Crypto World
US Senators Warn Binance Could be a National Security Threat
US lawmakers want regulators to investigate Binance over the alleged $1.7 billion in transfers to Iran-linked entities. The concerns come at a particularly interesting time amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, Binance has already refuted such allegations.
In a letter, 11 lawmakers led by Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Elizabeth Warren urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a formal probe.
US Lawmakers Warn Binance Oversight May be at Risk
The senators raised serious concerns about the strength of Binance’s anti-illicit finance guardrails and its adherence to sanctions and anti-money laundering laws.
“These allegations raise grave concerns that poor illicit finance controls at Binance remain a significant threat to national security. Our illicit finance controls are dangerously compromised if enormous sums can flow through Binance to terrorist groups or sanctions evaders. The firm controls the world’s largest digital asset exchange; it is essential that bad actors cannot benefit from its platform,” the lawmakers stated.
According to reports cited by the lawmakers, investigators uncovered at least two Binance accounts. These accounts were used to channel assets to entities linked to the Iran-backed Houthis and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Furthermore, the reports alleged that Iranian nationals successfully accessed more than 1,500 Binance accounts.
The senators described the incident as indicative of a “broader deterioration” in Binance’s compliance functions. They warned that the fund movements directly threaten the exchange’s historic 2023 settlement with US authorities.
Under that plea agreement, Binance paid a $4.3 billion fine and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, stepped down as CEO. The company also agreed to stringent oversight by a DOJ-mandated independent compliance monitor.
The lawmakers argued the alleged illicit transfers align with a wider pattern of risky behavior.
They highlighted Binance’s launch of payment cards in parts of the former Soviet Union, which they claim provides a backdoor for Russian entities to evade international sanctions.
“In light of these issues, we are deeply troubled by the prospect that Binance may once again be prioritizing profits over its compliance obligations,” the lawmakers argued.
Labeling the situation a severe national security threat, the senators gave the Treasury Department and the DOJ until March 13, 2026, to detail the results of their investigations.
If authorities determine Binance breached its 2023 monitorship terms, the exchange could face catastrophic legal and financial repercussions.
Binance Touts Compliance Efforts
In a fierce rebuttal to the allegations, Binance defended its internal controls and noted a sharp decline in illicit activity on its platform.
According to the firm, its sanctions-related exposure dropped 96.8% over an 18-month period, falling from 0.284% in January 2024 to just 0.009% in July 2025.
The firm linked this progress to its “best-in-class” compliance program. It argued that the recent reports present a distorted viewpoint that fundamentally misunderstands standard control processes for digital asset platforms.
Binance stated that in the specific incidents cited by the media, it acted proactively, mitigated risks, offboarded the offending accounts, and coordinated with law enforcement.
“The facts are these: Binance’s compliance program is effective and it worked here. Any statement to the contrary is simply wrong,” the exchange concluded.
Crypto World
Bitcoin Undervalued vs Gold: Analyst Signals Rally Ahead
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is widely cited as undervalued when measured against traditional stores of value like gold and the broad money supply, according to Samson Mow, the chief executive of Bitcoin technology firm Jan3. In a Saturday post on X, Mow argued that BTC sits roughly 24% to 66% below its trend relative to gold’s market cap or the level of global liquidity, while gold itself appears overextended. The claim adds a contrarian note to ongoing debates about whether crypto markets have found a bottom or are simply pausing before another leg lower or higher.
At the same time, macro price benchmarks paint a mixed picture. Gold futures for April delivery closed at $5,247.90, while tokenized gold offering PAX Gold USD was trading around $5,404.14 as of the time of writing. Against that backdrop, Mow pointed to Bitcoin’s Z-score—a metric that gauges how closely BTC’s current price tracks its long-run average relative to a benchmark, in this case the BTC-to-gold ratio. A Z-score of 0 means the price aligns with the historical average; negative values signal the asset trading below that average.
The Z-score for the BTC-to-gold ratio was around -1.24 at press time, suggesting BTC remains below its historical mean but not by the extreme margins seen in past episodes. Data from TradingView shows that the indicator has swung widely in the past, including moments when the ratio dipped far beneath the norm. In November 2022, for instance, the BTC-to-gold Z-score briefly plunged below -3, a period coinciding with the FTX collapse and a subsequent rally in BTC of more than 150% over the following 12 months.
This history of decisive rebounds after deep dislocations is echoed by earlier cycles. During the Covid crisis in March 2020, the Z-score dipped below -2 and BTC bottomed near $3,717, only to surge more than 300% in the ensuing year, culminating in a then-astronomical peak in November 2021 of around $69,000. Those patterns have led some analysts to draw parallels with today, while others caution that the macro and regulatory landscape has evolved, potentially altering how these signals play out in real time.
While Mow highlights potential upside based on valuation gaps and historical Z-score triggers, others in the market remain wary. A cross-section of analysts has projected further downside for BTC as investor sentiment wavers in the face of geopolitical tension and persistent macro uncertainty. Some believe the market could test lower levels, with discussions framing a possible move toward new lows for the current cycle. Yet even within this more cautious camp, the same data points used by Mow—value signals and on-chain momentum—are often cited as important clues for the next meaningful directional shift.
