CoinSignals

Even as the broader crypto market suffered a sharp downturn, Tether continued to expand its user base at a rapid pace. USDT added an estimated 35.2 million users in the fourth quarter of 2025, lifting total adoption to roughly 534.5 million users across on chain wallets and centralized platforms.

USDT’s market capitalization climbed to 187.3 billion dollars during the quarter, marking the eighth straight quarter in which the stablecoin attracted more than 30 million new users. Growth remained steady despite heavy losses across the wider digital asset market.

USDT Sets New Milestones

On chain USDT holders increased by 14.7 million in the quarter, reaching a record 139.1 million wallets. Nearly one third of these holders were classified as full savers, retaining all USDT received, while smaller portions held most or some of their balances. Monthly active on chain users averaged 24.8 million, accounting for more than two thirds of all stablecoin activity, the highest level ever recorded.

Tether’s reserves rose to 192.9 billion dollars in Q4, supported by larger Bitcoin, gold, and US Treasury holdings. In 2025 alone, Tether added 28.2 billion dollars in Treasuries, making it one of the largest global buyers.

Following the October 2025 liquidation wave, total crypto market value fell by over one third. In contrast, USDT supply grew by 3.5 percent, outperforming rival stablecoins that saw notable declines.

Fundraising Plans Scaled Back

Recent reports suggest Tether reduced its fundraising ambitions after investor concerns over valuation. Discussions now center on a smaller raise, with leadership emphasizing that external capital is not urgently needed.

Bitcoin has slipped toward the 60,000 dollar level, pushing Strategy’s massive Bitcoin position below its purchase price.

Strategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin globally, reported holdings of 713,502 BTC valued at roughly 59.75 billion dollars as of February 1. The firm’s total acquisition cost stands at 54.26 billion dollars, putting its average purchase price at 76,052 dollars per Bitcoin.

With Bitcoin trading well under that level, Strategy’s extensive crypto treasury is currently operating at an unrealized loss.

Pressure on the Treasury

Despite the price decline, Strategy delivered solid performance in 2025. The company posted a full year Bitcoin yield of 22.8 percent and added 101,873 BTC through gains. Treasury expansion continued into January 2026, when the firm purchased an additional 41,002 BTC.

Founded in 1989 as a data analytics software company, Strategy underwent a major transformation in 2020 when co founder Michael Saylor redirected its capital strategy toward Bitcoin. He viewed the asset as a more reliable store of value than cash during a period marked by aggressive stimulus and near zero interest rates. Bitcoin was soon adopted as the company’s primary long term treasury asset.

By 2025, the company rebranded as Strategy and fully committed to a Bitcoin first identity. This shift attracted scrutiny from regulators and index providers, who questioned whether a company with assets dominated by crypto should remain part of major equity indices. MSCI indicated that firms holding more than half of their assets in Bitcoin could be classified as non operating. Strategy countered that it actively deploys Bitcoin to raise capital and enhance shareholder value. Efforts to gain inclusion in the S&P 500 in September and December of 2025 were unsuccessful.

Even so, Bitcoin remains central to Strategy’s financial framework and is closely integrated with its digital credit products, particularly STRC. This instrument plays a key role in managing risk and amplifying capital. STRC has grown to 3.4 billion dollars, aided by improved liquidity and reduced volatility across crypto markets.

During 2025, Strategy raised 25.3 billion dollars to fund its Bitcoin treasury and preferred stock programs, making it the largest equity issuer in the United States for the second year in a row. The company also holds a 2.25 billion dollar USD Reserve, sufficient to cover more than two and a half years of preferred dividends and interest payments, adding a buffer against market volatility.

The recent downturn in Bitcoin prices has reignited debate around corporate exposure to the asset. Investor Michael Burry recently warned that Bitcoin often behaves more like a speculative investment than a hedge, which could create serious risks for companies with large holdings. He noted that further declines could push major holders, including Strategy, deeper into unrealized losses and potentially restrict access to capital markets, intensifying financial pressure.

Fourth Quarter Losses Widen

Strategy reported operating losses of 17.4 billion dollars for the quarter, entirely driven by unrealized digital asset losses. This compares with a 1.0 billion dollar operating loss in the fourth quarter of 2024 under the previous accounting approach.

Net loss for the quarter reached 12.4 billion dollars, a sharp increase from 670.8 million dollars a year earlier. Meanwhile, cash and cash equivalents rose significantly to 2.3 billion dollars from 38.1 million dollars, largely due to the creation of the USD Reserve.

High risk and scam related ventures account for the bulk of press releases circulating across crypto news platforms, according to new research from crypto communications firm Chainstory.

