Category: Cryptocurrency News

Some in the crypto community are outraged about the lack of legal clarity around memecoins like Libra, which collapsed soon after endorsement by Argentine President Javier Milei.

The FTX saga has entered yet another chapter since the exchange collapsed nearly three years ago. The company has begun repaying an estimated $1.2B to its first wave of former FTX users. The news could have a significant impact not only on the users but on the entire crypto industry as well. Meme coins with utility such as Best Wallet Token are poised to become one of the biggest beneficiaries, as we’ll discuss further in this article. First, let’s talk about the FTX repayments. Repayments Begin, Possibly More on the Way Starting February 18 at 3:00 pm UTC, the exchange has repaid the first batch of over 1,500 former FTX users. This group covers those owed $50K or less. While the repayment is already an eye-watering amount, it’s still a drop in the bucket compared to the total payouts FTX may have to settle. This could balloon to over $16B if all users file claims. FTX’s collapse in November 2022 seems like ancient history now, but it sent shockwaves across the crypto industry. This is partly because of the exchange’s size. Having over 130 subsidiaries meant that the event had a domino effect, which led to bankruptcies and job cuts within these firms. It also had a major impact on Bitcoin’s value. The world’s most valuable cryptocurrency slipped to around $16K during this period after a previous high of nearly $65K. Regulators have reacted swiftly too, and have taken a stricter approach towards crypto as a result. The United States, for instance, has fined exchanges like Binance, which was ordered to pay over $4B in 2023. Meanwhile, FTX’s former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for stealing his customers’ money from the exchange. How the FTX Repayments Will Impact the Market The $1.2B payout is a considerable sum. As such, a portion of this could be reinvested into the crypto market, helping boost demand, especially for meme coins like Best Wallet Token. In addition, the repayments could restore confidence in crypto’s reputation battered by the FTX debacle. Investors who have since become bearish due to the exchange’s collapse may once again have reason to dip their toes into crypto. Not everyone can be expected to be happy with the good news, though. That’s because users will be paid according to crypto prices during the time when FTX went bankrupt, plus a 9% interest per annum. $BTC holders will be particularly unhappy since the digital currency’s value has grown nearly 400% since 2022. Life After FTX The crypto market has changed significantly since the FTX collapse. The number of meme coins and token presales, for example, has boomed, giving investors more options to grow their money. One of the best presales today is the Best Wallet Token ($BEST). The project, spearheaded by the creators of the top-notch crypto wallet, promises to deliver exclusive benefits to its token holders. For one, users will be able to vote on key decisions that affect the Best Wallet ecosystem. If you love the product and want to make it better, holding $BEST tokens will make your voice heard. Aside from that, investors will have first dibs on the team’s new projects and future token releases. This can help you buy coins while they’re still cheap and get an edge over non-token holders. Finally, you can enjoy lower transaction fees and higher APY staking opportunities when you have $BEST. Coinsult has already audited Best Wallet Token in November 2024 in which no major issues were found. This makes it a secure and reliable project to invest in without the risks associated with some token presales. The project has raised over $10.2M to date, making it one of the hottest new cryptocurrencies of 2025. You can still grab $BEST for only $0.02405 each, but the price is about to increase again in less than two days, so the sooner you purchase, the better. A Word of Advice Before You Invest The crypto market is highly volatile, as we’ve seen with $BTC prices over the past several years. Because of this, do your own research before you invest, and never put down money you can’t afford to lose. Also, consider consulting with a financial advisor about your financial decisions. Please use the information in this article for educational purposes only and not as investment advice.

