BeInCrypto Global

Altcoins are showing renewed strength as February begins, with select tokens pushing closer to all-time highs. Strong momentum, rising inflows, and favorable technical setups are putting a few names firmly in focus. 

Thus, BeInCrypto has analysed three altcoins that could challenge or set new all-time highs in the first week of February.

Rain (RAIN)

RAIN is trading near $0.0094 at the time of writing, remaining below the $0.0100 resistance level. The altcoin is roughly 11% away from its all-time high of $0.0105. Price compression near resistance suggests growing interest as buyers test upper limits.

Momentum indicators support near-term stability. The Money Flow Index is holding above the neutral line, signaling active buying pressure. Sustained demand reduces the risk of a sharp pullback. This environment gives RAIN room to attempt a move higher and challenge its all-time high.

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RAIN Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Macro structure remains a concern. RAIN is trading within an ascending wedge, a pattern that often precedes pullbacks. A break above the ATH could meet trendline resistance and reverse. Failure to clear $0.0100 may push the price to $0.0090, invalidating the bullish thesis.

Kite (KITE)

KITE emerged as one of the strongest altcoins this week, gaining 22% and trading near $0.141 at the time of writing. The token is holding above the $0.138 support level. This structure reflects sustained demand and signals continued investor interest following the recent rally.

To reach its $0.163 all-time high, KITE requires a 14.8% advance. A breakout above the $0.150 resistance would confirm bullish continuation. The Chaikin Money Flow remains above zero, showing inflows persist. Even moderating inflows could support further upside in the short term.

KITE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Downside risk increases if KITE loses the $0.138 support. Such a move would also break the prevailing uptrend. Dominant outflows could accelerate selling pressure. Under this scenario, KITE may decline toward $0.116, invalidating the bullish thesis and delaying recovery prospects.

Stable (STABLE)

STABLE has emerged as a strong-performing small-cap token this week, gaining 32% over the past seven days. The altcoin is trading near $0.0271 at the time of writing. This advance reflects rising demand and increased visibility as traders rotate toward higher-momentum assets.

During the rally, STABLE set a new all-time high at $0.0325, placing it about 19.9% above current levels. Holding $0.0261 as support is critical. Sustained strength above this zone could allow the price to challenge the ATH and extend the uptrend.

STABLE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Downside risk remains elevated if holders move to secure profits. A failure to maintain support could stall the rally. Under stronger selling pressure, STABLE may retreat toward $0.0214. Such a move would invalidate the bullish thesis and signal a deeper consolidation phase.

The crypto market will welcome tokens worth more than $638 million in the first week of February 2026. Major projects, including Hyperliquid (HYPE), XDC Network (XDC), and Berachain (BERA), will release significant new token supplies. 

These unlocks could introduce market volatility and influence short-term price movements. So, here’s a breakdown of what to watch.

1. Hyperliquid (HYPE)

Unlock Date: February 6

Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 9.92 million HYPE

Released Supply: 395.49 million HYPE

Total Supply: 1 billion HYPE

Hyperliquid is a leading decentralized perpetual futures exchange built on its own Layer-1 blockchain. It offers high-performance trading with low latency, on-chain order books, and sub-second transaction finality.

On February 6, the team will unlock 9.92 million HYPE worth $303.55 million. The tokens account for 2.79% of the released supply.

HYPE Crypto Token Unlock in February. Source: Tokenomist

Hyperliquid will direct all unlocked altcoins to core contributors. The unlock comes as Hyperliquid reduced monthly team token unlocks to 140,000 HYPE for February, down from 1.2 million units in January.

2. XDC Network (XDC)

Unlock Date: February 5

Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 841.18 million XDC

Released Supply: 16.81 billion XDC

Total supply: 27.73 billion (Y2035)

XDC Network is an enterprise-grade, EVM-compatible blockchain protocol designed for trade finance. It enables the tokenization of real-world assets and financial instruments with high scalability and security.

On February 5, XDC Network will unlock 841.18 million XDC tokens. The tokens are worth $29.55 million, representing 5% of the released supply. 

XDC Crypto Token Unlock in February. Source: Tokenomist 

Founders, advisors, and the team will receive 441.18 million tokens. Furthermore, the network will allocate 400 million XDC for ecosystem development.

3. Berachain (BERA)

Unlock Date: February 6

Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 63.75 million BERA

Released Supply: 152.42 million BERA

Total supply: 741.43 million (Y2035)

Berachain is an EVM-identical Layer-1 blockchain focused on optimizing liquidity and decentralized finance activity. It uses a novel Proof-of-Liquidity (PoL) consensus mechanism.

On February 6, Berachain will unlock 63.75 million BERA tokens, valued at approximately $28.8 million, representing 41.70% of its released supply. The team will split the released supply five ways. 

BERA Crypto Token Unlock in February. Source: Tokenomist 

Investors will receive 28.58 million BERA, while initial core contributors will receive 14 million tokens. Additionally, the team will allocate 10.92 million tokens to future community initiatives and 8.67 million tokens to ecosystem and research and development. Lastly, Berachain will keep 1.58 million tokens for airdrop purposes.

In addition to these three, Ethena (ENA), COCA (COCA), and Tribal Token (TRIBL), among others, will also experience new supply entering the market this week.

Bitcoin’s latest sell-off is deeper than just another technical correction. It is approaching a level that directly affects the economics of mining — and that changes the risk profile of the market.

Around $70,000, Bitcoin shifts from a purely trader-driven market into one where network economics, miner behavior, and forced selling risks begin to matter. That is why this level matters more than any trendline or moving average right now.

Bitcoin Is Entering a Mining Stress Zone

At current network difficulty and electricity costs around $0.08 per kWh, new mining data shows a clear pressure band.

Most Antminer S21-series machines, which represent a large share of modern global hashrate, have shutdown prices clustered between $69,000 and $74,000 per BTC.

In simple terms, below this range, many miners stop making money from operations alone.

Most Bitcoin Miners have a Shutdown Price Below $70,000. Source: Antpool

Bitcoin regularly moves thousands of dollars in either direction. What makes this moment different is who gets stressed, not how fast price moves.

Above $70,000, mining remains broadly profitable. Below it, profitability becomes selective. So, only the efficient miners survive, while mid-tier operators face losses.

This creates pressure not just on price, but on cash flow, balance sheets, and behavior.

Shutdown Price Does Not Mean a Price Floor

It is important to be precise.

A shutdown price is not a guaranteed support level. Miners do not control Bitcoin’s price, and markets can trade below mining breakeven for extended periods.

However, shutdown prices mark zones where behavior changes, and behavior is what moves markets during stress.

Bitcoin Price Over the Past Month. Source: CoinGecko

What Happens If Bitcoin Falls Below $70,000

If Bitcoin briefly dips below $70,000 and quickly recovers, the impact is limited. But if price stays below that level, several second-order effects begin to stack.

First, weaker miners may sell BTC reserves to cover electricity and hosting costs. Some miners may shut down machines, reducing hashrate.

Most importantly, negative sentiment feeds on itself as headlines shift from “volatility” to “mining stress.”

None of these are fatal on their own. Together, they can amplify downside.

Mining stress becomes dangerous when it overlaps with liquidity stress.

Right now, Bitcoin is already dealing with:

Tight global liquidity

Reduced risk appetite

ETF outflows and derivatives liquidations

If mining stress adds forced selling on top of these factors, the market can slide faster than fundamentals alone would justify.

This is how sharp, disorderly moves happen — not because Bitcoin is broken, but because multiple pressures align at once.

The crypto market enters the first week of February with an intensifying battle between bulls and bears. Bears still hold the advantage, but bulls appear to be spotting an opportunity. This situation makes price volatility more complex. Liquidation losses are increasing for both Long and Short positions.

Why should altcoins like Solana (SOL), Hyperliquid (HYPE), and Tron (TRX) be closely watched? The following article explores the details.

1. Solana (SOL)

In the early days of February, SOL briefly dropped below $100 amid broad market-wide negative pressure.

The 7-day liquidation heatmap shows that potential liquidations from Short positions dominate. Leveraged short-term traders seem convinced that SOL could fall even deeper.

SOL Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass

However, a price around $100 places SOL at its most important support zone over the past two years. Increasing leverage and capital to short at a major support level often comes with significant risk.

Recent BeInCrypto analysis highlights a sharp surge in new Solana addresses during January. More than 10 million new addresses were being created daily.

In addition, several emerging factors may support a recovery. These include user growth from meme coin launchpads, the expansion of the USD1 stablecoin, and SOL joining the privacy trend through GhostSwap.

