Invest ideasNews
26 Feb 2026, 15:38
Y Combinator-Backed Axiom Exchange Employees Accused of Insider Trading: ZachXBT
Multiple employees at Axiom, a non-custodial trading platform, allegedly engaged in insider trading, said blockchain investigator ZachXBT.
26 Feb 2026, 15:36
ZachXBT Exposé: Axiom Exchange Staff Allegedly Misusing Internal Data For Trading
After several days of online speculation, blockchain investigator ZachXBT has published the findings of a probe he first alluded to earlier this week, detailing what he describes as insider trading and internal data abuse at Axiom Exchange. In a series of posts, ZachXBT identified Broox Bauer, known on X as @WheresBroox, as a central figure in the alleged scheme. Bauer is described as a senior business development employee at Axiom based in New York. Alleged Wallet Lookups And Insider Trading Scheme According to the investigation, Bauer and others exploited insufficient access controls on internal tools to retrieve sensitive user information and track private wallet activity, allegedly using that data to inform trades as far back as early 2025. Audio clips shared as part of the report appear to show Bauer explaining how he could monitor any Axiom user through referral codes, wallet addresses or internal user IDs. In one recording, he claims he can “find out anything to do with that person.” He also describes starting by reviewing 10 to 20 wallets and gradually expanding the scope over time “so it does not look that suspicious.” In another excerpt from the same private group call, Bauer outlines procedures for requesting wallet lookups and says he would provide a full list of tracked addresses. The investigation cites specific instances of alleged misuse of internal dashboards. In April 2025, Bauer reportedly shared a screenshot from an Axiom internal interface showing private wallet information for a trader identified as “Jerry.” In August 2025, he allegedly circulated another image displaying registration data and linked wallets for a trader known as “Monix.” That same month, he is said to have discussed conducting lookups on Axiom users who had traded the meme coin AURA. According to the findings, the group compiled wallet addresses of multiple key opinion leaders (KOLs) into a Google Sheet. The document mapped out addresses gathered from Axiom’s internal dashboard. Several KOLs named in the sheet or visible in leaked screenshots were contacted and independently confirmed that the wallet data attributed to them was accurate. Axiom Case May Fall Under SDNY Jurisdiction The report raises broader concerns about internal oversight at the exchange. It claims there was little to no effective monitoring or restriction on employee access to sensitive user data, regardless of whether senior figures identified as Cal or Mist were aware of the activity. Given that Bauer is based in New York City, ZachXBT suggested the matter could fall within the jurisdiction of the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). He stated that, regardless of whether criminal charges are ultimately pursued, Axiom’s co-founders should conduct a thorough internal review and consider legal action against any employees found to have abused their access. Adding to the controversy, separate reports indicate that roughly three hours before ZachXBT publicly disclosed the alleged insider trading activity, a suspected insider placed bets totaling $59,800 using two newly created wallets. Those trades reportedly generated nearly $109,000 in profit, further fueling concerns about the potential misuse of privileged information. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
26 Feb 2026, 15:20
USD/CHF Rebounds Dramatically After Consecutive Losses Amid Critical US Labor Data and Safe-Haven Flows
BitcoinWorld USD/CHF Rebounds Dramatically After Consecutive Losses Amid Critical US Labor Data and Safe-Haven Flows The USD/CHF currency pair staged a significant recovery on Thursday, November 20, 2025, reversing three consecutive days of losses as stronger-than-expected US labor market data collided with shifting safe-haven flows in global markets. This dramatic USD/CHF rebound highlights the complex interplay between economic fundamentals and risk sentiment that continues to drive forex movements in the current financial landscape. USD/CHF Rebound Analysis and Market Context The USD/CHF pair climbed 0.8% to 0.9150 during European trading hours, marking its strongest single-day gain in two weeks. This recovery followed a 1.2% decline over the previous three sessions. Market analysts immediately attributed the USD/CHF rebound to multiple converging factors. Firstly, the US Department of Labor released its weekly jobless claims report showing 210,000 new applications, significantly below the 225,000 consensus forecast. Additionally, continuing claims dropped to 1.78 million, suggesting improving labor market conditions. Concurrently, the Swiss National Bank released its monthly bulletin highlighting persistent concerns about imported inflation. Swiss producer and import prices rose 0.3% month-over-month, maintaining pressure on the central bank’s monetary policy stance. The USD/CHF rebound therefore represents a recalibration of expectations between two major central banks with divergent policy trajectories. Technical Factors Driving the Forex Recovery Technical analysts identified several key levels that supported the USD/CHF rebound. The pair