Crypto World
Wall Street giant Apollo follows BlackRock in DeFi push with Morpho token deal
Apollo Global Management (APO) is moving deeper into crypto, striking a deal that could make the $938 billion asset manager a major token holder in a decentralized lending platform.
The firm signed a cooperation agreement with the Morpho Association, the French non-profit organization behind the Morpho protocol, that allows Apollo and its affiliates to buy up 90 million tokens tokens over the next four years.
The purchases may take place through open-market buys, over-the-counter transactions and other arrangements, and are subject to ownership caps and transfer restrictions. Galaxy Digital UK acted as exclusive financial adviser to Morpho, according to the document.
Beyond the token purchases, Apollo and Morpho said they will work together to support lending markets built on Morpho’s protocol. Morpho provides infrastructure for onchain lending markets and curator-managed vaults that allocate assets across them. The protocol is governed by holders of the MORPHO token. The 90 million token stake would translate to 9% of the protocol’s governance token’s total supply.
The agreement adds to Apollo’s expanding blockchain footprint. Last year, the firm made a “seven-figure” investment in blockchain project , which focuses on bringing traditional financial products onchain. Apollo’s credit strategies have already been tokenized via third parties. Tokenization specialist Securitize issues ACRED, a token that gives exposure to the Apollo Diversified Credit Fund, while Anemoy offers ACRDX, which tracks Apollo’s global private and public credit strategies.
The move comes as other asset managers test decentralized finance rails. Earlier this week, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, said it will make shares of its tokenized U.S. Treasury fund, BUIDL, tradable on decentralized exchange Uniswap and purchased an undisclosed amount of the protocol’s governance token UNI .
Blockstream CEO Adam Back has opposed a proposal aimed at reducing Ordinals-like “spam” on Bitcoin, warning that the fix could do more harm than good to the network’s credibility.
Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP-110) was proposed by pseudonymous Bitcoin developer Dathon Ohm in December. Nearly 7.5% of Bitcoin nodes — all of which are Bitcoin Knots clients — have signaled readiness for BIP-110, according to data.
The proposal seeks to temporarily shrink how much data can be stored in Bitcoin transactions to reduce the amount of images, videos, audios and other “data abuse” flooding the network.
While Back agreed that Bitcoin should act as “sound money,” he said in a post to X on Sunday that it wasn’t worth a consensus-level change, adding that BIP-110 would be “an attack” on Bitcoin’s credibility as a store of value and secure monetary network.
“It’s a lynch mob attempt to push changes there is not consensus for,” he said, adding that spam is “just an annoyance” that poses no real security threat to the network.
BIP-110 is only a temporary fix to reduce arbitrary data, aimed at giving the Bitcoin community the ability to evaluate the impact for 12 months while developers work on a longer-term solution.
BIP-110 has gained more support from validators running Bitcoin Knots, which started taking market share from Bitcoin Core in the back half of 2025, when Bitcoin Core developers removed the 80-byte limit on the OP_RETURN function in late October, enabling more non-financial transactions to flood the Bitcoin network.
Bitcoin Core’s market share of Bitcoin nodes has fallen from about 98% to 77.2% since the controversial OP_RETURN function sparked debate in the Bitcoin community over what transactions should be allowed on the network, with Bitcoin Knots’ share rising to 22.7%.
Back is among many who opposed removing the 80-byte limit on the OP_RETURN function, stating in September that Ordinals-like spam has “no place in the timechain.”
However, he flagged that a solution like BIP-110 has the potential to freeze funds by rendering certain unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs) unspendable.
Ohm acknowledged that it is theoretically possible for funds to be frozen, but added: “This proposal goes to great pains to avoid affecting any known use cases.”
Related: Bitcoin holders are being tested as inflation eases: Pompliano
Those in favor of non-financial transactions, like Bitcoin Ordinals leader Leonidas, have noted that the Ordinals and Runes ecosystems have contributed over $500 million in transaction fees to strengthen Bitcoin’s security — something which has become an increasing concern as the mining block subsidy continues to halve every four or so years.
Bitcoin Ordinals activity has tanked
However, Dune Analytics data shows that Ordinals inscription fees were consistently netting less than $10,000 per day for Bitcoin miners by the end of 2025, making it difficult for them to rely on non-financial transactions for revenue.
Ordinal activity reached its peak more than two years ago, with Bitcoin miners collecting almost $10 million in fees on Dec. 16, 2023.
Since then, fees have trended downward except for a few short-lived spikes.
