The past week has seen price action flatten out after the previous saw steep, uninterrupted downside, placing Dogecoin price predictions at a crossroads between a local bottom and another leg down.

Risk appetite has grown increasingly selective, pushing DOGE to the sidelines as speculative capital rotates toward meme coins more detached from macro narratives.

Still, derivatives market activity could point to e a liquidity flush rather than a structural breakdown. Open interest has reset to its October baseline near $1.4 billion, signalling that excess leverage has largely been cleared from the market.

Following such a sharp drawdown, the stabilization of speculative demand points to underlying confidence rather than a cascade of de-risking.

If price can begin forming higher lows from here, DOGE may yet re-enter the bull cycle — but failure to attract fresh momentum could see it lag as capital concentrates elsewhere.

That said, fundamentals could put it back in the conversation as DOGE permeates deeper into mainstream TradFi markets with inclusion in the first S&P-linked crypto index ETF.

Dogecoin Price Prediction: 550% Could Be Next

Technicals emphasize current levels as key to the bull run, as the lower boundary of a year-long falling wedge pattern comes under pressure.

Momentum indicators paint the setup as a potential launchpad. The RSI nears oversold levels around 30, suggesting that any further downside may be limited as sellers near exhaustion.

The MACD has also levelled off and started rising towards a golden cross above the signal line, suggesting a deep and brief correction over a complete trend flip.

This all lines up with what appears to be an early double bottom reversal.

With a second bottom forming along the $0.115 support, a sharp rebound above the reversal structure’s neckline at $0.15 could put the key $0.28 wedge breakout threshold under test.

If $0.28 flips to support, a confirmed wedge breakout eyes a 550% push past the previous $0.50 all-time high, into new price discovery targeting $0.80.

Still, a breakdown scenario could see a return to lows around $0.09.

Maxi Doge: Market Behavior Favours This High-Beta Play

As capital rotation becomes selective, speculative demand is concentrating on high-beta plays. While coins like $PENGUIN and $WHITEWHALE lead, momentum almost always circles back to one thing: Doge.

History makes the pattern clear: Dogecoin started the trend, Shiba Inu ran with it in 2021, followed by Floki, Bonk, Dogwifhat, and Neiro. Every bull cycle eventually crowns a new Doge-inspired frontrunner.

This time around, Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is tapping into those early Dogecoin vibes with a community built around sharing early alpha, trading ideas, and competitive engagement.

Participation is at its core. Weekly Maxi Ripped and Maxi Pump competitions reward top performers with leaderboard recognition, incentives, and bragging rights.

The hype is already showing in the numbers. The $MAXI presale has raised almost $4.5 million, while early backers are earning up to 69% APY through staking rewards.

For those who missed the Doge wave before, Maxi Doge could be the next chance to catch a meme coin before it enters the mainstream.

The post Dogecoin Price Prediction: What’s About to Happen Could Make or Break DOGE Forever appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin holders have experienced over $4.5 billion in realized losses following the cryptocurrency’s dramatic decline from above $120,000 to below $90,000, which marks the highest level of capitulation since the 2022 bear market.

The Bitcoin price prediction indicator shows that the price might be bracing for another drop below $80k because the last time this much realized losses occurred in Bitcoin, the price dropped more than 50% to $28,000 from $69k.

Bitcoin Capital Flight Sees ETFs Bleed $1.33B in Single Week

The exodus from Bitcoin continues through institutional channels, with U.S.-based Bitcoin ETFs recording $1.33 billion in net outflows over one week, the largest withdrawal since February 2025.

This substantial capital flight shows weakening institutional confidence in the cryptocurrency’s near-term prospects.

Adding to the bearish sentiment, stablecoin market capitalization has contracted significantly.

According to CryptoQuant researcher Darkfost, the Ethereum-based stablecoin total market cap declined by $7 billion in just seven days, dropping from $162 billion to $155 billion.

