Nicholas Hammer, co-founder and CEO of crypto lender Blockfills, has stepped down from his leadership role, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

The firm’s website now lists Joseph Perry as the interim CEO. A company spokesperson confirmed that Hammer was CEO until July 2025.

The change of leadership comes as the firm has suffered losses of around $75 million and suspended client deposits and withdrawals earlier this month.

Blockfills is also said to have urged some clients to withdraw their crypto assets before the platform halted deposits and withdrawals on Feb. 11, the person said, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is private. Customer deposits remain suspended as of publication time.

CoinDesk reported last week that the Chicago-based firm was seeking a buyer after the losses.

Hammer did not respond to a request for comment by the publication time. His LinkedIn profile, as of 5.58 pm UTC on Feb. 25, still lists him as CEO of Blockfills.

The firm said in the Feb. 11 press release that it was working with investors and clients to reach a swift resolution and restore liquidity to the platform.

“Clients have been able to continue trading with BlockFills for the purpose of opening and closing positions in spot and derivatives trading and select other circumstances,” the company said at the time.

Blockfills’ abrupt halt to withdrawals revives memories of the 2022 crypto winter, when firms including Celsius, BlockFi and Genesis froze customer accounts as markets unraveled.

The market has struggled to regain traction in early 2026, with major tokens well below recent highs amid cautious sentiment. Bitcoin BTC$65,121.75 has remained below $70,000 after a sharp pullback from its late-2025 all-time high, while ether (ETH) trades around $2,000 amid weakness across the digital asset market.

The company said it handled more than $60 billion in trading volume in 2025, up 28% from a year earlier, and ranks among the most active institutional crypto lending and borrowing desks. It serves roughly 2,000 institutional clients, including hedge funds, asset managers and mining firms.

Blockfills is backed by investors including Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, CME Ventures, Simplex Ventures, C6E and Nexo. The company raised $37 million in a January 2022 Series A funding round.

Read more: Susquehanna-backed Blockfills up for sale after $75 million lending loss

UPDATE (Feb. 25, 6 pm UTC): Updates story with the company’s comment on the CEO’s departure.

Bitcoin price has rebounded strongly from key Fibonacci support near $62,000 with rising volume, signaling growing demand and raising the possibility of a local bottom formation.

Bitcoin (BTC) price action has shifted momentum following an impulsive reaction from a major technical support zone. After testing the 0.786 Fibonacci retracement level, which aligns closely with daily high-timeframe support near $62,000, Bitcoin staged a strong rally that has drawn renewed attention from market participants.

The reaction from this level stands out not only because of the price recovery itself but also due to a noticeable increase in trading volume. In technical analysis, rebounds supported by expanding volume often suggest genuine demand rather than temporary relief rallies. This has led traders to question whether Bitcoin may be forming a local bottom within its broader range structure.

While confirmation remains necessary, the current setup represents one of the more constructive technical developments seen in recent weeks.

Bitcoin price key technical points

• 0.786 Fibonacci support defended: Confluence with $62,000 daily support triggered strong reaction
• Volume expansion confirms demand: Increasing participation supports reversal thesis
• Point of control critical resistance: Reclaim required for continuation toward higher prices

Bitcoin’s recent rally began at the 0.786 Fibonacci retracement, a deep corrective level often associated with trend continuation or major turning points. The significance of this reaction is amplified by its alignment with the daily high-timeframe support near $62,000, creating a powerful zone of technical confluence.

Markets frequently respond strongly when multiple technical levels converge. In this case, Bitcoin’s bounce suggests that buyers viewed the region as an attractive value area. Instead of continued downside expansion, price reversed sharply, indicating that selling pressure was absorbed efficiently.

The impulsive nature of the move reflects a shift in short-term market dynamics. Rather than drifting sideways, Bitcoin advanced rapidly into higher value, signaling renewed confidence among buyers.

Rising volume supports reversal narrative

One of the most important elements supporting the bullish case is the increase in volume accompanying the rally. Strong reversals are typically characterized by expanding participation, demonstrating that market participants are actively entering positions rather than merely closing shorts.

Even as broader adoption narratives continue to develop, such as Arizona lawmakers advancing legislation to create a Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund allowing the state to hold and invest seized cryptocurrencies.

The current volume profile shows increasing activity as price moves higher, suggesting that demand is driving the move rather than passive market conditions. This distinguishes the rally from previous bounces that lacked conviction and quickly faded.

