{"id":3227,"date":"2025-02-28T07:40:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T07:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tdmm.io\/insights\/?p=3227"},"modified":"2025-02-28T10:41:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T10:41:04","slug":"february-2025-when-trade-wars-met-crypto-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/blog\/february-2025-when-trade-wars-met-crypto-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"February 2025: When Trade Wars Met Crypto Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">Welcome to our\u00a0<strong>February 2025 Monthly Roundup by TDMM!<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">January was all about setting the tone for the year, but February became the month of surprise tranquility in backroom upheaval. While traditional markets remained cool despite economic surprises, crypto markets experienced\u00a0<strong>a whirlwind of liquidity trends, regulatory maneuvers, and shocking token market shake-ups.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">From\u00a0<strong>the SEC\u2019s 240-day approval countdown for an XRP ETF decision<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0<strong>South Korea preparing to let institutional investors into crypto<\/strong>, and even\u00a0<strong>Argentina\u2019s President sparking (then deleting) a LIBRA token frenzy<\/strong>, this month proved yet again that\u00a0<strong>crypto moves fast\u2014and those who keep up stand to gain the most.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">Adding to the storm,<strong>\u00a0Bybit<\/strong>\u00a0experienced a severe security breach, putting exchange vulnerabilities into question and reiterating the calls for enhanced security in the sector.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">So, strap in\u2014here&#8217;s the complete analysis of February 2025 and what it holds for the future of digital assets.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"header-0\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\">Macro &amp; Market Updates<\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">February opened with a major market test: U.S. CPI data came in hotter than expected. Traditionally, inflation surprises tend to send waves through equity and crypto markets, yet this time, markets barely flinched.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Key Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Markets absorbed inflation concerns, signaling growing resilience.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Abu Dhabi\u2019s sovereign wealth fund officially invested in Bitcoin, a move that solidifies institutional confidence in crypto.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The SEC and Binance settled on a 60-day lawsuit moratorium, suggesting possible settlement talks.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Argentina President Javier Milei temporarily supported the LIBRA token, causing a price spike before the token imploded in a suspected rug pull.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>This month highlighted an important trend:<\/strong>\u00a0Crypto is breaking through reactionary trading and evolving into a more sophisticated, self-contained ecosystem.<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"strong-bybit-experiences-1-5-billion-hack-strong\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 fkVTTs base-text\"><strong>Bybit Experiences $1.5 Billion Hack<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What Went Wrong?<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">One of the largest security breaches affected\u00a0<a class=\"sc-4397fcc6-8 iVcJGC\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/bybit-exchange-crypto-hack-88256366c723a9de8327ef3d4071057e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Bybit<\/a>, a top cryptocurrency exchange in the world, and around $1.5 billion worth of Ethereum got stolen. The attack was made during a standard wallet transfer when funds were immediately redirected to an unknown address.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Bybit CEO Ben Zhou assured that the exchange is solvent and actively collaborating with law enforcement.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The attacker&#8217;s identity and attack vector are still unknown, sparking concerns about centralized exchange security.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Bybit assured users that no user balances were impacted, but the attack is a reminder of persistent weaknesses in the space.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Bybit acted quickly, exhibiting world-class crisis management. Learn more about what they did here:\u00a0<a class=\"sc-4397fcc6-8 iVcJGC\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/vaibhav-singh-growth-hacker_ftx-wazirx-crisismanagement-activity-7299153490184978432-w5dG?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAD-1mw8BXESNUm660NoHZkvekGAMhd_LXqo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">How Bybit Handled the Largest Crypto Hack<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Market Impact:<\/strong>\u00a0This hack is a follow-up to earlier major breaches (such as the Mt. Gox and FTX hacks), reminding traders why security measures and self-custody are important. Look for greater scrutiny of centralized exchanges in the next few months.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"header-1\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>The Liquidity Lowdown<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">While the crypto market is still grappling with the repercussions of FTX&#8217;s fall, liquidity has emerged as one of the largest buzzwords in 2025.