Author: dfmines

As of March 16, 2025, XRP is trading at $2.28, reflecting a market capitalization of $132 billion. Over the past 24 hours, XRP’s trading volume reached $2.76 billion, with intraday prices fluctuating between $2.28 and $2.43. Currently, XRP is down 32.8% from its all-time high of $3.40. XRP On the 1-hour chart, XRP exhibits a […]

Opinion by: Casey Ford, PhD, researcher at Nym TechnologiesWeb3 rolled in on the wave of decentralization. Decentralized applications (DApps) grew by 74% in 2024 and individual wallets by 485%, with total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance (DeFi) closing at a near-record high of $214 billion. The industry is also, however, heading straight for a state of capture if it does not wake up. As Elon Musk has teased of placing the US Treasury on blockchain, however poorly thought out, the tides are turning as crypto is deregulated. But when they do, is Web3 ready to “protect [user] data,” as Musk surrogates pledge? If not, we’re all on the brink of a global data security crisis.The crisis boils down to a vulnerability at the heart of the digital world: the metadata surveillance of all existing networks, even the decentralized ones of Web3. AI technologies are now at the foundation of surveillance systems and serve as accelerants. Anonymity networks offer a way out of this state of capture. But this must begin with metadata protections across the board.Metadata is the new frontier of surveillanceMetadata is the overlooked raw material of AI surveillance. Compared to payload data, metadata is lightweight and thus easy to process en masse. Here, AI systems excel best. Aggregated metadata can reveal much more than encrypted contents: patterns of behaviors, networks of contacts, personal desires and, ultimately, predictability. And legally, it is unprotected in the way end-to-end (E2E) encrypted communications are now in some regions. While metadata is a part of all digital assets, the metadata that leaks from E2E encrypted traffic exposes us and what we do: IPs, timing signatures, packet sizes, encryption formats and even wallet specifications. All of this is fully legible to adversaries surveilling a network. Blockchain transactions are no exception.From piles of digital junk can emerge a goldmine of detailed records of everything we do. Metadata is our digital unconscious, and it is up for grabs for whatever machines can harvest it for profit.The limits of blockchainProtecting the metadata of transactions was an afterthought of blockchain technology. Crypto does not offer anonymity despite the reactionary association of the industry with illicit trade. It offers pseudonymity, the ability to hold tokens in a wallet with a chosen name. Recent: How to tokenize real-world assets on BitcoinHarry Halpin and Ania Piotrowska have diagnosed the situation:“[T]he public nature of Bitcoin’s ledger of transactions […] means anyone can observe the flow of coins. [P]seudonymous addresses do not provide any meaningful level of anonymity, since anyone can harvest the counterparty addresses of any given transaction and reconstruct the chain of transactions.”As all chain transactions are public, anyone running a full node can have a panoptic view of chain activity. Further, metadata like IP addresses attached to pseudonymous wallets can be used to identify people’s locations and identities if tracking technologies are sophisticated enough. This is the core problem of metadata surveillance in blockchain economics: Surveillance systems can effectively de-anonymize our financial traffic by any capable party.Knowledge is also an insecurityKnowledge is not just power, as the adage goes. It’s also the basis on which we are exploited and disempowered. There are at least three general metadata risks across Web3.Fraud: Financial insecurity and surveillance are intrinsically linked. The most serious hacks, thefts or scams depend on accumulated knowledge about a target: their assets, transaction histories and who they are. DappRadar estimates a $1.3-billion loss due to “hacks and exploits” like phishing attacks in 2024 alone. Leaks: The wallets that permit access to decentralized tokenomics rely on leaky centralized infrastructures. Studies of DApps and wallets have shown the prevalence of IP leaks: “The existing wallet infrastructure is not in favor of users’ privacy. Websites abuse wallets to fingerprint users online, and DApps and wallets leak the user’s wallet address to third parties.” Pseudonymity is pointless if people’s identities and patterns of transactions can be easily revealed through metadata.Chain consensus: Chain consensus is a potential point of attack. One example is a recent initiative by Celestia to add an anonymity layer to obscure the metadata of validators against particular attacks seeking to disrupt chain consensus in Celestia’s Data