When price rises alongside increasing volume, it often signals the early stages of a structural shift. While not definitive proof of a long-term trend reversal, it increases the probability that the recent lows may represent a local bottom.

Point of control becomes the key decision level

Despite the constructive rally, Bitcoin now faces a critical test at the point of control (POC) within the current trading range. The POC represents the price level where the highest volume has historically traded and typically acts as equilibrium between buyers and sellers.

For bullish continuation to develop, Bitcoin must reclaim this level on a daily closing basis. Acceptance above the POC would indicate that value is migrating higher, opening the door for expansion toward upper range resistance levels.

However, failure to reclaim this zone could shift the outlook quickly. Rejection at the point of control would signal that sellers remain active, potentially triggering another rotational move back toward lower support levels within the broader range.

This comes as Nakamoto finalizes a $107.3M all-stock deal with BTC Inc and UTXO to expand its Bitcoin media and treasury platform, highlighting growing institutional positioning despite fragile short-term price action.

What to expect in the coming price action

From a technical, price action, and market structure perspective, Bitcoin’s rally from the 0.786 Fibonacci support near $62,000 is a constructive development supported by increasing volume. A confirmed reclaim of the point of control on a closing basis would strengthen the bullish case and increase the probability of continuation toward higher price targets.

Conversely, rejection at this level may keep Bitcoin trading within its existing range, leading to renewed rotations toward support before a decisive breakout occurs.

US senators have labeled Binance a “repeat offender” as they prepare to launch an inquiry into nearly $2 billion worth of crypto that was sent to Iran, raising doubts over the exchange’s commitment to a plea deal agreement with the Department of Justice.

Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, who represents the Subcommittee on Investigations, wrote to Binance CEO Richard Teng on Tuesday, asking him to provide information on the company’s role in sanction-dodging transactions to Iranian and Russian entities.

The letter reads: “Binance appears to have ignored warnings and recommendations to prevent Iranian money laundering schemes on its cryptocurrency exchange, allowing $1.7 billion in transfers to Iran. These transactions have helped prop up Iranian-linked terrorist organizations and illicit Russian oil sales.”

Read more: Binance demands the Wall Street Journal remove ‘damaging’ article

It also claims that Binance is revisiting the crimes of its past, specifically from 2023, when it was found guilty of charges including sanction violations stemming from crypto sent to Iranian entities. 

“Binance is a repeat offender: it has long been aware that the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies use its cryptocurrency platform as a convenient and reliable means to bypass international sanctions, anti-money laundering controls, and other banking restrictions,” it reads.

Blumenthal continues, “Instead of actually preventing illicit use, Binance has sought to evade accountability and influence the White House through lobbying and a financial partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLFI).”

The letter also claims, “The scale of the newly-revealed illicit transfers uncaught until nearly two billion dollars flowed to sanctioned entities and the unexplained firing of internal investigators call into question Binance’s compliance with American sanctions and banking laws, and its 2023 agreement to resolve the previous federal investigation.”

Blumenthal backs up his allegations by noting Binance’s deep connections with the Trump family and WLFI through promotions, and the housing of 85% of WLFi’s stablecoin USD1 in Binance accounts.

All this, he says, led to a successful “influence campaign” that secured Changpeng Zhao’s pardon and the dismissal of a lawsuit against Binance.

Binance reportedly didn’t stick to compliance measures

The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and The New York Times have all reported on two Binance clients, Hexa Whale and Blessed Trust, acting as intermediaries for Iran’s Revolutionary Corps. 

These accounts allowed Iran to launder funds and trade oil outside the traditional banking system and sanctions. 

Blessed Trust repeatedly raised internal alerts at the firm. When investigators eventually discovered the extent of funds going to Iran’s government, they flagged it to Binance’s top execs before they were fired weeks later.  

Richard Teng has denounced the latest article published by the WSJ as “defamatory” and “damaging,” claiming it ignored the responses given by Binance’s client. 

Teng demanded that the WSJ take down its article and make corrections “immediately” or else it might take “further action.”

As the cryptocurrency market navigates a challenging period, Google Trends data shows a notable shift in crypto-related search behavior during the prolonged bear market.

While price charts reflect a gloomy atmosphere, a new wave of interest is quietly forming. This trend could create a pivotal shift for the market’s next cycle.