<a class=\"sc-4397fcc6-8 iVcJGC\" href=\"https:\/\/research.kaiko.com\/insights\/liquidity-lowdown-asset-ranking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\u00a0Kaiko&#8217;s<\/a>\u00a0recent liquidity ranking provided us with profound insights into the performance of various tokens in the post-FTX scenario.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What&#8217;s happening?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Market depth is back to pre-FTX levels, which means confidence in crypto trading is rising.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Altcoin spot ETFs are nearer to reality, boosting institutional interest in assets other than Bitcoin and Ethereum.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\"><strong>Liquidity vs. Market Cap Rankings:<br \/>\n<\/strong>&#8211; BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP are very liquid.<br \/>\n&#8211; Tokens such as LEO, WBTC, and HYPE are high market cap ranked but lack liquidity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfpBUJf6a9zzPq9cDEEEiNpfJKGVyZS1pSF-N7fJSB8N1zrxdNWknJ2ZaUYPG2IqI_RkH44NKQ2WYRxAg6-64tcRS8AORGwZbapNk3wTz7UXnks896Zw4k2rQLG7uUfl3nhqLXl7g?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXeblTSSv2nXqqzXT9-JrcJJSXhPC8Fk4Fsb4gX4uKHKLHqY8m_PBLW2t3DFhqQDOO6mXoTsO3wuTckKo50UgeZTIb-gcbUcuRyWPwKTiSFakRlikyV38uaAkMdXZSaKtGgqXJcu?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Why does this matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">Most traders continue to use market cap as an indicator of strength for a token, but liquidity paints a very different picture. Some of the biggest market cap tokens just don&#8217;t have sufficient liquidity to support their valuation, and so there is extreme price volatility when big trades are made.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>One such case in point:<\/strong>\u00a0HYPE token, where much of its supply is locked, reducing its liquidity significantly below its apparent market value. really liquid.<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfM-V4LYwyWEyzCujE-nMNHx_au5J0-ZNHSvZe0-NAihEi-VcSV4I2W3jDymShApHXoWLgpz0MD-gMqG71vOV3mmDwFsQxM-wQ7aPhP6HK4a46QgRoMym4Mp0zUby_546UA7pbA4w?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"strong-aave-expands-defi-lending-services-strong\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 fkVTTs base-text\"><strong>AAVE Expands DeFi Lending Services<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">AAVE, a leading DeFi lending platform, is rolling out new lending and borrowing services, reinforcing its status as one of the most influential DeFi protocols.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What\u2019s New?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Users can borrow and lend more cryptocurrencies with enhanced risk management tools.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">AAVE is expanding its institutional offerings, drawing in hedge funds and traditional finance players.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The expansion solidifies DeFi\u2019s growing role as an alternative to traditional banking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What&#8217;s Next?<\/strong>\u00a0As institutional interest in DeFi grows, AAVE&#8217;s action may drive mainstream adoption beyond retail traders.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"header-2\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>Trading &amp; Market Maker Activity<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Market Making &amp; Liquidity Dynamics<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Bid-Ask Spreads &amp; Volume Trends:- XRP, PEPE, and LINK experienced higher-than-normal spreads, which implies that liquidity remains fragmented.- Exchange tokens such as BGB (Bitget) and GT (Gate.io) fared better since they are still drawing in market maker activity.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Why this is important:- Higher trading activity draws in more market makers who offer liquidity, which is a self-reinforcing cycle.- BTC remains the volume leader, but SOL and XRP are closing the gap.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>One big issue<\/strong>: More than half of the top 50 tokens still can&#8217;t muster more than $200M in daily volume. This increases the likelihood of flash crashes and market manipulation, particularly in lower-volume altcoins.<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"strong-robinhood-39-s-big-crypto-bet-expansion-in-the-trump-era-strong\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 fkVTTs base-text\"><strong>Robinhood&#8217;s Big Crypto Bet: Expansion in the Trump Era<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><a class=\"sc-4397fcc6-8 iVcJGC\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/robinhood-plans-ambitious-crypto-expansion-under-trump-administration-94d6aec9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Robinhood Markets\u00a0<\/a>is doubling down on its crypto trading business, capitalizing on what many view as a more crypto-friendly attitude under the Trump administration.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What&#8217;s Happening?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Robinhood is going to increase tokenization and stablecoin offerings, potentially making crypto more mainstream for retail investors.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The company is navigating a regulatory shift, targeting responsible but fast growth.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Market commentators believe that Robinhood&#8217;s move may further legitimize crypto trading for retail investors community,positioning it as a formidable competitor to exchanges like Coinbase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What It Means:<\/strong>\u00a0Robinhood&#8217;s entry into DeFi and tokenized assets could push mainstream adoption even further\u2014especially if regulatory pressures let up.