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Fed Seeks Public Feedback on Proposal to End Operation Chokepoint 2.0

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Crypto Breaking News

The Federal Reserve is moving to enshrine a rule that would remove reputational risk as a driver of banking supervision, a shift crypto advocates say could blunt a pattern of debanking in recent years. The central bank began codifying the change last June, directing its supervisors to stop pressuring banks to sever client ties over reputation concerns and instead assess banking relationships primarily through financial risk management. Now, in a formal rulemaking proposal published on Monday, the Fed is inviting public comment on turning that approach into law, with a 60-day window to hear from stakeholders. The initiative arrives amid ongoing debates about the boundaries of political and ideological considerations in financial services and bears directly on how crypto firms access banking pathways that were once routine.

The Fed’s upward move comes with explicit acknowledgment of the concerns raised by lawmakers and industry observers about how reputation risk has been wielded in ways that affect crypto and other disfavored sectors. In the accompanying release, vice chair for supervision Michelle Bowman framed the issue in stark terms: “We have heard troubling cases of debanking — where supervisors use concerns about reputation risk to pressure financial institutions to debank customers because of their political views, religious beliefs, or involvement in disfavored but lawful businesses.” She stressed that discrimination on these bases runs counter to federal policy and has no place in the Fed’s supervisory framework. The push to formalize this standard reflects a desire to shield legitimate business activity from ad hoc revocation of banking access under the guise of reputation risk.

As the digital asset ecosystem pushes for clearer rules and a more stable banking landscape, political observers weighed in as well. In a post on X, Senator Cynthia Lummis lauded the Fed’s move, arguing that it should not be the regulator’s role to adjudicate who can participate in the crypto economy. She framed the reform as a breaking point that could help “permanently remove ‘reputation risk’ from Fed policy and put Operation Chokepoint 2.0 to rest so America can become the digital asset capital of the world.” The sentiment was echoed by Galaxy Digital’s head of firmwide research, Alex Thorn, who lauded the development as part of the industry’s ongoing push to roll back what supporters call choke points in traditional finance. Thorn signaled via X that the rollback continues, underscoring the ongoing tension between crypto firms seeking direct access to banking services and legacy financial institutions wary of reputational exposure.

Operation Chokepoint 2.0 is a label used within crypto circles to describe what some perceived as a coordinated effort by the Biden administration and the banking sector to restrict crypto firms’ access to essential banking services. The discourse around this concept has included references to previous policy debates and actions that crypto insiders argued were designed to curb the industry’s growth by pressuring banks to sever ties. The Fed’s latest move—aimed at removing reputation-based triggers from supervisory decisions—has been positioned by supporters as a corrective step toward neutral, risk-based decisions that prioritize financial metrics over political or ideological considerations. The discourse surrounding debanking isn’t new: disclosures and investigations have connected the policy debate to broader questions about regulatory overreach, financial privacy, and the U.S.’s stance toward crypto innovation.

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The policy questions extend beyond banking practices into the political discourse around regulation. The administration has signaled an intent to curb debanking in the United States, with discussions touching on how regulators should approach crypto-related clients. The public record features a mix of official statements and industry commentary about the proper balance between safeguarding the financial system and enabling a vibrant digital asset sector. The thread linking this initiative to broader regulatory reform remains a focal point for crypto firms seeking greater clarity and predictability in how banks evaluate risk and structure services for digital assets.

In parallel, proponents of the reform have pointed to links between reputational considerations and broader regulatory strategies aimed at safeguarding consumers while not constraining legitimate innovation. The Fed’s invitation for public comment signals a willingness to test the proposed framework against diverse viewpoints before any final rule is enshrined. If adopted, the rule could set a precedent for how U.S. supervisory agencies weigh risk and approach non-financial considerations in decisions that affect access to fundamental banking services for crypto businesses and other sectors that have faced similar pressures.

Beyond the policy debate, the legal and practical implications loom large. Some observers have highlighted how banks may recalibrate due to the clarity this rule would provide or because it reduces discretionary leverage tied to reputational risk. Others warn that a formalized standard would still require careful definition to avoid unintended consequences, such as banks underreacting to financial risk signals or inadvertently channeling risk through opaque channels. In the end, the rule’s success hinges on how well the Fed can translate a principle into a measurable framework that stands up to scrutiny and serves as a reliable reference for bankers, crypto firms, and regulators alike. The Fed’s consultation period will be a key barometer of how broad support is for codifying this approach and what refinements may be necessary to address edge cases and evolving digital-asset landscapes.

The evolving narrative around debanking and regulatory clarity has also intersected with political dimensions, including ongoing disputes over how bank accounts are treated during periods of political or ideological contention. While the Fed’s move is framed as a technical adjustment to supervisory practice, the broader implications touch on the dynamics of financial inclusion, national competitiveness in the crypto space, and the boundaries of regulatory intervention in private-sector decisions. As negotiators and policymakers weigh the future of digital asset markets, this rulemaking could become a touchstone for how the United States balances the need to manage risk with the desire to foster innovation and maintain the country’s pull in the global crypto economy. The public comment period will determine not only the technical shape of the rule but also the degree to which the policy resonates across industry, advocacy groups, and financial institutions that must implement it in the months ahead.

