Solana price falls to 10-month low amid ETF outflows

  • Solana price fell to lows of $96 as cryptocurrencies crashed.
  • Declines align with fresh outflows from digital asset investment products.
  • SOL saw over $31 million in net outflows last week, the first in three weeks.

Solana (SOL) fell below $100 for the first time since April 2025 as a sharp sell-off pushed Bitcoin under $75,000.

As BTC dumped to its lowest level in nearly 10 months, Solana touched lows of $96.43.

This happened as crypto markets experienced extreme volatility.

Dips for all the top coins, including Ethereum and XRP, resulted in over $2.5 billion in liquidations in 24 hours.

Per data from Coinglass, more than $4 billion in long positions have been liquidated across the crypto market over the past 4 days.

Most of the bets wiped out were longs, with this coming amid Friday’s historic collapse in metals.

Gold dumped from above $5,500 and silver plunged 39%, losses that cascaded across the crypto sector.

The wipe-out is one of the largest liquidations in crypto, with the top of the ladder being the nearly $20 billion liquidated in October 2025.

SOL sees $31.7 million in investment outflows

The dramatic collapse in crypto prices coincided with a sharp surge in capital exit from digital asset investment products.

According to asset manager CoinShares, the digital asset market recorded a second straight week of outflows, with over $1.7 billion exiting amid the panic selling.

The outflows mean the sector has now reversed year-to-date inflows, pushing global year-to-date net flows to $1 billion.

CoinShares head of research James Butterfill said the redemptions signal “a marked deterioration in investor sentiment towards the asset class.”

“We believe this reflects a combination of factors, including the appointment of a more hawkish US Federal Reserve Chair, continued whale selling associated with the four-year cycle, and heightened geopolitical volatility,” Butterfill added.

Notably, Solana saw over $31.7 million in net outflows last week, the altcoin’s first weekly outflow in three weeks.

Solana price prediction: $100 remains the key level

Bears have established dominance in the first weeks of 2026, continuing the trend witnessed in the last quarter of 2025.

Macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical headwinds have contributed to this outlook, and analysts at QCP point to the ETF outflows and broader sentiment as likely negative catalysts for cryptocurrencies in the short term.

SOL could nosedive under $100 amid this trend. A retest of the $96-$80 area will embolden bears further.

Solana Price Chart
Solana price chart by TradingView

However, a flip in sentiment portends a continuation above the psychological level.

Solana price was above $102 at the time of writing, slightly up as other coins eye a rebound.

If Bitcoin reclaims $82,000 and risk assets stabilise, SOL price could target the $120-$135 supply wall next.

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XRP slides to multi-month lows as liquidations surge amid market rout

  • XRP slid to near $1.5 amid a broad crypto selloff and $2.5 billion in liquidations, before a modest rebound.
  • Heavy liquidations, weak volumes, and bearish indicators keep XRP’s near-term technical outlook fragile.
  • Ripple secured an EU EMI license in Luxembourg, boosting its regulatory footing despite XRP volatility.

XRP slid sharply over the weekend as a broad risk-off move swept through cryptocurrency markets, triggering heavy liquidations and pushing the token to its lowest level since December 2025.

The selloff came alongside steep declines in Bitcoin, Ethereum and even traditional safe havens such as gold and silver, underscoring the depth of the market rout.

The turbulence unfolded even as Ripple, the payments firm closely associated with XRP, secured a key regulatory milestone in Europe after receiving final approval for an Electronic Money Institution license in Luxembourg, strengthening its ability to scale regulated payment services across the European Union.

XRP slides to multi-month lows amid broad market selloff

XRP is attempting to stabilise after a sharp weekend selloff that dragged its price down to around $1.5, as bearish pressure swept through cryptocurrency markets.

After failing to sustain gains near $1.8, the token fell to its lowest level since December 2025.

The decline came amid a broader market rout that saw Bitcoin slide below $75,000, and Ethereum drop toward $2,100, pulling most major altcoins lower.

The risk-off move extended beyond crypto.

Gold, which had recently climbed above $5,500 an ounce, fell to about $4,620, marking its steepest single-day decline in more than a decade, while silver also posted heavy losses.

Over $2.5 billion liquidated

Selling pressure intensified as the US entered a partial government shutdown, while markets showed little reaction to President Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair.

Warsh is widely viewed as supportive of digital assets.

In crypto markets, more than $2.5 billion in leveraged positions were liquidated on Jan. 31.

According to Coinglass, this ranked as the 10th-largest liquidation event on record, though well below the $19 billion wipeout seen during the October 10, 2025 crash.

On-chain data showed that more than $10 million in XRP positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with about $7.4 million of those in long positions.

CoinGlass data indicated that more than 4,300 traders were affected, while daily volatility in XRP exceeded 7.5%.

Some market participants blamed Binance for exacerbating the selloff, though the exchange and its former chief executive Changpeng Zhao rejected those claims.

Technical outlook remains fragile despite modest rebound

XRP’s market capitalisation has fallen to roughly $97 billion, reflecting a sharp contraction as investors moved away from risk assets.

