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Polygon just pulled off something no one saw coming. It flipped Ethereum in daily transaction fees. For the first time ever.

On Friday alone, Polygon brought in about $407,100 in fees. Ethereum? Around $211,700. That is almost double.

Activity on Polymarket has exploded, and prediction markets are suddenly turning into serious revenue engines.

Key Takeaways

Polygon generated $407,100 in daily fees, surpassing Ethereum’s $211,700 for the first time.

Polymarket drove the surge with $15 million wagered on a single Oscars betting category.

The platform accounted for over $1 million in generated fees on the Layer 2 network in just seven days.

What Is Driving the Fee Flip?

The reason is simple, Polymarket. Oscars pulled in serious retail flow, with more than $15 million wagered on a single category over the weekend.

Source: DefiLlama

Polygon did not climb the fee charts by accident. Almost all of the recent growth came from Polymarket activity, which generated over $1 million in network fees in just a week.

Compared to Polymarket, the next biggest app on Polygon barely made a dent.

Polygon vs Ethereum: The Numbers Behind the Shift

Over the weekend, Polygon briefly pulled ahead in daily fees before the gap tightened again, with both chains trading blows within a narrow range.

Polygon just hit an all-time high in daily USDC transactions

And it's not even close.
12M+ daily USDC txs on Polygon
Every other chain? Below 3M
Base, Arbitrum, Ethereum Mainnet barely register pic.twitter.com/SVlf5ci2xm

— Leon Waidmann (@LeonWaidmann) February 17, 2026

The reason is practical. Cost. Polygon transactions average around $0.0026. On Ethereum, you are looking at roughly $1.68. If you are placing multiple small bets or making quick moves, that difference matters. A lot.

Lower fees mean more volume. More volume means more revenue. It is that simple.

At the same time, Ethereum is dealing with its own narrative pressure after large whale movements added volatility concerns. So while Ethereum remains dominant structurally, Polygon is proving that consumer driven activity can shift revenue flows quickly.

The post Polygon Flips Ethereum in Daily Fees as Polymarket Oscar Betting Hits $15M appeared first on Cryptonews.

The head of the Germany Bundesbank is now openly backing euro based crypto stablecoins and even a retail CBDC. That is a big shift.

Joachim Nagel is not framing this as optional. He says Europe needs these tools to protect itself from the dominance of the US dollar.

The tone has changed from cautious to urgent. With the EU pushing ahead on MiCA rules, Europe clearly does not want to fall behind the US in shaping the future of digital money.

Key Takeaways

Strategic Pivot: Bundesbank President Nagel backs private stablecoins to reduce cross-border payment costs and bolster EU financial independence.

Monetary Sovereignty: The move aims to counter the dominance of USD-pegged assets, which currently control the majority of the stablecoin market.

Wholesale Innovation: Nagel specifically highlighted wholesale CBDCs for enabling programmable payments between financial institutions.

Why Is The Germany Bundesbank Pushing for Crypto Adoption Now?

This is not just policy talk. It is about control of the digital payment rails. Speaking in Frankfurt, Nagel made it clear that Europe needs to secure its own settlement infrastructure before it falls further behind.

Source: Joachim Nagel

Dollar backed stablecoins already command more than $310 billion in market value. Euro based liquidity is tiny in comparison. That gap worries regulators. Without a serious alternative, Europe risks drifting into what some call digital dollarization.

And the clock is ticking. The US is moving quickly on stablecoin legislation, which could lock in dollar dominance even deeper. Nagel stance reflects a push to protect monetary sovereignty before the balance tilts too far.

The Blueprint: Programmable Money and Wholesale CBDCs

Nagel drew a clear line between retail tools and banking infrastructure. For institutions, he favors a wholesale CBDC that would let banks settle programmable payments directly in central bank money. That is something traditional systems simply cannot do today.

For the private sector, he is more open to stablecoins. He acknowledged that euro denominated stablecoins could offer cheap and efficient cross border payments for both individuals and businesses.

The tone is noticeably different from recent warnings about the risks of foreign stablecoins dominating the system. Now the focus is on building competitive euro based options instead of just sounding the alarm. It shows how quickly the global conversation around digital payments is evolving.

Can the Euro Compete with the Dollar?

The upside is huge if Europe actually follows through. S&P Global Ratings estimates euro pegged stablecoins could reach €570 billion by 2030 under normal adoption trends. That is not niche. That is systemic scale.

LATEST: Euro-pegged stablecoins could explode 1,600x to €1.1 trillion by 2030 as 11 European banks prepare to launch a joint euro stablecoin in late 2026, according to S&P Global Ratings. pic.twitter.com/aO5faRR287

— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) February 4, 2026

But regulation cuts both ways. MiCA gives Europe clearer rules than the US right now, yet strict capital requirements could slow innovation if applied too aggressively.

At the same time, political scrutiny around foreign digital assets is rising everywhere. The fight over stablecoin dominance will not just play out on chain. It will unfold in legislative chambers too.

The key is timing. Both the US and Europe are moving on final rules. A digital Euro is no longer theoretical. The only question left is how quickly it rolls out.

The post Germany Central Bank President Endorses Crypto Stablecoins Under EU MiCA Framework appeared first on Cryptonews.

Crypto regulation might finally be getting real structure. President Donald Trump just confirmed that a full crypto structure bill is close to passing. That is not small talk. That is a potential turning point.

For years, the CFTC and SEC have been battling over who controls what. Now it sounds like a clearer rulebook could arrive sooner than expected.

Key Takeaways

Presidential Confirmation: Trump signals imminent passage of S. 3755/H.R. 3633 framework.

Jurisdiction Split: Legislation formally divides oversight between SEC (securities) and CFTC (commodities).

Rapid Timeline: Provisional registration for exchanges expected within 180 days of enactment.

The End of the Regulatory Turf War?

The House already moved first. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act passed last July, laying out a framework that splits oversight between the CFTC and SEC. The real bottleneck has been the Senate.

In late January, the Senate Agriculture Committee narrowly advanced its own version, the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, in a tight 12 to 11 vote. That shows how divided the room still is.

There has been pushback too. Major industry players like Coinbase criticized earlier drafts, saying they boxed in DeFi and made stablecoin rules too restrictive.

BREAKING : President Trump says the #Crypto #Market Structure Bill is set to move forward soon.

Big developments ahead for the $crypto space. pic.twitter.com/1yn2giFXRL

— SmartViewAI.Com (@smartviewai) February 17, 2026

By stepping in now, Trump is trying to break that gridlock and push the bill across the finish line after earlier Senate efforts stalled.

Mechanics of the New Crypto Market Structure Bill

Under the proposal, the CFTC would take primary control over digital commodities like Bitcoin and Ethereum. That alone would clear up years of confusion.

The bill also gives brokers and exchanges a 180 day window to register and secure provisional status once it becomes law. That is a fast track compared to the current gray zone many platforms operate in.

The goal is to end the murky compliance environment that has left firms exposed to freezes and counterparty risk.

I'm excited to announce the members of the @CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee. The IAC’s broad financial sector insights will help the CFTC future-proof its markets and develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets.https://t.co/vv0sC8Mr1v?

— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) February 12, 2026

CFTC Chairman Michael Selig has suggested the bill could reach the President within months. That lines up with other moves aimed at pulling crypto deeper into traditional finance. The framework would also require joint SEC and CFTC rulemaking within 18 months to sort out complex areas like mixed transactions and margin structures.

Market Implications and Deadlines

Passage of this bill would likely trigger a repricing of “commodity” assets currently suppressed by SEC lawsuits.

However, hurdles remain. The Senate Banking Committee still needs to reconcile its version with the Ag Committee’s draft before the February 28 White House deadline for stablecoin frameworks.

Meanwhile, scrutiny hasn’t vanished. Congressional leaders continue to urge probes into Trump-linked ventures like WLFI, ensuring that while regulation arrives, political volatility isn’t going anywhere.

The post President Trump Says Crypto Market Structure Bill Will Pass Soon appeared first on Cryptonews.

While prices starkly contrast with recent highs, global crypto adoption continues advancing quietly in the background.

A mix of technical signals and ongoing developments suggests that XRP, Ethereum and Cardano could be posting fresh highs by summer.

Below is a breakdown of what the charts are signaling.

XRP (XRP): Ripple’s SWIFT Challenger Targets a $5 Move

With a market cap of $91 billion, XRP ($XRP) is the largest crypto for cross-border payments.

Ripple engineered the XRP Ledger (XRPL) to serve as a next-generation alternative to SWIFT, enabling faster settlement times and lower costs for banks and financial institutions.

The company has recently doubled down on its vision, underscoring XRPL’s readiness for institutional payment rails and real-world asset tokenization, while reinforcing XRP’s core role in powering the network.

XRP has also drawn attention from major institutions. Both the United Nations Capital Development Fund and the White House have pointed to Ripple’s potential in enhancing global payment infrastructure.

Additionally, U.S. regulators recently approved spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), giving institutional and retail investors regulated exposure to XRP.

Should the market turn bullish, XRP could hit a new ATH by summer.

Ethereum (ETH): The Foundation of DeFi Could Challenge ATH Soon

Ethereum ($ETH) dominates decentralized finance and the broader Web3 ecosystem with a market capitalization of $238 billion.

With around $55 billion locked across its applications, Ethereum remains the most commercially active blockchain in the industry.

In a bullish scenario, ETH could breach the $5,000 resistance zone as early as June, exceeding its prior ATH of $4,946 set last August.

Longer term, Ethereum’s path toward five-figure valuations will largely depend on clearer U.S. regulatory guidance and favorable macroeconomic conditions. Both are critical for accelerating institutional adoption in areas such as stablecoins and real-world asset tokenization.

For now, ETH is trading below its 30-day moving average, with an oversold RSI near 30. For bulls, this zone could be the best chance to accumulate.

Cardano (ADA): An Academic Approach to Building the Next DeFi Powerhouse

Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson launched Cardano ($ADA) in 2015, with the network going live two years later.

Cardano is built on a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism grounded in peer-reviewed academic research, a philosophy that continues to distinguish it within the competitive Layer-1 landscape.

With a market cap of over $10 billion and TVL of roughly $134 million, ADA remains sizable but still has plenty of headroom before it can seriously challenge Solana as the leading “Ethereum killer.”

Despite a general decline since Q4 2025, a large bullish falling wedge pattern that emerged toward the end of 2026 suggests the potential for a breakout. If confirmed, ADA could push through key resistance levels and climb toward $1.50 by the end of Q1.

Should US lawmakers pass the CLARITY Act, Cardano may revisit its ATH of $3.09 sooner rather than later.

New Bitcoin Presale Brings Solana-Level Performance to BTC

While these blue-chip networks are relatively safe plays in the volatile world of crypto, the biggest upside this cycle may lie in early-stage disruptors like Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), a new project that has investors talking about potentially outsized gains when it lists.

This buzzy project aims to introduce Solana’s speed and utility to Bitcoin through a dedicated Layer-2 solution, significantly reduce transaction costs at the same time.

It gives BTC holders the power to stake assets, earn yield, trade tokens and interact with smart contracts without transferring funds off the Bitcoin network, dramatically broadening Bitcoin’s use cases.

With more than $31 million already raised and rising interest from major wallets and exchanges, $HYPER is emerging as one of the most closely watched crypto launches of the year.

Investors looking to secure $HYPER at a fixed presale price can visit the official Bitcoin Hyper website and connect a supported wallet such as Best Wallet.

Purchases can also be made using a bank card.

Visit the Official Website Here

The post Crypto Price Prediction Today 16 February – XRP, Ethereum, Cardano appeared first on Cryptonews.

Feeding Google’s Gemini AI careful prompts unlocks explosive 2026 price predictions for XRP, Solana, and Bitcoin.

Given the fact that Gemini leverages Google’s expansive data set, these compelling predictions are grounded in hard analysis of the projects’ fundamental strengths, overall roadmap and ongoing macro and industry developments.

Below we unpack why Gemini is bullish on these specific coins.

XRP ($XRP): Gemini Suggests Ripple’s Payments Solution Could Drive XRP to $10

In a recent update, Ripple reiterated that XRP ($XRP) remains central to its roadmap of establishing the XRP Ledger as a global, institution-ready payments layer.

Source: Gemini

With near-instant settlement speeds and minimal transaction costs, XRPL is in a position to benefit from growth in two rapidly expanding sectors: stablecoins, (via Ripple’s in-house RLUSD), and real-world asset tokenization.

The XRP token is currently trading around $1.49. Gemini’s outlook points to a potential move toward $10 by late 2026, implying a near-sevenfold gain, or roughly 600%, from current prices.

XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 42 and climbing quickly, a hint that investors are quietly stacking it at its current discounted price.

Possible momentum drivers include institutional capital flows following the approval of U.S.-listed spot XRP exchange-traded funds, Ripple’s expanding list of strategic partnerships, and the possibility of U.S. lawmakers finalizing the CLARITY bill later this year.

Solana (SOL): Gemini Projects a Climb Toward $600

The Solana ($SOL) network currently secures approximately $6.6 billion in total value locked (TVL) and carries a market capitalization near $50 billion. Increased on-chain activity, developer engagement, and daily user growth have supported its expansion.

The rollout of Solana-linked exchange-traded funds by firms such as Bitwise and Grayscale has further boosted institutional interest.

That said, following an extended correction in late 2025, SOL has spent much of February trading below the $100 level.

Under Gemini’s most optimistic scenario, Solana could rally toward $600 by 2027. Such a move would represent 7x upside from current levels around $84, comfortably exceeding SOL’s January 2025 ATH of $293.

Asset managers including Franklin Templeton and BlackRock are issuing tokenized real-world assets on the network, strengthening its real-world utility and long-term growth potential.

Bitcoin (BTC): Gemini Sees $250,000 Bitcoin on the Horizon

Bitcoin ($BTC), the original cryptocurrency and largest by market cap, reached a new all-time high of $126,080 on October 6 before entering a prolonged downturn.

Despite recent volatility, Gemini’s analysis indicates that Bitcoin can sustain its year-on-year growth and hit a new high watermark of $250,000.

Often referred to as digital gold, Bitcoin continues to attract institutional and retail investors seeking a hedge against inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Bitcoin currently represents roughly $1.4 trillion of the $2.4 trillion total crypto market. Since setting its most recent ATH, BTC has fallen by around 46% and now trades below $70,000, following two sharp selloffs as potential U.S. military actions involving Iran and Greenland scared risk averse investors.

