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China’s Luckin Coffee opens its first high-end store
Chinese coffee giant Luckin opened its first flagship with premium drinks as the company takes on Starbucks Reserve.
Luckin Coffee
BEIJING — China’s Luckin Coffee is taking direct aim at Starbucks‘ high-end roastery chain with a new flagship store in the country’s south that sells premium drinks.
It’s Luckin’s first major departure from its original strategy of operating budget-priced coffee kiosks – a move that helped the company overtake Starbucks in terms of the number of storefronts in China.
Now, with the U.S. company selling off most of its struggling China business to a local investment firm, Luckin is proving it’s more than made a comeback from fraud allegations in 2020 that forced it to delist from the Nasdaq.
The Chinese company on Sunday officially opened its two-floor Luckin Coffee Origin Flagship in Shenzhen on the border with Hong Kong.
In contrast to Luckin’s typical offerings priced at roughly $1 or $2 for an Americano or latte, the flagship store has nudged prices slightly higher for a range of pour-over and cold brew coffee drinks. Customers can choose beans from Brazil, Ethiopia or China’s Yunnan province, as Luckin taps into the geographical sourcing “origin” theme popular with Starbucks and other coffee companies.
The new store also sells several specialty drinks such as a “tiramisu latte” with a pastry on top, according to posts on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu. Users have started posting about 1 to 3 hour waits for the drinks since the store’s soft launch on Jan. 20.
The 420-square-meter (4,521 square feet) store signals how intense the competition in China has become for Starbucks. Back in 2017, the U.S.-based coffee giant chose Shanghai for its second-ever Reserve Roastery “megastore,” after launching the premium store concept in Seattle three years earlier.
But as coffee has taken off in China, traditionally a tea-drinking market, Starbucks has run into a slew of competitors from boutique cafes to chains such as Cotti Coffee and Manner — which often sell drinks at half the price as Starbucks.
Luckin reported revenue of $1.55 billion for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2025, a nearly 48% increase from a year earlier.
That’s just for the company’s self-operated stores, which account for well over half of Luckin’s China locations and most of its handful of overseas stores. The new Shenzhen location is billed as Luckin’s 30,000th store. The company reported a total of 29,214 stores worldwide as at Sept. 30.
Pictured here is the second floor of Luckin’s new flagship in Shenzhen, China, that officially opened on Feb. 8, 2026.
Luckin
In contrast, Starbucks has just over 8,000 stores in China and around 16,900 in the U.S., its biggest market.
The Seattle-based coffee giant reported a 6% year-on-year increase in China net revenue to $831.6 million for the three months ended Sept. 28. Comparable same-store sales, a standard industry metric, was just 2%, but improved to 7% for the quarter ended Dec. 28.
Starbucks did not share China net revenue for the latest quarter. The company expects to close a deal in the spring to sell 60% of its China business to Boyu Capital, while retaining a 40% stake. When the deal was announced in November, Starbucks said it values its China business at $13 billion, including future licensing fees.
Luckin, whose shares still trade over-the-counter in the U.S., had a market value of around $10.46 billion as of Thursday.
Re-listing and expansion plans
Late last year, Luckin’s CEO Jinyi Guo hinted at plans to re-list the company in the U.S. He did not specify a date. Founded in late 2017, the company achieved a $2.9 billion valuation just 18 months later and listed on the Nasdaq in May 2019. But about a year later, Luckin said it discovered much of its 2019 sales were fabricated, leading to the stock’s delisting.
The Chinese coffee company continued to operate many of its stores — and kept its name and logo.
Luckin also jumped to attract consumers through a slew of timely collaborations — with premium spirits brand Moutai, the Minions cartoon characters and the hit video game Black Myth: Wukong just days after it surged in popularity.
What sets Luckin apart has been its ability to build a robust pool of private user traffic through its smartphone ordering app, said Mingchao Xiao, founder of Zhimeng Trends Consulting. Rather than placing orders with a counter clerk, Luckin customers select and pay for drinks directly through an app.
China’s coffee market is still in a period of rapid change, Xiao said. He added that young consumers today are more willing to try different experiences, and seek emotional fulfillment, which can be met through cross-industry brand collaborations.
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Like many Chinese companies, Luckin is also ramping up its global expansion.
Last summer, Luckin opened its first U.S. stores in New York City. It debuted its 10th store in the city on Feb. 6.
