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Bitcoin options suggest further downside risk, but accumulation remains the base case
Bitcoin derivatives markets indicate that professional traders are bracing for near-term volatility and potential downside, while simultaneously positioning to accumulate around current levels. Options and futures data point to caution on leverage rather than outright bearish conviction.
Bitcoin has remained capped below $91,000, and the annualized funding rate for perpetual futures stands near 7%, close to the lower bound of the neutral range. This suggests limited appetite for aggressive bullish leverage, even after a modest rebound from earlier lows.
In the options market, demand for downside hedges has not surged. The most active strategies over the past 48 hours have been long straddles and long iron condors, both volatility-focused structures. This positioning implies expectations of consolidation or range trading rather than a sharp continuation lower.
Positioning among top traders reinforces a neutral-to-bullish bias. Long-to-short ratios at major exchanges ticked higher, indicating gradual accumulation without reliance on high leverage. The behavior aligns with a strategy of building exposure during price compression phases.
Macro signals remain mixed. Gold prices reached record highs as US Treasury yields climbed to around 4.25%, reflecting renewed safe-haven demand and fiscal concerns. At the same time, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded roughly $1.58 billion in net outflows over two days, delaying the return of institutional inflows.
Attention now turns to upcoming corporate earnings, with Microsoft, Tesla, Apple, and Visa set to report. Broader risk sentiment may hinge on these results.
Overall, derivatives data suggest resilience after the $88,000 retest, but a move back toward $95,000 likely depends on the resumption of institutional inflows, which have yet to materialize.
UN receives Circle grant to upgrade cross-border refugee aid payments
Circle has issued a grant to support the rollout of digital financial infrastructure across the United Nations, aiming to improve the efficiency of humanitarian aid payments. The initiative was announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and will back the UN’s Digital Hub of Treasury Solutions in streamlining cross-border value transfers. The size and structure of the grant were not disclosed. The funding builds on Circle’s earlier collaboration with the UNHCR and DHoTS in 2022, which enabled aid distribution to displaced Ukrainians using USDC. The pilot demonstrated faster settlement and improved transparency compared with traditional payment rails. UN officials noted that stablecoin-based payments can help make limited humanitarian budgets more effective. Circle estimates that digital financial infrastructure could reduce delivery costs by up to 20%, a significant figure given that roughly $38 billion in annual humanitarian funding still relies on legacy systems. The initiative also aligns with Circle’s broader philanthropic push following the launch of the Circle Foundation in December, focused on financial inclusion and resilience. As stablecoins gain traction in global payments, their role in humanitarian finance is increasingly coming into focus. #Weeklyblockchain #CryptoNews #blockchain #latestnews #circle #unitednations #Stablecoins #payments #humanitarianaid
One year after Gary Gensler’s exit, the SEC has rewritten its crypto rulebook. Enforcement-heavy policies have given way to dropped lawsuits, industry dialogue, and a pending market structure bill. A defining shift for U.S. crypto regulation.
The CFTC has launched an Innovation Advisory Committee to guide regulation for crypto and AI.
With major industry leaders involved, this signals a more constructive regulatory stance in the US — one that could support long-term market growth and clarity.
Investors should watch how this shapes policy in 2026.