For context, the broader crypto narrative has included crosscurrents—from tailwinds such as institutional interest and macro liquidity to headwinds like regulatory risk and episodic liquidity squeezes. The focal point for many observers remains Bitcoin’s role as a potential hedge or as a risk-on asset depending on the moment, as well as how it weathers macro shocks and liquidity cycles. The weekend’s developments in the Middle East added another layer of geopolitical risk, underscoring that crypto markets, like traditional markets, are not insulated from global events.
As the debate about BTC’s trajectory evolves, the market is reminded of past cycles where valuation gaps and extreme sentiment extremes have preceded sharp reversals. The question remains whether the current price near the mid-to-high $60,000s will reflect a duration that negates those earlier patterns or whether a more persistent risk-off mood will push Bitcoin toward the lower end of the spectrum before new catalysts emerge.
In sum, while the price action continues to oscillate near current levels, the ongoing discussion about BTC’s fair value relative to gold and the money supply—augmented by Z-score analysis—provides a framework for assessing potential turning points. The next few weeks could test the resilience of the current range, particularly if the BTC-to-gold ratio reverts toward its historic mean or if macro developments reassert their dominance over market sentiment.
The Z-score framework has shown that when BTC-to-gold moves extend beyond historical norms, corrections or rallies often follow in subsequent months. The current reading around -1.24 keeps the door open to a test of higher ground if support holds and risk appetite returns.
Bitcoin to crash to $50,000?
The contrarian view presented here sits against a broader chorus of analysts who warn that more downside could be on the horizon, driven by ongoing investor caution and geopolitical tensions. Several observers have flagged the possibility of BTC tracing a path toward the $50,000 mark, arguing that price action could mirror or exceed prior bear-market patterns as macro data and regulatory signals unfold. By contrast, those who emphasize valuation and historical precedents point to the same indicators that historically preceded significant rallies following sharp declines, suggesting that a bottom could be forming even as volatility remains elevated.
The ongoing debate about BTC’s bottoming process is not just about price—it touches on liquidity dynamics, risk sentiment, and the durability of crypto-specific catalysts such as on-chain activity, mining economics, and institutional participation. As BTC hovers in a range, traders will likely scrutinize key technical levels, the pace of liquidity inflows, and how macro shocks translate into risk-on or risk-off moves across crypto markets.
Ultimately, the discussion centers on how investors interpret valuation signals in the context of a still-fragile macro environment and evolving regulatory expectations. While some forecasts call for a dramatic re-rating, others argue that a sustainable recovery could emerge as confidence builds and fundamentals align with price action. The next leg of this narrative will be shaped by the balance between speculative momentum and real-world utility that continues to define the crypto market’s longer-term trajectory.
Why it matters
Valuation-driven arguments like Mow’s underscore a broader point: crypto markets are not merely driven by narratives or hype but by measurable relationships to broader financial assets. If Bitcoin’s price starts to close the gap with gold and money supply on a sustained basis, it would alter the risk-reward calculus for both retail and institutional participants, potentially reshaping portfolio allocations and hedging strategies.
Moreover, the BTC-to-gold comparison frames how crypto assets are perceived in the context of traditional stores of value. A shift back toward historical norms in this ratio could signal renewed appetite for crypto as a non-sovereign store of value or a diversification vehicle, even as gold remains a familiar anchor for risk management. These dynamics matter not only for traders but also for developers, miners, and fund managers evaluating how crypto markets fit into broader exposure targets.
From a market structure perspective, such signals also influence liquidity flows, cross-asset correlations, and the pace at which crypto products—like ETFs and exchange-based investment vehicles—can attract new money. In an environment where macro volatility is a persistent feature, signals that imply potential volatility compression or expansion will be watched closely by participants seeking to calibrate risk and reward.
What to watch next
- Monitor BTC price action relative to the -2 and -3 Z-score thresholds for BTC-to-gold, noting whether the ratio reverts toward the mean or diverges further.
- Track the BTC-to-gold ratio on TradingView for signs of momentum shifts that align with macro liquidity trends or risk-on/off sentiment shifts.
- Watch macro indicators and regulatory updates that affect crypto liquidity and investor confidence, especially in regions with active policy debates.
- Observe major price drivers such as exchange capital flows, mining economics, and the pace of adoption in institutional and retail channels.
Sources & verification
- Samson Mow, X post discussing Bitcoin valuation relative to gold and global money supply (link provided in original coverage).
- TradingView data for the BTC-to-gold ratio (BTCXAU) used to illustrate the Z-score dynamics.
- Historical references to the FTX collapse and subsequent BTC rally from Cointelegraph coverage.
- Cointelegraph reporting on the Covid-era price dynamics and BTC’s subsequent rally to multi-year highs.
