KEY TAKEAWAYS Stablecoins like USDC and USDT keep value steady while delivering transfers in minutes at pennies in fees. Network choice matters more than the coin itself—Tron and Solana slash costs dramatically. Always verify wallet addresses and start with tiny test sends to avoid irreversible mistakes. USDC suits users prioritizing regulation and transparency; USDT wins on global liquidity. Proper wallet security and local regulatory checks turn crypto into a reliable, low-cost remittance tool. Sending money across borders has been difficult for a long time. Banks and services like Western Union charge high fees, take a long time to process, and add hidden FX markups that eat into every transfer. These delays and charges are a major pain in the neck for families who send money to relatives abroad, freelancers who get paid, and businesses that pay suppliers. Stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies change that altogether. You can send money anywhere in the world in minutes for a small fee, 24 hours a day, without having to use slow banking systems. This tutorial explains which cryptocurrency is ideal for sending money across borders, why it works better than earlier methods, and how anyone, whether new to crypto or a long-time holder, can use it safely and successfully. Why Old-Fashioned International Transfers Don't Work When you add up the costs of exchange rates and fees charged by middlemen, bank wires and money-transfer firms usually charge 5–7% in total. A $1,000 transfer from the US to Nigeria or the Philippines can lose $50 to $70 before it arrives, and the recipient has to wait 3 to 5 business days. Holidays, weekends, and time zone differences make things even worse. Crypto takes away most of these layers. Transactions settle directly on public blockchains, whose records can't be changed. There isn't just one bank in charge of the operation, so money can transfer at any time. The goal is to pick the correct asset so that the value doesn't change and the fees stay low. What Makes a Crypto Good for Sending Money Around the World There are several factors that determine whether a cryptocurrency is well-suited for sending money across borders. First and foremost, price stability is important. For example, Bitcoin can lose 5–10% of its value within a single transfer. Stablecoins tied to the US dollar remain at about $1, which solves this problem. Next, there are inexpensive fees and fast speeds. You can send stablecoins for less than $0.50 on networks like Tron, Solana, or Polygon, and you will receive confirmation in seconds to minutes. Liquidity is also important; the coin should be easy to buy on major markets and sell in the recipient's country. The last two things on the list are security and openness. Look for assets that have frequent audits, established reserves, and support for a wide range of wallets. Lastly, it's important that recipients can easily get on and off the platform. They should be able to easily convert their money into local currency through exchanges or peer-to-peer platforms. In everyday international use, these criteria consistently point to stablecoins over pure cryptocurrencies. The Best Ways to Send Money to Other Countries There are good reasons why two stablecoins are the most popular. When it comes to trust and regulation, USD Coin (USDC) stands out. Circle issues it, and it is backed by cash and short-term US Treasuries. It is audited by the public every month. This openness makes people feel better, especially those new to crypto or dealing with a lot of money. You can use USDC on more than one blockchain, so you can choose low-fee solutions like Solana or Base for transfers that cost pennies and get there almost instantaneously. Because it follows the rules so well, it also works better with regular finance, making things easier for firms or individuals in more stringent areas. Tether (USDT) is the most available and liquid currency. USDT is the largest stablecoin by trading volume, and it can be found on almost every exchange and wallet in the world. This is especially true in growing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Tron is the most popular low-cost network, and Solana is the fastest. You can send it cheaply on either one. There were some worries in the past about full reserves, but ongoing attestations and huge real-world use have proven it to be the best solution for high-volume corridors where liquidity is more important than anything else. There are other solutions, but they only meet a few needs. Dai provides full decentralisation, meaning no single issuer is in charge. However, this takes greater technical knowledge. Bitcoin and Ethereum can be used for very large amounts of money when recognition is important, but their prices fluctuate significantly, making them unsafe for precise transfers. Ripple's XRP travels swiftly through institutional corridors, but for most people, stablecoins are still easier and safer. How to Use Crypto to Send Money Around the World After you set up the basics, the process is easy. To buy your favourite stablecoin using local currency, start by choosing a well-known centralised exchange like Coinbase, Binance, or Kraken. To get higher limitations, make sure your account is properly verified. Next, pick a digital wallet and keep it safe. MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or the wallet that comes with the exchange all work. Choose a network that works with USDT or USDC to get the lowest fees. Get the exact wallet address of the person you're sending money to and make sure the network matches to avoid losing money. Type in the amount, check the address again, and then confirm the transaction. Most transfers take less than five minutes. The person who gets the stablecoins opens their wallet and sees them. They can either keep them, spend them right away where they are accepted, or sell them on a local exchange or peer-to-peer platform for cash in their own currency. Many people maintain small amounts of stablecoins on hand for recurring sends or use services that automate the process. People who are new to this should start with small test amounts. Before each transfer, experienced users often optimise by comparing real-time network fees across chains. Possible Risks and How to Avoid Them You can't change crypto transfers, so it's important to be accurate. Always check addresses and try tiny amounts first. Make sure your wallet is safe by using strong, unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and never sharing seed phrases. For more safety, keep bigger sums in hardware wallets. Different countries have different rules for cryptocurrencies. Some welcome them, while others put limits on them or tax their gains. Look up the rules in your area for both the sender and the recipient. Sometimes network congestion drives up costs on popular chains. But switching to Tron or Solana typically fixes this.  Stablecoins are supposed to stay at $1, but they often lose their value. Stick with the most well-known ones and check the news quickly before making big movements. You can keep risks low and controllable by treating bitcoin like any other valuable asset: safeguard it, start small, and stay informed. This is much better than the hidden expenses of traditional wires.   FAQs Is crypto really cheaper than Western Union or banks for international sends? Yes, typical stablecoin transfers cost under $1 total versus 5–7% for traditional services, with money arriving in minutes instead of days. Which stablecoin is safer for beginners: USDC or USDT? USDC edges out for beginners thanks to its fully regulated issuer, monthly audits, and strong US Treasury backing that builds extra confidence. Do I need a special wallet, or can I use an exchange app? You can start inside major exchange apps, but moving to a non-custodial wallet like Trust Wallet gives you full control and access to the cheapest networks. What happens if the recipient has never used crypto before? They simply create a free wallet, receive stablecoins, sell them on a local exchange or P2P platform, and withdraw cash to their bank account. Most major cities now have easy off-ramps. Are there tax implications when sending or receiving crypto internationally? Many countries treat transfers as non-taxable if no gain occurs, but always record transactions and consult a local tax advisor, as rules differ by jurisdiction. References Remitly: Popular Stablecoins to Send Overseas (December 2025)  Stripe: Stablecoins for Cross-Border Payments: A Guide (2026) CryptoCloud: Top Cryptocurrencies for International Transfers (July 2025)

Nansen, a blockchain analytics platform, is going to strengthen its business by opening an office in Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a Special Administrative Region designed for digital innovation and sustainable economic growth. The announcement on February 24, 2026, said that GMC will expand by recruiting a team in Bhutan and by building analytical infrastructure on the ground. This will give those in the region's developing digital asset field access to blockchain data and market analytics. The partnership aligns with GMC's plan to create a credible, institutionally aligned ecosystem grounded in openness and good governance. Alex Svanevik, the CEO and co-founder of Nansen, talked about how special the project is. He said that GMC stood out because it was forward-thinking, even though the company still has its headquarters in Singapore. "Most crypto-friendly jurisdictions are optimising for what exists today." Bhutan is creating something very different: an economic zone based on values, with digital assets built in from the start rather than added later. GMC has crypto in its strategic reserves, a forward-thinking regulatory framework, and a strong sense of sovereignty. That's not common. We want to be the first in that ecosystem. What is The City of Gelephu Mindfulness? Gelephu Mindfulness City is a Special Administrative Region in southern Bhutan that was announced in 2023. It is meant to be a new center of economic activity. It prioritizes creating high-value jobs and attracts enterprises from fields including finance, green energy, technology, healthcare, and agriculture. The area has flexible rules for fintech and crypto enterprises, combining Bhutanese ideals of mindfulness and environmental harmony with new ideas. Digital assets are at the heart of GMC's growth. Bhutan promised to sell up to 10,000 Bitcoin (BTC) from its national assets in December 2025 to fund infrastructure and long-term growth. The government is among the world's top sovereign Bitcoin holders, with reserves of more than 11,000 BTC. These were originally built to turn extra electricity into cash. A Bigger Picture of Bhutan's Digital Asset Strategy This isn't Nansen's first big relationship in this area. Cumberland DRW, a market maker, inked a memorandum to promote custody, tokenisation, institutional liquidity, sustainable mining, and stablecoin infrastructure as part of a previous partnership. Nansen, an AI-native platform that tracks hundreds of millions of labelled blockchain addresses across various networks, wants to make onchain activity more visible. Hiring locally will help the team develop in a meaningful way, and more information on roles and setup should be available soon. The growth shows Bhutan's planned effort to use blockchain technology in a way that lasts. Druk Holding and Investments are among the groups leading the kingdom's crypto activities. Their main goals are to diversify the economy while keeping long-term value and national priorities. This relationship makes GMC a stronger digital asset hub backed by a government, bringing in analytics experts to help people make informed decisions and to support ecosystem growth.

