Cointelegraph

Key takeaways:

Analysts downgraded US stocks due to high valuations, a weak dollar, and policy risks despite AI-driven earnings growth.

Limited S&P 500 upside may shift capital toward Bitcoin, especially if major sovereign funds announce BTC reserves.

Bitcoin (BTC) price plunged below $65,500 on Friday, effectively erasing gains established on Wednesday. This correction closely tracked intraday S&P 500 movements after wholesale inflation data in the US triggered increased risk aversion. A report from the UBS investment bank downgrading US stocks to neutral likely accelerated the surge in demand for the safety of fixed-income assets.

S&P 500 futures (left) vs. Bitcoin/USD (right). Source: TradingView

Investors fear that a potential doomsday scenario for the US equity market could drive Bitcoin to new yearly lows. While increased spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure remains a primary concern for some, Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory is unlikely to remain dependent on the technology sector.

Institutional Bitcoin adoption could improve market sentiment

According to the UBS global equity strategy team, valuations within the US equity market are no longer attractive compared to other global regions. Analysts cited mounting risks from a weakening dollar and US policy turbulence, which are creating asymmetric structural downside risks. Furthermore, corporate buybacks appear to be losing their effectiveness in sustaining price levels.

The relevance of the $70 trillion US market capitalization should not be overstated, even as it disturbs price trends on supposedly uncorrelated assets like Bitcoin. Still, the UBS report is far from a doomsday prediction, especially considering their year-end S&P 500 target remains at 7,500.

Part of the recent decline to $65,500 is explained by Friday’s US Producer Price Index jumping 0.5% in January 2026 from the previous month. When inflation metrics surprise to the upside, traders often become less certain regarding interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve. A restrictive monetary policy negatively impacts the economy as credit remains expensive and companies have fewer incentives to expand production.

US 10-year Treasury yield. Source: TradingView

The US Treasury yield serves as a proxy for investor risk assessment. During periods of uncertainty, traders seek shelter in government bonds, regardless of current inflationary trends. The unusual decline in the US 10-year Treasury yield to 3.97% from 4.21% just three weeks prior signals a shift toward risk-averse sentiment. This is particularly notable as the S&P 500 exhibited signs of weakness despite positive surprises in corporate earnings.

The UBS global equity strategy report claims US stocks are trading 35% above global peers, versus an average premium of 4% since 2010. Analysts mentioned volatility added by US policy proposals to cap credit card interest rates, implement additional import tariffs, and place potential limits on private equity investment in housing. However, the bank expects AI adoption in the US to help sustain earnings growth across key industries, according to CNBC.

Largest tradable assets by market capitalization, USD. Source: 8marketcap

If the S&P 500 upside proves limited, Bitcoin could benefit from eventual capital rotation as gold, the absolute leader store of value, has already soared to a $36.5 trillion market capitalization. To put things in perspective, the 10 largest tech companies have a combined market capitalization of $24.2 trillion. Even if Bitcoin price rallies by 52% to $100,000, its market capitalization would be $2 trillion. Thus, unless fixed income or real estate markets benefit from the potential capital rotation, Bitcoin remains a valid candidate.

Related: Spot Bitcoin ETFs take in $1B in three days as investors buy the dip

Sentiment toward Bitcoin could shift favorably as soon as new major companies or sovereign funds announce strategic BTC reserves, even if formed through exchange-traded fund (ETF) exposure. There is no way to predict when those events could happen, but history has proven how trader risk perception can shift favorably when a company such as Tesla (TSLA US) announced a relevant Bitcoin position. But, until then, the odds of an onchain decoupling from the US stock market remain low.

After months of sliding digital asset prices, public companies that embraced Bitcoin (BTC) as a treasury strategy are facing renewed scrutiny. Activist investors are now challenging those balance-sheet bets, echoing broader concerns about the volatility and long-term viability of the corporate Bitcoin model.

Stablecoins, meanwhile, continue to anchor the market. Circle posted a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter, even as early signs of a so-called “crypto winter” began to surface. 

However, not every payments player is sharing in that momentum. PayPal’s push into digital assets, including the launch of its PayPal USD stablecoin, has yet to reverse its stock decline, with reports suggesting the company is drawing takeover interest.