- Link to tokenized Gold price (PAX Gold USD) cited in the market context of gold price benchmarks.
Bitcoin valuation signals and potential reversal
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) sits at a crossroads flagged by valuation comparisons and a momentum metric that has historically preceded meaningful moves. Samson Mow’s main contention is that BTC is notably undervalued relative to gold’s market cap and the broader money supply—an assessment grounded in quantitative gaps rather than pure sentiment. Specifically, he points to a calibration where Bitcoin’s current level is roughly 24% to 66% below its trend line when juxtaposed with gold’s market capitalization or the extent of global liquidity. By contrast, gold, a traditional hedge, is described as overextended in this framing.
The argument leans heavily on the BTC-to-gold Z-score, a gauge of how far the price of BTC deviates from its long-run average when measured against gold. At the moment, the Z-score hovers around -1.24, indicating BTC is below its historical mean but not in territory that has inexorably presaged a parabolic rally. In the past, however, the same metric has signaled powerful reversals: during November 2022, the ratio’s Z-score dipped beneath -3, a backdrop that preceded a roughly 150% advance in BTC over the following year as traders digested the FTX collapse and the broader liquidity environment.
Historical analogies are a recurring feature of crypto markets, and the Covid-19 period is often cited in tandem with the Z-score narrative. In March 2020, the metric slipped below -2 and BTC carved a bottom near $3,717 before staging a multi-hundred percent recovery in the subsequent 12 months, culminating in the 2021 rally that took prices to the vicinity of $69,000. Those episodes illustrate how valuation gaps paired with macro stress can coincide with outsized upside if demand returns and risk appetite stabilizes.
Yet the current cycle carries its own wrinkles. Some analysts project further downside as investors absorb macro uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, with price targets that contemplate a move toward the $50,000 area. Others maintain that the combination of a reversion toward historical norms in BTC’s valuation relative to gold and a renewed willingness to allocate capital to crypto assets could spark a fresh leg higher. The truth likely lies somewhere in between, shaped by how swiftly liquidity conditions normalize, how regulation evolves, and how much on-chain activity confirms sustained network utility.
The price backdrop remains fluid, with BTC trading in the mid- to high-$60,000s and a broader market environment that still rewards resilience and clear catalysts. If the underlying relationships continue to align with past cycles—valuation gaps closing, risk sentiment shifting, and liquidity improving—the potential for a renewed price impulse cannot be discounted. Conversely, if macro headwinds intensify or regulatory constraints tighten, the path could tilt toward range-bound behavior or further corrections. Investors should remain vigilant for shifts in the balance of fear and opportunity that have historically driven crypto volatility.
Crypto World
Hedge Funds, Banks Activate Contingency Plans Amid Iran Attacks on UAE
TLDR:
- UAE attacks forced JPMorgan and Citigroup to instruct staff to work from home as Iran launched strikes on Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Dymon Asia Capital held emergency calls, drafted staff safety guidelines, and booked hotels for stranded employees in Dubai.
- Security firm Crownox evacuated high-net-worth individuals and CEOs from the UAE into Oman by land amid flight cancellations.
- Dubai property prices rose 70% in four years, but prolonged instability could now challenge the UAE’s financial hub reputation.
Hedge funds and global banks in the United Arab Emirates shifted into contingency mode after Iran launched missile and drone strikes on the country.
Firms including JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup instructed staff to work from home or shelter in place. The attacks targeted Dubai and Abu Dhabi, disrupting aviation and daily life.
The strikes followed US and Israeli operations that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, raising fears of wider regional conflict.
Financial Firms Review Safety Protocols
Hedge funds operating in the UAE quickly reviewed business-continuity arrangements after missiles flew over major cities.
Air defense systems intercepted projectiles over Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with debris landing near commercial areas. Smoke was visible close to Palm Jumeirah and Etihad Towers, where diplomatic offices are located.
Citigroup said it was taking steps to keep employees and families safe while serving clients. JPMorgan confirmed staff would work from home for 48 hours as it assessed conditions. BlackRock said its immediate focus was on ensuring staff and clients had the support they needed.
Singapore-based Dymon Asia Capital held an emergency call with senior executives to plan for a possible escalation.
The firm has 17 employees at Dubai International Financial Centre and others stranded as flights were grounded. Deputy CEO Kenneth Kan noted the firm had faced COVID and the Hong Kong riots before, but said, “In terms of wartime related safety issues, this is a first.”
Dubai’s Hedge Fund Hub Status Under Pressure
Dubai has grown rapidly as a hedge fund destination, with the DIFC now hosting over 100 firms. Millennium Management, ExodusPoint, and Citadel have all built or planned a presence there. Abu Dhabi attracted names like Hudson Bay Capital, Marshall Wace, and Arini in recent years.
Some executives began exploring evacuation routes through Muscat, Oman, which initially avoided strikes. Security firm Crownox CEO Hussein Nasser-Eddin said his team moved high-net-worth individuals and CEOs across the border into Oman. He added, “Most requests we are getting are from the UAE to Oman and also from Qatar to Saudi, over land.”
