Mantle hits $1B market size milestone on Aave: will MNT price explode next?

  • Mantle has crossed the $1 billion total market size threshold on Aave.
  • If inflows persist, bulls could target resistance in the $0.85-$0.92 range.
  • MNT can rally toward the bulls’ key target of $1.

Mantle, a layer-2 blockchain network connecting traditional finance and on-chain liquidity, has surpassed $1 billion in total lending and borrowing volume on the Aave protocol.

The milestone coincides with a sharp rise in Mantle’s total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance, despite the crypto market’s bearish outlook.

Can the lending and TVL milestones bolster the price of the native token MNT?

Mantle hits $1B lending milestone on Aave

The Mantle-Aave lending market rocketed past the $1 billion mark following a blockbuster launch that injected $800 million in just one day last week.

According to details, the staggering jump in market size, achieved in under three weeks, saw a new uptick as a dynamic weekend brought more than $200 million in organic capital inflows.

Beyond these gains, the Aave integration has ignited broader ecosystem momentum.

Notably, Mantle’s DeFi TVL has jumped from around $455 million to over $755 million, a 66% increase in just one week.

Emily Bao, a key advisor for Mantle, emphasized the achievement:

“Crossing $1 billion in total market size in under three weeks is a clear signal and not just of what Mantle and Aave have built together, but of where institutional and retail DeFi is heading. Mantle was built to be the distribution layer where real-world finance flows, and these milestones are proof that the ecosystem is delivering on that vision. The MoMNTum is real, and we’ve barely even started.”

What could these network milestones mean for MNT? Market experts say the integration of Mantle on Aave is critical to users seeking opportunities and incentives across DeFi.

As such, the surge highlights Mantle’s growing appeal as a scalable and efficient platform for DeFi activities.

MNT price could eye gains as the ecosystem expands and attracts inflows.

Mantle price forecast: can bulls target $1?

MNT’s price has hovered around $0.65-$0.70 over the past month, with current prices well below the all-time high of $2.85 in October 2025.

While buyers have shown resilience, early signs of recovery have faded amid a broader market downturn.

However, the $1 billion milestone could act as a powerful catalyst for MNT, potentially drawing more liquidity and boosting token utility.

The TVL surge also highlights increased value bet on Mantle growth.

Mantle Price Chart
Mantle price chart by TradingView

If bulls hold current levels, a fresh bounce could bring the supply zone around $0.85 and $0.92 into play.

The $1 level is a key bullish target.

However, technical indicators suggest sellers may continue to exert downside pressure in the coming days and weeks.

Mantle token trading below key moving averages and being neutral-to-sell leaning oscillators support this outlook.

RSI is at 42, and suggests seller conviction, while the price also hovers below the parabolic SAR.

If the downside proves to be the path of least resistance, the next support levels could be $0.57 and Feb. 6 lows at $0.52.

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Bitcoin price drops below $66k as Iran conflict escalates: Here’s what to expect

  • Bitcoin drops below $66K as Middle East tensions spark volatility.
  • $6.39 billion ETF outflows show weakening institutional crypto demand.
  • BTC swings between $63K–$65K; traders watch support and rate policy.

Bitcoin (BTC) has slipped below the $66,000 mark as global markets react to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The rising conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel has prompted a wave of uncertainty that is affecting risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin, in particular, is showing sharp intraday swings in response to news developments.

Early trading saw BTC fall as low as $63,000 before it recovered to above $65,000.

This volatility reflects a mix of geopolitical fear and active liquidations in the derivatives market, with more than $130 million in long positions being forced to close and amplifying the downward pressure on the cryptocurrency.

The US, Israel, Iran war has sent shockwaves across markets

The current situation in the Middle East has made investors jittery.

Traditionally, Bitcoin has sometimes been viewed as a hedge during global crises, but recent behaviour shows it acting more like a risk asset.

Notably, Bitcoin’s price has been moving in close correlation with equities, particularly major stock indices, rather than holding steady in turbulent times.

Gold and oil, however, have seen upward movements, with oil prices surging amid anticipation of supply disruptions.

The price of Gold has also climbed modestly, reflecting its traditional safe-haven status.

These shifts indicate that money is flowing away from riskier assets like Bitcoin and toward instruments perceived as more stable during geopolitical stress.

Long-term BTC holders, however, are showing resilience.

After the initial sell-off, many investors took the opportunity to buy at lower levels, which contributed to a partial recovery.

This has prevented Bitcoin from falling as sharply as some other risk assets, demonstrating that there is still significant support at levels around $65,000.

