Crypto World
Vitalik Buterin Donates to Shielded Labs for Zcash Crosslink Security Upgrade
TLDR:
- Buterin’s donation funds Crosslink development from prototype to incentivized testnet and production phase.
- Crosslink adds finality layer to Zcash’s PoW chain, preventing reversals and strengthening settlement guarantees.
- The upgrade enables shorter exchange confirmations and improves cross-chain integration reliability for Zcash.
- Shielded Labs operates independently from Zcash Dev Fund, relying on donations from network supporters.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has donated to Shielded Labs to advance Crosslink development for Zcash. The contribution will fund progression from prototype to incentivized testnet and production readiness.
Crosslink adds a finality layer to Zcash’s proof-of-work consensus, protecting against chain reorganizations and rollback attacks. This marks Buterin’s second donation to the organization.
Crosslink Enhances Zcash Security Architecture
Shielded Labs announced the donation will support Crosslink’s continued development. The upgrade strengthens Zcash’s existing proof-of-work consensus through a parallel finality layer.
Block production and economic activity remain on the proof-of-work chain. Meanwhile, the finality gadget anchors blocks and provides stronger settlement guarantees.
The architecture prevents confirmed transactions from being reversed. This reduction in double-spend risk increases confidence in transaction settlement across the network.
Exchanges can implement shorter confirmation requirements as a result. Cross-chain integrations gain improved reliability through the enhanced security model.
Applications requiring predictable settlement benefit from the increased consistency. The improvements facilitate easier integration into the broader crypto ecosystem.
Zcash maintains its existing security properties throughout the upgrade process. The design preserves the network’s core characteristics while adding protective measures.
Commenting on the donation, Buterin stated that Zcash is one of the most honorable crypto projects. He praised the network’s steadfast focus on privacy as a defining characteristic.
According to Buterin, Shielded Labs’ Crosslink work will allow Zcash to be more secure. The upgrade will enable operation on a lower security budget, supporting long-term sustainability.
Production Phase Will Focus on Technical Readiness
The donation will fund the productization of the existing Crosslink prototype. Shielded Labs plans to launch a persistent, incentivized testnet where participants can earn ZEC.
The transition into productionization involves multiple technical components. Design specifications require completion before mainnet consideration.
Security analysis will form a critical component of the development process. Audits will verify the robustness of the finality layer implementation.
Coordination with wallets and infrastructure providers ensures smooth integration. Proactive engagement with the Zcash community maintains transparency throughout development.
Progress toward mainnet activation depends on several factors. Technical readiness must meet established standards before deployment.
Security review processes need completion to validate the upgrade’s safety. Broad community support remains essential for major protocol changes.
Shielded Labs operates as a Swiss-based Zcash support organization. The team focuses on protocol development projects that strengthen network security.
Funding comes from donations by Zcash holders and supporters. The organization maintains independence from the Dev Fund and block rewards.
Buterin’s first contribution in 2023 supported formation of a dedicated Crosslink team. He has contributed to discussions around protocol design and security for years.
Shielded Labs acknowledged his continued engagement with the Zcash ecosystem. The organization expressed appreciation for his support in advancing network resilience.
Tether has frozen more than half a billion dollars in cryptocurrency at the request of Turkish authorities, blocking funds tied to an alleged illegal online betting and money-laundering operation.
Last week, prosecutors in Istanbul announced the seizure of approximately €460 million ($544 million) in assets belonging to Veysel Sahin, accused of operating unlawful betting platforms and laundering proceeds. Officials initially declined to identify the crypto firm involved, but the company was Tether Holdings SA, the issuer of the $185 billion USDt (USDT) stablecoin, CEO Paolo Ardoino told Bloomberg.
“Law enforcement came to us, they provided some information, we looked at the information and we acted in respect of the laws of the country,” Ardoino reportedly said. “And that’s what we do when we work with the DOJ, when we work with the FBI, you name it,” he added.
The action came as part of a broader investigation targeting underground gambling and payment networks in the country. Turkey has already seized more than $1 billion in assets through related probes, according to Bloomberg.