Darkfost characterized this development as “a very negative signal,” explaining that investors are completely exiting the crypto market as it continues correcting, while precious metals surge and equity markets maintain strong upward trends.

This migration of liquidity explains the persistent weakness across cryptocurrency markets.

The analyst drew parallels to 2021, noting that similar stablecoin market cap declines confirmed Bitcoin’s entry into bear market territory, though the Terra Luna collapse amplified that downturn.

Darkfost emphasized that current conditions must improve rapidly, or Bitcoin risks confirming a bearish trajectory with a breakdown well below $80,000.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: $80K Support Acts As Make-or-Break Zone

The weekly BTC/USDT chart shows Bitcoin consolidating after a sharp rejection from the $100,000–$103,000 supply zone, which is clearly identified as a bearish invalidation area.

Price currently trades in the mid-to-high $80,000 range, positioned just beneath the 9-week Simple Moving Average, which has transformed into short-term dynamic resistance following the recent breakdown.

Repeated failures to reclaim the $100,000 level confirm that sellers remain aggressive at elevated prices, establishing that zone as a formidable ceiling for any sustained recovery attempts.

The $80,000 level represents critical psychological and structural support. Bitcoin has demonstrated positive reactions near this zone, indicating buyers are defending it vigorously.

As long as Bitcoin maintains weekly closes above $80,000, the broader market structure remains corrective rather than definitively bearish.

Technical momentum indicators suggest caution in the near term.

The Relative Strength Index hovers around the low-40s and has printed multiple bearish divergences during the previous rally, signaling deteriorating momentum and validating the ongoing consolidation phase.

The chart suggests Bitcoin occupies a range-bound corrective phase, with $80,000 serving as the crucial line in the sand.

Holding above this level preserves the possibility of base-building and potential recovery toward $90,000–$95,000 initially.

A decisive weekly close above $100,000 would invalidate the bearish structure and signal trend continuation.

Conversely, losing $80,000 support would likely accelerate downside momentum toward the $70,000 region before establishing a more meaningful bottom.

Bitcoin Hyper Raises $31M As The Leading Crypto Presale

If Bitcoin successfully breaches the $100,000 psychological barrier, established BTC-beta projects like Bitcoin Hyper stand to benefit substantially.

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is developing the first functional Layer 2 solution for Bitcoin, leveraging Solana-based technology to provide speed and scalability while maintaining Bitcoin’s security framework.

The project has raised over $31million to facilitate Bitcoin-native decentralized applications, offering BTC holders opportunities to deploy assets productively through purpose-built on-chain tools.

Interested investors can participate in the presale by visiting the official Bitcoin Hyper website and connecting their wallet (such as Best Wallet).

The token is currently available for $0.013645 each and could be purchased via USDT or SOL swaps, or directly through a bank card.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction – $4.5B Realized Loss Is The Biggest Since 2022: Sub-$80K Next? appeared first on Cryptonews.

A winter storm in Washington, D.C., has compelled the senators to delay the first markup vote on comprehensive digital asset market structure legislation.

The Senate Agriculture Committee confirmed on Monday that it had postponed its scheduled Tuesday markup of the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act because of dangerous weather conditions across the capital.

The committee staff cited unsafe travel conditions, noting that much of Washington is covered by snow and ice amid dangerously low temperatures caused by a major winter storm.

Flights Canceled, Roads Icy as Senate Crypto Markup Slips

The weekend was topped off by an arctic cold snap and heavy snowfall, with wind chills dropping down to below zero and daytime temperatures struggling to reach the mid-20s Fahrenheit.

The snowy sidewalks and the icy roads, along with the high winds, led to the closure of federal offices on Monday, with a snow emergency being declared in the city, which limited the movement of vehicles on major routes.

People were also greatly affected in air travel, with thousands of flights being cancelled across the country and major delays at Reagan National Airport as airlines and airports cleared backlogs.

Schools and universities in the area of Washington, Maryland, and Virginia went to closures or remote education, and legislators had restricted mobility as crews proceeded with snow removal.