Given the strong daily uptrend and increasing safe-haven inflows into Swiss franc, CHFJPY currency pair can be expected to rise to the next resistance level 203.40 (which stopped the previous impulse wave b at the start of February).   CHFJPY reversed from support area Likely to rise to resistance level 203.40 CHFJPY currency pair recently reversed up from the support area between the key support level 197.50 (former resistance from December, actin g as the support after it was broken in January as can be seen from the daily CHFJPY chart below), lower daily Bollinger Band and the 50% Fibonacci correction of the upward impulse from December. The upward reversal from this support area started the active short-term impulse wave v, which belongs to the impulse wave 3 from the start of December. Given the strong daily uptrend and increasing safe-haven inflows into Swiss franc, CHFJPY currency pair can be expected to rise to the next resistance level 203.40 (which stopped the previous impulse wave b at the start of February). [caption id="attachment_193514" align="alignnone" width="800"] CHFJPY Technical Analysis[/caption] The subject matter and the content of this article are solely the views of the author. FinanceFeeds does not bear any legal responsibility for the content of this article and they do not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff. The information does not constitute advice or a recommendation on any course of action and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial situation, or individual needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent professional advice or conduct your own independent research before acting upon any information contained in this article.    

KEY TAKEAWAYS CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap provide the most reliable starting point for real-time prices, market caps, and basic token data. Messari excels at in-depth fundamental research, reports, and token unlock schedules for evaluating projects in the long term. Dune Analytics lets anyone query on-chain data with custom or community dashboards, unlocking unique insights. Tools like Glassnode and Nansen reveal holder behavior and smart-money movements that prices alone miss. Combine multiple free-tier sites into a daily workflow to make informed, bias-resistant crypto decisions. The world of cryptocurrencies advances at lightning speed. Every day, new projects start, rules change, on-chain activity goes up, and market stories change overnight. Most individuals feel overwhelmed and make incorrect choices when they try to keep up with a lot of different sources. The good news is that a few high-quality websites cut through the noise and give you accurate data, analysis, and insights so you can do your study with confidence. This list shows you the best websites for doing crypto research in 2026. It focuses on useful tools that give you genuine value, whether you're a beginner who wants to quickly check prices or an experienced trader or investor who wants advanced on-chain analytics. By adding these sites to your bookmarks and using them together in your own workflow, you can get an edge without having to pay for expensive subscriptions right away. Why You Need Crypto Research Websites You Can Trust There is such a thing as too much information. People regularly buy things because of social media hype, unverified Telegram groups, and clickbait headlines. Market caps, trading volumes, on-chain measurements, token unlocks, and fundamental studies are all examples of verifiable data that trusted websites provide.  These websites use clear methods to back up their claims. They help you find trends early, check claims, and stay away from scammers. The finest ones are easy for beginners to use and have a lot of depth for experts. They also have good search tools and updates in real time. Look for these important qualities: accurate data, wide coverage across chains and assets, easy-to-use interfaces, free core access, and community trust. Blockchain openness shows things that centralised sources can't, therefore, on-chain analytics is becoming just as important as traditional market data. Important Sites for Market Data and Price Tracking This is where you should start any research: with correct prices, market capitalisation, volumes, and basic token information. Most people still utilise CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko as their major platforms. These services get data from hundreds of exchanges and offer it all in one place. They show real-time prices, changes over the last 24 hours, historical charts, and rankings by market cap or category. CoinGecko is different since it focuses on community trust scores, has DEX data with GeckoTerminal integration, and gives full API access even on free tiers.  CoinMarketCap is great at teaching people about cryptocurrencies with its academy and precise exchange rankings. Both platforms have portfolio monitors, watchlists, and alerts, which make them great places to start. Beginners like the simple layouts and beginner instructions, while experienced users employ advanced filters like sector performance or liquidity data. Platforms for Deep Fundamental and On-Chain Research Messari has some of the best foundational research accessible for looking at projects beyond costs. It has thorough profiles of assets, quarterly reports, sector breakdowns, token unlock schedules, fundraising statistics, and news that has been summarised by AI. The research section of Messari has in-depth articles from analysts, governance trackers, and protocol metrics. These are great for figuring out the long-term potential. With Dune Analytics, users may directly query blockchain data using either community-created dashboards or their own SQL. It shows trends in TVL, user activity, whale movements, and the health of DeFi protocols like Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and more. Beginners use popular dashboards to get simple information, while more experienced users use their own queries to find hidden alpha. Glassnode is an expert in on-chain analytics for Bitcoin and other important assets. They provide charts on things like exchange flows, holder behaviour, realised price, and network health indicators. Its studio creates visual dashboards that turn hard-to-understand data into easy-to-understand insights. Tools for Advanced Analytics and Intelligence Here are some tools for advanced analytics; Nansen's main areas of interest are wallet intelligence and tracking smart money. It tags addresses (exchanges, funds, whales), shows where money is going, and warns users of moves that are highly likely to happen. This is quite helpful for finding accumulation or distribution early on. Arkham Intelligence provides entity labelling and visualisation, making it easier to trace money across chains and identify links in the real world. Both programs include free tiers with useful data, but you can get more detailed historical views and warnings by paying for premium services. Token Terminal tracks fees, revenue, and other economic indicators for DeFi and infrastructure initiatives. It shows which protocols really create long-term value, which is important in a market full of hype. News and Information About The Larger Ecosystem Add good news to data-driven sites to give them some perspective. CoinDesk and The Block are both professional news sites that cover regulations, in-depth stories, and podcasts. Messari and Cointelegraph contribute in-depth analytical articles. Bankless and Milk Road newsletters send forth tailored content for short reads. Creating Your Own Crypto Research Process If you're new to investing, start with something easy. Use CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap every day to get prices and watchlists. Then, before you invest, check Messari for project overviews. For simple on-chain confirmation, like TVL growth or active users, add Dune. For experienced users, Glassnode can be used to monitor macro signals, Nansen to monitor smart-money flows, Token Terminal to monitor revenue health, and Dune to run bespoke chain-specific queries. To avoid bias, set alerts on important variables and check various sources. Always check wallet addresses and utilise hardware wallets to keep your money safe. This stack changes as your needs change. You can start for free and just pay for extra services like custom alerts or historical depth. What to Watch Out for and How to Use These Websites Safely There is no one site that has all the truth. During periods of excessive volatility, data can be slow to update, and even trusted systems can experience issues with their APIs. Check your results against other sources and never make an investment based on just one indicator. DYOR is still very important. Use these tools to help you make decisions, but don't let them replace your own judgment. Be informed of changes in the law that affect data availability, and put security first by not clicking on phishing sites. Most Users' Best Recommendation In 2026, start using CoinGecko and Messari together to build a strong, mostly free base. Once you get used to on-chain data, add Dune Analytics. This mix covers prices, fundamentals, and blockchain activity in great detail. Add Glassnode to your Bitcoin-focused or macro research. The most important thing is to be consistent. Check your stack regularly to spot opportunities and threats early.   FAQs Which website is best for beginners doing crypto research? CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap offer the easiest interfaces, clear explanations, and all the basic data needed to get started without feeling overwhelmed. Are on-chain analytics tools like Dune or Glassnode necessary for average investors? They become very useful once you move beyond prices, as they show real usage, whale activity, and protocol health that help avoid overhyped projects. Do these research websites cost money to use effectively? Most core features on CoinGecko, Messari, Dune, and Glassnode remain free in 2026, with paid upgrades only needed for advanced alerts or deeper history. How can I avoid scams when researching new tokens on these sites? Cross-reference token details across multiple platforms, check community trust scores on CoinGecko, review Messari profiles, and verify contract addresses before interacting. What’s the best way to stay updated on crypto trends using these websites? Bookmark your top 4–5 sites, set price or on-chain alerts where available, and pair them with quality news from CoinDesk or The Block for context on broader shifts. References CoinGecko: Best Cryptocurrency APIs of 2026  Messari: Crypto Research, Reports, AI News, Live Prices  CoinMarketCap: 20 Popular Blockchain Analytics Tools and Companies 

