Crypto World
Bitcoin Rally Stalls Near $70K: Will Altcoins Keep Going?
Key points:
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Bitcoin continues to face selling on minor rallies, indicating a negative sentiment.
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Several altcoins have turned down from the overhead resistance levels, indicating the bears are active at higher levels.
Bitcoin (BTC) continues to face selling on rallies, with bears attempting to sink the price below $66,000. However, some analysts believe the downside may be limited.
Analyst Willy Woo said in a post on X that the selling may have exhausted and BTC is likely to enter a period of consolidation. He expects the rebound to be rejected in the mid $70,000 level. Woo anticipates the bearish trend to end in Q4 of this year and the bullish momentum to begin in Q1 or Q2 2027.
Another positive sign in favor of the bulls is that BTC exchange-traded funds have started attracting investors. The BTC ETFs have recorded $1.01 billion in inflows since Tuesday, according to SoSoValue data.

Analysts also expect Ether (ETH) to remain sideways for some time. Swyftx lead analyst Pav Hundal told Cointelegraph on Thursday that ETH may remain “subdued over the next few weeks” and in the medium term may test even “the most experienced investors.”
Could BTC and select major altcoins hold on to their support levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
Bitcoin price prediction
BTC’s relief rally is facing selling at the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) ($68,895), indicating a negative sentiment.

The BTC/USDT pair has formed a symmetrical triangle, which usually acts as a continuation pattern. If the Bitcoin price continues lower and breaks below the support line, it puts the $60,000 level at risk of breaking down. If that happens, the pair may plunge to the next major support at $52,500.
The first sign of strength will be a close above the resistance line. The pair may then rally to the breakdown level of $74,508. This is a crucial level for the bears to defend, as a close above $74,508 suggests that the price may have bottomed out at $60,000.
Ether price prediction
Buyers pushed ETH above the $2,111 resistance on Wednesday but could not sustain the breakout.

The Ether price has turned down sharply from the $2,111 resistance, indicating that the bears are vigorously defending the level. That suggests the ETH/USDT pair may extend its stay inside the $1,750 to $2,111 range for a while.
The next trending move is expected to begin on a close above $2,111 or below $1,750. If the $1,750 level cracks, the next stop is likely to be $1,537. Alternatively, a close above $2,111 might thrust the pair toward the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) ($2,494).
XRP price prediction
XRP (XRP) remains stuck between the 20-day EMA ($1.44) and the support line of the descending channel pattern.

Sellers will attempt to sink the XRP price below the support line, but are likely to encounter solid resistance from the bulls. If the price bounces off the support line with strength, the bulls will again try to push the XRP/USDT pair above the 20-day EMA. If they succeed, the pair may rally to the 50-day SMA ($1.67) and then to the downtrend line.
Contrarily, a break and close below the support line puts the Feb. 6 low of $1.11 at risk of breaking down. The pair may then tumble to the psychological support at $1.
BNB price prediction
Sellers are attempting to halt BNB’s (BNB) recovery at the 20-day EMA ($638), but the bulls have kept up the pressure.

That shows a greater potential for a possible breakout above the 20-day EMA in the near term. The BNB/USDT pair may rally to $669 and subsequently to the breakdown level of $730.
This bullish view will be negated in the near term if the price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA and breaks below the $570 support. That signals the resumption of the downtrend toward the psychological support at $500.
Solana price prediction
Solana (SOL) rose above the 20-day EMA ($86) on Wednesday, but the bears halted the recovery at the $95 level.

Sellers have pulled the price below the 20-day EMA, opening the gates for a drop to the $75 level. If the price rebounds off the $75 level with strength, it suggests that the bulls are trying to form a higher low. The SOL/USDT pair may then consolidate between $75 and $95 for a few days.
Contrary to this assumption, a close below the $75 level suggests that the bears remain in control. The Solana price may then plummet to the Feb. 6 low of $67.
Dogecoin price prediction
Dogecoin (DOGE) broke above the 20-day EMA ($0.10) on Wednesday, but the bulls could not sustain the higher levels.