Luckin also has 68 stores in Singapore after it entered the market nearly three years ago, and 45 jointly operated locations in Malaysia.
TLDR:
- ETH failed three times at the 200-day EMA, confirming weakening momentum and sustained selling pressure.
- Over $1.3B in long liquidations shows derivatives activity dominated price action, not spot demand.
- The $2.7K level flipped from support to resistance, redefining near-term market structure.
- Focus now shifts to $2.3K and $1.8K as the next zones of potential buyer interest.
ETH 200-day EMA rejection shows repeated failures near resistance aligned with a wave of forced liquidations. Price action now reflects leverage-driven volatility instead of organic trend recovery.
Distribution Behavior Emerges at Key Technical Resistance
ETH price moved higher, yet the advance lacked sustained demand. Instead, it appeared driven by short covering into a known supply zone.
Momentum weakened with every approach to the moving average. Candle bodies narrowed, and upper wicks became more frequent. At the same time, volume failed to expand.
Furthermore, the repeated rejection pattern reinforced technical exhaustion. Three attempts at the same resistance level produced lower follow-through each time. This suggested that sellers maintained control despite temporary upside pressure.
On social media, several analysts shared charts showing price stalling exactly at the 200-day EMA. Therefore, upside strength functioned mainly as liquidity for larger participants.
Soon after, ETH slipped back below $2.7K. That level had served as short-term support during the rebound phase. Once breached, it transitioned into resistance, and market bias tilted downward.
This pivot divided two narratives. Above $2.7K, traders could argue for base formation. Below it, the structure favored continued probing lower. As a result, each rally into that zone now attracts selling interest.
Moreover, price behavior showed hesitation rather than conviction. Buyers failed to defend higher levels with sustained closes. Sellers, in contrast, reacted quickly at technical boundaries.
Thus, the pattern reflected strategic positioning rather than emotional panic. Distribution unfolded gradually, supported by visible rejection zones and fading momentum. The chart no longer communicated recovery. Instead, it communicated controlled exits into strength.
Liquidation Cascades Replace Organic Market Flow
ETH 200-day EMA rejection coincided with violent intraday swings driven by derivatives activity. Price repeatedly moved from $80 to $100 within minutes. Such behavior is not typical of spot-led markets.
Approximately $1.3 billion in long liquidations occurred during the session. These events represented forced closures of leveraged positions, not discretionary selling. Therefore, the tape reflected margin mechanics rather than investor sentiment.
As the price crossed clustered liquidation levels, automated orders accelerated the decline. Each wave triggered the next. Consequently, volatility expanded in both directions.
Total liquidations surpassed $7 billion across the broader market. This scale revealed how one-sided positioning had become before the breakdown. When exposure concentrates, even small price shifts can ignite chain reactions.
Meanwhile, ETH failed to stabilize above reclaimed levels. The $2.7K zone remained overhead resistance. This reinforced the idea that rebounds were corrective, not impulsive.
Attention has now shifted to the $2.3K region. That area previously hosted strong demand. If the price reaches it, buyers may attempt to stabilize conditions. However, failure there would expose the $1.8K support band.
Traders continue to frame current rallies as liquidity events. Strength is treated cautiously, while resistance zones receive priority.
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This article was originally published as ARK Invest Sells $22M Coinbase Shares, Buys Bullish Across ETFs on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.
Has ADA finally bottomed after dumping below $0.23 or is there more pain ahead?
Cardano’s native token is once again under heavy pressure, alongside most of the market. However, while BTC and most other alts crashed to their lowest levels since the US presidential elections in late 2024, ADA went even further, dropping to $0.222 (on Bitstamp and other exchanges) for the first time since June 2023.
Despite recovering slightly to $0.27, the token is still 34% down monthly. Moreover, it has plunged by 80% since its cycle top at $1.33 marked in late 2024. Consequently, we asked ChatGPT and Gemini whether the worst is behind ADA or if there is more pain around the corner.
ChatGPT Says…
ChatGPT began with some harsh words for Cardano investors, suggesting that the decline to the $0.22 area is “not just another routine dip.” Instead, it believes it represents a “structural breakdown of long-term support, confirming that sellers remain firmly in control.” This was proven after the asset plunged below key support levels at $0.40, $0.30, and even $0.25 (which was later reclaimed, though).
What could spell further trouble for ADA looking ahead is that these consecutive price drops suggest that “the buy-the-dip demand has steadily weakened” lately. As such, all eyes have now turned to the $0.20 support, which has become the “line in the sand.”
