Crypto Breaking

マイクロストラテジー（NASDAQ: MSTR）は、続く市場の課題の中で先週ビットコインの保有を拡大しました。同社は2,486ビットコインを購入し、保有量は71万7,000コインを超えました。この購入は約500億ドルの価値があり、マイクロストラテジーのビットコインへの揺るぎないコミットメントを反映していますが、強気の市場状況にもかかわらずです。

先週、マイクロストラテジーは2,486ビットコインを購入し、1億6800万ドルを支出しました。この最新の取得により、同社のビットコインのストックは現在71万7,000コインを超えています。この購入は、同社がビットコインの購入資金を調達するために株式の売却を続けていたため、株主の希薄化を引き起こしました。

Key Insights:

Binance whale inflow ratio surged, showing growing dominance of large BTC transactions.

Bitcoin’s 22% YTD decline has pushed sentiment into extreme fear territory.

Falling stablecoin liquidity makes whale moves more influential on price action.

Market Weakness Deepens Across Crypto

The larger crypto market is still under intense pressure with Binance registering a massive increase in whale activity. Bitcoin is trading around $68,000, dropping over 22% in the year, the lowest first-quarter performance since 2018.

The month of January ended with a sharp loss of 10% and February has been unable to provide relief yet. This decline is reflected in investor sentiment, where the Crypto Fear & Greed Index is solidly in the extreme fear zone. The range of $60,000 to $65,000 has been cited by analysts as one of the key support zones that might dictate the direction in the near future.

Whale Inflows on Binance Spike Suddenly

Despite bearish price action, on-chain data points to a notable shift in large-holder behavior. According to CryptoQuant, Binance’s whale inflow ratio jumped from 0.40 to 0.62 between February 2 and February 15, indicating that a large portion of exchange inflows is currently taken over by large holders.

A single large holder, known as the Hyperunit whale, allegedly transferred close to 10,000 BTC to Binance as the volatility increased. A number of other high-value transfers occurred in their turn, indicating that institutional-scale players are actively repositioning as prices get weaker.

Whale Inflow ratio surges on Binance amid market correction.

This correction is testing all types of investors, from retail participants to whales and even institutions.

According to the whale inflow ratio, we are seeing a clear surge in whale activity on Binance,… pic.twitter.com/TVJiUAWy1O

— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) February 17, 2026

In the past, increasing numbers of whales may cause sell-side pressure. They can, however, reflect tactical actions in times when deep liquidity on the major exchanges becomes crucial.

Liquidity Tightens as Capital Pulls Back

Binance has seen declining stablecoin liquidity. The exchange has registered three consecutive months of negative netflows of stablecoins, with almost $3 billion leaving the platform this month. Since November, the total stablecoin reserves have been decreasing by nearly $9 billion.

This tightening of liquidity increases the effect of the whale movement since big transfers can more readily influence the short-term price action.

Selling Pressure or Strategic Accumulation?

The statistics provide a varied picture. The low liquidity and risk-off flows suggest caution, but the rise in whale activity implies that the large players are finding opportunities at these levels. It remains unclear whether this signals distribution, hedging, or silent accumulation.

This article was originally published as Binance Whale Inflows Surge as Bitcoin Tests Critical Support on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Nakamoto, the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) treasury company formerly known as KindlyMD, has signed definitive agreements to acquire BTC Inc and UTXO Management GP, advancing its plan to build a Bitcoin-native operating company. The move consolidates media, events and capital allocation under a single public vehicle as the company pivots away from its prior healthcare focus. The arrangement underscores a broader push to formalize Bitcoin-centric businesses within a listed framework, linking media properties, advisory services and asset management under one umbrella.

Key takeaways

The all-stock deal values the acquisition at roughly $107.3 million, calculated from a fixed $1.12 per share under Nakamoto’s call-option framework combined with Friday’s close around $0.2951.

BTC Inc and UTXO Management GP shareholders will receive 363,589,816 shares of Nakamoto common stock on a fully diluted basis, diluting existing holders given the price disparity with the current trading level.

The transaction leverages a Marketing Services Agreement that granted Nakamoto a right to acquire BTC Inc, which itself owned a call option to acquire UTXO, tying three entities together through a stock-based consideration.

Nakamoto’s balance sheet currently includes 5,398 BTC, a figure that places it ahead of several other public Bitcoin treasury holders and aligns with its expanded treasury strategy long in the works.

The deal follows a broader Bitcoin treasury pivot, built on the idea that media, advisory and asset-management services can be bundled under a public company dedicated to Bitcoin, even as the broader market faces volatility and downcycles.

Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $NAKA

Sentiment: Neutral

Price impact: Negative. The stock traded lower after the announcement as dilution concerns weighed on investors.

Market context: The deal arrives amid a testing phase for corporate treasury strategies in crypto markets. Bitcoin’s price has experienced a steep swing in recent quarters, with the asset retreating from previous peaks and testing investor appetite for Bitcoin-focused corporate moves. The broader market environment has underscored the tension between ambitious, asset-backed business plans and the need for actionable, near-term value delivery to shareholders.

Why it matters

The proposed acquisition acts as a strategic centripetal force for Nakamoto’s ambitions to create a Bitcoin-native operating ecosystem. By bringing BTC Inc, known for Bitcoin Magazine and The Bitcoin Conference, together with UTXO Management GP, which provides advisory services and connections to Bitcoin-focused capital, Nakamoto aims to streamline the decision-making and capital allocation process around Bitcoin. This consolidation could shorten the path from media coverage and thought leadership to real-world investment and capital deployment in the Bitcoin space.

From a portfolio perspective, Nakamoto’s 5,398 BTC on its balance sheet places the company among the more substantial publicly disclosed Bitcoin treasuries. The tally is frequently cited by market trackers such as BitcoinTreasuries.NET, which catalogs corporate bitcoin holdings and related disclosures. The combination of media influence, conference branding and asset-management capabilities under one roof positions Nakamoto to influence both public perception and practical investment flows around Bitcoin. The move follows a broader industry pattern where companies seek to align communications, investor relations and treasury management under a single corporate entity to maximize efficiency and visibility.

The background of the deal is also noteworthy: Nakamoto rebranded from KindlyMD after facing headwinds in its healthcare business, including a subpar share price performance that spurred a strategic repositioning toward Bitcoin. This pivot — from healthcare services to a Bitcoin-focused treasury and media strategy — illustrates how public markets reward clear alignment between asset exposure and governance, as well as a coherent long-term plan for capital allocation in an asset class that remains highly cyclical and sensitive to macro shifts.

In the context of the crypto downturn, where Bitcoin’s price has declined from peaks observed during the previous cycle, investors are closely watching how treasury-centric models can sustain growth and deliver cash flow in a public market setting. As Cointelegraph and other outlets have reported, treasury adoption and the formation of Bitcoin-focused public vehicles have faced pressure during periods of downturn, making the current deal a critical test case for the viability of a diversified, Bitcoin-centric public platform.

Related coverage has highlighted the interplay between Bitcoin media, events and investment vehicles as a potential accelerator for mainstream adoption, even as the sector contends with volatility and evolving regulatory scrutiny. The current transaction, with its all-stock consideration and fixed-price framework, emphasizes a willingness to prize strategic alignment and long-term value creation over near-term share-price parity.

What to watch next

Regulatory approvals and closing conditions for the acquisition of BTC Inc and UTXO Management GP, including any required shareholder votes.

Completion of the stock issuance: timing, share registrations and any subsequent adjustments to the fully diluted share count.

Performance of BTC Inc and UTXO assets under Nakamoto’s ownership, especially how BTC Inc’s media assets (Bitcoin Magazine) and conference operations scale within the public vehicle.

Monitoring Nakamoto’s treasury strategy as new corporate cash flows emerge from the consolidated platform and whether additional acquisitions or partnerships follow.

Sources & verification

Nakamoto Holdings announces definitive agreements to acquire BTC Inc and UTXO Management GP, with details of the all-stock consideration and call-option framework.

The Marketing Services Agreement (MSA) underlying the call option and acquisition structure, including the right to acquire BTC Inc and its implications for the deal’s valuation.

Nakamoto’s disclosed Bitcoin holdings (5,398 BTC) and the company’s public market status on Nasdaq under NAKA, as reflected in industry trackers and the company’s filings.

Bitcoin Inc’s role as the parent entity for Bitcoin Magazine and organizer of The Bitcoin Conference, and UTXO’s advisory relationship with 210k Capital.

BitcoinTreasuries.NET and publicly accessible market data pages showing Nakamoto’s position relative to other public Bitcoin treasury holders and the company’s market capitalization trends.

Key figures and next steps

Nakamoto broadens Bitcoin treasury play with all-stock acquisitions

Nakamoto’s latest pivot marks a concerted effort to transform a niche treasury strategy into a scalable, publicly traded platform. By acquiring BTC Inc, which operates Bitcoin Magazine and The Bitcoin Conference, and UTXO Management GP, which provides Bitcoin-focused advisory services, the company is positioning itself as a one-stop shop for Bitcoin media, events, strategy and asset management. The stock-based consideration, fixed at $1.12 per share, is substantial relative to the current trading price, underscoring a willingness to accept significant dilution to accelerate the consolidation of these assets under a single corporate umbrella. The resulting combined entity would have a diversified revenue stream spanning media properties, event-driven revenue and Bitcoin advisory and asset services, all tethered to the performance of the Bitcoin ecosystem itself. The size of the consideration — 363,589,816 shares on a fully diluted basis — reflects both the ambition of the deal and the complexity inherent in cross-entity stock swaps tied to a volatile asset class.

From a governance perspective, the transaction hinges on a stock-for-assets approach that aligns incentives with Nakamoto’s long-term growth strategy. The fact that Nakamoto’s stock trades on Nasdaq under NAKA, with a market capitalization around a few hundred million dollars, adds pressure to deliver tangible upside for investors beyond mere consolidation. The market’s initial reaction appeared negative, as indicated by a post-announcement decline in Nakamoto’s share price, a typical response when large pools of new shares enter the float. Yet the strategic logic remains: a public vehicle that can coordinate Bitcoin media reach, capital-formation activities and wallet-level treasury strategies may unlock synergies that are not as easily realized through standalone entities.

Historically, Nakamoto’s Bitcoin holdings have been a cornerstone of its narrative. With 5,398 BTC on its balance sheet, the company sits ahead of several peers in the public-treasury space, positioning it as a reference point for others evaluating whether to scale similar approaches. The integration of BTC Inc’s media empire and UTXO’s advisory reach could deepen liquidity for Bitcoin-focused assets and accelerate capital allocation to Bitcoin-related ventures, potentially smoothing the path for new fundraising or strategic partnerships.