The weather scramble created a new obstacle of a long legislative procedure that has already experienced a series of postponements.

The Agriculture Committee markup is paid close attention to, as it is the first occasion that the Senate formally votes on and amends a crypto market structure bill.

The panel oversees the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the legislation would expand the agency’s authority over digital commodities such as Bitcoin.

The bill is the product of months of negotiations led by Committee Chair John Boozman, with contributions from Senator Cory Booker, though bipartisan agreement has proven difficult.

Agriculture Committee Emerges as Key Path for Crypto Legislation

The way ahead was unclear even before the weather delay, as the Senate Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Securities and Exchange Commission, has consistently put off its parallel bill, the CLARITY Act.

That effort was derailed earlier this month after Coinbase withdrew its support, citing concerns over restrictions on tokenized equities, stablecoin rewards, and the balance of power between regulators.

Banking Committee leaders have since pivoted to housing legislation following President Donald Trump’s push to prioritize affordability, pushing crypto legislation into late February or March.

The delay in the Banking Committee has increased pressure on the Agriculture Committee’s bill, which now represents the most immediate legislative vehicle for crypto market structure reform.

However, last week, the Senate Agriculture Committee, led by Republicans, released its bill text, but it seemingly lacked Democratic support.

The Agriculture Committee’s bill differs from the Banking Committee’s approach on several key issues, including stablecoins and token classification.

While the CLARITY Act explicitly restricts interest-like rewards for holding payment stablecoins, the Agriculture Committee’s proposal largely sidesteps yield rules by excluding permitted payment stablecoins from CFTC oversight, deferring those questions to other frameworks such as the GENIUS Act.

The bill also explicitly places meme coins under CFTC jurisdiction, a move not mirrored in the Banking Committee’s draft.

The legislation has drawn increasing political attention as President Trump said last week that he expects to sign a crypto market structure bill “very soon,” framing digital assets as a strategic priority for maintaining U.S. competitiveness.

The post Senate Postpones Vital Crypto Market Structure Markup Due to Snow – New Date Confirmed appeared first on Cryptonews.

Kraken launches DeFi Earn product offering up to 8% APY with yield sourced from Aave, Morpho and other DeFi protocols.

The post Kraken launches DeFi Earn in the US, Canada, and Europe offering up to 8% APY appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

A crypto analyst has identified a recurring chart pattern centered on a 173-day cycle that previously preceded a major price expansion for XRP. Based on this pattern, the expert suggests that XRP may be approaching a similar price rally if the trend plays out as expected. 

XRP Historical Pattern Signals Powerful Upside Move

A crypto analyst who goes by ‘Bird’ on X has drawn attention to a recurring pattern on XRP’s daily chart. His analysis compares XRP’s current price formation with the pattern that preceded the 2025 breakout, highlighting a nearly identical time cycle and chart structure. 

On the left side of the chart, Bird noted that it took about 173 days for XRP to break after reaching its first major top in 2025. This period is clearly marked by vertical blue lines on the chart and shows price moving within a descending wedge pattern. Notably, each price rally was lower than the previous one, while support levels remained relatively stable. Trading volume during that phase also hovered around $1.8 billion, suggesting that the breakout developed under steady market participation rather than thin liquidity.  

On the right side of the chart, which shows XRP’s price action in the current market cycle, Bird points to a similar pattern forming. Since the July 2025 peak, XRP has spent about 173 days moving sideways within a descending wedge. Compared to the past cycle, trading volume has been much lower, averaging around $1 billion. However, the pattern’s shape and timing closely match past trends.

Bird notes that XRP has not broken down despite months of severe downward pressure. Instead of falling below key support levels, the price has been squeezed into a tighter range within the same descending wedge pattern. It also held near the $1.94 level as it approached the tip of the wedge. The analyst stated that this move shows the market is not moving sideways at random but is entering a late-stage compression before a larger upward move. 

