Auburn, Calif., Feb. 2, 2026 — HuLoop Automation, a leader in AI-powered work optimization for financial institutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Ceto, a leader in providing data-driven insights and actionable intelligence for financial institutions. This partnership will combine HuLoop’s Unified Work Optimization platform with Ceto’s intelligence solutions and expert consulting capabilities to help financial institutions enhance operational efficiency, streamline execution and unlock actionable insights for growth.
As a part of the partnership, HuLoop’s human-in-the-loop work optimization solutions will integrate with the Ceto NOVA™ platform and other Ceto solutions, including the VendorLink™ solution, the MarketView™ study and the NexBridge™ solution. This enables institutions to automate repeatable, complex processes while leveraging real-time market, performance, and vendor intelligence to inform strategic decisions.
“Today’s financial institutions face unprecedented competitive and operational pressures requiring insight and execution at scale,” said Todd Michaud, President and CEO at HuLoop. “By partnering with Ceto, we’re empowering banks and credit unions to streamline work across people, processes and technology, turning intelligence into impact.”
Together, HuLoop and Ceto bring intelligence, expertise and AI-powered work optimization to give financial institutions clearer visibility, more efficient execution and better business outcomes.
“Ceto has always been committed to equipping community banks and credit unions with the intelligence they need to thrive in a dynamic marketplace,” said Douglas Ceto, CEO of Ceto. “This partnership with HuLoop brings a critical automation dimension to that mission, enabling our clients to not only see what needs to be done but also automate key processes with confidence.”
The alliance marks a significant step in delivering solutions that blend human expertise, AI and automation to tackle the most pressing challenges facing financial institutions today.
About HuLoop Automation
HuLoop Automation is a comprehensive AI-based future of work platform for financial institutions, retailers, and other industries, providing organizations of all sizes with industry-specific tools that streamline work, automate manual processes, and increase efficiency. Driven by its “human-in-the-loop” philosophy, HuLoop Automation is dedicated to improving the workers’ experience by giving them more time to be more productive. Learn more at www.huloop.ai.
About Ceto
Founded in 1994, Ceto is a long-standing strategic partner to community banks and credit unions, focused on strengthening profitability, performance, and long-term resilience. Over the past three decades, Ceto has supported more than 2,000 financial institutions across the United States and Canada. Through a combination of strategic guidance, human expertise, and technology, Ceto helps institutions navigate complexity, apply intelligence effectively, and build stronger communities. Learn more at ceto.com.
Bitcoin has started a relief rally, which is expected to face selling near $84,000.
Several major altcoins are at risk of breaking below their support levels if the bulls fail to clear the overhead resistance levels.
Bitcoin (BTC) turned up from the $74,508 level on Monday, and the buyers are attempting to maintain the price above $79,000. BTC analyst PlanC said in a post on X that the fall to the $75,000 to $80,000 zone might be “the deepest pullback opportunity this Bitcoin bull run.”
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which measures overall crypto market sentiment, plunged into the “Extreme Fear” zone with a score of 14, the lowest in 2026. Crypto analytics platform Santiment said in a report on Friday that the extreme negativity on social media was a silver lining as “historically, crypto markets move in the opposite direction of the crowd’s expectations.”
Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView
However, not everyone believes that a bottom is in. Several analysts are bearish on BTC and expect it to fall further. Traders on Polymarket also anticipate the downtrend to continue, with the odds of BTC falling below $65,000 rising to 72% on Monday.
Could BTC and the major altcoins start a strong relief rally in the near term? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
S&P 500 Index price prediction
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) fell to the 50-day simple moving average (6,864) on Thursday, but the bulls successfully defended the level.
The bulls will have to thrust the price above the resistance line of the ascending channel pattern to indicate the resumption of the uptrend. The index may then rally to 7,290.
Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down from the resistance line and breaks below the 20-day exponential moving average ($6,929), it suggests that the index may remain inside the channel for a while longer. The bears will gain the upper hand on a close below the support line. The index may then decline toward the 6,550 support.