Sellers will attempt to pull the Dogecoin price below the $0.09 support. If they can pull it off, the DOGE/USDT pair may retest the Feb. 6 low of $0.08. A strong rebound off the $0.08 level signals a possible range formation. The pair may swing between $0.08 and $0.12 for some time.
The bulls will be back in the driver’s seat after they thrust the price above the $0.12 resistance. That opens the doors for a rally to $0.16.
Bitcoin Cash price prediction
Buyers pushed Bitcoin Cash (BCH) above the $500 level on Wednesday and Thursday, but the long wick on the candlesticks shows selling at higher levels.

Sellers will attempt to sink the Bitcoin Cash price to the solid support at $443, which is a critical support to watch out for. If the price closes below $443, the BCH/USDT pair will complete a bearish head-and-shoulders pattern. That may start a new downtrend toward $380.
Buyers will have to swiftly push the price above the moving averages to prevent the downside. If they do that, the pair may march toward $580.
Related: Bitcoin to $30K? Analysts debate when and at what price BTC will bottom
Hyperliquid price prediction
Hyperliquid (HYPE) has been trading inside a large range of $20.82 to $36.77 for the past few days.

The flattening moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) near the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. If the price sustains above the 20-day EMA ($29.07), the HYPE/USDT pair may rise to $32.50 and later to the stiff overhead resistance of $36.77.
On the downside, the bears will have to tug the Hyperliquid price below the $25.62 support to gain the upper hand. That clears the path for a drop to the solid support at $20.82. A break above $36.77 or below $20.82 is likely to start the next trending move.
Cardano price prediction
Cardano (ADA) cleared the 20-day EMA ($0.28) hurdle on Wednesday, but the bulls could not pierce the 50-day SMA ($0.31).

A positive sign in favor of the bulls is that they are attempting to arrest the pullback at the 20-day EMA. If the price turns up from the 20-day EMA, buyers will make another attempt to overcome the barrier at the downtrend line. If they succeed, the ADA/USDT pair may rally toward $0.44. Such a move suggests a short-term trend change.
Instead, if the Cardano price breaks and closes below the 20-day EMA, it indicates that the bears are active at higher levels. That may keep the pair inside the descending channel for some more time.
Chainlink price prediction
Chainlink (LINK) broke above the 20-day EMA ($9) on Wednesday, but the bulls are struggling to sustain the higher levels.

Sellers will attempt to pull the Chainlink price to the solid support at $8. Buyers are expected to defend the $8 level with all their might, as a close below it might sink the LINK/USDT pair to the Feb. 6 low of $7.15.
This negative view will be invalidated in the near term if the price turns up and closes above the 20-day EMA. The bulls will then attempt to propel the pair to the $10.94 to $11.61 overhead resistance zone.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Crypto World
Mt. Gox’s Karpeles Floats Hard Fork Recover $5.2B Bitcoin
Mark Karpelès, the former CEO of Mt. Gox, is calling on community support for a proposal to recover more than $5.2 billion stolen from his Bitcoin exchange more than a decade ago.
On Friday, Karpelès submitted a proposal on GitHub to add a consensus rule that would allow the 79,956 Bitcoin hacked from Mt. Gox (currently sitting in a single wallet) to be moved to a recovery address without the original private key.
“These coins have not moved in over 15 years. They are among the most well-known and publicly tracked UTXOs in Bitcoin’s history,” he wrote.

Karpelès said that with Mt. Gox trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi already overseeing distributions to creditors, if the coins were recoverable, the existing legal and logistical framework would distribute them to their rightful owners.
“I want to be upfront: this is a hard fork. It makes a previously invalid transaction valid. All nodes would need to upgrade before the activation height. I’m not trying to disguise that fact or sneak it through as something else,” he added.
However, Karpelès said the proposal wasn’t intended to bypass the Bitcoin development process; instead, it was an attempt to start a discussion with the Bitcoin community.

