Ransomware crypto payments stalled for a second year in 2025, even as attacks hit record levels and ransom demands jumped. Data from Chainalysis shows that total on-chain payments fell about 8% from a year earlier to roughly $820 million, while claimed attacks rose by about 50%.

The biggest shift was in how much victims paid when they did give in. The median ransom payment surged 368% year-over-year to nearly $60,000 from about $12,700 in 2024.

Jackie Koven, head of cyber threat intelligence at Chainalysis, told The Defiant that the surge in median payment is “likely not related to price,” adding that ransomware actors “anchor their extortion demands in USD or other fiat currencies, not BTC.”

“So if they are demanding $1M, as an example, it doesn’t matter whether BTC is priced at 1M or 10k. The increase in median ransom is more likely related to high outlier payments rather than a return to big-game hunting ransomware tactics that dominated in the past,” Koven explained.

Only 28% of victims paid a ransom in 2025, the lowest rate on record.

“This overall trend is a major win against the ransomware ecosystem. Fewer victim payments mean more work for less for attackers, an important step in shifting the economic incentives,” the report reads.

There were still several high-impact incidents that shaped the year. A cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover in late August 2025 halted production across multiple countries and caused an estimated $2.5 billion in damage, the costliest cyber incident in UK history.

Retailers and hospitals were also hit hard. Major British multinational retailer Marks & Spencer suffered long outages after an attack tied to the Scattered Spider group, while global healthcare provider DaVita reported exposure of nearly 2.7 million patient records.

The U.S. stayed the top target worldwide, with Canada, Germany, and the UK behind it, and attacks rose sharply in manufacturing, finance, supply chains, and critical infrastructure, Chainalysis says.

Avalanche (AVAX), a layer-1 blockchain once viewed as a rival to Ethereum in 2021, has seen its price fall more than 94% from its all-time high (ATH). By 2026, the question remains whether any catalysts can help this altcoin stage a comeback.

Behind the disappointing price performance, infrastructure developments and growing institutional adoption are shaping a potentially promising recovery scenario for the ecosystem.

A Boost From Japan: When $2 Billion Moves “On-Chain” With Avalanche

One of the most significant developments strengthening Avalanche’s position is Progmat’s decision to migrate its assets to Avalanche, Japan’s largest digital securities (security token) platform.

More than $2 billion in tokenized real-world assets (RWA), including real estate and corporate bonds, are moving from the Corda platform to Avalanche.

An Avalanche report states that Progmat currently accounts for approximately 63% of issuance volume and 53.8% of projects in Japan’s digital securities market, with total issuance value exceeding ¥216.9 billion. The market is expected to surpass ¥1.05 trillion (approximately $7 billion) by the end of 2026.

Progmat’s decision to choose Avalanche over competing platforms represents a strong endorsement of Avalanche’s technology. The network enables financial institutions to create customized blockchains that comply with regulations while leveraging the security of the main network.

How VanEck Views Avalanche

A recent report from investment firm VanEck outlines the reasons Avalanche continues to maintain its appeal.

VanEck highlights that the system’s core lies in its Snowman consensus mechanism. This mechanism allows block production in just 1.2 seconds and achieves near-instant transaction finality.

“Avalanche competitor Ethereum produces blocks every 12 seconds while finality takes around 12.8 minutes. This allows Avalanche users to recognize settlement of their transactions within a few seconds, giving the chain significant practical advantages for financial use cases,” the VanEck report states.

The report also emphasizes that Avalanche’s lower transaction fees compared to competitors provide a competitive advantage.

In addition, VanEck’s spot Avalanche ETF remains the only AVAX ETF currently trading on the market.

However, data indicate that investor demand for exposure remains modest. After one month of trading, total net assets reached $11.5 million. By comparison, LINK ETFs have attracted more than $81 million, while SOL ETFs have surpassed $800 million.

Can AVAX Regain Its Former Glory?

A report from CryptoRank shows that among leading altcoins, AVAX and DOT have experienced the worst drawdowns, each exceeding 94%. Such a decline represents a major shock for many investors.

However, Data from Avalanche signals positive momentum in February as users return to the network. Daily active addresses climbed above 1,300,000, marking the highest level in this layer-1 blockchain’s history.

