Invest ideasNews
19 Feb 2026, 11:56
Coinbase CEO Says Quantum Computing 'Solvable Issue' for Crypto
Brian Armstrong downplayed fears that quantum computing will break blockchain encryption, pointing to Coinbase’s new advisory council.
19 Feb 2026, 11:50
Bitcoin Rebound Looms: Kraken Economist Reveals Crucial $65K-$70K Stability Zone
BitcoinWorld Bitcoin Rebound Looms: Kraken Economist Reveals Crucial $65K-$70K Stability Zone In a significant analysis for cryptocurrency markets, Kraken’s global economist Thomas Perfumo has identified a precise stability zone that could catalyze the next Bitcoin rebound. Speaking from San Francisco on March 15, 2025, Perfumo detailed to DL News how a consolidation between $65,000 and $70,000 presents a high-probability setup for BTC’s recovery, drawing parallels to historic corrections and pointing to key on-chain metrics. Bitcoin Rebound Thesis: The $65K-$70K Stability Imperative Market analysts closely monitor price levels where supply and demand reach equilibrium. Consequently, Thomas Perfumo’s identification of the $65,000 to $70,000 range carries substantial weight. He bases this prediction on observable behavior in the derivatives market. Specifically, options traders are currently positioning for significantly reduced volatility within this band. This activity suggests professional traders anticipate a period of price consolidation. Such consolidation often precedes major directional moves. Historically, similar patterns emerged during Bitcoin’s development. For instance, the August 2004 and March-April 2005 corrections saw recovery rallies only after volatility subsided and large-scale selling exhausted. Therefore, current market mechanics may be echoing these formative periods. Decoding the Coin Days Destroyed Signal Beyond price action, on-chain data provides crucial context for the potential Bitcoin rebound. Perfumo highlighted the Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) indicator, a sophisticated metric tracking the movement of long-held coins. When long-term investors sell their holdings, they “destroy” the coin-days accumulated since those coins last moved, causing the CDD metric to spike. A high CDD indicates significant selling pressure from veteran holders. However, Perfumo noted a critical shift: after a notable spike throughout 2024 and early 2025, the CDD has fallen to low levels. This decline signals a pronounced decrease in selling from Bitcoin’s most steadfast investors. Essentially, long-term supply pressure is easing. This creates a fundamental condition for market stabilization, as the available sell-side liquidity from core holders diminishes. Historical Precedents and Market Psychology Financial markets often rhyme, and Perfumo’s reference to 2004-2005 is instructive. During those early corrections, Bitcoin experienced sharp sell-offs followed by high volatility. The eventual recoveries commenced not during the panic, but after volatility compressed and the asset found a stable trading range. This pattern reflects a core market principle: sustained rallies need a foundation of stability. Fear and greed must settle before confidence returns. The current environment, with options markets betting on calm and long-term holders ceasing distributions, mirrors these historical prerequisites. Analysts therefore watch the $65K-$70K zone not just as a price level, but as a psychological battleground where investor sentiment could reset. The Mechanics of a Crypto Market Turnaround A genuine Bitcoin rebound requires alignment across multiple market layers. First, spot price must find consistent support, halting the downward momentum. Second, derivatives markets must reflect declining expectations for future price swings, as indicated by the options data. Third, on-chain fundamentals must show holder conviction, evidenced by metrics like CDD. Finally, broader macroeconomic factors must not present new headwinds. Perfumo’s analysis touches on the first three pillars. The convergence of these factors within the specified price range forms the core of his optimistic outlook. It is a scenario where technical, derivatives, and on-chain analyses align to suggest a path toward recovery. Key conditions identified for a sustained rebound: Price Stability: BTC must consolidate between $65,000 and $70,000. Volatility Compression: Options markets predict lower future price swings. Holder Steadfastness: Low Coin Days Destroyed indicates reduced selling from long-term investors. Historical Echo: The setup parallels post-correction periods from Bitcoin’s past that led to rallies. Comparison of Market Correction Phases Phase 2004/2005 Correction 2024/2025 Environment Initial Sell-Off Large-scale selling pressure Significant selling pressure observed Volatility Peak High volatility during decline High volatility during decline Stabilization Signal Price found a narrow range Options bet on $65K-$70K range stability Holder Metric Long-term holding increased post-spike CDD has fallen from 2024-2025 spike Subsequent Action Recovery rally followed Rebound predicted upon range hold Expert Context and Market Authority Thomas Perfumo brings authoritative insight as Kraken’s global economist. His role involves analyzing macroeconomic trends and their intersection with digital asset markets. This position grants him a