South Korea’s finance minister has pledged reforms to strengthen how government agencies manage seized cryptocurrency, following a digital asset information leak involving the National Tax Service.

Seized Bitcoin under scrutiny as South Korea tightens digital asset controls

In a statement posted on social media, the minister said the government will work with the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service to conduct a full inspection of digital assets held by public institutions through legal enforcement measures such as seizures from tax delinquents.

The review will assess the current status and management practices of those holdings and introduce measures to prevent future incidents, including tighter digital asset security controls.

“Together with relevant agencies such as the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, the government will inspect the current status and management practices of digital assets held and managed by government and public institutions through seizure and other enforcement measures,” Koo said on X. 

The minister clarified that the government does not actively invest in or hold cryptocurrency beyond assets acquired through legal enforcement processes.

The move comes after past security lapses raised concerns about how authorities safeguard confiscated crypto. South Korean police lost access to Bitcoin seized in 2021 after relying on a third-party custodian without maintaining control of private keys, exposing weaknesses in custody oversight.

The issue only came to light following an internal probe, drawing criticism over law enforcement’s digital asset handling procedures.

Authorities later arrested two suspects accused of stealing Bitcoin from wallets linked to seized assets, further highlighting vulnerabilities in state-managed crypto storage.

With digital asset seizures becoming more common in tax enforcement and criminal investigations, the latest review signals an effort to standardize custody practices and reinforce accountability. The government’s inspection is expected to evaluate storage methods, access controls, and inter-agency coordination to reduce operational risks tied to holding volatile and technically complex assets.

The finance minister said reforms would be implemented promptly once the review is complete, aiming to restore confidence in the state’s ability to securely manage seized digital assets.

TLDR

• ETH has experienced six consecutive monthly declines, representing its second-longest bearish streak since the 2018 crash.
• The cryptocurrency is hovering near its 2018 peak price level, currently struggling below the $2,000 mark.
• Multiple headwinds include large holder distribution, derivative market pressure, Layer 2 network competition, and persistent ETF capital outflows.
• Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin suggests artificial intelligence could dramatically accelerate the network’s development timeline and strengthen security protocols.
• Wall Street analysts from Standard Chartered and VanEck maintain bullish long-term projections of $7,500 and $10,000 for ETH.

For the first time since the brutal 2018 bear market, Ethereum has registered six consecutive monthly closes in negative territory, establishing a concerning pattern that has traders questioning when the trend will reverse.

Market data from CoinGlass reveals that the only comparable stretch occurred during 2018’s devastating downturn, when ETH plummeted beneath the $85 threshold.

That previous collapse stemmed primarily from the implosion of the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) boom, as countless projects that had raised capital through ERC-20 token sales on Ethereum’s network simultaneously liquidated their holdings.

Today’s prolonged decline, however, stems from an entirely different combination of pressures.

Market observers identify several concurrent factors: systematic distribution by large wallet holders, aggressive selling in derivatives markets, broader economic instability, sustained withdrawals from spot Ethereum ETFs, and intensifying competition from Ethereum’s own Layer 2 scaling solutions that are siphoning away transaction fee revenue.

ETH currently trades marginally above the peak price it achieved during the 2018 cycle, a threshold that was previously celebrated as a significant psychological barrier.

Following a brief climb to $2,054, the asset retreated below the psychologically important $2,000 level. The price now sits beneath the 100-hour Simple Moving Average, a technical indicator often watched by short-term traders.

Critical Price Zones Under Surveillance

The nearest resistance barrier stands at $2,000, followed by more substantial obstacles at $2,120 and $2,155.

Should Ethereum mount a rally past $2,155, traders would then focus on resistance zones at $2,220 and $2,250.

Conversely, downside protection currently exists at $1,920, with another support layer at $1,880. A breach below $1,880 would likely trigger a test of $1,840 or $1,800, while $1,740 represents a more substantial floor should selling intensify.

Buterin Discusses AI’s Potential Impact on Ethereum Development

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recently shared his perspective on how artificial intelligence tools could dramatically compress the timeline for implementing Ethereum’s technical roadmap.

