Bitcoin price enters generational buying territory — Should traders expect more downside?
Bitcoin’s sharp sell-off continued on Feb. 25, with BTC ($BTC ) price falling to a 3-month low of $86,050. Several analysts have cited concern over US equities performance, a worrying uptick in inflation and this month’s sharp drop in consumer confidence as reasons for investors to risk off in the short term.
Data from the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index highlighted growing pessimism from US consumers as the metric fell to 98.3 in February, representing the largest monthly drop since August 2021.
In addition to increasing worries about the US labor market and inflation, Cointelegraph analyst Marcel Pechman cited President Trump’s upcoming tariffs against imports from Canada and Mexico as another factor driving investors to adopt a risk-off strategy.
Bitcoin analysts say don’t doubt, zoom out
While over $1.59 billion has been liquidated from the total crypto market over the past 24 hours, several crypto advocates have encouraged investors to zoom out and see the larger picture.
On the daily timeframe, Bitcoin’s relative strength index has fallen below 27, a level not seen since the Aug. 5, 2024 crash, which saw BTC price fall to $49,000. Historically, on Bitcoin’s longer timeframes, deeply oversold RSI conditions are rare and often turn out to be opportunities to buy at a discount.
The Crossroads of DeSci: the Choice Is Ours to Make | Opinion
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.
Following CZ and Vitalik’s glistening endorsements of decentralized science (DeSci) in the last few months, the movement has been revived and is being hailed as the next great frontier in web3. DeSci promises to democratize research funding, enhance transparency, and create global open collaboration. The idea is tantalizing: a blockchain-powered transformation of the scientific process that bypasses the inefficiencies and biases of traditional, centralized funding systems.
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But for all its promise, DeSci today is at a perilous crossroads, at risk of collapsing under the weight of its own immaturity and short-termism.
Despite some promising initiatives, such as VitaDAO’s longevity research and BIO Protocol’s DAO-driven funding for niche medical projects, the current state of DeSci, unfortunately, is characterized more by speculation than by meaningful, sustainable progress. Too many projects are focused on cash grabs and quick wins, fueled by flashy claims about solving complex problems within impossibly short timelines. This is exemplified by platforms like Pump.fun, which gamifies drug development with tokenized experiments tied to compounds.
Science doesn’t work this way. The process of discovery, specifically drug development, is painstakingly slow, staggeringly expensive, and relies on years of collaboration across institutions. Yet DeSci has become a playground for quick financial opportunities rather than a vehicle for advancing meaningful research.
This isn’t the revolution the industry needs; it’s a distraction
What’s worse is that the allure embedded in the speculative nature of DeSci risks undermining the trust and credibility essential for scientific progress. Crypto investors, drawn to the promise of onchain science—an idea that feels futuristic and transformative, even if the mechanisms underlying it are rudimentary and underdeveloped—are repeating patterns seen in the AI and EV investment booms. This trend is emblematic of a broader behavior within the crypto community, where success is often measured by how quickly an investment “rips upwards” rather than the quality or feasibility of the underlying project.
Much like AI tokens that surged without meaningful differentiation, DeSci is becoming a catch-all for speculative capital. For many, the focus is not on advancing science but on crafting a narrative to inflate token valuations.
What is crucial is an understanding of what good science is all about
Good science is anything that improves our knowledge in a meaningful way. Right now, what tends to be considered meaningful is what is monetizable—but this is an incomplete metric. The short answer is that good science is anything that increases our knowledge, and the best way of doing that is by expanding our knowledge perspectives. Research in areas like longevity, climate science, and rare diseases exemplifies this by pushing the boundaries of what we know while offering real-world applications.
Accuracy is fundamental, yet much of science today is failing in this regard. For research to be worth investing in, it must be credible, rigorous, and impactful. However, the impact cannot simply be measured in financial terms—it must reflect real contributions to the body of scientific knowledge. This should be a key measure of success, reinforcing that science, at its core, relies on credibility. If DeSci continues to be synonymous with hype, hollow promises, and speculative trading, it will never onboard the very researchers, institutions, and policymakers it needs to succeed. This isn’t just a loss for DeSci; it’s a loss for science and society as a whole.
This is not to dismiss the incredible potential of DeSci. The reliance on market mechanisms is often touted as a strength of DeSci, and it’s easy to see why. Science is fundamentally about generating, validating, and disseminating information—a process that aligns naturally with the emerging concept of information markets. These markets leverage decentralized tools like prediction markets, quadratic funding, and transparent peer review to aggregate knowledge, incentivize collaboration, and allocate resources efficiently. These mechanisms could address many inefficiencies in traditional systems, but they are currently underdeveloped or misused in DeSci, treated more as speculative instruments than engines for meaningful innovation.
