Meanwhile, as Bitcoin hesitates over whether to continue its advance, rattling speculative shorts, it was announced that Polygon is launching private payments in stablecoins.

The introduction of encrypted stablecoin payments on the Polygon platform marks an important step in the evolution of decentralized finance, where the balance between privacy and transparency has traditionally been a matter of heated debate. The collaboration with Hinkal Protocol, which uses advanced zero-knowledge proof technologies, allows Polygon to lay the groundwork for safer and more private stablecoin usage, something that is especially relevant for institutional investors.

The zk-proof technology underlying the secure pool enables the sender, recipient and amount to be concealed, while preserving regulatory compliance. This means that the parties to a transaction and the exact sum can be hidden from outside observers while maintaining the network's integrity and security. Such an approach opens the door to a wide range of applications, from private payments to more complex financial operations.

As I noted above, a key aspect of the new feature is integration with KYT (Know Your Transaction). This is not merely a formality but a critical mechanism that ensures all transactions, even encrypted ones, meet regulatory requirements. Each operation undergoes checks before execution, which helps prevent use of the network for illicit activity. At the same time, the ability to generate reports for audit and tax purposes addresses many of the concerns associated with DeFi flows.

Polygon is clearly aiming to attract large financial players for whom privacy is not merely a perk but a strict necessity. Without reliable privacy mechanisms, financial institutions with stringent compliance and risk management requirements are likely to avoid using blockchain networks. The rollout of encrypted stablecoin payments is intended to remove that barrier, making Polygon a more attractive platform for large-scale financial operations.

Trading recommendations:

Regarding Bitcoin's technical picture, buyers are currently targeting a return to $82,000, which opens a direct route to $84,000, and from there to $85,600. The most distant target is the high near $87,600, breaching which would signal attempts to return to a bull market. In case of a decline, I expect buyers at $80,100. A return of the instrument below that area could quickly push BTC toward $78,300. The furthest target there would be around $76,300.

Regarding Ethereum's technical picture, a clear consolidation above $2,409 opens a direct route to $2,492. The most distant target is the high near $2,575, breaching which would indicate strengthening bullish sentiment and a return of buyer interest. In case of a decline, I expect buyers at $2,347. A return of the instrument below that area could quickly send ETH toward $2,290. The furthest target there would be around $2,225.

What we see on the chart:

- Red lines indicate support and resistance levels where either a price slowdown or active growth is expected;

- Green lines indicate the 50-day moving average;

- Blue lines indicate the 100-day moving average;

- Light green lines indicate the 200-day moving average.

A crossover, or a price test of moving averages, typically either halts the move or sparks fresh market momentum.