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Ahmed Balaha

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Ahmed Balaha

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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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Sui crypto just stepped into the big boys area.

the first SUI ETFs are now live in the US, Canary Capital and Grayscale both launched products today. And they come with staking yield baked in.

Key Takeaways Canary Capital’s SUIS is actively trading on the Nasdaq, while Grayscale’s GSUI launched on the NYSE after converting from a trust. Both funds offer staking rewards, a first-of-its-kind feature for US spot crypto ETFs that allows investors to capture network yield. The listings arrive as SUI trades near $0.95, down roughly 40% over the last 30 days amidst broader altcoin market capitulation. Why Sui Crypto ETFs With Staking MatterWhile spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have attracted over $140 billion in inflows, they notably lack staking mechanisms due to initial regulatory hurdles.

The new SUI ETFs from Canary and Grayscale actually can stake the tokens. They tap into Sui delegated proof of stake system and earn rewards. That yield can help offset the usual management fees.

For institutions, that is a big deal. They do not just want price exposure. They want income too.

Source: SUI DEX Volume / DefiLlamaDemand for smarter products is rising rapidly. However, the SUI chain itself has been in decline over the past couple of months. We’re now in mid-January, and DEX volume is at $3B. It may outperform this January, but it is still lower than last year’s numbers.

Breaking Down the ETF StructureCanary Capital’s ETF is live on Nasdaq under SUIS. It sits under the 1940 Act, which means tighter oversight.

That usually attracts the more cautious money. CEO Steven McClurg made it clear. Investors get direct access to net staking rewards.

At the same time, Grayscale flipped its old Sui trust into an ETF called GSUI on the NYSE. The fee is 0.35%, waived for the first three months or until assets hit $1B.

And here is the kicker. 100% of the tokens were staked at launch. Classic Grayscale move. Turn legacy trusts into spot ETFs and scale fast.

Discover: Here are the crypto likely to explode!

Ahmed Balaha

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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Ethereum has reached a historic milestone after on-chain data revealed that half of ETH’s supply is locked in staking. This marks the first time in history that this has happened, driving bullish outlooks from analysts, with one stating that the largest altcoin may surge to as high as $18,000 if it continues to trade within a bullish pattern established since 2022.

Half of Ethereum’s Supply Locked in Staking for the First Time in History According to data from Everstake, 50.18% of the entire ETH supply is now locked in staking. This amounts to more than 80.95 million tokens, which are no longer available on exchanges or trader wallets and cannot be dumped into the market due to prevailing bearish conditions. 

Per the analysis, this high amount of staked tokens means that the liquid supply is now nonexistent. With fewer coins in circulation, selling pressure has dropped significantly, making the market more sensitive to any surge in demand. 

“It shows strong long-term conviction. Instead of trading short-term volatility, users are choosing to secure the network. We do believe that for Ethereum, this is a structural shift. Less available supply + steady or growing demand = stronger price dynamics over time,” the analysis said.

However, it is important to note that the 80.95 million tokens do not represent the active stake. It represents the ETH tokens held in the proof-of-stake (PoS) address. Ethereum has 30.41% of its supply held in active stake.

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Analyst Gert van Lagen has stated that Ethereum may be headed for a bullish breakout towards $18,000. He based his analysis on an expanding diagonal pattern, stating that ETH has been following it since 2017. This suggests that despite the 36% drop in the last month, Ethereum might recover and potentially break its previous highs.

The analyst further added that, per the Elliot Wave analysis, ETH was in the fifth wave. In this wave, ETH not only set an ATH but also entered a corrective phase to address oversaturation. Now, the price is readying for the next bullish leg that could propel ETH past $9,000 to as high as $18,000.

However, he added that if Ethereum drops below the fourth wave, which lies around $1,000, it may invalidate this bullish thesis. At press time, ETH traded at $1,976, down 2.3% intraday.

14h05 ▪ 5 min read ▪ by James G.

Summarize this article with:

Ethereum is attempting to stabilize after heavy weekend selling, but confirmation of a durable bottom remains elusive. While price action has cooled following Sunday’s drop, the broader market structure still reflects a corrective phase rather than the beginning of a sustained uptrend. Meanwhile, momentum remains subdued, and derivatives positioning suggests the recent bounce was largely driven by short-term reactions rather than fresh accumulation.

In brief Ethereum rejected near $2,025 as momentum stays weak on lower timeframes. $44.5M in liquidations show long positions drove the initial selloff. Recent upside fueled mostly by short covering, not fresh long exposure. Key liquidity levels at $1,929 and $2,107 shape ETH’s next move. ETH Rejected Near $2,025 While Long Liquidations Dominate Selloff Recent technical updates indicate that bearish scenarios remain in play unless Ethereum produces a clear five-wave impulsive advance or reclaims the weekend high near $2,107. So far, the rebound from last week’s low lacks the expansion typically associated with sustainable reversals. Price action appears choppy and compressed, particularly on lower timeframes.

On the 5-minute chart, Ethereum has traded sideways following the selloff, repeatedly facing rejection around the $2,015–$2,025 area. Breakout attempts have failed to gain traction. Momentum indicators echo this hesitation. Relative Strength Index readings have fluctuated between 42 and 57, unable to break above the 60–65 zone that often signals trend strength. 

Short-term bearish divergences have emerged near local highs, while bullish divergences near lows have not translated into sustained upside movement. Range-bound behavior continues to dominate.

Derivatives data paint a similar picture of fragility. Over the past 24 hours, total Ethereum liquidations reached $44.5 million. Long positions accounted for $27.77 million of that figure, while short liquidations totaled $16.72 million. The 12-hour data show a similar imbalance, suggesting that the initial move lower was driven by forced long exits.

ETH Liquidation Imbalance Points to Temporary Upside Pressure Short-term data, however, reveal a shift. Within the last hour, roughly 93% of liquidations were short positions, amounting to about $333,000 compared to just $24,000 in long liquidations. The 4-hour window shows $798,000 in short liquidations versus $57,000 in longs. Such activity indicates that the recent upside was fueled largely by short covering rather than aggressive new long exposure.

Key derivatives signals currently shaping Ethereum’s structure include:

Long liquidations dominated the broader 24-hour window, confirming heavy selling pressure during the initial drop. Short liquidations increased sharply on shorter timeframes, pointing to a reactive squeeze higher. Open interest has not expanded meaningfully, suggesting limited fresh capital entering the market. Funding conditions remain sensitive, reinforcing the role of leverage in recent moves. Futures markets remain the primary driver of activity. Binance leads futures volume with approximately $11.02 billion in activity, followed by OKX at $7.35 billion and Gate at $5.36 billion. Such concentration in derivatives trading implies that leverage continues to dictate short-term price swings.

When futures dominate flows, markets often react quickly to liquidity pockets, resulting in fast intraday reversals rather than stable directional trends.

Liquidity Magnets at $1,929 and $2,107 Define Ethereum’s Next Move Liquidity reference points formed over the weekend now frame the short-term outlook. Ethereum printed relatively weak extremes near $1,929 on the downside and $2,107 on the upside. Both levels are likely to attract price in the days ahead. A sweep of the $1,946–$1,929 zone could clear resting liquidity and potentially set the stage for a stronger reversal attempt toward the weekend high.