“The MtGox trustee has declined to pursue on-chain recovery, citing the uncertainty of whether such a consensus change would ever be adopted,” he said.
“This creates a deadlock: the trustee won’t act without certainty, and the community can’t evaluate the idea without a concrete proposal. This patch breaks that deadlock by providing something concrete to discuss.”
Bitcoin immutability at risk, say critics
Karpelès’ proposal saw strong opposition on the online forum Bitcointalk, with most arguing that it would set a bad precedent for Bitcoin, a decentralized cryptocurrency intended to be irreversible and immutable.
“Each time a hack incident [happens], someone will call for another new consensus rule to recover stolen funds. This will destroy the bitcoin concept in full,” wrote “coupable,” who has been a member of the forum since 2015.
“Bitcoin should be independent from what Law Enforcement decides in any [jurisdictions],” said another forum member known as “PrivacyG.”
Karpelès also acknowledged that this would be the strongest argument against the proposal, but argued that the specific case is different enough, as there is both law enforcement and community consensus that the address in question contains Bitcoin stolen from Mt. Gox.
Some who claim to be affected by the Mt. Gox bankruptcy were in favor of the proposal.
“If those coins ever move by whatever mechanism, then I am going to want my share of them back,” said Samson.
“I’m a creditor and have been paid what little was left of my Bitcoin from the bankruptcy – I got about 15% back… I would support obtaining a court order to claim these coins.”
A brief recap of Mt Gox’s collapse
Mt. Gox was once the biggest Bitcoin exchange, operating from 2010 to 2014 and handling 70% of all Bitcoin transactions worldwide.
Its global presence, however, made it a honey pot for hackers, who used weaknesses in Mt. Gox’s security systems in 2011 to transfer out thousands of Bitcoin, while other operational errors led to thousands more Bitcoin being “lost.”
On Feb. 24, 2014, an alleged leaked document claimed that the company was insolvent after losing 744,408 Bitcoin in a theft that was undetected for years.
The exchange filed for bankruptcy protection in Tokyo on Feb. 28, 2014, reporting it had about $65 million in liabilities after losing 750,000 of its customers’ Bitcoin and 100,000 of its own, worth nearly half a billion dollars at the time.
Magazine: Review: The Devil Takes Bitcoin, a wild history of Mt. Gox and Silk Road
Crypto World
NFT marketplace Magic Eden exits Bitcoin and EVM trading
Magic Eden, the prominent NFT marketplace best known for its deep roots in the Solana blockchain ecosystem, is set to close its Bitcoin and EVM-based trading platforms and discontinue support for its multi-chain wallet.
Summary
- Magic Eden plans to shut down its Bitcoin and EVM NFT marketplaces in early March 2026, ending broader multi-chain support.
- The platform will continue supporting Solana-based assets, doubling down on its original ecosystem.
- Users need to withdraw assets from closing markets and the multi-chain wallet before termination dates.
Magic Eden refocuses on Solana, winds down Bitcoin and EVM services
Magic Eden originally rose to prominence by offering a user-friendly platform for buying, selling, and trading digital collectibles, especially non-fungible tokens (NFTs), on the high-throughput Solana network.
Over time, the platform expanded into Bitcoin Ordinals and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains such as Ethereum, Polygon, and Avalanche in an effort to capture a broader share of the burgeoning NFT market.
However, new reports say the company will begin shutting down its Bitcoin and EVM marketplaces in the first week of March 2026, with its cross-chain wallet entering export-only mode by mid-March and fully ceasing service in early April. Support for Solana-based NFTs and assets will continue uninterrupted.
The move could be a strategic realignment rather than a retreat.
By concentrating on its core Solana busines, where the majority of its trading volume has historically originated, Magic Eden aims to streamline operational complexity and refocus engineering resources on strengthening features, liquidity, and community engagement within its original ecosystem.
Affected users are being urged to withdraw any assets held in the Bitcoin and EVM marketplaces or within the multi-chain wallet before support ends to avoid the risk of losing access. As the NFT sector evolves, Magic Eden’s decision highlights broader market trends toward specialization and platform consolidation.
Crypto World
Sam Altman’s OpenAI Moves Ahead With Pentagon AI Deal After Anthropic Says No
TLDR:
- OpenAI signed a deal to deploy AI models on U.S. Department of War classified networks on Feb. 28, 2026.
- The agreement bans domestic mass surveillance and requires human control over lethal force decisions.
- Anthropic reportedly refused a similar Pentagon deal, citing autonomous weapons and surveillance risks.
