Assemble AI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Benchmark investment bank has cut Metaplanet's price target from 2,400 yen to 1,100 yen while maintaining a buy rating. The adjustment follows Metaplanet's earnings report showing significant revenue growth but a large net loss due to Bitcoin valuation declines. Investor interest in Metaplanet's preferred stock issuance related to its Bitcoin revenue plan will be crucial going forward.

Nakamoto Inc. announced an all-stock acquisition deal valued at $107 million to consolidate David Bailey's BTC Inc. and UTXO Management under one publicly traded entity. The move unites Bailey's media, capital, and advisory services, expanding Nakamoto's footprint in the Bitcoin ecosystem. This deal follows Nakamoto's mission to accelerate Bitcoin adoption since its launch a year ago.

Solana has witnessed a significant outflow of approximately $202 million worth of SOL tokens moved onto exchanges, intensifying selling pressure. The MVRV metric indicates prolonged undervaluation similar to a capitulation phase last seen in May 2022, which preceded a 17-month price depression before recovery. SOL is currently trading around $86, trapped between resistance at $90 and support at $81, with potential further downside risk if support breaks or an upside rally if $90 is reclaimed.

Comcast will pay $117.5 million to settle lawsuits following a 2023 data breach impacting 31.6 million customers. The breach exposed sensitive personal data including usernames, passwords, and partial social security numbers. Affected customers are eligible for credit monitoring services or a cash payment, with a final approval hearing scheduled for July 7.

CFTC Chairman Michael Selig has declared that the federal agency holds regulatory authority over prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. He indicated that any challenges to this jurisdiction will be contested in court, backing the CFTC's claim with over 20 years of regulatory experience. This stance comes amid ongoing state lawsuits targeting prediction markets for allegedly violating state sports betting statutes.

A Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) analyst, Lee Hardman, stated that stablecoins are better suited as currency than Bitcoin. He noted that stablecoins provide price stability and enable fast, low-cost payments, aligning them more closely with traditional currency functions. This view is gaining traction amid growing attention to stablecoins as digital cash alternatives.

Publicly traded crypto exchange Gemini’s stock dropped over 14% after announcing the exit of three top executives amid a broader company restructuring. The firm plans to consolidate roles, with co-founder Cameron Winklevoss assuming COO duties following layoffs and withdrawal from several foreign markets. Gemini also disclosed significant projected net losses for 2025, raising concerns about its long-term profitability.

Wells Fargo analysts remain bullish on Tesla’s long-term prospects driven by its AI initiatives rather than vehicle sales. Tesla is shifting factory production to focus on Optimus humanoid robots amid its first annual automotive revenue decline. While Tesla launched its Grok AI Assistant in Europe, stock remains under pressure, reflecting mixed investor sentiment about the company’s pivot away from car sales.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company significantly increased its holding in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to approximately $630.6 million by the end of 2025, marking a 46% rise from the previous quarter. Combined with other Abu Dhabi investment firms, total IBIT shares held exceed $1.1 billion. Other major institutions including Jane Street, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and Morgan Stanley also expanded their Bitcoin ETF positions, indicating strong growing institutional interest in crypto ETFs.

A Bloomberg analyst forecasted Bitcoin could drop to $10,000, sparking a heated debate with bullish investor Lawrence Lepard on a popular show. The disagreement escalated into expletives and Lepard abruptly ended the interview, dismissing the bearish forecast. The conflict highlights deep divisions among experts about Bitcoin’s future amid conflicting market narratives.

Bitcoin is currently trading close to a significant buy zone indicated by a 50% drawdown from its peak near $126,000, around $63,000. Historical data shows buying at this level has a high probability of long-term gains, but also warns of possible extended volatile recoveries. Macro factors such as ETF flows, interest rates, inflation, and options market volatility will heavily influence Bitcoin’s near-term price movement.

Ethereum's co-director Tomasz Stańczak envisions integrating large language models (LLMs) to automate code writing, proposal editing, and governance moderation. This ambitious effort aims to leverage AI's efficiency and deep understanding of Ethereum's development history, with tooling expected by Q3 in two years. However, AI's known drawbacks, such as hallucinating false information, may delay practical implementation.