Conversely, continued strength without first revisiting those lower levels may open room for short setups, particularly if price stalls near $2,107. H1 liquidity around $2,015 also plays a critical role. Sustained acceptance above that area may allow continuation higher, while rejection could renew downside pressure.

For now, Ethereum trades in a technically sensitive zone following a liquidation flush. Weak hands have exited, and short-term shorts have been squeezed, yet structural confirmation remains absent. Until price action shifts from reactive to impulsive, recovery attempts remain vulnerable to renewed selling pressure.

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James G.

James Godstime is a crypto journalist and market analyst with over three years of experience in crypto, Web3, and finance. He simplifies complex and technical ideas to engage readers. Outside of work, he enjoys football and tennis, which he follows passionately.

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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.

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WLFI will tokenize loan revenue interests tied to the Trump Maldives resort with DarGlobal and Securitize; the Trump Organization supplies the hotel brand. Tokens grant no resort ownership; they track development-financing loan revenue for a fixed yield, issued on supported public blockchains via select wallets for investors. Participation is limited to Rule 506(c) accredited investors and Reg S non-U.S. persons; the ultra-luxury resort targets 2030 completion with about 100 villas. World Liberty Financial (WLFI) has unveiled plans to tokenize loan revenue interests tied to the Trump International Hotel & Resort in the Maldives, marking what it calls its first major step into real world asset tokenization. The central message is that WLFI wants to bring structured real estate income streams onto public blockchains. The project is being developed with DarGlobal PLC, the international luxury developer that owns the Maldives property, and Securitize, a tokenization platform, while the Trump Organization participates as the licensed hotel brand partner. WLFI frames the initiative as formal entry into RWAs.

Yield-focused tokenization, not resort equity Unlike traditional property tokenization, the offering does not provide direct ownership in the resort itself. Investors would get debt-style exposure to financing revenue, not equity in the asset. WLFI says holders will gain exposure to loan revenue interests connected to the project’s development financing, structured to provide a fixed yield tied to that income stream. Tokens are expected to be issued on supported public blockchains and made accessible through select third-party wallets, so participants can hold an interest in the financing cash flow without receiving resort shares or title or claiming any direct property rights.

The distribution is restricted to specific investor categories under securities rules. Compliance gating is explicit, limiting access to accredited and offshore participants. WLFI says the offering is available only to verified accredited investors under Rule 506(c) of Regulation D, as well as non-U.S. persons under Regulation S. By routing exposure through loan revenue rather than direct resort equity, the model aligns more closely with debt-style real estate investments and targets investors seeking predictable yield profiles over property appreciation. WLFI also says the tokens will be accessible via select third-party wallets on supported public blockchains later.

WLFI says the Trump International Hotel & Resort, Maldives is positioned as a flagship ultra-luxury development scheduled for completion in 2030, expected to include about 100 high-end beach and overwater villas aimed at the global luxury hospitality segment. Strategically, WLFI is pitching the deal as a template for future tokenized debt tied to large projects. Eric Trump, a WLFI co-founder, said the partnership aims to broaden access to premium real estate income streams traditionally limited to ultra-high-net-worth investors. WLFI says that if execution holds, similar structured offerings could follow across other developments and financing deals.

Almost 3,177,669 Shiba Inu tokens were burned recently. SHIB price is down by 3.2% over the last 24 hours. The World Uncertainty Index for February 2026 is 106,862. Shiba Inu tokens, not burned for a while, are now reported to have undergone the process. However, SHIB price continues to decline, possibly due to reports about high world uncertainty coming to the surface. Many factors are known to increase uncertainty worldwide, directly/indirectly affecting the meme coin.

Shiba Inu Tokens Burned and SHIB Price Around 3,177,669 tokens have been burned, bringing the rate up to 153.31% over 24 hours. It translates to a weekly rate of 46.49%, but in negative terms. The total supply is 589,245,652,033,247 at the time of writing this article. It has remained the same since then, while SHIB price has fluctuated frequently.

The meme coin is currently listed at $0.000006298, down by 3.2% over the last 24 hours and 21.06% on a weekly basis. Its 24-hour trading volume has dipped by 7.3% to around $107.42 million. The declining trend reportedly commenced shortly after July 22, 2025. Even though it has seen highs since then, volatility remains very high at around 10.12%.

Uncertainty Rises Globally According to the World Uncertainty Index, the number for February 2026 is 106,862, which is worse than the figures for Covid-19 pandemic, the 9/11 incident, and the 2008 market crash. The index has put forward the number after studying the usage of ‘uncertainty’ and quarterly reports from EIU, an acronym for Economist Intelligence Unit. The quarterly report also notes words related to the said term.

Needless to say, this has sparked discussions around the rising volatility in the crypto market, with investors on edge. Uncertainty corners investors to be cautious, which in turn often brings down liquidity in risky segments, cryptocurrencies in this instance.

Factors Behind a Higher Index There could be several reasons behind the increased number from the index for February 2026. The top two factors are the global tariff war and the US-Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs on nations for multiple reasons. But that forced nations to redraft their strategies, not just the US, but also with other countries.

The US-Iran conflict has sparked speculation about oil prices increasing in the times to come. The last update that was heard was that the US could attack Iran as early as this weekend. If so, then markets could see high volatility with cryptocurrencies, including SHIB, recording more fluctuations on the price chart.

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Google searches for “Bitcoin going to zero” have surged to their highest level since the post‑FTX panic in Nov. 2022, according to Google Trends data for the past five years. 

The spike aligns with Bitcoin’s latest drawdown from its Oct. 6, 2025, all‑time high near $126,000 to roughly $66,500 at the time of writing on Thursday, according to data from Coingecko, leaving the asset almost 50% below its peak. 

At the same time, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index has plunged into extreme fear around 9, levels previously seen during the Terra ecosystem collapse and the FTX fallout in 2022.

Google Trends shows that worldwide interest in the phrase “Bitcoin going to zero” last hit comparable levels in early November 2022, when FTX froze withdrawals, and Bitcoin (BTC) crashed to around $15,000. 

Google searches for “Bitcoin going to zero.” Source: Google TrendsToday’s Bitcoin fears different from 2022Crypto intelligence platform Perception analyzed narrative intelligence across 650+ crypto media sources and shared their findings with Cointelegraph. 

Founder Fernando Nikolic said that fear in 2022 was driven by internal events, such as cascading failures of centralized lenders and one of the industry’s largest exchanges, while today’s fear is “driven by macro fears and being amplified by a single bearish voice.”

Nikolic said that Bloomberg’s Mike McGlone has been the loudest single voice driving the “Bitcoin could go to zero (or near-zero)” narrative, and that he has been a “one-man content machine this cycle,” calling Bitcoin to $10,000, saying markets were headed for a 2008-style crash, and continuously calling for Bitcoin’s decline throughout over the past month.

He told Cointelegraph that McGlone is repeatedly amplified by crypto media sites and has “essentially been the go-to bearish quote for the past three weeks.” “This media saturation likely contributes directly to the Google search spike,” he said.

Retail fear lags professional media sentiment Meanwhile, Nikolic said that the actual counterpoint that “nobody is synthesizing” is that, while “Bitcoin to zero” searches are spiking, institutional buyers are accumulating more BTC, pointing to the fact that sovereign wealth funds, such as Abu Dhabi, are increasing their Bitcoin exchange-traded fund holdings, and large corporations like Strategy continue to stack BTC.