Kish Desai of Tourmaline Partners, who relocated from London to Dubai last year, said, “The UAE is doing an incredible job in terms of defending itself and its residents.”
He added that most people continued to feel safe and described the situation as a short-term event. He said, “We all hope the situation will resolve itself quickly and is just a short-term blip.”
Property Values and Long-Term Stability Come Into Question
Dubai property prices have risen around 70% over four years amid heavy capital inflows. Abu Dhabi also deployed sovereign wealth aggressively in global dealmaking to compete with leading financial centers. That growth story now faces its first serious stress test since the post-pandemic rally.
Hasnain Malik of Tellimer said the scale of escalation raised regional risks for asset prices. He noted Dubai valuations had become elevated after a prolonged rally, making them more exposed to disruption.
However, some executives pointed to the UAE’s track record of recovering quickly from past crises.
Viswanathan Shankar, founder of Gateway Partners, said, “I don’t anticipate UAE’s standing as a rising financial center to be impacted.”
He added, “Historically, UAE has been brilliant at converting every crisis into an opportunity. I expect the same will happen.” The key variable, according to multiple executives, remains how long the attacks continue.
Crypto World
Polymarket Breaks $478 Million Record
Polymarket recorded a single-day notional trading volume of $478 million, with the politics category alone accounting for $220 million, nearly half of total daily activity.
Elsewhere, rival prediction market Kalshi was on the receiving end of user backlash after a controversial contract over the Khamenei market.
Polymarket Sets Historic Record as Geopolitical Tensions Drive Crypto Betting
Prediction markets surged to historic highs as the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran.
Polymarket reached an all-time high across the platform and its political markets. According to data aggregated by Defioasis, Polymarket’s spike coincided directly with the strikes.
It signals the platform’s capacity to price geopolitical events faster than TradFi markets or polling models.
Certain strike-timing contracts set their own records, with individual trades clearing up to $90 million, reflecting the massive liquidity flowing into the platform.
However, the traction was also marred by allegations of insider trading, with Bubblemaps identifying at least six addresses that profited approximately $1.2 million from bets tied to the Iran conflict.
The surge in activity shows how prediction markets are increasingly blurring the line between financial speculation and geopolitical forecasting, drawing attention from traders, lawmakers, and regulators.
The timely pricing of real-world events demonstrates the efficiency of blockchain-based markets. However, it also raises concerns about transparency and fairness, particularly when wallets appear to perfectly anticipate outcomes.
Kalshi Faces Backlash Over Khamenei Market, CEO Defends Settlement and Ethics
Meanwhile, Kalshi, a US-regulated prediction market, faced its own controversy with the contract titled “Ali Khamenei out as Supreme Leader?”
The market, which had accumulated over $50 million in total volume, saw roughly $20 million traded on strike day alone.
Following Khamenei’s reported death during the strikes, critics argued the platform had effectively created a proxy death market, despite its stated rules against profiting from death outcomes.
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour addressed the backlash on X (Twitter), emphasizing that all positions would be settled at pre-death last-traded prices. Meanwhile, post-death positions would be fully reimbursed, including all trading fees.
Mansour defended the market’s design as consistent with U.S. regulations. He noted that leadership changes in Iran carry significant geopolitical, economic, and national security implications. This, he said, makes such markets relevant without directly incentivizing death.
“A market on Ali Khamenei’s out as Supreme Leader was important because leadership changes in Iran have a major impact on the world order,” Mansour wrote, outlining that traders could still profit or lose based on legitimate political outcomes rather than mortality.
The settlement process, he explained, adhered strictly to the CFTC-filed contract terms, which referenced the last-traded price prior to Khamenei’s death, even amid ambiguities in reporting timelines.
On the one hand, Polymarket is setting new benchmarks for trading volume amid geopolitical tension. Meanwhile, Kalshi is facing ethical scrutiny.
Both events highlight the potential and the risks of prediction markets. These platforms offer unprecedented speed and transparency in pricing world events.
However, as February 28 demonstrated, they also amplify ethical dilemmas and regulatory attention during crypto-driven speculation.
Crypto World
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Calls Out Big Tech and Washington Over AI Chip Exports to China
TLDR:
- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns financial interests are overriding national security in U.S. chip policy.
- The Trump administration approved Nvidia H200 chip sales to China, drawing sharp criticism from Amodei at Davos.
- Chinese labs are accused of using AI distillation attacks to steal and replicate American AI models at scale.
- Chip smuggling networks worth hundreds of millions prove export restrictions are working, Amodei argues strongly.
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has publicly raised alarms over U.S. AI chip exports to China. He argues that financial interests are overriding national security concerns in Washington.
Speaking at Davos and in other forums, Amodei called out both Big Tech and the government for allowing chip sales to continue.
His warnings come as Chinese labs reportedly intensify efforts to acquire and replicate American AI technology.