“AVAX’s new slogan should be: Believe in the tech, not in the price,” investor Emperor Osmo stated.

A recent report by BeInCrypto also points to widespread negative sentiment, prompting many investors to hesitate before allocating capital. However, when capital flows return, projects with strong fundamentals may become priority choices for investors.

Kraken introduces Flexline for Pro users

Kraken has introduced Kraken Flexline, a crypto-backed loan product to Kraken Pro members. The service enables users to borrow against supported digital assets without the need to sell their holdings. The company targets advanced and institutional traders through its Pro platform.

Flexline provides two-day to two-year-term, fixed-rate loans. Borrowers will be able to get proceeds in cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. Therefore, eligible users may trade the funds on the platform or withdraw them, depending on jurisdictional rules. Kraken has restricted access in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Annual percentage rates range from 10% to 25%, according to the exchange’s website. Kraken has not disclosed specific loan-to-value ratios. Users may repay loans early through their account balances, although early repayment fees apply.

Collateral structure and risk controls

Kraken demands borrowers to post supported cryptocurrencies as collateral. The funds are credited to the platform virtually immediately upon approval. The exchange maintains collateral in segregated wallets and incorporates it into its Proof of Reserves attestations, which certify client assets on a 1:1 basis.

Source: Kraken

Kraken can sell off collateral in case a borrower does not meet maintenance obligations or does not repay the loan before the maturity date. According to the exchange, these controls are meant to contain credit risk and ensure transparency. The company markets the product as a formalized alternative to unstructured crypto lending services at variable rates.

Crypto-backed lending gains momentum across exchanges, DeFi and traditional finance

Kraken’s launch follows renewed revival of crypto-backed lending markets. Coinbase has recently increased its collateral loan provision. US eligible users are now able to borrow up to $100,000 in USDC with collateral against assets like XRP, Dogecoin, Cardano, and Litecoin.

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Decentralized finance lending protocols also continue to grow. DeFiLlama data indicates that the sector carries a total value of approximately $51.9 billion, of which nearly $30.8 billion is borrowed. Apollo Global Management also ventured into the space by partnering in the blockchain-based lending infrastructure.

The trends signal continued interest in crypto-backed liquidity solutions in exchanges, DeFi and traditional finance.

XRP has a liquidity problem that has nothing to do with price: More than 2 billion tokens, or about 3.5% of the circulating supply, aren’t actually circulating.

The tokens, valued around $3 billion, are held in wallets from Xaman, and are largely locked out of decentralized finance (DeFi). To access DeFi means downloading new wallets, bridging assets across chains, managing gas tokens and navigating unfamiliar interfaces. Most holders never bothered.

Now, Xaman said it has reached an agreement with the Flare blockchain that will reduce the process into a single transaction, allowing users to deposit their XRP directly into a curated vault on the Flare blockchain.

The system rests on three components working in the background.

First are FAssets, which create a trust-minimized representation of XRP on Flare — effectively a wrapped version of the token that can interact with smart contracts. Then come Flare Smart Accounts, which abstract away the need for users to manage a second wallet. Instead of juggling private keys across chains, users authorize transactions with their existing XRPL credentials. Finally, Xaman acts as the front-end, embedding the process directly inside the wallet many XRP holders already use.

From the user’s perspective, the process is reduced to a single action. Behind the scenes, the transaction carries detailed instructions. Flare’s Data Connector validates the request, while Smart Account controllers handle the minting of the wrapped asset, allocation into vault strategies and any subsequent yield distribution. What would typically require bridging assets, acquiring gas tokens and interacting with multiple decentralized applications is compressed into one workflow.

“This integration lets our users explore new options directly from the wallet they already know, while keeping full control of their keys and decisions,” said Wietse Wind, founder of Xaman, in a statement to CoinDesk.

The vault strategies themselves are managed by Upshift and curated by Clearstar, which oversee capital deployment and risk management. While specific yield targets were not disclosed, the strategies are built around familiar DeFi primitives such as lending markets, collateralized positions and structured products.