His remarks followed a demonstration where a developer utilized AI assistance to prototype Ethereum’s entire vision through 2030 in just a matter of weeks.

Buterin personally experimented with AI coding capabilities, successfully building a version of his personal blog software in approximately one hour using only his laptop.

He proposed that approximately half of the efficiency gains achieved through AI should be redirected toward enhancing security measures, including expanded testing protocols and formal verification processes for code.

“People should be open to the possibility that the Ethereum roadmap will finish much faster than people expect,” Buterin wrote.

He further emphasized that completely bug-free code, once dismissed as an unattainable ideal, might soon become the baseline standard throughout cryptocurrency development.

Financial analysts at Standard Chartered maintain their ambitious long-term projection of $7,500 for ETH, grounded in Ethereum’s dominant position within stablecoins, decentralized finance protocols, and asset tokenization infrastructure.

VanEck has established an even more optimistic target of $10,000, pointing to the forthcoming Pectra and Glamsterdam network upgrades, which could theoretically enable processing of 100,000 transactions per second.

ETH continues to maintain a foothold above the $1,900 support threshold following its most recent decline from the $2,054 local high.

The Bitcoin price enters March bruised. February delivered close to 15% losses, echoing last year’s February, which saw the Bitcoin price drop by over 17%.

With five consecutive red months now on the books, starting from October 2025, and a median March return of −1.31%, the seasonal backdrop offers little comfort. But beneath the surface, a shift may be forming. Here is what the data shows heading into March.

Bitcoin Price Still Trades as a Risk Asset

One of the most pressing concerns for the Bitcoin price right now is its sustained correlation with US equities. This reflects in the historical sightings as a weak S&P 500 month-on-month ensured a dismal February for Bitcoin.

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As of March 1, the 30-day rolling correlation between Bitcoin and the S&P 500 stands at 0.55, up from around 0.50 in October 2025.

This means the Bitcoin price continues to move largely in step with stocks, undermining its appeal as a hedge against traditional market risk. With Trump’s new global tariffs adding pressure to equities and potential US-Iran military escalation weighing on risk appetite, Bitcoin’s risk-on behavior keeps it vulnerable.

Kevin Crowther, Founder of KC Private Wealth, emphasized this dynamic.

“Bitcoin’s high correlation to software stocks weakens its case as a hedge asset in times of uncertainty, and so as Trump continues to elevate economic uncertainty, continued BTC weakness should be expected,” Crowther said.

Meanwhile, gold and silver continue to surge while Bitcoin bleeds. However, if geopolitical tensions ease, particularly around Iran, risk sentiment could shift. And if the gold and silver trade becomes saturated, capital could begin rotating into Bitcoin as the next uncrowded allocation. That rotation hinges on the equity correlation breaking.

Bitcoin ETF Outflows Are Fading: A Quiet Shift

While the macro picture remains challenging, spot Bitcoin ETF data tells a more nuanced story. February marked the fourth consecutive month of net outflows, but the trend is shifting sharply.

November 2025 saw $3.48 billion in outflows. December brought $1.09 billion, January $1.61 billion, and February closed at just $206.52 million — a 94% reduction from November’s peak.

Orkun Mahir Kılıç, Co-Founder of Citrea, noted that these outflows reflect positioning adjustments rather than a structural retreat.

“The ETF outflows are more consistent with deleveraging than institutional abandonment. For flows to reverse meaningfully, markets need clearer macro direction and lower volatility,” Kılıç explained in an exclusive quote to BeInCrypto.

Nima Beni, Founder of Bitlease, was more direct about what the data signals, especially taking BlackRock’s IBIT outflow into account:

“ETF outflows are retail panic, creating institutional opportunity. BlackRock’s $2.13B IBIT outflow matters less than the fact that 94% of ETF Bitcoin holdings remained despite maximum fear. That’s institutional conviction, not abandonment,” Beni stated.

Overall, the experts didn’t seem perturbed by the ETF outflow streak.

Selling Pressure Is Exhausting Across the Board – The Bounce Catalyst?

Beyond ETFs, on-chain data shows that selling from both long-term holders and Bitcoin miners is drying up rapidly.