This week’s Crypto Biz examines the pressure building around Bitcoin treasuries, the staying power of the stablecoin business and the challenges facing legacy payment giants navigating crypto’s next phase.

Empery Digital faces shareholder revolt over Bitcoin treasury

A nearly 10% shareholder of Empery Digital is calling for sweeping changes, including the sale of the company’s roughly 4,000 Bitcoin holdings and the resignation of its CEO and board.

In a letter to management, investor Tice P. Brown argued that the Bitcoin-heavy treasury strategy has failed to maximize shareholder value and demanded capital be returned to investors instead.

Empery pushed back against the claims, defending its strategy. The dispute highlights the growing tension between activist investors and public companies that have adopted Bitcoin as a core balance-sheet asset.

Empery, which transitioned its legacy business into a Bitcoin treasury last year, has amassed 4,081 BTC, making it one of the top 25 largest public holders of the digital asset. 

Empery Digital’s Bitcoin holdings. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NET

Circle’s earnings, USDC growth fuels stock rally

Stablecoin issuer Circle delivered a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter, even as broader crypto market conditions weakened, underscoring continued momentum in the dollar-backed stablecoin market.

Fourth-quarter revenue reached $770 million, up 77% from a year earlier. Net income totaled $133.4 million, or 43 cents per share. Both were ahead of analyst expectations. The more telling figure, however, was USDC’s (USDC) expansion. Supply rose 72% to $75.3 billion by year-end, reflecting sustained demand for onchain dollar liquidity.

For the entire year, Circle reported $2.7 billion in revenue and a net loss of $70 million that was largely due to stock-based compensation tied to its initial public offering.

Shares jumped more than 20% following the earnings release, as investors responded to the revenue growth and expanding stablecoin base. 

Circle (CRCL) stock’s post-IPO performance. Source: Yahoo Finance

PayPal draws takeover interest after steep stock decline

PayPal is reportedly attracting early-stage takeover interest after a prolonged slide in its share price, as competitors weigh opportunities to consolidate parts of the digital payments market.

According to Bloomberg, some potential buyers are evaluating a full acquisition, while others may pursue specific business segments. Discussions remain preliminary, and no formal offer has been announced. Bitcoin-friendly payments company Stripe later emerged as one of the interested parties.

The development comes as PayPal continues restructuring efforts and expands further into digital assets, including its proprietary stablecoin.

PayPal (PYPL) stock rallied after takeover rumors were reported, but it’s still down 37% over the past 12 months. Source: Yahoo Finance

$500M stablecoin mortgage deal bridges DeFi and housing

Mortgage lender Better and Framework Ventures are launching a $500 million initiative that channels stablecoin liquidity into US mortgage lending, potentially bringing real-world housing finance deeper into decentralized markets.

Under the structure, Better will continue underwriting and issuing home loans, while funding is sourced through a stablecoin ecosystem. The arrangement connects blockchain-based liquidity with traditional real estate finance, an area long discussed but rarely deployed at a meaningful scale.

The deal signals continued momentum behind tokenized real-world assets, even as broader crypto markets remain volatile.

Crypto Biz is your weekly pulse on the business behind blockchain and crypto, delivered directly to your inbox every Thursday.

Blockchain infrastructure company Alchemy has launched a system that allows autonomous AI agents to buy compute credits and access its blockchain data services using onchain wallets and USDC on Base.

According to the company’s announcement, the initial release allows AI agents to directly query blockchain networks, check nonfungible token (NFT) ownership, view wallet balances across multiple chains and access live token price data, with additional networks and services planned.

If an agent exhausts its prepaid compute credits, Alchemy issues a payment request that can be automatically settled in USDC (USDC) on Base, allowing the agent to continue operating without human intervention.

The company said agents can fund accounts with as little as $1 in USDC, and once credited, continue making API calls until the balance is depleted and another automated payment is required.

The system uses Coinbase’s x402 payment standard to convert an HTTP “402 Payment Required” response into an automatic billing trigger. The x402 is an open standard that allows web services to request onchain payments directly through HTTP responses, enabling machine-to-machine transactions without manual invoicing.

Nikil Viswanathan, CEO of Alchemy, told Cointelegraph that the system is aimed at developers building autonomous decentralized finance (DeFi) agents, portfolio management bots and other multi-step onchain workflows.

