Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is calling for a fundamental restructuring of decentralized prediction markets. He argues that the sector’s current reliance on speculative gambling threatens its long-term viability.

This view comes as prediction marketplaces like Polymarket have enjoyed significant success over the past year.

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Buterin Calls for Structural Overhaul of Prediction Markets

On February 14, Buterin contended that while platforms like Polymarket have achieved significant volume and mainstream attention, they are currently suffering from an “unhealthy market fit.”

“[Prediction markets] seem to be over-converging to an unhealthy product market fit: embracing short-term cryptocurrency price bets, sports betting, and other similar things that have dopamine value but not any kind of long-term fulfillment or societal information value,” Buterin argued.

He warned that the sector is dangerously over-reliant on “naive traders,” defined as speculators seeking short-term payouts.

This speculative behavior contrasts sharply with the markets’ intended purpose: facilitating information discovery and risk management.

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Buterin categorized current market participants into two distinct groups: “smart traders” and “money losers.” Currently, the latter category is dominated by retail gamblers.

He argued that if prediction markets continue to prioritize revenue extraction from these users over societal utility, they risk collapsing during bear markets when speculative fervor cools.

“There is nothing fundamentally morally wrong with taking money from people with dumb opinions. But there still is something fundamentally “cursed” about relying on this too much. It gives the platform the incentive to seek out traders with dumb opinions, and create a public brand and community that encourages dumb opinions to get more people to come in,” the Ethereum co-founder contended.

To secure a sustainable future, Buterin proposed that these platforms transition to “hedging”—effectively serving as insurance mechanisms rather than betting platforms.

In this model, a user would not bet on an outcome to make a profit, but rather to offset real-world risks, such as a business owner betting on a policy change that could negatively impact their supply chain.

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AI-Driven Hedge System to Replace Fiat

The Ethereum co-founder’s recommendations extended into radical economic territory, suggesting that prediction markets could eventually render fiat-pegged stablecoins obsolete.

Buterin proposed creating granular price indices covering major categories of global goods and services.

Under this theoretical framework, users would utilize local Large Language Models (LLMs) to analyze their personal spending habits. The AI would then construct a personalized “basket” of asset shares that mirrors the user’s specific cost of living.

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By holding these prediction market shares rather than U.S. dollar-pegged assets such as USDC or USDT, users could theoretically maintain their purchasing power against inflation without relying on traditional banking infrastructure.

“We do not need fiat currency at all! People can hold stocks, ETH, or whatever else to grow wealth, and personalized prediction market shares when they want stability,” he wrote.

Buterin acknowledged that transitioning from the current “info buying” phase to an advanced hedging economy would require new infrastructure.

However, he maintained that replacing fiat currency with diversified asset baskets remains the technology’s ultimate evolution.

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) have entered a period of consolidation, with both assets showing reduced momentum after earlier rallies. While they remain dominant in terms of market capitalization and long-term relevance, recent price action suggests near-term upside may be more limited as broader macro conditions and risk sentiment weigh on crypto markets.

BTC and ETH: Leaders Facing Short-Term Resistance

Bitcoin continues to trade below its previous all-time highs, moving within a relatively tight range as institutional inflows slow and market participants wait for clearer macro signals. As the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, BTC requires substantial capital to generate outsized percentage gains, which naturally moderates short-term upside during consolidation phases.

Ethereum, despite its strong ecosystem of DeFi, NFTs, and layer-2 networks, has also experienced sideways movement. Even with ongoing network upgrades and staking participation, ETH’s large valuation base makes exponential growth harder to achieve quickly. In such environments, capital often rotates toward smaller projects that combine early valuation with visible development progress.

Mutuum Finance: Early-Stage Growth With Active Development

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is one such project drawing attention during this period of consolidation. Unlike large-cap tokens already trading on major exchanges, MUTM remains in its presale phase, currently priced at $0.04 with a confirmed launch price of $0.06. Since its initial Phase 1 price of $0.01, the token has already increased by 300%, and by launch it will reflect a total 500% progression from its starting level.

The presale has raised over $20.5 million and attracted more than 19,000 holders. Out of the 1.82 billion tokens allocated for presale, over 845 million have already been secured, bringing distribution close to its midpoint. Because the current price remains below the confirmed launch valuation, some investors view this phase as a discounted entry before public trading begins.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has emerged as one of the newer projects gaining attention while major caps pause. The protocol focuses on decentralized lending and borrowing built around overcollateralization and flexible liquidity models.