If ADA is to fall below that psychological level, the most realistic target during the ongoing bear phase would be a dip to $0.15-$0.16. However, ChatGPT outlined a more extreme capitulation scenario, in which the token plummets to $0.10-$0.12.
“While this may sound shocking, large-cap altcoins have historically lost 80-90% from cycle highs during severe downturns. ADA is not immune to that pattern,” it concluded.
Gemini’s Take
Dumping below $0.30 meant that ADA’s daily chart has turned into a “falling knife,” said Gemini. This breakdown below the multi-year support was the “final nail in the coffin for many long-term holders.” On its way down, the asset dumped below its 200-day MA (at around $0.45), and it obliterated millions in leveraged longs. Gemini’s “nightmare” scenario envisions a drop to even below $0.10 if certain factors align in an adverse manner:
“If Bitcoin capitulates to $55K in the coming weeks, ADA risks losing its status as a “major” altcoin. A breakdown below $0.15 opens a liquidity vacuum all the way down to $0.09. While this sounds impossible, remember that “impossible” things happen regularly in crypto winters,” it warned.
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Two teenagers from California are facing serious felony charges after authorities say they traveled hundreds of miles to carry out a violent home invasion in Scottsdale, Arizona, in a bid to obtain cryptocurrency believed to be worth $66 million.
Key Takeaways:
- Two California teens allegedly traveled over 600 miles to carry out a violent home invasion targeting $66 million in cryptocurrency.
- Police arrested the suspects shortly after they fled the scene and recovered restraints and a 3D-printed firearm.
- Investigators say unknown contacts on an encrypted messaging app directed the plot and funded supplies.
According to court records cited by local media, the 16- and 17-year-old suspects drove more than 600 miles from San Luis Obispo County and arrived at a residence in the Sweetwater Ranch neighborhood on the morning of Jan. 31 wearing delivery-style uniforms resembling those used by shipping carriers.
Investigators say they forced entry into the home, restrained two adults with duct tape and demanded access to digital assets.
One victim denied holding cryptocurrency, after which the confrontation escalated into physical assault.
Police Stop Suspects After Violent Home Invasion Attempt
Police were alerted when an adult son elsewhere in the house called emergency services. Officers arriving at the property found a struggle underway and one victim screaming.
The suspects fled in a blue Subaru but were stopped at a dead end shortly afterward.
Authorities recovered zip ties, duct tape, stolen license plates and a 3D-printed firearm without ammunition. It remains unclear whether the weapon was functional.
Both teens were initially placed in juvenile detention but prosecutors intend to try them as adults. Each faces eight counts including kidnapping, aggravated assault and burglary, while the older suspect also faces an unlawful flight charge.
They were later released on $50,000 bail and fitted with electronic monitoring devices.
Investigators say the younger suspect told police the pair had recently met and were directed by unknown individuals communicating through the encrypted messaging platform Signal.
The contacts, identified only as “Red” and “8,” allegedly supplied the address and sent $1,000 for disguises and equipment purchased at retail stores.
The suspect also claimed he had been pressured into participating after being invited on a trip to “tie people up” for access to cryptocurrency.
Wrench Attacks on Crypto Holders Rise Sharply in 2025
The case reflects a broader rise in so-called wrench attacks, physical assaults aimed at forcing crypto holders to hand over private keys.
Security researcher Jameson Lopp’s public database lists roughly 70 such incidents in 2025, a sharp increase from the previous year.
The Scottsdale attack is the first recorded US case of 2026, though many incidents are believed to go unreported.
Security analysts say criminals are increasingly using leaked personal data to identify targets and recruiting young perpetrators online to reduce traceability.
A recent industry breach involving customer identity information has been cited by investigators as a factor increasing exposure risks.
Authorities have not linked the incident to separate cryptocurrency ransom demands reported the same day in Tucson, about two hours away.
The post Two High Schoolers Charged in Arizona Home Invasion Targeting $66M in Crypto appeared first on Cryptonews.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken a stake in prediction market platform Kalshi, marking the first time an active NBA player has directly invested in the federally regulated event-contracts exchange.
Key Takeaways:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first active NBA player to invest directly in prediction market platform Kalshi.
- Kalshi offers federally regulated “yes-or-no” event contracts across sports, politics and entertainment.
- The deal follows growing scrutiny over the blurred line between trading markets and sports betting.
