Some things I've learned after hodling bitcoin since early 2017
1. Never believe anyone's price predictions. 2. Don't "diversify" into other cryptos; none of them are actually decentralized, everything except bitcoin is a shitcoin (yes, really), and it's all gambling. The point of bitcoin is not gambling, but to end modern day slavery (fiat currency). 3. When everyone you know is talking about bitcoin, you're at the top of a bull market. You'll likely be too exuberant to realize it though. It will be obvious in hindsight. 4. Don't "trade some altcoins on the side to get more bitcoin". You are not that smart, and the overwhelming probability is that you will get wrecked. 5. DCA into bitcoin. Ignore your emotions. Don't try to time the market. Just stack what you can every paycheck. 6. Don't be too excited about bitcoin; people will feel like you're scamming them even though you're just trying help. 7. Go to meetups & conferences. Don't be isolated. Bitcoiners are generally very awesome people. 8. When people ask you about how to buy bitcoin, send them to a BITCOIN-ONLY company. Example for why: My cousin bought bitcoin (on Coinbase) during the bull market, then sold it for shiba on the same platform and now she pretty much lost everything. Bitcoin-only companies are the safest option to keep newbies from doing newbie things. 9. Be on #bitcoin twitter and nostr. Obviously if you're reading this, you're already here...but I didn't get on twitter until 2020 and can tell you that it's a lot less lonely hodling bitcoin when you see a bunch of other people on this platform experiencing the same things you are. 10. Be skeptical of influencers. Even me (I'm not a huge account, but still). Some are good, some are bad. Even if they have good intentions, their judgement can be clouded by bad incentives. 11. Stop trying to convince everyone you know that bitcoin will make everything better (even though it will). Instead, be a good resource for the people who eventually reach out to you about it. Be known as "the bitcoin guy" and let people come to you when they're ready. Have good content prepared for them to read/watch when they do. That is all. It's been a great ride so far and I'm happy to know you guys. #bitcoin #dyor #crypto2023
January Exchange Data Report: Binance Global CEX Spot Growth With $409B in Volume (+12% MoM)
In January 2026, the spot trading volume of major exchanges increased by approximately 10% compared with December 2025. The top three exchanges by month-on-month change were Bitfinex (+67%), Uniswap (+62%), and Upbit (+44%). The bottom three were HTX (-17%), Bybit (-16%), and KuCoin (-14%). In January 2026, the derivatives trading volume of major exchanges increased by approximately 0.5% compared with December 2025. The top three exchanges by month-on-month change were Hyperliquid (+46%), Crypto.com (+18%), and Gate (+11%). The bottom three were MEXC (-27%), KuCoin (-17%), and Deribit (-8%). In January 2026, the website traffic of major exchanges decreased by approximately 0.3% compared with December 2025. The top three exchanges by month-on-month change were Upbit (+9%), KuCoin (+7%), and Bitfinex (+7%). The bottom three were HTX (-22%), Bitget (-9%), and MEXC (-8%). Note: The following data may involve significant wash trading or bot-related activity. The dataset has been preprocessed, including outlier removal, metric normalization, and methodological adjustments. Spot and derivatives data are sourced from CoinGecko; traffic data are sourced from Similarweb.
Vanar is a groundbreaking blockchain which offers a carbon-neutral, high-speed & low-cost L1 chain designed for entertainment and mainstream. #vanar $VANRY @Vanarchain
1. Bitcoin Tightens Grip On Crypto Market Amid 50% Altcoin Slump 2. XRP Social Sentiment Hits 5-Week High—BTC, ETH Mood Still Off 3. Ripple's Brad Garlinghouse says CLARITY bill has '90% chance' of pa... 💭 MY VIEW: No clear direction⚪. I'm staying on the sidelines today. Better to miss a good trade than make a bad one.
📋TRADING SETUP FOR TODAY:
🎯BTC Range Trading: Range: $67,000 - $69,000 → Wait for breakout, no FOMO
⚠️RISK DISCLAIMER: This is NOT financial advice! I'm just sharing my view. Always do your own research & only risk what you can afford to lose.