The platform introduces two complementary systems. In its Peer-to-Contract (P2C) model, users supply assets into smart-contract-managed liquidity pools where borrowing and interest rates are dynamically adjusted based on utilization. This pooled structure allows lenders to earn yield while borrowers access capital without selling their holdings.

In addition, Mutuum supports a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) framework, where lenders and borrowers can directly negotiate loan terms. This approach is particularly useful for assets that may not fit neatly into standardized liquidity pools, enabling greater flexibility across different token categories.

V1 Protocol Now Live

A distinguishing factor for Mutuum Finance is that its V1 protocol is already live on the Sepolia testnet. This means users can actively interact with the system before mainnet launch, testing its core infrastructure in a simulated environment.

Currently, participants can explore the following features:

• mtTokens: Minted when users supply assets, representing deposit positions that accrue yield over time.
  
• Debt Tokens: Issued upon borrowing to track principal and interest accumulation transparently on-chain.
  
• Automated Liquidator: Continuously monitors collateral ratios and triggers liquidations when thresholds are breached.
  
• Health Factor Monitoring: Provides real-time risk metrics to help users manage borrowing positions responsibly.

By offering live testnet functionality rather than only conceptual documentation, the project demonstrates operational readiness ahead of full deployment.

Why Some View It as a “Next Big” Candidate

While Bitcoin and Ethereum remain foundational assets, their growth curves tend to stabilize as market capitalization increases. In contrast, earlier-stage projects like Mutuum Finance begin from significantly smaller valuations, meaning adoption and listing exposure can have proportionally larger price impacts.

The combination of dual lending models, working testnet infrastructure, and structured presale progression positions Mutuum Finance differently from purely speculative tokens. Additionally, roadmap elements such as multichain expansion and native stablecoin development add longer-term ecosystem depth beyond initial launch.

Periods when Bitcoin and Ethereum stall often prompt investors to reassess allocation strategies. While large-cap assets remain core holdings for many portfolios, emerging DeFi infrastructure projects with live products and defined utility may offer differentiated growth potential.

Mutuum Finance, with its operational V1 protocol and flexible lending architecture, is increasingly being evaluated by investors seeking exposure to the next wave of decentralized finance innovation beyond traditional market leaders.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

Bitcoin traders welcomed a softer-than-expected US CPI print as inflation cooled, helping the cryptocurrency nudge above the $69,000 level on Friday. The move rekindled hopes for a short-term recovery after a period of consolidation near key technical zones. Market participants are watching whether bulls can clear a stubborn resistance band around $68,000 to $70,000, with several analysts outlining a potential path to higher targets if the price can establish a base above critical support near $65,000. The latest price action comes amid a broader market backdrop characterized by fluctuating risk appetite, liquidity dynamics, and ongoing discussion about the role of exchange-traded products in crypto exposure.

Key takeaways

• Traders anticipate a relief rally for BTC in the near term, contingent on clearing the $68,000–$70,000 resistance zone.
• A confirmed hold of $65,000–$66,000 could pave the way for a squeeze toward higher levels, with some strategists pointing to a potential move toward $72,000 if momentum sustains.
• Analysts describe a pattern suggesting the possibility of a short-term bounce, followed by attention to liquidity clusters that could amplify moves near major price walls around $75,000–$80,000.
• Key moving averages around the current price action—specifically the 20-period EMA near $67,500 and the long-established 200-week EMA near $68,000—feature prominently in discussions of potential breakout setups.
• Market breadth remains sensitive to macro data, ETF flows, and liquidity shifts, which could influence how BTC navigates the next price ceilings and support floors.

Tickers mentioned: $BTC

Sentiment: Neutral

Trading idea (Not Financial Advice): Hold. Near-term momentum hinges on reclaiming the $68,000 level and sustaining a push above resistance to re-energize a broader upside thesis.

Market context: The price action sits at the intersection of macro cooling inflation, ongoing liquidity considerations, and crypto-specific ETF discourse. As traders parse fresh CPI data, attention remains on how institutional flows and retail positioning will influence BTC’s short-term trajectory within the context of evolving risk sentiment and regulatory discussions.

Why it matters

Bitcoin’s recent move above the $69,000 mark underscores the market’s sensitivity to macro signals and its willingness to test established technical levels. A successful breakout beyond the $68,000–$70,000 band would be interpreted by many observers as an incremental sign of renewed buying pressure, potentially signaling the start of a broader recovery phase from the backdrop of recent volatility. The interplay between upward price action and liquidity conditions is central to whether the move can be sustained or is likely to stall at the next liquidity cluster.

