BNB Chain pushes 0 Fee Carnival deadline to Feb 28, covering gas for USDC, USD1, and U transfers across major exchanges and wallets. Over $4.5M saved so far.
BNB Chain has extended its zero-fee stablecoin initiative through February 28, 2026, marking the fourth consecutive extension of a program that has now covered over $4.5 million in user gas fees since launch.
The “0 Fee Carnival” eliminates gas costs for USDC, USD1, and U transactions across withdrawals, wallet transfers, and cross-chain bridges on BNB Smart Chain and opBNB.
Exchange Partners Offering Free Withdrawals
Nine centralized exchanges now support gas-free stablecoin withdrawals to BSC, with minimum thresholds varying by platform. Binance leads with the broadest coverage: USD1 and USDC on BSC (minimum $10), USDC on opBNB ($20 minimum), and U on BSC ($5 minimum).
Bitget, MEXC, and Ourbit offer USD1 and USDC withdrawals with $10 minimums. Bitmart supports both BSC and opBNB withdrawals at a $20 threshold. BingX and LBank provide USDC withdrawals with no stated minimum, while HTX has committed to zero-fee USD1 withdrawals permanently.
Wallet-to-Wallet Transfer Limits
Thirteen wallets now sponsor direct transfers on BSC, including Binance Wallet, Trust Wallet, Bitget Wallet, SafePal, and TokenPocket. The terms differ by asset: USD1 and U get unlimited free transfers, while USDC is capped at two free transactions daily. All transfers require a $0.10 minimum.
The program excludes DApp interactions and swaps—only direct wallet-to-wallet sends qualify.
Bridge Fees Eliminated
Celer cBridge and Meson.fi are covering cross-chain bridge costs for USDC moving to BSC from Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Avalanche, and Optimism. Meson.fi also supports Tron as a source chain. Celer offers zero bridge fees outright, while Meson provides 100% rebates.
Why This Matters for Users
Gas fees remain a persistent friction point for stablecoin utility. With USDC’s market cap sitting at $71.64 billion, even small percentage savings on frequent transfers add up. For traders moving funds between exchanges or DeFi protocols, eliminating the $0.50-$2.00 typical BSC gas cost per transaction creates meaningful savings over time.
BNB Chain has run this program continuously since late 2025, suggesting the network views subsidized stablecoin movement as a strategic priority for ecosystem growth. The open invitation for additional wallets, exchanges, and bridges to join indicates further expansion is likely before the February deadline.
Ether (ETH) could see another sharp drop after losing the support level at $2,800, with technical charts and onchain data suggesting the downtrend will continue.
Key takeaways:
Ether’s descending and symmetrical triangle setups converge at $2,100.
Ether is at levels that have previously preceded deeper price corrections, based on onchain data.
Ether’s chart technicals converge at $2,100
The ETH/USD pair has dropped by over 10% in the last three days, dipping below the key support at $2,800.
Ether has not traded below this level since Dec. 3, 2025, and losing it suggests lower ETH price levels could be in the cards.
A bearish divergence from the relative strength index, which has dropped to 34 from 68 in early January, shows weakening price momentum.
Meanwhile, Veteran trader Peter Brandt said the “burden of proof” was on the bulls after the ETH/USD pair broke below the lower trendline of a symmetrical triangle.
Brandt’s chart points to more downside risk, particularly after the price dropped below the $2,800 mark.
ETH/USD daily chart. Source: Peter Brandt
The measured target of the pattern, calculated by adding the width of the triangle to the breakout point, is $2,100, representing a 22% decline from the current price.
As Cointelegraph reported, the area between $3,000 and $2,800 was a key support zone for Ether, and losing it has put ETH at risk of further losses.
Ethereum mirrors past pre-bear market setups
Onchain data also reveals similarities between the current ETH market setup and previous bear cycles.
Ether’s net unrealized profit/loss (NUPL) indicator has transitioned from “anxiety (yellow)” to the “fear zone (orange),” a position that is typically associated with the start of bear markets.
