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  • Bitcoin drops below $90k as Trump confirms trade tariffs

    Bitcoin drops below $90k as Trump confirms trade tariffs

    Dogecoin and other major altcoins dip

    • This is the lowest Bitcoin has dropped since November 2024
    • Trump’s trade tariffs are likely impacting crypto market prices as investors look elsewhere to trade
    • Two crypto hacks days apart have worsened investor sentiment

    Bitcoin’s price has dropped below the $90,000 mark, signalling the lowest decline for the number one crypto asset since November 2024.

    Bitcoin’s price at $87,000. Source: CoinMarketCap

    On February 25 at 10:25 UTC, Bitcoin was trading at around $87,190, according to data from CoinMarketCap. At the time of publishing, it has risen slightly but remains under $90,000, a key figure to stay in bullish territory.

    According to Arthur Hayes, BitMEX’s co-founder, Bitcoin could drop to $70,000 if large hedge funds sell their positions in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

    Impact of Trump’s tariffs

    The drop in value comes amid uncertainty about inflation, US President Donald Trump’s policies, and geopolitical events.

    Yesterday, Trump confirmed 25% trade tariffs on Canada and Mexico, causing the market to react as investors look to other avenues to put their money.

    According to James Toledano, COO at Unity Wallet, many believed that Bitcoin’s price would continue rising once Trump entered the White House, adding to CoinJournal:

    “But the reality is that the price has gone south, likely due to tariff trade wars, fragile peace talks in Eastern Europe, and fears around DeepSeek’s impact on the US tech sector. But this could also just be a momentary lapse of pricing reason.”

    Security breach at Bybit

    Last week, Hong Kong-based crypto exchange Bybit was the target of a major hack, resulting in the loss of nearly $1.5 billion worth of Ethereum from a single wallet.

    Despite Ben Zhou, Bybit’s founder and CEO, saying it had “fully closed the ETH gap,” raising funds to cover the losses and boost investor confidence, the fact remains that investors are shaken.

    Not only that, but neobank Infini suffered a $50 million hack yesterday. According to reports, insider access enabled the hacker to manipulate the platform’s smart contract it had developed after retaining administrative privileges unbeknownst to Infini.

    Following the theft, the hacker converted the stolen USDC into Dai and then purchased 17,696 Ethereum, valued at around $49 million at the time.

    “Additionally, global macroeconomic uncertainty and a downturn in traditional markets have weighed on Bitcoin, as risk assets remain highly sensitive to external pressures,” said Toledano.

    “Note, the S&P 500 which is the bellwether for the equities market is down over 4% over the last month and over 2% this past week alone. While 2 and 4 percentage points mean little in the cryptosphere, these figures are notable in TradFi from a loss perspective.”

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  • BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF options brings in nearly $2b in trade on day one

    BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF options brings in nearly $2b in trade on day one

    • Bitcoin hit a record of more than $94,000 following the launch of options contracts on BlackRock’s IBIT
    • 289,000 contracts were Calls and 65,000 were Puts, meaning investors were bullish on a Bitcoin price rise
    • Joe Constori said the market is bullish that Bitcoin’s price will reach $100,000 by the end of 2024

    Options contracts on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) saw “unheard-of” notional exposure levels, helping push Bitcoin to a record of over $94,000.

    Taking to X, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart, said:

    “Final tally of $IBIT’s 1st day of options is just shy of $1.9 billion in notional exposure traded via 354k contracts. 289k were Calls & 65k were Puts. That’s a ratio of 4.4:1. These options were almost certainly part of the move to the new #Bitcoin all time highs today.”

    Buying calls is bullish as investors only profit if the price of Bitcoin goes up. With the new options contract, investors can speculate on price movements by trading shares at predetermined prices.

    Joe Constori, head of growth at Theya and institutional lead at the Bitcoin Layer, said on X that “TLDR; the market is bullish that Bitcoin’s price ends the year well over $100k.”

    Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas added:

    “$1.9b is unheard of for Day One. For context, $BITO did $363m and that’s been around for four years. And also this is with 25,000 contract position limits.”

    Increasing institutional interest

    The launch of BlackRock’s options contracts comes as institutional interest in Bitcoin rises. With the IBIT options, investors can gain exposure to new avenues of investment while managing their risk through the call and put options without owning the underlying asset.

    In January, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the first 11 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETFs). Since then, the market has grown with BlackRock leading the way.

    At the end of October, BlackRock’s IBIT reached $30 billion in net assets in a record 293 days. Two weeks later, it reached $40 billion in net assets in 211 days, showcasing rising interest in crypto investments.