Analysts have highlighted a confluence of technical indicators that could shape the near-term path. A rising potential is suggested by patterns observed on shorter timeframes, including the notion that a break above resistance could reawaken the momentum needed to test higher targets. Yet the narrative is balanced by warnings about the risks of a deeper correction if key supports fail to hold. The 20-period EMA and the 200-week EMA are cited as important reference points that could influence the speed and magnitude of any rebound, particularly if price re-tests test the lower bands near $65,000–$66,000.

From a broader market perspective, liquidity dynamics and the prospect of ETF-related flows continue to weigh on Bitcoin’s short-term direction. Traders monitor order-book depth and liquidation risk around critical price thresholds, as activity around $75,000–$80,000 has historically formed meaningful liquidity walls. In this environment, even a modest shift in risk appetite or a fresh catalyst could trigger rapid moves as participants adjust positions in anticipation of the next major swing.

What to watch next

• Watch for a decisive daily close above $68,000 to confirm a bullish breakout trajectory toward the $72,000 neckline level.
• Should BTC reclaim the $70,000 mark, monitor price action for signs of acceleration toward the $72,000–$76,000 zone and beyond to the 50-day SMA near $85,000.
• Keep an eye on liquidity clusters around $75,000–$80,000, where a crowding of bids and asks could trigger a squeeze if breached.
• Observe bids near $65,000 and the corresponding asks around $68,000; revisiting these levels could be a prerequisite for renewed upside momentum or a testing ground for stronger support.
• Follow macro and ETF-flow developments, as shifts in risk sentiment driven by regulatory developments or institutional demand can influence the pace of BTC’s advance.

Sources & verification

• BTC price action around $69,000 on the backdrop of cooler US CPI data and the referenced resistance zone near $68,000–$70,000.
• Public posts from market observers on X (formerly Twitter) noting resistance levels and potential continuation patterns.
• CoinGlass liquidity heatmap indicating walls near $75,000 and $80,000 and liquidation risk around key price zones.
• Analyses citing the significance of the 20-period EMA near $67,500 and the 200-week EMA near $68,000 in guiding near-term moves.
• Chart references from TradingView illustrating the one-hour and two-day perspectives on BTC price structure.

Market reaction and near-term setup

Bitcoin is approaching a pivotal juncture as traders weigh the impact of softer inflation prints against the persistence of macro headwinds. In the near term, a break above the $68,000 resistance line would be interpreted as a signal that bulls are regaining control after a period of consolidation. If that breakout strengthens, the narrative leans toward a move toward $72,000, a level that previous analyses have associated with a potential shift in momentum. The idea of a short squeeze—where short positions are forced to cover as prices rise—gains plausibility if the price can push beyond the immediate hurdle and clear liquidity walls just above $75,000 to $80,000. The risk remains that if the market fails to sustain above $68,000, or slips back toward $65,000–$66,000, the scenario could transition into a more pronounced corrective phase.

From a technical vantage point, BTC’s price action has been described as exhibiting a V-shaped recovery on certain four-hour timeframes, suggesting that the move could be swift if momentum holds. Traders are closely watching the interaction with the 20-period EMA and the 200-week EMA, two benchmarks that often correlate with transition points between ranges and breakouts. A sustained hold above these benchmarks would reinforce a more constructive outlook, while failure to do so could invite renewed selling pressure in the short run. The narrative remains data-driven, with macro signals continuing to shape expectations for how the market will respond to incoming data and policy cues.

In addition to price dynamics, liquidity considerations are relevant for auditing risk and potential volatility. The presence of concentrated bid and ask clusters around specific levels—such as near $65,000 and $68,000—suggests that order-flow dynamics could play a central role in determining whether BTC can press higher or retreat. If the market revisits the $65,000 area and buyers re-emerge, there is a plausible path for a return to the higher side of the spectrum; conversely, if bids fail to hold, the resulting liquidity gaps could accelerate a correction. Traders and researchers will likely focus on how real-time liquidity conditions align with price action to gauge the durability of any rallies.

What happened previously and what to monitor next

Historical context from recent weeks shows that BTC has repeatedly attempted to mount a sustained breakout, only to encounter resistance near meaningful price levels. The pattern analysis suggests that if the price can cement a foothold above the $68,000 zone, there is room for a move toward the $72,000 neckline and potentially higher toward the $76,000–$85,000 range, where the dynamic of moving averages could come into play. Market participants should remain vigilant for shifts in ETF activity and macro data, which historically have driven outsized moves relative to intra-day volatility. The crypto market continues to navigate a complex web of technical levels, liquidity constraints, and evolving regulatory considerations, all of which shape the probability of a sustained rally or a renewed pullback in the weeks ahead.