BTCC has introduced BTCC TradFi, a new cross-market trading feature that enables users to access traditional financial instruments — including forex, commodities, indices and equities — while using USDT as the margin and settlement currency. The rollout reflects a growing convergence between digital asset exchanges and traditional financial markets. The feature allows traders to access multiple asset classes without leaving the crypto-native environment. Rather than transferring capital between separate brokerage accounts or converting stablecoins into fiat, users can deploy USDT directly to gain exposure to instruments such as gold, oil, major equity indices and U.S. technology stocks. This development builds on BTCC’s prior activity in tokenised precious metals, which reportedly generated $5.72 billion in trading volume during 2025. Fourth-quarter volumes surged significantly compared to the first quarter, suggesting increasing appetite among crypto traders for exposure to real-world assets within a digital framework. Takeaway Stablecoin-based margining is expanding beyond crypto assets. Exchanges are positioning USDT as a gateway to multi-asset exposure. Which Instruments Are Included In The Initial Rollout? In its first phase, BTCC TradFi offers more than 25 instruments across five asset classes. Precious metals include gold, silver, platinum, palladium and aluminium pairs. Energy exposure is available through Brent and WTI crude oil. Major equity indices such as the Dow Jones, Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, DAX and FTSE are also listed. Forex pairs currently include GBPUSD, EURUSD, AUDUSD and NZDUSD, while equity exposure covers prominent U.S. technology stocks such as META, TSLA, MSFT, GOOG, AAPL, AMD, AMZN, NVIDIA, ORCL, NFLX and INTEL. The platform supports leverage of up to 500x on select instruments, with all transactions settled in USDT and accessible via web and mobile. The offering mirrors a hybrid structure: instruments traditionally associated with CFD or derivatives brokers are embedded within a crypto exchange framework. This approach reflects a broader trend in which digital asset platforms seek to retain users by expanding product breadth rather than focusing solely on crypto spot and derivatives markets. Takeaway Crypto exchanges are broadening into multi-asset derivatives. Product diversification may help platforms compete with established CFD brokers. How Does This Fit Into The RWA And Tokenisation Trend? The launch aligns with BTCC’s stated strategy to expand into the real-world asset (RWA) sector. Tokenised commodities and equity-linked instruments have gained traction as exchanges explore ways to bridge blockchain liquidity with traditional market exposure. Stablecoin settlement simplifies collateral management while maintaining crypto-native operational structures. The growth in tokenised gold volumes throughout 2025 suggests traders are increasingly comfortable accessing traditional assets through blockchain-based infrastructure. By integrating forex, commodities and equities into a unified USDT-margined system, BTCC is effectively positioning itself as a hybrid venue straddling crypto and conventional markets. However, leverage levels of up to 500x introduce substantial risk, particularly in volatile macro environments. As exchanges expand into traditional asset classes, risk management frameworks and regulatory considerations may become increasingly central to long-term sustainability. Takeaway RWA integration is reshaping exchange models. Stablecoin-collateralised trading may accelerate adoption, but high leverage amplifies risk exposure. With more than 11 million users globally, BTCC’s move reflects intensifying competition among exchanges seeking to capture cross-asset trading flows. As digital platforms converge with traditional financial markets, boundaries between crypto exchanges and multi-asset trading venues are becoming less distinct. The coming months will likely test whether demand for USDT-margined exposure to traditional markets can sustain momentum beyond initial novelty. If adoption continues, hybrid trading infrastructures may become a defining feature of the next phase of digital asset exchange evolution. For now, BTCC TradFi represents another step in the ongoing integration of crypto liquidity with global financial markets — a trend that continues to reshape both sectors.

Tabadulat, the ADGM-regulated Shariah-compliant brokerage platform, has signed a strategic collaboration with Minted Connect to provide institutional access to physically backed, Shariah-compliant gold Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs). The agreement enables Minted Connect to access gold-linked instruments through Tabadulat’s licensed Islamic brokerage infrastructure. Under the structure, Tabadulat will act as executing broker and asset safekeeper, delivering segregated custody, regulated trade execution and reporting within the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) framework of Abu Dhabi Global Market. The arrangement allows Minted Connect to diversify its institutional treasury exposure through gold-backed ETCs aligned with Islamic finance principles. Gold has experienced renewed demand amid global macroeconomic volatility, with prices rising sharply in 2025. Within Islamic finance, physically backed gold instruments hold particular relevance as portfolio diversifiers structured to avoid prohibited elements such as riba, gharar and maysir. Takeaway Physically backed gold remains a cornerstone asset in Islamic portfolios. Regulated brokerage access strengthens institutional confidence in Shariah-compliant ETC structures. What Role Does ADGM Regulation Play In The Structure? The collaboration operates within Tabadulat’s FSRA-regulated brokerage model, incorporating Shariah screening, KYC/AML procedures and compliance governance aligned with Islamic finance standards. Regulatory oversight under ADGM provides institutional safeguards around execution, custody and reporting — elements increasingly critical as cross-border Islamic investment flows expand. Minted Connect, licensed by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) for precious metals trading and digital asset infrastructure, brings an established footprint across multiple jurisdictions, including affiliates in the United Kingdom and Turkey. Through this partnership, it gains structured access to gold-backed ETCs while remaining within a compliant brokerage environment. Technical and operational integration between the two firms will include API connectivity to support secure execution and settlement workflows. Such infrastructure coordination is designed to ensure scalable and compliant access for institutional users operating across jurisdictions. Takeaway Regulatory alignment under ADGM enhances institutional credibility. Structured custody and Shariah governance are central to cross-border Islamic investment flows. Why Gold-Backed ETCs Matter In Islamic Finance Gold has historically served as both a store of value and a permissible asset class within Islamic finance, provided it is physically backed and structured in compliance with Shariah principles. Exchange Traded Commodities linked to allocated gold holdings can offer institutional exposure while maintaining transparency and asset backing. For Minted Connect, whose ecosystem reportedly serves more than three million users globally, diversifying treasury assets through regulated gold ETCs supports capital stability and alignment with Islamic investment mandates. The partnership signals broader interest in combining digital infrastructure with tangible, compliant underlying assets. The agreement also reflects a growing trend in the Middle East toward building integrated Halal investment ecosystems that connect brokerage execution, asset custody and Shariah oversight under unified regulatory umbrellas. As institutional Islamic finance continues to evolve, infrastructure collaborations may play a defining role in scaling compliant capital markets access. Takeaway Gold-backed ETCs bridge traditional commodities exposure with modern brokerage access. Integrated Shariah-compliant infrastructure is gaining traction across the region. The collaboration between Tabadulat and Minted Connect underscores the strategic importance of regulated Islamic brokerage models in the UAE. By combining precious metals expertise with FSRA-regulated execution and safekeeping, the partnership aims to support institutional participation in Shariah-aligned gold investment instruments. As gold continues to attract demand amid global uncertainty, compliant access channels may become increasingly relevant for institutional investors operating under Islamic mandates. The agreement highlights the UAE’s growing role as a hub for Shariah-compliant financial infrastructure connecting global capital markets with regionally aligned investment frameworks.

Broadridge Financial Solutions has appointed Frank Troise as President, Global Capital Markets, at a time when traditional and digital market infrastructures are increasingly converging. Reporting to Tom Carey, President of Global Technology & Operations, Troise also joins the firm’s Executive Leadership Team. The move comes as capital markets participants face structural transformation across issuance, trading, financing, data and post-trade services. As digital assets, tokenised securities and AI-enabled analytics integrate into established workflows, infrastructure providers are being pressed to deliver seamless front-to-back solutions that bridge legacy and next-generation systems. Broadridge’s scale positions it at a central junction in global markets, connecting more than 2,200 buy- and sell-side firms and over 200 trading venues. With daily average trading volumes exceeding $15 trillion across asset classes, leadership direction in its capital markets division carries strategic implications for both traditional securities markets and digital market evolution. Takeaway Leadership changes at market infrastructure providers can signal strategic acceleration. Integration across digital and traditional assets is now a core capital markets theme. Troise’s Background In Trading And Connectivity Troise joined Broadridge in 2024 as Head of Trading and Connectivity Solutions, where he expanded front-office capabilities across execution management, algorithmic trading and analytics. His appointment formalizes a broader mandate to steer global capital markets transformation within the firm. Prior to Broadridge, Troise served as CEO and board member of Pico Quantitative Trading and previously led Investment Technology Group (ITG) as CEO and President. Earlier in his career, he headed J.P. Morgan’s global Execution Services business, overseeing cross-asset trading operations spanning major international markets. This background aligns with Broadridge’s focus on front-to-back integration. As electronic trading sophistication rises and liquidity fragmentation persists, expertise spanning execution, analytics and connectivity becomes central to scaling unified market infrastructure solutions. Takeaway Deep experience in execution services and trading technology supports Broadridge’s push toward integrated, multi-asset infrastructure. Digital Infrastructure And Tokenization Strategy Broadridge has established a significant footprint in distributed ledger-based infrastructure, including what it describes as the largest institutional platform for tokenised real assets. Its distributed ledger-based repo platform reportedly supports more than $7 trillion in monthly volume, reflecting growing institutional experimentation with blockchain-based settlement mechanisms. The firm is positioning digital and traditional asset capabilities within a unified operational framework rather than treating them as parallel systems. By combining AI-powered analytics, robust data architecture and globally scaled connectivity, Broadridge aims to support clients navigating hybrid market structures where tokenised and conventional instruments coexist. As regulators focus on resiliency and governance amid digital innovation, infrastructure providers must balance technological advancement with operational reliability. Broadridge’s strategy emphasizes preserving regulatory strength while extending established post-trade and execution frameworks into digital environments. Takeaway Tokenisation is moving into mainstream institutional infrastructure. Scaled providers integrating DLT with legacy systems may shape the next phase of market structure evolution. Troise’s appointment signals an intent to accelerate Broadridge’s role in capital markets transformation at a time when automation, AI and digital asset adoption are reshaping workflows. Infrastructure providers capable of aligning front-office innovation with post-trade resilience are likely to remain central to institutional market ecosystems. With financial markets continuing to digitise and asset classes converging operationally, leadership direction at systemically embedded firms such as Broadridge carries broader market implications. The next stage will test how effectively integrated platforms can deliver efficiency gains without compromising stability. As global capital markets evolve, the balance between innovation, governance and scale will remain a defining challenge — and strategic leadership will play a decisive role in navigating that transition.