Selling pressure driven by overall negative sentiment is now colliding with Solana’s own bullish catalysts around the $100 level. This conflict could lead to sharp wick movements. Both Long and Short traders may face liquidation losses.

CoinGlass data suggests that if SOL rebounds above $113 this week, Short liquidations could reach $500 million. On the other hand, if SOL continues falling toward $86, Long positions could suffer more than $142 million in liquidations.

2. Hyperliquid (HYPE)

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is one of the few altcoins that has managed to maintain a 50% rally since the January 21 bottom. Most other altcoins have been setting new lows.

The liquidation map for HYPE shows a relatively balanced situation between Longs and Shorts. At the current price near $31, a move up to $35.5 could trigger around $80 million in Short liquidations. A drop toward $26 could also liquidate roughly $80 million in Long positions.

HYPE Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass

HYPE’s ability to rise against the broader market trend already represents a risk. BeInCrypto reports also indicate strong capital outflows, while the market lacks sufficient liquidity to sustain a recovery.

On the other hand, HYPE has its own catalysts. These include a 90% reduction in monthly team allocations. Demand for trading metal pairs on Hyperliquid has also supported the token’s price.

Bulls and bears have been neutralizing each other. Over the past four days, HYPE has formed consecutive spinning top candlestick patterns. This type of formation often signals that a large price swing may be approaching, increasing liquidation risk.

3. TRX

Recently, a woman named Ten Ten (Zeng Ying), who claims to be Justin Sun’s former girlfriend, accused him of manipulating the TRON (TRX) market in its early stages. She stated that Sun allegedly instructed employees to register multiple Binance accounts under personal identities in order to execute coordinated trading activity.

These developments could spread negative sentiment among TRX holders, especially amid a wave of panic selling.

Short-term traders are betting on further downside. The liquidation heatmap shows that potential Short liquidations dominate. These could reach nearly $29 million if TRX rebounds above $0.31.

TRX Exchange Liquidation Map. Source: Coinglass

However, other signals suggest that TRX demand is also strengthening. Tron Inc. (NASDAQ: TRON) recently purchased an additional 173,051 TRX tokens at an average price of $0.29. The company’s total TRX reserves have now surpassed 679.2 million TRX.

The number of weekly active addresses on Tron has also been rising steadily for years. It currently stands at 24.68 million. This indicates that TRX demand remains supported even during a broader market decline.

Weekly Active Addresses on Tron. Source: DefiLlama

Short sellers may capture short-term profits while negative sentiment dominates. Without a clear profit-taking plan, however, those gains could quickly disappear.

Each of these altcoins has its own narrative. Yet as market volatility continues to expand, liquidation risks rise sharply for both Long and Short traders.

“Total crypto liquidations officially exceed $5 billion over the last 4 days, marking the largest wave of liquidations since October 10th.” — The Kobeissi Letter reported.

As liquidation losses grow, retail investors may run out of capital to sustain buying pressure. This could push the market into a prolonged stagnant phase.

AI companies are racing to automate everything, from writing code, generating images, scheduling ads, summarizing meetings, and more. But as these systems improve, their impact on human labor becomes harder to ignore. Some experts now warn that generative AI could trigger a wave of massive job displacement that will hit faster and deeper than most economies are prepared for.

Rather than resisting the future, one crypto native platform is betting on a different approach. If automation is inevitable, then ownership should be as well. 

Action Model, today, has launched an invite-only Chrome extension that allows users to train an AI system by sharing real browser activity like clicks, navigation paths, typing, and task flows. The platform calls it a Large Action Model (LAM), capable of learning how to perform digital work, not just generate content. In return, contributors receive points that may convert into $LAM governance tokens, intended to represent participation rights in how the system evolves. 

“If AI is going to replace digital labour then workers should own the machines doing the replacing,” says Action Model founder Sina Yamani. 

Training the AI that Does the Work 

Unlike chatbot models that generate content, LAM’s are designed to operate software directly. The idea is simple: if a human can do a digital task with a mouse and keyboard, a trained AI agent should be able to do it too. 

“The last few years were chatbots. Now it’s automation,” says Yamani. “There are around one billion people employed to use a computer. If a company is offered a tool that performs the same work continuously at a fraction of the cost, they will use it.”

Action Model’s extension collects user-approved behavioral data to train the AI. Tasks like submitting payroll, managing CRM entries, or running basic operations can be recorded once and repeated by the model. Contributors may publish automations to a public marketplace, where usage can be tracked and rewarded under the platform’s incentive model. 

The rise of agentic AI systems has been widely documented across the industry, as models increasingly move from content generation to autonomous task execution. These systems, as outlined in this explainer, collect and act on real user data, learning how to navigate digital environments autonomously.

The platform has already attracted over 40,000 users through waitlists, referral systems, and partner communities. Access remains invite-only to maintain contributor quality and reward early participants.

How Is This Different From Existing Automation Tools? 

Most existing automation tools rely on APIs or rigid integrations. But much of real-world digital work happens in legacy systems, internal dashboards, and tools that were never designed to be automated.

“Zapier automates software. We automate work,” says Yamani. “Only about 2 percent of the internet is accessible via APIs. The other 98 percent still requires human interaction.”

With Action Model, users do not need to write code or manage integrations. They simply record how they complete a task. The AI learns from those real user flows and becomes capable of repeating them independently.

This makes Action Model flexible enough to capture edge cases and undocumented workflows that traditional systems cannot reach.

What About Privacy? 

All training is opt-in, and users are in control of what data is shared. Sensitive sites like email, healthcare, or banking are blocked by default. Users can pause training, block specific domains, or delete contributions entirely. 

“The first principle is simple. We don’t need your data. We just need patterns,” Yamani says. “Training data is processed locally and anonymized before it contributes to the model.”

Deleted data is permanently removed and cannot be recovered, even by the company. Contributions are aggregated with data from other users, using k-anonymity to prevent individual reidentification. A dashboard allows contributors to view and manage their training history and rewards at any time.

“While Big Tech collects this kind of data without real consent, we are transparent, user-controlled, and rewarding the people who actually train the AI,” says Yamani.

So Can Bots Game the System? 

To avoid the problems that have plagued earlier crypto reward systems, Action Model uses behavioral analysis to verify real user input. The system looks for structure, timing, variation, and decision-making signals — things that bots or click farms cannot easily fake.

“Mindless clicking is almost useless,” says Yamani. “Real workflows include intent, pauses, corrections, retries, and decisions. You cannot fake that at scale.”

Other projects that rewarded social engagement or posts were recently banned from major platforms after generating large volumes of AI spam, reply bots, and fake interactions. In response, API access was pulled and token ecosystems collapsed under the weight of low-quality activity.

ActionFi, the platform’s reward engine, is designed to avoid that trap entirely. It does not pay for tweets or clicks. It rewards verified workflows that reflect real, structured digital labor.

“We don’t pay for noise. We pay for useful paths,” Yamani adds.

Who Actually Owns the System? 

Today, Action Model controls the extension, training logic, and reward systems. But the project has committed to transitioning ownership to $LAM token holders over time. A DAO structure will eventually allow contributors to govern platform decisions, incentive mechanisms, and model deployment.

“Early systems need coordination. What matters is whether they are centralized by design,” Yamani says.

If implemented as described, ownership would give token holders influence over infrastructure decisions tied to the data they helped generate. 

If AI Is Inevitable, Can Ownership be Too? 

The next generation of AI is being built not just on language, but on labor. From office work to operations, many tasks that happen behind a screen are now within reach of intelligent agents. 

“You’ve heard that millions of screen-based jobs will be automated. That isn’t decades away — it’s happening now,” Yamani says. “If your data helps train AI, you should own what gets built.”

Whether Action Model can scale, stay transparent, and build a sustainable economy remains something we will keep an eye on closely in months to come. But its bet is very clear. The defining struggle of AI is not just about what it can do, it’s about who it works for. 

As AI reshapes the world of work, will the future be owned by platforms, or by the people? 

Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.

Grab a coffee because markets just sent a signal that doesn’t come with a clean headline. Gold, silver, and crypto are all moving the wrong way at once, leaving investors uneasy and searching for what quietly changed beneath the surface.

Crypto News of the Day: Bitcoin, Gold, and Silver Dump

More than $10 trillion in market value has been wiped out from gold and silver in just three days, marking one of the largest and fastest episodes of wealth destruction in the history of modern metals.

The sudden collapse has rattled global markets, raising urgent questions about liquidity, monetary policy, and whether traditional “safe haven” assets are losing their defensive role.

Spot gold prices plunged below $4,500 per ounce, down nearly $1,000 in three trading days. Meanwhile, silver fell below $72, extending losses toward 40% from recent highs.