As this process unfolds, observers will watch how the combined entity manages governance, treasury allocation, and the delivery of near-term earnings or cash flows that can validate the business model. The deal’s all-stock structure implies a forecast of growth fueled by equity rather than immediate cash, a choice that emphasizes confidence in long-run value creation but also invites closer scrutiny of dilution effects and ongoing capital discipline.

In summary, the acquisition represents a deliberate bet on the breadth of the Bitcoin ecosystem — media influence, conference-driven engagement, and advisory and asset-management services — converging in a single public platform. If executed thoughtfully, the new entity could become a template for how Bitcoin-centric businesses scale within public markets while maintaining alignment with the asset’s core network and community dynamics. The coming quarters will reveal whether the expected synergies translate into sustained shareholder value as Bitcoin’s market cycles continue to shape corporate strategy in this evolving sector.

This article was originally published as Nakamoto Eyes $107M All-Stock Buy: BTC Inc, UTXO on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

SOU NFTs as Proof of Claims

The SOU system offers affected users an on-chain, non-fungible token (NFT) that tracks the value owed to them. Each SOU represents an individual claim, recorded securely on the Ethereum blockchain. Users can see their principal amount, which decreases as payouts and donations are processed. The transparency of this system ensures that the value cannot be manipulated, providing a fair method for managing claims.

SOU is live

Introducing SOU (Shib Owes You) an onchain NFT built as a good-faith effort to support impacted users with payouts, donations, and occasional rewards.

Transparent. Tradable. On-chain.
You can transfer it, split it, merge it, or trade it on marketplaces.

Claim your… pic.twitter.com/ONyO8OitJQ

— Shib (@Shibtoken) February 16, 2026

This initiative aims to restore trust and compensate those who experienced setbacks during Shibarium’s challenges. Shiba Inu’s developer, Kaal Dhairya, emphasized the importance of this effort, stating that it would help make things right for impacted users. The project’s transparent tracking feature ensures that users have clear visibility of their claims.

Security and Audits Behind the SOU Mechanism

The Shiba Inu team worked with Hexens, an independent auditing firm, to thoroughly review the SOU system. Hexens focused on ensuring the security of the NFT contracts and their integration within the broader Shiba Inu ecosystem. The audit included assessing key components, such as asset recovery, repayment flows, NFT mechanics, and access controls.

According to Hexens, the security review confirmed that the system is safe for managing funds and transactions. This review further guarantees that the SOU system adheres to high security standards, reducing the risk of any breaches. With a clear focus on safety and reliability, the Shiba Inu team has ensured that the SOU NFT mechanism is designed to protect user funds and claims.

Community Support and Positive Reactions

The Shiba Inu community has responded positively to the launch of the SOU system. Shytoshi Kusama, the Shiba Inu lead ambassador, praised the team for their effort and commitment to addressing the issue. Kusama highlighted the significance of getting this system up and running as a critical step in supporting impacted users.

The announcement has sparked discussions among community members who appreciate the transparency and efficiency of the solution. Many users expressed their confidence in the SOU mechanism as a solid foundation for restoring Shibarium’s reputation. By taking this proactive approach, Shiba Inu aims to solidify its reputation and ensure its community feels supported and valued.

Shiba Inu’s Position in the Market

Amid the SOU announcement, the broader crypto market saw some fluctuations. Shiba Inu (SHIB) experienced a minor dip of 2.36% in the past 24 hours, with its price sitting at $0.000006431. Despite the market downturn, SHIB managed to record a weekly increase of 7%, indicating some resilience.

Shiba Inu’s commitment to improving Shibarium’s infrastructure and restoring trust has been crucial in navigating the current market challenges. As the crypto community continues to react, SHIB’s price remains closely tied to the ongoing recovery efforts within the ecosystem. This marks a critical moment for Shiba Inu as it works to rebuild momentum and prove its dedication to long-term growth.

This article was originally published as Shiba Inu Launches ‘Shib Owes You’ NFT to Compensate Shibarium Users on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed confidence that the CLARITY Act, a landmark piece of legislation for the crypto industry, is likely to pass by the end of April.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse remains optimistic about the Clarity Act, giving it an 80% chance of being signed by the end of April.

While XRP has its legal clarity, the rest of the industry is still waiting. Progress over perfection is the goal. pic.twitter.com/7DqQezE3U2

— 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸XRP (@BankXRP) February 16, 2026

According to Garlinghouse, there is now an 80% chance of the bill being approved, especially after continued negotiations between banks and crypto firms. The CEO has urged the industry to embrace compromise, suggesting that waiting for a perfect bill could stall progress.

In recent weeks, discussions surrounding the CLARITY Act have seen significant developments, especially following a long-standing deadlock in the Senate Banking Committee. This delay occurred just before the bill was initially expected to pass. Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, also remains optimistic, noting that talks between banks and crypto firms have made significant strides.

The potential passage of the CLARITY Act would offer much-needed regulatory clarity for the crypto space, which has long struggled with uncertain legislation. This clarity, according to Garlinghouse, would be a step toward stabilizing the market, benefiting both crypto firms and investors. However, despite its positive potential, the bill still faces challenges that could delay its passage further.

Crypto Bill Stalemate and Progress in Negotiations

The road to the CLARITY Act’s passage has not been smooth. Earlier this year, Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the United States, pulled its support for the legislation. The company cited its inability to reach a compromise on the issue of stablecoin yield. This setback delayed momentum in the Senate Banking Committee, creating further uncertainty for the bill’s future.

While there is some frustration over the stalled negotiations, there is still hope that a breakthrough is imminent. The White House has set a February deadline for crypto and banking leaders to agree on stablecoin yield provisions within the bill. This deadline aligns with Garlinghouse’s predictions, as he has consistently emphasized that compromise rather than perfection is necessary to move the legislation forward.

As talks continue this week, stakeholders in the crypto sector remain hopeful that the final version of the bill will be sufficiently beneficial to all parties involved. The current focus is on balancing regulatory clarity with the needs of both traditional banks and the emerging crypto economy. A resolution could bring much-needed stability and restore confidence in the market, especially as the crypto industry struggles through a bearish phase.

White House Involvement and Potential Market Impact

The involvement of the White House in the negotiation process highlights the importance of the CLARITY Act to the future of the crypto industry. A key upcoming meeting later this week could serve as a turning point in the discussions. With the backing of influential parties, such as the White House and major financial institutions, the chances of the bill’s successful passage by April appear to be increasing.

Market speculation suggests that the CLARITY Act’s passage could lead to significant liquidity returning to the crypto space. If the bill succeeds, many analysts believe it could reinvigorate the market, which has been experiencing a downturn for some time. Increased stability from clearer regulations may prompt a resurgence of interest in crypto assets, driving investment and innovation within the sector.

Despite the uncertainty, many in the industry are holding out hope that the passage of the CLARITY Act will bring much-needed regulatory certainty. This could pave the way for future growth and opportunities in the crypto market. With discussions heating up and potential progress on the horizon, the crypto community will be watching closely as April approaches.

This article was originally published as Ripple CEO Expects CLARITY Act to Pass by April, Boosting Crypto Clarity on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

StarkWare’s Starknet is expanding its privacy capabilities by integrating EY’s Nightfall protocol, enabling institutions to run private payments and DeFi activity on public Ethereum-aligned rails, with confidentiality preserved alongside auditability. In a Tuesday release, StarkWare positioned the move as a bridge for enterprises to use a shared, open layer-2 instead of siloed, bank-only networks, while partnering with a Big Four firm that already audits many prospective onboarding clients. Nightfall—EY’s open-source zero-knowledge privacy layer—lets transactions be verified without exposing underlying data, unlocking private B2B and cross-border payments, confidential treasury management, and on-chain transfers of tokenized assets around the clock. The rollout appears staged, focusing on privacy-forward onboarding with selective disclosure for regulators and auditors.

Key takeaways

StarkWare is integrating EY Nightfall into Starknet to support private transactions on an Ethereum-compatible chain, enabling private payments and DeFi activity at scale.

The plan emphasizes an open, layer-2 solution rather than siloed, bank-only networks, with a Big Four auditor involved in onboarding.

Nightfall’s zero-knowledge privacy layer lets verifications occur without revealing private data, while still allowing selective disclosure for compliance and audits.

The rollout will be staged, starting with compliant private payments and transfers and expanding to additional features as the system scales.

Starknet has grown to be a major ZK rollup by TVL, but has faced outages in 2025 that prompted post-mortems and reliability enhancements ahead of broader institutional flows.

Tickers mentioned: $ETH, $ZEC

Market context: The initiative signals a growing emphasis on privacy-preserving rails and interoperable, on-chain workflows for institutions within the expanding Layer-2 ecosystem, as DeFi and cross-border token transfers push for compliance-ready, scalable solutions.

Why it matters

The blending of Nightfall with Starknet is more than a technical upgrade; it represents a strategic attempt to unlock institutional participation in public blockchains without forcing a trade-off between privacy and auditability. By anchoring the privacy layer to a public, open network, StarkWare aims to encourage banks and corporates to explore private payments, treasury management, and cross-border settlement on-chain, while maintaining visibility for regulatory and internal controls. The approach could lower the barriers for traditional financial players who have historically shied away from fully transparent on-chain activity, offering a path to leverage distributed ledger technology within established compliance frameworks.

Eli Ben-Sasson, StarkWare’s co-founder and CEO and a founding scientist of privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash (ZEC), described the Nightfall-on-Starknet initiative as paving the way for “the equivalent of a private superhighway for stablecoins and tokenized deposits.” The framing underscores a broader privacy push across Starknet, where institutions could gain confidential access to Ethereum DeFi activities—such as lending, swaps, and yield strategies—without sacrificing auditable records. Alex Gruell, StarkWare’s global head of business development, emphasized that Nightfall’s readiness for KYC-verified onboarding could be a critical differentiator for large organizations entering the blockchain space, aligning privacy with regulatory compliance at scale.[Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC) is referenced here to reflect Ben-Sasson’s broader background and the privacy ethos behind the technology.]

