Market Signal Briefing

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, ProShares debuted its latest exchange-traded fund, the ProShares GENIUS Money Market ETF (IQMM).

IQMM seeks to provide competitive current income that is consistent with both preservation of capital and liquidity. Following a fee waiver, the fund’s net expense ratio is 15 basis points. Notably, the advisor has agreed to assume all management fees associated with this ETF’s investments. 

As a money market ETF, IQMM typically invests in U.S. Treasury notes, bills, and bonds, along with cash. The fund looks to keep its portfolio at a dollar-weighted average maturity of 60 days or less. In particular, IQMM’s team seeks to select securities to construct a portfolio with a distinct focus on stability and preservation. 

A Fund Fit For a GENIUS However, where IQMM looks to stand out is through its compliance with the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act of 2025 (GENIUS Act). The GENIUS Act was established to help establish a consistent regulatory framework for stablecoins. 

According to ProShares, IQMM is the first money market ETF to have reached the requirements of the GENIUS Act. As such, as ProShares notes, the fund is eligible for investment for stablecoin reserves. 

Being the first money market to meet the requirements of the GENIUS Act may help IQMM accrue notable attention from investors and institutions alike. After all, investor interest in stablecoins remains robust, and IGMM receiving the green light for investment in stablecoin reserves makes it a fund worth keeping an eye on. 

Additionally, stablecoin providers and institutional investors alike may find great appeal in IQMM’s structure and approach. This is because IQMM offers greater flexibility through its same-day settlement features. Meanwhile, traditional investors can lean into the fund for its merits as a compelling vehicle for putting cash to work, especially given its weekly distributions. 

“We are also calculating two NAVs a day,” adds Simeon Hyman, CFA, Global Investment Strategist at ProShares.”You have 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm calculations that support T+0 execution. That’s a very helpful feature, and can also be useful for institutional investors.” 

IQMM is a historic fund for more reasons than its compliance with the GENIUS Act. According to ProShares, IQMM is the largest money market ETF in the world. 

A proven provider of a variety of different ETF strategies, ProShares has well over 150 different funds listed in the United States. This includes funds engaged in the cryptocurrency industry, such as the ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO), which has well over $1.8 billion in assets under management. 

For more news, information, and strategy, visit ETF Trends.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of KDDI Corporation (OTC Pink: KDDIY) resulting from allegations that KDDI may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased KDDI securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52883 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 6, 2026, KDDI posted an announcement on its website entitled "Notice Regarding Expectation that Disclosure of Earnings Report for the Third Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending March 2026 Will Exceed the 45-Day Period Following the End of Such Quarter." The announcement stated that KDDI has "decided to postpone the disclosure of its earnings report" and that the reason for postponement was due to uncertainties regarding the quarterly results, in light of a previously announced internal investigation.

On this news, KDDI American Depositary Receipts (under the ticker symbol "KDDIY") fell 11.4% on February 6, 2026.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284778

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - Kadestone Capital Corp. (TSXV: KDSX) ("Kadestone" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Hoffman as its new CEO and as a director. Mr. Hoffman is the current Chief Development Officer of the Company and has a wealth of experience in developing large master-planned communities within the real estate sector.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - Nuvau Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NMC) (the "Company" or "Nuvau") announces that, further to its news release dated January 30, 2026, it has amended the terms of its previously announced "best efforts" brokered private placement offering, co-led by Clarus Securities Inc. and Integrity Capital Group Inc. (together, the "Agents"), comprised of (i) the offering of up to 18,750,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.80 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $15,000,000 (the "Unit Offering") and the offering of up to 5,555,555 FT Shares (as defined herein) at a price of $0.90 per FT Share for gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000 (the "FT Offering" and together with the Unit Offering, the "Offering").

As amended, the Company proposes to issue up to 5,555,555 flow-through common shares of the Company (the "FT Shares") at an offering price of $0.90 per FT Share (the "FT Share Price"). All FT Shares will be common shares of the Company that qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Québec). The gross proceeds from the offering of FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the ITA), a portion of which may qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" and at least 30% of which will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" ("FTCMME") (each as defined in the ITA) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"). At the sole discretion of the Company certain subscribers of FT Shares may be allocated a higher percentage of Qualifying Expenditures that qualify as FTCMME. All Qualifying Expenditures will be incurred by the Company on or before December 31, 2027, and will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares with an effective date on or before December 31, 2026.

All other terms of the Offering remain unchanged. Please refer to the Company's news release dated January 30, 2026, for additional information.

In connection with the Offering, a director of the Company, plans to sell up to 400,000 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") held, directly or indirectly, through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and intends to use the proceeds from such sales to subscribe for 400,000 FT Shares under the FT Offering. The sale of such Common Shares is expected to be effected pursuant to pre-arranged trades made through the facilities of the Exchange.

Participation in the Offering by a director of the Company constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Closing of the Unit Offering is expected to occur on or about February 24, 2026, with the closing of the FT Offering expected to occur on or about March 6, 2026. Completion of the Offering remains subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the conditional approval of Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance thereof.

The Agents will have an option (the "Agent's Option"), exercisable in whole or in part up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Unit Offering, to offer for sale up to any combination of additional Units (or any combination of their underlying components) and/or additional FT Shares, at their respective offering prices, to raise up to an additional $5,000,000 in gross proceeds.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Nuvau
Nuvau is a Canadian mining company, incorporated under the OBCA, currently in the exploration and development phase. Nuvau's principal asset is its right to earn-in a 100% undivided interest from Glencore in the Matagami property located in Abitibi region of central Québec, Canada pursuant to an amended and restated earn-in agreement dated January 28, 2026, among Nuvau, Nuvau Minerals Corp., and Glencore.