In market-cap terms, gold alone erased roughly $7.4 trillion, while silver shed another $2.7 trillion, a combined wipeout larger than the entire cryptocurrency market. As of this writing, gold was trading at $4,702, while silver was trading at $81.59.

Gold and Silver Price Performance. Source: TradingView

What makes the move especially unsettling is the absence of a clear catalyst. There has been no major geopolitical shock, recession signal, or inflation surprise. Instead, markets appear to be repricing a future defined by aggressive Federal Reserve balance-sheet contraction.

“Markets are reacting to incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s message: ‘The Fed should shrink its balance sheet,’” Coin Bureau wrote, noting that Warsh has argued the Fed’s roughly $7 trillion balance sheet is “trillions larger than it needs to be.”

Less balance sheet, the argument goes, means less liquidity supporting stocks, crypto, and even metals.

Panic Spreads as Crypto Joins the “Safe Haven” Breakdown

The impact has not been confined to precious metals. Crypto markets have lost more than $430 billion in market value in just four days.

This suggests fears that a liquidity-driven unwind is spreading across asset classes. Bitcoin and Ethereum have both suffered sharp drawdowns, while broader crypto sentiment has deteriorated quickly.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Performance. Source: TradingView

“Gold is down 20% from its peak, and it has erased $7.4 trillion in market value, which is 5 times the entire market cap of Bitcoin. Silver crashed nearly 40%, wiping out $2.7 trillion, which is equal to the entire crypto market cap. Safe-haven assets are moving like crypto meme coins,” stated analyst Bull Theory.

Investor psychology has also begun to fracture amid reports that more investors are shaken in this cycle than even during the 2022 crypto collapse.

“Some bailed into gold because they still want to stay on the hard money train,” wrote Natalie Brunell, cautioning against confusing fear-driven price action with a broken long-term thesis for Bitcoin.

At the same time, some strategists remain constructive on gold over a longer horizon, with Deutsche Bank reportedly maintaining its $6,000 gold forecast, even amid the slump.

This highlights the divide between short-term liquidation pressure and longer-term monetary hedging narratives.

Others see historical parallels, with analyst Zev comparing the current gold rally-and-crack pattern to the 1980 peak. Based on this, the analyst warns that the biggest risk may not be a total collapse, but years of stagnation following a parabolic move.

“Safe haven ≠ buy at any price,” he cautioned.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee argued that crypto’s recent underperformance relative to gold stems from a historic deleveraging event last October that damaged the crypto market structure.

While reaffirming Bitcoin’s “digital gold” thesis, Lee warned that the adoption path will remain volatile, with 2026 shaping up as a key stress test.

Chart of the Day

Gold, Silver, and Bitcoin Market Cap. Source: Top Assets by Market Capitalization Byte-Sized Alpha

Here’s a summary of more US crypto news to follow today:

Is this the Bitcoin bottom? Three metrics still point to $63,000 as the key risk zone

Bitcoin pullback exposes MicroStrategy to around $1 billion in paper losses.

Ripple releases 1 billion XRP as price weakness extends into February.

Binance initiates $100 million central bank-style market support as Bitcoin bleeds.

Crypto exodus hits $1.7 billion, but tokenized metals draw investor inflows.

Not Tom Lee’s BitMine: This firm faces potential $1.33 billion ETH liquidation amid a 26% price drop.

Strategy (MSTR) earnings among 5 US data points to flip Bitcoin market this week.

Crypto Equities Pre-Market Overview

CompanyClose As of January 30Pre-Market OverviewStrategy (MSTR)$149.71$139.47 (-6.84%)Coinbase (COIN)$194.74$187.89 (-3.52%)Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY)$28.26$27.03 (-4.35%)MARA Holdings (MARA)$9.50$9.04 (-4.84%)Riot Platforms (RIOT)$15.47$14.79 (-4.40%)Core Scientific (CORZ)$17.99$17.92 (-0.39%)

Crypto equities market open race: Google Finance

The Cardano price is trading at a deep discount. Since early December, the price has fallen nearly 45% and recently touched $0.26 before rebounding near $0.28. On paper, this looks like a strong buying zone.

The chart also shows early reversal signals. Retail traders are accumulating again. Yet large holders, known as whales, remain cautious. Despite the discount and improving indicators, buying lacks conviction. Three data points explain why.

Bullish Divergence Inside a Falling Channel Still Fails to Unite Whales

Technically, Cardano’s chart looks mixed.

Since November, ADA has been trading inside a falling channel, where the price makes lower highs and lower lows within parallel lines. This reflects a controlled downtrend, not panic selling, as the channel remains intact. Yet, the downside risk remains.

At the same time, momentum is improving.

Between November 21 and January 31, ADA formed a lower low. During the same period, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) made a higher low. RSI measures momentum on a 0–100 scale. When price falls, but RSI rises, it suggests selling pressure is weakening. This is known as a bullish divergence. This usually appears near early trend reversals.

Mixed ADA Chart: TradingView

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

However, whales are not responding in a unified way despite the reversal sign.

On-chain data shows three major wallet groups behaving differently:

Wallets holding over 1 billion ADA increased holdings slightly after January 28, but nothing during the Jan-end dip.

Wallets holding 100 million to 1 billion ADA reduced holdings from about 2.58 billion to 2.47 billion.

Wallets holding 10 million to 100 million ADA increased holdings from roughly 13.37 billion to 13.50 billion.

ADA Whales In Play: Santiment

When whales strongly believe in a rebound, these groups usually accumulate together. That is not happening. The net buying strength is merely 20 million ADA. The reason is risk.

As long as ADA stays near the lower boundary of the falling channel, a breakdown remains possible. A confirmed break could trigger another 29% drop, highlighted later while discussing price. This structural risk keeps large investors defensive, even with bullish divergence forming.

Weak Social Dominance and Cautious Retail Buying Limit Momentum

The second barrier is sentiment.

Social dominance measures how much attention a coin receives compared to the rest of the crypto market. It tracks the share of online discussions focused on that asset. Rising dominance often signals growing speculation and inflows.

For Cardano, social dominance peaked near 1.08% in November 2025, when the ADA price touched $0.59. Since then, it has declined steadily. It now sits near 0.047%, close to a multi-month low.

Historically, this matters.

In early December, a local social peak preceded a 12% rally.

In late December, another peak was followed by a 16% rise.

Social Dominance Takes A Hit: Santiment

When social interest rises, price often follows. Right now, interest is fading. Without narrative momentum, whales have little incentive to scale into positions. Retail behavior is more positive, but still cautious.

Since January 22, ADA has posted daily net outflows from exchanges. Outflows mean coins are leaving exchanges, usually for holding rather than selling. This reflects buying pressure.

Daily net buying peaked near $14.9 million on January 31 and later cooled to around $2.8 million. There have been no major selling days since late January.

Netflows: Coinglass

This shows retail investors are slowly accumulating dips. But the pace is modest. Without rising social attention, retail demand alone cannot drive a strong trend.

Smart Money Weakness and Key Cardano Price Levels Keep Whales Defensive

The final warning comes from “smart money” and price structure.

The Smart Money Index tracks how experienced traders position during different market hours. It aims to reflect informed behavior rather than emotional trading.

Recently, this index has moved below its signal line and continued falling. In past rallies, around early January, it usually rose before the price. Its current weakness suggests professional traders are not positioning for a rebound yet. This also reinforces whale caution.

From a technical view, several levels now define February’s outlook.

On the upside, ADA must first reclaim $0.319. This would signal improving confidence. A move above $0.376 is more important. It would break the falling channel and shift the structure from bearish to neutral. That could attract coordinated whale buying.

On the downside, $0.268 remains critical. A confirmed break below this level would also confirm a channel breakdown and open downside toward $0.188, implying a 29% drop target from the breakdown point.

Cardano Price Analysis: TradingView

As long as the price stays between $0.268 and $0.319, uncertainty dominates. The bullish divergence shows that selling pressure is fading. But weak social momentum, fragmented whale behavior, and the absence of smart money support keep conviction low. Until sentiment improves and key resistance breaks, Cardano’s rebound remains possible, not proven.

Meme coins are starting February with renewed momentum as speculative appetite returns across the market. Fresh launches, strong community growth, and aggressive price action are putting select tokens in the spotlight. 

BeInCrypto has analysed three such meme coins for investors to keep an eye on during the first week of February.

Buttcoin (BUTTCOIN)

BUTTCOIN emerged as one of the top-performing meme coins this week, drawing strong speculative interest. The newly launched token has already attracted more than 10,000 holders. At the time of writing, BUTTCOIN is trading near $0.0213, reflecting rapid adoption and heightened short-term demand.

