Cryptopolitan

On-chain data revealed that non-USDC/USDT stablecoins on Solana have surged by more than 10x since January 2025. The expansion of non-USDC/USDT stablecoins shows that the stablecoin landscape on Solana has become a lot more diversified over the past year. 

At the time of publication, the stablecoin market cap is $14.227 billion, up 3.47% over the past 7 days. USDC still dominates the stablecoin space, accounting for around 57.43% of the entire stablecoin market.

Stablecoin supply on Solana increases by 75% YTD

BREAKING: Non-USDC/USDT stablecoin supply on @solana is up by ~10x since Jan 2025. pic.twitter.com/yKJrdzUQqQ

— Token Terminal 📊 (@tokenterminal) February 9, 2026

USDT accounts for roughly 17.74% of the entire stablecoin market cap. The remaining non-USDC/USDT stablecoins make up ~25% of SOL’s total stablecoin supply. Cryptopolitan previously reported in December that stablecoin supply on Solana hit a new all-time high of $16.2 billion.

On-chain data revealed that non-USDC/USDT stablecoins have surged from ~3% a year ago. USD1 accounts for around 6.77%, followed by USDG and PYUSD accounting for 5.92% and 5.84%, respectively. 

Stablecoin supply on Solana has also increased by more than 75% since January 2025. The growth has been driven by demand for decentralized finance (DeFi) and faster, cheaper transactions.

Solana also hosts over a dozen other deployments, including non-dollar stablecoins like the Swiss franc (VCHF) and the Euro (EURC). Solana-native applications are also launching their own stablecoins: Phantom (the leading Solana wallet) launched CASH, and Jupiter launched jupUSD. 

Non-USD stablecoins and app-specific units show that Solana is evolving into a multi-currency settlement layer. The surge also suggests that Solana’s app ecosystem is mature enough for native teams to expand their offerings to multiple financial products.

For Solana, the diversification from non-USDC/USDT stablecoins reduces concentration risk and signals issuer confidence.

A year ago, a regulatory issue affecting Circle (USDC’s issuer) would have threatened Solana’s entire stablecoin network. Today, a diversified issuer set makes the network more resilient, with more new issuers choosing Solana, signaling confidence in the ecosystem.

IMF warns stablecoin surge could disrupt capital flows

Stablecoins have the potential to reshape cross-border payments and capital flows. They offer opportunities, but also bring new risks—financial integrity, regulatory oversight, consumer protection, capital flow management, monetary sovereignty, and more. Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/AysA8nVd6K

— IMF (@IMFNews) February 10, 2026

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that stablecoin growth is fueled by their interconnections with mainstream finance stemming from its potential use cases and asset backing. The fund also acknowledged that stablecoins are primarily used to trade native crypto assets, which are then settled in traditional currencies. 

The IMF noted that the growth of stablecoins is driven by their ability to enable faster and cheaper payments, especially across borders and for remittances. The fund also believes that stablecoins could drive innovation by increasing competition with established payment service providers, making retail crypto payments more accessible. 

Stablecoin supply on Solana surpassed that of Bitcoin and Ethereum for the first time late last year. The IMF warned that the surge could disrupt capital flows and accelerate currency substitution. On-chain data revealed that stablecoins account for roughly 7% of the overall crypto market, having attracted more funds than native crypto assets in 2025.

“Stablecoins are highlighting inefficiencies in existing financial systems and how technology can solve them. Paradoxically, it might lead to more concentration of financial power.”

-Eswar Prasad, Professor of Economics at Cornell University.

The IMF report suggests that stablecoins are growing because the global payments system is slow, fragmented, and expensive. The fund also noted that people have opted out of that friction in the past two years, with USDC and USDT tripling in size since 2023. Both USD-backed tokens reached a combined $260 billion in 2024, with $23 trillion in trading volume.

The surge in non-USDC/USDT stablecoins signals that stablecoins are not going away, but they are becoming the digital edge of the dollar system. Those assets are also heading toward consolidation, regulation, and eventual absorption into the banking system to help institutions gain visibility and control over global money flows.

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Solana will add SushiSwap as another native DEX. The Jupiter aggregator will also integrate the new DEX version of SushiSwap. 

Solana will add SushiSwap as one of its major DEXs, showing another sign that trading and token-based activity are not damaged by the crypto downturn. 

SushiSwap was one of the major DEXs created during the previous bull market, proving a reliable platform for multiple tokens. However, in 2025, the DEX is trying to rebuild its volumes and value locked. 

It’s time. Sushi is live on Solana.🍣💚

We are pleased to officially announce the long awaited expansion of Sushi to @solana today!

Powered by @JupiterExchange's Ultra API, users can now seamlessly swap on Solana right from Sushi, swap and bridge cross-chain is live as well. pic.twitter.com/2WkeCDGJCm

— Sushi.com (@SushiSwap) February 9, 2026

The DEX carries around $66M in value locked, still producing around $3M in fees annually. In comparison, one of Solana’s leading DEXs, Meteora, has nearly $1B in annualized fees. The inclusion of SushiSwap on Solana may revive the DEX and mark its return as a major player. 

Solana remains one of the key venues for bot-based activity, with significant levels of token trading despite the market slowdown. The new DEX addition will also be integrated with the Jupiter aggregator and included in the best swap routes. The Solana-based swaps will be integrated into the SushiSwap interface.

Solana DEX activity hinges on meme tokens

In 2026, Solana DEX activity was driven by PumpSwap, which carried tokens graduating from Pump.fun. The rise of PumpSwap followed a revival in Solana token generation. 

Solana DEX activity is more competitive, though PumpSwap and Meteora remain leaders. | Source: Dune Analytics

Meteora is the second most active DEX on the network, mostly due to its highly liquid USDC trading pairs. The DEX carries over $430M in liquidity, becoming one of the main venues for SOL and token trading. 

Solana remains the most active among L1 and L2 chains in terms of app revenues. Despite the lower liquidity, small-scale, rapid meme activity continues. Solana’s DEX growth also seems more organic compared to EVM L2 chains. 

Can SOL recover above $100?

Despite the active app usage, SOL sank to $84.40 as crypto markets remain shaky. Despite the resilient DEX trading, SOL has not shown signs of a fast recovery. 

SOL open interest is also close to a six-month low of $2.2B. At this price range, SOL is signaling a wait-and-see attitude, with predictions for a dip to a lower price range. A more lasting SOL recovery is seen as a potential only at prices above $95.

The SOL price weakness is also used to undermine the case for Solana as a network. However, general activity shows Solana retains a mindshare of 9.3%, remaining among the most influential platforms on social media. 

Solana on-chain activity is the main competitor to Base as a venue for low-priced assets. Base has started to lag as some of its apps depend on campaigns, rather than organic meme creation. Solana remains the main venue for new tokens, despite the revival of memes on BNB Chain. 

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OpenAI has started showing ads to some users of the free version of ChatGPT, adding a new revenue stream after projections showed it could go bankrupt over the next two years. 

According to a blog post from the AI company, the test began this week in the United States and applies to users on the no-cost tier and the lower-priced “Go” plan, which carries a monthly fee of $8.

OpenAI is seemingly adding ads as a commercial placement to its subscription revenue, but has promised that customers on higher-tier plans, including Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education, will not see ads while using ChatGPT.

“Our goal is for ads to support broader access to more powerful ChatGPT features while maintaining the trust people place in ChatGPT for important and personal tasks. We’re starting with a test to learn, listen, and make sure we get the experience right,” the blog read.

OpenAI follows through with the January ad revenue proposal

The company first revealed its advertising proposal in January, when it announced plans to pilot advertising to expand its revenue sources. The ad test now underway is the first visible launch of that strategy, although OpenAI said the presence of advertising will not alter how ChatGPT answers prompts. 