Further Information
All information contained in this news release with respect to the Company was supplied by the respective party for inclusion herein, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

For further information please contact:
Nuvau Minerals Inc.
Peter van Alphen 
President and CEO
Telephone: 416-525-6063
Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the timing and ability of the Company to close the Offering on the terms announced, the proposed use of proceeds of the Offering, the Company's ability to incur Qualifying Expenditures and renounce the Qualifying Expenditures to subscribers, and the Company's ability to obtain exchange approval for the Offering. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the Matagami Property. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284780

Source: Nuvau Minerals Inc.

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) between February 25, 2025 and February 2, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 20, 2026.

SO WHAT: If you purchased PayPal common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the PayPal class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53653 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 20, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided investors with material information concerning PayPal's expected financial targets for 2027 alongside the growth trajectory for its core branded checkout segment ("Branded Checkout"). Defendants' statements included, among other things, confidence in PayPal's ability to capitalize on its growth potential through new initiatives to facilitate Branded Checkout growth both in the U.S. and internationally. According to the lawsuit, defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of PayPal's salesforce; notably, that it was not truly equipped to execute on PayPal's perceived growth potential and were "too optimistic" as to how easily and expeditiously its staff could change customer adoption. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the PayPal class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53653 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284779

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Surrey, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 20, 2026) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) ("Desert Gold" or the "Company") announces that it has accepted an arms-length subscription agreement that was submitted during the Company's recent $7,181,800 private placement closing but was missed due to clerical error. As a result, the Company will issue 375,000 units for a total of $30,000.

National Healthcare Properties, Inc. (HLTC) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript

Dogecoin Solana XRP

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14 minutes ago

Feeding a well-crafted prompt into Claude reveals surprising 2026 forecasts for XRP, Solana and Dogecoin.

According to Claude’s projections, all three assets could rise at least 5x by Christmas.

Here’s a breakdown of why Claude is bullish on them.

XRP ($XRP): Claude Charts a Long-Term Path Toward $8In a recent update, Ripple reaffirmed that XRP ($XRP) sits at the center of its strategy to position the XRP Ledger as a global, enterprise-grade payments network.

Source: ClaudeThanks to rapid transaction settlement and extremely low fees, XRPL is likely to corner two of crypto’s fastest-growing sectors: stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets.

With XRP currently trading around $1.39, Claude’s long-range model suggests the token could rally to $8 by the end of 2026, representing a near sixfold increase from today’s levels.

Technical indicators support this scenario. XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) is relatively low at 38, while the price sits well below its 30-day moving average, signalling an attractive entry point.

Several catalysts could accelerate this move, including institutional inflows following the approval of U.S.-listed XRP ETFs, Ripple’s expanding list of partnerships, and the potential passage of the U.S. CLARITY bill this year.

Solana (SOL): Claude Forecasts a Push Toward $450Solana ($SOL) currently hosts around $6.6 billion in total value locked (TVL) and has a market capitalization of nearly $48 billion.

Source: ClaudeInstitutional interest has also intensified following the launch of Solana-linked exchange-traded funds from asset managers such as Bitwise and Grayscale.

Despite these tailwinds, SOL endured a lengthy correction in late 2025 and spent much of February trading below the $100 mark.

Under Claude’s most optimistic projection, Solana could climb from its current price near $82 to around $450 by Christmas. That move would deliver more than 5x upside while exceeding Solana’s previous ATH of $293, set in January 2025.

Additionally, major asset managers, including Franklin Templeton and BlackRock, are issuing tokenized real-world assets on the network, strengthening Solana’s position as a scalable platform for institutional finance.

Dogecoin (DOGE): Can the Original Meme Coin Break the $1 Barrier?Launched as a parody in 2013, Dogecoin ($DOGE) has evolved into a major crypto asset with a market capitalization of roughly $17 billion, representing more than half of the $36 billion meme coin market.

Source: ClaudeDOGE last reached an ATH of $0.7316 during the retail-fueled bull run of 2021.

The Doge community has long targeted $1, and Claude’s outlook suggests a strong bull market could push Dogecoin past ATH to come close.

From its current price, a fraction under $0.10, a move to $0.90 and beyond would be an easy 9x.

Real-world adoption continues to expand.

Tesla accepts DOGE for selected merchandise, and major fintech platforms such as PayPal and Revolut now support Dogecoin transactions, reinforcing its use beyond speculation.

Maxi Doge: As Major Coins Eye New Highs, a New Meme Challenger Steps ForwardWhile XRP, DOGE, and SOL have 5x to 9x potential, the real moonshots can be found in meme coin presales.

Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is one of the most talked-about new meme coins of 2026, raising $4.6 million so far in its ongoing funding round.

The project revolves around Maxi Doge, a loud, gym-obsessed, unapologetically degen alpha doge, and a distant cousin and self-declared rival to Dogecoin.

The concept taps directly into the irreverent energy that powered the 2021 meme coin explosion.

MAXI is an ERC-20 token built on Ethereum’s proof-of-stake network, giving it a significantly lower environmental footprint compared to Dogecoin’s proof-of-work design.

Early presale participants can currently stake MAXI tokens for yields of up to 68% APY, with staking rewards reducing as the pool grows.

The token is priced at $0.0002805 in the current presale phase, with automatic price increases triggered at each funding milestone. Purchases are supported by any wallet, such as MetaMask and Best Wallet.

Stay updated through Maxi Doge’s official X and Telegram pages.

Visit the Official Website Here.

Bitcoin mining difficulty, a measure of how computationally hard it is for miners to find a new block on the leading blockchain, has risen 14.7% to 144.4 trillion in the latest adjustment. This represents the largest absolute increase since 2021, when the China mining prohibition caused major disruption, following a 22% rise as the network recovered.

