Ethereum Foundation forms post-quantum security team, adds $1 million research prize

The biggest obstacle to Bitcoin being used as a payment method is tax policy, not scaling technology that reduces settlement times and transaction costs, according to Pierre Rochard, a board member for Bitcoin treasury company Strive. 

“Here’s a metaphor: the best athlete can win against the worst athlete 100% of the time, if the best athlete plays. It drops to 0% if he doesn’t play and lets the weak athlete win,” Rochard said about BTC’s current lack of use as a method of payment.

XRP has spent most of the past few months trading with lower highs since July 2025, frustrating traders and compressing price action into an increasingly tight range. 

However, a technical breakdown shared by crypto analyst ChartNerd argued that what looks like stagnation may actually be the final preparation phase before a historic move. The price structure suggests something far bigger that sends XRP on its most aggressive rally in eight years, but the implications only become clear when the full setup is examined.

A 400-Day Rectangular Reaccumulation Still Holding Structure

According to technical analysis done by ChartNerd, XRP’s price action has been locked inside a rectangular reaccumulation zone for about 400 days, and this has led to the formation of what looks like a rectangular bull flag on a macro timeframe. The technical chart shows a strong impulsive move from July 2024 to December 2024 acting as the flagpole, right when XRP peaked at the $3.4 price zone back then.

This impulsive flagpole has been followed by a long period of sideways trading where XRP’s price has repeatedly respected a clearly defined support around $1.8 and resistance boundaries around $3.6. This type of structure is associated with reaccumulation within the support and resistance zones, especially when it is playing out after a sharp expansion move and holding for this length of time.

Each dip into reaccumulation support has been absorbed, preventing any sustained breakdown and keeping the broader pattern intact. ChartNerd noted that the rectangular flag will be valid as long as this support level is defended, and this will activate the expansion journey.

U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds posted their worst week since February 2025, with $1.33 billion in net outflows across a shortened four-day trading week, according to SoSoValue data.

The outflows mark a sharp reversal from the prior week, when the same funds attracted $1.42 billion in net inflows. Markets were closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, leaving only four trading sessions.

Wednesday delivered the heaviest blow, with $709 million exiting bitcoin ETFs in a single session, followed by $483 million in outflows on Tuesday, per SoSoValue. The bleeding slowed toward the end of the week, with Thursday and Friday seeing $32 million and $104 million in redemptions, respectively.

The week's outflows represent the largest weekly redemptions since late February 2025, when bitcoin ETFs shed $2.61 billion during a volatile stretch that saw bitcoin fall from its then-all-time high above $109,000 to below $80,000. That period, which analysts dubbed the "February Freeze," included a record single-day outflow of $1.14 billion on Feb. 25.

BlackRock's IBIT, the largest spot bitcoin ETF by assets, recorded outflows on each of the four trading days last week, according to SoSoValue data. IBIT saw its heaviest redemptions on Tuesday and Wednesday, contributing significantly to the overall weekly decline. The fund holds approximately $69.75 billion in net assets and represents roughly 3.9% of bitcoin's total supply.

Despite the recent outflows, cumulative net inflows into U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs since their January 2024 launch remain at $56.5 billion, with total net assets standing at approximately $115.9 billion.

Ethereum ETFs follow suit

Spot Ethereum ETFs mirrored their bitcoin counterparts, posting $611 million in net outflows for the week. Wednesday was also the worst session for ether products, with $298 million in redemptions, followed by $230 million on Tuesday, per SoSoValue.

The week's ether ETF outflows represent a significant reversal from the prior week, which saw $479 million in net inflows driven by strong performances from BlackRock's ETHA and Grayscale funds.

Total Ethereum ETF net assets now stand at approximately $17.7 billion, with cumulative net inflows of $12.3 billion since the products launched in July 2024.

Solana and XRP ETFs buck the trend

While bitcoin and ether funds bled capital, spot Solana ETFs continued their positive momentum, attracting $9.6 million in net inflows over the four trading days, per SoSoValue. The products have now seen inflows for multiple consecutive weeks, with Bitwise's BSOL maintaining its position as the category leader by assets under management.

Spot XRP ETFs had a more mixed week, posting a net outflow of $40.6 million. Tuesday saw $53 million leave the funds, though the products recovered modest inflows of $7 million to $3 million on the remaining days. The outflows follow XRP ETFs' first daily net outflow since their mid-November debut, which occurred during the first week of January.

"Crypto has been weaker relative to other asset classes, with investors feeling more comfortable taking positions in stocks than in crypto," Min Jung, Research Associate at Presto Research, previously told The Block. "That dynamic appears to be continuing, and is reflected in both price action and ETF flows."

The ETF outflows come as on-chain data signals a broader shift in market dynamics. Bitcoin holders have begun realizing net losses for the first time since October 2023, according to a CryptoQuant report published Thursday. The firm said the market has transitioned from a "profit-taking" phase to a "loss-realization" phase over the past 30 days, with cumulative realized losses totaling approximately 69,000 BTC since Dec. 23. CryptoQuant noted the current on-chain structure resembles patterns observed during the 2021-2022 bull-to-bear transition.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Chainlink remains on standby as daily candles continue to show indecision, keeping traders on edge. The next significant move for LINK largely depends on Bitcoin’s momentum, with bulls and bears waiting for a clear signal before committing. Until then, the market is in a holding pattern, building tension for the breakout or breakdown.

Traders Await Clear Direction For Chainlink

According to an update from CryptoWzrd, the daily candles for both Chainlink and LINKBTC continue to print indecisive price action, reflecting a lack of strong conviction from either side of the market. Despite recent movements, neither buyers nor sellers have been able to establish a clear directional edge, keeping the broader outlook neutral for now.

To gain a reliable directional bias and unlock higher-probability trade opportunities, healthier and more decisive daily candles are required, as price could continue to chop within its current range. Bitcoin is expected to remain the primary driver of the next significant move. In particular, LINKBTC needs to print another bullish daily candle in the coming week to maintain any constructive momentum. 

Failure to do so could shift the balance back in favor of the bears and increase downside pressure. A continuation of weakness would likely result in a break of the daily lower-high trendline, followed by a loss of the critical $12 support level. 

On the bullish side, if Bitcoin provides the necessary support, LINK could attempt a recovery rally toward the $16 resistance zone. Until a clearer higher-timeframe structure emerges, the trading focus remains tactical. Attention will be placed on the lower-timeframe charts, particularly over the weekend, to capitalize on quick, short-term opportunities while avoiding unnecessary exposure to indecisive daily conditions.

Intraday Chart Shows Tight Range, Market Lacks Clear Direction

The analyst concluded that the intraday chart remains choppy, with price action tightly compressed within a narrow range. Such conditions point to persistent market indecision, in which neither bulls nor bears have shown sufficient conviction to drive a sustained move in either direction. As a result, trade setups lack clarity and carry elevated risk.

From a tactical perspective, a retest of the $13 resistance level, followed by clear signs of rejection or fading momentum, could open the door to a short opportunity. However, if price holds above $13 with strong acceptance, that would place the market in more constructive territory and tilt the bias back in favor of the bulls.

Until one of these scenarios plays out decisively, the analyst emphasized the importance of waiting. A more mature and well-defined chart structure is needed before engaging in the next trade, ensuring better confirmation, cleaner entries, and improved risk-to-reward conditions.