The two-time NBA MVP announced the partnership Friday, saying he will join Kalshi as a shareholder and collaborate with the company on live events and marketing campaigns.
Kalshi confirmed the agreement in a statement, adding that Antetokounmpo will not be allowed to trade on any NBA-related markets due to internal rules prohibiting insider trading and manipulation.
Inside Kalshi’s ‘Yes-or-No’ Prediction Trading Markets
Kalshi operates a marketplace where users trade “yes or no” contracts tied to real-world outcomes.
The platform lists markets spanning politics, entertainment and sports, allowing traders to take positions on events such as award winners or championship results.
Earlier this week, the service even hosted a market on whether Antetokounmpo himself would be traded before the NBA deadline.
Although money changes hands, the platform is treated as a financial exchange rather than a sportsbook.
As a result, Kalshi is permitted to operate across the United States under federal oversight, avoiding the patchwork of state gambling regulations that apply to traditional betting operators.
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allows players to promote betting companies under certain conditions, provided they do not advertise wagers on NBA, WNBA or G League games.
Players may also hold passive equity stakes of up to 1% in such businesses. Antetokounmpo’s investment falls within those limits.
“I like to win. It’s clear to me Kalshi is going to be a winner and I’m excited to be getting involved,” Antetokounmpo said.
He is not the first basketball figure linked to the company. Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is reportedly an indirect investor through the 35V venture fund he co-founded with agent Rich Kleiman.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of sports wagering. US authorities recently filed gambling-related charges involving several basketball figures, and regulators have been examining the expanding overlap between trading platforms and betting markets.
The NCAA previously asked Kalshi to modify wording on its site that suggested an official relationship with the organization.
Kalshi Expands Sports Push With NHL Deal and Athlete Endorsement
Despite the attention, Kalshi has been expanding its sports presence.
The company announced a partnership with the NHL in October and, in January, signed professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau as its first athlete endorser, including appearances and promotional campaigns tied to events in which he competes.
Kalshi has also secured a major media breakthrough after signing a partnership with CNN, making the company the network’s official prediction markets partner while closing a $1 billion funding round at an $11 billion valuation.
Web3 prediction markets have crossed $13 billion in cumulative trading volume, marking a record high even as broader crypto markets cool.
The surge has drawn in major players across tech and finance, including Fanatics, Coinbase, and MetaMask, all of which have recently launched or expanded event-trading platforms.
The post NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Becomes Shareholder in Prediction Market Kalshi appeared first on Cryptonews.
The battle for the fourth position in terms of market cap continues, but this time, BNB has come on top.
The rather calm behavior during the weekend has worked in favor of bitcoin, at least for now, as the asset has steadily climbed above $70,000 after the rejection on Saturday morning.
Most larger-cap altcoins are also in the green, with ETH trading above $2,100 and SOL close to $90. HYPE is among the few alts deep in the red today.
BTC Taps $70K
The previous weekend brought unexpected volatility to the cryptocurrency markets. The largest of the bunch dumped from $84,000 to under $76,000 on Saturday night and tried to recover to $79,000 on Sunday. However, it was stopped there, and the bears resumed control during almost the entire business week.
After initiating several smaller and less painful leg downs, they stepped up on the gas pedal on Thursday, causing another market calamity. In just over 24 hours, they brought BTC to its knees, pushing it from $77,000 to $60,000 on Friday morning, its lowest price in well over a year.
The cryptocurrency rebounded sharply after this massive decline, and bounced to $72,000 on Friday evening and Saturday morning. It couldn’t proceed further and was pushed down to $68,000 yesterday. Now, though, it has jumped to just over $70,000 after a 2.3% daily increase.
Its market cap has reclaimed the $1.4 trillion mark, while its dominance over the alts is just shy of 57% on CG.
BNB Flips XRP (Again)
ETH was among the poorest performers during the crash, dumping from $2,400 to $1,730 in a few days. However, it has recovered almost $400 since then and now sits above $2,100. BNB and XRP continue to fight for the fourth spot in terms of market cap, but Binance Coin has emerged as the winner during the weekend.
Solana’s SOL is up to almost $90, while LTC, LINK, ZEC, and XLM have posted gains of up to 4%. In contrast, HYPE has dropped by almost 5% to under $32.
The total crypto market cap has added another $80 billion since yesterday and is close to $2.5 billion on CG.
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Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest continued reducing its exposure to crypto exchange Coinbase on Friday, unloading $22 million worth of shares across multiple exchange-traded funds (ETFs) while adding to its position in digital asset platform Bullish.