There are early signs that XRP holders are willing to experiment. Flare’s FXRP — its existing wrapped XRP token — has surpassed 100 million in minted supply, with more than 60 million currently deployed across staking programs and structured products. That growth suggests at least some appetite for putting XRP to work, rather than leaving it idle.

The broader backdrop makes the timing notable. XRP rose 6% earlier this week amid a 212% spike in retail buying volume, and exchange-traded fund inflows have remained positive since their November launch. Yet much of that activity reflects directional bets on price.

For XRP’s DeFi ambitions — sometimes dubbed “XRPFi” — the bigger challenge has been usability, not demand. If billions of dollars’ worth of tokens are effectively stranded by friction, lowering that friction may matter more than another rally. Infrastructure that turns passive holdings into productive capital could determine whether XRP’s DeFi narrative evolves beyond branding.

Editor’s note: Nvidia’s latest earnings release highlights a booming AI infrastructure cycle, with the company topping expectations and guiding $78 billion for Q1 FY2027. The data centre segment led growth while margins remained robust as hyperscale customers expand their AI deployments. This preview frames a broader trend: AI-ready data centres are becoming the core engine of digital transformation, and Nvidia sits at the center of that wave.

Key points

• NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) guides Q1 FY2027 revenue midpoint of US$78 billion, above consensus.
• Q4 revenue reached US$68.13 billion, with data centre revenue at US$62.3 billion.
• Data centre revenue accounts for about 91% of total revenue, with gaming softer due to supply constraints.
• Networking revenue surged 263% YoY to US$11 billion; inventory/capacity commitments total US$95.2 billion.
• Hyper-scaler AI infrastructure spending projected at US$650 billion for 2026, driven by Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta.

Why this matters

The results reinforce that the AI infrastructure cycle is accelerating, not slowing. Strong data centre demand, high gross margins at 75.2%, and large-scale capacity commitments suggest durable momentum as AI workloads drive broader data-centre re-architecture. The report notes that China data centre revenue could add upside if export restrictions ease.

What to watch next

• Any changes to export restrictions affecting China data centre revenue and potential upside to guidance.
• Trends in data centre demand and Nvidia’s inventory/capacity commitments amid hyperscaler spending.
• Gaming segment performance and supply constraints ahead of Q1.
• Progress of AI infrastructure investments by Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

Nvidia earnings underscore accelerating AI infrastructure boom

Abu Dhabi, UAE – February 26, 2026: Nvidia has once again delivered a standout set of earnings, beating expectations across the board and, crucially, surpassing its own forward guidance. The company guided Q1 FY2027 revenue to a midpoint of US$78 billion, comfortably ahead of the US$72.78 billion analysts had forecast. Notably, this guidance assumes zero data centre revenue from China, meaning any easing of export restrictions would represent pure upside not currently priced in.

Quarterly revenue reached US$68.13 billion, ahead of consensus expectations of approximately US$65.9 billion. Data centre revenue surged to a record US$62.3 billion, exceeding the US$60.4 billion forecast, while adjusted earnings per share came in at US$1.62 versus expectations of US$1.53. Profit for the quarter totalled US$43 billion — a figure that exceeds Nvidia’s entire annual revenue as recently as 2023. For a company of this scale to sustain such rapid expansion underscores the structural strength of demand.

Gross margins of 75.2% also came in ahead of forecasts, helping to dispel concerns about profitability as the Blackwell platform continues to ramp up. The results send a clear message that the AI infrastructure buildout is not slowing — it is accelerating. Despite recurring scepticism each quarter, Nvidia continues to demonstrate the durability of this cycle.

Spending commitments from Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta — collectively projected at US$650 billion for AI infrastructure in 2026 — highlight the scale of investment driving this trend. Nvidia sits firmly at the centre of that wave. Networking revenue alone surged 263% year-on-year to a record US$11 billion, reflecting that the AI transformation extends beyond chips to the full-scale re-architecture of data centres.

The company has secured US$95.2 billion in inventory and capacity commitments, nearly double the level from a year ago, ensuring it can meet demand from hyperscalers operating at unprecedented scale. Gaming was the only softer segment, with supply constraints expected into Q1, but with data centre revenue now accounting for 91% of total revenue, it is no longer the primary growth driver.