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XRP has recently witnessed a notable decline, slipping by 5% over the past week. The altcoin dropped below key levels of $2.40 and $2.45, raising concerns among investors. However, a market analyst believes this price shift is not a sign of a crash but rather part of a bullish ascending triangle formation. Related Reading: Cardano Soars Nearly 130% To $30 Billion, Climbs To 9th In Market Cap Rankings Crypto analyst Egrag Crypto even stated that he will have to give “a slap” to anyone who mentions “crash” again. XRP Latest Price Movement XRP is presently trading at $2.56 following an intraday peak of $2.60 and a low of $2.45. The decline coincides with a period of rapid value gain for the token. According to Egrag Crypto, XRP is still in a structured pattern even with the pullback; if confirmed, this might lead to more increases. #XRP – Is Crashing Hard? 😂🚨 I’ll have to give a slap to anyone who mentions “crash” again! 😅 #XRP is simply filling in the ascending triangle formation. The first attempt? Let’s call it a fake-out! 🔄 Now, we’re just retesting the edge of the formation. 📈 Stay calm; this… pic.twitter.com/xqQwjoEgul — EGRAG CRYPTO (@egragcrypto) February 18, 2025 The Construction Of The Ascending Triangle Egrag Crypto claims XRP is forming an ascending triangle, a technical pattern usually signifying a likely breakout. This development is defined by a run of higher lows converging toward a horizontal resistance level. In the past, such circumstances imply an optimistic vibe if the price breaks past the resistance. “XRP is simply filling in the ascending triangle formation,” the analyst said. “The first attempt? Let’s call it a fake-out! Now, we’re just retesting the edge of the formation,” he added. Technical research highlighted this trend in December 2024, with Egrag forecasting ambitious price targets of $17 and $27. A similar examination conducted in October 2024 revealed resistance levels at $0.90 and $1.30, suggesting that overcoming these challenges will open the path for a potential price ascent. Levels Of Resistance And Market Sentiment The latest change in the price of XRP is in line with fluctuations in the market as a whole. Analysts point out important resistance levels that could determine the future path of the token, but some buyers are still wary because of the short-term volatility. Should XRP be able to break out of its current level, and momentum could push it toward bigger targets. External market variables, such as changes in the price of Bitcoin and general sentiment in the cryptocurrency market, will also be very important. Though traditionally optimistic, analysts emphasize that ascending triangles require confirmation through prolonged price action and increased volume. Related Reading: XRP Sees $4.3 Billion Open Interest Rebound Amid Bullish Price Action What Does XRP Have In Store? Market observers are keeping a careful eye on XRP as it trades close to $2.56 in anticipation of a breakthrough or additional consolidation. The altcoin may experience a new upward motion in sync with previous forecasts if resistance at higher levels is broken. Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView

Valve has removed a game titled Piratefi from its online store Steam after it was discovered to be embedded with malware. Security researchers, including Marius Genheimer from SECUINFRA Falcon Team, revealed to Techcrunch that the malware was designed to trick gamers into installing an info-stealer known as Vidar, which can extract sensitive data such as […]

Wintermute plans US expansion with a new New York office, betting on pro-crypto policies under the Trump administration, CEO Evgeny Gaevoy says.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase unveiled its proof-of-reserves page for cbBTC, the exchange’s wrapped version of bitcoin (BTC) that allows users to deposit bitcoin with Coinbase and send tokens that represent the deposited BTC to multiple blockchain networks such as Ethereum or Solana. Displaying live proof of bitcoin in custody gives users confidence that at any given […]

Bitcoin should not reenter a bear market in 2025, even with a 30% BTC price drop, says CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju.