Ads do not influence ChatGPT’s answers. Ads are labeled as sponsored and visually separate from the response.

OpenAI

The LLM developer added that advertising material would be clearly distinguished from chatbot output and would not be mixed into conversational replies. Moreover, advertisers would receive only aggregated performance data, such as impressions and clicks, but would not be able to access individual user conversations.

OpenAI reiterated it would limit harmful or misleading promotions as it opens the platform to advertisers by “building protections to reduce the risk of scams and other harmful or misleading ads.” The company also said it would not display ads to users under 18 years old, which it would determine through prediction systems or user-provided information.

Meanwhile, the tech company had a social altercation with rival AI developer Anthropic, which aired a commercial that appeared to criticize the use of ads in AI chat services during Super Bowl Saturday.

OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman responded to Anthropic, saying the spot was “clearly dishonest.” Anthropic later adjusted the advertisement’s wording to double down on its dispute over Ads in chatbots, saying: “There is a time and place for ads. Your conversations with AI should not be one of them.”

OpenAI revenue surges amid ad campaign tests

According to OpenAI’s report by chief financial officer Sarah Friar, released last month, the company’s annualized revenue run rate surpassed $20 billion in 2025. That figure represents a 233% increase from 2024 and an acceleration from the prior year, when revenue rose from $2 billion in 2023 to $6 billion in 2024.

“This is never-before-seen growth at such a scale. We firmly believe that more compute in these periods would have led to faster customer adoption and monetization,” CFO Friar.

However, OpenAI is also said to be spending more than $17 billion annually. The scale of its computing needs, training, and operating large AI models has rendered subscription income too small for its long-term sustainability.

HSBC analysts estimate that OpenAI’s cumulative free cash flow will remain negative through 2030, leaving a funding gap of $207 billion. The bank projects that cloud and AI infrastructure costs could reach $792 billion between late 2025 and 2030, with total compute commitments modeled at $1.4 trillion by 2033. 

CEO Altman outlined a plan to invest $1.4 trillion in computing over the next eight years. Going by those projections, data-center rental expenses alone could reach $620 billion. Even with a revenue forecast to exceed $213 billion by 2030, the income would not fully offset OpenAI’s projected spending. 

Some of the ways the company could narrow the gap are by increasing the proportion of paid users from 10% to 20% could add $194 billion in revenue. However, HSBC’s analysts said that even under optimistic assumptions about conversion rates and monetization, OpenAI would still need more capital beyond 2030.

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Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest expanded its Bullish holdings, buying additional shares as the stock surged more than 16% amid a broader equity market rally. Ark has now increased its holdings in the cryptocurrency-related company following significant purchases late last week.

According to the firm’s trading statement, the company purchased 57,164 Bullish shares across three of its exchange-traded funds today, for a total estimated value of $1.83 million based on the closing price.

Ark Invest expands Bullish bets, rebalances portfolio

The recent purchase followed its acquisition of 716,030 shares of Bullish across three flagship ETFs while reducing its Coinbase Global position.

In the first acquisitions on Thursday, ARK purchased Bullish shares for $17.8 million. These purchases were spread across the ARK Fintech Innovation ETF, ARK Next Generation Internet ETF, and ARK Innovation ETF. ARK also sold around 119,236 Coinbase shares for $17.4 million the same day. This was the first Coinbase sale for ARK since August 2025 and the first of 2026.

ARK added further disposals to its Coinbase sale on Friday. The firm sold 8,945 shares of ARKF, 32,790 shares of ARKW, and 92,737 shares of ARKK. The Friday sales totaled 134,472 shares, valued at almost $22.1 million.

A total of 134,472 shares, valued at almost $22.1 million, were sold on Friday. In two days, ARK sold over $39 million in Coinbase stock, in addition to Thursday’s transactions.

Ark Invest Tracker revealed on X that on February 9, Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest made several notable moves across its ETFs, adding to its bullish positions while rebalancing other holdings. 

ARKK (Innovation ETF) added 372 shares of Tempus AI (TEM), 156,272 shares of Recursion Pharmaceuticals (RXRX), and 104,109 shares of Roblox (RBLX). The company also reduced its holdings in PagerDuty (PD, 120,591 shares) and Trade Desk (TTD, 20,651 shares).

Ark purchased 2,114 shares of Kodiak AI (KDK) in the Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) while selling Qualcomm (QCOM) in small quantities. 

ARKW saw purchases of 27,263 shares of Roblox, while Qualcomm (196 shares), Trade Desk (3,506 shares), PagerDuty (26,534 shares), Pinterest (PINS, 22,885 shares), and GitLab (GTLB, 25,880 shares) were sold.

In ARKG (Genomic Revolution ETF), Ark added 72 shares of Tempus AI. In comparison, ARKF (Fintech Innovation ETF) bought 14,231 shares of Roblox, 54,600 shares of Tharimmune (THAR), and 6,158 shares of Bullish, while selling Global-E Online (GLBE, 97 shares) and Pinterest (23,915 shares).

Market rebound boosts stocks, Bitcoin slides

According to Google Finance data, Ark’s recent share purchases came as the stock surged 16.76% to close at $32.05, 

The purchases coincided with a global equity market rebound on Monday. 

Bullish was much higher than its previous closing of $27.45, trading between $27.96 and $32.41 during the day. Part of the day’s gains were trimmed as the stock fell 0.97% to $31.74 in after-hours trading. Other stocks also surged on Monday, with Bitmine Immersion Technologies up 4.79%, Palantir Technologies up 5.16%, Circle Internet Group up 5.36%, and CleanSpark up 1.09%.

U.S. equity indices reflected modest gains alongside these individual stock surges. The S&P 500 increased 0.47% to 6,964.82, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 20.20 points (0.04%) to 50,135.87. 

The NYSE Composite gained 0.38% to 23,340.74, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.90% to 23,238.67, and the Russell 2000 Index rose 0.70% to 2,689.05.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at about $69,786, down 1.36% from the previous day, as of 10:10 p.m. ET on Monday. The cryptocurrency fluctuated throughout the day, ranging from about $68,500 to $71,000. 

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Two of Kyrgyzstan’s banks, accused of processing crypto-linked transactions for Russia, have been targeted in the EU’s recently proposed 20th package of sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Brussels is now focusing on third countries, helping Moscow circumvent its financial and trade restrictions. Banking institutions in Tajikistan, another of Russia’s allies, are also threatened.

Europe set to blacklist banks helping Russia bypass sanctions

The European Union is preparing to add a number of banks in Central Asia and beyond to its sanctions list over allegations that they provided crypto-related services to the Russian Federation.

The latest push to expand the measures aimed at Moscow mentions two financial institutions based in Kyrgyzstan in particular – Keremet Bank and Capital Bank of Central Asia – media reports unveiled this week.

Banks in Tajikistan, another former Soviet Republic and a partner of Russia, and in Laos are also in the crosshairs, Reuters revealed on Monday, quoting a draft document.

At the same time, European officials are proposing to lift current restrictions on two Chinese banks, the news agency also noted, without giving more details about the moves.

If the other credit organizations are eventually sanctioned, they will be barred from conducting financial transactions with individuals and businesses from EU member states.

As part of Europe’s 20th package of sanctions, meant to bring Russia to the negotiating table over ending its invasion of Ukraine, supplies of certain dual-use items to Kyrgyzstan, such as metal cutting machines and communications equipment, including modems and routers, will be prohibited, too.

The latest EU penalties are being prepared after Kyrgyz banks and companies were already targeted in earlier sanctions by the Union, the U.S. and the U.K., the local news outlet Caravan Info remarked in a post on Tuesday.

The previous measures prompted Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov last fall to directly appeal to leaders in Washington and London, urging them to avoid “politicizing economy.”

Capital Bank was among those sanctioned by Great Britain over suspicions it’s being used by Moscow to acquire military supplies, and Keremet was blacklisted by the United States.