Diverging Retail Investor Sentiment Toward the Crypto Market

Google Trends data shows a sharp surge in negative and extreme search keywords. Phrases such as “Bitcoin to zero” and “Bitcoin is dead” are experiencing record growth.

People who question Bitcoin’s existence demonstrate they already have some awareness of the asset. However, they have not experienced the market long enough to understand how Bitcoin has navigated previous bear market cycles.

More experienced investors often compare current conditions with historical data. They observe that periods when negative search trends peak at such high levels frequently signal a potential cycle bottom.

Investor NoName notes that these search queries are twice as high as in previous bear markets. They even exceed levels recorded during the COVID period.

“Buy Bitcoin every time ‘Bitcoin Is Dead’ Is Trending! You would have made unbelievably high returns,” investor Robin Seyr states.

The website Bitcoin Deaths tracks how often traditional media channels declare that “Bitcoin is dead.” The data shows at least 467 such occurrences.

If an investor had purchased $100 worth of Bitcoin each time such a declaration appeared, that investor could now hold assets valued at more than $68 million.

An Unprecedented Surge in “What Is Bitcoin” Searches

Another notable point emerges when comparing negative keywords with the search term “What is Bitcoin.” The data reveals an unprecedented phenomenon in Bitcoin’s history.

Actual data shows that searches for this question have reached an all-time high. The contrast between two search trends—one questioning Bitcoin’s survival and the other seeking basic knowledge—creates a striking picture of divided sentiment in February.

Unlike those who fear that Bitcoin will “go to zero,” individuals seeking this fundamental definition are often complete newcomers. They typically have no prior knowledge or investment experience in the cryptocurrency market.

When compared directly with negative keywords, searches for “What is Bitcoin” significantly outperform them.

A large number of users are rushing to explore the most basic concepts during a market downturn. This development deserves careful consideration. It indicates that Bitcoin, despite trading at lower prices, continues to maintain a strong appeal. It is also reaching segments of the population that previously showed no interest in digital finance.

“Somewhere out there, millions are meeting Bitcoin for the first time,” Binance states.

However, search activity does not necessarily translate into capital inflows. The surge in the keyword “What is Bitcoin” may serve as an early indicator of the emergence of an entirely new generation of first-time retail investors.

Kalshi, one of the leading prediction market firms, said it caught and penalized two users for insider-trading activity on its platform, including an editor for the popular social-media star MrBeast.

The company said it has more than a dozen active insider-trading cases among 200 it’s investigated. On Wednesday, Kalshi disclosed the details of two that it resolved, including against Artem Kaptur, who was identified as working for James Donaldson, known for his MrBeast persona that’s tied to its massive social-media presence as well as the reality competition show, “Beast Games.”

Kaptur was said to have entered $4,000 in trades regarding what would occur on the MrBeast show, for which he worked as a visual effects editor. Kalshi suspended him for two years and fined him more than $20,000.

“Beast Industries has no tolerance for this behavior, whether by contestants or our own employees,” the company that employed Kaptur said in a statement. “We have a longstanding policy in place against employees using proprietary company information which safeguards the highest standards and ethics throughout our organization.”

Beast Industries said it has “already initiated an independent investigation” on that matter, though it encouraged Kalshi to “be more open” to communicating its findings in the future.

Insider trading is banned at Kalshi, a regulated exchange licensed as a “designated contract market” with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the company described its actions against Kaptur and another user who took advantage of their unique knowledge in violation of user policy.

In the other case, user Kyle Langford was said to bet $200 on his own candidacy for California governor and posted about it on social media, earning him a 5-year ban and a penalty of 10 times the trade amount.

Langford, now running for Congress, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Nor did the CFTC immediately respond to questions about its role in these matters.

The pair of cases at Kalshi further underline one of the concerns at the U.S. regulator of derivatives, the CFTC. While that agency is now working on rules to govern the prediction markets, its previous chairman under the administration of former President Joe Biden had often lamented that the CFTC isn’t able to police the whole world. Markets that extend to miniscule bets on topics both broad and obscure and in jurisdictions around the world can pose a potential challenge for — at last count — about 114 U.S. enforcement employees.

In a recent CNBC interview, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour struggled to draw the line on what constitutes insider trading when questioned on a hypothetical example of people in the stadium before the Super Bowl having knowledge about what performer Bad Bunny would do as his opening song — a matter that drew Kalshi contracts.

