Assemble AI

Bridge, a stablecoin issuance platform acquired by Stripe, has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate as a nationally chartered trust bank. This federal charter would facilitate Bridge’s ability to issue stablecoins and offer related banking services under U.S. regulatory oversight. The approval signals growing regulatory acceptance of fintech firms integrating with traditional banking infrastructures.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong addressed concerns about Bitcoin ETFs being backed by 'paper Bitcoin,' affirming that spot Bitcoin ETFs are fully backed by real assets. Armstrong highlighted Coinbase's dominant 80% market share in U.S. Bitcoin ETF custody and explained the company's secure cold storage infrastructure. Additionally, Coinbase executives discussed regulatory developments surrounding the proposed CLARITY Act and expressed confidence in future regulatory clarity for crypto markets.

Russia’s recent ban on WhatsApp and throttling of Telegram revealed significant gaps in the adoption of decentralized messaging technologies. Despite the censorship pressure, most users avoided switching to decentralized alternatives due to usability trade-offs and network effects. The article explains why decentralized messaging struggles with issues like spam, identity management, instant delivery, and push notification reliance.

The emergence of AI agents like Anthropic's Claude Cowork has disrupted the SaaS industry, erasing nearly $300 billion in market value and threatening traditional software pricing models. This shift from software-as-a-service to AI-as-a-service triggered a broad sell-off in software stocks and prompted capital to flow towards AI infrastructure providers such as Nvidia and Microsoft. Crypto markets are feeling the indirect impact as investor risk appetite shifts, with capital moving away from high-growth sectors like crypto towards AI-related investments.

MYX Finance has experienced severe selling pressure recently, pushing it into oversold territory for the first time in its history. The token's price is closely following Bitcoin's consolidation without recovery, suggesting continued downside risk. Technical indicators and market sentiment point to a possible retest of $1.22 before any substantial rebound may occur.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and Al Warda investment funds collectively owned nearly 21 million shares of the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) by the end of last year, worth over $1 billion at the time. Despite Bitcoin’s price decline causing IBIT’s year-to-date drop of 22.5%, the combined ETF exposure remains substantial at about $803 million based on recent pricing. The article also notes Harvard University's reduced Bitcoin ETF holdings but increased investment in BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF.

Elemental Royalty announced it will pay dividends to investors using Tether's tokenized gold, offering a novel cryptocurrency-backed dividend option. This move is positioned as a pioneering step in the integration of traditional finance dividends with stable, gold-backed crypto assets. The company claims the distinction of being the first to offer this form of crypto dividend payment.

The White House is reportedly planning to reconvene a meeting on February 19th to discuss stablecoin yields with representatives from the banking and crypto industries. This initiative aims to address concerns and regulatory considerations surrounding stablecoin yield products. The engagement reflects ongoing governmental interest in stablecoins amidst evolving financial and regulatory landscapes.

Kraken is integrating its OTC desk with ICE Chat, the communication platform owned by Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange. This integration enables institutional investors to access Kraken's crypto liquidity directly through ICE Chat. Kraken is the pioneer crypto platform to be featured on this institutional messaging system.

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved Bridge’s application to establish a national trust bank for managing stablecoins. This approval aligns Bridge with other major firms such as Circle, BitGo, and Ripple, which received similar endorsements from OCC in late 2025. Unlike commercial banks, national trust banks have strict fiduciary responsibilities and cannot accept general deposits or issue loans.

Bitdeer has overtaken MARA in self-mining hash rate, reaching 63.2 EH/s compared to MARA's 60.4 EH/s. Bitdeer’s growth was driven by its proprietary SEALMINER rigs, leading to a 430% year-over-year increase in Bitcoin mined in January. Meanwhile, MARA is shifting focus toward AI and no longer reports company-wide Bitcoin production.

Stripe's stablecoin subsidiary, Bridge, has received initial approval for a national bank trust charter in the United States. This banking license would enable Bridge to issue and manage stablecoins under direct federal regulatory oversight. The approval marks a significant step towards integrating stablecoins into the traditional banking framework.

Zora has launched Attention Markets on the Solana blockchain, allowing users to wager on trending topics and public opinions. The platform enables users to predict which trends will gain popularity online. This innovative use of blockchain is aimed at creating a new type of market based on social attention.

Dan Ives, a hedge fund veteran, highlights that fears surrounding the software sector are exaggerated and present a significant buying opportunity. He emphasizes accelerated AI spending will induce a multiplier effect benefiting key tech players like Salesforce and ServiceNow. Ives warns that the market is misjudging the sector by treating it as broken, while core AI beneficiaries remain poised for growth.

Dragonfly, a prominent crypto venture capital firm, has successfully raised $650 million for its fourth fund despite the ongoing bear market. The fund places Dragonfly among leading investors like a16z and Paradigm, even as overall blockchain VC fundraising faces contraction. Investor focus is shifting toward stablecoins and tokenized finance amid market uncertainties.

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) plans to survive even if Bitcoin falls to $8,000, relying on cash reserves and convertible notes to avoid forced Bitcoin sales. However, the company faces dilution risks as it raises capital via equity issuance to maintain its Bitcoin accumulation, especially if its stock price remains below the conversion price of $183.19. The critical timeline centers on September 2027, when convertible noteholders may demand cash repayment if stock prices do not recover, making dilution and financing costs key challenges going forward.

The US stock market opened lower on February 17, 2026, pressured by fears of AI disrupting traditional tech and software sectors, with Technology being the weakest sector. Despite initial losses, the S&P 500 erased intraday declines, stabilizing near its 100-day EMA support, while defensive sectors show relative strength. Key indicators like the New York Fed’s manufacturing index and cooling Canadian inflation provide some economic reassurance amid ongoing market caution.

Leading Japanese securities companies, including Nomura Holdings, are preparing to enter the cryptocurrency exchange market. Nomura aims to launch an exchange by the end of the current year through its Swiss subsidiary, Laser Digital. Other firms like Daiwa Securities Group and SMBC Nikko Securities are also exploring similar initiatives.

Gemini Space Station, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEMI) has announced the exit of its Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Legal Officer as part of a broad company reorganization. These executive departures reflect significant changes in Gemini's corporate management team. The news comes amid ongoing strategic efforts by Gemini to realign its business operations.