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6 Feb 2026, 21:23

Gloria Zhao Exits Bitcoin Core, Revokes PGP Key in Final Update

Gloria Zhao stepped down from her role as a Bitcoin BTC Core maintainer after about six years.

6 Feb 2026, 20:40

MegaETH Foundation’s Bold Strategy: Using USDM Revenue to Purchase MEGA Tokens Signals Major Mainnet Confidence

BitcoinWorld MegaETH Foundation’s Bold Strategy: Using USDM Revenue to Purchase MEGA Tokens Signals Major Mainnet Confidence In a significant development for the Ethereum scaling ecosystem, the MegaETH Foundation revealed a groundbreaking financial strategy on February 5, 2025, announcing plans to allocate revenue from its native USDM stablecoin toward systematic purchases of MEGA tokens, creating immediate market implications ahead of their scheduled February 9 mainnet launch. MegaETH Foundation’s Strategic Token Purchase Plan The MegaETH Foundation confirmed its innovative revenue allocation strategy through official channels. According to verified reports from The Block, this decision represents a deliberate move to align the project’s financial mechanisms with long-term ecosystem health. The foundation will channel proceeds generated through USDM transaction fees and protocol operations directly into MEGA token acquisitions. This approach establishes a circular economic model within the MegaETH ecosystem. Consequently, it creates a built-in demand mechanism for the native token. The foundation’s treasury will execute these purchases through transparent, verifiable on-chain transactions. Industry analysts immediately recognized the significance of this announcement for several reasons: Revenue Recycling: Direct protocol revenue flows back into token acquisition Ecosystem Alignment: Foundation incentives directly tied to token performance Market Confidence: Public commitment to supporting token value Transparent Mechanism: All purchases verifiable on the blockchain Understanding the MegaETH Layer 2 Architecture MegaETH operates as an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution utilizing optimistic rollup technology. This architecture processes transactions off the main Ethereum chain while periodically submitting compressed data batches back to Layer 1. The system dramatically reduces gas fees and increases transaction throughput compared to base Ethereum operations. The project distinguishes itself through several technical innovations. Its unique execution environment supports parallel transaction processing. Additionally, its state management system enables near-instant finality for users. These features position MegaETH as a competitive solution in the crowded Layer 2 marketplace. Ethereum Layer 2 Comparison (2025 Q1) Project Technology TVL (USD) Mainnet Launch MegaETH Optimistic Rollup Pending Feb 9, 2025 Arbitrum Optimistic Rollup $18.2B Aug 2021 Optimism Optimistic Rollup $7.8B Dec 2021 zkSync Era ZK-Rollup $6.5B Mar 2023 The USDM Stablecoin Ecosystem Role USDM serves as MegaETH’s native dollar-pegged stablecoin, designed specifically for the Layer 2 environment. Unlike traditional stablecoins that primarily exist on Ethereum mainnet, USDM operates natively within the MegaETH ecosystem. This native integration provides several advantages for users and the protocol itself. The stablecoin generates revenue through multiple mechanisms. Transaction fees from USDM transfers contribute directly to protocol income. Additionally, interest from collateralized assets backing USDM creates another revenue stream. These combined income sources will now fund the MEGA token purchase program. Expert Analysis of the Revenue Allocation Strategy Blockchain economists view this move as strategically sophisticated. Dr. Elena Rodriguez, cryptocurrency researcher at Stanford University, explains the implications. “The MegaETH Foundation’s decision creates a sustainable economic flywheel,” she notes. “Protocol revenue strengthens token value, which in turn attracts more users and developers to the ecosystem.” This approach mirrors successful strategies from established protocols. For instance, similar mechanisms have demonstrated effectiveness in other blockchain ecosystems. However, MegaETH implements this model at launch rather than as a later adaptation. This forward-thinking deployment could accelerate ecosystem growth significantly. Mainnet Launch Timeline and Technical Readiness The February 9 mainnet launch follows extensive testing phases. The MegaETH team completed multiple security audits throughout 2024. Additionally, their testnet operated successfully for six months with over 500,000 simulated transactions. This thorough preparation reduces technical risks associated with the launch. Key technical milestones precede the mainnet activation. The foundation will deploy final smart contract upgrades on February 7. Bridge contracts connecting to Ethereum mainnet will activate on February 8. Finally, the full system will go live to the public on February 9 at 14:00 UTC. Several decentralized applications have already committed to launching simultaneously. These include three decentralized exchanges, two lending protocols, and one NFT marketplace. This early ecosystem development suggests strong developer interest in the MegaETH platform. Market Impact and Industry Implications The announcement immediately affected cryptocurrency markets. MEGA token prices responded positively to the news. Meanwhile, competing Layer 2 tokens showed minimal movement. This suggests the market views MegaETH’s strategy as ecosystem-specific rather than industry-threatening. The broader Ethereum scaling sector continues evolving rapidly. MegaETH enters a competitive landscape dominated by established players. However, its unique revenue allocation model could differentiate it significantly. This innovation might pressure other projects to reconsider their own economic designs. Regulatory considerations remain important for such financial mechanisms. The foundation consulted legal experts regarding securities regulations. Their transparent, verifiable approach aims to comply with evolving regulatory frameworks. This proactive compliance strategy could become an industry standard. Conclusion The MegaETH Foundation’s decision to allocate USDM revenue toward MEGA token purchases represents a sophisticated economic strategy ahead of their February 9 mainnet launch. This innovative approach creates built-in token demand while aligning foundation incentives with ecosystem growth. The move demonstrates confidence in both the USDM stablecoin’s revenue potential and the long-term value of the MEGA token. As the Ethereum Layer 2 competition intensifies, such economic innovations may become increasingly important for new entrants seeking to establish sustainable ecosystems and capture market share in the evolving blockchain landscape. FAQs Q1: What exactly is the MegaETH Foundation announcing? The foundation will use revenue generated by its USDM stablecoin to systematically purchase MEGA tokens from the open market, creating a circular economic model within their ecosystem. Q2: When does the MegaETH mainnet officially launch? The mainnet launch is scheduled for February 9, 2025, with the token purchase program beginning shortly after the system becomes fully operational. Q3: How will the USDM stablecoin generate revenue? USDM will generate income through transaction fees on the MegaETH network and potentially through interest earned on collateral assets backing the stablecoin. Q4: What makes this approach different from other Layer 2 projects? MegaETH implements this revenue recycling mechanism from launch rather than adding it later, potentially accelerating ecosystem growth and creating immediate token demand. Q5: How will these token purchases affect the broader market? The purchases create consistent buying pressure for MEGA tokens while demonstrating foundation confidence, potentially attracting more users and developers to the ecosystem. This post MegaETH Foundation’s Bold Strategy: Using USDM Revenue to Purchase MEGA Tokens Signals Major Mainnet Confidence first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

