Mintos has initiated the process to pursue a banking licence from the European Central Bank (ECB), marking a strategic shift that could transform the platform from a regulated investment marketplace into a full banking and lending provider. The Riga-based firm said the move is designed to strengthen investor trust, expand its financial infrastructure, and support long-term growth across European markets. The banking licence process is expected to take between 12 and 18 months, subject to regulatory approval. If successful, Mintos would gain access to deposit-based funding and potentially broaden its product offering to include lending and other traditional banking services alongside its existing investment products. The announcement reflects a broader trend in European fintech, where platforms are increasingly seeking full banking authorisation to secure long-term funding flexibility and improve customer trust through regulated deposit protection frameworks. Why Mintos is making the banking licence move now Founded ten years ago as a peer-to-peer lending marketplace, Mintos has evolved into a multi-asset investment platform serving nearly 700,000 registered investors and managing over €800 million in assets. In recent years, the company has expanded beyond P2P lending into fractional bonds, ETF portfolios, real estate investing, and Smart Cash products. With its rollout completed across all EU markets, Mintos appears to be entering a new phase where scaling depends less on geographic expansion and more on deepening infrastructure and product breadth. Pursuing an ECB banking licence positions the company to control more of its own value chain rather than relying on external banking partners. This strategic shift also aligns with the growing expectation among European retail investors that platforms offering wealth and cash-management products should operate under bank-like stability standards. Takeaway Mintos is shifting from marketplace growth to infrastructure ownership. An ECB banking licence could elevate it from fintech platform to full-service financial institution across Europe. What an ECB banking licence would enable Mintos to offer If granted, the licence would allow Mintos to access deposit-based funding and create a foundation for launching lending and other banking products directly to customers. That could significantly expand Mintos’ business model beyond its current investment product suite. A banking licence would also introduce deposit protection of up to €100,000 under applicable deposit guarantee frameworks, improving trust for customers using cash-management products. For many retail investors, deposit insurance is a key factor in deciding whether to hold large balances on digital platforms. Mintos also said the licence would give it greater control over key infrastructure components including custody, clearing, and settlement. Owning these layers can reduce dependency on third-party providers and may improve operational efficiency as volumes scale. Takeaway A banking licence could unlock deposit-backed funding, deposit insurance credibility, and deeper infrastructure control—three advantages that can materially strengthen a fintech’s long-term scalability. How this fits into Europe’s fintech banking licence trend Across Europe, fintech platforms are increasingly seeking banking licences as they mature. While partnerships with incumbent banks can accelerate early growth, they often limit flexibility in pricing, product design, and customer experience. An ECB licence can also support stronger regulatory credibility when expanding product categories such as lending or cash accounts. For investors, the perception shift from “investment platform” to “regulated bank” can influence trust, retention, and willingness to hold larger balances. However, pursuing a banking licence also brings higher compliance costs, stricter capital requirements, and ongoing supervisory scrutiny. Mintos will need to demonstrate robust governance, risk management, and operational resilience to satisfy ECB standards. Takeaway Banking licences provide trust and flexibility, but they come with heavy regulatory obligations. Mintos is betting the long-term benefits outweigh the increased compliance burden. Funding and investor backing supporting the next phase Mintos said the strategic move is supported by its broader capital-raising efforts, including a recent funding round completed directly on the Mintos platform. Nearly 6,000 Mintos investors committed a total of €2.8 million, which the company described as an initial step in funding its next phase of development. While the amount is relatively modest compared to the scale of regulatory capital requirements typically associated with banking ambitions, the round signals strong community engagement and a willingness among existing users to financially support Mintos’ expansion. As the licensing process progresses, investors and market participants will likely watch for additional fundraising, governance expansion, and infrastructure investments—key indicators of readiness for full banking operations. Takeaway Mintos’ investor-backed funding round shows strong platform loyalty. But larger capital and regulatory readiness milestones will be needed as the ECB licence process advances.

Ethereum faces mounting pressure as technical patterns and on-chain activity signal deeper downside. A bear pennant formation on the daily chart projects a potential 40% decline toward $1,200 if support near $1,950 breaks. Compounding this outlook, wallets labeled "Garrett Jin" deposited over $543 million in ETH to Binance, raising concerns about imminent sell pressure.  With ETF outflows persisting and institutional demand softening, investors seeking the best crypto to invest in are rotating toward projects with tangible infrastructure. Mutuum Finance (MUTM), currently in Phase 7 at $0.04, presents a structured alternative where participation now aligns with projected 18x returns immediately after launch. Mutuum Finance Presale: The $0.04 Entry Point For those wondering what crypto to buy during uncertain markets, Mutuum Finance offers clear metrics. The protocol operates as a decentralized lending platform, allowing users to earn yield or borrow against assets without intermediaries. The presale has raised over $20.58 million, attracting more than 19,000 holders.  Currently in Phase 7 at $0.04, MUTM has already surged 300% from its Phase 1 price of $0.01. With over 855 million tokens sold from the 1.82 billion presale allocation, Phase 7 is selling out rapidly. Once this phase concludes, Phase 8 opens at $0.045, meaning the current price represents the final entry at $0.004.  The confirmed launch price sits at $0.06 after the entire presale allocation is sold out, but analysts project immediate appreciation toward $0.72—an 18x return from the current $0.04 level. This projection stems from the platform's dual-market lending model, which generates actual fee revenue, combined with the Halborn audit completion, which gives investors confidence in the project. These fundamentals attract buyers seeking utility over speculation, driving post-launch demand. For example, a $550 investment today could scale to $9,900 shortly after launch as exchange listings and user adoption materialize. This positions MUTM as the best crypto to buy for those targeting exponential growth. Lending: How P2C and P2P Markets Work Mutuum Finance employs two distinct lending frameworks, each offering clear pathways for investor returns. The Peer-to-Contract (P2C) market pools user assets into shared liquidity pools, where lenders earn interest based on utilization rates. If a user supplies $10,000 in USDT to a pool generating 12% annual yield, they accumulate $1,200 in interest over one year. This mechanism allows passive income without active management.  Alternatively, the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) market enables direct loan agreements between users. A lender offering $7,500 at 10% interest through P2P earns $750 annually, with flexibility to negotiate terms suited to higher-risk assets. Both models feed into the protocol's fee generation, which funds the buyback-and-redistribute mechanism, rewarding long-term stakers.  The recently launched V1 protocol on Sepolia testnet currently allows users to explore these mechanics using test assets, demonstrating how lending, mtToken minting, and automated liquidations function before mainnet deployment. For investors analyzing what crypto to invest in, this working infrastructure reduces execution risk compared to projects still in whitepaper stages.  Buyback-and-Distribute: Passive Rewards for Stakers The buyback-and-redistribute mechanism transforms protocol revenue into passive income for stakers. A portion of fees generated from lending activities buys MUTM tokens from the open market, distributing them to mtToken stakers in the safety module. This system functions similarly to dividends, rewarding participants without inflationary dilution.  For instance, if total fees reach $2 million and 20% is allocated to buybacks, a $5,000 staked position could receive $200 in additional MUTM tokens. With the fixed supply of 4 billion tokens and 45% already allocated to presale, shrinking availability supports valuation as demand increases. Additional incentives amplify participation.  A $100,000 giveaway will split $10,000 among ten winners, requiring only a $50 presale purchase for eligibility. Daily engagement is rewarded through the 24-hour leaderboard, where the top buyer receives a $500 MUTM bonus each day. These mechanisms, combined with planned multi-chain expansion, position MUTM as the best crypto to invest in while Ethereum faces structural headwinds.  As ETH contends with whale sell pressure and technical breakdown risks, Mutuum Finance offers a structured alternative where early entry aligns with measurable upside. For investors asking what crypto to invest in today, the combination of discounted presale pricing, passive yield mechanisms, and new crypto momentum creates a strong case for allocation. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://mutuum.com/  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance 