Gemini’s outlook highlights accelerating institutional adoption and post-halving supply constraints as key forces that could drive Bitcoin to multiple new highs this year.

Additionally, if U.S. lawmakers move forward with proposals to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Bitcoin’s long-term upside could extend even beyond Gemini’s already bullish forecasts.

Maxi Doge: A New Meme Coin Enters the Frame

Finally, while Gemini’s analysis centers on the steady advance of established market leaders, high-risk-high-reward seekers are diversifying their portfolios with Maxi Doge ($MAXI), a sensational new pre-launch token sale that has already pulled $4.6 million from investors.

The project revolves around Maxi Doge, a gym-obsessed, Dogecoin challenger who channels the fun and outrageous spirit of the 2021 bull run, aka the meme coin heyday.

Additionally, presale buyers can stake MAXI for yields of up to 68% APY, with returns gradually declining as the staking pool grows.

MAXI is priced at $0.0002804 in the current presale round, with planned price increases at each funding milestone. Interested participants can purchase using wallets such as MetaMask and Best Wallet, or via bank card.

Stay updated through Maxi Doge’s official X and Telegram pages.

Visit the Official Website Here

The post Google’s Gemini AI Predicts the Price of XRP, Solana and Bitcoin By the End of 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin Funding rates across major exchanges have collapsed to their most negative levels since August 2024.

Back then, the market looked equally convinced that lower prices were inevitable. Instead, that extreme short crowding marked a major bottom and preceded an 83% rally over the following months.

Source: Santiment

We are seeing a similar structure now. Traders are aggressively positioned for downside. Shorts are piling in.

At the same time, on-chain data shows profit cushions are thin. NUPL has returned to the 0.18 zone, historically associated with Hope and Fear.

In this regime, markets become reactive. Small moves trigger outsized responses because holders lack deep unrealized gains to buffer volatility.

Sentiment remains cautious. ETF outflows and macro uncertainty keep the bearish narrative alive. But crowded trades rarely unwind quietly.

The setup is not about pure technical strength. It is about positioning risk. If Bitcoin’s price clears the $70,000 to $70,600 range, the short squeeze thesis will gain credibility quickly.

Key Takeaways

Negative funding rates across exchanges have hit 2024 lows, indicating extreme bearish sentiment.

A break above the $70,610 resistance level could trigger a massive Bitcoin short squeeze targeting $76,000.

On-chain signals show thin profit margins, guaranteeing high market volatility in the short term.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Is BTC Setting Up for a Violent Squeeze?

On the chart, Bitcoin has already broken out of that steep descending channel and is now grinding just below the $70K to $71K supply zone.

That area matters. It lines up cleanly with prior resistance. Above $71K, resistance thins out toward $80K, with $90K and even $98K acting as higher air pockets if momentum builds.

Source: BTCUSD / TradingView

$64K remains the line that holds the structure together. If that fails, $60K becomes the final major demand zone before the chart starts looking unstable again.

Now add positioning. Funding is deeply negative. Shorts are crowded. NUPL sits in the Hope and Fear range. That combination often creates fuel for a sharp upside when resistance breaks.

So technically, Bitcoin is compressing under a key ceiling. Structurally, it is no longer in free fall. And positioning suggests the market is leaning heavily short.

When Bitcoin Sets Up for a Squeeze, Bitcoin Hyper Adds Fuel

Bitcoin still moves in heavy waves. It needs macro alignment, ETF stability, and strong spot demand to fully ignite. That takes time.

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is built for speed.

This Bitcoin-focused Layer-2, powered by Solana technology, makes BTC faster, cheaper, and usable for real on-chain activity without changing core security. It captures Bitcoin’s narrative strength while unlocking functionality that the base layer cannot provide on its own.

Momentum is already visible. The Bitcoin Hyper presale has raised over $31 million so far, with $HYPER priced at $0.0136751 before the next increase. Staking rewards currently reach up to 37%.

If Bitcoin squeezes, Bitcoin Hyper accelerates. If Bitcoin stalls, Bitcoin Hyper still moves.

Visit the Official Bitcoin Hyper Website Here

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Shorts Hit Their Most Extreme Level Since the 2024 Bottom – Is a Massive Squeeze Coming? appeared first on Cryptonews.

February is putting XRP price prediction under pressure.

Over 50 million XRP hit the market in less than 12 hours, and price reacted instantly.

A heavy wave of selling on Upbit pushed XRP back below key levels, wiping out short-term momentum.

Source: Traderview

Upon that, Sentiment flipped. Prediction markets now show less than a 6% chance of XRP reclaiming $2 before March. That is not breakout positioning.

Demand is climbing. Liquidity is still thin. Even with some on-chain accumulation in the background, the short-term structure remains fragile.

Now the market is asking the only question that matters. Was that the reset, or just the beginning?

Xrp (XRP)

24h7d30d1yAll time

XRP Price Prediction: Can Still Do Well If You Ask Me

Despite all that panic selling and the 50M XRP dump, price is actually trying to stabilize here.

On the chart, XRP is still respecting that broader descending channel, but it just printed a sharp bounce off the $1.10–$1.30 support cluster.

Now it is pushing back toward the channel resistance around $1.50. That is the key wall. If price gets rejected there, the structure stays weak, and a move back toward $1.30 is on the table again. Lose that, and $1.10 becomes a real target again.

But if bulls manage to reclaim and hold above that descending trendline, things shift quickly.

A clean break and hold above $1.50 opens the path toward $1.90, and that is where momentum could really start to rebuild.

Many whales are getting bored and have already started looking elsewhere. New coins like Maxi Doge are benefiting from that.

They Looked Elsewhere. They Found Maxi Doge.

While XRP fights descending resistance, momentum hunters are already scanning for cleaner setups. In choppy conditions, capital rarely waits. It rotates.

That is where Maxi Doge ($MAXI) comes in.

Maxi Doge is not trying to reclaim a broken channel. It is built for explosive shifts in sentiment. Clear meme identity. High-conviction positioning. Community-driven energy that thrives when larger caps stall.

Early traction is already strong. The $MAXI presale has raised around $4.6 million so far, with staking rewards offering up to 68% APY for early participants.

When majors look fragile, meme momentum often moves first. Maxi Doge is positioned exactly for that window.

Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here

The post XRP Price Prediction: A 50M Token Sell-Off Just Rocked the Market — Is More Downside Coming? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin just got hit with one of its most extreme warnings yet. A well known strategist is calling this an imploding bubble, with a potential slide toward $10,000 price point.

That would mean roughly 85% downside from current levels. A scenario that sounds unthinkable to many, but impossible to ignore when it is coming from experienced market voices.

Bitcoin (BTC)

24h7d30d1yAll time

Is the Bubble Finally Bursting?

Mike McGlone, senior commodity strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, is not calling this a healthy pullback. He says the crypto story needs a reality check.

In his view, capital is rotating into the so called AI scare trade and away from digital assets.

Collapsing Bitcoin/Cryptos May Guide the Next Recession –

"Healthy Correction" is what we should hear soon from stock market analysts (who risk unemployment if not onboard), following collapsing cryptos. The buy the dips mantra since 2008 may be over, here's why:

– US stock… pic.twitter.com/fPPc2fV3EU

— Mike McGlone (@mikemcglone11) February 15, 2026

McGlone describes it as a post inflation deflation cycle. When inflation fades, the most speculative assets usually feel it first.

