📊 Crypto News of the Week (28 Jan – 4 Feb 2026)

🔻 Market snapshot

bitcoin extended its January sell-off and briefly touched the $74,000 area, marking its longest continuous correction in seven years before stabilising above $76,000. ethereum followed the broader risk-off move, trading around $2,200–2,300. Total crypto liquidations exceeded $2 billion during the week, with more than two-thirds of major tokens closing lower 📉

😨 Sentiment check

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped into Extreme Fear territory. Historically, similar sentiment readings have often appeared near medium-term market bottoms, though volatility remains elevated.

🏛️ Politics and regulation

In the US, efforts to pass a unified crypto regulation framework stalled again. Talks between regulators, lawmakers, banks, and crypto firms failed to reach consensus on stablecoins and DeFi oversight. While one Senate committee advanced its draft, strong disagreements mean final approval remains uncertain.

At the same time, the crypto industry ramped up political engagement, raising a record amount of funding to support pro-crypto candidates ahead of upcoming elections, underlining how strategically important regulation has become for the sector.

Regulators signalled that clearer guidance could still be issued via regulatory agencies even without immediate Congressional action.

💼 Institutional flows

Spot bitcoin ETFs recorded continued net outflows, reflecting cautious positioning. In contrast, some ethereum- and xrp-linked products saw modest inflows, suggesting selective institutional rotation rather than a full exit from digital assets.

🐳 Altcoins and positioning

Large holders showed renewed interest in a narrow group of altcoins, particularly in sectors linked to privacy and infrastructure, despite the broader market drawdown.

🎲 Fun fact of the week

Even during heavy sell-offs, crypto traders kept things playful. Prediction markets saw strong activity as users actively bet on short-term bitcoin price direction, proving that speculation rarely takes a break - even in bearish weeks 😄

📌 Bottom line

The past seven days combined deep pessimism, political uncertainty, and shifting institutional flows. With fear dominating sentiment, markets are watching closely to see whether pressure continues or a relief bounce begins.

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