Magazine: Did a Hong Kong fund kill Bitcoin? Bithumb’s ‘phantom’ BTC: Asia Express
MYX Finance has posted one of the steepest weekly drawdowns in the digital asset market. The token plunged 72% over the past seven days, underperforming most comparable altcoins. The sell-off erased months of gains and pushed MYX to a three-month low.
At first glance, such a collapse often signals protocol failure or declining utility. However, on-chain data and derivatives metrics tell a different story.
Sponsored
MYX Finance Is Still Doing Well In The DeFi Space
A sharp decline typically raises concerns about weakening demand or user migration. Investors often examine total value locked, or TVL, to assess platform health. In decentralized finance, TVL measures the amount of capital secured within a protocol’s smart contracts.
MYX Finance’s TVL declined by roughly $2 million since the start of the month. It fell from $22.27 million on January 31 to $20.27 million today. While the drop reflects some capital outflow, it does not indicate a systemic collapse. The reduction represents less than 10% of the total locked value.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
This moderate contraction suggests that users have not exited en masse. Core utility appears intact. The data imply that the price crash was not driven by a dramatic fall in platform adoption.
Sponsored
Traders Are Pining For MYX Price Drop
Derivatives data provides stronger insight into the recent volatility. Funding rates in perpetual futures markets reveal whether traders are leaning long or short. When funding turns deeply negative, short sellers dominate and pay fees to long holders.
MYX has experienced persistently negative funding rates, with spikes reflecting intense bearish pressure. This pattern shows traders have been aggressively opening short contracts. The imbalance suggests speculation on continued downside rather than a reaction to deteriorating fundamentals.
Such positioning can accelerate price movements. Heavy short exposure amplifies downward momentum during periods of fear. In MYX’s case, sustained negative funding indicates that sentiment, not utility loss, has driven much of the decline.
Sponsored
How Are MYX Holders Acting?
The Money Flow Index, or MFI, further supports this view. The MFI tracks capital inflows and outflows by combining price and volume. A move below the neutral 50 level signals strengthening selling pressure.
MYX’s MFI has fallen beneath that midpoint, confirming that MYX sellers currently control momentum. The shift reflects growing fear, uncertainty, and doubt among traders. As liquidity thins, price declines can intensify quickly.
Historical patterns offer additional context. The last time MYX’s MFI moved decisively from buying to selling pressure, the token dropped 50%. This time, the decline has already reached 72%. The trend may continue until the MFI approaches the oversold zone, where selling pressure typically begins to exhaust.
Sponsored
MYX Price Crashes
MYX is trading at $1.88 at the time of writing. The token broke below the psychological $2.00 level, marking its lowest price in three months. The 72% weekly decline reflects extreme short-term weakness and heightened volatility.
If MYX fails to hold the $1.68 support level, additional downside risk increases. A breakdown could push the token toward $1.43. Losing that support would expose the next critical level near $1.22, where buyers may attempt to stabilize price action.
Conversely, sentiment shifts can occur quickly in crypto markets. If investors view current levels as undervalued, accumulation could begin. A sustained move above $2.48 would signal improving strength. Reclaiming that level as support could invalidate the bearish outlook as MYX approaches the $3.00 mark.
The lack of privacy for on-chain transactions is a core obstacle to mainstream crypto payments. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao argues that privacy gaps deter businesses from using crypto to settle expenses, including payroll. He highlighted a scenario in which a company paying employees in crypto on-chain could have salary details exposed simply by inspecting sending addresses. The remark underscores a broader debate about whether public ledgers can sustain enterprise-level use without compromising sensitive information. In a separate exchange with Chamath Palihapitiya, host of the All-In Podcast, CZ connected these concerns to physical security, suggesting that transparency could heighten corporate risk even beyond financial data. The conversation comes as privacy-focused narratives—rooted in crypto’s cypherpunk origins—reassert themselves in a landscape where AI and data security add new layers to the discussion.
Key takeaways
- The privacy question sits at the center of enterprise crypto adoption, with executives arguing that transparent on-chain activity deters payrolls and other payments.
- A concrete example cited by CZ shows how salary information could be inferred from transfer histories, illustrating a tangible risk for corporate use cases.
- The revival of cypherpunk values in crypto debates signals a shift toward prioritizing user control over data and resistance to pervasive surveillance on public ledgers.
- Industry voices warn that as AI-powered tools become more capable, centralized servers and on-chain data could become more attractive targets for attackers, elevating the need for privacy-preserving technologies.
- Policy and product developments around on-chain privacy—alongside pragmatic privacy narratives in media and research—are likely to shape how institutions view crypto as a payments and settlement layer.