Gruell also argued that Nightfall, when paired with Starknet, functions as an interoperability layer that could bridge otherwise siloed institutional environments. He contrasted this architecture with permissioned, stand-alone networks such as Canton Network, which he argued are not yet integrated with the Web3 ecosystem. The planned rollout remains permissionless and fully integrated into Starknet, with a staged deployment that starts with private payments and transfers guarded by compliance gates and secure sequencing. Verifier upgrades and expanded functionality will follow as the system scales, aiming to preserve privacy by default while enabling selective disclosure for audits and regulatory checks.

Starknet’s growth and teething trouble

Starknet has established itself as one of the larger ZK rollups by total value locked (TVL), with current estimates hovering around $280 million, driven largely by DeFi protocols and native ecosystem apps. This rapid ascent has not come without challenges. In 2025, Starknet experienced outages tied to sequencer and infrastructure weaknesses, prompting public post-mortems and commitments to harden reliability before courting broader institutional flow. The ongoing efforts to improve resilience are central to appealing to banks and corporates that require robust operational continuity alongside privacy guarantees.

As Starknet matures, proponents argue that a privacy-first path—especially when supported by a reputable auditor—could unlock new capital channels on public rails. The integration with Nightfall is positioned as a concrete step toward that vision, offering institutions a controlled yet verifiable on-chain environment. Yet observers will be watching how the privacy layer handles cross-border compliance challenges, including KYC/AML workflows and data-access requirements, as real-world usage scales beyond pilots and proof-of-concept tests.

What to watch next

Timeline and milestones for the staged rollout, including the initial private-payments phase and planned expansions of on-chain features.

Auditing milestones and regulatory reviews tied to the Nightfall integration, especially around KYC verification workflows.

Verifier upgrades and any announced improvements to sequencing, privacy guarantees, and throughput as adoption grows.

Real-world usage metrics from early institutional deployments and any interoperability benchmarks with other networks.

Sources & verification

StarkWare’s announcement detailing the Nightfall integration with Starknet for private payments and DeFi on public rails.

EY’s Nightfall privacy protocol, describing zero-knowledge privacy for on-chain transactions.

Cointelegraph coverage of the Nightfall integration and related commentary from StarkWare and EY.

DefiLlama data showing Starknet’s TVL around $280 million and its DeFi usage drivers.

Starknet outage post-mortems and reliability commitments published in 2025.

What the story means for users and builders

The integration positions privacy-preserving on-chain activity as a standard feature for institutional users within public blockchain networks. For builders, it creates an opportunity to design DeFi products and treasury solutions that satisfy typical enterprise compliance requirements without sacrificing the openness and composability that characterize open ecosystems. For users and investors, the development signals ongoing maturation of Layer-2 privacy capabilities and a potential shift in how incumbent financial institutions interact with blockchain technologies—moving from isolated pilots to scalable, auditable, and privacy-respecting deployments on public rails.

Key figures and next steps

With Nightfall in tow, Starknet’s roadmap includes extended privacy controls, selective disclosure options for audits, and broader cross-border transaction support. The collaboration’s success will hinge on robust reliability improvements, effective onboarding workflows, and the ability to demonstrate real-world compliance without eroding the user experience. If these elements come together, institutions could begin treating public blockchains as viable platforms for confidential settlement and asset management, painting a more nuanced picture of privacy, scalability, and openness in decentralized finance.

Why it matters for the broader market

Privacy-preserving instrumentation on public blockchains aligns with a broader industry trend toward compliant, enterprise-grade blockchain ecosystems. As institutions weigh the benefits of public networks against privacy and regulatory requirements, solutions like Nightfall could help reconcile these tensions by offering auditable privacy with flexible disclosure. The broader market will be watching how this approach affects competition among Layer-2 providers, the pace of DeFi institutionalization, and the evolution of cross-chain interoperability as the ecosystem grows more interconnected.

This article was originally published as StarkNet Adds EY Nightfall to Enable Private Payments on Eth Rails on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Editor’s note: In a sector defined by rapid changes in energy costs and compute demand, HIVE Digital Technologies reports a standout quarter that highlights the resilience of its dual-engine model — steady Bitcoin hashrate expansion alongside high-growth BUZZ AI HPC. The Q3 results, led by record revenue of $93.1 million and a gross margin of $32.1 million, reflect disciplined scaling across renewable-powered infrastructure and an accelerating AI compute strategy. The company’s Paraguay expansion and GPU cloud initiatives illustrate how HIVE is positioning for longer-term margin expansion, recurring revenue and geographic diversification.

Key points

Record quarterly revenue of $93.1 million, up 219% YoY and 7% QoQ, with gross margin of $32.1 million (34.5%).

Bitcoin hashrate capacity reached 25 EH/s, with BUZZ HPC growth accelerating.

AI GPU expansion: 504 Nvidia GPUs under a $30 million contract, live deployments in Q1 2026, lifting HPC revenue and targeting $140 million ARR by Q4 2026 with 11,000 GPUs.

Paraguay expansion and renewable-powered infrastructure underpin margin growth and geographic diversification.

Why this matters

This quarter demonstrates HIVE’s ability to scale a renewable-powered data center platform while expanding into AI compute markets. The dual-engine approach provides resilience against sector volatility, leveraging Bitcoin hashrate expansion as a cash generator and BUZZ HPC as a high-growth, recurring revenue stream. With Paraguay infrastructure, green energy and new AI deployments, HIVE is positioned for margin expansion and geographic diversification into Latin America.

What to watch next

Deployments of 504 Nvidia GPUs live in Q1 2026 and expected ARR uplift to $140 million by Q4 2026 as GPU AI Cloud evolves.

Paraguay expansion: energization of the additional 100 MW at Yguazú targeted for Q3 2026 and 63 hectares of land acquisition supporting growth.

Anticipated overall energy footprint of 540 MW by year-end, with evaluation of incremental megawatts for future EH/s growth.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

HIVE Delivers Record Q3 Revenue of $93.1 Million with $32.1 Million Gross Operating Margin, Up Over 6x Year-Over-Year

This news release constitutes a “designated news release” for the purposes of the Company’s prospectus supplement dated November 25, 2025 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated October 31, 2025.

San Antonio, TX, February 17, 2026 — HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (TSX.V: HIVE) (Nasdaq: HIVE) (FSE: YO0) (BVC: HIVECO) (referred to as the “Company” or “HIVE”), a global leader in sustainable data center infrastructure, announced its results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025 (all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated).

HIVE delivered record quarterly revenue of $93.1 million, representing 219% year-over-year growth and 7% quarter over quarter growth, and Adjusted EBITDA of $5.7 million. Gross operating margin expanded significantly to $32.1 million (34.5%), up more than sixfold compared to $5.3 million in the prior year period.

This quarter marks the strongest “dual-engine” growth in HIVE’s history, driven by the rapid scale-out of its Bitcoin hashrate fleet to an installed base of 25 Exahash per Second (EH/s) by period end December 31, 2025 and accelerating demand for BUZZ HPC platforms.

Q3 FY2026 Financial Highlights:

• Total Revenue: $93.1 million, a 219% increase from $29.2 million in Q3 FY2025 and a 7% increase over last quarter. Gross operating margin was $32.1 million or 34.5%, up from 18% in fiscal Q3 FY2025. See the calculation of direct costs and mining margin included below in this press release.

• Digital Currency Hashrate Revenue: $88.2 million, up 8% from Q2 FY2026, reflecting a 41% quarter-over-quarter increase in average hashrate to 22.9 EH/s, partially offset by approximately 10% lower Bitcoin prices and 15% higher network difficulty. This hashrate revenue was achieved at a direct cost of $57.8 million, of which approximately 90% is energy costs. See the calculation of direct costs included below in this press release.

• Bitcoin Output: Generated 885 Bitcoin, representing a 23% quarter over quarter increase, despite a 15% rise in network difficulty.

• HPC Revenue: BUZZ HPC revenue was $4.9 million during the quarter. This revenue was achieved against direct costs of $2.3 million.

• G&A: $8.4 million, up from $7.8 million in Q2 2026, primarily as a result of increased staff to support HIVE’s global expansion, including Paraguay, and the BUZZ HPC business. Notably, while gross operating margin increased more than 6x year-over-year, corporate G&A grew only 1.8x over the same period, demonstrating operating leverage and disciplined scaling.

• Net Loss: GAAP net loss of $91.3 million was primarily driven by $57.4 million in accelerated depreciation related to the Paraguay expansion and non-cash revaluation adjustments. The loss reflects HIVE’s decision to depreciate the next-generation ASIC fleet over a two-year cycle, rather than the typical four-year schedule, to reflect the faster pace of efficiency improvements and shorter economic lives of new ASICs—a conservative approach aligned with our strong growth in Paraguay and focus on operating income.

• Adjusted EBITDA: $5.7 million.

OPERATING PERFORMANCE: SCALE WITH DISCIPLINE

Infrastructure Expansion

• Completed Paraguay Buildout and Achieved 25 EH/s: Operating 440 megawatts (MW) of global, hydro-powered capacity with 25 EH/s installed and 22.9 EH/s average operational hashrate, while reaching 17.5 Joules per Terahash (J/TH) fleet efficiency; record completion of 300 MW of green-energy Tier-I infrastructure brought online in 6 months (from May 2025 to November 2025).

• Land & Power: The company signed an additional 100 MW PPA in Yguazú and bought 10 hectares of land, with energization targeted for Q4 2026. This maintains our growth in Paraguay by an additional 10 EH/s. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company has purchased an additional 63 hectares of land.

Positioning for AI and HPC Growth

Future Capacity & Growth Outlook

• Accelerating AI Revenue: In February 2026, the Company signed a 2-year, $30 million contract for 504 Nvidia B200 GPUs. Expected deployments to be live in calendar Q1 2026 at Bell’s Tier-III facility; adds ~1$15 million of ARR and lifts HPC annualized revenue ~75% (from $20 million to $35 million). Targeting $140 million ARR by Q4 2026 for GPU AI Cloud with 11,000 GPUs, subject to market conditions and successful infrastructure deployment.

• BUZZ’s Growth Plan: Targeting $225 million ARR for total HPC revenue for BUZZ HPC and GPU AI Cloud by end of calendar 2026 or early 2027 as GPU cloud and colocation capacity expands.

• Strengthened Runway for Scalable Compute: By year-end, HIVE expects to operate a 540 MW energy footprint (440 MW currently operating, plus the additional 100 MW PPA contracted). Existing and incremental megawatts will be evaluated to preserve flexibility for highest-value deployments – toward expanding EH/s or supporting future AI and high-performance computing workloads.

