‍Fed’s Waller: Crypto Euphoria Fades as TradFi Ties Strengthen Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller noted that the initial euphoria surrounding digital assets is cooling, attributing this to increased integration with traditional finance. Institutional investors are adjusting risk mandates, leading to market recalibrations and price corrections, with Bitcoin experiencing a significant dip from its peak. The Fed also plans to introduce "payment accounts" for fintech and crypto firms by late 2025, offering limited central bank access. These accounts will have balance limits and will not earn interest, aiming to foster innovation while managing systemic risk. Waller stated that market volatility is an inherent characteristic of this asset class.

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Fed’s Waller Notes Cooling Crypto Euphoria as TradFi Ties Deepen

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller recently addressed the shifting dynamics of the digital asset market, suggesting that the initial wave ...

‍SEC Commissioner Urges Balanced Approach to Tokenization SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda advocates for adapting existing securities laws to blockchain technology rather than creating new regulations for tokenized assets. He emphasized that tokenized securities still fall under current disclosure, custody, and investor protection mandates. Uyeda's stance prioritizes integrating DLT assets into the established legal framework, aiming to reduce regulatory friction and foster innovation in Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization.

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SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda Advocates for Tokenization Growth

Mark T. Uyeda, a Commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), recently emphasized the necessity of a balanced regulatory appr...

‍Chainlink Co-Founder: Current Crypto Bear Market Is Unique Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov believes the current crypto downturn differs from previous "crypto winters." Key factors include the resilience of industry infrastructure and the decoupling of Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization from speculative price action. Nazarov highlights that major institutional liquidations have not occurred despite volatility. The on-chain value of tokenized RWAs has surged 300% in the past year, showing independence from Bitcoin's price. Demand for on-chain systems and real-time data remains high. The sell-off is also influenced by external macroeconomic factors, such as potential AI sector downturns and Federal Reserve policy shifts, rather than solely internal industry failures. This suggests a maturing ecosystem focused on fundamental utility and institutional integration.

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Chainlink Co-Founder Explains Why This Crypto Bear Market Is Unique

The cryptocurrency market has recently experienced a significant drawdown, with total market capitalization falling 44% from its October peak of $4...

‍Ethereum Foundation Proposes zkEVM Proofs for Nodes An Ethereum Foundation member, ladislaus.eth, has proposed a significant architectural shift for the Ethereum network. The proposed transition involves moving away from nodes redundantly executing all transactions in a block, towards verifying execution correctness via zkEVM proofs. This change, outlined in EIP-80825, aims to streamline verification and boost consensus layer efficiency. This evolution would allow nodes to verify block validity without storing the full execution state or re-executing every transaction. Key implications include lowering hardware barriers for stakers and home validators, enabling self-validation on consumer hardware, and maintaining security through cryptographic proofs. To preserve decentralization and client diversity, validators will need to verify three out of five independent proofs. The feature remains optional, allowing traditional verification methods to coexist.

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Ethereum Foundation Proposes Shift to zkEVM Proofs for Nodes

An Ethereum Foundation member, known as ladislaus. eth, has detailed a pivotal architectural transition within the Ethereum network....

‍OSL Group Launches USDGO Stablecoin with $20 Million Incentive Fund OSL Group has officially launched USDGO, an enterprise-grade US dollar stablecoin designed to enhance global payment infrastructures and provide a compliant settlement layer for institutional clients. The stablecoin is initially deployed on the Solana blockchain with $50 million minted. To foster adoption, OSL Group has committed a $20 million incentive fund for the GO Alliance, a consortium focused on building a robust stablecoin ecosystem. This initiative aims to facilitate enterprise-level settlements and reduce friction in cross-border payments, responding to growing institutional demand for regulated digital assets.

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OSL Group Debuts USDGO Stablecoin with $20 Million Incentive Fund

Hong Kong-listed OSL Group (863. HK) has officially announced the launch of USDGO, an enterprise-grade US dollar stablecoin designed to enhance glo...