If historical trends hold, Bird has predicted that XRP could surge to between $4 and $4.5. With the cryptocurrency currently trading around $1.87, this would represent a surge of more than 113%. 

Analyst Predicts 2017 XRP Price Explosion In 2026

Despite XRP’s recent crash below $1.9, analysts still believe its price could recover and launch a strong rally. A recent analysis by market expert Steph is Crypto reflects this optimistic outlook. 

In his post on X, Steph is Crypto predicted that XRP could be on the verge of a price explosion similar to the one in 2017. At the time, the cryptocurrency recorded a powerful rally, jumping from around $0.005 to more than $0.25. If this same trend repeats, the analyst forecasts a breakout from around $2 to above $22. 

A new controversy has surfaced around Bitcoin (BTC) and other crypto assets held by the US government, following allegations raised by blockchain investigator ZachXBT. 

Controlling Millions In Stolen Government Crypto

In a series of posts on social media platform X (previously Twitter), ZachXBT accused John “Lick” Daghita of stealing millions of dollars’ worth of seized digital assets from wallets linked to the US government. 

John Daghita is the son of Dean Daghita, the president of CMDSS, a firm that publicly states it provides critical services to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Defense.

According to the investigation, the alleged theft came to light after a young hacker was provoked during a heated “band for band” argument on social media app Telegram. 

During the exchange, which was fully recorded, the individual reportedly began screen-sharing his cryptocurrency wallets while boasting about his holdings. Those wallets were later traced to more than $40 million in seized crypto assets that belonged to the US government.

ZachXBT’s findings go further, claiming that the individual known online as “John (Lick)” was observed controlling wallets tied to more than $90 million in suspected illicit funds. Among those assets were cryptocurrencies linked to US government seizure addresses associated with the Bitfinex hack. 

In the recordings reviewed by the investigator, John is seen actively managing multiple wallet addresses while millions of dollars’ worth of Ethereum (ETH) and Tron (TRX) were moved in real time, strongly suggesting direct control over the funds.

CMDSS Goes Dark, Suspect Alters Online Identities

Shortly after the allegations were made public, CMDSS appeared to remove its digital footprint. The company scrubbed its website, X account, and LinkedIn page. 

Around the same time, John reportedly began changing his online usernames and deleting non-fungible token (NFT)-related handles from Telegram. 

Despite these efforts, ZachXBT noted that John continued to taunt investigators and even sent him a small amount of ETH from one of the flagged wallets.

ZachXBT stated that he plans to return those funds directly to a US government seizure address, underscoring his position that the assets belong to the government. 

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Fights for $88,000 as Fed Looms and Bearish Technical Pressure Builds

The bitcoin price steadied a bit today after an early slide to $86,000 over the weekend, as traders weighed Federal Reserve risk, heavy recent liquidations, and growing technical pressure.

The largest cryptocurrency was up about 1% at $87,850 by midafternoon, after falling as low as $86,000.13 earlier in the session. Price action remained volatile, with market participants cautious about sharp reversals following a weekend selloff.

Attention is now centered on the Federal Reserve’s policy decision due Wednesday. The central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates in the 3.50%–3.75% range, but the meeting has drawn unusual scrutiny amid debate over the Fed’s independence. 

Recently, President Trump’s administration escalated its fight with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell by starting a rare criminal-investigation threat tied to Powell’s oversight of a big Fed renovation project.

At the same time, Trump is pushing to reshape the central bank leadership as Powell’s term ends this spring, drawing legal pushback (including a Supreme Court case over Trump’s attempt to remove a Fed governor) and sparking a broader debate over the Fed’s independence from politics.

Crypto markets continue to absorb the impact of continued selloffs, which was exacerbated by forced liquidations across leveraged positions. 

U.S.-listed spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds remained a source of pressure. Spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.33 billion in net outflows in the week ending Jan. 23, marking the largest weekly outflow in nearly a year. 

The redemptions have contributed to selling pressure amid already fragile market conditions.