▲ 14.73% to 144.4T

Bitcoin mining just got ~15% harder, with the largest ever increase in absolute difficulty, completely erasing last epoch's huge downwards adjustment. pic.twitter.com/qRHDELO4n5

— mononaut (@mononautical) February 20, 2026 The adjustment occurred at block height 937,440, according to Bitcoin network explorer Mempool, reversing the previous epoch’s steep 11% drop.

Mining difficulty adjusts every 2,016 blocks — roughly every two weeks — to keep block production around one every 10 minutes, regardless of fluctuations in the network’s hashrate.

Data from Clark Moody’s dashboard shows that blocks were mined at an average of 8 minutes and 47 seconds during the most recent epoch — well below the 10-minute target — triggering the upward difficulty adjustment. Over the same period, the network’s hashrate climbed from roughly 884 EH/s to 1,030 EH/s, according to Mempool, indicating a significant boost in active mining capacity.

Hash rate is the total computational power of all miners that secures the Bitcoin blockchain.

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How Difficulty Adjustment Works In October, as Bitcoin hit a record high of $126,080, the network’s hashrate peaked at 1.1 zettahashes per second (ZH/s). By February, with prices threatening a $60,000 breakdown, the hashrate fell to 826 exahashes per second (EH/s). Since then, the hashrate has bounced back to 1 ZH/s, while Bitcoin’s price has recovered to roughly $66,893. However, the apex crypto remains 46.8% down from the October peak.

Mining activity took its biggest hit since late 2021 when a severe winter storm in the U.S. forced several major operators to scale back operations. As weather conditions improved, miners resumed operations, boosting the hashrate and reversing the slowdown in block production.

As additional computing power is added to the Bitcoin network, mining difficulty increases to match, keeping block production close to the protocol’s 10-minute target. Conversely, if computing power declines, difficulty adjusts downward to maintain a steady pace of roughly one block every 10 minutes.

The latest difficulty adjustment added about 18.5 trillion, the largest absolute increase on record. Mempool developer “Mononaut” highlighted the swing, saying, “The last two adjustments erased 15.8T from the mining difficulty, and then immediately added 18.5T back on,” illustrating the scale of the rebound. For perspective, he noted, “It took the entire Bitcoin network over 11 years to reach 15T difficulty in total.”

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) could eventually go to $1 million if it does not go to zero, but institutions, not retail, are increasingly driving the market's long-term direction, according to Anthony Pompliano. Why Is Bitcoin Sentiment So Low?

The battle over BIP-110 and the related BIP-444 represents a fundamental schism in the Bitcoin community over whether the network should remain a neutral data protocol or become a curated financial ledger. Philosophical: Neutrality vs.

Prominent Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff has once again predicted a major Bitcoin collapse in the near future. The chairman of Schiff Gold tweeted yesterday that the premier digital currency is likely to collapse to $20k if it cannot hold on to its long-term $50k support level. The move marks another barrage of tweets from Schiff encouraging users to sell their crypto assets and get into Gold.

Bitcoin is trading around $68k at press time after a failed breakout above $70k. The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization is in deep bearish territory, and this is normally a situation in which critics like Peter Schiff run riot, causing Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) among holders. Schiff has called the time of death on Bitcoin 21 times over the last decade or so.

Schiff Predicts Major Bitcoin Price Drop Schiff tweeted:

Image Source: X Schiff is betting that the bears are highly likely to take a shot at the $50k support level in the near future and emerge successful. Once the $50k long-term support is breached, which is already below the $55k realized price, the price can come under renewed pressure, and here Schiff argues it will keep falling until it finds support around the $20k figure.

Schiff, in his usual zero-sum rhetoric, took another shot at BTC yesterday and tweeted:

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Image Source: X He basically stated that many people were “dumb enough” to buy Bitcoin, and even smart people eventually started buying it after feeling FOMO. However, he failed to mention that he has been tweeting against the digital currency since it was worth less than $500 each, and it is currently trading at $66k. Despite his attacks, the crypto keeps inching upwards in the long term, and that shows why investors remain interested in it.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that Schiff has predicted a major market calamity for Bitcoin. On February 12, he tweeted that the cryptocurrency is likely to experience “initial support” at $10k. Now, just a week later, he has graciously improved his outlook and upgraded the support to $20k in his latest tweet.

Schiff’s Beef with Bitcoin Schiff has a longstanding row with Bitcoin and its users, often tweeting reductionist zero-sum tweets that act as rage bait for crypto investors. He shares all kinds of low-priced BTC predictions, and if one comes true, he runs with it. 

He has been doing this since 2013, when Bitcoin was a fraction of the current valuation, and hasn’t slowed down even after it posted 20000% gains over the years. 

Deutsche Bank is accelerating its blockchain strategy by signaling plans to integrate infrastructure powered by Ripple’s technology, marking another major institutional milestone for Ripple Labs. The move highlights growing institutional adoption of blockchain solutions in traditional finance and could significantly boost exposure for XRP in global markets.

According to a community update shared by a developer known as Bird on X, Deutsche Bank intends to leverage Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure to modernize its cross-border payments network. By adopting Ripple’s technology, the German banking giant aims to settle transactions within seconds, replacing its slower legacy settlement systems. This shift is expected to improve efficiency, enhance liquidity management, and reduce operational friction in international payments.

One of the key advantages of Ripple’s blockchain solutions is cost optimization. Reports suggest the integration could cut transaction costs by up to 30%, a compelling incentive for large financial institutions navigating rising operational expenses and increasing competition in the digital payments sector. Faster settlement times combined with lower costs position Ripple as a strong infrastructure partner for banks seeking scalable blockchain adoption.