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Key takeaways

  • The Fed is seeking to codify the removal of reputation risk as a factor in banking supervision, a move crypto advocates view as reducing punitive pressure on banks over political or ideological considerations.
  • A 60-day public-comment window accompanies the proposal, signaling an invitation for industry, lawmakers, and the public to weigh in on the formal rule.
  • The initiative follows a June policy shift in which the Fed directed supervisors to base decisions on financial risk management rather than reputational concerns.
  • Supporters, including lawmakers and industry figures, frame the reform as a step toward restoring access to banking for crypto firms and ending what critics call “Chokepoint 2.0.”
  • Opponents may push for careful definitions of “reputation risk” to avoid unintended loopholes or gaps in enforcement that could leave some customers exposed to informal criteria.

Market context: The policy sits within a broader regulatory environment where liquidity, risk sentiment, and clarity around digital assets influence the willingness of traditional banks to service crypto clients. As policymakers push for explicit standards, market participants look for predictable frameworks that reduce opacity in a space historically marked by sudden access changes and reputational triggers.

Why it matters

For crypto companies, the Fed’s potential rule offers a clearer path to banking access that is less contingent on perceived reputational concerns. In a sector where financial infrastructure—payments, settlement, and treasury services—can determine a project’s viability, a formal standard buffers firms against abrupt disconnections from banking rails. The change could also incentivize banks to adopt uniform risk-based criteria, improving consistency across institutions and reducing the likelihood that decisions are swayed by external factors unrelated to financial health.

From a policy perspective, the move indicates an intent to articulate a more transparent governance framework for supervisory actions. If successfully enacted, the rule could help normalize the treatment of crypto firms within mainstream financial services and strengthen the U.S. position as a hub for digital asset innovation. Support from lawmakers who view debanking as a civil-rights or anti-competitive concern further underscores the political resonance of the issue, elevating the debate beyond technocratic risk management into a broader discussion about access to finance and national competitiveness.

Nevertheless, the discussion remains nuanced. Advocates stress the need for precise definitions to avoid softening risk controls or eroding the ability of regulators to intervene when broader financial crime or consumer protection concerns arise. The rule will likely require ongoing refinement to address newly emergent business models and evolving threats, including opaque financial arrangements or non-traditional counterparties that still carry risk. The Fed’s engagement with industry stakeholders, as evidenced by the 60-day comment period, will be a critical litmus test for how quickly and effectively a clearer, more stable regime can take shape.

What to watch next

  • Public comments: The 60-day window opens with the formal proposal and should yield a spectrum of views from banks, crypto firms, consumer groups, and policymakers.
  • Final rule release: The Fed will publish the final text, outlining definitions, enforcement mechanisms, and transition timelines for banks to align with the new standard.
  • Banking industry response: Expect filings, memos, and industry white papers detailing how lenders foresee applying the rule in practice and where they foresee friction or ambiguities.
  • Regulatory coordination: Observers will look for alignment with other regulators’ approaches to reputational risk and how the rule interacts with anti-money-laundering and sanctions regimes.

Sources & verification

  • Federal Reserve press release: June 23, 2025, announcing changes to supervision focused away from reputation risk
  • Federal Reserve press release: February 23, 2026, inviting public comment on turning the approach into law
  • Senator Cynthia Lummis (X) post praising the move: https://x.com/senlummis/status/2026060712305365065
  • Galaxy Digital Alex Thorn (X) post commenting on the rollback: https://x.com/intangiblecoins/status/2026069012124164150
  • Cointelegraph article: Operation Chokepoint crypto banking restrictions

Market reaction and key details

The Fed’s initiative to codify reputation-risk exclusion from supervisory judgment underscores a broader shift toward risk-based banking decisions that foreground financial metrics over reputational considerations. The formal rulemaking process, including a 60-day comment window, invites a wide spectrum of perspectives, ensuring that the final framework balances financial stability with the industry’s push for more straightforward access to banking services. Industry observers note that the policy’s success will hinge on how clearly the Fed defines “reputation risk” and how it handles edge cases where reputational concerns intersect with legitimate risk signals. The conversation also weaves in the historical debate around “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” a label used by crypto insiders to describe perceived regulatory and banking pressures on crypto firms, which the current proposals seek to reverse or at least diminish in influence over supervisory outcomes. The official narrative aligns with a broader push to position the United States as a competitive, innovation-friendly environment for digital assets while maintaining guardrails that deter illicit activity.

The momentum behind the policy has drawn attention from lawmakers and industry figures who argue it could restore a more predictable banking environment for crypto companies. The ongoing public debate touches on questions of how much regulatory discretion should be exercised based on non-financial considerations and how transparent the decision-making process should be for banks that service digital-asset businesses. With the 60-day window now open, observers will be watching not only for the rule’s final form but also for the evidence of consensus around where the balance should lie between risk control and access to essential banking services.

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Ultimately, the Fed’s proposed rule is part of a larger narrative about how the United States intends to steward innovation in the digital asset space while preserving the integrity of the financial system. If the rule stands up to scrutiny and gains broad support, it could reduce the volatility that arises when firms lose access to banking for reasons tied more to reputation than to tangible financial risk. For participants across the industry—from fintech startups to established crypto exchanges—the development represents a potential turning point in the governance of banking relationships and the speed at which the U.S. can keep pace with global peers in the digital economy.