He said that several major crypto applications, including Robinhood Crypto, Uniswap, OpenSea, Aave and 0x, already rely on Alchemy to power transactions, adding:

Now AI agents can access that same infrastructure autonomously, without a human ever touching it. This is the moment the agentic economy gets its own set of keys.

Crypto companies and developers accelerate agent adoption

AI agents, software systems that can make decisions and execute tasks autonomously based on predefined goals and real-time data, have drawn growing attention over the past year. Nearly a quarter (23%) of organizations surveyed by McKinsey in November said they were expanding their use of agent-based systems.

On Feb. 6, AI platform AI.com, founded by Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek, said it plans to launch an autonomous AI agent for retail users capable of executing stock trades, automating workflows and handling routine digital tasks.

A few days later, Coinbase introduced “Agentic Wallets,” crypto wallet infrastructure designed to let AI agents autonomously spend, earn and trade digital assets, including executing onchain transactions such as managing DeFi positions, rebalancing portfolios and paying for services.

Meanwhile, Monad’s developer community announced the results of its Moltiverse Hackathon this week, naming 16 winners across a range of “agent + token” projects.

The winners included a programmable venture capital agent that evaluates and invests automatically, AI-driven multiplayer battle arenas, an AI dating network where agents “represent their humans,” and trading card games governed by software rather than human players.

Source: Monad Devs

Magazine: Crypto loves Clawdbot/Moltbot, Uber ratings for AI agents: AI Eye

Officials with the US Department of Justice reported “freezing, seizing, and forfeiting” more than $578 million worth of digital assets tied to criminal groups as part of a task force’s efforts targeting “Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.”

In a Thursday notice, the Justice Department said the frozen and seized crypto had been “stolen by Chinese transnational criminal organizations” using websites and social media platforms to target US residents. The actions were taken by the District of Columbia’s Scam Center Strike Force, established by former Fox News host, now US Attorney Jeanine Pirro in November. 

“Seizures of cryptocurrency is one important part of the Scam Center Strike Force’s work,” said Pirro. “Through the legal process, my Office will seek to forfeit these funds and return them to victims to the maximum extent possible.”

Source: Jeanine Pirro

Pirro’s comments signaled that many of the funds would not be used to bolster the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and digital asset stockpile established via executive order by US President Donald Trump in March 2025. According to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET, US authorities may hold as much as 328,372 Bitcoin (BTC) through various criminal seizures, but the White House had not publicly commented on the stockpile’s size as of Friday.

Crypto scams surged in 2025

According to blockchain analytics platform Chainalysis, the number of incidents involving impersonation scams tied to crypto rose by about 1,400% year over year in 2025. Many of the scams included pig butchering and investment schemes, with the average amount stolen through impersonation scams increasing by 600% over the same period.

Some of the parties involved have gone to prison in the US. Earlier this month, a judge sentenced an individual to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a scam to steal more than $73 million from victims, many of whom were based in the US.

Magazine: Clarity Act risks repeat of Europe’s mistakes, crypto lawyer warns

În această săptămână, zvonurile despre un „dump Bitcoin la ora 10 a.m.”, atribuit companiei de tranzacționare cantitativă Jane Street, au câștigat avânt online după ce a fost dată în judecată de administratorul numit de instanță al Terraform Labs, dar observatorii pieței au spus că datele nu susțin o vânzare constantă, condusă de companie.

Acuzațiile s-au acumulat la o zi după ce Jane Street a fost dată în judecată de administratorul Terraform Labs în mijlocul unor acuzații de tranzacționare de insider care au agravat colapsul ecosistemului de stablecoin-uri algoritmice Terra în mai 2022.

În altă parte pe piață, cererea pentru fonduri tranzacționate la bursă în Bitcoin spot a revenit după cinci săptămâni consecutive de ieșiri nete negative. ETF-urile Bitcoin spot listate în SUA au atras peste $1 miliard în trei zile consecutive în această săptămână, cu $254 milioane în intrări cumulative joi, conform datelor de la Farside Investors.

Puncte cheie:

Bitcoin continuă să se confrunte cu vânzări pe raliuri minore, indicând un sentiment negativ.

Mai multe altcoins au scăzut de la nivelurile de rezistență superioară, indicând că urșii sunt activi la niveluri mai ridicate.