Daily trading volume declined 16% to around $5.4 billion, signalling weakening liquidity and limited buying interest.

From a technical perspective, the daily chart remains broadly bearish.

While the relative strength index suggests a potential rebound from oversold levels, weak momentum could limit upside.

The MACD continues to indicate strengthening bearish conditions, with the histogram widening.

As of Monday, February 2, XRP was trading near $1.6, recovering modestly from its weekend lows.

A sustained break below $1.5 could open the way toward the $1.24 support area.

On the upside, a move back above $1.8 may help stabilise sentiment and allow for a potential retest of the $2.00 to $2.30 range.

Ripple secures EU EMI license in Luxembourg

Ripple has received final approval from Luxembourg’s financial regulator for a full Electronic Money Institution license, converting a preliminary authorization granted in January.

The license, issued by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, enables Ripple to scale its blockchain-based payments and digital asset services across the European Union under a regulated framework.

The approval builds on Ripple’s recent regulatory gains in the UK, where the Financial Conduct Authority granted the firm an EMI license and crypto asset registration, strengthening its European expansion strategy.

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Trump taps crypto-friendly Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve

  • Kevin Warsh nominated as Fed Chair, pending Senate confirmation.
  • Known for hawkish policy yet supportive of cryptocurrencies.
  • Markets and crypto reacted quickly to the nomination news.

US President Donald Trump has officially nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve.

The announcement came through Trump’s social media platform, highlighting Warsh’s experience and expertise.

Trump announces he has picked Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair
Donald Trump announces his Fed Chair pick | Source Truth Social

Warsh, 55, is a former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, having served from 2006 to 2011.

He was on the Fed during the 2008 financial crisis, giving him significant insight into economic turbulence.

Warsh also brings a strong academic and professional background, with a degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard.

Before joining the Fed, he worked as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and served in the George W. Bush administration.

Currently, he is a fellow at the Hoover Institution and a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Trump’s nomination is not yet final, as Warsh must receive confirmation from the US Senate.

The confirmation process is expected to be closely watched and potentially contentious.

A hawkish yet crypto-friendly choice

Warsh is known for his hawkish stance on inflation and interest rates.

He has criticised the Fed’s past policies of ultra-loose monetary stimulus and large asset purchases.

However, Warsh is seen as more open to digital assets than current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

In a recent interview on Hoover Institution has suggested that Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies could act as a form of market discipline rather than a threat.

This perspective has drawn attention from the crypto community, which is eager for more favourable regulatory approaches.

Analysts note that Warsh’s approach could influence both traditional markets and the cryptocurrency sector.

Investors are already adjusting expectations for the dollar, equities, and digital assets.

Bitcoin, in particular, has experienced volatility as traders react to Warsh’s nomination.

Warsh’s potential policies could emphasise balance-sheet reduction and controlled rate hikes.

This combination of hawkish monetary policy and crypto openness is relatively unique for a Fed Chair.

Market reaction

Markets reacted quickly to the nomination, with some risk assets experiencing a short-term pullback.

Traders are pricing in the possibility of tighter monetary conditions under Warsh’s leadership.

Prediction markets had already favoured Warsh before the official announcement.

His nomination underscores the importance of Fed leadership for global markets, inflation, and economic stability.

The Senate confirmation process will likely draw debate over Fed independence and Trump’s influence on monetary policy.

Warsh’s blend of Wall Street experience, central bank knowledge, and crypto-friendly views makes him a notable pick.

If confirmed, he would face the challenge of balancing inflation control with market expectations for digital assets.

His tenure could set a new precedent for how the Fed interacts with cryptocurrencies.

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Bitcoin crashes to $84K, triggering $800M in crypto liquidations

  • Bitcoin fell below $85,000 and touched a low of $84,250.
  • CoinGlass data shows total liquidations hit $804 million over the past 24 hours.
  • The crash happened as gold fell from its peak above $5,500 on Thursday.

Cryptocurrency markets saw a sharp risk-off move on Thursday, with Bitcoin sliding to a low of $84,250.

The sell-off swept through major tokens, sending shockwaves across the crypto derivatives market.

Long positions bore the brunt of the move, as the drop pushed total liquidations over the past 24 hours above $800 million.

The downturn coincided with an abrupt reversal in gold prices, with the metal retreating from recent highs above $5,500.

Analysts cited mounting macroeconomic and geopolitical tensions as key drivers of the sudden shift in sentiment.

Bitcoin Price Chart
Bitcoin price chart by CoinMarketCap

Bitcoin tanks as gold sheds gains

Bitcoin has struggled to reclaim the $90,000 support level, with a brief move toward that mark fading as gold surged.

During Asian and early European trading on January 29, the cryptocurrency began a steady decline, slipping below $88,000.

Selling accelerated as the US session opened, with Bitcoin sliding on above-average trading volumes.

The sell-off pushed the benchmark asset to an intraday low near $84,000, its weakest level since December 2025.