The meme coin surged 259% over the past seven days, setting a new all-time high at $0.0292. With price discovery still underway, BUTTCOIN faces limited technical resistance. This structure supports continued upside, as momentum-driven traders often push prices higher during early expansion phases.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

BUTTCOIN Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Downside risk centers on profit-taking behavior. Early investors may choose to lock in gains after the sharp rally. If selling pressure increases, BUTTCOIN could fall below the $0.0187 support. A deeper pullback toward $0.0125 would invalidate the bullish thesis and signal momentum exhaustion.

The White Whale (WHITEWHALE)

WHITEWHALE has emerged as a leading small-cap meme coin, rising 114% over the past week despite recent controversy. The token is consolidating after the surge, trading in a range between $0.099 and $0.070. This pause reflects cooling momentum following aggressive speculative inflows.

The consolidation phase may signal a reset rather than exhaustion. The Money Flow Index remains elevated, indicating buying pressure is still strong. Sustained demand could allow WHITEWHALE to break above $0.099.

A confirmed breakout would open a path toward $0.123 and potentially higher levels.

WHITEWHALE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Downside risk remains if sentiment shifts. Should buying pressure fade and selling accelerate, WHITEWHALE could lose the $0.070 support. A breakdown would expose lower targets near $0.048 or even $0.038. Such a move would invalidate the bullish thesis and extend the correction.

EGL1 (EGL1)

EGL1 has remained in a steady uptrend for the past three weeks, trading near $0.044 at the time of writing. The meme coin is supported by more than 55,000 holders. This expanding holder base has helped sustain demand and reinforces EGL1’s continued upward momentum.

Trend indicators favor further upside. The Parabolic SAR remains positioned below the price, confirming the prevailing uptrend. This signal suggests bullish momentum still has room to run. If buying pressure holds, EGL1 could extend gains and attempt a move toward the $0.053 level in the near term.

EGL1 Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Caution is warranted despite the bullish structure. An ascending wedge is forming on the chart, a pattern often linked to reversals. If EGL1 breaks below the $0.038 support, selling pressure may accelerate. A drop toward $0.030 would confirm the bearish breakdown and invalidate the bullish thesis.

Altcoins are starting February with mixed signals as selective tokens show strength despite broader market uncertainty. Key network upgrades, unique market positioning, and strong technical momentum are shaping short-term opportunities. 

BeInCrypto has analysed three such altcoins to keep on the radar during the first week of February.

Zilliqa (ZIL)

Zilliqa is a token to watch as its network prepares for a major upgrade this week. The Cancun upgrade will activate on the mainnet through a hard fork. The update aims to improve communication speed and offer finer-grained control, potentially boosting investor interest and short-term demand.

ZIL price may benefit if the upgrade drives a demand surge. The altcoin is trading within a descending channel. A bounce from $0.0039 could occur. A confirmed breakout would require flipping $0.0045 into support alongside a sharp increase in trading volume.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

ZIL Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Downside risk remains if broader market conditions deteriorate. Under sustained bearish pressure, ZIL could break below the channel structure. A drop under the $0.0036 level would invalidate the bullish thesis. Such a move would likely extend losses and delay any recovery attempt.

Hyperliquid (HYPE)

HYPE has emerged as the only positively performing DEX token over the past seven days, gaining 34%. The altcoin is trading near $30.01 at the time of writing. Price remains just below the $30.84 resistance, signaling continued strength despite broader market weakness.

A key driver is HYPE’s inverse relationship with Bitcoin. The token shows a -0.49 correlation with BTC, reducing exposure to Bitcoin-led declines. This decoupling supports independent momentum. If demand holds, HYPE could reclaim $34.31 and extend its recovery trend.

HYPE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Downside risk remains if investors shift toward profit-taking. A drop below $26.82 would weaken the market structure. Such a move would also push HYPE under the 50-day EMA. This breakdown could invalidate the bullish thesis and expose the price to a decline toward $23.69.

Canton (CC)

CC remains one of the strongest performers in the crypto market, supported by a sustained uptrend. The altcoin has rallied steadily for two weeks, adding nearly 30% over the past seven days. This momentum reflects consistent demand and positions CC as a relatively safe bet amid broader volatility.

During this period, CC recorded its third consecutive all-time high at $0.195. The token is trading near $0.184 at the time of writing. The Chaikin Money Flow remains above the zero line, signaling dominant inflows. This setup supports a potential push past the ATH toward $0.215.

CC Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

Downside risk emerges only if investor sentiment shifts toward profit-taking. A loss of the $0.176 support would weaken the structure. Such a move could push CC toward $0.155 or even $0.142. Falling below these levels would invalidate the bullish thesis and signal trend exhaustion.

Binance has executed the first Bitcoin purchase under its newly announced $1 billion SAFU conversion plan, acquiring 1,315 BTC, valued at approximately $100.7 million.

The purchase, coming just days after the repurposing of its SAFU fund to a Bitcoin reserve, comes as markets struggle through another bout of heavy selling pressure.

Binance Makes a $100 Million Move That Looks a Lot Like Central Bank Intervention

On February 2, on-chain data confirmed that the Binance SAFU Fund address received 1,315 BTC worth $100.7 million.

Binance Buys 1,315 BTC. Source: Arkham Data

It marks the first completed tranche of the exchange’s plan to convert its Secure Asset Fund for Users from stablecoins into Bitcoin over a 30-day period.

Binance later confirmed the transaction, stating that $100 million in stablecoins had been converted and that further BTC acquisitions would follow until the full $1 billion target is reached.

While Binance did not explicitly describe the move as a market intervention, the timing is indeed consequential. It comes as Bitcoin price remains in murky waters, trading below the psychological $80,000 threshold.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

“I am always surprised that those who have the most to lose by a falling bitcoin ($80,000 line in the sand) don’t defend it over the weekend,” remarked Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money.

Indeed, Bitcoin suffered a brutal weekend, revealing a deep market divide between opportunity and structural vulnerability.  

Against this backdrop, some analysts liken the SAFU conversion to central bank-style interventions in TradFi. As it happens in traditional finance, institutions deploy reserves to stabilize confidence during periods of stress.

Key past examples include:

Instances When TradFi Stepped in to Stabilize Confidence

The structure has fueled speculation that Binance is effectively committing to sustained dip-buying.

“Binance’s latest announcement confirms they have already purchased $100 million worth of Bitcoin from the market, with $900 million still to go,” analyst AB Kuai Dong noted.

He added that the fund’s rebalancing rule could amplify the impact. If Bitcoin prices fall far enough to push SAFU’s value below its floor, Binance would be required to purchase additional BTC to restore the fund’s value.

A Soft Bitcoin Backstop Emerges as Binance, Saylor, and Whales Accumulate

Under the SAFU framework, the fund is monitored continuously. If Bitcoin price declines erode its value beyond predefined levels, Binance must replenish it. That dynamic could act as a soft backstop during periods of heightened volatility.

On-chain signals suggest Binance may be preparing for further accumulation. Earlier in the day, the SAFU address initiated authorization transactions to add new recipient addresses to its whitelist.

This move is often associated with operational preparation for additional asset transfers.

The purchase also comes amid renewed signals of confidence from other large Bitcoin holders. Just one day earlier, Strategy executive chair Michael Saylor posted a cryptic “More Orange” message on X (Twitter), widely interpreted as a hint that another Bitcoin acquisition may be imminent.

The post arrived despite MicroStrategy shares falling sharply in recent sessions and Bitcoin briefly dipping near the company’s average cost basis.

Taken together, these moves strengthen the narrative that deep-pocketed players are attempting to stabilize the market organically rather than through coordinated action.

Beyond individual announcements, broader on-chain trends indicate that large holders may already be stepping in. Data from CryptoQuant shows that whales have continued to accumulate during the recent drawdown.

Whales Buy BTC As Bitcoin Price Drops. Source: CryptoQuant

Will this emerging support translate into a durable price floor near the $75,000?

Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Still, with $900 million in SAFU conversions yet to be executed, Binance has positioned itself as one of the most significant near-term sources of structural Bitcoin demand.

Hedera’s HBAR enters February 2026 under pressure after a sharp market-wide correction. Since mid-January, the token has fallen nearly 35%, with the correction amplifying during the broader sell-off between January 21 and February 1. From its November highs, the HBAR price is now down more than 40%, and price momentum remains weak.

Yet technical and on-chain indicators suggest a turnaround is possible. Whether this possibility turns into a rebound or another breakdown now depends on volume, money flow, and key support levels.

Money Flow And Falling Wedge Show Dip Buyers Are Still Active

Despite the recent sell-off, HBAR’s broader chart structure remains constructive.