Ripple Labs released a major update in Feb. regarding its XRP Ledger (XRPL). But will that be enough to save XRP’s price from Bitcoin’s stiff correction?

XRP is one of the most popular cryptocurrencies worldwide. Its market cap is neck-and-neck with BNB to rank number four by this metric.

Its main use case is fast, low-fee cross-border payments, but the XRP Ledger is opening up an entirely new use case for XRP tokens—decentralized finance (DeFi).

The February update from the official team at Ripple Labs signals a significant shift in the ecosystem’s fortunes. But real quick, before diving into the update—

Here’s how XRP’s price reacted after Ripple released the update on these exciting new developments: on Friday, Feb. 13, XRP traded for a daily average price of $1.35 before it surged to over $1.65 on Sunday.

“Institutional DeFi on XRPL”

The Ripple Labs update teased “Institutional DeFi on XRPL,” in a headline that promised the network will scale real-world finance with XRP at the core. The key selling point for Ripple investors and developers in this announcement is that these updates make the XRP Ledger well-suited for institutional-grade players.

Serious financial firms with big clients in New York City and London can rely on this technology to better meet the needs of their business. Or at the very least, that’s what the XRP team states. The note opened with a quick TLDR; summary highlighting XRP’s utility in liquidity and credit markets as well as for payments.

This referred to On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) powered by Ripple. This platform feature allows large institutions or individuals moving large funds to send them via RippleNet using XRP tokens.

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But the exciting updates included:

• MPT (fungible Multi-Purpose Tokens for RWA tokenization)
• Permissioned Domains for access management
• Lending Protocol for native on-ledger XRP credit markets
• Confidential Transfers for institutional-grade privacy
• Ripple support for foreign exchange (FX) markets

Meanwhile, sophisticated new tools such as Credentials, Token Escrow, and Batch Transactions will help enterprise-grade clients stay compliant with financial regulators and automate on-chain workflows.

“The foundation for the next generation of blockchain-based financial infrastructure is being built, with XRP as the backbone,” Ripple Labs said.

Fine-Tuning XRP Utility to Purpose

In addition to the feature set for institutions, which forms the backbone of the next-generation XRP ecosystem on the ledger, Ripple also announced that XRPL now comes equipped with new developer tools to keep open development humming along.

Livenet Explorer is a developer tool that enables institutions and blockchain developers to visualize real-time on-chain activity, balances, and token flows. Meanwhile, XRPL Devnet Tools will help blockchain developers test features such as MPTs, escrow contracts, batch transactions, and lending protocols before deploying Dapps to the mainnet.

On the payments and FX side, permissioned domains will help build walled-off environments on the open blockchain with controlled credentials. Moreover, this can support KYC and AML tools for regulatory compliance.

XRPL is also getting ready to unlock balance sheets by optimizing collateral and capital velocity. This will be possible through token escrow for conditional settlement programmed right into XRP smart contracts.

One of Ripple’s big points in the February update is MPTs, or Multi-Purpose Tokens. Ripple says MPTs are the future of tokenization on XRPL. They can support sophisticated financial instruments such as bonds and funds while also handling metadata and parameters without requiring custom contracts.

What It Means for XRP Prices

For institutional and independent blockchain developers, here are some considerable developments. They may draw more participants and large financial firms into the XRP ecosystem.

But what does it mean for cryptocurrency investors?

During the week following the update announcement, XRP’s price outperformed the rest of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap, indicating the market perceived the news positively.

However, as CryptoPotato reported, the state of the industry is currently predominantly negative in terms of price action. As a matter of fact, the popular Fear and Greed Index tapped Extreme Fear territory with a score of just 5 a few days ago – the lowest in the last eight years. During times like these, good news does not move markets as much as it does in bull markets.

While the update is undoubtedly sound and important, it is unlikely to cause any significant price change, at least in the short term.

Even Coinbase, the biggest U.S. crypto exchange, just posted a $667 million net loss in Q4 2025. This is its first red quarter in two years, as crypto markets buckled under a sharp Bitcoin drawdown. But in the same breath, Aptos-incubated Decibel announced a protocol-native stablecoin through Stripe-owned Bridge, a sign that builders haven’t stopped building despite the broader bleed.