CoinCover has appointed Silicon Valley veteran Jeremy Verba as its new Chief Executive Officer, signaling an aggressive push into its next phase of growth as institutional adoption of digital assets accelerates. The London-based firm, which specializes in digital asset disaster recovery and wallet protection, also confirmed renewed financial backing from existing investors to support expansion. Verba joins CoinCover at a time when crypto market infrastructure providers are increasingly positioning themselves as essential components of institutional custody and treasury operations. With large financial institutions exploring stablecoins and regulated digital asset services, resilience and operational recovery are becoming core requirements rather than optional safeguards. The appointment also reflects a broader maturation of the crypto ecosystem, where security, continuity, and disaster recovery are emerging as decisive differentiators for platforms competing for institutional trust. Why CoinCover is positioning disaster recovery as “table stakes” CoinCover operates in a segment that has become increasingly critical as crypto adoption scales: digital asset disaster recovery. While the industry has historically focused on preventing hacks, operational risk and accidental loss remain major concerns for institutions managing wallets at scale. The firm provides wallet recovery solutions supported by encryption and decryption frameworks, enabling institutions to safeguard digital assets even in scenarios involving lost credentials, internal operational failures, or other recovery events. CoinCover says it safeguards more than 600 businesses and has protected over 22 million wallets since launching in 2018. The company positions itself as a key integration partner to established infrastructure providers such as Fireblocks, BitGo, and Ledger—highlighting how recovery and resilience are becoming embedded into institutional custody stacks. Takeaway As institutions scale wallet operations, recovery infrastructure is becoming as important as custody itself. CoinCover is betting that disaster recovery will become a standard requirement for enterprise crypto deployments. What Jeremy Verba brings to CoinCover’s growth strategy Verba has experience scaling multi-million-dollar technology businesses, with prior roles spanning companies such as Walmart Video and eHarmony. CoinCover is positioning his appointment as a strategic move to accelerate commercial expansion and deepen its role as an infrastructure layer for institutions building digital asset strategies. The company also confirmed an injection of additional capital from existing investors, led under Verba’s leadership, to fund product development and expansion. While terms were not disclosed, the renewed backing suggests confidence in CoinCover’s market positioning as digital asset adoption expands in both retail and institutional segments. CoinCover is also leaning into macro adoption trends, citing growing institutional exposure to digital assets and the expanding global base of active crypto wallets as indicators that security and recovery services will see increasing demand. Takeaway CoinCover’s CEO appointment signals a shift from category creation to scaling. Bringing in a growth-focused operator suggests the company is preparing for broader institutional distribution and deeper ecosystem integration. How stablecoin momentum is changing institutional risk priorities The announcement comes as stablecoins become a focal point for banks and payment providers. As traditional financial institutions explore issuing stablecoins or integrating them into treasury operations, risk management requirements increasingly resemble those of core banking infrastructure. Disaster recovery and operational resilience are central to that transition. Stablecoin settlement workflows can run continuously, meaning institutions require recovery solutions that minimize downtime and prevent irreversible loss. This creates a natural market tailwind for firms like CoinCover, which position themselves as trust enablers for mainstream adoption. The shift also reflects an industry-wide trend: crypto infrastructure providers are evolving from niche services into core components of institutional financial architecture. Takeaway Stablecoin adoption raises the bar for operational resilience. Institutions entering digital assets will demand recovery solutions comparable to traditional financial infrastructure safeguards. Leadership transition and recent ecosystem developments Verba replaces CoinCover Co-Founder David Janczewski, who previously served as CEO. Janczewski will remain involved as an advisor and Board member, suggesting continuity in the company’s strategic direction while leadership shifts toward execution and scaling. The appointment follows recent integration news involving Digital Asset, the developer behind the Canton Network, which embedded CoinCover into its Copper-based treasury infrastructure. That development indicates CoinCover’s increasing relevance in institutional-grade environments, where resilience and continuity are essential for treasury and settlement operations. As crypto infrastructure consolidates around a smaller number of enterprise-grade providers, CoinCover’s ability to deepen partnerships with custody and settlement platforms could determine its long-term position as a default recovery layer for institutional digital asset strategies. Takeaway CoinCover’s integration momentum suggests disaster recovery is moving closer to the core of institutional crypto infrastructure. Strategic partnerships may become its primary scaling engine.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token jumps 20% to $0.1175, outperforming a flat broader crypto market. Trump-backed "World Liberty Forum" at Mar-a-Lago draws CEOs from Goldman Sachs, Nasdaq, and Coinbase. Strategic $33.7M institutional withdrawal from Binance and positive regulatory signals fuel investor optimism. WLFI Price Surges: World Liberty Forum Sparks Investor Optimism The cryptocurrency market witnessed a localized explosion of momentum on February 18, 2026, as World Liberty Financial (WLFI) surged nearly 20% while major assets like Bitcoin remained relatively stagnant. This sharp rise coincided with the commencement of the World Liberty Forum, an invitation-only event held at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of U.S. President Donald Trump. The rally, which pushed the WLFI price to approximately $0.1175 and its market cap to roughly $3.13 billion, is being characterized as a classic "buy the rumor" event. Traders positioned themselves aggressively ahead of the summit, which has drawn an unprecedented list of high-profile attendees from the upper echelons of global finance and technology. Donald Trump Jr., co-founder of World Liberty Financial, highlighted the significance of the gathering during its announcement: “Ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary, this forum is designed to define what the next century of American innovation, leadership, and economic influence will look like.” GM ☝️ family — BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Watch what our co‑founder @DonaldJTrumpJr has to say about the World Liberty Forum. pic.twitter.com/rkTocmlkem — WLFI (@worldlibertyfi) January 20, 2026 Why Is WLFI Price Surging? Event-Driven Speculation and Star Power The primary driver behind the current surge is the sheer concentration of institutional power at the Mar-a-Lago event. The forum's speaker roster reads like a "who's who" of the financial world, including: David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs Adena Friedman, CEO of Nasdaq Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton Mike Belshe, CEO of BitGo The inclusion of cultural icons like music artist Nicki Minaj and celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary has added a layer of speculative demand that transcends traditional financial metrics. Pranav Agarwal, a portfolio advisor at Ajna Capital, noted that the industry is "very upbeat" about the gathering, stating it “signals the coming together of blockchain-based solutions... with traditional policy makers and financial powerhouses.” Strategic Withdrawals and Institutional Confidence Beyond the event hype, concrete on-chain data has provided a fundamental backbone for a positive WLFI Price Prediction. On March 21, 2025, blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens flagged a massive strategic movement: World Liberty Financial executed a withdrawal of 313.31 million WLFI tokens, valued at $33.76 million, from the Binance exchange to a private wallet. The World Liberty Fi (@worldlibertyfi) has withdrawn 313.31M $WLFI worth $33.76M from #Binance in the past 11 hours. Address: 0xd1fc0d21a2122bcb3204e28ac5fc3449ee01f6ee pic.twitter.com/Jqo7Jp0t70 — Onchain Lens (@OnchainLens) February 18, 2026 In the crypto industry, such large-scale withdrawals—often called "taking coins off the market"—are interpreted as a sign of long-term holding intent. By reducing the immediate selling pressure on centralized exchanges, this institutional maneuver signaled a strong vote of confidence in the asset’s future value. This accumulation behavior is a key factor analysts monitor when formulating a long-term WLFI Price Prediction. Technical Analysis: WLFI Reclaims Key Zones Amid Volume Spike Our technical analysis indicates that WLFI has entered a critical "decision zone." While the broader 4-hour chart still shows a structure of lower highs and lower lows, the recent 20% spike has allowed the price to reclaim the 0.236 Fibonacci level at $0.1139. Key Technical Observations: Volume Surge: Spot trading volume skyrocketed by over 130%, reaching $264 million, suggesting the move is driven by genuine buying interest rather than just leveraged speculation. Resistance Levels: The immediate hurdle sits at $0.12. A decisive breakout above the $0.126–$0.130 cluster (where the 100 and 200 EMAs reside) would mark a meaningful shift in momentum, potentially targeting $0.14 and then $0.150. Support Levels: Bulls must defend the $0.113 zone. Failure to hold this level could see a retest of the psychological $0.100 floor or the macro base near $0.093–$0.095. A short-term WLFI Price Prediction suggests that if the World Liberty Forum yields concrete partnership announcements, the token could sustainably break the $0.12 resistance. However, investors should remain cautious as the 20, 50, 100, and 200 EMAs still slope downward, indicating that sellers have not yet fully relinquished control of the macro trend. Political Momentum: Trump’s Crypto Market Structure Bill Adding further fuel to the rally is the political progress of pro-crypto legislation. President Trump recently confirmed that a comprehensive Crypto Market Structure Bill (S. 3755/H.R. 3633) is close to passing. This bill aims to finally resolve the regulatory "turf war" by formally dividing oversight between the SEC (securities) and the CFTC (commodities). The participation of Michael Selig, the new chair of the CFTC, at the Mar-a-Lago forum has been particularly influential. Selig recently took to social media to signal a new era for US markets: I'm excited to announce the members of the @CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee. The IAC’s broad financial sector insights will help the CFTC future-proof its markets and develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets.https://t.co/vv0sC8Mr1v? — Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) February 12, 2026 Commentary: Selig’s message reinforces the narrative that the Trump administration is moving toward a "Golden Age" of digital assets. This regulatory clarity is viewed as a massive tailwind for projects like World Liberty Financial, which sit at the intersection of traditional finance and DeFi. Social Media Sentiment and the "Trump Backlash" Despite the price surge, sentiment within the crypto community remains divided. The industry is still reeling from a $2 trillion market meltdown since late 2025, leading some influential figures to turn against the president. Yeah, trump was a reason for me to believe in $300k At the end he was bad for crypto… Big mistake to have him as president — Carl Moon ? (@TheMoonCarl) February 5, 2026 Commentary: Runefelt’s frustration reflects a segment of the "cryptorati" who feel that stalled legislation and market volatility during the administration's second year have drained liquidity. This skepticism acts as a counterweight to the "event hype" seen at Mar-a-Lago. Critics also point to potential conflicts of interest, noting that the Trump family has reportedly made over $1 billion from crypto projects like WLFI during his first year in office. Market Implications and Potential Risks While WLFI is currently outperforming, it has a history of extreme volatility. A study by Amberdata found that on October 10, 2025, WLFI dropped sharply five hours before a $6.93 billion market-wide liquidation event. Analyst Mike Marshall noted that the token's realized volatility was eight times that of Bitcoin during that episode, warning that while it serves as a "signal," it can also lead to massive losses for leveraged traders. Furthermore, the project remains under scrutiny regarding a $500 million investment from a vehicle linked to the Abu Dhabi royal family. While the White House maintains that the president's assets are in a blind trust with "no conflicts of interest," the political sensitivity of these foreign ties continues to draw Democratic probes. https://t.co/K6szKv4ndp — BSCN (@BSCNews) February 2, 2026 WLFI Price FAQ Are the Federal Reserves going to use WLFI? No. There is no indication that the Federal Reserve will use WLFI. The project is a private, Trump family-backed DeFi initiative focused on stablecoins (like the USD1) and governance. The Fed continues to develop its own independent payment systems and potential CBDC. Will WLFI reach $1.00? Reaching $1.00 would require a nearly 10x increase from current levels, pushing the market cap toward $30 billion. While institutional adoption and the success of the USD1 stablecoin (which has already surpassed $5 billion in circulation) are positive signs, such a target would require overcoming significant technical resistance and maintaining long-term political favor. Is WLFI a good buy? Investment in WLFI carries significant risk due to its high volatility and political ties. While current technicals show a bullish reclaim of the $0.1139 support, the broader downtrend is still in play. Investors should monitor the outcome of the World Liberty Forum and the progress of the Crypto Market Structure Bill before making decisions.