A network of crypto platforms allegedly employed by Russia to fund its war effort, such as the Kyrgyz-based issuer of the ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5, has also been hit by both nations.

Last week, Kyrgyzstan’s head of state signed legislation updating the country’s regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, giving control over their issuing and circulation to his own administration.

Russia’s dealings through other third countries targeted by the EU

The quoted proposal document shows that Brussels is now redirecting focus toward third countries supporting Russia one way or another.

For example, the current plan is to add ports handling Russian oil, specifically Kulevi in Georgia and Karimun in Indonesia, to the EU sanctions list.

Imports of some metals such as nickel, iron, unrefined and processed copper, as well as various scrap metals including aluminum, will also be banned, Reuters detailed.

The measures, elaborated by the European Commission (EC) and the Diplomatic Service of the European Union (EEAS), and presented Monday, are yet to be approved by the 27 EU members in order to come into force.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted Friday that the new restrictions mark a shift from a price cap on Russian oil introduced by the G7 nations to a full maritime services ban on Russian crude.

The EU’s “anti-circumvention tool” mechanism, which allows it to restrict exports of sensitive goods, is being employed for the first time against third countries. The point is to make them quit helping the Kremlin evade various other trade barriers, officials noted.

The sanctions package is extending asset freezes and travel bans, with the EEAS proposing to blacklist another 30 individuals and more than 60 companies. Russia’s digital ruble platform and crypto service providers are also on the menu, as reported by Cryptopolitan.

Among the affected entities is Bashneft, a subsidiary of Russia’s oil giant Rosneft. The latter, together with another major Russian oil company with presence across multiple regions, including Europe, have been spared for now, despite being under U.S. sanctions already.

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Backpack, a regulated cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 wallet ecosystem, has emerged as the latest trading platform to achieve unicorn status.

Currently, the company is in discussions to secure $50 million in new capital with a $1 billion pre-money valuation. Axios, a prominent digital media company, initially reported this announcement on Monday, February 9.

This significant milestone came after the crypto exchange operator launched its tokenization initiative, which allocates 37.5% of its 1 billion total exchange token supply to a company treasury immediately after an initial public offering (IPO).

Armani Ferrante, the co-founder and CEO of Backpack, commented on the strategy. He noted that this approach is designed to avoid offloading tokens onto retail investors and foster future strategic objectives.

“It’s only when the company goes public or has another type of equity exit event that the team can gain any wealth from the project,” Ferrante said, further adding that, “The team can only enjoy the benefits created by the Backpack community after they’ve done all the hard work to access the largest, most liquid capital markets in the world through going public.”

Backpack seeks to solidify its position as a leader in the blockchain ecosystem 

Backpack elaborated that 37.5% of the total supply will be made readily accessible in the market before the initial public offering, leveraging specific growth targets, such as market expansion and new product launches.

Despite the crypto exchange failing to disclose the exact date of its token generation event, it hinted at an airdrop of about 250 million tokens to early backers and community participants, including participants in the Backpack points initiative, with a reserve of 1 million tokens allocated for Mad Lads NFT holders. 

In the meantime, it is worth noting that Backpack operates as a regulated, compliance-first centralized crypto exchange (CEX) that integrates self-custodial wallet technology, positioning itself as a hybrid “on-chain CEX”. 

Following this finding, reporters noted that Backpack raised $17 million in Series A financing in 2024, with Placeholder VC leading the round alongside renowned investment partners such as Robot Ventures, Wintermute, and Selini.

Moreover, in 2025, the crypto exchange bought FTX EU for around $32.7 million. With this acquisition in place, Backpack could now access a MiFID II-regulated framework. As of now, Backpack is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and has obtained a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license for its operations in the city.

Meanwhile, when reporters reached out to the crypto company for clarity, the exchange declined to respond. Sources familiar with the matter, who wished to remain anonymous because the talks were private, said that Backpack intends to go public in the United States while strengthening its financial infrastructure across banking, payments, and securities.

Backpack embraces a new tokenomics strategy in its operation

Backpack is implementing a new tokenomics strategy to safeguard retail token holders’ interests. The cryptocurrency exchange announced this initiative on Monday, February 9, stating that it will release tokens gradually as it achieves specific goals.

Under this new strategy, reports highlighted that Backpack’s 25% of the total token supply is scheduled to be unlocked and distributed during its token generation event. 

In an X post, Ferrante claimed that, “Every time we enter a new region or introduce a new product, it creates a chance for growth.” He emphasized that the strategic move into key markets, such as the EU, Japan, and the United States, along with offerings like prediction markets, stocks, and its card, fuels this growth. “Like gasoline on a fire, the token helps keep igniting new markets,” he added.

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A major crypto company, Trend Research, has moved $1.8 billion in Ethereum into the Binance exchange, which might mean they are planning to sell the assets in the near future. This adds to the selling pressure on Ethereum, with other major holders also moving their coins. 

This is the time when even smart investors look for new crypto coins with high potential for growth in the future, based on their basics and practical applications. One such coin is Mutuum Finance (MUTM), which is a new kind of lending system based on blockchain technology. It is offering its ongoing token presale, which gives a chance for growth without the volatility of major coins like Ethereum.

Ethereum Faces Heavy Selling Pressure

The latest move by the company comes at a time when the company had attempted a major bet on the price of Ethereum, which failed, leaving them with millions in losses. Other major companies are also selling their Ethereum coins, which adds to the pressure in the market, making the price fall further. 

When large amounts of crypto assets change hands, it is a sign that the holders are looking to sell the assets quickly, which is not a good sign for the crypto market or the assets in question. For any normal investor, Ethereum is not a good asset for short-term investment due to its high volatility, making it essential for them to have assets with high potential for growth in the initial stages.

A Live Testnet with Real World Utility

Mutuum Finance is unlike other coins as it already has a working product. A majority of early-stage coins do not even have a product ready. This is through its V1 protocol, which is operational on the Sepolia testnet. The protocol supports such currencies as ETH, USDT, LINK and WBTC. The testnet reveals that the technology is functional, prior to the actual release. It also instills in investors confidence since it is a testament that the project is not just an idea. The actual introduction is yet to be, but will take place later.

The Presale Advantage for Early Buyers

The Mutuum Finance presale is in Phase 7. The tokens are priced at $0.04, and this phase is selling out very quickly. Once Phase 7 ends, Phase 8 will start, and the tokens will be priced much higher at $0.045. With more price increases to follow, this presale rewards investors who buy early. 

Mutuum Finance’s launch price will be $0.06. However, analysts predict that the token might increase significantly in value very soon after it’s listed on the exchanges. The token might rise to 25x the current presale price, which is a reasonable prediction of $1. This forecast is rooted in Mutuum Finance’s highly successful presale that has seen more than $20.4 million raised, and 18980 investors join. Analysts project that this demand and momentum will continue even after launch, carrying the token higher. 

Earning Passive Income with mtTokens

The system earns real income for its users. If an individual wants to deposit an asset, such as USDT, they receive a special token called an mtToken. The token earns interest in the future in Mutuum Finance’s lending ecosystem. If an individual puts in 5,000 USDT, they get 5,000 mtUSDT, which could earn up to 12% annually.

This is an additional $600 without having to do any work. These mtTokens can be staked as well within a safety module that is unique to the staking process. When staking the tokens, the user becomes eligible to receive a percentage of the fees that the platform charges through the protocol’s buy-back-and-redistribute mechanism. This is a big incentive to use Mutuum, which increases the overall value of the MUTM token.

Why Mutuum Stands Out for Investment

Mutuum Finance has a working product and a fair distribution of tokens. It has also gone through a security audit by  Halborn Security, which makes it a secure option. It has a total supply of 4 billion tokens, of which almost half is available in the presale. This limited supply ensures that the price of the tokens goes up as the demand for them grows after the launch.

