BTC treasury companies under fire: Empery Digital faces sell-off demands. Circle surged 20% with record Q4 revenue and USDC growth. PayPal's stablecoin moves weren't enough, acquisition interest em...
Bitcoin perpetual funding rates on major exchanges have flipped negative, signaling that short sellers now dominate the derivatives market and are paying to keep their positions open. While negative funding typically reflects bearish sentiment, one analyst is interpreting the current extreme as a potential setup for a short squeeze, arguing that excessive short positioning often precedes sharp upside reversals rather than continued downside. Funding Flips Negative as Shorts Crowd the Market In a February 27 market update, analyst Amr Taha noted that funding rates across major derivatives venues simultaneously moved into negative territory, with Binance at -0.005%, OKX at -0.007%, and Bybit at -0.011%. Funding rates are periodic payments between long and short traders in perpetual futures, and when they turn negative, it means short sellers are paying longs, reflecting dominant bearish positioning. Taha also pointed to data from the BTC liquidation heat map showing dense clusters of leveraged positions above the current price, many originating around the $92,000 level. According to the analyst, if Bitcoin pushes higher, those short positions could be forced to close, accelerating upside volatility. “If macroeconomic conditions improve, the probability of a renewed price pump in the short to medium term increases,” Taha wrote. They added that historically, heavy short exposure combined with negative funding has often foreshadowed sharp reversals, though the metric alone does not predict direction. Meanwhile, retail activity is also ticking up. Nino, a CryptoQuant contributor, indicated that trading frequency among smaller investors has spiked relative to its one-year average, a sign that individual participants are re-entering the market after weeks of caution. “The current spike underscores a growing sense of anticipation for the next major market expansion,” explained the analyst. Whale Flows and Market Structure In a separate post, Taha tracked roughly 1,700 BTC in positive net inflows from so-called “Octopus” wallets, representing medium-term holders, into Binance. A larger 5,000 BTC inflow from the same cohort on February 2 preceded a drop from above $77,500. This time, the movement, while positive, is significantly less aggressive, suggesting it may not carry the same bearish force. “Of course, market reaction also depends on liquidity conditions and broader positioning,” Taha stated. “But strictly from the chart data — the intensity is lower.” Bitcoin briefly tested $70,000 on February 26 but failed to hold that threshold, settling into a range between $66,600 and $68,600 over the past 24 hours per CoinGecko data, with observers at Glassnode saying that despite the relative stabilization, the BTC market is yet to recover. At the time of writing, the flagship cryptocurrency was trading almost 200 bucks below the $68,000 level, down slightly by 0.4% in the last 24 hours and seeing no change over seven days. However, on a 30-day basis, the asset is nearly 24% lower, and it is also about 46% below its October 2025 all-time high. The post Analyst: Deeply Negative Funding Rates Hint at BTC Bounce appeared first on CryptoPotato .
Solana (SOL) continues to navigate critical support zones as price activity shows notable weakness. As of press time, SOL trades at $81.47, marking a 5.51% decline over 24 hours and a 4.26% drop over the past week. Trading volume reached $3.92 billion, while the circulating supply stands at 570 million SOL, valuing the network at roughly $46.38 billion. Analysts emphasize that current support levels will determine the mid-term trajectory for the cryptocurrency. $76.6 Level Draws Market Focus Analyst jussy_world believes the $76.6 zone remains the key pivot. He notes that Solana bounced nearly 50% from this level in 2022. However, that rebound eventually faded and led to a drop toward $20. This time, he expects a smaller recovery if buyers step in. More importantly, he warns that a weekly close below $76.6 would shift the mid-term structure. Consequently, downside targets sit at $47, $36, and $28. That makes the current level critical for both swing traders and long-term holders. The big question now concerns duration. Strong volume near support suggests buyers still defend the zone. However, repeated tests often weaken support over time. Hence, prolonged consolidation without strong upside momentum could increase breakdown risk. Broader Support Zones in View Ali Martinez also highlights deeper safety nets if weakness continues. He identifies $50.22 as the next major demand zone. Beyond that, he marks $22.47 and $9.98 as longer-term structural floors. These levels align with historical accumulation areas from prior cycles. Additionally, they reflect zones where long-term investors previously stepped in aggressively. If broader market sentiment deteriorates, these levels could attract strategic buyers again. Short-Term Range Controls Price Action While long-term risks loom, lower time frames tell a different story. Satoshi Flipper points to a clean four-hour consolidation rectangle. Solana continues to bounce between $76–$78 support and $89–$90 resistance. Source: X This structure has created steady intraday opportunities for range traders. Currently, price trades near $83, close to the range midpoint. A decisive break above $90 could open momentum toward $94. Conversely, a clear loss of $76 may expose $72 quickly. Moreover, declining momentum indicators suggest energy may soon expand. Range compression often precedes volatility spikes. Therefore, traders expect a breakout attempt within days rather than weeks.