Prediction markets, for instance, could enable stakeholders to bet on the success of scientific experiments or hypotheses, aggregating collective intelligence to guide funding toward high-potential projects. However, their effectiveness depends on rigorous, well-validated hypotheses rather than hype-driven speculation. If structured properly, prediction markets could serve as a tool to prioritize research that is accurate and impactful, rewarding projects that meaningfully expand scientific understanding rather than those that simply attract attention.
Looking to quadratic funding, this could amplify grassroots support for unconventional ideas, leveling the playing field for underrepresented researchers and niche fields. However, for it to be truly valuable, it must be directed toward projects that enhance our knowledge perspectives rather than those that are simply popular or financially promising. Meanwhile, a decentralized peer review system could transform the opaque, slow, and biased centralized academic publishing process into one that is transparent, accountable, and accessible. By incentivizing rigor and rewarding contributions, these tools could align perfectly with DeSci’s ethos of openness and collaboration.
The interplay of these tools within the broader framework of web3’s information markets is where DeSci’s true potential lies. At its best, DeSci could be a revolution. It could democratize access to research funding that is incredibly hard to come by, empower marginalized voices, and create an ecosystem where breakthroughs happen faster and benefit more people. But realizing this vision requires more than technology—it demands a shift in priorities and culture. DeSci must move beyond its current fixation on speculative tokens and cash-grab projects, embracing the principles of sustainability, accountability, and collaboration that underpin meaningful progress.
DeSci is at a crossroads. It can continue down its current path, chasing speculative highs and risking irrelevance. Or it can take a harder but more meaningful road—one that prioritizes substance and sustainability over spectacle and short-term wins. The choice is ours to make, but the time to act is now. Science deserves better, and so does DeSci.
Read more: From lab to ledger: Human keys secure scientific integrity | Opinion
Author: Ciarán Murray
Ciarán Murray is a seasoned veteran of the blockchain industry with a background in media and distributed technologies. He holds an MSc in Politics & Government in the European Union from the London School of Economics and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Trinity College Dublin.
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Bybit Repays 40,000 $ETH Loan to Bitget: A Testament to Industry Solidarity:
In a remarkable display of trust and collaboration within the cryptocurrency industry, Bybit has fully repaid the 40,000 ETH loan it received from Bitget. This loan, valued at approximately $99.98 million at the time of repayment, was extended without interest or collateral, highlighting the strength of relationships within the crypto sector.
The transaction was first reported by Lookonchain, a blockchain analytics platform that tracks major on-chain activities. According to the data, Bybit returned the borrowed Ethereum to Bitget within a matter of days, reinforcing confidence in its financial stability and commitment to ethical business practices.
A Loan Built on Trust
Unlike traditional financial institutions where loans are typically backed by collateral and come with interest, this arrangement between Bitget and Bybit was based solely on trust and industry solidarity. Such transactions are rare in the financial world, where stringent regulations and risk mitigation measures dominate lending processes.
Bybit’s ability to return the 40,000 ETH so swiftly suggests that the exchange has fully recovered from any financial strain it may have experienced. For Bitget, the successful repayment confirms its confidence in Bybit’s operational integrity and liquidity management.
This event is particularly significant in an industry that has seen its fair share of collapses, bankruptcies, and liquidity crises. The collapse of major exchanges like FTX in 2022 severely impacted market trust, and incidents of insolvency have made investors wary of centralized exchanges. However, this loan repayment provides reassurance that leading exchanges can still support each other in times of need.
What This Means for the Crypto Industry
The successful repayment of the loan signals several key takeaways for the broader crypto community:
1. Strengthened Trust Among Exchanges: This transaction demonstrates that major crypto firms are willing to support one another during financial challenges. Such acts of cooperation could set a precedent for future collaborations, reducing the risk of sudden exchange failures.
2. Industry Resilience: Despite market volatility, the ability of exchanges like Bybit to repay large loans without delays suggests that some platforms have strong liquidity and risk management strategies. This could improve investor confidence in centralized exchanges.
3. Transparency and Accountability: With blockchain analytics tools like Lookonchain monitoring large transactions, the public can verify financial movements in real time. This level of transparency fosters trust and reduces speculation about insolvency risks.
A Step Toward Greater Stability
The cryptocurrency industry is often criticized for its lack of regulation and financial safeguards. However, peer-to-peer support initiatives like this loan show that crypto exchanges are taking responsibility for their financial health. Bybit’s repayment of the loan not only strengthens its reputation but also sends a positive message to users and investors.
Looking ahead, the industry may see more instances of collaboration between exchanges, especially during periods of market turbulence. While regulations continue to evolve, self-regulated initiatives such as this could play a crucial role in maintaining stability.
Ultimately, the return of the 40,000 $ETH loan to Bitget is more than just a financial transaction—it is a testament to the resilience, trust, and cooperation that can exist within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
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