Corporate bitcoin accumulation persisted but failed to stabilize sentiment. Strategy., the software company that has shifted toward a leveraged bitcoin acquisition strategy, disclosed in a recent SEC filing that it purchased 2,932 bitcoin between Jan. 20 and Jan. 25 for approximately $264.1 million, paying an average of $90,061 per coin. 

The firm now holds 712,647 bitcoin, with the latest purchases financed primarily through its at-the-market equity offering program. These purchases did little to change the bitcoin price.

The company’s aggregate purchase price for its holdings stands at approximately $54.2 billion, including fees and expenses, translating to an average acquisition bitcoin price of $76,037.

Bitcoin price analysis

According to Bitcoin Magazine analysts, the bitcoin price posted a sharp bearish reversal last week, closing the week near $86,588 after failing to hold momentum following a test of $98,000 resistance. The move marked a decisive loss of the $87,000 support level and shifted near-term market control back to sellers.

The $84,000 level is now critical. A sustained daily close below that support could accelerate downside pressure toward the $72,000–$68,000 zone, with a deeper retracement toward $58,000 possible if selling intensifies. 

Bulls are expected to defend $84,000 aggressively to avoid a broader breakdown.

On the upside, buyers must first reclaim $88,000 to stabilize price action. Additional resistance sits at $91,400 and $94,000, while $98,000 remains a major ceiling. A move above that level is considered unlikely in the near term, though a breakout could open a path toward $103,500.

Technical indicators reinforce the bearish outlook. Bitcoin price closed below the 100-week simple moving average, the MACD remains in bearish territory, and the relative strength index has turned lower again. 

This coming week is pivotal, with broader market earnings potentially influencing sentiment, though correlations with equities remain uncertain.

At the time of writing, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index is currently at 20 out of 100, signaling extreme fear among market participants. Historically, periods of extreme fear have coincided with heightened uncertainty and, at times, potential buying opportunities as prices trade below perceived value.

The bitcoin price is currently $87,698. It is currently -1% from its 7-day all-time high of $88,635, and 2% from its 7-day all-time low of $86,126.

This post Bitcoin Price Fights for $88,000 as Fed Looms and Bearish Technical Pressure Builds first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin Won’t Become the World’s Reserve Currency in Tucker Carlson Interview

Gold advocate and longtime Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff renewed his attacks on Bitcoin during a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, arguing that the cryptocurrency industry is seeking government regulation and a government bailout not to restrain itself, but to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the public.

Schiff said that calls for regulatory “clarity” in crypto amount to an attempt to secure government endorsement. According to Schiff, regulation would allow Bitcoin proponents to claim official approval, encouraging new investors to enter the market under the belief that the asset has been validated by the state.

“The government now endorses it. The government is supporting it,” he said, adding that political support for Bitcoin has been driven by financial incentives rather than monetary fundamentals.

Schiff alleged that early Bitcoin holders who profited from later inflows of capital used their gains to influence politicians, including President Donald Trump, to publicly support the asset. 

He pointed to proposals for a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve as an example, characterizing them as a potential “Bitcoin bailout fund” that would use taxpayer money to support the market. 

Schiff did not present evidence for claims that politicians were “paid off,” framing them instead as his interpretation of political incentives surrounding crypto policy.

Carlson pushed back by arguing that the declining purchasing power of the U.S. dollar and its use as a geopolitical tool suggest the need for a new global reserve asset. He asked why Bitcoin or stablecoins like Tether could not fill that role.

In response, Schiff reiterated his long-held distinction between money and currency, arguing that gold is money while fiat currencies and Bitcoin are substitutes that depend on confidence rather than intrinsic value. He said Bitcoin’s value rests on speculation that it can be sold later for more dollars, rather than on its usefulness as a stable store of value.

“Most people who are buying Bitcoin are buying it to get more dollars,” Schiff said. “If they wanted a safe store of value, they’d buy gold.”