$2.8 trillion French asset manager Amundi used the latest Strategy pullback to expand its exposure to Bitcoin-linked equities. The firm made a large purchase during the fourth quarter of 2025 as Strategy moved toward a key technical area despite facing over $9.5 billion in unrealized losses. Amundi Expands Strategy’s MSTR Position Amundi increased its Strategy stake from about 1.01 million shares in the third quarter to nearly 4.79 million shares by year end. The filing, released in mid-February 2026, shows an addition of about 3.77 million to 3.78 million shares during the quarter. The enlarged position was valued at roughly $728 million at the end of December 2025, although later filings placed the value near $641 million. Amundi manages more than €2.3 trillion in assets, and this move stands among its largest entries into crypto-linked stocks. The firm had been adding shares during 2025, yet the Q4 purchase reflects a clear change in pace. The expansion shows a sharp pivot toward Bitcoin-linked equities while the company continues operating within a traditional asset management framework. Strategy as a Bitcoin Proxy for Large Funds Strategy continues to operate as a Bitcoin-heavy corporate vehicle under chairman Michael Saylor. By early 2026, the company held more than 717,722 Bitcoin worth around $49 billion at the time. Its average purchase price near $76,000 means Strategy needs about a 15% Bitcoin move to reach break-even. This structure has created a liquid equity proxy for Bitcoin exposure. Many institutions prefer listed equities when direct crypto access remains harder to manage. The stock trades actively across U.S. markets, so large funds can enter positions without operational barriers. These factors explain why Amundi and other institutional investors see Strategy as an accessible path into Bitcoin-linked exposure. Public markets also simplify risk controls for portfolios that still follow traditional mandates. MSTR Market Conditions During the Stake Increase Strategy stock has tested its $119 support level this week before closing at 129.54 today despite being down 2.50%. Market traders viewed this price zone as an important technical area, because losing it could open the path toward lower levels. At the same time, the stock became the most shorted large-cap equity based on data from Goldman Sachs and FactSet. Short interest reached 14% of market value, which is nearly twice the usual level for similar stocks. More than 32.38 million shares were sold short as hedge funds, including Citadel, Millennium, and Balyasny, built positions. Short pressure grew during periods of price weakness. Yet some institutional buyers increased their stakes during the same period. Moreover, Amundi is not the only firm with this plan of accumulating more MSTR. As we reported, Jane Street increased its Strategy exposure by 473% in the most recent filings, lifting its position to around 951,000 shares valued at $121 million.
ADA testing critical support at $0.28; MACD giving bullish signal while downtrend continues. BTC correlation heightening risks, 0.2766 level will be decisive.
Alchemy launched a system on Base that allows AI agents to obtain compute credits with USDC. Agents can perform blockchain queries and NFT checks. Giants like Aave and Uniswap are using it. AAVE $1...