According to Perception data, he said, media sentiment bottomed on Feb. 5, but has been recovering for two weeks, while Google “Bitcoin going to zero” searches are peaking now in mid-February.

Retail fear lags professional media sentiment by roughly 10-14 days, he said. “By the time the public is most scared, the professional narrative has already started to stabilize. The retail narrative and institutional behavior are moving in opposite directions.”

Macro fears and quantum angstThe surge in “Bitcoin going to zero” searches is also unfolding against a backdrop of record‑high macro anxiety. 

The World Uncertainty Index, which counts references to “uncertainty” in Economist Intelligence Unit country reports, is sitting at its highest level in the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) time series, exceeding the peaks seen around the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2020 COVID‑19 shock.

World Uncertainty Index. Source: FREDResearch underpinning the index finds that spikes in global uncertainty tend to precede weaker output and slower growth as firms delay investment and hiring. 

Quantum fears have also been a persistent background narrative since October 2025, according to Nikolic, but he said that quantum fear spikes alongside price drops, not independently. 

“Bitcoin quantum” searches peaked in November 2025 and have been falling steadily since, according to Google Trends.

“It’s an amplifier of existing bearish sentiment, not a standalone driver. The “Bitcoin going to zero” search trend is likely a composite of price-crash fear + quantum existential fear + McGlone-style macro doom, all converging in the same window.”

Magazine: 6 weirdest devices people have used to mine Bitcoin and crypto

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Abu Dhabi government-linked investment funds have reportedly acquired over $1 billion in Bitcoin exposure through United States spot ETFs, marking a significant entry of sovereign capital into the digital asset market.

The disclosure, revealed in recent 13F filings for the period ending December 31, 2025, signals that state-backed entities are utilizing market corrections to build long-term positions in cryptocurrency.

Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, has acquired $437 million worth of Bitcoin!

Mubadala manages over $300 billion in assets. pic.twitter.com/6VMHIV08JZ

— Mardeni (d/acc) 🌊 (@Mardeni01) March 17, 2025

EXPLORE: What is the Next Crypto to Explode in 2026?

Sovereign Wealth Enters Bitcoin: Treasury Allocation Shift The entry of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign-linked capital represents a notable evolution in institutional Bitcoin adoption, moving beyond private asset managers to state-level treasury strategies. While data from late 2025 showed Bitcoin price drops and ETF outflows weakening institutional interest in the short term, these sovereign funds appear to have utilized the drawdown to accumulate assets. This contrarian approach suggests a view of Bitcoin as a diversification tool similar to gold, rather than a purely speculative vehicle.

This influx of “oil money” defies the broader market slump, echoing moves by major trading firms. For instance, recent filings revealed that Jane Street boosted its Bitcoin exposure in its own significant bet on the asset class, holding over $790 million in ETF shares.

EXPLORE: 10 New Upcoming Binance Listings to Watch in February 2026

Abu Dhabi is Strategically Accumulating Bitcoin The filings detail specific allocations across two primary entities. Mubadala Investment Company, with over $300 billion in assets under management, reported holding approximately 12.7 million shares of the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), valued at roughly $630.7 million. Concurrently, Al Warda Investments disclosed a position of 8.2 million shares, valued near $408.1 million. Combined, these holdings represent a stake exceeding $1 billion, positioning these funds among the largest holders of Bitcoin ETFs globally.

These positions were built aggressively during the fourth quarter of 2025, a period where BTC $66 258 24h volatility: 1.9% Market cap: $1.33 T Vol. 24h: $35.75 B prices faced significant downward pressure. This magnitude of buying power is rarely seen outside of the largest private whales or corporate treasuries. For comparison, the purchase size dwarfs many private sector announcements, such as reports that Tron founder Justin Sun eyes a $100 million Bitcoin purchase.

🇦🇪 ABU DHABI'S SOVERIGN WEALTH FUND BOUGHT $436M OF BITCOIN ETFS IN Q1. pic.twitter.com/fc300nAQA7

— Dear Bitcoiner ⚡️ (@DearBitcoiner) February 14, 2025

The strategic change also reinforces the United Arab Emirates’ status as a jurisdiction favorable to digital asset innovation. This comes at a time when other regions face regulatory friction; recently, US lawmakers launched a probe into a $500 million deal involving World Liberty Financial, highlighting the complex regulatory landscape institutional investors must navigate.

DISCOVER: Best Solana Meme Coins By Market Cap 2026

Market Implications of Sovereign Bitcoin Demand The allocation of state-backed capital into Bitcoin ETFs introduces a new dynamic to the supply-demand equation. Unlike retail traders or short-term hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds typically operate with multi-decade time horizons. This suggests that a significant portion of the Bitcoin supply acquired by Abu Dhabi funds effectively leaves the liquid market, potentially tightening supply.

Furthermore, this move may catalyze a competitive response among other sovereign wealth funds seeking to hedge against fiat currency debasement or diversify away from traditional energy markets. As Bitcoin hovers near critical support levels in the mid-$60,000 range, the presence of sovereign buyers provides a floor of high-conviction capital that differs fundamentally from speculative retail flows.

While the market continues to grapple with immediate resistance near $70,000, the underlying structure is being reinforced by these large-scale acquisitions. The sustained accumulation by sovereign entities supports the narrative of Bitcoin transitioning into a recognized global reserve asset. Investors will now look to the upcoming 13F filings in May to see if this trend of state-level accumulation persisted through the first quarter of 2026.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

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Daniel Frances is a technical writer and Web3 educator specializing in macroeconomics and DeFi mechanics. A crypto native since 2017, Daniel leverages his background in on-chain analytics to author evidence-based reports and deep-dive guides. He holds certifications from The Blockchain Council, and is dedicated to providing "information gain" that cuts through market hype to find real-world blockchain utility.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Binance Founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao has revealed the role he played in the positive shift of the United Arab Emirates as a Bitcoin miner. Reacting to a post detailing the region’s success as a BTC miner, CZ said he has advocated for the venture, a statement that aligns with his business interests in the region.

UAE goes fully into Bitcoin miningThe conversations around the UAE pivot into gold started with Arkham. The data platform said the UAE has so far mined $453.6 million in Bitcoin through its partner Citadel. 

As confirmed, the country appears to be holding onto the majority of the Bitcoin they produce, with its most recent outflows recorded about four months ago.

Arkham said the UAE is currently in profit of $344 million on its Bitcoin holdings, when energy costs are excluded.

These conversations were compounded when Pete Rizzo said the UAE now considers Bitcoin as a store of value. According to him, the country now owns over $1 billion worth of BTC.

Known for his engagements with world leaders, CZ has been promoting Bitcoin adoption for a while. From signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kazakhstan while serving as Binance CEO to policy advocacy in the United States, his noted role in the UAE has a precedent.

Not all countries are HODLing BitcoinAs the Bitcoin price rose to its all-time high (ATH) last year, many countries also doubled down on their adoption of the coin. 

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One of the prominent countries is Bhutan, which, as reported earlier by U.Today, invested $65 million into the coin in January 2025. At the time, the country’s reserves topped $1.2 billion.

In recent times, there have been confirmations that Bhutan has been gradually offloading its Bitcoin stash. This comes as the BTC cost of production has significantly dropped to a new high, relative to prices.