The same area had seen a bearish retest in November, a move that may have prompted at least one large holder to sell roughly 200 BTC.

Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin was down about 5%.

The broader market sell-off dragged Ethereum to around $2,800, XRP to $1.79, and Solana below $120.

Crypto investor Ted wrote on X that the latest drop has left Bitcoin trading near a critical technical level.

The Bitcoin sell-off unfolded amid a broader shift to risk aversion across global markets.

Equities moved lower, led by a sharp decline in Microsoft shares, while investors also reacted to a sudden reversal in precious metals.

Gold, which had climbed to a record high above $5,500 an ounce earlier on Thursday, reversed course and fell toward $5,300. Silver also retreated sharply from recent highs.

Analysts said the move reflects a mix of macroeconomic pressures and heightened geopolitical risks, including rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

The Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates on Wednesday, alongside guidance suggesting rate cuts may be delayed until late 2026, further weighed on risk assets, prompting investors to favour short-term cash positions over digital assets or traditional safe havens.

Over $800 million was wiped out amid a surge in derivatives liquidations

Bitcoin’s sharp decline was mirrored in the derivatives market, where leveraged positions were unwound aggressively.

Data from crypto analytics platform Coinglass show that more than $800 million in positions across spot and futures markets were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with the bulk of losses borne by long traders.

Bitcoin alone accounted for $332 million in liquidations during the period, of which more than $318 million were long positions, according to the data.

While the scale of the sell-off and liquidations was smaller than the market dislocation seen on October 10, 2025, analysts say the episode underscores ongoing fragility in market positioning.

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Here’s why OP token price is falling despite Optimism buyback approval

  • Optimism (OP) underperformed as risk-off sentiment hit high-beta altcoins hardest.
  • The buyback plan is delayed, small, and lacks immediate supply reduction.
  • Technical breakdown below key averages has triggered strong sell-side momentum.

The Optimism (OP) token is falling even after token holders approved a long-awaited buyback plan.

At first glance, this seems counterintuitive, since buybacks are often seen as bullish for token prices.

However, the market reaction highlights the gap between long-term fundamentals and short-term trading reality.

OP is currently trading around $0.27, down roughly 8.8% in the past 24 hours.

This decline is sharper than the broader crypto market’s 5.26% drop over the same period.

The underperformance signals that OP is facing pressures beyond simple market noise.

Market-wide risk aversion is dragging down high-beta tokens

The crypto market is currently in a clear risk-off phase.

Investors are rotating away from speculative assets and toward traditional safe havens.

Gold has surged to record highs, reflecting heightened global uncertainty.

At the same time, Bitcoin has slid to around $85,000.

When Bitcoin weakens during risk-off periods, altcoins typically fall harder.

OP is considered a high-beta asset, meaning it magnifies broader market moves.

As a result, even modest market stress translates into outsized losses for OP.

The Fear and Greed Index sits at 38, firmly in “Fear” territory.

This indicates traders are prioritising capital preservation over growth opportunities.

In such conditions, narratives like governance wins and future buybacks struggle to gain traction.

Instead, liquidity dries up and sellers dominate price action.

This macro backdrop sets the stage for OP’s underperformance.

The buyback approval didn’t meet short-term market expectations

While Optimism token holders have approved a proposal to allocate 50% of Superchain sequencer revenue to OP buybacks, the market has reacted negatively rather than positively, and the main reason is timing.

The buybacks are scheduled to begin in February, not immediately. For short-term traders, delayed execution reduces the perceived impact.

The scale of the program also disappointed investors. Annual buybacks are estimated at around $8 million.

That figure represents roughly 1.5% of OP’s current market capitalisation.

Such a modest allocation is unlikely to offset sustained selling pressure. Additionally, the plan does not include token burns.

Repurchased tokens are sent to the treasury, leaving future supply decisions uncertain.

At the same time, token unlocks continue to add supply to the market. This imbalance weakens the buyback narrative in the near term.

Rather than acting as a price floor, the announcement became a “sell the news” event.

Conclusion: long-term promise, short-term pressure

OP’s price decline reflects a convergence of macro, narrative, and technical factors.

Market-wide risk aversion has reduced demand for speculative altcoins.

The buyback plan, while structurally positive, lacks immediate impact.

The token recently broke below its 7-day and 30-day simple moving averages, triggering algorithmic and momentum-based selling.

Optimism (OP) price
Optimism (OP) price chart | Source: TradingView

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator has also turned negative, pointing to accelerating downside momentum.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains near 44, suggesting OP is not yet oversold, meaning there is little technical support from bargain hunters.

Together, these forces explain why OP is falling despite positive governance news.

Long-term, tying token value to Superchain revenue remains a meaningful shift.

Short-term, however, traders are focused on survival rather than future alignment.

The next major test, according to analysts, will be whether OP can hold the $0.2528 support level.

Upcoming macro data, particularly US inflation metrics, may determine the next move.

But until the market sentiment improves, OP is likely to remain under pressure despite its improving fundamentals.

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