The cryptocurrency market appears to be maintaining its newfound bullish traction, but the price of XRP has fallen to the $1.4 mark after a pullback on Thursday. Amid the ongoing volatility that has rocked the market over the past months, the altcoin is set to make a critical move that could transition it into a bullish phase. Market Ignores XRP’s Major Reset XRP’s price seems to have lost its latest upward move that was triggered by a broader market bounce. Citing several on-chain and price dynamics, the leading altcoin is quietly undergoing what many investors believe is a major structural reset. Xaif Crypto, a market expert and investor, shared that while the token is preparing for a major reset, many in the market seem to be overlooking its potential and the significance of the impending move. Over the last 90 days, Open Interest has been witnessing a sharp decline across nearly every major cryptocurrency exchange. According to the data, the open interest on Binance, the world’s leading crypto exchange, totaled at -7.7 million XRP, Bybit’s open interest lost over -12 million XRP, and Kraken bled out -8.3 million XRP. This is billions of dollars in speculative leverage being taken out of the market. Xaif Crypto highlighted that beneath the surface, this is just the setup rather than the end. When open interest contracts are this hard across multiple platforms simultaneously, it simply implies that the weak hands are exiting. Even the overleveraged betters are also vanishing from the market. Currently, the market is left with a clean slate, and historically, this is the point where the next big move emerges. “ Smart money doesn’t chase pumps, it enters during the silence,” Xaif Crypto added. Activity On Bittrue On The Rise While other trading platforms struggle with declining open interest, Bitrue saw a spike in XRP activity as institutional appetite grows. The platform recorded a 212% increase in spot buying volumes, surpassing the sell-side by over 2x. This surge coincided with a persistent accumulation from institutional investors since the launch of the XRP Spot ETFs . Since its launch, the funds have attracted a net total of $1.1 billion in assets, with weekly inflows and only 5 days of outflows. As institutional and retail support grows, Bitrue predicts a possible supply squeeze that will probably cause the altcoin to surpass its main rivals in Q2 2026. Bitrue is known for being the first to champion flexible earn investments with the altcoin and offer it as a base trading pair for spot. The platform has been working to include the token into its services since its inception in 2028, and now users are encouraged to add it to their portfolios. Its most recent plan is to establish itself as a crucial liquidity hub for the XRPL utility by modifying its short-term business strategy. Bitrue intends to capitalize on this impending market shift. Furthermore, they are focused on increasing support for the altcoin and other coins that are part of the XRPL ecosystem , such as RLUSD, which is currently utilized as a basic trading pair.
PUMP flashes bullish reversal as volume and trader positioning signal potential breakout toward $0.0024.
The Solana network represents a pinnacle of decentralization that remains misunderstood by critics, according to Yakovenko..
BitcoinWorld Taiwan Economy: DBS Data Confirms Remarkable Upswing in Manufacturing and Tech Exports TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Recent comprehensive data analysis from DBS Bank reveals compelling evidence of Taiwan’s accelerating economic momentum, marking a significant upswing across multiple key sectors. This development follows a period of global uncertainty and positions Taiwan’s economy for sustained growth through 2025. The DBS assessment, based on verifiable economic indicators, provides concrete validation of the island’s robust recovery trajectory. Taiwan Economy Shows Strong Manufacturing Revival Manufacturing data presents the most striking evidence of Taiwan’s economic upswing. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Taiwan’s manufacturing sector registered at 52.8 in the latest reporting period, indicating clear expansion territory. This represents a substantial improvement from previous quarters and exceeds regional benchmarks. Furthermore, industrial production increased by 8.2% year-over-year, with the electronics components sector leading this charge with growth exceeding 12%. Several factors contribute to this manufacturing resurgence. First, global demand for semiconductors remains exceptionally strong. Second, supply chain realignments have benefited Taiwan’s established infrastructure. Third, increased automation and smart factory investments have enhanced productivity. Consequently, factory utilization rates have climbed to 82%, their highest level in three years. This manufacturing strength directly supports employment and domestic consumption. Export Performance as a Growth Engine Export figures provide another critical dimension to Taiwan’s economic story. Monthly export orders reached $58.7 billion, representing a 15.3% increase from the same period last year. Information and communication technology products accounted for 42% of this total, highlighting the sector’s dominance. Meanwhile, exports to the United States grew by 18.7%, while shipments to ASEAN markets expanded by 14.2%. The following table illustrates Taiwan’s export performance by key category: Category Year-over-Year Growth Share of Total Exports Electronic Components +16.8% 38.5% Information & Communication +14.2% 24.1% Machinery +9.7% 7.3% Plastics & Rubber +5.4% 5.8% This export diversification reduces dependency on single markets. Additionally, the New Taiwan Dollar has maintained relative stability against major currencies, supporting export competitiveness without triggering significant inflationary pressures. DBS Analysis Methodology and Key Indicators DBS economists employed a multi-faceted approach to assess Taiwan’s economic upswing. Their analysis incorporated traditional indicators alongside advanced data analytics. The research team examined high-frequency data including electricity consumption, port container traffic, and digital payment volumes. These real-time metrics provided early confirmation of the recovery