Related: Tether releases open-source operating system for Bitcoin mining
Tether, Circle blacklist 5,700 wallets
According to analytics firm Elliptic, stablecoin issuers, primarily Tether and Circle, had blacklisted about 5,700 wallets containing roughly $2.5 billion by late 2025. About three-quarters of those addresses held USDT at the time they were frozen.
Tether also told Bloomberg that it has assisted authorities in more than 1,800 investigations across 62 countries, resulting in $3.4 billion in frozen USDT connected to alleged criminal activity.
Despite the cooperation, USDt continues to attract scrutiny. US prosecutors last month charged a Venezuelan national with laundering $1 billion, largely using the token, while blockchain researchers have linked large USDt transactions to sanctions-evasion activity.
Last year, Bitrace also reported that $649 billion in stablecoins, or about 5.14% of total stablecoin transaction volume, flowed through high-risk blockchain addresses in 2024, with Tron-based USDt accounting for more than 70% of the activity.
Related: Tether CEO denies the company ever planned $20B raise
Tether’s USDT hits $187B market cap
As Cointelegraph reported, Tether’s USDt reached a record $187.3 billion market capitalization in the fourth quarter of 2025, growing by $12.4 billion despite a broader crypto downturn triggered by October’s liquidation cascade. While USDt expanded, rival stablecoins struggled, with Circle’s USDC (USDC) ending the quarter largely flat and Ethena’s USDe losing about 57% of its value.
Network usage also surged. Monthly active USDt wallets climbed to 24.8 million, roughly 70% of all stablecoin-holding addresses, while quarterly transfer volume rose to $4.4 trillion across 2.2 billion transactions, marking new onchain records.
Magazine: Bitget’s Gracy Chen is looking for ‘entrepreneurs, not wantrepreneurs’
Key insights
- EU blocks Russia’s digital ruble and crypto services to close alternative payment channels.
- Over 40 shadow fleet tankers targeted to enforce oil price cap and energy restrictions.
- Banks, third-country suppliers, and military contractors face expanded financial sanctions.
Why is the EU now targeting crypto and the digital ruble?
The European Union has unveiled its proposed 20th sanctions package against Russia, expanding restrictions beyond traditional finance into digital assets. The measures aim to weaken Moscow’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine by blocking new financial channels that emerged after earlier banking sanctions.
🚨 EUROPE JUST PUT CRYPTO ON THE SANCTIONS MAP
On February 6, 2026, Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU’s 20th sanctions package — and this time the focus widens to crypto assets, firms trading them, and platforms enabling those trades.
Why this matters:
The goal is simple:… pic.twitter.com/nuVfDbR7sX— Naeem Aslam (@NaeemAslam23) February 6, 2026
Announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the plan bans the use of Russia’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) — the digital ruble — inside the bloc. It also prohibits European businesses and institutions from interacting with Russian crypto-asset service providers.
Wars end when one side runs out of money.
Cutting cash flows to Moscow is essential to stop the fighting.More banks supplying the Kremlin will face transaction bans, in Russian and in third countries. All will be cut off from SWIFT.
We will also ban Russia’s central bank…
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) February 6, 2026
As Russia faced growing limits on international banking access, it increasingly turned to alternative settlement tools, including cryptocurrencies and the digital ruble, to facilitate trade and cross-border payments. The EU now intends to close what officials see as a financial workaround.
The package further proposes removing additional Russian and affiliated banks from the SWIFT messaging network and placing full transaction bans on institutions accused of providing liquidity to the Kremlin.
Could these measures actually disrupt war financing?
EU officials believe so. By cutting both traditional and digital payment rails, the bloc aims to make financing military operations significantly more costly.
The sanctions also target companies in third-party countries suspected of helping Russia obtain electronics and industrial components for weapons production. About 40 firms linked to military supply chains would face full sanctions.
New export restrictions will apply to essential industrial materials, including chemicals, rubber products, metalworking tools, and laboratory equipment — all items that can support defense manufacturing.