Bitcoin (BTC) continuă să se confrunte cu vânzări pe raliuri, cu urșii încercând să coboare prețul sub 66,000 $. Cu toate acestea, unii analiști cred că scăderea poate fi limitată. 

Analistul Willy Woo a spus într-o postare pe X că vânzările ar putea fi epuizate și că BTC este probabil să intre într-o perioadă de consolidare. El se așteaptă ca rebound-ul să fie respins la nivelul mediu de 70,000 $. Woo anticipează că tendința bearish se va încheia în T4 al acestui an și că momentum-ul bullish va începe în T1 sau T2 2027.

Japonia își pregătește sistemul financiar pentru o lume a stablecoin-urilor și a activelor tokenizate, cu bănci, reglementatori și conglomerate financiare lucrând pentru a aduce economia yenului pe blockchain.

Țara este a patra cea mai mare economie din lume, iar yenul său este una dintre cele mai importante monede în finanțele globale. Potrivit Fondului Monetar Internațional, yenul a reprezentat 5.82% din rezervele globale de schimb valutar, clasându-se pe locul trei la nivel mondial.

Un motiv principal pentru importanța sistemică a yenului este trade-ul de carry. Datorită ratelor mici ale dobânzilor, investitorii împrumută yenuri ieftine, le convertesc în alte valute și investesc în active cu randament mai mare, făcând din yen una dintre cele mai de încredere monede de finanțare pentru piețele globale.

Acțiunile Figure Technology Solutions, o piață de împrumuturi pentru consumatori bazată pe blockchain, au scăzut vineri după ce compania a raportat rezultate mixte pentru trimestrul patru în ziua precedentă, semnalizând un mediu operațional mai dificil chiar și în condițiile în care veniturile au continuat să crească.

Pentru trimestrul încheiat pe 31 dec., compania a raportat venituri de 159,9 milioane USD, în creștere de la 83,9 milioane USD cu un an în urmă, și un venit net de 15,1 milioane USD, comparativ cu 5,9 milioane USD în aceeași perioadă din 2024. Profitul a fost de 0,06 USD pe acțiune diluată, comparativ cu zero cu un an în urmă.

A Minnesota lawmaker has introduced a bill that could ban virtual currency kiosks across the state after reports of incidents involving crypto-related scams.

In a Thursday session of the Minnesota House of Representatives Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, Representative Erin Koegel said the bill, House File 3642, would address the “novel” and “minimally regulated” technology of crypto kiosks.

Koegel said she had heard from state law enforcement agencies that many scammers used the kiosks to trick residents into sending crypto, while legitimate traders tended to use centralized exchanges.

“Because of the nature of cryptocurrency, these fraudulent transactions are often irreversible and incredibly hard to track,” said Koegel, adding: 

“This bill gives us an opportunity to work across party lines to protect the people of Minnesota from irreversible financial crimes.”

Rep. Erin Koegel speaking on Thursday. Source: Minnesota House of Representatives

Minnesota’s government already passed a law in 2024 attempting to fight scammers using the state’s virtual currency kiosks. The law set a $2,000 deposit limit for new kiosk users and required companies to issue full refunds for fraud victims. However, Koegel’s bill, if passed, could fully ban the technology in Minnesota.

“Within the past couple of years, we've definitely identified an issue with these Bitcoin ATMs, specifically in our jurisdiction,” said Sergeant Jake Lanz of the St. Cloud Police Department at the Thursday committee meeting. “[...] it also is notable for us that it is definitely a target of our aging population."

According to the House, Minnesota has about 350 licensed crypto kiosks operated by several companies, including Bitcoin Depot and Coinflip. The American Association of Retired Persons reported in February that 17 states had laws on the books requiring crypto ATM operators to implement protections against fraudsters, such as setting daily transaction limits and requiring fraud warning signs.

Bitcoin ATM operator to require IDs for all transactions

On Tuesday, Bitcoin Depot, one of the largest crypto ATM operators in the US, announced that it would implement a policy requiring ID verification for users with every transaction at one of its machines. The phased rollout, which began in February, was in response to “potential misuse,” though the company did not specifically mention state-level crackdowns on scammers.

Magazine: Would Bitcoin really be at $200K if not for Jane Street? Trade Secrets

Key takeaways

The EU’s new crypto tax rules do not introduce new taxes but expand tax transparency by ensuring that crypto transactions are reported and shared across member states.