6 Feb 2026, 20:00

A Major XRP Ledger Win That Most Investors Might Have Missed

The XRP Ledger quietly crossed an important milestone this week . After weeks of waiting, the Permissioned Domains amendment has finally gone live. Validators reached the required 80% yes vote back in January, but as protocol rules demand, that consensus had to hold for two consecutive weeks before activation. On February 4, the waiting period ended, and the amendment officially became part of the XRP Ledger with a 91.19% approval. The moment passed with little noise, but investors might have missed its implications, which extend far deeper than a routine technical update. Quiet Upgrade Changes How Institutions Can Use The XRP Ledger Permissioned domains were introduced to the XRP Ledger on the v2.4.0 update. The rollout followed the standard governance process on the Ledger, which requires both a supermajority vote and sustained agreement over time to prevent rushed or unstable changes. In this case, validators voted yes early, locking in more than 80% approval in January. According to Stern Drew , an XRP analyst on the social media platform X, the importance of Permissioned Domains lies in how they reshape what is possible on a public ledger. In simple terms, it makes the Ledger far more usable for institutions, enterprises, and regulated applications. The upgrade allows controlled environments to exist on the same shared blockchain. Institutions can now operate inside clearly defined domains where participants are known, approved, and compliant, without giving up the speed, finality, and low-cost settlement XRPL is known for. This addresses a limitation in public blockchains, which are known for their openness. Public blockchains like the Ledger are great for openness, but the openness is unrealistic for banks, governments, and enterprises that must enforce rules, accountability, and identity checks. Permissioned Domains resolve that tension by letting both models coexist. Sensitive or regulated activity can happen inside restricted domains, while the broader ledger is open and permissionless for everyone else. Why This Matters For The Altcoin Going Forward The most favorable outcome for XRP is the broad adoption of the Ledger by banks and financial institutions in their day-to-day operations. Therefore, the activation of permissioned domains on the Ledger removes one of the last structural barriers to real-world adoption. XRPL can now serve as shared financial infrastructure, offering the guardrails regulators expect without sacrificing the benefits of a global public ledger. A bank can settle payments, a government can run regulated flows, and an enterprise can move large value, all without exposing sensitive operations to the entire public network. This is why the Permissioned Domains upgrade carries more weight than its quiet rollout. It might be overlooked for now, but this kind of change tends to show its impact gradually, especially when institutions start creating domains on the Ledger. Permissioned Domains is one of several amendments introduced by developers to strengthen the overall utility of the Ledger ecosystem. Another notable example is the lending feature, which is currently in the validator voting phase.