Currency.com has appointed Alexander Kravets as its U.S. Chief Executive Officer, reinforcing the company’s push to expand within one of the world’s most complex and tightly regulated digital asset markets. In his new role, Kravets will oversee U.S. operations and lead the firm’s strategy as it scales across multiple state jurisdictions. The appointment comes as regulatory clarity in the United States continues to evolve, with institutions and professional traders increasingly seeking compliant access to crypto markets. Currency.com has been steadily building its U.S. footprint, securing its 32nd state licence in October 2025 as part of a long-term goal to operate across all 50 states. The leadership move signals a continued focus on compliance-driven growth as digital asset firms shift from rapid expansion to structured, regulated scaling in the American market. Why the U.S. market requires specialised leadership The United States presents a uniquely fragmented regulatory landscape for digital asset platforms. Unlike the European Union’s passporting framework under MiCA, U.S. firms often must secure individual state licences, comply with federal oversight, and adapt to evolving enforcement guidance. Currency.com’s strategy of accumulating state-by-state approvals reflects the operational complexity of the U.S. system. Securing 32 licences indicates substantial regulatory engagement and positions the company closer to nationwide coverage. Bringing in a U.S.-focused executive with deep experience in regulated trading infrastructure suggests the company is prioritising disciplined expansion over rapid, unstructured growth. Takeaway The U.S. crypto market rewards regulatory precision. Leadership with experience navigating state licensing and compliance frameworks is critical for sustainable expansion. Kravets’ background in trading and infrastructure Alexander Kravets brings more than 25 years of experience across fintech, digital assets, regulated trading venues, and market infrastructure. His career spans execution technology, brokerage services, high-frequency trading, digital securities, and real-world asset (RWA) platforms. His experience includes prior U.S. CEO roles at regulated digital asset and trading firms, where scaling compliant infrastructure was central to growth. That technical and operational background may prove particularly valuable as crypto markets increasingly resemble traditional financial infrastructure. Institutional participants now expect robust execution systems, risk management frameworks, and transparent reporting standards comparable to established securities markets. Kravets’ background in execution technology and trading systems aligns with that demand. Takeaway As crypto matures, infrastructure depth matters. Experience in trading systems and regulated market operations strengthens Currency.com’s institutional credibility. Institutional demand shaping the next growth phase The appointment comes amid rising institutional participation in digital asset markets. Professional traders and financial institutions increasingly require regulated venues, transparent custody frameworks, and reliable execution infrastructure before deploying capital. Currency.com’s emphasis on licensing and compliance suggests it aims to serve this segment rather than competing solely in the retail-focused offshore exchange arena. A regulated, state-licensed model may also position the firm more favourably as U.S. federal crypto policy continues to evolve. For institutions, leadership continuity and regulatory engagement are often viewed as proxies for operational resilience. The appointment of a veteran executive with compliance experience reinforces that positioning. Takeaway Institutional crypto adoption increasingly depends on regulated infrastructure. Currency.com’s leadership move reflects a strategic pivot toward professional market participants. What to watch as Currency.com scales further in the U.S. With 32 licences already secured, the company is closing in on nationwide coverage. The remaining states will likely require continued regulatory engagement and operational readiness, including AML, KYC, and capital compliance standards. Market participants will also monitor whether Currency.com expands product offerings in the U.S., potentially including tokenised assets or institutional trading solutions, areas aligned with Kravets’ background in digital securities and RWA infrastructure. As regulatory clarity improves and institutional flows deepen, leadership capable of balancing innovation with compliance may determine which digital asset platforms achieve long-term sustainability in the U.S. market. Takeaway The next phase of U.S. crypto growth will favour firms that combine regulatory breadth with institutional-grade execution. Leadership and compliance depth will be key differentiators.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 18th, 2026, FinanceWire Morgan Stanley-backed company expands its regulated private-market infrastructure platform, strengthening its service offering to include three capabilities for private transactions. Zest Equity, a digital transactional infrastructure company backed by Morgan Stanley, Prosus Ventures, Middle East Venture Partners and Dubai Future District Fund, announced the launch of Zest Arrange, its Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) regulated arranging service which supports deal makers in private transactions end-to-end on Zest’s platform through a digital workflow. The company also announced the rollout of Zest Escrow, its regulated digital escrow service, following its Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the FSRA of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Zest Arrange and Zest Escrow join Zest SPVs to create an infrastructure layer for private market transactions. Deal makers can now leverage the different tools and execute deals through a single platform, organizing, monitoring and tracking of commitments and execution steps. Zest Arrange, the firm’s flagship solution, enables arranging of private asset deals for its network of deal makers through Zest's FSRA arranging deals in investments licensed activity. The service consolidates investor onboarding, documentation, and execution into a single digital workflow, supporting transactions under ADGM's regulatory framework. Through this solution, deal makers maintain visibility and confidence in their private transactions end-to-end. Zest Escrow provides FSRA-regulated escrow services that safeguard transaction funds as a neutral third party through Zest's FSRA Providing Money Services licensed activity. Client monies are held in segregated, UAE-based bank accounts and released only upon authorized instruction once pre-agreed conditions are satisfied. The service reduces counterparty risk while ensuring transaction governance through complete audit trails, traceable documentation, and real-time status visibility. Alongside these offerings, Zest SPVs streamline the formation and maintenance of special purpose vehicles, allowing deal makers to group their investors into clean investment structures for private market transactions. Built on Zest's proven track record, the service enables digital SPV closings across a range of asset classes within private markets. "The real power is in the integration: one platform, three capabilities working together," said Zuhair Shamma, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zest Equity. "Here's how it works in practice: A recent deal used Zest Arrange to market an exclusive opportunity to investors. An SPV was structured to group participants and meet minimum ticket requirements, then Zest Escrow was used to securely receive the funds. This is what frictionless, secure, automated private market transactions look like: everything you need to design deals, meet investor requirements, and close faster with full regulatory compliance and institutional clarity. Rawan Baddour, Co-founder of Zest Equity, said: "We are seeing incredible growth in private markets transactions across the region, driven by an increasingly innovative regulatory environment. Zest's platform helps streamline and fast-track capital movement in safe ways. Our platform serves this growing ecosystem by making cross-border, multi-party transactions easier to execute with confidence and clarity for all parties involved." Private market operations cost exponentially more than public market equivalents. According to recent industry benchmarks, automation can reclaim up to 80% of staff hours currently lost to administrative tasks. For institutional portfolios, the impact is measurable: eliminating just 30 basis points of operational cost on a $5B portfolio adds $150M in long-term net returns over a typical fund lifecycle. Zest's digital infrastructure directly addresses this inefficiency, enabling deal makers to execute transactions that previously required extensive legal, compliance, and administrative coordination at a fraction of the traditional cost and time. To date, Zest Equity has supported the execution of more than USD 230 million across 190+ deals, spanning private equity, private credit, venture capital, and related asset classes, with repeat participation from fund managers, family offices, venture firms, corporate service providers, and institutional investors. About Zest Equity Group Zest Equity is a digital transactional infrastructure company powering private-market transactions. Built in the UAE and anchored within ADGM’s regulatory framework, Zest Equity develops its technology and product in the DIFC, where the company established its foundation and continues to build the core infrastructure behind its platform. Zest Equity operates to global best-practice standards while providing regional fluency and institutional execution. The company offers regulated escrow and distribution services under ADGM’s framework, along with a layer of digital execution capabilities for SPV formation and deal workflow management that simplify, safeguard, and scale private-market transactions. Its infrastructure brings all participants into a single, transparent, and repeatable workflow that unifies compliance, governance, documentation, and fund flows, enabling capital to move seamlessly and with confidence across jurisdictions. To learn more, users can visit https://www.zestequity.com/ Contact Loredana Matei JENSEN MATTHEWS PR loredana@jensenmatthews.com