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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Will Zcash price crash to $200 as a death cross looms?

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Zcash price is close to confirming a death cross on the daily chart.

Zcash price has dropped over 20% in the past 7 days as the broader crypto market remained in a downtrend. The privacy token now risks a drop to $200 as a death cross appears to have taken shape on the daily chart.

Summary

  • Zcash price has dropped 22% over the past 7 days largely weighed down by macroeconomic and geopolitical concerns affecting markets.
  • It is close to confirming a death cross on the daily chart.

According to data from crypto.news, Zcash (ZEC) tanked nearly 22% to $231 last check Tuesday, Feb. 24. It has dropped by 28% from this month’s high and 56% from the beginning of this year.

Zcash price has been in a downtrend since the entire development team at the Electric Coin Company resigned from the project following a severe governance dispute with Bootstrap, the nonprofit organization that owns and oversees ECC.

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While the organizational split did not lead to the forking of the Zcash blockchain and the ZEC token’s fundamentals remain unaffected, it has raised investor concerns over the future direction of the ecosystem.

The token’s crash was further exacerbated by a broader market drop triggered by persistent liquidations across leveraged markets as Bitcoin fell below several key support levels. The latest downturn comes as investor sentiment for risk assets has remained extremely fragile over the past weeks amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.

Meanwhile, data from CoinGlass shows that futures demand for the token has dwindled since the start of this year. ZEC open interest has dropped to $306 million, nearly a fourth of the figures seen in early January.

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On the daily chart, Zcash price has dropped below all moving averages, with the 50-day and 200-day SMAs appearing to be closing on a bearish crossover, which forms what traders call a death cross. Death crosses are some of the most feared bearish patterns in technical analysis.

Zcash price is close to confirming a death cross on the daily chart.
Zcash price is close to confirming a death cross on the daily chart — Feb. 24 | Source: crypto.news

Zcash price action also shows that it has fallen below the Ultimate support level of the Murrey Math lines. A loss below this baseline means loss of bullish momentum and hints at further capitulation.

Hence, the token risks a drop to the next key psychological support level at $200 next, which also closely aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level. At press time, the target price remained 14% below Zcash’s current price of $233.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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Nansen to Set Up Operations in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City

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Nansen to Set Up Operations in Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City

On-chain analytics platform Nansen is establishing an operational presence in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). The move marks another step in the small Himalayan kingdom’s push to build a sovereign digital asset ecosystem.

More broadly, the deal underscores Bhutan’s accelerating ambition to build a sovereign-backed digital asset jurisdiction from the ground up. For Nansen, it is a bet that the next wave of growth will come from exactly that kind of ecosystem.

Not a Relocation

Under the collaboration announced Tuesday, Nansen plans to incorporate a local entity in GMC and hire a Bhutan-based team. In addition, the company will develop on-the-ground analytics capabilities to support the special administrative region’s expanding digital asset infrastructure.

The move is not a relocation. Nansen CEO and co-founder Alex Svanevik told BeInCrypto the company is keeping its Singapore headquarters intact.

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“We’re not leaving Singapore — this is an additional entity,” Svanevik said. “We chose GMC because of the vision behind it. Most crypto-friendly jurisdictions are optimizing for what exists today. Bhutan is building something fundamentally different — a values-driven economic zone with digital assets baked into the foundation, not bolted on as an afterthought.”

Why Bhutan

Established as a purpose-built special administrative region in southern Bhutan, GMC is designed around sustainable economic development. The region has attracted attention for its integration of digital assets at the sovereign level. That includes holding crypto in its strategic reserves and developing a regulatory framework purpose-built for the sector.

For Svanevik, that sovereign-level commitment is the key differentiator.

“GMC has crypto in its strategic reserves, a progressive regulatory framework purpose-built for digital assets, and genuine sovereign conviction behind it. That’s rare. We want to be pioneers in that ecosystem,” he said.

Expanding Beyond Analytics

The partnership reflects a broader shift in Nansen’s own strategy. The company in January rolled out AI-powered trade execution on Base and Solana and launched its AI agent on the web, moving beyond its roots as a wallet-labeling and analytics tool toward a full-stack on-chain trading platform.

“Nansen is becoming an AI-first platform for on-chain investing — analytics, trading execution, and AI agents working together,” Svanevik said. “In GMC’s ecosystem, that positions us well as the infrastructure matures around custody, tokenization, and institutional liquidity.”

Nansen currently tracks over 500 million labeled wallet addresses across major blockchains.

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Building Blocks, Not Hype

Still, the Nansen collaboration is the latest in GMC’s series of digital asset partnerships, spanning custody infrastructure, tokenization, institutional liquidity, and legal frameworks.

Jigdrel Singay, a board director at GMC, framed the approach as deliberately incremental.

“At GMC, we are focused on building the supporting layers — data, governance, and human capability — that enable innovation to develop responsibly,” Singay said.

Svanevik described Bhutan’s model as forward-looking rather than reactive.

“Bhutan is building something genuinely new — a jurisdiction designed for the future of finance, not retrofitted from the past,” he said.

Meanwhile, specific details on team size, office setup, and hiring timelines are still being finalized. Svanevik said the operational buildout will take shape over the coming months.

