Igor Runets, head of Russian Bitcoin miner BitRiver, was detained on Friday and formally charged on Saturday with three counts tied to alleged asset concealment for tax evasion. A Moscow court ordered house arrest the same day, with an appeal deadline on Wednesday. The firm has faced sanctions, partner exits and operational cutbacks in recent years.

On 2 February 2026, the crypto market extended its pullback, putting total capitalization near $2.54 trillion after a daily drop of more than four percent. Bitcoin briefly traded around $75,600, the lowest since early 2024, while altcoins saw broad declines. According to the Fear and Greed Index, sentiment fell to 15, signaling extreme risk aversion.

India's Union Budget for 2026–27 keeps the 30% tax on crypto gains and the 1% TDS, while adding penalties for reporting failures. The new sanctions take effect on April 1, 2026. Industry leaders voiced concern over growth and compliance costs, while others said clearer reporting rules could improve accountability.

Trump-linked crypto firm World Liberty Financial has confirmed a $500M investment from UAE-connected backers, who acquired a 49% equity stake. The agreement was signed by Eric Trump shortly before Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration and has prompted renewed debate over potential conflicts of interest and national security risks. Both the company and the White House deny any link between the investment and US policy on advanced AI chips.

Bitcoin slid from $84,000 on Saturday to about $74,600 on Monday, the lowest level in nine months, and now trades below the average cost basis for US spot Bitcoin ETFs. The 11 funds recorded $2.8 billion in outflows over the past two weeks as AUM hovers near $113 billion with roughly 1.28 million BTC.

Despite a violent $7 trillion deleveraging event sparked by the "Warsh Shock," the 2026 gold and silver bull market remains fundamentally intact as a necessary technical reset. This correction offers a strategic buying opportunity as structural supply shortages and central bank demand continue to outweigh short-term volatility in the paper markets.

On 31 January, Ethereum dropped 17.38% from the day's open at $2,702 and later traded near $2,219. According to CoinMarketCap, broader risk appetite weakened as BTC fell over daily and weekly periods and the Fear & Greed Index printed 15. The analysis highlights $2,147 as a crucial retracement level, with $2,000 and $1,383 marking potential downside triggers.

On February 2, 2026, the U.S. State Department authorised a potential $9 billion sale of Patriot missile systems to Saudi Arabia, following Defence Security Cooperation Agency approval on January 31. The package covers up to 300 Patriot MIM-104E GEM-T missiles plus associated equipment and training, with Raytheon as the main contractor, and still requires congressional review.