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NEWS | DECRYPT

The knock-on effects of the BTC and ETH tumbles are beginning to surface in some unexpected corners of the market.

Seeing reports of record liquidations, this time from crypto-backed lending.

Coinbase's product is the one in focus.

• Customers are facing losses from a new vector.

A reminder that leverage finds its way into every structure, and downturns are when the plumbing gets stress-tested.

https://decrypt.co/357265/coinbases-loans-record-liquidations-bitcoin-ethereum-plunge
NEWS | COINDESK

A notable surge in options activity for BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF, IBIT, coinciding with a sharp bitcoin downturn.

This isn't just routine hedging; we are seeing significant, perhaps even forced, positioning during a period of acute market stress.

• Trading volume in IBIT options surged to a record 2.33 million contracts on Thursday alone.
• This explosive activity happened in lockstep with the bitcoin crash, indicating a reactive market.

Concentrated volume of this magnitude during a major price dislocation often suggests very large, and potentially distressed, players are being forced to act.

The resolution of this massive options overhang will be a critical factor for spot market direction and stability moving forward.

https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/02/07/blackrock-bitcoin-etf-options-errupt-in-crash-hedge-fund-blowup-or-just-market-madness
NEWS | COINTELEGRAPH

Rethinking the relationship between central bank policy and the next crypto cycle.

The long-held assumption has been that looser financial conditions are a primary catalyst for bull markets.

Now, the conversation is shifting to what a true decoupling would look like.

• The "endgame" scenario being discussed: Bitcoin rallying even as the Federal Reserve hikes interest rates.

A significant test of the asset's fundamental narrative, if it were to materialize.

#Bitcoin

https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-bull-market-catalyst-us-federal-reserve-interest-rates-fall?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
NEWS | COINDESK

The recent $2 trillion market rout was inevitably going to trigger second-order effects beyond just price.

We're seeing that play out now with scrutiny on crypto's eligibility for 401k retirement funds.

An intense debate is forming around the core purpose of these vehicles.

• Industry voices are drawing a sharp line, framing the discussion as a choice between "a secure retirement" and gambling on "speculative assets."
• The very idea of including digital assets in these long-term, conservative plans is now under significant fire.

This goes beyond market volatility and strikes at a fundamental, structural question about the asset class's long-term role in traditional finance.

https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/02/06/crypto-s-eligibility-for-401k-retirement-is-under-fire-after-brutal-market-rout-wipes-out-usd2-trillion
NEWS | BLOOMBERG

A significant development in the relationship between major crypto issuers and state authorities.

The reported cooperation between Tether and Turkey to freeze over half a billion dollars is a notable event.

• The action was part of a major crackdown on illegal betting and money laundering.
• Assets were linked to a single individual accused of running the platforms.

This level of direct, operational assistance demonstrates the power concentrated within centralized issuers.

A major precedent for how governments may leverage crypto infrastructure for large-scale enforcement actions going forward.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-07/crypto-giant-tether-aided-turkey-in-billion-dollar-crackdown
NEWS | COINDESK

A decisive shift in crypto sentiment. Bitcoin is now trading below the $70,000 mark.

This move feels different from recent dips. The price action suggests a 'sell at any price' environment is emerging, at least in the short term.

• Negative spot bitcoin ETF flows are a clear headwind, indicating a pullback in demand.
• Compounding this is operational news from Gemini, which plans to close operations in some regions and cut staff.

With post-election gains fully erased, the market is looking at a significant reset.

https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/02/07/bitcoin-falls-below-usd70-000-after-erasing-post-election-gains-during-sell-at-any-price-rout
NEWS | THE BLOCK

Seeing an 11% drop in Bitcoin mining difficulty registers as the largest negative adjustment since the China ban back in 2021.

This adjustment is a direct reflection of recent stress on the network's hashrate.

• Total network hashrate has fallen by approximately 20% over the course of the past month.

• The decline is being linked to a combination of factors: a collapse in bitcoin's price and widespread miner shutdowns forced by Winter Storm Fern.

It's a notable confluence of events — macroeconomic pressure from price action combined with a significant, real-world operational disruption.