What about Russia’s oil trade and the “shadow fleet”?
The EU is also tightening enforcement of energy sanctions. More than 40 oil tankers believed to be part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet — aging vessels used to sell oil above the G7 price cap — would be blacklisted.
These ships would lose access to EU ports and maritime services. The proposal also bans maintenance services for Russian LNG tankers and icebreakers.
Additionally, the bloc plans to activate its Anti-Circumvention Tool against countries suspected of acting as trade transit hubs. Companies providing insurance or technical services to sanctioned Russian oil shipments could face heavy penalties.
The sanctions list will also expand to include individuals linked to war crimes, propaganda operations, and the deportation of Ukrainian children.
Bitcoin (BTC) failed to hold $69,000 as the weekend began amid predictions of fresh macro lows next.
Key points:
-
Bitcoin faces a lack of acceptance above $69,000, while traders see new lows to come.
-
Analysis says that the rebound into the weekend was nothing more than a “relief rally.”
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Two CME futures gaps provide potential targets for BTC price upside.
BTC price bottom “not in,” analysis warns
Data from TradingView showed BTC price action dropping more than $4,000 versus the daily open.
With the old 2021 all-time high increasingly turning to resistance, already wary traders were in no mood for relief.
“TLDR: The $BTC bottom, is not in. My priority right now is capital preservation,” Keith Alan, cofounder of trading resource Material Indicators, warned X followers the day prior.
“If you’re thinking, ‘We’re so back,’ we’re not. There is literally no evidence of that yet.”
Alan described the 2021 $69,000 highs as “important” within what he called the ongoing “relief rally.”
“$60k was a gift yesterday, but there’s a high probability that lower is likely before the Bull Market returns,” he continued.
Zooming out, trader and analyst Rekt Capital also had reason to believe that the worst of the bearish BTC price move was not over.
“Whenever Bitcoin peaks in its Bull Market in Q4 of the Post-Halving year… It tends to produce a multi-month Relief Rally from the Macro Triangle Base before breaking down from the Triangle to transition into Bearish Acceleration,” he wrote on X, comparing BTC/USD with the 2022 bear market.
“This is the 4th consecutive cycle that this historical tendency has continued. And history suggests there’s more downside to come.”
Bitcoin bulls bet on CME gap fills
Saturday’s retracement, meanwhile, left a new potential “gap” in CME Group’s Bitcoin futures market.
Related: Bitcoin beats FTX, COVID-19 crash with record dive below 200-day trend line
A classic short-term price magnet, the gap joined another left at $84,000, and both were now of interest to traders eyeing a broader market relief move.
Will we see this #Bitcoin CME Gap filled next week?
$84,215 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ZHaKynuR3F
— Elja (@Eljaboom) February 7, 2026
“Today: correction day. Tomorrow: back up again towards the CME gap. Next week: continuation to $75k+,” crypto trader, analyst and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe forecast.
Samson Mow, CEO of Bitcoin adoption company JAN3, included the higher CME gap as one of two questions that “every financial analyst should be asking themselves.”
The other topic revolved around the ability of large-scale corporate buyers to add BTC to their treasuries at current 15-month lows.
“I believe the answers are not for long and very soon,” he concluded.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) expanded its digital asset collateral framework on February 6.
This update explicitly authorizes futures commission merchants (FCMs) to accept stablecoins issued by national trust banks as margin.
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Bank-Issued Stablecoins Enter US Derivatives Margin
The revision, detailed in Staff Letter 25-40, serves as a critical course correction to guidance issued in December.
That earlier framework had inadvertently created a two-tiered system by restricting eligible payment stablecoins to those issued by state-regulated money transmitters or trust companies.
The oversight effectively sidelined federally chartered national trust banks from participating in the burgeoning market for tokenized derivatives collateral.
Consequently, their previous exclusion from the eligible collateral list was an unintentional error that required immediate rectification.
In light of this, this update confirms that stablecoins issued by national trust banks now have parity with assets from state-regulated issuers, such as Circle and Paxos.