Since late October 2025, the price has been moving inside a falling wedge. A falling wedge forms when the price makes lower highs and lower lows, but the structure narrows over time. This usually signals that selling pressure is weakening.

Even after the January crash, HBAR has stayed inside this pattern. That keeps the long-term rebound case alive.

Money flow indicators also support this view.

The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), which tracks whether big money is flowing into or out of an asset, has formed a clear divergence since late December. Between December 30 and February 2, HBAR’s price trended lower, but CMF trended higher. This means capital has continued to enter the market even as prices fell.

Money Flow Leans Bullish: TradingView

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Although CMF recently slipped below its rising trendline and briefly dipped under zero, it remains close to the neutral zone.

The Money Flow Index (MFI), a measure of dip buying, shows a similar pattern.

Since late November, HBAR’s price has continued trending lower, while MFI has trended higher. This suggests traders have been buying dips for more than two months. Recently, MFI has started curling upward again. It currently sits near 41. A move above 54 would create a higher high and strengthen the bullish divergence.

Dip Buyers Active: TradingView

Together, CMF and MFI suggest that dip buyers are still active. Even after a 35% drop, capital has not fully left the market. Instead, buyers appear to be quietly accumulating inside the falling wedge. This keeps rebound hopes alive.

Yet to confirm a sustainable recovery, prices also need volume support. That is where the next risk appears.

Three-Month Spot Streak Broken, Could Limit Upside?

While CMF and MFI look constructive, volume data tells a more cautious story.

The On-Balance Volume (OBV) indicator measures whether volume supports price trends. Rising OBV confirms buying strength. Falling OBV signals distribution. In HBAR’s case, OBV has been weakening.

On January 29, OBV broke below a key descending trendline. Since October, it has continued to trend lower. This creates a bearish divergence.

Weak Hedera Volume: TradingView

This means every price move up has not been backed by strong volume. This weakness is now confirmed by spot flow data.

Since late October, HBAR has recorded consistent weekly net outflows. For nearly 14 weeks, more tokens left exchanges than entered them. This reflects steady accumulation as the price corrected, a trend that aligns with the MFI divergence we discussed earlier. However, a weakening OBV always capped the upside.

Spot Flows Turn Positive: Coinglass

Only recently did this streak break.

On February 2 (weekly analysis), HBAR recorded its first meaningful week of net inflows since October, totaling around $749,000. This ended a three-month buying streak (at press time), marking a shift from accumulation to potential selling readiness. That explains the recent OBV breakdown, under the descending trendline.

So while CMF and MFI show buyers are still active, the broader market is no longer absorbing supply as it did before. Without sustained outflows, rallies may continue to fade or might not even start. That shifts attention to price levels.

HBAR Price Levels That Will Decide February’s Direction

With mixed signals across indicators, the HBAR price levels now carry the most importance. On the downside, the key support sits near $0.076.

If HBAR holds above $0.076 and CMF and MFI continue improving, rebound attempts can continue. But a clean break below this level would signal sellers regaining control, something OBV is already hinting at.

In that case, downside targets open near $0.062 and $0.043.

HBAR Price Analysis: TradingView

On the upside, the first hurdle is $0.090, provided OBV improves.

This area has capped rallies since January and represents short-term resistance. Reclaiming it would show early confidence returning. Above $0.090, the major Hedera price test sits near $0.107.

A sustained move above $0.107 would confirm a breakout from the falling wedge. This would activate the wedge’s measured target, which points to a potential 52% upside over time. However, this scenario remains a long shot for now.

Crypto markets are starting to see a new kind of participant. OpenClaw, an autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent platform, is moving from observation to execution, engaging directly with on-chain systems in ways that were previously reserved for human users.

As activity from these agents expands across multiple networks, their role in the market is becoming harder to ignore.

What Is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source autonomous AI assistant that emerged in late 2025. It has since captured the attention of both tech and crypto communities. Created by developer Peter Steinberger, the project was initially released under the name Clawdbot.

As its popularity exploded on GitHub and social networks, the project underwent a rapid series of rebrands. After AI company Anthropic raised trademark concerns, prompting an early rename from Clawdbot to Moltbot, the team later adopted the name OpenClaw.

“The name captures what this project has become: Open: Open source, open to everyone, community-driven Claw: Our lobster heritage, a nod to where we came from,” Steinberger wrote in a blog.

In recent days, OpenClaw has garnered substantial attention. Its GitHub star count has jumped to 147,000 from about 7,800 on January 24.

Unlike traditional chat-based AI tools, OpenClaw is designed to take action on a user’s behalf. It can send emails, manage calendars, trigger workflows, and operate across multiple devices directly from chat interfaces.

The system integrates with popular messaging platforms and executes tasks based on user-defined rules, rather than platform-controlled logic.

OpenClaw has three key features:

Persistent memory: OpenClaw retains context across sessions, learning user preferences, tracking ongoing projects, and remembering past interactions instead of resetting with each use.

Proactive notifications: The agent can initiate communication, delivering briefings, reminders, and summaries without waiting for user prompts.

Real automation: OpenClaw can execute tasks across connected tools, including scheduling and email management, as well as research, reporting, and workflow orchestration.

OpenClaw in Crypto Markets

This model is also starting to surface in crypto contexts. According to user examples shared on social media, OpenClaw is being used for tasks such as monitoring wallet activity, automating airdrop-related workflows, and more.

The tool has also appeared in prediction markets, where reported interactions with on-chain positions point to growing experimentation with automated settlement. Polygon reported that OpenClaw agents are interacting directly with Polymarket positions.

Real-Agent Workflows Demonstrate OpenClaw’s Practical Applications in Prediction Markets. Source: X/Polygon

Other chains, such as Solana, are also racing to integrate it. Virtual Protocol, running on Base, announced that every OpenClaw agent can now discover, hire, and pay other agents on-chain.

Risks and Concerns

The growing use of autonomous AI agents in crypto markets also raises a number of concerns. Because tools like OpenClaw can execute actions, misconfigured permissions or compromised agents could lead to unintended transactions, financial losses, or abuse.

There are also broader questions around market integrity. As more agents interact with on-chain systems, automated strategies could amplify volatility or create feedback loops, particularly in markets such as prediction platforms where prices respond quickly to new information.

Finally, the rise of agent-driven activity introduces regulatory and accountability challenges.

“Unpredictability of an AI agent acting on your behalf is a bug, not a feature. There are many ways for things to go unpredictably wrong and very few for them to go unpredictably right. The unpredictability will be things like ‘sent an email in your name to the wrong person,'” Balaji, Founder of the Network School, said.

Determining responsibility for actions taken by autonomous software, especially when those actions involve financial transactions, remains an open question.

Investor sentiment toward digital assets has taken a decisive turn lower, with crypto funds recording $1.7 billion in weekly outflows last week.

It marks a second consecutive week of withdrawals and reversing year-to-date inflows into a net $1 billion outflow.

Investors Turn Defensive as Short Bitcoin and Tokenized Metals Attract Capital

After $1.73 billion outflows from crypto funds the week ending January 23, digital asset investment products lost $1.69 billion last week. The latest pullback has also accelerated a broader contraction in assets under management (AuM).

Since peaking in October 2025, total AuM across digital asset products has fallen by $73 billion. This reflects both sustained price weakness and persistent capital flight from the sector.

CoinShares analyst James Butterfill points to a combination of factors behind the downturn. The head of research cites:

The appointment of a more hawkish US Federal Reserve Chair

Ongoing whale selling is tied to the four-year crypto cycle and

Heightened geopolitical volatility has pushed investors toward safer assets.

It explains why outflows were overwhelmingly concentrated in the US, which accounted for $1.65 billion of the total weekly withdrawals.

“We believe this reflects a combination of factors, including the appointment of a more hawkish US Federal Reserve Chair, continued whale selling associated with the four-year cycle, and heightened geopolitical volatility,” wrote Butterfill.

The scale of the US exodus highlights the sensitivity of crypto markets to shifts in Federal Reserve expectations and broader financial conditions. Elsewhere, sentiment was similarly negative, albeit on a smaller scale.

Crypto Fund Flows by Country. Source: CoinShares Broad-Based Outflows Highlight Defensive Shift in Crypto Markets

Across individual assets, the sell-off was broad-based. Bitcoin bore the brunt of the withdrawals. It shed $1.32 billion over the week as investors reduced exposure to the pioneer crypto, potentially explaining the BTC price slump.

Ethereum followed with $308 million in outflows, reflecting waning confidence even in assets typically viewed as long-term structural bets.

