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Crypto Predicted the Fentanyl Slowdown Months Before Overdose Deaths Fell: Chainalysis

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Crypto Predicted the Fentanyl Slowdown Months Before Overdose Deaths Fell: Chainalysis


Cryptocurrency flows to suspected trafficking services jumped 85% in 2025.

Cryptocurrency payments to suppliers of fentanyl precursor chemicals began falling in mid-2023, months before overdose deaths declined.

This pattern suggests that blockchain data may provide an early signal of disruptions in the illicit drug supply, according to a new report from Chainalysis.

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Early Disruption in Fentanyl Supply

The blockchain data company observed a measurable drop in on-chain payments linked to vendors of chemicals commonly used in fentanyl production well before official mortality statistics reflected a reduction in fatalities. Because overdose data is typically released with delays due to investigation and certification processes, the earlier contraction in crypto transactions points to a potential three-to-six-month lead time between supply chain stress and public health outcomes.

The findings suggest that tracking blockchain payments to precursor suppliers could give law enforcement and policymakers an early signal of changes in synthetic opioid supply, alongside traditional measures like drug seizures and overdose death data.

The report also documented a sharp rise in cryptocurrency activity tied to suspected human trafficking networks. In 2025, crypto flows to identified services increased 85% year over year, reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. According to Chainalysis, much of that activity is concentrated in Southeast Asia, where trafficking operations overlap with scam compounds, online gambling platforms, and Chinese-language money laundering networks that operate largely through Telegram.

The firm identified four primary categories of suspected crypto-facilitated trafficking – Telegram-based “international escort” services believed to traffic individuals, “labor placement” agents recruiting workers for scam compounds, prostitution networks, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) vendors.

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Payment patterns vary by category. “International escort” services and prostitution networks rely predominantly on stablecoins, which offer price stability and ease of conversion. CSAM vendors have historically favored bitcoin but are increasingly using alternative Layer 1 networks as well as privacy-focused assets such as Monero, and often turn to instant exchangers that allow rapid swaps without know-your-customer requirements. The company said these changes complicate tracing efforts but still leave observable patterns on-chain.

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Infrastructure Behind Crypto-Based Exploitation

Transaction size data indicates differing operational structures. Over 48% of transfers associated with Telegram-based “international escort” services were recorded to be more than $10,000, indicating organized operations functioning at scale. Prostitution networks demonstrated a higher concentration of transactions between $1,000 and $10,000, which is consistent with mid-tier agency activity.

Meanwhile, payments to “labor placement” agents recruiting for scam compounds typically fell within the same $1,000 to $10,000 range. This trend aligns with advertised fees for transporting workers across borders. Victims recruited through these channels are often coerced into operating online fraud schemes under threat of violence, according to prior reporting cited in the analysis.

The report also found that some escort and recruitment services are integrated with Chinese-language money laundering networks and “guarantee” platforms that rapidly convert stablecoins into local currencies, thereby reducing exposure to potential freezes.

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In the CSAM sector, operators increasingly use subscription-based models, which often charge less than $100 per month, to generate recurring revenue. Chainalysis also observed overlap between CSAM networks and online extremist communities, as well as the use of US-based web infrastructure to host surface websites while operators may be located abroad.

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Bitdeer Liquidates All BTC Reserves, Holdings Drop to Zero

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Crypto Breaking News

Bitdeer Technologies, a prominent Bitcoin mining operator backed by industry figure Jihan Wu, has sharply recalibrated its Bitcoin treasury, reporting a zero balance in its corporate holdings. In the latest weekly operations update, the company disclosed that its “pure holdings,” which exclude client deposits, have fallen to 0 BTC. The period saw the production of 189.8 BTC, all of which were sold, alongside an additional 943.1 BTC liquidated from existing treasury reserves. This marks a notable shift from earlier disclosures, when the treasury still held a substantial balance.

Key takeaways

  • Bitdeer reports zero corporate Bitcoin in its treasury, after selling 189.8 BTC produced in the latest period plus 943.1 BTC drawn from reserves.
  • A February update showed the treasury at 943.1 BTC, with 179.9 BTC sold from 183.4 BTC mined that week, leaving treasury holdings unchanged at that time.
  • The company is pursuing a significant financing move, announcing plans to raise $300 million through a convertible senior note offering, with a possible expansion to $345 million.
  • The notes, due in 2032, can be converted into stock, cash, or a mix, and are intended to fund data center expansion, AI cloud growth, mining hardware development, and general corporate needs.
  • Meanwhile, Bitdeer is expanding its self-mining capabilities as demand for external mining hardware wanes, reflecting a broader industry shift toward hybrid AI/HPC revenue streams.

Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $MARA

Price impact: Negative. Bitdeer’s plan to raise convertible debt coincided with a sharp share decline, underscoring investor concern over liquidity and funding strategy.

Market context: The sector has been navigating tighter margins post-halving and a growing interest in hybrid models that blend Bitcoin production with AI and high-performance computing revenue streams. The move toward self-mining and AI services mirrors a broader trend as miners reassess balance sheets and diversify revenue sources.

Why it matters

The decision to liquidate the corporate Bitcoin treasury signals a potential pivot in Bitdeer’s capital strategy. By converting a portion of mined proceeds into cash, the company may be prioritizing liquidity to support ongoing operations and debt servicing, even as it seeks to scale data center infrastructure and AI-focused offerings. This shift underscores the tension between treasury exposure to Bitcoin’s price volatility and the need for predictable funding for growth initiatives in a capital-intensive industry.

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Concurrently, the $300 million convertible debt offering marks a high-profile move to raise capital that could be immediately deployed to expand Bitdeer’s data center footprint and advance AI cloud capabilities. The convertible feature adds a layer of complexity for investors, as future equity dilution is possible if the notes are converted. The company has framed the financing as a tool to accelerate its expansion plans and hardware development while maintaining flexibility to adapt to market conditions.

Beyond Bitdeer, the mining landscape is undergoing a broader reorientation toward AI and computing services. MARA Holdings recently acquired a majority stake in Exaion, a French computing infrastructure firm, signaling a deeper foray into AI and cloud services. The deal positions the miner as a broader technology infrastructure provider, expanding its footprint beyond traditional hash power. This follows a wider industry pattern where several miners, faced with tighter margins, are pursuing hybrid models that leverage their energy and data-center assets to offer AI-enabled computing capacity.

Observers note that the industry is reconfiguring around demand for AI capacity and energy-efficient compute, rather than venerating hash price alone. Several peers are repurposing facilities for data-center use or pivoting toward AI infrastructure as a way to diversify revenue streams and hedge against mining cycles. The trend is underscored by moves within the ecosystem that include CoreWeave’s established shift toward AI infrastructure and other players repositioning assets to capture AI compute demand. For readers tracking this space, the evolving balance between traditional hashing revenue and AI-enabled services will likely define miners’ strategizing in 2024 and beyond.

The current environment remains nuanced: while Bitcoin mining remains a niche but essential component of the larger crypto economy, the capital-intensive demands of data centers and the strategic importance of AI capabilities push miners to blend their hardware with software services. This dual approach can help stabilize cash flows amid volatility in digital asset prices, energy costs, and regulatory considerations, while offering new avenues for growth in an increasingly digital and compute-driven landscape.

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What to watch next

  • Bitdeer’s next weekly update to confirm whether the treasury remains at zero and to track any changes in production or sales pace.
  • Progress and timing of the $300 million convertible debt offering, including potential expansion and terms of conversion.
  • Updates on Bitdeer’s data center expansion plans and the development of AI cloud initiatives tied to mining operations.
  • Industry moves by peers, particularly MARA Holdings’ integration of Exaion and how AI/hpc ventures influence miner profitability across the sector.
  • Regulatory or energy-cost developments that could impact mining economics and the viability of hybrid business models combining Bitcoin production with AI infrastructure.

Sources & verification

  • Bitdeer weekly operational update showing 0 BTC in pure holdings and the 189.8 BTC produced and sold, plus 943.1 BTC liquidated from treasury — https://x.com/BitdeerOfficial/status/2025136775266550191
  • Bitdeer Feb. 13 update indicating 943.1 BTC treasury the week prior and 179.9 BTC sold out of 183.4 BTC mined — https://x.com/BitdeerOfficial/status/2022530485876896182
  • Cointelegraph report on Bitdeer’s convertible debt offering of $300 million with potential expansion to $345 million — https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitdeer-stock-drops-17-after-convertible-senior-note-offering
  • MARA Holdings’ majority stake in Exaion article detailing the AI/data-center expansion angle — https://cointelegraph.com/news/mara-majority-stake-exaion-ai-data-centers-bitcoin-miner
  • Related industry shifts toward AI infrastructure in crypto mining, including CoreWeave’s pivot — https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-mining-ai-data-centers-coreweave-infrastructure-shift