CFTC Chairman Mike Selig characterized the revision as a strategic step toward cementing American dominance in the digital asset sector.
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“With the enactment of the GENIUS Act and the CFTC’s new eligible collateral framework, America is the global leader in stablecoin innovation,” Selig said in a statement Friday.
The update is critical for the clearing industry, which has struggled to integrate digital assets into traditional settlement workflows.
Salman Banei, general counsel of Plume Network, noted the operational significance of the fix, saying:
“With this, GENIUS Act compliant stablecoins can be used as the payment leg for institutional derivatives settlement.”
The commission stated that it would not recommend enforcement action against FCMs that accept newly qualified assets. However, this leniency is conditional on their adherence to the enhanced reporting protocols outlined in the no-action letter.
Meanwhile, this latest move is part of a broader pilot program launched by the commission last year.
Under this initiative, FCMs are temporarily permitted to utilize Bitcoin, Ethereum, and qualified stablecoins as collateral for derivatives trading.
However, the CFTC emphasized that this relief comes with stringent oversight.
Participating FCMs must file frequent reports detailing their digital asset holdings and must immediately disclose any significant operational failures, disruptions, or cybersecurity incidents.
This reporting mechanism effectively places the industry in a regulatory sandbox, where the operational resilience demonstrated during this trial period will determine the long-term viability of crypto-collateral.
Meanwhile, XRP and SOL are among the top performers today, with notable increases following the latest market crash.
Bitcoin’s price volatility only intensified at the end of the business week as the asset dumped to a multi-month low before it staged an impressive five-digit recovery that was stopped at $72,000.
Most altcoins are well in the green on a daily scale, but the weekly charts are still painful. Nevertheless, many have bounced off the multi-year lows they posted yesterday.
BTC Stopped at $72K
There’s no valid way to sugarcoat what happened in the crypto markets in the past week or so. Just last Saturday, the primary digital asset dumped from $84,000 to under $76,000 in what’s usually a highly uneventful day. Although that was a painful crash on its own, it wasn’t the end of BTC’s struggles.
The asset dipped once again to under $74,000 at the beginning of the business week, but the actual calamity took place on Thursday and culminated on Friday morning.
At the time, BTC plummeted by approximately $17,000 in just over 24 hours from $77,000 to $60,000, which became its lowest price tag since before the US elections in late 2024. After liquidating thousands of traders for billions of dollars, the move south was finally exhausted, and bitcoin actually went on the offensive on Friday evening.
The peak came at almost $72,000, which was tapped on a couple of occasions, but BTC couldn’t break through it. Just the opposite, it was stopped and driven south to $68,000, where it currently sits.
Its market capitalization is down to $1.360 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the alts has slipped to 56.6%.
Alts Try to Rebound
Ethereum was among the poorest performers during the overall crash, dumping from more than $3,000 to under $2,700 in just over a week. It has bounced since then to $2,010 as of press time. SOL, BCH, XMR are also well in the green, followed by XRP, TRX, DOGE, and ADA.
In contrast, the recent high-flyer HYPE has dropped by almost 5% daily and now sits below $33. PUMP and WLFI are also in the red from the larger caps.
The total crypto market cap has recovered over $100 billion since its multi-year bottom on Friday morning and is up to $2.4 trillion on CG.
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Strategy has told investors that Bitcoin would have to collapse to around $8,000 before its crypto holdings no longer cover the company’s net debt, even as paper losses continue to deepen.
Summary
- Strategy holds more than 713,000 BTC acquired at an average of $76,052.
- Management says debt coverage fails only near $8,000.
- Current Bitcoin prices place holdings about $10B below cost.
The Michael Saylor-led firm made the disclosure in investor materials released alongside its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 5.
At the time of the filing, Strategy said its Bitcoin (BTC) holdings were worth $59.7 billion at a reference price of $84,000, about 10 times compared with net debt of about $6 billion.
With Bitcoin now trading near $63,800, the value of those holdings has fallen to roughly $45.4 billion, as per Saylor Tracker data, down about $10 billion from the company’s average purchase cost.