This trend confirms the broader sentiment around Bitcoin as accumulations and sell-offs continue to fuel ongoing price volatility. As of writing time, the coin was changing hands for $66,507, down 1.73% in 24 hours.

At XRP Community Day, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called XRP the company’s North Star, emphasizing that it’s more than a digital asset. 

Well, XRP drives Ripple’s mission, underpinning products like Ripple Payments, Ripple Prime, Ripple Treasury, Custody, and RLUSD, all designed to boost the utility, trust, speed, and liquidity of XRP and the XRP Ledger.

XRP lies at the core of Ripple’s mission, Garlinghouse stressed, framing the company as a platform powering real-world financial infrastructure, not just a crypto or blockchain venture, underscoring its focus on modernizing financial services over speculation.

Ripple Envisions a Blockchain-Driven Future with XRP Garlinghouse went a step further, likening Ripple to Amazon and positioning it as a builder of core financial infrastructure rather than a crypto firm, emphasizing that blockchain is set to become the foundation for nearly every industry, not merely a niche technology.

Interestingly, Ripple CEO envisions a future in which the crypto company label disappears, and blockchain becomes the backbone of everyday business.

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Ripple is focused on building infrastructure that empowers businesses, financial institutions, and individuals to harness blockchain for faster, more efficient, and transparent payments and financial transactions.

Unlike many digital asset firms focused on speculation, Ripple centers its ecosystem on XRP, using the token to drive liquidity and real-world utility. This approach fosters a self-reinforcing network that accelerates the adoption of Ripple-powered solutions in global markets.

Conclusion Garlinghouse pinpoints Ripple’s vision of XRP not as a speculative asset, but as the backbone of a next-generation financial infrastructure. 

As blockchain adoption grows, Ripple aims to lead by offering faster, more reliable, and transparent transaction solutions, with XRP at the core of this evolving ecosystem.

Ahmed Balaha

Author

Ahmed Balaha

Part of the Team Since

Aug 2025

About Author

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.

Has Also Written

Last updated: 

12 minutes ago

Minutes from the January meeting show rate hikes are not off the table. If inflation stalls, policymakers are ready to tighten again. That is a direct warning to risk markets.

For Bitcoin price, this flips the script. The market was leaning toward cuts. More liquidity. Easier conditions. Now the Fed is signaling the opposite.

Higher rates. Tighter liquidity. And that changes everything for crypto.

Key Takeaways The Signal: Fed officials discussed “upward adjustments” to rates if inflation stays above target levels. The Split: The vote was 10-2 to hold rates, but a significant “hawkish” contingent is pushing back against cuts. The Risk: Higher-for-longer rates typically drain liquidity, creating headwinds for Bitcoin and ETF inflows. Why Does This Matter for Crypto and Bitcoin Price?Markets were relaxed. Cuts in 2026 felt almost guaranteed. Now that confidence got shaken again.

The Fed held rates at 3.5% to 3.75%, hitting pause after three straight cuts in late 2025. But the tone was not soft. Inside the discussion, a hawkish group made it clear they are not ready to promise more easing.

hawkish fed stance dampening macro sentiment 📉

— Binan Smart Kid 🔶️ (@Binansmartkid) February 18, 2026 Some officials even floated “upward adjustments” if inflation sticks around. That is a big shift. The market had assumed a smooth path lower. The minutes analysis say otherwise.

The Fed wants clear proof that disinflation is real before cutting again. That puts serious weight on the February CPI print. If inflation runs hot, rate hikes move from theory back to reality.

What Happens Next?Pricing is getting messy. CME futures still show a 94% chance of a pause in March. But the hike risk is no longer zero.

Source: CMEgroubNow it all comes down to inflation data. If the next print runs hot, the Fed fears get validated. If not, this scare might fade just as fast as it appeared.

Discover: Here are the crypto likely to explode!

Ahmed Balaha

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.

in numbers

2M+

Active Monthly Users Around the World

250+

Guides and Reviews Articles

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Years on the Market

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Enter your email for our free Newsletter

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What was witnessed in the MYX price isn't just a dip. It collapsed severely. From an early February high of $6.94, the token has dumped over 80%, even slicing through a long-term ascending trendline that had been intact for months.

Ethereum is preparing for Glamsterdam and Hegota upgrades, following its 2025 upgrades such as Pectra and Fusaka.  In 2026, Ethereum’s focus is on scaling, improving UX, and strengthening security. Ethereum has announced its update on protocol priorities for 2026 and last year’s accomplishments in a blog on February 18, as Ethereum’s focus this year is on scaling throughput, improving usability, and strengthening core security and resilience, which are all organized into three work tracks to guide development through the year.

Ethereum Network’s Upgrades in 2025  According to the official blog, last year they shipped two major protocol updates and mentioned, “2025 was one of Ethereum’s most productive years at the protocol level.” One of the updates is Pectra, rolled out in May 2025, and secondly Fusaka upgrade in December 2025.

One of the key features of the Pectra upgrade which allows regular wallets to temporarily function like smart contracts, enabling transaction batching, gas sponsorship, and easier account recovery.

Then, Fusaka introduced the PeerDAS system, where validators check small samples of data instead of downloading everything, which reduces bandwidth usage and allows Ethereum to support much higher data capacity. Alongside Fusaka, two Blob Parameter Only (BPO) updates were also introduced.

Ethereum’s Major Upgrade for 2026 As the blog mentioned, “We organized around three initiatives that mapped closely to near-term deliverables: get the gas limit up, get PeerDAS shipped, and improve UX.” The major protocol updates are Glamsterdam, which is expected to be in the first half of 2026, with the Hegota upgrade planned later in the year. 

Ethereum’s major goal is to make a faster and more efficient network by allowing transactions to be processed in parallel and increasing gas limits, as more activity could fit into each block. 

These upgrades will also continue expanding data capacity for Layer-2 networks, improve protection, introduce smarter account features, and prepare the network for future security challenges such as post-quantum threats.

ETH Price Update While writing this article, Ethereum is trading at $1,969.68, with 2.6% down in the last 24 hours, and the 24-hour volume is down over 6%. ETH has also been in the broader downward trend of over 35% throughout the past month.

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Bonk (BONK) Price Prediction 2026, 2027-2030

XRPL’s Permissioned DEX Goes Live, Unlocking Institutional-Grade On-Chain FinanceMarket analyst Stern Drew reports that the long-anticipated Permissioned DEX is now live on the XRP Ledger, signaling a major structural shift in institutional blockchain access.

Ripple CTO David Schwartz confirmed that Permissioned Domains power the framework, enabling regulated institutions to tap on-chain liquidity while maintaining compliance.

To grasp the impact, picture a global financial giant like SBI Holdings issuing tokenized bonds on the XRP Ledger.

Here’s the architecture in action:

• Verified credentials gate access to approved institutions and qualified investors

• Permissioned Domains establish a compliant, regulator-aligned trading environment

• The Permissioned DEX facilitates seamless, rule-based secondary market liquidity

The outcome? Institutional-grade assets can be issued, traded, and settled fully on-chain, combining blockchain efficiency with regulatory integrity and global scale.

What Is a Permissioned DEX?A permissioned DEX is a decentralized exchange designed exclusively for verified, compliant participants. Unlike traditional open DEXs where anyone can trade freely, a permissioned model restricts access to approved institutions, allowing only vetted entities to tap into liquidity pools and execute transactions.

In simple terms:

Open DEX = anyone can participate.

