CZ on Crypto Conviction: "GitHub Activity Tells You More Than the Price Ever Will"
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao "CZ" has shared his framework for identifying which crypto projects have genuine long-term staying power — pointing to developer activity and multi-cycle resilience as far more reliable indicators than price performance or marketing momentum.The question came from community member Yellow Pan, who noted that the current environment resembles the quiet bear market CZ had referenced earlier in the discussion — one where only the most resilient founders remain active. She asked how CZ personally distinguishes between crypto narratives built on real conviction and those driven purely by short-term hype.CZ acknowledged there is no single definitive test, but outlined several signals he considers meaningful. The most telling, he said, is GitHub activity. A project with consistent code commits, active developer contributions, and continuous evolution has what he described as a heartbeat — a visible sign that genuine work is being done regardless of market conditions. By contrast, many projects make a strong initial splash through marketing and a first launch, only for development activity to quietly fade before the price follows.He pointed to the longevity of a project across multiple market cycles as another key indicator. Projects that have survived previous bear markets and continued building are, in his view, significantly more likely to endure the next one. Those that peaked during a single cycle and then went quiet are a warning sign — regardless of how prominent they once appeared.CZ cited specific examples to illustrate the point. He noted that certain projects that ranked among the top tokens during the 2017 cycle have since seen dramatic drops in development activity and community engagement, while others have maintained more consistent, if quieter, progress. He was candid that singling out specific projects risks causing offense, but said the pattern is clear enough to be worth acknowledging.
BNB is moving down with the broader market right now.
Current reference price: BNB ~$591.61, 24h: -2.61% (as of 17:03 UTC). Context: BTC (~$70,870, -3.01%) and ETH (~$2,185, -3.31%) are also down over the last 24h, which often pulls major alts like BNB with them.
Common drivers for a BNB dip like this (when the whole market is red): Macro “risk-off” sentiment (equities/FX moves, rates expectations), which tends to hit crypto broadly.
BTC-led volatility: when BTC sells off, liquidity often rotates out of alts temporarily.
Liquidations / leverage reset: if funding and open interest were elevated, a small drop can cascade.
Event positioning: traders may de-risk ahead of major data releases or crypto-specific news.
PRECIOUS METALS | India to Remove Additional Margin on Gold Futures!
The National Stock Exchange of India's clearing department has announced a significant change regarding gold futures contracts. According to Jin10, starting February 19, the exchange will eliminate the 3% additional margin previously imposed on all types of gold futures contracts. This move is expected to impact trading dynamics and investor strategies in the precious metals market.
Indian Startup Sarvam Develops AI Model for Domestic Market!
Indian startup Sarvam has introduced an AI model designed to better cater to the languages and cultures of India's vast market. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting Sarvam's ambition to offer a competitive alternative to existing models like ChatGPT and Claude. The company aims to address the unique linguistic and cultural needs of the Indian population, positioning its AI as a more localized solution. Sarvam's initiative reflects the growing demand for technology that resonates with regional characteristics, potentially setting a new standard in AI development within the country.
Telegram's TON Blockchain Aims for Mass Adoption with Unique Integration!
Telegram's TON blockchain is strategically positioned for widespread adoption, leveraging its integration with the Telegram platform, which boasts one billion users. According to NS3.AI, TON distinguishes itself through a consumer-friendly design, featuring intuitive onboarding processes, social NFTs, and robust institutional-grade infrastructure. The project is addressing U.S. regulatory challenges while concentrating on scalability, user-friendliness, and a smooth transition from Web2 to Web3.
The crypto market has experienced a sharp sell-off, wiping out approximately $500 billion in less than a week!
This decline has seen major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum fall steeply, with Bitcoin dropping below $73,000, its lowest level since November 2024.
Several factors have contributed to this market rout:
Global Risk and Geopolitical Tensions:
Rising tensions, particularly between the United States and Iran, have made investors nervous, leading them to move money out of risky assets like crypto. Bitcoin, unlike traditional safe havens like gold, fell alongside stocks, indicating it is currently perceived as a risky investment.
Panic Selling and Forced Liquidations:
On January 30th, over $2.5 billion worth of Bitcoin positions were forcibly sold in a single day. This occurred as investors who had borrowed money to buy Bitcoin were forced to sell when prices fell, creating a cycle of further price drops and more forced selling.
Broader Economic Uncertainty:
Trade tensions, worries about the job market, and uncertainty surrounding the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy have also added pressure. The appointment of Kevin Walsh, perceived as hawkish, to lead the Federal Reserve has further unnerved investors, as crypto generally thrives when borrowing is cheap.
This crypto rout highlights the impact of fear, leverage, and how risk behaves when certainty disappears, teaching investors a hard lesson about asset value in tough times.
