst warned that a test of the 50% wick-fill level—interpreted as a signal for further wick fills—could imperil the bull case if acceptance fails near the range’s midpoint. Yet he also underscored a contrary sentiment: Bitcoin often moves counter to prevailing market mood, implying a potential for a bullish reversal should risk appetite improve.

On the liquidity front, the picture remained delicate. CoinGlass data showed total crypto-wide liquidations exceeding $250 million in the 24 hours through the reading, even as BTC/USD traded within a relatively tight window of less than $3,000. Longs remained concentrated just below $68,000, according to the same data source, a setup that some traders view as a potential target for whales seeking to seize liquidity. A trader known on X as CW noted that, despite liquidations, longs still held the upper hand overall, maintaining a bullish tilt in the current structure. The market also saw spikes in short liquidations when BTC briefly pressed above $70,000 around the Wall Street open, with futures liquidations hitting levels not seen since late 2024. Bitfinex’s social reaction highlighted a perception that a demand-following rally could throttle the trend’s downside momentum if spot buying intensifies.

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Macro calendars added another dimension of potential volatility. The U.S. market holiday on Monday—the Presidents’ Day observance—could suppress liquidity at the outset of the week, with volatility expected to pick up as the data calendar fills in. The release of the PCE Index, widely regarded as the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, is scheduled alongside Q4 GDP data on the same Friday. CME Group’s FedWatch Tool showed odds of the Fed keeping policy rates unchanged at its next meeting hovering above 90%, reinforcing a fragile macro backdrop where even small surprises could reverberate through risk assets. The Kobeissi Letter underscored the likelihood of heightened volatility as macro signals accumulate and geopolitical tensions persist.

Market researchers and on-chain analysts also weighed in on the longer-term trajectory. CryptoQuant’s mid-February Quicktakes signaled that the next leg of BTC’s price action would depend on investor resilience as the market navigates sub-$60,000 support zones. The analysis highlighted the confluence of the 200-week moving average and the realized price, around $55,800, as a potential accumulation area should the regime shift toward weakness persist. In contrast, other metrics suggested a more precarious picture: the net unrealized profit/loss (NUPL) indicator hovered near values that imply widespread realized losses, a sign that holders could be capitulating or preparing for a regime shift rather than a routine pullback. CryptoQuant’s aSOPR metric also registered readings near breakeven, a signal historically associated with stress in the market’s cycle and potential reset conditions rather than a simple correction.

The evolving on-chain picture has left some analysts cautious about declaring a definitive bottom. While the current price range has produced a visible bounce from February’s lows, the same signals that previously warned of a potential bear market—constant losses realized by long-term holders and elevated spend activity at lower price levels—have not yet abated. One veteran aggregator noted that a sustained reclaim of the 1.0 level on aSOPR would be a meaningful sign of renewed strength; in its absence, the risk of a more extended consolidation or a deeper correction remains on the table. The broader consensus remains split, emphasizing that macro catalysts, on-chain dynamics, and liquidity conditions will be the primary drivers of the near-term trajectory.

Why it matters

The significance of the current juncture lies in how Bitcoin navigates the intersection of on-chain signals and macro liquidity. A weekly close above the 200-week EMA has historically been a meaningful indicator of durability, potentially inviting fresh risk-taking and a revaluation of risk assets across the market. Yet the same data that points to a potential upside also reveals fragility: NUPL’s elevated readings imply a concentration of unrealized losses, while aSOPR’s proximity to the breakeven line suggests that coins changing hands are not decisively profitable, a factor that could curb momentum if sellers re-emerge. These dynamics matter for both long-term holders considering accumulation and traders seeking tactical entries in a range-bound market.

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For market participants, the looming PCE data and GDP figures, coupled with Fed policy expectations, will shape risk sentiment. If the data disappoints, risk assets could experience renewed volatility as traders reassess the trajectory of monetary policy. Conversely, a resilient inflation print or softer GDP print could reinforce the sense that the environment remains conducive to risk assets’ re-pricing, potentially fueling a renewed flush of liquidity into Bitcoin and the broader crypto sector. In this context, the market’s behavior around $69,000 becomes more than a technical milestone – it functions as a psychological fulcrum for bulls and bears alike.