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Bitcoin price loses $65K as Trump tariffs loom, will it crash under $60K next?

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Bitcoin price has formed a bearish double top pattern on the daily chart.

Bitcoin price has lost the $65,000 psychological support level as investors remain wary of the impact of new U.S. global tariffs on trade.

Summary

  • Bitcoin price lost the $65,000 psychological support level on Monday.
  • Trump’s new tariffs and U.S.-Iran war concerns are keeping investors at bay from risky assets.
  • A confirmed bearish double top pattern puts more downside pressure on Bitcoin’s price.

According to data from crypto.news, Bitcoin (BTC) price fell roughly 5% from its Monday high of $66,465 to an intraday low of $62,952, extending losses to 35% from its yearly high.

The price tanked amid market uncertainty ahead of the latest 10% tariffs on all nations for a 150-day period unless exempted. This comes after the administration rerouted its strategy under Section 232 after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked previous trade actions.

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While the current 10% rate comes lower than the 15% feared earlier, the Trump administration is working to raise the figure to 15% through a separate order that the President would need to sign.

Investors have a clear memory of how previous U.S. tariffs on key trading partners led to significant volatility in the crypto market. Following the 145% tariff hike against China implemented in April 2025, the total crypto market cap fell by 20% to $1.8 trillion within two months. Bitcoin has historically borne the greatest brunt from such geopolitical friction.

Aside from the tariff drama, another key concern lowering investor appetite is the potential for a U.S.-Iran war. Reports reveal that the U.S. is preparing for military action, while the President himself has threatened to launch an attack on Iran within 10 days through a Truth Social post on Thursday, Feb. 19.

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Bitcoin has so far failed to maintain its status as a safe-haven asset. It has remained in a downtrend since the beginning of 2026 while traditional assets like gold showed signs of strength amid the ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical stress.

The liquidation cascade that followed the drop under the $65,000 psychological support, where several stop losses were likely concentrated, has also intensified the decline.

Notably, over $218 million in leveraged long positions were wiped out across derivatives markets in the past 12 hours alone. Over the 24-hour period, total crypto liquidations climbed to roughly $369 million, with Bitcoin accounting for nearly $152 million of that figure.

Meanwhile, the 12-spot Bitcoin ETFs have also failed to provide any support. Data from SoSoValue show these investment vehicles recorded $203.8 million in net outflows over the past day, largely led by BlackRock’s IBIT, which saw $116.4 million in redemptions.

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The daily BTC/USDT price chart shows weakness building for the bellwether asset over the coming weeks.

Bitcoin price action has formed a double top pattern, a major bearish indicator in technical analysis. It has also formed a bearish pennant pattern since mid-January, as reported by crypto.news earlier, adding to the negative outlook.

Bitcoin price has formed a bearish double top pattern on the daily chart.
Bitcoin price has formed a bearish double top pattern on the daily chart — Feb. 24 | Source: crypto.news

Furthermore, the MACD lines appear set for another bearish crossover below the zero line. The Aroon Down showing a 100% reading also suggests that bears are still dominating the market.

As such, Bitcoin is most likely to drop to $60,000 next as bears target the key psychological floor. This level resonates with the target calculated by subtracting the height of the double top pattern from the breakout point.

A drop below $60,000, which serves as the last line of defense, could trigger a much deeper correction toward the $50,000 range.

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Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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Terra Classic price prediction as Terraform Labs files lawsuit against Jane Street

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Terra Classic price prediction as Terraform Labs files lawsuit against Jane Street - 1

Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy administrator has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan accusing trading giant Jane Street of playing a key role in the 2022 collapse of Terra’s ecosystem.

Summary

  • Terraform Labs has sued Jane Street, alleging the firm played a central role in the 2022 Terra collapse by accelerating the UST depeg and profiting from the fallout.
  • The lawsuit claims Jane Street dumped 85 million UST shortly after Terraform withdrew liquidity, triggering panic that led to LUNA’s hyperinflation and a $40 billion market wipeout.
  • Meanwhile, Terra Classic is consolidating near $0.000035, trading below its 50-day moving average, with $0.000032 acting as key support and $0.000038 as major resistance.

Terraform blames Jane Street insider trading for collapse

The complaint alleges that Jane Street front-ran the depegging of UST and helped trigger the death spiral that wiped out roughly $40 billion in market value.

According to the filing, Terraform quietly withdrew 150 million UST liquidity from Curve in May 2022. Minutes later, Jane Street allegedly dumped 85 million UST, accelerating the depeg. Panic spread quickly, UST lost its dollar peg, and LUNA hyperinflated due to its mint-and-burn mechanism.

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The suit further claims a Jane Street trader, a former Terraform intern, shared insider information in a private group chat dubbed “Bryce’s Secret.” The firm allegedly avoided more than $200 million in losses and profited during the meltdown. Jane Street has denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit baseless.

Terra Classic price analysis

Amid the renewed headlines, Terra Classic (LUNC) is trading around $0.00003497 at press time on the daily chart. Price remains below the 50-day simple moving average, which sits near $0.00003790, signaling that the broader trend is still tilted to the downside.