Availability Sampling (DAS) process.Securing Web3 through anonymityAs Web3 continues to grow, so does the amount of metadata about people’s activities being offered up to newly empowered surveillance systems. Beyond VPNsVirtual private network (VPN) technology is decades old at this point. The lack of advancement is shocking, with most VPNs remaining in the same centralized and proprietary infrastructures. Networks like Tor and Dandelion stepped in as decentralized solutions. Yet they are still vulnerable to surveillance by global adversaries capable of “timing analysis” via the control of entry and exit nodes. Even more advanced tools are needed.Noise networksAll surveillance looks for patterns in a network full of noise. By further obscuring patterns of communication and de-linking metadata like IPs from metadata generated by traffic, the possible attack vectors can be significantly reduced, and metadata patterns can be scrambled into nonsense.Anonymizing networks have emerged to anonymize sensitive traffic like communications or crypto transactions via noise: cover traffic, timing obfuscations and data mixing. In the same spirit, other VPNs like Mullvad have introduced programs like DAITA (Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis), which seeks to add “distortion” to its VPN network. Scrambling the codesWhether it’s defending people against the assassinations in tomorrow’s drone wars or securing their onchain transactions, new anonymity networks are needed to scramble the codes of what makes all of us targetable: the metadata our online lives leave in their wake.The state of capture is already here. Machine learning is feeding off our data. Instead of leaving people’s data there unprotected, Web3 and anonymity systems can make sure that what ends up in the teeth of AI is effectively garbage.Opinion by: Casey Ford, PhD, researcher at Nym Technologies.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Opinion by: Casey Ford, PhD, researcher at Nym TechnologiesWeb3 rolled in on the wave of decentralization. Decentralized applications (DApps) grew by 74% in 2024 and individual wallets by 485%, with total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance (DeFi) closing at a near-record high of $214 billion. The industry is also, however, heading straight for a state of capture if it does not wake up. As Elon Musk has teased of placing the US Treasury on blockchain, however poorly thought out, the tides are turning as crypto is deregulated. But when they do, is Web3 ready to “protect [user] data,” as Musk surrogates pledge? If not, we’re all on the brink of a global data security crisis.The crisis boils down to a vulnerability at the heart of the digital world: the metadata surveillance of all existing networks, even the decentralized ones of Web3. AI technologies are now at the foundation of surveillance systems and serve as accelerants. Anonymity networks offer a way out of this state of capture. But this must begin with metadata protections across the board.Metadata is the new frontier of surveillanceMetadata is the overlooked raw material of AI surveillance. Compared to payload data, metadata is lightweight and thus easy to process en masse. Here, AI systems excel best. Aggregated metadata can reveal much more than encrypted contents: patterns of behaviors, networks of contacts, personal desires and, ultimately, predictability. And legally, it is unprotected in the way end-to-end (E2E) encrypted communications are now in some regions. While metadata is a part of all digital assets, the metadata that leaks from E2E encrypted traffic exposes us and what we do: IPs, timing signatures, packet sizes, encryption formats and even wallet specifications. All of this is fully legible to adversaries surveilling a network. Blockchain transactions are no exception.From piles of digital junk can emerge a goldmine of detailed records of everything we do. Metadata is our digital unconscious, and it is up for grabs for whatever machines can harvest it for profit.The limits of blockchainProtecting the metadata of transactions was an afterthought of blockchain technology. Crypto does not offer anonymity despite the reactionary association of the industry with illicit trade. It offers pseudonymity, the ability to hold tokens in a wallet with a chosen name. Recent: How to tokenize real-world assets on BitcoinHarry Halpin and Ania Piotrowska have diagnosed the situation:“[T]he public nature of Bitcoin’s ledger of transactions […] means anyone can observe the flow of coins. [P]seudonymous addresses do not provide any meaningful level of anonymity, since anyone can harvest the counterparty addresses of any given transaction and reconstruct the chain of transactions.”As all chain transactions are public, anyone running a full node can have a panoptic view of chain activity. Further, metadata