Permissioned DEX = only approved institutions can trade.

Why It ExistsInstitutions can’t operate on fully open networks with anonymous counterparties. Strict AML, KYC, and reporting requirements demand verified participants and embedded compliance controls, without them, institutional capital stays sidelined.

Addressing this gap, XRP Ledger has introduced token escrow, unlocking compliant treasury management, automated conditional transactions, and more secure decentralized marketplaces.

Why Institutions Need ItBy embedding verified credentials directly into the trading layer, the Permissioned DEX eliminates key institutional barriers, delivering counterparty transparency, built-in regulatory compliance, protection from illicit exposure, fully auditable transactions, and controlled liquidity environments.

Meanwhile, the XRP Ledger now ranks second in 30-day Real-World Asset growth, underscoring accelerating on-chain adoption and growing institutional momentum.

How It WorksVerified banks, broker-dealers, and financial institutions gain secure access to trade, provide liquidity, and settle within XRPL’s native DEX. Major players like Mastercard, BlackRock, and Franklin Templeton highlight growing institutional adoption of the XRP Ledger.

Institutional Use CasesUnlocking compliant FX liquidity, settling cross-border payments instantly, swapping tokenized assets securely, offering regulated market making, and executing real-time settlements with minimal counterparty risk.

Why This Matters for PaymentsTraditional correspondent banking takes days; a permissioned on-chain environment can settle compliant transactions in seconds.

The XRPL is primed for this shift, offering low fees, rapid settlement, deterministic execution, and built-in DEX functionality. Permissioning ensures the compliance institutions demand.

As Monica Long notes, the moment for institutional-scale adoption may have arrived. The change isn’t just technological, it’s structural. With regulated access to blockchain liquidity, XRPL transcends crypto utility to become programmable financial infrastructure powered by XRP.

ConclusionThe launch of the Permissioned DEX on XRPL turns the network into a secure, compliant bridge for institutional finance.

Fast settlements, low fees, and on-chain transparency meet strict regulatory controls, allowing banks, payment providers, and other institutions to trade, settle, and provide liquidity confidently. With Permissioned Domains ensuring verified access, XRPL is evolving from a crypto network into a fully compliant, scalable financial ecosystem powered by XRP.

As we move through the third Thursday of February 2026, the digital asset landscape is defined by a curious decoupling of "crowd" sentiment. While the heavyweights - Bitcoin and Ethereum - are laboring under a cloud of social pessimism, XRP has surged to its most bullish positioning in over a month, fueled by a string of aggressive partnership expansions.

South Korean prosecutors say they recovered more than 320 Bitcoin that disappeared from government custody in 2025 after the cryptocurrency was returned to an official wallet this week, local media reported.

The Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office said it unexpectedly recovered 320.88 Bitcoin (BTC), worth about $21.3 million at the time of writing, local media outlet The Chosun Daily reported on Thursday. Prosecutors confirmed to the outlet that the unknown hacker returned the stolen Bitcoin to the authorities’ cryptocurrency wallet on Tuesday, and it was was later transferred to a secure domestic digital exchange wallet also controlled by authorities.

The Bitcoin went missing from prosecutors’ custody during an investigation in August 2025, authorities said at the time. Prosecutors later discovered the loss during a routine inspection of seized financial assets on Jan. 23, Cointelegraph reported. Authorities blamed the theft on a phishing attack after access credentials were exposed.

While the circumstances are unclear, prosecutors said they had sent cooperation letters to local exchanges requesting that they freeze the hacker’s wallet address, making it difficult to liquidate the stolen assets. They did not explain why the Bitcoin was sent back.

Authorities to continue hunting for hackerAuthorities said they will continue investigating the case to identify the person responsible and examine related phishing sites and malicious domains.

“We will do our best to arrest the suspect regardless of the recovery of the bitcoin,” the prosecutors’ office told local outlet Digital Asset Works.

Authorities are also carrying out additional investigations into phishing site operators and malicious domains related to the case.

Custody failures fuel scrutinyThe stolen 320 Bitcoin was recovered about a week after Seoul police saw another 22 Bitcoin (worth $1.5 million at the time) vanish from their custody from a cold wallet held by authorities, Cointelegraph reported on Friday.

Authorities said the 22 BTC was transferred externally, as the physical cold wallet was not stolen.

The revelation led to renewed scrutiny over authorities’ ability to safeguard confiscated Bitcoin. A new investigation has been launched by the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency seeking to uncover the individuals involved in the Bitcoin transfer.

The 22 Bitcoin were voluntarily submitted to authorities during an investigation in November 2021.

Magazine: South Korea gets rich from crypto… North Korea gets weapons

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Coinbase now allows XRP, ADA, DOGE, and LTC holders to borrow USDC without selling. If prices fall too much, the crypto used as collateral can be liquidated. Coinbase has expanded its crypto lending service in the United States except in New York, which allows the holder of XRP, DOGE, ADA, and LTC to borrow money without selling their crypto. Coinbase now lets the eligible users borrow up to $100,000 USDC by using their crypto as collateral.

How It Works The users can lock their tokens as collateral and receive USDC in return instead of selling crypto. The loans are processed on-chain on Morpho, which is a decentralized lending protocol. The loans operate using blockchain smart contracts instead of Coinbase’s internal balance sheet. 

Previously Coinbase lending service supported Bitcoin and Ethereum. Right now, XRP, Doge, and ADA inclusion make the open service a more retail-focused token. Some assets, like Ethereum and Cardano, already allow users to earn staking rewards. But holders of other tokens can now borrow against their assets, which is one of the few ways to generate liquidity without selling. As per the report, Coinbase is holding $17.2 billion worth of XRP in customer accounts as of December 31.

Holding XRP, DOGE, ADA, or LTC?

Now you can unlock the value of your portfolio without giving up your position.

Borrow up to $100k in USDC against your tokens, instantly, without selling.

Available now in the U.S. (ex. NY). pic.twitter.com/Uozxim3t7C

— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) February 18, 2026 Coinbase warns about risks Although borrowing against the crypto could be tax-efficient, selling assets may trigger capital gains taxes and carry risk. If the value of the crypto drops, then the loan can be liquidated, and the third party may repay the loan and take the borrower’s crypto at a discount. So, Coinbase says that it adds a safety buffer to reduce the liquidation and sends warnings if the position approaches danger levels. 

Coinbase also warns that some assets can be converted into the wrapped tokens to make the lending system work in the Ethereum-compatible network, which could have tax implications depending on the local regulations. However, by providing more borrowing options to the users, Coinbase is positioning itself as a broader crypto financial services platform. 

Highlighted Crypto News:

Michael Saylor “We Are in a Crypto Winter” as Markets Continue Weakness   

Journalist

Posted: February 19, 2026

Capital outflows continue to pressure privacy tokens, compounding an already fragile market environment.

Zcash’s ZEC token has not escaped the broader downturn. The altcoin slid 12% as capital flight intensified, amplifying downside risks.

Despite the pullback, the potential for a rebound remains intact, as underlying buy-side interest has yet to fully erode and could support a near-term recovery.

ZEC momentum dries up Momentum indicators show clear signs of exhaustion, raising the likelihood that Zcash [ZEC] could extend its losses if sentiment continues to deteriorate.

Data from the Moving Average Convergence and Divergence (MACD) indicator shows that bullish momentum is fading, reinforcing the prevailing downside bias.