- Backlash on X was swift, with thousands of users announcing plans to cancel ChatGPT subscriptions.
OpenAI has agreed to deploy its AI models on classified U.S. Department of War networks, CEO Sam Altman announced. The deal follows reports that Anthropic publicly declined similar Pentagon demands over autonomous weapons and surveillance concerns.
Altman posted the announcement to X, where it quickly drew millions of views and thousands of replies. The reaction online was largely critical, with many users threatening to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions.
OpenAI and the Department of War Reach Classified AI Agreement
The agreement allows OpenAI models to operate within DoW classified systems under specific conditions.
Altman stated the deal includes explicit prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance. It also requires human oversight for any use of force, including autonomous weapons systems. Deployment will occur on cloud networks only, with OpenAI personnel embedded to monitor model behavior.
Altman noted on X that the DoW agreed with these core safety principles.
According to the post, those principles are also reflected in existing law and policy. OpenAI said it will build technical safeguards to keep models aligned with the agreement’s terms. The company also called on the DoW to extend the same terms to all AI companies.
Altman framed the deal as part of a broader effort to reduce friction between AI companies and the government. He wrote that OpenAI wants to move away from legal and governmental conflicts.
The announcement signals a shift toward negotiated frameworks rather than standoffs. OpenAI described its mission as serving all of humanity amid a “complicated, messy, and sometimes dangerous world.”
The post received over 11,000 likes within hours of going live. Reposts and quote replies numbered in the thousands. Despite the scale of engagement, most visible reactions skewed negative.
Anthropic’s Refusal Puts Spotlight on OpenAI’s Pentagon Move
Reports from the previous day indicated Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused similar Pentagon demands. The refusal reportedly centered on concerns about enabling mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
Amodei allegedly offered to help the DoW transition to another provider rather than comply. That stance drew widespread praise from AI safety advocates and researchers.
OpenAI’s subsequent agreement was widely read as stepping into the gap Anthropic left. Critics on X accused the company of opportunism. Several users announced they were switching from ChatGPT to Claude. Some described the move as contradicting OpenAI’s own stated safety values.
Crypto World
Jack Dorsey cuts nearly half of Block’s workforce; Shares surge 23%
Block, Inc. will reduce its workforce by nearly half, cutting more than 4,000 jobs as CEO Jack Dorsey said the fintech firm restructures around artificial intelligence and leaner teams.
Summary
- Block, Inc. will cut over 4,000 jobs, reducing headcount from 10,000+ to under 6,000 in one of its largest corporate overhauls.
- CEO Jack Dorsey says the move reflects a strategic pivot toward intelligence tools and flatter, more efficient teams — not financial distress.
- Investors responded enthusiastically, sending Block shares up more than 23% in after-hours trading.
Wall Street cheers Jack Dorsey’s AI restructure
In a note shared publicly, Jack Dorsey said the company will shrink from over 10,000 employees to just under 6,000. He described the move as “one of the hardest decisions in the history of our company,” adding that affected employees would be notified the same day.
Despite the scale of the layoffs, Dorsey emphasized that Block is not facing financial distress. He said gross profit continues to grow, customer numbers are rising, and profitability is improving.
Instead, he framed the cuts as a proactive shift driven by the rapid advancement of intelligence tools that are reshaping how companies are built and operated.
“We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working,” Dorsey wrote, arguing that acting decisively now would avoid repeated rounds of layoffs that could damage morale and trust.
Employees leaving the company will receive 20 weeks of salary plus an additional week per year of tenure, equity vesting through the end of May, six months of healthcare coverage, their corporate devices, and $5,000 in transition support. Terms will vary internationally depending on local regulations.
Dorsey said internal communication channels would remain open through Thursday evening to allow departing staff to say goodbye, and he plans to host a live video session to address employees directly.
The market’s reaction to Jack Dorsey’s “leaner, meaner” pivot was nothing short of explosive. As news broke regarding the reduction of 4,000 roles, Block Inc. shares ignited in after-hours trading, surging by more than 23%.