like IP addresses attached to pseudonymous wallets can be used to identify people’s locations and identities if tracking technologies are sophisticated enough. This is the core problem of metadata surveillance in blockchain economics: Surveillance systems can effectively de-anonymize our financial traffic by any capable party.Knowledge is also an insecurityKnowledge is not just power, as the adage goes. It’s also the basis on which we are exploited and disempowered. There are at least three general metadata risks across Web3.Fraud: Financial insecurity and surveillance are intrinsically linked. The most serious hacks, thefts or scams depend on accumulated knowledge about a target: their assets, transaction histories and who they are. DappRadar estimates a $1.3-billion loss due to “hacks and exploits” like phishing attacks in 2024 alone. Leaks: The wallets that permit access to decentralized tokenomics rely on leaky centralized infrastructures. Studies of DApps and wallets have shown the prevalence of IP leaks: “The existing wallet infrastructure is not in favor of users’ privacy. Websites abuse wallets to fingerprint users online, and DApps and wallets leak the user’s wallet address to third parties.” Pseudonymity is pointless if people’s identities and patterns of transactions can be easily revealed through metadata.Chain consensus: Chain consensus is a potential point of attack. One example is a recent initiative by Celestia to add an anonymity layer to obscure the metadata of validators against particular attacks seeking to disrupt chain consensus in Celestia’s Data Availability Sampling (DAS) process.Securing Web3 through anonymityAs Web3 continues to grow, so does the amount of metadata about people’s activities being offered up to newly empowered surveillance systems. Beyond VPNsVirtual private network (VPN) technology is decades old at this point. The lack of advancement is shocking, with most VPNs remaining in the same centralized and proprietary infrastructures. Networks like Tor and Dandelion stepped in as decentralized solutions. Yet they are still vulnerable to surveillance by global adversaries capable of “timing analysis” via the control of entry and exit nodes. Even more advanced tools are needed.Noise networksAll surveillance looks for patterns in a network full of noise. By further obscuring patterns of communication and de-linking metadata like IPs from metadata generated by traffic, the possible attack vectors can be significantly reduced, and metadata patterns can be scrambled into nonsense.Anonymizing networks have emerged to anonymize sensitive traffic like communications or crypto transactions via noise: cover traffic, timing obfuscations and data mixing. In the same spirit, other VPNs like Mullvad have introduced programs like DAITA (Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis), which seeks to add “distortion” to its VPN network. Scrambling the codesWhether it’s defending people against the assassinations in tomorrow’s drone wars or securing their onchain transactions, new anonymity networks are needed to scramble the codes of what makes all of us targetable: the metadata our online lives leave in their wake.The state of capture is already here. Machine learning is feeding off our data. Instead of leaving people’s data there unprotected, Web3 and anonymity systems can make sure that what ends up in the teeth of AI is effectively garbage.Opinion by: Casey Ford, PhD, researcher at Nym Technologies.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Opinion by: Casey Ford, PhD, researcher at Nym TechnologiesWeb3 rolled in on the wave of decentralization. Decentralized applications (DApps) grew by 74% in 2024 and individual wallets by 485%, with total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance (DeFi) closing at a near-record high of $214 billion. The industry is also, however, heading straight for a state of capture if it does not wake up. As Elon Musk has teased of placing the US Treasury on blockchain, however poorly thought out, the tides are turning as crypto is deregulated. But when they do, is Web3 ready to “protect [user] data,” as Musk surrogates pledge? If not, we’re all on the brink of a global data security crisis.The crisis boils down to a vulnerability at the heart of the digital world: the metadata surveillance of all existing networks, even the decentralized ones of Web3. AI technologies are now at the foundation of surveillance systems and serve as accelerants. Anonymity networks offer a way out of this state of capture. But this must begin with metadata protections across the board.Metadata is the new frontier of surveillanceMetadata is the overlooked raw material of AI surveillance. Compared to payload data, metadata is lightweight and thus easy to process en masse. Here, AI systems excel best. Aggregated metadata can reveal