Bitdeer pivots from treasury to expansion amid AI pivot

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has become the focal point of Bitdeer’s latest strategic recalibration, as the company logs a full liquidation of its corporate Bitcoin treasury even as it grows commitments to data centers and AI-enabled compute. In its most recent weekly update, Bitdeer disclosed that its pure holdings, excluding client deposits, dropped to zero BTC. The report shows 189.8 BTC mined during the period, all of which were sold, in addition to 943.1 BTC drained from the treasury reserves. This marks a clear departure from prior reporting where the treasury still contained BTC, albeit with ongoing sales tied to operating costs.

The prior update, issued on Feb. 13, had the treasury at 943.1 BTC, with 179.9 BTC sold from 183.4 BTC mined that week, leaving treasury holdings unchanged after the sale. The shift from treasury exposure to a cash-focused approach is a notable pivot for a company that, like many in the sector, has balanced the need for liquidity with the opportunistic exposure to Bitcoin’s price action. In context, mining firms frequently sell a portion of production to cover electricity and equipment costs, yet fully liquidating a treasury position is less typical and can indicate a more aggressive capital deployment strategy.

Meanwhile, Bitdeer disclosed plans to raise $300 million through a convertible senior note offering, with an option to expand the sale by an additional $45 million. The notes, due in 2032, can be converted into stock, cash or a combination of both. The financing is earmarked to accelerate data center expansion, fuel AI cloud growth, support mining-hardware development, and fulfill general corporate needs. The market reacted to the financing news with a notable drop in Bitdeer’s shares, underscoring investor concerns about debt dilution and the company’s ability to deploy proceeds effectively in a competitive landscape.

Beyond Bitdeer, the broader mining industry is undergoing a reorientation toward AI and high-performance computing. MARA Holdings—another prominent name in the space—announced a majority stake in Exaion, a French computing infrastructure firm, signaling a deeper plunge into AI and cloud services. The deal highlights a strategic shift from pure hash-rate generation to hybrid business lines that leverage existing energy and data-center assets for AI compute capacity. It reflects a broader trend in which miners, faced with the realities of halved block rewards and tighter margins, pursue diversified revenue streams to sustain growth.

Industry coverage also notes that other miners are repurposing facilities and energy infrastructure for data-center use, while some players have fully pivoted to AI infrastructure providers. The exchange between crypto mining and AI data services is increasingly viewed as a way to reconcile revenue volatility with an expanding demand for AI compute capacity. The long‑term outlook for miners may hinge on whether these hybrid models can deliver consistent cash flows, especially as regulatory pressures and energy costs continue to shape the economics of the sector.

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Spot Bitcoin ETFs Log Fifth Straight Week of Outflows as Institutional Demand Cools

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US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded a fifth consecutive week of net withdrawals, extending the longest negative streak since early 2025 as institutional demand softened alongside a broader pullback in digital assets.

Key Takeaways:

  • Spot Bitcoin ETFs posted a fifth straight week of withdrawals, losing about $316 million and roughly $3.8 billion over the streak.
  • Midweek selling outweighed Friday inflows, showing cooling institutional demand despite stable prices.
  • Capital appears to be rotating within crypto funds, with Ether also seeing outflows while Solana and XRP products drew inflows.

Data from SoSoValue shows the 12 funds collectively lost about $316 million during the week ending Feb. 20.

Trading activity was compressed into four sessions due to the Presidents’ Day holiday, and the first three days all closed negative.

Bitcoin ETFs Post Heavy Midweek Outflows Despite Friday Rebound

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Roughly $105 million exited on Tuesday, followed by $133 million on Wednesday and $166 million on Thursday.

A modest recovery on Friday, when $88 million flowed back into the products, was not enough to reverse the weekly trend. BlackRock’s IBIT led the rebound with about $64.5 million in inflows, while Fidelity’s FBTC added roughly $23.6 million.

The current run of outflows began the week of Jan. 20 and has removed around $3.8 billion from the Bitcoin ETF complex.