He also points to Bitcoin’s tight link with tech stocks. That correlation used to help. Now it is a risk. If tech gets pressured by AI disruption fears, crypto can get dragged down with it.

Bitcoin Price “Possible” Path to $10,000

The numbers are not comforting. McGlone points to $64,000 as the key level right now.

If Bitcoin price closes below that level, he believes the door opens to a much deeper deflationary slide, potentially all the way toward $10,000.

Technical breakdowns can accelerate downside momentum, but projecting a drop from $64,000 to $10,000 implies a full macro reset comparable to 2018 or 2022. Those episodes were driven by forced deleveraging events and systemic liquidity shocks, conditions not currently evident in credit markets.

Source: BTCUSD / TradingView

Roughly $678 million left Bitcoin ETFs in February, extending a multibillion dollar selloff that started in November. Still, ETF positioning must be viewed in context.

Total assets under management across major vehicles remain significantly higher than pre-approval levels. A multi-billion-dollar unwind would be more concerning if it erased the entirety of prior inflows — which has not occurred.

Some on chain models place a more moderate bear market floor near $55,000. But McGlone’s thesis assumes a harsher unwind.

He also highlights aggressive profit taking in gold and silver, arguing that liquidity is being pulled from risk assets broadly. In that kind of environment, Bitcoin would not be immune.

It is important to note that Mike McGlone is mostly bearish on Bitcoin. He has been accurate on some longer-term upside milestones in the distant past, but his Bitcoin-specific predictions have mostly not come true on schedule, or at all.

Mike Mcglone Can’t Say The Same About Bitcoin Hyper

Bitcoin still depends on macro liquidity, ETF flows, and correlation with tech. When those wobble, price grinds. Momentum fades. Traders wait.

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is built differently.

This Bitcoin-focused Layer-2, powered by Solana technology, adds speed, lower fees, and real on-chain utility without changing Bitcoin core security. It is designed for activity, not just holding through volatility.

And traction is already building. The Bitcoin Hyper presale has raised over $31 million so far, with $HYPER priced at $0.0136751 before the next increase. Staking rewards currently reach up to 37%.

If Bitcoin spends months debating whether $64K holds or collapses, Bitcoin Hyper is positioned to move regardless of that macro noise.

Visit the Official Bitcoin Hyper Website Here

The post This Top Analyst Warns Bitcoin Price Could Fall to $10,000 as Bear Market Deepens appeared first on Cryptonews.

Chicago-based institutional trading firm BlockFills has halted client withdrawals and deposits, locking traders out of their funds just as market volatility begins to spike.

In light of recent market and financial conditions, and to further the protection of clients and the firm, BlockFills took the action last week of temporarily suspending client deposits and withdrawals. Clients have been able to continue trading with BlockFills for the purpose of…

— BlockFills (@blockfills) February 11, 2026

The freeze, reported by community members and active traders, comes amid a broader liquidity crunch that is punishing leveraged positions across the board.

Halting operations during a downturn isn’t just an inconvenience; it is a massive red flag for counterparty risk.

When an execution venue goes dark while red candles are printing, it usually signals that the plumbing behind the scenes is clogging up.

Key Takeaways

BlockFills has reportedly frozen client withdrawals and deposits without immediate explanation.

The firm was averaging over $100 million in daily trading volume as of mid-2025.

Founders include veterans from Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, highlighting risks even in “institutional-grade” platforms.

BlockFill’s Institutional Pedigree is Under Pressure

This isn’t some anonymous offshore exchange run by code hobbyists. BlockFills was purpose-built by heavyweights from the traditional finance (“TradFi”) world to bring adult supervision to crypto.

The leadership team includes former executives from Deutsche Bank and Citadel, who pivoted to crypto to bridge the gap between centralized TradFi structures and fragmented crypto liquidity. They pitched themselves as the safe, compliant option for proprietary trading firms.

But pedigree doesn’t immunize you from market mechanics. The halt coincides with a brutal rejection in price action.

As Bitcoin slides following reports on US labor market revisions, liquidity providers are facing severe stress tests.

Traders rely on these platforms for 24/7 access to credit and collateral management. When that access cuts off suddenly, it implies the firm is trying to stop a run on assets or manage a credit blow-up internally.

Is the Fallen Price of Bitcoin Causing a Liquidity Crunch at BlockFill?

Why now? The market structure is thinning out. We are seeing significant capital flight, with Bitcoin ETF outflows hitting $410M as BTC slips below $66k.

When institutions pull back, ECNs (Electronic Communication Networks) like BlockFills often face imbalances. If their liquidity providers pull quotes (i.e. stop offering buy or sell prices), or margin calls start cascading, the safest move for the venue is often to freeze the pipes. That protects the house, but it leaves clients exposed to the elements.

This follows a rough quarter for trading venues globally. Even giants are feeling the pinch, with Coinbase reporting a $667M loss amid the market downturn. However, there is a massive difference between reporting a loss and freezing client assets.

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What Happens Next?

Silence is expensive in this industry. Traders are already drawing parallels to the 2022 credit contagion, where “temporary” halts often turned into permanent restructuring.

BlockFill users are now keeping vigil for an official statement regarding solvency. Is this a technical glitch, or a liquidity crisis? If the latter, it challenges the narrative that institutional infrastructure has solved crypto’s counterparty risk problem.

Analysts are watching support levels closely. While CryptoQuant suggests the ultimate Bitcoin bear market bottom could be $55,000, blocked funds can’t buy the dip.

Ultimately though, for BlockFills clients, the price of Bitcoin matters less right now than the status of their withdrawal button.

The post BlockFills Freezes Withdrawals as Bitcoin Slides, Raising Counterparty Risk Concerns appeared first on Cryptonews.

The world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, Strategy, is playing the long game with its balance sheet in a bid to keep investors bullish after Bitcoin’s recent downturn.

Founder Michael Saylor revealed Sunday that the firm plans to “equitize” its massive $6 billion convertible debt load over the next three to six years, a move designed to wipe liability off the books by turning bondholders into shareholders.

Key Takeaways

Strategy aims to convert $6 billion in bond debt into equity shares over a 3–6 year timeline to clean up its balance sheet.

The firm claims it can withstand a severe Bitcoin crash to $8,000 while maintaining sufficient assets to cover obligations.

Converting debt avoids cash repayment pressure but introduces significant dilution risks for existing MSTR shareholders.

Strategy and the Mathematics of Debt Survival

This isn’t just accounting wizardry; it is a survival mechanism for the aggressive treasury strategy initiated in 2020.

With Bitcoin currently trading around $68,750 against an average purchase price of $76,000, the firm is currently underwater on its investment.

However, Saylor insists the company is robust. According to recent posts and interviews, he maintains that Strategy can survive an 88% crash in BTC prices down to $8,000 and still cover its debts.

First time I’ve seen Saylor look nervous speaking publicly.

He can’t say anything else, but deep down he knows extreme downside scenarios aren’t impossible.$BTC pic.twitter.com/PS3NDZhYao

— Alejandro₿TC (@Alejandro_XBT) February 11, 2026

This resiliency claim is crucial because, as some analysts note, Bitcoin is acting like a growth stock, bringing high volatility that demands a steel-stomach balance sheet.

