Utah resident Brian Gary Sewell has been sentenced to three years in federal 
prison for his role in defrauding investors out of roughly $2.9 million 
through an unlicensed cryptocurrency business. Sewell pleaded guilty to wire 
fraud and was sentenced to…

American Bitcoin Academy founder Brian Sewell gets 3 years for $2.9M crypto fraud

According to Wintermute’s 2025 Digital Asset OTC Markets report, altcoin 
rallies last year were much shorter than traders expected, averaging about 
19–20 days. That is a steep drop from the roughly 60-day runs seen in 2024. 
Market flows tightened, and many smaller tokens saw gains vanish faster than 
before. The result: capital moved back into the big names — Bitcoin and 
Ethereum — where liquidity is deeper. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s New Power 
Buyers: Companies Bought 3 Times What Miners Produced Altcoin Open Interest 
Drops Based on reports, one key trigger was a sharp deleveraging on October 
10, 2025, which pushed retail traders to reduce risk and rotate out of smaller 
tokens. Open interest in many altcoin futures contracts fell, with some 
coverage noting about a 55% decline in altcoin futures open interest since 
October. Trading desks said lower liquidity made it harder for rallies to keep 
going beyond a few weeks, turning what used to be multi-month moves into short 
bursts. Major Coins Reclaimed Center Stage Institutional flows and product 
structures played a role. Reports have disclosed that ETFs and other 
institutional channels helped funnel funds toward Bitcoin and Ethereum. As a 
result, the market’s attention narrowed. Where narratives once pushed dozens 
of tokens into rallies, more capital was now concentrated in the top tier. 
Traders say they preferred assets where orders could be filled without 
dramatically moving the price. Short, Intense Moves Replaced Long Trends 
Wintermute’s analysis points to a change in how momentum forms. Rally drivers 
became more tactical and less about broad, lasting narratives. In practice, 
that meant memecoin pumps and exchange-themed rallies burned out quickly. Some 
traders described these moves as hair-trigger events: quick upswings followed 
by equally rapid retracements. Liquidity bands tightened and stops were hit 
sooner than in past cycles. What Traders And Firms Are Watching Market 
participants say the path to a sustained altcoin season now requires a few 
things aligning. Reports indicate renewed retail interest, clearer 
institutional support for smaller tokens, and calmer macro markets could help. 
Otherwise, rallies are likely to remain short. Execution desks reported that 
when big buyers reappeared for a token, it could run fast, but keeping that 
momentum proved difficult without deeper market participation. Related 
Reading: Futures Frenzy Pushed Crypto Exchange Volume To Nearly $80 Trillion 
In 2025 Outlook For 2026 Based on the report and market commentary, a broader 
crypto rebound in 2026 depends on several moving parts: interest from 
institutions, shifts in macro rates, and retail returning to risk-on 
strategies. If those elements arrive, rallies might last longer than the 19–20 
day average seen in 2025. If not, traders say the pattern of quick, sharp 
moves into the majors will continue. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from 
TradingView

Altcoin Rallies Are Getting Shorter, And Wintermute Has The Data

KAITO token price dropped as much as 24% on Friday after the development team 
at Kaito revealed they would be ending their Yaps program. It has dropped 
below a key descending trendline, making it vulnerable to more losses ahead. 
In…

KAITO token price crashes below key descending trendline as devs sunset Yaps

California regulators have imposed a $500,000 fine on crypto lending firm Nexo 
Capital for issuing loans without properly assessing the borrower’s ability to 
repay. Between July 26, 2018, and Nov. 22, 2022, Nexo “offered consumer and 
commercial loans to at…

Nexo fined $500,000 by California regulators over crypto-backed loans

The US Senate Banking Committee, led by Chairman Tim Scott, has postponed the 
markup of a crypto market structure bill that was scheduled for Thursday. 
“I’ve spoken with leaders across the crypto industry, the financial sector, 
and my Democratic and…

Cryptocurrency price in GBP