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Polymarket: The Crypto Betting Site That Knows the Future (Sometimes)

What if you could turn your opinions about world events into real money? Welcome to Polymarket—a blockchain-powered prediction platform where users bet on everything from elections and celebrity drama to economic forecasts and legal showdowns. Backed by crypto and powered by collective intelligence, Polymarket promises a glimpse into the future or, at least, the one the internet believes in. In this article, we'll explore how Polymarket makes money, how it works, its controversial rise under founder Shayne Coplan, and how Donald Trump became the platform's most high-stakes subject. What Is Polymarket? Polymarket is a decentralised prediction market that lets users bet on real-world outcomes using crypto. Think of it as a betting exchange crossed with a news ticker, except powered by the Polygon blockchain and run through smart contracts. Users can bet on yes-or-no questions like "Will Donald Trump win the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election?" or "Will Apple release a foldable iPhone by 2026?". Each market has a share price between $0 and $1, which reflects the crowd's belief in that outcome. If you buy Yes at $0.40 and the event happens, you get $1. If not, you lose your stake. Source: Polymarket What sets Polymarket apart is its use of blockchain infrastructure and stablecoins like USDC to create transparent, tamper-resistant markets. No bookie needed, no house bias. How Does Polymarket Work? At its core, Polymarket is a trading platform for probabilities. You connect a crypto wallet, fund it with USDC, and start buying or selling shares in future events. These aren't fantasy points or play money; it's real crypto at stake. Markets are resolved by oracles (automated systems or trusted sources like news outlets) that determine the outcome once an event concludes. The entire process runs on smart contracts, meaning trades, payouts, and record-keeping are all automated and publicly verifiable on the blockchain. For example: ● A Yes share priced at $0.65 implies a 65% chance of the event happening. ● If you disagree, you can buy No at $0.35. ● When the event resolves, winners get $1 per correct share. Losers get $0. This system enables real-time, crowd-sourced forecasting that adapts to breaking news, rumors, and shifting sentiment, sometimes faster than polls or pundits. How Does Polymarket Make Money? Polymarket takes a 2% fee on net winnings, meaning if you bet $100 and win $200, you keep $198. Losers pay nothing beyond their original bet. It’s a simple model that scales well with high-volume events. Additional revenue sources include: ● Market creation fees: Users must pay to launch new markets to filter out spam and help maintain quality. ● Liquidity spreads: Price differences between buy/sell orders allow market makers and sometimes the platform to earn indirectly. ● Data insights: With millions of user-generated predictions, Polymarket's data is a goldmine for traders, researchers, and journalists tracking public sentiment. In short: Polymarket wins when users are active, not when they lose. The Visionary (and Controversial) Shayne Coplan At the centre of Polymarket's rise is Shayne Coplan, the platform's enigmatic founder. A college dropout from New York and early Ethereum adopter, Coplan launched Polymarket in 2020 with the idea that prediction markets could outshine polls and pundits. Backed by investors like Founders Fund and Vitalik Buterin, Coplan grew Polymarket into a crypto phenomenon. But with success came scrutiny. In 2022, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined Polymarket $1.4 million for offering unregistered binary options. The platform agreed to block U.S. users, but questions lingered about enforcement. In late 2024, just after the U.S. presidential election, FBI agents raided Coplan's apartment in connection with an ongoing federal investigation. Though he wasn't arrested, the move signaled growing legal pressure on prediction markets, and added to Coplan's mythos as a rebellious founder operating in a legal grey zone. Trump and the Billion-Dollar Bets If one figure defines Polymarket's rise, it's Donald J. Trump. The platform exploded in popularity during the 2024 U.S. election, as users bet over $1 billion on whether Trump would reclaim the presidency. Markets at times gave him a higher chance of winning than major polls did, leading many to wonder if Polymarket was seeing something others weren't. Source: Polymarket 2024 Election Forecast At the peak, four anonymous "Trump whales" collectively wagered over $40 million on his victory. Rumours swirled: Was it insider knowledge? Just conviction? Either way, Polymarket became the go-to source for those who wanted a live, financial pulse on the election. The aftermath? Trump won—and so did those traders. But regulators took notice. The sheer size of these markets, combined with suspicions that U.S. residents were still accessing the site via VPNs, brought renewed legal heat. Some accused the platform of politicisation, but Coplan maintained it was simply the market speaking. Beyond elections, Polymarket users have bet on: ● Trump's legal indictments ● His social media returns ● Whether he'd attend debates or get convicted These Trump-centric markets have been goldmines for volume and controversy, and they've firmly positioned Polymarket as a cultural barometer, whether regulators like it or not. Why It Matters (and What Comes Next) Polymarket is more than a mere crypto casino. It's a window into how people think the world will unfold. From economic forecasts to entertainment gossip, the markets there reflect the crowd's collective intelligence—or bias. But the big question remains: Is it legal? In many jurisdictions, real-money prediction markets walk a fine line between financial derivatives and gambling. While Polymarket enforces geoblocks and claims to comply with local laws, its future may hinge on whether regulators see it as a forecasting tool, or a threat to democratic processes. Still, for crypto users, data junkies, and risk-takers, Polymarket is the most exciting place to bet on what's next. Remember that Polymarket doesn't promise it knows the future, but it shows you what the internet thinks will happen. Whether that's brilliance or madness depends on your view of markets, memes, and money. But one thing's for sure: it's never boring. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading guidance. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions.