In the same way, recent market favorites were not spared as XRP and Solana recorded outflows of $43.7 million and $31.7 million, respectively.

Crypto Flows by Asset. Source: CoinShares

The above chart signals a rotation away from higher-beta positions. Yet amid the gloom, pockets of defensive positioning emerged. Short Bitcoin investment products attracted $14.5 million in inflows, pushing year-to-date AuM up 8.1%.

The move suggests traders are increasingly hedging against further downside rather than positioning for a near-term rebound.

At the same time, so-called Hype investment products stood out as a rare bright spot, drawing $15.5 million in inflows. These products benefited from a surge of on-chain activity linked to tokenized precious metals, which appear to be gaining traction as an alternative store-of-value narrative amid crypto market stress.

Taken together, the latest flow data points to a market in defensive mode. With capital continuing to exit core assets and only niche segments attracting inflows, investor behavior suggests caution is firmly in control.

Whether sentiment stabilizes will likely depend on key US economic events this week, a slowdown in large-holder selling, and a reduction in geopolitical risks. These factors remain uncertain in the near term.

Ethereum price has declined sharply over recent sessions, rattling investor confidence across the market. ETH has shed significant value in a short period, intensifying fear-driven reactions. 

Many investors are now shifting their stance, increasing selling pressure on the altcoin king. While this behavior may extend the decline, it could also create conditions for a healthier long-term recovery.

Ethereum Holders Move Back To Not Buying

Recent on-chain data highlights a notable change in market sentiment. Exchange net position change shows that the buying momentum built over the last two weeks is fading. The red bars, which track net inflows, are shrinking steadily. This decline signals that aggressive accumulation is slowing.

As buying pressure weakens, selling momentum often follows. Investors who entered earlier may begin exiting positions to limit losses. This transition typically weighs on price action. For Ethereum, reduced demand increases the likelihood of further downside before stability returns.

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Ethereum Exchange Net Position Change. Source: Glassnode

Despite near-term weakness, macro indicators offer a more constructive outlook. Ethereum’s Market Value to Realized Value ratio has entered the opportunity zone. This range, between -12% and -24%, historically marks periods of selling exhaustion.

In previous cycles, ETH price reversals followed shortly after MVRV dipped into this zone. Loss saturation discourages further selling as investors avoid realizing deeper drawdowns. Accumulation often resumes during these phases. Ethereum could benefit from similar dynamics as selling pressure peaks.

Ethereum MVRV Ratio. Source: Santiment ETH Price Fall to $2,000 Is Likely

Ethereum is trading near $2,211 at the time of writing, holding just above the $2,205 support level. The asset remains under pressure after extending a 27% decline over the past five days. Current momentum suggests further downside risk remains elevated.

ETH is now only 9.2% away from falling below the $2,000 mark. Given fading buying momentum and rising caution, a move toward this level appears likely. While bearish in the short term, such a drop may attract value-focused investors. Lower prices often encourage accumulation from longer-term participants.

ETH Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

A rebound scenario depends on renewed demand near key supports. If investors capitalize on discounted prices, Ethereum could recover toward current levels. This move would mark the beginning of a reversal-driven recovery. However, continued bearish momentum poses a risk. Failure to stabilize could send ETH toward $1,796 or lower, delaying any sustained rebound.

Trend Research, one of the largest Ethereum whales, is approaching a critical liquidation threshold amid ETH’s recent downward trajectory.

The stakes for the company mirror those of Tom Lee’s BitMine, whose Ethereum Supercycle bet is proving fatal as prices decline.

Ethereum Whale Trend Research Approaches $1.33 Billion Liquidation Threshold as Prices Slide

Blockchain monitoring by @ai_9684xtpa reveals that the firm currently holds 618,246 ETH across six addresses. It has $1.33 billion in WETH posted as collateral and $939 million in stablecoins borrowed.

A sustained decline in Ethereum could trigger multi-billion-dollar liquidations, potentially reverberating across broader crypto markets.

As of this writing, Ethereum was trading for $2,226, down by almost 8% in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the liquidation range for Trend Research’s holdings is $1,781.09 to $1,862.02 per ETH, assuming no margin top-ups or position reductions.

Ethereum Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

Individual address thresholds illustrate the scale of risk:

TOP1: 169,891 ETH collateral, $258 million borrowed, liquidation at $1,833.84

TOP2: 175,843 ETH collateral, $271 million borrowed, liquidation at $1,862.02

TOP3: 108,743 ETH collateral, $163 million borrowed, liquidation at $1,808.05

TOP4: 79,510 ETH collateral, $117 million borrowed, liquidation at $1,781.09

TOP5: 43,025 ETH collateral, $66.25 million borrowed, liquidation at $1,855.18

TOP6: 41,034 ETH collateral, $63.23 million borrowed, liquidation at $1,856.57

In what appears to be a proactive move, Trend Research recently deposited 20,000 ETH (approximately $43.88 million) into Binance, signaling efforts to manage risk amid volatility.

Whales Shift to Deleveraging Amid ETH Volatility, Highlighting Short-Term Risk Management

This follows a broader trend among Ethereum whales, with BitcoinOG and Trend Research collectively dumping $371 million in ETH over 48 hours to repay loans on the DeFi lending platform Aave.

Trend Research alone withdrew $77.5 million in USDT to repay nearly all (98.1%) of its Aave debt, reflecting a strategic deleveraging rather than panic selling.

The current environment starkly contrasts with late 2025, when whales, including Trend Research and BitMine Immersion Technologies, were aggressively accumulating ETH during price dips.

At that time, Trend Research had amassed 580,000 ETH ($1.72 billion) at an average entry of ~$3,208, treating weakness as a buying opportunity. BitMine similarly added tens of thousands of ETH to its holdings, signaling strong institutional conviction.

The ongoing volatility reflects the dual pressures large ETH holders face to balance aggressive accumulation strategies with risk management in leveraged positions.

While Trend Research remains a major accumulator, the current price slide—ETH is down approximately 26% in the past week—has increased the urgency of managing potential liquidations.

Ethereum Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Aave’s resilience has so far prevented systemic disruption. According to founder Stani Kulechov, it handled $140 million in automated liquidations smoothly on January 31.

Notwithstanding, a continued Ethereum price slide toward the $1,781–$1,862 range could trigger forced liquidations, potentially amplifying market stress.

Trend Research’s moves show that even whales with bullish long-term views are adopting risk-off behavior in the short term. This means:

Leveraging deposits

Margin management, and

Stablecoin repayment to safeguard multi-billion-dollar positions.

The interplay between whale activity and market sentiment is likely to determine near-term price trajectories.

The crypto market has endured four consecutive months of decline. It is now entering a fifth month in the red, with total market capitalization falling to around $2.5 trillion. The key question for investors is when a recovery might begin. Data from Tether Dominance (USDT.D) may offer an answer.

Tether Dominance (USDT.D) measures the share of USDT market capitalization — the leading stablecoin — relative to the total crypto market. Analysts often use it as an indicator for market tops and bottoms because of its strong correlation with overall market capitalization.

USDT.D Hits a Two-Year High — What Does It Mean?

TradingView data shows that USDT.D reached 7.4% on February 2. This marks the highest level in the past two years.

A rising USDT.D suggests that investors are selling crypto assets into USDT. It also indicates they are not yet ready to reallocate to the market. This behavior typically appears when investors lose confidence in near-term profit expectations.

Market capitalization and USDT.D. Source: TradingView

The chart reveals an even more notable signal. USDT.D broke above a resistance trendline at 6.5%, while total market capitalization simultaneously broke a key support trendline below.

This combination points to a scenario similar to 2022. That period marked the start of a prolonged bear market that lasted more than a year before showing signs of recovery.

“USDT Dominance broke out as Bitcoin dumped, but we are far from the range high. Another reason I think Bitcoin has not reached the bottom yet,” investor Crypto Tony said.

Other traders, including Trader Tim, argue that a retest of the 6.5% level could present an opportunity to consider short positions. Tim also suggested that USDT.D could continue rising toward 9.5%.

If Tim’s and Crypto Tony’s predictions prove accurate, the market may continue to face selling pressure in the near term. Historically, the 9.5% peak also coincided with the market finding a bottom during 2022.

Stablecoin Liquidity Continues to Decline

CryptoQuant data adds another layer of concern. The 30-day average inflow of stablecoin to exchanges has dropped sharply.

In October, exchange inflows averaged $9.7 billion per month. About $8.8 billion of that went into Binance, supporting Bitcoin’s upward momentum.

Starting in November, flows reversed. Inflows fell by $9.6 billion, then remained negative by more than $4 billion in early 2026. Binance alone saw an outflow of $3.1 billion.