Mansour equated it with controls at stock market firms, saying, “we do the same thing on Kalshi. We have the same mechanism for enforcement.” However, he said Kalshi users have to recognize the risks of betting on information under uncertain restraints. “We want to work with policymakers and regulators to get that right,” he said.

Read More: Richest YouTube Star MrBeast’s Firm Files Trademark With Crypto Ambitions

BNB price has staged a strong rebound after confirming a swing failure pattern at recent lows. The rally now approaches a critical resistance cluster near $635 that could determine the next directional move.

BNB (BNB) pricehas regained bullish momentum following a successful swing failure pattern (SFP) that invalidated downside liquidity and triggered a sharp recovery from local lows. The move reflects renewed buyer participation after a period of weakness, shifting short-term sentiment toward the upside.

However, price is now approaching a technically significant resistance zone where market structure decisions typically occur. Whether bulls can reclaim this region will likely dictate if BNB transitions into trend continuation or returns to range-bound conditions.

BNB price Key Technical Points

• Key Resistance: $635 aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement and the value area high.
• Bullish Catalyst: Confirmed SFP triggered liquidity reversal and short squeeze dynamics.
• Upside Target: Break and hold above $635 opens the path toward high timeframe resistance near $659.

Recent price action on BNB highlights the importance of liquidity-driven moves within crypto markets. The formation of a swing failure pattern at the lows effectively trapped late sellers, allowing buyers to step in aggressively. This type of structure typically signals exhaustion in bearish momentum, and the resulting move has validated that thesis. The rally that followed was impulsive, suggesting short covering and fresh long positioning entering the market simultaneously.

As price accelerated higher, BNB quickly rotated back toward a major technical confluence zone around $635. This region represents the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement of the prior decline while also aligning with the value area high from the volume profile. Historically, such zones act as decision points where markets either reclaim bullish structure or face rejection due to overhead supply. A sustained close above this level would signal strength and confirm that buyers have regained control of the higher timeframe trend.

Despite the bullish recovery, traders should remain cautious as impulsive rallies often transition into consolidation before continuation. After strong expansions, markets frequently pause to establish equilibrium, allowing liquidity to rebuild. Lower timeframe consolidation near resistance would be considered healthy price behavior and could form a higher low structure that supports a continuation toward $659 and potentially beyond.

This comes as U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal launched a formal Senate inquiry into Binance following reports alleging the exchange processed nearly $1.7 billion in transactions linked to sanctioned Iranian entities and Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, adding a layer of regulatory uncertainty to broader market sentiment.

However, failure to reclaim the $635 resistance on a closing basis may shift the outlook quickly. A rejection at this zone would indicate that sellers remain active and defending supply, reinforcing the broader higher timeframe range between approximately $659 resistance and $532 support. In such a scenario, BNB could rotate back toward mid-range liquidity or revisit lower support levels before another attempt at breakout conditions develops.

Volume behavior also supports the current technical narrative. The rally originated from a liquidity sweep rather than sustained trend accumulation, meaning confirmation is still required. A decisive increase in buying volume during a breakout would strengthen bullish continuation odds. Without that confirmation, the market risks transitioning into redistribution at resistance, where both bulls and bears compete for control.

Overall, the recent SFP-driven recovery marks an important structural development for BNB. The market has shifted from downside expansion into a potential re-accumulation phase, but confirmation remains dependent on reclaiming resistance rather than merely testing it.

This comes as Binance defended its compliance framework, stating that recent media coverage inaccurately portrayed its regulatory oversight and control measures, highlighting ongoing regulatory narratives that continue to influence broader crypto market sentiment.

What to expect in the coming price action

BNB’s next move hinges on the $635 resistance level. A confirmed reclaim could trigger continuation toward $659 high timeframe resistance, while rejection may keep price rotating within the broader range.

Consolidation near resistance remains the most probable short-term outcome as the market prepares for its next directional expansion.

• XRP price forms higher lows, signalling growing buying interest.
• XRP ETF inflows show steady institutional accumulation.
• The key levels to watch are the support at $1.13 and the resistance at $1.46–$1.83.

XRP is showing signs of a potential recovery after recent price action indicated that buyers are stepping in at key support levels.