Crypto Cloud Mining Explained: Mine Bitcoin Without Owning a Rig

You don't need blinking rigs, tangled wires, or a freezer-cooled garage to mine crypto anymore. The pickaxes of the digital gold rush have moved to the cloud—quiet, remote, and rented by the gigahash. Crypto cloud mining flips the script: instead of building the mine, you lease the machinery and let it dig on your behalf. This guide dives deep into how crypto cloud mining works, why people are turning to it, and how you can start mining Bitcoin without touching a single circuit board. What Is Cloud Mining? Cloud mining lets you tap into powerful cryptocurrency mining operations without owning or managing any of the hardware yourself. Instead of setting up noisy machines or worrying about electricity bills, you simply rent mining power from a company that runs massive data centres filled with specialised equipment. These providers handle everything behind the scenes, from setup, cooling, maintenance, to energy costs. All you do is purchase a plan (known as a mining contract) and start earning a share of the crypto mined by the machines you're leasing. It's a bit like joining a harvest where someone else plants, waters, and tends the crops, and you get a cut of what they grow. Many cryptocurrency apps now offer cryptocurrency cloud mining directly within their platforms. That means no extra logins or new websites. Just open your app, choose a mining plan, and pay from your wallet. This option is super convenient, easy to understand, and great for beginners. The appeal is obvious: no bulky gear, no overheating rooms, and no technical hurdles. Everything from dust to downtime is handled by the provider. Starting is also relatively cheap. Most contracts cost under $100, making it far more accessible than building your own mining rig. Some providers even use clean energy like solar, hydro, or geothermal, which is great if you're thinking green. How Does Crypto Cloud Mining Work? Let's break this down, step by step: Step 1: You Buy a Contract You sign up with a cloud mining provider and choose a plan. This includes the cryptocurrency you want to mine (usually Bitcoin), the amount of mining power (called hash power), and the contract length (like 30 days, 6 months, or even open-ended). Hash Power is equal horsepower for mining. More hash power means your rented "muscle" can do more work, and you earn more. Source: HashBeat Step 2: Mining Happens Behind the Scenes The provider connects your rented power to their mining machines, which run 24/7 solving complex puzzles that help operate the blockchain network. ASIC miners are among the most commonly used for mining. They are super-charged computers built only for mining crypto, not your average PC. These machines are made to do one job: earn crypto fast and efficiently. Don't worry about the math or the machines. Your job is done after buying the contract. The provider handles everything else. Step 3: You Get Paid You receive daily or weekly payouts based on how much mining power you bought and how well the mining is going. Your earnings depend on things like crypto prices, mining difficulty (how tough the puzzles are), and provider fees for electricity and maintenance. Real Risks of BTC Cloud Mining BTC cloud mining isn't risk-free. Some sites are outright scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Other providers have hidden fees for electricity or maintenance that aren't clear upfront. Crypto prices are unpredictable, and mining difficulty changes over time, so profits aren't guaranteed. You also give up control. You won't choose the machines, software, or location. And if the contract is locked, you might not be able to exit early if things go south. You will now ask: How to choose a good cloud mining provider? Look for clear terms. Fees, duration, and expected returns should be easy to understand. Check reviews and see how long the company has been operating. Good providers show live mining stats and offer responsive support. Look for details about the mining hardware, energy sources, and payout history. Avoid platforms that promise guaranteed profits. There's no such thing in crypto. Is Bitcoin Cloud Mining Still Worth It? That depends on your goals. Bitcoin cloud mining won't make you rich overnight, but it can be a good way to learn about mining or earn small, steady rewards. Also remember that profitability depends on many things: Bitcoin's market price, mining difficulty, contract fees, and how long your contract lasts. Try using a mining calculator to get a rough estimate before you commit. See a general comparison between cloud mining vs traditional mining below: Feature Cloud Mining Traditional Mining Setup Cost Low High (buying hardware) Tech Skills None Advanced Maintenance Handled by provide You do it all Control Low Full control Risk With provider With your equipment Flexibility Easy to start/stop Time-consuming to manage Cryptocurrency cloud mining is great if you want to earn crypto without getting technical. It's useful for investors looking to diversify, people in countries with high energy costs, or anyone who wants to learn about mining without building a rig. If you want full control or are chasing big profits fast, this might not be the right path. Final Thoughts: Is Cloud Mining Right for You? Cloud mining cryptocurrency makes crypto mining simple, affordable, and available to everyone. You don't need to be tech-savvy. You don't need a garage full of machines. You just need a small budget and a curious mindset. Yes, there are risks. No, it won't make you rich overnight. But if you do your research, choose a trustworthy provider, and understand what you're getting into, crypto cloud mining can be a rewarding way to explore crypto and earn digital assets along the way. In short: cloud mining is mining made easy.