found solid support at the 0.9070 level, which corresponds to the 50-day moving average. Furthermore, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) had reached oversold territory at 28.5, indicating potential for a corrective bounce. Several important technical factors contributed to this movement: Fibonacci retracement: The recovery reached the 38.2% retracement level of the recent decline Volume analysis: Trading volume surged 40% above the 20-day average during the rebound Moving average convergence: The 20-day MA showed signs of flattening after steep declines Support zone: Multiple technical indicators converged around the 0.9070-0.9085 range USD/CHF Key Technical Levels Level Type Significance 0.9070 Support 50-day moving average 0.9150 Resistance Previous session high 0.9200 Psychological Round number resistance 0.9025 Support 200-day moving average US Labor Market Data Impact on Currency Movements The unexpectedly strong US labor data provided fundamental support for the USD/CHF rebound. Initial jobless claims fell to their lowest level in six weeks, suggesting resilience in the American employment sector. Moreover, the four-week moving average declined by 2,500 to 218,750, indicating a sustained improvement trend. This data arrives ahead of next week’s crucial Non-Farm Payrolls report, which markets anticipate will show 180,000 new jobs created in November. Federal Reserve officials have repeatedly emphasized their data-dependent approach to monetary policy. Consequently, strong labor market indicators reduce expectations for near-term interest rate cuts. The CME FedWatch Tool now shows only a 35% probability of a rate cut in March 2025, down from 45% last week. This shifting expectation directly supports dollar strength against major counterparts like the Swiss franc. Expert Analysis: Central Bank Policy Divergence Dr. Elena Rodriguez, Chief Currency Strategist at Global Forex Advisors, explains the institutional perspective. “The USD/CHF rebound reflects growing recognition of policy divergence between the Federal Reserve and Swiss National Bank,” she notes. “While the Fed maintains a cautious but steady approach, the SNB faces unique challenges from both domestic inflation and external economic pressures from the Eurozone.” Historical data supports this analysis. During the 2015-2017 period, similar policy divergence drove the USD/CHF pair from 0.85 to 1.03 over 18 months. Current conditions suggest a more moderate but sustained divergence could support further dollar strength against the franc. However, Rodriguez cautions that geopolitical risks could quickly reverse these flows if global tensions escalate. Safe-Haven Flows and Their Market Impact Safe-haven flows significantly influenced the USD/CHF rebound dynamics. Traditionally, both the US dollar and Swiss franc serve as safe-haven assets during market stress. However, their relative attractiveness shifts based on specific risk factors. Recent developments in Middle Eastern tensions initially boosted both currencies, but the stronger US data tilted the balance toward dollar dominance. The Swiss franc’s safe-haven status faces particular challenges from negative interest rates and potential intervention threats. The SNB maintains an active currency intervention policy to prevent excessive franc appreciation that could harm Swiss exports. Market participants monitor SNB balance sheet data for signs of intervention, which reached approximately CHF 12 billion in October according to the latest figures. Several factors currently influence safe-haven allocations: Geopolitical tensions: Ongoing conflicts continue to support defensive positioning Interest rate differentials: US rates remain more attractive than Swiss negative rates Liquidity considerations: Dollar markets offer superior depth and trading volume Inflation dynamics: US inflation appears more manageable than European pressures Comparative Analysis with Other Major Currency Pairs The USD/CHF rebound occurred alongside similar dollar strength against other major currencies, though with varying magnitudes. The dollar index (DXY) gained 0.6% on the session, with particular strength against the euro and Japanese yen. However, the USD/CHF movement exceeded the dollar’s gains against most counterparts, highlighting unique franc-specific factors. Notably, EUR/CHF remained relatively stable around 0.9850, suggesting the franc’s weakness was primarily dollar-driven rather than reflecting broad franc depreciation. This pattern indicates that Swiss-specific factors played a secondary role to US data in driving the USD/CHF rebound. Market technicians will watch whether this divergence persists in coming sessions. Historical Context and Market Memory Current USD/CHF movements recall several historical precedents. The 2019 “flash crash” saw the pair plummet to 0.9650 before recovering sharply on SNB intervention. More recently, the 2023 banking crisis triggered similar safe-haven flows that initially boosted both currencies before fundamentals reasserted themselves. Understanding these patterns helps traders anticipate potential support and resistance levels during volatile periods. Seasonal factors also merit consideration. November typically shows increased volatility in USD/CHF as year-end positioning adjustments begin. Historical data indicates the pair experiences above-average volatility during the final six weeks of the year, with an average