‍Ethereum Foundation Partners with SEAL to Combat Wallet Drainers The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has announced a strategic sponsorship of the Security Alliance (SEAL) to combat wallet drainers and social engineering attacks. This collaboration, part of the "Trillion Dollar Security" initiative, will fund dedicated security personnel and develop new monitoring frameworks to protect the Ethereum ecosystem. Recent data shows significant losses due to phishing and wallet drainers. However, coordinated defense efforts in 2025 led to an all-time low of $84 million in losses from these exploits. SEAL plans to expand this model to other blockchain foundations.

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Ethereum Foundation and SEAL Partner to Combat Wallet Drainers

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has officially announced a strategic sponsorship of the Security Alliance (SEAL), a prominent cryptocurrency security...

‍Vitalik Buterin Unveils Ethereum & AI Integration Vision Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a vision for integrating blockchain technology with Artificial Intelligence (AI). This synergy aims to enhance market efficiency, financial security, and individual agency, positioning AI as an empowering tool rather than a replacement for humans. Key areas of intersection include privacy-preserving AI, an economic layer for autonomous agents, on-chain code and transaction verification by AI, and enhanced decentralized governance. Buterin emphasizes using AI to tackle risks like address poisoning scams and to scale human judgment in DAOs and prediction markets, moving towards the cypherpunk ideal of "don't trust; verify." This integration could unlock greater transparency and decentralization in blockchain systems.

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Vitalik Buterin Outlines Vision for Ethereum and AI Integration

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared a comprehensive vision for the convergence of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence (AI)...

‍Fintech Groups Urge Fed for Direct Payment Access Financial technology associations, led by the American Fintech Council (AFC), are pressing the Federal Reserve to allow non-bank institutions direct access to U.S. payment systems. They propose a limited-purpose Reserve Bank account for payment activity, potentially bypassing traditional banks for stablecoin issuers and digital asset firms. This proposed account would enable fintech firms to clear and settle directly via Fedwire or FedNow, with strict operational limits to mitigate risk. Supporters believe this would reduce costs, speed up settlements, and lessen dependency on sponsor banks. However, traditional financial institutions cite concerns about financial stability and the lack of oversight for crypto-adjacent models, drawing parallels to deposit-taking without FDIC insurance. The Fed's caution is underscored by the Custodia Bank case, where access to a Master Account was denied. If implemented, this could significantly alter how stablecoin issuers manage liquidity and reduce their exposure to commercial bank failures, potentially creating a formal pathway for non-bank payment innovators.

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Fintech Groups Push Fed for Payment Accounts Linked to Crypto Firms

Financial technology trade associations are intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve to grant non-bank institutions direct access to U. S. paym...

‍Solana Whale Suffers Over $10 Million in Losses Amidst Volatile Trading A significant cryptocurrency investor, identified by the wallet address "degen-retard.sol," has experienced substantial financial setbacks, with total losses exceeding $10.2 million from multiple Solana (SOL) trades. The most recent loss amounts to $3.6 million after the investor liquidated 100,000 SOL, acquired approximately two weeks prior at an average price of $124 per token. Prior to this, the wallet had already incurred $6.6 million in losses on previous SOL trades. This case underscores the risks of market timing and asset volatility within the digital asset ecosystem.

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Solana Whale Losses Exceed $10 Million Following Volatile Trading

A prominent cryptocurrency investor has recorded significant financial setbacks following a series of high-stakes transactions involving Solana (SO...

‍Binance Controls 87% of USD1 Stablecoin Supply, Forbes Reports A Forbes investigation, utilizing Arkham Intel data, reveals Binance holds approximately 87% of the USD1 stablecoin supply as of February 2026. This concentration of $4.7 billion out of $5.4 billion circulating tokens highlights significant centralization on a single platform. Binance states this is standard operational procedure due to user deposits and market-making activities. World Liberty Financial and a White House press secretary also commented, denying undue influence or conflicts of interest related to the stablecoin's promotion.

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Binance Holds 87% of USD1 Stablecoin Supply, Forbes Analysis Reveals

A recent investigation by Forbes, utilizing data from the blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intel, has revealed that the cryptocurrency exchange Bin...