Bloomberg has introduced ASKB, a conversational AI interface now in beta, designed to transform how investors interact with the Bloomberg Terminal. The tool allows users to ask detailed questions in natural language and receive synthesized answers drawn from Bloomberg’s vast repository of structured data, news, research and analytics. Rather than navigating across multiple functions and screens, financial professionals can query company fundamentals, earnings data, macro trends or market sentiment conversationally. ASKB then aggregates and analyzes information across Bloomberg’s ecosystem, presenting contextual responses with clear attribution to underlying sources. The interface is integrated into Bloomberg Anywhere subscriptions and aims to accelerate research workflows for equity and company-focused analysts. By reducing the friction between question and analysis, Bloomberg is positioning ASKB as a productivity multiplier in an increasingly data-saturated investment environment. Takeaway Conversational AI within established market terminals may significantly compress research time. Speed of synthesis is becoming as critical as data access itself. How Does The Agentic AI Architecture Work? ASKB operates through a coordinated system of AI agents working in parallel to access Bloomberg’s proprietary datasets, real-time news feeds and research libraries. The system uses a combination of commercial and open-weight large language models aligned with Bloomberg’s Responsible AI principles. Every response is grounded in Bloomberg’s data infrastructure and includes transparent attribution to original documents and research sources. When analysis involves quantitative queries, ASKB provides the underlying Bloomberg Query Language (BQL) code, enabling users to extend or validate outputs directly in Excel, BQuant Desktop or BQuant Enterprise. The tool spans asset classes and content types, drawing from company filings, curated and original news coverage, sell-side research from hundreds of providers, and proprietary insights from Bloomberg Intelligence, BloombergNEF and Bloomberg Economics. This breadth is designed to ensure that conversational outputs are anchored in institutional-grade information rather than generic web data. Takeaway Source transparency and embedded BQL outputs address institutional concerns around AI reliability. Auditability remains central to professional adoption. Can AI Workflows Redefine Investment Research? Beyond Q&A functionality, ASKB introduces “Workflows,” enabling users to automate multi-step research tasks such as pre-earnings preparation, post-results analysis or meeting briefings. Users can define structure and objectives, save templates, and re-run analyses across companies or timeframes. Such capabilities may shift research processes from manual compilation toward semi-automated synthesis. In environments where analysts juggle multiple earnings cycles and macro developments simultaneously, workflow automation could meaningfully reduce operational burden while maintaining analytical depth. The integration of document uploads for expanded analysis further enhances flexibility, allowing proprietary materials to be examined alongside Bloomberg’s internal datasets. With mobile access through the Bloomberg Professional app, the system extends conversational analytics beyond the traditional desktop terminal. Takeaway AI-assisted workflows may move institutional research from screen navigation to structured dialogue. Productivity gains could reshape analyst workflows in 2026 and beyond. The launch reflects a broader transformation underway in financial market technology, where generative AI is being embedded directly into core infrastructure rather than layered on as external tools. By integrating conversational AI within its flagship terminal, Bloomberg is responding to rising demand for faster insight extraction without sacrificing data integrity. As AI adoption accelerates across financial services, differentiation may hinge on trust, attribution and seamless integration with existing analytical ecosystems. For Bloomberg, ASKB represents a shift toward a more intuitive, dialogue-driven research model — one built to match the pace and complexity of modern markets. The beta phase will likely determine how deeply conversational AI becomes embedded in institutional investment workflows, but the trajectory suggests that market research interfaces are entering a new phase of intelligent interaction.

Quant Technology Group has launched QuantSentry, an AI-native risk management platform designed specifically for proprietary trading firms ranging from early-stage operators to large global firms. The platform is positioned as an automated alternative to manual oversight processes and fragmented legacy risk systems, with the goal of detecting trading abuse, enforcing risk rules in real time, and protecting firm capital as prop firms scale. The company says QuantSentry is built to address a common operational pain point in the prop trading industry: as firms grow from hundreds to thousands of accounts, risk enforcement becomes inconsistent, investigations become labor-intensive, and fraud detection often happens too late—after payouts have already been issued. With prop trading models increasingly reliant on high-volume retail participation, platforms that can automate risk detection at scale are becoming strategically important. QuantSentry enters a market where payout leakage, multi-accounting, and coordinated strategy abuse are now among the most serious margin threats for prop firms. What is QuantSentry and why does it matter for prop firms? QuantSentry is described as a cloud-native risk engine designed to replace manual monitoring and older risk tools that were not built for today’s prop trading scale. The platform’s core promise is to deliver consistent, low-latency enforcement as account volume grows, while reducing the operational burden on internal risk teams. Prop firms face a unique risk structure compared to traditional brokers. Their profitability depends heavily on correctly identifying which traders are legitimate and which are exploiting loopholes in evaluation models. That creates constant pressure to detect abusive behavior early, particularly in environments where thousands of accounts may be trading simultaneously. Quant Technology Group claims QuantSentry addresses these issues with an adaptive architecture that preserves millisecond-level precision even under heavy load. If accurate, that could appeal to firms struggling with risk tooling that slows down during volatility spikes or requires human intervention for enforcement. Takeaway QuantSentry is targeting a real prop firm weakness: scaling risk enforcement without scaling headcount. Automated risk engines could become a key competitive advantage as prop firms fight payout leakage and operational costs. How does AI-driven abuse detection reshape prop firm economics? The biggest challenge in prop trading is not market risk—it is participant behavior risk. Many firms lose margin due to coordinated trading schemes such as copy trading rings, multi-accounting, and hedging strategies that exploit payout structures. These behaviors can look legitimate in isolation but become obvious when analyzed as part of a wider network. QuantSentry claims to apply network-based analysis and machine learning to detect coordinated abuse patterns before payouts occur. That is a meaningful distinction, because many prop firms only catch abuse during post-trade reviews, often after profits have been withdrawn. From a business perspective, fraud prevention directly improves margins. If a prop firm reduces payout fraud even marginally, the savings can outweigh the platform cost—especially for high-volume firms paying out daily. AI detection also reduces the need for manual “firefighting,” which is a growing expense in an industry where risk teams are forced to investigate suspicious activity across thousands of accounts. Takeaway AI-based network detection could materially improve prop firm profitability by stopping coordinated abuse before payout. The most valuable risk tools will be those that prevent fraud early, not just flag it after the fact. Why prop firms are reaching the limits of legacy risk tooling The prop trading boom has created operational scale that many internal systems were never designed to handle. Legacy risk tooling often relies on rule-based checks, spreadsheets, or disconnected monitoring dashboards that require human interpretation. As account volumes rise, these systems become bottlenecks, increasing latency and slowing enforcement. Quant Technology Group argues that inconsistent enforcement creates direct financial harm through “payout leakage” and margin erosion. In practice, this means that abusive traders can exploit gaps in monitoring, while legitimate traders face delays and inconsistent rule application—both of which damage trust in the platform. The firm also highlights that investigations can become manual and fragmented. This is a key issue for prop firms operating across multiple platforms, bridges, and liquidity setups. Without unified tooling, risk teams can spend more time collecting evidence than actually making decisions. Takeaway Prop firms scaling quickly often hit a breaking point where spreadsheets and rule engines no longer work. Platforms that can enforce risk rules consistently at scale may become essential infrastructure, not optional tooling. What the tiered rollout suggests about market demand QuantSentry is being released in four tiers—Starter, Growth, Scale, and Enterprise—suggesting the company is aiming for broad adoption across the prop trading market rather than focusing solely on institutional-scale firms. This tiered approach is notable because the prop trading sector includes a large number of smaller operators who may lack the engineering capacity to build internal risk tooling. Many early-stage prop firms depend on third-party trading platforms and bridges, which can limit their ability to implement sophisticated risk monitoring without external tools. Quant Technology Group says QuantSentry integrates with major trading platforms and bridges, positioning it as a plug-and-play deployment. If integration is smooth, it could lower switching costs for firms and accelerate adoption. The question will be whether smaller firms are willing to pay for advanced tooling before they reach major scale—or whether the platform becomes a “graduation requirement” once firms reach thousands of accounts. Takeaway The tiered pricing model suggests QuantSentry expects demand across the entire prop lifecycle. Smaller firms may adopt early to avoid fraud blowups, while larger firms may use it to cut investigation costs and improve payout controls.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a public warning about a rise in investment scams involving fraudsters impersonating well-known stock commentators and market experts. According to the regulator, recent cases reported to the SFC show scammers using social media platforms and instant messaging apps to lure victims into so-called “ramp and dump” schemes — a form of stock market manipulation that can result in significant investor losses. The SFC has referred the cases to the Police and reiterated its commitment to working with law enforcement agencies to crack down on investment fraud. How Ramp And Dump Schemes Operate In a typical ramp and dump scheme, fraudsters aggressively promote small-cap or illiquid stocks while falsely presenting themselves as reputable analysts or market insiders. They often claim to possess “inside information” or guarantee high returns to encourage investors to buy shares at inflated prices. Once demand drives the share price higher, the scammers quickly sell their own holdings at the elevated price, triggering a sharp decline that leaves unsuspecting investors facing heavy losses as the stock collapses. In some cases, victims were also directed to trade via fraudulent platforms or apps, where they later encountered difficulties withdrawing their assets, further compounding financial damage. Takeaway Ramp and dump schemes rely on artificial hype and impersonation. Investors should treat unsolicited “guaranteed return” stock tips — particularly involving small or illiquid shares — as high-risk red flags. Impersonation And “Compensation” Tactics The SFC noted that scammers frequently use fake social media profiles, counterfeit documents, and the identities of trusted commentators to gain credibility. In many instances, investors are unaware of the true identities or qualifications of those urging them to buy specific stocks. After victims suffer losses, fraudsters may re-approach them, claiming compensation can be arranged in exchange for additional “deposits” or “handling fees.” Once further funds are transferred, the scammers typically sever contact. Such layered deception tactics are designed to exploit trust, urgency and emotional vulnerability, particularly when investors are already attempting to recover losses. Takeaway Requests for additional payments to recover investment losses are a common secondary scam tactic. Legitimate regulators and financial institutions do not require upfront “fees” to release compensation. SFC Guidance To Protect Investors The SFC strongly urges the public to remain vigilant and exercise extreme caution when encountering investment offers on social media or messaging apps that appear “too good to be true.” Investors are advised to avoid acting on unsolicited investment advice, particularly from online contacts who request screenshots of trading records or personal financial details. The regulator also recommends using only official company payment channels and verifying recipient identities through trusted sources. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious investment activity, impersonation attempts, or suspected ramp and dump schemes to the SFC or the Police immediately. Takeaway Verification, skepticism and independent research remain essential investor protections. If an investment opportunity pressures quick action or guarantees high returns, stepping back may prevent significant financial harm. ```