Dilution vs. Default: Strategy’s Double-Edged Sword

Equitizing convertible debt means Strategy avoids repaying the principal in cash.

Instead, bondholders get stock. While this preserves cash flow, it implies diluting current investors by expanding the share count.

Currently, 100% of Strategy’s convertible debt is “out-of-the-money,” meaning the stock price hasn’t hit the conversion trigger. This forces a choice: pay cash, refinance, or wait for the stock to pump.

Saylor remains unfazed. On X (formerly Twitter), the firm posted: “Strategy can withstand a drawdown in BTC price to $8,000 and still have sufficient assets to fully cover our debt.”

Strategy can withstand a drawdown in $BTC price to $8K and still have sufficient assets to fully cover our debt. pic.twitter.com/vrw4z4Ex9q

— Strategy (@Strategy) February 15, 2026

While recent market movements have been shaky, with Bitcoin ETF outflows of $410 million dragging prices down to the $66k range, Strategy continues to buy.

Analysts highlighted on MEXC that the $8,000 figure is a theoretical “stress floor.” If BTC drops that low, the company’s Bitcoin stash would roughly equal its debt load.

Meanwhile, institutional interest continues to grow. Just as the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, increases stakes in crypto miners, Strategy is also playing the long game with crypto.

Saylor is hoping that a few years is enough time for the asset class to mature effectively, allowing Strategy to bail out the convertible notes naturally through price appreciation.

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Can They Hold the Line?

Saylor signaled yet another purchase recently, marking 12 consecutive weeks of accumulation.

This conviction is testing the nerves of traders who know that if Bitcoin drops below $8,000, insolvency becomes a mathematical probability, according to Strategy CEO Phong Le in a recent earnings call.

If you are watching the macro picture, cooling inflation is testing investor conviction across the board. Strategy is betting the house that time is on their side.

If they are right, the equity dilution will be a small price to pay for solvency. If they are wrong, the liquidation cascade could be historic.

The post Strategy Plans to Equitize Convertible Debt Over 3–6 Years: What It Means for BTC appeared first on Cryptonews.

Standard Chartered just dropped a fear signal on Solana. They cut their 2026 target to $250. But then they doubled down on a bold $2,000 call by 2030.

That is a sharp contrast. Near term pressure. Long term conviction.

The bank sees Solana shifting away from pure speculation toward real utility. That kind of transition is rarely smooth. It can mean volatility now and growth later.

Target Adjustment: 2026 prediction cut from $310 to $250, citing transitional risks.

Long-Term Bull: 2030 target set at $2,000, driven by dominance in micropayments.

Market Signal: Analysts see the shift from memecoins to stablecoins as a key utility driver.

What Standard Chartered’s Revised Targets Mean for Solana

Standard Chartered sees Solana at a turning point. Geoffrey Kendrick, who leads digital asset research at the bank, says SOL is shifting away from its memecoin casino image and moving toward something more serious. More infrastructure. More real finance.

Source: Geoffrey Kendrick

That shift is not frictionless. The revised $250 target for 2026 reflects that transition. Growth is still there, but it may not look like the explosive runs from past cycles.

For retail investors, it is a trade off. The near term upside could be more measured. But the long term foundation looks stronger if real utility keeps building.

Solana Price Prediction: Breaking Down the New SOL Valuations

The roadmap is detailed. Standard Chartered trimmed the 2026 target to $250 from $310, expecting a period of consolidation as activity shifts.

But after that, the projections accelerates. $400 by 2027. $700 in 2028. $1,200 in 2029. And $2,000 by the end of 2030.

The thesis centers on network velocity. Stablecoin turnover on Solana is reportedly 2 to 3 times higher than on Ethereum, which makes it well suited for fast, low value transactions. That kind of throughput is what long term valuation models are leaning on.

Source: Glassnode

Solana coins have continued to leave exchanges. Historically, that kind of outflow points to accumulation. So even with a short-term downgrade, some players appear to be positioning for the bigger picture.

The post Solana Price Prediction: Standard Chartered Cuts 2026 Target, Sees $2,000 by 2030 appeared first on Cryptonews.

XRP price is sprinting. Since the February 6 low, the token has ripped about 38% to $1.55. Meanwhile, Bitcoin and Ether are crawling with gains closer to 15%.

That kind of gap does not happen by accident.

After the recent liquidation wave shook the market, traders seem to be piling into XRP as the higher beta play. When momentum comes back, capital usually chases the coins that move the fastest. Right now, that coin is XRP.

Key Takeaways

XRP has surged 38% to $1.55 since early Feb, outperforming BTC and ETH (15%).

Binance reserves dropped by 192 million XRP, signaling distinct accumulation.

Technical targets sit at $2.40 if the current supply shock narrative holds.

Is Smart Money Rotating? What Is Next For XRP Price

Bitcoin is sitting near $68,920. Ether is around $1,982. Solid recoveries, sure. But XRP has gone almost vertical, jumping more than 5% in the last 24 hours alone and racing to $1.55.

That kind of outperformance usually means money is rotating. With Bitcoin ETFs seeing outflows recently, traders are hunting for better upside elsewhere.

Xrp (XRP)

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Bitcoin still looks hesitant, trying to confirm a real reversal. XRP, right now, has clear drivers behind it. Optimism around Ripple’s regulatory positioning. Growing ETF chatter. Strong narrative.

Supply Shock Signals to Watch

There is an interesting supply squeeze building. Data shows Binance XRP reserves dropped by about 192.37 million tokens between Feb. 7 and 9. That is roughly a 7% cut, bringing total holdings down to 2.553 billion. Levels we have not seen since early 2024.

When exchange balances fall that quickly, it usually means bigger players are pulling coins into cold storage. And we have seen this movie before. A similar wave of withdrawals came right before XRP ran from $0.60 to $2.40 in late 2024.

In the short term, traders are focused on the $1.91 resistance. If that level breaks cleanly, it opens a path toward prior cycle highs.

Source: XRPUSD / TradingView

This week is a real stress test. Fed minutes are coming. Core PCE data too. Both can shake the entire market in seconds.

If macro sparks volatility, XRP will feel it. But the level that matters is $1.45. If price defends that zone while everything else is choppy, that is strength. And strength during chaos is what fuels the next leg higher.

A sustained hold above that area keeps the $2.40 target in play. Especially with options markets already pricing in a meaningful chance of that breakout this year.

The post XRP Price Outruns Bitcoin and Ether as Post-Crash Rotation Favors Ripple Token appeared first on Cryptonews.

Ethereum just had one of those moments that makes you double check the chart. A veteran whale moved around $543 million in ETH onto Binance.

Analysts are already warning that if key support levels crack, ETH could be staring at a potential 40% drop.

Key Takeaways

Whale wallet “Garrett Jin” deposited 261,024 ETH into Binance in rapid tranches.

Technical indicators show a bear pennant formation targeting a drop to $1,200.

Bears need a confirmed break below $1,950 to trigger the 40% downside move.

Is a Massive Sell-Off Beginning?

Data shows a wallet linked to early investor Garrett Jin moved exactly 261,024 ETH to Binance in three large batches. When that kind of size hits a centralized exchange, traders assume one thing. Either a major hedge or a sell.