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Terra Classic price prediction as Terraform Labs files lawsuit against Jane Street - 1
LUNC price analysis | Source: Crypto.News

The chart shows a series of lower highs since early January, confirming bearish structure.

However, recent candles suggest short-term consolidation after a sharp early-February sell-off that briefly pushed price toward the $0.00003000–$0.00003200 support zone. That area now acts as key near-term support.

On the upside, immediate resistance sits at $0.00003600, followed by the 50-day SMA near $0.00003790. A sustained break above that level could open the door toward $0.00004000.

The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator is slightly positive at 0.05, suggesting mild capital inflows, but not strong accumulation. Unless LUNC reclaims its moving average, rallies may face selling pressure.

A breakdown below $0.00003200 would likely expose the psychological $0.00003000 level again.

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XRP price enters “dead zone” as Binance leverage hits lows

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XRP price enters “dead zone” as Binance leverage resets to cycle lows — is a breakout brewing? - 1

XRP price is hovering near $1.30 as leverage on Binance hits cycle lows, putting focus on a potential breakout.

Summary

  • XRP is trading near the lower end of its recent range with leverage at cycle lows.
  • Derivatives positioning has cooled, reducing liquidation risk.
  • A breakout above $1.50 or breakdown below $1.30 could decide the next move.

XRP was trading at $1.33 at press time, down 1.2% over the past 24 hours. The token is hovering at the bottom of its 7-day range between $1.33 and $1.49.

XRP is in the red across all major timeframes, down 10% over the past week, 30% in the last month, and nearly 50% over the past year. It has now retraced about 63% from its July 2025 all-time high of $3.65.

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Spot activity has picked up despite the weak price action. XRP (XRP) recorded $3.13 billion in 24-hour trading volume, up 40.4% from the previous day.

Derivatives data from CoinGlass shows futures volume up 38.3% to $5.37 billion, while open interest slipped 3.7% to $2.29 billion, suggesting leverage is being reduced even as trading activity rises.

Binance leverage resets as speculative excess fades

A Feb. 23 report by CryptoQuant contributor PelinayPA shows XRP’s Estimated Leverage Ratio has dropped sharply to about 0.16, with both the 30-day and 50-day moving averages trending down.

This decline means that speculative positioning has cooled off. Forced liquidations have largely run their course, and neither longs nor shorts appear crowded. The derivatives market looks balanced rather than stretched.

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The focus on Binance is significant. Binance is the main hub for XRP derivatives. Leverage shifts there often reflect global risk appetite. A sharp drop usually means risky positions have been cleared across the market.

Interestingly, price has continued drifting lower while leverage falls. That combination can be constructive. High leverage increases the risk of cascading liquidations. A low-leverage environment, by contrast, reduces forced selling pressure and creates cleaner conditions for larger players to build positions.

For now, XRP appears stuck in what is commonly called a “dead zone,” a phase marked by sideways-to-down movement, contracting volatility, and fading leverage.

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XRP price technical analysis

On the daily chart, XRP is forming lower highs and lower lows, but downward momentum has eased. Immediate support is around $1.30, a level that has held several times.

XRP price enters “dead zone” as Binance leverage resets to cycle lows — is a breakout brewing? - 1
XRP daily chart. Credit: crypto.news

On the upside, $1.41 acts as the first resistance. A more critical barrier lies between $1.50 and $1.53, where the 30-day and 50-day moving averages cluster. Trading below both, which are sloping down, keeps the medium-term bias bearish.

The relative strength index is near oversold, hovering around 35, and the MACD is still bearish, despite the shrinking histogram suggesting that selling pressure is cooling. Low volatility is indicated by tightening Bollinger bands, a condition which often precedes sharp moves.

A move above $1.50–$1.53 with rising volume could shift momentum and open the door toward $1.60, potentially triggering a fresh build-up in leverage. Failure to reclaim resistance, followed by a daily close below $1.30, may lead to a slide toward $1.20.

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Upbit Will List 2 Altcoins Today: Here’s How Prices Reacted

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Seeker (SKR) and Espresso (ESP) Price Performance After Listing Announcements

Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the listing of two new altcoins. The platform confirmed it will add spot trading support for Seeker (SKR) and Espresso (ESP).

In addition, Bithumb will also list ESP today. Following the listing announcements, both tokens recorded strong gains, with prices surging by double digits as trading interest accelerated.

Upbit and Bithumb Expand Offerings With New Token Listings 

According to Upbit’s notice, SKR will be available to trade against three pairs: Korean Won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT). The exchange will open spot trading at 16:00 Korean Standard Time (KST) on February 24 and enable deposits and withdrawals within 90 minutes of the announcement.

“Deposits and withdrawals are supported only through the specified network (SKR-Solana). Please verify the network before making a deposit. The contract address for SKR supported by Upbit is: SKRbvo6Gf7GondiT3BbTfuRDPqLWei4j2Qy2NPGZhW3. Please confirm the contract address when depositing or withdrawing SKR,” the exchange added.

In a separate notice, Upbit announced support for ESP in the KRW, BTC, and USDT markets. Trading is scheduled to begin at 17:00 KST today.

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Bithumb also announced the addition of ESP in its KRW market. The exchange stated that deposits and withdrawals will open within two hours of the announcement, with trading scheduled for 17:00 KST on February 24. The exchange set the reference price at 149 KRW.