Tickers mentioned:
Sentiment: Neutral
Market context: The privacy debate in crypto intersects with ongoing discussions about regulatory expectations, enterprise data handling, and the evolving threat landscape. As institutions weigh the benefits of programmable money against the risks of exposure, privacy-preserving technologies are entering broader conversations, alongside calls for pragmatic privacy implementations in the industry. The issue sits within a wider trend of renewed Cypherpunk-inspired discourse and a cautious approach to on-chain transparency in corporate contexts.
Why it matters
Privacy is not a niche concern but a practical constraint on the practical use of blockchain technology for everyday business. The payroll example alone illustrates how a lack of on-chain privacy can undermine a core financial function, potentially stalling broader corporate adoption. For enterprises, the risk is twofold: accidental data leakage that reveals payroll structures, vendor relationships, or strategic alliances, and the more subtle threat of data aggregation by adversaries who can piece together a company’s financial health from transaction patterns.
Industry voices emphasize that corporate workflows—trade secrets, supplier networks, and internal budgets—rely on confidentiality even when the underlying infrastructure aims to be transparent. The Kaspa project’s privacy emphasis, echoed in conversations about enterprise adoption, highlights that a meaningful on-chain privacy layer can be a prerequisite for companies to feel safe transacting with crypto as a payment method. As AI systems grow more capable, the ability to infer sensitive information from on-chain activity could become easier, making robust privacy protections not just desirable but necessary for security of business data.
These threads align with a broader narrative about cypherpunk values resurfacing in crypto discourse: the principle that encryption and privacy are foundational to a decentralized, censorship-resistant financial system. The idea that privacy tools can coexist with auditability and compliance is increasingly a focal point for developers building privacy-enhanced protocols and for policymakers considering how to balance innovation with consumer protection. The conversation is not about anonymity at all costs but about ensuring that legitimate users—businesses and individuals—have the ability to shield sensitive data while preserving the integrity of financial ecosystems.
In parallel, industry commentators point to a future in which on-chain privacy becomes a standard part of enterprise-grade crypto infrastructure. This includes recognition that centralized data stores and surveillance risks will attract AI-assisted threats, making privacy technologies a strategic requirement for any organization looking to deploy blockchain-based financial solutions. The discussion is complemented by media and research highlighting pragmatic privacy innovations and the potential for privacy-centric architectures to coexist with regulated, auditable systems. These developments suggest a trajectory where privacy enhancements are not a tech niche but a core governance and risk-management consideration for the crypto economy.
As regulators scrutinize the balance between transparency and confidentiality, the industry is watching for concrete privacy implementations that can satisfy both corporate needs and compliance frameworks. The dialogue around privacy has also gained renewed attention from mainstream voices who emphasize that the absence of privacy could undermine trust and slow adoption, particularly in areas like cross-border payments, supply chain finance, and employee compensation. The culmination of these conversations points to a broader, more nuanced approach to privacy in crypto—one that enables legitimate use while guarding sensitive information from exposure and misuse.
Further reading on related privacy themes includes discussions on the cypherpunk ethos and the evolving privacy landscape in crypto, including analyses of pragmatic privacy strategies and infrastructural approaches to privacy-preserving transactions. For a broader view of where privacy discussions are headed and how they intersect with industry and policy, see discussions on cypherpunk values in crypto, the role of privacy in CBDCs, and analyses of AI’s impact on on-chain data security.
What to watch next
- Regulatory and industry acceptance of privacy-preserving on-chain transactions for enterprise use, including payroll and treasurer workflows.
- Advancements in privacy-focused protocols and projects, with attention to practical implementations that can meet corporate governance standards.
- Analysis of how AI-enabled data analytics could exploit on-chain transparency and what mitigations are being proposed.
- Public discourse around cypherpunk values and their influence on product design, governance, and interoperability in crypto networks.
- Emerging coverage and research on pragmatic privacy in crypto, highlighting specific case studies and measurable privacy gains.
