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On Feb. 9, the crypto market entered a choppy recovery phase after a deleveraging shock, with flows showing a clear structural split: capital crowding into BTC while major altcoins remain under pressure. Sentiment is deeply risk-off, with the Fear & Greed Index at just 14 (Extreme Fear). High-beta opportunities are concentrated in event-driven AI Agent and meme trades, led by BNKR, PIPPIN, and PENGUIN. On the macro and industry front, Vitalik argued that algorithmic stablecoins represent “true DeFi”; Cathie Wood said gold strength has often preceded Bitcoin’s cyclical breakouts and reiterated her “big three” thesis on BTC, ETH, and SOL; and Tether is accelerating global, diversified investments while strengthening governance and expanding hiring—signaling a faster shift from a stablecoin issuer toward a broader conglomerate model.

Gate Research Daily Report: On Feb. 9, the crypto market entered a choppy recovery phase after a deleveraging shock, with flows showing a clear structural split: capital crowding into BTC while major altcoins remain under pressure. BTC has rebounded and is consolidating around $70,000, which remains the key pivot for bulls vs. bears; ETH is being weighed down by whale deleveraging and debt-repayment selling, and may repeatedly test the $2,000 psychological level in the near term. On the thematic side, AI Agents and memes remain the high-beta core, with BNKR, PIPPIN, and PENGUIN leading gains. In our Alpha section, we highlight Vitalik’s view that algorithmic stablecoins represent “true DeFi,” Cathie Wood’s thesis that gold strength tends to lead and BTC follows, and Tether’s accelerating shift toward a conglomerate model via global diversification, governance upgrades, and expanded hiring.

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.