Here’s what moved crypto markets recently — and what investors should be watching next. Market snapshot - Crypto prices still lag broader markets. Over the past 12 months, traditional assets have rallied strongly — silver surged ~267%, gold ~84%, copper ~38%, and major U.S. indices are notably higher. By contrast, Bitcoin is down ~14%, Ethereum ~8%, overall crypto market cap down ~14%, and many altcoins are off as much as ~50%. - Retail attention has followed that performance: Google Trends shows growing interest in gold and silver while searches for crypto remain muted. Social analytics from Santiment tell a similar story — January started quiet, gold grabbed attention, Bitcoin saw a spike when prices dipped (during another sell-off), and most recently silver dominated retail FOMO, jumping above $117 then quickly falling back toward ~$102. On-chain vaults: the new yield play - A faster-growing corner of the crypto ecosystem is on-chain “vaults.” These products pool user funds into smart contracts that deploy capital across lending and trading strategies in a non-custodial, transparent way — aiming to deliver steadier, predictable yields. - Industry data shows assets locked in crypto vaults have topped $6 billion. Bitwise projects that number could double by the end of 2026, driven largely by demand for stablecoin yield as investors hunt for predictable returns in a market where price appreciation has underperformed other asset classes. Traditional fintech goes deeper into underbanked markets - Revolut has expanded outside Europe by launching full banking operations in Mexico — its first bank set up beyond the region. The unit secured a full banking license via direct application and is being touted as Mexico’s first independent digital bank to do so. - Revolut capitalized the Mexican operation with over $100 million — more than twice the regulatory minimum — enabling it to offer high-yield savings, foreign exchange, holdings in 30+ currencies, and international transfers. Mexico is likely a testing ground for broader ambitions: Revolut is pursuing a banking license in Peru and plans a payments platform in India. The company says it serves more than 70 million customers and aims for 100 million daily active users across 100 countries. What this means for crypto investors - With prices trailing other asset classes, many investors are shifting focus from pure price speculation to yield-generating products and tried-and-tested stores of value like precious metals. Vaults and stablecoin yields are attracting capital because they promise more predictable returns and on-chain transparency. - Keep watching flows into yield products, retail attention metrics (searches and social), and fintech moves into new markets — all of which can influence liquidity, sentiment, and capital allocation in crypto. Disclaimer: This content is informational only and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading carries high risk; do your own research before making decisions. © 2026 AMBCrypto Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

#BTC #ETH