ViewTrade Technology has expanded access to overnight U.S. equities trading through connectivity with Bruce ATS, an SEC-regulated alternative trading system operating between 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM Eastern Time. The arrangement enables brokers and financial institutions across Asia and the Middle East to trade U.S. equities during their local business hours. The trading window corresponds to standard daytime hours in key Asian markets, including South Korea, creating an opportunity for regional institutions to participate in U.S. equity flows without relying solely on after-hours or pre-market sessions tied to U.S. time zones. As demand grows for near-continuous market access, overnight liquidity is increasingly viewed as a competitive differentiator. Through the partnership, ViewTrade provides certified FIX order routing alongside approved redistribution of Bruce ATS real-time market data. The structure is designed to allow brokers to deploy overnight trading capabilities with limited integration complexity. Extended U.S. trading windows are gaining traction globally. Infrastructure partnerships are enabling brokers to align equity access with regional business hours. Why Data Normalization And API Delivery Matter Beyond execution connectivity, ViewTrade is offering normalized overnight U.S. equities market data through RESTful APIs, real-time socket streaming and software development kits. The firm processes and standardizes raw data feeds to create application-ready outputs that can be embedded directly into mobile platforms, web interfaces, analytics engines and risk systems. This normalization layer aims to reduce downstream development work for brokers and fintech platforms seeking to incorporate overnight U.S. equity data into user-facing applications. In addition to executed trade values from Bruce ATS, the dataset includes standardized and enriched information to support broader analytics and portfolio monitoring functions. To improve latency and reliability, Bruce ATS market data has been localized within ViewTrade’s Asia-region infrastructure. The deployment is intended to enhance transmission speed and ensure consistent performance for institutions accessing overnight markets from the region. Takeaway Normalized market data delivered via APIs lowers integration barriers. Localization strategies may improve performance for cross-border trading clients. Always-On Markets And Structural Shifts The expansion reflects broader structural changes in global market access, where investors increasingly expect 24x5 trading capability across asset classes. The combination of execution connectivity and cloud-delivered data services supports brokers looking to differentiate through extended trading hours. Overnight liquidity venues such as Bruce ATS are emerging as complements to traditional exchange sessions, bridging gaps between after-hours and pre-market activity. For international investors managing diversified portfolios, the ability to react to corporate or macro developments during local hours may enhance responsiveness and risk management. ViewTrade also highlighted redundancy capabilities for brokers already connected to Bruce ATS, positioning itself as a secondary path for failover and resilience. As cross-border trading ecosystems grow more complex, infrastructure redundancy and regulatory alignment are becoming key considerations alongside market access. Takeaway Global equity trading is moving toward continuous access models. Infrastructure resiliency and scalable connectivity are central to supporting round-the-clock markets. The partnership signals increasing institutional appetite for overnight U.S. equities exposure beyond domestic trading hours. As Asia-based brokers and fintech platforms expand global offerings, infrastructure providers are competing to simplify connectivity while preserving performance and compliance standards. With capital markets progressively shifting toward continuous availability, collaborations between trading venues and cross-border technology providers may accelerate the normalization of extended-hour equity participation worldwide. The evolution toward always-accessible markets underscores how geographic boundaries are becoming less relevant in global portfolio management.

The European Central Bank has imposed two administrative penalties totalling €12.18 million on J.P. Morgan SE after identifying prolonged misreporting of risk-weighted assets (RWAs). The breaches, spanning from 2019 to 2024, involved the bank reporting lower RWAs than required under prudential rules. For 15 consecutive quarters, the institution misclassified certain corporate exposures and applied lower credit risk weights than prescribed by regulation. In addition, for 21 consecutive quarters, it excluded specific transactions from the calculation of RWAs related to credit valuation adjustment (CVA) risk — a measure capturing potential losses from counterparty defaults in derivative contracts. According to the ECB, both breaches were committed with serious negligence and were driven by deficiencies in internal processes. The supervisory authority determined that the bank’s control mechanisms failed to detect the errors in a timely manner, resulting in inaccurate reporting to regulators. Takeaway Extended misreporting of RWAs highlights the regulatory importance of data integrity. Supervisors are prioritising accurate capital calculations as a cornerstone of financial stability. Why Risk-Weighted Assets Matter For Capital Strength Risk-weighted assets form the foundation of a bank’s capital adequacy framework. They determine the amount of regulatory capital a bank must hold relative to the risks on its balance sheet. By underestimating RWAs, a bank effectively reports stronger capital ratios than warranted, potentially overstating its capacity to absorb losses. Capital ratios are central to the Basel framework and serve as key indicators of resilience during market stress. Inaccurate RWA calculations can distort supervisory assessments and impair regulators’ ability to evaluate systemic risk exposure across institutions. The ECB classified the credit risk breach as “severe” and the CVA-related breach as “moderately severe” under its penalty methodology. While the financial penalty is modest relative to the scale of a global banking group, the classification carries reputational and supervisory weight. Takeaway RWA accuracy directly affects reported capital ratios. Even technical misclassifications can undermine supervisory confidence and trigger enforcement action. What This Signals About ECB Supervisory Priorities The decision underscores the ECB’s strict stance on prudential compliance and internal governance standards. By emphasising “serious negligence,” the regulator signalled that prolonged control failures — even absent intentional misconduct — fall within the scope of enforcement. Supervisory focus on data quality and reporting accuracy has intensified in recent years, particularly for systemically important institutions. Regulators increasingly expect banks to maintain robust internal validation processes capable of identifying misclassifications and calculation errors before submission to supervisory authorities. The bank retains the right to challenge the decision before the Court of Justice of the European Union. Any appeal could potentially shape legal interpretation of supervisory classifications and penalty frameworks. In the meantime, the sanction reinforces the ECB’s zero-tolerance approach to lapses that compromise the transparency of capital adequacy reporting. Takeaway Supervisors are tightening oversight of reporting controls. Institutions under ECB supervision may face increased scrutiny of RWA methodologies and internal governance. While the monetary amount is limited in scale for a major international bank, the broader message is clear: capital reporting accuracy remains a core pillar of supervisory trust. Prolonged deficiencies in internal controls, even at sophisticated institutions, are unlikely to escape regulatory sanction. The case also highlights the complexity of RWA frameworks, particularly in areas such as CVA risk and derivative exposure classification. As prudential standards evolve, banks may need to invest further in automated controls, validation tools, and governance oversight to reduce operational risk in regulatory reporting. In an environment where supervisory authorities are closely monitoring systemic resilience, enforcement actions tied to capital adequacy calculations are likely to remain a focal point of European banking oversight.

Canaan Inc., a mining equipment maker, has bought a 49% stake in three operational Bitcoin mining projects in West Texas. The deal was for around $39.75 million. The deal, disclosed on February 23, 2026, involved the issuance of Canaan Class A ordinary shares without cash, making Cypher a major shareholder in Canaan. WindHQ, a company that builds renewable energy infrastructure, owns 51% of the ABC Projects and runs them as a joint venture. The projects are Alborz LLC, Bear LLC, and Chief Mountain LLC. Important Assets and Operational Information The ABC Projects now have 120 megawatts (MW) of electricity capacity and can sustain about 4.4 exahashes per second (EH/s) of combined operating hashrate. The mining fleet is in the middle of the range for modern hardware, with an average efficiency of about 25.7 joules per terahash (J/TH). Canaan also bought 6,840 Avalon A15Pro mining equipment from Cypher as part of the deal. These rigs were first sent to Cipher's Black Pearl facility by Canaan in July 2025. They are now part of ABC's operations. The sites benefit from Texas's ERCOT power market, which provides access to competitive energy prices and enables them to respond to changes in demand. Strategic Reasoning and Funding The transaction shows that Canaan wants to go beyond making devices and own mining infrastructure directly. Canaan diversifies its operations and gains access to cheap power sources in a key mining region by purchasing operational assets that generate cash. The all-stock arrangement kept Canaan's financial reserves safe and aligned its interests with Cypher, which is now focusing on AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data centers. The Business World Texas is still a great place to mine Bitcoin because it has abundant power, strong laws, and access to renewable energy. Many operators use ERCOT's volatility to make more money by participating in demand-response and curtailment. This deal occurs in the context of broader industry trends, such as miners moving into AI/HPC to address the stress of the Bitcoin halving and rising energy prices. The purchase immediately increases Canaan's ability to mine its own coins and sets it up for possible future upgrades to more efficient technology. Implications for Crypto Users People who mine and invest in Canaan may see this as a good indicator for the company's vertical integration approach. This might help Canaan's position in the competitive ASIC and mining business. New users should know that mining profitability depends on factors such as Bitcoin's price, how difficult the network is to use, how much electricity it costs, and how efficient the hardware is. The acquisition shows how Texas is becoming more important in the global distribution of Bitcoin hashrate and how hardware companies are becoming full-stack operators.

