Assemble AI

Russia aims to deploy its digital ruble to facilitate trade with BRICS countries, moving away from reliance on the US dollar. The digital ruble is part of a broader BRICS initiative to create unified CBDC infrastructure and regulatory standards. While domestic demand for the digital ruble is low, officials expect benefits in preventing fraud and corruption; meanwhile, BRICS central banks express concerns about stablecoins' risks.

An Israel Defense Forces reservist and a civilian have been indicted for using classified intelligence to place bets on military operations through Polymarket. The investigation involved the Ministry of Defense, Shin Bet, and Israel Police. Charges include serious security breaches, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

Senator Mark Warner, a prominent Democratic negotiator, expressed his desire for the U.S. crypto market structure bill to advance. SEC chief Paul Atkins highlighted that passing the bill is essential for establishing durable regulatory policy. Both emphasize that delaying or failing to pass the legislation could undermine effective governance of the crypto sector.

El Salvador's Bitcoin holdings have depreciated by around $300 million due to the ongoing price decline. The losses are stirring concern in the nation's bond market and complicating IMF loan negotiations. Despite these setbacks, the government persists in purchasing Bitcoin, raising doubts about IMF support especially with delayed pension reforms.

A former IMF official has highlighted concerning signs in the US Treasury market, noting that long-term bond yields remain high despite recent Federal Reserve rate cuts. The US government’s shift to short-term borrowing has not lowered yields as expected, and foreign appetite for US debt, including from China, appears to be waning. Chinese banks have reportedly been advised to limit their exposure to US Treasuries, raising concerns about a potential crisis in the bond and dollar markets.

Ark Invest's Cathie Wood predicts that rapid technological advances, including AI, will drive deflationary pressures and challenge traditional financial systems. She sees Bitcoin as a trustless alternative capable of thriving amid this 'deflationary chaos.' This outlook was shared during Bitcoin Investor Week, highlighting Bitcoin's potential role in a shifting financial landscape.

In January, publicly traded Bitcoin-buying firms accumulated approximately 43,230 BTC valued at $3.5 billion, with Strategy accounting for 93% of purchases. Despite heavy losses and a 70% drop in Strategy’s stock price, the firm remains the dominant buyer amid competitors' declining activity. Some companies, including miners Riot Platforms and Bitdeer, began selling Bitcoin, while Strategy maintains a steadfast commitment to holding and acquiring BTC.

Within two weeks of the launch of Ethereum's new standard ERC-8004, over 20,000 AI agents have been deployed on various blockchains including Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Base. The ERC-8004 standard facilitates autonomous AI agents to interact, transact, and build reputations on-chain without intermediaries. This innovation aims to enhance decentralized AI agent ecosystems by enabling seamless on-chain communication and reputation management.

Ethereum’s price remains pressured despite entering an 'opportunity zone' indicated by its MVRV ratio, signaling potential undervaluation. Short-term holders are currently more profitable and active, while long-term holders are shifting from accumulation to distribution, indicating weakening foundational support. Key technical levels such as $1,811 support and resistance near $2,238 and $2,509 will determine whether Ethereum can stabilize or continue to face downward pressure.

Bitdeer, a Bitcoin cloud mining company, reported Q4 revenue of $225 million, tripling from $69 million a year ago. The company also achieved a net income of $70.5 million, reversing a $531.9 million loss in Q4 of the previous year. This success is driven by expanded proprietary Bitcoin mining, with BTC mined increasing nearly fourfold to 1,673 coins in the quarter.

The cryptocurrency market faces extreme fear and a drastic $800 billion wipeout, with Bitcoin trading below miner production costs. Despite retail panic selling, rising perpetual futures volume signals increased institutional hedging, potentially positioning for a long-term rebound. However, risks remain as analysts warn of possible deeper declines, with $60,000 as a critical support level to monitor.

Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 360 (BIP 360) has been merged into the official BIP repository, introducing a new Pay-to-Merkle-Root (P2MR) output designed to enhance Bitcoin's resistance to future quantum computing threats. P2MR disables the key-path spending method, reducing exposure of public keys and paving the way for future quantum-resistant upgrades. This initiative aligns Bitcoin with global efforts toward quantum-safe cryptographic standards aimed for adoption by the 2030s.

Apple stock is nearing a technical buy point with an entry level at $288.62 as it forms a cup base pattern. The company is significantly increasing its AI-related capital expenditure, including $14 billion for 2026 and $30 billion in R&D focused on AI. Institutional interest remains strong, highlighted by Howland Capital Management increasing its stake in Apple.

Since the launch of ERC-8004 over two weeks ago, more than 20,000 AI Agents have been deployed across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Base. The leading AI Agents in terms of score, popularity, and activity are James, Captain Dackie, Rick, Minara AI, and CoreFocus. This rapid growth highlights the rising adoption of AI-driven smart contracts and decentralized AI applications.

Bitcoin is poised to find a bottom around $49,000 due to specific Bitcoin market cycles rather than a broad global recession. IMF and other institutions forecast steady, if slow, global growth in 2026, reducing the likelihood of a recession-driven market crash. Miner economics, ETF flows, and corporate stress point to a mechanical reset in Bitcoin’s price despite overall global economic resilience.

At Consensus Hong Kong 2026, key Solana project leaders discussed how the ecosystem is rebuilding resilience after the 2022 FTX collapse. The focus for Solana's future development is centered on strengthening the application layer. Leaders from prominent projects like Jupiter, Backpack, Kamino, and DoubleZero highlighted this strategic shift as crucial to Solana's roadmap.

Gold prices experienced a sudden and sharp decline for unclear reasons, coinciding with a strengthening US dollar. This drop in gold and the dollar rise may reflect risk-off sentiment following a significant fall in Microsoft's stock and broader industry concerns. Market participants are uneasy, with speculation about a CPI leak but skepticism remains, highlighting increased worries about market safety.

H100 Group, a company listed in Sweden, has completed the acquisition of Future Holdings AG, a Swiss-based Bitcoin treasury company funded by Adam Back. This move represents H100 Group's expansion into Bitcoin treasury management. The acquisition may influence the Bitcoin treasury landscape and corporate Bitcoin holdings.

In the past hour, the crypto market experienced liquidations totaling more than $80 million. Long position liquidations dominated, accounting for approximately $77.4 million, with Bitcoin and Ethereum liquidations at $31.5 million and $19.8 million respectively. Short position liquidations were comparatively minor at around $2.9 million.

Bitcoin has dropped below the $67,000 level as the cryptocurrency market follows the downward trend of U.S. stocks. Major crypto trading platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood are experiencing significant declines, reflecting reduced trading volumes amid the ongoing crypto bear market. This development underscores the growing influence of broader financial market dynamics on digital assets.