SEC Approves ETH ETF Options, DOGE ETF in the Works

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved options for spot ETH ETFs offered by major firms like BlackRock and Fidelity. These options allow investors to better manage risk and make informed decisions in different market conditions. This follows a similar approval for Bitcoin ETF options last October, which boosted market activity and price transparency. With these new approvals, 2025 could bring a wave of crypto-related investment products. ETF options are especially useful for institutional investors and traders who want to bet on or protect against price changes in crypto assets. In addition, 21Shares has proposed a Dogecoin (DOGE) ETF, with support from the Dogecoin Foundation. This product targets both regular and professional investors looking for unique investment opportunities. Dogecoin is praised for its fast transaction times, low fees, and strong online community. Unlike Bitcoin’s focus on being rare and valuable, Dogecoin is positioned as a practical and engaging digital currency for everyday use. Source: Blockworks Futures Market Updates Over the past 24 hours, both BTC and ETH futures experienced a decline in open interest, with BTC dropping by 3.66% and ETH by 2.75%, indicating a general cooling in market activity. BTC futures saw a more moderate decline in trading volume (-17.56%) compared to ETH's sharper drop of 31.52%, suggesting greater investor pullback in ETH markets. Despite the lower volume, ETH recorded slightly higher long liquidations than BTC. Both markets are showing nearly balanced long/short ratios, reflecting uncertainty among traders. Notably, ETH futures showed a negative funding rate, contrasting BTC's slightly positive rate, pointing to more bearish sentiment in the ETH market. BTC Futures Updates Total BTC Open Interest: $52.75B (-3.66%) BTC Volume (24H): $144.60B (-17.56%) BTC Liquidations (24H): $62.26M (Long)/$29.29M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 49.96%/50.04% Funding Rate: 0.0012% ETH Futures Updates Total ETH Open Interest: $17.35B (-2.75%) ETH Volume (24H): $60.63B (-31.52%) ETH Liquidations (24H): $64.60M (Long)/$24.71M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 49.79%/50.21% Funding Rate: -0.0032% Top 3 OI Surges BABY: $55.20M (+1361.30%) MANEKI: $2.37M (+403.66%) ZRC: $8.36M (+264.08%)

Congress keeps talking crypto amid trade war shifts

Representatives on the House Financial Service’s Digital Assets Subcommittee met today for a hearing on US crypto policy. That topic may not be top of the news cycle, but is still big in Washington. Rep. Brad Sherman from California, who has long been skeptical of any legislation deemed “pro crypto,” had an interesting take. “New coins” will overtake “old coins,” he said, and he’s all for new coins. We aren’t sure at all what he means here, but we think he’s saying he’d like to see some disruption in the crypto space. The hearing comes after six Financial Services Committee Democrats voted to advance the House’s STABLE Act last week. The legislation is similar to the GENIUS Act in the Senate (which also received bipartisan support), but the House’s version gives more power to state regulators to oversee issuers. The next step for both bills will be a full floor vote. Should the trade war continue to escalate, we expect crypto legislation will move to the back burner. Still, insiders on the Hill tell us stablecoin legislation should be the first crypto measure to pass. Up next is market structure, which has the industry much more divided. Source: Blockworks Futures Market Updates Markets show relief as Bitcoin returned to $80K. Bitcoin Futures Updates Total BTC Open Interest: $54.80B (+6.97%) BTC Volume (24H): $175.07B (+20.98%) BTC Liquidations (24H): $43.29M (Long)/$136.95M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 50.22%/49.78% Funding Rate: 0.0046% Ether Futures Updates Total ETH Open Interest: $17 .87B (+4.33%) ETH Volume (24H): $87.74B (+28.20%) ETH Liquidations (24H): $37.79M (Long)/$97.51M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 50.80%/49.20% Funding Rate: 0.0038% Top 3 OI Surges EDGE: $3.63M (+355.53%) QKC: $1.59M (+297.20%) STPT: $5.59M (+188.26%)

US stocks, cryptocurrencies erase early gains as tariff negotiation optimism wavers

US equities and cryptocurrencies stalled Tuesday afternoon, reversing earlier gains after the White House dashed hopes that international tariff negotiations were on the table. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite — after rallying more than 4% each at the start of the session — were back in the red by the close, ending the day about 2% and 1% lower, respectively. Bitcoin and ether were trading 4% and 6% lower on the day at 4 pm ET. Bitcoin, which briefly appeared insulated from the broader market selloff, is now down more than 12% since President Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement. Tuesday’s early stock rebound appeared to be spurred by optimism that Trump may walk back aggressive global tariffs unveiled last week. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during a Tuesday morning CNBC appearance that there may be “some good deals” on the table. The rally then stalled when hours later Trump confirmed that tariffs as high as 104% on Chinese imports will go into effect at midnight, unless Beijing reverses its retaliatory tariffs on the US. Investors continue to try and parse through mixed messages from the Trump administration about the permanence of tariffs, and the likelihood of any deals with foreign nations. Source: Blockworks Futures Market Updates Futures activity for both Bitcoin and Ether has cooled significantly with sharp declines in volume and open interest after heavy liquidations. Bitcoin Futures Updates Total BTC Open Interest: $50.76B (-1.88%) BTC Volume (24H): $140.94B (-35.54%) BTC Liquidations (24H): $109.04M (Long)/$29.33M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 49.31%/50.69% Funding Rate: 0.0019% Ether Futures Updates Total ETH Open Interest: $16.92B (-4.12%) ETH Volume (24H): $67.09B (-36.67%) ETH Liquidations (24H): $81.41M (Long)/$27.57M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 49.10%/50.90% Funding Rate: -0.0062% Top 3 OI Surges GAS: $35.61M (+435.56%) FORTH: $21.84M (+276.42%) RFC: $1.31M (+258.01%)

Hedging with Futures and Arbitrage Insights: A Crypto Trader's Playbook

Volatility in crypto is inevitable. But how you respond to it makes all the difference. Whether you're a long-term holder or a fast-moving trader, knowing how to hedge with futures and capitalise on arbitrage opportunities can turn market chaos into a strategic advantage. Hedging with Futures: Protection Through Positioning Futures contracts allow traders to lock in buying or selling prices for a specific date, or indefinitely with perpetuals. While many use them to speculate with leverage, futures are just as powerful for risk management, especially when paired with directional spot holdings. Two Core Hedging Approaches ● Short hedge: Already hold BTC or ETH in your spot wallet? Take a short futures position to protect against downside. If the market drops, your unrealised loss on spot can be offset by gains on your short futures. ● Long hedge: Expect prices to rise before you buy in? Go long on futures to lock in current rates, ensuring you won’t miss out if markets rally before you accumulate your position. This approach is especially relevant for institutions or miners holding large reserves, as well as retail traders who want to maintain exposure without full liquidation risk. For example, during early 2025's BTC consolidation around $69K–$70K, many institutional and retail traders used perpetual contracts to hedge spot exposure while waiting out macroeconomic uncertainty, including rate cuts and ETF inflows. For example, Bitget delivery contracts are commonly used for structured hedging strategies. With fixed expiry dates and no funding fees, they're ideal for managing risk around events like token unlocks, earnings seasons, or portfolio rebalancing timelines. Perpetuals: The Crypto Favourite Unlike traditional futures, perpetual contracts have no expiry date and track the spot price closely through funding rates, i.e. periodic fees exchanged between long and short traders. Depending on market sentiment, these rates can be used as a signal to gauge bullish or bearish pressure and adjust hedge sizing accordingly. Bitget funding rate updates. Source: Bitget Arbitrage Trading: Opportunity in Market Inefficiency Is there arbitrage between exchanges? In short, yes. Arbitrage trading is about exploiting price discrepancies across exchanges or trading pairs. In crypto, such inefficiencies are more common than in traditional finance due to decentralisation, varying liquidity depth, and fragmented infrastructure. While competition has increased, efficient bots and multi-platform access still give nimble traders an edge. Popular Arbitrage Strategies ● Spatial arbitrage: Buy BTC on one exchange at $89,500 and sell it on another at $89,700. With efficient settlement and fee awareness, that $200 spread (minus costs) becomes risk-free profit. ● Triangular arbitrage: Rotate through three assets (e.g., USDT → ETH → BTC → USDT) on a single exchange to pocket discrepancies in conversion rates. These opportunities are often small and brief but can be compounded over time. ● Funding rate arbitrage: When funding fees for perpetuals are high, a trader might go long spot and short futures to collect the difference. In early 2025, with ETH perpetuals seeing elevated long bias, this strategy has seen strong returns during price consolidation. ● P2P arbitrage: This strategy involves buying crypto at lower prices via peer-to-peer platforms (often in local fiat currencies) and reselling it on exchanges with tighter spreads or higher liquidity. It's especially effective in regions with price distortions due to capital controls or limited on-ramp access. Execution Edge Fast-moving markets demand fast tools. Today’s crypto arbitrage traders often deploy cross-exchange bots connected via APIs, monitoring spreads in real-time and executing within milliseconds. Exchanges like Bitget now offer portfolio margins for easier hedge coordination across positions. Still, fees, slippage, network congestion, and withdrawal times must be carefully managed. Even small inefficiencies in execution can wipe out otherwise profitable trades. The Combined Strategy: Surf the Spread, Hedge the Drop This is where things get interesting. By combining futures and arbitrage, traders can neutralise directional risk while still capturing inefficiencies. Example Setup Let’s say you spot a spread between BTC on Bitget and Binance: ● BTC is trading at $89,480 on Bitget. ● It’s $89,660 on Binance. ● You buy BTC spot on Bitget and short an equivalent perpetual position there to hedge exposure during the transfer. ● Once funds arrive at Binance, you sell spot for $89,660. ● Then you close the Bitget short. This nets you the spread ($180), minus trading and transfer costs. More importantly, you make profits without market risk exposure, thanks to the hedge. Why It Works Crypto markets are 24/7, and latency between exchanges, especially when bridging assets like ETH or stablecoins cross-chain, introduces temporary inefficiencies. Hedging futures while arbitraging those spreads allows you to surf the spread while hedging the drop, thereby preserving the upside while guarding against volatility. This combo is increasingly used in: ● CEX-to-CEX arbitrage, especially across low-liquidity pairs. ● CEX-to-DEX flows, especially with stablecoins and altcoins like SOL, ARB, or AVAX. ● Cross-chain stablecoin arbitrage, such as USDC on Ethereum vs. USDC.e on Arbitrum. ● P2P arbitrage, where traders capitalise on fiat pricing gaps—often combining local demand cycles with hedged crypto positions to lock in spread profits. ● P2P-to-CEX/DEX arbitrage, meaning to buy from peer markets at fiat and hedging en route to sell at higher exchange rates. Final Thoughts: Smarter Trading in 2025 The crypto market in 2025 is more sophisticated than ever. Spot ETFs have entered mainstream portfolios, real-world assets are being tokenised, and institutional desks are more active in derivatives than ever before. But the fundamentals of strategy remain: Futures protect your downside and allow flexible exposure. Arbitrage rewards attention, speed, and execution skill. Together, they form a disciplined, market-neutral strategy that work beyond hype cycles. You can either be a degenerate yield farmer or a precision-focused trader, but this much is clear: “Surf the spread, hedge the drop” is not just a tactic. It's how you stay in the game long enough to win it. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions.

Wall Street is suffering a stinky meltdown while Fartcoin is up 30%

While crypto and stock markets are deep in the red this week, one memecoin is defying the trend and surging at the time of writing. Fartcoin has surged a whopping 30% over the past 24 hours, topping $0.60 on April 8, according to CoinGecko. On April 7, the Solana-based memecoin hit a low of $0.42 amid the broader crypto market slump, which saw Bitcoin prices fall below $75,000 to a five-month low. However, since then the token has gained more than 40% and is one of the crypto market’s top performers at the moment. Crypto trader “RookieXBT” told their 484,000 followers that Fartcoin volume was increasing “while the world falls apart,” adding, “No other coin is doing this.” The financial parody account “Not Jerome Powell” quipped, “hot air rises,” noting that every asset was down aside from Fartcoin. Stock markets across the globe slumped on April 7 in reaction to Donald Trump’s sweeping trade tariffs. Bitcoin dumped 6% on April 3 in a fall from above $87,000 to around $81,500. Fartcoin was one of the first to recover, surging 36% the following day. Source: CoinTelegraph Futures Market Updates Recent higher long liquidations in both Bitcoin and Ethereum markets, despite positive funding rates, point to potential price volatility squeezing leveraged long positions. Bitcoin Futures Updates Total BTC Open Interest: $51.69B (-1.18%) BTC Volume (24H): $217.86B (+45.19%) BTC Liquidations (24H): $147.16M (Long)/$202.69M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 50.01% Long / 49.99% Short Funding Rate: 0.0043% Ether Futures Updates Total ETH Open Interest: $17.48B (-4.96%) ETH Volume (24H): $104.96B (+26.19%) ETH Liquidations (24H): $88.68M (Long)/$134.40M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 50.12% Long / 49.88% Short Funding Rate: 0.0015% Top 3 OI Surges HEI: $35.87M (+808.40%) EDU: $16.05M (+424.41%) AERGO: $21.54M (+156.50%)

Arthur Hayes loves tariffs as printed money pain is good for Bitcoin

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes says US President Donald Trump's tariffs may rattle the global economy in some ways, but that same disruption could be exactly what Bitcoin needs to rally. “Global imbalances will be corrected, and the pain papered over with printed money, which is good for BTC,” Hayes said in an April 3 X post. “Some of y'all are running scurred, but I LOVE TARIFFS,” Hayes said. His comments come just a day after it was announced that the Trump administration will hit all countries with a 10% tariff starting April 5, with some countries facing even larger rates, such as China facing a 34% tariff, the European Union 20%, and Japan 24%. Hayes explained that tariffs positively impact Bitcoin's price for several reasons. One of them, he said, is the “weakening” of the US Dollar Index (DXY), as overseas investors continue to sell off US stocks and “bring money home.” April 3 marked “the largest single-day point loss for the Nasdaq 100 in history,” according to the trading resource account The Kobeissi Letter. “The index lost a total of -1060 points and came just 1.5% away from triggering the first circuit breaker since March 2020,” The Kobeissi Letter said. "This is good for BTC and gold over the medium term." Hayes also said that the stringent tariff placed on China may weaken the yuan (CNY). “With a 65% effective tariff levied, China could respond by allowing CNY to weaken past 8.00,” Hayes said. A weakening yuan may force the hand of Chinese investors to look at riskier assets such as Bitcoin to preserve their wealth. Meanwhile, Hayes said that “we need Fed easing,” noting that the two-year Treasury yield “dumped” following the tariff announcement. He explained this as a signal that markets expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates and potentially restart quantitative easing (QE) to offset the negative economic impact. Fed rate cuts increase liquidity, also making riskier assets like crypto more attractive to investors. Meanwhile, Jeff Park, head of alpha strategies at Bitwise Invest, has long argued that Trump's tariffs will ultimately benefit Bitcoin. He said on Feb. 3 that in a “world of weaker dollar and weaker US rates…risk assets in the US will fly through the roof beyond your wildest imagination.” “Bookmark this and revisit as the financial war unravels, sending Bitcoin violently higher,” Parks said on Feb. 3. Source: CoinTelegraph Futures Market Updates Markets are showing cautious optimism for Bitcoin. Bitcoin Futures Updates Total BTC Open Interest: $52.44B (+0.76%) BTC Volume (24H): $104.51B (-34.96%) BTC Liquidations (24H): $37.45M (Long)/$24.32M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 50.05%/49.95% Funding Rate: 0.0055% Ether Futures Updates Total ETH Open Interest: $20.45B (+2.39%) ETH Volume (24H): $39.09B (-31.21%) ETH Liquidations (24H): $39.18M (Long)/$12.89M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 49.37%/50.63% Funding Rate: 0.0024% Top 3 OI Surges AMP: $3.52M (+773.53%) RARE: $54.09M (+270.36%) USUAL: $52.68M (+114.80%)