Reporting obligations fall primarily on crypto-asset service providers, requiring them to collect user identity information, tax residency details and transaction data in a standardized format.

Information reported by platforms will be automatically exchanged among EU tax authorities, reducing cross-border reporting gaps for crypto users.

The framework aligns with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s global crypto reporting standard, increasing compatibility with non-EU jurisdictions.

The European Union is set to significantly enhance its monitoring of cryptocurrency transactions for tax purposes. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, updated reporting obligations require crypto platforms operating in the EU or serving EU users to provide detailed information on users and their transactions to tax authorities. This change aligns digital assets more closely with the transparency requirements long established in conventional finance.

The key legislation driving this shift is Council Directive (EU) 2023/2226, commonly known as DAC8. It expands the EU’s existing framework for the automatic exchange of tax information to include crypto assets. Paired with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, DAC8 represents a major step in regulating the crypto sector. It focuses specifically on taxation rather than solely on market conduct or licensing.

This article explains how the new EU crypto tax reporting system will work, outlines the obligations for platforms and examines the implications for individual users as the rules take effect.

Why DAC8 is being introduced: Closing the gap from banks to blockchains

For more than a decade, EU countries have used the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC) to automatically share tax-related financial data across borders. Previous iterations covered bank accounts, investment income and certain digital platforms, but crypto transactions were largely exempt from routine reporting.

As cryptocurrency adoption grew in Europe, this exemption created clear loopholes for potential tax evasion. EU authorities viewed it as inconsistent to exempt crypto solely because of its technological basis.

DAC8 aims to close this gap by formally incorporating crypto assets into the tax transparency system, ensuring that transaction data is gathered, reported and exchanged in a manner similar to traditional financial information. The European Commission has emphasized that crypto deserves no special exemption from tax enforcement.

Alignment with the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF)

The EU built DAC8 around the CARF, which was launched in 2023. The CARF sets a global benchmark for crypto transaction reporting by specifying:

Which crypto assets qualify for reporting

Which entities must report

The specific user and transaction details required.

By adopting the CARF model, the EU promotes consistency with international standards, making it easier to share data with non-EU countries that implement similar rules.

Did you know? Before crypto-specific rules, several EU tax authorities relied on blockchain analytics firms instead of formal reporting to estimate crypto activity, often producing significantly different figures for the same market.

Scope of DAC8: Covered assets and platforms

The focus of DAC8 is on crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) operating in the EU. These include centralized exchanges, brokers, custodial wallets and similar intermediaries. The rules cover a broad range of assets, including most cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, tokenized assets and certain non-fungible tokens that function more like investment vehicles than pure collectibles. The emphasis is on transferability and investment use rather than on specific labels.

The obligations extend beyond EU-based platforms. Non-EU providers serving EU users may also need to comply, highlighting the directive’s extraterritorial impact.

Timeline and implementation of DAC8

Adopted in October 2023, DAC8 required transposition into national law by Dec. 31, 2025, with application starting on Jan. 1, 2026. As of early 2026, some member states have faced delays or infringement notices for incomplete transposition, though the EU expects full enforcement.

Key dates include:

Platforms began collecting relevant data on Jan. 1, 2026.

The first reports, covering 2026 activity, will be submitted to national tax authorities in 2027, typically within nine months of year-end.

Tax authorities then automatically exchange the data annually with other EU countries.

The commission has signaled that it expects timely and full implementation. Several countries have received formal notices for delays in transposing the rules, underlining that enforcement will not be optional.

Did you know? Early drafts of EU crypto tax proposals debated whether self-custody wallets could ever be subject to reporting, highlighting how difficult it is to regulate decentralized ownership.

Reporting requirements for platforms in DAC8

Under DAC8, CASPs are required to perform enhanced due diligence and submit detailed information to their local tax authority. This includes user details such as full name, address, tax residency and tax identification number (TIN), if available.

Transaction data includes:

Types of crypto transactions, such as sales, exchanges and transfers

Gross proceeds from disposals

Dates and values of transactions.

After collection, this information is automatically shared among EU tax authorities. A user’s country of residence receives the relevant data even if the platform is located in a different country.

For platforms, DAC8 makes crypto tax reporting a structured, recurring compliance obligation. It more closely resembles financial reporting than ad hoc disclosures.