According to ARK’s trade disclosures, the firm sold 92,737 Coinbase Global shares from the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), 32,790 shares from the Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) and 8,945 shares from the Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF). The combined transactions totaled 134,472 shares, worth around $22.1 million.
The sale came as ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood, has reversed course on Coinbase, selling 119,236 COIN worth about $17.4 million on Thursday after a brief purchase earlier in the week. The Thursday sale was the firm’s first Coinbase sale of 2026 and its first since August 2025.
Meanwhile, Coinbase stock climbed during the Friday session, closing at about $165 after gaining roughly 13% on the day. However, the exchange’s shares are still down by 26% year-to-date (YTD), according to data from Google Finance.
Related: Cathie Wood’s ARK boosts crypto shares amid stock pullback
ARK boosts Bullish stake
At the same time, ARK accumulated shares of Bullish across multiple funds. The investment manager purchased 278,619 shares in ARKK, 70,655 shares in ARKW and 43,783 shares in ARKF, accumulating a total of 393,057 shares worth $10.7 million.
Bullish shares ended the trading day near $27, up about 10%. However, the stock is down by 27% YTD as the company reported a net loss of $563.6 million, or $3.73 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2025, reversing a profit of $158.5 million recorded a year earlier.
Alongside the crypto moves, ARK added Alphabet, Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Tempus AI, while reducing exposure to several high-growth technology companies including Roku, The Trade Desk and PagerDuty.
Related: Cathie Wood’s ARK adds Coinbase, Circle, Bullish as crypto slides
Crypto slump weighs on ARK ETFs
As Cointelegraph reported, a fourth-quarter pullback in digital asset markets hurt several of Cathie Wood’s ARK ETFs. In its latest quarterly report, ARK said weakness in companies tied to digital assets, particularly Coinbase, was a major drag on flagship funds including ARKK, ARKW and ARKF.
Coinbase shares fell more sharply than major cryptocurrencies during the period as centralized exchange trading volumes dropped 9% quarter-on-quarter after October’s liquidation event. The stock declined nearly 35% from October to year-end, underperforming both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH).
Magazine: Bitget’s Gracy Chen is looking for ‘entrepreneurs, not wantrepreneurs’
Bitcoin’s slide below $70,000 is dividing market participants, according to Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley. Long-time holders appear uneasy as prices slip, while a fresh class of buyers—institutions—seems to be getting another shot at entry at levels they once believed out of reach. In a CNBC interview on Friday, Horsley noted that the new investor set—institutions—are seeing prices they thought they’d forever missed. The pullback arrives as regulators push for clearer rules and as institutional interest remains visible through inflows to crypto products. The dynamics highlight how price, sentiment, and regulation are intertwining in a single, fast-moving market.
Key takeaways
- Bitcoin priced around $69,635 at publication, down about 22.6% in the last 30 days, signaling persistent downside pressure in a broad bear phase.
- Institutional demand remains robust, with Bitwise reporting more than $100 million in inflows on a single day as Bitcoin hovered near $77,000.
- Long-time holders appear uncertain about the path forward, while new buyers re-enter at elevated levels, underscoring a split between conviction and opportunity.
- Macro assets are moving in tandem with Bitcoin, with gold and silver retreating from their peaks, illustrating a broad risk-off tone across markets.
- Retail curiosity has spiked as searches for “Bitcoin” rose on Google Trends, while mainstream product inflows continued to surface.
Tickers mentioned: $BTC
Sentiment: Bearish
Price impact: Negative. The ongoing bear market and the price retreat imply continued headwinds for near-term momentum.
Market context: The price action comes as regulators pursue clearer rules for digital assets and institutions gradually increase exposure, with Bitcoin correlating with broader liquidity conditions and risk sentiment.
Why it matters
For investors who built positions during the earlier hype around crypto adoption, the current pullback tests the resilience of on- and off-ramp infrastructure and the staying power of institutional interest. The emergence of genuine demand from large buyers at higher price points suggests that the market could still attract capital even as prices soften, potentially laying groundwork for a more durable base if macro conditions stabilize.
From a market structure perspective, the divergence between cautious, long-hold participants and opportunistic institutional entrants could influence price discovery over the medium term. If inflows from institutional vehicles persist, they may counterbalance selling pressure from traders who favor liquidity and quick turns, contributing to a more two-sided market rather than a simple downtrend. This dynamic matters for exchanges, custodians, and other ecosystem participants, as steady liquidity and credible risk controls become critical to sustaining institutional confidence despite ongoing volatility.