‍Base App Shifts Focus from Creator Rewards to Trading Coinbase's Base App is discontinuing its Creator Rewards program and Farcaster-powered social feed to concentrate on tradable assets. The initiative distributed approximately $450,000 to 17,000 participants over seven months, averaging $26 per creator. Jesse Pollak, creator of Base, stated the app needs to "do less, better," prioritizing financial instruments. Final rewards accumulation ends this Sunday, with payouts on February 18, 2026. The Creator Coins program remains unaffected. The app aims to become a self-custody wallet and trading hub.

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Coinbase Strategy Shift: Base App Sunsets Creator Rewards for Trading

The Base App, a central component of Coinbase’s ecosystem, has announced a strategic pivot that includes the discontinuation of its Creator Rewar...

‍US Crypto Market Structure Bill Expected by Memorial Day High-ranking US officials indicate a comprehensive cryptocurrency market structure bill is nearing passage. The legislation aims to establish a clear legal framework for digital assets and blockchain technology, resolving regulatory ambiguity. The bill is projected to reach the President's desk around Memorial Day 2026, with the White House prioritizing negotiations between traditional banking and crypto firms. Key challenges include defining the jurisdictions of the SEC and CFTC, and the treatment of stablecoin yields, balancing innovation with investor protection.

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US Crypto Market Structure Bill Expected to Pass by Memorial Day

The United States is approaching a pivotal moment in digital asset regulation as high-ranking officials signal the imminent passage of a comprehens...

‍Crypto Fraudster Sentenced to 20 Years for $73.6M Laundering Scheme A federal court has sentenced 42-year-old Daren Li to 20 years in prison for his role in a global cryptocurrency scam that defrauded investors of over $73.6 million. Li pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in November 2024 but fled federal supervision in late 2025, resulting in a sentencing in absentia. The operation used social media, dating apps, and phone solicitations to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency trading platforms, a tactic known as "pig butchering." Stolen funds, totaling at least $59.8 million, were laundered through shell companies in the U.S. Li absconded in December 2025 after removing his electronic monitoring device; an international search is ongoing.

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Crypto Fraudster Sentenced to 20 Years Over $73M Laundering Plot

A federal court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to 42-year-old Daren Li for his pivotal role in a sophisticated global cryptocurrency inv...

‍Crypto Market Caution: Is the Bottom Really In? Recent data from macro researcher Adam at Greeks.live indicates a potential disconnect between market expectations and actual price movements. A significant drop in Volatility Risk Premium (VRP) suggests traders are underestimating future price swings, potentially exposing the market to unexpected shocks. This rapid cooling of volatility expectations is impacting institutional investors. Historical data points to potential secondary downturns rather than sustained recovery when such discrepancies arise. Investors are advised to monitor on-chain data and derivative metrics closely as the crypto market correction may be incomplete.

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Crypto Market Volatility Signals Warning: Has the Bottom Truly Formed?

The recent stabilization in digital asset prices has fostered a sense of growing optimism among market participants; however, recent data suggests ...

‍MrBeast Acquires Fintech App Step YouTube creator MrBeast has acquired the mobile banking platform Step, targeting teenagers and young adults. This move by Beast Industries follows a $200 million investment from Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Immersion Technologies. The acquisition aims to provide Gen Z with financial literacy tools. Step currently serves over 6.5 million users. Speculation is rife about potential cryptocurrency integration into MrBeast's financial products, fueled by a trademark filing for "MrBeast Financial" including cryptocurrency exchange services.

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MrBeast Acquires Fintech App Step Following $200M BitMine Investment

Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, the creator behind the world’s largest YouTube channel, has officially expanded his business empire into the finan...

‍Soil Launches Single Asset Vault on XRPL for Institutional Lending Soil, a subsidiary of ORQO Group, has launched a Single Asset Vault (SAV) on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), effective February 9, 2026. This infrastructure aims to streamline capital aggregation and debt management for institutional clients. The SAV utilizes Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, for capital pooling, enabling near-instant settlement and predictable costs. Key features include automated tracking of loan lifecycles, real-time reporting for lenders, and a target yield of 8% APR for private credit and money market strategies. Soil employs a hybrid model, with on-chain settlement and accounting on XRPL, while credit underwriting, KYC/KYB, and risk assessments remain off-chain to comply with global regulations. This allows family offices and fund managers to engage with digital assets securely. The initiative integrates Real World Assets (RWA) with XRPL’s lending capabilities, positioning Soil as a bridge between traditional corporate debt and the digital economy.