The chart reflects a dramatic vertical shift as investors pivoted from uncertainty to overwhelming optimism, interpreting the layoffs not as a sign of corporate distress, but as a commitment to long-term profitability and AI-driven efficiency.
Crypto World
Senators fire back at Sam Bankman-Fried over CLARITY Act
Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has reignited controversy from prison after publicly endorsing the proposed CLARITY Act, calling it a “huge milestone for crypto” and “a huge achievement” for Donald Trump.
Summary
- Sam Bankman-Fried praised the CLARITY Act and credited Donald Trump, triggering immediate criticism from U.S. senators.
- Cynthia Lummis dismissed SBF’s comments and suggested the legislation would not benefit him legally.
- Elizabeth Warren warned that SBF’s backing should concern lawmakers debating crypto market structure reform.
Sam Bankman-Fried backs CLARITY Act, draws swift rebuke from Lummis and Warren
In a post on X, Bankman-Fried claimed he had championed similar legislation aimed at limiting the regulatory authority of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler before his prosecution. He suggested that Gensler “helped Biden’s DOJ put me behind bars,” reviving familiar allegations that his case was politically influenced.
The comments quickly drew bipartisan backlash.
Senator Cynthia Lummis responded sharply, writing: “Someone’s looking for a pardon and doesn’t realize the CLARITY Act would have you locked up for much longer than 25 years.”
She added that her crypto legislation differs fundamentally from what she described as the bill Bankman-Fried “tried to buy from Congress” in 2022. “We do not need—nor want—your support,” she said.
Senator Elizabeth Warren also weighed in, warning that Bankman-Fried’s endorsement should “set off alarm bells.” Warren reiterated her stance that any crypto market structure legislation must prioritize investor protection and financial stability.
Bankman-Fried, who is serving a lengthy federal sentence following his conviction over the collapse of FTX, has recently attempted to re-enter public discourse through media outreach and social media commentary. Previous efforts to sway political opinion, including outreach linked to Trump, have largely failed to gain traction.
The episode shows the heightened political sensitivity surrounding crypto regulation, particularly as lawmakers debate market structure reforms amid lingering fallout from FTX’s multibillion-dollar collapse.
Crypto World
Florida executive charged with wire fraud, money laundering in $328M crypto scam
Federal authorities have arrested Christopher Alexander Delgado, the founder and CEO of Goliath Ventures, on federal charges tied to an alleged $328 million Ponzi crypto scam, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Summary
- Goliath Ventures CEO Christopher Delgado was arrested on federal wire fraud and money laundering charges tied to a $328 million Ponzi scheme.
- Prosecutors say investors were promised monthly crypto returns, but funds were diverted to pay earlier investors and support Delgado’s luxury lifestyle.
- If convicted, Delgado faces up to 30 years in prison; authorities are reaching out to victims under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act.
Goliath Ventures CEO arrested in $328M crypto scam
Delgado, 34, of Apopka, Florida, was taken into custody on a criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, where he is charged with wire fraud and money laundering.
If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 30 years in federal prison.
Prosecutors allege Delgado’s scheme ran from January 2023 through January 2026, during which he solicited investors to put money into purported cryptocurrency “liquidity pools” that promised steady monthly returns. In reality, federal officials say only about $1 million of the funds was actually invested in legitimate crypto assets.
The bulk of the more than $300 million collected from victims was used to pay earlier investors and finance Delgado’s lavish lifestyle, including luxury travel, company-sponsored events, and purchases of multi-million-dollar homes in central Florida.
According to court filings, victims were drawn in through personal referrals, slick marketing materials, and high-end networking events aimed at projecting legitimacy. At the scheme’s unraveling, investors seeking withdrawals were met with delays, inconsistent explanations, and restricted access to account information.
Federal law enforcement agencies including IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations spearheaded the probe. Victims are being notified of their rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, and authorities have invited potentially unidentified victims to come forward.
The arrest marks one of the largest alleged crypto-related fraud cases in recent years and underscores ongoing regulatory and criminal scrutiny of digital asset investment schemes.
Crypto World
AI tool catches bug that could have drained Ripple-linked token from wallets
An autonomous AI security tool caught a bug in the XRP Ledger that, if left undetected, could have let an attacker steal funds from any account on the network without ever touching the victim’s private keys.
The vulnerability, disclosed Thursday by XRPL Labs, sat in the signature-validation logic of the Batch amendment, a pending upgrade that would allow multiple transactions to be bundled and executed together.
The amendment was still in its voting phase among validators and had not been activated on mainnet, meaning no funds were ever at risk. But the exploit path was about as bad as it gets for a blockchain.
Here’s what the bug did in plain terms. Batch transactions let users bundle several operations into one. Because the individual transactions inside the batch don’t carry their own signatures, the system relies on a list of batch signers to confirm that every account involved has authorized the bundle.
The validation function that checked those signers had a critical loop error. If it encountered a signer whose account didn’t yet exist on the ledger, and whose signing key matched their own account — the normal case for a brand-new account — it immediately declared the entire check successful and stopped looking at the rest of the list.
An attacker could exploit this by constructing a batch with three transactions. The first creates a new account the attacker controls. The second is a simple transaction from that new account, making it a required signer. The third is a payment from the victim’s account to the attacker.
Because the new account doesn’t exist yet when validation runs, the signer check exits early after the first entry and never verifies the second. The victim’s funds move without their keys ever being involved.
Pranamya Keshkamat and Cantina AI’s autonomous security tool Apex identified the flaw through static analysis of the codebase on Feb. 19 and submitted a responsible disclosure. Ripple’s engineering team validated the report the same evening with an independent proof-of-concept.
The response was fast. Validators on the network’s Unique Node List were immediately advised to vote “No” on the amendment.
