Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Iran Oil Supply Concerns and Global Market Reaction Rising tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States have fueled concern across financial markets, particularly within the crypto community, that Tehran could attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow passage handles roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day, or about 20% of global shipments, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Following airstrikes and retaliatory missile attacks, Bitcoin briefly fell to $63,000 from around $65,600 before stabilizing near $65,000. Oil-linked futures on Hyperliquid jumped more than 5% as traders priced in potential supply disruption.  X handle called  Crypto_Diet…

XRP continues to trade within a descending channel pattern on the daily chart, reflecting sustained selling pressure. The token is currently fluctuuating between the 20-day exponential moving average near $1.44 and the lower boundary of the channel, a zone that has repeatedly acted as short-term support. Technical indicators suggest hesitation among buyers. Each attempt to reclaim the 20-day EMA has met with renewed supply, limiting upside momentum. However, the channel’s support line remains critical for short-term direction. Key Support and Resistance Levels to Watch If buyers defend the lower boundary and trigger a strong rebound, a move toward the 50-day…

Several high profile government officials have made conflicting public statements about the fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strikes earlier this weekend. U.S. and Israeli assertions U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that Khamenei has been killed in the joint operation, calling it “justice for the people of Iran” and suggesting the strike marked a significant blow to Iran’s leadership. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also said there are strong indications that Khamenei was killed in the assault on key Iranian targets. Diff public news channels report that…

Six newly created accounts on Polymarket earned an estimated $1.2 million after correctly wagering that the United States would strike Iran on February 28. Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps reported that the wallets were funded within 24 hours of the attack and purchased large amounts of “Yes” shares in a contract tied to the strike date. One account bought more than 560,000 shares at roughly $0.108 each, securing a payout close to $560,000 when the contract resolved at $1. Another acquired nearly 150,000 shares at $0.20, generating a six-figure return. Trading volume on the specific contract approached $90 million, contributing to…

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is moving to reassert its position in digital asset oversight after what Chairman Paul Atkins described as a “missed opportunity” in prior years. Speaking at the University of Texas, Atkins said the agency had failed to adapt quickly to technological innovation, particularly in blockchain and crypto markets. Under former Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC pursued an enforcement driven approach, arguing that many cryptocurrencies qualified as securities and filing multiple registration-related cases. Atkins indicated that the agency is now focused on modernizing its regulatory framework to better align with emerging technologies. Distributed Ledger Technology and…

A group of 11 U.S. senators has urged federal authorities to investigate whether cryptocurrency exchange Binance is fully complying with U.S. sanctions laws and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements. In a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pamela Bondi, the lawmakers requested a comprehensive review of the exchange’s compliance framework and its adherence to settlement agreements reached in 2023. The senators cited reports alleging that approximately $1.7 billion in digital assets may have flowed through Binance to Iranian entities tied to terrorism, including groups linked to the Houthis and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They also referenced…

Bitcoin is on course to post its fifth consecutive monthly loss, marking its longest losing streak since the 2018 bear market. The crypto is down more than 25% year to date and nearly 50% from its October peak, with February alone reflecting a decline of roughly 20%. If confirmed, this would also represent Bitcoin’s weakest start to a year on record and its first back-to-back January and February losses. The bitcoin-to-gold ratio has dropped to 12.288 ounces, reflecting a 70% contraction over the past 14 months. Meanwhile, gold has gained approximately 48% since September, while Bitcoin has fallen around 41%…

OpenAI has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Defense to deploy its artificial intelligence models within classified Pentagon systems. The deal was announced shortly after the US government ordered federal agencies to suspend the use of competing AI firm Anthropic. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed that the company’s models will operate inside the Defense Department’s classified network environment. He stated that the agreement reflects cooperation around safety boundaries and operational limits, including restrictions on certain applications. Government Designates Anthropic as Security Risk Earlier the same day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled Anthropic a “supply-chain risk to national…

Hong Kong strengthened its position as a global Web3 meeting point as LONGITUDE hosted its eighth edition in the city on Feb. 12. Organized by Cointelegraph in collaboration with OneBullEx, the event gathered senior executives, investors and regulators for curated discussions focused on institutional growth and market structure. Among the featured speakers were Justin Sun, Charles Edwards, Sean McHugh of VARA and Sonia Shaw. Panels explored institutional adoption, artificial intelligence in trading and compliance frameworks for tokenized RWAs. RWA Tokenization and Institutional Market Structure Ahead of the main conference, OneMore Group hosted a private roundtable dinner bringing together RWA stakeholders.…

An Israeli strike on Iran has expanded into one of the most significant military confrontations in the Middle East in decades. Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel as well as U.S. military bases and strategic interests across the Gulf region. Explosions were reported in Dubai, while Bahrain confirmed an American base was struck and temporarily shut its airspace. The U.S announced major combat operations aimed at Iran’s missile systems, naval assets and nuclear infrastructure, raising fears of a prolonged regional conflict. Gulf states including Qatar and the UAE said they intercepted incoming projectiles over their territory.…