Schiff: Bitcoin is a fad

Schiff argued that Bitcoin is unsuitable as a reserve asset for central banks, claiming its volatility would make it impossible to hold at scale without destabilizing markets. He said that while some sovereign wealth funds and governments have gained limited exposure to Bitcoin-related assets, such allocations are small and driven by performance pressure rather than conviction.

He predicted that institutional interest would fade and warned that recent buyers could face losses. Schiff noted that Bitcoin remains well below its peak when measured in gold terms, claiming it has declined roughly 40% relative to gold over the past four years.

Schiff also rejected overall comparisons between Bitcoin and gold, arguing that Bitcoin is a speculative asset rather than a form of sound money. 

He likened bitcoin and crypto to past manias like tulips and ‘Beanie Babies,’ saying it lacks intrinsic value and would fall alongside stocks in a major financial crisis. 

This post Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin Won’t Become the World’s Reserve Currency in Tucker Carlson Interview first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin’s push for $93,000 was stalled as professional traders stay cautious and the market’s focus remains pinned to gold’s rally, Federal Reserve policy and US macroeconomics.

XRP has dropped 4% over the past week, with trading volumes spiking by 171% as the token broke below key support at $1.90.

This surge in activity signals growing uncertainty, adding doubt to the bullish XRP price prediction that has dominated recent sentiment.

Bearish pressure is intensifying after Donald Trump threatened a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if the country strikes a trade deal with China.

While XRP briefly rebounded from $1.80 during the Asian session, broader market jitters continue to weigh heavily on price action.

The Fear and Greed Index shows that sentiment has soured in the past couple of weeks as this key metric dropped sharply from a 54 reading on January 14 to 29 at the time of writing.

Now, traders are wondering whether XRP is going to zero, so it’s time to take a look at the charts.

XRP Price Prediction: 11% Downside Risk Ahead If This Happens

XRP is currently retesting a key structural resistance at $1.90. This is the previous low of the dominant bearish structure, meaning that a bullish breakout will confirm a trend reversal.

If the price rejects a move above this mark, it could rapidly drop to $1.80 and increase the risk of a move to lower levels.

In that scenario, the most likely target, one that hasn’t been touched in months, would be the $1.60 area.

Hence, even though a move to zero is highly unlikely, the current setup does favor a bearish outlook.

Meanwhile, while major altcoins struggle to hold key levels, crypto presales like Maxi Doge ($MAXI) are heating up with strong momentum and early investor interest.

This Ethereum-based meme coin channels the same viral energy that sent Dogecoin soaring in 2021, and could deliver a similar breakout as soon as its presale closes.

Maxi Doge Presale Is Channeling the Early Dogecoin Energy That Once Drove 1000x Gains

Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is a fast-rising meme coin presale that’s flashing many of the same signals that powered Dogecoin’s breakout in 2021.

Instead of empty hype, the project is building a trader-first culture where momentum, community, and rewards come first.

At the center is an active group of like-minded traders sharing setups, early opportunities, and wins as the market heats up again.

Engagement is fueled through weekly competitions like Maxi Ripped and Maxi Gains, where traders showcase their biggest Ws and climb the leaderboard for rewards and bragging rights.

On top of that, $MAXI offers staking rewards of 69% per year for early participants who lock in during the presale phase.

For anyone who watched DOGE explode from the sidelines, Maxi Doge offers a second chance to get positioned early in a meme coin that’s gaining momentum by the week.

To buy $MAXI and join the pump, simply head to the official Maxi Doge website and connect your wallet (e.g. Best Wallet).

You can swap USDT, USDC, or ETH, or use a bank card to secure tokens in just a few clicks.

The post XRP Price Prediction: XRP Is Crashing Fast – Is This the Beginning of a Total Breakdown to Zero? appeared first on Cryptonews.

VanEck launches Avalanche ETF VAVX with AVAX staking exposure, zero fees till Feb 28, expanding crypto ETF options.

