The second week of the Roman Storm trial kicked off with Judge Katherine Failla allowing a witness to testify that Tornado Cash could have been modified to prevent criminal use.

Judge allows testimony on ‘feasible’ Tornado Cash code changes

DeFi Development Corp CEO Joseph Onorati said the company has no plans to 
expand its treasury with other crypto. Meanwhile, Solana crossed the $200 mark 
on Tuesday.

DeFi Development Corp hits 999,999 SOL, Solana soars 12%

Infamous bitcoin sceptic and proud gold bug Peter Schiff posted a curious 
message to his 1.1 million X followers on Monday afternoon, urging them to 
sell ether ( ETH) and use the proceeds to buy bitcoin ( BTC). Schiff, who once 
compared the dominant cryptocurrency to the bulbs of the Dutch Republic’s 1634 
“tulip mania,” […]

Peter Schiff Says Sell Ether and Buy Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s upward price trajectory has slightly cooled, with the asset now 
trading just below the $119,000 mark, reflecting a 3% decline over the past 
week. The dip follows a sustained upward trend that has seen significant 
interest from both institutional and retail participants in recent months. The 
current pause in momentum may suggest a temporary rebalancing, with market 
participants potentially reassessing their positions. As price movement 
stabilizes, on-chain analysts have begun to highlight deeper structural shifts 
within Bitcoin’s blockchain activity. According to CryptoQuant contributor 
Avocado onchain, one key trend gaining attention is the continued decline in 
Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) count. While at first glance this 
might seem related to falling transaction volumes, the underlying cause points 
to a more strategic restructuring by institutional participants. Related 
Reading: Bitcoin Whale Metrics Flash Mixed Signals: Monthly Inflows Rise And 
Daily Outflows Start Slowing Institutional Consolidation Reshaping On-Chain 
Structure Avocado explained that since December 2024, Bitcoin’s UTXO count has 
steadily decreased, a development he attributes to growing over-the-counter 
(OTC) activity and consolidation efforts by large holders. These entities, 
primarily whales and institutional investors, are reportedly merging multiple 
UTXOs into fewer addresses, a process that increases on-chain efficiency and 
reflects a preference for long-term custody. “The post-ETF approval 
environment has driven more assets into secure wallets, moving funds off 
exchanges into institutional-grade custody,” he wrote. This structural shift 
suggests that long-term holders are preparing for extended exposure rather 
than immediate market participation. Instead of dispersing funds for frequent 
trades, these institutions are consolidating their Bitcoin holdings into 
larger ones, indicating reduced near-term liquidity but possibly greater long- 
term market stability. The impact is visible in the on-chain footprint, where 
the number of active UTXOs has not kept pace with prior bull cycles. Bitcoin 
Muted Retail Activity and Future Market Signals While institutional activity 
appears to be solidifying, retail investor behavior remains subdued. Avocado 
noted that, unlike previous cycles where retail-driven volume increases 
contributed to UTXO growth, the current rally lacks that widespread grassroots 
engagement. The number of newly created UTXOs has remained relatively flat, 
reinforcing the view that retail participation is yet to catch up. Looking 
ahead, the analyst suggests that any renewed wave of short-term speculation, 
often sparked by sharp price movements, could reignite retail interest. This 
would be reflected in increased UTXO creation, exchange activity, and possibly 
greater volatility. Until then, the market appears to be led primarily by 
long-term strategic accumulation. Related Reading: The Final Bitcoin Act: 
Here’s What To Expect As BTC Trends Sideways Despite the current slowdown in 
price, underlying metrics remain constructive. Exchange inflows are moderate, 
long-term holders continue to accumulate, and institutional capital flows 
persist. These factors suggest that the market is still in a consolidative 
phase, rather than signaling a reversal. Should retail participation return 
and on-chain activity broaden, Bitcoin could see renewed upside supported by 
both foundational demand and speculative inflows. Featured image created with 
DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

Bitcoin’s UTXO Count Falls Sharply — Are Whales Prepping for a Big Move?

Tornado Cash co-creator Roman Storm, facing 45 years behind bars, could move 
for a mistrial after claiming that a scam victim’s testimony wasn’t connected 
to the crypto mixer.

Roman Storm could go for mistrial over scam victim’s testimony: Report

Cathie Wood&#8217;s strategic investment in Ethereum-focused firms signals a growing 
institutional interest in blockchain technologies and digital assets.
The post Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest buys 4.4 million shares of Peter Thiel- 
backed Ethereum treasury firm appeared first on Crypto Briefing.