Everyone knows to buy during the dip, but the next crypto to explode with genuine moonshot potential isn’t going to be among the majors. DeepSnitch AI, an AI platform driven by five agents, known as “snitches,” has now raised above $1.59M at just $0.03985 per DSNT token. Launch is so close, days away now, and emerging crypto projects with this kind of momentum tend not to stay under the radar for long.

Coinbase bleeds $667M while Decibel builds stablecoin infrastructure on Aptos ahead of mainnet

Coinbase’s Q4 earnings snapped an eight-quarter profitability streak, with net revenue falling 21.5% year-on-year to $1.78 billion and transaction revenue dropping nearly 37%. Bitcoin’s roughly 30% tumble from its October high above $126,000 to under $88,500 by year-end drove much of the damage, and with BTC continuing to slide in early 2026, the outlook for exchange-reliant revenue remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, the Decibel Foundation, incubated by Aptos Labs, is preparing a protocol-native stablecoin, USDCBL, issued via Stripe-owned Bridge. The dollar-backed token will serve as collateral for on-chain perpetual futures, letting the protocol retain reserve yield rather than handing it to third-party issuers. Its December testnet pulled in above 650,000 unique accounts and over a million daily trades.

To wrap this up simply, the takeaway here is that big platforms are hurting, but new infrastructure keeps getting laid all the while. And small-cap gems with sharp utility, particularly those priced at presale levels, could be among the biggest beneficiaries when sentiment eventually turns.

Three tokens with unique upside opportunities compared

1. DeepSnitch AI: A small-cap gem set to be the next crypto to explode

The 2026 market narrative has crystallised around two themes: utility and AI. Plenty of tokens claim one or both, but almost none can demonstrate either at the presale stage. But DeepSnitch AI can.

The tools are shipped, the smart contracts are audited, and the platform is already generating the kind of real-world value that usually only arrives post-launch. That level of credibility at this price point ($0.03985 in Stage 5 of 15) is genuinely rare, so there’s reason behind the instinct that this is the next moonshot token.

The platform will work with a dashboard that flags what’s spiking or triggering alerts across the market. You pick a token, open Token Explorer for a deep dive on risk scoring, holder concentration, and liquidity. Then, you run AuditSnitch on the contract address and get a plain-language verdict (CLEAN, CAUTION, or SKETCHY) based on ownership controls, liquidity locks, tax structures, and known exploit patterns that most retail investors never inspect.

Put simply, what used to take an hour of manual digging now takes seconds, and in the end, SnitchGPT brings it all together in a conversational layer, so you can simply ask “what’s the risk on this?” and get a clean, quick reply.

This is a utility that, among emerging crypto projects, is almost impossible to find, and the team is rightfully targeting a 1000x run once the platform launches. And until then, VIP bonus codes let you stack additional tokens proportional to your buy-in, amplifying your position before trading begins.

If you’re looking for the next crypto to explode, DeepSnitch AI is solving one of crypto’s most fundamental problems at micro-cap prices, and anyone who knows what a moonshot token looks like in its early stages will clock this token’s incredible potential.

2. Aptos: Deep in oversold territory, as the floor keeps dropping

APT sat near $0.91 on February 13, well below where most holders expected it to land by this point in the cycle. The RSI reads 25.31, so firmly oversold, and the 50-day SMA is projected to fall toward $0.99 by mid-March.

Aptos’s ecosystem has been under pressure following protocol shutdowns and declining network activity, which makes a sustained recovery harder to pin down. A hold above the $0.90 support could invite a relief rally toward $1.08, but a break below risks a longer slide toward the $0.55 zone.

The Decibel stablecoin launch adds a building narrative, yet at a current market cap that already prices in significant infrastructure, APT’s room for explosive multiples is narrower than high-growth digital assets still priced at presale entry points, something DeepSnitch AI offers at a fraction of the valuation.

3. Dogecoin: The meme king flatlines below $0.10

DOGE was hovering near $0.094 on February 13, having turned down from the $0.10 psychological level. This is a rejection that suggests bears are trying to flip that round number into resistance.

The RSI is at 34.18, neutral but leaning weak, and the 50-day SMA is forecast to dip toward $0.105 by mid-March. And a drop below $0.08 could signal a resumption of the downtrend toward $0.06.

Dogecoin has always thrived on sentiment surges rather than fundamentals, and in a fear-driven market with the CMC index at 8, that fuel is scarce. And if you’re after higher gains, the next crypto to explode this cycle is far more likely to be a project with early-stage pricing anyway.

Final thoughts

Fear indexes are at historic lows, as Coinbase is posting losses, and while this is not all doom, gloom, and nowhere to go (an up is on the horizon eventually), it is the kind of moment that separates spectators from participants.