The whale still controls more than $1.6 billion in assets, so this is not a full exit. But even a fraction of that supply hitting the market could shake things up.

Source: Arkham

Sentiment is already fragile after weak earnings across the sector and broader price weakness. If this whale starts unloading into thin spot liquidity, the order books could dry up.

Ethereum Price Path to $1,200

The chart looks tense, no doubt. Ethereum price is compressing into a classic bear pennant on the daily.

That pattern often breaks in the direction of the prior move, which was the drop from $2,800 to the $1,900 zone earlier this month.

Source: ETHUSD / TradingView

A break below $1,950 would technically open the door toward the $1,200 area.

But here is the thing. Pennants are compression patterns. And when price coils this tightly, the eventual breakout can be explosive in either direction.

If Ethereum can defend the $1,950 zone and push back above the upper trendline of the pennant, it could trap late shorts and spark a relief rally.

The post Ethereum Price Faces 40% Crash Risk as Legendary Whale Dumps $543M ETH – What Happens Next? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Washington just got a new crypto headache. Two U.S. Senators are pushing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to open an urgent national security review over a $500 million foreign investment in World Liberty Financial.

Here is where it gets tense. The money comes from a UAE backed investment vehicle and reportedly gives foreign players a 49% stake in the Trump linked crypto venture. That is a big slice.

The timing makes it even more explosive. This all surfaced just days after the inauguration, raising concerns about who might gain access to sensitive financial or user data.

Key Takeaways

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim formally requested a CFIUS probe into a UAE-backed vehicle purchasing 49% of WLFI.

The $500 million deal allegedly funnels $187 million directly to Trump-family linked entities, raising conflict of interest flags.

Lawmakers argue the structure grants foreign actors dangerous leverage over a firm collecting sensitive U.S. financial data.

The Deal and the Threat

In a letter sent Friday, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim asked Treasury to confirm whether CFIUS was even alerted about the deal.

The transaction would give a UAE backed investment vehicle nearly 49% of World Liberty Financial, the DeFi project widely promoted by the Trump family. That is not a minor stake.

Reports link the funding to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE national security adviser. If finalized, the foreign fund becomes the largest shareholder overnight.

Source: Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan And Trump / UAE Embassy

And this is happening as Trump affiliated ventures are expanding deeper into crypto, putting everything under a brighter spotlight.

The real tension is about influence. A $500 million stake is not passive money. It can mean access, leverage, and potentially sensitive internal data. For a project tied to a sitting President’s family, the optics alone are enough to spark political fire.

National Security Red Flags

The concern is not just the $500 million. It is the data.

Senators pointed out that WLFI privacy policy admits to collecting wallet addresses, device identifiers, and even approximate location data. If a foreign backed fund gains influence over a company holding that kind of financial information, it raises serious national security flags.

The letter also references executives tied to G42, a tech firm that has faced U.S. scrutiny over alleged links to China.

GM family — BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Watch what our co‑founder @DonaldJTrumpJr has to say about the World Liberty Forum. pic.twitter.com/rkTocmlkem

— WLFI (@worldlibertyfi) January 20, 2026

Warren and Kim want confirmation by March 5 on whether a formal review is underway. With Treasury pushing for clearer crypto rules, ignoring a potential security gap tied to presidential business interests could turn into a political storm.

All of this is unfolding while the broader Trump linked crypto network keeps expanding. Reports suggest roughly $187 million from the deal would flow to entities connected to the Trump family which makes it even more complicated.

Will The Deal Unwind?

If CFIUS steps in, this could get serious. The committee has the authority to unwind deals retroactively, especially if cybersecurity or national security risks are involved. High profile foreign investments with political ties rarely escape scrutiny.

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With crypto increasingly intersecting with federal oversight, headlines like this can move markets quickly. If Treasury confirms an active review, expect volatility to spike.

The post Senators Urge CFIUS Probe Into $500M UAE Stake in Trump-Linked WLFI appeared first on Cryptonews.

Binance reserves have dropped to levels not seen since early 2024, and the timing is interesting. Right as liquidity thins out, price ripped 4.5% toward $1.50. That is not a coincidence the market can ignore.

On chain data shows Binance now holds only about 2.5 billion XRP. That is a noticeable squeeze on the sell side. Less supply sitting on exchanges usually means less immediate selling pressure.

And with sentiment slowly turning bullish again, this kind of liquidity drain can add fuel fast. When supply tightens and demand wakes up at the same time, things can move quicker than most expect.

Key Takeaways

Binance XRP reserves have plummeted to roughly 2.5 billion, the lowest point since early 2024.

Nearly 700 million coins have exited the exchange since November 2024, signaling a potential move to cold storage.

Analysts interpret shrinking exchange balances as a classic accumulation signal that reduces selling pressure.

Is a Supply Shock Incoming?

The shift is not small. In November 2024, Binance was holding around 3.2 billion XRP. Now that number is closer to 2.5 billion. That is roughly 700 million tokens gone, about 22% of the stack wiped from exchange wallets in just over a year.

Analysts says this kind of drop usually signals tighter sell side liquidity. When coins leave exchanges, they often move into self custody. That is typically a longer term play, something institutions and whales tend to do when they are positioning, not trading.

What makes it more interesting is the timing. This reserve drain happened right after Binance rolled out full XRPL support for RLUSD. Many expected higher on chain velocity. Instead, XRP itself started flowing out.

Less supply on exchanges. Stronger price reaction. That combination is getting hard to ignore.

The Short Squeeze Scenario

What happens next comes down to funding rates. XRP funding recently hit 10 month lows, and historically that kind of reset has often come before strong upside moves.

If shorts are getting crowded while exchange supply keeps shrinking, a clean break above $1.55 could spark a sharp squeeze toward $1.80.

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The setup is also getting support from improving regulatory sentiment, especially with Ripple leadership gaining more visibility in Washington.

For now, $1.45 is the key level to watch. If price holds there while reserves continue falling, that is the kind of confirmation bulls want before aiming for new highs.

The post Binance XRP Reserves Drop to 2024 Lows as Traders Eye Accumulation Signal appeared first on Cryptonews.

XRP price just caught a serious bid. The token jumped more than 8% in 24 hours after news broke that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse secured a seat on the CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee.

Traders are clearly betting that having Ripple closer to regulators could shift the narrative around XRP.

Key Takeaways

XRP rallied 8.09% to trade near $1.53 on news of the Ripple CEO’s federal appointment.

The CFTC tapped Garlinghouse and other crypto leaders to advise on digital asset frameworks.

Institutional flows are rising, with Goldman Sachs revealing a $152 million crypto ETF position.

Garlinghouse Joins Expanded CFTC Committee

This is a pretty big shift from Washington. The CFTC just expanded its Innovation Advisory Committee to 35 members, and Brad Garlinghouse is now officially part of it. Chairman Michael S. Selig says the goal is to future proof U.S. markets by working closer with the industry instead of fighting it.

It is important to keep this in perspective. The CFTC mainly regulates derivatives markets, not spot crypto securities. XRP past legal fight was with the SEC, not the CFTC.

Source: CFTC

And Garlinghouse is not alone. The lineup includes Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, leaders from Chainlink, Solana Labs, and Uniswap, plus names from traditional finance like CME Group and Nasdaq. That is a serious mix of crypto and Wall Street in one room.