Since the emergence of ChatGPT, Nvidia’s data centre revenue has grown nearly thirteenfold. As the AI race intensifies and big tech spending remains at historic highs, Nvidia continues to position itself as the essential enabler of the AI ecosystem — reinforcing why it is widely regarded as the engine powering this technological shift.

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XRP price has struggled to mount a decisive recovery in recent weeks, yet it continues to defend a critical support level. The altcoin has avoided a deeper breakdown despite repeated tests of lower price zones. This resilience suggests underlying accumulation.

Investor sentiment initially leaned cautiously. However, from spot markets to derivatives, traders appear to be preparing for a potential rebound.

XRP Is Not Too Deep Underwater

Net Unrealized Profit and Loss, or NUPL, indicates XRP is in a capitulation phase but not deeply so. The metric is currently hovering around the zero line. This position reflects that losses among holders are declining, nearing neutral conditions rather than extreme loss realization.

Historically, XRP has remained in the capitulation zone for extended periods, sometimes lasting up to a month. These phases often precede rebounds once selling pressure exhausts. The current stretch is nearing the one-month mark, suggesting a potential inflection point may be approaching.

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How Are XRP Traders and Holders Reacting?

Mean Coin Age, or MCA, offers additional insight into holder behavior. Ahead of a potential bounce, XRP long-term holders appear to favor accumulation over distribution. Rising MCA values typically indicate coins are aging in wallets rather than being spent or sold.

Aside from a minor dip, XRP long-term holders have maintained a constructive stance. Continued accumulation reduces circulating supply pressure. Sustained conviction among these investors often supports structural price recovery over time.

Derivatives market data mirrors developments in spot trading. XRP Funding rates have shifted meaningfully over the past three weeks. Previously deeply negative readings have transitioned to modestly positive territory.

A positive funding rate reflects the dominance of long positions over short positions. This dynamic signals improving trader confidence. Increased long exposure can generate upward pressure as demand strengthens through leveraged positioning.

XRP Price Holds Above Support Floor

XRP is trading at $1.43 at the time of writing, hovering near the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level. The 23.6% retracement, often viewed as a bear market support floor, remains intact. Sustained trading above this threshold reinforces structural stability.

Holding above the bear market support floor suggests limited immediate bearish pressure. If improving sentiment persists, XRP could challenge the $1.53 resistance level. A successful breakout may push the token toward $1.62. Flipping the 61.8% Fibonacci level into support would confirm a recovery phase.

Conversely, weaker macro conditions could delay upside progress. Failure to clear $1.53 may extend consolidation. Continued range-bound trading would invalidate the short-term bullish thesis. Without stronger demand, XRP may remain subdued until broader crypto market momentum improves.

The Cardano price is still up nearly 12% over the past 24 hours, holding near $0.29 after rebounding from its recent lows. On the surface, this looks like the start of a larger recovery. The price even attempted a breakout that projected a roughly 38% rally toward $0.41. But that breakout has failed so far.

The rejection was not sudden. It happened despite massive whale buying worth about $340 million. The real story is deeper. Multiple hidden forces, including conflicting whale activity and liquidation risk, quietly blocked the rally.

Bullish Divergence And Breakout Setup Initially Pointed To A 38% Rally

The recovery setup began forming weeks earlier. Between January 31 and February 24, the Cardano price formed a lower low. This means the price dropped to a new bottom compared to the previous swing. Normally, that signals weakness. But at the same time, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) formed a higher low.

RSI is a momentum indicator that measures buying and selling strength. When RSI rises while price falls, it creates a bullish divergence, a reversal cue. This usually signals that selling pressure is weakening, even as the price continues to decline.

This exact pattern appeared within an inverse head-and-shoulders structure, a classic bullish reversal pattern. When Cardano approached the neckline level on February 25, it appeared ready to break out. The projected upside from this pattern was about 38%.

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But instead of breaking cleanly, Cardano formed a long upper wick and fell back. This long wick shows sellers entered aggressively and absorbed the buying pressure before the breakout could be confirmed. At this point, the breakout failed.

The failed breakout did not happen without warning. Right after the rejection on February 25, another dangerous signal appeared on the chart — a hidden bearish divergence.