Money Is Driving U.S. Chip Policy, Amodei Says
Amodei has been a vocal supporter of stricter export controls on advanced AI chips. He believes Congress broadly agrees with tighter restrictions, yet action has stalled. His explanation is straightforward: the financial stakes are too high for those opposing the controls.
The Trump administration recently approved the sale of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China. These chips are among the most powerful processors used in modern AI development.
The U.S. collects a 25% cut from such sales, which critics say is short-term thinking.
Amodei drew a sharp analogy to make his point. In a post shared by @_Investinq on X, he was quoted asking: “Are we going to sell nuclear weapons to North Korea because that produces some profit for Boeing?” That comparison reflects how seriously he views the chip export issue.
Nvidia has argued that restricting sales is ineffective because China will eventually build its own chips. Amodei challenged that position directly.
He pointed out that China is still spending billions on smuggling networks to acquire American chips, which shows the embargo does work.
China’s Efforts to Acquire AI Technology Go Beyond Chip Purchases
China’s AI labs have not limited themselves to buying chips through official or smuggled channels. Anthropic recently accused Chinese labs of running large-scale model extraction attacks on American AI systems. OpenAI raised the same concern just weeks earlier.
The technique used is called distillation, where a model is trained by repeatedly querying a more advanced system.
This allows bad actors to replicate AI capabilities without building them from scratch. It represents a serious and growing threat to American AI leadership.
Chip smuggling operations have also been well-documented. Authorities have uncovered processors hidden in prosthetic baby bumps and GPUs packed alongside live lobsters. These operations are reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
There is now an open divide inside Silicon Valley over chip policy. Nvidia, led by Jensen Huang, is lobbying for continued open sales and has direct access to the White House.
On the other side, Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Amazon are all pushing for tighter controls. Amodei has framed the debate simply: whoever controls the chips controls the future of artificial intelligence.
Crypto World
Circle’s Q4 Revenue Skyrockets 77% as USDC Supply Nears $75 Billion
Circle generated $2.7 billion in FY25 revenue, posting 64% growth, as USDC adoption expanded globally.
Stablecoin issuer Circle reported sharp growth in USDC circulation and transaction activity in the fourth quarter of 2025, as revenue and operating profitability surged year-over-year.
USDC in circulation reached $75.3 billion at year-end, which is a 72% rise from a year earlier, while on-chain transaction volume climbed 247% to $11.9 trillion in Q4 alone.
Circle Revenue Climbs
The company posted $770 million in total revenue and reserve income for the quarter ending December 31, 2025, a 77% increase compared to Q4 2024. Net income from continuing operations rose to $133 million, up $129 million year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA jumped 412% to $167 million.
For the full fiscal year 2025, Circle recorded revenue and reserve income of $2.7 billion, which is a surge of 64% from 2024. However, the company reported a net loss of $70 million for the year, compared to net income of $157 million in FY24. The loss was primarily driven by $424 million in stock-based compensation tied to vesting conditions triggered by the company’s initial public offering.
Commenting on the financial results, Circle co-founder and CEO, Jeremy Allaire, said,
“USDC adoption continued to expand globally as more enterprises, developers, and public institutions integrated digital dollars into real-world payments, treasury, and onchain financial workflows. We saw strong engagement across our platform, meaningful progress toward launching Arc mainnet, continued growth in CPN TPV, and growing momentum for EURC and USYC.”
Beyond Financial Performance
Regarding its infrastructure and payments initiatives, Circle’s Arc public testnet launched with more than 100 participants across the banking, capital markets, digital assets, payments, and technology sectors.
As of February 20, 2026, the testnet recorded nearly 100% uptime, half-second transaction finality, and a trailing 30-day daily average of 2.3 million transactions. Meanwhile, total transactions have surpassed 166 million since launch. The company said Arc remains on track for a mainnet launch this year.
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Additionally, Circle’s Payments Network expanded to 55 enrolled financial institutions, with 74 under eligibility review, and reported $5.7 billion in annualized transaction volume based on trailing 30-day activity. The company also cited partnerships with Visa, Intuit, the Government of Bermuda, and Polymarket, and confirmed conditional approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank.
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Crypto World
PENDLE Targets $30 After 86% Crash: Is DeFi’s Only Yield Protocol Set for a 5,000% Comeback?
TLDR:
- PENDLE has corrected 86% from its 2024 high of $7.53, with price now compressing near a key weekly demand zone.
- Analyst CryptoPatel projects targets of $3, $5, $15, and $30, citing a potential 5,330% move from accumulation range.
- The sPENDLE upgrade redirects 80% of protocol revenue to buybacks, creating roughly $32 million in annual buying pressure.
- New products Boros and Citadels target funding rate derivatives and a $4.5 trillion Islamic finance market in 2026.
PENDLE, currently trading around $1.27, has drawn attention from crypto analysts after an 86% correction from its 2024 cycle high near $7.53.
The token operates as DeFi’s only yield tokenization protocol, splitting yield-bearing assets into Principal Tokens and Yield Tokens.