The cryptocurrency recently bounced off the $1.33–$1.35 zone, forming higher lows over the past week. This pattern suggests that sellers are losing strength, while buyers are gaining confidence.

Trading activity has also increased, with a notable surge in spot purchases on major exchanges. Retail investors are showing renewed interest, pushing buy orders above sell orders in several short-term periods.

Institutional flows are adding further support with XRP-linked ETFs attracting consistent inflows, indicating that larger players are accumulating the token.

This combination of retail buying and institutional accumulation creates a favourable environment for a potential upswing.

Technical signals suggest price stabilisation

From a technical standpoint, XRP has established a short-term support around $1.13. This level has held firm despite some volatility, preventing further downside.

If this support continues to hold, it could act as a springboard for higher prices.

On the upside, the $1.5121 level has emerged as a key resistance.

Breaking above this zone could pave the way for moves toward $1.66, with a further resistance level at $1.83.

Historical price behaviour shows that surpassing $1.51 often opens the door for more substantial gains.

Below the short-term support, another historical support exists around $0.8475. This deeper level could act as a safety net if XRP were to face selling pressure.

For now, however, the token remains above its critical floors, suggesting that the market is stabilising.

Volume trends reinforce the positive outlook.

Recent surges in buying activity have been accompanied by elevated trading volume, a strong indicator that the momentum is supported by actual market participation rather than isolated trades.

Higher lows, in particular, signal that buyers are willing to step in at progressively higher prices.

This is a classic indicator of strengthening market sentiment and often precedes more sustained upward movements.

XRP price outlook

Overall, the combination of higher lows, robust ETF inflows, and strong trading volume points to a market that is gradually recovering.

According to analysts, the immediate support sits at $1.13, with $0.8475 as a more distant buffer, while the key resistance levels to monitor include $1.46, $1.66, and $1.83.

A break above $1.46 could trigger further gains toward higher targets, while holding support at $1.13 may confirm that the market has stabilised.

Conversely, a drop below $1.13 could see XRP retest lower support zones, potentially putting short-term momentum at risk.

ETH is flashing mixed signals: is it on the verge of a rally or bracing for another breakdown?

The second-largest cryptocurrency hasn’t been at its best lately, plummeting by double digits over the last 30 days and trading far below its all-time high of almost $5,000 witnessed in the summer of 2025.

However, the past 24 hours brought some hope for the bulls, as ETH rocketed from $1,800 to over $2,000. Some market observers believe a more profound rebound could be on the way, while others think the valuation has yet to reach its bottom.

Rally Soon?

Ethereum (ETH) has soared by over 10% daily, currently trading above the $2,000 psychological zone. However, it remains 30% down on a monthly scale, while its market capitalization has shrunk to approximately $237 billion.

Despite the major correction, many analysts remain optimistic. X user KALEO observed the asset’s recent performance and argued that it might be on the verge of a bounce. They assumed that ETH has formed a “clean double bottom off HTF support” and may be ready to spike above $2K.

“More FUD than I’ve ever seen on the timeline. Send it with haste,” the analyst added.

Merlijn The Trader also chipped in lately. He claimed that ETH is sitting in a five-year demand zone, emphasizing that this area has historically acted as a place where investors accumulate rather than distribute.

“You don’t need the exact bottom. You need exposure before expansion. Big bases don’t drift. They reprice,” he stated.

X user StockTrader_Max shared a similar thesis, arguing that ETH has evolved into “a long-term investment with slower, steadier growth that rewards patience and conviction rather than hype and timing.” The analyst believes the asset should be held in many portfolios, with a time horizon of years rather than months.

Meanwhile, some industry participants noted that whales have been quite active lately and increased their exposure to ETH. X user Crypto Rover shared a CryptoQuant chart, showing that large investors now own over 24 million tokens, or more than 20% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.

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Whales’ activity is closely monitored by smaller players who might mimic their moves and enter the ecosystem with fresh capital. Additionally, it is commonly believed that large investors rarely make irrational purchases and may have inside information about upcoming events that could influence valuation.

Last but not least, ETH’s exchange reserves remain quite close to the nearly 10-year low recorded earlier this month. This trend shows that investors don’t rush to transfer their holdings to centralized platforms: a move often considered a pre-sale step, and which can cause an additional price slump.

Are the Bears Here to Stay?