Management Insights

Frank Holmes, HIVE’s Executive Chairman, stated, “This quarter marked an inflection point for HIVE. We delivered record revenue, scaled our renewable-powered Tier-I hashrate platform to 25 EH/s and accelerated our AI strategy. These milestones reflect disciplined execution across both engines of our business – Bitcoin hashrate services as the cash generator and BUZZ as our high-growth HPC platform, positioning HIVE for diversified, recurring revenue growth. Demand for AI compute continues to rise, and HIVE is leveraging its long track record in high-performance compute infrastructure and deep technical expertise in AI cloud services and data center operations to capture that opportunity. Notably, we are also positioning Paraguay to be a leader in HPC for Latin America. With abundant and stable green energy, and a government that is strongly-aligned with the United States, we believe Tier-III data centers are the future in Paraguay. Our future deployments in Paraguay will have the architecture and infrastructure footprint for Tier III future deployments as we build out our powered land. Our team has ordered the substation for the additional 100 MW at Yguazú, which we expect to come online in calendar Q3 2026. Moreover, the Company has a strategic alignment with Paraguay’s largest Tier III telecom datacenter operator, where we are sending a cluster of high-performance GPUs which will operate on the BUZZ AI Cloud out of Asuncion. Thus, by laying the foundation for long-term and rapid scale HPC Tier III Data Center deployment with our next 100 MW in Yguazú, and curating HIVE’s first Latin America GPU AI cloud proof-of-concept this quarter from Asuncion, our vision is to be a first mover in Latin America, powering the AI industrial revolution with renewable energy from Paraguay. HIVE will be a key economic driver for Paraguay, as we anticipate materially contributing to the GDP growth of the country through our data center construction expenditures and stable and long-term consumption of power from the Itaipu Dam, which will strengthen Paraguay’s domestic energy market and drive revenue for ANDE and the government. President Santiago Pena has demonstrated great leadership, along with Marcos Riquelme and Ruben Ramirez Lezcano, which gives us the confidence to advance our investments into Paraguay.”

Mr, Holmes continued, “Our wholly owned subsidiary, BUZZ AI has begun to demonstrate the scale of its earnings power. With this growth, our early-stage Paraguay platform becomes even more strategic, as we partner with a leading Tier III telecom data center operator in the country and deploy our first cluster of high-performance GPUs into that facility, demonstrating that our GPU chips have arrived and that Paraguay can be a cornerstone market for BUZZ in Latin America. Tier I data centers are a critical first step in building the power and infrastructure backbone required for future Tier III AI and HPC data centers, and we see them as the key runway for grid buildout and long-term capacity planning across our global platform. This is the strategy we are executing in Canada and Sweden today, and now in Paraguay as we develop large-scale, renewable powered Tier I capacity that can be systematically upgraded into Tier III AI and HPC data centers over time.”

Aydin Kilic, President & CEO, stated, “This quarter demonstrated HIVE’s execution in both our Tier-I hashrate platform and GPU AI Cloud. Our business has scaled substantially over the last year. Notably, our gross operating margin has increased over 6x YoY, from $5.3 million period end December 31, 2024 to $32.1 million this current period end December 31, 2025. At HIVE, we pursue accretive growth with a high-performance work culture, and this exponential growth in gross operating margin relative to corporate G&A reflects our expertise to scale with our Tier-I hashrate platform. Furthermore, this growth in corporate G&A includes added key personnel and talent to our BUZZ HPC and GPU AI Cloud business. In this fiscal quarter, we announced the purchase of 504 next-generation AI-optimized GPUs, and last week, ahead of their installation in March 2026 in the BUZZ Canada West facility, we announced the entire cluster was leased on a two-year fixed term contract valued at $30 million. As we expand BUZZ, we are leveraging our proven infrastructure operating model and deep technical expertise in AI to deliver GPU cloud and colocation capacity quickly and reliably for enterprise customers. With Tier-III+ capacity across Canada, Sweden and a growing pipeline of multi-year GPU cloud and colocation demand, we believe HIVE is positioned to build a durable, high-margin, recurring revenue platform through 2026 and beyond. This dual-engine strategy provides continued growth and sustained cashflow as we navigate the recent volatility in Bitcoin hashrate revenues.”

Darcy Daubaras, HIVE’s CFO, stated, “This quarter demonstrates strong revenue growth and operating margin expansion despite a more competitive hashrate environment. Accelerated depreciation impacted net income, but reflects conservative accounting and disciplined balance sheet management. We believe our cost structure and renewable power strategy position us to generate attractive operating margins as competition increases.”

Strategic Positioning

HIVE’s “dual-engine” strategy — Bitcoin infrastructure as cash generator and BUZZ AI Cloud as high-growth recurring revenue — provides diversification and capital allocation flexibility.

The Company remains focused on:

• Expanding gross operating margin

• Scaling recurring AI revenue

• Maintaining disciplined G&A growth

• Preserving balance sheet strength

With renewable-powered infrastructure across Canada, Sweden, and Paraguay, HIVE believes it is positioned to build a durable, margin-driven digital infrastructure platform through 2026 and beyond.

Conference Call Information

HIVE will hold its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings call on Tuesday, February 17 at 8:00 AM EST. To participate in this event, please log on or dial in approximately 5 minutes before the call.

Date: February 17, 2026

Time: 8:00 AM EST

Webcast: Registration link here

Dial-in: Provided after registration

Financial Statements and MD&A

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) thereon for the three months ended December 31, 2025 will be accessible on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under HIVE’s profile and on the Company’s website at www.HIVEdigitaltechnologies.com.

¹ The Company has presented certain non-GAAP measures in this report. The Company uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a metric that is useful to management, the board and investors for assessing its operating performance on a cash basis before the impact of non-cash items and acquisition related activities. EBITDA is net income or loss from operations, as reported in profit and loss, before finance income and expense, tax and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted for by removing other non-cash items, including share-based compensation, finance expense, depreciation and one-time transactions. The following table provides an illustration of the calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the last five quarters:

² Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on digital currencies is calculated as the change in fair value (gain or loss) on the coin inventory, and the gain (loss) on the sale of digital currencies which is the net difference between the proceeds and the carrying value of the digital currency.

³ The following represents the Revenue and related costs that comprise the gross mining margin. We include connectivity, security, data center maintenance, and electrical equipment maintenance. Electrical costs may vary quarter over quarter.

*Average revenue per BTC is for hashrate services operations only and excludes HPC operations.

⁴ References to annualized revenue and run-rate revenue are considered future-oriented financial information. Readers should be cautioned that this information is used by the Company only for the purpose of evaluating the merit of this line of its business operations and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Quarterly ATM Sales Report

For the three-month period ended December 31, 2025, the Company issued 4,925,948 common shares (the “November 2025 ATM Shares”) pursuant to the at-the-market offering commenced in November 2025 (the “November 2025 ATM Equity Program”) for gross proceeds of C$22.0 million ($15.8 million). The November 2025 ATM Shares were sold at prevailing market prices, for an average price per November 2025 ATM Share of C$4.47. Pursuant to the November 2025 ATM Equity program, a cash commission of $153 thousand on the aggregate gross proceeds raised was paid to the sales agents in connection with its services under the November 2025 ATM Equity Program.

About HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.

Founded in 2017, HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. is the first publicly listed company to mine digital assets powered by green energy. Today, HIVE builds and operates next-generation Tier-I and Tier-III data centers across Canada, Sweden, and Paraguay, serving both Bitcoin and high-performance computing clients. HIVE’s twin-turbo engine infrastructure-driven by hashrate services and GPU-accelerated AI computing-delivers scalable, environmentally responsible solutions for the digital economy.

For more information, visit hivedigitaltech.com, or connect with us on:

X: https://x.com/HIVEDigitalTech

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HIVEDigitalTech

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hivedigitaltechnologies/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/hiveblockchain

On Behalf of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.

“Frank Holmes”

Executive Chairman

For further information, please contact:

Nathan Fast, Director of Marketing and Branding

Frank Holmes, Executive Chairman

Aydin Kilic, President & CEO

Tel: (604) 664-1078

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Information

Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation and regulations that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. “Forward-looking information” in this news release includes but is not limited to: the acquisition of the new sites in Paraguay and Toronto and their potential, the timing of it becoming operational; business goals and objectives of the Company, including its target hashrate milestones and the costs to achieve the milestones; the results of operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2025; the expected costs of maintaining and growing its operations; financial information related to annualized run rate; the acquisition, deployment and optimization of the hashrate fleet and equipment; the continued viability of its existing Bitcoin hashrate services operations; the receipt of government consents; and other forward-looking information concerning the intentions, plans and future actions of the parties to the transactions described herein and the terms thereon.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the inability to complete the construction of the Paraguay acquisition on an economic and timely basis and achieve the desired operational performance; the ongoing support and cooperation of local authorities and the Government of Paraguay; the volatility of the digital currency market; the Company’s ability to successfully mine digital currency; the Company may not be able to profitably liquidate its current digital currency inventory as required, or at all; a material decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on the Company’s operations; the regulatory environment for cryptocurrency in Canada, the United States and the countries where our hashrate facilities are located; economic dependence on regulated terms of service and electricity rates; the speculative and competitive nature of the technology sector; dependency on continued growth in blockchain and cryptocurrency usage; lawsuits and other legal proceedings and challenges; government regulations; the global economic climate; dilution; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, including the Company’s ATM Program and the prices at which the Company may sell Common Shares in the ATM Program, as well as capital market conditions in general; risks relating to the strategy of maintaining and increasing Bitcoin holdings and the impact of depreciating Bitcoin prices on working capital; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for the Company to manage its planned growth and expansion; the need for continued technology change; the ability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power to run its cryptocurrency hashrate assets; the impact of energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in which the Company operates; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Company and the industry; network security risks; the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; share dilution resulting from the ATM Program and from other equity issuances; the construction and operation of facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the digital currency market; the ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; it may not be possible to profitably liquidate the current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on operations; an increase in network difficulty may have a significant negative impact on operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; the anticipated growth and sustainability of electricity for the purposes of Tier-I hashrate services in the applicable jurisdictions; the inability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power for the Company to operate Tier-I hashrate assets; the risks of an increase in the Company’s electricity costs, cost of natural gas, changes in currency exchange rates, energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in which the Company operates and the adverse impact on the Company’s profitability; the ability to complete current and future financings, any regulations or laws that will prevent the Company from operating its business; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability to mine digital currencies that will be consistent with historical prices; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of pandemics on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of pandemics on the price of digital currencies, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and, the adoption or expansion of any regulation or law that will prevent the Company from operating its business, or make it more costly to do so.

