updraftplus domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/aonyeani76/cryptocurrencypanther/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131hustle domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/aonyeani76/cryptocurrencypanther/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131wpforms-lite domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/aonyeani76/cryptocurrencypanther/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, has again deposited Bitcoin and Ethereum into Coinbase, sparking concerns of a potential sell-off. This transfer comes ahead of the U.S. initial jobless claims report, which drops today, which could also spark volatility in the crypto market. BlackRock Deposits BTC and ETH Into Coinbase Arkham data shows the asset
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]]>Ethereum is trading with renewed strength after breaking above the $3,300 level and briefly pushing toward $3,400, signaling a potential shift in short-term momentum. However, despite this recovery, bullish conviction remains fragile. Many analysts continue to warn that the broader trend still leans bearish, emphasizing that Ethereum has yet to reclaim the structural levels needed to confirm a macro reversal.
Yet one signal has captured significant attention: according to fresh data from Lookonchain, a major whale known as BitcoinOG has doubled down on his Ethereum long position. This trader is widely recognized for being the whale who successfully shorted Bitcoin during the October 10 market crash, a move that earned him substantial profits and elevated his reputation across the on-chain analysis community.
Rather than taking profits after ETH’s recent pump, he has expanded his long exposure—an unusually aggressive stance at a time when most traders remain cautious.
His renewed commitment raises questions about whether smart money is quietly positioning for a larger upside move, even as broader sentiment remains skeptical. If momentum holds, Ethereum may be preparing for a far more significant move than the market currently expects.
According to Lookonchain, the whale known as BitcoinOG has now expanded his position to 85,001 ETH, valued at roughly $280 million, and is currently sitting on more than $16 million in unrealized profit. Such an aggressive accumulation during a period of widespread caution signals a notable divergence between retail sentiment and whale behavior.
When a trader with a proven track record positions this heavily on the long side, it often reflects a strategic conviction that market conditions could soon shift in favor of higher prices.
However, this positioning unfolds just as the market approaches a pivotal macro event: the FOMC meeting. The Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates can dramatically influence liquidity, risk appetite, and short-term volatility across all risk assets, including Ethereum.
A rate cut could inject optimism into the market by weakening the US dollar and improving overall liquidity conditions. Conversely, a hawkish tone or a smaller-than-expected policy adjustment could trigger a sell-the-news reaction, especially with ETH nearing resistance.
For Ethereum, whale accumulation combined with macro uncertainty creates a high-stakes environment. If liquidity expands post-FOMC, ETH could gain momentum. If not, even strong whale positions may face short-term pressure.
Ethereum’s 4-hour chart shows a decisive shift in momentum, with ETH pushing firmly above the $3,300 level after a clean breakout from its multi-week downtrend. This move marks one of the strongest bullish impulses since early November, supported by rising volume and a clear reclaim of the 50 EMA and 100 EMA.
The 200 EMA (red), which previously acted as dynamic resistance throughout the decline, has now been tested and is beginning to flatten—often an early indication that bearish momentum is losing dominance.
However, ETH is now hovering directly below a critical resistance zone around $3,380–$3,420, a level where sellers previously stepped in aggressively. The current consolidation just beneath this zone reveals an undecided market: bulls attempt to establish acceptance above $3,300, while bears defend the next resistance layer.
If buyers manage to flip $3,320 into solid support, the path toward $3,500 becomes more achievable, especially if broader market sentiment improves. Conversely, a rejection from the $3,400 area could trigger a short-term pullback toward $3,200–$3,250, where moving averages are now stacked as layered support.
Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum has entered the spotlight once again after reaching a multi-year high above $4,790, only to retrace toward critical demand levels. The move highlights ongoing volatility as bulls remain patient, waiting for a breakout beyond the $4,900 level, a threshold that would push ETH into uncharted price territory. While the retracement may seem like a pause, market structure still favors strength, with higher lows forming and momentum shifting toward accumulation.
What makes the current setup even more compelling is the surge in whale activity. Arkham Intelligence data revealed that three new whale addresses collectively purchased $279.5 million worth of ETH in just the past 24 hours. These transactions underscore confidence from deep-pocketed players at a moment when Ethereum is consolidating below key resistance. Such large-scale accumulation typically signals expectations of further upside, aligning with growing optimism that ETH could soon break above its historic ceiling.
With supply on exchanges continuing to decline and institutional demand rising, Ethereum’s next move carries weight for the broader altcoin market. Traders and investors alike will be watching closely, as the convergence of whale accumulation and technical resilience suggests that Ethereum could be on the verge of another explosive phase.