Many other analysts presented rather pessimistic views on the matter. X user Crypto Tony warned of new lows if the price plunges below $1,820, describing that level as “the last line of defence.” They later argued that if the bulls decisively reclaim $1,940, then “we are back in business.”

Ali Martinez and Lucky also gave their two cents. The former claimed that the next major support levels for ETH, should it break below $1,800, are $1,584, $1,238, and $1.089.

The asset’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) is another bearish factor to watch. Due to the price rebound experienced over the past hours, the tool’s ratio has risen above 70, signaling that ETH is overbought and could be due for a correction. The RSI is an important metric often used by traders, and conversely, anything below 30 is considered a buying opportunity.

Hut 8 (EXCHANGE: HUT) posted a stark transformation in its fourth-quarter results, reflecting the struggle of a hash-rate focused miner navigating volatile digital-asset markets and a pivot toward AI-driven infrastructure. The company reported a quarterly net loss of $279.7 million, a sharp reversal from an income of $152.2 million in the prior-year period, underscoring the hit from asset valuations and impairment charges. Revenue for the quarter ended December 31 stood at $88.5 million, evidence of growth from the year-ago $31.7 million, while compute revenue climbed to $81.9 million from $19.2 million. Yet the quarter’s bottom line was weighed down by a $401.9 million impairment on digital assets, a larger drag than the $308.2 million impairment increase logged a year earlier. In the context of a crypto market that has cooled from earlier-year highs, Hut 8’s numbers crystallize a transition away from pure mining toward a broader data-center and AI infrastructure strategy.

The quarter’s figures come as Hut 8 also highlighted a robust liquidity position. The company ended the year with about $1.4 billion in cash and Bitcoin reserves, along with up to $400 million in revolving credit capacity. That liquidity cushion is notable given the negative earnings impact from asset impairment, and it provides the runway for the company’s expansion plans in high-performance computing and AI hosting. Against a backdrop where Bitcoin’s price has softened from its 2021-2022 peak, Hut 8 appears intent on diversifying revenue streams beyond block rewards into service-based income tied to AI workloads and data-center capacity.

Among the strategic moves shaping Hut 8’s trajectory, a 15-year lease for 245 megawatts of AI data-center capacity at its River Bend campus stands out. Valued at about $7 billion, the deal is financed in part by a substantial Google-backed funding package that covers around $1.8 billion of the lease obligations and includes warrants for roughly 41 million WULF shares, representing about 8% of the company’s equity under the arrangement. This arrangement underscores a broader industry push to pair crypto mining infrastructure with AI and HPC capabilities, leveraging established cloud and AI ecosystems to extract incremental value from spare data-center capacity. The lease is positioned as a cornerstone of Hut 8’s pivot toward AI-hosting services that can ride secular demand for AI training and inference workloads. The full details of the arrangement are covered in prior disclosures and linked references.

In parallel with the River Bend project, Hut 8 completed the sale of a 310 MW natural gas portfolio in February, freeing additional capital for expansion bets. The company also announced the launch of American Bitcoin Corp., a separately listed vehicle focused on Bitcoin accumulation, a move designed to create a dedicated vehicle for holding and potentially monetizing crypto assets as part of its capital-allocation strategy. These steps reflect a broader trend among miners to monetize non-core assets and redeploy capital into platforms that can scale with AI-driven demand.

Hut 8’s Bitcoin holdings remain a point of attention for investors. Data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET shows Hut 8 holds 13,696 BTC, positioning the company among the larger publicly traded Bitcoin holders by ordinary metrics. The market response to the earnings release was tepid, with shares down about 4.5% in early trading on Wednesday, a reflection of the mixed signal from the quarterly results—heightened impairment on assets even as liquidity and strategic leverage appear to expand. Market participants watched how the company’s stock would translate liquidity into tangible AI/data-center revenue over the coming quarters, particularly as the AI lease with Google-backed financing adds a long-horizon revenue stream.

Beyond Hut 8’s numbers, the sector’s narrative has shifted toward AI and HPC infrastructure. Even as Bitcoin traded around $68,150—a retreat from its early-year highs near $87,500 (CoinGecko data)—several of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin miners have posted year-to-date gains. TeraWulf (EXCHANGE: WULF) has rallied more than 50% year-to-date, while Riot Platforms (EXCHANGE: RIOT) and Hut 8 have advanced roughly 30% and 29%, respectively, according to industry data. The performance differential suggests investors are valuing miners not only for their Bitcoin exposure but also for the quality of their energy infrastructure, data center real estate, and strategic diversification into AI and HPC capabilities. The ETF landscape also moves in step with this narrative; the Bitcoin Mining ETF WGMI has posted gains as investors rotate toward AI- and data-center-enabled plays.