The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, and/or beliefs based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about its objectives, goals or future plans, the timing thereof and related matters. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company’s normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance, and accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such information due to its inherent uncertainty. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

This article was originally published as HIVE Delivers Record Q3 Revenue and Margin Growth on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Editor’s note: In a move that consolidates Bitcoin-native operations across media, asset management, and advisory services, Nakamoto signs definitive agreements to acquire BTC Inc and UTXO Management. The announcement outlines strategic intent, expected closing in early 2026, and how these integrations may reshape Nakamoto’s growth trajectory. The editorial team will monitor how the combined platform expands industry coverage, investor access, and Bitcoin-focused capabilities as the company builds its global brand.

Key points

Nakamoto signs definitive agreements to acquire BTC Inc and UTXO Management, expanding Bitcoin-native services across media and asset management; closing is targeted for Q1 2026.

Transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

The deal is financed entirely with Nakamoto common stock at $1.12 per share; 363,589,816 shares will be issued, valued at $107,295,354 before adjustments.

BTC Inc is a global leader in Bitcoin media and events; UTXO provides investment advisory services to Bitcoin-focused opportunities.

The combined platform aims to strengthen Nakamoto’s balance sheet and accelerate growth initiatives in Bitcoin ecosystems.

Why this matters

Nakamoto’s acquisition broadens its footprint as a diversified Bitcoin operating company with global reach in media, asset management, and advisory services. By integrating BTC Inc’s media assets and UTXO’s investment platform, the company seeks recurring earnings, expanded cross-selling, and stronger market position.

What to watch next

Closing of the transaction in Q1 2026 and milestones for integration of BTC Inc and UTXO into Nakamoto’s platform.

Progress on synergies, cross-selling opportunities, and potential additional Bitcoin treasury activities and acquisitions.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

Nakamoto Signs Definitive Agreements to Acquire BTC Inc and UTXO Management

Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA) today announced that it has entered into merger agreements to acquire BTC Inc, the leading provider of Bitcoin-related media and events, and UTXO Management GP, LLC (the “UTXO”), an investment firm focused on private and public Bitcoin companies (collectively, the “Transaction”). The Transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Company’s option to acquire BTC Inc and UTXO, through BTC Inc’s call option with UTXO, was previously disclosed as part of Nakamoto’s proposed merger with Nakamoto Holdings, Inc. (the “Nakamoto Holdings”). The Marketing Services Agreement with BTC Inc (the “MSA”), which the Company assumed from Nakamoto Holdings in the merger last year, outlines the terms of the Company’s option and was publicly filed and approved by the Company’s shareholders in connection with that transaction. Following shareholder approval, Nakamoto, BTC Inc, and UTXO engaged in extensive joint marketing initiatives across BTC Inc’s media and events platforms. Nakamoto exercised its call option with BTC Inc and BTC Inc exercised its call option with UTXO concurrently with signing of the merger agreements. No additional Nakamoto shareholder approval is required to complete the Transaction.

“Bringing BTC Inc and UTXO into Nakamoto has been a part of our vision since day one,” said David Bailey, Chairman and CEO of Nakamoto. “We intend to operate a portfolio of companies across media, asset management, and advisory services that can scale with Bitcoin’s long-term growth. BTC Inc and UTXO are global leaders in Bitcoin media and asset management. This transaction signifies the first step of the company we intend to build, and we’re just getting started.”

UTXO: Investing in Bitcoin Acceleration

UTXO is the adviser to 210k Capital, LP, a hedge fund focused on Bitcoin, Bitcoin-related securities, and derivatives. The investment team leverages extensive experience in the Bitcoin ecosystem to allocate capital across public and private market opportunities.

“UTXO was founded to back the builders and companies shaping the Bitcoin economy,” said Tyler Evans, Chief Investment Officer of Nakamoto and Chief Investment Officer of UTXO. “Leveraging Nakamoto’s public platform and robust treasury, we see a powerful opportunity to compound value across the Bitcoin ecosystem and reinforce Bitcoin’s role as a foundational asset in modern capital markets.”

More information about the transaction can be found on the Nakamoto Investor Relations site: http://investors.nakamoto.com

Additional Transaction Details

A Special Committee of independent directors of Nakamoto’s Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”) was formed to review, evaluate, and negotiate the Transaction. The Special Committee retained B. Riley Securities, Inc. as the independent financial advisor and fairness opinion provider to the Special Committee and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP as independent legal counsel.

Nakamoto was advised by TD Securities (USA) LLC as its financial advisor and Reed Smith LLP as legal counsel in connection with the Transaction. BTC Inc was advised by Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP and UTXO was advised by Haynes and Boone, LLP, in each case acting as legal counsel to the respective parties.

About Nakamoto Inc.

Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA) is a Bitcoin company that owns and operates a global portfolio of Bitcoin-native enterprises spanning media and information, asset management, and advisory services. For more information, please visit nakamoto.com.

Forward Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Nakamoto expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, as defined under U.S. federal securities laws, related to Nakamoto. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, including, without limitation, statements about expectations regarding anticipated synergies, cross-selling opportunities, operational plans, market expansion, the long-term strategic impact or anticipated effects of the Transaction, financial projections of BTC Inc and/or UTXO, the timing of closing of the Transaction, Bitcoin-related strategies, Bitcoin treasury management activities, and Nakamoto’s anticipated holding of Bitcoin as part of its corporate treasury. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve numerous assumptions and risks. Forward-looking terms used may include, but are not limited to, “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “potential,” “create,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “look,” “goal,” “future,” “build,” “focus,” “continue,” “strive,” “allow,” “seek,” “see,” “aim,” “target,” or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements and similar expressions. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: descriptions of Nakamoto and its operations, subsidiaries, strategies and plans, expectations regarding anticipated synergies, cross-selling opportunities, operational plans, market expansion, the long-term strategic impact or anticipated effects of the Transaction, financial projections of BTC Inc and/or UTXO, the timing of closing of the Transaction, Bitcoin-related strategies, and Bitcoin treasury management activities. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in this communication. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the following: the acquisition of BTC Inc or UTXO may not provide the benefits we anticipate receiving due to any number of factors, including the inability of BTC Inc or UTXO to maintain current level of earnings or to continue to grow its sales to new and existing customers; our inability to successfully cross-sell business between our existing customers and BTC Inc’s or UTXO’s existing products or services, or expand products or services to new customers; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Transaction on our business relationships, performance, and business generally; the acquisition of BTC Inc or UTXO may not be closed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of our securities; and we may encounter difficulties with integration or unanticipated costs related to the Transaction; Bitcoin market volatility, ; and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond Nakamoto’s control, including those detailed in Nakamoto’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and such other documents of Nakamoto that are filed, or will filed, with the SEC that are or will be available on Nakamoto’s website at www.nakamoto.com and on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Nakamoto believes to be reasonable but that may not prove to be accurate. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and Nakamoto does not undertake any obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to buy or sell securities of Nakamoto or any other party, nor does it constitute a solicitation of any proxy or vote. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Media Contact

Carissa Felger / Sam Cohen

Gasthalter & Co.

(212) 257-4170

Nakamoto@gasthalter.com

Investor Relations Contact

Steven Lubka

VP of Investor Relations

(615) 701-8889

Investors@nakamoto.com

This article was originally published as Nakamoto Secures Acquisition of BTC Inc and UTXO on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

YouTube personality Logan Paul surged back into the headlines in a high-stakes moment for the NFT collectibles world, as the PSA-graded Pikachu Illustrator card sold at auction for 16.492 million dollars, setting a new record for any card sold at public sale. The sale, conducted by Goldin Co, crowned AJ Scaramucci—the son of financier Anthony Scaramucci—as the winning bidder, triumphing over a field that included several seven- and eight-figure offers. Paul had originally acquired the card in July 2021 for about 5.3 million dollars, and the latest auction netted him a substantial gain after fees. The record was celebrated by some, but it also reopened debate about the risks and nuances of tokenizing ownership in rare collectibles.

Key takeaways

Record-breaking sale: The PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card fetched 16,492,000 dollars at auction, the highest price ever paid for a card in a public sale.

Provenance and rarity: The card is one of 39 created in a 1990s contest, underscoring the scarcity that drives top-tier NFT-like investments in physical collectibles.

Original purchase and profit: Logan Paul disclosed that he bought the card for about 5.3 million dollars in July 2021, positioning the auction as a multi-year hold with a roughly 8 million dollar post-fee gain.

Controversy and tokenization concerns: The sale revived scrutiny of Paul’s 2022 fractionalization of the card via Liquid Marketplace, a project that later went offline, triggering regulatory and investor concerns.

Regulatory and legal echoes: The Ontario Securities Commission pursued a case related to Liquid Marketplace, highlighting ongoing tensions around fractionalized digital assets and investor protections.

Sentiment: Neutral

Market context: The spectacle sits against a broader backdrop of fluctuating demand for non-fungible tokens and tokenized collectibles, where marquee auctions can coexist with a cooling market for digital assets and a wave of platform consolidations or shutdowns that underscore risk management considerations for investors.

Why it matters

The Pikachu Illustrator sale stands as a landmark event in the intersection of traditional collectibles and crypto-adjacent dynamics. It demonstrates that even as the underlying asset is a physical card, the attention, liquidity, and bidding competition surrounding it often mirror the volatile narratives that pervade the NFT space. For collectors, the record price signals a willingness to prize rarity and history, even as other segments of the market struggle with price declines and platform friction.

Yet the deal also spotlights the fragility of fractional ownership models that sought to democratize access to high-value collectibles. The 2022 Liquid Marketplace project, which fractionalized ownership of the Pikachu Illustrator, faced a shutdown that left investors with uncertain returns and prompted a high-profile regulatory response from Canada’s Ontario Securities Commission. While Logan Paul was not named in the OSC’s action, the case has become a touchstone in debates over how “slop tokenization” and ambiguous rights structures can affect risk, liquidity, and investor confidence in asset-backed digital securities.

Moreover, the broader NFT market context—characterized by a sharp contraction in market capitalization and recent closures of notable platforms—frames this record as both a triumph of hype and a reminder of the sector’s ongoing maturation. After a surge in early 2026, the NFT market cap has retraced significantly, with high-profile platforms exiting the space and investors recalibrating expectations around utility, royalties, and long-term value creation. The tension between the prestige of a rare physical collectible and the complexities of its digital-era ownership constructs remains central to how future auctions and tokenization experiments will be evaluated.

