📌 The Most Important Chart in Crypto Right Now

5. The Most Important Chart in Crypto Right Now

Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, thinks “there is a fascinating dichotomy in crypto right now between institutional and retail investors.” While institutional sentiment towards crypto is the most bullish it has ever been, retail investor sentiment is terrible. According to Bitwise’s proprietary crypto sentiment score (see chart here), it is at one of its lowest readings of all time. So the big question is: Who’s right? Hougan’s betting on the institutions.

4. Bitcoin Exchange Fraudster Exchanged In Prisoner Swap

Alexander Vinnik, a 45-year-old Russian accused of a $4 billion bitcoin money laundering scheme, was released by the U.S. to help return American teacher Marc Fogel from Russian prison. Vinnik ran the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange and was arrested in 2017.

3. Inflation Heats Up, Market Cools Down

New data shows that inflation jumped to 3% in January, higher than the 2.9% forecast. Investors have dialed back expectations for Fed rate cuts, sending stocks lower while bond yields climbed. Adding to the jitters? Trump’s recent tariff threats could keep inflation running hot, leaving Fed Chair Jerome Powell with fewer options to cool things off anytime soon.

2. Altcoins in a Tailspin

Over the last two weeks, altcoins collectively shed $234 billion in market cap – one of their worst devaluations on record – while Bitcoin endured a more typical bull-market pullback. Onchain data shows altcoins are moving in near-perfect sync with each other, all tanking together amid weak demand and adoption. Meanwhile, BTC remains comparatively stable despite the broader market turmoil. See Glassnode’s full report here.

1. Trump Taps Quintez as CFTC Chair

Fist-pumps all around. Brian Quintenz, former CFTC commissioner (2017-2021) and head of crypto policy at a16z is expected to rejoin the agency after his selection by President Trump. Quintenz, who played a key role in the launching of CME Bitcoin Futures, which paved the way for spot BTC ETFs, could oversee a market structure revamp that shifts more power away from the SEC.