Crypto markets took a significant hit this week after Bitcoin’s price fell below $60,000, triggering massive liquidations. This selling has been attributed to negative ETF flows, liquidations of high-debt trades in the Asian market, and pressure on the mining sector as asset prices decline.
Meanwhile, DeFi took another step toward mainstream finance, tokenized gold received renewed interest, and regulators proceeded with changes that could fundamentally alter how crypto is tracked and traded.
Read the full recap to find out where the losses mounted, where the support held, and what traders are watching next.
Bitwise Seeks SEC Approval for First Spot Uniswap ETF
Bitwise Asset Management has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a spot Uniswap ETF backed directly by UNI tokens. If approved, it would be the first U.S. ETF tied to a DeFi protocol’s native asset. The fund would custody UNI with Coinbase, track spot prices only, and avoid derivatives or staking, giving investors direct exposure through standard brokerage accounts.
Tether Takes $150M Stake in Gold.com to Expand Tokenized Gold
Tether has invested $150 million in Gold.com, taking roughly a 12% stake and a board seat to strengthen links between physical gold and its gold-backed stablecoin, XAU₮. The deal includes Gold.com investing $20 million in XAU₮ and exploring a $100 million gold-leasing program to facilitate movement between bullion, tokenized gold, and stablecoins.
MicroStrategy Posts $12B Q4 Loss as Bitcoin Slump Hits MSTR Stock
MicroStrategy shares fell with Bitcoin, pushing the stock down to around $106 and cutting its market value to roughly $35 billion. The company posted a $12 billion fourth-quarter loss, driven by accounting treatment of its Bitcoin holdings. That said, it still owns more than $45 billion in Bitcoin, carries about $8 billion in debt, and has cash on hand.
Crypto Fear Index Sinks as Sell-Off Deepens
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index dipped to 5, its lowest levels ever, as Bitcoin dipped and liquidations rose to above $2.7 billion. Bitcoin and Ethereum took the worst hits, clearing the $2 billion mark in leveraged positions. The Crypto market was affected by risk-off trades, tensions, and bearish macro calls, despite historical data suggesting it often experiences fear when it dips to record lows.
U.S. Lawmakers Probe Trump-Linked Crypto Firm Over $500M UAE Deal
A U.S. House committee is investigating World Liberty Financial after an Abu Dhabi–linked group reportedly bought a 49% stake for about $500 million in early 2025. Lawmakers are reviewing possible conflicts, money flows tied to the Trump family, and security concerns. The probe also covers WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin and a transaction linked to Binance.
BNB Chain Adds ERC-8004 for On-Chain AI Agent IDs
BNB Chain has added ERC-8004, an Ethereum standard that gives AI agents verifiable on-chain IDs. It tracks identity, reputation, and checks, enabling agents to move between apps and chains. BNB Chain also introduced new app-layer tools and a Non-Fungible Agent model, which lets agents be owned, transferred, or leased.
Chiliz Rises After Vision 2030 Details Supply Cuts
Chiliz (CHZ) edged higher after outlining its Vision 2030 plan, which includes token burns, buybacks, and broader SportFi use cases. The roadmap ties network activity to supply reduction through transaction burns and revenue-funded buybacks. Trading volume picked up as sentiment improved, with analysts noting early signs of a base forming.
XRP Price Drops to $1.60 as Selling Pressure Increases
XRP plummeted to $1.60, its lowest level since October, down 35 percent from its year-high, despite the broader market decline. The decline came despite Ripple issuing new licenses in Europe, the UK, and Singapore, and the continued growth of XRPL assets. However, the charts indicate weakness.
Dubai Tokenizes $280M in Diamonds on XRP Ledger
Dubai has placed more than $280 million worth of polished diamonds on Ripple’s XRP Ledger in a pilot led by Billiton Diamond and Ctrl Alt. The project verified inventory on-chain under regulated custody to make diamond trading more transparent and accessible to institutions.
Solana Fees Jump Even as Price Stays Under Pressure
Solana’s network use is climbing despite its price remaining in a downtrend. Fees rose 90% in 30 days to $26.4 million, transactions topped 2.3 billion, and active addresses passed 100 million. DEX volumes beat rivals, but charts still point to downside risk for SOL.
Polygon Gains 10% as Usage and Burns Pick Up
Polygon’s POL token climbed over 10% to about $0.114 as volume jumped nearly 80% and buyers returned after weeks of selling. The move followed heavy network use, the largest monthly token burn since the MATIC-to-POL switch, and strong stablecoin flows. Traders see the bounce as tied to usage, not a full trend shift.