The divergence in outcomes across miners highlights a broader market reality: investors are increasingly discounting crypto price alone and pricing in operational leverage tied to energy and compute capacity. In August, for example, TeraWulf signed a 10-year colocation lease with Fluidstack valued at $3.7 billion, with Google backing about $1.8 billion of the lease obligations and warrants issued for a substantial stake in WULF. Industry observers point to these kinds of long-duration commitments as proof that AI-focused infrastructure will serve as a more durable revenue anchor than mining alone, a trend echoed in Starboard Value’s push for Riot Platforms to accelerate its AI/HPC data-center ambitions.

In short, Hut 8’s quarterly report reads as a case study in a sector at a crossroads. The company’s balance sheet remains robust enough to sustain a multi-year capex plan, but the immediate earnings picture is clouded by asset impairments that reflect the price volatility of digital assets and the challenge of timing asset valuations. As Hut 8 leans into AI and HPC, investors and analysts are watching for how much of the River Bend project’s incremental revenue will filter into the bottom line, and how the company manages the horizon of interest payments, revolver usage, and equity-linked incentives tied to the Google-backed warrants. The press materials and related coverage in the period provide a roadmap for investors to evaluate Hut 8’s capacity to monetize AI-ready capacity while managing the traditional crypto mining business.

Why it matters

The Hut 8 story matters because it encapsulates a broader industry transition from pure cryptocurrency mining to diversified data-center and AI infrastructure. The ability to monetize large-scale compute capacity through AI workloads could redefine the economics of publicly traded miners, offering a more predictable revenue stream than mining rewards alone. The River Bend lease, backed by Google’s financing and a long-term obligation framework, demonstrates how strategic partnerships can de-risk capital-intensive expansions while aligning mining operators with the growing demand for AI training and inference power. This shift matters for investors who are weighing balance-sheet strength, capital allocation, and the quality of a miner’s ancillary assets beyond crypto price exposure.

Another implication is the emphasis on liquidity and asset management as a core strategic tool. Hut 8’s move to divest non-core assets, such as the 310 MW natural gas portfolio, and its spin into a dedicated Bitcoin accumulation vehicle signal a willingness to separate asset classes to fund AI infrastructure without diluting core mining operations. For users and builders in the crypto ecosystem, this signals a maturation of the sector where capital is allocated toward resilient, scalable infrastructure that can weather crypto cycle volatility while supporting the broader AI ecosystem.

Finally, the findings reinforce how public markets value the intersection of crypto assets, energy infrastructure, and data center capacity. The market’s appetite for AI-oriented data centers—evidenced by equities’ relative outperformance versus Bitcoin’s price trajectory—suggests investors are factoring both energy efficiency and compute density into growth assumptions. If Hut 8 can translate its River Bend investment into meaningful, recurring revenue, it could set a benchmark for other miners seeking to monetize AI and HPC opportunities without sacrificing their core mining businesses.

What to watch next

• Updates on River Bend AI data-center capacity utilization and revenue contribution (dates pending) and any further updates on Google-backed financing terms.
• Progress of American Bitcoin Corp. as a separate vehicle and its impact on Hut 8’s overall capital structure.
• Bitcoin price trends and miner-specific hedges or debt facilities that influence liquidity and burn rates.
• Additional asset divestitures or acquisitions by Hut 8 or peers that signal a broader industry shift toward AI-ready infrastructure.

Sources & verification

• Hut 8 reports fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results and related press materials (PR Newswire).
• Details of the River Bend data-center lease, Google backstopping, and warrants linked to WULF.
• BitcoinTreasuries.NET data on Hut 8’s BTC holdings.
• Yahoo Finance price data for Hut 8 and peer miners to contextualize stock performance.