The NUPL measures the difference between the relative unrealized profit and the relative unrealized loss of ETH holders.
In previous market cycles, the transition to fear has accompanied extended price drawdowns, as shown in the chart below.
ETH: Net Unrealized Profit/Loss. Source: Glassnode
Meanwhile, chart technicals show that the 111-day moving average (MA) is currently trading below the 200-day MA. Similar crossovers triggered the start of deeper ETH price drawdowns during the 2018 and 2022 bear markets, as shown in the chart below.
Ether’s 111-day MA vs. 200-day MA. Source: Glassnode
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Opinion by: Robert Schmitt, founder and co-CEO at Cork
DeFi has entered its institutional phase. As large investors dip their toes into crypto ETFs and digital asset treasuries (DATs), the ecosystem is gradually evolving into an institutional-grade financial system in its own right, with the introduction of new financial instruments and digital counterparts of well-established ones.
DeFi’s current growth exposes mounting risks that could lead to trust roadblocks. For institutions to confidently onboard, the ecosystem must implement stronger risk guardrails and resilient infrastructure.
It’s worth exploring the main areas where risk is concentrated, how TradFi handles similar challenges, and the guardrails DeFi needs to safely scale institutional participation.
Breaking down DeFi’s biggest risk
Let’s start with protocol risk. DeFi’s composability is both its strength and its Achilles heel. The interlinking of LSTs, lending markets and perpetuals increases systemic dependency. A single exploit can cascade across protocols.
Followed by reflexivity risk, consider how staking derivatives and looping strategies create positive feedback loops that magnify market swings. As prices rise, collateral expands and leverage increases.
When prices fall, however, liquidations accelerate in the same manner, without coordinated circuit breakers.
Lastly, duration risk as lending and staking markets mature may become increasingly critical, given the need for predictable access to liquidity. Institutions need to understand the types of duration risks present in the markets they participate in. Not many are aware that the advertised withdrawal timelines for many protocols actually depend on solver incentives, strategy cooldowns and validator queues.
The institutional supercycle
DeFi’s next challenge is not more yield or higher TVL. DeFi’s next challenge is building trust. To bring the next trillion in institutional capital onchain, the ecosystem needs standardized risk guardrails and a new discipline around risk management.
The past two years of DeFi have been defined by institutional adoption. Regulated institutional products have gained massive TVL. The two most successful ETF launches in the last two years (out of 1,600 ETFs) were BlackRock’s iShares BTC and ETH ETFs. Net flows into ETH ETFs are going vertical.
Likewise, digital asset treasury companies attract capital from institutions. Recently, ETH DATs have absorbed roughly 2.5 percent of the ETH supply. The largest DAT, Bitmine Immersion, with Wall Street legend Tom Lee as chairperson, has accumulated over $9 billion of ETH in less than two months, driven by institutional demand for ETH exposure.
Stablecoins have become crypto’s product market fit amid new regulatory clarity. They now move nearly as much money each month as Visa, and their total value locked (TVL) across protocols approaches $300 billion.
Similarly, the theme of tokenization has gained momentum, as evidenced by the rapid growth of tokenized Real World Assets (RWAs). Major institutions are tokenizing products, including Robinhood Europe, which is tokenizing its entire stock exchange, and BlackRock, which is tokenizing its T-bill BUIDL product.
Both stablecoins and RWA tokenization growth are driving the narrative that the future of the financial system will be on Ethereum. This, in turn, is driving the institutional adoption of ETFs and DATs.
The case for standardized risk management
According to a recent report by Paradigm, risk management comes in second as a cost category for institutional finance. This is because it is properly understood as an operational pillar that goes beyond checking a compliance checkbox. While traditional finance has not eliminated risk altogether, it has certainly systematized risk to the furthest extent.
In contrast, DeFi treats risk as a variable that varies from protocol to protocol. Each smart contract, vault and strategy defines and discloses risk differently — if at all. The result is idiosyncratic risk management and a lack of comparability across protocols.
TradFi has built shared frameworks, such as clearinghouses and rating agencies, as well as standardized disclosure norms, to address these types of risks and their real-world analogies. DeFi needs its own versions of those institutions: open, auditable and interoperable standards for quantifying and reporting on risk.
DeFi does not have to abandon experimentation to become a more mature ecosystem, but it could definitely benefit from formalizing it. The current risk framework established by DeFi protocols will not suffice moving forward.
If we are determined to break through the next wave of institutional adoption, however, we can follow the risk management principles established for financial instruments in traditional finance.
Opinion by: Robert Schmitt, founder and co-CEO at Cork.
This opinion article presents the contributor’s expert view and it may not reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. This content has undergone editorial review to ensure clarity and relevance, Cointelegraph remains committed to transparent reporting and upholding the highest standards of journalism. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before taking any actions related to the company.
This opinion article presents the contributor’s expert view and it may not reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. This content has undergone editorial review to ensure clarity and relevance, Cointelegraph remains committed to transparent reporting and upholding the highest standards of journalism. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before taking any actions related to the company.
AAVE price prediction shows potential recovery to $190-195 range by February 2026, though current technical indicators suggest caution with RSI at 36.78 and price near lower Bollinger Band.
Recent analyst forecasts paint a cautiously optimistic picture for AAVE’s medium-term prospects. According to Caroline Bishop’s January 27 analysis, “AAVE Price Prediction Summary: Short-term target (1 week): $157-162; Medium-term forecast (1 month): $190-195 range; Bullish breakout level: $157.68; Critical support: $149.32.”
Peter Zhang reinforced this bullish Aave forecast on January 26, noting that “AAVE shows potential recovery toward analyst targets of $190-195 by February 2026, despite current bearish momentum.” Similarly, Zach Anderson’s January 24 assessment highlighted that “Aave (AAVE) trades at $156.65 with analysts eyeing $190-195 by February 2026, though bearish MACD and oversold conditions suggest near-term caution around $151 support.”
These predictions suggest consensus among analysts for a potential 33-36% upside move from current levels, though technical headwinds remain a concern.
AAVE Technical Analysis Breakdown
AAVE’s current technical picture presents mixed signals that investors should carefully consider. Trading at $142.96, the token has experienced a sharp -7.28% decline in the past 24 hours, with the price action confined to a range between $155.17 and $139.81.
The RSI reading of 36.78 indicates AAVE is approaching oversold territory but hasn’t reached extreme levels yet, suggesting potential for further downside before a reversal. The MACD histogram at -0.0000 confirms bearish momentum, though the convergence suggests the selling pressure may be waning.
Perhaps most telling is AAVE’s position within the Bollinger Bands. With a %B reading of 0.0313, the token is trading very close to the lower band at $141.70, indicating oversold conditions. The middle band at $161.89 represents the 20-period moving average, which now serves as significant resistance.
Key support and resistance levels reveal a clear technical roadmap. Immediate resistance sits at $152.15, followed by stronger resistance at $161.34. On the downside, immediate support is found at $136.79, with stronger support at $130.62.
Aave Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case
Bullish Scenario
The bull case for AAVE price prediction centers on a successful bounce from current oversold levels. If AAVE can reclaim the $157.68 breakout level identified by analysts, it would signal the beginning of a recovery phase toward the $190-195 target range.
Technical confirmation would come from RSI climbing back above 50, MACD turning positive, and volume expansion on any upward moves. The 20-day moving average at $161.89 would need to be reclaimed to validate the bullish thesis, potentially opening the path to test the upper Bollinger Band at $182.08 as an interim target.
Bearish Scenario
The bear case remains compelling given current technical deterioration. A break below the critical support at $136.79 could trigger accelerated selling toward the $130.62 level. More concerning would be a failure to hold the analyst-identified support at $149.32, which could invalidate the near-term bullish outlook.