Unlike other large coins like Ethereum, which have a high selling pressure, Mutuum Finance provides a new opportunity for investors to grow their money. It has a focus on real-world earning and a solid foundation, which makes it one of the best crypto to invest in for the next period. Investors looking for the a new cryptocurrency to invest in must consider Mutuum Finance.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:
Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Ripple has expanded its relationship with UAE digital lender Zand Bank, connecting Zand’s dirham-backed token, AEDZ, with Ripple’s US dollar stablecoin, RLUSD, on the XRP Ledger. 

According to a press statement published on Tuesday, Ripple and Zand Bank said the new initiative will support the adoption of digital asset infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates. The arrangement builds on an earlier payment collaboration between the companies signed in May last year.

The two financial firms will purportedly explore enabling RLUSD within Zand’s regulated digital asset custody framework. They will also assess direct liquidity channels between AEDZ and RLUSD, including issuing AEDZ on the XRP Ledger. 

Ripple and AEDZ to use XRPL in the UAE-regulated environment 

According to Zand Bank’s press release, the partners are seeking to integrate regulated digital money into a banking structure that operates under UAE oversight. Zand is an AI- and blockchain-powered bank based in the Emirates.

“Leveraging stablecoins, blockchain technology, and tokenization can unlock powerful new use cases as traditional finance moves on-chain,” the Emirati-based bank’s official X account wrote. 

AEDZ is the UAE’s first regulated, multi-chain stablecoin pegged to the dirham on public blockchains, and is backed one-to-one with reserves denominated in the UAE currency. Zand reiterated that the token uses independently audited smart contracts and regular reserve attestations.

Zand and @Ripple, the leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions across traditional and digital finance, are partnering to help advance and support the digital economy, with innovative solutions powered by the Zand AED (AEDZ) stablecoin and Ripple’s USD (RLUSD)… pic.twitter.com/8JXqjJgmTw

— Zand (@Official_Zand) February 10, 2026

The companies said the objective is to allow regulated institutions to use both currencies inside a compliant digital framework, on Ripple’s blockchain network. The focus includes custody, liquidity, and issuance mechanics under supervisory standards.

The UAE has included stablecoins as part of its Digital Economy Strategy, a program that aims to double the digital economy’s share of non-oil GDP by 2032. Market projections cited by the firms suggest the global stablecoin sector could grow to $4 trillion in the coming years. According to CoinGecko data, RLUSD has a current market capitalization of $1.5 billion.

“Our partnership with Ripple represents a significant step forward in the growth of the digital asset ecosystem, and has the potential to revolutionize how both governments and businesses engage with trusted blockchain solutions in the UAE.”

Zand’s chief executive, Michael Chan.

Ripple’s Middle East managing director, Reece Merrick, believes the two entities will provide the UAE with the most secure, transparent, and efficient blockchain-backed financial system.

“Our expanded partnership with Zand underscores our commitment to the UAE’s pioneering digital economy. We look forward to driving the adoption of stablecoins and tokenized assets in the region, creating a robust foundation for the next generation of financial services.”

Reece Merrick.

Ripple builds up custodial rights with Securosys collab

The Zand announcement came alongside an update from Ripple on Monday, in which the company revealed a set of custody-focused collaborations. As reported by Cryptopolitan, Ripple has joined forces with Swiss-based cybersecurity platform Securosys and staking service provider Figment.

The RLUSD-issuer said the combined effort is meant to simplify procurement and shorten deployment timelines for institutions handling digital assets, with the help of hardware security modules, or HSMs. 

“Institutions need cohesive systems in order to make the most of digital asset capabilities … We’re removing the friction of managing complex tech stacks and enabling our customers to go live faster and scale with confidence.”

Aaron Slettehaugh, Ripple SVP of Product.

The blockchain company now offers CyberVault HSM and CloudHSM capabilities from Securosys, which can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud. This will allow institutions to secure cryptographic keys without extended procurement processes or complex integrations.

Speaking on the partnership with Ripple, Securosys chief executive officer Robert Rogenmoser said: “Institutions require absolute confidence in how cryptographic keys are secured and managed. By integrating our CyberVault HSM with Ripple Custody, institutions gain an out-of-the-box, enterprise-grade solution that can be deployed quickly, without added complexity, while retaining full control over their cryptographic keys.”

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Amazon is getting ready to create a new platform where news organizations and other publishers can sell their work to companies building artificial intelligence systems, according to a report from The Information published Monday.

The online retail giant has been talking with publishing executives about the project, which would let Amazon Web Services act as a middleman between media companies and AI developers. Internal documents show the company has been sharing details about the planned marketplace ahead of a company conference taking place on Tuesday.

Two people who discussed the project with Amazon told The Information that AWS distributed slides mentioning the content marketplace. The documents group the new platform alongside existing Amazon tools like Bedrock and Quick Suite when showing publishers what products they can use.

Amazon shifts from selling tools to controlling content

This marks a different approach from how Amazon has handled content deals before. The company previously made individual agreements, such as a reported $20 million yearly deal to show certain news content through Alexa. The new marketplace would create a standard system that can grow larger, making quality content easier for business customers to access and use.

Amazon is changing its role in how AI systems get built. The company already sells computing power through Nvidia chips and its own Trainium hardware. It also offers large language models that form the base of AI products. Now Amazon wants to control another piece: the human-created content that these systems need to work correctly and stay within legal boundaries.

The timing matters because publishers and AI companies are fighting over how online content gets used. News organizations want to get paid based on how much their material is actually used, whether companies are training AI models or using content to answer user questions.

People who follow the industry say the days of AI companies freely taking whatever content they want are over. Publishers have watched their advertising money shrink for ten years. Now they worry AI-created summaries will make fewer people click through to their actual websites. They want AI companies to pay like drivers on a toll road.

Will smaller publishers get left behind?

Microsoft jumped into this space last week, announcing plans for its own Publisher Content Marketplace. The system lets publishers set their own prices based on tracking how much their content gets used. Both Microsoft and Amazon are racing to become the main platform where journalism gets licensed, similar to how app stores work for software.

Amazon gave a careful response when asked about the report. A company spokesperson said Amazon had “nothing specific to share” but mentioned the company has worked with publishers for a long time and keeps coming up with new ideas.

Still, Amazon faces real pressure to make these publisher relationships official. Big names like The Associated Press and News Corp have already signed individual deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Smaller publishers might get left out unless there’s a central marketplace where they can band together and show their combined value.

These new marketplaces show that the free-for-all period of AI companies grabbing data is ending. The industry is moving toward organized licensing systems. How well an AI product works may soon depend less on its technology and more on which content it can legally use through business deals.

As AWS and Microsoft build these trading platforms, one big question remains: will the money flowing back to publishers be enough to keep their businesses alive? These are the same organizations creating the content that AI systems depend on in the first place.

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AI agents have made more forays into crypto in recent days. The Moltbook and OpenClaw agent swarms are the latest to join and even try to trade tokens. 

Apparently, AI agents are not bringing any new usage to x402 tokens, the special protocol that would enable bots to transfer value in a secure way that allows for automation. Activity on x402 tokens declined after some of the early incentives were removed. 

X402 tokens emerged at the end of 2025, initially rising with promising activity. Volumes have now dwindled, despite the presence of AI agents who could use the payment gateway. | Source: Artemis.

In the past weeks, agents have been given their own wallets, testing their abilities to trade and distribute funds. In theory, agents can pay for their resources or receive payments using the x402 standard. 

In late 2025, spending through the x402 network was promising. Most of the transfers used USDC as the most transparent and regulated token. Soon, calls were made for monetized AI agents to be allowed to transact among each other. 

Why are AI agents not using the x402 standard?