Ethereum's price rose 3.29% in 24 hours, supported by institutional activity, facing macro headwinds. Key insights:
1. Institutional Buying: Large entities accumulate and stake ETH, signaling longterm confidence. 2. Network Strength: Ethereum's L1 transactions hit ATHs, hosting significant tokenized assets. 3. Market Headwinds: Macro events, ETF outflows, and technicals suggest potential shortterm volatility.
Positives 1. Institutional Accumulation: Bitmine Immersion Technologies bought $58.2M ETH and restaked $538M, now holding $12.8B, indicating strong institutional confidence in Ethereum's longterm value. 2. Network Growth: Ethereum Layer 1 transactions are reaching alltime highs, and the network hosts 61.2% of all tokenized assets, showcasing robust utility and adoption. 3. Bullish Technicals: The EMA7 (3018.60) remains above EMA25 (2992.31) and EMA99 (2957.87), indicating a sustained bullish trend in the recent 24hour period.
Risks 1. Macroeconomic Uncertainty: The upcoming U.S. Fed Interest Rate Decision and ongoing geopolitical tensions globally are creating market nervousness and potential for price volatility. 2. ETF Outflows: Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $63.53 million in net outflows on January 27, suggesting a decrease in institutional demand and a shift in capital. 3. Technical Weakness: The MACD line has crossed below its signal line, and the histogram is negative, indicating a recent weakening of bullish momentum and potential for a pullback.
Community Sentiment 1. Mixed Outlook: The community shows mixed sentiment, with some highlighting ETH's resilience and whale accumulation around $3000, while others express concerns over recent losses and market turbulence.
Ethereum's Role in On-Chain Real-World Asset Settlement Highlighted!
According to PANews, Ethereum has been identified as a key platform for on-chain real-world asset settlement, as reported by Ethereum's official source citing data from @RWA_xyz. Ondo Finance, which issues on-chain physical assets such as stocks, ETFs, and government bonds, has approximately 77% of its total value locked (TVL) deployed on Ethereum. This accounts for about 11.6% of the total TVL in Ethereum's real-world asset sector, underscoring Ethereum's central role in this domain.
Ethereum's Progress Towards Integrating Zero-Knowledge Cryptography!
According to Odaily, Ethereum Foundation's Co-Executive Director Hsiao-Wei Wang discussed the network's steady advancement towards incorporating zero-knowledge cryptography as a fundamental component in the future. In an interview with CoinDesk, Wang described zero-knowledge as part of Ethereum's mid-term roadmap, highlighting several breakthroughs achieved over the past year or two. While current upgrades focus on improving Layer 2 network execution and Blob space, zero-knowledge as a protocol-level feature is becoming increasingly feasible.
Ethereum researchers have released plans for a native zkEVM, enabling the network to use zero-knowledge proofs to verify transactions by default. This technology significantly reduces the workload required to secure Ethereum, allowing for scalability without compromising decentralization or reliability. Wang emphasized that despite the network's continuous evolution, risk resistance, security, censorship resistance, and neutrality remain core to Ethereum.
New Crypto Whales Accumulate Bitcoin at Record Pace!
According to Odaily, Cointelegraph reported on the X platform that data from CryptoQuant indicates new crypto whales are accumulating Bitcoin at an unprecedented rate. The accompanying information reveals that these new whales, holding over 100,000 BTC, have amassed Bitcoin assets valued at over $120 billion.
Market Dynamics and Predictions for 2026 Bull Market!
According to Foresight News, Liquid Capital founder JackYi shared insights on social media regarding market trends leading up to the anticipated bull market in 2026. He suggested that those who close short positions early may incur minor losses, while those who delay could face significant setbacks. Yi criticized current market pessimists, labeling them either as ineffective or doomed to fail. He emphasized that after more than a month of market fluctuations, bullish investors are likely to prevail, asserting that pessimists are always correct, but optimists continue to advance.
Ethereum Price Movements Could Trigger Significant Liquidations!
According to ChainCatcher, data from Coinglass indicates that if Ethereum's price falls below $2,829, the liquidation intensity for long positions across major centralized exchanges could reach $1.493 billion. Conversely, if Ethereum surpasses $3,121, the liquidation intensity for short positions could amount to $547 million.
Bitcoin's Price Surge Sparks Renewed Interest in 'Christmas Rally'!
According to Odaily, discussions about a 'Christmas rally' have resurfaced as Bitcoin's price surpasses $90,000. Glassnode's cost basis distribution heatmap indicates a crucial support level between $84,000 and $85,600, with investors purchasing approximately 976,000 Bitcoins around this price range. Maintaining the $84,000 threshold could prevent further declines. Analysts highlight that since November 22, Bitcoin has been consolidating within a broad range of $82,000 to $95,000. The longer this consolidation persists, the stronger and more intense the subsequent rebound is expected to be.