Sources & verification
- Changpeng Zhao’s comments on on-chain privacy and payroll visibility, via his X post: https://x.com/cz_binance/status/2023016538677371079
- Cypherpunk values and their place in modern crypto debates: https://cointelegraph.com/news/cypherpunk-values-dying-but-not-dead-yet-show
- Ray Dalio on privacy concerns around CBDCs: https://cointelegraph.com/news/zero-privacy-highly-controlled-cbdcs-coming-soon-warns-ray-dalio
- Kaspa’s perspective on enterprise privacy and adoption drivers: https://cointelegraph.com/news/institutions-wont-embrace-web3-without-privacy-options-dop-exec
- On-chain privacy in the context of AI and security threats: https://cointelegraph.com/news/onchain-privacy-necessity-age-ai-shielded-ceo
Privacy as the missing link for on-chain adoption
The on-chain privacy dilemma is not a theoretical debate but a practical bottleneck that could shape how quickly crypto-based payments move from pilot projects to everyday business operations. CZ’s remarks place a spotlight on concrete use cases—like payroll—where public visibility of transactions may undermine trust and willingness to adopt crypto at scale. The ongoing discussion around cypherpunk principles, combined with rising concerns about data security and AI-enabled threats, suggests that the next phase of crypto development will hinge on privacy-by-default features that preserve confidentiality without sacrificing auditable and compliant frameworks.
Ultimately, the market will look for a balanced path: privacy tools that protect sensitive information, clear governance around data handling, and privacy-preserving infrastructure that supports legitimate business needs. As projects and policymakers continue to test and refine these approaches, the industry’s ability to reconcile transparency with confidentiality could determine whether crypto payments become a mainstream, trusted option for corporate finance and everyday transactions alike.
Further reading on privacy’s role in the crypto era includes explorations of pragmatic privacy implementations and the revival of cypherpunk philosophies in today’s landscape, offering a framework for how technology and policy might converge to empower users while mitigating risk. The conversation remains dynamic, with developments that could redefine what “privacy” means in a decentralized economy and how enterprises securely participate in the programmable money revolution.
The relationship between Binance and FTX has long been one of the most debated rivalries in crypto. Now, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is offering one of his most detailed public accounts yet.
CZ describes how cooperation turned into competition well before FTX’s 2022 collapse.
Sponsored
Sponsored
CZ Lifts the Curtain on Binance’s Secretive Break With FTX
Speaking on the All-In Podcast, the former Binance CEO traced the relationship back to early 2019, when he first met Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), then running Alameda Research.
“Uh, I think I first met him in January 2019 in one of the Singapore conferences Binance organized. I think FTX did not exist at the time… Sam… was running Alameda,” CZ said, recalling that Alameda was then a major trading client on Binance and relations were initially friendly.
According to CZ, Alameda and the future FTX team soon approached Binance with proposals to collaborate on a derivatives platform. Several offers were made over time, including a joint venture structure that would have favored Binance.
Eventually, in late 2019, Binance agreed to invest.
“Yeah… we invested in them only 20% as equity at some point, and then we exited a year… later… we didn’t stay there for very long,” CZ said.
The deal included a token swap involving BNB and FTT, and Binance became a minority shareholder. CZ emphasized that:
- He remained a passive investor throughout the relationship
- Chose not to request financial statements because both firms operated competing futures businesses.
“Because of the competitive nature in the businesses… I never really… ask them for financial statements… I’m a very passive investor. So when I invest, I don’t get involved in their business,” he said.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Binance-FTX Tensions Beneath the Surface
Despite the early cooperation, CZ said relations deteriorated quickly. Reportedly, he began hearing reports that SBF was criticizing Binance in policy and regulatory circles in Washington.
“And then almost as soon as we did that deal, I kept hearing from my friends… SBF badmouthing us in the Washington circles,” CZ said.
He also described frustration over hiring practices, alleging that FTX recruited Binance staff by offering dramatically higher salaries. Allegedly, FTX would then use those hires to approach Binance’s VIP clients with competing offers.
While CZ said he attempted to maintain a cooperative tone publicly and even agreed to appear jointly at industry events, he suggested the rivalry was already intensifying behind the scenes.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Why Binance Exited
By early 2021, FTX was raising capital at valuations reportedly reaching $32 billion. CZ said Binance had contractual veto rights over future funding rounds but chose not to exercise them.
“So… we said… why don’t we exit, actually?” CZ recalled, explaining that Binance preferred to compete freely rather than remain a shareholder in a fast-growing rival.
The exit was finalized in July 2021, roughly a year and a half before FTX collapsed in November 2022.
“This is like a full year and a half before they had issues… at the time we didn’t know,” he said, rejecting claims that Binance exited because of inside knowledge. “That’s categorically not true.”
FTX Collapse and Its Aftermath
FTX ultimately failed after revelations that customer funds had been misused to cover losses at Alameda Research, triggering a liquidity crisis and bankruptcy.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Binance’s decision in November 2022 to liquidate its FTT holdings accelerated a bank run. However, subsequent investigations and court proceedings concluded that the core cause of the collapse was internal fraud and mismanagement.