What to watch next

Upcoming regulatory or legal clarifications surrounding fractionalized collectibles and their rights in secondary markets.

Any statements or disclosures from Liquid Marketplace or related platforms about lessons learned, user redress, or restoration of services that impact investor confidence.

Continuing developments in the NFT and broader collectibles markets, including platform consolidations or new entrants that aim to address custody and liquidity.

Follow-up reporting on long-term outcomes for investors who participated in the earlier fractionalization and how those experiences influence future tokenization experiments.

Sources & verification

Auction details and sale price reported by the event organizer and press coverage of AJ Scaramucci’s win.

Logan Paul’s public remarks on the original purchase price and the subsequent auction, including public posts and commentary.

Regulatory actions and investor concerns tied to Liquid Marketplace and related class-action or securities inquiries in Canada.

Context on the NFT market’s recent trajectory, including platform closures and market-cap data from industry trackers.

Record-breaking sale and the evolving risk landscape for tokenized collectibles

The headline-grabbing auction of the PSA-10 Pikachu Illustrator card marks a historic apex for a card that exists at the edge of traditional collecting and modern digital commerce. The card’s rarity is unmistakable: among the 39 instances produced in the 1990s, the PSA 10 grade represents a pinnacle of condition for a specimen so scarce. AJ Scaramucci’s victory, reportedly outpacing multiple seven- and eight-figure bids, underscores the enduring appeal of blue-chip collectibles, even as the public eye remains fixed on the equity and crypto markets that often orbit these assets.

Paul’s own timeline adds another layer of interest. He acquired the card in mid-2021 for approximately 5.3 million dollars, and the latest sale delivered an inflow of roughly 16.5 million dollars before fees—a clear example of substantial, multi-year appreciation that can accompany celebrity-backed collectibles. Yet the triumph sits alongside a cautionary tale about the mechanisms used to broaden ownership. The 2022 fractionalization on Liquid Marketplace distributed a sliver of the card’s ownership to dozens of participants, a model that, in practice, has complicated investor returns once the platform went offline and liquidity evaporated for those holders.

Those complexities have sparked a debate about the practical value of tokenizing rare assets. Gabriel Shapiro, general counsel for Delphi Labs, described Paul’s fractionalization as a “classic case of ‘slop tokenization’,” arguing that the token did not convey meaningful property rights and urging investors to review terms of service carefully. Paul countered that Liquid Marketplace’s offline status was outside his control and that he acted to restore the platform so users could withdraw funds, pointing to a partial recovery of only 5.4% of the card’s fractionalized ownership, corresponding to roughly 270,000 dollars in claims.

. @LoganPaul‘s rare @Pokemon card becomes most expensive ever sold in record-setting auction.

The PSA-10 Pikachu Illustrator went on sale via @GoldinCo and eventually sold for $16,492,000.https://t.co/B1YBUIqhbx

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) February 16, 2026

On the regulatory front, the Ontario Securities Commission filed a case in June 2024 addressing concerns around Liquid Marketplace and similar fractionalized offerings. While Paul was not named in that action, the proceedings have become a focal point for discussions about investor protections, disclosure standards, and the responsibilities of platforms that tokenize ownership interests in high-value assets. The broader backdrop is equally instructive: the NFT market has cooled after a strong start to 2026, with several prominent marketplaces winding down operations in recent weeks, and total market capitalization for NFTs having declined substantially from earlier highs. These dynamics contextualize why a new all-time high for a traditional collectible can still coexist with a tougher environment for digital-native assets.

Beyond the headlines, the Pikachu Illustrator sale raises questions about long-term value creation in the digitized era. On one hand, the public’s willingness to bid aggressively for a single, storied card signals persistent demand for scarcity and provenance. On the other hand, the liquidity and governance structures surrounding fractional ownership demand rigorous scrutiny as the sector evolves. For collectors, investors, and builders alike, the case underscores the importance of clear terms, verifiable rights, and robust custody arrangements as the line between physical collectibles and digitalized ownership becomes increasingly blurred.

This article was originally published as Logan Paul Sells $16.5M Pokémon Card, Years After Fractional NFT Row on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

編集者の注記：同社にとってのマイルストーンの年において、eToroの公表された結果は、グローバルでAI対応の投資プラットフォームへの戦略的な転換を反映しており、増加するマルチアセットの提供を行っています。以下のプレスリリースは、公式の四半期および年間の数字を提供しており、この編集ノートはユーザー、投資家、そして進化する金融環境に対するより広範な意味合いを強調しています。eToroが市場へのアクセスを拡大し、AI駆動のツールを導入し、オンチェーン機能に向けて進む中、読者はプラットフォームが地域や資産クラスを超えて新しい世代の投資家をどのように力づけようとしているのかを測ることができます。

Editor’s note: The following update marks TrafficGuard’s expansion into the United States, a milestone that underscores the growing importance of independent ad verification in a rapidly evolving digital advertising landscape. As brands increasingly rely on AI-driven campaigns, the need for transparent traffic quality, reliable measurement, and proactive fraud prevention has never been higher. This editorial overview provides context for TrafficGuard’s U.S. move, leadership alignment in New York, and the strategic steps underway to support advertisers, agencies, and partners across the region.

Key points

TrafficGuard launches U.S. operations from New York to support global growth in ad verification and fraud prevention.

CEO Mathew Ratty relocates to New York to lead U.S. expansion and engage with customers.

In 2025, Miguel Lopes was appointed Chief Product Officer to accelerate product development for high-spend advertisers.

The expansion strengthens local U.S. presence, offering enterprise-grade validation and AI-driven insights.

The move reinforces TrafficGuard’s commitment to local expertise and support for brands in the United States.

Why this matters

Expanding in the United States positions TrafficGuard to address rising ad fraud and non-genuine traffic in a high-spend market. With enterprise-grade validation and AI-enhanced monitoring, U.S. advertisers gain greater transparency, performance certainty, and resilience as digital campaigns grow more complex and automated.

What to watch next

US customer and partner engagement to gather feedback on traffic quality and ad performance.

Rollout of enterprise-ready product updates and expanded US-based support.

Growth of TrafficGuard’s U.S. team and local leadership to accelerate go-to-market execution.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

TrafficGuard Launches in the United States to Help More Businesses Combat Growing Ad Fraud and Invalid Traffic

TrafficGuard Launches in the United States to Help More Businesses Combat Growing Ad Fraud and Invalid Traffic

The New York expansion strengthens TrafficGuard’s ongoing commitment to reducing global advertising fraud and non-genuine digital traffic, as U.S marketers demand greater transparency, control, and performance certainty amidst AI boom.

New York, United States, 17 February – TrafficGuard, a leading platform for digital ad verification and fraud prevention, has announced the launch of operations in the United States to support its global growth strategy. TrafficGuard CEO, Mathew Ratty, has relocated to TrafficGuard’s New York office, formalising and accelerating the company’s existing U.S presence to further serve evolving invalid traffic and ad fraud prevention demands in the U.S, and support its growing channel ecosystem. With commercial and customer-facing teams already operating in the United States, this move reflects a deliberate step to scale local leadership, support, and go-to-market execution.

Ratty will support the next phase of U.S growth by meeting with customers and partners in the United States. His presence demonstrates TrafficGuard’s commitment to gathering first-hand feedback on customers’ traffic quality, invalid behaviour, and ad performance challenges across complex, high-spend media environments. He will leverage these insights to boost data integrity, optimisation confidence, and campaign resilience for US businesses with the most efficient solutions to monitor, detect, analyse, and respond to invalid traffic, including but not limited to fraud.

“We’re seeing a rapid increase in sophisticated ad fraud alongside high volumes of non-genuine and non-incremental traffic in the United States, with impacts on budgets becoming much more frequent,” said Mathew Ratty, CEO of TrafficGuard. “For U.S advertisers operating at scale, it’s no longer just about blocking bad clicks. It’s about protecting decision-making, optimisation models, and growth efficiency. That’s where TrafficGuard’s enterprise-grade approach stands apart. We remain committed to building resilience to protect brands across the globe. With an expanding U.S team and accelerated product innovation, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for TrafficGuard.”

In 2025, TrafficGuard strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointment of Miguel Lopes as Chief Product Officer, based in the United States. With deep experience building and scaling enterprise technology, Lopes is fast-tracking new product development and unlocking additional acquisition channels, ensuring TrafficGuard continues to meet the demands of high-spend, multi-channel advertisers and enterprise media teams.

“It’s clear that tackling ad fraud and invalid traffic more broadly is becoming a more urgent priority for advertisers in the U.S, and this is one of the main drivers behind our decision to expand in the region,” said Chad Kinlay, CMO at TrafficGuard. “As AI accelerates automation across media buying, marketers need independent, enterprise-grade validation to ensure performance data can be trusted. TrafficGuard helps brands defend profitability today while building smarter, more resilient growth for the future.”

The expansion reinforces TrafficGuard’s position as a leader in a rapidly evolving ad landscape. The company is enhancing enterprise-grade traffic validation, prevention, and optimisation intelligence and accelerating the rollout of innovative products across the globe to meet the demands of next-generation digital advertising, while ensuring U.S customers are supported by local expertise, local teams, and local insight.

About TrafficGuard

TrafficGuard, a flagship product of Adveritas Ltd (ASX:AV1), is a pioneering force in advertising technology, delivering AI-driven solutions that revolutionise digital ad fraud prevention and performance optimisation. Leveraging advanced machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data, TrafficGuard empowers businesses to combat invalid traffic and ad fraud, protect advertising budgets, and enhance campaign efficiency, driving measurable return on investment (ROI). Positioned at the forefront of the rapidly growing ad tech market, TrafficGuard’s cutting-edge software has been recognised by prestigious industry awards, including The Drum, Martech Breakthrough Awards, and Mobile Marketing. Dedicated to setting new standards in transparency and security, TrafficGuard is shaping the future of intelligent, data-driven digital advertising.

www.trafficguard.ai

This article was originally published as TrafficGuard Launches in the United States to Combat Ad Fraud on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Editor’s note: As the payments landscape rapidly evolves, frontline collaborations between financial platforms and regional groups signal a shift toward faster, safer, and more transparent commerce. Gargash Group’s alliance with Adyen reflects a strategic pivot to unify payments across online, retail, and mobility channels, delivering smoother customer experiences while strengthening operational oversight. This post accompanies the formal press release to provide context on the partnership’s potential impact on efficiency, data integrity, and stakeholder value. It highlights how leading UAE enterprises are embracing fintech innovations to future-proof their businesses and empower teams to focus on higher-value work.