Long-term holders — wallets that have held Bitcoin for 365 days or more — are a critical group for gauging market direction. When their selling ends, the Bitcoin price tends to stabilize and recover. Throughout February, their net selling has collapsed. On February 5, the 30-day rolling net position change for long-term holders stood at −243,737 BTC. By March 1, that figure had fallen to just −31,967 BTC, an 87% reduction.

Miner behavior mirrors this trend. Bitcoin miners, who sell BTC to cover operational costs, saw peak capitulation around February 8 when net selling hit −4,718 BTC. By March 1, that had eased to −837 BTC, a sharp decline that suggests the worst of miner capitulation may be behind us.

Han Tan, Chief Market Analyst at Bybit, offered a key distinction here, taking the negative hash rate growth into account.

“Bitcoin miners aren’t capitulating; they’re making strategic diversifications. The drawdown in the hashrate is only to be expected in light of Bitcoin’s price plummet, but does not imply structural capitulation,” Tan noted.

Negative hash rate growth means the total computing power securing Bitcoin is falling instead of rising. This usually happens when miners turn off machines because mining becomes less profitable, often due to lower Bitcoin prices or higher energy costs. This explanation validates what Tan just highlighted.

Whales Are Accumulating Near the 20-Day SMA

While selling weakens, buying is quietly picking up among whale cohorts. Wallets holding between 100,000 and 1,000,000 BTC increased their holdings from 676,540 to 690,000 BTC around February 19–20, during a brief 4.06% price rebound. Crucially, they have not sold since.

Meanwhile, smaller whales holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC began accumulating from February 25, with holdings rising from 4.222 million to 4.23 million BTC.

Why are whales holding?

One likely reason is the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), a short-term trend indicator that smooths prices over 20 days. The Bitcoin price currently trades just below the 20-day SMA at $67,100. The last time this level was decisively crossed — on January 1 — Bitcoin rallied by over 12%. Whales appear to be positioning for a similar breakout.

However, the long-term picture requires more conviction. The 50-day SMA sits at $77,200, and the 200-day SMA — the level that could genuinely confirm a bullish reversal — is far above at $96,800.

Han Tan from Bybit highlighted the importance of one such level:

“To the upside, Bitcoin may have to resurface above its 50-day SMA and reclaim the psychological $80k handle before more buyers are enticed back into the fold,” he added.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Bear Flag Threatens Bitcoin Price, but Invalidation Is in Play

On the three-day chart, the Bitcoin price trades inside a bear flag, a bearish continuation pattern where price consolidates upward within parallel trendlines after a sharp drop. The flagpole measures a roughly 39% decline, meaning a confirmed breakdown could project a similar move lower.

Adding weight to this, a hidden bearish divergence has formed on the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum oscillator. Between February 6 and February 24, the Bitcoin price printed a lower high while RSI printed a higher high. This mismatch suggests that despite the bounce, underlying momentum still favors the downside.

The key levels are clear. On the upside, $71,300 is the first significant resistance. A move above $79,000 would invalidate the bear flag. However, continued BTC price bounces can also shift the structure toward a rising channel, which would become bullish. The next few 3-day candles would therefore determine if the flag breaks or the extension invalidates the bearish pole-and-flag rule.

On the downside, a breakdown below $62,300 opens the door to Fibonacci support levels at $56,800, $52,300, $47,800, and, in extreme scenarios, $41,400.

Crowther sees the most probable outcome as relatively contained, highlighting the chance of a mild bounce.

“Flat, or slightly positive price movement throughout March should be an investor’s base case scenario for now,” he said.

Kılıç, however, pushed back on the bearish framing, aligning with the on-chain selling exhaustion and bounce hopes:

“Extreme fear and the deepest ETF outflow streak in a year aren’t bearish signals. I’d actually define them as classic capitulation, flushing out weak hands and tightening supply,” he stated.

The most likely path for March, therefore, involves a local bounce — driven by exhausting sell pressure and whale accumulation — followed by renewed selling as the broader bear flag structure resolves. Selling is weakening, but it hasn’t been extinguished. A local bottom is not the same as a cycle bottom. March will likely be defined by whether $62,300 support holds or $79,000 resistance breaks first.