CZ declined to comment extensively on ongoing legal disputes, including efforts by the FTX bankruptcy estate to recover funds from the 2021 exit. However, he reiterated that Binance had no visibility into FTX’s internal finances while it was a shareholder.
Taken together, CZ’s account portrays the Binance–FTX relationship not as a sudden breakdown but as a gradual unraveling. If his remarks are any guide, the relationship was marked by early cooperation, growing rivalry, and a strategic exit long before the crisis that reshaped the crypto industry.
SBF did not immediately respond to BeInCrypto’s request for comment about CZ’s claims.
Ethereum (ETH) has fallen 6.6% in the last 24 hours, trading around $1,947, as broader crypto markets continue to navigate volatility and macroeconomic headwinds.
Yet amidst the price turbulence, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is pointing to a surprising source of optimism: retail investor resilience.
Sponsored
Retail “Diamond Hands” Hold Strong Despite Ethereum’s 7% Drop
Armstrong highlighted that, beyond weathering the market downturn, Coinbase’s retail users are actively buying the dip, resulting in net increases in BTC and ETH holdings.
“Retail users on Coinbase have been very resilient during these market conditions, according to our data,” Armstrong wrote. “They’ve been buying the dip.
According to the Coinbase executive, they have seen a native unit increase for retail users across BTC and ETH on the exchange.
Citing diamond hands, Armstrong says most of Coinbase’s customers had native unit balances in February equal to or greater than their balances in December.
The Coinbase CEO framed this trend as a bullish counter-narrative to the current market gloom. While Bitcoin has pulled back toward the $68,000–$69,000 range and Ethereum has seen a 7% drop to levels below $2,000, retail investors are demonstrating conviction rather than panic.
Sponsored
The “diamond hands” phenomenon, where users maintain or increase their crypto holdings despite drawdowns, suggests a maturing retail base that may help stabilize prices and underpin long-term adoption.
Mixed Views Emerge as Retail Conviction Faces Market Risks
However, not everyone shares Armstrong’s optimism. Some critics argue that holding through sharp declines merely reflects significant drawdowns rather than true resilience.
Beyond holding behavior, community members are also voicing broader policy and market access concerns.
Sponsored
“Retail users deserve access to yield on stablecoins and the reversal of the accredited investor law,” commented Wendy O.
This suggests that expanded DeFi participation and yield opportunities could further strengthen retail confidence.
The context is important, coming days after Coinbase’s Q4 2025 earnings revealed declining trading volumes amid an 11% drop in broader crypto market capitalization.
Yet the exchange continued to see inflows of native units from retail users, hinting at a floor of accumulation that may cushion the market during bearish stretches.
Sponsored
Historical crypto cycles show that periods of sustained retail conviction often precede rebounds, as retail holders absorb volatility while institutional participants adopt more cautious postures.
Therefore, while Armstrong’s message reassures the crypto community and subtly defends Coinbase’s performance amid a turbulent quarter, it also shows that the retail market is changing from short-term speculation to longer-term accumulation.
While prices may remain choppy in the near term, these patterns suggest that retail investors are increasingly acting as stabilizing forces in the market, potentially serving as a catalyst for recovery when broader sentiment shifts.
As Epstein-linked revelations emerged, new data show crypto payments to suspected trafficking services surged 85% globally in 2025.
As global attention remains fixed on the continued release and scrutiny of emails and documents tied to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, attention has turned to how exploitation networks operate and move money.
Against this backdrop, a new report from Chainalysis disclosed that cryptocurrency flows to suspected human trafficking-related services surged sharply in 2025. Transaction volumes reached hundreds of millions of dollars, up 85% year-over-year. While the figures quantify financial activity, the report stressed that the true cost of these crimes is borne by victims, not balance sheets.
Trafficking-Linked Crypto Activity
The increase in crypto-linked trafficking activity has occurred alongside the expansion of Southeast Asia–based scam compounds, online gambling operations, and Chinese-language money laundering and guarantee networks, many of which operate openly on Telegram and form a tightly connected illicit ecosystem with global reach.
Unlike cash-based systems, blockchain transparency helps investigators to trace these flows, thereby creating opportunities to identify and disrupt networks that would otherwise remain hidden. Blockchain analytics company Chainalysis tracked four primary categories of suspected cryptocurrency-facilitated trafficking: Telegram-based “international escort” services suspected of trafficking people; “labor placement” agents linked to kidnapping and forced labor in scam compounds; prostitution networks; and vendors of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Payment behavior differs across categories. “International escort” services and prostitution networks rely almost entirely on stablecoins as they prioritize price stability and ease of conversion, but CSAM vendors have historically favored Bitcoin. However, its dominance is declining as alternative Layer 1 networks and privacy tools emerge.