Both exchanges outlined temporary restrictions designed to manage volatility during the initial trading period. Upbit will restrict buy orders for approximately five minutes after trading begins. 

Sell orders priced 10% or more below the previous day’s closing price will also be restricted for about five minutes. Additionally, the exchange will permit only limit orders for approximately two hours after trading support begins.

Bithumb will similarly restrict buy orders for five minutes following the start of trading. During the same initial five-minute window, sell orders will be blocked if priced 10% or more below or 100% or more above the reference price. Like Upbit, Bithumb will allow only limit orders for roughly two hours after trading opens.

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Exchange Listings Drive Sharp Moves in SKR and ESP

The listings triggered notable price movements in both tokens. Data shows that SKR, the native token of the Solana Mobile ecosystem, rose more than 62% following the announcement. 

The daily trading volume increased by over 700%, with Bithumb accounting for approximately 33% of total activity, according to CoinGecko data. The figures suggest elevated trading interest from the South Korean market.

Seeker (SKR) and Espresso (ESP) Price Performance After Listing Announcements
Seeker (SKR) and Espresso (ESP) Price Performance After Listing Announcements. Source: TradingView

ESP also recorded significant gains, climbing more than 50% and reaching a new all-time high of $0.16. The token was launched earlier this month, making it a recent entrant to the market. ESP serves as the native token of the Espresso Network.

Espresso Network is a blockchain protocol that provides a shared sequencing and confirmation layer for rollups and other chains. It aims to improve scalability and interoperability by coordinating transaction ordering across multiple networks.

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Who will ZachXBT expose as ‘insider traders’ on Thursday? Polymarket thinks these firms

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(Polymarket)

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT hasn’t named the target yet. Polymarket bettors are already pricing it in.

A prediction market asking which crypto company ZachXBT will expose for insider trading has drawn nearly $3 million in volume since the on-chain sleuth posted on X that a “major investigation” into one of crypto’s most profitable businesses would drop on February 26. He offered no specifics beyond alleging insider trading.

That was enough. Within hours, Polymarket traders began placing bets across several candidates, and the resulting odds function as a real-time map of where the market thinks the bodies are buried.

Polymarket is a blockchain-based prediction platform where users trade contracts on real-world outcomes using real money. The odds tend to reflect genuine conviction because bettors risk capital rather than just opinions. The platform gained mainstream credibility during the 2024 U.S. election cycle and has since become crypto’s de facto sentiment gauge for unresolved events.

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As of Asian morning hours Tuesday, Meteora is the heavy favorite at 43%, with $319,000 in volume on that outcome alone. The Solana-based liquidity layer has been a recurring name in community discussions around meme coin market structure — particularly around how launch liquidity gets seeded and who ends up on the right side of early price moves.

Its proximity to politically linked token activity, including Trump-themed meme coins, has kept it in the spotlight.

(Polymarket)

Axiom sits at 13%, followed by Pump.fun at 12% with the highest single-outcome volume at $332,000 — suggesting heavy two-way action rather than consensus. Pump.fun’s inclusion tracks with months of scrutiny over early-wallet sniping on the platform, though the project has denied allegations of insider advantages.

Jupiter rounds out at 8% and MEXC at 7%. Jupiter’s presence reflects broader questions about Solana DeFi routing and fee extraction, while MEXC has faced persistent social media chatter about listing behavior and whale-friendly timing on meme coin markets.

The odds have shifted notably since the market opened. Axiom, Pump.fun, and Jupiter have all fallen 37-42% from their initial readings, while Meteora has consolidated its lead — a pattern that suggests early speculation has given way to more directional conviction as bettors parse ZachXBT’s prior work and posting patterns for clues.

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None of this constitutes evidence, however. Prediction markets price belief, not fact, and Polymarket’s odds reflect the collective speculation of a few thousand traders rather than any inside knowledge of the investigation itself.

But the market is doing what prediction markets do best — forcing participants to put capital behind their hunches rather than just tweeting them.

The answer arrives in two days.

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Bitcoin drops to $62,800 as tariffs, ETF outflows pressure crypto market

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Bitcoin BTC
Bitcoin BTC
  • Bitcoin price dipped to $62,800 amid the latest market weakness.
  • Analysts say $60,000 is key to the bulls’ short-term picture.
  • BTC could dip to $50,000 amid a bear cross pattern.

Bitcoin’s price slide gathered momentum on Tuesday, with fresh losses to under $63,000 as the cryptocurrency’s vulnerability to macroeconomic pressures and global uncertainties continued.

Trading volume surged 25% as investors reacted to a confluence of events, and top altcoins followed suit.

Bitcoin drops below $63,000

Bitcoin extended its losses to lows of $62,700 on Tuesday, bringing total declines to nearly 29% in the past month.

The benchmark digital asset’s latest dump comes amid mounting concerns over President Trump’s latest tariffs, with investor jitters rippling through the crypto market.

Analysts have noted that these trade policies heighten fears of inflation, trade instability, and reduced global liquidity.

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Risk assets like cryptocurrencies are under pressure, and escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding potential US strikes on Iran add to this weakness.

BTC’s struggle mirrors traditional stock indices, which also tumbled after Citrini research sparked a sell out in companies that work in delivery and payments with software stocks also falling on Monday.