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  • Metaplanet partners with SBI VC Trade to enhance Bitcoin strategy

    Metaplanet partners with SBI VC Trade to enhance Bitcoin strategy

    • Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has announced a partnership with SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of financial services behemoth SBI Group.
    • Partnership will help boost Metaplanet’s Bitcoin strategy, including compliance.
    • Metaplanet has acquired 360 Bitcoin (BTC) as it targets becoming ‘Asia’s MicroStrategy’

    In an announcement on Sept. 2, Metaplanet said its collaboration with SBI VC Trade is part of the company’s quest to enhance its Bitcoin strategy with support from Japan-based firms. This includes trading, custody and management of Metaplanet’s Bitcoins.

    Metaplanet is a publicly-traded company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the partnership with the SBI crypto arm offers a route to further compliance.

    “A key element of this partnership is access to a compliant corporate custody service that prioritizes tax efficiency and offers the potential to utilize Bitcoin as collateral for financing,” Metaplanet said in a statement.

    The alliance with SBI VC Trade aligns with Metaplanet’s vision of becoming a leading modern financial services firm. It also adds flexibility to Metaplanet’s corporate strategy, bolstering its efforts to accumulate more BTC via equity and debt financing.

    Metaplanet will update its stakeholders of any financial o material impact that arises from the partnership, part of the statement read.

    BTC as a corporate strategy

    The partnership with SBI VC Trade comes amid Metaplanet’s increasing bet on Bitcoin as part of its corporate strategy. In April 2024, the company disclosed its addition of BTC as a core treasury asset and committed an initial 1 billion Japanese yen to buying Bitcoin.

    Over the next months, the strategic pivot has seen the industry dub Metaplanet as “Asia’s MicroStrategy” in a nod to its target to mirror the US-listed MicroStrategy’s embrace of the digital asset.

    Currently, the Michael Saylor-led company has acquired a total of 226,500 BTC. This accounts for just over 1% of the total supply of Bitcoin and makes MicroStrategy the largest holder of BTC among publicly-traded companies.

    On the other hand, Metaplanet holds a total of 360 BTC, having increased its holdings with a series of purchases over the past two months.

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  • M2 crypto exchange to allow UAE residents to trade crypto using bank accounts

    M2 crypto exchange to allow UAE residents to trade crypto using bank accounts

    M2 crypto exchange to allow UAE residents to trade crypto using bank accounts
    • M2 enables UAE residents to trade BTC and ETH directly with bank accounts.
    • Integration supports dirham deposits, withdrawals, and market-responsive trading.
    • UAE has strict regulations to ensure consumer protection and market transparency.

    In a significant development for the digital asset market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), M2, a prominent crypto exchange, has announced that UAE residents can now buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) directly using their bank accounts.

    This new integration facilitates the direct conversion of UAE dirhams into BTC and ETH through M2’s spot market, marking a milestone in the accessibility of virtual assets in the region.

    M2 users can seamlessly convert dirhams into BTC and ETH and vice versa

    In an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the M2 exchange highlighted that the new feature will enable users to convert dirhams into Bitcoin and Ether seamlessly through the trading pairs listed on M2’s spot markets.

    Additionally, the platform supports the deposit and withdrawal of dirhams, offering users greater flexibility in managing their assets.

    The M2 team emphasized that this integration would enable users to “swiftly adapt to market changes,” allowing them to easily convert their local currency into crypto.

    This is particularly beneficial for everyday investors who may not be fully immersed in the complexities of the trading environment.

    According to M2, the higher levels of familiarity and significant trading volumes of BTC and ETH make these cryptocurrencies ideal entry points for new investors looking to enter the digital asset space.

    UAE has the strictest regulatory framework globally

    Regulated by the UAE government, which is known for its stringent consumer protection measures, this move reflects the country’s commitment to safeguarding its residents in the evolving crypto landscape.

    The UAE has established a reputation for having one of the strictest regulatory frameworks globally, prioritizing consumer protection. In 2022, Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) mandated greater transparency in crypto advertisements to better protect consumers.

    Moreover, in 2023, the UAE introduced a federal law aimed at preventing fraud in the crypto market, imposing fines of up to 10 million AED ($2.7 million) for violations.

    Commenting on the integration, Kimmel, an executive at M2, noted that the ADGM’s licensing process was demanding due to its high standards for multilateral trading facility permits. However, he affirmed that this rigorous due diligence ensures that licensed platforms meet the country’s security and transparency standards, thereby fostering trust among UAE users.

    Despite the challenges associated with the licensing process, the UAE continues to be a strategic region for the crypto industry.

    Favourable tax policies, access to global markets, and a safe environment for innovation make the UAE an attractive destination for crypto businesses.

    This new development by M2 is set to further enhance the accessibility and appeal of virtual assets in the UAE, making it easier for residents to participate in the burgeoning crypto market.

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