The resilience of the mining ecosystem is being tested from multiple angles. How hashrate recovers from here will be a key indicator for the sector.

#Bitcoin

https://www.theblock.co/post/388955/bitcoin-mining-difficulty-drops-11-in-largest-negative-adjustment-since-chinas-2021-ban?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
NEWS | COINTELEGRAPH

The regulatory perimeter around stablecoins continues to solidify.

The CFTC has revised a staff letter concerning payment stablecoins, a move that aligns with the GENIUS stablecoin framework regulations.

• The core change is an expansion of criteria for these instruments.
• National trust banks are now explicitly included under this updated guidance.

This represents another incremental step integrating established financial institutions with emerging digital asset standards.

Regulatory clarity is often built piece by piece, and this is a notable revision for institutions navigating the space.

#stablecoin

https://cointelegraph.com/news/cftc-stablecoins-national-trust-banks?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
NEWS | FED

A notable shift in positioning ahead of the March FOMC.

Over 23% of traders are now pricing in an interest rate cut.

The move comes alongside rising fears of a hawkish Fed nominee, an interesting bit of counter-intuition in the market read.

• Fears of a more hawkish Fed seem to be pulling forward easing expectations.

The market appears to be front-running a potential change in Fed leadership and policy direction.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/23expect-interest-rate-cut-fomc-march?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
NEWS | THE BLOCK

The human element remains the most unpredictable variable in digital asset security.

A reported $66M crypto robbery attempt, allegedly involving two teens coerced via Signal, is a stark reminder.

Attack vectors are clearly extending far beyond the purely digital realm.

• Reports indicate the teens drove 600 miles for the alleged attempt.

On-chain wealth continues to create novel, and increasingly physical, off-chain risks.

https://www.theblock.co/post/388958/teens-face-felony-charges-after-600-mile-drive-to-allegedly-attempt-a-66-million-crypto-robbery-reports?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
NEWS | BLOOMBERG

Another central bank governor is sounding the alarm on stablecoins. ⚠️

The warning from South Africa's Reserve Bank is pointed.

Focus is less on the utility, more on the underlying structural risk.

• Governor Lesetja Kganyago flagged the potential for these crypto assets to “break apart.”
• This concern is explicitly linked to their growing popularity and use.

A persistent theme from the official sector as digital asset markets mature. The question of systemic impact is clearly top of mind for regulators.

#Stablecoins

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-07/south-africa-s-kganyago-warns-on-risk-of-growing-stablecoin-use
NEWS | COINDESK

An interesting dynamic appears to be taking shape in the Solana ecosystem as the sector shows signs of strain.

One company, the SOL-focused Forward Industries, is signaling a posture that runs counter to the broader pressure.

• The firm's CIO acknowledges a "tough run" for the business, which aligns with the general market environment.

• However, the message is one of being positioned for success, citing a balance sheet with no debt and the largest public solana treasury as key assets.

This is precisely the kind of financial structure that allows for strategic maneuvering when others are forced to protect their downside. The ability to "play offense," as they put it.

This positioning to consolidate rivals could serve as a bellwether for M&A activity if the sector-wide strain continues to build.

#Solana

https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/02/07/sol-focused-forward-industries-has-had-a-tough-run-but-cio-says-it-s-positioned-for-success
NEWS | COINTELEGRAPH

ARK's crypto equity positioning continues to evolve.

• Continued selling streak in Coinbase, with another 134,472 shares sold across three ETFs.
• Simultaneously initiating a new position, buying over 393,000 shares of crypto platform Bullish.

This isn't just simple profit-taking; it's a deliberate capital reallocation within the digital asset equity landscape.

Portfolio construction in this space is clearly far from static.

#crypto

https://cointelegraph.com/news/ark-sells-22m-coinbase-adds-bullish-across-etfs?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
NEWS | CRYPTOSLATE

A notable divergence between spot market demand and recent price action is becoming harder to ignore.

The internal structure of the market itself offers a clear lens into this dynamic.

• Spot markets are absorbing a significant influx of bids, suggesting strong foundational buying interest.
• Simultaneously, the marginal market continues to be heavily influenced by synthetic, cash-settled exposure.