The focus areas matter too. Tokenization. Perpetual contracts. Blockchain market structure. All directly tied to how XRP fits into the bigger picture.

For XRP holders, this feels symbolic. Ripple went from battling regulators to sitting at the policy table. And with lawmakers pushing for clearer crypto rules, this could mark a new chapter in how the industry and Washington interact.

XRP Price Bulls Eye $1.54 Breakout

The market reacted fast. XRP is trading around $1.57609, up 10% on the day after bouncing from a low near $1.40731. That move pushed price cleanly out of its mid $1.40 consolidation range, backed by stronger volume and widening Bollinger Bands.

Source: XRPUSD / TradingView

Bulls are now testing the $1.60 session high. Short term moving averages are stacking underneath price around $1.47 and $1.48, creating a stair step style support zone. That gives the rally some structure.

On the fundamental side, momentum is building too. Binance recently completed RLUSD integration on the XRP Ledger, a development many analysts see as a potential catalyst for a much larger move if momentum continues.

Institutional Interest Deepens

Beyond the CFTC news, bigger money is quietly getting into position for what could be a more crypto friendly 2026.

Recent filings show Goldman Sachs holds around $152 million in crypto ETFs, a clear sign that Wall Street is not stepping away from digital assets.

Source: Cryptonews

Garlinghouse has also doubled down on his vision, calling XRP the “North Star” of Ripple strategy and pointing to 2026 as a pivotal year.

While the U.S. tone appears to be softening, the global picture is still mixed. Dutch lawmakers, for example, are pushing a 36% capital gains tax on crypto, showing how fragmented regulation remains worldwide.

XRP is the "North Star" for Ripple

@BradGarlinghouse highlights how Ripple Payments, Ripple Prime, & Ripple Treasury all drive utility & liquidity around $XRP. pic.twitter.com/g9xlCPpToy

— 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸XRP (@BankXRP) February 11, 2026

Broader market conditions also matter. XRP remains highly correlated with Bitcoin and overall crypto risk sentiment, meaning macro catalysts, including rate expectations and ETF flows, could amplify or cap this breakout attempt.

With price now pressing against the $1.60 resistance zone, the next move could set the tone for where momentum heads from here.

The post XRP Price Surges as Ripple CEO Takes Role Influencing Crypto Regulation appeared first on Cryptonews.

Trump Media and Technology Group is expanding its push into digital assets, filing for two new cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds tied to Bitcoin, Ether and the Cronos ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

Trump Media filed for two crypto ETFs tracking Bitcoin, Ether and the Cronos token.

The Cronos fund would include staking rewards with Crypto.com providing custody and services.

The move deepens ties between US politics and the growing crypto investment sector.

Truth Social Funds, the ETF arm of the company behind the Truth Social platform, submitted applications Friday for the “Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF” and the “Truth Social Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF.”

The filings mark another step in the growing overlap between US politics and the crypto investment industry.

Truth Social ETFs Target Bitcoin, Ether and CRO With Staking Rewards

The proposed Bitcoin and Ether ETF would track the performance of the two largest cryptocurrencies, reportedly using an allocation weighted toward Bitcoin.

The Cronos product, meanwhile, would provide exposure to CRO, the native token of the Crypto.com-linked Cronos blockchain, while also offering staking rewards to investors.

Crypto.com is partnering with Trump Media on the products and is expected to provide custody, liquidity and staking services.

CEO Kris Marszalek said the company supports the funds and plans to enable trading access once they launch.

Let me clear up a bit: Truth Social today filed for "Truth Social Cronos Yield Maximizer ETF" and the "Truth Social Bitcoin and Ether ETF"… this is IN ADDITION to the spot bitcoin ETF they filed for last June as well as a crypto blue chip basket ETFs, which I would think should… https://t.co/Sn6XUyqmq6

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) February 13, 2026

The new filings follow a previous agreement between the firms to introduce crypto investment products and continue a broader strategy by Trump Media to establish a presence in digital finance.

The company had already sought approval for a standalone Bitcoin ETF and a multi-asset crypto fund that included several major tokens.

The ETF market is increasingly competitive. Asset managers such as BlackRock, Fidelity and Grayscale already operate widely traded Bitcoin investment vehicles, giving investors indirect exposure to crypto without holding tokens directly.

Trump Media has also signaled interest in integrating blockchain beyond ETFs.

The company recently said it intends to distribute a new digital token to shareholders on the Cronos network and previously disclosed plans for a corporate crypto treasury involving CRO.

The expansion has drawn political scrutiny, with critics arguing the president’s business ventures could create conflicts of interest, particularly as regulatory decisions affecting digital assets are debated in Washington.

Last year, Trump Media also announced a partnership with Crypto.com to bring prediction markets to the social media platform, positioning it as the first publicly traded social media company to integrate such technology.

Bitcoin Loses 25,000 Millionaire Addresses Under Trump

As reported, Bitcoin has shed roughly 25,000 millionaire addresses in the year since Donald Trump returned to the White House, even as US policy shifted toward a more crypto-friendly stance.

Blockchain data shows the number of addresses holding at least $1 million in BTC fell about 16% year over year, suggesting regulatory optimism has not translated into sustained on-chain wealth growth.

The pullback was less severe among the largest holders. Addresses with more than $10 million in Bitcoin declined by about 12.5%, indicating that top-tier investors were better able to withstand price volatility, while wallets near the millionaire threshold were more exposed to market swings.

Much of the increase in Bitcoin millionaire addresses occurred before Trump took office, driven by a late-2024 rally fueled by election-related optimism and expectations of deregulation.

The post Trump-Linked Truth Social Files for Bitcoin, Ethereum and CRO Staking ETFs appeared first on Cryptonews.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is voicing concern about the current direction of prediction markets, arguing that the sector is drifting away from useful economic tools and toward short-term betting.

Key Takeaways:

Vitalik Buterin warns prediction markets are drifting toward short-term speculation and betting.

He proposes using onchain markets and AI to hedge everyday expenses and inflation risk.

Supporters say platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi can also serve as decentralized market intelligence.

In a recent post on X, Buterin said many platforms are “over-converging” into products centered on rapid price wagers and speculative trading rather than practical applications.

He warned that the trend risks turning prediction markets into little more than gambling venues instead of systems that support real-world economic planning.

Buterin Says Prediction Markets Should Shift From Betting To Hedging

Rather than focusing on event betting or short-term financial outcomes, Buterin suggested prediction markets should evolve into hedging mechanisms designed to protect consumers and businesses from price volatility.

He outlined a model in which onchain prediction markets work alongside large language models (LLMs).

The system would track price indices across categories of goods and services, such as food, housing or transportation, separated by region.

A user’s personal AI assistant would analyze spending patterns and construct a tailored portfolio of prediction-market positions representing expected future expenses.

The idea is to help households and companies offset rising costs. Individuals could hold traditional investments for growth while maintaining a basket of prediction-market shares tied to living expenses, creating a buffer against inflation in fiat currencies.

Supporters of prediction markets say the technology already has broader value beyond speculation.

These platforms crowdsource expectations about events, financial trends and economic conditions, producing signals some researchers argue can rival polling data.