This development represents another significant win for Ripple Labs Inc., reinforcing its expanding footprint among global financial institutions. Increased collaboration between Ripple and major banks like Deutsche Bank may also influence demand dynamics for XRP, depending on the structure of their institutional arrangements and liquidity models.

Industry observers note that nondisclosure agreements related to Ripple partnerships are reportedly beginning to lift. If confirmed, this could pave the way for additional banks to publicly announce similar blockchain integrations. The broader implication is clear: institutional blockchain adoption is gaining momentum, and Ripple’s enterprise-focused technology continues to attract established financial players seeking faster, more efficient cross-border payment solutions.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has mined more than $450 million worth of Bitcoin, marking a significant milestone in its growing role within the global crypto mining landscape. Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao recently stated that he played a part in encouraging the country’s move into Bitcoin mining, reinforcing his long-standing advocacy for Bitcoin adoption across key markets.

The conversation gained momentum after blockchain analytics platform Arkham revealed that the UAE, through its partner Citadel, has mined approximately $453.6 million in Bitcoin. On-chain data suggests that the country has retained most of its mined BTC, with the latest recorded outflows occurring roughly four months ago. This holding strategy signals a long-term commitment to Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset.

According to Arkham’s estimates, the UAE is currently sitting on about $344 million in unrealized profit from its Bitcoin holdings, excluding energy costs. Additional commentary from Bitcoin advocate Pete Rizzo indicates that the UAE now holds more than $1 billion worth of BTC, further strengthening speculation that the country views Bitcoin as a store of value similar to gold.

CZ’s involvement aligns with his broader efforts to promote crypto adoption worldwide. During his tenure as Binance CEO, he engaged with policymakers and global leaders, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Kazakhstan and participating in crypto policy discussions in the United States. His reported advocacy in the UAE follows this established pattern of supporting national-level Bitcoin initiatives.

As the UAE expands its presence in Bitcoin mining and accumulates significant BTC reserves, it continues to position itself as a major player in the digital asset economy. The country’s strategic approach to crypto mining and long-term Bitcoin holdings reflects its ambition to lead in blockchain innovation and financial technology.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

4 mins mins

Vitalik: feedback distance between humans and AI is harmfulvitalik buterin warned that increasing the “feedback distance” between humans and AI is harmful, linking the issue to proposals for autonomous, self-replicating agents. As reported by ForkLog, he paired the warning with discussion of ongoing Ethereum updates.

“Feedback distance” in this context describes how far, in time and control, human judgment is kept from AI actions and outcomes. Longer distances reduce corrective capacity, raising the risk of compounding errors and misaligned behavior.

He also criticized conceptual framings like “Web4” and systems marketed as self-replicating autonomous agents. These critiques were reported by Incrypted and Tekedia, respectively, underscoring his concern that designs reducing human oversight can produce harmful or low-value outputs.

Why it matters for Ethereum’s decentralized, human-freedom ethosEthereum’s public mission emphasizes decentralization, user sovereignty, and minimizing single points of control. Distancing human agency from AI-based execution runs counter to that ethos because it can substitute opaque automation for participatory governance.

Before citing him directly, it is important to note his comments arise from a broader debate about AI autonomy versus augmentation. On this view, the acceptable path enhances human decision-making rather than replacing it.

“The goal of Ethereum is to grant humanity freedom, and extending the feedback distance between humans and AI is not a good thing,” said Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum.

Empirical support reinforces the risks of distance. A study published in Nature Human Behaviour found human–AI interactions can create feedback loops that amplify bias when oversight is weak or delayed, and Pew Research Center surveys indicate concern that AI may erode human agency without safeguards.

BingX: a trusted exchange delivering real advantages for traders at every level.

For AI agents interfacing with blockchains, designs that self-replicate or operate without rapid human correction appear misaligned with Ethereum’s goals. Builders can instead favor assistive systems that require confirmation, explanations, and bounded execution.

Ethereum developers can prioritize onchain guardrails: time delays for high-impact actions, multi-signature approvals, and revocation controls. These patterns maintain short feedback distances and keep responsibility legible.

Governance processes benefit from clear escalation paths, defined risk thresholds, and independent review for AI-enabled contracts. When roles and interventions are explicit, communities retain corrective leverage if agent behavior deviates.

At the time of this writing, Ethereum (ETH) trades near $1,966.75 with very high volatility around 17.50%, a bearish sentiment reading, and an RSI near 34, providing neutral market context for these discussions.

Human-in-the-loop safeguards and decentralized AI governance practicesActionable patterns to preserve human agency and oversightRequire human confirmation for sensitive onchain actions, and implement rate limits and allowlists to constrain scope. Pair these with explanation interfaces so users can understand model intent before authorizing execution.

Use staged rollouts, shadow modes, and circuit breakers to prevent large-scale errors. Maintain recourse channels, including reversible actions within defined windows and structured dispute resolution for affected users.

Audit, accountability, and CHAI-aligned oversight themesThe Center for Human-Compatible AI (CHAI) emphasizes alignment techniques that preserve human control. In practice, this supports rigorous audit trails, third-party assessments, incident disclosure, and continuous bias and safety testing.

Adopt pre-deployment evaluations, red-teaming, and post-deployment monitoring with measurable risk limits. Escalation protocols, kill switches, and multi-stakeholder review committees help ensure transparent accountability when models interact with financial state.

FAQ about Vitalik ButerinWhy is Vitalik criticizing Web4 and self-replicating autonomous AI agents like The Automaton?He argues these designs increase distance from human oversight, risking harmful outcomes and low-value automation by weakening timely human feedback and control.

How does this stance align with Ethereum’s goal of human freedom and decentralization?It prioritizes tools that augment people, transparent governance, and distributed control, keeping humans responsible for consequential decisions rather than delegating power to autonomous systems.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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Posted: February 21, 2026

Synthetix [SNX] price action is back on its bullish trajectory. At press time, the altcoin has recorded a strong 27% surge in the last 24 hours.