The MACD histogram, which reflects the strength of price momentum, has gradually shifted from deep green to a lighter shade—evidence that buying pressure has thinned and liquidity has weakened.

Source: TradingView

Similarly, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), which tracks whether volume flows into or out of an asset, indicates that most of the past day’s trading activity has favored the sell side.

Rising sell-side volume, combined with rapidly weakening bullish momentum, has intensified pressure on the asset and contributed to its recent downturn.

Capital flight intensifies The clearest sign of capital flight has emerged from the perpetual futures market, where traders have pulled significant liquidity.

According to CoinGlass data, approximately $52 million exited ZEC’s perpetual market, with $2.98 million in positions liquidated.

An outflow of this magnitude often sends a shock through the market, signaling heightened fear and risk aversion among derivatives traders.

Total Open Liquidity in ZEC perpetual contracts stood near $400 million. While still sizable, this level does not eliminate the downside risk, particularly as sellers continue to dominate flows.

Source: CoinGlass

Perpetual market volume mirrors the trend seen in the spot market. Trading activity has skewed heavily toward the sell side, reinforcing the bearish structure.

The Long/Short Ratio has dropped to 0.923, reflecting stronger short positioning. A ratio below 1 signals that short traders currently outnumber longs, suggesting that participants are positioning for further price declines.

Where the tide could turn Despite mounting pressure in the derivatives market, sentiment has not completely turned against the bulls.

At press time, the Open Interest Weighted Funding Rate showed that long contracts still hold relative dominance. This suggests that, despite recent turbulence, a significant portion of market liquidity continues to support an upside scenario.

However, this metric has trended lower and is approaching negative territory. A decisive move below zero would signal that shorts have seized control of the derivatives market.

Source: CoinGlass

The spot market adds nuance to the outlook. While perpetual traders have reduced exposure, spot investors continue to accumulate. According to CoinGlass, buyers deployed roughly $18 million into ZEC on the 18th of February, strengthening their positions.

If buying pressure persists into the daily close, bulls could regain short-term control. In that case, sustained Spot demand, combined with a still-positive Open Interest Weighted Funding Rate, may improve the probability of a rebound.

Final Summary Zcash (ZEC) dropped 12% as $52 million exited its perpetual futures market, with $2.98 million liquidated. Despite derivatives’ weakness, Zcash (ZEC) saw roughly $18 million in spot inflows on February 18.

XRP slips below support as funding drops ~80% today on bearish leverage.

Summary

XRP funding rate dropped nearly 80% on Thursday, signaling aggressive short bias and sustained downside positioning in derivatives markets.​ Open interest declined alongside negative funding, showing leveraged traders are de-risking as spot price trades below its short-term moving average and key Fibonacci support.​ XRP trends lower with RSI nearing oversold while crypto Fear & Greed prints “Extreme Fear” and BTC dominance climbs, pointing to rotation away from altcoins. Daily XRP (XRP) funding rates declined nearly 80% on Thursday, February 19, according to derivatives market data, indicating continued pressure on the cryptocurrency.

Negative funding rates indicate that traders holding short positions are paying those maintaining long positions, a sign that bearish bets currently outweigh bullish exposure, according to market mechanics. The decline was accompanied by a drop in open interest, according to real-time data.

Negative funding rates suggest the market is positioned for further downside, as the metric reflects the balance between long and short traders.

Deeply negative funding can signal overcrowded positioning, according to market analysts. Historical data shows extreme short bias has sometimes preceded sharp reversals, particularly when price action stabilizes and short sellers are forced to cover positions. A prolonged negative funding environment marked a cyclical bottom for XRP in 2022 during the FTX collapse, according to historical market data.

XRP’s spot price showed a decline on the daily chart, falling below its short-term moving average and a key Fibonacci retracement level, which represents a loss of near-term support. The Relative Strength Index has fallen and is approaching oversold territory, according to technical indicators.

Market sentiment remains weak, reflected in an “Extreme Fear” reading on the Crypto Fear & Greed Index. Bitcoin dominance data suggests capital is consolidating into larger-cap assets rather than flowing into altcoins such as XRP, according to market metrics.

Technical analysts note that a recovery above the recent short-term resistance zone would signal price stabilization. Current short-term momentum favors bearish positions, as evidenced by the state of funding rates, according to derivatives market data.

According to the XRP Ledger Foundation, an updated XRPL UNL has been released, with new validator Squid added to the list.

Your day-ahead look for Feb. 19, 2026 Feb 19, 2026, 12:23 p.m.

Crypto markets are feeling a chill. ((NickyPe/Pixabay modified by CoinDesk)

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By Jacob Joseph (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)

Even with the CoinDesk 20 index (CD20) little changed since midnight UTC, crypto markets remain under pressure. All but one member has dropped, and the outlier, bitcoin BTC$66,586.73, is less than 0.1% in the green.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The index has lost 2% in 24 hours, and spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund flows were negative for a second consecutive session, with $133 million in net outflows on Wednesday. Spot ether (ETH) ETFs also posted net outflows. The second-largest cryptocurrency has lost another 0.2% since midnight.

The key development overnight was Coinbase’s (COIN) announcement that its layer-2 network, Base, will move away from the OP Stack, the open-source, modular rollup framework developed by Optimism that currently powers it. The OP Stack enables chains such as Base and Unichain to operate as low-cost, Ethereum-secured layer 2s, fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and aligned with Optimism’s broader Superchain vision.

Rather than relying on multiple external contributors for core upgrades and protocol changes, Base intends to consolidate development into a self-managed codebase, giving the team greater control over infrastructure, roadmap, and technical evolution.

The move carries meaningful implications for Optimism. Base has historically accounted for the vast majority of Superchain-generated revenue — often exceeding 90% — which accrues to the Optimism Collective. The announcement represents a significant potential headwind to Optimism’s revenue outlook, with the OP token declining 24% since Wednesday following the news.

In a more positive development, ether.fi said it will migrate its Cash product to Optimism’s OP Mainnet. The move will bring some 70,000 active cards, 300,000 accounts and millions of dollars in total value locked. The non-custodial payment card allows users to spend ETH, BTC and stablecoins at over 100 million Visa merchants, offers 3% crypto cashback and processes about $2 million in daily transaction volume.

In another notable layer-2 development, Robinhood’s testnet recorded 4 million transactions in its first week, according to CEO Vlad Tenev. The Arbitrum-based Robinhood Chain is designed to support tokenized real-world assets and a broader suite of onchain financial services, signaling the firm’s continued push into blockchain-based infrastructure.

While these ecosystem developments remain constructive, broader markets continue to trade within a wider downtrend. The latest Federal Reserve meeting minutes, released yesterday, highlight a growing divergence among policymakers on the path of interest rates.

Several officials indicated that further rate cuts should be paused for now, with the possibility of resuming easing later in the year only if inflation continues to fall. Stay alert!