US Dollar Index price prediction
The US Dollar Index (DXY) tumbled below the 96.21 support on Tuesday, but the bears could not sustain the lower levels.
The bulls pushed the price back above the 96.21 level on Wednesday, but the recovery is expected to face selling at the 20-day EMA ($97.78). If the price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA, the bears will attempt to sink the index below the 96.21 level.
On the other hand, a break and close above the 20-day EMA suggests that the break below the 96.21 level may have been a bear trap. The index may then rally toward the stiff overhead resistance of 100.54.
Bitcoin price prediction
BTC fell below the Nov. 21, 2025, low of $80,600 on Saturday and reached the critical support of $74,508 on Monday.
The relative strength index (RSI) plunged into the oversold territory, signaling a possible relief rally in the near term. The Bitcoin price is expected to face selling in the $80,600 to $84,000 zone. If the BTC/USDT pair turns down sharply from the overhead zone, the risk of a break below the $74,508 level increases. The next support on the downside is at $60,000.
The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the moving averages. That suggests the $74,508 level will continue to behave as a floor for some more time.
Ether price prediction
Ether (ETH) broke below the $2,623 level on Saturday and fell to the next major support of $2,111 on Monday.
The RSI has slipped into the oversold category, indicating that the selling may have been overdone in the near term. That increases the possibility of a relief rally, which is expected to face selling at the 20-day EMA ($2,833).
A shallow bounce off the current level or a sharp reversal from the 20-day EMA suggests that the advantage remains with the bears. If the $2,111 support cracks, the Ether price may descend to $1,750. The bulls will be back in the game after the ETH/USDT pair rises above the moving averages.
BNB price prediction
BNB (BNB) plummeted below the uptrend line and the $790 support on Saturday, indicating aggressive selling by the bears.
The bulls are attempting to protect the $730 support, but the relief rally is expected to face selling at the breakdown level of $790. If the BNB price turns down sharply from $790, it signals that the bears have flipped the level into resistance. That increases the prospects of a drop to $700.
Instead, if the price closes above $790, it suggests that the lower levels are attracting buyers. The BNB/USDT pair may then rally to the moving averages, where the bulls are expected to encounter solid selling by the bears.
XRP price prediction
XRP (XRP) is witnessing a tough battle between the buyers and sellers at the crucial $1.61 support.
A shallow bounce increases the likelihood of a drop to the support line of the descending channel pattern. Buyers are expected to defend the support line, as a break below it might sink the XRP/USDT pair to the Oct. 10, 2025, low of $1.25.
The moving averages are the critical resistance to watch out for on the upside. A close above the moving averages suggests that the XRP price may remain inside the channel for a few more days.
Solana price prediction
Solana (SOL) collapsed below the $117 level on Saturday and reached the critical support at $95.
The bulls have successfully defended the $95 level, but the failure to start a strong bounce suggests that the bears continue to exert pressure. If the $95 support gives way, the SOL/USDT pair may start the next leg of the downtrend to $79.
Contrarily, if the Solana price rises above $107, the recovery may reach the 20-day EMA ($121). Sellers will attempt to defend the 20-day EMA, but if the bulls prevail, the pair may march toward the $147 resistance.
Related: XRP price risks repeating 2022 crash as new buyers go underwater
Dogecoin price prediction
Dogecoin (DOGE) plunged below the Oct. 10, 2025, low of $0.10 on Saturday, indicating aggressive selling by the bears.
The bulls have started a relief rally, which is expected to face selling at the 20-day EMA ($0.12). If the Dogecoin price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA, the risk of a break below the $0.10 level increases. The DOGE/USDT pair may then nosedive to $0.08.
Alternatively, if buyers pierce the 20-day EMA, it suggests that the market has rejected the break below the $0.10 level. The pair will then attempt a rally to the solid overhead resistance at $0.16.
Cardano price prediction
Cardano (ADA) fell below the Oct. 10, 2025, low of $0.27 on Saturday, signaling that the bears remain in charge.