Ethereum’s bullish narrative continues to strengthen as whale activity accelerates. Arkham’s AI has linked the latest wave of ETH purchases to Bitmine, raising questions about whether strategist Tom Lee is doubling down on Ethereum exposure. Bitmine’s total ETH holdings are a staggering 1.174 million ETH, valued at around $5.26 billion at current prices.
This scale of accumulation places Bitmine among the most influential players in the Ethereum ecosystem, with its wallet activity now drawing comparisons to major institutional participants. The timing of these buys is especially significant, arriving as ETH consolidates just below the $4,900 mark, with bulls watching closely for a breakout into uncharted price territory.
What’s more, this accumulation trend aligns with moves from companies like Sharplink Gaming, which have also been positioning aggressively into Ethereum. The shift highlights a broader pattern: institutional actors are increasingly viewing ETH as a long-term strategic asset, not just a speculative play.
Adding further fuel to the bullish outlook, exchange supply is drying up while OTC desks report running out of Ethereum. This supply squeeze is historically a precursor to major rallies, as demand from whales and institutions collides with reduced availability. If these dynamics persist, Ethereum may be entering one of its most explosive phases yet, with whale behavior acting as the clearest signal of confidence.
Ethereum’s 4-hour chart highlights a healthy pullback from the recent peak near $4,790, with the price now consolidating around $4,414. This decline comes after a strong multi-week rally, suggesting that the move is more of a cooldown phase rather than a full trend reversal.
The 50-period SMA at $4,407 is now acting as immediate support, making this level a critical short-term battleground. If bulls can defend it, momentum could quickly shift back toward the $4,600–$4,800 resistance area, where ETH was recently rejected. A confirmed breakout above $4,900 would validate bullish strength and set the stage for fresh all-time highs.
On the downside, the 100-SMA ($4,025) and 200-SMA ($3,822) remain deeper support zones that could absorb stronger selling pressure if the $4,400 area fails. Importantly, trading volume shows heavy activity during the rally followed by lower participation during the retrace, implying sellers are not in full control.
Overall, Ethereum remains in an uptrend, but the current consolidation will determine its next leg. Holding above $4,400 keeps bulls in control, while a drop below could trigger a short-term correction before the uptrend resumes. This makes the coming sessions pivotal for ETH’s trajectory.
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
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In a stunning update, Bybit CEO Ben Zhou has revealed that $280 million of the $1.4 billion stolen from the cryptocurrency exchange in the February hack has vanished into untraceable channels.
3.4.25 Executive Summary on Hacked Funds:
Total hacked funds of USD 1.4bn around 500k ETH, 77% are still traceable, 20% has gone dark, 3% have been frozen.
Breakdown:
– 83% (417,348 ETH, ~$1B) have been converted into BTC with 6,954 wallets (Average 1.71 btc each) . This and…— Ben Zhou (@benbybit) March 4, 2025
The security breach, attributed to the North Korean hacking group Lazarus, saw approximately 500,000 Ether (ETH) pilfered from Bybit’s reserves. While the majority of the funds remains visible on the blockchain, Zhou’s announcement underscores the challenges facing investigators as they race against time to freeze the assets before the hackers fully cash out.
The attack exploited vulnerabilities in SafeWallet, a third-party wallet platform used by Bybit. Lazarus hackers compromised a developer’s device, injecting malicious code that allowed them to siphon off nearly $1.5 billion in ETH during a routine transfer.
Despite Bybit’s swift action to restore 1:1 backing of client assets within days, the hackers have been relentlessly moving the stolen funds across multiple platforms, complicating recovery efforts.
A significant portion of the stolen Ether—417,348 ETH valued at around $1 billion—has been converted into Bitcoin (BTC) and scattered across 6,954 wallets, each holding an average of 1.71 BTC.
Zhou noted that 72% of the haul, or 361,255 ETH worth $900 million, was funneled through THORChain, a decentralized exchange known for its privacy features.
THORChain alone processed a record $4.66 billion in swaps in the week ending March 2, raking in over $5.5 million in fees from these illicit transactions. This fragmentation and conversion strategy has made tracking the funds increasingly difficult for blockchain forensic teams.
Meanwhile, 20% of the stolen assets—approximately 79,655 ETH—have “gone dark,” meaning they’ve been laundered through platforms like ExCH and rendered untraceable.