The token trading volume has also recorded significant gains, almost doubling to $140 millions over the same period.

With SNX’s price action reacting strongly to recent developments, the question is whether momentum can extend far enough to clear the liquidity clusters positioned above the current trading level.

OI confirms fresh institutional demand Consequently, Synthetix network’s Open Interest (OI) increased by $5 million. At press time, the total OI stood at at $21 million.

Usually, rising OI alongside price growth often signals a fresh influx of positions into the market. This suggests growing speculative and institutional demand.

The rally is not driven by spot traders alone. Derivatives activity is also expanding.

Source: CoinGlass

Synthetix’s technical structure turns bullish On the daily chart, SNX has gained 58% since retesting a key descending triangle support, a move that marked a structural shift from compression to expansion. 

The latest 27% daily surge confirms continuation strength, with buyers firmly in control. Still, sharp rallies often lead to brief pauses, making short‑term consolidation possible before the next move.

Source: TradingView

$0.4254 resist stands out as the next target AMBCrypto analysis of the token’s liquidity data indicates a $68K cluster near the $0.4254 price level.

From past observations, liquidity clusters often attract price during strong trends. This makes $0.4254 the next key short-term target.

For the rally to extend, volume must stay elevated, and Synthetix’s OI must continue rising. If participation cools, price may consolidate before another push higher.

Source: CoinGlass

Final Summary SNX prices have surged by 27% as trading volume doubles to $140M and open interest climbs to $21 million. A liquidity cluster at $0.4254 presented the price level as the next key target if bullish momentum is sustained.

Journalist

Posted: February 21, 2026

Midnight [NIGHT], the privacy-focused Cardano [ADA] sidechain, is scheduled to go live in the final week of March. Thanks to this update, the utility token NIGHT posted strong gains recently.

According to CoinMarketCap, it was up 8.78% in 24 hours and up 23.78% in a week at press time. According to AMBCrypto, the former resistance at $0.5 had been flipped to support too.

A closer look at the price charts revealed that $0.056-$0.060 is a key area for NIGHT bulls. Now that they have reclaimed this area as their own, can the bulls drive a rally to $0.10 and beyond?

NIGHT back above a key retracement level

Source: NIGHT/USDT on TradingView

The internal structure on the 6-hour timeframe was bullish, and has been since NIGHT pushed above $0.05 on Friday, 06 February. Since then, the price has made higher highs and higher lows.

However, the higher timeframe momentum wasn’t strongly bullish. The deep retracement to the local low at $0.04 underlined the strength of sellers, which was a threat to the bulls on the way to recovery.

The CMF was back at +0.01 after climbing to +0.23 on 18 February. It was an early sign that the buying pressure might not be a sustained push, which could slow any further gains. Meanwhile, the DMI showed that a strong uptrend was in progress, agreeing with the findings based on the internal structure.

Bulls should resist FOMO and arguments of relative strength Bitcoin [BTC] has been oscillating between the $65k and $71k levels over the past two weeks. If BTC can climb higher, it could see renewed enthusiasm among altcoins, including NIGHT. Until then, swing traders need to remain wary.

The 1-month liquidation heatmap showed that NIGHT had just tagged a significant cluster of short liquidations at $0.063-$0.065. The lack of clear, sustained demand and early candlestick signs of buyer exhaustion at this zone were worrying too.

It is possible that the sweep of the magnetic zone at $0.065 would be followed by a descent to the $0.054 area next. Traders need to watch out for this possibility and beware of going long early.

Final Summary The sweep of the liquidity at $0.065 may be a strong indication that a temporary pullback was brewing. The $0.056-$0.060 area is a short-term demand zone that swing traders can expect a bullish reaction at. Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.

TL;DR

Fusaka fee reduction triggers explosion in address poisoning attacks. Attackers send millions of dust transactions at negligible cost. Daily transactions jump from 30,000 to 167,000 after the upgrade. The reduction in gas fees on Ethereum following the Fusaka upgrade in December 2025 generated an unintended side effect: an exponential increase in address poisoning attacks. What was meant to improve network accessibility ended up becoming a breeding ground for scammers who can now send millions of dust transactions at negligible cost.

Leon Waidmann, head of research at Lisk, highlighted the current paradox on X. Stablecoin volume reached $7.5 trillion in a single quarter, while transaction fees remained below one dollar. “Record usage. Record cheap. At the same time,” he wrote, pointing to the largest divergence between fundamentals and price in the crypto ecosystem.

Blockchain researcher Andrey Sergeenkov published a study revealing how address poisoning attacks skyrocketed after Fusaka. The upgrade reduced gas fees sixfold, making operations cheap enough to scale these types of fraud.

Millions in Losses Within Just Two Months The address poisoning mechanism involves sending small transfers from addresses that mimic the victim’s regular contacts. If the user copies the wrong address from their history for a subsequent transaction, funds end up in attackers’ hands. Sergeenkov describes the practice as a lottery: scammers send millions of low-cost transactions hoping for a few large payoffs.

Before Fusaka, attackers sent approximately 30,000 dust transactions per day, according to Sergeenkov’s analysis of 101 tokens between September 2025 and February 2026. After the upgrade, the figure jumped to 167,000 daily, with a peak of 510,000 on a single day in January.

The economic consequences are telling. In just over two months after Fusaka, victims lost more than $63 million. That figure multiplies by 13 the $4.9 million stolen in a comparable period before the upgrade.

A single transfer, which occurred on December 19, 2025, concentrated a large portion of the losses by stealing $50 million in USDT. Even excluding that case, thefts reached $13.3 million, 2.7 times higher than in the previous period.