The New Zealand dollar came under pressure after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand opted to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged. Although the decision had been anticipated, markets focused on the central bank’s forward guidance, which carried a distinctly dovish tone. Policymakers indicated that: → monetary conditions are expected to remain supportive for an extended period, while still leaving the door open to a possible rate increase in the fourth quarter; → inflation is gradually moving back within the target band. In response, the NZD weakened against its major peers, with NZD/USD dropping to its lowest point in almost a fortnight. NZD/USD Technical Outlook Since late autumn 2025, the pair had been trending higher, forming a well-defined ascending channel. Over time, the channel’s median line transitioned from resistance into support, as illustrated by the thicker markings on the chart. However, the pullback from the 21 January high — where price tested the channel’s upper boundary — unfolded sharply. This suggests that near the 2025 peak, sellers regained control and shifted momentum in their favour. → For bulls, the channel’s median line could act as a key support area. → For bears, a descending trend line drawn from the lower high of 12 February may serve as a barrier to further gains. Given these factors, the pair may move into a consolidation phase over the next few weeks as the market reassesses direction. 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.

Taurus has integrated Morpho’s onchain lending infrastructure into Taurus-PROTECT, its digital asset custody and servicing platform for financial institutions. The move allows banks, asset managers, and other regulated entities to access Morpho Vaults directly through Taurus’ custody environment, enabling onchain lending and yield strategies within existing compliance frameworks. The integration provides more than 40 financial institutions across four continents with access to Morpho’s programmable credit markets. By embedding Morpho Vaults natively into Taurus-PROTECT, institutions can allocate capital onchain while maintaining operational controls, approval workflows, and regulatory alignment. The partnership reflects a broader shift in digital finance, where custody providers are becoming the primary access layer connecting traditional financial institutions to decentralized credit markets. What changes with Morpho inside Taurus-PROTECT? With the integration, Morpho Vaults are accessible directly through Taurus’ custody infrastructure, including both hot and cold storage environments. This allows institutions to deploy capital into onchain lending strategies without moving assets outside their secure custody perimeter. Morpho’s vault architecture enables structured lending strategies with defined risk parameters, such as collateral thresholds, exposure limits, and allocation rules. Instead of interacting directly with decentralized protocols through external wallets, institutions can manage positions through banking-grade infrastructure. This reduces operational friction and aligns onchain activity with internal compliance standards. For regulated entities, the ability to engage in decentralized finance without compromising custody segregation is a key requirement for participation. Takeaway Custody integration lowers barriers to institutional DeFi participation. Embedding Morpho Vaults within Taurus-PROTECT enables onchain lending without sacrificing governance or security controls. Why vault architecture is gaining institutional traction Morpho Vaults function as structured portfolios of lending positions, combining liquidity sourcing, execution logic, and risk constraints in a single transparent onchain vehicle. Rather than replicating legacy products, vaults allow programmable credit exposure tailored to defined mandates. Curators—independent teams or entities—define vault strategy and oversee risk frameworks, including collateral requirements and exposure management. This layered structure mirrors aspects of traditional asset management, where portfolio managers set allocation strategies within defined risk mandates. For asset managers and banks, vaults provide a way to deliver curated yield products while maintaining transparency and non-custodial execution at the protocol level. This modular architecture aligns with growing institutional demand for customizable onchain asset management tools. Takeaway Vault-based strategies bring structure to DeFi lending. Institutions can design yield products with defined risk controls instead of relying on unmanaged protocol exposure. Europe’s growing role in institutional onchain infrastructure The integration highlights Europe’s increasing influence in institutional digital asset infrastructure. Taurus, a FINMA-regulated securities firm headquartered in Switzerland, operates across multiple jurisdictions, reflecting a regulatory environment that has provided clearer frameworks for digital asset custody and tokenization. As MiCA and other European regulatory initiatives take effect, custody providers and infrastructure platforms are embedding onchain capabilities within regulated environments. This contrasts with earlier phases of decentralized finance, which largely operated outside traditional financial systems. By integrating Morpho, Taurus signals that onchain credit markets are evolving from experimental ecosystems into components of institutional product suites. The integration suggests that yield generation through decentralized lending may become a complementary offering alongside traditional asset classes. Takeaway Europe is positioning itself as a regulated gateway to institutional DeFi. Custody-led integrations are accelerating the convergence between traditional finance and onchain markets. Implications for banks and asset managers Morpho reports more than $10 billion in deposits across its lending network, serving institutions such as Coinbase, Bitwise Asset Management, and Société Generale. Integrating this infrastructure into Taurus’ custody layer may expand institutional access to programmable lending strategies without requiring direct protocol interaction. For banks and asset managers, the ability to offer onchain yield products through existing custody infrastructure could support new revenue streams, particularly in environments where traditional fixed-income yields remain compressed or volatile. The broader implication is that custody platforms are evolving beyond safekeeping toward becoming orchestration layers for onchain financial services. As integration deepens, the distinction between traditional asset servicing and decentralized finance infrastructure may continue to blur. Takeaway Institutional DeFi access increasingly depends on custody integration. Taurus’ move signals that onchain lending is transitioning from standalone protocols to embedded institutional infrastructure.