Read more: For analysis of today's activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today

What to WatchFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

CryptoFeb. 19, 8 a.m.: Zama to host a live presentation of its 2026 roadmap.MacroFeb. 19: U.S. Fed's Raphael Bostic, Michelle Bowman and Neel Kashkari make speeches throughout the day.Feb. 19, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. initial jobless claims for Feb. 14 est. 225K (Prev. 227K)Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)Feb. 19: Riot Platforms (RIOT), post-market, -$0.32Token EventsFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

Governance votes & callsENS DAO is voting to register the on.eth name and establish it as an onchain registry for blockchain metadata. Voting ends Feb. 19.UnlocksNo major unlocks.Token LaunchesFeb. 19: Resolv to complete rollout of updated USR/RLP yield distribution parametersFeb. 19: Injective to start INJ Community Buyback Round #226ConferencesFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

Day 3 of 4: ETHDenverMarket MovementsBTC is up 0.87% from 4 p.m. ET Wednesday at $66,896.68 (24hrs: -1.31%)ETH is up 1.29% at $1,966.13 (24hrs: -1.49%)CoinDesk 20 is up 0.39% at 1,932.97 (24hrs: -2.57%)Ether CESR Composite Staking Rate is unchanged at 2.81%BTC funding rate is at 0.0056% (6.1747% annualized) on BinanceDXY is unchanged at 97.67Gold futures are unchanged at $5,009.90Silver futures are up 1.13% at $78.47Nikkei 225 closed up 0.57% at 57,467.83Hang Seng closed up 0.52% at 26,705.94FTSE is down 0.63% at 10,618.95Euro Stoxx 50 is down 0.81% at 6,054.02DJIA closed on Wednesday up 0.26% at 49,662.66S&P 500 closed up 0.56% at 6,881.31Nasdaq Composite closed up 0.78% at 22,753.63S&P/TSX Composite closed up 1.5% at 33,389.73S&P 40 Latin America closed up 0.37% at 3,707.85U.S. 10-Year Treasury rate is up 1.3 bps at 4.094%E-mini S&P 500 futures are down 0.3% at 6,873.25E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are down 0.39% at 24,857.50E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average Index futures are down 0.35% at 49,549.00Bitcoin StatsBTC Dominance: 58.74% (0.26%)Ether-bitcoin ratio: 0.0294 (-0.09%)Hashrate (seven-day moving average): 1,057 EH/sHashprice (spot): $33.63Total fees: 2.31 BTC / $155,155CME Futures Open Interest: 118,610 BTCBTC priced in gold: 13.4 oz.BTC vs gold market cap: 4.47%Technical Analysis

Total crypto market cap excluding top 10 tokens to bitcoin (TradingView)

The ratio of altcoins (excluding the top 10) to the bitcoin price continues to rise from key weekly support and is now testing the 50-week exponential moving average. A break above that level would imply continued resilience of altcoins relative to bitcoin, which is most likely a result of their being extremely oversold.Crypto EquitiesCoinbase Global (COIN): closed on Monday at $164.05 (-1.19%), +0.24% at $164.45 in pre-marketCircle Internet (CRCL): closed at $63.15 (+2.48%), +0.19% at $63.27Galaxy Digital (GLXY): closed at $21.73 (+2.02%), +0.74% at $21.89Bullish (BLSH): closed at $31.85 (-0.47%), unchanged in pre-marketMARA Holdings (MARA): closed at $7.50 (-0.13%), +0.40% at $7.53Riot Platforms (RIOT): closed at $15.49 (+5.73%), +0.19% at $15.52Core Scientific (CORZ): closed at $17.27 (+0.23%)CleanSpark (CLSK): closed at $9.27 (-0.11%), unchanged in pre-marketCoinShares Valkyrie Bitcoin Miners ETF (WGMI): closed at $40.04 (+0.10%)Exodus Movement (EXOD): closed at $9.88 (-2.08%)Crypto Treasury Companies

Strategy (MSTR): closed at $125.20 (-2.70%), unchanged in pre-marketStrive (ASST): closed at $8.05 (-1.59%)SharpLink Gaming (SBET): closed at $6.60 (-0.90%)Upexi (UPXI): closed at $0.69 (-4.17%)Lite Strategy (LITS): closed at $1.10 (+0.00%)ETF FlowsSpot BTC ETFs

Daily net flows: -$133.3 millionCumulative net flows: $54.07 billionTotal BTC holdings ~1.26 millionSpot ETH ETFs

Daily net flows: -$41.8 millionCumulative net flows: $11.68 billionTotal ETH holdings ~5.74 millionSource: Farside Investors

While You Were SleepingBitcoin shakes off U.S. session losses as Trump says trade deficit cut by 78% (CoinDesk): Bitcoin trading remained volatile on Thursday, rising to around $67,000 after briefly dipping near $65,900, as traders digested President Trump’s claims the U.S. trade deficit was cut by 78%.Bitcoin, ether, xrp ETFs bleed while Solana bucks outflow trend (CoinDesk): U.S.-listed spot crypto ETFs are flashing red across the board, with one exception. SOL ETFs recorded $2.4 million in net inflows, pushing cumulative inflows to nearly $880 million.Gold recaptures $5,000 with focus on the Fed’s rate path (Bloomberg): Gold advanced back to around $5,000 an ounce after jumping 2% on Wednesday, with traders focused on the Fed’s next move on interest rates. Bullion climbed as much as 0.9% on Thursday, silver 3%.European shares dip as Airbus, Rio Tinto plunge; Nestle gains (Reuters): European shares slipped on Thursday, as investors sifted through a mixed bag of earnings from the likes of Airbus, Rio Tinto and Nestle.More For You

More For You

While some big investors cash out of crypto, others double down

Feb 18, 2026

Your day-ahead look for Feb. 18, 2026

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Cypherpunk legend Adam Back, who was mentioned in the Bitcoin whitepaper by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, has made an important BTC statement: he believes that the future of finance will be based only on BTC.

Adam Back believes only in Bitcoin-based finance in futureBack is the CEO of Blockstream, the company that has invented the Bitcoin Liquid network that makes crypto payments easier by splitting them into micropayments. Judging by his tweet, Back expects the future of finance to run not only on Bitcoin but also on Blockstream’s BTC Liquid network.

In his tweet, Back promotes his company, Blockstream, and the Liquid network as the key providers of Bitcoin-powered finance in the future. This aligns with his permanent advocacy of sidechain solutions for BTC to improve its scalability without having to alter the base Bitcoin layer.

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The tweet contains a graphic that reinforces the slogan of the tweet: “The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin.” As for Bitcoin price predictions, Back is a bull who firmly believes that BTC is likely to go as high as $500,000 at some point.

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"Bitcoin is going to $1 million at some point," Anthony PomplianoAnother prominent Bitcoin bull and venture investor, Anthony Pompliano, shared a prediction on X (formerly Twitter) that BTC is bound to skyrocket to $1 million per coin “at some point.” 

If bitcoin doesn’t go to zero, it’s going to $1 million at some point.

— Anthony Pompliano 🌪 (@APompliano) February 18, 2026 Now that Bitcoin is changing hands at $66,872 (47% below the recent all-time high of $126,198), Pompliano stated that if Bitcoin does not go to zero, it is bound to go to $1,000,000.

Pompliano is not the only venture capitalist who has been making large Bitcoin predictions lately. Global tech investor Tim Draper tweeted on Wednesday that he expects BTC to go four times higher than its present price in less than two years. He seems to be so certain of this prediction that he even suggested making a bet on Polymarket to anyone who disagrees.

Draper is well known for his frequent $250,000 Bitcoin price forecasts, none of which have come true so far. The most recent one came in early January, when Draper tweeted that he believes BTC will skyrocket to $250,000 this year. His prediction came a month before gold and silver crashed 30% in a single day, pushing the Bitcoin price down from the $90,000 level.