Debt coverage and balance sheet position
Strategy said its Bitcoin would fail to cover net debt only in what it described as an “extreme scenario” involving a drop to $8,000, a level last seen in early 2020. The company added that its Bitcoin is unencumbered and not pledged as collateral, which limits the risk of forced selling even during sharp market declines.
As of Feb. 1, 2026, Strategy held 713,502 BTC, acquired at a total cost of $54.26 billion, or $76,052 per coin. The firm also reported a 22.8% Bitcoin yield for fiscal year 2025, reflecting gains from capital raising and reinvestment strategies.
During 2025, Strategy raised $25.3 billion in capital, making it the largest U.S. equity issuer for a second straight year. It also completed five preferred stock offerings, raising $5.5 billion, and expanded its digital credit program, STRC, to $3.4 billion.
“We raised $25.3 billion of capital in 2025 to advance our Bitcoin treasury strategy,” said president and CEO Phong Le. “In 2026, we remain focused on expanding STRC to generate amplification and drive growth in Bitcoin Per Share.”
Chief financial officer Andrew Kang said the company’s capital structure is stronger than in previous cycles, citing its $2.25 billion reserve fund, which covers more than two years of dividend and interest payments.
Michael Saylor described Strategy’s balance sheet as a “digital fortress,” built around its Bitcoin holdings and digital credit platform.
Losses, valuation, and sector-wide pressure
Strategy’s confidence in its debt coverage comes as losses linked to Bitcoin volatility continue to weigh on financial results.
Due to unrealized losses on digital assets under fair value accounting, the company reported an operating loss of $17.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2025. Common shareholders incurred a net loss of $12.6 billion, or $42.93 per diluted share.
With Bitcoin trading in the low $60,000 range, Strategy’s holdings are now valued at about $45.4 billion, well below their $54.26 billion acquisition cost. Since late 2025, as prices fell and selling pressure mounted on cryptocurrency markets, that gap has grown.
At the moment, the company’s diluted multiple to net asset value, or mNAV, is about 0.85x. mNAV measures how the market values a firm’s equity relative to the net value of its assets, mainly its Bitcoin holdings, after accounting for debt. A ratio below 1 means the stock is trading at a discount to the underlying asset value.
Pressure is also building across the wider crypto treasury sector. Data from Artemis shows that unrealized losses among crypto accumulation firms have surpassed $25 billion. None of those firms has generated profits that exceed acquisition costs.
Some analysts view Strategy’s $8,000 threshold as a theoretical floor rather than a realistic risk. Others note that prolonged weakness below $60,000 could test investor confidence, raise re-financing costs, and limit the company’s ability to raise new capital on favorable terms.
Vietnam is moving to formalize how crypto transactions are taxed and regulated, signaling a push toward a tightly controlled but economically significant digital asset market. A draft circular circulated by the Ministry of Finance would impose a 0.1% personal income tax on the value of each crypto transfer executed through licensed service providers, aligning digital asset activity with the country’s securities trading framework. While transfers and trading would be VAT-exempt, the plan taxes turnover, applying the levy to investors regardless of residency. For institutions, crypto-related income would be taxed at 20% corporate rate, calculated after deducting purchase costs and related expenses. The measures also set a high bar for exchanges, including a 10 trillion dong charter capital threshold and a 49% foreign-ownership cap, reflecting a cautious approach to market infrastructure.
The draft circular, released for public consultation, also formalizes a definition of crypto assets as digital assets issued, stored or transferred using cryptographic or similar technologies. It arrives as Vietnam accelerates a broader, five-year pilot program for a regulated crypto-asset market that began in September 2025. By October 2025, officials indicated no companies had applied to participate in the pilot, underscoring barriers related to capital requirements and eligibility criteria. Separately, authorities have begun opening licensing windows for digital asset trading platforms, signaling that the regulatory framework could start to take shape in early 2026.