With a market cap of roughly $214 million against $3.44 billion in total value locked, some traders see an asymmetric setup forming on higher timeframe charts.
Technical Structure Points to Accumulation Phase
Price action on the weekly chart shows PENDLE compressing inside a multi-year descending channel since its 2024 peak.
The 0.786 Fibonacci retracement sits near $0.844, aligning with what analysts describe as a high-probability accumulation zone.
Sell-side liquidity sweeps into this area have been absorbed, suggesting reduced selling pressure at current levels.
Crypto analyst CryptoPatel noted the setup on social media, pointing to a demand block between $0.84 and $0.60 as a key zone.
The analyst stated targets at $3, $5, $15, and $30, projecting a potential 1,684% to 5,330% move from the lower accumulation range.
The bullish structure holds as long as PENDLE stays above $0.60 on the weekly timeframe, with invalidation below $0.46.
Volatility contraction on the weekly chart is another factor analysts are watching. Historically, extended compression periods in crypto assets have preceded sharp directional moves.
A fractal comparison to a prior cycle shows PENDLE previously rallied 1,521% from a similar structure, though past performance does not guarantee future results.
Institutional activity adds context to the setup. Arthur Hayes reportedly accumulated $973,000 worth of PENDLE, while Binance Labs and Spartan Group are listed as investors in the project.
Fundamentals and New Products Support Long-Term Case
PENDLE generates over $40 million in annual revenue from real trading activity, giving it a price-to-earnings ratio below 20x at current prices.
The protocol’s MC/TVL ratio stands at 0.06x, which analysts consider low relative to comparable DeFi infrastructure projects.
An 80% revenue buyback mechanism through sPENDLE creates roughly $32 million in annual buying pressure at current revenue levels.
The protocol is live on more than eight chains, with planned integration across Solana, TON, and Hyperliquid. Its new product, Boros, targets the funding rate derivatives market, which sees over $150 billion in daily volume.
Early testing of Boros recorded $5.5 billion in notional volume and $730,000 in early revenue.
Another product, Citadels, targets institutional and Shariah-compliant users, opening access to a $4.5 trillion Islamic finance market.
As tokenized bonds and real-world asset treasuries expand on-chain, PENDLE’s yield trading infrastructure positions it within that growing sector.
The protocol also cut emissions by 30% alongside the sPENDLE upgrade, reducing token supply pressure going forward.
Crypto World
Z Score of Bitcoin-to-Gold Ratio Signals ‘Major’ Rally Coming: Analyst
Bitcoin (BTC) is relatively undervalued compared to gold and the global money supply, which could signal a price reversal, according to Samson Mow, the CEO of Bitcoin technology company Jan3.
“Bitcoin is about 24%-66% below its trend relative to gold’s market cap or global money supply, while gold is overextended,” Mow said in a Saturday post on X.
Gold futures for April delivery closed Friday at $5,247.90; Tokenized gold PAX Gold USD was trading at the time of writing at $5,404.14.
Mow also cited Bitcoin’s Z-score, a metric that tracks how close the price of BTC is to its historic average. A Z-score of 0 indicates that the price is in line with the average, while a Z-score above 0 indicates that the price is moving above average levels.

A score below 0 signals that the price is trading below the average. When the Z score of the Bitcoin-to-gold ratio drops below -2, Bitcoin has experienced “major” price rallies, Mow said. The Z score of the BTC-to-gold ratio is about -1.24 at the time of writing.
Data from TradingView shows that the metric dropped below -3 in November 2022, amid the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and the price of BTC rallied by over 150% over the next 12 months.
Earlier, a similar pattern played out during the Covid crash in March 2020, when the metric fell below -2 and Bitcoin reached a low of about $3,717. Bitcoin surged by over 300% in the following 12 months, and by November 2021, BTC reached what was then the all-time high of about $69,000.
Related: Bitcoin traders eye Iran reactions as oil sparks US 5% inflation forecast
Bitcoin to crash to $50,000?
The analysis from Mow is a contrarian view to other analysts, who forecast more pain ahead for the crypto market and a further drop in Bitcoin prices due to investor uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.
The price of BTC may be headed toward $50,000, according to crypto market analysts, who say that price action may be mirroring the 2022 bear market.
Bitcoin fell by over 50% from peak to trough, to a low of $60,000, before staging a limited recovery to current levels of near $66,400 in the wake of this weekend’s developments in the Middle East.
Magazine: Bitcoin to see ‘one more big thrust’ to $150K, ETH pressure builds: Trade Secrets
Crypto World
Crypto Market Faces Major Uncertainty as US-Iran Conflict Escalates
TLDR:
- The US-Iran conflict has eliminated key Iranian figures, but no regime change has been confirmed yet.
- Iran continues launching missiles post-US strikes, signaling further escalation and rising market uncertainty.
- Oil tankers are reversing course at the Strait of Hormuz, triggering early signs of a global supply shock.
- Analysts warn oil could surpass $100 per barrel, pushing inflation higher and crushing crypto market gains.