An emergency release, rippled 3.1.1, was published on Feb. 23, marking both the Batch and the related fixBatchInnerSigs amendments as unsupported to prevent them from ever activating. A corrected replacement called BatchV1_1 has been built and is under review, with no release date set.
The fact that an AI tool found this is notable on its own.
XRPL Labs said it would add AI-assisted code audit pipelines as a standard step in its review process going forward, alongside expanded static analysis specifically designed to catch the kind of premature loop exits that caused this bug.
Crypto World
BTC slides to $65,000, Solana, XRP, dogecoin down 6%
Bitcoin’s attempt to reclaim $70,000 earlier in the week lasted about 48 hours.
The largest cryptocurrency slid to $65,735 in early Asian hours on Saturday, down 3% over the past day and 2.8% on the week. Wednesday’s rally, which came within touching distance of $70,000, has now given back more than half its gains as broader risk sentiment deteriorated through Thursday and Friday’s U.S. sessions.
Altcoins took a harder hit. Solana dropped 6.7%, ether fell 6.2%, dogecoin shed 5.1%, and XRP lost 4%. The losses pushed most major tokens into the red on a weekly basis, erasing the altcoin outperformance that had been the week’s most encouraging signal. BNB held up better than most, down just 2.5%.
The trigger was familiar. Friday’s U.S. session saw the S&P 500 close down 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 drop 0.3%, and the Dow fall 1.1%. Nvidia, still digesting its post-earnings reaction, shed another 4.2%.
A hotter-than-expected 0.5% jump in producer prices added fuel, signaling inflationary pressure that may keep the Fed from cutting rates anytime soon. Block Inc.’s massive layoffs fanned broader anxiety that AI is starting to displace jobs across the economy rather than just creating them.
Crypto followed equities lower, but as usual, with amplified magnitude. A 0.4% drop in the S&P became a 3% drop in bitcoin and a more than 6% drop in altcoins. The leverage that re-entered the system during Wednesday’s rally got flushed on the way back down.
The irony is that the institutional flow data this week was actually strong.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs added $1.1 billion in three days, putting them on pace for their best week in months. But ETF inflows haven’t been enough to overcome the broader macro headwinds.
“Over-analysis of short-term price movements is misguided,” said Dom Harz, co-founder of bitcoin finance firm BOB said in an email. “Bitcoin’s volatility is no surprise, particularly for early investors who have experienced previous cycles. What’s different this time is the type of capital behind the emerging asset class.”
Meanwhile, CryptoQuant data shows USDT stablecoin reserves on exchanges have fallen from $60 billion to $51.1 billion over the past two months, a decline the firm warned could trigger a “massive sell-off” if reserves drop below $50 billion.
Elsewhere, Strategy shares topped the list of large U.S. companies by short interest volume as markets increasingly question the sustainability of the firm’s debt-funded bitcoin buying program.
And on the Ethereum side, large holders have started selling at a loss, with DAT company ETHZilla officially abandoning its ETH accumulation strategy and rebranding to focus on tokenized real-world assets instead.
Bitcoin is now back in the middle of the $60,000-$70,000 range it has been stuck in since the Feb. 5 crash. Wednesday proved the top of that range is resistance. The question heading into March is whether the bottom still holds.
Crypto World
MetaMask debit card goes live across the U.S.
MetaMask and Mastercard have officially launched the MetaMask Card across the United States, marking a significant step in bringing cryptocurrency spending into everyday commerce.
Summary
- MetaMask and Mastercard begin offering the self-custodial MetaMask Card in 49 states, including New York.
- Users spend directly from their wallets, with up to 1% back in mUSD for standard users and up to 3% for premium members.
- The card works at over 150 million Mastercard merchants and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay.
New MetaMask and Mastercard card lets users spend crypto
The announcement follows successful pilot programs in Europe and the UK, and now brings the self-custodial crypto payment card to 49 U.S. states, including New York for the first time.
The MetaMask Card connects users’ self-custodied digital assets to traditional payment infrastructure, allowing holders to spend crypto directly from their wallets anywhere Mastercard is accepted, online or in physical stores, without needing to pre-load balances onto custodial accounts.
Users retain full control of their funds until the point of sale, where conversion and payment happen seamlessly.
“We designed MetaMask Card to make crypto disappear. Not go away, but become so seamlessly woven into daily life that the line between onchain and offchain fades away entirely,” said Gal Eldar, Product Lead at MetaMask.
Issued by FDIC-insured Cross River Bank and powered by Mastercard’s global network with technology from Monavate (formerly Baanx), the card works with Apple Pay and Google Pay, making it compatible with contactless digital wallets. The rollout follows a year-long U.S. trial that began in late 2024, with broader access now available nationwide.
A key feature of the program is on-chain rewards: standard MetaMask Card holders earn up to 1% back in MetaMask’s stablecoin mUSD on purchases, while premium MetaMask Metal subscribers, available for a $199 annual fee, can earn up to 3% back on the first $10,000 spent each year alongside additional travel and spending benefits.
The launch represents a strategic effort to integrate decentralized finance into traditional payment rails, making crypto use more intuitive for everyday purchases while preserving self-custody principles at the heart of Web3.
It also positions MetaMask alongside other crypto-native payment cards, expanding crypto’s real-world utility.
Crypto World
Bitcoin ETFs Log $1B Inflows During 50% Drawdown
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds pulled in more than $1 billion of net inflows over three trading sessions this week, a reversal that came even as Bitcoin remained well below its peak.
The US-listed spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs logged a combined $1.02 billion in inflows from Tuesday to Thursday, according to data from SoSoValue. The funds pulled in $506.51 million on Wednesday, the largest single-day total during the three days.
On Friday, ETF analyst Nate Geraci said in a post on X that investors appeared to be “buying the dip” amid the recent downturn.
He said spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen about $6.5 billion in outflows since Bitcoin’s record high in early October, a figure he described as modest relative to the $55 billion the category has absorbed since January 2024.
Related: Bitcoin’s 100 BTC club edges toward 20K wallets in a ‘bullish sign’
“50% drawdowns are walk in the park for long-time BTC investors,” Geraci wrote. “But appears newer ETF investors aren’t worried either.”