As the policy discussion unfolds, Vietnam’s approach appears to be balancing tax revenue opportunities with stringent oversight of who can operate and how financial flows are monitored. The Ministry of Finance’s draft circulates alongside ongoing regulatory experiments and a push to bring crypto activity into formal channels, while the broader ecosystem weighs the implications for retail investors, institutions, and technology providers. The Hanoi Times highlighted the 0.1% PIT as the centerpiece of the tax framework, noting that the tax would be levied on transfers through licensed providers and would mirror the existing stock-trading levy in form and function. The article also points to a clear distinction between value-added tax treatment and turnover taxes, a nuance that could influence how exchanges structure their operations and how tax authorities monitor cross-border activity.
Vietnam formally defines crypto assets
In what appears to be a step toward regulatory clarity, authorities described crypto assets as digital instruments that rely on cryptographic or analogous technologies to issue, store and verify transfers. This definitional move is a precursor to stricter licensing criteria and more predictable tax treatment, which in turn could attract legitimate players while screening out speculative, non-compliant activity. The proposed regime sets a higher capital bar for exchanges than many industries require for traditional banks, signaling an intent to ensure resilience and risk controls in markets that are closely linked to global capital flows.
Under the proposed rules, operators seeking to run a digital asset exchange would need substantial capital, with charter requirements set at 10 trillion dong (about $408 million at current exchange rates). Foreign ownership would be allowed but capped at 49% of an exchange’s equity, limiting influence from outside the country while still enabling international participation. Such thresholds underscore the government’s preference for domestic guardianship of critical financial infrastructure, even as it permits foreign-backed ventures to participate under strict caps and regulatory oversight.
The broader regulatory arc has been visible since Vietnam launched a five-year crypto market pilot in September 2025, a landmark shift intended to test how a regulated ecosystem could coexist with a growing domestic economy. By early October, authorities acknowledged that no companies had yet submitted applications to join the pilot, a reflection of the substantial entry hurdles and careful qualification criteria in play. This admission came alongside reports that the pilot’s scope would eventually be complemented by formal licensing for trading platforms, a move that would bring crypto activity under formal government supervision and pave the way for standardized reporting and consumer protections.
Vietnam opens licensing for crypto exchanges
In the lag time between policy signals and practical rollout, Vietnam began accepting applications for exchange licenses, marking a tangible step toward operationalizing a regulated crypto market. The State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) stated that applications would be accepted starting January 20, 2026, framing the licensing process as a deliberate, multi-year effort to bring crypto activities into a formal regulatory framework. The liquidity and risk-management requirements implied by the licensing window are designed to channel legitimate market participants into a controlled environment, potentially reducing fraud and improving transparency for investors and policymakers alike.
Key takeaways
- The Ministry of Finance’s draft circular would impose a 0.1% personal income tax on the value of each crypto transfer conducted through licensed providers, aligning crypto transfers with the country’s stock-trading levy.
- Crypto transfers and trading would be exempt from value-added tax, while turnover-based taxation would apply to investors regardless of residency status.
- Institutional investors earning income from crypto transfers would face a 20% corporate income tax on profits after deducting costs and expenses.
- Exchanges would face a high capital requirement of 10 trillion dong (roughly $408 million) and foreign ownership would be limited to 49% of equity.
- A formal definition of crypto assets would anchor regulatory rules, helping separate compliant activity from informal or illicit use cases.
- The country has launched a five-year pilot for a regulated crypto market (Sept 2025) with licensing for exchanges anticipated to begin in 2026, although initial participation had not materialized by Oct 2025.
Market context: The policy comes as many jurisdictions reassess how to regulate crypto markets, balancing tax revenue with consumer protection and financial stability. Vietnam’s approach leans toward rigorous control, reflecting a global trend toward centralized oversight while still signaling potential for regulated participation by international players under strict conditions.
Why it matters
The package signals a deliberate attempt to integrate crypto activity into the formal economy, with taxes and licensing acting as primary levers to enhance oversight. For retail investors, the PIT on transfers through licensed providers creates a clear tax path that will influence trading behavior and cost considerations. Institutions face a defined tax regime and a high bar for market entry, potentially filtering participants to those willing to navigate substantial capital prerequisites and regulatory compliance obligations.
