'This is absolutely INSANE': Bitcoin’s weekend crash exposes the cracks beneath crypto’s latest boom

Here is what happened this weekend and what it means for the crypto industry.

source https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/02/01/this-is-absolutely-insane-bitcoin-s-weekend-crash-exposes-the-cracks-beneath-crypto-s-latest-boom

Hong Kong is positioning itself as crypto’s global connector, says lawmaker Johnny Ng

The Hong Kong lawmaker and Web3 advocate said common law, open capital flows and ties to southern China give the city a unique role in global crypto markets.

source https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/02/01/hong-kong-is-positioning-itself-as-crypto-s-global-connector-says-lawmaker-johnny-ng

Bitcoin hashrate drops 12% in worst drawdown since China mining ban: CryptoQuant

A severe winter storm has forced US miners to curtail operations, dragging bitcoin’s hashrate, output and miner margins to their weakest levels in months.

source https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/01/30/bitcoin-hashrate-drops-12-in-worst-drawdown-since-china-mining-ban-cryptoquant

How decentralized AI training will create a new asset class for digital intelligence

Tokenized AI will democratize access to the world’s most valuable resource, argues Brukhman.

source https://www.coindesk.com/opinion/2026/01/31/how-decentralized-ai-training-will-create-a-new-asset-class-for-digital-intelligence

Anatomy of bitcoin's plunge this week: The dollar's bottom was BTC's top

It seems like ages ago, but bitcoin rose to just shy of $91,000 on Wednesday. Then the U.S. dollar started to strengthen.

source https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/30/anatomy-of-bitcoin-s-plunge-this-week-the-dollar-s-bottom-was-btc-s-top

U.S. government seizes $400 million Helix allegedly made from drug-linked transactions

The Department of Justice said it now holds legal title over crypto, real estate and monetary assets tied to darknet mixing service, Helix

source https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/01/30/u-s-government-seizes-usd400-million-helix-allegedly-made-from-drug-linked-transactions

Precious metals crash, with silver plunging 35%, gold falling 12% while bitcoin holds at $83,000

Crypto bulls who have theorized that bitcoin can't begin rising until money flows out of red-hot precious metals are about to find out if they were correct.

source https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/01/30/precious-metals-crash-with-silver-plunging-32-gold-11-bitcoin-slips-back-to-usd82-000