Key points

Adyen payment solution deployed at Sixt UAE, enabling seamless cross-channel transactions across online, in-store, and mobile.

Centralized transaction platform improves data quality, reporting, and reconciliation with enhanced control and audit capabilities.

Partnership supports Gargash Group’s digital transformation, including OpenAI for Enterprise and a retail audit platform.

Future expansion to additional Gargash business lines with further POS integration and process automation.

Why this matters

Gargash Group’s move signals a broader push in the UAE to modernize payments infrastructure, boost operational efficiency, and strengthen data-driven governance. By aligning with Adyen, the group seeks to deliver better customer experiences while enabling teams to work more effectively across channels.

What to watch next

Phased rollout of Adyen across more Gargash divisions and lines of business.

Deeper POS integrations to support pre-authorizations, fines, tolls, and refunds.

Ongoing governance, data integrity, and security enhancements across the payments platform.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

Gargash Group Partners with Adyen to Drive Next-Level Payment Innovation

February 17, 2026, Dubai, UAE: Taking a strategic step forward in its digital evolution, Gargash Group has partnered with Adyen, the global financial technology platform for leading businesses, to enhance its payment ecosystem. The partnership was officially announced during a signing ceremony held on February 11 at the Mercedes-Benz Brand Center in Dubai Design District, reinforcing Gargash Group’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies that elevate customer experience while empowering employees and partners.

As the first phase of this collaboration, Adyen’s payment solution has been successfully implemented at Sixt UAE, part of the Gargash Group portfolio. The new system delivers a seamless, secure, and frictionless payment experience across online, in-store, and mobile channels, supporting a wide range of transactions, including deposit payments, pre authorizations, chargebacks, refunds, fines, and toll payments, while providing complete control and oversight of all activities.

Since its implementation, the solution has achieved meaningful operational improvements. Staff now spend significantly less time on repetitive payment tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities. The centralized platform provides a 360-degree view of transactions, improving data quality, reporting, and reconciliation accuracy, while enhanced control and audit capabilities increase transparency, security, and accountability.

This strategic partnership with Adyen marks a key milestone in Gargash Group’s ongoing digital transformation efforts. The group continues to invest in technology – from deploying OpenAI for Enterprise and introducing a cutting-edge retail audit platform, to expanding its enterprise-grade productivity and project management capabilities and hosting an AI hackathon for the local community. Together, these initiatives reflect a proactive approach to innovation and sustaining competitive advantage in an evolving market landscape.

Walid Hizaoui, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Gargash Group, said: “This partnership with Adyen reflects our broader digital transformation agenda, focused on driving operational efficiency through automation, stronger systems, and data integrity at scale. By investing in the right infrastructure, we are streamlining processes, enhancing accuracy, and building a connected ecosystem powered by reliable data. It is a deliberate step in advancing our AI and digital capabilities while reinforcing scalable, future-ready operations across the group”.

Daumantas Grigaravicius, Head of Middle East, Adyen, said: “In the automotive sector, payments are often high-value and operationally complex – from deposits and pre-authorizations to refunds and reconciliations. Gargash Group recognized the need for a more connected and transparent approach. By unifying these processes on a single platform, we’re helping reduce friction, improve control, and create a smoother experience for both customers and teams. This is about enabling innovation behind the scenes, so the buying journey feels seamless from start to finish.”

Building on this success, Gargash Group is evaluating the phased expansion of Adyen’s platform across additional business lines within the group. Future initiatives under consideration include enhanced POS integration to support pre-authorization payments, as well as greater automation of fines, toll processing, and reconciliation to further streamline operations and strengthen financial oversight.

With a strong focus on governance, sustainable partnerships, Emiratization, digital enablement, and community engagement, the Group continues to align its operations with the UAE’s broader sustainability and economic development goals. By embedding technology, efficiency, and social impact into its business strategy, Gargash Group is building a resilient, forward-looking enterprise designed to create lasting value for stakeholders and the wider community.

About Gargash Group

Established in 1918, Gargash Group is one of the UAE’s leading business enterprises. Today, the group comprises a family of internationally renowned brands operating across four verticals: automotive, real estate, financial services, and Food & Beverage. It is recognized for its global expertise and deep understanding of local markets, enabling the group to deliver integrated, innovative, and competitive services.
> The group has introduced leading global automotive brands into the UAE, including Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo, GAC MOTOR, Ankai, SIXT Rent Car, SIXT Leasing & SIXT Limousine. Since 1998, Gargash Group’s financial services arm, Daman Investments, has provided advisory, asset management, brokerage, and wealth management services in the UAE. Gargash Real Estate develops and manages high-quality residential, commercial, and industrial properties across the country. The group also includes several leading brands in the Food & Beverage industry.

About Adyen

Adyen (ADYEN: AMS) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Meta, Uber, H&M, eBay, and Microsoft. The cooperation with Gargash Group as described in this merchant update underlines Adyen’s continuous growth with current and new merchants over the years.

This article was originally published as Gargash Group Partners with Adyen to Drive Payment Innovation on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

Editor’s note: Crypto Breaking News provides this update on Jordan’s JoRegBox sandbox as regulators deepen collaboration with fintechs and digital asset firms. Fuze, a leading virtual assets infrastructure provider, has joined Jordan’s regulatory sandbox, marking a milestone in the Kingdom’s Innovation and Financial Technology program. This expansion illustrates how a regulated framework can accelerate secure, compliant digital asset services for banks and fintechs while supporting economic modernization. The following press release details the event, the ceremony, and the regulatory context that underpins this move across the Middle East and Africa region.

Key points

Fuze expands into Jordan by joining JoRegBox sandbox, the Kingdom’s regulatory sandbox for fintech and digital assets.

Fuze is the first business of its kind accepted to the JoRegBox sandbox.

Move aligns with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision 2033 and the Central Bank’s FinTech and Innovation Vision.

The announcement was made at an official ceremony with CBJ officials including the Governor and Deputy Governors.

Why this matters

Jordan’s JoRegBox sandbox signals regulatory support for digital asset innovation, enabling compliant testing of new services in a controlled environment. The collaboration aims to promote digital transformation, secure trading, and growth of regulated financial services for banks, fintechs, and the public in Jordan and the region.

What to watch next

Outcomes from Fuze’s JoRegBox sandbox testing and pilots.

Regulatory developments that could enable broader digital asset services in Jordan.

Potential scale-up within Jo-FinTech and related fintech initiatives.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

Central Bank of Jordan onboards Fuze to regulatory sandbox, marking expansion to the Kingdom

Amman, Jordan – 17 February, 2026: Fuze, a leading virtual assets infrastructure provider, has announced its expansion to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It follows the approval granted by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) to enter the Regulatory Sandbox for Financial Technology and Innovation (JoRegBox). Fuze is the first business of its kind to be accepted to the sandbox and will invest and collaborate with regulators to build seamless, compliant digital asset solutions that are tailor-made for regulated banks and fintechs in Jordan.

The announcement was made at an official ceremony hosted by His Excellency Dr. Adel Al-Sharkas, Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, alongside Deputy Governors His Excellency Mr. Ziad Asa’ad Ghanma and His Excellency Dr. Khaldoun Abdullah Al-Wshah, and the Chairman of the Jordan Securities Commission, His Excellency Mr. Emad Abu Haltam, amongst other senior officials.

Fuze’s participation in the regulatory sandbox aligns directly with the objectives of Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision 2033 and the Central Bank’s Financial Technology and Innovation Vision. These strategic initiatives prioritise innovation, digital transformation and the development of compliant financial services as key drivers of sustainable economic growth.

Mohammed Ali Yusuf (Mo Ali Yusuf), CEO of Fuze said, “We are humbled and privileged to be selected by the Central Bank of Jordan to support the advancement of virtual assets within the Kingdom. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Jordan’s regulated financial institutions and explore compliant ways to enhance financial services and enable the population to safely trade and own digital assets.”

Fuze has scaled rapidly across the Middle East and Africa in recent years, prioritising expansion to countries with clearly defined regulations for digital assets. By joining JoRegBox and operating within the Jordan FinTech and Innovation Hub (Jo-FinTech), Fuze will be able to test digital financial products in a real operating environment with real customers, under the supervision and oversight of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ).

Visit fuze.finance for more information.

For more details, visit: Website http://fuze.finance

Disclaimer: The information contained in this press release is for general informational purposes only. Fuze and its subsidiaries, including Morpheus Software Technology FZE, are licensed by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in the United Arab Emirates as a broker-dealer in virtual assets. Morpheus Software Technology FZE has received approval from the Central Bank of Jordan, in coordination with the Jordan Securities Commission, to participate in the Jordan Regulatory Sandbox (JoRegBox) for the testing of digital asset services in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy, sell, or deal in virtual assets or to provide financial services or investment advice, or any regulated activity in any jurisdiction. Virtual assets are subject to significant risks, including price volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and potential loss of value. Nothing in this press release should be construed as a guarantee of any particular outcome, return, or regulatory status. Fuze does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek independent legal, financial and tax advice from a qualified professional advisor before making any financial or investment decisions.

This article was originally published as CBJ approves Fuze for JoRegBox sandbox in Jordan on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

編集者のノート: デロイトのクウェートにおけるServiceNowパートナーシップの拡大は、中東におけるデジタル政府や民間部門の近代化を加速するためのターゲットを絞った取り組みを示しています。この社説は、AI駆動のワークフロー、地域のデリバリーチーム、業界に特化したプログラムが効率性、市民サービス、および経済発展をどのように促進できるかを強調しながら、地域の成長アジェンダの中でこの取引を位置付けています。クウェートの公的および民間部門がスマートテクノロジーを受け入れる中で、このコラボレーションは、グローバルなベストプラクティスに基づいた実践的で地域に根ざした変革を提供することを目的としています。以下のプレスリリースには、発表とその政府、金融サービス、エネルギー、インフラストラクチャー全体に対する期待される影響が詳述されています。

Poland’s president Karol Nawrocki vetoed Bill 2064, the second attempt to domestically align the country’s crypto rules with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation framework, intensifying uncertainty as the MiCA transition deadline approaches. Nawrocki’s Thursday action follows an earlier veto of a closely related measure in December, with the president describing both bills as “practically identical” to prior attempts. The decision underscores a broader political split over how aggressively Poland should regulate digital assets, even as industry groups warn that the absence of a timely, domestically implemented MiCA framework could leave local actors and foreign operators at odds with the EU regime. The government, for its part, pointed to MiCA’s overarching framework and the need to prepare a coherent national path, but the veto leaves a regulatory gap lingering into the summer window.