In a note published on Tuesday, Jurrien Timmer, Director of Global Macro at Fidelity Investments, discusses how a shifting economic landscape could influence markets, central bank policy, and the trajectory of both Bitcoin and gold. With the S&P 500 hitting new highs and the so-called “Trump Trade” reversing course, Timmer offers nuanced insights into fiscal policy, inflation, and the role of risk assets in a “limbo” market environment. The Trump Effect Timmer observes that the first six weeks of 2025 have brought unexpected market moves and an unusually high “noise-to-signal ratio.” The dominant market expectation coming into the year—anticipating “higher yields, a stronger dollar, and outperforming US equities”—has abruptly flipped. He notes: “It seems so 2025 that the consensus trade of higher yields, a stronger dollar, and outperforming US equities has turned into the opposite.” Timmer highlights that Bitcoin, fresh off a year-end rally, remains on top of rolling three-month return rankings, followed closely by gold, Chinese equities, commodities, and European markets. At the lower end of the table, the US dollar and Treasuries are bringing up the rear. Related Reading: Bitcoin To $500,000: Standard Chartered Doubles Down On 2028 Target Despite the S&P 500’s record levels, Timmer calls this a “digestion period” following the post-election optimism. He explains that the market beneath the headline index is much less decisive. According to Timmer, the equal-weighted index remains on hold, with only 55% of stocks trading above their 50-day moving averages. “Sentiment is bullish, credit spreads are narrow, the equity risk premium (ERP) is in the 10th decile, and the VIX is at 15. The market appears to be priced for success.” Timmer underscores that while earnings growth was robust at 11% in 2024, revisions appear lackluster, and there are open questions about what might happen if long-term rates climb towards 5% or beyond. One of the most critical pieces of Timmer’s analysis centers on Federal Reserve policy. He points to the recent CPI report, with a year-over-year core inflation figure of 3.5%, as a near-consensus indicator that the Fed will remain on pause. “It’s now all but unanimous that the Fed is on hold for some time to come. That’s exactly right, in my view. If neutral is 4%, I believe the Fed should be a smidge above that level, given the potential likelihood that ‘3 is the new 2.’” He warns about the possibility of a “premature pivot,” recalling the policy mistakes from the 1966–1968 period, when rate cuts happened too early, ultimately allowing inflation to gain a foothold. With the Fed apparently sidelined, Timmer believes the next market driver for interest rates will come from the long end of the curve. Specifically, he sees tension between two scenarios: one featuring endless deficit spending and rising term premiums—hitting equity valuations—and another emphasizing fiscal discipline, which would presumably rein in long-dated bond yields. Timmer also remarks that weekly jobless claims may come into sharper focus for bond markets, given how government spending under the new administration could influence employment data. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Final Dip Before $273,000? A Market Veteran Thinks So Timmer points out a potential bullish pattern—a head-and-shoulders bottom—in the Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index. Though he stops short of calling it a definitive shift, he notes that commodities remain in a broader secular uptrend and could see renewed investor interest if inflation pressures stay elevated or fiscal conditions remain loose. Gold, he notes, has been “a big winner” in recent years, outperforming many skeptics’ expectations: “Since 2020, gold has produced almost the same return as the S&P 500 while having a lower volatility. In my view, gold remains an essential component of a diversified portfolio in a regime in which bonds might remain impaired.” Timmer sees gold testing the critical $3,000 level amid a global uptick in money supply and a decline in real yields. Historically, gold has shown a strong negative correlation with real yields, though Timmer believes the metal’s strength of late may also reflect fiscal rather than monetary dynamics—particularly, geopolitical demand from central banks in China and Russia. Bitcoin Vs. Gold According to Timmer, the outperformance of both gold and Bitcoin has “sparked a lot of conversation about monetary inflation.” However, he draws a distinction between the “quantity of money” (the money supply) and the “price of money” (price inflation). “The point of this exercise is to show that the growth in traditional asset prices over time can’t just be explained away by monetary debasement (which is a favorite pastime of some bitcoiners),” he writes. Timmer’s charts suggest that while nominal M2 and nominal GDP have moved in near lockstep for over a century, consumer price inflation (CPI) has lagged somewhat behind money supply growth. He cautions that adjusting asset prices solely against M2 may produce misleading conclusions. Still, his analysis finds that both Bitcoin and gold have strong correlations to M2, albeit in different ways: “It’s interesting that there’s a linear correlation between M2 and gold, but a power curve between M2 and Bitcoin. Different players on the same team.” Timmer highlights gold’s long-run performance since 1970, noting that it has effectively kept pace—or even exceeded—the value created by many bond portfolios. He sees gold’s role as a “hedge against bonds,” especially if sovereign debt markets remain pressured by fiscal deficits and higher long-term rates. Timmer’s note underscores that Bitcoin’s strong performance cannot be seen in isolation from gold or the broader macroeconomic environment. With yields in flux and policymakers grappling with deficits, investors may be forced to reassess the traditional 60/40 portfolio model. He emphasizes that while past expansions of the money supply have often spurred inflation, the relationship is not always one-to-one. Bitcoin’s meteoric rise could, in Timmer’s view, reflect a market perception that fiscal concerns—not just monetary policy—are driving asset prices. “And as you can see from the dotted orange line and the green line, Bitcoin has added the same amount of value that overnight money took over 300 years to create,” he concluded. At press time, BTC traded at $95,700. Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com