Chiliz (CHZ) drives SportsFi, one of the most unusual areas of the cryptocurrency industry. It combines blockchain technology with fan involvement through Fan Tokens on sites like Socios.com and Locker Room. These tokens let fans vote on club decisions, access special benefits, and participate in incentives, giving them real-world value directly tied to their love of sports.  As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, to be held in North America from June to July, many analysts and investors believe CHZ is well-positioned to rise significantly. This prediction examines the technical setup, fundamental drivers, historical trends, and likely price action for CHZ leading up to and during the tournament. As of late February 2026, the market value of CHZ is about $0.034, with a market cap of about $350 million and a constant trading volume. The token has been consolidating after prior rallies, but growing catalysts suggest a possible breakthrough as fan involvement grows worldwide. What Sets Chiliz Apart in the World of Crypto? Chiliz runs the Chiliz Chain, a layer-1 blockchain well-suited for sports-related apps and fan tokens. Fan Tokens are digital assets for clubs, leagues, and players that give holders voting rights, VIP experiences, and game-like incentives. Since its launch in 2018, the ecosystem has evolved significantly, teaming up with big names such as FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, the UFC, and Formula 1 teams. CHZ differs from other speculative tokens because its value stems from platform activities, such as transaction fees, token sales, and engagement. Recent improvements include omnichain features for cross-chain interoperability and an emphasis on real-world assets (RWAs) in sports. This puts Chiliz at the crossroads of entertainment, blockchain, and huge global audiences. The 2026 FIFA World Cup: A Big Event The 2026 World Cup is the biggest sporting tournament ever, with 48 teams, a new format, and hosting in the US, Canada, and Mexico. This scale attracts billions of viewers and gives fans more ways to get involved than ever before. Chiliz has made it clear that its strategy aligns with this event, with plans to launch national-team Fan Tokens in the summer of 2026. These differ from club tokens because they focus on international events and evoke patriotic feelings throughout the qualifications and finals. The thesis is backed by history: During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, CHZ and other Fan Tokens saw significant trading and price movements as fans rushed to get involved. The 2026 edition, which will be held in a North American market receptive to cryptocurrencies, might amplify this effect by being more widely available and attracting more media attention. Chiliz's Plan for Growth in the Future Chiliz has released its Vision 2030 manifesto, which lays out a three-phase plan that emphasizes 2026 as the year the company will move from testing to doing. Important parts are: Re-entering the U.S. market in the first quarter of 2026 with projected funding of $50–100 million to bring on new partnerships and users before the World Cup. Launching national team Fan Tokens in the summer of 2026, timed to create surges in trading and participation around events. Using a buyback-and-burn system, 10% of Fan Token revenues will be used to buy back and burn CHZ. This will put deflationary pressure on the platform as more people use it. Regulatory progress boosts confidence, MiCA pre-authorization in the EU gives access to over 450 million customers, and the U.S. re-entry addresses past problems. These actions are intended to significantly expand the ecosystem. Analysts expect the Fan Token market to expand from less than $300 million in the past to $1–2 billion by 2026 if things go well. Technical Analysis: Signs of a Bullish Setup CHZ has made a falling wedge pattern on the weekly chart. This is when two downward trendlines converge, with lower highs and lower lows. This pattern frequently means that the stock is building up before breaking out to the upside. Amid price volatility, this consolidation comes as the price recently tested support between $0.033–$0.038 after hitting $0.055 earlier in February. At $0.051, there is a key resistance level. If the price closes above this level this week, it might start moving toward $0.067 and beyond. If the pattern turns bullish, objectives range from $0.125 (conservative) to $0.40 (aggressive) by the end of 2026, driven by volume spikes and news triggers. One short-term danger is that it could fall below $0.032, although the current structure favours an upside if accumulation continues. Possible Prices for 2026 How many people think the price will go up or down depends on the state of the market, how quickly people adopt it, and how people feel about crypto in general. Conservative estimates suggest CHZ will average between $0.034 and $0.045 through 2026, with little growth from stable conditions. More positive views, linked to World Cup enthusiasm and buybacks, saw peaks between $0.10 and $0.15, especially during the buildup to the competition in Q2 and Q3. If national team tokens and U.S. partnerships perform better than expected, some analysts say the price could rise above $0.20. The outcomes are affected by factors such as the number of people worldwide using cryptocurrency, the implications of the Bitcoin halving cycle, and partnerships with sports media. Past World Cup cycles have driven connected assets up by 50% to 100% or more, but there is no assurance this will happen again. There are always risks in crypto markets, like changes in regulations, competition from other SportsFi ventures, or a general slump that could limit growth. CHZ's price is directly linked to real-world events; delays in token releases or lower-than-expected participation could put pressure on the price. It's important to invest only risk capital, spread your investments, and do your own research. Price predictions are not promises. How to Invest in CHZ New users can learn about Fan Tokens by visiting Socios.com or the Chiliz wallet. Traders with experience keep an eye on important levels, such as the $0.051 resistance level, volume spikes, and news events that might move prices, such as U.S. partnership announcements or national team launches. People who hold CHZ for a long time see it as a bet on SportFi's growth, while those who trade it for a short time do so on event-driven momentum. The 2026 World Cup gives CHZ a clear story: a purpose-built blockchain for fan engagement that attracts global attention. Chiliz might deliver big profits for investors who are ahead of the rise thanks to its deflationary mechanics, strategic growth, and technical momentum. Keep an eye on official news from chiliz.com and watch the volume for confirming indications.