Risk factors include continued selling pressure in the broader DeFi sector, potential liquidations if key support levels break, and the significant gap between current price and analyst targets requiring a 33%+ rally.
Should You Buy AAVE? Entry Strategy
For investors considering AAVE, the current technical setup suggests a staged approach. The first potential entry point lies around current levels ($142-145), given the proximity to the lower Bollinger Band and analyst-identified support zones.
A more conservative entry strategy would wait for confirmation of a bounce from the $136.79 support level, with a stop-loss placed below $130.62. Aggressive traders might consider entering on any break above $152.15 with volume confirmation, targeting the $161-165 resistance zone.
Risk management remains crucial given AAVE’s 14-day ATR of $8.86, indicating significant daily volatility. Position sizing should account for potential 6-8% daily moves in either direction.
Conclusion
This AAVE price prediction presents a cautiously optimistic outlook despite current technical weakness. While analyst targets of $190-195 by February 2026 represent substantial upside potential, the path higher faces significant technical hurdles.
The convergence of oversold conditions, analyst support, and key technical levels around $142-149 suggests a potential inflection point. However, investors should remain vigilant for any breakdown below critical support levels that could invalidate the bullish Aave forecast.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency price predictions are speculative and subject to high volatility. This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing.
Unclaimed Ether (ETH) from the infamous 2016 hack on The DAO will be redirected into a new security fund aimed at strengthening the network, says Ethereum advocate Griff Green.
“There’s a lot of money just sitting in random contracts that were supposed to be returned to people who were affected by the hack,” Green said in an interview on Thursday with Unchained podcast host Laura Shin, reiterating plans to launch the security fund.
The DAO was a decentralized autonomous organization that an anonymous hacker exploited in June 2016 to siphon more than $50 million worth of Ether at the time.
The incident led to a hard fork of the Ethereum blockchain to recover the funds, splitting the community and ultimately creating two separate chains: Ethereum and Ethereum Classic.
Griff Green spoke to Laura Shin on the Unchained podcast on Thursday. Source: Unchained
Green explained that the hard fork returned a lot of the Ether held in The DAO to tokenholders, but the claims process was not straightforward. Green said that certain “edge cases” were handled through a multisignature wallet he joined, involving around $6 million.
While more than 80% of those funds have since been claimed, the remaining balance is now worth around $200 million. “We’re going to stake them and use the revenue to actually support Ethereum security,” he said.
Making Ethereum safer than a bank is the goal
“It makes sense that The DAO is now going to be focused on security,” Green said.
“We really want to stick to our guns with The DAO and live up to the name of The DAO, so we’re going to focus on DAO-style distributions,” he said.
Green said that while The DAO has an “incredible” pool of developers capable of identifying security projects to support, the priority will be on security distribution methods, including retroactive funding, quadratic funding, conviction voting, and ranked-choice voting, with the aim of strengthening the broader ecosystem.
“I really want to see The DAO security fund come to a place where people feel that it’s safer to store assets on Ethereum than in a bank,” Green said.
“The DAO really kickstarted the security industry in Ethereum,” Green added, noting that before the hack, there was effectively no audit market, but afterward, smart contract audits became widespread.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
NEAR Protocol trades at $1.42 with RSI showing oversold conditions. Technical analysis suggests potential recovery to $1.87-$2.35 range if key resistance breaks.
What Crypto Analysts Are Saying About NEAR Protocol
While specific analyst predictions from major KOLs are limited in recent days, blockchain analytics platforms are providing key insights into NEAR Protocol’s current market position.
According to Blockchain.News analysis from January 25, 2026, “NEAR Protocol shows oversold conditions at $1.50 with analyst targets pointing to $1.87-$2.35 recovery zone. Technical breakout above $1.54 resistance could trigger significant rally.”
