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5 Feb 2026, 16:00

Ethereum falls under $2K as $355M liquidations hit crypto market

The broader cryptocurrency market has continued its poor start to the month, with over $355 million worth of leveraged positions wiped out within the last 60 minutes. Bitcoin dropped below the $68,000 level after losing 10% of its value in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, is also not left behind, as it has dropped below the $2,000 psychological level. Watcher.Guru @WatcherGuru · Follow JUST IN: Bitcoin falls under $67,000$355,000,000 liquidated from the crypto market in the past 60 minutes. 4:29 PM · Feb 5, 2026 56 Reply Copy link Read 17 replies Ether’s bearish performance comes despite the Ethereum network hitting peak activity over the last few days. Ethereum network activity hits peak ETH is currently trading below $2,000 after losing 10% of its value since Wednesday. The sell-off comes despite the Ethereum network experiencing its most active phase to date. Recent on-chain data shows Ethereum reaching a major milestone as transfer counts hit a record high. According to CryptoQuant, since the start of the month, Ethereum Transfer Count—the total number of token transfers—measured by a 14-day moving average, reached a record level of 1.1 million. This suggests strong network growth and broader adoption of Ethereum. However, Ethereum faces a massive decline in retail demand, as traders increasingly close positions rather than open new ones. The coin’s derivatives market remains weak, with futures OI plummeting to $25.4 billion, from $26.3 billion the previous day. In an email to Invezz , Ruslan Lienkha, chief of markets at YouHodler, stated that: As risk sentiment weakened across global markets, capital rotated away from growth-oriented and speculative assets, putting pressure on both tech equities and crypto. The analyst added that the deleveraging process has accelerated sell-offs, as liquidations triggered additional downward pressure, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of volatility. Such events are typical in crypto markets, where leverage levels are often higher than in traditional asset classes. ETH could record further losses as momentum indicators remain bearish The ETH/USD 4H chart remains extremely bearish as Ethereum has recorded massive losses over the past few days. It has dropped below its previous intraday low of $2,068 and now trades at $1,929 per coin. With the bears in control, the downward-trending 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $2,899, the 100-day EMA at $3,105, and the 200-day EMA at $3,232 make it harder for Ether to undergo a recovery in the near term. The RSI has dropped to 21, indicating the 4-hour chart is oversold and suggesting bearish momentum is building. If the RSI dips further, ETH could retest the $1,800 support level for the first time since May 2025. The MACD lines are also below the signal line, with the red histogram bars indicating an extremely bearish market condition. However. If the bulls regain control of the market in the near term, Ether could reclaim the $2,200 resistance level over the next few hours or days. The post Ethereum falls under $2K as $355M liquidations hit crypto market appeared first on Invezz

5 Feb 2026, 16:00

DDC Extends Its Bitcoin Accumulation Streak: The $LIQUID Presale Brings Smoother Cross-Chain Actions