much more than encrypted contents: patterns of behaviors, networks of contacts, personal desires and, ultimately, predictability. And legally, it is unprotected in the way end-to-end (E2E) encrypted communications are now in some regions. While metadata is a part of all digital assets, the metadata that leaks from E2E encrypted traffic exposes us and what we do: IPs, timing signatures, packet sizes, encryption formats and even wallet specifications. All of this is fully legible to adversaries surveilling a network. Blockchain transactions are no exception.From piles of digital junk can emerge a goldmine of detailed records of everything we do. Metadata is our digital unconscious, and it is up for grabs for whatever machines can harvest it for profit.The limits of blockchainProtecting the metadata of transactions was an afterthought of blockchain technology. Crypto does not offer anonymity despite the reactionary association of the industry with illicit trade. It offers pseudonymity, the ability to hold tokens in a wallet with a chosen name. Recent: How to tokenize real-world assets on BitcoinHarry Halpin and Ania Piotrowska have diagnosed the situation:“[T]he public nature of Bitcoin’s ledger of transactions […] means anyone can observe the flow of coins. [P]seudonymous addresses do not provide any meaningful level of anonymity, since anyone can harvest the counterparty addresses of any given transaction and reconstruct the chain of transactions.”As all chain transactions are public, anyone running a full node can have a panoptic view of chain activity. Further, metadata like IP addresses attached to pseudonymous wallets can be used to identify people’s locations and identities if tracking technologies are sophisticated enough. This is the core problem of metadata surveillance in blockchain economics: Surveillance systems can effectively de-anonymize our financial traffic by any capable party.Knowledge is also an insecurityKnowledge is not just power, as the adage goes. It’s also the basis on which we are exploited and disempowered. There are at least three general metadata risks across Web3.Fraud: Financial insecurity and surveillance are intrinsically linked. The most serious hacks, thefts or scams depend on accumulated knowledge about a target: their assets, transaction histories and who they are. DappRadar estimates a $1.3-billion loss due to “hacks and exploits” like phishing attacks in 2024 alone. Leaks: The wallets that permit access to decentralized tokenomics rely on leaky centralized infrastructures. Studies of DApps and wallets have shown the prevalence of IP leaks: “The existing wallet infrastructure is not in favor of users’ privacy. Websites abuse wallets to fingerprint users online, and DApps and wallets leak the user’s wallet address to third parties.” Pseudonymity is pointless if people’s identities and patterns of transactions can be easily revealed through metadata.Chain consensus: Chain consensus is a potential point of attack. One example is a recent initiative by Celestia to add an anonymity layer to obscure the metadata of validators against particular attacks seeking to disrupt chain consensus in Celestia’s Data Availability Sampling (DAS) process.Securing Web3 through anonymityAs Web3 continues to grow, so does the amount of metadata about people’s activities being offered up to newly empowered surveillance systems. Beyond VPNsVirtual private network (VPN) technology is decades old at this point. The lack of advancement is shocking, with most VPNs remaining in the same centralized and proprietary infrastructures. Networks like Tor and Dandelion stepped in as decentralized solutions. Yet they are still vulnerable to surveillance by global adversaries capable of “timing analysis” via the control of entry and exit nodes. Even more advanced tools are needed.Noise networksAll surveillance looks for patterns in a network full of noise. By further obscuring patterns of communication and de-linking metadata like IPs from metadata generated by traffic, the possible attack vectors can be significantly reduced, and metadata patterns can be scrambled into nonsense.Anonymizing networks have emerged to anonymize sensitive traffic like communications or crypto transactions via noise: cover traffic, timing obfuscations and data mixing. In the same spirit, other VPNs like Mullvad have introduced programs like DAITA (Defense Against AI-guided Traffic Analysis), which seeks to add “distortion” to its VPN network. Scrambling the codesWhether it’s defending people against the assassinations in tomorrow’s drone wars or securing their onchain transactions, new anonymity networks are needed to scramble the codes of what makes all of us targetable: the metadata our online lives leave in their wake.The state of capture is already here. Machine learning is feeding off our data. Instead of leaving people’s data there unprotected, Web3 and anonymity systems can make sure that what ends up in the teeth of AI is effectively garbage.Opinion by: Casey Ford, PhD, researcher at Nym Technologies.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