KEY TAKEAWAYS Crypto futures allow traders to use leverage to control larger positions with less capital than is required in spot trading. The ability to short sell in futures enables profits in both rising and falling markets, unlike spot's upward-only focus. Hedging with futures protects spot holdings from downside risk, helping stabilize the portfolio during volatile periods. Futures often provide better capital efficiency, lower relative fees, and no need for asset custody compared to spot. While futures offer strategic advantages, their amplified risks demand strict discipline and risk management for sustainable results. There are many ways to trade cryptocurrencies, but two stand out: spot trading, where you buy and possess the physical asset right away, and futures trading, where you make bets on price changes through contracts without owning the coin itself. In February 2026, many traders, both new and experienced, are moving toward futures trading because the market remains volatile and platforms are aging.  This inclination stems from the fact that futures offer unique tools that give you more freedom, greater potential profits, and strategic options you can't get in spot markets. New users frequently choose spot since it's easy to understand, but experienced traders choose futures because they offer more chances and better ways to minimise risk.  This article goes over the main reasons why futures are so popular, how they are different from spot, and practical steps you can take to get started. It also gives you a clear view of the pros and cons of each method, so you can choose the one that fits your goals and risk tolerance. The Main Differences Between Spot and Futures Are Explained When you trade on the spot market, you buy bitcoin at the current market price and own it right away. You keep the asset in your wallet, see its value rise, and can use it in DeFi protocols or transfer it. You can only make money when the price goes up, and your maximum loss is the amount you put in, no more. Futures Trading Uses Derivative Contracts Futures trading uses derivative contracts to keep track of the price of an asset. Perpetual futures, which are the most common type of futures in crypto, don't have an end date and settle in cash or stablecoins. You put down a margin to open trades, use leverage, and make (or lose) money based on the direction of the price without ever holding the coin. This structure allows trading in both directions and is more efficient, but it also carries the risk of liquidation if your positions go against you. Leverage: Getting More Money with Less Capital Leverage is one of the main reasons traders like futures. A little deposit controls a much bigger stake. For instance, 10x leverage translates $1,000 into exposure worth $10,000. When prices move a little, you can make a lot more money than when you buy at spot, when you need all your money up front. This capital efficiency helps traders participate in markets in 2026, which are very volatile, without tying up a lot of money. Experienced users utilise leverage wisely on configurations they are sure about, while cautious newcomers start with low multipliers (2x–5x) to limit their risk. Kraken, Binance, and Bybit are platforms that let you adjust your leverage, helping you match your risk to your level of experience. Long and Short Positions In spot trading, you can only make money when prices go up. You buy low and sell high. Futures get rid of this limit. Traders open long bets when they think prices will go up and short positions when they think prices will go down, making money no matter which way the market goes. Bear markets and corrections become opportunities rather than threats. Hedgers short futures to offset spot holdings, which protects their portfolios when the market goes down. This two-way access attracts aggressive traders who see crypto as a 24/7 place to speculate, not merely a place to keep wealth long-term. Hedging: How to Keep Your Portfolio Safe Many people want to hold spot crypto for a long time while protecting themselves against losses. Futures do really well here. If the price decreases, futures gains offset spot declines. This is because you short similar futures contracts. This hedging method keeps returns steady and reduces emotional stress when markets become volatile. Institutional and experienced retail traders utilise it all the time, viewing futures as insurance rather than just a way to make money. New traders can practise with small hedge sizes to learn without making things too hard. Lower Fees and More Liquidity on Big Platforms Futures markets usually offer tighter spreads, greater liquidity, and lower effective fees than spot markets for the same level of risk, especially when leverage is used. In 2026, high-volume platforms offer maker rebates and competitive taker rates, which makes trading often cheap. Perpetual futures don't have rollover expenses like regular expiries, and funding rates (monthly payments between longs and shorts) can sometimes help holders. Day traders and scalpers make many deals like this efficiently. No Problems with Custody: Trade Without Worrying About Your Wallet Futures eliminate the need to manage private keys, worry about wallet security, or pay transfer fees. Positions stay on the exchange, which lowers the danger of losing money or getting hacked when you keep your own funds. For traders who care more about price activity than ownership, this ease of use is quite important. How to Get Started with Crypto Futures in Steps Pick a reliable platform: Kraken for users who care about security, Binance or Bybit for high leverage and a wide range of options, or MEXC for inexpensive fees. Finish the KYC process, deposit funds (usually USDT), and go to the futures area. If you can, start in demo mode so you may practise without risking real money. Choose a pair like BTC/USDT and stick with it forever, set the leverage low, and always use stop-loss orders. Keep an eye on funding rates and margin levels to avoid surprises. Start small, keep an eye on how things are going, and only grow when you see consistent results. Important Risks and How to Trade Responsibly Leverage magnifies losses, just as it magnifies wins. If you don't manage your risks well, you could lose money quickly. Funding rates can eat into earnings on long-term holdings, and emotional decisions are more likely when leverage is high. Futures aren't good for everyone because crypto is so volatile. Always utilise only risk capital, set stringent stop-losses, don't use too much leverage, and never trade to make up for losses. Before moving on, beginners need to learn how to spot first. Keep learning, many platforms include tutorials and tools for analysing data. Which Method Works Best for You? Spot is good for long-term holders, newcomers, and people who value simplicity and ownership. Active traders who want leverage, hedging, and bidirectional profits are drawn to futures. Many successful participants do both: they keep core spot assets and use futures to protect themselves or make money. In the fast-paced economy of 2026, futures can be quite useful if used correctly. Be honest with yourself about your experience, aspirations, and the level of risk you're willing to take. Start slowly, put knowledge ahead of fast wins, and think of trading as a talent you can learn over time.   FAQs Why do experienced traders switch to futures from spot? They value leverage for higher returns, short selling for bearish plays, and hedging to safeguard long-term holdings without selling assets. Is crypto futures trading suitable for beginners? Ideally, start with a spot to learn the basics, then transition to low-leverage futures only after understanding margin, liquidation, and risk controls. How does leverage work in crypto futures? It lets you deposit a fraction of the position value as margin (e.g., 10% for 10x leverage), multiplying both potential profits and losses on price moves. What is the main risk unique to futures over spot? Liquidation, if the market moves against your leveraged position and the margin falls too low, the exchange automatically closes it, potentially wiping out your deposit. Can I combine spot and futures trading? Yes, many traders hold spot for long-term exposure while using futures to hedge, speculate short-term, or amplify gains on directional views. References Pintu News: 5 Reasons Many Traders Are Switching from Spot to Futures in 2026.  Kraken: Why do people trade crypto futures?  MEXC Blog: Spot Vs Futures Trading: Which Should You Choose? Complete Beginner's Guide (2026). 

Bakkt has announced a partnership with digital assets platform Nexo under its Bakkt Markets initiative, providing U.S.-regulated trading infrastructure to support Nexo’s return to the American market. The move signals renewed institutional interest in compliant digital asset access within the United States, where regulatory clarity and licensing frameworks remain central to market participation. Nexo, which operates a global digital assets wealth platform, recently confirmed plans to re-enter the U.S. after previously scaling back operations amid regulatory uncertainty. By leveraging Bakkt’s infrastructure, Nexo aims to offer trading services within a framework supported by U.S. money transmitter licenses and a New York BitLicense — credentials often viewed as critical for nationwide digital asset operations. The partnership reflects a broader recalibration among crypto-native firms seeking structured pathways back into the U.S. market. As regulators intensify oversight while gradually clarifying compliance standards, partnerships with licensed infrastructure providers are becoming a practical route for re-entry. Takeaway Regulatory infrastructure is increasingly shaping U.S. crypto market access. Partnerships with licensed providers may streamline compliant relaunch strategies. What Role Does Bakkt’s Infrastructure Play? Bakkt Markets positions itself as a regulated trading backbone for financial institutions, fintech platforms, and global digital asset firms seeking U.S. exposure. Its coverage includes broad money transmitter licensing and a New York BitLicense, enabling compliant digital asset trading services across multiple jurisdictions. For international firms like Nexo, navigating the U.S. regulatory environment independently can be complex and resource-intensive. By integrating with Bakkt’s infrastructure, Nexo can potentially accelerate operational readiness while maintaining adherence to state and federal compliance requirements. Bakkt’s strategy centers on serving as a scalable, regulated intermediary layer rather than a consumer-facing exchange alone. This model aligns with a broader industry trend in which infrastructure providers supply compliance frameworks and custody capabilities to global partners seeking U.S. market access. Takeaway Infrastructure-as-a-service models are gaining traction in digital assets. Licensing depth can become a competitive asset in highly regulated jurisdictions. What This Signals For The U.S. Digital Asset Landscape The partnership comes at a time when U.S. digital asset regulation remains a defining factor in strategic planning for global crypto firms. While enforcement actions and compliance expectations have tightened in recent years, clearer pathways for regulated participation are gradually emerging. Nexo’s re-entry suggests confidence in evolving regulatory structures and demand for digital asset wealth management products among U.S. clients. Its platform offers yield products, crypto-backed loans, trading tools, and liquidity solutions — services that will now rely on regulated trading access provided through Bakkt’s infrastructure. If successful, the collaboration could serve as a template for other international digital asset firms evaluating U.S. re-engagement. Rather than building standalone regulatory frameworks, firms may increasingly align with licensed infrastructure providers capable of bridging operational gaps. Takeaway Structured re-entry into the U.S. crypto market may hinge on licensed infrastructure partnerships. Compliance scalability is becoming a strategic differentiator. The agreement underscores a broader shift in digital asset markets: growth is increasingly tied to regulatory integration rather than regulatory arbitrage. For infrastructure providers like Bakkt, expanding institutional partnerships reinforces positioning as a compliant gateway to U.S. digital asset markets. As international platforms reassess U.S. opportunities, collaboration with regulated entities may define the next phase of expansion. The success of such partnerships will depend on operational execution, supervisory alignment, and sustained demand for compliant crypto services. In a market shaped by oversight and institutionalization, regulatory infrastructure is emerging as a core competitive advantage.

Yesterday, IBM Corporation opened above $254 but ended the session below $224, marking one of its steepest single-day drops in 25 years. Since early February, the stock has slumped about 27%, recording its worst monthly performance since 1968. What Triggered The Decline? The key catalyst was Anthropic announcing its new AI platform, Claude Code, which specialises in modernising legacy COBOL code. This development is significant for IBM, as a large portion of its business relies on mainframes handling bank and government transactions in COBOL. Traditionally, system upgrades required vast teams of consultants and enormous budgets. Claude Code automates this work, making it quicker and cheaper, directly threatening IBM’s service revenue and highlighting how AI could disrupt established tech business models. Technical Outlook For IBM Shares In 2025, IBM traded within an upward channel, with $300 acting as a firm ceiling. Multiple attempts to break above failed. The 28 January earnings report triggered a bull trap and accelerated the sell-off, with rising volume on bearish candles signalling market weakness. Despite this, top analysts at Goldman Sachs and Jefferies maintain “Buy” ratings, suggesting panic over Claude Code may be exaggerated and IBM’s fundamentals remain strong. Key potential support levels include: → psychological $200 mark → 2025 low near $215 → lower boundary of the established upward channel (highlighted in red) The stock may stabilise around these areas before a clearer trend emerges. FXOpen offers spreads from 0.0 pips and commissions from $1.50 per lot (additional fees may apply). Enjoy trading on MT4, MT5, TickTrader or TradingView trading platforms! The FXOpen App is a dedicated mobile application designed to give traders full control of their accounts anytime, anywhere. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