The crypto market is bracing for extreme volatility over the next 24 to 48 hours. Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran have reached a critical turning point.
The US has conducted attacks on Iran, eliminating several key figures in the process. However, a full regime change has not yet taken place, and the situation remains fluid.
Iran continues to launch missiles, signaling possible further escalation ahead. Crypto analyst Crypto Rover has issued a major warning to global investors.
US Futures Open as Military Conflict Creates Financial Uncertainty
The opening of US futures markets comes directly after the US launched military strikes on Iran. Most key Iranian figures have been eliminated through coordinated US and Israeli operations.
Yet the conflict remains active, and regime change has not been achieved. This ongoing uncertainty is already creating nervousness among investors in global financial markets. Market participants are also watching closely for any diplomatic developments in the region.
Iran’s continued missile activity is a clear sign that the conflict is far from resolved. Financial markets have historically responded poorly to sustained and unresolved geopolitical crises.
Crypto Rover warned on X: “Iran is still launching missiles, which is a sign of more escalation, and the markets hate that.” Traders are already bracing for sharp price swings ahead.
A significant drop in US stock futures could push the crypto market into a steep decline. Risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum tend to closely mirror equity market moves during a crisis.
Analysts suggest that traders monitor overnight futures data carefully before making any moves. The opening sessions will likely determine the near-term financial direction for global markets.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Adds Oil Supply and Inflation Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz has become a critical flashpoint in the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Around 20% of the world’s total oil supply passes through this narrow and strategic waterway daily.
Several oil tankers have already reversed course due to fears of missile strikes in the area. This early disruption has already produced visible signs of an oil supply shock across global markets.
Some market analysts predict oil prices could climb above $100 per barrel if hostilities continue. Rising oil prices push inflation higher across global economies, placing pressure on central banks to respond.
Higher inflation typically leads to tighter monetary policy, which weighs heavily on speculative assets. This kind of environment has historically been unfavorable for the broader crypto market.
Major economies, including China, Japan, and India, depend on this route for between 70% and 80% of their oil. A prolonged blockade would cause serious economic damage across Asia and beyond.
Crypto Rover noted that the market will not wait for a formal blockade to begin reacting. The crypto market is expected to move well before any official disruption is confirmed.
Crypto World
Vitalik Buterin Proposes Binary State Trees and RISC-V Upgrade to Overhaul Ethereum’s Execution Layer
TLDR:
- EIP-7864 proposes replacing Ethereum’s hexary keccak tree with a binary structure, cutting Merkle branch size by 75%.
- Blake3 and Poseidon hash functions could accelerate Ethereum’s proving efficiency by up to 100x over the current keccak setup.
- Replacing the EVM with RISC-V would reduce a ZK prover translation layer, cutting the protocol’s proving bottleneck by over 80%.
- A three-stage RISC-V rollout preserves full EVM backwards compatibility while retiring legacy infrastructure through a smart contract wrapper.
Ethereum execution layer improvements are at the center of a detailed proposal from Vitalik Buterin. The Ethereum co-founder recently shared a comprehensive breakdown of two major technical changes.
His post covers a transition to binary state trees and a long-term shift away from the EVM. Both changes target proving efficiency, client-side capabilities, and long-term protocol simplicity.
Together, they represent the most sweeping architectural rethink of Ethereum’s base layer in years.
Binary Trees: A Structural Overhaul of Ethereum’s State
The state tree change is among the most technically concrete proposals Buterin outlined. It centers on EIP-7864, which proposes replacing the current hexary keccak Merkle Patricia Tree with a binary tree structure.
The new design uses a more efficient hash function. Buterin noted on social X that this switch produces Merkle branches four times shorter than the existing setup.
Shorter branches make client-side verification cheaper. Tools like Helios and PIR would see a 4x reduction in data bandwidth costs.
On top of that, swapping out the hash function adds further efficiency gains. Blake3 could deliver roughly three times the speed over keccak, while a Poseidon variant could achieve 100 times the improvement, though more security review is needed there.
The binary design also groups storage slots into pages of 64 to 256 slots each. This allows storage to benefit from the same efficiency as code loading.
Many decentralized applications that frequently read from the first few storage slots could save over 10,000 gas per transaction as a result.
VM Changes: The Case for Replacing the EVM
Buterin made a pointed argument for replacing the EVM itself over the longer term. He pointed to a pattern where developers try to avoid the EVM whenever possible, treating it as an obstacle rather than a feature.
To him, this defeats the purpose of Ethereum’s generality. The fix, he argues, is building a better virtual machine rather than adding more workarounds.
His preferred candidate is RISC-V, the same architecture that most ZK provers already use. The reasoning is direct: if provers are already written in RISC-V, making the new VM be RISC-V removes an entire translation layer.
A RISC-V interpreter requires only a few hundred lines of code. Buterin described this as what a blockchain VM “should feel like.”
He proposed a three-stage rollout. The new VM would first handle precompiles, replacing roughly 80% of today’s precompiles with NewVM code. Users would then gain the ability to deploy NewVM contracts directly.