Emerging crypto projects priced at ground level before launch tend to benefit disproportionately when capital rotates back in, and DeepSnitch AI ticks every box: live tooling, uncapped staking, and a presale price under four cents.

And for now, ahead of its launch in a matter of days, the presale is also running tiered bonus codes that hand you between 30% and 300% extra tokens depending on the size of your buy-in.

Paired with dynamic APR on staking, those bonus tokens compound your position at presale prices, meaning your upside when launch hits could be dramatically larger than the initial allocation alone.

If this is the next crypto to explode, as anticipated, now is the moment to secure your DeepSnitch AI tokens on the official website. You can also follow the team on X and Telegram for more real-time updates.

FAQs

What is the next crypto to explode in 2026?

DeepSnitch AI is a strong contender among high-growth digital assets, offering five live AI security tools at $0.03985 with above $1.59M raised and a full launch approaching within weeks.

Is Aptos a good investment right now?

APT is deeply oversold and could see a relief rally, but its ecosystem struggles and larger market cap limit potential. DeepSnitch AI’s presale pricing and live utility offer a more asymmetric risk-reward profile for those wanting the next crypto to explode.

Can Dogecoin recover from its current slump?

DOGE depends heavily on sentiment, which is at extreme lows right now. While a bounce is possible, small-cap gems like DeepSnitch AI, with working technology and near-launch timing, offer fundamentally stronger upside for 2026, which is why the latter token is more likely to be the next crypto to explode.

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

A divergence in global bitcoin BTC$70,324.20 market sentiment is widening as U.S. institutional investors hold steady while offshore traders retreat from their positions.

The gap is clearest in futures markets. CME, the go-to platform for hedge funds and institutional desks in the U.S., shows traders are still paying a premium to stay long on bitcoin, according to NYDIG’s head of research, Greg Cipolaro.

This is evident on a one-month annualized basis, essentially the markup for futures over spot prices, which remains higher than on its offshore counterpart, Deribit.

“The more pronounced drop in offshore basis suggests reduced appetite for leveraged long exposure,” Cipolaro wrote. “The widening spread between CME and Deribit basis functions as a real-time gauge of geographical risk appetite.”

Bitcoin earlier this month fell to $60,000 before rebounding. Some pinned the selloff on rising concerns that quantum computing will undermine the system’s cryptographic security. NYDIG found that the numbers don’t back up that explanation.

For one, bitcoin’s performance has closely tracked that of publicly traded quantum-computing companies like IONQ Inc. (IONQ) and D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS). If quantum risk were truly weighing on crypto, those stocks would be rising while bitcoin falls.

Instead, they dropped together, pointing to a broader decline in appetite for long-term, future-driven assets. On top of that, search data on Google Trends shows interest for “quantum computing bitcoin” rises when the price of BTC rises.

Mortgage and real estate finance underpin one of the largest asset classes in the global economy, yet the infrastructure supporting it remains fundamentally misaligned with its scale. In Canada alone, outstanding residential mortgage credit exceeds $2.6 trillion, with more than $600 billion in new mortgages originated annually. This volume demands a system capable of handling continuous verification, secure data sharing, and efficient capital movement. 

The industry still relies on fragmented, document-based workflows designed for a pre-digital era. While front-end processes have moved online, the underlying systems governing data ownership, verification, settlement, and risk remain siloed across lenders, brokers, servicers, and regulators. Information circulates as static files rather than structured, interoperable data, requiring repeated manual validation at every stage of a loan’s lifecycle.

This is not a temporary inefficiency; it is a structural constraint. Fragmented data increases operational risk, slows settlement, limits transparency, and restricts how capital can be deployed or reallocated. As mortgage volumes grow and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, these limitations become increasingly costly.

Tokenization offers a path to address this mismatch. Not as a speculative technology, but as an infrastructure-level shift that replaces disconnected records with unified, secure, and programmable data. By rethinking how mortgage and real estate assets are represented, governed, and transferred, tokenization targets the foundational weaknesses that continue to limit efficiency, transparency, and capital mobility across housing finance.

Solving the industry’s disjointed data problem

The most persistent challenge in mortgage and real estate finance is not access to capital or demand; it is disjointed data.

Industry studies estimate that a significant share of mortgage processing costs is driven by manual data reconciliation and exception handling, with the same borrower information re-entered and re-verified multiple times across the loan lifecycle. A LoanLogics study found that roughly 11.5% of mortgage loan data is missing or erroneous, driving repeated verification and rework across fragmented systems and contributing to an estimated $7.8 billion in additional consumer costs over the past decade.