Polymarket recorded historic trading activity on the day of the joint U.S.–Israel strike on Iran, with single-day nominal trading volume reaching $478 million, according to an analyst tracking platform data.

War bets surge: Polymarket hits $478M daily volume

The surge marked the highest daily volume in the platform’s history. The politics sector alone accounted for $220 million, or 46.2% of total daily volume, also setting a record. Polymarket Builders, the ecosystem’s infrastructure arm, similarly posted a single-day high as geopolitical tensions drove traders into war-related contracts.

At the center of the activity was the contract titled “US strikes Iran by February 28, 2026?” hours before coordinated airstrikes were launched early Saturday morning, several newly created wallets piled into “yes” shares.

On-chain analytics firm Bubblemaps flagged six wallets that collectively profited roughly $1.2 million.

According to its findings, most of the wallets were funded within 24 hours of the attack, specifically targeted the February 28 deadline, and accumulated “yes” positions just hours before the strikes occurred, raising suspicions of potential insider knowledge.

The surge has drawn scrutiny from analysts and regulators alike, with critics suggesting that fresh accounts profiting off the timing of strikes could indicate access to privileged information.

Not all traders emerged unscathed. On-chain tracker Lookonchain highlighted one high-profile bettor, “anoin123,” who had built more than $2 million in profits over two months by consistently wagering that the U.S. and Israel would not strike Iran.

When the strike ultimately took place, the trader lost $6.5 million in a single day, flipping from multimillion-dollar gains to more than $4.5 million in losses.

The episode shows both the explosive growth of blockchain-based prediction markets during geopolitical crises and the mounting scrutiny surrounding suspiciously timed bets.

Bitcoin BTC$66,227.89 pulled back from Asian session highs alongside losses in the U.S. stock futures as Iran stepped up attacks in the Middle East.

The leading cryptocurrency fell back below $66,000 after hitting a high of nearly $67,000 in early Asian hours. The S&P 500 e-mini futures fell to 6,790, down 1.4% on the day, reversing the early rise to 6,857. Meanwhile, oil prices continued to trade higher by over 7% on both sides of the Atlantic.

Iran reportedly stepped up missile attacks on the U.S. assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE. It also attacked Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, the widely-followed Warn and Gore OSINT handle. Saudi Arabia is one of the largest oil producers in the world.

Blockchain platforms are no longer experimental technologies. Enterprises across finance, supply chain, gaming, identity, and digital assets are investing in blockchain infrastructure to build scalable & secure systems. However, one of the first things that comes to the mind of the decision-makers is blockchain development cost 2026.

The answer depends on multiple factors, including architecture, infrastructure requirements, development scope, and long-term scalability planning. Unlike standard applications, blockchain platforms require specialized engineering, distributed infrastructure, and security-focused development practices.

Understanding the real cost structure helps organizations plan investments properly and avoid expensive redesigns later.

Reasons Behind the Varying Cost of Blockchain Platform Development

Blockchain platform development costs vary widely because platforms differ significantly in complexity and scale. A simple blockchain application is very different from a full enterprise blockchain infrastructure.

Several factors drive cost differences:

• Type of blockchain architecture (public, private, or consortium)
  
• Number of platform features
  
• Security requirements
  
• Transaction throughput requirements
  
• Infrastructure scale
  
• Integration with existing systems
  

For instance, a basic blockchain-based solution may involve limited smart contract functionality, while enterprise platforms require advanced permission management, auditing, analytics, and compliance layers. This is exactly the reason why blockchain development cost in 2026 can vary significantly depending on project scope.

What Defines a Blockchain Platform

Many organizations underestimate the scope of a blockchain platform. A blockchain platform is not just a smart contract or decentralized application; it is a complete software ecosystem.

A typical blockchain platform includes:

• Consensus mechanism implementation
  
• Smart contract infrastructure
  
• Node management systems
  
• User identity and permission layers
  
• APIs and integrations
  
• Admin dashboards
  
• Monitoring and analytics
  
• Security layers
  

Each of these components requires specialized development and testing. Blockchain software development services typically include both infrastructure engineering and application-layer development, which is why blockchain software development cost is higher than traditional application development.