The ease and speed with which this synthetic exposure can be created or unwound introduces a powerful, and often overwhelming, variable into price discovery.

An important reminder that positioning based purely on spot flows may be overlooking the much larger, and faster-moving, part of the market.

#Bitcoin

https://cryptoslate.com/binance-trading-data-reveals-why-bitcoin-prices-are-sliding-even-as-spot-buyers-flood-the-market-with-bids/
NEWS | COINDESK

Capital continues to explore the furthest edges of the on-chain economy, searching for any pocket of upward momentum.

The result is markets forming around ideas and events that would otherwise be considered purely speculative or even unpriceable.

An interesting dynamic, particularly when these niche corners begin to outperform established assets.

• Case in point: a Polymarket contract focused on the appearance of Jesus Christ in 2026 has seen its odds double, generating a return that is apparently beating bitcoin.

It’s a peculiar data point, but one that perhaps says more about the current market's appetite for yield and narrative than anything else. When the main stage is quiet, the side shows can get very interesting.

#crypto

https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/02/08/odds-of-jesus-christ-appearing-in-2026-double-beating-return-on-bitcoin
NEWS | CME

The "all CME gaps must fill" narrative is facing a significant real-time test.

Market structure itself is creating these conditions. The disconnect between 24/7 spot markets and traditional futures hours is a recurring source of volatility, especially during the most stressful weeks.

• These gaps tend to appear during periods of high market stress.
• The recent flush to the $60k level is now a key data point for those questioning the inevitability of a fill.

A powerful reminder that established market heuristics are only reliable until they aren't, forcing a reassessment of how participants position themselves around these weekend price voids.

#Bitcoin

https://cryptoslate.com/do-cme-gaps-always-have-to-fill-bitcoins-60k-flush-says-no/
NEWS | CRYPTOSLATE

Headline flow numbers for the US spot Bitcoin ETFs are painting a contradictory picture. ⚠️

The net aggregate figure misses the nuance.

• Jan. 30: $509.7 million in net outflows
• Feb. 2: $561.8 million in net inflows

The more interesting detail is that even during the large outflow day, some individual tickers stayed green.

This dispersion between funds seems to be a more critical signal than the all-in-one number that gets the attention.

#Bitcoin

https://cryptoslate.com/bitcoin-etf-flow-numbers-are-fundamentally-broken-and-most-traders-are-missing-the-specific-sign-of-a-crash/
NEWS | FED

The distinction between quantitative easing and other Federal Reserve balance sheet operations is increasingly viewed as a semantic debate.

The focus appears to be shifting from official labels to the practical outcomes of policy.

It's the underlying mechanics, not the terminology, that draw attention.

• The argument being made is that the Fed is effectively in a "gradual print" mode, irrespective of formal definitions.
• This perspective posits that regardless of the chosen path, the end result is a debasement of the currency.

This reframes the entire discussion, moving it away from short-term policy names and toward the long-term trajectory of asset values and currency purchasing power.

#Fed

https://cointelegraph.com/news/federal-reserve-gradual-print-lyn-alden?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
NEWS | COINDESK

A significant policy mandate out of Japan appears to be driving asset prices across the board.

What's notable is the correlated surge in both equities and traditional safe havens.

• Nikkei reaches a record 56,000
• Bitcoin to $72,000, as Gold moves past $5,000

The market isn't discriminating between risk-on and risk-off assets in its initial reaction.

This kind of uniform price action is rare. An interesting dynamic to watch unfold as capital seeks a home.

https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/02/09/takaichi-triumph-japan-s-record-56-000-nikkei-surge-sends-bitcoin-to-usd72-000-gold-past-usd5-000
NEWS | COINTELEGRAPH

The battle lines over direct Federal Reserve access are becoming clearer. 🇺🇸

A foundational split in the responses to the "skinny master account" proposal.

Traditional banking associations are urging caution, flagging potential risks.

Crypto companies, predictably, have backed the proposal for limited access.

• Incumbents focused on stability and a deliberate pace.
• Challengers focused on innovation and a more inclusive financial system.

This isn't merely a technical debate over account access. It's a proxy for the much larger conversation about the future structure of finance.

#Fed

https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-banks-input-fed-skinny-master-account-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound