List of questions about [Cryptocurrency News]

Ready to Take Control of Your Crypto Journey? Start Trading Safely on BYDFi

CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost explained that falling open interest typically indicates that traders are closing leveraged positions, either voluntarily or through liquidations. This helps eliminate unstable leverage that can amplify volatility and trigger sharp market crashes.

Historically, similar drops in open interest have coincided with major local bottoms in Bitcoin’s price cycle. By flushing out overextended positions, the market effectively resets itself, creating a healthier base for future upward movement. However, Darkfost cautioned that if Bitcoin were to slide decisively into a prolonged bear market, open interest could decline further, signaling a deeper correction phase.

Bitcoin open interest represents the total value of unsettled derivatives contracts across futures and options markets. When this figure falls, it generally means fewer traders are using borrowed funds, lowering the risk of cascading liquidations like those seen during sudden market crashes earlier this cycle.

From Speculative Frenzy to Market Reset

The current contraction follows an intense period of derivatives-driven speculation throughout 2025. During that rally, Bitcoin open interest surged to record levels, exceeding $15 billion in early October. For comparison, during the peak of the 2021 bull market, open interest on major exchanges such as Binance topped out at around $5.7 billion.

This means derivatives exposure nearly tripled compared to the previous cycle, underscoring how overheated the market had become. The recent pullback, therefore, is viewed by many analysts as a necessary correction rather than a sign of structural weakness.

Price Strength With Falling Open Interest Sends a Bullish Signal

One of the more constructive signals emerging from current data is that Bitcoin prices have continued to rise even as open interest declines. Since the start of the year, BTC has gained close to 10%, suggesting that the rally is being driven more by spot market demand than by excessive leverage.

When prices rise while open interest falls, it often indicates that short sellers are being forced out of the market. As traders who bet against Bitcoin close their positions at a loss, selling pressure diminishes. This dynamic can contribute to a short squeeze effect, reinforcing upward momentum and making price advances more resilient.

Such conditions are often considered healthier than rallies fueled purely by leveraged speculation, which tend to be fragile and prone to abrupt reversals.

Derivatives Activity Remains Below Full Bull Market Conditions

Despite the improving market structure, derivatives data suggests that Bitcoin has not yet entered a fully bullish phase. Aggregate open interest across all exchanges currently stands at approximately $65 billion, down from more than $90 billion in early October, according to CoinGlass data.

Options markets reveal a cautiously optimistic outlook. On Deribit, the $100,000 strike price currently holds the largest concentration of open interest, with more call options than puts. This indicates that many traders are positioning for higher prices over the medium term.

However, derivatives analytics firm Greeks Live noted that current trading behavior appears reactive rather than conviction-driven. In their assessment, the market has not yet transitioned into a structurally bullish regime, and longer-term sentiment remains mixed.

Trading Bitcoin Derivatives on BYDFi

As traders navigate this evolving market environment, platforms like BYDFi have gained attention for offering advanced derivatives tools alongside strong risk management features. BYDFi provides access to Bitcoin futures, perpetual contracts, and spot trading, catering to both professional traders and newcomers seeking exposure with controlled leverage.

With growing emphasis on responsible trading and capital efficiency, exchanges that prioritize transparency, liquidity, and user protection are becoming increasingly relevant as the market matures.

Outlook: Reset Today, Opportunity Tomorrow

The sharp decline in Bitcoin open interest marks a critical transition point for the market. While uncertainty remains, the reduction in leverage has historically been a precursor to more stable and sustainable uptrends. If spot demand continues to strengthen and macro conditions remain supportive, Bitcoin could be positioned for a renewed bullish phase built on a healthier foundation.

For now, analysts agree on one point: the excesses of the previous speculative wave have largely been flushed out, and the next major move is more likely to be shaped by genuine demand rather than leverage-fueled hype.

The transition marks one of the most significant tokenomic updates in Pendle’s history and reflects a wider trend across DeFi: simplifying governance, improving liquidity, and lowering barriers for everyday users.