Flows reverse multi-week outflow streak
This week’s inflows follow five consecutive weeks of net withdrawals, with the last two weeks of January recording a combined $2.82 billion in outflows.
The rebound was led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which logged $275.82 million in net inflows on Thursday alone. Fidelity’s FBTC and Ark 21Shares’ ARKB posted outflows, but were outweighed by gains in other funds including Bitwise’s BITB and Grayscale’s BTC.
Altcoin ETFs have also turned positive in recent trading sessions. Spot Ether (ETH) ETFs added about $173 million over the same three-day period, while Solana funds logged roughly $35 million in inflows. Meanwhile, XRP (XRP) ETFs logged a modest $7 million in inflows.
Related: Bitcoin bear market not over as BTC fails to reclaim $68K trend line
Analysts flag ETF flows as sentiment gauge
The inflows come as market participants discuss whether the recent selling pressure is easing. On Friday, several analysts said Bitcoin’s roughly 50% drawdown may be approaching exhaustion.
CoinEx chief analyst Jeff Ko previously told Cointelegraph that improvements in spot ETF inflows suggest aggressive selling pressure may be fading. However, he said a sudden V-shaped recovery is unlikely after a steep decline.
Bitrue research lead Andri Fauzan Adziima similarly pointed to oversold technical indicators and said sustained ETF inflows could serve as a catalyst for stabilization.
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