Between January 21 and February 25, the Cardano price formed a lower high. This means the recent peak was still weaker than the previous rally peak. But during the same period, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) formed a much higher high.

This is called a hidden bearish divergence. It happens when momentum rises faster than price, but price still fails to break key resistance. This usually signals that the rally is running out of strength and that sellers are preparing to regain control.

The timing makes this signal even more important. The divergence as Cardano printed the long upper wick on February 25 and failed to break above $0.31.

This confirms that the breakout rejection was not just random profit-taking. It was a structural rejection backed by weakening price strength beneath rising momentum. Hidden bearish divergences often lead to pullbacks. That pullback now appears to have already started, with Cardano slipping back below its breakout level.

This creates a risky situation. The bullish breakout structure is still technically alive, but only if the pullback remains limited. A deeper decline would confirm that sellers have fully regained control.

$340 Million Whale Buying Happened — But Larger Whales Quietly Sold Much More

At first glance, whale data looked extremely bullish. Wallets holding between 100 million and 1 billion ADA increased their holdings from 2.33 billion ADA to 3.47 billion ADA. This means they bought 1.14 billion ADA, worth about $340 million. This is the buying activity most traders possibly saw.

But this was only part of the picture. Other whale groups were selling heavily at the same time. The largest whales, holding over 1 billion ADA, reduced their holdings from 2.89 billion to 1.88 billion ADA. This equals 1.01 billion ADA sold, worth about $297 million.

Mid-size whales holding 10 million to 100 million ADA sold 70 million ADA, worth about $21 million. Smaller whales holding 1 million to 10 million ADA sold 3.41 billion ADA, worth about $1.0 billion.

In total, selling reached about $1.32 billion. Compare this to the $340 million bought. That creates a net whale selling imbalance of roughly $980 million.

This explains the failure, including the long upper wick. The visible whale buying created optimism, but the larger, hidden whale selling completely overwhelmed it. This silent distribution blocked the breakout.

Derivatives Traders Took The Bait — Now Liquidation Risk Is Rising

Derivatives traders reacted exactly as expected. They saw a breakout forming, so they opened long positions expecting the rally to continue.

Liquidation data, on Binance alone, shows $11.40 million in long liquidations sitting below current price levels, while short liquidations are only $5.67 million. This means bullish traders are far more exposed to downside risk.

If the Cardano price falls, long positions will be forced to close. This creates a long squeeze. A long squeeze happens when falling prices force bullish traders to exit, and their forced selling pushes the price even lower. This is how failed breakouts often accelerate into deeper corrections.

Cardano Price Now Faces A Critical Breakdown Risk Toward $0.22

The ADA price structure now sits at a critical point. For the bullish breakout to remain valid, Cardano must reclaim and hold above $0.30. This would restart the path toward the $0.41 target.

But downside risks are growing. If Cardano falls below $0.27, the pullback strengthens. If it falls below $0.25, the bullish structure becomes invalid. This level is especially dangerous because it aligns with heavy, long liquidation exposure.

A break below $0.25 could trigger cascading liquidations, which could likely push the price toward $0.22, the full pattern breakdown possibility.

Right now, Cardano’s failed breakout (at press time) is not just a technical rejection. It is the result of nearly $1 billion in hidden whale selling. This imbalance is quietly turning into a high-probability breakout into a trap, and until buying fully outweighs selling, the recovery remains wishful.

Crypto Professionals Under Attack: How Fake Meeting Links Are Targeting the Digital Asset Industry

The cryptocurrency and Web3 ecosystem has always attracted innovation, opportunity and unfortunately increasingly sophisticated scams.

In recent months, a growing number of professionals working in digital assets, trading, venture capital and blockchain development have reported highly convincing social engineering attempts designed to compromise their devices and gain access to sensitive accounts.

Unlike traditional phishing emails filled with obvious mistakes, these new attacks are carefully constructed, patient and highly personalized.

They don’t look like scams.

They look like business opportunities.

The New Entry Point: Professional Meetings

One of the most concerning trends involves fake investor meetings arranged through legitimate platforms such as LinkedIn, Telegram or email introductions.

