Today's Cryptocurrency News (February 27) | Block lays off 40%; Bitcoin ETF pulls in $1 billion in three days
This article summarizes cryptocurrency news as of February 27, 2026, focusing on the latest Bitcoin updates, Ethereum upgrades, Dogecoin trends, real-time crypto prices, and price forecasts. Major Web3 events today include:
This week, spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted over $1 billion in inflows within three days, showing that investors remain actively deploying capital when Bitcoin prices dip. According to SoSoValue data, from Tuesday to Thursday, these funds saw a total net inflow of $1.02 billion, with a single-day inflow of $506.51 million on Wednesday—the highest in three days.
ETF analyst Nate Geraci posted on X, noting that despite recent price declines, investors continue to buy on dips. He mentioned that since Bitcoin hit its all-time high in early October, spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen outflows of about $6.5 billion, but compared to the $55 billion accumulated since January 2024, this retracement isn’t significant. Geraci stated that for long-term holders, a 50% correction isn’t fatal, and confidence among new ETF investors remains solid.
This week’s inflows ended five consecutive weeks of net outflows. In late January, ETF outflows totaled $2.82 billion over two weeks. The inflows were mainly driven by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which saw a single-day net inflow of $275.82 million on Thursday. Fidelity’s FBTC and Ark 21Shares ARKB experienced outflows, offset by positive returns from funds like Bitwise BITB and Grayscale BTC.
In altcoin ETFs, spot Ethereum (ETH) attracted about $173 million during the same period, Solana funds about $35 million, and XRP ETFs saw a modest inflow of around $7 million. Analysts believe ETF inflows are an important market sentiment indicator, possibly signaling easing selling pressure. Industry analyst Jeff Ko pointed out that the rebound in spot ETF funds reflects reduced aggressive selling, but a short-term V-shaped recovery remains unlikely. Bitrue research head Andri Fauzan Adziima also noted that technical indicators show oversold conditions, and continued capital inflows could catalyze market stabilization.
Blockchain capital market firm Figure announced its Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results. In Q4 2025, consumer loan market transaction volume reached $2.7 billion, up 131% year-over-year. Net revenue increased 91% YoY. Adjusted net income was $158 million, a 106% increase from Q4 2024. Net profit rose 156% YoY to $15 million.
For the full year 2025, the company’s net profit surged 574% to $134 million, with net revenue up 49% to $507 million. Its consumer loan market transaction volume for the year was $8.4 billion, a 63% increase.
Additionally, the board authorized a share repurchase plan allowing the company to buy back up to $200 million of Class A common stock and blockchain common stock over the next 12 months.
Recent reports reveal insider trading activities on the Polymarket platform. Among the top 10 addresses with the highest profits, 8 are linked to insiders who profited over $1.2 million by betting on ZachXBT’s investigation into Axiom insider trading.
This incident highlights how, in decentralized prediction markets, early access to investigation results can create significant asymmetries, distorting market prices and forecasts, and harming ordinary investors. Data shows that 52 regular addresses lost between $10,000 and over $100,000, totaling over $1.6 million in losses, masked by insider gains.
Lookonchain identified 12 suspected insider wallets with total profits of about $1.02 million. Notably, address 0x1d9af60c679cd0b577c3c4ccb4b1a4be4174426d (predictorxyz) profited $411,600 just from Axiom market trades; two other addresses earned $354,000 and $144,000 respectively, each involved in only one market. WuBlockchain data shows over 3,630 addresses participated in such trades, with 56.2% of participants making profits.
From a macro perspective, these behaviors resemble front-running in traditional securities markets, revealing a tension between transparency and abuse in DeFi platforms. ZachXBT’s disclosures about Axiom show that on-chain transparency can both expose insider info and enable unfair trading based on that info.
Currently, decentralized prediction markets lack enforceable insider trading rules, and structural abuse remains a challenge. This event may prompt regulators and market participants to scrutinize platform compliance and fairness more closely.
The integration of blockchain and AI accelerates, with the AI agent market doubling to $11.55 billion in two years, projected to expand to $236 billion by 2034. Circle CEO notes that AI agents are just the beginning; digital currencies and open infrastructure will be key to supporting autonomous contracts and on-chain interactions. This trend has renewed focus on Ethereum’s strategic positioning.
Recently, Vitalik Buterin proposed the “Strawmap” network framework, emphasizing faster block generation and improved finality to support high-frequency, automated AI contract deployment with higher throughput and lower latency. This upgrade aligns with AI-driven application demands, giving Ethereum a first-mover advantage in “AI agent deployment public chains,” “smart contract automation,” and “scalable blockchain protocols.”