Recently I have been starting to worry about the state of prediction markets, in their current form. They have achieved a certain level of success: market volume is high enough to make meaningful bets and have a full-time job as a trader, and they often prove useful as a…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 14, 2026

Markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi have gained traction by offering alternative views on political and economic developments.

Advocates say they provide a decentralized source of intelligence that is harder to shape by centralized narratives.

State Opposition to Prediction Markets Builds Over Consumer Concerns

State opposition to prediction markets has been building for months.

In 2025, the SWC urged the CFTC to prohibit sports event contracts, arguing that such products bypass state safeguards such as age verification, responsible gaming rules and anti-money laundering requirements.

As reported, a new legislation to limit the interactions between government officials and the prediction markets is being supported by more than 30 Democrats in the US House of Representatives, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The lure behind new restrictions is a controversial Polymarket bet, which started as a bet of $32,000 but eventually became more than $400,000 shortly before the unexpected detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The bill proposed by the New York Representative Ritchie Torres is the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026.

Last month, Kalshi opened a new office in Washington, D.C., as it ramps up efforts to shape federal and state policy amid growing scrutiny of its products across the United States.

The company also hired veteran political strategist John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations.

The post Vitalik Buterin Warns Prediction Markets Are Becoming Overly Speculative appeared first on Cryptonews.

Elon Musk’s social media platform X is preparing to roll out a feature that could transform the app from a discussion forum into a trading venue.

Key Takeaways:

X plans to launch Smart Cashtags allowing users to trade stocks and cryptocurrencies directly in posts.

The feature advances Musk’s vision of turning X into an all-in-one financial and social platform.

It will roll out alongside X Money, a peer-to-peer payments system currently in beta testing.

Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, said the company plans to introduce “Smart Cashtags,” a tool that will allow users to buy and sell stocks and cryptocurrencies directly from their timelines.

The feature is expected to arrive within weeks, according to a post published Saturday.

X To Roll Out Smart Cashtags Enabling Stock And Crypto Trades From Posts

“We are launching a number of features in a couple of weeks, including Smart Cashtags that will enable you to trade stocks and crypto directly from the timeline,” Bier wrote.

Bier had previously hinted at the feature in January, sharing an image showing trading functionality embedded in posts, but the company had not confirmed the details at the time.

X previously experimented with financial features. In 2022, it added a basic Cashtag system that displayed price charts and market data for major assets such as Bitcoin and Ether.

Users could view market movements inside posts, though the feature only tracked prices and did not enable transactions. The earlier system was later discontinued.

The planned trading capability would mark a major shift for the platform, which already hosts a large share of online crypto conversation. Allowing direct transactions would move X beyond information sharing and into financial services.

I genuinely want crypto to proliferate on X, but applications that create incentives to spam, raid, and harass random users is not the way.

It meaningfully degrades the experience for millions of people — only to enrich a few people.

And yes, we are launching a number of…

— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) February 14, 2026

The development aligns with Musk’s long-standing plan to turn X into an “everything app,” comparable to China’s WeChat, where messaging, payments and services operate in one place.

The trading feature comes alongside X Money, a peer-to-peer payments system. Speaking during a presentation at his artificial intelligence company xAI, Musk said the payment tool is currently in limited beta testing and could expand globally after the trial period.

“This is intended to be the place where all money is — the central source of monetary transactions,” Musk said.

According to Musk, the platform reaches roughly 600 million monthly users.

X Cracks Down on Crypto-Linked Engagement Apps

As reported, X has recently come under scrutiny after restricting API access for so-called InfoFi and engagement-reward projects, many of which were tied to crypto incentives.

The company said it would no longer allow apps that reward users for posting or interacting on X, citing concerns over AI-generated spam and manipulation.

Beyond crypto, X’s broader AI strategy has drawn regulatory attention, particularly in Europe, where authorities have raised concerns about Grok’s image-generation features.

The platform has since limited certain capabilities and introduced safeguards after investigations were launched.

X’s decision to clamp down on so-called InfoFi applications sent fresh shockwaves through the crypto market, dragging several tokens sharply lower and forcing a rethink across a niche that had grown tightly intertwined with the social media platform.

The immediate market reaction was led by KAITO, the token linked to the Kaito platform, which slid roughly 20% in a single day as investors digested what many saw as a structural threat rather than a short-term policy tweak.

The post Elon Musk’s X to Launch Smart Cashtags Enabling In-App Stock and Crypto Trading appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin may not have hit true capitulation yet. On chain analytics firm CryptoQuant is warning that the real bear market floor could sit closer to $55,000. That is lower than many bulls want to admit.

If their data is right, the market still has some pain to process before a proper structural base forms. Weak hands may not be fully flushed. And until that final reset happens, calling this the ultimate bottom might be a bit premature.

Key Takeaways

CryptoQuant data suggests the “ultimate” bear market bottom is near $55,000 based on realized price models.

Bitcoin recently saw $5.4 billion in realized losses on Feb. 5, the highest since March 2023.

Key valuation metrics like MVRV and NUPL have not yet reached historical capitulation zones.

Is The Selling Finally Over?

CryptoQuant says we are still in a normal bear phase, not the extreme panic zone that usually marks once in a cycle buying opportunities. In their view, bottoms are not single candles. They are long, messy processes that take time to build.

Meanwhile, price action keeps slipping. ETF outflows are stacking up and Bitcoin losing $66,000 has traders nervous. But according to the data, we still have not seen the kind of pain that typically resets the market.

Source: Coinglass

Bitcoin price is trading more than 25% above its realized price, a level that has historically acted as strong support.

In past cycles like 2018 and the FTX collapse, Bitcoin bottomed 24% to 30% below realized price. If that pattern plays out again, the $55,000 area becomes the zone to watch.

Realized Losses And Valuation Metrics

The latest CryptoQuant data shows real damage under the surface.

On February 5, Bitcoin holders locked in $5.4 billion in daily losses as price slid 14% to $62,000. That was the biggest single day loss since March 2023.

But even with those numbers, key valuation metrics are not flashing full bottom yet.

The MVRV ratio has not dropped into the extreme undervalued zone that usually shows up at cycle lows. The NUPL metric also has not hit the deep unrealized loss levels that typically mark capitulation.

Source: CryptoQuant

Long term holders tell a similar story. Right now, many are selling around breakeven. In past bear market bottoms, they were sitting on losses of 30% to 40%.

If history is any guide, the final phase of capitulation may require a deeper reset before a durable floor forms. Until then, patience may prove more valuable than premature bottom calls.

If Bitcoin Needs Another Reset, Bitcoin Hyper Does Not

When analysts start talking about “true capitulation,” it means one thing. Bitcoin could stay slow and heavy for longer than bulls expect.

That is not the environment for explosive base-layer moves.

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is built for momentum regardless of where BTC chops. This Bitcoin-focused Layer-2, powered by Solana technology, adds speed, lower fees, and real on-chain utility without touching Bitcoin core security.

Bitcoin Hyper is already gaining traction. The presale has raised over $31 million so far, with $HYPER priced at $0.0136751 before the next increase, plus staking rewards up to 37%.

If Bitcoin needs more time to bottom, Bitcoin Hyper is positioned to move during the wait.

Visit the Official Bitcoin Hyper Website Here

The post Analysis Puts Bitcoin Price ‘Ultimate’ Bear Market Bottom Near $55,000 appeared first on Cryptonews.