The report analyzed 2,893 crypto press releases published between June 16 and November 1, 2025. It found that about 62% originated from projects classified as either high risk or outright scams. These classifications were based on factors such as anonymous or unverifiable teams, exaggerated profit promises, and matches against legal records and consumer scam databases.

Pay to Play Visibility

Chainstory highlights that many crypto-focused press release “wires” operate on a pay to publish model. Rather than distributing releases for journalists to review and vet, these services sell guaranteed placement across partner news sites with limited editorial oversight. As a result, visibility is effectively determined by budget, not credibility.

According to the report, any crypto project with sufficient funds can appear on well known news domains, regardless of its underlying legitimacy.

Routine Announcements Flood the Wires

Most of the content distributed through these wires consists of low impact updates that would typically fail to meet newsroom standards. Nearly half of all releases (49%) focused on routine product or feature updates. Another 24% promoted exchange listings or trading incentives, while 14% covered token launches or changes to tokenomics.

Truly newsworthy developments were rare. Only 58 releases roughly 2% of the total addressed major events such as venture capital funding, mergers and acquisitions, or significant corporate finance activity.

Marketing Language Overwhelms Reporting

Chainstory also assessed tone and language, finding that promotional hype dominates crypto press releases. Just 10% were written in a neutral, fact based style. More than half (54%) used overstated language, while an additional 19% were explicitly promotional. The report notes that marketing heavy claims, often packed with superlatives, go largely unchallenged in paid releases claims that would typically be scrutinized or edited out in traditional journalism.

Risk analysis further underscored the imbalance. High-risk projects were responsible for 35.6% of all releases, while confirmed scams accounted for 26.9%. In contrast, low risk and established projects produced only about 27% of the total, suggesting that more credible companies rely less on paid distribution and instead attract organic media coverage. In certain sectors, such as cloud mining, nearly 90% of press releases came from projects flagged as high risk or fraudulent.

Jim Cramer has reignited speculation around a U.S. Bitcoin reserve after claiming he “heard” that President Donald Trump is buying BTC at the $60,000 level.

Trump shifted from a crypto skeptic to a vocal supporter during the 2024 election campaign, pledging to make the United States the global hub for digital assets. Among his most ambitious promises was the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve and an effort to keep future BTC mining within the country. Those expectations helped fuel Bitcoin’s rally to new all time highs in 2025.

Despite the hype, no official Bitcoin reserve has materialized more than a year into Trump’s presidency, even as rumors circulated about a broader crypto stockpile that could include major altcoins.

The topic resurfaced after Cramer made the claim during a recent CNBC appearance, noting that the supposed buying would align with Bitcoin’s sharp drop to $60,000 on Friday, its lowest level since before the 2024 election.

So far, there is no evidence to support the claim. At present, the only confirmed large scale BTC accumulation comes from Binance, which has been converting its SAFU fund from stablecoins into Bitcoin.

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, is facing fresh backlash from the crypto community after making statements that appear to contradict his long running narrative around buying Bitcoin.

The controversy erupted after Kiyosaki claimed in a recent post that he stopped buying Bitcoin when it was priced at $6,000. That assertion immediately raised eyebrows, as Bitcoin has not traded at that level since shortly after the COVID market crash in mid 2020.

A Trail of Conflicting Statements

Kiyosaki has been one of Bitcoin’s most vocal supporters since the pandemic era and has repeatedly encouraged followers to buy BTC alongside gold and silver, recently adding Ethereum to his list of favored assets.

Over the years, he has frequently stated that he continues to accumulate regardless of price. In July 2025, for example, he posted that he had bought another Bitcoin while prices were trading above $100,000. Weeks later, as BTC surged past $117,000, he said he planned to buy again. In early 2026, he doubled down by claiming he ignores price levels entirely and simply keeps buying.

These public statements directly conflict with his latest claim of having stopped purchases at $6,000, leading many to question whether he is revising history or misrepresenting his past actions.

Community Pushback Intensifies

Crypto users were quick to highlight the inconsistencies, accusing Kiyosaki of misleading followers either now or for years. Some critics revisited other bold predictions and crash warnings he has made in the past that never played out.

Market commentator Mark McGrath was among those calling him out, sharing a compilation of past statements and labeling Kiyosaki a serial grifter. The episode has once again fueled debate over the credibility of high profile investment influencers and the weight their claims should carry in volatile markets.

Bitcoin has endured a punishing stretch, with prices dropping roughly $30,000 in less than ten days and briefly hitting $60,000 on Friday. The sharp decline has dragged overall market sentiment down with it, pushing investor confidence to levels not seen in years.

Sentiment Falls Into Extreme Fear

As emotions often drive crypto markets, the Fear and Greed Index is used to track rapid shifts in sentiment by factoring in volatility and market momentum. The scale ranges from extreme fear at zero to extreme greed at 100, and recent readings show fear firmly in control.

