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Fellow Binancians,
Join us on Binance Discord for an exclusive AMA about Binance Pay. Together with our Community Associates, Binance BD team member and Angels, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how Binance is powering the future through Binance Pay. Ask questions, gain insights, and win rewards!
Date & Time: 2026-02-20 14:00 (UTC)
How to Participate:
Eligible participants who fulfil the following criteria can stand to share the following rewards:
Red Packets:Join the AMA and stay tuned for Red Packet codes that will be shared throughout the session for a chance to split $500 in USDC. Two Red Packet codes will be shared during the session, and each code can be claimed by up to 250 Binance users on a first-come, first-served basis.Binance SWAGUsers who ask the most insightful questions related to the topic in the AMA chat can stand a chance to win Binance SWAG rewards. Binance will select 3 winners to each receive an exclusive item, at its sole discretion.
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Terms & Conditions:
Only Binance users who have completed identity verification (KYC) will be eligible for any rewards.Winners will be announced in the official #discord-news channel within 1 day after the Activity ends.Reward Distribution:Two Red Packet codes will be shared during the session and can be redeemed in the Binance App under the “Red Packet” section. Each code can be claimed by up to 250 Binance users on a first-come, first-served basis.Eligible winners who qualify for the Binance SWAG reward shall, within one week following the conclusion of the Activity, contact the activity manager via Discord to facilitate the collection of information required for reward delivery.By providing the information, users acknowledge and consent to the sharing of their personal information, including their names, addresses, and any other details necessary for the delivery of rewards.Binance SWAG may take up to 30 business days to be delivered to the winners' addresses. If for any reason Binance is unable to ship a Binance VIP Swag Pack to the winner, we may at our sole discretion, provide them with a Red Packet of equivalent value instead.Binance reserves the right to disqualify any participants showing any signs of fraudulent behavior immediately.Binance reserves the right to disqualify any participants who tamper with Binance program code, or interfere with the operation of Binance program code with other software.Binance reserves the right to cancel any reward(s) if it determines in its sole and absolute discretion that such user or winner has breached any applicable terms and conditions.Binance reserves the right at any time in its sole and absolute discretion to determine and/or amend or vary these terms and conditions without prior notice, including but not limited to canceling, extending, terminating or suspending these Activities, the eligibility terms and criteria, the selection and number of winners, and the timing of any act to be done, and all Participants shall be bound by these amendments.Additional promotion terms and conditions can be accessed here.There may be discrepancies between this original content in English and any translated versions. Please refer to the original English version for the most accurate information, in case any discrepancies arise.
Thank you for your support!
Binance Team
2026-02-19

Key takeawaysFed officials discussed the possibility of rate hikes if inflation remains above target.Policymakers signaled hesitation to resume rate cuts without clearer disinflation progress.Markets still expect rates to stay unchanged in March, but the tone has turned more hawkish.A shift toward tighter policy would likely pressure risk assets, including crypto.U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers raised the prospect of interest rate hikes returning if inflation fails to cool further, according to minutes from the January Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting released Wednesday.The minutes showed that several officials said upward adjustments to the federal funds rate could be appropriate should inflation remain persistently above the Fed’s 2% target. While no immediate action was taken, the discussion marked a notable shift in tone after a series of rate cuts late last year.At the January meeting, the Federal Reserve voted to keep rates unchanged at 3.5%–3.75%, following three cuts in late 2025 that lowered rates from 4.5%. A hike would be the first since July 2023.Fed turns cautious on further easingSeveral participants argued it would be prudent to hold rates steady for longer to better assess incoming economic data. The minutes noted that additional easing may not be warranted until there is clear evidence that disinflation is firmly back on track.Most policymakers warned that progress toward the inflation target could be slower and more uneven than expected, increasing the risk that inflation remains elevated for longer. If inflation cools as forecast, further cuts could still be appropriate, the minutes added — but confidence on that front appears to be wavering.Markets still price in a pauseDespite the hawkish undertone, futures markets continue to expect no change at the Fed’s next meeting on March 18. According to CME Group data, traders are pricing in a 94% probability that rates remain unchanged.U.S. inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index, currently stands at 2.4%, after rising 0.2% in January, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — still above the Fed’s long-term goal.Why rate hikes matter for crypto and risk assetsHigher interest rates are typically bearish for risk assets such as cryptocurrencies and growth stocks. Elevated yields make cash and government bonds more attractive, reduce liquidity, and increase borrowing costs — all of which tend to curb speculative activity.With crypto market sentiment already near extreme fear, a more hawkish Fed stance could further weigh on prices if inflation data fails to improve.Bottom lineThe Fed is not signaling an imminent rate hike, but the January minutes confirm that policy risks are no longer one-sided. If inflation stalls, the easing cycle could pause — or even reverse — reshaping expectations across equities, bonds, and crypto markets in the months ahead.

Injective (INJ) has seen a significant price increase of over 12% following the approval of the IIP-619 governance proposal, which enhances its MultiVM EVM architecture. According to NS3.AI, this development has coincided with Pineapple Financial (DAT) acquiring 7% of INJ's total supply, indicating a resurgence of institutional interest. Despite these positive trends and consistent on-chain activity, INJ's price remains more than 90% below its all-time high, as it continues to face challenges from the broader altcoin market sentiment.