The x402 protocol was built based on the HTTP status code 402, ‘Payment Required’, which was never implemented as part of the regular Web2 toolset. The initial goal was for resources to require payments before access, but there was not sufficient external payment infrastructure. 

In 2025, it turned out that stablecoins were the ideal medium to settle payments. AI agents were one of the solutions for microtransactions, as they could automate and scale the process. Additionally, autonomous agents had the real need to pay for resources – APIs, data feeds, computational power, and specialized services. 

Despite the presence of payment infrastructure, AI agents, and x402 arrived at a time of fatigue for new crypto projects. There is no new enthusiasm for app creation, and apps only attract users when there are sufficient signs of available liquidity. 

AI agents still lag behind trading bots

For now, the new wave of AI agents makes limited trades as a proof of concept. There is still a long way to go before AI agents become full-time users in the crypto space. 

Automation and bot-based activity have been key to crypto usage in the past few years. However, AI agents are yet to catch up with the regular trading and sniping bots. Those tools are simpler, but tailored to the existing liquidity structures in the crypto space. 

Trading bots remain key sources of activity on Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, as well as Base. However, most of the trading bots use standard tokens, with no integration for x402. AI agents are also not yet involved in the large-scale operations of bots like Trojan, and are not deploying their own trading bots. 

During the current crypto market stage, AI agents and x402 payment protocols have created a new level of infrastructure, but are still waiting for liquidity and demand. As agents become more secure, they may drive a new wave of trading activity.

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Alibaba has on Tuesday launched RynnBrain, a new embodied AI model that helps machines handle real-world tasks.

RynnBrain is open-source, and it’s already up on GitHub and Hugging Face, with the Chinese giant claiming it thing can help robots figure out how to grab stuff, understand where objects are, and plan what to do next.

Basically, Alibaba is turning robots into workers. RynnBrain was built by the company’s internal research group called DAMO Academy. It’s trained to recognize objects, understand how they move, and make decisions based on space and time.

That’s the kind of stuff robots need if they’re going to be useful outside labs. The company says the model performs better than Google’s Gemini Robotics‑ER 1.5 and Nvidia’s Cosmos‑Reason2 in benchmark tests.

Alibaba releases multiple versions and trains AI model on Qwen3-VL

The RynnBrain AI model is trained on Alibaba’s Qwen3‑VL, and comes in different sizes, starting with 2 billion parameters, and there’s also a version built using a mixture-of-experts design for better efficiency.

Developers can try out whichever version fits their project best. Alibaba made sure the model can be used for robotics in real settings like factories and kitchens. It’s built to predict where objects might go, avoid crashes, and plan what action to take.

This kind of AI is exactly what Beijing is focusing on right now. The Chinese government is putting money and attention into physical AI, especially robots that can work in manufacturing and hospitality. The goal is simple: beat the U. S. in the next round of tech battles.

Jeff Zhang, who is the Chief Technology Officer at Alibaba, also runs the DAMO Academy. He’s leading the team behind this release and the labs they’re building next.

“The DAMO Academy will be at the front of developing next-generation technology that supports Alibaba and our partners. We want to discover new tech that helps users and businesses work faster and more securely,” said Jeff.

Alibaba expands global labs and launches hiring for 100 researchers

Alibaba is building seven new labs around the world in Beijing, Hangzhou, San Mateo, Bellevue, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Singapore.

Their work includes machine learning, fintech, network security, visual computing, quantum computing, and human-machine interaction.

Alibaba also plans to recruit 100 researchers from around the world who specialize in IoT, data intelligence, and natural language processing.

The DAMO Academy is also working with schools. One of their main partners is the University of California, Berkeley, where they’re teaming up with the RISE Lab on secure real-time computing. That means their work won’t stay inside corporate walls.

Jeff said:-

“We’ve spent 18 years building a strong tech base that keeps up with our business growth. Now we’re expanding and want researchers to help us build new tools that improve lives and support small businesses.”

This is all part of Alibaba’s long-term plan. The company says it wants to serve 2 billion customers and create 100 million jobs in the next 20 years.

Right now, it already has a tech team of 25,000 engineers and scientists. But with the release of RynnBrain, they’re making it clear they’re not done building.

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U.S. SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda recently suggested that tokenizing securities could soon be a practical necessity for efficient markets. The Commissioner, however, notes that tokenization requires continued engagement with market participants and thoughtful evaluation of trade-offs among alternative approaches.

According to Uyeda, Capital markets can operate in ways that reduce “friction” and serve investors even better than before through improved price discovery if financial regulators navigate this process appropriately. The Commission can approach these changes methodically by strengthening market infrastructure to ensure U.S. capital markets continue to serve both investors and the broader economy.

Uyeda also emphasized that the Commission’s recent public notice of an exemptive application under the Investment Company Act stresses how fast tokenization is shifting from a theoretical exercise to reality. He added that this milestone is evidence of the Commission’s commitment to innovation without compromising custody, disclosure, and investor protection standards when assets are tokenized on-chain. 

Uyeda hopes for fair, orderly, and efficient tokenized securities markets

The Commissioner further asserted that by moving forward with such applications, the agency is signaling its openness to this “modernization,” provided it adheres to longstanding regulations governing the achievement of the objectives of securities markets. Tokenization can help modernize capital markets by making ownership more visible and speeding up settlements. 

“I hope that these exemptive order applications are not endpoints, but rather waypoints on a journey toward markets that are more fair, orderly, and efficient due to new innovations.”

–Mark Uyeda, Commissioner at the U.S. SEC

According to the Commissioner, tokenization addresses current challenges in corporate actions and shareholder identification. He also notes that the Commission needs to continually find ways to incorporate speed and visibility into tokenized securities markets. The agency recently said that tokenized securities will remain securities under U.S. law, even if classified otherwise in crypto-ledger systems, according to Cryptopolitan.

Meanwhile, Uyeda implies that the agency has literally (almost) become a toothless watchdog under President Donald Trump. He states that the U.S. SEC’s engagement efforts have been limited to staff statements, roundtables, and public comment files. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. SEC has stopped using enforcement primarily to exercise its authority and express views on new developments. In that sense, Uyeda believes that the agency has returned to providing sub-regulatory guidance and exploring exemptive relief to allow limited-scope Commission action.

Coinbase CEO believes tokenized securities will soon go mainstream

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong recently emphasized that tokenized securities could soon become the norm, noting that most processes can be automated. According to Armstrong, tokenization is not necessarily a “scary technology,” but rather a better way to digitize and transfer value across capital markets. He adds that the convenience can be cost-effective over time because traders can access all asset classes, including tokenized securities, under familiar platforms. 

The Coinbase CEO also pointed out that tokenized stocks will soon be “huge” when the wave of blockchain-based versions of traditional stocks becomes available to traders 24/7. Coinbase has been urging regulators to consider including tokenized securities as trading products since 2021, arguing that blockchains can move stocks faster than traditional rails. 

Meanwhile, platforms like Circle, Superstate, Ondo Finance, and Securitize are leading the way in bringing simplified, digitized forms of U.S. government bonds onto the blockchain. Token Terminal data shows that the market cap of tokenized U.S. Treasuries has surpassed $10 billion.

Ondo Finance recently encouraged the U.S. SEC to support multiple tokenization models to expand access to existing pathways in the U.S. market structure, while preserving investor choice. The Commission’s Chair, Paul Atkins, and Commissioner Hester Pierce responded by discussing how the agency should approach tokenization across direct, intermediate, and wrapped models. Ondo believes the world is aligning around tokenization and that 2026 could be the year of tokenization.

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A US federal court has sentenced the crypto scam organizer Daren Li to 20 years in prison after his involvement in a worldwide scheme that stole at least $73 million from victims. The defendant was sentenced in absentia.