It has been almost exactly a month since we pointed out that the inner strength of the US stock market no longer looks quite so fresh. In our Thoughts on January 21, 2026, we speculated whether rising interest rates in Japan could be the domino that would fall – or whether SCOTUS might rule US import tariffs illegal. In the end, the trigger for a correction is actually secondary. The key thing is whether you are prepared when the first domino falls. And let's be honest: if Pretiorates was already hearing voices on January 21 suggesting that SCOTUS might rule against import tariffs, then the US government knew too. Accordingly, the first reaction was prompt: Trump activated the base tariff in accordance with Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The illegal import tariffs are thus replaced, but without congressional approval, only for 150 days. Politically, this may have been a clever move, but it was not a big hit with the financial markets. This is because they had long since come to terms with the – now illegal – import tariffs. They reduced the trade deficit, dampened the rise in debt and thus also limited the supply of US Treasuries. For the markets, this was a convenient arrangement. Last Friday, the stock market reacted with surprising calm to the SCOTUS ruling. It was probably banking on a more sophisticated response from Washington over the weekend. That response failed to materialize – and with it, the calm disappeared. There is no doubt that the US stock market has performed impressively over the past three years. But beneath the shiny surface, things have been simmering for some time. For years, there has been an increased willingness to take short positions in S&P 500 futures, which has recently intensified again. This does not necessarily have to be bearish; many of these positions simply serve to hedge existing exposures. But it shows that investors are no longer sleeping as soundly as they used to. In fact, so-called smart investors have not really taken a negative position so far. In recent weeks and months, there has been no significant distribution in the broad S&P 500. A clearer picture is provided by After Open Action (AoA), which reflects the actual activity of traders. And here, the Nasdaq Index in particular is showing a significantly weaker picture. Since the fall, positions have been reduced in the background – quietly but steadily. First, it hit the Magnificent Seven, the former darlings of every presentation. Then came the software stocks. Our own index of US software stocks has already lost over 30% since the end of 2025. And as we noted in one of our recent issues of Thoughts: It is still too early for bottom fishing. The waters are not calm enough yet. Even if the broad S&P 500 appears stable at first glance, this stability is deceptive. Since November 2025, it has significantly underperformed the global stock index. Little remains of the locomotive of all financial centers. It is more like a wagon that can be pulled along. Even its own trend strength has weakened. This may not be immediately apparent in terms of points, but it is clear in structural terms. It's like an apple that is rotting from the inside: it still shines on the outside, but inside it looks different. A market can remain at a high level for a long time as long as positive sentiment carries it. Negative news is relativized, classified, or simply ignored. But it is precisely this sentiment that is beginning to shift. Since the end of the year, it has been neutral at best – now it seems to be noticeably clouding over. And that is the moment when investors suddenly become willing to part with positions they had just defended. There is no longer any tailwind from the economic side either. The latest data does not provide oxygen for the bulls – on the contrary, it takes it away. And without oxygen, even the strongest market becomes short of breath. The SCOTUS ruling may not come as a surprise, but it does increase uncertainty. However, we believe the geopolitical factor of Iran is even more significant. Last year, the nuclear issue seemed to have been settled with the US attack. But the recent build-up of US military forces in the region tells a different story. Iran should not be underestimated – Russia and China are in the background. They have supersonic missiles against which, to our knowledge, there is still no defense. This makes it all the more surprising that the oil market has not yet priced in any significant political risk premium. Around 20% of global oil production passes through the Strait of Hormuz. A complete blockade by the Iranian army does not appear to be imminent. China also obtains a large part of its oil requirements – from Iran – through this strait. Countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates also export their oil via this route. Hormuz is not a bottleneck for one individual, but for many. Around 20% of the global LNG gas market also passes through the same passage. And here, too, there is (still) a sense of calm – perhaps too much of it. Precious metals are already responding with higher market prices. However, neither the stock market nor the oil market has reacted significantly so far. In the event of a military escalation, hardly any shipowner would be willing to send their ships through this strait – even if it officially remains open. Therefore, the roof and beams are creaking quite loudly. Do we want to watch the building from outside? Even if it is (hopefully) only for a few weeks?

Binance Alpha has introduced tokenized stock offerings on its platform, listing blockchain-based representations of major publicly traded companies and signaling a further step toward integrating traditional financial assets with cryptocurrency market infrastructure. The move reflects growing industry momentum around real-world asset tokenization and highlights exchanges’ efforts to broaden the scope of on-chain investment opportunities. The newly listed instruments provide exposure to leading global equities through digital tokens designed to track the economic performance of their underlying assets. By enabling trading of these products within a crypto-native environment, Binance Alpha is expanding its role beyond early-stage token discovery toward serving as a venue for hybrid financial instruments that bridge conventional markets and decentralized ecosystems. Tokenized equities represent one of the most closely watched applications of blockchain technology within financial markets. The structure aims to combine traditional asset exposure with the operational advantages of blockchain settlement, including programmable ownership, faster transaction processing, and extended trading accessibility. Tokenized equity listings expand real-world asset strategy The addition of tokenized stocks aligns with a broader push across the digital asset sector to incorporate real-world assets into blockchain-based financial systems. Exchanges, infrastructure providers, and asset issuers have increasingly explored tokenization as a means of enhancing market access and improving capital efficiency. Through tokenized stock products, investors can gain price exposure to established companies without engaging directly with conventional brokerage infrastructure. This model may facilitate participation for users operating within crypto ecosystems while offering diversified investment pathways. For platforms such as Binance Alpha, the listings also reflect an evolution toward supporting asset classes that extend beyond native cryptocurrencies. Industry observers note that tokenized equities could contribute to deeper liquidity integration between traditional and digital markets if adoption expands. The ability to represent equity exposure on-chain may enable new financial primitives, including composable collateralization and decentralized derivatives built on tokenized securities. Regulatory and market structure considerations remain central Despite growing interest, tokenized stock markets continue to face regulatory and structural considerations that may shape their long-term trajectory. Jurisdictional requirements governing securities issuance, investor protections, and custody arrangements remain key variables influencing how tokenized equities can be offered and traded across regions. Market participants emphasize that liquidity depth, transparency, and standardized issuance frameworks will be critical to scaling adoption beyond experimental deployments. Exchange-based implementations, such as those introduced on Binance Alpha, provide a controlled environment for evaluating demand while navigating evolving compliance landscapes. The introduction of tokenized stocks also highlights broader competition among digital asset platforms seeking to position themselves at the intersection of decentralized finance and traditional capital markets. As infrastructure matures and institutional experimentation increases, tokenized asset offerings are expected to expand across multiple categories, including equities, fixed income instruments, and alternative investments. Binance Alpha’s listing of tokenized stocks underscores the accelerating convergence of blockchain technology and conventional financial assets. As real-world asset tokenization continues to develop, initiatives that bring equity exposure into crypto trading environments may play a role in shaping the future architecture of digital capital markets and redefining how investors access global financial instruments.

French energy company Engie is evaluating the potential development of a Bitcoin mining data center at one of its largest solar facilities in Brazil, reflecting a growing intersection between renewable energy generation and digital asset infrastructure. The assessment forms part of a broader strategy to address electricity curtailment challenges and enhance economic returns from large-scale solar assets. The initiative focuses on Engie’s Assu Sol solar complex in northeastern Brazil, a flagship project within the company’s global renewable portfolio. Despite reaching full operational capacity, the facility has encountered grid constraints that limit its ability to export all generated electricity. Such curtailment has become increasingly common in regions experiencing rapid renewable deployment without commensurate expansion of transmission infrastructure. Engie’s evaluation includes multiple approaches to improve utilization of excess generation, including battery storage systems and localized energy consumption solutions such as cryptocurrency mining. By creating on-site demand for electricity that would otherwise be curtailed, these options could convert unused production into incremental revenue streams. Curtailment dynamics drive exploration of flexible demand solutions Brazil’s renewable energy sector has experienced significant growth in solar and wind capacity over recent years, contributing to structural imbalances between generation potential and grid absorption capability. Transmission bottlenecks and demand variability have resulted in instances where power producers are required to reduce output, impacting project economics and investment returns. For large-scale solar installations like Assu Sol, these conditions create incentives to identify alternative offtake mechanisms that can operate independently of grid constraints. Bitcoin mining has emerged as a candidate due to its location flexibility and ability to adjust power consumption in response to availability. Mining operations can be deployed near generation assets and scaled dynamically, characteristics that may complement intermittent renewable output profiles. Engie’s consideration of this approach reflects a broader industry trend in which energy producers evaluate data center workloads as potential anchors for surplus power utilization. Such models aim to transform renewable overcapacity from a constraint into a monetization opportunity while supporting digital infrastructure growth. Strategic implications and implementation considerations While the evaluation remains at an exploratory stage, the potential integration of Bitcoin mining infrastructure raises strategic and operational considerations. Establishing on-site computing facilities would require coordination across regulatory, technical, and commercial dimensions, including permitting processes, infrastructure deployment, and identification of operating partners. Revenue variability associated with cryptocurrency mining also introduces an additional layer of complexity. Unlike conventional power purchase agreements that provide predictable cash flows, mining profitability is influenced by digital asset price dynamics, network difficulty, and hardware efficiency. These factors may shape how energy producers structure partnerships or operational models if such projects advance beyond feasibility analysis. At the same time, hybrid models combining renewable generation with flexible computing demand have attracted growing attention from investors and policymakers. Proponents argue that co-locating energy production with digital workloads can enhance grid stability, reduce transmission losses, and improve the financial viability of renewable projects facing curtailment pressures. Engie’s evaluation of a Bitcoin mining center at its Brazilian solar complex highlights the evolving relationship between clean energy infrastructure and digital compute demand. As renewable penetration increases globally and grid limitations persist in certain markets, energy producers may continue exploring innovative consumption pathways that align infrastructure utilization with emerging technology ecosystems. The initiative underscores how energy and digital asset sectors are increasingly intersecting as both industries adapt to structural changes in supply, demand, and technological capability.