<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdlPCOTdeseVn6xP7r_ZWX6KyST7alRz4MFJUVPsGqPDQXMKS-NLqaF78g6H5wU8IX55SzAPEHuGnv7pAeOHvPdEfMdGA1z-GE8KOIXNyWRIWPV9M0nQD25x1qtE5nyzGCpT1-L?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"header-3\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>The Regulatory Countdown<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>XRP ETF Approval Window Begins<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">One of the largest regulatory events this month: The SEC officially recognized<a class=\"sc-4397fcc6-8 iVcJGC\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/articles\/xrp-price-eft-crypto-5d19b377\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\u00a0XRP ETF<\/a>\u00a0filings.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What does it signify?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The SEC has initiated a 240 days review period to approve or reject an XRP ETF that will conclude in October 2025.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">A decision could cause huge volatility, just like we experienced when the ETH ETF was approved in May 2024.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">If approved, it would open the door to a new era of institutional investment in XRP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfBttlV7oDQaXXNsexAl-opKn3OhbwM8gZ8iZlXpntlA03J7k9TCA5tn038TAw_nfMHRebGe7qHY2gcdfMdwjgcDmrpqUdgBnD_mtykboucKoKfqoTXq8kvTbtZDmW_h4XKaenPzQ?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>South Korea&#8217;s Institutional Trading Green Light<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">South Korea will allow institutional traders\u2014like non-profits, universities, and professional investors\u2014to trade crypto in 2025.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">This is a dramatic shift, as the country&#8217;s retail-only system has long meant that the infamous Kimchi Premium (where BTC is more expensive in Korea than anywhere else globally) has ensued.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdNviBnYoJxErJNaiX-NGLb4dEj1dodxqbjZ0gzmP-7cd7rjbz6ioo539kvTD4huPlyX7ozviTVVCgc3rvHikxZl3MGRXcySxmuNvpKmcFx_pVez-AUJhiYnYBDSdpVchOCZc73?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"strong-sec-to-dismiss-coinbase-lawsuit-strong\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 fkVTTs base-text\"><strong>SEC to Dismiss Coinbase Lawsuit<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">In a significant win for the crypto community, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to drop its case against\u00a0<a class=\"sc-4397fcc6-8 iVcJGC\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/finance\/regulation\/coinbase-says-sec-intends-to-drop-lawsuit-against-crypto-exchange-4b3b0c36\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Coinbase<\/a>. The case originally sought to label the exchange as a securities trading platform, which was widely criticized as an overreach.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Why This Matters:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Regulatory Shift? The SEC under the new government appears to be reversing its tough stance towards crypto.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Implications for Other Exchanges: If the Coinbase case is dismissed, other exchanges like Binance and Kraken may feel similar relief.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Crypto Market Response: The ruling would trigger a wave of optimism, potentially leading to a rally in regulation-sensitive tokens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>What&#8217;s Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">While the dismissal of the lawsuit is good news, the SEC&#8217;s overall crypto regulation plan is still unclear.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"standard-chartered-supports-hkd-stablecoin\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 fkVTTs base-text\">Standard Chartered Supports HKD Stablecoin<\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">A significant development in the Asia crypto space: Standard Chartered Hong Kong, together with Animoca Brands and HKT, is applying for a\u00a0<a class=\"sc-4397fcc6-8 iVcJGC\" href=\"https:\/\/ibsintelligence.com\/ibsi-news\/standard-chartered-leads-hong-kongs-stablecoin-push-with-animoca-hkt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin<\/a>\u00a0license.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Why This Matters:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The initiative would enhance cross-border crypto payments between China and other markets.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Traditional bank-backed stablecoins would introduce more institutional confidence into the digital asset ecosystem.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">This is a follow-up on an increasing trend of regulated stablecoins, with traditional financial powerhouses entering the space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Big Picture<\/strong>: As the demand for regulated stablecoins grows, this can be one step towards an expanded institutionalized crypto banking system.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"header-4\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>Crypto Scandals: The LIBRA Token Crash<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">No month in crypto goes by without a little high-drama market intrigue, and this month it was courtesy of Argentina President Javier Milei.