Meanwhile, on-chain data shows Bitcoin continues to confront huge ETF outflows, with investors pulling capital from investment products across the market.

According to Farside Investors’ data, Bitcoin ETFs saw $203.8 million worth of outflow on Monday.

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These factors have outweighed Strategy’s 100th Bitcoin purchase and have failed to stem the downside.

BTC traded at $63,030 at the time of writing, down 2.4% in the past 24 hours.

The top cryptocurrency is down 7% from last week’s peak near $68k.

What’s next for Bitcoin price?

This dip thrusts the pivotal $60,000 support level into sharp focus.

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Bears have already tested this psychological and technical floor, with BTC rebounding off the level following the February 5 crash.

Analysts warn that further short-term pain could allow for a potential revisit to $50,000.

If selling accelerates, lower support levels will come into play.

However, chart patterns suggest Bitcoin could find a bottom as the 50-week moving average crosses below the 100-week average. Price recovery has historically followed such patterns.

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Bitcoin Price Chart
Bitcoin price chart by TradingView

At the moment, the chart indicates no such cross has occurred, and prices will likely head lower.

However, extreme oversold conditions suggest a potential sharp rebound is next.

Bullish catalysts, including macro shifts and ETF inflows, can change the direction of Bitcoin.

The $70,000 mark remains key, with a breakout likely to accelerate short-term recovery.

“For a durable breakout to materialise, the market will require a clear resurgence in spot demand and stronger institutional participation; until then, Bitcoin is likely to remain range-bound within its established absorption zone,” analysts at Bitfinex wrote in a research note.

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Crypto VC Backing a $500M DeFi Play

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Crypto Breaking News

Framework Ventures has forged a strategic partnership with mortgage technology company Better to advance a $500 million credit facility into Sky’s decentralized stablecoin ecosystem. The collaboration aims to unlock the tokenization of real-world assets, beginning with mortgage-backed instruments that could generate yields for holders within a DeFi framework. The move signals a broader push by traditional finance and crypto-native firms to bridge tangible assets with scalable blockchain protocols, a trend that has gathered momentum as tokenization efforts spread from money-market funds to more complex asset classes.

Key takeaways

  • Framework Ventures will extend up to $500 million in credit to Sky’s stablecoin ecosystem, enabling the launch of mortgage-backed tokens tied to Better’s assets.
  • The initiative envisions tokens that represent mortgages, initially offered to accredited investors, with a long-term plan to broaden access to retail participants.
  • Better is pursuing a stake in its own stock through Framework, with a reported 10% acquisition valued around a $45 million equity stake, alongside the tokenization push.
  • The project sits within a wider wave of tokenization in traditional finance, including BlackRock’s exploration of tokenized instruments for money-market funds.
  • Better’s leadership frames the effort as a means to cut intermediation and reduce costs for consumers, potentially enabling cheaper mortgage financing over time.

Tickers mentioned: $BETR

Market context: The plan arrives amid rising institutional interest in tokenized real-world assets and growing experimentation with DeFi-native structures that can support asset-backed tokens. It aligns with a broader move by asset managers toward tokenization as a way to broaden liquidity and potentially lower financing costs in traditional markets.

Why it matters

The collaboration highlights a convergence between crypto-native protocols and traditional mortgage finance. By channeling a sizable $500 million credit line into Sky’s stablecoin system, the initiative seeks to create a pipeline for mortgage-backed tokens that can be minted and traded within a decentralized framework. If successful, the approach could demonstrate a viable pathway to connect real-world debt—specifically conforming, government-backed mortgages—with blockchain rails, a pairing that proponents say can enhance efficiency, transparency, and liquidity.

Better’s leadership has framed the move as a broad effort to trim layers of intermediation and reduce operating costs. Vishal Garg, founder and CEO of Better, has argued that tokenization could lower overall financing costs, which, in turn, could translate into cheaper mortgage terms for consumers. While the precise mechanics and rate implications remain to be seen, the emphasis on cost reduction reflects a recurring theme in real-world asset tokenization: the potential for blockchain-enabled processes to streamline origination, underwriting, and settlement without sacrificing regulatory safeguards or consumer protections.

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The strategic angle extends beyond just lending costs. By taking a stake in Better and pursuing mortgage-backed tokens, Framework and Better are testing whether a hybrid model—combining on-chain settlement with traditional mortgage assets—can deliver consistent yields to token holders while maintaining compliance and risk management. The initiative also underscores the appetite among some crypto investors for assets that can offer a bridge between digital liquidity and the stability of real-world collateral. In this sense, the project resonates with a wider industry trend toward tokenized assets that aim to preserve credit quality while expanding access to investors who are comfortable with DeFi governance and transparency standards.

The broader tokenization theme has gained notable attention from institutional players. For example, major asset managers have shown interest in tokenized versions of money-market funds, a development that could signal a future where high-quality, asset-backed tokens play a more prominent role in diversified portfolios. The industry’s trajectory toward tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) has been punctuated by regulatory scrutiny and the need to establish clear redemption, custody, and compliance frameworks. Even as investors weigh opportunities in these tokenized products, the emphasis remains on ensuring that tokenization scales without compromising investor protections.