unique vantage point on institutional and retail flows. Furthermore, Kraken, as a longstanding and regulated global exchange, provides access to robust trading and on-chain data. Perfumo’s reference to specific options market activity and the CDD indicator demonstrates an evidence-based, data-driven approach. This methodology aligns with the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) principles valued by information systems, as it leverages verifiable data from a credible source within the industry. Conclusion The path to a Bitcoin rebound, according to Kraken economist Thomas Perfumo, hinges critically on the cryptocurrency achieving and maintaining stability within the $65,000 to $70,000 range. This thesis is supported by derivatives market positioning, a favorable shift in the Coin Days Destroyed on-chain metric, and historical parallels from Bitcoin’s price history. While market predictions carry inherent uncertainty, the convergence of these technical, on-chain, and behavioral factors presents a compelling framework for investors monitoring BTC’s next major move. The coming weeks will test this stability zone, determining whether the conditions for a sustained recovery can truly materialize. FAQs Q1: What is the main condition for a Bitcoin rebound according to Kraken’s economist? Thomas Perfumo states the primary condition is Bitcoin’s price stabilizing and consolidating within the $65,000 to $70,000 range, which would indicate a balance between selling pressure and buying interest. Q2: What is the Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) indicator and why is it important? Coin Days Destroyed measures the movement of long-held Bitcoin. A spike indicates old coins are being sold, creating supply pressure. A low CDD, as currently observed, suggests long-term holders are not selling, which helps stabilize the market. Q3: How do options traders’ activities support this rebound prediction? Options traders are placing bets that imply they expect lower future price volatility for Bitcoin specifically within the $65K-$70K range. This market-derived data suggests professionals anticipate a period of price consolidation, which often precedes a significant move. Q4: What historical periods is Perfumo comparing the current market to? He references Bitcoin’s corrections in August 2004 and March-April 2005. In those cases, recovery rallies followed only after periods of high volatility subsided and the price found a stable trading range, similar to the current thesis. Q5: Does this analysis guarantee a Bitcoin price recovery? No market prediction is a guarantee. Perfumo’s analysis identifies a high-probability scenario based on specific data points. It outlines the conditions that could lead to a rebound, but external macroeconomic factors or unforeseen events can always influence the market. This post Bitcoin Rebound Looms: Kraken Economist Reveals Crucial $65K-$70K Stability Zone first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
19 Feb 2026, 11:36
Wall Street Meets DeFi: Permissioned Decentralized Exchange Launches on XRP Ledger
XRPL’s Permissioned DEX Goes Live, Unlocking Institutional-Grade On-Chain Finance Market analyst Stern Drew reports that the long-anticipated Permissioned DEX is now live on the XRP Ledger, signaling a major structural shift in institutional blockchain access. Ripple CTO David Schwartz confirmed that Permissioned Domains power the framework, enabling regulated institutions to tap on-chain liquidity while maintaining compliance. To grasp the impact, picture a global financial giant like SBI Holdings issuing tokenized bonds on the XRP Ledger. Here’s the architecture in action: • Verified credentials gate access to approved institutions and qualified investors • Permissioned Domains establish a compliant, regulator-aligned trading environment • The Permissioned DEX facilitates seamless, rule-based secondary market liquidity The outcome? Institutional-grade assets can be issued, traded, and settled fully on-chain, combining blockchain efficiency with regulatory integrity and global scale. What Is a Permissioned DEX? A permissioned DEX is a decentralized exchange designed exclusively for verified, compliant participants. Unlike traditional open DEXs where anyone can trade freely, a permissioned model restricts access to approved institutions, allowing only vetted entities to tap into liquidity pools and execute transactions. In simple terms: Open DEX = anyone can participate. Permissioned DEX = only approved institutions can trade. Why It Exists Institutions can’t operate on fully open networks with anonymous counterparties. Strict AML, KYC, and reporting requirements demand verified participants and embedded compliance controls, without them, institutional capital stays sidelined. Addressing this gap, XRP Ledger has introduced token escrow, unlocking compliant treasury management, automated conditional transactions, and more secure decentralized marketplaces. Why Institutions Need It By embedding verified credentials directly into the trading layer, the Permissioned DEX eliminates key institutional barriers, delivering counterparty transparency, built-in regulatory compliance, protection from illicit exposure, fully auditable transactions, and controlled liquidity environments. Meanwhile, the XRP Ledger