From a market infrastructure perspective, the 10 trillion dong charter capital threshold and 49% foreign-ownership cap set a high ceiling for domestic exchanges, aiming to safeguard the financial system while still inviting foreign expertise. The definitional clarity around crypto assets helps align Vietnamese rules with broader financial standards, reducing ambiguity for developers, exchanges, and custodians seeking to establish local operations. Observers will watch how this framework interacts with ongoing pilot programs and whether the regulatory appetite broadens to accommodate more players over time.
For policymakers, the balance between revenue collection, investor protection, and market growth is delicate. Vietnam’s approach suggests a patient, data-driven trajectory: tax structures that incentivize compliance, capital requirements that deter low-capital risk, and licensing that creates an auditable, auditable market foundation. If successful, the model could influence neighboring economies contemplating similar regulated pathways for digital assets, especially in a region where adoption is uneven and regulatory certainty remains a key obstacle for institutional participation.
What to watch next
- January 20, 2026: Applications open for digital asset exchange licenses, establishing a formal entry point for market participants.
- Public responses to the draft circular: Feedback from domestic and international stakeholders could shape final text and practical implementation.
- Details on how PIT and corporate tax will be administered across different crypto products and services, including calculation methodologies and reporting requirements.
- Progress of the five-year pilot: uptake, participant eligibility, and any regulatory adjustments arising from early pilot findings.
- Any updates to foreign ownership rules or capital thresholds as exchanges begin building their local presence under clarified regulatory conditions.
Sources & verification
- Draft circular on crypto taxation and licensing circulated by Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance for public consultation.
- The Hanoi Times report outlining the 0.1% personal income tax on crypto transfers through licensed providers.
- Five-year crypto market pilot launched in September 2025, with a status update stating no applicants as of October 6, 2025.
- State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) statement on the licensing window for digital asset exchanges and the January 20, 2026 start date.
- Coverage of Vietnam opening licensing for crypto exchanges and related regulatory developments referenced in contemporaneous reporting.
Meme coin launchpad Pump.fun has announced the acquisition of trading terminal Vyper, a move aimed at expanding its cross-chain trading capabilities.
Summary
- Pump.fun has acquired Vyper to expand its cross-chain trading terminal, with a focus on improving EVM and Base support.
- Vyper’s team and technology will be integrated into Pump.fun’s Terminal, while the standalone Vyper product will be phased out.
- The deal highlights Pump.fun’s push to evolve from a meme-coin launchpad into a broader trading and infrastructure platform.
The deal was confirmed on February 5, 2026, though financial terms were not publicly disclosed. Vyper’s team and technology will now join Pump.fun’s broader product suite as part of this strategic expansion.
Pump.fun integrates Vyper into its Terminal
Pump.fun is a Solana-originated meme coin launchpad and token creation platform that has grown into one of the most active crypto applications. Since its launch in early 2024, it has allowed users to create and trade tokens without technical expertise and has played a major role in the surge of memecoin activity on Solana.
Under the acquisition plan, Vyper’s infrastructure will be integrated into Pump.fun’s Terminal platform, while the standalone Vyper product will be phased out. The Terminal, previously built after Pump.fun acquired another trading terminal product called Padre, aims to serve as a multi-chain trading hub focused on fast execution and broad market support.
In a post announcing the integration, the Terminal team stated: “EVM support is a core focus for Terminal. With Vyper’s infrastructure & talent, expect trading on EVM (including Base) to massively improve.”
Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen also commented on the deal via social media. He framed the acquisition as part of a broader growth strategy, writing that “despite market conditions, we’re expanding our team rapidly and aggressively,” and highlighted the importance of building “super rapid and efficient cross-chain trading infrastructure.”
For Pump.fun, adding Vyper’s technical expertise strengthens its Terminal offering and helps accelerate its reach into EVM-compatible networks like Base and others. This is crucial for broad cross-chain liquidity and execution quality. For Vyper, integration into a larger ecosystem offers a clearer path for product evolution than remaining a standalone service.