Types of Blockchain Platforms Enterprises Build

Enterprise blockchain platforms vary depending on business objectives. Different types of platforms require different levels of investment.

Public Blockchain Platforms

Public blockchain platforms allow open participation and decentralized validation. These platforms typically require advanced token logic and high scalability. Typical use cases include:

• Tokenized ecosystems
  
• NFT marketplaces
  
• Web3 platforms
  
• Decentralized finance applications
  

Public platforms usually require higher security investments and extensive smart contract testing.

Private Blockchain Platforms

Private blockchain platforms restrict access to authorized participants and are commonly used by enterprises. Common use cases include:

• Supply chain tracking
  
• Identity management
  
• Enterprise data sharing
  
• Internal record management
  

Private platforms often require integration with internal systems, which increases development complexity.

Consortium Blockchain Platforms

Consortium blockchains are operated by multiple organizations. These platforms require advanced governance and permission models. Typical use cases include:

• Banking networks
  
• Healthcare data sharing
  
• Trade finance
  
• Logistics networks
  

Consortium platforms typically involve the highest coordination and development complexity.

Core Components That Determine Blockchain Development Cost

Several technical components directly influence blockchain software development cost. Understanding these components helps organizations estimate budgets more accurately.

Blockchain Architecture

Architecture design defines how nodes communicate and how data is validated. Poor architecture decisions often lead to expensive redesigns later. Architecture planning includes:

• Consensus mechanism selection
  
• Network topology design
  
• Data storage structure
  
• Security model definition
  
• Scalability planning
  

Architecture design alone can require significant engineering effort for enterprise platforms.

Smart Contract Development

Smart contracts form the logic layer of blockchain platforms. Secure smart contract development requires careful design and testing. Smart contract work includes:

• Token logic implementation
  
• Business rule automation
  
• Permission management
  
• Upgrade mechanisms
  
• Security testing
  

Smart contract errors can be extremely costly, making security-focused development essential.

Platform Infrastructure

Blockchain infrastructure cost represents a major portion of total investment. Infrastructure typically includes:

• Node hosting
  
• Cloud services
  
• Storage systems
  
• Monitoring tools
  
• Backup systems
  
• Load balancing
  

Enterprise-grade platforms require infrastructure designed for reliability and scalability.

Integration Systems

Most enterprises need blockchain platforms to integrate with existing systems. Typical integrations include:

• ERP systems
  
• Payment gateways
  
• Identity systems
  
• APIs
  
• Analytics platforms
  

Integration complexity significantly affects development cost.

Real Blockchain Development Cost Ranges

In 2026, the cost to build a blockchain platform depends largely on complexity and scale.Typical enterprise cost ranges include:

Basic Blockchain Platforms

Basic platforms with limited functionality typically cost:

$25,000 – $60,000

These platforms usually include:

• Basic smart contracts
• Simple dashboards
• Limited integrations
• Small-scale infrastructure
  

Suitable for prototypes or pilot deployments.

Mid-Scale Blockchain Platforms

Production-ready platforms typically cost:

$60,000 – $150,000

These platforms usually include:

• Advanced smart contracts
  
• Scalable infrastructure
  
• Multiple integrations
  
• Security testing
  
• Admin dashboards
  

Most enterprise projects usually fall into this range.

Large Enterprise Blockchain Platforms

Enterprise-grade blockchain platforms typically cost:

$150,000 – $400,000+

These platforms usually include:

• Custom blockchain architecture
• High transaction throughput
• Advanced security systems
• Complex integrations
• Compliance features
• Monitoring systems
  

Large platforms require extensive engineering and infrastructure planning.

These ranges represent typical enterprise blockchain development cost estimates in 2026. However, the actual costs depend on architecture complexity and feature requirements.

Blockchain Infrastructure Cost Explained

Blockchain infrastructure cost continues after development. Ongoing infrastructure expenses are an important part of long-term planning. Typical infrastructure costs include:

• Cloud hosting services
  
• Node operation costs
  
• Data storage
  
• Monitoring tools
  
• Security services
  
• Maintenance support
  

Infrastructure costs typically represent 10–25% of development cost annually, depending on platform scale. Planning infrastructure early helps avoid unexpected operational expenses.