Bitcoin topped $95,000 in mid January and was still trading above $90,000 on January 28 before the sudden sell off erased tens of thousands of dollars in value. Despite a rebound toward $69,000, sentiment has not recovered. The index has continued sliding and now stands at 6, its lowest reading since August 2019.

Does Extreme Fear Signal a Turnaround

The old investing adage suggests that extreme fear can create opportunity, and historically sharp drops in the index have sometimes preceded short term rebounds. That has fueled hopes among bulls that Bitcoin may be close to a bottom.

However, past cycles offer a more cautious lesson. In 2019, Bitcoin was already recovering from a deep bear market when the index hit similar lows, yet prices remained capped below $10,000 for months. It was only after the 2020 pandemic driven crash that BTC eventually broke higher and began a sustained rally.

The takeaway is that while extreme fear often appears near turning points, it does not guarantee an immediate recovery. With ongoing geopolitical tensions, market instability, and volatility across asset classes, uncertainty remains high and further turbulence cannot be ruled out.

The cryptocurrency market has entered a clearly bearish phase, according to fresh on-chain analysis from CryptoQuant. Weak demand, tightening liquidity, and deteriorating technical structure are all reinforcing downside risk.

CryptoQuant’s latest report details how bearish forces have taken control of the market and why conditions now resemble past prolonged downturns.

Bitcoin Drops Below Long Term Trend Support

CryptoQuant noted that its Bull Score Index, which stood near 80 during Bitcoin’s peak around $126,000 in early October, has now fallen to zero. The index slipped into bearish territory following the October 10 liquidation event that erased roughly $19 billion from the market. At the time, Bitcoin was still trading near $110,000, but as prices declined toward $75,000, the index fully collapsed.

Bitcoin is currently trading below $68,000 after falling more than 7% in the past 24 hours. Since dropping under its 365 day moving average on November 12, 2025, BTC has declined about 23%. Analysts point out that the last time Bitcoin lost this key level was in March 2022, and the current decline is unfolding faster than during the early stages of that bear market.

From a structural perspective, Bitcoin has also fallen below the lower boundary of the Traders’ On chain Realized Price, a level that previously acted as strong support throughout the bull cycle. With that floor broken, CryptoQuant identifies the next major support zone between $70,000 and $60,000.

Demand Slows as Liquidity Dries Up

Beyond price action, demand indicators continue to weaken. The Coinbase Bitcoin Price Premium has remained negative since mid October, signaling softer buying interest from U.S. investors compared with global markets.

Institutional demand has also reversed. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which accumulated more than 46,000 BTC around this time last year, have turned into net sellers. So far, these funds have offloaded roughly 15,000 BTC, creating a demand shortfall of over 50,000 BTC and adding to selling pressure.

Spot market growth paints a similar picture. Over the past four months, Bitcoin’s annual spot demand growth has collapsed by 93%, falling from 1.1 million BTC to just 77,000 BTC. According to CryptoQuant, this suggests the bulk of demand expansion for the current cycle is already behind us.

Liquidity conditions are also deteriorating. The 60 day growth rate of Tether’s market capitalization has turned negative for the first time since October 2023, declining by about $133 million. USDT expansion peaked near $15.9 billion in late October 2025, and this reversal in stablecoin growth is a pattern historically associated with bear market phases.

Taken together, CryptoQuant concludes that weakening demand, shrinking liquidity, and broken technical support all reinforce the view that the market remains firmly in a bearish environment.

The past week in crypto markets has been brutal, with Bitcoin erasing all gains achieved after Trump’s 2024 reelection and many altcoins experiencing steep declines. Surprisingly, HYPE emerged as one of the few tokens defying the trend, soaring 19% despite the market turmoil.

The chaos began last Saturday, when Bitcoin, recovering to around $83,000–$84,000 after the previous drop to $81,000, suddenly plunged to under $76,000. Attempts by bulls to stabilize the price brought it back to $79,000, only for it to fall again below $74,000 on Monday. The bears maintained control in the following days, culminating in a sharp sell-off that drove BTC to $60,000. Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings suffered, losing $30,000 in just over a week.

Analysts debate the reasons behind the crash, citing factors such as rising geopolitical tensions, the appointment of a new Fed Chair, and excessive leverage in the markets. Thursday alone saw more than $2.6 billion wiped out in leveraged positions. Bitcoin has since partially recovered to $67,000 but remains down nearly 20% for the week.

Altcoins faced even harsher declines: Ethereum fell 28%, BNB dropped 23%, LINK lost 21%, and Monero fell 26%. In contrast, HYPE gained 19% over the same period. The total crypto market capitalization now stands at $2.38 trillion, with a 24-hour volume of $360 billion and Bitcoin dominance at 56.6%.