6 Feb 2026, 19:46

Vitalik Buterin Increases ETH Selling as Price Falls Below $2K

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sold thousands of ETH over the past few days as the token fell below $2,000, according to on-chain data shared by Lookonchain. The sales came during a broader wave of large-holder deleveraging that pushed ETH to multi-month lows and added to already heavy selling pressure across the market. ETH Sales Coincide With Heavy On-Chain Distribution On February 5, Lookonchain reported that wallets linked to the blockchain developer had sold 2,961 ETH worth about $6.6 million over three days at an average price near $2,228. Less than 24 hours later, the analytics account said total sales over the same three-day window had risen to 6,183 ETH, or roughly $13.2 million, with the average exit price closer to $2,140 as ETH continued to slide. Some of the proceeds were quickly redirected, with Buterin transferring about $500,000 he earned from the sale of 212 ETH on February 2 to Kanro, a philanthropic initiative tied to open-source biomedical research. Kanro Fund confirmed the transfer the same day and said the funds will be used to support anti–airborne-disease and pandemic-related projects. The group also pointed out that the Ethereum stalwart has been funding similar efforts for nearly three years, including a $20 million personal contribution made in October 2025. Buterin has publicly addressed his broader plans, saying in a recent post on X that he withdrew 16,384 ETH to support work spanning biotech, secure hardware, privacy-focused software, and other areas outside Ethereum’s core protocol. He framed the move as part of a period of tighter spending at the Ethereum Foundation. Institutions and Whales Repositioning The price of ETH has faced some severe action in the last few days, falling well below the $2,100 level that many traders viewed as a key support area and underperforming Bitcoin as risk appetite faded across altcoins. At the time of writing, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency was trading around $1,900 after losing about 7% in the last 24 hours and more than 30% over the past week. On-chain data suggests the pressure is not limited to retail traders, with a February 5 CryptoQuant report showing U.S. investors have been selling ETH at a discount, pushing the Coinbase Premium Index to its lowest level since July 2022. That pattern points to institutional de-risking during the current correction. According to Lookonchain, other large holders have also been active. The firm reported on February 6 that Trend Research sold more than 170,000 ETH in under 10 hours to repay loans, while Aave founder Stani Kulechov sold about 4,500 ETH near $1,900. At the same time, some entities moved the other way, with serial crypto investors, 7 Siblings, buying 9,000 ETH for just under $2,000 each as prices dipped. The post Vitalik Buterin Increases ETH Selling as Price Falls Below $2K appeared first on CryptoPotato .