Impact of DAC8 on crypto users

One of the most significant changes for crypto users is increased tax reporting transparency under DAC8. National tax authorities can now view transactions conducted on reporting platforms.

This may result in:

Requests for more detailed tax residency or identification information during account setup or updates

Greater ability for authorities to match crypto activity against declared income on tax returns

Easier detection of inconsistencies between reported data and tax filings.

DAC8 does not introduce new taxes or standardize rates across the EU. Member states retain authority over crypto taxation policies, as the directive focuses solely on information exchange. While DAC8 automates data exchange between authorities, users are still required to report their crypto activity through their respective national tax returns.

Compliance challenges for platforms under DAC8

Implementing DAC8 requires significant upgrades, including accurate transaction tracking, tax residency verification and secure data storage. Smaller or less-resourced providers may struggle to meet these obligations alongside MiCA and Anti-Money Laundering requirements.

Non-compliance carries the risk of penalties, including fines for late, incomplete or missing reports. Some platforms have indicated that regulatory compliance costs may influence where they choose to operate.

Users may also face confusion in understanding DAC8 in the context of MiCA. DAC8 addresses tax transparency behind the scenes, while MiCA covers licensing, investor safeguards and market conduct.

The two are complementary: DAC8 ensures tax data flows once services are active, while MiCA defines permissible operations. Together, they create a comprehensive oversight framework for the crypto economy.

Certain aspects remain unclear under DAC8, such as how decentralized finance (DeFi) fits in when no central intermediary exists to report to. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about extensive data collection and sharing, though EU officials note that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other data protection laws continue to apply. It remains to be seen how these safeguards will operate in practice.

Did you know? Similar crypto tax reporting models are being explored in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, suggesting that EU-style transparency could become a global norm rather than a regional exception.

DAC8 in the broader context

DAC8 forms part of a global trend as crypto integrates into mainstream finance. Governments worldwide are increasingly treating it as part of the mainstream financial system rather than as a parallel economy viewed with suspicion.

By adopting OECD-aligned standards and enabling cross-border exchanges, the EU underscores that crypto will face the same transparency demands as traditional assets. For users and platforms in Europe, the period of limited formal tax oversight is effectively ending.

Gigantul bancar britanic Barclays explorează, potrivit unor surse, tehnologia blockchain pentru servicii bancare de bază, cel mai recent semn că instituțiile financiare majore evaluează infrastructura registrului digital pentru a moderniza sistemele moștenite.

Citat din persoane familiarizate cu subiectul, Bloomberg a raportat vineri că Barclays caută furnizori de tehnologie pentru o platformă blockchain capabilă să gestioneze plăți, depozite și aplicații legate de criptomonede, cum ar fi monedele stabile și depozitele tokenizate.

Creditorul a emis solicitări de informații către mai mulți furnizori de tehnologie, deși companiile nu au fost identificate. O selecție de furnizori ar putea fi realizată încă din aprilie, se arată în raport.

Vânzătorii de Bitcoin (BTC) s-au întors vineri, trăgând prețul BTC cu 5,5% sub maximul de miercuri de $70,000, pentru a tranzacționa la $65,950 în momentul redactării. Mai mulți analiști au spus că Bitcoin „merge mult mai jos”, putând atinge un minim în ultimul trimestru al anului 2026.

Puncte cheie:

Analiștii prognozează că prețul BTC va atinge un minim în T4 pe baza diferitelor metrici tehnice și on-chain.

Rezervelor de schimb în creștere și „oferta în profit” care scade la minimuri din 2022 sugerează o presiune suplimentară în jos.

Analiștii spun că prețul Bitcoin va atinge minimul după iunie

Bitcoin-erii dezbat dacă prețul Bitcoin ar fi fost deja de 200.000 $ dacă nu ar fi fost firma de investiții cantitative Jane Street care se joacă pe piață.

Dacă doar Jane Street nu ar fi manipulat piețele, Bitcoin ar fi urmat în totalitate oferta de bani M2 și am fi fost peste 200k $, a spus CEO-ul Coin Bureau, Nic Puckrin, într-o postare pe X.

Nu a fost nevoie de multă derulare în fir pentru a ști că el glumea.