💬How do YOU see the market today? Bullish or bearish? Drop your take below!👇
Deutsche Bank Expands Ripple Integration Across Global Payments
Deutsche Bank has announced a major expansion of its blockchain infrastructure by deepening its integration with Ripple. Key Takeaways Deutsche Bank expands Ripple tech across payments, FX, and custody.Cross-border transfers move toward near-instant settlement and lower costs.XRP is not directly adopted, but infrastructure supports it.German and European banks are accelerating blockchain adoption. The move signals a broader modernization strategy aimed at overhauling cross-border payments, foreign exchange operations, and digital asset custody services. The initiative reflects a clear pivot away from legacy financial rails such as SWIFT toward distributed ledger technology. By embedding Ripple’s enterprise software into its core systems, the German banking giant is seeking faster settlement speeds, greater transparency, and lower operational costs. Cross-Border Payments Move to Near-Instant Settlement At the center of the expansion is the integration of Ripple Payments. The system enables near-instant value transfers between financial institutions, reducing dependence on correspondent banking networks that traditionally slow down international settlements. Instead of waiting days for cross-border transactions to clear, settlements can now occur within seconds. Internal projections suggest the shift could reduce operational costs by as much as 30%, while significantly improving liquidity efficiency and payment traceability. Notably, current reporting indicates that the bank is primarily adopting Ripple’s messaging and routing infrastructure rather than directly using the XRP token. However, the system remains compatible with On-Demand Liquidity solutions, meaning broader ecosystem usage could indirectly support demand for XRP-based liquidity corridors in the future. Real-Time FX and Liquidity Management Beyond payments, Deutsche Bank is incorporating Ripple’s software stack into its foreign exchange operations. Real-time FX flows and improved liquidity management are expected to enhance treasury functions and streamline cross-border currency conversions. This modernization effort is part of a multi-year blockchain strategy that began in 2023, when the bank applied for a digital asset custody license in Germany and invested in blockchain settlement platforms such as Partior. In late 2025, it successfully executed its first euro-denominated cross-border transaction via blockchain rails. The February 2026 announcement marks the most comprehensive rollout yet, extending Ripple-based infrastructure across its global payments and FX divisions. Institutional-Grade Digital Asset Custody In parallel, Deutsche Bank is building institutional custody services designed to securely store cryptocurrencies and tokenized securities. The offering is aimed at asset managers, corporations, and institutional investors seeking regulated exposure to digital assets within traditional banking frameworks. Germany has become an increasingly active jurisdiction for blockchain-based financial infrastructure. Earlier in 2025, DZ BANK launched a Ripple-powered custody platform for retail and institutional clients, signaling growing adoption among major domestic lenders. How Deutsche Bank Compares to Other European Giants While Deutsche Bank focuses heavily on global payment modernization using Ripple Payments and Ethereum Layer 2 networks for tokenization, its strategy differs from peers. DZ BANK concentrates on retail and institutional digital asset custody through Ripple Custody infrastructure and its meinKrypto platform. Meanwhile, Société Générale – via its digital asset arm SG-FORGE – has emerged as a leader in multi-chain tokenized securities and stablecoins. Its MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin, EURCV, has been deployed across multiple networks, including the XRP Ledger, positioning it at the forefront of regulated digital asset issuance in Europe. Together, these developments highlight a competitive race among Europe’s largest banks to modernize infrastructure, tokenize assets, and reposition themselves within an increasingly blockchain-driven financial system. #XRP $XRP
Daily XRP funding rates dropped nearly 80% on Thursday, February 19, showing continued pressure in the derivatives market. Negative funding rates indicate that traders holding short positions are paying those going long, a sign that bearish bets currently outweigh bullish exposure. The unfavorable change was also accompanied by a 5.35% drop in open interest, per the real-time data available on CryptoQuant at press time. As funding rates reflect the balance between long and short traders, negative readings in this metric further suggest that the market is betting on further downside. XRP derivatives. Source: CryptoQuant What do negative XRP funding rates mean? Deeply negative funding, however, can also signal overcrowded positioning. Historically, extreme short bias has sometimes preceded sharp reversals, especially when price action begins to stabilize, and short sellers are forced to cover. For example, a prolonged negative funding environment ultimately marked a cyclical bottom for XRP in 2022, during the FTX crash. Whether the setup will again lead to further downside will likely depend on broader market participation and spot demand returning in force. XRP price struggles XRP’s spot price, however, also continues to struggle in the absence of broader market strength. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency was trading at $1.42, having gone down 3.66% on the daily chart. Daily XRP price. Source: Finbold The pullback sent the asset below its 7-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) near $1.45 and the closely watched 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level around $1.46, which marks a clear loss of near-term support. Meanwhile, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) has fallen to 39, approaching oversold territory. Market sentiment likewise remains fragile, reflected in an “Extreme Fear” reading of 11 on the Crypto Fear & Greed Index. At the same time, Bitcoin (BTC) dominance stands at 58.15%, suggesting capital is consolidating into larger-cap assets rather than flowing into altcoins like XRP. A recovery back above the $1.45–$1.46 zone would be the first signal that price action is stabilizing. Until then, short-term momentum favors the bears, as evidenced by the state of the funding rates. #xrp $XRP
#vanar $VANRY @Vanarchain Vanar, formerly Virtua, is a gamified metaverse that provides Web3 gaming, digital collectibles, and interactive experience through its curated marketplace and interactive virtual environments. Vanar metaverse begins the launch with Cardano Island, where community members will be able to interact with one another, store their digital collectibles, and personalize their own virtual environments.