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Boerse Stuttgart Forges European Crypto $BTC Giant.
Europe’s regulated crypto landscape is entering a phase of aggressive consolidation as the industry’s plumbing finally catches up with its ambitions.
Boerse Stuttgart Group announced on 13 Feb that it is merging its digital asset unit with the Frankfurt-based trading firm Tradias. The move combines two of the continent's most significant infrastructure providers at a time when scale and regulatory licensing are the only currencies that matter for institutional growth.
The transaction is set to create a unified entity employing approximately 300 people, with management split between Frankfurt and Stuttgart. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending the usual regulatory hurdles. This new powerhouse will cover everything from brokerage and custody to staking and tokenised assets, positioning itself as a fully compliant provider under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, known as MiCA. Financial terms were not officially disclosed, though market chatter suggests a valuation for the combined entity exceeding €500mn ($540mn).
Consolidation replaces the wild west
The merger is more than just a corporate marriage of convenience; it is a symptom of a broader trend. Boerse Stuttgart Digital already operates a regulated crypto broker and exchange, while Tradias provides the essential trading infrastructure for banks and brokers to access over 150 digital assets. By verticalising these services, the group is betting that institutional players will prefer a one-stop shop that has already done the hard work of securing a MiCAR license.
As Dr Matthias Voelkel, CEO of Boerse Stuttgart Group, put it, the goal is to expand their leading position in Europe. It is a polite way of saying they intend to squeeze out the smaller. $ETH

Brazilian Lawmaker Proposes 1mn Bitcoin Sovereign Reserve, Crypto Tax Breaks.
A Brazilian lawmaker is pushing for the establishment of a sovereign Bitcoin reserve to compete with other national treasuries.
A draft bill authored by Social Democratic Party Deputy Luis Gastao aims to create a
national strategic reserve to the tune of 1mn Bitcoin, valued at $66bn at current prices.
Under the proposal, the Sovereign Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (RESBit) would look to accumulate the top cryptocurrency to hedge against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and provide backing for the digital real.
The bill also aims to promote blockchain and Bitcoin mining in the South American country.
Crypto $ETH accumulation and tax breaks
If approved, RESBit will look to accumulate the holdings within the next five years, using up to 5% of the country’s forex reserves. The reserve would be managed by the Central Bank of Brazil and the country’s finance ministry.
It will also seek to add confiscated Bitcoin $BTC as well as coins received for tax payments, and will consider holding exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to the draft.
The bill also proposes several tax breaks for Bitcoin $BTC holders, aiming to abolish all capital gains from crypto. It would also legalize using Bitcoin for the payment of taxes and fees.
Last year, Brazil ended tax exemptions for small crypto payments and established a flat 17.5% tax on all digital asset transactions.

Washington Taps Industry Experts To Bridge Policy Gap.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is making a deliberate attempt to close the distance between policy and practice.
By appointing 35 companies to its Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC), the regulator is signalling a departure from the adversarial relationship that has defined the last few years. The group, which includes a mix of legacy financial institutions and digital asset pioneers, has been tasked with providing the agency with real-world intelligence.

According to a statement released on 12 Feb, the objective is to develop clear rules of the road that reflect the current market landscape. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig suggested that the work of the IAC will help the agency future-proof its markets during what he termed a golden age for US finance. $BTC
A seat at the table
The committee represents a broad cross-section of the financial world. It brings together traditional exchange operators such as the London Exchange Group and Nasdaq with crypto industry leaders including Coinbase, Gemini and Ripple. The inclusion of prediction platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi is particularly notable, given the recent legal scrutiny surrounding those sectors. Venture capital firms, including a16z crypto and Paradigm, also have a voice in the room.
This gathering of diverse interests is intended to help the CFTC keep pace with innovations such as artificial intelligence and onchain technologies. While the agency aims to maintain robust financial oversight, the involvement of industry heavyweights will inevitably raise questions about the balance of power between the regulated and their regulators. $ETH

As of the most recent market data, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $69,972 USD, showing modest gains in today’s session with prices fluctuating between roughly $68,700 and $70,450. This suggests a relatively stable but slightly bullish intraday move after recent volatility.
Despite this intraday uptick, broader market sentiment remains cautious. Analysts and on-chain data point to potential short-term volatility ahead, with some indicators suggesting that the cryptocurrency may test support levels or experience pullbacks if macroeconomic conditions worsen. Traders are watching closely for signals that could confirm a continuation of today’s mild positive momentum or hint at reversal pressures.

Bitcoin’s performance is also unfolding against a backdrop of mixed news in the wider crypto environment. While there are institutional moves and political developments around digital assets such as new ETF filings the market has seen headwinds from equity sell-offs and liquidity concerns among certain crypto service providers, which can indirectly impact $BTC price dynamics.

Overall, today’s action indicates a stable but cautious Bitcoin market: the price remains near key round-number levels, trading volumes are robust, and investors are balancing current gains with concerns about macro pressure and short-term technical risk. This makes Bitcoin’s immediate outlook a blend of opportunity and caution, especially for traders watching for breakout or breakdown signals in the coming sessions. $BTC