From an investment perspective, the evolving on-chain health metrics emphasize the importance of risk management and scenario planning. The narrative around a potential regime shift—where a bear-market-like phase could assert itself even without a classic downturn—highlights the value of diversified exposure and adaptive strategies that respond to changes in liquidity, macro surprises, and the cadence of market momentum. While the short-term impulse may hinge on a volatile data calendar and liquidity dynamics, the longer arc remains contingent on whether on-chain fundamentals align with price action, reinforcing the idea that traders should stay nimble as the week unfolds.

What to watch next

  • Watch BTC’s reaction around the 200-week EMA near $68,343 and the prior ATH just above $69,000 for any sustained breakout or rejection.
  • Monitor the upcoming PCE index and Q4 GDP releases for volatility spikes and potential shifts in Fed rate expectations.
  • Track on-chain metrics like NUPL and aSOPR for signs of capitulation pressure or renewed accumulation.
  • Observe liquidation dynamics on CoinGlass, especially around the $70,000 level and the above-$68,000 zone where longs have concentrated.
  • Assess market sentiment around long-term holders and whether a move toward the $75,000 target could materialize if a short squeeze gains momentum.

Sources & verification

  • BTC price and level around $68,800 on Bitstamp, with reference to TradingView data
  • BTC/USD proximity to the 200-week EMA (~$68,343) and the $69,000 ATH reference
  • Liquidation data from CoinGlass showing totals over $250 million in the examined 24-hour period
  • Fed rate expectations from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool
  • On-chain indicators from CryptoQuant (NUPL and aSOPR) and associated Quicktakes

Bitcoin at a crossroads as market signals converge

The ongoing convergence of price behavior, liquidity dynamics, and macro catalysts underscores a Bitcoin narrative defined by range-aware uncertainty rather than a clear, directional breakout. As traders calibrate their positions ahead of key inflation and growth indicators, the market remains sensitive to even modest shifts in risk appetite. Whether the week culminates in a renewed squeeze toward higher ground or a renewed test of support depends on a complex mix of on-chain health, price action within the established range, and the trajectory of macro policy signals that continue to influence sentiment across crypto markets.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Japan Bond Market Crisis Raises Crypto Crash Fears as BOJ Rate Hike Looms

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • Japan’s 2Y, 3Y, 5Y bond yields hit all-time highs while the 10Y yield reached its highest since 1999.
  • The US-Iran conflict has blocked 90–95% of Japan’s oil route, driving inflation fears and BOJ pressure.
  • There is currently a 55% probability of a 25BPS BOJ rate hike this month, unsettling crypto markets.
  • Each BOJ rate hike since 2024 has caused Bitcoin to drop between 20% and 35% within weeks of the move.

Japan’s bond market crisis is drawing renewed attention from crypto investors worldwide. Bond yields across Japan’s 2-year, 3-year, and 5-year tenors have reached all-time highs.

The 10-year yield also climbed to its highest point since 1999. These shifts are raising concerns about a potential Bank of Japan rate hike. Analysts warn this could trigger a crypto market selloff similar to Q1 2026.

Rising Yields and the Strait of Hormuz Connection

Japan’s bond yields are climbing primarily because of growing inflation expectations. The ongoing US-Iran conflict has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Nearly 90 to 95 percent of Japan’s oil supply passes through that route. With the strait largely blocked, energy prices for Japan are under significant upward pressure.

Higher energy costs feed directly into Japan’s broader inflation outlook. As a result, investors are pricing in the possibility of a hawkish shift from the Bank of Japan.

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Crypto analyst Crypto Rover pointed to this connection on X. He noted that rising yields this week coincided with the shipping disruption.

When inflation expectations rise, bond yields typically follow. Japan is particularly vulnerable because of its heavy reliance on imported oil.

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That dependence makes any disruption in Middle Eastern shipping a direct economic concern. Investors are now watching BOJ closely for any policy response.

Market data currently shows a 55 percent probability of a 25-basis-point rate hike by the BOJ this month. If the US-Iran situation remains unresolved, that probability is expected to climb further.

A confirmed rate hike could accelerate capital flows out of risk assets. Crypto markets would likely feel that pressure quickly.