5PAY had an exciting 2025, and it’s kicking off 2026 with even more exciting news. After taking home an award for offering the best payment gateway APAC, the company is very proud to announce its new award win, but this time in the MEA region - ‘Best Payment Gateway MEA’ at the prestigious UF AWARDS MEA 2026. This reflects 5PAY’s dedication to its clients across the world and its continued mission to offer the best possible product and platform to them. Although their 2025 and 2026 award wins were a fantastic milestone, 5PAY used it as a motivator to surpass what they achieved. And their efforts are being rewarded. Winning one of the industry’s biggest, most prestigious, and credible awards means that 5PAY’s payment solutions can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best the market has to offer. An Ongoing Mission 5PAY has dedicated vast resources to continually expanding the access its clients have. Recently, the company has dramatically enhanced its infrastructure by increasing its local payment coverage, strengthening its regulatory framework, and supporting even more secure payment access. With multiple solutions to cover practically every use-case scenario for financial services enterprises, including virtual accounts, fiat-to-fiat and crypto solutions, and the extremely popular, multicurrency QR Pay. It allows transactions in multiple global currencies via multiple funding sources, from widely used e-wallets to traditional financial institutions such as banks. All of 5PAY’s solutions are purpose-built to support an increase in conversions, while practically eliminating the potential for fraud. And they do so at every step of the payment flow, from initiation to the completion of a transaction. Stability, Scalability, and Customisability One of the biggest bottlenecks companies often face during rapid growth is legacy infrastructure limiting business expansion. Scalability and deployment speed are integral to 5PAY’s solutions. Not only are these payment tools built to keep up with robust growth, but they also have the ability to be integrated in a matter of seconds.    Being able to accept payments from a list of countries that is being constantly expanded gives firms even more opportunities and ability to serve untapped markets. 5PAY also offers clients multiple packages: the complete integration package and the system integration. Full integration package This package offers clients a completely turn-key payment solution, including receiving accounts. It also includes personalised support for funds receivable, streamlined checkout flows, payouts, settlements, and asset stashing, all optimised. System integration Easy to set up embedded payments with a full access dashboard, with the full support of 5PAY experts. A powerful yet affordable solution for businesses of all sizes and scales of operation. Award-winning Solutions for Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond 5PAY’s solutions are both compliant with local regulations and provide international merchants with scalable, secure payment access. Proof of this mission is both the “Best Payment Gateway” award in APAC at the UF AWARDS APAC 2025, and their most recent win in the same category in MEA, at the UF AWARDS MEA 2026. If you would like to amplify your growth with a reliable payment solution, visit https://www.my5pay.com/ or contact 5PAY via email at sales@my5pay.com.

GCI Trading has added cTrader to its platform stack, partnering with Spotware as brokers continue to compete on execution quality and client trust—two selling points that matter more than ever in FX/CFD. The integration brings cTrader’s “Traders First™” positioning to a broker that says it has spent 24 years building its reputation on pricing and transparency. The timing is not accidental. Retail traders are increasingly platform-native: they don’t just choose a broker, they choose a trading environment. For brokers, that means the platform is no longer a checkbox feature—it’s a credibility signal, especially when traders want clearer order visibility and fewer surprises around fills, slippage, and lifecycle reporting. What happened and what’s being added Spotware, the developer of cTrader, has partnered with GCI Trading, enabling the broker to offer cTrader to its client base. GCI is pitching the rollout as a “premium trading experience,” emphasizing execution speed, visibility across the trade lifecycle, and a setup designed to reduce the room for manipulation. GCI’s existing message—spreads from 0.0 pips, direct interbank (ECN) access, and relatively low margin requirements—pairs neatly with a platform known for transparent reporting and a strong UX on mobile. For active traders, the practical change is simple: another platform option that many already know, with the same broker relationships and pricing structure. Why does cTrader matter for brokers and prop-style flows? In the past, brokers sold spreads and leverage. Today, they also sell “how it feels” to trade: speed, stability, order controls, and whether the platform makes execution easy to understand. cTrader has become a common answer for brokers that want to be seen as “clean execution” shops. Spotware frames cTrader as a benchmark for fair trading: visibility across the trade lifecycle, tooling that supports risk management, and a design philosophy that aims to keep the playing field consistent. GCI is leaning into that narrative, essentially saying: if you care about transparency, here’s the platform we chose to stand behind. Investor Takeaway Platforms are becoming a trust product. Brokers that standardize around execution visibility can defend margins and reduce churn, especially among active traders who compare fills across venues. Distribution angle: cTrader Store exposure and platform gravity There’s also a quieter, commercial reason brokers adopt cTrader: distribution. GCI is being listed in the cTrader Store’s Brokers section, which Spotware says provides organic visibility to a large base of active traders (11M+ cited in the release). For brokers, that matters. Acquiring traders is expensive, and platform ecosystems create their own gravity. Traders who already use cTrader often prefer to stay within that workflow. A broker that shows up in the store gets a chance to compete where traders are already browsing—without paying for every click. This is one reason “platform choice” isn’t just about user preference. It can be a growth channel. And it changes the competitive set: GCI isn’t only competing with local brokers anymore, it’s competing inside a global platform marketplace. What’s next and what traders should watch On the product side, cTrader’s pitch includes flexibility for brokers: the “Open Trading Platform™” supports integrations across operational layers like CRM, liquidity, risk tools, and analytics, with access to 100+ third-party solutions cited by Spotware. In practice, that gives brokers room to evolve their stack without forcing traders onto a new interface every year. For traders, the real test will be the execution consistency in fast markets, how transparent reporting feels day-to-day, and whether platform tools meaningfully improve decision-making and risk control. Fancy promises don’t matter if the platform stutters during volatility. GCI’s Chief Relationship Officer Victor Lang framed the move as a continuation of a long-term approach—“not flashy promises,” as he put it—emphasizing execution standards alongside “human touch” service like relationship managers and education. cTrader COO Yiota Hadjilouka positioned the partnership as a standards play: putting transparency at the center of the trading experience. Investor Takeaway As scrutiny rises around pricing and execution, platform upgrades are a defensive moat. Expect more brokers to adopt transparency-forward platforms as a way to signal reliability to both retail and introducing brokers.

Transaction Network Services (TNS) has launched an interactive customer portal for its TNS Data Usage Optimizer (DUO), giving financial institutions on-demand access to tools designed to reduce market data spending. The upgrade builds on DUO’s initial release in late 2024 and is aimed at both buy-side and sell-side firms seeking greater transparency into subscription costs and vendor entitlements. The new portal allows customers to independently upload market data vendor files, analyze usage patterns, and generate reports identifying unused services and unnecessary spend. TNS says DUO converts complex entitlement datasets into actionable dashboards, enabling data managers and desk heads to isolate cost inefficiencies more quickly. The launch reflects growing pressure across financial markets to optimize operational expenditure, particularly in market data, which remains one of the largest and most difficult line items to control for banks, brokers, and asset managers. Why market data cost optimization has become a strategic priority Market data licensing and distribution is a persistent challenge for financial institutions, with costs driven by complex vendor contracts, overlapping feeds, and internal entitlement structures that often lack transparency. Firms may pay for services that are underutilized, duplicated across desks, or no longer required due to changing trading strategies. TNS positions DUO as a solution to this problem by turning raw vendor entitlement files into an interface where costs can be tracked and filtered by user, location, and feed. In one example, TNS claims DUO identified $60,000 in monthly savings for a global bank by highlighting unused data feeds. As firms continue to cut operational expenditure while maintaining competitive trading capabilities, the ability to identify and eliminate wasted data spend is increasingly viewed as a front-office as well as back-office priority. Takeaway Market data spend is often opaque and sticky. Tools that expose unused entitlements can deliver immediate savings without reducing trading capability. What the DUO portal adds compared with the original platform The DUO portal represents the second release of the software and shifts DUO toward a self-service model. Rather than relying on scheduled optimization reviews, customers can now upload vendor data files and generate savings reports on demand. TNS says the portal provides advanced analytics through a data grid that supports filtering and segmentation, as well as custom report creation. This is designed to help firms move from passive cost reporting to actionable lists that can be used to cut or renegotiate data subscriptions. The portal also provides a centralized global view of market data expenses, which is particularly relevant for large institutions with multiple trading locations, each potentially operating different feed configurations and vendor pricing structures. Takeaway Self-service access is the key upgrade. By enabling firms to run reports whenever needed, DUO shifts market data cost management closer to real-time operational decision-making. Key features aimed at multi-site institutions TNS highlighted several features designed to support complex enterprise environments. Firms can filter usage by desk, region, user, or feed, and generate customized reports that can be saved and reused. The portal also supports global, multi-site management through a single interface, allowing institutions to consolidate cost analysis across their international office network. This matters because market data contracts often vary by region, and entitlement sprawl can expand rapidly when trading teams are distributed. Another notable addition is customizable cost modeling, enabling users to input contract pricing details such as bulk discounts and regional fee variations. This is critical for producing accurate savings projections, as vendor pricing is rarely standardized across an institution. Takeaway Cost modeling and global visibility are central differentiators. Institutions with fragmented data procurement can uncover savings only when pricing, entitlements, and usage are analyzed together. What comes next in TNS’s market data roadmap TNS says the DUO portal is designed to serve as a foundation for future product development. Planned roadmap elements include automated feed provisioning and support for additional data providers, which could push DUO beyond analysis into direct operational execution. If automation is implemented effectively, it could reduce the administrative workload of entitlement management and shorten the time between identifying unnecessary spend and actually removing it. For firms managing thousands of users across multiple data vendors, automation could represent a significant operational improvement. The upgrade also reinforces TNS’s broader positioning as an infrastructure-as-a-service provider to financial markets firms, offering managed connectivity, market data services, and analytics as a way to reduce the complexity of “going direct” with exchanges and vendors. Takeaway TNS is moving DUO from cost analytics toward workflow automation. If provisioning becomes automated, market data optimization could become a continuous process rather than a periodic audit.

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds recorded mixed capital flows yesterday, with Bitcoin-focused products attracting net inflows while several alternative digital asset funds experienced muted activity or outflows. The divergence underscores a selective institutional approach to crypto allocation, as professional investors continue to balance exposure against broader market volatility and macroeconomic headwinds. Flow data from the latest trading session showed that U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs once again served as the primary destination for new capital. Although the scale of inflows was moderate relative to previous peak accumulation periods, the continuation of positive flows suggests sustained institutional engagement with regulated Bitcoin exposure. Bitcoin ETFs remain the dominant channel for traditional asset managers seeking compliant access to digital assets without the operational complexity of direct custody. Bitcoin ETFs attract steady institutional capital The bulk of new allocations were directed toward established Bitcoin ETF vehicles, contributing to incremental growth in total assets under management across the segment. Institutional allocators often use these products to fine-tune portfolio exposure in response to liquidity conditions, inflation expectations, and evolving monetary policy signals. The measured inflows indicate that investors are maintaining or gradually expanding Bitcoin positions rather than exiting the asset class. Bitcoin’s comparatively deep liquidity and market maturity continue to distinguish it within institutional portfolios. In periods of heightened uncertainty, asset managers typically prioritize instruments with stronger trading depth and clearer regulatory treatment. The sustained inflows into Bitcoin-linked funds reflect this preference, reinforcing Bitcoin’s status as the anchor asset in regulated crypto investment strategies. Market participants note that ETF flows have become a widely monitored proxy for institutional sentiment. Consistent inflows can help stabilize price dynamics by signaling durable demand, while abrupt reversals may reflect broader risk recalibration. Yesterday’s activity suggests stability in allocation decisions, even as broader financial markets remain sensitive to macroeconomic developments. Alternative crypto products show cautious positioning In contrast to Bitcoin’s relative strength, Ethereum-linked ETFs and other diversified crypto funds recorded flat or negative net flows during the same session. The divergence highlights a segmented risk posture among institutional investors. While Ethereum and other blockchain networks remain integral to the digital asset ecosystem, they often exhibit higher short-term volatility compared to Bitcoin, influencing tactical allocation decisions. Outflows or subdued flows in alternative crypto ETFs may reflect short-term portfolio adjustments, risk management considerations, or relative value positioning. Institutional investors frequently rebalance exposure across asset classes based on volatility, liquidity, and correlation metrics, and such adjustments are common during periods of macro uncertainty. Overall, yesterday’s crypto ETF flows illustrate a market defined by disciplined capital deployment rather than broad-based speculative expansion. Institutions appear to be prioritizing regulated exposure to foundational digital assets while maintaining a cautious stance toward more volatile segments of the market. As ETF offerings continue to mature and regulatory clarity improves, daily flow data is likely to remain a key indicator of how institutional capital navigates the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

Peter Thiel has exited his investment position in ETHZilla, marking a notable development for the Ethereum-aligned research collective and reflecting broader shifts in venture capital strategy across the digital asset sector. ETHZilla was established as a community-driven initiative focused on research, ecosystem support, and funding for Ethereum-related public goods. The project sought to foster innovation in protocol design, developer tooling, and ecosystem sustainability, attracting attention from builders and investors interested in advancing decentralized infrastructure. Thiel’s involvement had been viewed as a significant endorsement of the initiative’s long-term vision. His decision to step away comes amid a period of recalibration within crypto venture markets. Investors are increasingly reassessing capital deployment strategies in response to macroeconomic conditions, regulatory uncertainty, and evolving expectations around monetization timelines. The move underscores how funding priorities in Web3 are adapting to a more disciplined investment climate. Reassessment of long-term research commitments Research-oriented initiatives such as ETHZilla often operate with extended development horizons and limited near-term revenue visibility. While such projects contribute to protocol innovation and ecosystem resilience, they may not offer the immediate commercial returns that many venture investors now prioritize. As a result, funding for public goods and exploratory infrastructure can face renewed scrutiny during periods of tighter capital allocation. Thiel’s exit appears to reflect a strategic realignment rather than a broad withdrawal from digital assets. His investment portfolio has historically included frontier technologies spanning artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and blockchain infrastructure. The divestment from ETHZilla signals a refined focus within that broader technology strategy rather than a categorical shift away from Ethereum or Web3. The development also raises questions about the sustainability of funding models for decentralized research initiatives. Projects centered on public goods frequently rely on grants, philanthropic capital, and community-backed funding structures. The departure of a high-profile investor may prompt deeper consideration of diversified funding mechanisms designed to reduce dependency on individual backers. Implications for ecosystem funding models ETHZilla’s path forward is likely to depend on its ability to reinforce decentralized governance and broaden financial support channels. Within the Ethereum ecosystem, alternative funding models such as grant programs, decentralized autonomous organization treasuries, and community-driven endowments have emerged as mechanisms to sustain long-term research and development. The episode highlights the ongoing tension between venture capital imperatives and decentralized ecosystem principles. As institutional investors emphasize clearer monetization pathways and risk-adjusted returns, projects rooted in public goods must balance innovation goals with financial durability. Market participants note that the broader Web3 landscape is experiencing a phase of strategic consolidation. Venture capital deployment has become more selective, favoring infrastructure with measurable adoption, revenue generation potential, or regulatory clarity. In this environment, research collectives face the challenge of articulating long-term value in terms that resonate with evolving investor expectations. Peter Thiel’s exit from ETHZilla underscores the maturation of digital asset capital markets. As funding models continue to evolve, the sustainability of decentralized research initiatives will depend on diversified financial support and alignment between innovation objectives and market realities.

On February 17, 2026, on-chain data and regulatory filings confirmed that American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), the mining and treasury firm co-founded by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., has officially surpassed the 6,000 BTC mark in its corporate reserves. This milestone comes less than six months after the company’s high-profile debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market following its merger with Gryphon Digital Mining. According to data tracked by Arkham Intelligence, the firm’s total holdings reached approximately 6,060 BTC, valued at over 413 million dollars based on the current market recovery toward the 70,000-dollar level. This rapid accumulation has propelled American Bitcoin into the top 20 largest publicly traded Bitcoin holders globally, now ranking as the 17th largest treasury and rapidly closing the gap with established institutional players like Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital. The achievement underscores the company’s aggressive "mining-to-treasury" pipeline, a strategic model where the firm retains the majority of its daily production rather than selling it to cover operational expenses. Leveraging the Hut 8 Infrastructure and Strategic Energy Partnerships The backbone of American Bitcoin’s rapid reserve growth is its deep operational partnership with Hut 8 Mining, which owns an 80% equity stake in the venture. By utilizing Hut 8’s existing high-performance computing infrastructure in Niagara Falls, Texas, and Alberta, American Bitcoin has maintained a steady stream of "virgin" Bitcoin production even as the network difficulty continues to hit all-time highs. Eric Trump, serving as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, has emphasized that the firm’s goal is to on-shore trillions of dollars in digital value by positioning the United States as the global leader in both hash power and sovereign-grade Bitcoin reserves. To support this vision, the company recently announced plans to expand its ASIC fleet by an additional 17,000 machines, funded by a 220-million-dollar capital raise completed earlier this year. This expansion is designed to insulate the company from short-term price fluctuations by lowering the marginal cost of production through vertical integration and direct energy sourcing. Navigating Market Volatility and the Shift Toward Institutional Legitimacy Despite the impressive growth of its Bitcoin stack, American Bitcoin Corp has not been immune to the broader equity market downturn that characterized the start of 2026. Shares of ABTC are currently trading roughly 45% lower year-to-date, reflecting investor caution following the systemic liquidations of late 2025. However, management has remained steadfast in its "HODL" conviction, framing the current price suppression as a consolidation phase before the next structural leg up. The company’s strategy of using Bitcoin as a primary reserve asset is part of a growing trend among U.S. firms—including Nakamoto Inc. and Bitmine—that seek to outperform traditional benchmarks by holding a scarce, decentralized digital commodity. As the company prepares for its Q1 earnings report, the focus remains on its ability to sustain its high accumulation velocity while navigating the evolving regulatory environment. For the broader market, the 6,000 BTC milestone serves as a definitive proof of concept for the "Trump-backed" model of corporate Bitcoin ownership and its role in the emerging American digital finance landscape.