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">February 14th saw Milei shill for LIBRA token, pushing it through the roof\u2014only for it to immediately crash 80%.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Reports broke that 82% of the supply of LIBRA was owned by a group of wallets, stoking fears of price manipulation.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Insiders were reportedly drained of $107M in USDC and SOL prior to the crash.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Milei then deleted his posts but the damage was done. Lawyers in Argentina have now accused him of fraud and market manipulation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdefK-QBjKouWHAzK1w0Dyl4TI6bdgLrDAKXkKdI7y2JP7IrfaCnCHH-b2xXHliBtUVq-2xmDC3MZt4CqCSCmGC81UDb6OCNo6i9M8DjJj8VImbLzntu4IJmuF-DSNjH0h29Nj77A?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">Does this sound familiar? This is following the same script as the TRUMP and MELANIA token launches. Interestingly, while both Libra and MELANIA peaked within hours of launching, the TRUMP token reached its all-time high a day after its release and has technically remained up since then.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-4397fcc6-0 jmrUDz\" role=\"presentation\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdtJd_rychk1q0BrtfePzY6Nm7SSecKBOEYcvGtwy7YHDe6RA0tCm5DNwdxvNlpNU8sJ3rH8l-zdsJz34PYnxVv2XFY_MWUqFTLBwjkxPL1f6qaxGGD5UX2CULVL-iNuQAqEoQvPg?key=r70sM8Na9_op8SHH1TRGwaTE\" \/><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"header-5\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>Blockchain &amp; NFT Ecosystem Trends<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Ethereum&#8217;s Transaction Volume Reaches Multi-Year Low<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The 7-day moving average of ETH fees declined 70% week-over-week, reaching a four-year low.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Median gas prices also reached their lowest since July 2020.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Lower fees may increase adoption, but the precipitous decline indicates weak demand instead of network efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Opensea&#8217;s Market Share Blows Up<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The listing of Opensea&#8217;s $SEA token drove its Ethereum NFT market share up from 25.5% to 71.5% in only four weeks.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Daily average NFT trading volume increased from $3.47M to $17.4M after the announcement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">This may re-ignite the NFT marketplace war, with Opensea taking back lost ground from rivals such as Blur.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"strong-immutable-x-powers-up-nft-gaming-strong\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 fkVTTs base-text\"><strong>Immutable X Powers Up NFT Gaming<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">Immutable X, a leading Ethereum Layer 2 solution, has launched zero-gas NFT transactions and instant minting, simplifying it for gaming platforms to scale.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Why This Matters:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The platform has gained partnerships with top gaming studios, driving the growth of NFT-based games.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">By removing gas charges, Immutable X reduces barriers to entry for players and creators.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">With NFT gaming remaining a red-hot industry, this step may redefine in-game economies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Big Picture:<\/strong>\u00a0The NFT gaming space is transforming, and solutions like Immutable X are setting the stage for the next generation of blockchain entertainment.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"header-6\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>Futures &amp; Derivatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>BTC &amp; ETH Futures Volume Plunged Drastically<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">BTC futures trading volume decreased 42%, whereas ETH futures traded down 55% from last week.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">BTC remained stable at $96,500, while ETH recorded a modest 2.2% increase this month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">This cooldown is after one of the biggest liquidation events ever, which was caused by Trump&#8217;s tariff pronouncements on Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"qubetics-disrupts-blockchain-interoperability\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 fkVTTs base-text\">Qubetics Disrupts Blockchain Interoperability<\/h3>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">Qubetics is innovating with a new blockchain interoperability platform, set to consolidate fractured networks and provide seamless cross-chain transactions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Key Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The project presold $13.6 million, selling more than 484 million tokens.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">The objective? Interconnecting isolated blockchain worlds, resolving one of the industry&#8217;s most pressing issues.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">This could push mass adoption into high gear, enabling easy asset transfers between chains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Why It Matters:<\/strong>\u00a0With blockchain adoption on the rise, interoperability is the key to an interconnected, scalable crypto economy\u2014and Qubetics may be spearheading the initiative.