Hut 8’s Q4 results, AI expansion, and investor outlook

Hut 8’s latest earnings picture reflects a deliberate pivot toward AI-enabled infrastructure while balancing the realities of asset impairment that accompany a cyclic industry. The quarter’s numbers show revenue expansion driven by compute services even as the company records a large impairment charge on its digital assets. The liquidity position remains a critical asset for pursuing long-horizon data-center deployments, including the River Bend project, which positions Hut 8 among the few publicly traded miners with substantial exposure to AI and HPC workloads. As the sector navigates macro headwinds and fluctuating crypto prices, Hut 8’s strategy will be tested by the speed at which AI-driven demand scales and the company’s ability to monetize its existing capacity efficiently.

From a market perspective, the sector’s navigation of risk is increasingly about infrastructure resilience and partnerships rather than price exposure alone. The broader mining cohort has seen notable stock performance in 2024–2025, with WULF, RIOT, and WGMI among the names cited by analysts and traders as beneficiaries of a shift toward compute-centric revenue streams. Hut 8’s ongoing initiatives—asset sales, a major long-term data-center lease, and a dedicated Bitcoin accumulation vehicle—signal a structural change in how crypto miners approach growth, funding, and risk management. As always, investors will be watching for further disclosures on cash burn, debt maturities, and the pace at which AI and HPC services translate into earnings in future quarters.

Overall, Hut 8’s quarterly report is less a single-figure story about a loss and more a narrative about retooling a mining company for longer-term value creation in a data-driven AI economy. The path ahead will depend on the company’s ability to extract stable streams of revenue from its AI data-center contracts, to manage impairment risks effectively, and to sustain liquidity that underwrites future expansions. While the near-term bottom line remains under pressure, the strategic bets—particularly the River Bend lease and the American Bitcoin Corp. launch—could redefine Hut 8’s competitive edge if executed with disciplined cost control and a clear path to profitability in AI-enabled services.

President Donald Trump used his latest address to Congress on Tuesday to mix policy claims, political attacks and campaign-style messaging. Tariffs, immigration, foreign policy around Iran and congressional ethics among the most notable themes.

He mixed policy claims with emotional guest stories. He also directly attacked Democrats and defended his tariff agenda after a recent Supreme Court setback. 

Trump Tariffs Will Continue Despite Supereme Court’s Setback

The speech’s most important theme was Trump’s effort to recast a legal defeat on tariffs as a temporary obstacle. He called the court ruling “unfortunate.” 

The president also mentioned that existing trade deals would remain in place and promised to use “alternative legal statutes” to keep tariffs central to US policy. 

That matters because tariffs have become a core tool in his economic and foreign-policy strategy, including as leverage in negotiations.

American Economy is Great Again? Maximum Triumphalism and Zero Hedge

Trump leaned heavily on a total economic turnaround narrative, citing lower inflation, cheaper gasoline, rising jobs and stock market gains. 

He presented these claims as proof that his policies reversed what he described as a crisis inherited from the Biden administration. 

Specifically the POTUS started with: “our nation is back: Bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before” and keeps that tone almost the entire way through.

This follows his long-running political approach of tying consumer prices, markets and employment directly to presidential leadership.

Zero Tolerance on the Immigration Issue

Iimmigration and crime dominated the speech’s sharpest moments. Trump highlighted border enforcement, deportations and new proposals. 

Most notably, he urged to enact the “Dalilah law” to block states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. 

He also renewed calls to end sanctuary city policies and tighten voting rules, blending immigration enforcement with election-security rhetoric.

Stand and Sit Down: Live Political Drama

Meanwhile, Trump used the chamber as a live political stage, repeatedly asking lawmakers to stand for certain positions and then criticizing those who did not. 

That tactic turned applause and silence into part of the message. It also gave him ready-made moments for television and social media clips, especially on immigration and voting rules.

Softer Stance on Iran?

Trump delivered an expansive foreign-policy and national-security section. He claimed progress on multiple conflicts, described continued efforts on Russia-Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, the president returned to a hardline message on Iran, saying he prefers diplomacy but would not allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon. 

Trump’s Personal Branding on Full Display

Finally, Trump blended governing with personalized branding in unusual ways, promoting “Trump Accounts” and “TrumpRX” while discussing tax relief and drug pricing. He also tied many policy arguments to invited guests in the gallery, from workers and parents to military personnel.

That format let him package complex or controversial policy claims into simple, emotionally resonant stories.

Taken together, the speech looked less like a traditional legislative address and more like a campaign-era governing performance: part policy agenda, part partisan contrast, and part prime-time political theater.