Sergeenkov criticized the prioritization of growth over security: “There is nothing wrong with lowering fees, but the security problems that cheap transactions amplify should have been addressed before the upgrade. When the Ethereum Foundation claims it is building trillion-dollar security, user safety must be the strictest priority over growth metrics.“

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Ethereum saw a brief bounce on Thursday, but the $2,000 price level proved once again to be a formidable resistance zone, rendering the bullish move void as it pulls back toward $1,900. This brief bounce might be linked to renewed sentiment of investors toward accumulation, which appears to have reached key levels not seen in several years.

Falling Ethereum Prices, Rising Conviction After weeks of selling pressure due to waning market conditions, buying activity and interest in Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency asset, have significantly picked up pace. On-chain data suggests that renewed buying pressure from investors has pushed toward historic levels.

As outlined in the data shared by Batman, a crypto analyst and investor, ETH is experiencing one of its strongest accumulation phases in years. ETH has managed to remake history even as its price continues to trend lower, making this a pivotal moment for the leading altcoin and its future outlook.

Rising buyer conviction and declining values divide, indicating that long-term participants are discreetly positioning amid weakness rather than withdrawing from turbulence. The constant flow of capital from investors demonstrates confidence in Ethereum’s longer-term plan in spite of immediate market pressure.

ETH accumulation hits multi-year level | Source: Chart from Batman on X As selling pressure collides with steady accumulation, the current pattern could lay the foundation for the altcoin’s next short-term structural move. In another X post, Batman revealed that accumulation has also increased among newly created wallet addresses. Based on the flow data for Ethereum in a 24-hour period, over $490.9 million has been moved into a freshly created wallet address.

Interestingly, this notable fresh capital is 2.4x higher than average, pointing to significantly elevated activity today. During the period, whale wallet addresses also secured approximately $39.2 million inflow, indicating a 30.7x increase above average. 

Furthermore, top PnL wallets recorded $46.9 million inflow, rising by 12.2x above average, while exchange wallets saw $56.9 million outflow, which is still a bullish signal. Whale buildup, exchange outflows, and large inflows of new wallets all point to the presence of substantial accumulation activity.

Investors Are Stacking Up More ETH Than Bitcoin While Ethereum is attracting a wave of aggressive accumulation from large holders, its net buying from these investors now significantly outpaces that of Bitcoin. High-net-worth investors increasing their positions in ETH hints at a robust condition in the altcoin compared to BTC. The disparity in accumulation patterns raises the possibility that capital rotation is taking place as key participants in the ETH ecosystem move ahead of possible catalysts.

According to CW, a verified author on CryptoQuant, whales are quietly buying massive amounts of ETH in a volatile market environment. Interestingly, the expert noted that the cohorts are particularly focused on positioning in the futures market.

At the time of writing, the price of ETH was trading at $1,957 after recording a more than 1% drop in the last 24 hours. Its trading volume has flipped bearish alongside its price, dropping by over 11% within the same time frame, according to CoinMarketCap’s data.

ETH trading at $1,960 on the 1D chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com

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Large Bitcoin (BTC) holders have steadily increased their holdings in recent months, with the total balance climbing back to levels last seen before the October 10, 2025, market crash.

At the same time, crypto exchange data shows whale-related outflows averaging 3.5% of exchange-held BTC over a 30-day rolling period, the highest since late 2024.

BTC whale reserves return to pre-October peak Bitcoin wallets or “whales”, holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC, have rebuilt reserves over the past three months. The cohorts increased their total balance to 3.09 million, from 2.86 million BTC on Dec. 10, 2025, a 230,000 BTC addition that restores their balance to pre-October 2025 levels.

Total BTC balance of large holders (1K-10K). Source: CryptoQuantCrypto analyst ‘Caueconomy’ said the full drawdown in whale reserves has been reversed over the past 30 days with the accumulation of 98,000 BTC. The broader distribution phase began in August 2025 (after BTC hit $124,000), after which Bitcoin struggled to sustain a rally significantly higher.

BTC spot market data supports the recovery. Throughout 2026, the average BTC order size has ranged between 950 BTC and 1,100 BTC, the most consistent stretch of large-ticket activity since September 2024.

Similar clusters appeared during the February–March 2025 correction. During that phase, retail orders accounted for the majority of activity, while large blocks appeared more intermittently and in smaller clusters.

Bitcoin spot average order size. Source: CryptoQuantBTC exchange flows spike to 14-month highsCryptoQuant analyst Maartunn reported $8.24 billion in whale BTC exchange flows moved into Binance over the past 30 days, marking a 14-month high. Retail flows reached $11.91 billion and have flattened over the same period. The retail-to-whale ratio now sits at 1.45, and it continues to drop as the larger-size deposits increase.

Binance whale to exchange flows. Source: CryptoQuantParallel to these inflows, Glassnode data shows gross exchange whale withdrawals averaging 3.5% of total exchange-held BTC supply over a 30-day period, the strongest pace since November 2024.

Based on current exchange balances, that translates to roughly 60,000–100,000 BTC in withdrawals over the past month. 

While gross inflows into exchanges have also increased, the elevated withdrawal ratio suggests that much of that incoming BTC is being offset by strong outbound transfers, leaving net exchange balances relatively stable.

BTC exchange whales outflow. Source: GlassnodeThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

The industry’s largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), are enduring one of their most difficult openings to a year on record, according to a recent analysis by Fortune, with both digital assets trading sharply below their previous peaks.

Bitcoin is currently down roughly 46% from its all-time high, while Ethereum has fallen about 60% from its record level. The steep declines mark what the publication describes as historically poor year-to-date performances for the assets. 

Bitcoin, Ethereum Lag While S&P 500, Gold Post Gains While Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with broader crypto prices, have often moved in tandem with equities in recent years, that relationship has weakened over the past two months. Since January, major US stock indices have edged higher. 