The market backdrop includes public disclosures around Better’s equity positioning with Framework. Fortune reported that Framework would purchase about 10% of Better’s stock, which is currently valued at roughly $45 million, and that the tokenized mortgages could be made available initially only to accredited investors. Garg indicated the tokens would be issued first, with efforts to determine how those assets could reach everyday consumers, but specific launch dates were not disclosed. Market observers will be watching not only for token economics and compliance paths but also for how these mortgage-backed tokens would perform within Sky’s ecosystem and how collateralization, liquidity, and risk management would be structured in practice.

From a pricing perspective, Better’s stock BETR has experienced a challenging period since peaking near the $86 level in October. It was trading around $27 as of last close, reflecting ongoing volatility in the stock’s performance and investor sentiment amid broader market fluctuations. This backdrop adds another layer of complexity to any tokenization plan tied to a public equity component, highlighting the delicate balance between on-chain innovation and traditional market dynamics.

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The motivation for the program rests partly on the belief that tokenization can unlock new efficiencies and access. Garg’s remarks suggest a long-term view where mortgage-backed tokens could reduce cost pressure on lenders and borrowers alike by removing redundant steps in the origination and settlement processes. The promise hinges on rigorous risk controls, credible asset backing, and a framework for on-chain governance that preserves the integrity of the underlying mortgage assets.

As the industry watches, a number of fundamental questions remain: How will the mortgage-backed tokens be structured in terms of collateralization and payment streams? What governance mechanisms will oversee the Sky ecosystem to ensure reliability and security? What regulatory approvals or safe harbors will be necessary to allow token holders to participate economically in mortgage yields without running afoul of securities or commodities rules? While these are not uniquely defined yet, the collaboration between Framework and Better signals a concerted effort to address these issues in a convergent manner—blending the best practices of traditional credit markets with the transparency and programmability of DeFi.

What to watch next

  • Official rollout details for the $500 million credit facility to Sky and the timeline for token issuance.
  • Detailed tokenomics for the mortgage-backed tokens, including yield structures, collateral requirements, and redemption mechanics.
  • Regulatory filings or statements clarifying compliance pathways for accredited-investor tokens and eventual consumer access.
  • Subsequent investor communications from Better and Framework regarding the equity stake and governance rights tied to the token program.
  • Updates on Sky’s protocol integration, including security audits, collateral-custody arrangements, and on-chain settlement protocols.

Sources & verification

  • Better and Framework Ventures press release announcing the strategic partnership to deploy $500MM into Better via Sky’s stablecoin ecosystem (BusinessWire).
  • Fortune coverage of Framework’s investment in Better and the proposed “Home Token” mortgage-backed tokens, including the 10% stock acquisition and accreditation restrictions.
  • Cointelegraph reporting on BlackRock’s exploration of tokenization for money-market funds as part of the broader tokenization trend.
  • Cointelegraph explainer on tokenization, outlining the mechanics and opportunities of tokenizing traditional assets.
  • BETR stock price context from Google Finance showing recent trading levels in Better’s public market.

Market reaction and key details

The partnership between Framework Ventures and Better marks a notable step in the ongoing experimentation with tokenized real-world assets. If the mortgage-backed token concept proves viable, it could provide a scalable model for aligning mortgage originators with DeFi liquidity, potentially lowering financing costs for borrowers while offering a novel yield channel for token holders. The approach emphasizes real-world asset backing, robust risk controls, and a governance framework designed to coexist with traditional financial oversight. Investors should monitor how the tokenization framework adapts to regulatory developments, how capital is deployed to Sky, and how consumer-ready token products are designed, tested, and rolled out in the months ahead.

What it means for users and builders

For users, the initiative could eventually translate into accessible, tokenized exposure to mortgage-originated yields—an option that sits at the intersection of DeFi and mainstream finance. For builders, the Sky ecosystem represents a testbed for on-chain loan structures, asset-backed collateral, and transparent settlement processes that can scale across asset classes. The collaboration also signals ongoing interest from institutional players in tokenized RWAs, a trend that could help drive liquidity, standardization, and better risk management practices within DeFi.

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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TRM Labs, Finray Launch Crypto and Fiat Monitoring

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TRM Labs, Finray Launch Crypto and Fiat Monitoring

Blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs has joined forces with banking infrastructure firm Finray Technologies to create a unified system that monitors both crypto and fiat transactions.

Finray’s compliance and decision engine, XZiel, has been integrated with TRM’s blockchain intelligence tools to enable real-time alert triaging, automated escalation, case management, and risk assessment across crypto and fiat transactions, the companies announced on Tuesday.

With stablecoin settlements and fiat payment flows becoming increasingly interconnected and with new regulations such as Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), institutions operating in both markets now require unified oversight, according to Finray Technologies and TRM Labs.

The system is designed to help institutions implement structured, auditable monitoring programs aligned with MiCA requirements and anti-money laundering obligations, streamlining market entry for regulated entities. 

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MiCA covers a range of aspects from crypto asset regulation and provider requirements to jurisdictional responsibilities. Source: Cointelegraph 

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other blockchains covered

Key features of Finray and TRM Labs’ new system include real-time risk alerts for suspicious crypto transactions, using the same workflow as traditional payment monitoring. Blockchains covered include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tron.