(Nic Puckrin)

Puckrin se amuza de faptul că mulți Bitcoin-erii par să creadă cu adevărat că asta este situația în acest moment. Postarea virală a Bitcoin-erului Justin Bechler detaliind tacticile de manipulare a pieței presupuse ale Jane Street a fost văzută de 5.4 milioane de oameni și începe:

Opinia lui: Tom Mizzone, fondator și CEO al Sweet

Videoclipul este perfect. Un moment de magie capturat indisolubil în timp ce o stea NBA execută un crossover din spatele spatelui, terminând cu un trei puncte care sfidează fizica din centrul orașului. Viralitatea instantanee urmează, acumulând 50 de milioane de vizualizări în câteva ore. Fanii devin nebuni, brandurile se îngrămădesc, iar momentul este tăiat în 1.000 de remixuri pe rețelele sociale.

Există doar o problemă. Nu s-a întâmplat niciodată.

Când clipul a fost lansat, jucătorul era acasă, arena era un render digital, iar întreaga secvență a fost generată de un studio AI, folosind un deceniu de date biometrice și de performanță ale starului sportiv extrase din surse online neautorizate.

Ofițerul de impozite vine. În februarie, autoritățile fiscale din patru țări au început să reconsiderer cum impozitează cripto.

În SUA, numărul de ATM-uri cripto a atins aproape 40.000, revenind la nivelurile din 2021 de interes pentru chioscurile cripto. Numărul de instalări a scăzut semnificativ după prăbușirea cripto din 2022.

Inflația din Japonia a scăzut sub 2% în februarie, mai puțin decât în Statele Unite. CEO-ul Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, a spus mai devreme în acest an că investițiile în dolari păreau mai puțin atractive, deoarece yenul oferă o monedă mai stabilă.

Bitcoin (BTC) slid further into Friday’s Wall Street open as US inflation data overshot expectations.

Key points:

Bitcoin price downside strengthens as US inflation data comes in hot.

Gold and silver benefit from a risk-off response to January PPI data.

Bitcoin price expectations face the prospect of a rocky monthly candle close.

Bitcoin under pressure after hot US PPI print

Data from TradingView showed daily BTC price downside nearing 2.5% on Bitstamp, while gold eyed its highest levels since late January.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The January print of the Producer Price Index (PPI) came in markedly above expectations at 0.5% month over month versus an anticipated 0.3%, per data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Core PPI fared even worse at 0.8% month over month instead of 0.3%.

US PPI one-month % change. Source: BLS

“The January increase in prices for final demand can be traced to a 0.8-percent advance in the index for final demand services. In contrast, prices for final demand goods declined 0.3 percent,” an official statement added.

With US inflation creeping higher more quickly than markets assumed, risk-asset pressure increased, while safe havens outperformed.

Gold passed $5,200 per ounce, while silver revisited $92 to hit its highest levels since Jan. 30.

XAU/USD one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Expectations for interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve at its March meeting fell below 4%, according to the latest readings from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

Fed target rate probabilities for March FOMC meeting (screenshot). Source: CME Group

BTC price fears over “massive collapse”

With the monthly close in focus, Bitcoin market participants remained on edge.

Crypto trader, analyst and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe warned of a possible rerun of events from early February, where BTC/USD put in 15-month lows near $59,000.

“Pretty crucial area for me to hold on to. I'd highly favor that $BTC finds a higher low at $65k,” he wrote in his latest analysis on X. 

“However, last day of the month; remember last month? A massive collapse on the markets. Let's see what it brings: holding $65K opens up the scenario to run up from here.”

BTC/USDT 12-hour chart. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X

Earlier, Cointelegraph reported on key resistance levels for bulls to reclaim, notably the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) and old all-time highs around $69,000.

At the time of writing, BTC/USD roughly matched February 2025 in terms of performance, with losses nearing 17% month-to-date.

The pair prepared its fifth consecutive month of losses, a phenomenon absent from the charts since 2018, data from CoinGlass confirms.

BTC/USD monthly returns (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass

Serviciul Național de Impozite din Coreea de Sud (NTS) a expus accidental o frază de seminte pentru un portofel cripto într-un comunicat oficial de presă de joi, ducând la pierderea a 4 milioane PRTG (Pre‑Retogeum) tokens în valoare de aproximativ 4,8 milioane de dolari, din adresa respectivă, conform rapoartelor media locale.