The TON price has reclaimed the $3 mark with an over 20% spurt on Saturday, March 15. This price spike was triggered by the news of a French court approving the departure of Telegram founder Pavel Durov from France. Telegram Founder Reportedly Cleared To Leave France According to a report on Saturday, Durov was granted permission by a French court to depart the country, where he faces several charges of enabling organized crime. One of AFP’s sources said that the Telegram founder had been authorized to leave France for “several weeks.” Durov’s legal troubles began on August 24, 2024, after he was detained at the Le Bourget airport in Paris. A few days later, France’s Prosecutor’s Office brought several charges against the Telegram founder centered around running a messaging platform that allegedly enabled illegal activities. Related Reading: Stablecoins Supply Up By $20 Billion – The Key To Bitcoin’s Next Move? On August 28, Durov was released on a $6 million bail, albeit with restrictions on his movement and travels. The French prosecutors demanded that the Telegram founder remain in the country until the conclusion of their investigation. While the current condition of Durov’s case remains unclear, a source close to the case stated the Telegram founder was allowed to leave France temporarily after the investigating judge approved his request to modify the conditions of his supervision. “A third source said Durov had departed for Dubai,” AFP reported. Durov’s arrest led to an uproar within the crypto community at the time, as experts assessed the implications of such a move on the future of technology and encryption. Moreover, it marked another incident in the worrying trend of holding founders and developers accountable for the use of their platforms. It is worth mentioning that, as of press time, there has been no official word from Telegram and Durov confirming the report. TON Price Up 20% Following the report of Durov’s departure from France, TON (native cryptocurrency of The Open Network) reacted with a more than 20% price spike. As with the general crypto market, the altcoin has struggled to build any momentum in the past few months. After reaching the local high of $6 in early December, the TON price has since been on a steady decline. On Tuesday, March 11, the cryptocurrency dropped beneath the $2.5 mark for the first time in over a year. As of this writing, the TON price stands at around $3.4, reflecting an almost 18% surge in the past 24 hours. According to CoinGecko, the token’s performance has improved to a positive 17% gain in the past seven days. Related Reading: Ethereum Consolidates Since ‘The Big Dump’ – Local Trend Reversal Or Continuation? Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Trump-backed crypto investment firm World Liberty Financial has raised $590M in the $WLFI token sale. The total token supply is capped at 100 billion. Out of this, 20% of the tokens (20 billion) were made available for sale in October at a price of just $0.015. The initial sale experienced slow demand. However, after the launch of $TRUMP and $MELANIA, the Trump family’s in-house meme coins, the $WLFI token sale also took off. The first round raised around $300M. Another 5 billion tokens were then opened for sale at $0.05 per token, raising $250M. In addition to this $550M, Tron founder Justin Sun has invested $30M in the project, while Web3Port invested $10M. This investment made Justin an advisor of the project. Zak Folkman, the co-founder of WLFI, has said that the project intends to put 63% of the total supply for sale. Right now, only 25% of the tokens have been sold. This suggests that more rounds of token sales are coming at a possibly higher price. The Growing Stablecoin Supply You might be wondering why the WLFI token sale is crucial to the crypto markets. Well, there are a couple of reasons. Firstly, the fund is backed by Trump himself, who has gone all pro-crypto since his appointment as the president. A more technical second reason is that World Liberty Financial is a big promoter of US-backed stablecoins and DeFi applications. It wants to strengthen the US dollar. This is also evident with WLF’s current portfolio. Out of a total investment of $98M, $19.83M is held in stablecoins ($13.58 in USDT and $6.25M in USDC). That’s around 20% of the total portfolio value. The total market stablecoin supply is now around $219B, which suggests that the current cycle has still not exhausted its potential and that we’ve only reached midway. If you look at past data, the supply during April 2022 was $187B before the markets went bearish. We’re already past that, and the supply is still increasing. This increase is also propelled by declining crypto conditions, where institutional investors are adding crypto assets to their portfolio at throw-away prices. These attractive prices have meant that the supply isn’t declining. $ETH has seen more than a 50% decline in the last 3 months. In fact, WLFI holds $41M worth of ETH (40% of its portfolio). Everyone’s ravenous for a piece of the crypto pie, and this is bound to translate to higher price points for the best altcoins and a potential rally. If you’re looking to maximize your gains, consider investing in the best crypto presales, which are high-potential tokens at their cheapest ever rates. 1. BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) – Best Presale to Rally Behind Bitcoin’s Success Story The POTUS himself being a participant in the crypto hype is undoubtedly one of the biggest positives for the industry. And given that Bitcoin is at the helm of the crypto market – other coins follow the larger $BTC trend, after all – a new and innovative Bitcoin-based meme coin like BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) is possibly the best crypto to invest in right now. $BTCBULL separates itself from other tokens by being the only project that gives out free Bitcoins to its token holders. Yep, you read that right. You will receive an airdrop of $BTC as a token of appreciation for your loyalty if you purchase and hold $BTCBULL in Best Wallet. Another masterstroke by the BTC Bull Token team is that they’ve tied the Bitcoin airdrops to $BTC’s price. There will be $BTCBULL airdrops every time Bitcoin surges past a new milestone, like $150K, $200K, and $250K. Combined with regular token burns (after every $25K jump in Bitcoin’s price, to be precise), BTC Bull Token has ensured the price of its token continues to rise. As anticipation for an airdrop rises, so will $BTCBULL’s price. Luckily for you, $BTCBULL is currently in presale, meaning it’s the cheapest it could ever be. Just $0.002415 at the time of writing. Here’s how you can buy BTC Bull Token and join the $3.6M+ club. 2. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – Top New Presale Belonging to the Best Crypto Wallet Quite naturally, the increased investor attraction towards crypto means folks are hungry for privacy-conscious crypto wallets that can store their prized possessions with utmost security. This is where the Best Wallet Token ($BEST) becomes a crypto worth buying. It is, after all, the native token of the highly secure and user-friendly crypto wallet, Best Wallet. Best Wallet is a non-custodial and multi-chain crypto wallet that leverages Fireblock’s MPC-CMP wallet technology, along with state-of-the-art 2FA/MFA, to ensure none other than you can access your funds. Buying $BEST tokens not only gives you a piece of the Best Wallet’s success, but it also comes with a handful of unique benefits, such as: No gas fees on Best Wallet Handsome airdrop and staking rewards Early-bird access to the best meme coins Regular market updates and access to real-time charts The $BEST presale has already raised over $11M and still shows no signs of slowing down. Each token is currently available for just $0.02435. Here’s how to buy $BEST. 3. Lightchain AI ($LCAI) – Aims to Build Secure Blockchains Lightchain AI ($LCAI) is proof that the crypto-AI relationship can bear sweet fruits. It’s a project that combines blockchain (Proof of Intelligence) and AI (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine) technologies to build new blockchains that are the epitome of security. Lightchain AI will work by rewarding users who make meaningful contributions to AI development. However, the contributions must me made in a way that they don’t hamper the network’s security. The token is in Stage 15 of its presale, which has so far amassed nearly $18M. 1 $LCAI is currently selling for only $0.007125. However, interested investors shouldn’t delay their purchase because there will be a price increase as the token enters the next presale stage. Final Verdict – DYOR Trump is undoubtedly pro-crypto, as evident by his own participation and push for crypto-friendly regulations in the US. However, some of the decisions he takes for the larger US economy – the tariffs, for instance – stand to have a major impact on crypto’s health. So, while the long-term outlook for crypto screams bullishness, the journey to the top could be one filled with choppiness and heavy volatility. That’s why it’s important to be smart about your crypto investments and only pour in an amount you’re comfortable sidelining. Lastly, you must always do your own research before investing – or perhaps even consult a professional for advice. None of the above is meant to be financial advice, by the way, as we merely put out our honest insights.

