Positive $BTC price dynamics against strong economic data

**XAUt/USD has gained 217% since the current bull run started**, marking a significant rally for the tokenized gold asset on Bitfinex. **Record-breaking momentum**: The pair has traded above its 200-day moving average for over 575 consecutive days - the second longest streak in its history. This sustained performance demonstrates strong market confidence in tokenized precious metals as an alternative digital asset class. [Track XAUt/USD on Bitfinex](https://trading.bitfinex.com/t/XAUT:USD)

Gold has achieved an unprecedented milestone, reaching a market capitalization exceeding $35 trillion - the largest for any asset in recorded history. The precious metal is currently trading at $5,107 per ounce. This represents a significant surge from September 2025, when gold hit what was then an all-time high of $3,600 per ounce. The 42% price increase over approximately four months reflects continued strong demand for the traditional safe-haven asset. The $35 trillion valuation surpasses all previous records for any single asset class, highlighting gold's enduring role as a store of value during periods of economic uncertainty.

Bitfinex has introduced **Bitfinex Alpha**, a newsletter service offering subscribers early access to market insights and analysis. **Key features include:** - Weekly market intelligence reports - Macro analysis and crypto trend coverage - On-chain data analysis - Product updates directly from Bitfinex The service is positioned as professional-grade market intelligence for traders seeking information ahead of broader market movements. Registration is currently open at no cost.

Ethereum has achieved unprecedented transaction throughput while simultaneously experiencing its lowest fee levels in years, creating what analysts are calling a "paradox" for the network. **Key Developments:** - Network capacity has reached all-time highs for processing transactions - Transaction fees have dropped to multi-year lows despite increased activity - This combination presents both opportunities and challenges for institutional adoption **Implications:** The low-fee environment makes Ethereum more accessible for everyday users and smaller transactions. However, reduced fees also mean lower revenue for validators and could impact network security economics long-term. For institutions, the improved throughput demonstrates scalability progress, while low fees reduce operational costs. The broader EVM ecosystem may see increased competition as other chains lose their fee advantage. [Read the full analysis](https://blog.bitfinex.com/education/ethereums-record-throughput-low-fee-paradox-implications-for-institutions-and-the-evm-ecosystem/)

Ethereum processed **2.88 million transactions in a single day**, setting a new record while keeping fees low. This marks a shift in the network's role: - Ethereum is evolving into a **settlement infrastructure layer** - Most execution activity is moving to **Layer 2 solutions** - The network demonstrates **predictability under high load** This development is particularly significant for institutional adoption, as consistent performance during peak usage provides the reliability that enterprises require. The combination of high throughput and low fees represents a maturation of Ethereum's scaling strategy, with L2s handling transactions while the main chain focuses on security and settlement.