Escort services were found to be deeply integrated with Chinese-language money laundering networks that rapidly convert stablecoins into local currencies and reduce exposure to asset freezes by centralized issuers. Transaction-size analysis points to professionalized operations as nearly 49% of “international escort” service transfers surpass $10,000, which is consistent with organized enterprises operating at scale.
Meanwhile, prostitution networks cluster in the $1,000-$10,000 range. These networks often use structured pricing and customer-service models, advertising standardized rates across major East Asian cities, which in turn produce identifiable on-chain patterns useful for detection.
You may also like:
CSAM Crypto Economy
CSAM operations reveal a different structure. It was found that roughly half of transactions are under $100, and there is a shift toward subscription-based models that generate predictable revenue streams. In 2025, Chainalysis observed growing use of Monero and instant exchangers to launder CSAM proceeds, in addition to an emerging overlap between CSAM networks and sadistic online extremism communities, where abuse material is monetized through cryptocurrency payments.
One major CSAM site identified in July 2025 alone used more than 5,800 crypto addresses and generated over $530,000 since 2022. The report also stated that trafficking-linked services leverage US-based infrastructure for scale and legitimacy, while operators often remain overseas to limit personal exposure.
SECRET PARTNERSHIP BONUS for CryptoPotato readers: Use this link to register and unlock $1,500 in exclusive BingX Exchange rewards (limited time offer).
XRP price surged sharply, nearly posting an 18.7% intraday gain before surrendering half of that advance. The token now trades near $1.53 after closing with a 9% rise.
Premature profit-taking by holders capped momentum and may influence XRP price direction in the coming sessions.
Sponsored
Sponsored
XRP Selling Continues
Exchange net position change data indicates that selling among XRP holders remains consistent. Green bars on the metric show continued inflows to exchanges, which typically signal intent to sell. This steady movement suggests holders are offloading XRP during price rallies.
Outflows continue to dominate net flows despite the recent surge. Investors appear eager to secure profits after weeks of volatility. Such behavior often suppresses sustained breakouts and reinforces consolidation near resistance levels.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
The MVRV Long/Short Difference highlights the dominance of XRP short-term holder profits. This metric measures the distribution of unrealized gains between long-term and short-term investors. Current low readings indicate that short-term holders hold a larger share of profits.
Short-term holders typically react quickly to price increases. Their tendency to sell at the first sign of gains likely contributed to the rally’s abrupt halt.
Sponsored
Sponsored
As long as STH profits dominate, upward momentum may encounter repeated resistance.
XRP Price May Face Some Resistance
XRP nearly recorded an 18.7% rise during the latest trading session before settling at a 9% gain. The long wick and rapid reduction in upside reflect early profit booking. Such behavior highlights fragile bullish conviction despite renewed interest.
The immediate objective is securing $1.51 as a support floor. XRP trades slightly above that level at $1.53.
Resistance near $1.62 may cap gains, and renewed selling from short-term holders could pull the price back toward $1.36.
If distribution slows and demand stabilizes, XRP could regain upward traction.
A decisive move above $1.62 would strengthen the technical structure. Sustained buying could drive the price toward $1.76, invalidating the bearish thesis and reinforcing recovery momentum.
The lack of privacy for onchain transactions is one of the biggest hurdles to the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies for payments and a medium of exchange, according to Changpeng Zhao, co-founder of the Binance cryptocurrency exchange.
The executive commonly known as “CZ” said the lack of privacy prevents businesses and institutions from paying expenses in crypto. He gave this example:
“Lack of Privacy may be the missing link for crypto payments adoption. Imagine a company pays employees in crypto onchain. With the current state of crypto, you can pretty much see how much everyone in the company is paid by clicking the ‘from’ address.”
In a previous conversation with investor and host of the All-In Podcast Chamath Palihapitiya, CZ also cited physical security concerns as a reason why onchain transparency is a risk to users. The comments follow a revival of privacy and the cypherpunk ethos in crypto.
Cypherpunk ideology is central to the birth of cryptocurrencies, peer-to-peer digital money that can be transferred without centralized intermediaries, and the encryption of online communication to shield messages from surveillance.
Related: ‘No privacy’ CBDCs will come, warns billionaire Ray Dalio
Encrypt everything: the rise of onchain privacy
Businesses and institutions will not embrace crypto, Web3 platforms, or blockchain if they cannot shield their transactions, Avidan Abitbol, the former Business Development Specialist for the Kaspa cryptocurrency project, told Cointelegraph.