CoinCodex forecasting models suggest a more optimistic medium-term outlook, stating that “NEAR Protocol is anticipated to change hands in a trading channel between $1.47 and $6.32, leading to an average annualized price of $3.87. This could result in a potential return on investment of 333.49% compared to the current rates.”
NEAR Technical Analysis Breakdown
NEAR Protocol currently trades at $1.42, down 4.00% in the last 24 hours with a trading range between $1.50 and $1.41. The 24-hour volume of $15.67 million on Binance indicates moderate trading interest.
The RSI reading of 35.13 places NEAR in neutral territory but approaching oversold conditions, suggesting potential for a technical bounce. The MACD histogram at 0.0000 shows bearish momentum has stalled, which could indicate a potential trend reversal.
Bollinger Bands analysis reveals NEAR trading near the lower band with a %B position of 0.14, indicating the asset is trading close to oversold levels. The middle band at $1.60 represents the 20-day SMA and serves as immediate resistance.
Moving averages paint a bearish picture with NEAR trading below all key SMAs: 7-day ($1.47), 20-day ($1.60), 50-day ($1.60), and 200-day ($2.26). The EMA 12 at $1.52 provides immediate resistance.
NEAR Protocol Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case
Bullish Scenario
The NEAR price prediction becomes bullish if the protocol breaks above the immediate resistance at $1.47, followed by the strong resistance level at $1.53. A confirmed breakout above $1.54 could trigger the rally toward the analyst targets of $1.87-$2.35.
Key bullish catalysts include RSI recovery above 50, MACD turning positive, and volume expansion above the current $15.67 million daily average. The Bollinger Band middle line at $1.60 represents the first major target in a recovery scenario.
Bearish Scenario
The bear case for NEAR Protocol forecast involves a break below the immediate support at $1.39, which could lead to a test of strong support at $1.35. Further weakness might target the psychological $1.30 level.
Risk factors include continued bearish MACD momentum, failure to reclaim moving average support levels, and overall crypto market weakness. The wide gap between current price and the 200-day SMA at $2.26 indicates significant overhead resistance.
Should You Buy NEAR? Entry Strategy
For those considering NEAR Protocol, the current oversold conditions present potential opportunity with careful risk management. Entry points could be considered on any bounce from the $1.35-$1.39 support zone.
A more conservative approach would wait for confirmation above $1.47 resistance before entering, targeting the $1.60-$1.65 range. Stop-loss levels should be placed below $1.35 to limit downside risk.
Risk management is crucial given the 4% daily decline and position below all major moving averages. Position sizing should reflect the high volatility indicated by the daily ATR of $0.09.
Conclusion
The NEAR price prediction suggests a cautious but potentially rewarding opportunity. While technical indicators show oversold conditions that could support a bounce toward $1.87-$2.35, the bearish momentum and position below key moving averages warrant careful entry timing.
The NEAR Protocol forecast remains neutral to slightly bullish in the short term, with confidence increasing if the protocol can break above $1.54 resistance. Traders should monitor volume and RSI recovery for confirmation of any bullish reversal.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
Financial technology company Dakota launched a stablecoin infrastructure platform as more enterprises look to adopt digital dollars without taking on the operational and regulatory burden of custody and compliance.
Dakota will handle custody, compliance and settlement on behalf of its clients. CEO Ryan Bozarth told Cointelegraph that the company operates in the US as a registered Money Services Business, while working with licensed banking and regulated payments partners in other regions. It is also pursuing Electronic Money Institution and Crypto-Asset Service Provider licenses in Europe.
This arrangement, according to Bozarth, enables Dakota to offer cross-border money movement without customers becoming regulated financial institutions themselves.
“Teams can program when money moves, where it goes, how it’s governed, and what happens after it settles — including approvals, limits, reconciliation and treasury actions,” Bozarth said.
According to the company, its platform is used by more than 700 businesses, including crypto companies and fintech platforms.
“Stablecoins make this possible because they’re digital dollars built on programmable infrastructure,” he said. “That lets money behave like modern software – composable, automatable, and consistent across borders.”