Development Team vs Development Company

One major cost decision involves whether to build an internal team or hire a blockchain development company.

Internal Development Team

Building an internal team requires:

• Blockchain engineers
  
• Backend developers
  
• DevOps engineers
  
• Security specialists
  
• Project managers
  

Internal teams provide control but require significant hiring and training investment.

Hiring a Blockchain Development Company

On the other hand, many enterprises choose to hire a blockchain development company to reduce development risk. The key benefits include:

• Experienced blockchain engineers
  
• Established development processes
  
• Faster delivery timelines
  
• Proven architectures
  
• Lower hiring overhead
  

Blockchain software development services provided by experienced teams often reduce long-term costs by avoiding architectural mistakes.

Hidden Costs Enterprises Often Miss

Many blockchain projects exceed budgets because hidden costs are not considered early. Some of the common hidden costs include:

• Architecture redesign
  
• Security improvements
  
• Infrastructure scaling
  
• Compliance updates
  
• Performance optimization
  
• Integration changes
  

Planning these factors early improves cost predictability.

Final Thoughts

Blockchain platforms require significant investment, but properly designed platforms provide long-term value through automation, security, and scalability.

The cost to build a blockchain platform in 2026 depends on architecture complexity, infrastructure requirements, and development scope. Organizations that plan carefully and work with experienced blockchain development teams are more likely to build platforms that scale successfully.

Enterprises planning blockchain platforms should focus not only on initial development cost but also on infrastructure and long-term scalability.

Working with an experienced blockchain development company like Antier plays a significant role in ensuring that blockchain platforms are built for both performance and long-term sustainability.

A busy week lies ahead on the United States economic calendar as markets continue to digest the fallout from the US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Volatility will be abundant this week as US stock futures open and react to the weekend’s violence in the Middle East. Crypto markets remained relatively flat on Sunday, but have started their usual Monday morning retreat.

US President Donald Trump provided details on “Operation Epic Fury” on Sunday, stating that the US will “avenge” the deaths of Americans, there will be more US casualties, military operations will continue until “objectives are achieved,” and claimed the entire Iranian military command is “gone.”

It is not World War III, said the Kobeissi letter, pointing to oil prices, which have already erased nearly half of their opening gap higher, and US stock market futures, which are down marginally while gold prices are up again. “Don’t panic. The dust will settle,” they said.

Economic Events March 2 to 6

This week sees the release of a lot of labor market reports, which the Federal Reserve looks at to make its monetary policy decisions. The first major report of the week is February’s ISM Manufacturing PMI data, released on Monday, providing insight into the state of the manufacturing sector.

The tranche of employment data begins on Wednesday with the February ADP Employment report, followed by Initial Jobless Claims on Thursday, and the February Jobs Report on Friday, which will also include the January Retail Sales data.

Friday’s jobs report comes after surprisingly strong job gains in January, potentially signaling positive developments in the labor market. The report is expected to show an increase of 60,000 jobs, according to a Reuters poll.

“We saw a good January jobs report, but we also have seen a really weak 2025 for the job market, and so the question becomes, where do we go from here?” Kristina Hooper, chief market strategist at Man Group, told the outlet.

Key Events This Week:

1. US Futures React to Iran Situation – TODAY 6 PM ET

2. February ISM Manufacturing PMI data – Monday

3. February ADP Employment data – Wednesday

4. Initial Jobless Claims data – Thursday

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5. January Retail Sales data – Friday

6. February Jobs Report -…

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 1, 2026

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Crypto Market Outlook

Crypto markets are back in the red today following a positive Sunday. Total cap has dropped back to $2.35 trillion, erasing weekend gains.

Bitcoin was rejected at $67,000 three times over the past 24 hours and has fallen back to $66,300 during the Monday morning Asian trading session. It has been trading sideways for the past three weeks, however.

Ether prices could not hold above $2,000 and have retreated to $1,950 at the time of writing. The altcoins are mostly in the red with larger losses for XRP, Solana, Cardano, Canton, and Stellar.