The Cardano price has bounced off the support line but is expected to face selling at the 20-day EMA ($0.34). If the price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA, the bears will again try to yank the ADA/USDT pair below the support line. If they succeed, the downtrend may extend to $0.20.
The bulls will have to catapult the price above the downtrend line to suggest that the downtrend may be ending. The pair may then ascend to the breakdown level of $0.50.
Bitcoin Cash price prediction
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) fell toward its pattern target of $456 on Saturday, where the buyers stepped in.
The bulls have started a relief rally, which is expected to face resistance in the zone between the 50% Fibonacci retracement level of $535 and the 61.8% retracement level of $551. If the Bitcoin Cash price turns down from the resistance zone, the bears will attempt to pull the BCH/USDT pair below $500.
On the contrary, if buyers propel the price above $551, the pair may reach the 20-day EMA ($571). A close above the 20-day EMA signals that the bulls are back in the game.
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Venezuelan authorities have arrested Rosa María González, a key figure in the collapse of Argentine crypto firm Generación Zoe, nearly four years after the scandal left tens of thousands of investors defrauded.
González, 30, was taken into custody in San Cristóbal, Táchira state, following an Interpol operation.
González is accused of fleeing Argentina with 611 Bitcoin, worth roughly $56 million today. She had spent years evading authorities, reportedly moving between apartments in Buenos Aires with private security before crossing into Venezuela, according to local reports.
Her arrest comes almost exactly one year after Leonardo Cositorto, the founder of Generación Zoe, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Generación Zoe promised investors unusually high returns, claiming to use proprietary trading algorithms with so-called “quantum security.” In reality, investigators say the company operated a classic Ponzi scheme, paying older investors with funds from new participants.
González reportedly introduced Cositorto to the trading algorithms that became the centerpiece of the fraud. In promotional videos, she claimed the algorithms could generate monthly returns of up to 70%.
Consistent crypto crime
After the firm collapsed in the middle of 2022, González reportedly remained active in the crypto world trying to work up some new schemes.
Sources say she attempted to launch a new scheme targeting Argentine investors, promising 5% monthly returns on stakes of $1,000 or more, using crypto transactions through companies supposedly based in the United Kingdom.
She allegedly funded former associates in Venezuela to recruit investors and manage the new project. Early reports suggest the plan defrauded at least a dozen individuals, totaling roughly $300,000.
Extraditing González to Argentina is expected to be difficult. Argentina severed diplomatic ties with Venezuela in 2024, and no embassy currently operates in Caracas.
Brazil, which had been managing diplomatic affairs, recently withdrew, leaving no country in charge of Argentine interests. Interpol officials told local media that sending federal police into Venezuela is not safe, complicating any repatriation.
Cositorto has called on González to cooperate, expressing hope that her testimony could help recover some of the defrauded funds.
Sources close to the case say González may have been pressured or manipulated into some of the fraudulent activities, though investigators remain focused on her direct role in orchestrating scams.
DLNews reporting provided background information for this article.
Crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) closed the final full week of January under heavy pressure, with deep losses across bitcoin, ether, XRP, and solana funds. Persistent risk-off sentiment drove one of the worst weekly drawdowns of the year. January Ends in Pain as Bitcoin, Ether Lead Mass ETF Exodus The final week of January delivered a […]
The bank said its institutional clients will be able to manage fiat currencies and stablecoins in one place.
Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) said it has upgraded its multi-currency, real-time clearing network, SGB Net, to support stablecoins alongside fiat currencies, allowing institutional clients to manage both within a single banking platform.
Under the new setup, clients will be able to trade, mint, convert, hold and transfer stablecoins including Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT across blockchains such as Ethereum, Arbitrum and Solana. According to a spokesperson for the bank, the service is only available to SGB’s corporate clients.
The upgrade extends Singapore Gulf Bank’s clearing system into the stablecoin market, according to a press release viewed by The Defiant. SGB Net currently processes about $2 billion in monthly fiat transaction volumes, the bank said.
