Author: Tristan Lodenberg

XRP is facing renewed downside pressure after sliding nearly 63% from its multi-year high of $3.66 to trade around $1.40. Recent chart patterns suggest the correction may not be over, with some analysts warning that a move below $1 remains a realistic possibility in the weeks ahead. Despite technical weakness, on-chain and institutional data present a mixed picture. Spot XRP exchange-traded funds have accumulated approximately $1.23 billion in net inflows since launch, with assets under management surpassing $1 billion. Recent sessions have recorded consecutive daily inflows, suggesting continued institutional interest. Additional pressure emerged after XRP was rejected near the 200-week…

The collapse of FTX on Nov. 11, 2022, marked one of the most disruptive events in crypto history, wiping out billions in liquidity and severely damaging trust in centralized exchanges. In the weeks that followed, more than $20 billion was withdrawn from major trading platforms as users rushed to reduce exposure, according to market data at the time. The fallout forced exchanges to adopt new transparency measures. Proof-of-reserves reports became standard practice, with several leading platforms publishing attestations and Merkle Tree-based verifications of holdings. While these efforts improved visibility into exchange assets, critics noted that many reports failed to include…

Discussions at the White House between crypto industry leaders and banking representatives over a proposed US crypto market structure bill have been described as constructive, but no agreement has been reached on key stablecoin provisions. The latest meeting, the second in two weeks, focused heavily on whether stablecoin issuers and platforms should be allowed to offer yield to token holders. While participants characterized the talks as productive, divisions remain over how stablecoin rewards should be treated under federal law. Lawmakers are attempting to advance legislation that would clarify how US regulators oversee digital assets. Although the House previously passed the…

The latest US labor market data showed stronger-than-expected momentum, reinforcing the resilience of the economy. Average Hourly Earnings rose 0.4% month over month, surpassing the 0.3% forecast and improving slightly from the previous 0.3% reading. The uptick in wage growth suggests continued pressure in the labor market and may influence expectations around future monetary policy decisions. Non-Farm Employment Change also exceeded projections, with 130,000 jobs added during the reporting period. Economists had anticipated a gain of 66,000, while the previous reading stood at 48,000. The stronger payroll expansion signals ongoing hiring activity despite tighter financial conditions and global economic uncertainty.…

The European Parliament has formally endorsed the European Central Bank’s (ECB) digital euro initiative, emphasizing its role in preserving monetary sovereignty and securing Europe’s payment infrastructure. The approval came through the annual ECB report, passed by 443 votes in favor, 71 against, and 117 abstentions. Amendments highlight the digital euro as essential for reducing fragmentation in retail payments and strengthening the integrity of the single market. MEPs stressed that the ECB must maintain independence from political influence to safeguard price stability and market confidence. Johan Van Overtveldt, former Belgian finance minister, noted that central bank autonomy is critical, warning that…

Malaysia’s central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), has announced plans to launch three initiatives in 2026 focused on local currency stablecoins and tokenized deposits for wholesale payment use cases. The projects will be run under BNM’s Digital Asset Innovation Hub (DAIH), the country’s regulatory sandbox for crypto-related innovation. One initiative is a B2B Ringgit stablecoin settlement program led by Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia and Capital A. The other two projects focus on tokenized deposits for payments, spearheaded by Maybank and CIMB. BNM stated that the trials will help assess potential impacts on monetary and financial stability and guide policy development,…

The winner of X’s $1 million creator competition, known by the handle @beaverd, is facing allegations of profiting roughly $600,000 from Solana-based memecoin rug pulls, according to blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps. The claims focus on a public wallet allegedly linked to the account, which was connected to the launch of the SIAS token on Pump.fun, a Solana memecoin creation platform. Bubblemaps reported that SIAS briefly reached a market capitalization of $6 million before collapsing to zero shortly after launch, with its social media presence deleted. The analysis further suggested that multiple wallets tied to the same entity may have accumulated…

A crypto-aligned super political action committee is preparing to spend $5 million to support Representative Barry Moore in his bid for the US Senate, according to a recent report. The funding will come from Defend American Jobs, an affiliate of Fairshake, one of the most prominent crypto-focused PACs in the United States. The five-week advertising campaign is expected to roll out on broadcast television and cable networks, including Fox News Channel. The ads will reportedly feature an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, positioning Moore as a candidate aligned with pro-crypto economic policies. Super PACs are permitted to raise unlimited…

A federal judge in New York has dismissed a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Bancor-affiliated entities against Uniswap, finding that the patents in question claim abstract ideas that are not eligible for protection under US law. In a Feb. 10 memorandum opinion, Judge John G. Koeltl of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Uniswap’s motion to dismiss the complaint brought by Bprotocol Foundation and LocalCoin Ltd. The court concluded that the patents relate to the abstract concept of calculating cryptocurrency exchange rates, failing the Supreme Court’s two-step test for patent eligibility. Uniswap founder Hayden…

Spark has introduced two new products, Spark Prime and Spark Institutional Lending, aimed at expanding the role of onchain stablecoins in institutional credit markets. The decentralized asset allocator is positioning its lending infrastructure as a bridge between decentralized finance liquidity and traditional institutional borrowers. Spark Prime is structured as a margin-style lending platform with off-exchange settlement, powered by Spark’s internal liquidity engine. The product is designed to provide stablecoin credit without requiring institutions to directly manage DeFi infrastructure. Early partners include Edge Capital, M1 and Hardcore Labs. Initial allocations for Spark Prime stand at approximately $15 million, with gradual expansion…