Coinpedia - Fintech & Cryptocurreny News Media| Crypto Guide

Brazil’s congressional committee has approved Bill 4,308/2024 to strengthen stablecoin oversight. The law requires all stablecoins to be fully backed by reserves, banning unbacked tokens like Ethena’s USDe and Frax. Issuers of unbacked coins could face up to eight years in prison, and exchanges handling foreign stablecoins such as USDT and USDC must follow strict compliance and risk rules. This move is set to reshape Brazil’s crypto market.

Bitcoin briefly dropped below the $70,000 mark for the first time since November 2024 and is now trading at $70,131, down 5.34% in the past 24 hours. Ethereum also faced heavy selling pressure, sliding to $2,095 after a sharp 6.96% daily decline. Market volatility triggered massive liquidations, with CoinGlass data showing $951 million wiped out in the last 24 hours. Long traders were hit the hardest, accounting for $790 million of the total liquidations, as the sudden sell-off caught bullish bets off guard.

On February 4, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded total net outflows of $545 million, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) seeing the largest single‑day withdrawal at about $373 million. Spot Ethereum ETFs also saw net outflows of $79.48 million, reflecting continued selling pressure in major crypto funds. In contrast, XRP spot ETFs attracted net inflows of $4.83 million, showing selective investor interest despite broader ETF outflows. The data highlights growing divergence in where capital is flowing within the crypto ETF market.

Grant Cardone confirmed that his firm, Cardone Capital, has bought more Bitcoin at around $72,000 per coin, adding to its growing institutional crypto holdings as part of a hybrid strategy that blends real estate cash flow with long‑term BTC accumulation. He used recent announcements to challenge investors waiting for lower prices to buy, telling them to act now rather than time the market. Cardone also dismissed bearish predictions that Bitcoin could fall to zero, reinforcing his belief in Bitcoin’s future.

BitMine Immersion Technologies, led by Tom Lee, is reporting over $7.4 billion in unrealized losses on its 4.285 million ETH holdings, bought at an average of $3,830 per coin, now worth below $2,100, while Ethereum has fallen below current levels. Despite these paper losses, the company continues its Ethereum treasury strategy, adding more ETH during the downturn and staking a large portion of its holdings to earn yield. Lee emphasizes that such drawdowns are normal in a long-term treasury approach, reflecting broader market cycles rather than a flaw in strategy. BitMine’s Ethereum holdings, roughly 3.5% of circulating ETH, show both its conviction in the market and the risks involved in deep crypto treasury plays.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Congress the government has no power to bail out Bitcoin or force private banks to buy it. In response to questioning by crypto critic Rep. Brad Sherman, Bessent stressed that interventions in Bitcoin markets are not part of the Treasury’s authority. He also confirmed that the U.S. will retain its seized Bitcoin, which has grown from $500 million to over $15 billion, as part of a strategic reserve policy focused on holding rather than selling these assets.

Over the past three days, Vitalik Buterin sold roughly 2,961.5 ETH, worth about $6.6 million, at an average price of $2,228 per coin, with selling still ongoing. On-chain data from his Gnosis Safe wallet shows repeated WETH outflows via CoW Protocol into tokens like USDC and GHO. The sales are a small portion of his 300,000+ ETH holdings, sparking mixed reactions: critics call it retail exit liquidity, while supporters note his history of funding Ethereum projects, biotech ventures like Kanro, and open-source initiatives. Ethereum traded near $2,150, down 5% in 24 hours, amid daily volumes exceeding $10 billion and continued institutional buying.

XRP dropped 10.08% to $1.43, underperforming the broader crypto market’s 7.18% decline and falling 23.85% over the past seven days. The drop followed a break below the critical $1.60 support, triggering automated selling and hitting the lowest price since November 2024. Bitcoin’s 6% decline and a global tech sell-off added pressure. Despite this, social sentiment remains strong, though extreme fear suggests short-term emotional selling may continue before a potential bounce.

Economist Peter Schiff criticized former President Trump’s push for U.S. dominance in Bitcoin and digital assets, calling it misguided as China focuses on building factories and buying gold. While the U.S. holds around 198,000 BTC, China’s holdings from seizures are close to 190,000-194,000 BTC. Meanwhile, China continues expanding its gold reserves, reaching 2,306 tonnes valued at over $319 billion by December 2025, signaling a preference for traditional assets over crypto.

Swiss banking giant UBS Group AG, which manages around $6.9 trillion in assets, is planning to offer cryptocurrency access to individual clients and tokenized deposit solutions for corporate customers as part of its digital asset strategy. CEO Sergio Ermotti described a cautious “fast follower” approach, focusing on building the right infrastructure and rolling out selective services while expanding pilot projects, highlighting the growing interest in blockchain among traditional banks amid evolving global demand and regulations.