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HBAR Price Breaks $0.14 Support Amid Trading Halt and Liquidity Concerns
## Executive Summary Hedera's native token, **HBAR**, has entered a bearish phase, with its price falling to **$0.1373** and breaking below the critical **$0.145** support level. The downturn was marked by a brief but significant zero-volume trading halt, raising alarms about market liquidity and investor confidence. This event is not an isolated incident but an acceleration of a persistent downtrend, as the token has registered losses of nearly 19% over the past week and 39% over the last three months. ## The Event in Detail The price of **HBAR** experienced a sharp decline, decisively breaching the **$0.145** support level that had previously propped up its value. This technical breakdown confirms a shift from a neutral market consolidation to a bearish trend. The sell-off was reportedly driven by institutional selling pressure that overwhelmed multiple support zones near the **$0.1500** mark. A key indicator of market distress was a two-minute trading halt observed between 14:12 and 14:14. During this period, trading volume fell to zero, which points to a potential acute liquidity shortage or a technical disruption. Such an event, where there is a temporary absence of buyers to absorb sell orders, can exacerbate price drops and indicates significant market instability. ## Market Implications The breach of the **$0.145** support level is a significant technical event. This level is now expected to act as a resistance point, potentially capping any near-term recovery attempts. Should the downward momentum continue, further price targets to the downside could include **$0.133** or even **$0.120**, as dip buyers appear to be stepping back. The zero-volume trading halt serves as a major red flag for traders, signaling heightened risk and poor liquidity, which could deter further investment and lead to increased volatility. ## Broader Context The recent plunge underscores a sustained period of negative performance for **HBAR**, which has been declining for several months. This contrasts sharply with signs of renewed strength in other parts of the cryptocurrency market, where assets like **NEAR Protocol** have recently broken through key resistance levels on high trading volume. While the specific cause of the **HBAR** trading halt has not been officially disclosed, such events in financial markets are typically triggered by significant price volatility, system malfunctions, or regulatory actions to ensure fair and orderly markets. For instance, Nasdaq trading halt codes can range from non-compliance (**H4**) to the dissemination of news (**T3**). Regardless of the specific reason, the halt itself damages investor confidence by highlighting underlying instability in the market for the asset.

UK Fraud Office Arrests Two in Connection with $28 Million Basis Markets Collapse
## Executive Summary The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has executed two arrests in connection with the collapse of **Basis Markets**, a cryptocurrency venture that allegedly defrauded investors of approximately $28 million (£21 million). The individuals, one in his thirties and the other in his forties, were arrested on suspicion of multiple fraud and money laundering offenses after the project failed to deliver on its promise of establishing a crypto hedge fund, instead diverting the capital to its founders. ## The Event in Detail Following raids conducted by SFO investigators and police in Herne Hill, south London, and near Bradford, West Yorkshire, two men were taken into custody. The investigation centers on the activities of **Basis Markets**, which successfully raised about $28 million from investors in late 2021. The stated objective was to use the capital to launch and operate a sophisticated crypto hedge fund. However, the fund never became operational. Instead, the SFO alleges that the raised capital was misappropriated and distributed among the project's founders. This type of event, where developers abandon a project after raising capital, is commonly referred to as a "rug pull" and represents a significant risk within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. ## Market Implications The collapse of **Basis Markets** and the subsequent SFO action serve as a stark reminder of the potential for fraud in the lightly regulated crypto markets. Such high-profile enforcement actions tend to have a cooling effect on investor sentiment, particularly toward new and unaudited projects making ambitious claims. This incident is likely to increase skepticism and demand for more rigorous due diligence from retail and institutional investors alike, potentially slowing capital flow to nascent projects that lack robust transparency and governance frameworks. ## Regulatory Scrutiny and Precedent The SFO's intervention signals a growing intolerance from UK authorities toward financial crimes involving digital assets. This action establishes a clear enforcement precedent, indicating that crypto-related schemes are firmly on the radar of major financial regulators. It draws a sharp contrast between alleged fraudulent activities and legitimate, albeit high-risk, financial strategies in the crypto ecosystem. For instance, institutional players often engage in the "basis trade," an arbitrage strategy that profits from price gaps between spot and futures markets and is now being packaged into regulated ETF products. The **Basis Markets** case underscores the critical difference between financial innovation and outright fraud, and highlights the necessity for regulatory frameworks to distinguish between the two. ## Broader Context: Investor Protection in DeFi This case is a cautionary tale for the digital asset investment community. It is important to distinguish the alleged fraud of **Basis Markets** from other entities with similar names, such as the New Jersey-based cryptocurrency project **Basis**, which raised $133 million and later shut down, responsibly returning the remaining capital to its investors, including Google's venture arm GV. This comparison illustrates the divergence in outcomes based on the integrity of the founding team. The **Basis Markets** affair reinforces the need for stronger investor protection mechanisms and supervisory systems in the crypto industry, similar to those mandated in traditional finance, to prevent the misappropriation of investor funds and build long-term trust in the asset class.

India Considers Stablecoin Framework in Economic Survey, Signaling Potential Policy Split with RBI
## Executive Summary The Indian government is reportedly considering the introduction of a regulatory framework for stablecoins in its Economic Survey for 2025-2026. This potential move signals a significant policy divergence from the nation's central bank, the **Reserve Bank of India (RBI)**, which has consistently expressed a cautious and skeptical stance towards private digital currencies. The developing situation introduces both the possibility of a regulated digital asset market and considerable uncertainty for investors and businesses in the sector. ## The Event in Detail According to multiple reports, the Indian government may present a case for the utility of stablecoins in its forthcoming Economic Survey. The proposal could involve recognizing stablecoins for specific use-cases and potentially allowing them as a form of payment or legal tender. This exploration is being described as an "experiment" to gauge the benefits and risks associated with stablecoin adoption within the Indian economy. This initiative appears to be driven by the government's executive branch, independent of the central bank's ongoing digital currency projects. ## Market Implications A formal proposal to regulate stablecoins could mark a pivotal moment for India's digital asset ecosystem. It would provide a pathway for legitimacy and could attract significant investment into the country's fintech and crypto sectors. If stablecoins are recognized for payments, it could spur innovation and accelerate mainstream adoption. However, the starkly contrasting view of the **RBI** creates a challenging environment. The central bank's preference for its own **Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)** over private cryptocurrencies introduces a major element of regulatory risk, as any framework proposed by the government would likely face scrutiny and potential opposition from the monetary authority. ## Expert Commentary The **Reserve Bank of India's** position remains firm. **RBI** Deputy Governor **T Rabi Sankar** recently reaffirmed this skepticism, stating the central bank will continue to take a measured and cautious approach while prioritizing the development of its own **CBDC**. Similarly, **RBI** Governor **Sanjay Malhotra** has also voiced support for a **CBDC** over other forms of cryptocurrency, citing policy and stability concerns. These public statements underscore the institutional resistance within the central bank to endorsing or integrating private stablecoins into the nation's financial system. ## Broader Context India has maintained a complex and often restrictive stance on cryptocurrencies. This potential willingness to regulate stablecoins represents a nuanced shift, separating them from more volatile crypto-assets. The move reflects a growing global trend where governments are forced to address the rise of stablecoins. The divergence between the Indian government's exploratory position and the **RBI's** rigid stance highlights the fundamental tension between fiscal policy objectives, which may favor innovation and economic growth, and monetary policy concerns, which prioritize financial stability and control. The outcome of this policy debate will have far-reaching consequences for the future of digital finance in the world's most populous nation.