trend before official statistics were released. The bank’s assessment identified several leading indicators that signaled the upswing: Business confidence surveys reaching 34-month highs Capital equipment imports rising 22% year-over-year Corporate loan growth accelerating to 8.4% annually Job vacancy rates increasing across technology sectors These indicators collectively suggest that Taiwan’s economic expansion has both breadth and durability. Moreover, the recovery extends beyond the technology sector to include traditional manufacturing and services. Retail sales data confirms this broadening, with consumer spending increasing 6.8% in the latest quarter. Technology Sector’s Central Role Taiwan’s semiconductor industry continues to drive economic momentum. The island produces approximately 65% of the world’s semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced chips. This technological leadership creates substantial economic advantages. Semiconductor companies have announced capital expenditure plans exceeding $42 billion for the current fiscal year, ensuring continued expansion. Beyond semiconductors, Taiwan’s technology ecosystem demonstrates remarkable resilience. The government’s “5+2 Innovative Industries” initiative has fostered growth in: Artificial intelligence and big data applications Cybersecurity solutions and services Renewable energy technologies Biomedical advancements National defense industries This strategic diversification strengthens Taiwan’s economic foundation. Consequently, technology exports now represent over 60% of total export value, creating a powerful growth engine for the broader economy. Comparative Regional Performance and Global Context Taiwan’s economic upswing stands out within the Asian regional context. While many economies face headwinds from slowing global demand and monetary policy tightening, Taiwan has maintained stronger momentum. The island’s GDP growth projection for 2025 has been revised upward to 3.8%, compared to regional averages of approximately 3.2%. Several structural advantages support Taiwan’s relative outperformance. The economy benefits from: Highly skilled workforce with strong technical education World-class research and development capabilities Efficient infrastructure and logistics networks Strategic geographic position in Asian supply chains Additionally, Taiwan’s corporate sector maintains healthy balance sheets with conservative leverage ratios. This financial prudence provides resilience against potential economic shocks. Corporate cash holdings remain substantial, enabling continued investment even during periods of uncertainty. Monetary Policy and Inflation Management The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has navigated the economic upswing with measured policy adjustments. Inflation has remained relatively contained at 2.3%, below many developed economy rates. This stability allows monetary authorities to maintain supportive policies while gradually normalizing interest rates. The central bank’s benchmark discount rate currently stands at 2.125%, representing a balanced approach to supporting growth while containing price pressures. Financial system indicators remain robust throughout this period. Banking sector non-performing loans represent just 0.16% of total loans, reflecting exceptional asset quality. Meanwhile, foreign exchange reserves exceed $560 billion, providing substantial buffers against external volatility. These strong fundamentals give policymakers flexibility to respond to evolving economic conditions. Conclusion The DBS data analysis provides compelling confirmation of Taiwan’s strong economic upswing across manufacturing, exports, and technology sectors. Multiple indicators align to demonstrate broad-based recovery with particular strength in semiconductor production and high-tech exports. This economic momentum appears sustainable given Taiwan’s structural advantages, prudent policy management, and strategic position in global technology supply chains. While challenges including geopolitical tensions and global demand fluctuations persist, Taiwan’s economy demonstrates remarkable resilience and growth potential through 2025 and beyond. FAQs Q1: What specific data does DBS cite to confirm Taiwan’s economic upswing? DBS analysis highlights several key indicators including manufacturing PMI at 52.8 (expansion territory), industrial production growth of 8.2%, export order increases of 15.3%, and semiconductor capital expenditures exceeding $42 billion. The bank also references high-frequency data like electricity consumption and port traffic. Q2: How does Taiwan’s economic performance compare to other Asian economies? Taiwan’s projected 2025 GDP growth of 3.8% exceeds regional averages of approximately 3.2%. The island benefits from its dominant position in semiconductor manufacturing, diversified export markets, and strong technology ecosystem that provide relative advantages amid global economic headwinds. Q3: What role does the semiconductor industry play in Taiwan’s economy? Semiconductors represent Taiwan’s most important economic sector, producing about 65% of global supply and over 90% of the most advanced chips. The industry drives approximately 38.5% of total exports and stimulates growth across related technology sectors through substantial capital investments and research spending. Q4: How is Taiwan managing inflation during this economic expansion? Taiwan has maintained relatively contained inflation at 2.3% through measured monetary policy, with the central bank benchmark rate at 2.125%. Price stability results from balanced policy approaches, New Taiwan Dollar stability, and productivity gains in key export sectors that offset some cost pressures. Q5: What potential risks could affect Taiwan’s economic upswing? Primary risks include geopolitical tensions affecting trade flows, potential global demand softening for technology products, supply chain disruptions, and competitive pressures in semiconductor manufacturing. However, Taiwan’s strong fundamentals, diversified exports, and substantial foreign reserves provide meaningful buffers against these challenges. This post Taiwan Economy: DBS Data Confirms Remarkable Upswing in Manufacturing and Tech Exports first appeared on BitcoinWorld .