Crypto World
Gold Holds Below $5,000 as Volatility Remains High, Exchange Operator CME Hikes Margins
Gold prices remained below $5,000 as volatility remains high following last week’s historic rout, with exchange operator CME Group raising margin requirements for precious metals once again.
Futures in New York ticked 0.1% higher at $4,891.10 a troy ounce and are headed for a weekly gain of 3%. Meanwhile, silver fell 4.1% to $73.56 an ounce, on track for a weekly decline of more than 6%.
“Until volatility subsides and price discovery improves, gold, and especially silver is likely to trade violently in both directions,” said Ole Hansen from Saxo Bank.
Hyperliquid price has stayed resilient above key support levels despite a $340 million token unlock and wider crypto market weakness.
Summary
- HYPE continues to trade above its breakout zone near $32–$33, keeping its bullish structure intact.
- Strong volume and limited sell-off suggest the recent unlock was largely priced in.
- A fresh Coinbase listing adds near-term visibility as momentum stays constructive.
Despite a decline in the overall cryptocurrency market, Hyperliquid is up 2.9% on the day, trading at $34.80 at the time of writing. Most top-100 tokens posted losses, yet HYPE continued to attract buyers, maintaining a strong multi-week run.
The token is up 20% over the past seven days, 25% over the past month, and 36% year-over-year. Over the last week, Hyperliquid (HYPE) has traded between $28.23 and $37.84, showing wide but controlled price movement. Trading activity has surged alongside price, with daily volume jumping 65% to $1.31 billion.
Derivatives data support this trend. As per CoinGlass data, futures volume rose 33% to $5.43 billion, while open interest increased 2.3% to $1.59 billion. Rising price alongside growing open interest points to fresh positioning rather than short covering.
Token unlock pressure meets structural demand
On Feb. 6, roughly 9.92 million HYPE tokens were unlocked, roughly 2.8% of the circulating supply. At current prices, that equals about $340 million. The market absorbed the supply without experiencing major price fluctuations despite the large number of tokens entering circulation.
According to Tokenomist data, approximately 395 million HYPE, or 40% of the entire supply, have already been made available. The majority of these tokens were reserved for distribution to the community, early ecosystem incentives, and core contributors.
In a significant change, Hyperliquid also cut the number of team-related unlocks by 90%, resulting in a February allocation of about 140,000 HYPE, or about $4.5 million, instead of 1.2 million tokens. Monthly unlocks of around 9.9 million HYPE are expected through late 2027, though reduced team allocations could continue.
To offset supply pressure, the protocol uses an Assistance Fund that converts about 97% of trading fees into HYPE buybacks. Hyperliquid just posted a record $29 billion in 24-hour trading volume, generating close to $6 million in fees that feed directly into this mechanism.
Another tailwind came on Feb. 5, when Coinbase announced spot trading for HYPE/USD. Trading went live the same day, marking HYPE’s first appearance on a major U.S. exchange.
While HYPE had already been listed on Kraken and Gemini, Coinbase’s reach is often seen as more impactful, especially since it attracts U.S.-based institutional traders.
Hyperliquid price technical analysis
Technically, Hyperliquid’s bullish structure is still present. Price continues to hold above the former range high around $32–33, a level that has flipped into support. This area has now absorbed both market-wide weakness and the recent unlock.
Buyers are taking advantage of pullbacks, as shown by a distinct sequence of higher lows. Since the breakout, the 20-day moving average has served as dynamic support, and the price is still above it.
Bollinger Bands tightened following the initial rally, suggesting consolidation as opposed to distribution. The relative strength index is above 60, indicating that although momentum has slowed, buyers are still in charge of the trend.
Downside follow-through after the unlock has been limited. Price hasn’t slipped back into the prior range, and recent red candles are small. This behavior suggests that much of the supply was priced in ahead of time.
If HYPE continues to hold above the $32–33 zone, the setup favors continuation toward the $38–40 area, especially if exchange-driven demand persists. Although the current structure still favors buyers, a clean daily close below that support would weaken the setup and pave the way for a deeper pullback.
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