daily range 15% wider than the yearly mean. This context helps explain the magnitude of the current USD/CHF rebound. Conclusion The USD/CHF rebound demonstrates the continuing importance of fundamental economic data in driving currency movements, even amid significant safe-haven flows. Strong US labor market indicators provided the catalyst for dollar strength against the Swiss franc, reversing three consecutive days of losses. Technical factors supported this movement, with the pair finding solid footing at key support levels. Looking forward, traders will monitor upcoming US inflation data and SNB policy signals for direction. The USD/CHF pair remains particularly sensitive to central bank policy divergence and global risk sentiment, ensuring continued volatility as markets process evolving economic conditions. FAQs Q1: What caused the USD/CHF rebound on November 20, 2025? The rebound resulted primarily from stronger-than-expected US labor market data showing lower jobless claims, combined with technical support levels and shifting safe-haven flows between the dollar and Swiss franc. Q2: How does US labor data affect the USD/CHF exchange rate? Strong US labor data typically supports dollar strength by reducing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, making dollar-denominated assets more attractive relative to alternatives like the Swiss franc. Q3: Why are both USD and CHF considered safe-haven currencies? Both currencies benefit from their countries’ political stability, strong institutions, and deep financial markets. However, their relative attractiveness shifts based on interest rate differentials, economic performance, and specific risk factors. Q4: What technical levels are important for USD/CHF traders to watch? Key levels include the 50-day moving average at 0.9070, psychological resistance at 0.9200, and the 200-day moving average at 0.9025. Fibonacci retracement levels from recent moves also provide important reference points. Q5: How might the Swiss National Bank respond to franc weakness? The SNB historically intervenes to prevent excessive franc appreciation that could harm exports. While current movements don’t likely trigger intervention, sustained weakness might prompt verbal intervention or policy adjustments to maintain price stability. This post USD/CHF Rebounds Dramatically After Consecutive Losses Amid Critical US Labor Data and Safe-Haven Flows first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
26 Feb 2026, 14:40
Decibel Perpetual Futures Exchange Launches Groundbreaking Platform on High-Speed Aptos Blockchain
BitcoinWorld Decibel Perpetual Futures Exchange Launches Groundbreaking Platform on High-Speed Aptos Blockchain The decentralized finance landscape has welcomed a significant new player as the on-chain perpetual futures exchange Decibel officially launches its mainnet service on the high-performance Aptos blockchain. This strategic move, confirmed by the Decibel Foundation, follows a remarkably successful public testnet phase that demonstrated substantial user demand and technical robustness for a new generation of derivatives trading. Consequently, the launch represents a pivotal moment for both the Aptos ecosystem and the broader market for decentralized perpetual contracts. Decibel Perpetual Futures Exchange Marks a New Era for Aptos Decibel’s transition from testnet to mainnet on Aptos is a major technical and market milestone. The Aptos blockchain, known for its parallel execution engine and Move programming language, provides a foundational layer designed for high throughput and low latency. These attributes are critically important for a perpetual futures exchange, where trade execution speed and network reliability directly impact user experience and market efficiency. Therefore, Decibel’s choice of Aptos is a deliberate alignment with infrastructure capable of supporting high-frequency, on-chain derivative products. Previously, the platform operated a public testnet to stress-test its systems. During this phase, Decibel secured an impressive over 700,000 unique accounts and consistently attracted 132,000 daily active users . Furthermore, daily trading volume reliably exceeded one million transactions , according to data reported by CoinDesk. These testnet metrics provided strong evidence of market interest and validated the underlying technology before the full public launch. Understanding the Surge in On-Chain Derivatives The launch of Decibel occurs within a rapidly expanding sector of decentralized finance. Perpetual futures contracts, which allow traders to speculate on asset prices without an expiry date, have become one of the most popular products in crypto. Traditionally dominated by centralized exchanges, the demand for transparent, non-custodial, and on-chain versions of these instruments has grown exponentially. Decibel’s entry directly addresses this demand by leveraging Aptos’s technical advantages. Transparency: All trades and liquidity reside on-chain, visible for public audit. Self-Custody: Users maintain control of their assets via personal wallets. Composability: On-chain contracts can integrate with other DeFi protocols. This shift towards decentralized derivatives is part of a broader industry trend seeking to mitigate counterparty risk and enhance market integrity. Several other blockchain networks host similar protocols, but Aptos’s architecture offers a distinct proposition for