Assemble AI

XRP has experienced massive losses and panic selling, with long-term holders exiting at unprecedented rates, pushing the token down 60% from its peak. Despite positive developments such as regulatory clarity, ETF approvals, and adoption by major firms, XRP's price remains weak at around $1.41, leading to uncertainty over its future. Analysts suggest the current selloff might be a capitulation phase, yet investor sentiment remains cautious amid ongoing market underperformance.

The Ethereum Foundation named Bastian Aue as interim co-Executive Director, emphasizing a strategic shift towards ensuring the network's longevity for 1,000 years or more. This leadership change follows Tomasz Stańczak's tenure, a period marked by operational streamlining and renewed urgency. Ethereum's price recently rebounded above $2,000 despite broader market volatility, reflecting cautious optimism amid the Foundation's new long-term focus.

Zhu Su expressed on platform X that cryptocurrency might outperform the Magnificent Seven US tech stocks over the next few years. He argues that crypto represents the only technology sector in the West that maintains a competitive moat against China. This view suggests a potential shift in investment focus from traditional tech stocks to cryptocurrencies.

LayerZero introduced its Zero public blockchain solution aiming for enhanced interoperability. Aave proposed redirecting all its protocol revenue to its DAO treasury to empower decentralized governance. Additionally, WLFI plans to launch a foreign exchange platform, and Robinhood has launched a Layer 2 blockchain to scale its crypto offerings.

The SEC's Division of Corporation Finance is focusing on creating a crypto asset taxonomy guidance framework. Director John Moloney confirmed this initiative in a statement on February 13, 2026, following presentations at the Securities Regulation Institute. This development indicates the SEC's ongoing effort to clarify regulatory classifications for cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin analyst PlanB observes that Bitcoin's price is currently tracking more closely with mining difficulty than with traditional Stock-to-Flow or Power Law models. The Power Law model suggests decreasing volatility with an upward trend, while the Stock-to-Flow model links price to scarcity effects from halving events. This shift reflects evolving market dynamics influencing Bitcoin valuation.

X is preparing to introduce a 'Smart Cashtags' feature enabling direct trading of stocks and cryptocurrencies from user timelines in real-time. This new capability aims to integrate trading functionalities into social media interfaces. The feature launch is expected within a few weeks, enhancing user engagement with market activities.

Ark Invest has acquired 92,800 shares of Coinbase worth $15.2 million across three of its ETFs, shortly after selling $39 million of Coinbase stock. The purchase involved ETFs ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF. This trading activity suggests a strategic rebalancing of Ark Invest's holdings in Coinbase.

Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X, expressed optimism about integrating cryptocurrency within the platform but strongly opposed any reward system that leads to spam and user harassment. X plans to launch a smart cashtag feature soon, enabling users to trade cryptocurrencies, stocks, and other assets directly from their timelines. The announcement highlights X’s cautious yet progressive approach toward crypto integration while prioritizing user experience.

Nikita Bier, X Product Lead and Solana Ecosystem Advisor, expressed hope for crypto expansion on X while opposing incentive schemes that cause spamming and user harassment. Bier emphasized the importance of responsible feature development to protect user experience. X plans to introduce several new features balancing crypto growth with user protection.

X product lead Nikita Bier announced plans to enhance cryptocurrency adoption on the platform without encouraging spam or harassment. The company will soon launch Smart Cashtags, enabling users to trade stocks and cryptocurrencies directly in their timelines. This feature aims to improve user experience while promoting seamless trading integration.

ARK Invest has resumed buying Coinbase stock, acquiring about 93,000 shares worth $15.2 million through its ETFs ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF. This move reverses a recent sell-off where ARK sold over $39 million of Coinbase shares amid volatility. Coinbase's stock gained roughly 16%, hitting $164.32, despite reporting a net loss of $667 million in Q4 2025, ending eight consecutive profitable quarters.

Anthony Pompliano suggests that the easing of inflation is testing Bitcoin investors’ belief in the asset's long-term value proposition. Despite Bitcoin's scarcity appeal, weaker market sentiment and macroeconomic uncertainty may pressure prices before any recovery. Recent US job data revisions and rising bond yields contribute to increased market volatility and investor hesitancy.

US credit card debt surged by $44 billion in Q4 2025, reaching a total of $1.28 trillion. Concurrently, mortgage debt climbed by $98 billion to $13.2 trillion, reflecting soaring housing costs. Goldman Sachs highlights a worsening affordability problem, particularly in owner-occupied housing, affecting Americans' wealth building and social mobility prospects.

JM Financial projects a cautious near-term outlook for HDFC Bank's stock, anticipating it to trade between Rs 900 and Rs 970 with limited upside. The brokerage suggests holding the stock with a stop loss at Rs 895 amid broader market momentum, where Nifty 50 is expected to face resistance at 26,000. Sector challenges, including stronger loan growth by public sector banks and margin pressures on private banks like HDFC, shape this restrained guidance.

Vanguard Group disclosed in its latest 13F SEC filing that it holds over 5.65 million shares of Circle (CRCL) stock valued at $339.4 million. The initial investment amount was approximately $739.6 million, generating floating losses exceeding $400 million. This highlights significant unrealized losses for one of the world's largest institutional investors in the crypto-related stock.

Aaron’s Company stock experienced a sharp rally this week following an earnings beat that reflected improved cost control and stabilized credit trends. Despite this recent momentum, the stock remains down 35% to 45% year-to-date, and analyst sentiment remains cautious with mostly Hold ratings. The company’s longer-term performance will depend heavily on macroeconomic factors affecting lower-income consumers and management's execution on digital initiatives.

Dutch lawmakers have advanced a bill proposing a 36% capital gains tax on savings, equities, and cryptocurrencies, including unrealized gains. The tax, set for implementation in 2028 pending Senate approval, has sparked criticism over potential investor relocation and capital flight. Despite growing crypto-linked securities exposure in the Netherlands, direct crypto ownership remains limited among investors.

Bitcoin has declined over $20,000 this year, with ETF outflows and miner revenue stress signaling a possible cycle bottom independent of a global recession. Major economic forecasts suggest a 2026 recession remains an unlikely scenario, allowing Bitcoin to bottom due to internal market mechanics such as forced selling and inventory transfer. The $49,000 to $52,000 price range is identified as a plausible bottom zone where buyer behavior may shift, even as equities continue to hit new highs.

Nikita Bier, X Product Lead, criticized the practice of 'claim fees' spam as dishonest and outlined plans to update the API policy. The update aims to ban applications that create fee pools without obtaining user authorization. This move targets protecting consumers from being exploited by unauthorized fee demands.