Li escaped in December 2025 after tampering with his electronic monitoring device and is currently missing. Although he was absent from the proceedings, the court convicted him as a central figure in the massive cryptocurrency investment scam.

The crypto scam organizer is a dual citizen of China and St. Kitts and Nevis, according to the US Department of Justice, and was a central figure in coordinating a worldwide cryptocurrency fraud scheme. Prosecutors said the scheme preyed primarily on victims in the United States but also infected people in other countries.

Fraud networks relied on crypto to move and conceal stolen funds

Prosecutors portrayed the sprawling scheme as a global fraud conspiracy that leveraged social media, dating platforms, and fake investment websites to build trust with victims before deceiving them into sending funds to accounts controlled by Li and his co‑conspirators. After clients deposited money, it was moved through a network of shell companies and international bank accounts, then converted into cryptocurrency to obscure its origin.

The websites were designed to look professional and displayed fake profits to make victims believe their investments were growing. In some cases, scammers often posed as technical support staff to trick victims into transferring money to “secure” their accounts, he said. This form of fraud is commonly referred to as “pig butchering,” a technique in which scammers gradually build the victim’s trust, then seize large sums of money. At least $73.6 million, according to court records, was funneled into accounts linked to the fraud network.

Experts note that cryptocurrency has enabled criminal organizations to cross borders and transfer stolen funds with ease. Scam operations like the one Li was involved in have expanded into large organized crime businesses, said Ari Redbord, global head of policy and government affairs at blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs. 

Many of these activities are based in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, where Li’s network reportedly operated. These scam networks work as large companies, with individuals who contact victims, create fake platforms, and launder stolen money, Redbord said. He added that what these groups have is scale and consistency. He explained that they generate predictable income by exploiting people around the world and rely on repeatable scam techniques.

Cryptocurrency enables criminals to move so much more effectively. By moving money quickly, splitting payments across numerous wallets, and combining them again later, criminals make detection and recovery much harder. Unlike conventional crimes that occur once, these are ongoing business operations that can run continuously and target thousands of scam victims simultaneously.

Authorities step up global crackdown as scam networks expand

Li’s sentencing comes at a time when governments and international law enforcement agencies are increasing efforts to crack down on crypto scam networks.

In November, Interpol officially identified scam compounds as a major transnational criminal threat. These operations affect victims in more than 60 countries and generate billions of dollars in losses each year. Authorities say crypto-related fraud has become a central part of this global criminal industry.

Several Asian countries have already taken strong action against scam groups. Last month, China executed 11 members of the Ming clan, who were linked to scam compounds in Myanmar.

For now, authorities are continuing to search for Li and say he will face prison if captured.

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On-chain investigator ZachXBT warned that an advertised social feature for the Phantom wallet, “Phantom Chat,” is a new method for “investors to get drained.” 

In an announcement made Sunday, multichain wallet Phantom said its new integrated social platform is a messaging tool slated for release in 2026, as part of its evolution of in-wallet interaction.

ZachXBT commented on Phantom’s X post, saying the company has not resolved the scam vector affecting its users, known as “address poisoning.” He cited a recent case in which a victim lost 3.5 wrapped bitcoin after copying a fraudulent address from the transaction history. The loss occurred last week, according to the investigator’s public post.

“A victim lost 3.5 WBTC last week since your UI still does not filter out spam txns users so they accidentally copied the wrong address from recent transactions since the first characters looked similar,” he stated.

The 2D investigator identified the address of the theft was 0x85cB…Af11D8f6, with the transaction hash 0x9f0fc3cd…267a647a4.

How does address poisoning work?

According to wallet provider MetaMask, address poisoning begins by attackers sending victims token transfers worth little or nothing. The purpose of these “useless” transfers is to add vanity addresses to a potential victim’s transaction history. But before they decide which target to go after, they first scan the blockchain for active wallets. 

Vanity addresses are made to match the beginning and ending characters of a target’s address using tools such as Profanity, an open-source wallet address generator. Most users cannot memorize full wallet addresses because they are so long. 

Looking at the two most popular blockchains, Bitcoin addresses have 26-35 characters, while Ethereum-style addresses have 42 characters. Instead of checking every character, a user may slightly glance at the first and last digits, unknowingly copying the wrong address. The perpetrator will purposefully design their spoofed addresses to survive that quick check. 

bro i had the same issue. I was transferring my SOL to USDC now it stuck up with this fucking wallet.
EVDheTpoa43cSgAv544qmtodriLmoV1asre5PSsPw8DT
It happened twice.
Never gonna use this fucking app again. @phantom pic.twitter.com/rubw0JhJ1k

— Kill4h (@cryptokill4h) February 10, 2026

MetaMask said spoofing crypto addresses is very similar to how hackers use phishing to steal from banking brands. Criminals clone the appearance of institutions such as Wells Fargo to steal credentials, but in crypto, the address itself is the disguise.

ZachXBT shared screenshots of several poisoning victims after an X user questioned why anyone would copy old transactions. He replied, “Convenience (thefts happen way more frequently than you’d expect)”.

Phantom previously tested in-wallet communication through a prediction markets partnership with Kalshi in December, which included a live chat feature. Wallet messaging could allow scammers to impersonate trusted contacts or send malicious links.

“Honestly, my exGF downloaded Phantom when Elon mentioned the companions I sent her like 200 bucks worth of Ani, and she said she got scammed because it went to zero … I assumed she clicked the wrong button somehow but never put the pieces together until now,” another X user complained, reacting to ZachXBT’s findings.

Phantom users struggle with phishing attacks

Last December, a Solana user named Jack reported losing $9,000 through a wallet drainer. Explaining the ordeal to several news outlets, Jack surmised that the incident began with an Instagram advertisement where SOL holders were convinced to enter a promo offering “fast returns,” although the link shared led them to a fraudulent website.

After clicking on the phishing link, he approved an incoming transfer that exposed his wallet to a malicious JavaScript called “SkyDrainer.” The code drained his wallet, and the website vanished from his browser tabs.

The victim later traced the drainer’s promotion, where he found listings on underground forums such as Cracked[.]sh and the Russian site LolzTeam. One forum post advertised “Supreme #1 Solana Drainer,” promoting security bypassing methods, hosting, and cloaking at a 10% operator fee.

Data from blockchain security firm Scam Sniffer shows wallet scams involving address poisoning and signature phishing caused the biggest losses in January. In one case, a single victim lost $12.2 million after copying a poisoned address.

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Financial veteran Ray Dalio raised concerns about the rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), warning that they could usher in a new era of global surveillance. He cautioned that although CBDCs are efficient, they may also give governments unmatched access to monitor and regulate financial transactions.

In an interview on the Tucker Carlson Show on Monday, Dalio said the country is at “stage five” of a six-stage cycle, “sort of at the brink but not over the brink,”. He emphasized that traditional systems are strained by rising debt, partisan polarization, and shifts in global power.

Dalio highlights risks and limits of CBDCs globally

Billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio just told Tucker Carlson that central bank digital currencies are coming:

"There will be no privacy… all transactions will be known… and if you're politically disfavored, you could be shut off." pic.twitter.com/Jz3mcdvC04

— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) February 9, 2026

In the interview, Dalio stated, “I think it will be done,” referring to the likely implementation of central bank digital currencies. He said that “of course it’s easy to transact” with digital currency, implying that convenience is a significant factor in its uptake. 

However, he cautioned that there are trade-offs associated with this simplicity of use, particularly regarding privacy.

Regarding privacy, Dalio stated that CBDCs are a highly effective government control tool and that there will be no privacy with them. He clarified that all digital currency transactions will be recognized, emphasizing that authorities can see every payment. He said that might be an effective way to monitor both legal and illicit activity.

Dalio emphasized the control aspect of digital currencies, noting that governments might use them to enforce laws or collect taxes, stating that they “can tax that way” and “take your money.”