Institutional demand weakens

US-listed spot bitcoin and ether exchange-traded funds have recorded sustained outflows over the past four months, pointing to a sharp cooling in institutional participation in digital assets.

Investors withdrew $6.39 billion from bitcoin ETFs during the period, the longest continuous monthly decline since the products launched in January 2024, according to SoSoValue data.

Ether ETFs also saw $2.76 billion in outflows.

The retreat coincided with a steep fall in token prices, with bitcoin dropping from above $126,000 in early October, while ether has fallen more than 60% from its August highs near $4,950.

Spot ETFs had previously served as a visible channel for institutional inflows after their debut and following pro-crypto political developments in 2024.

However, demand weakened after the October market downturn, reportedly linked to pricing inefficiencies on offshore exchange Binance.

Although recent sessions have seen intermittent inflows, analysts say a consistent return of capital is required for a durable recovery.

What this means for Bitcoin going forward

Traders should expect more volatility in the short term since Bitcoin is sensitive to headlines, and any further escalation in the Middle East could trigger additional sharp movements.

Traders should keep a close eye on the technical support level near $63,000, while resistance around $68,000 to $70,000 remains a key target for recovery.

Also, besides the Middle East war, monetary policy may also play a role in the next BTC price movements.

If central banks respond to the conflict with interest rate adjustments or liquidity measures, Bitcoin could benefit indirectly.

Historical trends suggest that geopolitical crises followed by rate cuts or monetary easing often support risk assets, and cryptocurrencies could be no exception.

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Kyber Network Crystal cryptocurrency up over 23%: here’s why the KNC price is rising

  • Kyber Network Crystal (KNC) has surged on a 900% volume spike.
  • Recent Kyber product upgrades have improved market sentiment.
  • Traders should closely watch the support at $0.148 support and the resistance at $0.175.

Kyber Network Crystal (KNC) has jumped by nearly 24% to trade around the $0.16 level at press time.

Kyber Network Crystal price rising
Kyber Network Crystal price chart | Source: Coingecko

This move stands out in a market that has otherwise struggled for direction.

While many large-cap cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), posted losses, KNC moved higher with strong conviction, and the rally has drawn attention from traders who are now asking what is really driving the price higher.

Heavy trading activity fueling KNC’s price rally

One of the clearest drivers behind the surge is a dramatic increase in trading activity.

KNC’s 24-hour trading volume has exploded by more than 900%, pushing turnover to levels rarely seen in recent months.

Such a sharp rise in volume often signals aggressive short-term participation from traders looking to capitalise on momentum.

This also explains why the price moved largely independently of BTC, which has declined over the same period.

When volume expands this quickly, even modest buying pressure can translate into outsized price moves, and that appears to be exactly what happened with KNC.

Product updates add to positive sentiment

Although no single announcement directly triggered today’s price spike, Kyber Network has been quietly rolling out updates that have helped improve sentiment around the project.

Kyber Network recently highlighted expanded cross-chain functionality on its flagship product, KyberSwap.

As a result, users can now swap assets across 25 different blockchains using liquidity from eight providers in a single transaction.

This kind of convenience strengthens Kyber’s position in an increasingly competitive DeFi landscape.

The team has also introduced a new feature called Smart Exit on Kyber Earn.

Smart Exit allows liquidity providers to automate how and when they exit positions.

Instead of constantly monitoring charts, users can set predefined conditions for profit-taking, risk management, or time-based exits.

The feature is already live on Base and BNB Chain, with more networks expected to follow.

In parallel, Kyber has continued to form new ecosystem partnerships.

A recent integration with Vaultedge brought the USDVE asset onto KyberSwap, unlocking deeper liquidity and improved routing.

Another upcoming integration with Supernova is expected to further expand Kyber’s liquidity reach.

While these updates did not directly cause today’s spike, they help explain why traders are willing to speculate on upside.

Kyber Network Crystal price forecast

From a technical analysis standpoint, the KNC price has broken above its 30-day simple moving average near $0.148.

This level had acted as a cap for weeks, and clearing it helps reinforce bullish sentiment.

Moving ahead, the $0.148 zone has now become the most important support to watch in the near term.

Holding above this level would suggest that the recent breakout remains intact.

If buyers maintain control, KNC could attempt a push toward resistance around $0.175, and a clean break above that area may open the door to further upside.

On the downside, failure to hold $0.148, especially if trading volume contracts sharply, could trigger a quick pullback.

In that scenario, the next area of interest sits near $0.135, where buyers may look to step back in.

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