Quick Facts: DDC extended its streak of Bitcoin purchases reinforcing the ‘treasury reserve’ narrative, further reducing available market supply. As capital locks into Bitcoin cold storage, the need for efficient cross-chain infrastructure becomes critical to keep markets fluid. LiquidChain offers a ‘deploy-once’ architecture that fuses Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana liquidity, solving the friction of bridging and wrapped assets. With over $5267 raised, the project attracts investors betting on interoperability as the next major sector rotation. DDC extends its Bitcoin accumulation streak. That move marks yet another chapter in the corporate race to secure hard assets on balance sheets. It reinforces a shift we’ve been tracking for months: non-crypto native entities are no longer viewing digital gold as a speculative punt, but as a treasury imperative. Seen as DDC bought another $105 BTC . This aligns with the aggressive strategies seen from Strategy and Semler Scientific, basically, a vote of no confidence in cash reserves and a pivot toward scarce digital property. The specific dollar amount matters less than the signal: supply is vanishing. When corporate treasuries send Bitcoin to cold storage, they rip liquid supply from the market. This sets the stage for a ‘supply shock’ dynamic that historically triggers violent price appreciation. But there’s a catch. This institutional hoarding creates a secondary problem, liquidity fragmentation. As capital gets trapped in the ‘store of value’ silo, utilizing that value on high-performance ecosystems like Solana or Ethereum becomes incredibly difficult (and risky) without centralized intermediaries. That friction, between holding rigid assets and using agile DeFi, is the industry’s current bottleneck. While DDC and its peers lock down the asset layer, the market needs infrastructure to make that capital productive without selling it. This narrative shift from simple accumulation to active utilization is driving interest toward interoperability solutions, specifically, LiquidChain ($LIQUID) , a Layer 3 protocol built to solve this exact fragmentation headache. LiquidChain L3 Architecture Unifies Fragmented Ecosystems For Seamless Execution Let’s be honest: the current state of blockchain interoperability is a mess of inefficient bridges and risky ‘wrapped’ assets. When institutions or retail users want to move value from Bitcoin to Ethereum or Solana, they typically face high fees, anxiety-inducing wait times, and the security risk of custodial bridges. LiquidChain flips this script by positioning itself as a Layer 3 (L3) infrastructure that fuses liquidity from these major chains into a single execution environment. What makes LiquidChain different is its ‘deploy-once’ architecture. Developers can build applications on the LiquidChain L3 that instantly access users and assets on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. This eliminates the need to maintain three separate codebases. For a market increasingly dominated by multi-chain activity, that technical capability is critical. It allows for verifiable settlement and single-step execution; theoretically, a user could use Bitcoin collateral to execute a trade on a Solana-based DEX without ever manually bridging assets. The implications for liquidity efficiency are profound. By acting as a Unified Liquidity Layer, LiquidChain reduces the slippage and capital inefficiency that plague fragmented markets. As corporate entities continue to accumulate Bitcoin, the demand for non-custodial ways to generate yield on those assets, or use them as transaction fuel across other networks, will likely drive adoption for this specific type of L3 infrastructure. EXPLORE THE UNIFIED LIQUIDITY LAYER AT LIQUIDCHAIN Early Adopters Target The $LIQUID Presale As Infrastructure Plays Heat Up While headlines fixate on spot Bitcoin buys, smart money is increasingly rotating into the ‘pick and shovel’ plays, the infrastructure rails that will support the next cycle’s volume. Infrastructure plays historically command high valuations because they service the entire ecosystem rather than a single niche. The LiquidChain presale has emerged as a focal point for investors looking to hedge against liquidity fragmentation. LiquidChain ($LIQUID) has already raised $527K, signaling robust early interest despite the market’s recent consolidation. The token, $LIQUID, is currently priced at $0.01355. This entry point is garnering attention because it represents a valuation heavily discounted compared to established Layer 2 or cross-chain protocols. That funding goes directly into the Cross-Chain VM (Virtual Machine), the engine powering the protocol’s interoperability features. You could see the $0.01355 price point not just as a speculative entry, but as a bet on the ‘abstraction’ narrative, the idea that future users won’t care which chain they are on, as long as the liquidity is available. By smoothing out the clunky user flows that currently hold DeFi back, LiquidChain positions itself to capture volume from both retail traders and institutional desks looking for smoother execution. CHECK OUT THE OFFICIAL $LIQUID PRESALE This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are volatile; conduct your own due diligence before investing.

5 Feb 2026, 16:00

Crypto Futures Liquidations: Staggering $473 Million Wiped Out in One Volatile Hour