Who Is Leaving and What Changes Immediately? Gemini Space Station, the parent company of crypto exchange Gemini, disclosed in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it is parting ways with three senior executives effective immediately. Chief operating officer Marshall Beard, chief financial officer Dan Chen, and chief legal officer Tyler Meade are all departing. The company said it does not plan to replace Beard, who also resigned from Gemini’s board. Co-founder Cameron Winklevoss is expected to assume revenue-generating responsibilities. Danijela Stojanovic, previously chief accounting officer, has been appointed interim CFO. In the filing, Gemini said, “We expect to enter into a separation agreement with each of these individuals with potential eligibility to provide additional transition services for a limited period of time in exchange for continued base salary and employee benefits for the duration of such period.” Investor Takeaway A post-IPO leadership reset, combined with cost cuts and geographic retrenchment, points to tighter operating control and a sharper focus on core US revenue lines. How Does This Fit Into Gemini’s Post-IPO Trajectory? The leadership changes come roughly five months after Gemini’s Nasdaq debut, where the company raised $425 million in September. Since listing, the stock has struggled to track broader equity gains. Shares were trading at $6.54 at the time of publication, down more than 13% even as US markets advanced. The exits land during a period of operational refocusing. Just weeks earlier, Gemini said it would concentrate resources on the United States and on developing its prediction markets platform. As part of that strategy, the company announced a 25% workforce reduction and a withdrawal from the United Kingdom, European Union, and Australia. The concentration of revenue oversight under Winklevoss suggests a more centralized structure following the IPO, particularly as the company recalibrates its international footprint. What Do the Financial Previews Indicate? In the same filing, Gemini provided a preview of its expected year-end 2025 results. Net revenue is projected in the range of $165 million to $175 million, compared with $141 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024. The company attributed the improvement primarily to higher services revenue, driven by growth in credit card revenue. That mix points to diversification beyond spot trading activity, with recurring or consumer-linked products contributing a larger share of top-line performance. For investors, the question is whether that revenue growth can offset restructuring costs and the impact of pulling back from overseas markets. A narrower geographic scope can reduce compliance overhead but also limits addressable user growth. Investor Takeaway Revenue growth appears tied more to services and card-related income than trading volume, increasing the importance of product execution in the US market. What Role Does the Regulatory Backdrop Play? Gemini’s reshuffle also comes after a regulatory development earlier this year. In January, the SEC dismissed a civil case filed in 2023 against Gemini Trust Company over alleged unregistered securities offerings. The dismissal formed part of a broader recalibration in crypto enforcement under President Donald Trump. The removal of a pending civil case reduces one source of legal overhang, though the company remains exposed to the competitive and regulatory pressures that define the US digital-asset sector. With operations consolidating around the domestic market and leadership responsibilities shifting at the top, Gemini enters its next reporting cycle with a leaner structure and a narrower strategic footprint.

What Did the OCC Approve? Stablecoin platform Bridge, acquired by Stripe last year, has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to become a federally chartered national bank. The move places Bridge among a growing group of crypto firms seeking formal oversight under US banking law. If finalized, the charter would allow Bridge to custody crypto assets, issue stablecoins, and manage stablecoin reserves under a federal trust bank framework. The company said the approval would enable it to support enterprises, fintechs, crypto businesses, and financial institutions building with digital dollars within a regulated structure. “Now achieving a national trust bank charter will provide our customers the regulatory backbone they need to build with stablecoins confidently and at scale,” Bridge said in a statement. Investor Takeaway Conditional federal approval moves Bridge closer to operating stablecoin infrastructure under US banking supervision, tightening the link between digital dollars and traditional financial regulation. How Does Bridge Compare With Other Crypto Applicants? Bridge is not alone in pursuing a federal charter. Ripple, Circle, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets and Paxos have also sought to become federally regulated trust banks. All received conditional approval from the OCC in December. Anchorage Digital Bank remains the only crypto-native firm to have received a national trust charter, granted in 2021. That precedent established a path for digital asset firms to operate within the federal banking system without becoming full-service commercial banks. National trust bank charters allow firms to provide custody and related services while remaining subject to federal oversight. For stablecoin issuers, this structure offers a way to formalize reserve management and asset safeguarding under established supervisory standards. Why Are Stablecoin Firms Seeking Federal Charters Now? The recent approvals coincide with a more supportive federal stance toward the crypto sector. Companies that issue or support stablecoins are seeking regulatory clarity at a time when digital dollar usage is expanding across payments, trading, and cross-border settlement. Bridge said its compliance framework is designed to align with the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, known as the GENIUS Act. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law last year, and regulators are now developing implementing rules. The GENIUS Act creates a statutory foundation for stablecoin oversight, including requirements around reserves, disclosures, and supervision. Firms that secure federal charters may gain a clearer path to operating under that regime once rules are finalized. Investor Takeaway As stablecoin legislation moves from statute to implementation, federally chartered entities could gain an edge in institutional adoption and large-scale payment integration. What Does This Mean for Stripe and the Broader Market? Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge signaled deeper interest from established payment firms in stablecoin infrastructure. A national trust charter would give Bridge a federally supervised base for custody, issuance, and reserve management, functions central to stablecoin operations. For the broader market, the growing list of conditional approvals suggests a regulatory channel is forming for stablecoin issuers that want to operate inside the US banking perimeter rather than alongside it. Whether all conditional approvals convert into full charters will depend on firms meeting supervisory requirements set by the OCC. If finalized, Bridge’s charter would extend the federal trust model further into the stablecoin segment, tightening oversight while offering a clearer framework for institutional participation.

What Does the ICE Chat Integration Allow? US-based crypto exchange Kraken has integrated its over-the-counter desk with ICE Chat, the messaging platform operated by Intercontinental Exchange and used widely across global financial markets. The connection allows institutional traders to access Kraken’s crypto liquidity directly through the same communication system they use for negotiating and executing trades in traditional asset classes. ICE Chat connects more than 120,000 market participants, including banks, brokers and trading desks. By linking its OTC desk to the platform, Kraken enables those clients to communicate with its crypto trading team without leaving their existing workflows. Kraken said it is the first cryptocurrency platform approved to connect to ICE Chat. That approval places crypto liquidity inside a communications infrastructure that already supports activity across equities, fixed income, commodities and derivatives. Investor Takeaway Access matters as much as product. Embedding crypto desks inside tools already used by banks and brokers lowers friction for institutional flow. Why Does This Matter for Institutional Crypto Trading? Kraken’s OTC desk handles large block trades in crypto spot and options markets. Such trades are typically negotiated privately rather than executed on public order books, especially when counterparties want to limit market impact. Institutional desks already rely on ICE Chat for real-time deal negotiation. Integrating Kraken’s OTC desk into that environment reduces the need for separate crypto-specific communication channels and may simplify compliance monitoring, recordkeeping and internal approvals. The companies said they expect to expand the integration over time, reflecting efforts to align digital asset trading more closely with existing financial market systems. Rather than building parallel crypto-native infrastructure, this approach connects digital asset liquidity to platforms already embedded in institutional operations. How Does This Fit Into ICE’s Broader Crypto Strategy? Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange and operates ICE Chat, has expanded its involvement in digital assets over the past year. The group provides data, clearing and technology services across global markets and has added blockchain-linked initiatives alongside its traditional exchange operations. In August, ICE partnered with blockchain oracle provider Chainlink to bring foreign exchange and precious metals data onchain. The collaboration integrates ICE’s Consolidated Feed, which aggregates pricing data from more than 300 global exchanges and marketplaces, into Chainlink’s Data Streams. In October, ICE invested $2 billion in prediction market platform Polymarket, valuing the company at a reported $9 billion post-money. In December, ICE entered discussions to back crypto payments company MoonPay in its latest funding round, which is reportedly targeting a $5 billion valuation. At the same time, both Nasdaq and the NYSE have advanced tokenization initiatives. Nasdaq filed a request with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in September seeking approval to list tokenized stocks. In January, the NYSE outlined plans for a 24/7 trading platform for tokenized stocks and ETFs, combining its Pillar matching engine with blockchain-based post-trade settlement systems, subject to regulatory approval. Investor Takeaway Large exchange groups are integrating crypto through data, payments and infrastructure links. Messaging connectivity between traditional desks and crypto liquidity is part of that pattern. What Does This Mean for Kraken? For Kraken, the ICE Chat connection brings its OTC desk into an environment used by major banks and institutional brokers. Rather than asking clients to adopt new tools, the exchange is plugging into existing communication channels. The move follows Kraken’s recent pledge to support US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Trump Accounts,” a savings program for Americans under 18, and comes as its parent company Payward reported a 33% increase in revenues amid stronger crypto trading activity.