The last comparable stretch occurred nearly a year ago during a tariff-driven market sell-off that also weighed on risk assets.

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While the duration of the streak matches that period, the magnitude has been smaller, with the heaviest withdrawals concentrated in late January when funds lost $1.33 billion and $1.49 billion in consecutive weeks.

More recent weekly losses have ranged between roughly $316 million and $360 million.

Despite the withdrawals, the ETF market remains substantial. Cumulative net inflows since launch in January 2024 still total about $54 billion, and aggregate net assets stand near $85.3 billion.

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Bitcoin has traded around $68,600, down more than 20% year to date and below a key onchain level identified by analysts as separating expansion from consolidation phases.

Ether funds showed a similar pattern, losing about $123 million during the week and extending their own five-week streak of withdrawals.

By contrast, newer products tied to Solana attracted approximately $14.3 million in inflows, while XRP-based funds recorded a modest $1.8 million gain.

The divergence suggests capital is rotating within crypto investment products rather than leaving the sector altogether, with investors repositioning across assets as sentiment remains cautious rather than panicked.

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Trump Media Files for Bitcoin, Ether and Cronos ETFs With Staking Rewards

Last week, Trump Media and Technology Group filed applications for two cryptocurrency ETFs that would track Bitcoin, Ether and the Cronos (CRO) token, expanding the company’s involvement in digital assets.

The proposed “Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF” would primarily follow the performance of the two largest cryptocurrencies, while the “Truth Social Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF” would provide exposure to CRO.

The Cronos-focused fund would also offer staking rewards, with Crypto.com serving as custodian and providing liquidity and staking services.

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Trump Media has also signaled interest in integrating blockchain beyond ETFs.

The company recently said it intends to distribute a new digital token to shareholders on the Cronos network and previously disclosed plans for a corporate crypto treasury involving CRO.

The post Spot Bitcoin ETFs Log Fifth Straight Week of Outflows as Institutional Demand Cools appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Pi Network’s PI Token Plunges Again, Bitcoin (BTC) Stable at $68K: Weekend Watch

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BTCUSD Feb 22. Source: TradingView


In contrast, PIPPIN has become the top performer once again, rocketing by 17% daily.

Despite all the latest developments on the tariff front in the US, bitcoin’s price has remained relatively stable during the weekend, and continues to trade around $68,000.

Most larger-cap alts have produced little to no volatility as well over the past day, but some, such as Pi Network’s native token, have slipped once again.

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BTC Calm at $68K

Bitcoin marked some gains last weekend after it bounced from the then-low of $65,200. In just a few days, it jumped to almost $71,000 for the first time in about a week. This Sunday surge, though, came to an end as the business week began, and a few consecutive leg downs by the bears drove the asset down to $65,600 on Thursday.

It tried to rebound on Friday and Saturday again, as the bulls managed to take it to a local peak of $68,800. Interestingly, these minor gains came even after some controversial moves on the tariff front, a topic that has typically resulted in more volatility and price declines for BTC.

On Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled that many of Trump’s imposed tariffs were illegal. The POTUS was livid, calling the decision a “disgrace,” and quickly announced a global 10% tariff on top of the existing ones. On Saturday, he raised it to the maximum allowed of 15%.

Although bitcoin now trades below its weekend high, it’s still around $68,000. More volatility could be expected on Sunday evening when the futures markets open, similar to what happened several weeks ago during the EU tariff saga over Greenland.

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For now, though, BTC’s market cap stands at $1.360 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the alts is at 56.6%.

BTCUSD Feb 22. Source: TradingView
BTCUSD Feb 22. Source: TradingView

PI Declines (Again)

Pi Network’s first anniversary after the launch of its Open Network has not had any positive effect on the underlying asset’s price performance. PI is among the poorest performers in the past 24 hours, losing 6% of value and struggling below $0.165.

Other notable losers include ETC (-8%), ARB (-7%), and ENA (-7%). In contrast, PIPPIN has jumped by more than 17% to almost $0.60.

Most larger-cap alts are also in the red, albeit in a more modest manner. DOGE, ADA, and HYPE have lost the most value (around 3% each), while XRP, LINK, and CC are down by 1%. ETH, SOL, TRX, and BCH have marked insignificant gains.

The total crypto market cap has remained above $2.4 trillion on CG.