Zhou highlighted that an additional 40,233 ETH, worth $100 million, passed through OKX’s Web3 Proxy. Of this, 23,553 ETH ($65 million) remains untraceable without further cooperation from the OKX Wallet team, while 16,680 ETH is still within reach of investigators.
The CEO stressed that the next one to two weeks are pivotal as the hackers prepare to offload their haul via exchanges, over-the-counter (OTC) trading desks, and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.
In a bid to thwart the hackers, Bybit has enlisted the help of bounty hunters and security firms.
Zhou reported that 11 parties—including prominent players like Mantle, Paraswap, and blockchain sleuth ZachXBT—have assisted in freezing $42 million, or 3% of the stolen funds.
So far, Bybit has paid out $2.178 million in USDT to these contributors as part of its recovery efforts, with more details available at Lazarusbounty.com. The exchange also partnered with Web3 security firm ZeroShadow on February 25 to enhance its blockchain forensics and maximize asset recovery.
Despite these efforts, the hackers show no signs of slowing down. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic has identified over 11,000 wallets linked to the Lazarus group, suggesting a sprawling network designed to obscure their tracks.
Free Real-time Bybit Exploit Data
Elliptic has launched a free data feed of illicit addresses linked to the Bybit exploit.
Why it matters:
Minimize exposure to sanctions
Access via CSV or API
… pic.twitter.com/U9Qa2tc8Zz
— Elliptic (@elliptic) February 25, 2025
Zhou indicated that an additional $65 million in ETH could be salvaged with OKX’s support, but time is running out as the attackers continue laundering operations through platforms like ExCH and OKX Web3 Proxy.
These IPOs align with the broader trend of Chinese companies seeking public listings in Hong Kong, driven by regulatory scrutiny and market dynamics.
Three prominent mainland China-based companies, led by Beijing Fourth Paradigm, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) software firm, have debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with initial public offerings (IPOs). Collectively, the companies plan to raise up to $280 million through the IPOs.
Fourth Paradigm completed the necessary procedures for its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange back in July and received the official green light from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to conduct the offerings after three previous failures. The approval comes after the financial regulator implemented fresh rules to enable offshore listings.
A few months after obtaining the regulatory approval, the company now leads two other Chinese firms to seek funding through traditional IPOs.
In this IPO, three cornerstone investors, led by New China Capital Management, have shown strong interest, subscribing for approximately $96.8 million worth of stock, accounting for roughly 70.6 percent of the total offering.
According to a Monday filing, Fourth Paradigm plans to secure up to $144 million by issuing 18.4 million shares at a price range of HK$55.60 to HK$61.16 each.
Launched in September 2014, Fourth Paradigm boasts various product offerings across different industries, including finance, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and telecommunications.
In 2021, the company completed its series D funding round, which saw participation from prominent financial companies such as Sequoia Capital, Goldman Sachs, China-UAE Joint Investment Fund, Mubadala Investment Company, and CDB Capital. These heavyweight investors contributed up to $700 million for the company.
Two years after the Series D fundraising, the company found itself in the U.S. “Entity List,” which imposed restrictions on U.S. suppliers from shipping technology to the company unless they could secure a license from the country’s Commerce Department.
In addition to Fourth Paradigm, another Chinese firm, Neusoft Xikang, a prominent cloud hospital platform, is targeting an IPO to raise between $81 million and $101 million by selling 133.8 million shares. The shares are priced in a range of HK$4.76 to HK$5.91 each.
Similarly, the third company in the IPO, ZX Inc, a mobile games operator, is offering 18.97 million shares priced between HK$11 to HK$14 each, intending to secure between $27 million and $34 million in funding.
The two companies aim to raise approximately $135 million in the IPO, bringing it to a total of $280 million with the planned $144 million raise by Fourth Paradigm.
These IPOs align with the broader trend of Chinese companies seeking public listings in Hong Kong, driven by regulatory scrutiny and market dynamics. Chinese firms are increasingly looking to tap into Hong Kong’s vibrant capital markets to fund their growth and expansion plans.
Meanwhile, these offerings mark an exciting chapter in the growth of the three Chinese companies and their foray into the international financial landscape. Investors and industry observers will closely watch their performance in the coming months as they navigate the dynamic IPO landscape in Hong Kong.
Chimamanda is a crypto enthusiast and experienced writer focusing on the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies. She joined the industry in 2019 and has since developed an interest in the emerging economy. She combines her passion for blockchain technology with her love for travel and food, bringing a fresh and engaging perspective to her work.