The approach often begins professionally:

• a private investor or founder requests a meeting;

• conversations appear structured and credible;

• investment topics sound realistic;

• scheduling tools such as Calendly are used to reinforce legitimacy.

Everything feels normal.

Until the meeting link arrives.

Instead of a standard Zoom or Google Meet invitation, victims receive a link disguised as a meeting room but hosted on a non-official domain designed to imitate legitimate services.

At first glance, the link may appear authentic.

In reality, it can lead to a fake login page or a malicious download designed to compromise the user’s device.

Why Crypto Professionals Are Being Targeted

Digital asset professionals represent an attractive target for attackers.

Many founders, traders and advisors operate:

Gaining access to a single compromised browser session can expose far more than a traditional account breach.

Attackers are not necessarily looking for passwords.

They are looking for active sessions.

Once malware is executed, certain tools can extract stored browser cookies, authentication tokens and locally saved data.

This allows attackers to bypass passwords entirely.

In some reported cases, compromised devices enabled access to email accounts, messaging apps and crypto wallets without victims realizing what happened until assets had already been moved.

Social Engineering Over Technical Hacking

The most dangerous aspect of these attacks is psychological rather than technical.

Scammers often invest significant time building trust.

They may:

• speak fluent English;

• present realistic professional backgrounds;

• introduce additional “consultants” into meetings;

• discuss portfolio management or partnership opportunities.

The goal is simple.

Lower defenses.

When security concerns are raised, a common warning sign appears.

Instead of accommodating reasonable requests such as using an official meeting platform or a different link, attackers may insist on joining through their specific invitation.

Pressure replaces flexibility.

That is often the moment professionals realize something is wrong.

The Fake Software Trap

Some fraudulent meeting links redirect users toward downloading software disguised as:

In reality, these downloads may contain infostealer malware or remote access tools.

Even experienced professionals have fallen victim to this method because everything leading up to the moment appeared legitimate.

Once executed, malicious software may search for:

The consequences can be immediate.

The Second Scam: “Recovery Experts”

Unfortunately, the risks do not end after an incident.

A second wave of scammers often targets victims who publicly report losses online.

These individuals claim they can recover stolen funds or trace blockchain transactions for a fee.

In most cases, they are simply another scam.

Blockchain transactions are generally irreversible.

Promises of guaranteed recovery should always be treated with extreme skepticism.

How to Protect Yourself

Simple habits dramatically reduce risk.

Professionals should consider the following precautions:

Only join meetings through official domains.

Platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet use verified domains. If a link looks unusual, verify before joining.

Avoid downloading software to attend a meeting.

Legitimate conferencing platforms rarely require additional downloads beyond official applications.

Use your own meeting rooms when possible.

If uncertainty exists, offer to host the meeting yourself.

Separate crypto activity from daily browsing.

Dedicated devices or browser profiles for wallet access can reduce exposure.

Enable strong account protection.

Two-factor authentication and hardware security keys significantly improve account safety.

Awareness Is the Strongest Defense

Social engineering attacks continue to evolve alongside the growth of the digital asset industry.

Many professionals assume technical expertise alone protects them.

In reality, most successful compromises begin with trust rather than code.

Recently, our editorial team encountered a similar attempt involving a professional meeting setup that appeared entirely legitimate until a suspicious meeting link was introduced at the last moment.

Fortunately, the situation was identified before any interaction occurred.

Others may not be as lucky.

As conferences, partnerships and investment conversations increase across the Web3 ecosystem, remaining cautious without becoming paranoid is essential.

Opportunities exist everywhere in crypto.

So do traps.

Taking a few extra seconds to verify a meeting invitation may ultimately protect far more than a calendar slot.

Polkadot price surged nearly 30% in the past 24 hours, erasing almost a month of losses. The sharp rally surprised traders who expected Bitcoin to lead the move. 

However, this time the crypto king played a limited role in DOT’s breakout. While Bitcoin remains a benchmark asset, Polkadot appears to be decoupling from its direct influence. 

Polkadot Finds Investors’ Support

Polkadot’s correlation with Bitcoin has declined in recent weeks. The metric currently stands at 0.36, signaling a weaker relationship between the two assets. Lower correlation suggests DOT is increasingly driven by internal factors rather than broader BTC price swings.