Key takeaways

Poland’s president vetoed Bill 2064, marking the second MiCA-alignment attempt blocked by the executive and injecting renewed uncertainty ahead of the EU-wide transition.

The Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) warned that Poland has not designated a competent authority to supervise the crypto market, highlighting a gap as the July 1, 2026 MiCA deadline nears.

Foreign MiCA-licensees will be able to operate in Poland, while Polish firms face an uncertain licensing path domestically, creating regulatory asymmetry that critics say favors non‑Polish entities.

Industry voices; Kanga Exchange and Zonda Crypto officials stress that they have prepared alternative jurisdictional strategies to continue operations, signaling a counter-play to uncertain domestic rules.

Polish economist Krzysztof Piech is reportedly drafting a crypto-friendly MiCA implementation bill, signaling ongoing legislative experimentation as the debate unfolds.

Tickers mentioned: $COIN

Sentiment: Neutral

Market context: The MiCA transition is unfolding across the EU, with a hard deadline of July 1, 2026. In Poland, the lack of a domestically enacted MiCA law has produced an uneven regulatory landscape relative to foreign players licensed under MiCA, potentially shaping market access and competitive dynamics as exchanges and fintechs plan their compliance pathways.

Why it matters

The veto spotlights a central tension in Poland’s crypto policy: how to reconcile domestic rules with a broad EU framework that aims to standardize oversight across member states. The KNF’s warning—that Poland has not designated a competent supervisory authority—adds urgency to this debate, because MiCA enforcement hinges on clear national governance. Without a designated authority, Polish platforms could confront delays or regulatory uncertainty that complicate onboarding processes for new products, licensing, and cross-border operations. The absence of a robust national regime also risks creating a regulatory mismatch with foreign firms that secure MiCA licenses outside Poland, then passport services back into the country.

Industry players have signaled they anticipated the possibility of delays and adapted accordingly. Sławek Zawadzki, co-CEO of Kanga Exchange, emphasized that the group had prepared alternative jurisdictional solutions from the outset, should Polish law fall behind the EU timetable. He stressed that this approach was preemptive rather than reactive, as regulatory clarity remained the ultimate objective. The sentiment inside the industry reflects a broader push to attract innovation while avoiding onerous rules that could curb growth. The situation also has implications for smaller Polish operators, some of whom may struggle if licensing avenues within Poland remain uncertain or blocked for an extended period.

Meanwhile, the debate has drawn political attention from figures who view the current drafts as too heavy-handed. Tomasz Mentzen has publicly criticized the proposed measures as excessive regulation that could stifle the sector, highlighting a political fault line over how to nurture crypto entrepreneurship while protecting consumers. In the wake of Nawrocki’s veto, some observers are pushing for a more crypto-friendly approach that retains EU alignment but tailors compliance to Poland’s market realities.

The broader EU context remains in focus. The MiCA framework aims to harmonize licensing, consumer protections, and market surveillance across member states, potentially enabling cross-border service provision and easier access for crypto firms willing to operate under EU rules. Yet the Polish episode illustrates how national prerogatives, industry interests, and regulatory sequencing can complicate the transition, particularly for domestic businesses that have long operated outside the European licensing regime. A foreign operator such as Coinbase, for instance, has already expanded operations in Poland after securing a MiCA license elsewhere in the EU, a move that underscores the regulatory asymmetry highlighted by Polish executives. Coinbase (EXCHANGE: COIN) is a notable example of how companies leverage EU licensing to access Polish markets, while domestic players seek a similar doorway that remains blocked by the absence of a Polish MiCA implementing law.

As the debate evolves, Piech’s reported draft could offer a path forward. The economist indicated on social media that a crypto-friendly MiCA implementation bill is in the final stages of preparation, signaling that policy makers are considering alternatives that could balance EU standards with domestic industry needs. The outcome will influence not only Polish exchanges but also the broader ecosystem of wallets, DeFi projects, and custody providers seeking regulatory clarity in Poland as they plan product launches and capital formation strategies.

In short, the veto does not end the MiCA adaptation conversation in Poland; it reframes the terms of the debate and compounds the incentives for faster, clearer, and more pragmatic regulation that can support innovation while maintaining consumer protections.

What to watch next

Dispatch of a new Polish MiCA proposal or revised framework from lawmakers in the coming months.

Any designation of a national competent authority for crypto market supervision and the associated implementing rules.

Actions by Polish exchanges and fintechs evaluating licensing pathways outside Poland, including passporting possibilities under MiCA.

Further public statements from KNF and the president’s office clarifying timelines and expectations for compliance.

Sources & verification

KNF announcement outlining the lack of a designated competent authority and MiCA deadlines.

Statement from President Nawrocki regarding the veto and his critique of the bills as “wrong law.”

Bill 2064 text and related Sejm records detailing the legislative path and prior vetoes (Bill 1424).

Reports on Coinbase expanding operations in Poland and securing a MiCA license in Luxembourg in 2025.

Public remarks from Kanga Exchange’s Sławek Zawadzki about alternative jurisdictional strategies and the impact on Polish firms.

Polish economist Krzysztof Piech’s discussion of a crypto-friendly MiCA implementation bill draft.

Poland’s MiCA standoff shapes a critical summer for crypto regulation

The ongoing impasse surrounding Poland’s implementation of MiCA illustrates how national political dynamics can slow the adoption of a unified EU regime. Nawrocki’s veto signals a preference for tightly scoped, industry-friendly regulations that avoid overburdening participants in Poland’s crypto market, even as EU-wide transitions press ahead. The KNF’s warning about the absence of a designated supervisory body crystallizes the operational risk for exchanges that must navigate both Polish expectations and EU-level standards. In practice, foreign operators licensed under MiCA may enjoy a smoother entry into Poland than purely domestic firms, a situation that could influence investment decisions, product development, and the competitive landscape in the near term.

As industry leaders recalibrate, Piech’s forthcoming draft could provide a viable compromise—one that preserves MiCA’s core protections while offering a regulatory path tailored to Poland’s market structure. In parallel, the market will be watching for concrete steps from the government and supervisory authorities that clarify licensing routes and supervisory responsibilities, a move that could unlock new liquidity channels and support for innovation in the Polish crypto ecosystem. The summer period will thus be pivotal for investors, founders, and operators seeking stability, certainty, and alignment with Europe’s broader regulatory architecture.

This article was originally published as Poland President Again Vetoes MiCA, Crypto Firms Seek Licenses Abroad on Crypto Breaking News – your trusted source for crypto news, Bitcoin news, and blockchain updates.

主なポイント：

カルダノの創設者チャールズ・ホスキンソンは、暗号市場の疲労が広がっていると述べており、小売投資家の参加が2021年のピーク以来、トップ100コインの中で30％以上減少しています。

彼は、この減少が繰り返されるブームとバストのサイクルや、高プロファイルのプロジェクトの失敗によって引き起こされていると述べています。

将来の成長はAI、プライバシー、ユーザーエクスペリエンスにあります：AI駆動の経済エージェント、強化されたプライバシー機能、および次世代ウォレットを統合したプラットフォームは、ユーザーを引き付け、維持するためにより良い位置にあり、持続可能な採用を促進します。

TRM Labsからの新しい調査結果は、主要な取引所がプライバシーに焦点を当てたトークンを引き下げたにもかかわらず、モネロの活動が堅調であることを示しています。この研究は、2024年と2025年の取引利用が2022年以前の水準を上回っており、上場廃止やコンプライアンスの圧力が高まっているにもかかわらず需要が持続していることを示唆しています。今年のドバイ国際金融センター（DIFC）の規制姿勢は、ライセンスを受けたプラットフォームでプライバシーコインを禁止しており、匿名ツールに対する規制の広がりを浮き彫りにしました。このような背景の中で、より広範な市場はリスクの欲求と規制の監視の複雑な混合を示しており、観察者たちはプライバシー指向の資産が流動性と執行の力をどのように乗り越えるかを注視しています。

SBIホールディングスは、東京に上場している金融グループで、シンガポールに本拠を置くCoinhakoの支配権を追求することで、暗号通貨への取り組みを強化しています。完全子会社であるSBIベンチャーズアセットを通じて、SBIはCoinhakoの親会社であるHoldbuildとの間で、資本注入と既存の投資家からの株式取得に関する非拘束的な意向書に署名しました。この取引が進展すれば、SBIは過半数の株式を確保し、Coinhakoは規制当局の承認を条件に連結子会社となります。金融条件は公開されておらず、投資構造は議論中です。この提案は、SBIが単一の取引プラットフォームを超えて国際的なデジタル資産インフラを構築するという広範な野心を示しています。トークン化された証券やステーブルコインに関するベンチャーを含んでいます。

BVNKとYouGovによる国境を越えたスナップショットは、ステーブルコインがニッチな暗号ウォレットから主流の給与支払いや日常的な支出に移行していることを示しています。このオンライン調査は、2025年9月と10月に15か国で現在暗号通貨を保有しているか取得を計画している4,658人の成人を対象に実施され、ドルおよびユーロにペッグされたコインを収入、送金、購入に使用する意欲が広がっていることを明らかにしています。主な調査結果には、39%がすでにステーブルコインで収入を受け取っていること、27%が日常の支払いに使用していること、そして平均保有額は世界中で約200ドルであり、高所得経済圏では約1,000ドルに上昇していることが含まれています。また、データは銀行やフィンテックを通じたウォレットアクセスと連携したデビットカードの使用に対する強い需要を示唆しています。

クラーケンは、アメリカの子供たちのためのホワイトハウス支援の貯蓄コンセプトに沿った成長する暗号企業の名簿に加わりました。これは、政策に優しい州が産業参加をどのように形作るかを示しています。この取引所は、18歳未満の子供たちのためのトランプアカウントプログラムを支持した最新の企業であり、公共の種資金と民間セクターの関与を組み合わせたパイロットイニシアチブです。この動きは、ワイオミング州の法律制定者によって、州のガバナンスから規制環境に至るまでの暗号に優しい気候を育成するためのより広範な努力の一環として公に位置付けられました。クラーケンのリーダーシップは、この決定がより広い哲学を反映していると述べました。すなわち、早期の金融機会はアクセス可能で手頃であるべきであり、この感情は、思慮深く責任ある規制枠組みを誇るワイオミング州の公務員によっても反響されています。