The S&P 500 has gained approximately 0.4%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed 2.3%. Precious metals have also performed strongly. Gold has surged about 17% since the start of the year, while silver has advanced roughly 14%, even after experiencing a brief drop several weeks ago.

The disconnect between cryptocurrencies and broader market gains has prompted some industry observers to declare the arrival of another “Crypto Winter.” 

“We’re certainly in a Crypto Winter,” said Danny Nelson, a research analyst at crypto asset manager Bitwise. He pointed to investor behavior as evidence of deteriorating sentiment. “You can tell by how investors react to good news,” Nelson said. “They don’t.”

‘We’re Really Close To The End’ Despite the current pullback and the increased challenges for prices seen since the October 10 liquidation event, Nelson argues that the underlying foundation of the industry is strengthening. 

“Crypto’s reality is getting stronger,” he said, adding that the structural changes underway are likely to outlast the current downturn. 

Similar sentiments have been expressed by Tom Lee, cofounder of research firm Fundstrat and a long-time supporter of Ethereum. In a recent interview, Lee suggested the market may be nearing a turning point, stating, “We’re really close to the end.”

Whether the latest slump proves to be a temporary correction or a deeper cycle shift remains uncertain. For now, however, the data underscores a challenging start to the year for the cryptocurrency market, even as other asset classes continue to surge.

The 1D chart shows BTC consolidating below the $70,000 resistance wall. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $67,595, which is a slight 1% increase compared to Thursday’s prices. Ethereum is trading at around $1,968, with similar gains over the past 24 hours. 

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

22h20 ▪ 3 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

Summarize this article with:

Nearly $4 billion has left Bitcoin ETFs in five weeks. Indeed, investment vehicles meant to embody Bitcoin’s institutional anchoring are going through a phase of sustained withdrawals. After months of record inflows, the mechanism reverses and raises questions. Is this a mere tactical adjustment or a deeper change in investors’ perception regarding indirect exposure to the flagship asset?

In brief Nearly $4 billion was withdrawn from Bitcoin ETFs in five weeks, marking one of the largest outflow sequences since their launch. Another red day with $165.76 million in outflows, confirming a negative momentum started since mid-January. A succession of weekly negative flows that reflects investors’ gradual disengagement from these indirect Bitcoin exposure vehicles. Diverging interpretations in the market, between simple tactical portfolio rebalancing and a deeper signal on institutional appetite. A significant net withdrawal series on ETFs Spot Bitcoin ETFs record another sequence of significant withdrawals. On February 19, these products faced $165.76 million in net outflows, marking their third consecutive red day. This trend fits into a pattern observed since mid-January.

Over the last five weeks, the weekly negative flows break down as follows :

$403.9 million in net outflows; $359.9 million; $318.1 million; $1.49 billion; $1.33 billion. In total, these cumulative withdrawals approach $4 billion, confirming the amplitude of the movement. This succession of negative weeks constitutes one of the most marked disengagement periods since the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Diverging interpretations and the stakes for the crypto ecosystem While some market participants view these negative flows as a simple controlled portfolio reset, others see the beginnings of a persistent structural weakness in institutional appetite for Bitcoin ETFs.

This divergence of interpretation illustrates the complexity of reading these movements solely based on flows: these products often represent tactical allocation strategies that do not systematically reflect long-term investor intent.

On the price side, flow pressure has not triggered an immediate Bitcoin collapse but coincides with a period of increased volatility and greater sensitivity to macroeconomic signals. If outflows persist, they could intensify asset managers’ caution regarding exposure to a risky asset class, especially in a market sentiment context.

At this stage, several scenarios remain open for short- and medium-term evolution. Flow stabilization could indicate that the correction is nearing a technical floor, allowing investors to rethink their exposure without completely discrediting the Bitcoin ETF model.

Conversely, continued net outflows might weigh further on institutional confidence and adjust allocation strategies toward other instruments or crypto asset classes, such as ETFs based on other cryptos or derivatives products.

Indeed, market attention will likely focus on upcoming weekly flow reports, the evolution of the Bitcoin price, and institutional investors’ attitudes towards dominant macroeconomic signals. These indicators could provide clearer signals on the strength or fragility of demand for these products in the coming months.

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Luc Jose A.

Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

Bitcoin shrugs off Trump's new tariffs, nears $68,000 as altcoins lead modest bounceCrypto prices edged higher on Friday despite a splash of tariff turbulence after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump's levies illegal. Feb 20, 2026, 9:20 p.m.

Bitcoin BTC$67,702.26 brushed aside a volatile round of U.S. tariff headlines on Friday, inching toward $68,000 and altcoins modestly bouncing.

The day began with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling President Donald Trump’s global tariff rollout illegal. The decision did not clarify what should happen to tariff revenue already collected, and it doesn’t necessarily spell the end of Trump’s trade agenda, with multiple legal and executive avenues still available.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

By the afternoon, President Trump announced an additional 10% global tariff to be rolled out under Section 122 for roughly five months, effective in three days.

The fresh levy, imposed on top of existing tariffs, barely dented sentiment.

Risk assets, including crypto, pushed modestly higher through the session. The broad-market CoinDesk 20 Index gained 2.5% over the past 24 hours, with BNB, DOGE$0.1006, ADA$0.2836 and Solana (SOL) outperforming with 3%-4% advances. Bitcoin was recently trading just below $68,000.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 climbed 0.9% and 0.7%, respectively. Among crypto-linked stocks, exchange Coinbase (COIN), stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) and bitcoin treasury firm Strategy (MSTR) rose more than 2%. Bitcoin miners tied to AI infrastructure buildouts underperformed, with Riot Platforms (RIOT), Cipher Mining (CIFR), IREN and TeraWulf (WULF) falling 3%-6%.