On Sunday, the global cryptocurrency market experienced a 2.02% decline, settling at $2.69 trillion as bitcoin, ether, and several leading digital assets posted losses. Bitcoin dipped below the $83,000 threshold, reaching an intraday low of $82,397 per coin. Crypto Market Sees $47B in Trading, Down 34% From Previous Day Over the past 24 hours, global […]

A Bitcoin whale is betting hundreds of millions of dollars on a short-term decline in Bitcoin’s price ahead of a pivotal week filled with key economic reports that could significantly influence its trajectory and investor risk appetite.A large crypto investor, or whale, has opened a 40x leveraged short position for over 4,442 Bitcoin (BTC) —worth over $368 million — which functions as a de facto bet on Bitcoin’s price fall.Leveraged positions use borrowed money to increase the size of an investment, which can boost the size of both gains and losses, making leveraged trading riskier compared to regular investment positions.The Bitcoin whale opened the $368 million position at $84,043 and faces liquidation if Bitcoin’s price surpasses $85,592.Source: HypurrscanThe investor has generated over $2 million in unrealized profit, however, he has an over $200,000 loss on his position’s funding fees, Hypurrscan data shows.Despite the heightened risk of leveraged trading, some crypto investors are making significant profits with this strategy. Earlier in March, a savvy trader gained $68 million on a 50x leveraged short position, banking on Ether’s (ETH) 11% price decline.The leveraged bet comes ahead of a week of numerous significant macroeconomic releases, including the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on March 19, which may impact investor appetite for risk assets such as Bitcoin.Related: Bitcoin’s next catalyst: End of $36T US debt ceiling suspensionBitcoin needs weekly close above $81,000 to avoid pre-FOMC downsideBitcoin price continues to risk significant downside volatility due to growing macroeconomic uncertainty around global trade tariffs.To avoid downside volatility ahead of the FOMC meeting, Bitcoin will need a weekly close above $81,000, according to Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research,The analyst told Cointelegraph:“The key level to watch for the weekly close is $81,000 range, holding above that would signal resilience, but if we see a drop below $76,000, it could invite more short-term selling pressure.”Related: Bitcoin experiencing ‘shakeout,’ not end of 4-year cycle: AnalystsThe analyst’s comments come days before the next FOMC meeting scheduled for March 19. Markets are currently pricing in a 98% chance that the Fed will keep interest rates steady, according to the latest estimates of the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.Source: CME Group’s FedWatch tool“The market largely expects the Fed to hold rates steady, but any unexpected hawkish signals could put pressure on Bitcoin and other risk assets,” added the analyst.Magazine: SCB tips $500K BTC, SEC delays Ether ETF options, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 23 – Mar. 1

A Bitcoin whale is betting hundreds of millions of dollars on a short-term decline in Bitcoin’s price ahead of a pivotal week filled with key economic reports that could significantly influence its trajectory and investor risk appetite.A large crypto investor, or whale, has opened a 40x leveraged short position for over 4,442 Bitcoin (BTC) —worth over $368 million — which functions as a de facto bet on Bitcoin’s price fall.Leveraged positions use borrowed money to increase the size of an investment, which can boost the size of both gains and losses, making leveraged trading riskier compared to regular investment positions.The Bitcoin whale opened the $368 million position at $84,043 and faces liquidation if Bitcoin’s price surpasses $85,592.Source: HypurrscanThe investor has generated over $2 million in unrealized profit, however, he has an over $200,000 loss on his position’s funding fees, Hypurrscan data shows.Despite the heightened risk of leveraged trading, some crypto investors are making significant profits with this strategy. Earlier in March, a savvy trader gained $68 million on a 50x leveraged short position, banking on Ether’s (ETH) 11% price decline.The leveraged bet comes ahead of a week of numerous significant macroeconomic releases, including the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on March 19, which may impact investor appetite for risk assets such as Bitcoin.Related: Bitcoin’s next catalyst: End of $36T US debt ceiling suspensionBitcoin needs weekly close above $81,000 to avoid pre-FOMC downsideBitcoin price continues to risk significant downside volatility due to growing macroeconomic uncertainty around global trade tariffs.To avoid downside volatility ahead of the FOMC meeting, Bitcoin will need a weekly close above $81,000, according to Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research,The analyst told Cointelegraph:“The key level to watch for the weekly close is $81,000 range, holding above that would signal resilience, but if we see a drop below $76,000, it could invite more short-term selling pressure.”Related: Bitcoin experiencing ‘shakeout,’ not end of 4-year cycle: AnalystsThe analyst’s comments come days before the next FOMC meeting scheduled for March 19. Markets are currently pricing in a 98% chance that the Fed will keep interest rates steady, according to the latest estimates of the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.Source: CME Group’s FedWatch tool“The market largely expects the Fed to hold rates steady, but any unexpected hawkish signals could put pressure on Bitcoin and other risk assets,” added the analyst.Magazine: SCB tips $500K BTC, SEC delays Ether ETF options, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 23 – Mar. 1