Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Fresh U.S. economic figures point to a mixed outlook for growth and the dollar. Non Farm Employment dropped by 92,000, far below the forecast of 58,000 job gains and reversing the previous 130,000 increase, indicating weakness in hiring. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, slightly above expectations of 4.3%. Consumer spending also showed signs of softness. Retail Sales declined 0.2% month-over-month, though the drop was slightly smaller than the projected 0.3% fall. Core Retail Sales remained flat at 0.0%, missing forecasts for modest growth. Wage Growth and Dollar Outlook Despite weaker employment data, Average Hourly Earnings increased 0.4%, above…

Digital payments platform Strike has received regulatory approval to operate cryptocurrency services in New York after securing both a BitLicense and a money transmitter license from the New York State Department of Financial Services. The licenses were granted in February to Zap Solutions Inc., the company operating Strike. The approvals allow the firm to offer Bitcoin-related services to individuals and businesses located in New York, one of the most tightly regulated crypto markets in the United States. With the authorization in place, residents can now use the platform to buy and sell Bitcoin, schedule recurring purchases and convert direct-deposited salaries…

The recent recovery in Bitcoin slowed after U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange traded funds recorded notable capital withdrawals. On Thursday, spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $228 million in net outflows, ending a three-day inflow streak that had brought approximately $1.1 billion into the market. The shift in flows came as Bitcoin fell below $71,000, indicating renewed caution among institutional investors. Weekly ETF Flows and Market Position Despite the latest withdrawals, weekly inflows remained positive at about $917 million heading into the final trading session of the week. However, year to date figures reflect a more mixed trend. Total inflows for 2026 have…

Dubai’s digital asset watchdog has instructed several entities associated with the crypto exchange KuCoin to stop conducting virtual asset services in the emirate without proper authorization. The directive was issued by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), which oversees cryptocurrency regulation in Dubai. According to the regulator, companies including Phoenixfin Pte Ltd, MEK Global Limited, Peken Global Limited and KuCoin Exchange EU GmbH were allegedly promoting or offering crypto-related services to residents without holding the required regulatory approvals. VARA stated that the exchange does not currently possess a license to provide virtual asset services within or from Dubai. As a…

Bitcoin briefly surged above the $74k level this week, marking its highest point in about a month. However, the upward move quickly faded as the market lost momentum, pushing the price back below $71,000 during the next trading session. The move as a short term relief rally rather than a confirmed recovery. Data from CryptoQuant indicates that broader market conditions still reflect bearish pressure despite the temporary price spike. Bear Market Indicators Still Dominate CryptoQuant’s Bull Score Index, which combines multiple technical and on-chain indicators to assess Bitcoin’s market health, currently stands at 10 out of 100. Such a reading…

Crypto exchange OKX has unveiled a new in app social networking feature designed to improve transparency and interaction within trading communities. The feature, called Orbit, is integrated directly into the exchange’s mobile application and will begin rolling out gradually to selected users in a beta phase before wider availability. Orbit allows traders to share market insights, host livestream discussions and communicate in group chats while interacting with real-time trading tools. Users can also choose to display verified performance metrics, including portfolio returns, profit and loss figures, and win rates. The company says this approach aims to address credibility concerns that…

Bitcoin is currently trading near $71,164, marking a decline of about 44% from its previous all-time high of $126,000 recorded in October, according to market data from CoinMarketCap. The correction has reignited discussions among investors about how Bitcoin behaves compared with traditional safe-haven assets such as Gold. Market strategist Lyn Alden noted that the relationship between the two assets is not fixed. She explained that Bitcoin and gold can sometimes move in the same direction during periods of economic uncertainty, while in other situations their price movements may diverge. Debate Over Bitcoin’s Role as a Store of Value The discussion…

Exchange traded funds linked to Solana have continued attracting capital even as the token’s market price has dropped significantly since the funds launched in the United States. Despite the sharp decline, the investment products have managed to retain most of the capital that initially flowed into them. Market analysts estimate that Solana ETFs have accumulated roughly $1.5 billion in inflows since their launch in July. According to ETF data tracked by Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, about half of those investments have come from institutional investors, highlighting sustained interest from professional market participants. ETF Growth Compared With Bitcoin Market Size When…

Bitcoin briefly climbed to around $74,000 this week before losing momentum and falling back below $71,000. The move came after the crypto rebounded sharply from last weekend’s lows near $64,000, marking a rapid recovery that lifted prices by roughly 15% within five days. Short Liquidations Helped Drive the Surge The sudden rise was partly fueled by a short squeeze rather than sustained buying demand. As Bitcoin approached higher levels, traders who had bet on price declines were forced to close positions, accelerating the upward movement. Despite the pullback, several major cryptocurrencies remain higher on a weekly basis. Ethereum continues to…

The traditional altcoin season, where nearly every crypto rises after a rally in Bitcoin, may no longer follow the same pattern in coming market cycles. According to insights from Bitwise Asset Management Hougan, future altcoin growth could become more selective and focused on projects with clear real-world value. Market analysts suggest the industry is moving away from the broad speculative surges seen in previous cycles. In earlier bull markets, capital often rotated from Bitcoin into Ether and then flowed widely across decentralized finance tokens, NFT-related assets and smaller altcoins. That environment allowed many projects to appreciate simultaneously, regardless of long-term…