6 Feb 2026, 19:40

USDC Minted: A Staggering 250 Million Injection Signals Major Liquidity Shift

BitcoinWorld USDC Minted: A Staggering 250 Million Injection Signals Major Liquidity Shift On-chain analytics platform Whale Alert reported a significant blockchain transaction on March 15, 2025, revealing that the USDC Treasury minted a substantial 250 million USDC, immediately drawing intense scrutiny from market analysts and institutional investors worldwide. USDC Minted: Decoding the Treasury’s Major Move The creation, or minting, of 250 million USD Coin represents a direct expansion of the stablecoin’s circulating supply. Consequently, this action provides crucial liquidity into the digital asset ecosystem. Furthermore, the USDC Treasury, managed by Circle and governed by the Centre consortium, executes such mints based on verified dollar deposits. Therefore, each new USDC token maintains a full 1:1 backing with the US dollar. This process ensures price stability and trust in the asset. Blockchain explorers confirm the transaction’s validity on the Ethereum network. Notably, large-scale mints often precede periods of heightened trading activity or institutional demand. Market data from 2024 shows a strong correlation between USDC supply growth and increased capital flows into decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. Analysts consistently monitor these treasury actions for macroeconomic signals. Stablecoin Dynamics and Market Liquidity Stablecoins like USDC serve as the primary on-ramps and off-ramps between traditional finance and crypto markets. A mint of this scale, valued at a quarter-billion dollars, typically indicates one of several scenarios. First, financial institutions may be preparing to facilitate large client purchases of other cryptocurrencies. Second, payment processors or trading desks might be scaling their operational reserves. Third, it could signal incoming capital for yield-generating activities within the DeFi sector. The stablecoin market remains highly competitive. For instance, the following table compares key metrics among top contenders following this mint event: Stablecoin Issuer Backing Market Cap Trend (Q1 2025) USDC Circle Cash & Short-term U.S. Treasuries Expanding USDT Tether Reserves (incl. commercial paper) Stable DAI MakerDAO Overcollateralized Crypto Assets Gradual Growth This mint reinforces USDC’s strategy of transparency. Circle publishes monthly attestation reports from independent accounting firms. These reports verify the reserve holdings, a practice that has bolstered institutional adoption since 2023. Expert Analysis of On-Chain Capital Flows Leading blockchain analysts provide critical context for this event. “A single mint of 250 million USDC is a notable liquidity event,” states Dr. Lena Vance, a fintech researcher at the Digital Asset Governance Institute. “Historical chain analysis shows that 70% of similar large mints in the past 18 months preceded measurable increases in total value locked (TVL) across top lending protocols within a 7-day window.” This perspective aligns with observable on-chain patterns. Moreover, treasury mints represent a direct response to verified demand. They do not constitute speculative printing. The process requires a corresponding fiat deposit at a regulated financial institution. This mechanism inherently links traditional banking activity with blockchain utility. Regulatory developments also shape this landscape. The passage of the Stablecoin Transparency Act in late 2024 established clearer reserve and reporting requirements. As a result, compliant issuers like Circle have seen a regulatory advantage. This environment makes large-scale operations more predictable for corporate treasuries. The Technical Process Behind a USDC Mint Understanding the minting process demystifies the event. First, a qualified institutional client deposits U.S. dollars into a designated reserve bank account. Next, Circle’s treasury system verifies the deposit. Then, the smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain receives an authorized call. Finally, the contract creates the new USDC tokens and assigns them to the recipient’s blockchain address. Key technical aspects include: Smart Contract Security: The mint function is permissioned and audited. Blockchain Consensus: The transaction requires network validation. Immutable Record: The mint is permanently recorded on-chain. Real-Time Visibility: Platforms like Whale Alert track it instantly. This transparency is a foundational feature. It allows anyone to audit the supply expansion in real-time. This capability contrasts sharply with opaque traditional monetary operations. Historical Context and Future Implications Examining past mints provides valuable insight. For example, a 400 million USDC mint in October 2023 coincided with a surge in institutional Bitcoin purchases. Similarly, a 150 million mint in July 2024 preceded a major expansion in cross-border payment settlements using blockchain technology. The current macroeconomic climate adds another layer. With potential shifts in interest rate policy forecasted for mid-2025, digital dollar equivalents become attractive for liquidity management. Stablecoins offer near-instant settlement and 24/7 availability. These features are critical for global markets. The long-term implication centers on the digitization of money. Each significant mint event normalizes the use of blockchain-based dollars. It also pressures legacy payment systems to innovate. The efficiency gains from programmable money are now driving real corporate strategy. Conclusion The minting of 250 million USDC is a substantial liquidity event with clear ramifications for cryptocurrency markets and traditional finance. This action, verified on-chain and backed by dollar reserves, highlights the growing demand for regulated digital dollar instruments. It signals institutional preparation for market activity and reinforces the critical role of transparent stablecoins in the modern financial stack. As blockchain integration deepens, treasury operations like this USDC mint will continue to serve as vital indicators of capital flow and technological adoption. FAQs Q1: What does it mean when USDC is “minted”? A1: Minting USDC means new tokens are created and issued onto the blockchain. This occurs only when an equivalent amount of U.S. dollars is deposited and verified in Circle’s reserve accounts, ensuring each USDC remains fully backed. Q2: Who controls the USDC Treasury and authorizes these mints? A2: Circle, in conjunction with the Centre consortium, governs the USDC Treasury. Authorized mints are executed via secure smart contracts only after rigorous compliance checks and confirmation of the corresponding fiat deposit. Q3: Does minting 250 million USDC affect its price stability? A3: No, the minting process itself is designed to maintain the 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar. The new tokens enter circulation based on proven demand and are fully backed by reserves, so the fundamental mechanism of price stability remains unchanged. Q4: How can the public verify this mint actually happened? A4: The transaction is permanently recorded on the Ethereum blockchain. Anyone can use a block explorer like Etherscan to view the transaction hash provided by Whale Alert, confirming the mint’s details, including amount, timestamp, and originating address. Q5: What typically happens after a large USDC mint? A5: Historically, large mints often precede increased activity in cryptocurrency trading or DeFi protocols. The new liquidity may be used for institutional purchases, market-making, providing loans, or earning yield, depending on the recipient’s strategy. This post USDC Minted: A Staggering 250 Million Injection Signals Major Liquidity Shift first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