Why Pendle Is Moving Away From vePENDLE

Pendle’s original governance system was built around vePENDLE, a vote-escrow token that required users to lock their PENDLE for long periods of time. While the model was intended to encourage long-term alignment with the protocol, it ultimately created friction for most participants.

According to the Pendle team, long lock-up durations, non-transferability, and limited interoperability made vePENDLE unattractive to a large segment of users. Governance participation also required weekly engagement and a deep understanding of DeFi mechanics, which concentrated rewards among a small group of advanced participants.

This complexity became increasingly misaligned with Pendle’s expanding user base and growing total value locked, prompting the team to rethink how governance and incentives should function.

Introducing sPENDLE: A More Liquid Governance Token

The newly announced sPENDLE token is designed to address these shortcomings by introducing liquidity and flexibility into Pendle’s governance framework. Unlike vePENDLE, sPENDLE is a liquid staking and governance token that allows holders to exit their position with a 14-day withdrawal period, or immediately by paying a small fee.

This shift removes the psychological and financial burden of long-term lock-ups, making governance participation more accessible to both retail users and institutions. The Pendle team believes that lowering exit friction will significantly improve adoption and engagement across the ecosystem.

Staking for sPENDLE is set to go live shortly, while new vePENDLE locks will be paused ahead of a snapshot that will facilitate the transition.

Interoperability and DeFi Integration Take Center Stage

One of the most critical limitations of vePENDLE was its lack of interoperability. Because the token was non-transferable, it could not be used across other DeFi platforms, limiting its utility beyond Pendle’s own ecosystem.

sPENDLE changes that dynamic entirely. The new token is designed to integrate with multiple DeFi protocols, opening the door to use cases such as restaking, composable yield strategies, and broader liquidity participation. This aligns Pendle with a growing movement toward modular DeFi, where assets are expected to function seamlessly across platforms.

For traders and investors who already operate across multiple ecosystems, this change significantly increases the attractiveness of holding PENDLE.

A Simpler Governance Model Focused on Real Decisions

Pendle is also redesigning how governance itself works. Under the new structure, token holders will no longer be required to participate in weekly votes to remain eligible for rewards. Instead, governance participation will focus only on major protocol decisions, known as Pendle Protocol Proposals.

When no critical proposal is active, holders will automatically remain eligible for governance rewards without taking any action. This approach aims to strike a balance between meaningful decentralization and user convenience, ensuring that governance rewards are no longer limited to a small, highly technical minority.

Revenue Buybacks and Long-Term Incentives

To further strengthen the new model, Pendle plans to allocate up to 80% of its protocol revenue toward PENDLE token buybacks, which will then be distributed as governance rewards. This mechanism directly links protocol performance to token holder incentives, reinforcing long-term alignment without forcing users into rigid lock-ups.

With Pendle reportedly generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue, this buyback-driven reward system could become a powerful driver of sustainable value for holders under the new sPENDLE framework.

Pendle’s Position in the DeFi Market

Despite its governance challenges, Pendle has grown into one of the largest DeFi platforms by total value locked, ranking among the top protocols in the sector with billions of dollars secured on-chain. The governance revamp suggests that Pendle is now prioritizing scalability of participation, not just scalability of capital.

If successful, the sPENDLE transition could serve as a blueprint for other DeFi protocols struggling with low governance engagement.

Tracking PENDLE and DeFi Tokens on BYDFi

As governance innovation continues across DeFi, many traders prefer using flexible and advanced trading platforms to gain exposure to tokens like PENDLE. Platforms such as BYDFi provide access to a wide range of crypto assets, market analysis tools, and derivatives trading options, making them a practical choice for users looking to trade or hedge DeFi-related tokens.

For investors monitoring Pendle’s transition and broader DeFi governance trends, BYDFi offers a streamlined environment to track price movements, manage risk, and explore emerging opportunities without the complexity often associated with decentralized interfaces.

A Strategic Reset With Broader Implications

Pendle’s move from vePENDLE to sPENDLE is more than a technical upgrade—it is a strategic reset that acknowledges the realities of user behavior in modern DeFi. By prioritizing liquidity, interoperability, and simplified governance, Pendle is positioning itself for its next stage of growth.

Whether sPENDLE delivers the adoption boost Pendle expects will become clearer in the months ahead. However, one thing is certain: governance models that prioritize usability and flexibility are quickly becoming the standard in decentralized finance.

Omid Malekan, an adjunct professor at Columbia and a well-known crypto educator, argues that much of the resistance to stablecoin yield-sharing is rooted in misinformation deliberately pushed to protect the traditional banking model. In a recent post on X, Malekan expressed frustration that progress on crypto legislation is being slowed by what he described as  unsubstantiated myths  surrounding stablecoin economics.

The Real Fight: Who Controls Stablecoin Yield?

At the heart of the debate lies a simple but powerful question: who should benefit from the interest generated by stablecoin reserves?

Stablecoin issuers typically hold reserves in US Treasury bills and bank deposits, which generate yield. Banks and their lobbyists argue that allowing issuers or platforms to share this yield with users creates a dangerous loophole. Their fear is that consumers, attracted by passive returns of around 5%, could pull billions of dollars out of traditional savings accounts, triggering a so-called  deposit flight.

Malekan rejects this argument outright, calling it a convenient narrative designed to shield banks from competition rather than protect the financial system.

Why Stablecoins Don’t Drain Bank Deposits

One of the most persistent claims from the banking industry is that stablecoin adoption will inevitably shrink bank deposits. Malekan says this assumption ignores how the stablecoin market actually works.

Much of the demand for stablecoins comes from outside the United States. When foreign users purchase dollar-backed stablecoins, issuers are required to place reserves into US-based assets, including Treasury bills and bank deposits. Rather than draining the system, this process can inject new capital into American banks and government debt markets.

From this perspective, stablecoins are not a threat to deposits but a mechanism that can expand financial activity across borders.

Competition Isn’t the Problem — Profits Are

Another key myth, according to Malekan, is that stablecoins will cripple bank lending. In reality, stablecoins do not prevent banks from issuing loans. What they do is challenge banks’ ability to pay near-zero interest while earning substantial returns elsewhere.

Today, the average US savings account yields just over half a percent. If banks fear losing customers to yield-bearing stablecoins, Malekan argues, the solution is straightforward: pay savers more. Stablecoins introduce competition, not collapse.

Banks Are No Longer the Main Credit Engine

The argument that stablecoins could choke off credit also ignores a structural shift in the US financial system. Banks now provide only about one-fifth of total credit in the economy. The majority comes from non-bank sources such as money market funds, private credit firms, and capital markets.

These sectors could actually benefit from stablecoin adoption through faster settlement, lower transaction costs, and potentially reduced Treasury yields. Rather than weakening the system, stablecoins may enhance its efficiency.

Community Banks Aren’t the Real Victims

Much of the lobbying effort frames community and regional banks as the most vulnerable players. Malekan calls this another misleading narrative.

According to him, large money-center banks have far more to lose if stablecoins disrupt the status quo. Community banks are often used as a shield in public messaging, while the real objective is protecting the outsized profits of the largest financial institutions.

He describes the situation as an uncomfortable alliance between big banks defending their margins and certain crypto startups pitching services to smaller banks under the guise of protection.

Savers Matter Too — Not Just Borrowers

Public policy discussions often focus heavily on borrowers, but Malekan insists that savers deserve equal attention. Preventing stablecoin issuers from sharing yield effectively forces consumers to subsidize bank profits by accepting minimal returns on their money.

A healthy economy depends on both savers and borrowers. Blocking innovation that benefits savers simply to preserve existing profit structures undermines that balance.

Congress Faces a Choice: Consumers or Corporations

Malekan concludes with a clear message to lawmakers. The stablecoin yield debate should not be about preserving legacy advantages but about encouraging innovation and serving consumers.

He warns that many of the claims circulating in Washington lack empirical support and urges Congress to remain focused on progress rather than pressure from powerful lobbies.

Growing Pushback Against Banking Influence

The debate has also drawn reactions from legal and political figures. Lawyer and Senate candidate John Deaton recently reminded voters that senators are facing intense pressure from banking interests to prevent platforms like Coinbase from offering stablecoin rewards.

Deaton’s message was blunt: banks and career politicians do not necessarily act in the public’s best interest. He pointed out that restrictions on stablecoin yields could stifle innovation and limit consumer choice.

Coinbase has reportedly gone as far as warning that it may withdraw support for the CLARITY Act if lawmakers impose restrictions on stablecoin rewards beyond basic disclosure requirements — a sign of how high the stakes have become.

A Defining Moment for Crypto Regulation

As the market structure bill heads toward markup, the stablecoin yield issue may determine whether the US embraces a more competitive, consumer-focused financial system or reinforces the dominance of traditional banks.

Ready to Take Control of Your Crypto Journey? Start Trading Safely on BYDFi

On January 27, blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain flagged three wallets that collectively withdrew around $14.33 million in tokenized gold from exchanges such as Bybit, BYDFi , and MEXC. One wallet alone pulled 1,959 XAUT, valued at nearly $10 million, while others moved smaller but still significant amounts of XAUT and PAXG.

These tokenized assets track the price of gold rather than represent immediate physical delivery. However, their movement carries a clear message: crypto whales are seeking safety within the ecosystem without needing to exit digital channels.

The timing is notable. Spot gold has surged past $5,000 an ounce, attracting defensive capital, while Bitcoin has remained largely range-bound, trading near $88,125—up only 0.28% since the start of 2026. This divergence underlines a tactical approach: hedge in gold first, while Bitcoin waits for a favorable macro catalyst.

Tokenized Gold: Crypto’s On-Chain Safe Haven

The growing interest in tokenized gold is redefining how crypto investors hedge risk. Unlike traditional gold purchases, these tokenized assets allow investors to stay entirely within crypto rails, buying and moving gold on-chain without cashing out into fiat. This speed, flexibility, and familiarity are key advantages for whales who want security but remain embedded in digital markets.

Large exchange withdrawals often indicate intent to hold long-term rather than engage in short-term speculation. This aligns with the broader market trend: gold is rallying, with spot prices climbing 64% in 2025 and another 18% year-to-date into January 2026. Even major stablecoin issuers, like Tether, added 27 metric tons of gold to their reserves in late 2025, reflecting a growing acceptance of gold as a crypto-native hedge.

Bitcoin Stalls Amid ETF Outflows

While gold surges, Bitcoin’s slower movement is less about sentiment and more about market flows. Weekly reports from Bitwise Europe showed net outflows of $1.811 billion from global crypto ETPs, with over $1.1 billion from Bitcoin-specific products. Even US-listed Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $1.324 billion over the same period.

These outflows suppress incremental demand, meaning price stagnation does not reflect a lack of conviction but rather a flow-driven pause. Derivatives data supports this, with a three-month annualized basis near 4.8% and options skew leaning toward downside protection—a clear sign of risk management rather than a crowded long position.

Meanwhile, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index has swung back to fear after a brief January surge, highlighting the cautious sentiment dominating the market. A “maximum pain” stress channel between $75,000 and $81,000 for Bitcoin further illustrates how hedgers navigate downside risk when liquidity is thin.

Understanding the Sequencing of Gold and Bitcoin

The narrative emerging from these flows is not one of abandonment but strategic sequencing. Gold is the immediate safe-haven during risk-off periods, while Bitcoin may take the spotlight later when macro conditions favor liquidity and risk appetite.

The macro picture explains this rotation. Persistent geopolitical tensions, central bank gold purchases, and debates over reserve diversification have all contributed to gold surpassing the US dollar as the largest global reserve asset. In this context, investors diversify across bullion and Bitcoin, but timing and objectives differ: gold for stability, Bitcoin for potential upside during reflation or liquidity surges.

Wall Street asset managers are increasingly formalizing this relationship. Crypto-focused firms like Bitwise and Proficio Capital Partners recently launched an ETF bundling gold, metals, and Bitcoin, providing investors structured exposure to non-fiat assets and reinforcing the gold-first, Bitcoin-later strategy.

Could Bitcoin Be Poised for the Next Leg Up?

Some models suggest the next phase may favor Bitcoin, driven by relative value and liquidity rather than its status as a safe haven. Analysts at Bitwise Europe note that the BTC-to-gold ratio is at a minus-2-standard-deviation extreme relative to global money supply, a level not seen since 2015. Historical cycles indicate that BTC/Gold bear markets typically last around 14 months, and the current cycle has already reached this duration.

If flows reverse—from ETF outflows to inflows—Bitcoin could reconnect with gold’s momentum, and predictions point to potential prices above $125,000. The rotation would signal that risk appetite has returned and the market is ready to embrace Bitcoin as a high-convexity, trustless store of value.

Gold Sets the Stage, Bitcoin Awaits

For now, gold dominates the hedge narrative. Its historical stability, lower volatility, and central-bank support make it the go-to asset in a fear-driven market. Bitcoin, with its self-custody architecture and trustless design, is positioned as the next phase of macro hedging, waiting for the liquidity and market sentiment to shift.

Crypto whales are signaling a methodical approach: secure the present with gold, prepare for the future with Bitcoin. Understanding this sequencing may be key for traders and investors looking to navigate risk, maximize opportunities, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving intersection of digital and traditional finance.

• Start Trading on BYDFi Today – Secure, Fast, Reliable
• Join BYDFi Now and Explore Global Crypto Opportunities
• Experience Seamless Crypto Trading on BYDFi

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned investor, BYDFi gives you the tools to trade with confidence — low fees, fast execution, copy trading for newcomers, and access to hundreds of digital assets in a secure, user-friendly environment.

In times of heightened uncertainty, risk management becomes more important than ever. Many traders are turning to advanced platforms like BYDFi, which offers professional trading tools, deep liquidity, and flexible risk-control features tailored for volatile crypto markets.

BYDFi allows traders to monitor price action across multiple timeframes, manage leverage carefully, and react quickly to market shifts. For those navigating XRP’s current turbulence, having access to a reliable and fast trading environment can make a meaningful difference.

Whether traders are hedging downside risk or positioning for a potential rebound, platforms like BYDFi provide the infrastructure needed to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

Final Thoughts: Will History Repeat or Will Bulls Defend?

XRP is approaching a decisive moment. The convergence of bearish onchain signals, weakening technical structure, and ETF outflows paints a cautious picture. While history does not always repeat perfectly, it often rhymes — and the similarities to 2022 are difficult to ignore.

If bulls manage to reclaim and hold the $2 level, confidence could return and invalidate the bearish scenario. However, failure to do so may invite a deeper correction, testing the resolve of long-term holders once again.

For now, all eyes remain on XRP’s key support zones, as the market waits to see whether this warning signal becomes just another false alarm — or the beginning of a much larger move.

The debate over stablecoins has entered a new and more intense phase, as senior executives at JPMorgan Chase raise red flags over a fast-growing segment of the crypto market: yield-bearing stablecoins. While blockchain innovation continues to gain acceptance across traditional finance, concerns are mounting that certain stablecoin designs could quietly recreate banking functions without the protections that have defined the financial system for generations.

During JPMorgan’s latest earnings call, the topic surfaced as analysts questioned how large banks view the accelerating push for stablecoin adoption. The response made it clear that while Wall Street may be warming to digital assets, it is far from comfortable with every innovation emerging from the crypto ecosystem.

JPMorgan’s Core Concern: Banking Without Bank Rules

Jeremy Barnum, JPMorgan’s Chief Financial Officer, delivered one of the strongest warnings yet from a major US bank. According to Barnum, interest-bearing stablecoins pose a structural risk because they closely resemble traditional bank deposits while operating outside the established regulatory framework.

His concern centers on the idea that these assets can function like savings accounts by holding dollar-pegged value and generating yield, yet they do so without capital requirements, liquidity rules, deposit insurance, or prudential oversight. In Barnum’s view, this combination creates what he described as a  parallel banking system, one that mirrors banking services but lacks the safeguards built over centuries of financial regulation.