BitcoinWorld Crypto Futures Liquidations: Staggering $473 Million Wiped Out in One Volatile Hour Global cryptocurrency markets experienced a dramatic surge in volatility on March 15, 2025, as major trading platforms reported a staggering $473 million worth of futures contracts liquidated within a single hour. This intense activity highlights the inherent risks within crypto derivatives markets. Consequently, traders faced significant margin calls. Furthermore, this hourly event contributed to a substantial 24-hour liquidation total exceeding $1.4 billion. Market analysts immediately began scrutinizing the catalysts behind this rapid deleveraging. Crypto Futures Liquidations Trigger Market-Wide Volatility Analysis The $473 million liquidation event primarily affected long positions across leading exchanges. Major platforms like Binance, Bybit, and OKX reported the highest volumes. This rapid sell-off typically occurs when leveraged positions fall below maintenance margin requirements. Automated systems then close these positions to prevent further losses. As a result, this creates a cascade effect that amplifies price movements. Market data shows Bitcoin’s price swung over 7% during this volatile period. Similarly, Ethereum and other major altcoins exhibited heightened price action. Historically, such liquidation clusters often follow periods of excessive leverage. The crypto derivatives market has grown exponentially since 2020. For instance, total open interest frequently surpasses $30 billion. This growth increases systemic risk during volatility spikes. Regulatory bodies in multiple jurisdictions continue monitoring these developments. They focus particularly on investor protection mechanisms. Recent reports from the Financial Stability Board emphasize the need for robust risk management. Understanding Derivatives Market Mechanics and Risks Cryptocurrency futures allow traders to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset. These contracts use leverage, often ranging from 5x to 125x. High leverage magnifies both profits and losses. When prices move against positioned traders, exchanges issue margin calls. If traders cannot add funds, their positions face automatic liquidation. This process helps protect the exchange from counterparty risk. However, it can exacerbate market downturns through forced selling. The following table illustrates typical liquidation thresholds across different leverage levels: Leverage Level Approximate Price Drop Triggering Liquidation (Long) Risk Multiplier 5x ~18-20% Moderate 10x ~9-10% High 25x ~3-4% Very High 50x ~1-2% Extreme 100x ~0.5-1% Maximum Key risk factors in derivatives trading include: Liquidation cascades: Multiple liquidations triggering further price declines Funding rate fluctuations: Periodic payments between long and short positions Market depth: The availability of orders to absorb large trades Whale activity: Large traders influencing market direction External catalysts: Macroeconomic news or regulatory announcements Expert Analysis of Market Structure Vulnerabilities Financial analysts specializing in crypto markets identify several structural concerns. The concentration of liquidity on few exchanges creates systemic vulnerabilities. Additionally, cross-margin products can propagate losses across different positions. Risk management protocols vary significantly between platforms. Some exchanges offer partial liquidations or negotiation periods. Others execute full position closures immediately. This inconsistency affects market stability during stress events. Historical data reveals patterns in liquidation events. The March 2020 crash saw over $1 billion in liquidations daily. Similarly, the May 2021 correction triggered $8.6 billion in liquidations over three days. These events typically correlate with: Rapid Bitcoin price declines exceeding 15% Spikes in the Crypto Fear and Greed Index to extreme fear Increased trading volumes on spot markets Significant changes in exchange reserve balances Market surveillance firms now track liquidation heatmaps in real-time. These tools help traders identify potential danger zones. They display price levels where large volumes of liquidations may occur. Consequently, informed participants can adjust their risk parameters accordingly. Broader Impacts on Cryptocurrency Ecosystem Stability Major liquidation events affect multiple market participants beyond derivatives traders. Spot market prices often experience increased volatility. This impacts long-term investors and institutional holders. Mining operations face revenue uncertainty during prolonged downturns. Project funding and development timelines may adjust to market conditions. Moreover, regulatory scrutiny typically intensifies following significant volatility episodes. The cryptocurrency industry has developed several mitigation strategies. Exchange insurance funds now cover some liquidation losses. Risk management education programs target retail traders. Advanced order types help automate position protection. Furthermore, decentralized finance protocols offer alternative hedging mechanisms. These developments aim to reduce systemic risk over time. Market infrastructure continues evolving to handle volatility. Trading platforms enhance their matching engine capabilities. Custodial services improve security during high-volume periods. Settlement systems process transactions more efficiently. These improvements help maintain market integrity during stress events. Industry groups also develop best practice standards for risk disclosure. Conclusion The $473 million crypto futures liquidation event underscores the dynamic nature of digital asset markets. This volatility highlights both opportunities and risks for participants. Understanding derivatives mechanics remains crucial for informed trading decisions. Market structure improvements continue enhancing ecosystem resilience. Consequently, traders must prioritize risk management above potential returns. The cryptocurrency derivatives landscape will likely evolve further as institutional participation increases. Future market stability depends on balanced growth between innovation and risk mitigation. FAQs Q1: What causes futures liquidations in cryptocurrency markets? Liquidations occur when a trader’s margin balance falls below the maintenance requirement for their leveraged position. Exchanges automatically close these positions to prevent negative balances, often creating cascading effects during volatile periods. Q2: How do liquidations affect overall market prices? Liquidations create forced selling pressure, which can accelerate price declines. This selling often triggers further liquidations at lower price levels, potentially creating feedback loops that amplify volatility across both derivatives and spot markets. Q3: Which cryptocurrencies experience the most futures liquidations? Bittypically experiences the highest liquidation volumes due to its market dominance and extensive derivatives products. However, Ethereum, Solana, and other large-cap altcoins also see significant liquidation activity during market-wide volatility. Q4: Can traders prevent position liquidations? Traders can prevent liquidations by maintaining adequate margin balances, using stop-loss orders, selecting appropriate leverage levels, and actively monitoring positions during volatile market conditions. Some exchanges offer risk management tools like partial liquidations. Q5: How has the frequency of major liquidation events changed over time? While absolute dollar values have increased with market growth, the frequency of major events has decreased relative to total open interest. This trend reflects improved risk management tools, exchange safeguards, and trader education, though significant volatility events still occur periodically. This post Crypto Futures Liquidations: Staggering $473 Million Wiped Out in One Volatile Hour first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