He raised concerns about the potential worldwide use of CBDCs, pointing out that foreign owners of digital currency “may feel… if you’re a Frenchman… they could take your money.” Dalio linked CBDCs to geopolitical power, which allows a government to exert control over non-citizens. He explained that this is one of the risks associated with granting a state complete visibility and control over finances.

Dalio did not predict that CBDCs would take over every economy. He told Carlson, “I don’t think that you’re going to see the development of central bank digital currencies to be of a magnitude that it’s going to be… that big of a deal.” 

Although digital currencies “will be done” and expand, Dalio believes their transformational potential is limited. 

During the interview, Dalio explained the workings of the monetary system, drawing comparisons between current issues and previous crises, such as the stagflation of the 1970s. He further highlighted the need for hard assets like gold as a store of wealth amid vulnerabilities in fiat currencies.

The billionaire also explored other topics, including the dangers of internal political deadlock, the deterioration of global geopolitical institutions, and broader historical cycles in which rising and declining countries have frequently clashed. He argued that the U.S. must take decisive action to preserve stability.

Dalio warns of rising global capital tensions

Dalio’s concerns about CBDCs align with his warnings about the global financial landscape, where control over capital is increasingly a tool of geopolitical influence.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Dalio said the world is on the cusp of a capital war. He stated, “We are on the brink. That means not in, but it means we are quite close to [a capital war] and it would be very easy to go over the brink into a capital war, because there are mutual fears.”

Dalio’s warning came at a moment of growing global tension.

Dalio cited U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempt to purchase Greenland as a potential point of contention between the U.S. and Europe. He specifically stated that European owners of U.S.-denominated assets might be afraid of sanctions, and that the United States has a “reciprocal fear” that it will no longer be able to obtain foreign funding or demand for its assets.

According to Citi, approximately 80% of foreign purchases of U.S. Treasuries between April and November 2025 were made by European buyers.

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The Bitcoin market is showing all signs of a major bear market. The price has declined by 30% in a week, briefly dipping lower than the $61,000 mark and currently trading 50% lower than its all-time high. Such a sharp fall has raised concerns that Bitcoin may not have hit rock bottom, and major support levels are being tested. 

In such a scenario, seasoned investors look beyond the market and identify new projects with strong fundamentals, built during the bear market. For many, the answer is Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a new DeFi crypto that is making waves and regarded by many as the next big crypto to buy in the coming days.

Bitcoin Enters a Defining Bear Phase

The Bitcoin market is in a major bear phase. The key indicators show a bearish market, and the Bitcoin price is declining significantly. The Relative Unrealized Loss ratio has surged to 24%, which puts the market in a bear phase. While some investors are buying during the lower prices, major investors are distributing their holdings, which may not help the market in a major turnaround.

Experts have suggested that the market may not hit rock bottom until mid 2026, and prices may fall in the range of $45,000 to $50,000. Such a market environment makes high-risk, high-hype tokens a bad choice and forces investors to look at tokens with working products.

Mutuum Finance: A Working Testnet Before the Presale Ends

While many new tokens are just an idea, Mutuum Finance has already become a working protocol. The V1 lending and borrowing protocol is already working on the Sepolia testnet, a major achievement for the token before its launch. On the testnet, anybody can test drive how it all works using pretend assets. This ensures that the underlying technology for lending and borrowing is ready to go. This level of maturity prior to the mainnet launch is unprecedented and greatly reduces the risks for investors. This is why MUTM is an exceptionally promising new cryptocurrency that is able to stand out from the crowd of hype and empty promises.

The Presale Window for Maximum Gain

The Mutuum Finance presale is a unique opportunity. As can be seen from the data, the project has managed to attract over $20.4 million from over 19,000 holders so far. Now, the project is currently in Phase 7, where the tokens are priced at $0.04. This phase is moving rapidly, and it is the last opportunity to buy the tokens at this price level. As soon as it is sold out, the next phase, Phase 8, will be priced at $0.045. The official launch price is set at $0.06.

However, as can be calculated by the working product and the strong community, the real gains can be made immediately after the listings on the exchanges. A logical and conservative prediction would be that the token would reach the level of $0.48 within a few days after the official launch. This would be a 12x gain from the current level of $0.04. For example, if an investor decides to put $500 into the project, it would reach $6,000.

Earn Twice with the Buy-and-Distribute Engine

One of the most important features that can sustain long-term demand for the protocol is its reward system. A portion of all fees collected from lending and borrowing activities on the platform is automatically used to purchase MUTM tokens on the market, which are then used as additional rewards for users who choose to stake their assets with the safety module.

This creates a powerful feedback loop: the more users who come onto the platform, the higher the fees, and the more MUTM tokens can be purchased and awarded to loyal users who hold their assets with the safety module. For example, if you stake $2,000 with the safety module, you can earn an estimated 5-8% returns per year in additional MUTM tokens, making it one of the top crypto to buy now for those seeking compounded returns.

Why MUTM Stands Out as the Top Crypto to Buy Now

For those seeking a safe and secure investment strategy, Mutuum Finance offers one of the best investment opportunities based on fundamentals alone, particularly in a fearful market. Given the uncertain path for Bitcoin, investing in a high-potential project like MUTM, with its strong utility and presale, is one strategy many investors are using. Furthermore, it is one of the few projects out there that offers investors the ability to be part of the protocol itself, rather than just another token, and be part of the foundation for the next crypto market cycle.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

The Ethereum Foundation has announced a new partnership with Security Alliance, also known as SEAL, a security-focused non-governmental organization.

They are joining forces to establish the “Trillion Dollar Security” program, which aims to make the Ethereum network more secure as more funds pass through it.

At the core of this initiative is a tracking tool that went live on February 5. The dashboard is not like a regular security audit that is filed away. Instead, it continuously monitors the security of the Ethereum network across six different areas that are essential for keeping the network safe.

Dashboard tracks six security areas

The six security areas include:

User Experience (UX): Tracking transaction readability and permission controls.

Smart Contracts: Monitoring code vulnerabilities and developer tooling.

Infrastructure & Cloud: Assessing Layer 2 protocols and RPC provider risks.

Consensus Protocol: Guarding against client centralization and quantum threats.

Monitoring & Incident Response: Coordinating real-time detection of failures.

Social Layer & Governance: Analyzing organizational capture and regulatory pressures.

The dashboard monitors eight to 29 distinct safety metrics in each of these areas. The tool also indicates what needs to be done next. Only seven of the 29 proposed safety controls in the user experience component are currently operational, demonstrating the amount of work that remains to be done.

Breaking down the numbers, the user experience area has 29 security measures. Seven are already running, 13 are being built right now, eight are still being researched, and one is planned for later. For the smart contracts area, there are 13 controls being tracked. Four are active, seven are being implemented, and two are still in the planning stage.

The infrastructure and cloud section encompasses 17 different protections. Eight of those are already operational, six are being implemented, two are in the research phase, and one is planned. The consensus protocol part comprises 15 controls. Four are complete, four are being developed, and seven are still being studied. The social and governance category tracks eight mechanisms, with three already in place and five under development.

Security assessment of Infrastructure and Cloud Security on Ethereum. Source: Trillion Dollar Security.

Fighting the drainer problem

This partnership goes beyond merely creating charts and graphs. The Ethereum Foundation is actually paying for a security engineer to work full-time with SEAL’s intelligence team.

ScamSniffer, a crypto intelligence company, discovered that scammers have taken nearly $1 billion in cryptocurrency over the years using these methods. The good news is that SEAL and other investigators managed to bring that number down to $83.85 million in 2025, which was the lowest ever. But there’s been a recent increase in two specific types of scams; address poisoning and signature-based phishing in early 2026.