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Cryptocurrency Market Overview Daily Feb 22. Source: QuantifyCrypto
Cryptocurrency Market Overview Daily Feb 22. Source: QuantifyCrypto
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Vitalik Buterin Dumps Even More ETH as Prices Struggle Below $2K

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Vitalik Buterin Dumps Even More ETH as Prices Struggle Below $2K


Ethereum’s co-founder has been disposing of large amounts of ETH for several weeks now.

On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence and Lookonchain showed that Vitalik Buterin has resumed his selling spree of ETH with another multi-million dollar transfer.

The analysts explained that he had withdrawn another batch of 3,500 ETH (worth roughly $7 million at the time) from Aave with the likely intention to sell. At the time of the original post a few hours ago, he had already disposed of 571 ETH ($1.13 million).

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CryptoPotato has reported a few similar instances in February alone, in which on-chain data indicated that he had begun disposing of some of his ETH fortune. A February 5 report showed that the project’s co-founder had sold off 2,961 ETH ($6.6 million at the time) in just three days.

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A day later, Lookonchain informed that the total sales had grown to 6,183 ETH, which was valued at $13.2 million. The average exit price was $2,140.

Arkham Intelligence keeps a close eye on Buterin’s addresses, and a report from earlier this week noted that he still held more than 240,000 ETH, valued at around $467 million. However, that data was before today’s sell-offs.

Meanwhile, ETH’s price has been on a consistent downtrend for months. After it peaked at close to $5,000 in late August last year, it was violently rejected and ended 2025 at around $3,000. The late January/early February crash was brutal, pushing the asset to under $1,800.

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Although it has recovered some ground since then, Ether still struggles below $2,000. Popular analyst Ali Martinez outlined the formation of a bullish flag yesterday for ETH, but with a major catch: the chart was inverted, showing in reality that ETH could be primed for another correction to under $1,400.

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Bitcoin Miner Bitdeer Liquidates Entire BTC Treasury, Holdings Fall to Zero

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Bitcoin Miner Bitdeer Liquidates Entire BTC Treasury, Holdings Fall to Zero

Bitcoin mining firm Bitdeer has sold all of its corporate Bitcoin holdings, reducing its treasury balance to zero, according to the company’s latest operational update.

In its latest weekly report, Bitdeer disclosed that its “pure holdings,” excluding customer deposits, have fallen to 0 Bitcoin (BTC). The report shows the company produced 189.8 BTC during the period and sold the full amount, alongside an additional 943.1 BTC, which was liquidated from its existing treasury reserves.

In its earlier update on Feb. 13, the miner still held 943.1 BTC, selling 179.9 BTC out of 183.4 BTC mined that week, leaving its treasury intact despite routine sales of newly mined coins.

Bitdeer’s Bitcoin holdings drop to 0. Source: Bitdeer

Mining firms commonly sell a portion of production to fund electricity, hosting and equipment costs, but they also maintain a treasury balance to keep exposure to Bitcoin’s price appreciation. Fully liquidating reserves is less typical.

Cointelegraph reached out to Bitdeer for comment, but had not received a response by publication.

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Related: Bitcoin mining difficulty rebounds 15% as US miners recover from winter outages

Bitdeer announces $300 million convertible debt raise

On Thursday, Bitdeer’s shares fell sharply after the company announced plans to raise $300 million through a convertible senior note offering, with an option to expand the sale by an additional $45 million. The notes, due in 2032, can later be converted into company stock, cash or a mix of both.

The company, founded by former Bitmain co-founder Jihan Wu, said the funds will support data center expansion, AI cloud growth, mining hardware development and general corporate needs.

Bitdeer has also been expanding its self-mining operations as demand for its mining hardware weakens, increasingly using its own rigs to mine Bitcoin rather than selling them to customers.

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Related: Bitcoin miners chase 30 GW AI capacity to offset hashprice pressure

Bitcoin miners pivot to AI

On Friday, MARA Holdings purchased a majority stake in French computing infrastructure firm Exaion, moving deeper into artificial intelligence and cloud services. The deal gives MARA France a 64% ownership position while energy company EDF remains a minority shareholder and customer.

The transaction came amid a wider shift across the mining industry. Following the 2024 halving and tighter margins, several miners have adopted a hybrid model that combines Bitcoin production with AI and high-performance computing revenue.