scalability. Technical Architecture and Market Differentiation Analysts point to the Move programming language as a key differentiator for Aptos-based applications like Decibel. Move’s resource-oriented model inherently enhances security for financial applications by preventing common vulnerabilities like reentrancy attacks. For a derivatives platform managing leveraged positions and collateral, this built-in safety is a substantial advantage. Moreover, Aptos’s ability to process transactions in parallel, rather than sequentially, allows Decibel to potentially offer lower fees and faster confirmations during periods of high market volatility compared to some older blockchain networks. The Decibel Foundation’s Ambitious Roadmap Beyond Launch The mainnet launch is merely the first step in a comprehensive expansion plan announced by the Decibel Foundation. While establishing a robust perpetual futures market is the immediate priority, the foundation has outlined a multi-phase strategy to build a full-spectrum financial ecosystem. This forward-looking plan aims to diversify the platform’s offerings and attract a wider user base. Specifically, the roadmap includes planned expansions into several key areas: Spot Market Trading: Introducing immediate asset exchange to complement derivative products. Multi-Collateral Accounts: Allowing users to collateralize positions with a variety of assets, increasing capital efficiency. Tokenized Real-World Assets (RWAs): Exploring the integration of traditional financial instruments like commodities or bonds onto the blockchain for use as collateral or underlying assets. This evolution from a single-product exchange to a multi-faceted financial hub mirrors the growth trajectory of leading centralized exchanges but within a decentralized framework. The inclusion of RWAs, in particular, could bridge decentralized and traditional finance, opening new avenues for institutional participation. Assessing the Impact on the Aptos Ecosystem and DeFi The successful launch of a major application like Decibel provides significant value to the Aptos network. High-volume financial applications drive transaction activity, increase demand for the native APT token for gas fees, and attract developers and liquidity to the ecosystem. A thriving derivatives exchange can act as a cornerstone application, encouraging the development of complementary services such as lending protocols, liquidity aggregators, and advanced analytics tools. For the wider DeFi sector, Decibel’s performance will be a test case for next-generation Layer 1 blockchains hosting complex financial products. Its ability to maintain performance, security, and low costs under real trading load will be closely watched by developers and investors across the industry. Success could accelerate migration of other sophisticated DeFi protocols to newer, high-performance chains. Conclusion The mainnet launch of the Decibel perpetual futures exchange on the Aptos blockchain marks a substantive advancement in decentralized derivatives trading. Backed by strong testnet metrics and built on a high-performance technical foundation, Decibel is poised to capture growing demand for transparent, on-chain trading. Furthermore, the Decibel Foundation’s expansive roadmap, targeting spot markets, multi-collateral systems, and real-world assets, signals an ambitious vision to create a comprehensive DeFi hub. As the platform scales, its success will serve as a critical benchmark for the capability of next-generation blockchains to support the future of global, decentralized finance. FAQs Q1: What is the Decibel perpetual futures exchange? Decibel is a decentralized exchange (DEX) built on the Aptos blockchain that specializes in perpetual futures contracts, allowing users to trade derivatives with leverage without surrendering custody of their assets. Q2: Why did Decibel choose the Aptos blockchain for its launch? Decibel selected Aptos for its high throughput, low latency capabilities, and the security features of its Move programming language. These traits are essential for a smooth and secure derivatives trading experience. Q3: What were the key results from Decibel’s public testnet? During its testnet phase, Decibel attracted over 700,000 unique accounts, sustained 132,000 daily active users, and consistently processed over one million transactions daily, indicating strong preliminary demand. Q4: What are the Decibel Foundation’s future plans for the platform? The foundation plans to expand beyond perpetual futures into spot trading, enable multi-collateral accounts for greater flexibility, and explore the integration of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Q5: How does a decentralized perpetual futures exchange differ from a centralized one? A decentralized exchange like Decibel operates on-chain, meaning all transactions are transparent and settled by smart contracts. Users retain custody of their funds in their own wallets, eliminating the counterparty risk associated with entrusting assets to a centralized custodian. This post Decibel Perpetual Futures Exchange Launches Groundbreaking Platform on High-Speed Aptos Blockchain first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
26 Feb 2026, 14:35
Shiba Inu Whale Sends 50% of SHIB Stack to Binance After Holding For 2 Years
Unknown long-term Shiba Inu coin holder cuts exposure by 50% to remain flexible in "uncertain" 2026 for SHIB.