5 Feb 2026, 16:00

Best Crypto to Buy with $500 in February: Analysts Highlight 3 Cheap Altcoins

While many investors are distracted by the volatility of top altcoins, the smart money is moving into a few specific areas. These participants are looking for projects that have strong support levels and clear paths for future growth. The choices made this month could define a portfolio’s performance for the rest of the year. History shows that the best crypto gains often come from catching a trend before it hits the mainstream. A shift is happening, and it points toward assets that mix proven community strength with fresh technical utility. Shiba Inu (SHIB) Shiba Inu (SHIB) is currently trading at approximately $0.000007, with a market capitalization of around $4 billion. This puts it back in a historical accumulation zone that has triggered major rallies in the past. Investors are watching this bottom closely to see if the community can spark another wave of momentum. Technically, SHIB is fighting through a cluster of resistance levels. The first major hurdle sits between $0.0000097 and $0.0000104. If the bulls can push past these zones, the next target would be $0.0000125. However, failure to hold the critical support at $0.000007 could lead to further declines. Cardano (ADA) Cardano (ADA) is currently priced at roughly $0.30, supported by a market capitalization of $10.3 billion. Despite constant infrastructure upgrades like the Leios release, the token has struggled to reclaim its former peaks. The asset is currently sitting in a consolidation phase as it searches for a new catalyst. The resistance zones for ADA are very well defined. There is a heavy layer of selling pressure between $0.35 and $0.42. Until the price breaks above the 200 day moving average near $0.60, the overall trend remains bearish. Some analysts have shared a bad price prediction for the short term, warning that ADA could dip to $0.27 if broader market sentiment turns negative. This stagnation has caused some investors to look for more active alternatives. Mutuum Finance (MUTM) Mutuum Finance is taking a different path by building a decentralized lending and borrowing hub on Ethereum. Instead of relying on social media hype, it uses a Peer-to-Contract (P2C) model to provide instant liquidity through automated smart contracts. This system aims to allow users to put their assets to work effectively while maintaining full control of their funds. In the P2C markets, lenders can earn an Annual Percentage Yield (APY) that typically ranges from 7% to 12% based on how much the liquidity pool is being used. For example, if you deposit $10,000 in USDT at a 10% APY, you would earn $1,000 in interest over a year. Borrowers use a Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio to determine their borrowing limit. For stable assets like ETH, the protocol allows an LTV of up to 75%. This means if you provide $10,000 worth of ETH as collateral, you can instantly borrow up to $7,500 in another asset. For more volatile tokens in the P2P market, the LTV is usually set lower, around 35%, to provide a larger safety cushion against market shifts. The project is currently in Phase 7 of its distribution. MUTM is priced at $0.04, which is a 300% jump from its starting price of $0.01. So far, Mutuum Finance has raised over $20.35 million and secured more than 19,000 holders. This is not a project that is just starting; it has already sold over 840 million tokens. The confirmed launch price is $0.06, giving early participants a built in advantage before it hits public exchanges. Why Analysts See MUTM Outperforming The Giants Many analysts believe MUTM is better positioned for growth than SHIB or ADA in 2026. The main limitation for SHIB is its massive supply, which makes price movement very difficult. For ADA, the issue is slow development and a lack of native stablecoin liquidity. In contrast, MUTM is a potential high growth asset with a buy-and-distribute mechanism implied in the official whitepaper . This system uses protocol fees to buy back tokens and reward those who participate. If you invest $500 in SHIB or ADA at their current market caps, a 2x return would require billions in new capital. However, because MUTM is still in its early stages, a $500 investment at the $0.04 rate could see much faster growth as long as the project hits its $1.00 long term target expected by many experts. This represents a potential 2,400% increase that is much harder for older, multi-billion dollar giants to achieve. V1 Protocol Launch and Verified Safety The technical progress of Mutuum Finance is another major factor. The V1 protocol is now live on the Sepolia testnet. Users can already test features like liquidity pools for WBTC, USDT, ETH and ETH. Additionally users can test mtTokens, which earn yield automatically, and the automated liquidator bot. To ensure everything is safe, the team completed a full security audit with Halborn Security . They also earned a high 90/100 score from CertiK and maintained a $50,000 bug bounty. These steps prove that Mutuum is a professional platform ready for the 2026 cycle. With the $0.06 launch approaching, the window to secure MUTM at its current discount is closing fast. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://www.mutuum.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

5 Feb 2026, 16:00

Crypto for Advisors: Rethinking crypto diversification

Beyond Bitcoin: How advisors use indices to broaden crypto exposure.