now ranks second in 30-day Real-World Asset growth, underscoring accelerating on-chain adoption and growing institutional momentum. How It Works Verified banks, broker-dealers, and financial institutions gain secure access to trade, provide liquidity, and settle within XRPL’s native DEX. Major players like Mastercard, BlackRock, and Franklin Templeton highlight growing institutional adoption of the XRP Ledger. Institutional Use Cases Unlocking compliant FX liquidity, settling cross-border payments instantly, swapping tokenized assets securely, offering regulated market making, and executing real-time settlements with minimal counterparty risk. Why This Matters for Payments Traditional correspondent banking takes days; a permissioned on-chain environment can settle compliant transactions in seconds. The XRPL is primed for this shift, offering low fees, rapid settlement, deterministic execution, and built-in DEX functionality. Permissioning ensures the compliance institutions demand. As Monica Long notes, the moment for institutional-scale adoption may have arrived. The change isn’t just technological, it’s structural. With regulated access to blockchain liquidity, XRPL transcends crypto utility to become programmable financial infrastructure powered by XRP. Conclusion The launch of the Permissioned DEX on XRPL turns the network into a secure, compliant bridge for institutional finance. Fast settlements, low fees, and on-chain transparency meet strict regulatory controls, allowing banks, payment providers, and other institutions to trade, settle, and provide liquidity confidently. With Permissioned Domains ensuring verified access, XRPL is evolving from a crypto network into a fully compliant, scalable financial ecosystem powered by XRP.
19 Feb 2026, 11:30
DerivaDEX Debuts Regulated DAO-Governed Decentralized Exchange in Bermuda
DerivaDEX has officially commenced derivatives trading in Bermuda as the first decentralized exchange governed by a DAO to receive a formal regulatory license. DerivaDEX officially opened its decentralized derivatives platform in Hamilton, Bermuda, on February 17, 2026, following approval from the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA). The exchange utilizes a Decentralized Autonomous Organization ( DAO) governance
19 Feb 2026, 10:52
$27.8B in Unrealized Losses Hit Bitcoin Self-Custody Holders as ETFs Shed $8.5B
A specific cohort of Bitcoin (BTC) holders practicing strict self-custody is now sitting on a collective unrealized loss of $27.89 billion, a figure that mirrors the financial bleeding seen in the U.S. institutional market, which has seen ETF exposure plummet by two-thirds since late 2024. The data shows that the sell-side pressure crushing Bitcoin is not just a Wall Street phenomenon but a systemic event equally impacting long-term believers using cold storage. ETFs and On-Chain Hodlers Share the Same Red According to a detailed on-chain analysis by GugaOnChain, addresses that self-custody between 10 and 10,000 BTC with a UTXO age of 1 to 3 months are suffering a drawdown of -23.39%, translating to nearly $28 billion in paper losses. This group, which rejects centralized exchange deposits in favor of hard wallets, has found itself in the same position as the institutional giants trading via CME futures and ETFs. Data shows those U.S. institutional products have shed $8.5 billion since October, with exposure contracting by two-thirds from the 2024 peak. GugaOnChain believes this confluence of stress validates the thesis that the market is “hostage to the same bloodbath,” whether on a trading floor or in a private vault. Unfortunately, the macro environment suggests relief is not imminent. While three pillars of support, namely accumulators (demand of 371,900 BTC), retail (adding 6,384 BTC monthly), and miners (with an MPI of -1.11), have managed to keep the number one cryptocurrency from an immediate collapse, the analyst views these as mere delays. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s price data shows mixed performance across different timeframes, with the asset trading just below $67,000 at the time of writing, down about 1% in 24 hours but slightly positive for the week. The broader trend remains negative, with the asset down about 27% over 30 days and roughly 42% across six months per CoinGlass. “The recovery? It depends on price reaction at the levels above,” stated GugaOnChain. Whale Accumulation Meets Retail Hesitation Despite the pervasive losses, the market is witnessing a stark divergence in behavior that adds complexity to the outlook. While short-term retail demand has cooled significantly, with Alphractal data showing the 90-day net position change for short-term holders dropping rapidly, whales are treating the dip as a fire sale. Per CryptoQuant, whale holdings have gone up by approximately 200,000 BTC over the past month, climbing from 2.9 million to over 3.1 million BTC. Furthermore, the analytics firm noted that this scale of accumulation was last seen during the April 2025 correction, right before Bitcoin’s rally from $76,000 to past $126,000. This suggests that while “dumb money” may be experiencing panic, “smart money” is preparing for the long term. The post $27.8B in Unrealized Losses Hit Bitcoin Self-Custody Holders as ETFs Shed $8.5B appeared first on CryptoPotato .