2025 marked the rise of stablecoins as a major crypto narrative. But while most stablecoins still function as primarily as digital cash, a growing number of companies and countries are experimenting with programmable money by embedding rules, automation and controls directly into how funds move inside applications.
In August, M0 raised $40 million in a Series B led by Polychain Capital and Ribbit Capital to build infrastructure that lets developers issue application-specific stablecoins with embedded rules around access, liquidity and use. The Switzerland-based company has partnered with projects such as MetaMask to integrate custom stablecoins directly into consumer-facing apps.
The same month, Rain raised $58 million in a Series B led by Sapphire Ventures to expand tools that allow banks and enterprises to issue regulated stablecoins and automate compliant money flows. The company is focused on use cases such as real-time payroll, programmable cards and controlled spending programs across multiple blockchains.
Beyond enterprise payments, programmable money is also being tested in government-led pilots where rules are enforced directly at the money layer.
In 2024, Kazakhstan tested programmable money through two pilots using its digital tenge, a central bank digital currency, including a rail infrastructure project where funds were released only when predefined milestones were met and a separate program from the National Bank that automated VAT refunds, cutting processing times from more than two months to roughly two weeks.
The Reserve Bank of India also plans to expand its digital rupee pilots by adding features such as programmability and offline payments. The central bank said the enhancements are intended to tailor payment flows for specific use cases, including government transfers and corporate spending.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee has opened an inquiry into proposed stablecoin rules in the United Kingdom, seeking public input on plans put forward by the Bank of England (BoE) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The inquiry will examine how stablecoins could affect traditional financial services such as banking and payments, as well as the opportunities and risks created by their growing use in the UK, the committee said in a Thursday statement.
Lawmakers said the review will assess whether the regulatory frameworks proposed by the BoE and the FCA provide “measured and proportionate responses” to developments in the stablecoin market, according to Baroness Noakes, chair of the committee.
Written submissions from industry participants, experts and members of the public are open until March 11. The committee is scheduled to take oral evidence at a public hearing on Wednesday.
Call for evidence from the Financial Services Regulation Committee. Souce: committees.parliament.uk
Bank of England to finalize systemic stablecoin rules by end of 2026
The inquiry comes as UK authorities continue to refine their approach to stablecoin oversight.
The Bank of England has said advancing stablecoin regulation will be among its top priorities for 2026, alongside work on tokenized collateral and its Digital Securities Sandbox.
Sasha Mills, executive director of financial market infrastructure at the BoE, said the central bank is working jointly with the FCA on a regime for so-called systemic stablecoins, aiming to ensure they meet the same standards as existing forms of money used in the UK economy.
“Our regime proposes to provide systemic stablecoins with a deposit account at the Bank of England while also considering putting in place a liquidity facility to provide a backstop for stablecoin issuers,” she said, speaking at the Tokenisation Summit on Thursday, setting a deadline at the end of the year.
“We aim to finalise the regime for systemic stablecoins, working side-by-side with the FCA, by the end of this year.”
According to the BoE, “systemic stablecoins” are fiat-linked stablecoins widely used in payment activity in the UK, including pound sterling-denominated tokens used in retail or corporate payments, and therefore could pose risks to financial stability. They are required to be fully backed with at least 40% of reserves held in deposits at the BoE.
Mills also said the growing stablecoin use could reduce bank deposits in the country and lead to a reduction in credit provided to the “real economy.”
UK crypto regulations timeline. Source: FCA/Cointelegraph
The inquiry follows recent regulatory developments from the FCA, which has released a final consultation setting out 10 proposals covering crypto markets. The regulator is expected to conclude that process in March, with full implementation targeted for October 2027.
Under the UK’s approach, crypto regulations would be centralized under the FCA, which is both the country’s securities and commodities regulator.
In contrast, the US’s incoming market structure framework, the CLARITY Act, which includes provisions touching payment stablecoins, seeks to create a clear delineation between the jurisdictions of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in relation to crypto assets.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
After failing to sustain above $90,000 the previous day, frustration continued to build among traders as stocks and precious metals smashed records.
