Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has rejected claims that the world’s largest crypto exchange played a role in amplifying October’s historic market crash, which triggered an estimated $19 billion in forced liquidations. The sell-off, one of the largest on record, continues to influence market sentiment months later. CZ Responds to Liquidation Allegations During a recent question-and-answer session on Binance-linked social media channel Bloomberg, Zhao dismissed accusations that Binance caused or worsened the Oct. 10 liquidation event. He described the claims as “far-fetched” and said calls for Binance to compensate losses across the market were unfounded. Zhao emphasized that he…

The looming U.S. government shutdown has underscored the importance of precision in prediction market contracts. Although the Senate approved a short-term funding package, the House of Representatives remains out of session until Monday, making it impossible for the bill to clear Congress before the midnight deadline. As a result, the federal government is expected to enter a partial shutdown early Saturday morning, likely lasting through the weekend. Unlike past prolonged shutdowns that disrupted pay for federal workers and public services, this lapse is expected to have limited immediate impact. However, it has created sharp discrepancies in how prediction markets assess…

Bitcoin is facing growing bearish pressure as derivatives markets reflect heightened investor caution. The asset fell roughly 10% over a two-day period, briefly retesting the $81,000 level for the first time in more than two months. The pullback followed sustained outflows from US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which have recorded approximately $2.7 billion in net redemptions since mid-January, equivalent to 2.3% of total assets under management. The decline has raised concerns about the resilience of the $80,000 psychological support zone, particularly as broader risk sentiment weakened alongside a pullback in gold prices from recent highs. Bitcoin Options Reflect Extreme Fear…

The European Commission has called on 12 European Union member states to fully implement new tax transparency rules for digital assets, signaling a tougher stance on crypto oversight. In its latest infringements package released in January, the commission announced it will send formal letters of notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. These countries have been given two months to respond and align national laws with the EU’s updated tax reporting framework for crypto-assets. Failure to comply could lead the commission to issue a reasoned opinion, a further step in the…

SoFi Technologies delivered record financial results in the fourth quarter, reporting adjusted net revenue of $1 billion, a 37% increase compared to the same period last year. GAAP net income reached $173.5 million, while adjusted EBITDA climbed 60% year over year to $317.6 million, highlighting improved profitability and operating leverage. Fee-based revenue also hit a quarterly record of $443 million. The company’s member base expanded by approximately 35% to 13.7 million, supported by the addition of 1.6 million new products during the quarter. Total financial services products rose 38% year over year to 17.5 million. Crypto Relaunch and Blockchain Expansion…

Tether, the issuer of the USDt stablecoin, reported record-high holdings of U.S. Treasuries in 2025 while posting a notable year-on-year decline in profits. The latest figures highlight a strategic shift toward conservative, highly liquid assets as stablecoin demand continues to expand globally. Profits Fall Despite Asset Growth According to a financial report prepared by accounting firm BDO, Tether generated net profits exceeding $10 billion in 2025. This represents a decline of roughly 23% compared with the $13 billion reported in 2024. Despite lower profitability, the company’s overall balance sheet continued to strengthen, with total assets rising by more than $49…

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund significantly increased its indirect exposure to bitcoin in 2025, despite not holding the cryptocurrency directly. New analysis shows that the fund’s exposure rose sharply over the year, reflecting the growing role of bitcoin-linked equities in large, diversified institutional portfolios. Indirect Bitcoin Exposure Reaches 9,573 BTC According to research firm K33, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which manages the Government Pension Fund Global, ended 2025 with indirect exposure equivalent to 9,573 bitcoin. This marks a 149% increase compared with the previous year. In monetary terms, the exposure was valued at approximately 8.5 billion Norwegian kroner, or about…

Ethereum price slipped below the $2,800 support level, raising concerns of a deeper correction as both technical indicators and onchain data point to growing downside risk. ETH is currently trading near $2,700 after posting a decline of more than 10% over the past three days. The loss of the $2,800 level marks a breakdown from a descending triangle pattern that had been forming for weeks. This zone had previously acted as a key demand area, and its failure suggests sellers remain in control. Descending and Symmetrical Triangle Breakdown Price action now places the next significant support around $2,500, which aligns…

The U.S. Department of Justice has finalized the forfeiture of more than $400 million in cryptocurrency and related assets linked to Helix, a Bitcoin mixing service that operated during the early years of the darknet economy. A final court order issued on January 21 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferred full legal ownership of the seized assets to the federal government, formally closing the case. The forfeiture stems from Helix’s operations between 2014 and 2017 when the service was used to obscure the origin and destination of Bitcoin tied to illicit darknet marketplaces. Authorities seized…

Binance is moving to strengthen its position in South Korea’s cryptocurrency market, with plans to complete full restitution for GoFi users in 2026. The repayment effort is tied to Binance’s acquisition of Gopax, a South Korean exchange that faced a severe liquidity crisis in 2023 following the collapse of its partner, Genesis Global Capital. The crisis left thousands of GoFi users unable to access their funds, prompting Binance to step in and acquire a controlling stake in Gopax. Regulatory approval for the deal was delayed, but recent progress has allowed Binance to set a clearer timeline for resolving outstanding claims.…