After the Supreme Court told him to take a seat on his IEEPA shenanigans, Trump did what any self-respecting reality TV star would do: he pivoted. Plan B, folks! Global tariffs, 10% to start, then a dramatic upgrade to 15% because, well, why not? Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, he claims, gives him the green light. But does it? Or is this just another episode of The Apprentice: White House Edition?
Yet, even as the bulls braced for a grand assault, the stubborn resistance at $1.73 loomed like a fortress, its walls unyielding. To breach it would require not mere courage, but a miracle-a feat perhaps more likely than the sun rising in the west, yet still, the market lingered in suspense, as a peasant waits for the tsar’s decree.
Short-term moves hit fast, like that one time your ex texted you out of the blue. But the bigger picture? That’s the slow burn, the existential dread of realizing your portfolio looks like a ghost town. And right now, the market is just… marinating in its own confusion. Exactly like that cycle.
But alas, as the incentives settled into their natural state, participation cooled with the grace of a deflating balloon, and volumes retreated with the speed of a disgruntled aristocrat abandoning a social gathering. By January 2026, the sector’s contraction only added to the pressure, as total daily perpetuals volume nosedived to a meager $15-20 billion-a 30% plunge from the previous year’s exuberance.
According to the ever-vigilant AMBCrypto, ZEC has recently suffered a capital flight from the perpetuals market, akin to a flock of confused geese heading south for winter, amounting to a staggering $52 million. Large liquidations have painted a rather volatile picture of the past month, with price swings resembling a badly executed dance routine.
Following this 70% nosedive from July 2025 to February 2026, the token now boasts what Santiment, that paragon of analytical wit, calls its “largest on-chain realized loss spike since 2022.” A veritable feast for the pessimists, one might think, though perhaps it’s merely a prelude to a grand masquerade of comebacks.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded solid inflows on Feb. 20, while Ethereum products drew little new capital. Data shows most demand remains concentrated in a few major issuers. At the same time, monthly trends indicate momentum has slowed since mid-2025. Flow patterns continue to favor Bitcoin over Ethereum in both scale and stability.
It appears the traders, bless their hearts, are undergoing a rather sharp reset in the derivatives markets, responding to macro and geopolitical pressures that are about as welcome as a cold cup of tea. Our dear analyst, Darkfost, had the audacity to point this out on X-how positively scandalous! Futures positioning is now showing a charming shift away from risk, particularly on Binance, as if they’ve all suddenly developed a fear of heights.
The CME Group, that venerable titan of derivatives, declared its intent to offer 24/7 crypto futures and options on May 29-a milestone as grand as a poet’s ode to the stars.
According to the latest filings, the Duquesne Family Office has increased its stake in Alphabet by a rather impressive 277%, a feat that would make even the most ardent stockbroker weep with envy. Amazon, too, has been graced with a 69% surge, a testament to the enduring charm of e-commerce.