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The Ethereum (ETH) network is set to welcome a stealth address feature that allows users’ wallets to stay hidden. To achieve this, the ecosystem will integrate ERC-5564 to ensure that a user’s real wallet and transaction history are private. This development was shared by Ethereum developer Pandit Dhamdhere on X.

How stealth meta-addresses guarantee privacy Notably, ERC-5564 was an Ethereum EIP co-authored by founder Vitalik Buterin. The ERC-5564 is proposed to add privacy to users’ wallets and ensure they receive payments anonymously when the sender uses the "stealth one-time address."

The goal is to protect the user's identity and prevent others from knowing how much was received, who paid it or possibly tracking spending patterns. This is a move toward guaranteeing privacy for users of the Ethereum ecosystem.

ERC-5564 is coming to Ethereum.

It is one of the most underrated EIPs in Ethereum history.

It brings stealth addresses natively to ETH and most people still don't fully understand how it works.

Lets break it down. pic.twitter.com/9ySwjRD9KJ

— Pandit | Ξ🦇🔊 (@panditdhamdhere) February 18, 2026 Dhamdhere says to enjoy this feature, instead of providing a real wallet address to people, a user can simply give a special public "meta-address." Whenever someone sends money, the funds are directed into a new, random-looking address, which only the user recognizes. The privacy protection is that nobody can link the special public meta-address to the user.

Additionally, only the user is able to recognize and spend from it. Outsiders see just a random-looking address and not the real user’s identity.

Dhamdhere highlighted two key systems that make it a powerful push for privacy. The user is able to detect incoming payments using the "viewing key" and spend the money with the "spending key."

He explained that this feature allows the user to delegate responsibilities. For instance, an app or service could scan for payments on the user’s behalf, and this is without compromising control of the funds to a third party.

Ethereum gas fee, spam risk remain key challengesAs wonderful as the privacy feature sounds, Dhamdhere also identified some challenges and potential risks associated with it. 

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A notable one is that any money arriving at a brand-new stealth address will have issues, as there is no Ethereum for gas fees to move the funds. This bottleneck could easily be fixed, though, if the sender includes ETH for gas.

A major risk, as concerns hackers, is that anyone could post fake announcements to make wallets engage in extra scanning work. This will likely be fixed using filters for known spammers. 

As Dhamdhere emphasized, the goal of this privacy feature is to ensure that donations, payments or salaries received stay "anonymous" on the transparent Ethereum ledger. This will be achieved without the need for mixers or complex solutions.

The XRP price is walking a tightrope. On one side, 3.8 billion coins have flowed from whale wallets into Binance since the start of 2026. On the other, exchange supply is quietly declining and bullish sentiment just hit a five-week high.

Confused? You should be. Let’s decode.

Whales Move Billions to BinanceThe cumulative flow chart shows a steady, systematic rise in XRP deposits from large holders into Binance, totaling roughly 3.8 billion XRP since January. Not one-off spikes. Not panic transfers. A gradual, deliberate climb.

Then February arrived.

The curve steepened. Inflows accelerated noticeably during the first half of the month, suggesting whales weren’t just testing the waters in fact they were positioning on the dips.

Historically, per CryptoQuant analyst Arab Chain, its evident that always heavy whale inflows to exchanges have coincided with short-term corrections or strategic repositioning ahead of a new trend forming.

That means liquidity could be sitting on the table.

Now, that doesn’t automatically equal dumping. Some flows may support trading pairs or internal exchange operations. But let’s not pretend billions in potential sell-side liquidity are irrelevant to the XRP price chart, yet.

Supply Ratio Drops Despite InflowsWell, here’s the twist.

While whales are sending coins in, the XRP supply ratio on Binance has declined from 0.027 to 0.025 over the past ten days. Roughly 200 million XRP left the exchange in that window.

That dynamic suggests accumulation by another class of investors. Historically, declining exchange reserves reflect long-term conviction, as tokens are withdrawn into private wallets instead of being left in a liquid trading environment.

And context matters.

Per analyst Darkfost, the XRP price has corrected around 40% since the beginning of the year. For some investors, that kind of pullback doesn’t scream “sell.” It whispers “opportunity.”

So, what does this mean for any XRP price prediction? It paints a mixed picture for today. But, whales appear prepared. Retail or long-term holders appear to be accumulating and even if price dips more accumulation could continue.

That tension is the story.

Sentiment Swings Back to XRPMeanwhile, Santiment insights also confirms that the social data has begun to show a surge in bullish sentiment toward XRP as well, which is now at a five-week high, even as broader crypto social commentary toward Bitcoin and Ethereum has cooled.

Part of that optimism traces back to February 17th partnership expansion news involving Ripple and GOSH Charity. The collaboration aims to unlock crypto philanthropy, allowing global supporters to donate digital assets more easily and quickly.

That’s not just feel-good PR. Increased utility means more transaction flow potential. In theory, that real-world use case adds a narrative tailwind to XRP/USD beyond speculation alone.

So where does that leave the XRP price?

Billions in whale inflows. Declining exchange supply ratio. Rising bullish sentiment. A 40% year-to-date correction.

The stage is set. Whether it resolves into volatility or a trend shift is what the market will decide next.

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The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLU) generates income by holding dividend-paying utility companies and passing those dividends to shareholders. With 99.5% of assets concentrated in the utilities sector, the fund functions as a pure play on regulated infrastructure companies. The current 2.75% yield comes with minimal costs, as the fund’s low 0.08% expense ratio ensures nearly all dividend income reaches investors.

For income-focused investors, the question isn’t whether XLU pays dividends, but whether those dividends will continue. The answer depends on the financial health of the companies underneath.

Top Holdings Drive the Dividend Stream NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) leads the portfolio at 14.06%, followed by Southern Company (NYSE:SO) at 7.46% and Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) at 7.13%. These three companies set the tone for XLU’s dividend safety.

NextEra demonstrates strong dividend sustainability through its conservative approach to capital allocation. The company maintains a payout ratio of 69.1%, which provides substantial cushion for future increases. This financial discipline has enabled management to raise quarterly payments by roughly 10% annually, supported by earnings growth of 25.8% that gives the company flexibility to both reward shareholders and fund infrastructure investments.

Southern Company and Duke Energy follow similar patterns of consistent dividend growth, with both companies operating regulated utilities that generate predictable revenue streams. Southern raised its quarterly payment from $0.72 to $0.74, while Duke increased from $1.045 to $1.065. Both maintain manageable payout ratios backed by decades of uninterrupted payments.

Interest Rates and Total Return Context The interest rate environment has shifted in favor of dividend-paying utilities. The 10-year Treasury yield currently sits at 4.09%, down from 4.58% in May 2025. This decline reduces the opportunity cost of holding dividend stocks while easing refinancing pressure on utility debt.

Over the past year, XLU has delivered strong total returns of 20.41% as investors recognized the value proposition in utilities. The ETF’s dividend stream has shown some year-over-year variation, with 2025 payments tracking toward $2.00 annually, down from $2.24 in 2024. This modest fluctuation reflects portfolio rebalancing rather than fundamental weakness, as the fund has maintained its uninterrupted payment history since 1999.

The dividend appears safe because the companies paying it are stable, regulated businesses with decades of uninterrupted payments.