Despite Vitalik’s sale of 19,000 ETH at an average price of about $2,037, the market response has been restrained, with prices remaining stable. ETH traded between $3,200 and $3,300 in January, with support around $1,850, and has since oscillated between $1,900 and $2,100. The key resistance is at $2,100; a clear breakout could open the door to $2,300, with $2,500 as a medium-term structural resistance.
On the downside, $1,900 is a short-term support; if broken, $1,800 could become the next demand zone. Momentum indicators show marginal improvement, with the Aroon oscillator turning positive and the bullish/bearish indicator returning above zero, signaling waning bearishness and increasing buying interest. However, a trend reversal requires a volume breakout above $2,100. Under the confluence of technical upgrades and strategic outlooks, Ethereum is at a critical juncture.
Cardone Capital announced a $5 billion plan to tokenize real estate, aiming to bring its US multifamily and commercial properties onto the blockchain as tradable digital shares. Founder Grant Cardone states this will offer investors more liquid collateral options and expand financing and exit pathways for real estate assets.
Grant Cardone revealed that over the past decade, the firm has distributed more than $500 million in cash flows to investors, building a stable retail base. In January, Cardone Capital proposed allocating real estate cash flows into Bitcoin as part of a long-term asset strategy; the firm has already purchased 1,000 BTC and plans to increase holdings.
Real estate tokenization is becoming a key direction for digitizing traditional assets. Besides Cardone Capital, World Liberty Financial is advancing tokenization of loans related to a Maldives resort project; Ctrl Alt and Dubai Land Department recently announced a second phase of real estate tokenization projects, using Ripple’s institutional-grade custody solutions.
Deloitte forecasts that by 2035, global real estate tokenization could reach $40 trillion, growing at about 27% annually. In an era of programmable assets, issuers can design differentiated products based on sustainability ratings, location features, and other factors, enhancing portfolio flexibility and transparency. With ongoing expansion in the US and Middle East, the on-chain real estate process is accelerating.
Vitalik Buterin’s proposed long-term scaling framework “Strawmap” has received support from the Ethereum Foundation. Its main goals are to shorten block times, reduce transaction finality delays, and strengthen finality mechanisms. Although not a final upgrade, this signals a clear intent to accelerate network performance improvements, providing fundamental support for ETH’s price.
The plan aims for faster block generation and higher confirmation rates, improving Rollup efficiency, DeFi execution speed, and on-chain user experience. This restores market expectations for Ethereum’s long-term scalability amid recent price pressures. The technical roadmap reassures investors about future infrastructure upgrades.
Currently, ETH trades around $2,035, rebounding from lows below $1,900 in early February. After a sharp drop from $3,200–$3,300 in January, it found support near $1,850 and has oscillated between $1,900 and $2,100. The key resistance is at $2,100; a confirmed breakout could lead to $2,300, with $2,500 as a medium-term target.
Support levels include $1,900; if broken, $1,800 could be next. Momentum indicators show slight improvement, with bullish signals emerging. A volume breakout above $2,100 is needed to confirm a trend reversal. Under the combined influence of technical upgrades and strategic outlooks, ETH is at a pivotal point.
On-chain data platform Santiment reports XRP sentiment ratio rising to 2.35, a five-week high. Compared to Bitcoin’s 1.05 and Ethereum’s 1.4, XRP is among the few mainstream assets turning optimistic. Behind the sentiment boost are institutional moves and ecosystem developments.
Last week, SBI Holdings issued $65 million in on-chain bonds paid in XRP; Aviva Investors plans to tokenize funds on XRP Ledger. Meanwhile, Brad Garlinghouse joined the U.S. CFTC’s digital asset advisory committee. Since February, three European institutions adopted Ripple infrastructure, and M&A activity has exceeded $3 billion, strengthening long-term outlook.
Funding remains supportive. XRP ETFs recently paused net inflows after over 40 days of continuous inflows, with about $150 million accumulated this year. Bitwise’s product alone attracted $3.04 million in a single day, reaching approximately $256 million total. Meanwhile, Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF flows have been mixed, showing market divergence.
However, prices remain pressured. XRP trades around $1.45, down about 35% over three months, below 50- and 200-day moving averages. Resistance is at $1.51 and $1.60; support at $1.38, with potential testing of $1.34–$1.31 if broken. Broader fear and greed indices have fallen to 9, indicating low risk appetite. Historically, XRP’s volatility during risk-off periods exceeds Bitcoin’s, and this cycle is no exception. Short-term technical and capital flow divergences highlight the “positive sentiment but stagnant price” paradox.
On-chain data shows the number of Bitcoin whale wallets (holding 100+ BTC) approaching 20,000, a recent high. Notably, this growth occurs during a price correction, not during bullish sentiment.
Historical patterns suggest that when retail investors cut positions amid volatility, large players tend to accumulate. Current on-chain signals show declining exchange balances, increasing long-term addresses, and a shift of supply from short-term holders to HODLers. Such redistribution often reduces short-term selling pressure and can amplify upside when demand recovers.
Looking back at 2019, 2020, and mid-2023, whale wallet counts expanded during market consolidations, often preceding new rallies. Approaching the 20,000 mark has psychological significance and indicates high-net-worth investors’ confidence in long-term scarcity.
From a structural perspective, whale accumulation isn’t chasing price but positioning during liquidity tightening and market hesitation. This strategy reflects macro cycle awareness, halving expectations, and on-chain activity, rather than short-term trading.
While no single indicator can determine market direction, whale trends are viewed as forward-looking signals. As wallet concentration increases and circulating supply tightens, the probability of asymmetric upside rises. For long-term on-chain investors, whale movements may outline the next phase of market growth.
Fintech firm Block faces criticism after massive layoffs and high event expenses. Reports show CEO Jack Dorsey hosted an in-person event in Oakland in September 2025, a three-day music festival costing about $68.1 million—close to the annual salaries of 200 employees. Five months later, the company cut about 40% of staff, raising questions about governance and financial decisions.
The event featured Jay-Z, Anderson .Paak, T-Pain, and Soulja Boy, with around 8,000 employees attending. Financials show general and administrative expenses increased by $68.1 million that quarter. On social media, many criticized the decision as unbalanced, especially given subsequent layoffs.
Dorsey explained that the company faced strategic choices: reduce gradually or reorganize quickly. The latter was chosen to accelerate transformation. In an internal memo, he proposed “100+ AI = 1,000” as a vision, emphasizing AI and flat teams to boost efficiency. Wall Street responded positively, with the stock rising about 20% shortly after, adding roughly $6 billion in market cap.
However, “AI-driven layoffs” also drew skepticism. Sam Altman noted some firms repackage layoffs as AI upgrades—dubbed “AI whitewashing.” Balaji Srinivasan suggested small teams with automation could become a new industry paradigm.
Notably, Block offers generous severance: 20 weeks’ salary, 6 months’ healthcare, equity, and $5,000 transition bonus, more than typical tech layoffs. The debate over “Block layoffs and AI shift” continues, focusing on corporate culture, investor expectations, and long-term responsibility.
Decentralized finance project World Liberty Financial (WLFI), associated with Trump, proposed a new governance model requiring token holders to lock WLFI for at least 180 days to participate in voting. The proposal was announced in late February 2026 and is pending community voting; the voting date has not yet been disclosed.
According to the draft, holding WLFI alone does not grant governance rights; users must stake for 6 months. The system introduces tiers: addresses staking at least 10 million WLFI (about $1 million) can become “nodes,” accessing OTC stablecoin exchange channels. These channels are supported by licensed market makers, with the project subsidizing market makers to maintain a 1:1 peg with $1 stablecoins. Previously, arbitrage yields ranged from 10 to 15 basis points; the new plan aims to share some profits with qualifying stakers.
Staking 50 million WLFI (about $5 million) upgrades the user to “super node,” enabling collaboration with the project team and additional incentives. All staking levels offer an annualized yield of about 2%, paid in WLFI from the treasury. However, participants must vote at least twice during the lock-up period to earn rewards.
Voting power is calculated using a square root model to mitigate linear amplification by whales; i.e., a 100-fold increase in holdings does not produce a 100-fold increase in voting weight.
Notably, WLFI’s stablecoin USD1 circulation has reached about $4.7 billion, making it one of the larger stablecoins. The project states that the lock-up and staking mechanisms aim to incentivize long-term participation and reduce short-term speculation. The official voting launch date is yet to be announced.
Ripple announced increased funding for the XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem, focusing on compliant DeFi applications, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and enterprise blockchain solutions. The news has rekindled discussions on XRP’s long-term value.
Ripple plans to support developers building on XRPL through grants and strategic investments, strengthening liquidity infrastructure and attracting institutional participation. This aims to position XRPL as a scalable, compliant network aligned with global financial standards, boosting actual use cases for XRP.
Currently, XRP trades near $1.40. After dipping to about $1.20 in early February, it rebounded into a $1.35–$1.50 range. Short-term resistance is at $1.50; a volume-driven breakout above $1.60 could set the stage for a move toward $1.80.
Support levels are around $1.35, with key psychological support at $1.20. The 14-day RSI is about 42, still not oversold; DMI indicates bears are still dominant but the gap is narrowing, suggesting diminishing selling pressure.