BOJ Rate Hikes and Bitcoin’s Crash Pattern

Historical data shows a clear pattern between BOJ rate hikes and Bitcoin price drops. In March 2024, Bitcoin peaked near $74,000 and then fell roughly 20 percent.

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In July 2024, it dropped 30 percent within a single week following a BOJ move. January 2025 saw Bitcoin fall 35 percent over several months after another hike.

The most recent example came in December 2025, when Bitcoin lost 34 percent in just six weeks. Crypto Rover attributed these drops to the unwinding of yen carry trades.

Traders who borrowed cheap yen are forced to sell assets when borrowing costs rise. That selling pressure then strengthens the yen and creates further liquidation.

The cycle tends to feed on itself once it starts. Asset prices fall, triggering more margin calls and further selling. Crypto markets, being highly liquid and volatile, often absorb the sharpest drops. Bitcoin and altcoins become exit routes for traders covering yen-denominated positions.

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If the BOJ holds off on a hike, markets may stabilize in the near term. However, the bond market crisis in Japan remains an active risk for crypto investors globally.

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Iran’s Telegram ban backfired, stoking crypto concerns

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Crypto Breaking News

The Iranian government’s bid to shutter Telegram in the country appears to have backfired, as millions of users find workarounds to stay online through privacy-centric tools and VPNs, according to Telegram founder Pavel Durov.

In a post on X, Durov said Tehran’s attempt to clamp down on the messaging app “years ago” has instead fueled a broader wave of circumvention. He noted that tens of millions of Iranians remain connected via VPNs and similar technologies, and he highlighted a cross-border effect as VPN-driven connectivity accelerates in Russia as well.

“The government hoped for mass adoption of its surveillance messaging apps, but got mass adoption of VPNs instead. Now, 50 million members of the digital resistance in Iran are joined by over 50 million more in Russia.”

Decentralized technologies—ranging from blockchain-based messaging to encrypted, distributed networks—are increasingly pitched as a way to counter state-imposed online restrictions and surveillance, offering users a path to private communications even when central authorities exert control.

Key takeaways

  • Iran’s Telegram ban did not end use; tens of millions continue to access the service via VPNs and related tools, per Pavel Durov.
  • The stance has produced a broader migration toward privacy-preserving and decentralized messaging technologies beyond a single app.
  • Even as governments restrict access, parallel connectivity channels such as Starlink and device-to-device mesh networks emerge as potential backstops for communication.
  • Evidence from protests in Nepal and Madagascar shows spikes in downloads of decentralized messaging apps during periods of social unrest, underscoring demand for censorship-resistant tools.
  • For investors and builders, the episode highlights a growing divergence between regulatory attempts to control information flow and a user base willing to adopt privacy-native infrastructure at scale.

Regulatory push, user resilience

Iran’s January 2026 nationwide internet blackout, enacted amid escalating protests and ongoing regional tensions, marked a decisive move to curb online mobilization. While the blackout remains in effect, residents retain some access through alternative means—most notably satellite-backed networks such as Starlink, which the government has not fully blocked—and through local, privacy-forward apps capable of wading through censorship filters.

Among the most discussed workarounds is BitChat, a messaging application built to operate over Bluetooth and mesh networks. BitChat turns each participating device into a relay node, effectively stitching a communications mesh that can bypass traditional networks and satellite backbones. Its decentralized design aims to keep conversations flowing even when centralized infrastructure is restricted.

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The broader ecosystem around decentralized technologies is also expanding to address similar scenarios elsewhere. BitChat’s architecture has drawn attention for its potential to offer an alternative communication channel when internet access is compromised. The project’s technical approach and practical uses were detailed in public repositories and whitepapers, illustrating how mesh networking can complement or substitute conventional connectivity in crisis conditions.

Decentralized messaging in the crucible of unrest

The wave of protests that swept across Nepal in 2025 and 2026 brought a notable surge in interest for censorship-evading communication tools. Cointelegraph reported a sharp uptick in BitChat downloads in Nepal during the social-media crackdown, described as a period when the government’s grip on information intensified. In the same breath, Nepalese protests were described as having a transformative political effect within the month, with the government reportedly toppled by demonstrators in that period.