5 Feb 2026, 15:59

JPMorgan Says Bitcoin Looks Attractive as Deutsche Bank Sees Market Reset

Bitcoin’s long-term investment case relative to gold has improved despite a period of market weakness, according to new reports from major Wall Street lenders, even as institutional outflows and fading regulatory momentum weigh on short-term sentiment. Analysts at JPMorgan said Bitcoin now appears more attractive than gold on a risk-adjusted basis after a sharp divergence between the two assets over the past year. The bank noted that gold significantly outperformed Bitcoin since October, while gold’s volatility climbed, narrowing the perceived risk gap between the traditional safe haven and the leading cryptocurrency. JPMorgan quantitative strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou said the combination of gold’s strong rally and rising volatility has “left Bitcoin looking even more attractive compared to gold over the long term.” Divergence Reshapes the “Digital Gold” Narrative The comments come after a period in which gold surged while Bitcoin struggled to maintain momentum. Deutsche Bank analysts said gold rose more than 60% in 2025 amid central bank buying and safe-haven demand, while Bitcoin posted several monthly declines and underperformed many risk assets. According to the Deutsche Bank analysts, the divergence has undermined BTC’s long-standing “digital gold” narrative, at least in the short term. Since its peak in October 2025, Bitcoin has fallen more than 40% , marking four consecutive months of declines. That is something not seen since before the pandemic. Unlike previous drawdowns tied to macro shocks, this downturn has occurred even as stocks and gold rebounded. Still, Deutsche Bank described the current phase as a “reset rather than a collapse,” arguing the market is testing whether Bitcoin can mature beyond belief-driven rallies and regain support from institutional capital and clearer regulation. Institutional Outflows and Regulatory Delays Weigh on Sentiment Both banks pointed to institutional flows as a major factor behind the recent slide. Deutsche Bank said U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded heavy redemptions since October, including more than $7 billion in November, roughly $2 billion in December, and over $3 billion in January. As institutions cut exposure, trading volumes have thinned, making Bitcoin more susceptible to sharp swings. Sentiment indicators have also weakened. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has fallen toward “extreme fear,” while Deutsche Bank surveys show U.S. consumer adoption slipping to around 12% from 17% in mid-2025. Crypto Fear and Greed Index (Source: Alternative.me) Regulatory uncertainty has added to the pressure. Progress on the bipartisan Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act has stalled in Congress, reversing earlier gains in market stability and pushing Bitcoin’s 30-day volatility back above 40%. JPMorgan also pointed to short-term headwinds across crypto markets, including broader weakness in risk assets. Despite the negative sentiment, the bank said position liquidations were more modest than in previous downturns, suggesting the selloff has been more orderly. Spot ETF outflows, however, remain a sign of widespread caution among both institutional and retail investors. Bitcoin’s Production Cost Seen as a Soft Floor JPMorgan added that Bitcoin is now trading well below its estimated production cost of around $87,000, a level that has historically acted as a soft price floor during downturns. Meanwhile, Citi said Bitcoin is approaching key ETF cost-basis levels and nearing its pre-election price floor as inflows slow and market headwinds persist. Even with the drawdown, Deutsche Bank noted that Bitcoin remains roughly 370% higher than it was in early 2023, indicating that much of the recent decline reflects the unwinding of speculative gains from the prior rally. Risk-Adjusted Metrics Favor Bitcoin Over Gold JPMorgan’s longer-term outlook is driven by changing volatility dynamics. The bank said the Bitcoin-to-gold volatility ratio has fallen to about 1.5, a record low, suggesting Bitcoin’s risk profile relative to gold is improving. On a volatility-adjusted basis, JPMorgan estimates Bitcoin’s market capitalization would need to rise significantly—equivalent to a price near $266,000—to match the private sector’s investment allocation to gold. While institutional flows and regulatory clarity remain key near-term drivers, the bank’s analysis suggests Bitcoin’s long-term positioning against gold may be strengthening, even as short-term conviction across the market continues to erode.