Key Prices:

• BTC: $67,200 (-18.4%)

• ETH: $1,950 (-28.3%)

• XRP: $1.43 (-20%)

This Week’s Top Crypto Headlines:

• Institutional Exit: U.S. investors are selling Ethereum at a record rate, with the Coinbase Premium Index hitting new lows amid heavy liquidation pressure.

• Roubini Predicts a Crypto Apocalypse: Economist Nouriel Roubini warns that Bitcoin’s plunge highlights the extreme volatility of what he calls a “pseudo-asset class” and argues that money and payment evolution will be gradual rather than revolutionary.

• Michael Burry Issues Warning: The investor cautions that Bitcoin Treasury Companies could face existential risk if BTC prices continue to decline.

• Crypto Winter Ongoing but Recovery Possible: Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan maintains that the market has been in a bear phase since January 2025 but suggests a potential recovery may be closer than expected.

• Tom Lee Defends Ethereum: Despite deep losses, Lee claims ETH fundamentals remain strong, and the token’s crashing price does not reflect the network’s value.

• Bitcoin Trading at a Discount: Using the power-law valuation model, market commentator David estimates BTC’s fair value at $122,000, implying the asset currently trades at a nearly 50% discount.

The past week demonstrates the extreme volatility in crypto markets, highlighting both the risks for leveraged holders and the resilience of investors in select tokens like HYPE.

XRP experienced extreme volatility last week, briefly plunging to $1.11 before rebounding to $1.54, where it faced resistance and now hovers above $1.40. Despite these wild swings, investors in Ripple ETFs remained largely unfazed by the market turmoil.

Data from SoSoValue shows that XRP ETFs ended the week in positive territory, even though the underlying token suffered steep losses. After a heavy outflow of nearly $93 million on January 29, ETF inflows stabilized, with $19.46 million added on Tuesday, $4.83 million on Wednesday, and $15.16 million on Friday. Overall, spot XRP ETFs saw cumulative net inflows rise from $1.18 billion to $1.22 billion by February 6, a gain of around $40 million. In contrast, spot Ethereum ETFs lost approximately $170 million and Bitcoin ETFs dropped $358 million in the same period.

The recent XRP price action was dramatic. After falling from $1.75 to $1.50 last Saturday, it continued downward, hitting $1.11 on Friday, representing a 50% decline in just a month. However, the token quickly recovered, rising 40% to $1.54 in a matter of hours, demonstrating that ETF investors were largely holding steady and not contributing to the volatility.

The resilience of XRP ETF investors highlights strong market confidence in the funds, even during intense price swings and broader crypto market declines.

Strategy CEO Phong Le reassured investors that the company’s balance sheet remains strong despite recent crypto market volatility, but noted extreme scenarios could pose challenges. The firm, the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, would only consider restructuring or raising additional capital if Bitcoin fell to $8,000 and stayed at that level for five to six years.

During Strategy’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Le emphasized that the company’s Bitcoin reserves comfortably cover its convertible debt even after recent losses. He explained that only a 90% decline in BTC, reaching $8,000, would equal their net debt and trigger discussions of restructuring or additional fundraising.

The comments came amid a sharp crypto sell-off, with Bitcoin down roughly 7% in 24 hours, trading just under $66,000. Strategy’s stock, MSTR, fell 17% to $107, wiping out most of its late-2025 gains and leaving it down about 72% over six months. Analysts noted that Bitcoin’s drop of over $10,000 in a single day marked a historic decline, part of a structural downturn that has erased $2.2 trillion from crypto markets since mid-October 2025.

Executive Chairman Michael Saylor also addressed investor concerns, dismissing fears about quantum computing threats to Bitcoin as “horrible FUD” and outlining a security initiative to prepare for potential upgrades, including quantum resistance. He emphasized that Strategy’s long-term approach is built to withstand market volatility, supported by favorable U.S. regulations and increasing adoption of Bitcoin in credit markets and corporate balance sheets.

Despite short-term price swings, Strategy continues to expand its Bitcoin holdings. Earlier this week, the company purchased 855 BTC for $75.3 million at an average price near $88,000, bringing its total reserves to over 713,500 BTC. This follows $25 billion in accumulation during 2025 and a $1.25 billion purchase earlier in 2026, funded largely through capital raises.

Saylor highlighted that the value of Bitcoin treasury companies lies in credit optionality and institutional adoption rather than daily price movements. Holding BTC allows firms to leverage assets for debt issuance, lending, or other financial services, offering flexibility that ETFs cannot provide. He framed recent market declines as part of the long-term integration of digital assets into global finance rather than a temporary price shock.