What to watch next
- Keep an eye on Bitcoin’s price around the $70,000 level; a sustained hold could invite renewed risk-taking, while a break lower may accelerate exits from leveraged positions.
- Track daily institutional inflows into crypto products and funds, which can indicate whether the current interest is a temporary reentry or a longer-term shift in allocation.
- Monitor regulatory developments in major jurisdictions, as clearer guidelines could unlock additional deployment channels for institutions and funds.
- Watch retail sentiment indicators, including Google Trends data and other search signals, for signs of broader momentum beyond professional buyers.
- Observe ETF and product-flow dynamics into spot BTC offerings; continued inflows would reinforce the thesis of growing mainstream participation.
Sources & verification
- Horsley’s CNBC interview on Feb. 5, 2026, discussing institutional demand and price action.
- Bitcoin price data around $69,635 and the 30-day performance from CoinMarketCap: Bitcoin (BTC) on CoinMarketCap.
- Google Trends data showing heightened search interest for “Bitcoin” in the week starting Feb. 1: Google Trends.
- BlackRock spot Bitcoin ETF inflows reported in coverage from Cointelegraph: Cointelegraph.
- Bitwise fund size and inflows cited by Bitwise communications in the context of institutional demand: over $15 billion in assets under management and more than $100 million in inflows in a single session.
Bitcoin price action shows divergence between holders and new buyers
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) sits near $69,635 after slipping more than 22% over the past month, according to CoinMarketCap, a move that underscores a bear market in which liquidity and macro forces dominate the narrative. The decline arrives as the industry progresses toward regulatory clarity and as institutional interest remains visible in episodic bursts. In a CNBC interview, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley described a market split: long-time holders grow wary of the pace of downside, while institutions—previously priced out—are re-entering at levels they once believed out of reach, signaling a renewed but cautious appetite for exposure.
The conversation about Bitcoin’s next leg has a longer memory. Geoff Kendrick, head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered, had argued in October that Bitcoin wouldn’t likely fall below $100,000 again. That perspective highlights how fast-changing sentiment can reshape benchmark expectations, especially when macro conditions—ranging from liquidity to policy—pose competing forces. Horsley’s account aligns with a broader view: Bitcoin’s price action cannot be divorced from the macro backdrop, and the asset is currently being carried by the same tides that move risk assets in a climate of evolving regulation and central-bank liquidity.
Yet the narrative is not simply about price in isolation. Horsley emphasized ongoing demand from institutions, noting that Bitwise manages more than $15 billion for investors and witnessed well over $100 million in inflows on a single Monday when Bitcoin traded near $77,000. The message is clear: even as headlines and charts point to weakness, a steady stream of capital from sophisticated buyers remains a meaningful counterweight to selling pressure. The market’s liquidity—the ability to absorb a burst of selling without a sharp price collapse—continues to be a defining feature of this cycle, a feature that could ultimately determine whether this pullback establishes a durable base or merely prolongs volatility.
Macro assets offer a complementary lens on the current mood. Gold has retreated about 11.43% from its all-time high of $5,609, trading around $4,968, while silver has dropped roughly 35.95% from its peak of $121.67 to about $77.98. This broad decline across risk-on assets suggests a risk-off stance among investors, even as crypto-specific narratives persist. Google Trends data underscore that retail curiosity remains palpable: searches for “Bitcoin” spiked to a 12-month high during the week when the price dipped toward the $60,000 area, a level not seen since late 2024. At the same time, BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF inflows—around $231.6 million on a single Friday—illustrate how mainstream interest continues to ebb and flow with volatility, underscoring the ongoing process of crypto-market maturation and broader adoption.
Looking ahead, the market appears to be negotiating the tension between momentum and prudence. The convergence of elevated institutional participation with persistent price fluctuations implies that Bitcoin could remain range-bound for a while longer, awaiting clearer catalysts. If macro conditions stabilize and regulatory signals sharpen, the probability of a more decisive move—up or down—could rise as new players re-evaluate risk, liquidity, and the strategic case for crypto exposure. The current data set paints a nuanced picture: a market increasingly steered by institutional conviction, even as price action continues to test the resolve of both bulls and bears.
Bitcoin’s drop below $70,000 is being seen very differently by long-time holders and institutional investors, according to Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley.