Transaction data contains critical information about corporate workflows, trade secrets, business relationships and can provide clues about a company’s overall financial health to competitors, he said.
These issues can lead to corporate theft, negatively impact corporations during business negotiations and increase the threat of an institution being targeted by scammers, Abitbol added.
The continued technological development of AI systems will exacerbate this issue, according to Eran Barak, the former CEO of privacy company Shielded Technologies.
Centralized servers containing critical or valuable information will become increasingly attractive for AI-assisted hackers, he told Cointelegraph.
This means that onchain privacy technologies will become necessary to protect valuable online information as AI becomes more powerful and can assemble heuristic clues about a potential target and statistically model probable outcomes, he said.
Magazine: 2026 is the year of pragmatic privacy in crypto: Canton, Zcash and more
TLDR:
- UAE-backed entity acquires 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for reported $500 million investment
- Transaction directs $187 million to Trump family-linked entities just days before inauguration
- Platform collects wallet addresses, device identifiers, and location data from U.S. users
- Senators set March 5 deadline for Treasury confirmation on whether security review is proceeding
Two U.S. Senators have formally requested Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to initiate a national security review of a foreign investment transaction.
The request centers on a reported $500 million stake purchase by a UAE-backed entity in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture associated with the Trump family.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim raised concerns about potential foreign access to sensitive financial data through the transaction.
Foreign Investment Structure Raises Questions
The reported agreement grants the UAE-backed investment vehicle approximately 49 percent ownership in World Liberty Financial. This transaction occurred just four days before the presidential inauguration in January 2026.
According to reports, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as the UAE’s national security adviser, backed the investment.
The Wall Street Journal characterized the transaction as unprecedented in American political history. The deal structure reportedly directs $187 million to entities linked to the Trump family.
These entities include DT Marks DEFI LLC and DT Marks SC LLC. The investment makes the foreign fund the largest shareholder in the cryptocurrency platform.
Under the reported terms, two of five board seats would go to executives who also hold positions at G42. This company, associated with Sheikh Tahnoon, has previously faced scrutiny from U.S. intelligence agencies. The dual roles have prompted questions about potential conflicts and foreign influence.
Data Collection Practices Draw Scrutiny
The Senators highlighted World Liberty Financial’s privacy policy in their correspondence. The platform acknowledges collecting wallet addresses, device identifiers, and IP addresses from users. Additionally, the company gathers approximate location data inferred from IP addresses.
Service providers working with World Liberty Financial may collect additional sensitive identifiers. These include driver’s license numbers and passport information. The platform may receive this information through its partnerships and operational activities.
Furthermore, World Liberty Financial has applied for a trust bank charter. The company has stated its goal of creating “a new financial system for the benefit of millions.”
This move could expand the company’s access to financial information from U.S. citizens. The combination of sensitive data collection and significant foreign ownership has triggered national security considerations.
CFIUS Review Process Under Examination
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States typically reviews transactions involving foreign control of U.S. businesses.
The committee also examines investments that could provide foreign entities access to sensitive personal data. Warren and Kim requested confirmation about whether the transaction received proper review.
The Senators set a March 5, 2026 deadline for Treasury’s response. Their letter includes six specific questions about the review process. These questions address whether the transaction qualified as a covered transaction requiring examination.
Reports noted the deal moved quickly and “granted swift paydays to entities affiliated with the Trumps.” The Senators seek clarity on whether the World Liberty Financial transaction received special treatment through a fast-track mechanism. The UAE reportedly lobbied for a pilot program that Treasury announced in May 2025.
TLDR:
- Brazil targets one million Bitcoin accumulation over five years through RESBit strategic reserve framework.
- Bill 4501/2024 permits Brazilian taxpayers to settle tax obligations directly using Bitcoin payments.
- Legislation prohibits sale of seized Bitcoins, retaining confiscated assets under public control.
- Brazil becomes first G20 nation to codify Bitcoin as sovereign reserve asset through formal legislation.
Brazil has reintroduced legislation to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve targeting one million BTC over five years. Federal Deputy Luiz Gastão presented the expanded version of Bill 4501/2024 on February 13, 2026.
The proposal positions Brazil as the first G20 nation to codify cryptocurrency as a sovereign reserve asset. The bill creates RESBit, Brazil’s Strategic Sovereign Bitcoin Reserve, with funding potentially drawn from national foreign exchange holdings.
Legislative Framework and Reserve Target
The updated bill represents an expansion of earlier legislative efforts from late 2024. Federal Deputy Eros Biondini originally introduced the measure, which advanced through committee stages and public hearings in 2025. The reintroduced version carries substantially broader ambitions than its predecessor.