This new security push marks a change in what Ethereum focuses on. For a long time, the network concentrated on growing bigger and completing “The Merge.” Now the Foundation wants to prove the network is secure. By making security something that can be measured and tracked, Ethereum is trying to show it can handle trillions of dollars for big institutions. The timing matters because Ethereum has major updates coming in 2026.

“The Security Alliance has done important work to combat attacks and the ecosystem has benefited tremendously,” the Ethereum Foundation wrote on X after SEAL made the announcement.

SEAL doesn’t plan to stop with Ethereum. The nonprofit wants to create a place where different groups can share information about threats and give legal protection to ethical hackers. SEAL said this Ethereum partnership is just the first of several they have planned with other blockchain networks. They’re inviting other crypto groups to get in touch: “If your foundation or crypto ecosystem is interested in similar sponsorship opportunities, we’re happy to discuss how this model protects users at scale,” SEAL said.

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Brad Garlinghouse said the company is doubling down on using XRP as a core part of its institutional payments push. The chief executive made the remarks late Monday on social platform X, responding to the community’s debate about the asset in the company’s direction.

“Glad to see the message is (finally, even more) clear! XRP family has and always will be top of mind for Ripple,” CEO Garlinghouse wrote, seemingly answering opponents who had questioned if the stablecoin issuer is concentrating on cross-border payments using RLUSD only. 

The statement follows up on Ripple’s DeFi outlook released last week by developers, which also stated that the token is at the center of on-chain settlements. In its announcement, the Ripple developer team described XRP as “the primary bridge asset for institutional liquidity,” with features intended to meet compliance, risk, and standards expected by banks and financial institutions.

XRP community celebrates as institutional rails take shape

According to Ripple’s outlook, XRP Ledger is launching several live components including multi-purpose token standards (MPTs) and permissioned domains that let verified participants access specific network functions.

Confidential transfer functions for MPTs, expected to debut on XRPL in the first quarter, could provide transaction-level privacy with controlled disclosure, a balance demanded by regulators and enterprises.

The developers explained that permissioned domains will be paired with credential systems and batch transaction capabilities for enterprise use, Cryptopolitan reported last week. The XRP Ledger is also planning to integrate identity and control features directly at the protocol level. The domains, coupled with credential checks, will help restrict XRPL’s access to approved entities. 

Moreover, Ripple noted that XRP could become the automated bridge currency for asset transfers, linking different tokens or currencies. While stablecoin corridors and remittance channels are contributing to on-chain volume, transaction fees, and account reserves denominated in XRP connect network usage to the token itself. 

One point of criticism of the XRP Ledger has been its limited compatibility with Ethereum-style smart contracts. Ripple argues that the lack of EVM programmability has restricted application growth, and it plans to address this with a new EVM-compatible sidechain linked through the Axelar network. 

Brother theres certain people who really see whats happening, others are in it to make a quick buck off a trade. We can spot what's real and what's just for show. "Real eyes, realies, real lies"

— Bailey Edwards (@BaileyEdwards0) February 9, 2026

The sidechain allows Solidity developers to use XRP Ledger liquidity and identity tools while working within Ethereum dev environments. “And some of you thought ripple wasn’t true to their word as XRP as bridge asset. The vision has not changed,” wrote the X account of influencer Mr.Man XRP.

Did SWIFT abandon a ready XRP network? 

The reaffirmation by CEO Garlinghouse comes against the backdrop of XRP supporters disappointment after SWIFT selected ConsenSys-built blockchain Linea as its onchain bank messaging system. The same pilot also incorporated stablecoins issued on Linea, sidelining expectations that Ripple’s network or its RLUSD stablecoin would be chosen.

SWIFT processes more than $150 trillion in wire transfers annually and is the dominant global financial messaging network. XRP investors had speculated that Ripple technology could replace or integrate with SWIFT infrastructure last year, following the ISO20022 standard adoption deadline in late November.

ISO 20022 provides structured financial data formats, which SWIFT uses to facilitate secure message exchange between institutions worldwide. Observers interpreted SWIFT’s choice as a setback for XRP supporters who believed their ledger might power mainstream bank messaging. 

“This cannot be true, not possible,” seasoned XRP investor Gary Cardone joked, “I have been told for years that XRP has Swift all tied up, locked down.”

Separate online discussions also made technical references linking XRP to established financial systems. According to social media posts highlighting code in both Ripple-related infrastructure and the platform of R3’s Corda network, modules labeled “XrpPayment,” “XrpSettlement,” “SWIFTService,” and “SWIFTPaymentStatusType” appeared. 

Meanwhile, XRP is trading at $1.42 at the time of this publication, down 0.9% over the last 24 hours. The fifth largest coin by market cap dropped to $1.38 over the weekend, but regained the $1.40 level during Monday’s Asian morning trading session.

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A growing dispute over the Federal Reserve’s proposal for limited master accounts, dubbed “skinny master accounts,” is sparking tension between the crypto industry and traditional banking groups as regulators push toward clearer digital‑asset policy this year.

At the centre of the debate is a Federal Reserve initiative to offer a new class of accounts that would grant qualified fintech firms and crypto‑focused entities access to the central bank’s payment system, but with restrictions on interest earnings, liquidity services, and other privileges associated with full master accounts.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller confirmed the central bank’s upcoming introduction of its “skinny master account” plan before year-end. Waller issued this statement at a time when there is a stall in broader cryptocurrency market structure legislation and when markets are struggling.

Even with these challenges, the Fed Governor remained optimistic that this simplified version of a Fed master account would be implemented before the start of next year. 

Waller urges individuals to prepare for the implementation of skinny master accounts

A standard master account is a primary, central account used to manage, group, and track financial transactions or data for multiple sub-accounts or branches, acting as a parent account in a hierarchical structure. It grants institutions the opportunity to access the Fed’s payment systems directly, providing them with seamless access to the US money supply.

However, reports highlighted that the suggested “skinny” account consists of several restrictions. For instance, the accounts would bear no interest and would not permit discount window borrowing.

On the other hand, crypto industry players and community banks submitted their views on whether regulators should offer non-bank financial institutions direct access to specific components of the US payment infrastructure. Their responses illustrate disagreements between the two parties. Responding to this dispute, Waller acknowledged that, “We’ll have to work through those issues, but if we manage it well, I’d like to complete this by the year’s end if possible.” 

While the Fed Governor anticipates reaching a mutually beneficial solution, sources noted that the central bank is advancing its initiatives on digital asset frameworks, while lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are confronting numerous obstacles to enacting a comprehensive regulatory framework for the industry.

At this moment, Waller stated that the crypto industry welcomed US President Donald Trump with widespread enthusiasm and hope for change upon taking office, given his pro-crypto stance. However, he claimed that this enthusiasm is waning as the prices of leading cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, sink to their lowest levels in months.

“You get involved, you can earn some money, but you might also lose some,” Waller explained. “That’s just how things work in many of these cases. Some of the excitement that came with the current administration’s approach to crypto is starting to fade.” 

Crypto industry remains optimistic on market structure bill

Regarding Waller’s remarks, analysts acknowledged heightened tension among investors in the crypto market amid significant price declines. For example, Bitcoin hit an all-time high of over $126,000 last year; nonetheless, data from CoinMarketCap show that this price has dropped sharply, with the cryptocurrency currently trading at $70,066.89, reflecting a 0.86% decrease in the past 24 hours.

In the meantime, reports mentioned that lawmakers on Capitol Hill are attempting to pass a more comprehensive crypto market structure bill, widely known as “Clarity.” This name was derived from the House version that passed last summer. Still, Senate proceedings are facing serious hurdles, fueling concerns that clarity may be further delayed.

Notably, upon enactment of this bill, the crypto industry would be subjected to comprehensive oversight as it would set standards for crypto exchanges and DeFi operators. Moreover, it would outline the role of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the key agencies in the crypto industry.

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