“Our ambition is to become the one bank for all of finance,” said Shawn Chan, chief executive officer of SGB.
“Stablecoins have become the working capital of the digital asset economy, yet managing them remains unnecessarily complex. This upgrade to SGB Net positions SGB as the default bank for managing fiat and multiple stablecoins within a single, regulated infrastructure.”
The bank said the service includes compliance checks such as KYC, KYB and AML. Digital asset custody and transaction security are provided through a partnership with Fireblocks.
The total stablecoin market currently stands at about $304.9 billion, according to DefiLlama, just underneath its all-time high. USDT accounts for roughly 60% of the market with a market cap of over $185 billion.
Singapore Gulf Bank said it is working with issuers, partners and regulators on risk management and operational standards. Access to the network is expected to roll out to clients sometime in Q1 2026.
Singapore Gulf Bank is backed by Whampoa Group and Mumtalakat and is regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Trading just below $79,000 in midday U.S trade Monday, bitcoin BTC$79,024.93 has bounced from its worst weekend level below $75,000.
At $78,700, BTC is higher by 2% over the past 24 hours and up 7% from its weakest price of the weekend, but still down more than 10% on a week-over-week basis. Ether ETH$2,370.40 is also up about 2% over the past day, but down 19% from week-ago levels.
Crypto’s weekend move “broke key short-term support and stood out for its speed and depth, even by typical weekend standards,” said Adrian Fritz, chief investment strategist at 21shares.
According to Fritz, the sell-off was triggered by another round of forced deleveraging, as over $2 billion in crypto derivatives were liquidated in a rapid burst. “Liquidations in perps accelerated the downside momentum, rather than discretionary spot selling,” he said.
U.S. stocks traded higher on Monday, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 each ahead 0.6% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher by 0.9%. While bitcoin in January closed out its fourth-consecutive month of losses, expert tradfi market analyst Ryan Detrick noted the DJIA was higher for a ninth-straight month in January. That ranks among the Dow’s longest ever winning streaks, said Detrick, who reminded that future returns for stocks tend to be strong after such runs.
Gold and silver are having a volatile day, but are currently down modestly after their worst one-day sell-off since 1980 on Friday.
The modest bounce in crypto is having little effect on digital asset-related stocks, which remain down sharply across the board. Among them, Roinbhood (HOOD) is down 9%, Circle (CRCL) down 5%, and Coinbase (COIN) and Strategy (MSTR) down 3%.
Key U.S. economic data as February begins
The ISM manufacturing PMI, a key gauge of U.S. factory activity based on surveys of purchasing managers, came in hotter than expected at 52.6 in January, compared with a forecast of 48.5. This marks the first expansion in manufacturing activity in 12 months and the strongest reading since 2022. January is typically a reorder month following the holiday period, which often results in elevated readings. This seasonal pattern was also evident in January 2025 and January 2024.
Looking ahead, investors will be awaiting this Friday’s January U.S. jobs report for clues about whether the Federal Reserve might cut rates again after pausing rate cuts at its January meeting last week.
Several New York district attorneys have reportedly warned about the US federal stablecoin law, the GENIUS Act, claiming it fails to adequately address fraud.
According to a Monday CNN report, New York Attorney General Letitia James and four district attorneys signed onto a letter saying that the GENIUS Act will “provide legal cover” for stablecoin issuers to potentially participate in fraud.
The letter reportedly pointed a finger at issuers Tether and Circle, claiming that the companies have profited off crimes in stablecoin markets, specifically accusing Tether of only freezing some suspicious transactions in USDt (USDT).
“The reality for many victims, therefore, is that funds stolen in or converted to USDT will never be frozen, seized, or returned,” said the letter, according to CNN. “They [Tether] currently decide on a case-by-case basis when they will assist law enforcement in recovering funds for victims, and nothing prevents them from stopping all reissuance entirely.”