Similar dynamics were observed in Madagascar, where a related surge in decentralized messaging adoption accompanied political turbulence. These patterns illustrate a practical use case for privacy-preserving and distributed communications during periods of blackout and unrest, rather than a speculative tech experiment.

Proponents argue that the trend signals more than isolated incidents. As governments seek to regulate or disable centralized platforms, users appear to gravitate toward tools that improve resilience, privacy, and autonomy. This shift aligns with a broader discourse in the crypto and decentralized tech communities about building communications layers that remain accessible despite state-level interference.

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What this means for markets, users, and builders

The episode offers a tangible case study in how regulatory pressure can inadvertently accelerate adoption of decentralized and privacy-first technologies. For traders and investors, the takeaway is not a call for quick price moves but a recognition that demand for censorship-resistant communications could expand alongside ongoing geopolitical frictions and regulatory crackdowns in various regions.

For developers and infrastructure builders, the narrative underscores several priorities: enhancing the reliability of offline and mesh-based communications, improving the security and usability of decentralized messaging, and developing interoperable layers that can bridge traditional networks with privacy-focused protocols. The convergence of encrypted messaging with crypto-inspired incentives and governance mechanisms could shape new kinds of platforms that prioritize user sovereignty and resilience over centralized control.

While the exact regulatory responses and technological adoption timelines remain uncertain, the Iranian case—paired with parallel developments in Nepal and Madagascar—highlights a clear, growing demand for alternatives that keep people connected when conventional networks falter.

As the situation evolves, watchers should monitor how governments respond to a populace that increasingly expects and deploys private, censorship-resistant channels. The next developments could redefine how citizens, developers, and policymakers think about online rights, access, and the role of decentralized technology in everyday communication.

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Source references and ongoing reporting from Cointelegraph and related coverage underscore the continuity of this trend as it unfolds across regions facing varying degrees of internet control and regulatory pressure.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Telegram Has Been Downloaded Over 50M Times in Iran, Despite Ban: Durov

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Decentralization, Privacy, Liberty, Telegram, Cypherpunks, Pavel Durov

The Iranian government’s attempt to block the Telegram messaging application in the country has backfired, as users find ways to circumvent national firewalls and online controls, according to Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov.

“Iran banned Telegram years ago,” Durov said on Friday; however, tens of millions of users in the country have managed to access the application via virtual private networks (VPNs) and other similar tools, he added.

VPNs route web traffic through servers distributed around the globe to mask the true Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of users and obscure their locations. This allows individuals with VPN access to bypass national online restrictions. Durov said:

“The government hoped for mass adoption of its surveillance messaging apps, but got mass adoption of VPNs instead. Now, 50 million members of the digital resistance in Iran are joined by over 50 million more in Russia.”

Decentralization, Privacy, Liberty, Telegram, Cypherpunks, Pavel Durov
Source: Pavel Durov

Decentralized technologies like blockchain, crypto and encrypted messaging applications can mitigate or neutralize state-imposed online restrictions and surveillance infrastructure, promoting individual liberty, proponents of decentralized technology say.

Related: Global turmoil pushes uptake of decentralized messengers, social media

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Users turn to decentralized alternatives amid online blackouts

The government of Iran imposed a nationwide internet blackout in January 2026, amid growing protests and civil unrest, which is still in effect due to the ongoing war between Israel, the United States and Iran.

Residents in the country can still access the internet through Starlink, a satellite-based network, or communicate via BitChat, a messaging application that uses Bluetooth radio waves to form a mesh network between devices.

BitChat’s mesh network transforms each device into a relay node that transfers data to other devices running the application within range, bypassing online and satellite-based systems entirely.

Decentralization, Privacy, Liberty, Telegram, Cypherpunks, Pavel Durov
The components of the BitChat messaging application tech stack. Source: GitHub

The government of Nepal imposed a social media ban in September 2025 amid growing protests, causing a spike in BitChat downloads.

Bitchat was downloaded over 48,000 times in Nepal the week of the social media ban, and the government of Nepal was toppled by protestors that same month.

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The application recorded a similar download spike in Madagascar amid protests, which also occurred around the same time as the political revolution in Nepal.

Magazine: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in