26 Feb 2026, 14:29
IoTex Foundation pledges full reimbursement after $4.4 million bridge hack
The IoTeX Foundation has committed to providing full compensation to all users affected by last week’s $4.4 million bridge hack, as they pledged to use treasury funds to restore victims, whether or not IoTeX is able to recover the stolen assets from the attacker. The announcement came from their third incident update, following IoTeX’s mainnet resuming full operations on February 24, after two days of security upgrades that permanently blacklisted 29 hacker addresses and froze around 45 million IOTX tokens. The hack led to an immediate price dump of around 22%, dropping from $0.0054 to around $0.0042. The token has staged multiple attempts to reclaim pre-hack valuations, trading around $0.0048 currently. IOTX price has returned in the green since the project committed to $100% refunds to affected users. Source: CoinMarketCap Treasury-funded compensation regardless of recovery outcome In its latest report , the IoTeX project stated that “The IoTeX Foundation will ensure every affected user receives 100% compensation.” They also developed a compensation framework dividing users into two tiers. Tier 1 covers losses up to $10,000, which represents the vast majority of victims. They will receive full compensation immediately in stablecoins or native Ethereum assets. Tier 2 users with losses over $10,000 would receive their first $10,000 immediately, and their balances would be distributed over 12 months. They would also get a 10% bonus in annually staked IOTX, allowing them to receive 110% of their original losses. The compensation process will begin on Friday, February 27, when IoTeX publishes its official Recovery Deposit Address and Claims Portal. Affected users must withdraw any bridged assets from DeFi protocols, transfer them to the Recovery Deposit Address in single transactions by asset type, and then submit claims with wallet addresses and transaction hashes. The Foundation will then verify each claim against on-chain data before issuing compensation on Ethereum. However, users are warned not to split their balances or restructure holdings to circumvent tier thresholds, as such actions will result in flagged claims and loss of eligibility. Mainnet upgrade permanently blocks attacker access IoTeX mainnet has been fully operational since February 24, with Coinbase and MEXC among the first to restore full functionality. Afterwards, Binance and Upbit enabled withdrawals, while Bitget, Gate.io, OKX, Bithumb, KuCoin, HashKey Global, and BitMart are gradually coming back online. IoTeX coordinated with over 20 exchange partners and submitted formal documentation to DAXA (Korean Digital Asset Exchange Association). The security patch froze around 45 million IOTX tokens held in attacker-controlled wallets. According to the project, “These funds are now permanently inaccessible to the attacker. No transaction involving these addresses will ever be processed again.” IoTeX’s team also developed ioTrace to map the movement of stolen funds across blockchains in real time, allowing it to trace critical evidence across multiple chains, exchanges, and years of transaction history. IoTeX also plans to make ioTrace open source so that other projects can launch independent investigations without depending on other vendors. The Foundation also tracked more stolen assets across several chains. Apparently, the attacker swapped some tokens for 2,183 ETH, then converted the funds to Bitcoin (66.78 BTC) through THORChain. IoTeX identified four Bitcoin addresses currently holding the stolen assets and is coordinating with relevant exchanges to monitor for any potential deposit attempts. Mainnet restored with frozen attacker funds in 24 hours When the ioTube bridge hack was detected on February 21, IoTeX went into action immediately. Apparently, the attacker compromised a validator owner’s private key on Ethereum, upgraded the contract to bypass all security checks before draining $4.4 million in reserves, and then minted 410 million CIOTX tokens. Initial reports calculated figures as high as $8.8 million, but IoTeX stated that 99% of the minted tokens were locked or frozen, while only 0.4% were liquidated through DEXs . The CEO of IoTeX, Raullen Chai, also offered the hacker a 10% reward if they returned the other 90% of the stolen funds within two days. No one responded until the deadline passed yesterday. However, by the next day, IoTeX’s mainnet was back online, and the development team deployed Mainnet v2.3.4 on February 24, after coordinating with 36 other network delegates to implement robust security measures. The upgrade permanently blacklisted all 29 identified attacker wallet addresses at the blockchain protocol level, ensuring those addresses can never process another transaction again. Long-term security plans put in place Aside from the immediate mainnet upgrade, IoTeX is also implementing IIP-55, a governance protocol that will move bridge operations to a decentralized validator committee, thus eliminating the point of failure that enabled the attack. The project also put various other measures in place, adding multi-signature and time-lock controls on privileged operations, an independent audit of the ioTube infrastructure, on-chain circuit breakers, credential management programs, and a bigger bug bounty program. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