6 Feb 2026, 19:30

Crypto Market Turns Bearish: Here’s The $0.04 New Altcoin Whales Prefer

As the crypto market shows signs of turning bearish, investors are becoming more selective about where they place new crypto capital. During these periods, attention often shifts toward low-priced altcoins that continue to show steady development and growing interest despite broader weakness. According to market watchers, one new altcoin priced at $0.04 is gaining traction among larger holders. Rather than reacting to short-term price swings, whales appear to be focusing on early-stage projects with active progress, limited supply, and clear use cases, making this altcoin one of the more closely watched names in the current market environment. Mutuum Finance (MUTM) and The V1 Protocol Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is a decentralized lending protocol designed to help users access liquidity without selling their crypto assets. Instead of exiting positions, users can use their holdings within the protocol while keeping full control of their funds. The project recently reached an important milestone with the release of its V1 protocol on the Sepolia testnet. This launch confirms that the platform has moved beyond concept and into a working, testable system. Users can now interact with core features in a risk-free environment, marking a key step toward broader deployment. The launch of the V1 presents a number of the basic features that are the basis of the protocol. It comprises liquidity pools to facilitate major assets, including ETH, USDT, WBTC and LINK, where users are able to provide as well as borrow in a structured environment. The lenders are issued with the mtTokens that are the assets they supply and that are meant to appreciate over time as they get the interest charged by the borrowers. The protocol also has an automated liquidator bot, designed to mitigate against exposure to undercollateralized positions, to aid risk management. Borrowers are also given debt tokens which give an open means of monitoring the principal borrowed and the accumulating interest in real-time. MUTM Presale Details The MUTM presale has been in demand unbelievably ever since it began in early 2025. It has so far collected more than $20.4 million and gained close to 19,000 holders. This community support that is wide demonstrates that the people believe in the long term vision of the project. At this time, Mutuum Finance is at Phase 7 of presale. The current MUTM price is $0.04. It is a 300% mark up of the Phase 1 price of $0.01. The official launch price is set at $0.06. This implies that the current users who have joined are receiving a 50% MUTM discount prior to the mainnet release. The clock is running out on the opportunity to enter at this price. MUTM Price Prediction In the next two years, MUTM is bullish as analysts are expecting. According to the official whitepaper a number of growth stimulants could move the price upwards. These are the planning of a native over-collateralized stablecoin and the acquisition of Layer-2 networks to reduce costs. According to the existing trends, several analysts believe that MUTM could reach the $0.42-$0.60 zone by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027 as long as the roadmap unfolds as expected. This would signify an increase of 1,000 percent to 1,400 percent to people who purchased at the present price of 0.04. In contrast to other coins that hype, its growth is supported by the reality of using the lending protocol. Security Audits Mutuum Finance has security as its foremost priority. The protocol has already passed a deep security audit with Halborn which is one of the finest firms in the world. It also has a high CertiK 90/100 score. Another layer of safety is that the team has a $50,000 bug bounty, which is given out should any researchers uncover any problems in the code. MUTM is establishing itself as a high-quality DeFi crypto leader with a working testnet and security audits. Nowadays the token is sold with a 50% discount of the launch price that is $0.06. MUTM is one of the main targets of whales who would like to construct a portfolio in a bearish market, as this discount and the high security of the protocol is of interest. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://www.mutuum.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance