Bretton AI Secures $75 Million in Series B Funding to Combat FinTech Crime Bretton AI, an artificial intelligence startup focused on financial compliance, has announced the successful completion of its $75 million Series B funding round. The round was led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from Greylock, Thomson Reuters Ventures, and Citi Ventures. Founded by former employees of Paxos's compliance team, Bretton AI leverages AI to help financial technology companies and community regional banks enhance their anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance operations. The company's current clientele includes prominent FinTech service providers such as Mercury, Ramp, Robinhood, and Coinbase. #crypto #blockchain #news

Solana Token Holdings Lead Public Companies to Over $1.5 Billion in Paper Losses Publicly traded companies holding Solana (SOL) as an asset are currently facing substantial paper losses exceeding $1.5 billion. These firms collectively own over 12 million SOL tokens, representing approximately 2% of the total supply. The significant decline in the market price of SOL has resulted in the share prices of these companies trading well below their token valuations, impacting their ability to raise capital. According to CoinGecko data, Forward Industries, Sharps Technology, DeFi Development Corp, and Upexi account for over $1.4 billion in these unrealized losses. Notably, Forward Industries, with its holdings of 6.9 million SOL acquired at an average cost of approximately $230 per token, is experiencing paper losses surpassing $1 billion. #crypto #blockchain #news

BlackRock Deposits $295 Million in Bitcoin and Ethereum into Coinbase Prime BlackRock, a leading global investment management corporation, has recently deposited a substantial amount of digital assets into Coinbase Prime. The firm transferred 3,402 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at approximately $234.3 million, and 30,216 Ethereum (ETH), worth around $60.83 million. The significant deposit was tracked by Lookonchain, a blockchain analytics platform. This move by BlackRock underscores its continued engagement with the cryptocurrency market and its utilization of prime brokerage services for managing its digital asset holdings. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Binance Wallet Users with 240+ Alpha Points Eligible for Espresso (ESP) Pre-sale Binance Wallet has announced that users who have accumulated 240 or more Binance Alpha Points can participate in the Espresso (ESP) Pre-TGE Prime Sale. The participation will require a deduction of 15 Alpha Points. The event supports refunds, and participants must claim their allocation by February 11, 22:00. Unclaimed stakes of BNB and Alpha Points will be automatically returned to the participating wallets within seven business days. #crypto #blockchain #news

Central Bank Releases Q4 2025 Monetary Policy Execution Report The People's Bank of China has issued its Fourth Quarter 2025 Monetary Policy Execution Report, outlining several key policy directions. The report highlights that 2025, the final year of the "14th Five-Year Plan," has seen the national economy maintain a steady and progressive development trend under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. Major economic and social development targets have been successfully achieved, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by 5% for the full year. The People's Bank of China has adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, resolutely implementing the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council. The central bank employed a moderately loose monetary policy, building upon existing monetary policy measures and introducing a comprehensive package of monetary and financial policies. This approach has strengthened counter-cyclical adjustments, effectively supporting stable growth in the real economy and maintaining the smooth operation of financial markets. Key policy initiatives include maintaining reasonable growth in money and credit. #crypto #blockchain #news

Bank of America Predicts Bank of Japan Rate Hike in April Bank of America Global Research has revised its forecast, now anticipating that the Bank of Japan will implement a 25-basis-point interest rate increase in April, moving up the timeline from its previous June expectation. The firm further projects that the Bank of Japan will enact another 25-basis-point rate hike in September 2026, followed by subsequent 25-basis-point increases in January and July of 2027. #crypto #blockchain #news

Whale Investor Garrett Jin Withdraws $77.48 Million USDT from Binance, Repays Aave Debt On-chain data analytics platform Lookonchain has reported that a significant crypto whale, identified as Garrett Jin, also known as the "10.11 BTC insider whale manipulator," has withdrawn 77.48 million USDT from Binance. Following the withdrawal, the USDT was used to repay outstanding loans on the Aave lending protocol. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Defiance Capital Investor Reallocates 75% of Portfolio to Non-US Markets Kyle, an investor at Defiance Capital, has announced a significant adjustment to his investment strategy, reallocating 75% of his portfolio to non-US markets. This decision comes amid observations of a structural bull market in international equities over the past four months, contrasted with the considerable volatility and currency devaluation risks present in the US market. The investor noted that US markets have experienced over 20% bidirectional fluctuations without exhibiting a clear bull trend, prompting a strategic shift. Consequently, Kyle has opted to allocate 25% of his portfolio to US markets, while the remaining 75% will be invested in non-US territories. The recent market performance strongly suggests a divergence in economic trends, with non-US markets demonstrating more stable growth potential compared to the heightened volatility and depreciation concerns in the United States. This reallocation reflects a proactive approach to navigating these differing market dynamics. #crypto #blockchain #news

FTX Never Filed for Bankruptcy, Claims SBF's X Account An X account attributed to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has asserted that the cryptocurrency exchange never actually filed for bankruptcy. The post alleges that lawyers took over the company and submitted a "false bankruptcy filing" merely four hours later, with the apparent intention of profiting from the bankruptcy proceedings. #crypto #blockchain #news

Wintermute: Bitcoin Demand Lags, Consolidation Expected Wintermute's analysis suggests that Bitcoin's recent price action, which saw it dip below the $80,000 mark for the first time since April of the previous year before rebounding to around $70,000 from a low of $60,000, is indicative of insufficient market demand. This volatility resulted in over $2.7 billion in leveraged positions being liquidated, erasing all gains since Donald Trump's 2024 election. The market correction was attributed to a confluence of factors, including the nomination of Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair, weaker-than-expected earnings from the "Mag7" group of technology stocks, and a significant pullback in precious metals. Data indicates persistent selling pressure from the United States, with a cumulative net outflow of $6.2 billion from Bitcoin ETFs since November of the prior year, signaling a noticeable decline in institutional demand. Furthermore, capital inflows into the artificial intelligence sector are negatively impacting the cryptocurrency market. Despite the liquidation of leverage, spot trading volumes remain low, underscoring a lack of robust market demand. Consequently, Wintermute anticipates that Bitcoin's future price movements may be constrained. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

National Development and Reform Commission to Accelerate AI Integration in Bidding Processes China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other governmental bodies have released new guidelines aimed at fast-tracking the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the realm of public bidding and tendering processes. The initiative prioritizes the application of AI across the entire lifecycle of transactions and key management areas, operating under principles of government guidance, multi-party participation, and robust security protocols. The objective is to significantly enhance the digital intelligence of both service provision and regulatory oversight in these sectors. Key targets include the widespread implementation of AI for tender document review, intelligent bid evaluation assistance, and the identification of bid rigging schemes in select provinces by the end of 2026. By the end of 2027, the aim is to expand the application of these AI technologies to more critical scenarios nationwide, fostering standardized and healthy development within the bidding and tendering market. This strategic push by the NDRC underscores a commitment to leveraging advanced technologies to create more transparent, efficient, and secure public procurement ecosystems. The phased rollout strategy suggests a meticulous approach to integrating AI, ensuring scalability and impact across different regions of China. #crypto #blockchain #news

BTC Futures Market Shows No Sign of Panic, Analyst Says Despite recent price surges, Bitcoin's futures market data indicates a lack of genuine fear, according to Greg Magadini, head of derivatives at Amberdata. Currently, the 90-day Bitcoin futures contract is trading at a premium of approximately 4% to the spot price. Historically, significant discounts in futures prices have often signaled market bottoms during bear cycles, such as the notable 9% discount observed at the bottom of the 2022 bear market. Magadini suggests that based on historical patterns, Bitcoin may have further downside potential to trigger a panic sell-off in the futures market. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Elon Musk Announces Upcoming Security Testing and Open-Sourcing of X Chat Elon Musk has announced that X Chat will undergo rigorous security testing in the coming months, with plans to make all associated code open-source. This initiative follows previous reports detailing Musk's intention to launch "X Chat," an instant messaging application featuring "Bitcoin-like" encryption capabilities. The move towards open-sourcing critical application code, particularly for a platform with advanced encryption, signals a significant commitment to transparency and community-driven development in the secure communication space. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin

Hong Kong Set to Issue First Stablecoin Licenses by End of March; HSBC and Standard Chartered Poised for Approval Sources indicate that Hong Kong is on the verge of releasing its inaugural batch of compliant stablecoin licenses, with an anticipated issuance date at the close of March 2026. Major financial institutions, including HSBC and Standard Chartered, are reportedly among the frontrunners expected to receive approval in this first wave. Following the allocation of these initial licenses, the regulatory body is set to accelerate the process for subsequent applications, with further approvals anticipated in the near future. #crypto #blockchain #news

Whale Deposits Millions in Hyperliquid, Initiates ETH Short Position A prominent whale investor, identified as 0x15a4, has reportedly deposited 3.85 million USDC into the Hyperliquid exchange. This move follows a period of significant losses exceeding $1.3 million for the whale. Concurrently, the investor has placed a substantial short order for 3,000 ETH, a position currently valued at approximately $6.09 million. The transaction was monitored by Lookonchain. #crypto #blockchain #news

Whale Increases ETH Short Position, Adds $26.3 Million in USDC A significant whale investor, identified by the on-chain address "0x6c8," has further augmented its Ethereum short position by depositing an additional 26.3 million USDC. The whale's current unrealized loss on this position stands at $1.15 million, with the total size of the ETH short trade now approximating $78.41 million. #crypto #blockchain #news

xAI Co-Founder Fred Wu Departs to Pursue New Ventures Fred Wu, a co-founder of the artificial intelligence company xAI, announced his departure from the organization today via a post on the X platform. Wu stated that he is embarking on the next chapter of his life and believes that "small teams can have a disruptive impact with AI in the AI era." #crypto #blockchain #news

Binance Futures to Launch ESPUSDT Perpetual Contract Pre-Trading Binance Futures announced that it will introduce pre-trading for the ESPUSDT Perpetual Contract on February 10, 2026, at 16:10 (UTC+8). The contract will support leverage of up to 5x. The launch of the ESPUSDT perpetual contract on Binance Futures marks a significant development for traders looking to gain exposure to this particular asset. The availability of pre-trading allows market participants to position themselves ahead of the official listing, potentially capitalizing on early market movements. The maximum leverage of 5x offers a considerable degree of flexibility for traders, enabling them to amplify their positions. However, as with all leveraged trading, it also introduces increased risk, requiring careful risk management strategies from participants. Further details regarding the contract specifications and trading parameters are expected to be released by Binance Futures in due course. #crypto #blockchain #news

Binance Co-Founder He Yi Links Market Rallies to Easing FUD He Yi, co-founder of Binance, recently shared her perspective on market dynamics via the X platform, stating that "when FUD subsides, it's time for growth." According to her analysis, new entrants to the cryptocurrency space are often deterred by Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) and hesitate to invest. Meanwhile, existing participants may secure profits or exit positions due to unclear market conditions. Veteran investors, or "OGs," who have achieved financial independence, are reportedly desensitized to what they perceive as "intelligence-lowering FUD and AI-generated attacks," leading them to question their engagement with the market. He Yi suggested this sentiment contributed to the cryptocurrency market's fear index on CoinMarketCap falling to 5. He Yi emphasized that periods of diminishing FUD typically precede market uptrends. #crypto #blockchain #news

Arthur Hayes Links Bitcoin's Recent Decline to Dollar Liquidity Contraction BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes stated on X that U.S. dollar liquidity has decreased by approximately $300 billion in recent weeks. This reduction is primarily attributed to a $200 billion increase in the U.S. Treasury's general account (TGA). Hayes suggests the government may be accumulating cash reserves to fund expenditures in anticipation of a potential shutdown. In this context, Hayes noted that Bitcoin's decline is not surprising, as it appears to be synchronized with the contraction of dollar liquidity. The reduction in dollar liquidity, driven by increased government cash holdings, creates a less favorable environment for risk assets like Bitcoin. Investors may be reallocating capital as liquidity tightens. #crypto #blockchain #news #BTC #Bitcoin