“I think long-time holders are feeling unsure, and I think the new investor set, institutions are sort of getting a new crack at the apple,” Horsley said during an interview with CNBC on Friday. Horsley said that institutional buyers are “seeing prices they thought that they’d forever missed.”
It was only in October that Standard Chartered’s head of digital asset research, Geoff Kendrick, said he doesn’t expect Bitcoin to fall below $100,000 again.
Bitcoin “getting swept up” with the rest of macro
Horsley acknowledged that Bitcoin’s (BTC) recent plunge comes at an unusual time, given the ramp-up in efforts toward regulatory clarity and growing institutional interest. Bitcoin is down 22.60% over the past 30 days, trading at $69,635 at the time of publication, according to CoinMarketCap.
Horsley said that Bitcoin is in a bear market and is “getting swept up” with the rest of the macroassets as investors are “selling everything that is liquid.”
“In the present moment, it is mostly trading with other liquid assets,” he said.
Gold has since fallen 11.43% from its all-time high of $5,609 on Jan. 28, trading at $4,968 at the time of publication, according to Trading Economics.
Meanwhile, Silver has fallen 35.95% from its all-time high of $121.67 on Jan. 29, trading at $77.98 at the time of publication.
Horsley points to strong inflows from institutions
Horsley said demand for Bitcoin remains strong, particularly from institutional investors.
He said that Bitwise manages over $15 billion in institutional funds and saw more than $100 million in inflows on Monday alone, when Bitcoin was trading around $77,000.
Related: Bitcoin difficulty drops by over 11%, sharpest drop since 2021 China ban
“There’s a lot of volume, and there are sellers and buyers,” Horsley said.
Curiosity among retail investors has also spiked. Google Trends data shows worldwide searches for “Bitcoin” reached a score of 100 for the week starting Feb. 1, the highest level in the past 12 months, as the price fell to $60,000 on Tuesday, a level not seen since October 2024.
Meanwhile, BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) saw $231.6 million in inflows on Friday, following two days of heavy outflows during the turbulent week for the asset.
Magazine: Bitcoin’s ‘biggest bull catalyst’ would be Saylor’s liquidation: Santiment founder
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb says it has resolved an incident in which a promotional reward error credited certain user accounts with excess Bitcoin.
In a Sunday statement, the exchange confirmed it recovered 99.7% of the overpaid Bitcoin (BTC) on the same day the incident occurred. The remaining 0.3%, totaling 1,788 Bitcoin that had already been sold, was covered using company funds to ensure customer balances remained fully matched.
“Bithumb’s holdings of all virtual assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), are 100% equivalent to or exceeding user deposits,” the exchange wrote.
According to Bithumb, most of the excess Bitcoin was retrieved directly from accounts, while the portion already liquidated in the market required reimbursement from corporate reserves.
Related: Bithumb flags $200M in dormant crypto assets across 2.6M inactive accounts
Bithumb rolls out compensation plan
The exchange also announced some compensation measures. Users connected to the platform at the time of the incident will receive 20,000 Korean won ($15) each. Traders who sold Bitcoin at unfavorable prices during the disruption will receive full reimbursement of their sale value plus an additional 10% payment. The platform will also waive trading fees for all markets for seven days starting Monday.
The incident began on Friday when a system issue during a promotional event credited some users with an unusually large amount of Bitcoin, briefly causing sharp price swings on the exchange when recipients began selling the funds. The platform quickly restricted affected accounts and stabilized trading within minutes, preventing broader liquidations.
The exchange said the incident was not related to hacking and that no customer assets were lost, with deposits and withdrawals continuing as normal. While the company did not disclose the total amount involved, some users claimed roughly 2,000 BTC had been credited.
Related: South Korean lawmaker faces scrutiny over family ties to crypto exchange: Report
Centralized crypto exchanges face operational issues
Centralized cryptocurrency exchanges have continued to encounter operational problems. In June, Coinbase said account restrictions had been a major issue and reported reducing unnecessary freezes by 82% after upgrading its machine-learning systems and internal infrastructure, following years of complaints from users locked out of accounts for months without any security breach.
Similar concerns emerged during the Oct. 10 market sell-off, when Binance users reported technical difficulties that prevented some traders from closing positions at peak volatility. While the exchange said its core trading system remained operational and blamed broader market conditions for most liquidations, it later distributed about $728 million in compensation to affected users.
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