In the context of ecosystem expansion, RWA tokenization, and compliance-focused DeFi, XRP’s price will depend on capital inflows and key resistance breakthroughs. A volume-supported move above $1.60 could signal a bullish shift.
MARA Holdings’ after-hours stock surged 18% after announcing a partnership with Starwood Capital Group to develop high-performance data centers for AI and cloud computing. Investors see this as a strategic shift from “pure Bitcoin mining” to “AI infrastructure operator.”
Long considered one of the largest US publicly traded Bitcoin miners, MARA’s revenue is highly correlated with crypto market swings. As mining profits face headwinds from coin prices, energy costs, and regulation, investors are cautious about pure mining models. The partnership with Starwood signals entry into the growing AI compute demand, seeking more stable cash flow.
The plan involves building energy-efficient data centers tailored for AI training and high-intensity computing. Starwood provides real estate and capital expertise; MARA contributes power and infrastructure. Growing AI model sizes and enterprise demand for high-performance, green data centers underpin this move.
This diversification creates a dual revenue stream: when Bitcoin mining profits decline, more power can be allocated to AI clients; if crypto recovers, mining output can increase. Long-term contracts offer predictable income, smoothing performance.
For shareholders, MARA is no longer just a leveraged play on Bitcoin prices but a hybrid involved in AI infrastructure and digital assets. The after-hours rally reflects market confidence in its “mining plus AI data center” strategy.
Sam Bankman-Fried, jailed over the FTX collapse, recently posted on X supporting the proposed “CLARITY Act,” calling it “a milestone for crypto,” crediting Trump’s policies. His statement quickly sparked political reactions.
He claimed he supported similar legislation before his indictment, aiming to limit the authority of Gary Gensler. He also suggested that regulatory actions are politically motivated, reigniting questions about potential political interference in his case.
Responses from both parties were direct. Senator Cynthia Lummis warned that some seek amnesty but overlook that the “CLARITY Act” could lead to harsher penalties. She emphasized her efforts to reform crypto market structure differ from past lobbying and dismissed the need for others’ endorsement.
Elizabeth Warren warned that SBF’s support signals risk. She reiterated that crypto regulation must prioritize investor protection and financial stability, not lax enforcement.
Amid ongoing fallout from the multi-billion-dollar FTX bankruptcy, US discussions on crypto regulation are intensifying. The “CLARITY Act” remains a politically charged proposal. SBF’s comments have complicated the legislative environment, not improved his image.
MetaMask and Mastercard officially launched the MetaMask Card across 49 US states, including previously unsupported New York. The card allows users to spend crypto directly from self-custody wallets without preloading funds, marking a step toward “on-wallet payments” in real-world commerce.
The card has been tested in Europe and the UK; now it’s fully available in the US. Cardholders can use it at all merchants supporting Mastercard, both online and offline, with real-time on-chain asset conversion and settlement. Users retain control of private keys and assets throughout.
MetaMask’s product lead Gal Eldar said the goal is to make crypto payments as seamless as traditional cards, blurring the line between on-chain and off-chain scenarios. The card is issued by Cross River Bank, supported by Monavate’s technology, and compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay for contactless payments.
In terms of rewards, standard MetaMask Card spending earns up to 1% in stablecoin mUSD cashback; MetaMask Metal subscribers (annual fee $199) can earn up to 3% cashback on the first $10,000 spent annually, plus travel and shopping perks.
As US crypto debit cards and Web3 self-custody wallets become more mainstream, MetaMask’s move is seen as a key step in integrating DeFi payments and expanding everyday crypto use.
Senator Elizabeth Warren called on the OCC to suspend or reject World Liberty Financial’s (WLFI) national trust bank license application, citing unresolved financial ties to Donald Trump and potential conflicts of interest.
Warren pointed out WLFI is at the “center of unprecedented presidential corruption controversy,” referencing a $500 million investment from UAE-related entities, and urged transparency and thorough review. She previously petitioned the OCC to halt approval.
OCC Director Jonathan Gould responded that the agency will evaluate the application per standard procedures, unaffected by political debates. He countered that the only political pressure felt was from Warren herself. The exchange highlights the intersection of crypto bank licensing and political influence.
Meanwhile, WLFI is preparing to launch “World Swap,” a forex trading platform operating within a $1 stablecoin system. If approved for a bank license, it could gain advantages in compliant crypto banking, stablecoin payments, and digital asset custody.
The US crypto regulatory landscape remains evolving, with ongoing debates over bank licenses, stablecoin compliance, and potential conflicts of interest shaping policy and market expectations.