JPMorgan emphasized that its stance is not anti-innovation. The bank continues to support blockchain technology, tokenized assets, and regulated digital finance. What it opposes is the replication of core banking functions without equivalent responsibility or supervision.

The GENIUS Act and the Push for Guardrails

Barnum’s remarks align closely with the intent of the GENIUS Act, a proposed US legislative framework designed to impose clear boundaries on stablecoin issuance and operation. The bill aims to ensure that stablecoins remain tools for payments and settlement rather than evolving into shadow deposit products that compete directly with banks.

Lawmakers backing the bill argue that stablecoins should not offer passive interest simply for holding a token, as this would blur the line between crypto instruments and regulated deposits. Supporters believe guardrails are necessary before stablecoins reach mass adoption, particularly as institutional and retail users increasingly rely on them for dollar exposure.

Why Yield Changes Everything for Stablecoins

Stablecoins have already transformed global payments by offering near-instant settlement, 24/7 availability, and borderless access to US dollars. Their rapid growth reflects dissatisfaction with slow banking rails and limited access in many regions.

However, the introduction of yield dramatically changes their role. When stablecoins begin paying interest, they stop being mere transactional tools and start competing directly with bank deposits, money market funds, and savings accounts. This is where traditional financial institutions see a serious threat, especially at a time when bank deposit rates remain relatively low.

From the banking industry’s perspective, yield-bearing stablecoins could attract capital away from regulated institutions while avoiding the obligations that banks must meet to protect depositors and maintain systemic stability.

Congress Intensifies Scrutiny on Stablecoin Rewards

The regulatory debate is now firmly in the hands of US lawmakers. A newly amended draft of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act signals a clear intention to prevent stablecoins from functioning like interest-bearing deposits. Under the proposed language, crypto service providers would be prohibited from offering yield solely for holding a stablecoin.

At the same time, lawmakers are leaving room for innovation. Incentives linked to broader ecosystem participation, such as liquidity provision, governance involvement, or network-level activity, may still be permitted. This distinction suggests regulators are not trying to suppress crypto rewards entirely, but rather to prevent stablecoins from becoming unregulated savings products.

Market Reality: Innovation Will Not Slow Down

Despite regulatory pressure, demand for stablecoins continues to grow globally. Users value their speed, transparency, and accessibility, particularly in regions where traditional banking is expensive or unreliable. The question is no longer whether stablecoins will play a role in the future of finance, but how that role will be defined and regulated.

Crypto markets have historically adapted quickly to regulatory change, often finding compliant structures that preserve innovation while satisfying legal requirements. This evolution is already visible in the rise of regulated exchanges, licensed custodians, and compliant derivatives platforms.

Where Platforms Like BYDFi Fit Into the Picture

As the stablecoin debate intensifies, traders and investors are increasingly seeking platforms that balance innovation with responsible risk management. BYDFi has positioned itself as a crypto trading platform that embraces market evolution while offering users transparent tools for spot and derivatives trading.

Rather than relying on passive yield mechanics that face regulatory uncertainty, BYDFi focuses on empowering users through advanced trading features, deep liquidity, and access to major digital assets in a secure environment. As regulatory clarity improves, platforms that align with compliance-friendly innovation are likely to benefit the most.

For traders navigating an evolving stablecoin landscape, choosing exchanges that prioritize sustainability over short-term incentives is becoming a key strategic decision.

The Bigger Picture for Crypto and Banking

The warnings from JPMorgan highlight a broader truth about the crypto industry’s maturation. As digital assets grow closer to traditional finance, they inevitably attract the same scrutiny and responsibility. Yield-bearing stablecoins sit at the center of this transition, challenging regulators to strike a balance between innovation and systemic safety.

Whether lawmakers ultimately restrict or reshape stablecoin rewards, one thing is certain: the outcome will shape the next chapter of digital finance. For investors, traders, and platforms alike, adapting early to this reality may be the difference between long-term growth and regulatory friction.