“Taken together, these dynamics highlight the particularly challenging environment in which Bitcoin is currently operating, weighed down by a persistent lack of liquidity that has now been impacting the market for several months,” Darkfost, a CryptoQuant analyst said.

Exchanges Stablecoin Netflow (30D Change). Source: CryptoQuant.

Overall, investors are not only rotating from Bitcoin and altcoins into stablecoins. They are also withdrawing stablecoins from exchanges entirely. Analysts may only have stronger grounds to call for a trend reversal once these indicators begin to improve again.

Ripple unlocked roughly 1 billion XRP (XRP) from escrow on February 1, continuing its long-standing monthly release schedule.

The scheduled unlock followed a weak close for XRP in January, when the token declined by more than 10%. Selling pressure extended into the new month, with prices slipping further in line with the broader market drawdown.

Ripple Unlocks 1 Billion XRP as Part of Scheduled Escrow Program

According to on-chain data, the unlocks were split across four transfers of 100 million, 400 million, 100 million, and 400 million XRP, with a combined value of approximately $1.6 billion at the time of execution.

Ripple’s XRP Unlock. Source: X/WhaleAlert

Ripple’s monthly unlocks are part of a structured supply management mechanism rather than an unexpected market event. Introduced in 2017, the system placed 55 billion XRP into escrow, allowing up to 1 billion XRP to be released each month in a transparent and predictable manner.

Under this framework, Ripple typically relocks between 60% and 80% of the unlocked tokens, retaining only a portion for operational expenses or liquidity demands. That pattern repeated this month.

Whale Alert reported that Ripple relocked 700 million XRP to escrow in two separate transactions totaling 400 million and 300 million XRP, worth roughly $1.09 billion combined. As a result, a net 300 million XRP remains unlocked following the sequence.

XRP Slides to October Lows Amid Broad Crypto Market Sell-Off

Historically, these monthly escrow movements have had a limited immediate impact on the market. Nonetheless, XRP has been under pressure as overall risk appetite weakened across the market.

BeInCrypto Markets data showed that XRP’s value declined by 10.6% in January, with the price falling to a low of $1.50 on the final trading day of the month, marking its lowest level since the October market crash.

XRP Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto Markets

Just two days into February, XRP has already dropped by more than 6%, tracking the broader market downturn that has pushed Bitcoin and Ethereum to multi-month lows. At press time, XRP was trading at $1.57, down nearly 5% over the past 24 hours.

Amid the ongoing drawdown, analysts remain split on whether a recovery or further declines are more likely. One analyst noted that XRP may be repeating a familiar long-term cycle. This suggests its next major rally may still be several years away.

According to the analysis, XRP has historically moved through extended consolidation phases before breaking out sharply later in the cycle.

“It is following the same patterns in every other cycle. The next pump won’t be until Q4 2028. $8–10+,” the analyst wrote.

XRP Price Prediction. Source: X/ItsBitcoinBruh

Another analyst stated that XRP’s price is currently consolidating within a “re-accumulation phase,” potentially setting the stage for a higher-timeframe continuation.

Meanwhile, comments from David Schwartz, one of the chief architects of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), have challenged the more optimistic price targets often circulating within XRP communities.

“While I don’t think it’s likely, I didn’t think it was likely that XRP would ever hit $0.25. I started selling XRP at $0.10 because it seemed insane. I remember when bitcoin hitting $100 seemed like an impossible dream,” he wrote.

Schwartz argued that if rational investors believed XRP had a 10% chance of reaching $100 within a few years, the token would not linger at current levels. In his view, these investors would avoid selling below $10 and would rather accumulate, quickly consuming available supply.

“That the current trading price is well below $10 shows that there aren’t very many people who really think it has a 10% chance of hitting $100 within a few years with enough confidence to put their money where their mouth is. So anyone who says otherwise is not telling the truth,” he stated.

This perspective sharply contrasts with narratives common in crypto circles, where bullish projections often spread. The argument indicates that market pricing may better represent consensus views than the more optimistic social media projections.

CNBC host Jim Cramer has turned his attention to Bitcoin once again, raising questions about the pioneer crypto’s stability and the willingness of its supporters to defend key price levels.

His remarks come after Bitcoin’s flash crash below the $80,000 psychological level over the weekend.

Bitcoin’s $80,000 Breach Highlights Fragile Support and Price Volatility

As of this writing, Bitcoin was trading at $76,511, down 2% over the last 24 hours. It follows a crypto market bloodbath over the weekend, with Ethereum and altcoins reflecting similar sentiment.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

In a series of posts on X (Twitter) over the weekend, Cramer highlighted Bitcoin’s recent drop below $80,000, labeling the move as evidence of its short-term volatility and the fragility of investor support.

Cramer, a longtime Bitcoin holder, framed his criticism around what he views as a structural issue in today’s markets.

“I write in How to Make Money in any Market that you have to keep your eye on the prize, profits, and not bitcoin or silver or whatever distraction suits you,” he said. “But no one ever seems to learn because we are all macro now…24/7…even if it is wrong ALL OF THE TIME.”

The CNBC host stressed that while Bitcoin grabs headlines, fundamentals like corporate earnings remain the only reliable guide for investors. Bitcoin’s sharp weekend swings further reinforced Cramer’s point.

“The demonstration of what can happen in a weekend with Bitcoin demonstrates its unreliability, on a short-term basis, to be a currency…And I write that as someone who owns bitcoin,” he emphasized.

By pointing to the rapid price movement, Cramer highlighted what he sees as a mismatch between Bitcoin’s perception as a store of value and its real-time price behavior.

Throughout his posts, Cramer repeatedly referenced the $80,000–$82,000 range as a “line in the sand,” expressing surprise that major holders and vocal Bitcoin advocates did not step in to defend the level.

He also questioned the timing and commitment of Bitcoin’s defenders, noting that they had a limited window to push the price back to $82,000 and establish a so-called double bottom.

As a long-standing Bitcoin owner himself, he highlighted the apparent absence of these supporters during a critical moment for the pioneer crypto.

MicroStrategy, Saylor, and Bitcoin: Short-Term Moves Driven by Stakeholders and Narrative

Cramer’s commentary also touched on MicroStrategy (now Strategy Inc.) and its executive chairman, Michael Saylor, a prominent corporate Bitcoin advocate.

With the company scheduled to report earnings on February 5, he suggested the stock and Bitcoin could be under coordinated pressure from short sellers.

“Saylor reports this week, February 5. So, the shorts are probably trying to break him before that,” Cramer wrote.

He even sarcastically proposed a strategy for Saylor to move Bitcoin’s price to create a temporary bullish narrative.

Despite his skepticism, Cramer acknowledged a potential rebound, noting that with Bitcoin at $77,000, a sudden influx of buyers could push it back to $82,000.

Yet his posts reflect a recurring theme: Bitcoin’s short-term movements remain highly dependent on support from key stakeholders and narrative-driven buying, rather than purely organic demand.

Cramer’s remarks highlight the tension between investor optimism, price psychology, and market reality.

The $80,000 breach may test both Bitcoin’s resilience and the willingness of its defenders to act. It raises questions about how much of Bitcoin’s short-term price action is guided by fundamentals versus narrative and optics.

The Bitcoin price has seen one of its sharpest pullbacks in months, losing over 11% since its late-January peak. While the price has reached a major technical target, on-chain and derivatives data suggest the market may not be done correcting.

With buyers still cautious and whales reducing exposure, the question now is simple: is this the bottom, or just another stop on the way lower?

Bitcoin Hit Its Breakdown Target After Pattern Failure

Bitcoin’s recent decline followed a clear technical roadmap.

In late January, the price broke below a head-and-shoulders pattern, confirming a bearish reversal. The breakdown on January 29 projected a downside target near $75,130. By early February, Bitcoin had reached this zone, validating the pattern almost perfectly.

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Bitcoin Breakdown Target: TradingView

Since January 31, Bitcoin has corrected by nearly 11%, falling from its local high to the $75,000 range. This move triggered widespread liquidations and dragged the broader crypto market lower.

Reaching a breakdown target often brings short-term relief. However, it does not guarantee a durable bottom. Whether this level holds depends on how buyers respond after the technical damage.

So far, that response has been weak.

Spot Buyers Are Still Missing at Key Support Levels

One of the biggest warning signs is the lack of strong accumulation near $75,000.

Exchange outflows, which track how much Bitcoin is being moved off trading platforms into long-term storage, have fallen sharply. Around January 31, outflows stood near 42,400 BTC. After the sell-off, they dropped to about 14,100 BTC, a decline of nearly 67%.

