Macro Trends

The sharp correction in gold prices results from the interplay of a stronger US dollar, changing interest rate expectations, and leveraged liquidations. This article offers an in-depth examination of the factors driving the recent slump in gold, shifts in capital structure, and projections for future market movements.

Gate Research Daily Report: On March 23, the rebound in BTC and ETH failed to sustain upward momentum, with capital returning to defensive positioning and overall risk appetite remaining subdued. Altcoins did not see broad-based expansion, and market opportunities were mainly concentrated in short-term rotation across high-volatility sectors. SIREN, BR, and BANANAS31 respectively represent active capital flows in the AI Agent, BTCFi, and BNB Chain meme segments. At the industry level, tokenized gold is progressing toward a standardized infrastructure phase, while connections between payment networks and capital market infrastructure continue to deepen. Meanwhile, competition in the stablecoin space is gradually shifting from issuance to treasury and capital management capabilities.

In February 2026, the on-chain ecosystem exhibited more pronounced structural divergence amid price pressure. On-chain activity did not contract in tandem, but instead became further concentrated on high-frequency and high-efficiency networks. Solana maintained its dominance in high-frequency activity, while Base and Polygon continued to expand. Arbitrum saw a recovery in activity, but its capital retention and value capture weakened. Ethereum shifted from net outflows to significant net inflows, reinforcing its role as the primary settlement layer and a key hub for macro asset deployment. On the BTC side, the price pullback pushed short-term holders broadly into unrealized losses, with profit-taking cooling and sell pressure still concentrated among short-term positions, while the long-term holder structure remained intact. At the sector level, AI Agent, supply-side shocks, and institutional DeFi narratives coexisted. Short-term returns were driven by structural catalysts, while mid-term allocation continued

The article leverages data points such as the surge in oil prices due to the Strait of Hormuz crisis, inflation expectations, and central banks' 36,000-ton gold reserves to reveal the divergence between Bitcoin and gold in the early stages of the crisis.

In February, the overall crypto market showed a weak trend, with notable outflows from BTC ETFs. Major blockchains remained stable throughout the month, with Solana leading by a wide margin at over 100 million daily transactions. Ethereum recorded 13.34 million unique active addresses, maintaining its second-highest level in history. TradFi trading volume on Perp DEXs surged to $47.3 billion, largely driven by Hyperliquid’s HIP-3. The Web3 sector completed 46 funding rounds totaling $986 million, with the top 10 projects accounting for $793 million—three major deals were led by Tether. Meanwhile, Web3 security incidents declined significantly month-over-month, though smart contract vulnerabilities remained the primary risk source.

The text shifts the perspective from the Middle East to the global stage, systematically assessing the energy dependence, reserve life, and social/political tipping points of Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Europe, the United States, and China.

Gate Research Institute: Over the past 24 hours, BTC briefly climbed above $71,000, but following a sharp drop and quick rebound during the U.S. market session, it settled back near $69,300. ETH rapidly declined from $2,070 to $2,010 and remains in a recovery phase. Altcoins showed weakness, with most lagging behind BTC, while the Fear & Greed Index remains in the extreme fear range. HUMA, NAORIS, and ARIA saw gains of 50.13%, 39.38%, and 29.02%, respectively, fueled by AI-related narratives. Additionally, Oracle’s earnings beat expectations, driving its share price up nearly 8% after hours, and both Hyperliquid and Circle announced significant product updates.

This article analyzes the shift in VC strategy from being judgment-driven to being driven by the ability to win deals. It highlights how scaled institutions like a16z, leveraging massive capital, full-spectrum services, and economic moats, are enabling capital-intensive giants such as OpenAI and Anthropic to prevail.

Gate Research: Between 2025 and 2026, PayFi is evolving from a crypto payment tool into a next-generation payment and financial engine, with stablecoins achieving scale in high-frequency and cross-border payments and demonstrating clear efficiency and cost advantages over traditional systems. As Web2 and Web3 continue to converge, institutions such as Visa, PayPal, and emerging neobanks are becoming key gateways to mainstream adoption, while the combination of stablecoins, real-world assets (RWA), and AI is shaping PayFi’s foundational architecture by enabling automated, always-on settlement, asset mobility, and risk management. Looking ahead to 2026, regulatory clarity, scalable asset tokenization, and the maturity of AI-driven financial systems will be the primary determinants of PayFi’s competitive landscape and long-term barriers.

Gate Research Daily Report: On July 29, BTC experienced a slight price decline of 0.91% over the past 24 hours, dropping from approximately $119,399.80 to $118,321.00, with active trading volume. ETH saw a price decrease of about 2.47% in the same period, falling from $3,875 to $3,779. Payment giant PayPal announced the launch of its “Pay with Crypto” feature, enabling merchants to accept instant conversions of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins to fiat, supporting transactions from various Web3 wallets, including MetaMask. Fintech giant FIS announced a partnership with stablecoin issuer Circle to provide USDC payment capabilities to U.S. financial institutions through FIS’s Money Movement Hub. The CryptoPunks NFT series recorded a trading volume exceeding $24.6 million last week, marking the highest since March 2024, with a 416% increase from the previous week.

Gate Research Daily Report: On July 30, BTC continued to consolidate sideways, while ETH showed relative strength with a mild upward move. Major altcoins saw mixed performance as the market maintained its pattern of sector rotation. The Bank of Korea established a virtual asset task force to support the institutionalization of Korean won stablecoin legislation. Meanwhile, eToro announced plans to launch tokenized U.S. stocks on Ethereum with 24/5 trading access, accelerating RWA integration. In the Linea ecosystem, DEX project Etherex will launch its native token REX on August 6, advancing liquidity infrastructure deployment.

This article presents the Traditional Finance (TradFi), Centralized Finance (CeFi), and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) framework, outlining complementary dynamics: TradFi supplies assets, CeFi acts as the gateway, and DeFi provides technological solutions. The article analyzes compliant routes and investment scenarios for tokenizing U.S. equities, real estate, and private equity. It offers a comprehensive overview and sector analysis for the anticipated market uptrend in on-chain real-world assets.

Gate Research Daily Report: On July 28, BTC fluctuated within the 117,000 to 120,000 USDT range, while ETH is currently in a short-term upward channel, with its price approaching the resistance zone around 3,900 USDT. Over the past seven days, Ethereum-based NFT sales totaled nearly $160 million, with CryptoPunks ranking first. Decentralized prover network Succinct has launched the Succinct Foundation, potentially in preparation for a token TGE. Meanwhile, lending platform Divine Research is using World ID to verify borrowers for issuing unsecured crypto loans.

The article details the company’s struggle for survival through financial crises, declining content quality, and a complicated internal governance structure. It also shares the author’s perspective as CEO on making strategic adjustments, reorganizing the team, and negotiating with investors.

Gate Research Daily Report: On July 23, BTC consolidated at high levels, ETH continued its gradual uptrend with moderate momentum, and altcoins maintained structural rotation. 21Shares filed for an ONDO ETF, marking further progress in RWA compliance; Polygon’s stablecoin supply reached a three-year high, signaling steady capital inflows; and Sui ecosystem’s MPC coordination project Ika announced its mainnet launch on July 29. Gate Launchpool introduced the Solana ecosystem project NeonNeko, supporting GT/NEKO staking for airdrop rewards.