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Soil Launches Single Asset Vault on XRPL for Institutional Lending

The institutional fintech platform Soil, a subsidiary of the ORQO Group, has announced the launch of a Single Asset Vault (SAV) on the XRP Ledger (...

‍Backpack Exchange Unveils Tokenomics, Allocating 24% to Airdrop Backpack Exchange has released its tokenomics, detailing a total supply of 1 billion tokens for its native asset. The initial Token Generation Event (TGE) will see 25% of the total supply enter circulation. A significant portion, 24% (240 million tokens), is allocated to participants of the Backpack points system, with an additional 1% (10 million tokens) reserved for holders of Mad Lads NFTs. This distribution prioritizes early adopters and active community members. The remaining 75% is structured for long-term growth, with 37.5% allocated for pre-IPO phases tied to growth targets and the final 37.5% held in the company treasury post-IPO, locked for one year.

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Backpack Exchange Reveals Tokenomics with 24% Airdrop for Points Holders

The cryptocurrency trading platform Backpack has officially released its tokenomics structure, outlining a strategic distribution plan for its upco...

‍MicroStrategy Acquires an Additional 1,142 BTC for $90 Million MicroStrategy, a prominent corporate holder of digital assets, has further expanded its Bitcoin holdings. The company announced via an SEC filing on February 9, 2026, that it purchased 1,142 BTC for approximately $90 million. This acquisition, at an average price of $78,815 per Bitcoin, underscores MicroStrategy's ongoing treasury strategy of converting cash reserves into BTC. The firm's total Bitcoin reserves now stand at 714,644 BTC, with a total investment of roughly $54.35 billion. This move aligns with MicroStrategy's consistent approach of accumulating Bitcoin, even amidst market volatility. The stock performance of MSTR remains closely correlated with Bitcoin's price.

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Saylor’s Strategy Boosts Bitcoin Holdings with $90M Acquisition

The world’s largest corporate holder of digital assets, Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, has further solidified its commitment to the Bitcoin (BT...

‍CEO of Digital Asset: Crypto Market Shifts Towards Utility and Sustainable Models Yuval Rooz, CEO of Digital Asset, notes that cryptocurrency market volatility is driving a shift from speculative assets to protocols with sustainable business models. He highlights institutional demand for architectures offering privacy and interoperability without the risks of cross-chain bridges. Rooz criticizes current cross-chain bridges as centralized points of failure, citing that approximately $21.8 billion in illicit funds moved through such services in 2025. Institutional needs include predictable costs, native interoperability, and privacy compliance, pushing for networks that balance these requirements. Despite the rise of specialized networks, major asset managers continue to use public infrastructure like Ethereum and Polygon. JPMorgan's multi-chain strategy, integrating JPM Coin across Base and Canton Networks, exemplifies a hybrid future where public and permissioned systems coexist. Rooz emphasizes that investors are increasingly drawn to platforms demonstrating tangible utility over speculative narratives.

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Crypto Market Shift: Digital Asset CEO Predicts Rise of Utility Models

The recent volatility in the cryptocurrency market is driving a fundamental repricing of blockchain assets, shifting focus away from speculative "e...

‍Cango Inc. Pivots to AI Compute and Global Expansion Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) has announced a significant strategic shift from Bitcoin mining to becoming an AI compute infrastructure platform. Leveraging existing energy assets and technical expertise, the company aims to bridge the "Power Gap" in the AI sector. Over the past year, Cango achieved operational milestones including 50 EH/s of hashrate efficiency and securing 50 MW of energy infrastructure across four regions. The company is now embarking on a three-phase roadmap to deploy GPU nodes, develop an orchestration platform, and create a global distributed inference grid.

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Cango Inc. Announces Pivot to AI Compute and Global Expansion

Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) has officially released its 2025 Letter to Shareholders, outlining a significant strategic transformation from a pure-play ...