Did Exchange Bans Reduce Monero Activity? Monero’s on-chain activity has remained steady even after several major cryptocurrency exchanges removed or restricted the privacy-focused token, according to new research from TRM Labs. Transaction data for 2024 and 2025 shows usage stayed above levels recorded before 2022, suggesting demand did not weaken despite reduced access on centralized trading venues. The findings challenge the assumption that delistings would materially curb network activity. In 2024, large exchanges including Binance and Kraken moved to delist or phase out Monero over compliance and traceability concerns. Regulatory pressure intensified this year when Dubai’s financial regulator banned privacy coins such as Monero and Zcash on licensed platforms operating within the Dubai International Financial Centre. Even so, monthly transaction counts have remained resilient, indicating that users continue to transact outside major centralized exchanges. Investor Takeaway Exchange access restrictions have not translated into a visible drop in Monero’s on-chain activity, suggesting usage is less dependent on centralized venues than many other tokens. What Role Does Monero Play in Illicit Payments? Despite Monero’s reputation as a privacy tool, TRM Labs found that Bitcoin remains the primary currency used for real-world ransom payments. While ransomware operators often request Monero and sometimes offer discounts for payments made in it, victims still tend to settle in Bitcoin. The dynamic appears different on darknet marketplaces. Researchers reported that 48% of newly launched darknet markets in 2025 supported only Monero, describing this as “a notable increase compared to earlier years.” That shift suggests growing preference for privacy-centric payment rails in certain underground ecosystems. The divergence between ransomware settlements and darknet market infrastructure highlights how different segments of illicit activity weigh liquidity against anonymity. Bitcoin’s deep liquidity and broader acceptance continue to anchor it in ransom flows, while newer darknet venues increasingly standardize on Monero. Can Network Behavior Undermine Monero’s Privacy? Monero’s cryptography conceals sender, recipient, and transaction amounts on-chain. However, TRM Labs examined how transactions propagate across the internet, focusing on peer-to-peer network behavior rather than blockchain data itself. The research found that 14% to 15% of Monero nodes displayed unusual timing patterns and connections clustered around specific servers. This does not indicate that Monero’s encryption has been broken. Instead, it suggests that some operators may be running multiple connected nodes capable of observing how transactions spread through the network. In peer-to-peer systems, nodes that receive a transaction earlier than others can sometimes infer information about its origin. “Although Monero’s on-chain cryptography remains unchanged, network behavior can impact theoretical anonymity properties if observers can see message propagation,” the report said. Investor Takeaway Monero’s core encryption remains intact, but network-layer surveillance risks may influence how privacy is assessed by regulators and forensic firms. How Is Monero Addressing ‘Spy Node’ Risks? In October 2025, Monero released a software update known as Fluorine Fermi (v0.18.4.3) designed to strengthen network-level privacy protections. The update introduced a revised peer-selection mechanism that directs wallets away from suspicious clusters and toward more diverse nodes. Within the Monero community, so-called “spy nodes” refer to nodes or coordinated groups that attempt to correlate transactions with users’ IP addresses by observing propagation patterns. These nodes do not defeat the protocol’s cryptographic safeguards but may gather metadata about how transactions move across the network. Debate around this issue intensified after a leaked 2024 video suggested investigators could monitor activity through nodes they controlled. While that episode did not expose a flaw in Monero’s encryption, it renewed discussion about how network topology can affect privacy assumptions. The latest findings indicate that Monero’s usage base remains intact despite exchange delistings and regulatory pressure. At the same time, scrutiny has broadened beyond blockchain analysis to include network-layer observation, adding another dimension to how privacy coins are evaluated in practice.

Cboe Global Markets has expanded trading access for Russell 2000 Index (RUT) and Russell 2000 Index Weeklys (RUTW) options, making the contracts available nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week. The launch adds RUT products to Cboe’s Global Trading Hours (GTH) session, extending access beyond traditional U.S. market hours and giving European and Asia-Pacific investors the ability to manage U.S. small-cap exposure during their local trading day. The move strengthens Cboe’s push toward near-continuous index options trading. The exchange already offers extended-hours trading in S&P 500 Index options (SPX), Mini-SPX (XSP), and Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) options. Cboe said its Global Trading Hours session posted record volumes in 2025, rising 27% compared with 2024. With demand for short-dated options continuing to rise, Cboe’s decision reflects a broader shift in derivatives markets: investors increasingly want 24-hour risk management tools to respond to global events as they happen, not after U.S. markets reopen. What does nearly 24-hour RUT options trading enable? RUT and RUTW options are now tradable across three sessions: Regular Trading Hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET), Global Trading Hours (8:15 p.m. to 9:25 a.m. ET), and Curb Trading Hours (4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET). Combined, the sessions create an almost continuous trading window. The biggest impact is for global investors who previously faced a time-zone mismatch when hedging U.S. small-cap exposure. Asia-Pacific and European participants can now adjust positions during their own daytime hours instead of waiting for the U.S. open, which can be especially risky during major geopolitical events, central bank decisions, or overnight earnings releases. This shift also benefits institutions running systematic hedging programs. Near-24-hour access increases flexibility for delta-hedging, volatility trading, and spread strategies that depend on rapid reaction to global macro catalysts. Takeaway Extended RUT trading gives global investors a real-time hedging tool for U.S. small caps. This reduces overnight gap risk and aligns U.S. index options with a more global trading cycle. Why Russell 2000 options are seeing record demand Cboe highlighted record activity in RUT options as investors increasingly use cash-settled, European-style index options for hedging and directional positioning. The Russell 2000 is widely viewed as the benchmark for U.S. small-cap performance, making it a key instrument for traders seeking exposure to domestic U.S. growth, credit conditions, and cyclical risk. Unlike single-stock options, index options allow investors to trade broad exposure without company-specific earnings risk. They also offer structural benefits such as cash settlement and European-style exercise, which can reduce operational complexity compared with physically settled equity options. Cboe noted that in January, zero-days-to-expiry (0DTE) contracts accounted for 23% of total RUT options volume. That figure underscores how short-dated options have become a dominant product category, not just in SPX but increasingly in other major U.S. indices. Takeaway RUT options are becoming a core volatility and hedging tool, not a niche product. The growth of 0DTE activity signals rising demand for tactical exposure to small-cap market swings. How nearly 24-hour index options could reshape volatility trading Index volatility trading has traditionally been concentrated during U.S. hours, with liquidity dropping sharply overnight. By extending access, Cboe is effectively attempting to globalize volatility markets, enabling pricing adjustments as macro developments unfold in Asia and Europe. This could influence implied volatility behavior. With more time to react, market participants may be able to hedge gradually rather than rushing to reprice risk at the U.S. open. In theory, that may reduce the severity of opening gaps and volatility spikes caused by overnight news. However, extended trading also introduces new liquidity dynamics. Off-hours sessions typically feature wider spreads and thinner order books, which can increase slippage for large trades. The long-term impact will depend on whether global market makers commit sufficient liquidity to make overnight trading economically efficient. Takeaway Nearly 24-hour index options trading could smooth volatility repricing, but liquidity depth will be the deciding factor. Traders should monitor spreads and execution quality in off-hours sessions. Why this matters for brokers and retail traders The announcement also drew support from Interactive Brokers, which has been expanding access to extended-hours trading across asset classes. For brokers serving international clients, the ability to trade U.S. index derivatives outside New York hours strengthens product competitiveness. Retail participation in index options has grown sharply in recent years, particularly in 0DTE contracts. Extended RUT trading could expand this trend globally, allowing retail traders in Europe and Asia to participate in short-dated strategies without staying awake through U.S. sessions. For risk managers, this also creates a new challenge: nearly continuous trading means positions can change rapidly outside traditional monitoring hours, increasing the importance of automated risk systems and real-time margin controls. Takeaway Extended hours increases access but also increases risk. As RUT options become tradable almost around the clock, firms will need stronger monitoring and automated risk controls.

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