In his latest analysis of exchange order-book liquidity, Keith Alan, cofounder of trading resource Material Indicators, had a theory as to why Bitcoin could no longer beat resistance.
“FireCharts shows $BTC price is being suppressed by one entity using a liquidity herding strategy to push price lower, potentially to get their own bids filled, or possible to keep price pinned in the lower end of this range before Friday’s options expiry,” he told X followers on the day.
Alan referred to one of Material Indicators’ proprietary trading tools covering liquidations at key nearby price levels, as well as whale order volume.
BTC/USDT order-book liquidity data with whale orders. Source: Keith Alan/X
As Cointelegraph reported, large-volume entities are known to influence price action using liquidity to shift the market, trapping less experienced traders in the process.
“A significant amount of bid liquidity is concentrating in the $85k – $87.5k range to strengthen support, and potentially provide a foundation for a bounce before the Monthly Close,” Alan continued.
He warned that closing January below the 2026 open level at $87,500 would “serve as the gateway to Bearadise.”
Wyckoff BTC bottom countdown continues
Continuing, pseudonymous trader CW described $86,000 as a “buying wall” provided by whales.
“The gap between the buy and sell walls is narrowing. Volatility is coming,” an earlier X post forecast.
BTC/USD chart with order-book liquidity data. Source: CW/X
Earlier, Wyckoff analysis led commentator MartyParty to predict that Bitcoin would put in a long-term low around the end of the month.
This could see BTC/USD dip below $80,000 — an event that would act as the Wyckoff “spring” event before a dramatic market turnaround.
MartyParty uploaded two charts showing how the event could play out in the coming days.
Bitcoin Wyckoff schematics. Source: MartyParty/X
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Bitcoin is facing resistance at $90,500, but a positive sign is that the bulls have kept up the pressure.
Several major altcoins are attempting to start a recovery, but are expected to face selling at higher levels.
Sellers are attempting to maintain Bitcoin (BTC) below the $90,500 level, but the bulls continue to exert pressure. Fundstrat managing partner Tom Lee said on CNBC that cryptocurrencies should rise on a weaker dollar, but traders have responded by continuing to pile into gold and silver. Lee suggested that crypto is likely to catch up after the gold and silver rally takes a break.
Market intelligence platform Santiment said in a post on X that social media witnessed more discussions about silver and gold compared to cryptocurrencies on most days of this month. The analysts added that retail traders seem to be open to jumping sectors “based on wherever the latest pumps appear.”
Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView
Still, a positive sign in favor of the bulls is that February has seen only three monthly losses since 2013 and a median rise of 12.21%, according to Coinglass data. If history repeats, BTC may rally in February.
Could buyers push BTC and the major altcoins above their resistance levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
Bitcoin price prediction
BTC’s relief rally has reached the moving averages, where the bears are expected to pose a strong challenge.
If the price turns down from the moving averages, the BTC/USDT pair may drop to the $84,000 support. Buyers are expected to defend the $84,000 level with all their might, as a close below it may sink the Bitcoin price to $80,600 and eventually to the formidable support at $74,508.
On the upside, a break and close above the moving averages opens the gates for a rally to the $94,789 to $97,924 resistance zone. A close above the resistance zone signals that the corrective phase may be over.
Ether price prediction
Ether (ETH) re-entered the symmetrical triangle pattern on Tuesday, but the recovery is facing resistance at the moving averages.
If the price turns down sharply from the moving averages, the bears will attempt to pull the ETH/USDT pair below the $2,787 level. If they succeed, the Ether price might plunge to $2,623.
Conversely, a close above the moving averages suggests that the market has rejected the breakdown below the support line. That improves the prospects of a break above the resistance line. The pair may then march toward $3,659.
BNB price prediction
BNB (BNB) is attempting to rise above the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA)($897), indicating demand at lower levels.