Why Are Futures Prices Often Higher Than Spot Prices? Futures Term Structure
In the derivatives market, the Futures price is rarely exactly equal to the Spot price. This difference creates a curve called the Term Structure. This is the most effective lie detector to know what Smart Money is truly expecting in the future. 🔸 Contango (Normal) When Future Is More Expensive Than Present. Futures Price > Spot Price.This is the healthy state of a financial market. Future prices are higher to compensate for the Cost of Carry and storage fees.However, if the Contango curve is too steep, Futures price is significantly higher than Spot 20 to 30% APR, it indicates the market is Over leveraged. 👉 The crowd is longing recklessly using leverage. This is often a sign of an impending Long Squeeze. 🔸 Backwardation (Abnormal) When Present Is More Expensive Than Future. Futures Price < Spot Price.This is a rare phenomenon representing Extreme Supply Scarcity. Investors are willing to pay a higher price to own Bitcoin IMMEDIATELY rather than holding a paper promise for future delivery.Backwardation typically appears at two critical moments:When massive news breaks, Spot buying pressure is so strong that Futures can not keep up.When the market crashes, aggressive Shorts push Futures prices below Spot. This is when Whales are quietly accumulating Spot. 🔹 Pay close attention when the market is crashing and the structure flips to Backwardation. That is the most reliable Reversal signal. Why? Because it shows that the Shorts have run out of ammo, while Spot holders refuse to sell any cheaper.
When was the last time you saw Futures prices trading lower than Spot prices? News is for reference, not investment advice. Please read carefully before making a decision.
Bitcoin's Market Sentiment Improves Amid Federal Reserve's Policies!
According to Odaily, Jurrien Timmer, Fidelity's Global Macro Director, highlighted on the X platform that the current improvement in market sentiment follows a decline in excessive speculation within the crypto market. This change is occurring against the backdrop of the Federal Reserve's accommodative policies and stability in the bond and foreign exchange markets. Timmer suggests that Bitcoin's official closing in 2025 could be favorable. Previously, Bitcoin treasury companies provided 'returns' by issuing stocks to purchase Bitcoin, which might now pose a resistance to Bitcoin's rise and raise questions about the end of another four-year cycle.
However, examining Bitcoin's mature network curve structure reveals that since 2010, Bitcoin has experienced five waves of upward trends, with each wave's increase being smaller than the previous one but lasting longer. From the recent bull market, which began around $16,000 in 2022, it is evident that Bitcoin has reached a significant level of maturity. According to the five-wave trend chart shared by Jurrien Timmer, the peak price in the fifth wave could be $151,360.
What Is Funding Rates? Why Do Futures Prices Stick To Spot?
In traditional finance, futures contracts have an Expiry Date. On that day, Futures prices are forced to match Spot prices. But in Crypto, we mostly trade Perpetual Contracts. They never expire. So what stops Bitcoin Futures price from flying to $100,000 while the Bitcoin Spot price sits at $50,000? The answer is the Funding Rate. 🔸 Funding Rate is a periodic payment usually every 8 hours exchanged between Longs and Shorts to keep the Futures price tethered to the Spot price. The exchange does NOT collect this fee; it is peer to peer. Positive Funding Rate:Bullish market. Too many Longs. Futures Price > Spot Price.The system forces Longs to pay Shorts.Discourage Longs and incentivize Shorts to drive the Futures price down to match Spot.Negative Funding Rate:Bearish market. Too many Shorts. Futures Price < Spot Price.The system forces Shorts to pay Longs.Incentivize opening Longs to push the Futures price back up. 🔸 Risk Free Strategy : This is how big funds make money. It is not for inexperienced people. Suppose Funding Rate is very high 0.1% every 8 hours = 109% APY.Step 1 buy 1 BTC on Spot market.Step 2 open a Short 1 BTC on Futures market.Result:Whether BTC price goes up or down, the PnL of these two positions cancels out. You are immune to price volatility.But every 8 hours, you sit back and collect the Funding Fee paid by the Longs. 🔹 Besides, Funding Rate is a powerful Sentiment Indicator. If Funding is extremely Positive 👉The crowd is too greedy 👉 High risk of a Long Squeeze.If Funding is extremely Negative 👉The crowd is fearful 👉High risk of a Short Squeeze.
Do you check the Funding Rate before holding a position overnight? News is for reference, not investment advice. Please read carefully before making a decision.
According to PANews, analyst Murphy has observed that Bitcoin's Profit Supply Percentage (PSIP) fell below the critical 65% threshold on November 22-23, signaling a potentially dangerous market sentiment. The PSIP has since recovered to 67.6%, but it remains within the crucial 65%-70% range. A rise above this range could restore confidence, while a decline might trigger panic.
Historical data suggests that when PSIP falls below 50%, it typically marks the bottom of a bear market. Previous predictions indicated that Bitcoin would need to drop below $59,000 to reach this level, but recent estimates have adjusted this figure to below $62,000. Analysts believe that Bitcoin priced under $62,000 could present a high-value investment opportunity, though patience is advised as market conditions evolve.