BNB Chain is Winning the Meme Coin Battle from Solana

BNB Chain is seeing a surge in meme coin activity, while Solana, its main competitor, faces setbacks. For most of 2024 and early 2025, Solana dominated the meme coin space with projects linked to celebrities and politicians. However, a scandal involving the Argentine president’s meme coin shook investor confidence, opening the door for BNB Chain to step in. BNB Chain has capitalized on this shift by launching Four.meme, a meme coin platform similar to Solana’s Pump.fun, and running daily competitions to support new tokens. As a result, PancakeSwap, its largest decentralized exchange, saw a massive increase in trading volume, surpassing many other networks. Binance’s support has played a key role in BNB Chain’s resurgence, especially with initiatives like the Meme Liquidity Support Program, which provides funding for top-performing memecoins. While Solana still leads in overall activity, BNB Chain is proving that it can attract retail traders and drive high transaction volumes when market conditions are favorable. Experts believe this trend is part of a broader cycle, with interest shifting between different blockchain ecosystems over time. Source: Cointelegraph Futures Market Updates In the past 24 hours, BTC futures saw an increase in open interest (+3.89%) and trading volume (+8.43%), while ETH futures experienced a decline in open interest (-1.90%) despite a rise in volume (+5.64%). Both markets had significantly more short liquidations than long liquidations, with BTC shorts liquidating $50.22M and ETH shorts liquidating $33.65M. The long/short ratio for BTC was nearly balanced at 49.96%/50.04%, whereas ETH had a slight long bias at 50.77%/49.23%. Additionally, ETH’s funding rate (0.0054%) was more than double BTC’s (0.0022%), indicating stronger long-side demand in ETH futures. BTC Futures Updates Total BTC Open Interest: $54.72B (+3.89%) BTC Volume (24H): $96.80B (+8.43%) BTC Liquidations (24H): $21.81M (Long)/$50.22M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 49.96%/50.04% Funding Rate: 0.0022% ETH Futures Updates Total ETH Open Interest: $20.29B (-1.90%) ETH Volume (24H): $39.72B (+5.64%) ETH Liquidations (24H): $13.98M (Long)/$33.65M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 50.77%/49.23% Funding Rate: 0.0054% Top 3 OI Surges COMP: $65.64M (+257.97%) LUCE: $13.06M (+246.59%) kBONK: $16.91M (+149.82%)

Bitcoin price gearing up for next leg of ‘acceleration phase’

A recent Fidelity Digital Assets report questioned whether Bitcoin price had already seen its cyclical “blow off top” or if BTC is on the cusp of another “acceleration phase.” According to Fidelity analyst Zack Wainwright, Bitcoin’s acceleration phases are characterized by “high volatility and high profit,” similar to the price action seen when BTC pushed above $20,000 in December 2020. While Bitcoin’s year-to-date return reflects an 11.44% loss, and the asset is down nearly 25% from its all-time high, Wainwright says the recent post-acceleration phase performance is in line with BTC’s average drawdowns when compared to previous market cycles. Wainwright suggests that Bitcoin is still in an acceleration phase but is moving closer to the completion of the cycle, as March 3 represented day 232 of the period. Previous peaks lasted slightly longer before a corrective period set in. “The acceleration phase of 2010 - 2011, 2015, and 2017 reached their tops on day 244, 261, 280, respectively, suggesting a slightly more drawn-out phase each cycle.” Source: CoinTelegraph Futures Market Updates Even though prices retraced a little bit, traders remained cautious when it comes to opening new positions. Bitcoin Futures Updates Total BTC Open Interest: $52.37B (-1.60%) BTC Volume (24H): $86.96B (+30.55%) BTC Liquidations (24H): $15.42M (Long)/$43.14M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 50.33%/49.67% Funding Rate: 0.0051% Ether Futures Updates Total ETH Open Interest: $20.62B (-1.46%) ETH Volume (24H): $37.20B (+4.04%) ETH Liquidations (24H): $28.66M (Long)/$26.64M (Short) Long/Short Ratio: 51.27%/48.73% Funding Rate: 0.0049% Top 3 OI Surges RIZ: $704.00K (+203.47%) DOGINME: $723.07K (+195.77%) BEL: $11.47M (+75.31%)