Data flows through portals, phone calls, and manual verification processes, often duplicated at each stage of a loan’s lifecycle. There is no unified system of record, only a collection of disconnected artifacts.

This fragmentation creates inefficiency by design. Verification is slow. Errors are common. Historical data is difficult to access or reuse. Even large institutions often struggle to retrieve structured information from past transactions, limiting their ability to analyze risk, improve underwriting, or develop new data-driven products. 

The industry has not digitized data; it has digitized paperwork. Tokenization directly addresses this structural failure by shifting the unit of record from documents to data itself.

Embedding security, transparency, and permissioned access

Tokenization is fundamentally about how financial information is represented, secured, and governed. Regulators increasingly require not just access to data, but demonstrable lineage, accuracy, and auditability, requirements that legacy, document-based systems struggle to meet at scale.

By converting loan and asset data into structured, blockchain-based records, tokenization enables seamless integration across systems while maintaining data integrity. Individual attributes, such as income, employment, collateral details, and loan terms, can be validated once and referenced across stakeholders without repeated manual intervention.

Security is embedded directly into this model. Cryptographic hashing, immutable records, and built-in auditability protect data integrity at the system level. These characteristics reduce reconciliation risk and improve trust between counterparties.

Equally important is permissioned access. Tokenized data can be shared selectively by role, time, and purpose, reducing unnecessary duplication while supporting regulatory compliance. Instead of repeatedly uploading sensitive documents across multiple systems, participants reference the same underlying data with controlled access.

Rather than layering security and transparency on top of legacy workflows, tokenization embeds them directly into the infrastructure itself.

Liquidity and access in an illiquid asset class

Beyond data and security, tokenization addresses another long-standing constraint in real estate finance: illiquidity.

Mortgages and real estate assets are slow-moving, capital-intensive, and often locked up for extended periods. Structural illiquidity constrains capital allocation and raises barriers to entry, limiting participation and restricting how capital can engage with the asset class. 

Tokenization introduces the ability to represent real estate assets, or their cash flows, as divisible and transferable units. Within appropriate regulatory and underwriting frameworks, this approach aligns with broader trends in real-world asset tokenization, where blockchain infrastructure is used to improve accessibility and capital efficiency in traditionally illiquid markets.

This does not imply disruption of housing finance fundamentals. Regulatory oversight, credit standards, and investor protections remain essential. Instead, tokenization enables incremental changes to how ownership, participation, and risk distribution are structured.

Incremental digitization to infrastructure-level change

This moment in mortgage and real estate finance is not about crypto hype. It is about rebuilding financial plumbing.

Mortgage and real estate finance are approaching the limits of what legacy, document-based infrastructure can support. As volumes grow, regulatory expectations tighten, and capital markets demand greater transparency and efficiency, the cost of fragmented data systems becomes increasingly visible.

Tokenization does not change the fundamentals of housing finance, nor does it bypass regulatory or risk frameworks. What it changes is the infrastructure beneath them, replacing disconnected records with unified, verifiable, and programmable data. In doing so, it addresses the structural constraints that digitized paperwork alone cannot solve.

The next phase of modernization in mortgage and real estate finance will not be defined by better portals or faster uploads, but by systems designed for scale, durability, and interoperability. Tokenization represents a credible step in that direction, not as a trend, but as an evolution in financial infrastructure.

Mirae Asset Consulting, an affiliate of South Korea’s Mirae Asset Group, is moving to take control of local crypto exchange Korbit. In a regulatory filing, the company agreed to acquire 26.9 million Korbit shares for 133.48 billion won, roughly $93 million, securing a 92.06% ownership stake in the exchange. The purchase will be paid entirely in cash, and the deal has the board’s approval as of February 5. Completion is expected within seven business days after all contractual closing conditions are satisfied, underscoring a rapid move to consolidate a regulated digital-asset business within Korea’s evolving crypto infrastructure. The filing notes Mirae Asset intends to secure future growth drivers through digital-asset (virtual-asset) businesses.

Key takeaways

• Mirae Asset Consulting agrees to buy 26.9 million Korbit shares for 133.48 billion won, gaining about 92.06% ownership in the exchange, with cash as the payment method.
• The acquisition received board approval on February 5, and is slated to close within seven business days after contractual closing conditions are satisfied.
• Korbit’s current ownership structure includes about 60.5% held by NXC and Simple Capital Futures, with SK Square owning roughly 31.5%.
• Korbit reported 8.7 billion won in revenue and 9.8 billion won in net profit in its latest fiscal year, reversing prior losses.
• The exchange operates with a full license and established compliance infrastructure, potentially making it an attractive vehicle for a financial group seeking regulated exposure to digital assets.