JPMorgan analysts say a long-anticipated U.S. crypto market structure bill could be approved by mid-2026 and act as a major positive catalyst for digital asset markets in the second half of the year.

The report highlights that despite subdued sentiment and weak trading volumes across the sector, regulatory clarity from the proposed legislation, commonly referred to as the CLARITY Act, could help unlock growth and investment later in 2026.

JPMorgan says Clarity Act may spark second-half crypto upswing

According to the note, the Clarity Act represents not a marginal tweak but a “structural transformation” of the regulatory environment. JPMorgan outlined three key impacts.

First, the elimination of “regulation by enforcement” as the default approach to oversight. The bill would clearly divide jurisdiction between the SEC and CFTC, reducing the legal ambiguity that has deterred institutional investors worried about retroactive token reclassification and undefined liability.

Second, clearer rules could convert institutional crypto interest from exploratory allocations into high-conviction positions. The note argues pension funds and asset managers currently testing exposure may scale significantly once regulatory risks are reduced.

Third, JPMorgan expects an acceleration of real-world asset tokenization, with Wall Street firms moving projects from pilot stages to production scale under a defined legal framework.

However, another analyst strongly disputed JPMorgan’s timeline, arguing that the market reaction would not wait until the second half of 2026. The critic contended that if the Clarity Act is expected to become law by July, the rally would likely begin well in advance, following a classic “buy the rumor, sell the news” pattern.

In that view, crypto prices could start climbing months before the bill is signed, potentially as much as 150 days ahead of the event, followed by a pullback around the official signing, and then a renewed upward move afterwards.

XRP (XRP) holders appear to be adopting a defensive stance amid intensifying geopolitical tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

On-chain data shows more than $650 million worth of XRP flowing into Binance over the past week. The sharp rise in exchange inflows suggests investors may be positioning for increased volatility, raising the risk of short-term downside if market uncertainty persists.

Rising Middle East Tensions Trigger XRP Positioning Shift

BeInCrypto reported that a joint strike by Israel and the United States on Iran on Saturday triggered a sharp sell-off across crypto markets.

“The first strikes were launched shortly after the close of traditional financial markets. This timing amplified uncertainty across risk assets, with crypto reacting almost immediately to the geopolitical shock,” analyst Darkfost stated.

Tensions escalated further over the weekend following reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed. Iran has intensified retaliatory attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf Arab countries, deepening fears of broader regional instability. The rising geopolitical risk has weighed heavily on investor sentiment.

Crypto markets have declined alongside other risk assets. Meanwhile, gold surged as capital rotated toward traditional safe havens. XRP has not been immune.

On-chain analyst Darkfost noted that more than 472 million XRP, worth approximately $650 million, were transferred to Binance over the past week. According to the analyst, this was the “largest inflow period of the month of February.”

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Large exchange inflows are often interpreted as a sign of potential selling pressure, as tokens typically need to be moved onto trading platforms before they can be sold. However, inflows do not automatically translate into immediate sell-offs.

Such transfers may also reflect liquidity repositioning, arbitrage strategies, collateral management, or precautionary moves during periods of heightened volatility. Still, it raises concerns.

“Such inflows typically reflect a more defensive posture from investors holding XRP. When large amounts of tokens move onto exchanges, it often signals a potential willingness to sell or at least to position liquidity closer to the market. When amount of flows like this are recorded, they can create the conditions for a sudden wave of selling pressure capable of impacting price action in the short term,” Darkfost said.

The main question is whether the large inflow signals a lasting distribution phase or just a temporary response to crises. Notably, the transfer has caused Binance’s XRP reserves to tick up.

CryptoQuant data showed that exchange reserves had been broadly declining since October 2025. The recent inflow marks a modest reversal of that trend for now.

Meanwhile, XRP extended its losses in line with the broader crypto market downturn. According to BeInCrypto Markets data, the altcoin has dropped more than 4% in the past 24 hours. At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $1.37.

The next few days will reveal whether this $652 million move was a one-off or signals the start of further adjustments among XRP holders. As geopolitical risk and crypto market structure collide, both near-term volatility and long-term adoption narratives remain at the forefront.

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