Cryptos to stay rangebound"We have seen a small rally for risk assets post-tariffs news as it leads into a narrative that tariffs are damaging for the macro environment," said Paul Howard, director at trading firm Wincent.

Still, conviction remains light that prices could break out to the upside from the current tight range. "Volumes, however, remain muted and we can expect crypto to maintain range bound trading for the time being" barring any "macro or geopolitical shocks coming," Howard added.

A key potential macro risk could be Trump ordering strikes against Iran over the next few days, following the significant military buildup in the region for weeks now.

More For You

Bitcoin pops then drops as Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs

6 hours ago

As has been typical in crypto markets of late, even the most modest move higher was met with immediate selling.

What to know:

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs.The news quickly sent bitcoin higher by about 2% to above $68,000, but the gains proved fleeting, with BTC quickly returning to the $67,000 level.Earlier Friday, U.S. economic data showed slower than expected economic growth alongside higher than hoped inflation.

Bitcoin has suffered a brutal 29% drawdown over the last 30 days, but a new report from VanEck suggests that the worst of the selling pressure may finally be behind us.

According to the asset manager'sBitcoin ChainCheck, authored by digital asset researchers Patrick Bush and Matthew Sigel, the recent market flush has successfully reset leverage and driven sentiment into "fear" territory. 

Resilient on-chain fundamentals and tightening miner supply indicate a much stronger market setup than current prices imply.

HOT Stories

"Fear takes over"Bitcoin’s slide toward the $67,000 level has thoroughly flushed out market speculators. Over the past month, Bitcoin's Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) indicator dropped sharply into the "optimism/anxiety" zone, and even briefly breached into pure "fear" during the dramatic price plunge on February 2.

Alongside this sentiment shift, futures open interest has dropped to its lowest dollar level since September 2024. Yet, despite the pessimism, VanEck points out that network usage remains remarkably robust. Daily transactions sit in the 90th percentile of all-time history, proving that underlying network demand has not evaporated with the price.

Exhausted sellers To understand who has been driving the sell-off, VanEck analyzed Spent Volume by Age Band (SVAB) data. 

The report confirms that the bulk of the cyclical selling pressure has come from "mid-cycle" holders—investors who acquired their coins between one and five years ago. 

Many of these holders likely pulled their sales forward to capitalize on the early 2024 ETF launches and the post-election rally.

However, the data now shows a massive deceleration in distribution.

Over the past month, selling from coins older than one year has fallen significantly. With sellers absorbing roughly $22.5 billion in realized losses over the last 30 days, the lack of continued distribution indicates deep seller exhaustion.

A bottom?Plunging Bitcoin prices and static electricity costs have severely compressed mining margins, rendering older machines like the Antminer S19 XP entirely unprofitable for operators paying more than $0.07/kWh.

As a result, the Bitcoin network hash rate has contracted by roughly 14% over the past 90 days.

VanEck notes that sustained 90-day hash rate drawdowns are relatively rare. Historically, these periods of capitulation and network contraction have preceded incredibly strong forward returns for Bitcoin over the subsequent three months.

Market XRP XRP News

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Ahmed Balaha is a journalist and copywriter based in Georgia with a growing focus on blockchain technology, DeFi, AI, privacy, digital assets, and fintech innovation.

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Last updated: 

7 minutes ago

Ripple is heading to the White House and if you think about it, this is crazy.

The White House administration is convening a third high stakes meeting on stablecoin yields, and Ripple chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty is on the invite list alongside legal leaders from Coinbase and a16z.

The focus whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to pass interest earned on reserves directly to users.

This debate has stalled key crypto legislation in the Senate. Traditional banks are pushing back hard, arguing that yield bearing stablecoins could pull deposits out of the banking system and weaken their lending power.

If you don’t think crypto is the future…

Pay attention to how hard traditional banks are fighting against stablecoins paying yield.

It’s really that simple.

— Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) February 20, 2026 Crypto executives counter that allowing yields is a consumer benefit and essential for keeping innovation inside the US rather than offshore.

The fact that Ripple has a seat at the table matters. It signals that policymakers are not sidelining major crypto players. Instead, they are actively engaging them as legislation takes shape.

That does not mean the US government is about to endorse XRP directly. But it does suggest that regulatory clarity around stablecoins and digital assets is moving closer.

XRP Price Prediction: Is That Retest Or Deeper Pullback?XRP pushed above the upper boundary of the descending channel but failed to hold it, getting rejected near the $1.61 zone and slipping back down.

That kind of move usually signals unfinished business. Price is now drifting back toward the channel structure, potentially retesting it from the inside.

Source: XRPUSD / TradingViewIf XRP fully falls back into the channel, it could trigger a move toward $1.30 support. A deeper breakdown below would expose $1.10 again, but for now that remains a secondary scenario.

Failed breakouts often lead to one more sweep lower before a stronger push.

If XRP stabilizes and forms a higher low inside or just at the edge of the channel, it would build pressure for another breakout attempt.

A decisive reclaim of $1.50, especially with momentum expanding, would confirm the channel break and shift focus toward $1.90 and beyond.

Maxi Doge Standing Out As One Of The Best Meme Coins In 2026

Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is not waiting on legislation or regulatory clarity.

It is built for narrative velocity. Bold meme identity. High-conviction positioning. Community-driven momentum that thrives when sentiment rotates away from slow institutional plays and toward asymmetric upside.

Early traction is already strong. The $MAXI presale has raised around $4.6 million so far, with staking rewards offering up to 68% APY for early participants.

If blue chips are stuck proving themselves on the chart, Maxi Doge is positioned for the phase where attention shifts and moves get fast.

Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here