MartyParty, a crypto industry commentator, highlighted the development on X, stating “Brazil introduces 1m Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Bill – first G20 country to codify.”
The observation reflects growing institutional interest in cryptocurrency as a hedge against traditional financial risks.
Several nations have discussed similar measures, yet Brazil appears positioned to implement such policy first among major economies.
The target of one million Bitcoin represents approximately 5% of the total supply that will ever exist. Brazil’s foreign exchange reserves currently stand between $300 billion and $370 billion.
Earlier versions of the bill proposed capping allocations at 5% of reserves, though the expanded target suggests a larger commitment.
At prevailing Bitcoin prices between $66,000 and $70,000, the full reserve would cost approximately $66 billion to $70 billion.
However, the five-year implementation timeline spreads acquisition costs across multiple budget cycles. This phased approach aims to minimize market impact while building the reserve gradually through planned purchases.
Implementation Provisions and Strategic Goals
The bill establishes RESBit as the formal mechanism for managing Brazil’s Bitcoin holdings. The reserve structure includes several operational provisions beyond simple acquisition.
Seized Bitcoins from judicial and law enforcement actions would be retained rather than sold, keeping them under public control.
The legislation permits Brazilian taxpayers to settle obligations using Bitcoin. This provision could accelerate cryptocurrency adoption while providing another avenue for reserve accumulation.
The government would receive Bitcoin directly through tax payments rather than exclusively through open market purchases.
State-owned or state-supported Bitcoin mining operations receive encouragement under the proposal. Domestic mining would allow Brazil to acquire Bitcoin through production rather than purchase alone.
The bill also promotes federal custody standards and blockchain technology adoption across government operations.
The reserve aims to diversify Brazil’s monetary holdings beyond traditional assets like US dollars and gold. Currency risk reduction and inflation hedging represent core objectives.
By holding Bitcoin, Brazil seeks to protect against potential depreciation of conventional reserve assets while participating in the emerging digital asset economy.
The proposal awaits further legislative action before implementation. Congressional approval would mark a historic shift in sovereign asset management and cryptocurrency legitimacy within major economies.
3 Under-the-Radar Free Agency Decisions Facing the Vikings
CarPlay is still on track for Tesla cars, but you might have to wait longer
PREDIKSI MASTER GEMA ETHEREUM AKAN ALL TIME HIGH?
-
Sports4 days agoBig Tech enters cricket ecosystem as ICC partners Google ahead of T20 WC | T20 World Cup 2026
-
NewsBeat6 days agoMia Brookes misses out on Winter Olympics medal in snowboard big air
-
Tech5 days agoSpaceX’s mighty Starship rocket enters final testing for 12th flight
-
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-400x240.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-80x80.jpg)
Business7 days agoWeight-loss jabs threaten Greggs’ growth, analysts warn
-
Sports7 days agoBenjamin Karl strips clothes celebrating snowboard gold medal at Olympics
-
Tech23 hours agoLuxman Enters Its Second Century with the D-100 SACD Player and L-100 Integrated Amplifier
-
Video3 days agoThe Final Warning: XRP Is Entering The Chaos Zone
-
Crypto World6 days agoU.S. BTC ETFs register back-to-back inflows for first time in a month
-
NewsBeat7 days agoResidents say city high street with ‘boarded up’ shops ‘could be better’
-
Crypto World4 days agoPippin (PIPPIN) Enters Crypto’s Top 100 Club After Soaring 30% in a Day: More Room for Growth?
-
Crypto World2 days agoBhutan’s Bitcoin sales enter third straight week with $6.7M BTC offload
-
Video4 days agoPrepare: We Are Entering Phase 3 Of The Investing Cycle
-
Crypto World5 days agoBlockchain.com wins UK registration nearly four years after abandoning FCA process
-
Sports6 days ago
Kirk Cousins Officially Enters the Vikings’ Offseason Puzzle
-
Crypto World6 days agoEthereum Enters Capitulation Zone as MVRV Turns Negative: Bottom Near?
-
NewsBeat9 hours agoThe strange Cambridgeshire cemetery that forbade church rectors from entering
-
Crypto World5 days agoCrypto Speculation Era Ending As Institutions Enter Market
-
Business4 days agoBarbeques Galore Enters Voluntary Administration
-
Crypto World3 days agoEthereum Price Struggles Below $2,000 Despite Entering Buy Zone
-
Politics5 days agoWhy was a dog-humping paedo treated like a saint?