Regarding Circle, the letter said the stablecoin issuer “claims to be an ally in the fight against financial fraud,” but its policies were “significantly worse than those of Tether for victims of fraud.”
Chief strategy officer Dante Disparte reportedly said Circle “has always prioritized financial integrity and advancing US and global regulatory standards for stablecoins,” adding:
“[The GENIUS Act] makes clear that stablecoin issuers must abide by applicable financial integrity rules for combating illicit activity, while enhancing clear consumer protection norms. We have followed prevailing rules as a US regulated financial institution, and we will continue to advance these standards.”
Tether reportedly said that it “takes fraud, consumer harm, and the misuse of USDT extremely seriously and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward illicit activity,” but the company did not have “a blanket legal obligation to comply with state-level civil or criminal processes in the way a US-regulated financial institution would.” The stablecoin issuer’s headquarters is in El Salvador.
Related: Trump: US has to ‘make it so that China doesn’t get the hold‘ of crypto
The GENIUS Act, which was signed into law by US President Donald Trump in July, established a framework for payment stablecoins in the country. The bill requires implementation 18 months after enactment or 120 days after US agencies approve regulations related to the law.
NY AG could face crypto lawyer challenger in 2026
Letitia James, who as of Monday had not made any public statements indicating she was not running for reelection as New York Attorney General this year, could face a challenger representing interests aligned with many in the crypto industry.
In November, former Coinbase policy lawyer Khurram Dara said he plans to run as a Republican to unseat James, claiming that the attorney general had engaged in “lawfare” against the crypto industry in the state. Both potential candidates have an April 6 deadline to file.
Magazine: Bitget’s Gracy Chen is looking for ‘entrepreneurs, not wantrepreneurs’
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Shadows of the past impact today. The surfacing of emails linking Jeffrey Epstein to early crypto academia and Bitcoin development circles has done more than just reignite old gossip.
It’s weaponized the ‘civil war’ between Bitcoin maximalists and the Ripple ($XRP) army. For years, the debate centered on centralization versus decentralization. Now? It has shifted to a far more dangerous battleground for legacy assets: reputational toxicity.
The leaked correspondence, which highlights connections between the disgraced financier and the MIT Media Lab, a hub that funded early Bitcoin core development, is being used by Ripple proponents to challenge Bitcoin’s claim to moral superiority.
Bitcoin advocates, naturally, are firing back at $XRP’s opaque early distribution. Why does this mudslinging matter? Because it creates a ‘compliance landmine’ for institutional investors. BlackRock and Fidelity deal in risk management; they don’t want assets with skeletons in the closet.
The data suggests that as the ‘old guard’ fights over who has the cleaner history, smart money is quietly exiting the crossfire to find infrastructure built for the regulatory clarity of the modern era.
This flight to quality is steering capital toward Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER). Unlike legacy tokens entangled in the ‘dark ages’ of crypto’s libertarian wild west, Bitcoin Hyper is engineered as a clean-slate solution. By combining Bitcoin’s settlement security with a compliance-ready Layer 2 architecture, it offers the fresh start that institutions and weary retail investors are desperate for.
Engineered for Transparency: The SVM Advantage
While Bitcoin and Ripple trade blows over historical associations, Bitcoin Hyper is fixing the technical debt that plagues both chains. Let’s be honest: Bitcoin is too slow for DeFi, and Ripple’s centralization remains a dealbreaker for purists.
Bitcoin Hyper bridges this gap by integrating the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) directly as a Bitcoin Layer 2.
Source: Bitcoin Hyper
Central to this ecosystem is the Canonical Bridge, a trustless gateway that allows users to migrate value into a high-speed environment without the ‘handshake deals’ or counterparty risks exposed in recent leaks.
Technical Superiority by the Numbers
Sub-Second Finality: Move at the speed of light, not the speed of an aging ledger.
Minimal Fees: Transaction costs as low as $0.01.
Standardized Security: By utilizing a single trusted sequencer with periodic L1 state anchoring, Bitcoin Hyper ensures every transaction is verifiable on the Bitcoin mainnet.