19 Feb 2026, 10:08
Bybit EU Expands Access to USDC and EURC Through New Stablecoin Campaigns in Europe
BitcoinWorld Bybit EU Expands Access to USDC and EURC Through New Stablecoin Campaigns in Europe Bybit EU to promote disciplined saving habits and responsible participation across its regulated platform VIENNA, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit EU , the European arm of Bybit and a MiCA-licensed crypto-asset service provider headquartered in Vienna, today announced new stablecoin campaigns and initiatives featuring USDC and EURC, digital assets issued by regulated entities of Circle, aimed at promoting responsible digital asset usage across Europe. The initiative deepens the use of USDC and EURC across Bybit EU’s regulated platform, enabling access to stablecoin-based products designed for trading, and payments within a compliant European framework. The initiative also reflects Bybit EU’s focus on practical use cases that encourage informed, structured engagement with digital assets. Launched on February 2 , the first phase of this initiative centers on stablecoin Earn products designed to support financial literacy and long-term planning. Rather than short-term speculation, the programs encourage users to develop healthy savings habits and put idle funds to work toward defined goals, such as creating a financial buffer, planning ahead, or supporting longer-term objectives. The Earn offerings include a new user exclusive USDC 10-day Fixed Earn offering 20% APR , a USDC 10-day Fixed Earn at 14% APR , a USDC 30-day Fixed Earn at 16% APR , and a EURC–USDC Cross-Yield (30-day) at 15% APR . These fixed-term products are designed to provide clarity and predictability, helping users save with a plan rather than chasing short-term market movements. “Integrating USDC and EURC enables us to expand access to regulated stablecoins while promoting more thoughtful and responsible ways for users to engage with digital assets,” said Mazurka Zeng, Co-CEO of Bybit EU . “Through savings-focused Earn products, we aim to support financial literacy and long-term participation within a regulated European environment.” This campaign highlights how regulated stablecoins can enable responsible, user-centric innovation in European markets. In parallel with the Earn initiatives, Bybit EU has launched registration for the “ Consistency Counts ” trading competition. This event features a 110,000 USDC prize pool where consistency and discipline are rewarded. As future integrations across the Bybit EU product suite approach, including enhanced everyday utility for the Bybit Card, users can look forward to even more purposeful ways to use USDC and EURC across the platform. About USDC and EURC EURC and USDC are two of the world’s leading, fully-reserved stablecoins. EURC and USDC live natively on the internet, utilizing blockchain networks to empower businesses, developers, and individuals with near-real-time and low-cost global transactions. EURC and USDC comply with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. The expansion of USDC and EURC on Bybit EU marks an important step in broadening access to regulated stablecoins in Europe, supporting a wider range of use cases across trading, savings, and payments. Bybit EU will continue to support the stablecoin ecosystem through additional campaigns and initiatives over time, as part of its ongoing commitment to responsible participation and long-term user engagement. #BybitEU / #CryptoHub / #BybitCard About Bybit EU Bybit EU GmbH is an Austrian Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorized under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) in Austria. Bybit EU serves customers across the entire European Economic Area (EEA)—with the exception of Malta—via the bybit.eu platform. Bybit EU GmbH is authorized to offer the following services: custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients; exchange of crypto-assets for funds; exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets; placing of crypto-assets; and transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients. Bybit EU GmbH is neither the operator of a trading platform for crypto-assets nor provides investment advice. Media Contact: [email protected] www.bybit.eu Disclaimer: This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer to buy or sell digital assets. The products and services mentioned herein are subject to applicable laws and regulations in the relevant jurisdictions and may not be available in certain regions This post Bybit EU Expands Access to USDC and EURC Through New Stablecoin Campaigns in Europe first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
