Bitcoin Tests $83K Resistance as Liquid Sidechain Halts

Bitcoin faced resistance at the $83,000 level as whale distribution patterns shifted into net selling mode, according to on-chain data. Earlier price action showed BTC holding the $79,000 support zone. The Bitcoin ETF market saw its best week of inflows in 2026, though specific flow data was not disclosed. The confluence of resistance at higher levels and changing whale behavior suggests near-term consolidation, even as institutional products continue attracting capital.

The Liquid network, a Bitcoin sidechain used by exchanges, paused operations after purported white hat hackers withdrew 4,000 BTC valued at approximately $320 million. The actors informed Blockstream they would return most of the Bitcoin after the Elements vulnerability is patched across the network. Galaxy reported that across all Coldcard attacks, 82% of stolen Bitcoin remains in original addresses while 18% has been moved in apparent laundering activity. In the third wave of Coldcard attacks specifically, hackers moved 45% of stolen Bitcoin totaling $7.7 million. These incidents highlight ongoing security challenges across both hardware wallets and layer-two infrastructure.

Citigroup and DBS Bank completed their first tokenized cross-border deposit transfer over the weekend, using Swift's blockchain-based ledger to circumvent the constraints of traditional banking hours. The transaction marks a meaningful step in institutional infrastructure, demonstrating that tokenized settlement can operate outside standard banking windows. This development aligns with broader efforts by traditional financial institutions to leverage blockchain technology for improved settlement efficiency and liquidity management in global markets.

Harmony proposed sunsetting its layer-1 blockchain and migrating its ONE token to Ethereum, weeks after an exploit led to plans to discard 109,000 transactions. The proposal represents a significant retreat for the once-hyped Ethereum competitor, citing AI-related security threats as a concern. On Solana, the memecoin launchpad Fomo generated $1.76 million in daily revenue, surpassing Pump.fun's $1.1 million on Friday, though Pump.fun maintains its lead over a 30-day period. These developments highlight diverging trajectories across layer-1 platforms and the continued revenue generation within Solana's memecoin ecosystem.

The Philippine central bank proposed pausing new payment operator registrations while requiring enhanced monitoring and transaction limits for arrangements involving virtual asset service providers. The regulatory tightening reflects growing scrutiny of crypto payment infrastructure in Southeast Asian markets. Ukrainian police dismantled a crypto scam operation that stole up to $1 million monthly, according to law enforcement. These enforcement actions and regulatory proposals demonstrate continued government focus on consumer protection and anti-money laundering compliance across global crypto markets.

Robinhood ($HOOD) Chain collected $2.9 million in fees over a 24-hour period, compared to $12,238 on Arbitrum's own chain, representing approximately 240 times the fee generation of the underlying Arbitrum network. The ARB token gained 45% on the revenue share it receives from $HOOD Chain activity. Robinhood CEO commented that states may be fighting prediction markets to protect their own gambling tax revenue streams, noting there is a significant financial incentive for states to maintain control over gambling-related activities.