This approach aligns perfectly with the ‘2026 transparency standards’ regulators are currently drafting. The Canonical Bridge ensures that liquidity is unified and verifiable, positioning Bitcoin Hyper as a safe harbor for developers who want to build on Bitcoin without inheriting the legal or social baggage of its early years.
For a further breakdown of the proejct check out our ‘What is Bitcoin Hyper?‘ guide.
Whale Wallets Signal Shift to New Infrastructure
The market’s appetite for a ‘fresh start’ protocol shows up clearly in the on-chain data. While legacy large caps struggle with sentiment headwinds, Bitcoin Hyper has raised over $31.1M in its ongoing presale. That capital inflow suggests investors are pricing in the value of a high-performance Layer 2 free from the regulatory crossfire hitting the major incumbents.
Source: Bitcoin Hyper / X
Smart money is moving. Etherscan data reveals that two high-net-worth wallets accumulated $879.9K during the presale, with the largest single buy hitting $500K. This accumulation pattern typically precedes a wider retail rotation, as whales position themselves before the token lists on major exchanges.
With Bitcoin Hyper‘s presale price at $0.013675, early entrants are securing positions at a valuation that reflects the project’s infrastructure potential rather than speculative hype. Plus, the protocol offers high APY for immediate staking, with a modest 7-day vesting period for presale stakers, a structure designed to incentivize long-term alignment over mercenary capital.
The only question now – ‘How to Buy Bitcoin Hyper?’
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are volatile; investors should perform their own due diligence and be aware of the risks involved in presale assets.
Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
BlackRock moved over $670 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum to Coinbase Prime on Monday, according to Arkham Intelligence data.
Specifically, the asset management giant deposited 6,918 Bitcoin worth approximately $539 million and 58,327 Ethereum valued at about $133 million into the institutional trading and custody platform.
The movements are tied to operational requirements for BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) and Ethereum ETF, which involve creation and redemption processes requiring direct custody arrangements.
Large-scale asset transfers do not automatically signal an intent to sell. Still, BlackRock’s move warrants close monitoring as markets remain under pressure following a sharp weekend sell-off that pushed Bitcoin below $75,000.
BlackRock’s IBIT recorded $528 million in net outflows last Friday, its largest single-day redemption since launch, while total outflows across all US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs reached $1.5 billion for the week, per Farside Investors.
BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), the largest Ethereum-focused treasury firm, continued its weekly ether ETH$2,383.63 purchase streak even as a sharp crypto sell-off deepened its unrealized losses and sent its stock to new 7-month lows.
The firm said in a Monday update that it bought 41,788 ETH last week, its largest weekly token haul so far this year, worth around $96 million at current prices. The purchase lifted BitMine’s total ETH holdings to 4,285,125 tokens, or about 3.55% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, according to a company update released Monday. The firm also holds 193 bitcoin BTC$79,113.44, $586 million in cash, a $200 million stake in Beast Industries and a $20 million stake in Eightco Holdings.
Ether fell to around $2,300 over the weekend, pulling the firm’s total crypto, cash and equity holdings down to $10.7 billion. In Monday morning U.S. trade, the price had recovered modestly to $2,360. BMNR shares were lower by 5%>
With crypto prices falling sharply last week, the firm is estimated to be sitting on roughly $6 billion in unrealized losses on its position.
Chairman Thomas Lee said ether’s price weakness contrasts with rising activity on the Ethereum blockchain, noting that daily transactions and active addresses recently hit record highs.
“During the crypto winter of 2021-2022 or 2018-2019, Ethereum transaction activity and active wallets declined, which is counter to what we have seen in the past 12 months,” Lee said.
He argued that lingering effects from October’s crypto crash and the recent surge in precious metals prices have weighed on the market, sucking out liquidity from the crypto economy.
BitMine has also ramped up staking, lifting its total staked ETH to nearly 2.9 million tokens, or about two-thirds of its holdings, generating an estimated $188 million in annualized staking revenue.