Muted Buying: Santiment

This suggests investors are not rushing to buy the dip. That’s the first warning metric.

Whale behavior adds to the concern as the second warning metric. Wallets holding between 10,000 and 100,000 BTC have been reducing exposure since February 1. Their combined holdings fell from around 2.21 million BTC to 2.20 million BTC. That represents roughly 10,000 BTC sold, worth about $750 million near current prices.

Whales In Play: Santiment

Short-term holder NUPL (Net Unrealized Profit/Loss), which measures whether recent buyers are in profit or loss, is also flashing caution as the third metric. NUPL currently sits near -0.23, placing traders in the capitulation zone. However, during the November bottom, NUPL fell to around -0.27 before a strong rebound began. This shows panic is present, but not as extreme, hinting at a delayed bottom.

STH NUPL: Glassnode

Together, falling outflows, whale selling, and incomplete capitulation suggest conviction remains weak.

Derivatives Show Heavy Short Positioning, Not Strong Demand

With spot buyers staying cautious, derivatives markets have become the main source of potential upside.

Liquidation data from Binance shows cumulative short leverage near $1.91 billion, while long positions have fallen to around $168 million. This creates a massive imbalance in favor of bearish bets.

When short positions become crowded, even small rallies can trigger forced buying. If Bitcoin rises, short sellers are pushed to close positions, which can fuel sharp rebounds. This creates the possibility of a short squeeze.

BTC Liquidation Map: Coinglass

However, this is not the same as healthy demand. A rally driven by liquidations tends to fade unless supported by real accumulation. Without stronger spot buying and whale participation, any upside may remain temporary. This is due to the fact that once the possible short squeeze drives the prices up, more long positions could open, keeping downside risks alive.

For now, derivatives offer volatility, not stability. What the BTC price actually needs is spot demand, which is missing at present.

Key Bitcoin Price Levels Point to $69,000 and Lower Risk Zones

If Bitcoin fails to hold its current support, on-chain and technical models highlight clear downside targets.

UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD) shows where the existing Bitcoin supply was last purchased. These clusters often act as support during declines.

The strongest near-term URPD cluster sits near $66,890, where about 0.95% of supply is concentrated.

Key Support Level: Glassnode

Below that, another major cluster appears near $63,111, holding roughly 1.14% of supply. These zones could attract buyers if the price continues falling. That’s the strongest near-term on-chain support for BTC.

Key BTC Cluster: Glassnode

From a technical perspective, a breakdown below $75,630-$75,130 opens the path toward $69,500. Losing that level would expose Bitcoin to the $66,000–$63,000 range, the key cluster zones. In a deeper sell-off, support near $61,840 becomes relevant. Therefore, $69,500 becomes the key decision zone if $BTC loses $75,130.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: TradingView

On the upside, recovery attempts face resistance near $79,890 and $84,140. A sustained move above $84,140 would be needed to restore a bullish structure. Until then, downside risks remain dominant.

Bitcoin enters the first full week of February under mounting macro pressure, trading in a volatile sub-$80,000 range as risk appetite weakens and markets brace for key US labor data.

With recession fears resurfacing, ETF flows turning cautious, and speculation growing around the Federal Reserve’s next policy move, this week’s economic calendar could prove decisive for near-term BTC sentiment.

5 US Economic Events To Influence Bitcoin and Crypto Sentiment This Week

From job openings to payrolls, each data point feeds into expectations around rate cuts—still one of Bitcoin’s most powerful macro catalysts. Here’s what to watch.

US Economic Calendar for This Week. Source: MarketWatch JOLTS Job Openings

The JOLTS Job Openings report for December 2025, due at 10:00 AM ET, will provide insight into labor demand by tracking the number of unfilled jobs in the US.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expect roughly 7.1 million openings, broadly unchanged from November’s revised 7.146 million, which already undershot expectations and signaled cooling momentum.

A downside surprise would reinforce the narrative of a softening labor market, strengthening expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts later in 2026.

Historically, such conditions have supported Bitcoin as looser monetary policy boosts liquidity and risk assets. Conversely, a stronger-than-expected print could delay easing expectations and weigh on BTC.

Market reaction has been mixed in recent months. Despite November’s miss, Bitcoin briefly dipped below $91,000 before stabilizing.

As of this writing, BTC trades for $75,908 amid broader risk-off sentiment and government shutdown concerns.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

A weak JOLTS reading could act as a relief trigger if it aligns with projections of unemployment rising toward 4.5% in 2026.

ADP Employment Report

Wednesday’s ADP Employment report, released around 8:15 AM ET, estimates private-sector job growth and often sets the tone ahead of Friday’s official payrolls.

Forecasts point to 45,000 jobs added in January, modestly above December’s 41,000, though the broader consensus ranges closer to 47,000.

For Bitcoin, the direction matters more than the number. A downside miss could revive recession fears and accelerate bets on earlier or deeper Fed rate cuts—conditions that have historically favored BTC during liquidity-driven rallies.

Stronger data, by contrast, would suggest labor resilience and reduce the urgency to ease, potentially pressuring crypto prices.

Earlier mixed jobs data produced little immediate BTC reaction, but subsequent weaker payrolls helped drive a rally toward $92,000.

With Bitcoin now trading defensively amid ETF outflows and macro uncertainty, a soft ADP print could help stabilize sentiment heading into Friday’s report.

Initial Jobless Claims

Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending January 31 will be released at 8:30 AM ET, offering one of the timeliest snapshots of labor market stress. It would indicate the number of US citizens who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time that week.  

Claims are expected at 212,000, slightly above the prior week’s 209,000, which already exceeded forecasts.

Rising claims would add to evidence that the labor market is losing momentum, reinforcing dovish policy expectations and potentially supporting Bitcoin. A surprise decline, however, could revive hawkish concerns and limit upside for risk assets.

Recent claims data have failed to spark sustained BTC moves, with prices largely dictated by broader market sell-offs.

Still, with sentiment hovering near extreme fear levels and unemployment projected to trend higher in 2026, any meaningful upside surprise in claims could skew risk-reward back in Bitcoin’s favor.

US Employment Report (Nonfarm Payrolls)

Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls report is the week’s main event. Forecasts call for 55,000 jobs added in January, unemployment to hold at 4.4%, and wages to rise 0.3% month-over-month. Estimates vary widely, with some analysts bracing for payrolls as low as 32,000.

Weak employment data would strengthen the case for Fed rate cuts in a cooling economy, an outcome that has previously sparked sharp BTC rallies.

In December, payrolls came in below expectations, and Bitcoin surged toward $92,000 shortly after. A strong report, however, could reinforce a prolonged Fed pause and pressure BTC, which is already down from recent highs following leverage flushes and macro anxiety.

With revisions often amplifying volatility, Friday’s data could define Bitcoin’s near-term direction. In a market primed for policy pivots, even a modest miss may be enough to trigger a relief rally.

Bitcoin remains highly sensitive to US labor data as traders reassess the Fed’s policy trajectory. While strong numbers could cap upside, a string of soft prints would reinforce the case for easing—and potentially reset risk sentiment across crypto markets.

Here’s a sharper, cleaner rewrite with tighter logic, clearer stakes, and a more authoritative news tone—without losing nuance or overhyping the impact.

Strategy’s (MSTR) Q4 2025 Earnings

Due after market close on February 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET, this report remains a key sentiment catalyst for Bitcoin, given the firm’s role as the largest corporate BTC treasury holder.

The company now holds approximately 712,647 BTC, worth an estimated $53.65 billion at current prices, representing roughly 3.4% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply.

Strategy BTC Holdings. Source: Bitcoin Treasuries

That exposure places MicroStrategy’s earnings squarely at the intersection of accounting optics and broader crypto market psychology.

Consensus expectations point to a Q4 EPS loss of around -$18.06, significantly wider than last year’s -$3.20, largely driven by fair-value accounting impairments tied to Bitcoin’s Q4 drawdown.

Revenue is forecast at $117–119 million, flat to slightly lower year over year, suggesting that the core software business continues to play a secondary role to the firm’s Bitcoin strategy.

A larger-than-expected loss or cautious commentary on leverage, dilution, or capital structure could intensify concerns about margin pressure should BTC slide further. This is particularly so given that prices are hovering near MicroStrategy’s estimated average cost basis of approximately $76,000.

While the firm’s Bitcoin remains largely unencumbered, negative optics alone could weigh on BTC sentiment through perceived forced-selling risk.

That said, there is no immediate liquidation risk tied to MicroStrategy’s convertible debt structure. Any reaffirmation of long-term conviction, continued accumulation, or fresh capital-raising plans could reinforce bullish narratives around corporate Bitcoin adoption.