Finally, the EVM would retire and become a smart contract written in the new VM, preserving full backwards compatibility for existing users except for gas cost shifts.
What This Means for Ethereum’s Proving Infrastructure
Buterin was direct about why these changes matter beyond aesthetics. State trees and the VM together account for more than 80% of the proving bottleneck today.
Fixing both is essentially a prerequisite for any meaningful expansion of client-side proving. Without these changes, ZK applications that need to compose with Ethereum’s state must maintain their own separate trees, which adds complexity and cost.
The binary tree change allows Ethereum’s native state to become prover-friendly. That opens the door for ZK applications to work directly with Ethereum’s storage rather than building around it.
This would reduce the overhead that many privacy protocols and wallet applications currently carry.
Buterin acknowledged the VM changes remain more speculative and do not yet have broad consensus. However, he expressed confidence that once the state roadmap is in place, replacing the EVM will become the obvious choice.
His framing positions both changes as practical necessities rather than theoretical improvements, tied directly to the network’s ability to scale proving workloads across a wider range of use cases.
Crypto World
Could Bitcoin Face a Liquidity Selloff?
Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are once again forcing crypto traders to look beyond blockchain fundamentals and toward global macro risk.
Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes daily through the narrow maritime corridor between Iran and Oman. While no full closure has been confirmed, escalating military activity in the region has already pushed war-risk insurance premiums sharply higher.
Oil, Yields, and $2 Trillion in Liquidity: Why Crypto Could Be First to Crack
Premiums on oil tankers have surged more than 50%. At the same time, insurance costs for a $100 million vessel jumped from approximately $250,000 to $375,000 per voyage.
The spike in shipping risk alone, even without a formal blockade, has been enough to raise fears of supply disruption. Several analysts have suggested that crude oil could surge to $120–$130 per barrel under a prolonged disruption scenario.
“Estimates suggest crude could jump to $120–$130 per barrel,” wrote analyst 0xNobler in a post.
For crypto markets, the implications go far beyond energy.
The Inflation-to-Liquidity Transmission
An oil spike of that magnitude would likely reignite inflation expectations just as markets have been positioning for policy easing.
Higher crude prices feed directly into transportation, manufacturing, and consumer goods costs, putting upward pressure on CPI data globally.
“Wars are generally inflationary, driving up commodity prices and widening fiscal deficits, and despite an initial knee‑jerk selloff when the conflict began, it makes sense that we have subsequently seen Bitcoin prices recover over the weekend, given it also benefits from higher inflation expectations,” 21Shares Head of Macro Stephen Coltman told BeInCrypto in an email.
If inflation expectations rise, central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, may be forced to delay or scale back anticipated rate cuts. That repricing would likely push Treasury yields higher.
And yields are where crypto risk begins.
Rising yields tighten global liquidity conditions. When government bonds offer increasingly attractive returns, capital often rotates away from speculative assets. Trillions in rate-sensitive capital across bonds and equities could be repriced if yields rise materially amid renewed inflation fears.
Bitcoin has historically traded as a high-beta liquidity asset during tightening cycles. During prior periods of rising real yields, digital assets have tended to underperform as leverage unwinds and funding costs climb.
In other words, crypto does not need a geopolitical catastrophe to fall. It only needs liquidity to tighten.
Several prominent crypto commentators have warned of an imminent spike in volatility. Posts from accounts such as DeFiTracer and 0xNobler framed the Strait of Hormuz situation as a potential macro “turning point,” outlining a chain reaction:
“Higher oil → higher inflation → no rate cuts → rising yields → tightening liquidity.”
Meanwhile, Merlijn the Trader introduced a secondary risk. The analyst cites a potential hashrate shock if energy infrastructure in Iran, reportedly a hub for low-cost Bitcoin mining, were disrupted.
While speculative, such narratives add to broader uncertainty around supply dynamics and network stability.
Still, not all political voices share the alarm. President Donald Trump publicly commented that he is “not concerned” about the Strait of Hormuz situation.
Markets, however, tend to respond more directly to bond yields than to political reassurance.
Crypto’s Deleveraging Risk
The structure of crypto derivatives markets adds another layer of fragility. Leverage tends to build during periods of calm, and sudden macro shocks can trigger cascading liquidations.
If Treasury yields spike alongside oil, leveraged positions across Bitcoin and altcoins could unwind quickly.
High-risk assets, including small-cap equities, high-growth tech stocks, and cryptocurrencies, are typically the first to feel pressure when liquidity tightens.
Unlike traditional markets, crypto trades 24/7, meaning reactions can be immediate and amplified.
It explains why traders are already watching crude futures and bond markets as leading indicators. A temporary de-escalation could stabilize oil and restore risk appetite.
A sustained disruption, however, could transform what begins as an energy shock into a broader liquidity event.
The coming sessions, starting Monday, may determine whether this remains geopolitical noise or becomes crypto’s next macro-driven selloff.
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