The post VanEck launches first ever AVAX ETF in the US appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Chris Burniske, cofounder of Placeholder VC and former crypto lead at Ark Invest, is mapping out where he would consider stepping back into Bitcoin if the market keeps sliding, after earning fresh credit on X for calling major turning points this cycle. His framework lands in the mid-$80,000s down to the low-$50,000s, while a separate technical view from analyst Aksel Kibar points to a broader “base building” process with support clustered in the mid-$70,000s.

Price Levels Where To Buy Bitcoin

Burniske wrote that he is “not a buyer yet,” but outlined several price areas he’s monitoring. In his view, roughly $80,000 matters as the November 2025 low and a local trough of the current downswing. Below that, he highlighted roughly $74,000, tying it to the April 2025 low and describing it as the “Tariff Tantrum” bottom; he also noted it sits just under Strategy’s (MSTR) stated Bitcoin cost basis of around $76,000.

He then pointed to around $70,000 as the top of the prior $50,000–$70,000 band near the 2021 high, before shifting to a more structural level near $58,000. That zone, he wrote, aligns with the 200-week simple moving average and an on-chain cost basis, with RV around $56,000. Finally, he flagged $50,000 and below as a psychological line, arguing that a break under it would likely revive “death of BTC” narratives.

I’m not a buyer yet, but if I were to be a buyer, imo the areas to watch for $BTC are:

~$80K: Nov ’25 low, local low of this “bear” ~$74K: April ’25 low, Tariff Tantrum low, just below $MSTR‘s cost basis (~$76K) ~$70K: Top of $50-70K range, near ’21 high ~$58K: 200W SMA &…

— Chris Burniske (@cburniske) January 25, 2026

Burniske’s posture is deliberately non-committal on timing. “Importantly, I don’t care what happens,” he wrote, adding that if Bitcoin rallies he will “ride what I have and diversify,” while a deeper unwind would have him buying more Bitcoin and “select crypto assets.”

The thread also touched altcoins. Asked how he thinks about alts versus Bitcoin, Burniske said it’s “best imo to buy alts after you think btc is near bottom,” reinforcing that he’s treating BTC’s downside process as the key gating factor for broader risk-taking. On positioning, he said he is sitting “in treasuries, where yield > inflation,” and when asked about an upside level that would force him back in, he replied that he “wouldn’t chase,” preferring to hold existing exposure rather than re-risk at higher prices.

Burniske’s renewed attention followed praise from Anthony Pompliano, who told him: “You nailed the SOL bottom and the BTC top over this cycle.” Burniske’s reputation for calling tops is partly tied to an October 2025 post in which he argued the market had likely been structurally damaged after a sharp selloff.

“We can always get another weak bounce, but I’ve taken action accordingly,” he wrote at the time. “I’ll likely get interested in the market again when I see BTC $75K or lower.”

Breakdown Or Bottoming Phase?

Separately, veteran technician Aksel Kibar posted a BTCUSD daily chart on Sunday without additional commentary. When asked directly about a breakout or breakdown, Kibar cautioned against overweighting diagonal formations: “Not giving too much weight to diagonal short-term patterns breakout/breakdown. I think this is part of the base building, searching for a bottom.”

Kibar had previously framed “technical support” as being “lower between 73.7K and 76.5K,” suggesting that if Bitcoin is indeed in a basing phase, the market may need time and repeated tests of those lower bands before a more durable trend reasserts itself.

At press time, BTC traded at $87,812.

Reports say Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, will not return to the company he helped build even after his legal name was cleared.

US President Donald Trump issued a pardon late in 2025 that removed the criminal tag from his name. That move reopened doors that had been closed, but CZ says he prefers to stay out of day-to-day management.

Pardon And The Past

CZ pleaded guilty in 2023 to charges tied to weak anti-money-laundering controls at Binance. He accepted a deal that included large fines and operational changes for the exchange.

Binance paid roughly $4.3 billion in penalties as part of settlements with US regulators. After receiving a prison sentence, he served time in 2024 and later received clemency from Trump in October 2025.