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Market context: The deal unfolds within Korea’s tightly regulated crypto landscape, where Upbit and Bithumb dominate daily trading volumes, and Korbit remains a smaller player by comparison. Data cited by CoinGecko shows Korbit’s roughly $59.9 million in 24-hour trading activity versus Upbit’s about $2.16 billion and Bithumb’s around $1.36 billion. The transaction signals ongoing consolidation among domestic exchanges as traditional financial groups pursue regulated access to digital-asset markets.

Market context: The broader environment in Korea has long featured a push toward licensed operations and stronger compliance frameworks, with regulators scrutinizing promotions and business practices in the sector. The move by a major asset manager to take control of a licensed exchange aligns with a broader trend of institutional players seeking regulated exposure to crypto markets rather than unregistered platforms.

Why it matters

The planned acquisition marks a notable shift in Korea’s crypto ecosystem, illustrating how conventional financial groups are intensifying their strategic bets on digital-asset infrastructure. Mirae Asset’s intention to leverage Korbit’s established license and compliance capabilities could accelerate the exchange’s product, risk controls, and customer onboarding processes, potentially translating into stronger operating leverage for the platform as part of a larger asset-management and fintech ecosystem.

For Korbit, the deal provides a clear path to liquidity and alignment with a major financial conglomerate, potentially enabling enhanced interoperability with traditional banking channels and institutional-grade custody solutions. The company’s reported 8.7 billion won in revenue and 9.8 billion won in net profit in its most recent fiscal year reflect a profitability trajectory that may have attracted Mirae Asset’s interest in expanding regulated, scalable digital-asset services. Korbit’s ownership structure—where NXC and Simple Capital Futures hold a majority stake alongside SK Square—suggests a transition moment that could reshape the exchange’s governance and strategic direction under new majority ownership.

From a market perspective, the deal emphasizes the continuing maturation of Korea’s crypto market, where licensed venues like Korbit coexist with larger platforms and regulatory scrutiny. The emphasis on a cash deal and rapid closing also signals a preference for definitive, trustee-like control structures to manage risk and ensure a swift integration path for regulatory-compliant digital-asset activities. As regulatory expectations evolve, the success of Mirae Asset’s investment could hinge on how smoothly Korbit can integrate into a broader digital-asset strategy and how it adapts to evolving compliance standards and product requirements.

What to watch next

• The contractual closing conditions must be satisfied, with settlement anticipated within seven business days after those requirements are met.
• The integration of Korbit into Mirae Asset’s digital-asset framework and any organizational changes at the exchange.
• Regulatory confirmations or conditions that may accompany the closing process and any post-merger compliance reviews.

Sources & verification

• DART filing: rcpNo=20260213002679, detailing the cash acquisition and ownership thesis.
• Korbit’s financials: revenue of 8.7 billion won and net profit of 9.8 billion won in the latest fiscal year.
• Korbit ownership: NXC and Simple Capital Futures ~60.5%, SK Square ~31.5%.
• Trading volume context: Upbit (~$2.16 billion) and Bithumb (~$1.36 billion) in 24-hour activity; Korbit ~ $59.9 million, per CoinGecko data.

What the move means for Korea’s crypto landscape

Mirae Asset’s Korbit bet signals a broader push into regulated crypto markets

The transaction represents a decisive step in the ongoing consolidation of Korea’s digital-asset infrastructure, where license and compliance play a critical role in determining strategic value. Mirae Asset’s cash offer and rapid cadence may set a precedent for other traditional financial groups evaluating similar moves, especially those seeking to bolster exposure to regulated crypto ecosystems without bearing the full operational burden of building a compliant platform from scratch. As the ecosystem evolves, Korbit’s improved access to Mirae Asset’s capital and infrastructure could translate into more robust risk controls, enhanced product offerings, and greater interoperability with mainstream financial services.

In the near term, stakeholders will be watching how Korbit navigates post-acquisition governance, how the integration aligns with Mirae Asset’s broader digital-asset strategy, and whether the deal serves as a catalyst for other exchanges to pursue strategic partnerships or consolidations. For investors and users, the development underscores the ongoing transition of crypto services from scrappy startups to regulated, institution-friendly platforms—an arc that could influence liquidity, product quality, and regulatory clarity across Korea’s crypto market.