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"header-7\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>Current Market Rundown<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">February 2025 has been a rollercoaster for the\u00a0crypto market, with the mood oscillating between optimism and caution.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Bitcoin&#8217;s Performance and Market Sentiment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">On February 28 (while writing), Bitcoin was trading at\u00a0<strong>$79,327.00<\/strong>, down 8.15%\u00a0 from the last close. The fall has moved the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index into the\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0zone, falling to 16.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Major Drivers of Sentiment<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Geopolitical Uncertainty<\/strong>: President Trump&#8217;s declaration to go ahead with a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico has created uncertainty, impacting both mainstream and crypto markets.<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Security Issues:<\/strong>\u00a0The recent $1.5 billion Bybit hack, blamed on the Lazarus Group, raised concerns over exchange security, adding to investor concern.<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Regulatory Updates:<\/strong>\u00a0The SEC&#8217;s second thoughts on cryptocurrency policy, such as withdrawing the lawsuit against Coinbase, provides a silver lining that hints at relaxation of regulations down the line.<\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\"><strong>Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">While near-term sentiment looks bearish, market giants such as ARK Investment&#8217;s Cathie Wood continue to remain positive, perceiving Bitcoin&#8217;s recent consolidation as the building blocks of future success.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">With the market currently facing volatile waters, participants must balance careful optimism with smart caution.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"header-8\" class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 AVfme base-text\"><strong>Final Thoughts: What&#8217;s Next?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">February has taught us that crypto is at crossroads:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-4397fcc6-5 ddjYcq\">\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Liquidity is recovering, but altcoins still struggle with stability.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Regulatory decisions loom large, and XRP\u2019s ETF could be a market game-changer.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 gSmkqc base-text\">Political interference in crypto is growing, with figures like Milei and Trump influencing token speculation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">As we head into March, the million-dollar question is: Are we headed towards a new era of regulatory and institutional transparency, or are we just in the eye of the storm before the next one comes along?<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-65e7f566-0 guDVVy base-text\">P.S \u2013 \ud835\udde7\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff \ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf9 \ud835\uddfd\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf9\ud835\ude06 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf9 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf1\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf2. \ud835\uddd4\ud835\uddf9\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude06\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddd7\ud835\uddec\ud835\udde2\ud835\udde5 \ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf8\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf4 \ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude00.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to our\u00a0February 2025 Monthly Roundup by TDMM! January was all about setting the tone for the year, but February became the month of surprise tranquility in backroom upheaval. While traditional markets remained cool despite economic surprises, crypto markets experienced\u00a0a whirlwind of liquidity trends, regulatory maneuvers, and shocking token market shake-ups. From\u00a0the SEC\u2019s 240-day approval countdown for an XRP ETF decision\u00a0to\u00a0South Korea preparing to let institutional investors into crypto, and even\u00a0Argentina\u2019s President sparking (then deleting) a LIBRA token frenzy, this month proved yet again that\u00a0crypto moves fast\u2014and those who keep up stand to gain the most. Adding to the storm,\u00a0Bybit\u00a0experienced a severe security breach, putting exchange vulnerabilities into question and reiterating the calls for enhanced security in the sector. So, strap in\u2014here&#8217;s the complete analysis of February 2025 and what it holds for the future of digital assets. Macro &amp; Market Updates February opened with a major market test: U.S. CPI data came in hotter than expected. Traditionally, inflation surprises tend to send waves through equity and crypto markets, yet this time, markets barely flinched. Key Highlights: Markets absorbed inflation concerns, signaling growing resilience. Abu Dhabi\u2019s sovereign wealth fund officially invested in Bitcoin, a move that solidifies institutional confidence in &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3227"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3232,"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3227\/revisions\/3232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.tdmm.io\/insights\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}