The BNB/USDT pair might reach the $928 to $959 overhead resistance zone, where the bears are expected to mount a solid defense. If buyers overcome the zone, the BNB price may start a rally to $1,020.
Sellers will have to pull the price below the uptrend line to gain the upper hand. If they manage to do that, the pair might slide to the $790 support. The bulls are expected to vigorously defend the $790 level, as a close below it may resume the downtrend.
XRP price prediction
Buyers are attempting to push XRP (XRP) above the moving averages, but the bears have held their ground.
Sellers will attempt to pull the XRP price below the $1.77 level. If they can pull it off, the XRP/USDT pair may descend to the vital support at $1.61. Buyers are expected to fiercely defend the zone between the support line of the descending channel pattern and the $1.61 level.
If buyers push the price above the moving averages, the pair may reach the downtrend line. The bulls will have to achieve a close above the downtrend line to indicate the start of a new up move.
Solana price prediction
Solana (SOL) turned up from the $117 support on Monday, but the relief rally is likely to face selling at the moving averages.
If the price turns down from the moving averages, the bears will again attempt to sink the SOL/USDT pair below $117. If they manage to do that, the SOL price may tumble to solid support at $95.
Alternatively, a break above the moving averages opens the doors for a rally to the $147 overhead resistance. Buyers will have to clear the $147 level barrier to suggest that the corrective phase may be over.
Dogecoin price prediction
Dogecoin (DOGE) has bounced off the $0.12 support, but the relief rally is expected to face selling at the moving averages.
If the price turns down sharply from the moving averages, it heightens the risk of a break below the $0.12 support. The DOGE/USDT pair may then collapse to the Oct. 10, 2025, low of $0.10.
Contrarily, a break and close above the moving averages points to a possible range-bound action in the near term. The Dogecoin price may swing from $0.12 to $0.16 for some time. A short-term trend change will be signaled on a close above $0.16.
Cardano price prediction
Cardano’s (ADA) bounce off the $0.33 level has reached the moving averages, where the bears are expected to step in.
If the price turns down sharply from the moving averages, the likelihood of a break below the $0.33 level increases. The ADA/USDT pair may then plummet to the support line of the descending channel pattern.
This negative view will be invalidated in the near term if the ADA price continues higher and breaks above the downtrend line. The pair may then rally to the breakdown level of $0.50, where the bears are expected to mount a strong defense.
The moving averages are flattening out, and the relative strength index (RSI) is near the midpoint, signaling a balance between supply and demand. If the price breaks above the moving averages, the advantage will tilt in favor of the bulls. The BCH/USDT pair may then ascend to $631 and later to $670.
Sellers will have to tug the BCH price below the $563 level to complete a bearish head-and-shoulders pattern. The pair may then tumble to $518 and subsequently to the pattern target of $456.
Hyperliquid price prediction
Hyperliquid (HYPE) turned up from the $20.82 support on Jan. 21 and soared above the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) ($25.50) on Tuesday, indicating solid buying at lower levels.
The moving averages are on the verge of completing a bullish crossover, and the RSI has jumped into the overbought zone, signaling that the bulls are back in the game. There is resistance at the breakdown level of $35.50, but if the buyers overcome it, the HYPE/USDT pair may ascend to $44.
Sellers will have to defend the $35.50 level and yank the Hyperliquid price below the moving averages to weaken the bullish momentum.
Monero price prediction
Monero’s (XMR) pullback is facing resistance at the 50-day SMA ($480), indicating that the bears are selling on minor rallies.
The downsloping 20-day EMA ($512) and the RSI near the 46-level signal that the path of least resistance is to the downside. If the price slips below $445, the XMR/USDT pair may complete a 100% retracement of the latest leg of the rally and plunge to the $417 level.
Buyers will have to drive the XMR price above the 20-day EMA to indicate strength. The pair may then climb to $546. The bullish momentum is expected to pick up on a close above the $546 resistance.
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