Decoupling can benefit altcoins during periods of Bitcoin consolidation. Reduced dependence allows Polkadot to respond to its own liquidity and demand trends. This structural shift indicates that DOT may be charting an independent recovery path.

The Chaikin Money Flow indicator supports this interpretation. CMF recorded a sharp uptick during the rally, confirming strong capital inflows into Polkadot. Rising CMF values typically reflect increased buying pressure from larger market participants.

Strong inflows suggest that large holders may have contributed to the price spike. CMF often captures institutional or whale-driven accumulation patterns. Sustained positive readings would reinforce the case for continued upside momentum in DOT price action.

DOT Price Has a Ceiling For Now

Polkadot price is trading at $1.60 at the time of writing after a near 30% rally. The altcoin briefly tested the $1.70 level but failed to secure $1.64 as confirmed support. This hesitation highlights emerging resistance near current highs.

The liquidation heatmap reveals a significant cluster of short positions near $1.70. Approximately $1.30 million in short liquidations are concentrated at this level. A decisive breakout could trigger total short liquidations worth $3.04 million. Such forced buying may accelerate price gains.

If bullish momentum persists, DOT could extend toward $1.79 in the near term. However, upside depends on sustained capital inflows. Should buying pressure fade, DOT may retest the $1.52 support, aligned with the 61.8% Fibonacci level. Losing that bull market support floor would invalidate the short-term bullish thesis.

Ethereum price is trying to steady itself after a rough February, but the bigger question is whether this bounce has enough strength to push through the $2,500 ceiling.

At press time, ETH was trading near $2,050, up about 3% over the past 24 hours. The move extends a week-long rebound of roughly 9%. Even so, the token is still down 30% over the past month and sits nearly 58% below its August 2025 peak of $4,946.

February started with Ethereum (ETH) trading between $2,200 and $2,400 before sellers took control mid-month. The slide accelerated around Feb. 24–25, when the price dipped toward $1,800. Since then, buyers have stepped back in, lifting the price back above the $2,000 mark.

Volatility spikes to highest level since March 2025

Derivative data shows a notable shift in positioning. According to a Feb. 26 analysis by CryptoQuant analyst PelinayPA, funding rates had remained positive for an extended period earlier this year, indicating that long traders were paying shorts.

Despite that optimism, the price failed to build a consistent rally. More recently, when short positions grew and the price faced pressure, funding went sharply negative.

Binance, which has the biggest share of global derivatives liquidity, often sets the tone during liquidation waves. The short- to mid-term trajectory of Ethereum is often affected by changes in Binance funding.

Funding has now flipped back to positive. This indicates that there is less immediate downside pressure now that many short positions have been cleared. Positive funding, however, does not prove a long-term recovery. The market could experience a long squeeze if it rises too quickly.

In a separate report, analyst Arab Chain revealed that Ethereum’s 30-day realized volatility on Binance has climbed to roughly 0.97, its highest level since March 2025.

Such high volatility often precedes a significant directional move, but if buying and selling pressure is evenly distributed, it can also occur during a prolonged period of sideways trading.

Ethereum price technical analysis

From a chart perspective, ETH is still in a clear daily downtrend, marked by lower highs and lower lows. Price recently bounced after touching the lower Bollinger Band near the $1,850–$1,900 zone. It now trades around $2,050, below key resistance areas.

Immediate support sits near $2,000, followed by the recent low between $1,850 and $1,900. On the upside, supply is clustered around $2,130–$2,150, then $2,300–$2,350.

Because it corresponds with a previous breakdown area and has psychological weight, the $2,500 level continues to be the primary structural barrier. 

Momentum is improving but not yet decisive. Following a recovery from oversold conditions, the relative strength index is close to 44.

A sustained move above 50 would strengthen the case for a shift in momentum. Bollinger Bands are starting to narrow after widening during the selloff, suggesting a possible attempt at a breakout. 

For Ethereum to recover $2,500, it must clear the $2,200 area with substantial volume and maintain above $2,000 to form a higher low. The current move might turn out to be a relief bounce inside a bigger downward structure if there is no follow-through.