A candid conversation from Davos – on prison, pardon, and what freedom means going forward.

Full interview on @CNBC with @andrewrsorkin. Focused on building what’s next. pic.twitter.com/x94llJFac2

— CZ BNB (@cz_binance) January 25, 2026

A Former Exec Reflects

Zhao’s prison stay left a mark. In public talks and interviews, he described the experience as “difficult and personal.”

He has spoken about basic hardships inside and about the mental toll the period took on him. At Davos and in other forums he has been open about those days while also discussing what the future might hold for crypto.

Based on market chatter, Zhao said he does not plan to step back into a leadership role at Binance. He used phrases that made it clear he believes the exchange can run without him.

New leaders at the company are in place, and he said they should be allowed to lead. That position was repeated across several news outlets after his public appearances.

Binance management has pushed back on claims that politics or outside deals played any part in the pardon. Company reps denied there was a link between the Trump pardon and other crypto projects tied to political figures.

Those denials were offered to calm markets and to show the company remains officially detached from political moves.

Analysts and rivals reacted with a mix of relief, doubt, and curiosity. Some think the pardon could change how US regulators approach enforcement in the future.

Others worry about the message it sends, given the amount of the penalties already paid. Markets watched closely, and some investors adjusted their views on risk and leadership at major exchanges.

Zhao’s statement that he will not come back closes one chapter while opening another. He may act as an investor, advisor, or public voice for crypto ideas, but insisted he will not reclaim the top job.

Featured image from Leadership Circle, chart from TradingView

With the market flipping into a bearish state, XRP is experiencing conflicting signals in on-chain activity. While some metrics are showing bullish action, other key metrics are starting to demonstrate negative trends, which brings the leading altcoin to a crucial moment that could play a key role in shaping its next price direction.

Derivatives Activity Expands On XRP

Amid the ongoing pullback in the price of XRP, the altcoin is now showcasing a notable divergence in market signals. Specifically, XRP Open Interest (OI) appears to have transitioned into a bullish state while several other key metrics have flipped into bearish territory.

After analyzing multiple metrics, Cryptoinsightuk, a market expert and investor on the social media platform X, highlighted that open interest continues to rise significantly. The rise in derivatives positioning is a clear signal that traders are becoming more leveraged and engaged in the market.

Cryptoinsightuk stated that this significant open interest rise coincides with heavily negative performance in XRP’s Funding rates and Premium. This kind of setup often precedes heightened volatility, especially as on-chain data and broader momentum hint at weakening market conditions. According to the expert, the divergence indicates that the move down is being artificially created by leveraged players. 

Currently, XRP seems to be at a crucial stage when positioning, rather than spot demand, may determine its next significant move as leverage builds against a more cautious environment. However, the expert noted that spot volume has also witnessed a spike. 

Interestingly, the rise in spot volume comes as the market saw a sweep of the recent wick into the year-long support, which led to the creation of a Bullish Divergence on the 4-hour time frame chart. 

Based on the hourly liquidity pools, the market might still have some room to grow. However, the expert is confident that a bounce from the current position is likely to take place. When the bounce occurs, it is expected to be quite violent and will spur a short squeeze back to the upside.

Investors Are Leaning More Towards Long Positions

Despite waning price action, investors seem to be eyeing a potential reversal toward the upside as they increase their bets. This bullish action is evidenced by a sharp uptick in the high-leverage long positions as reported by CW, a data analyst and crypto investor.

Positioning is getting more crowded as more money enters leveraged bets on the upside, increasing the stakes for the upcoming price surge. CW highlighted that high leverage XRP long positions are accumulating around the $1.85 mark, reflecting the significance of the level and the growing appetite for risk among investors. 

However, CW noted that whales are likely to liquidate these positions again. In another post, CW has confirmed that large orders from whales are already flooding the market. At the same time, these high-net-worth investors on the Coinbase platform have now formed a selling wall at $1.96.

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