Conform mai multor rapoarte ale presei coreene pe site-uri locale Naver, Chosun și altele, comunicatul de presă referitor la campania de aplicare a Serviciului Național de Impozite împotriva datornicilor fiscali și confiscărilor efectuate de autorități. Comunicatul a inclus, conform raportelor, o imagine a unui portofel Ledger și o foaie de hârtie care arată întreaga frază mnemonică a portofelului fără niciun blur sau mască.

Payment giant PayPal is expanding access to its stablecoin through a new platform it says will allow devleopers to create their own US dollar-pegged tokens backed by PayPal USD.

PayPal, MoonPay and stablecoin platform M0 on Friday announced PYUSDx, a product aimed at helping developers launch PayPal USD (PYUSD)-backed stablecoins for use within applications, or tokens designed for use inside a particular app, platform or ecosystem, according to a joint announcement shared with Cointelegraph.

The companies said the rollout is planned for next month.

“The next phase of stablecoin adoption is happening at the application layer. Developers want to build differentiated experiences, but they shouldn’t have to rebuild trusted monetary infrastructure from scratch,” said May Zabaneh, PayPal’s head of crypto.

The launch comes as competition intensifies in the stablecoin market, with companies including Meta reportedly planning stablecoin-based payments across its suite of apps including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

PYUSDx combines M0’s universal stablecoin and MoonPay platform 

Launched in August 2023, PayPal USD is a US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Paxos Trust Company, a federally regulated national banking association.

PYUSDx is separate from PYUSD and is described as a tokenization and issuance framework offered by MoonPay Digital Assets, the announcement said.

PayPal USD (PYUSD) is the sixth-largest stablecoin by market cap at $4.2 billion. Source: CoinGecko

The companies said PYUSDx combines M0’s universal stablecoin and digital token platform with MoonPay Group’s infrastructure to simplify the launch of US dollar-backed stablecoins by reducing technical and operational burdens.

It also features fast launch speed, cross-chain compatibility, flexible economics, reserve transparency and the ability to create branded stablecoins.

“We’re excited to see MoonPay and M0 use PYUSDx to help bring new, application-specific stablecoins to market, anchored in a regulated, trusted foundation,” PayPal’s Zabaneh said.

USD.ai, a decentralized finance protocol that issues stablecoins including USDai and yield-bearing sUSDai, is the first developer building on PYUSDx, using the platform to support an application-specific stablecoin for AI infrastructure.

PYUSDx tokens are separate from PayPal USD and cannot be used, sent or stored in PayPal or Venmo accounts, the announcement noted.

The launch of PYUSDx comes as PayPal continues expanding real-world use cases for its stablecoin. In late 2025, video-sharing giant YouTube reportedly enabled US-based creators to accept payouts in PYUSD, highlighting the growing adoption of the digital dollar beyond traditional finance.

Magazine: Clarity Act risks repeat of Europe’s mistakes, crypto lawyer warns

Comisia de Gambling a Regatului Unit explorează modul în care criptomoneda ar putea fi utilizată pentru plăți la cazinourile online licențiate, pe măsură ce țara se pregătește să aducă mai multe activități cripto sub un nou regim de reglementare condus de Autoritatea de Conduită Financiară (FCA).

Tim Miller, directorul executiv al comisiei pentru cercetare și politici, a declarat joi că regulatorul dorește să examineze „calea potențială înainte” pentru a permite „cryptoasset să fie utilizat ca opțiune de plată pentru consumatori pentru jocurile de noroc licențiate și reglementate în Marea Britanie.” Miller a făcut aceste remarci la întâlnirea anuală generală a Consiliului de Pariuri și Jocuri din Londra, conform discursului său publicat.

Pantera Capital și unitatea de active digitale a Franklin Templeton s-au alăturat primei cohorte a Arena, un nou mediu de testare de la laboratorul AI open-source Sentient, care este conceput pentru a evalua modul în care agenții AI performează în fluxuri de lucru de tip enterprise.

Într-o anunțare de vineri împărtășită cu Cointelegraph, Sentient a poziționat Arena ca o platformă de referință de tip producție mai degrabă decât un test static al modelului. În loc să evalueze agenții doar pe seturi de date fixe, îi supune la sarcini standardizate modelate pe condiții de tip enterprise, inclusiv documente lungi, informații incomplete și surse conflictuale.