Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Arizona’s Senate Finance Committee voted 4–2 on February 16, 2026, to give a “Do Pass” recommendation to SB1649, a bill to create a state‑managed Cryptocurrencies Strategic Reserve Fund under the State Treasurer. Filed by Republican Senator Mark Finchem on February 3, the proposal would allow the state to hold, manage, and — within defined risk and custody rules — lend or invest seized, surrendered or appropriated digital assets. The statutory definition explicitly names XRP alongside Bitcoin, DigiByte, qualifying stablecoins and select NFTs. The framework requires qualified custodians, encrypted storage, multiparty authorization and regular audits. The bill still needs full Senate and House approval and the governor’s signature to become law. Market reaction singled out XRP: the token traded near $1.43 after the committee vote, with neutral RSI (~44.7) and slightly negative Chaikin Money Flow (~-0.08). Analysts flagged $1.50 as immediate resistance (targets at $1.60 and $1.80 if broken; downside risk to $1.30 if rejected). Observers say the measure could set a state‑level precedent for institutional crypto adoption, potentially improving regulatory clarity and liquidity for XRP and the other listed assets if enacted. For traders: watch legislative progress, custodial and lending rules that affect liquidity, and whether institutional flows into XRP follow legal recognition — these will determine whether the news translates into sustained price movement.

Gold surged toward and consolidated near $5,000/oz as safe‑haven flows intensified amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing market conviction that the Federal Reserve will move dovish in 2025. Drivers include falling real Treasury yields, expectations of multiple Fed rate cuts that weaken the U.S. dollar, strong retail and institutional demand, and sustained official sector purchases. Market indicators: large inflows into gold ETFs (including a major weekly GLD inflow), multi‑year highs in COMEX futures and ETF volumes, and increased open interest — a base of tactical and strategic buyers. Technicals show a long‑term uptrend from about $4,200 in late 2024 with recent consolidation testing the $5,000 level; a decisive breakout on higher volume could attract momentum and algorithmic traders, while failures would invite quick profit‑taking. Key risks that could reverse gains are a hawkish Fed surprise, a stronger dollar, easing geopolitical tensions, or a sharp rally in risk assets. Traders should monitor Fed communications, U.S. inflation (core PCE, CPI) and payrolls, real yields (TIPS), DXY moves, GLD and other gold ETF flows, and COMEX positioning for near‑term direction. Primary keywords: gold price, Fed rate cuts, safe‑haven demand. Secondary keywords: gold ETFs, real yields, COMEX, central bank purchases.

Wietse Wind, founder of Xaman Wallet, announced that three XRP yield providers are “almost” ready to launch and will be accessible directly from the wallet’s home screen. The update signals native yield integration for the leading self-custodial XRP wallet, with deployed capital to be visible in the asset list. This comes amid accelerating XRP DeFi activity: Flare Network’s wrapped XRP token FXRP has surpassed 100 million supply since its September 2025 launch, with over 85% locked across DeFi protocols (Enosys, Kinetic, BlazeSwap, Upshift) and 37,000+ mint transactions. Institutional interest is rising — Doppler Finance partnered with SBI Ripple Asia in December to develop institutional-grade XRP yield products and real-world asset tokenization on the XRP Ledger. Xaman previously integrated Flare, enabling FXRP minting directly from the wallet. The rollout coincides with discussions around the proposed XLS-66 amendment, which could add native lending to the XRP Ledger. Traders should note growing on-chain utility, rising FXRP supply and institutional partnerships as signals that XRP is gaining traction as a yield-bearing DeFi asset.

Major institutional shareholders of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) increased positions during Q4 2025 despite a 48% share-price crash, funding BMNR’s recent Ether (ETH) purchases and maintaining the firm’s market net asset value (mNAV) above 1. Morgan Stanley raised its stake 26% to 12.1 million shares (~$331M); ARK added 27% to 9.4 million (~$256M). Other institutional increases included BlackRock (+166%), Goldman Sachs (+588%), Vanguard (+66%) and Bank of America (+1,668%). BMNR bought 45,759 ETH (~$260M) in the latest week and now holds 4.37 million ETH (approx. $8.69B), making it one of the largest institutional ETH holders. BMNR’s share price plunged roughly 60% over six months to about $19.90. ETH technicals show a downtrend and oversold RSI; key supports near $1,925 and $1,747 and resistances near $1,956 and $2,063. BlackRock’s recent 166% BMNR stake increase coincides with its filing for a staked-ETH ETF (proposed 18% staking fee capture), suggesting institutional strategies to maximize staking yield. Analysts view continued BMNR ETH accumulation and mNAV>1 as supportive of further purchases and potential upside for ETH if support levels hold; R1 $1,956 is cited as immediate resistance. This is informational and not investment advice.

TD Securities warns the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) faces heightened risk of a May rate hike as labour market tightness persists. Key indicators: unemployment at 3.7%, participation rate 67.1%, underemployment 6.3%, wage growth about 4.2% and core inflation near 3.8% y/y. TD assigns roughly a 40% probability to a May move, citing sticky service-sector prices, resilient hiring intentions and rising government bond yields and AUD sensitivity to policy bets. Risks that could offset a hike include weaker consumer spending, global shocks or financial-market stress. Sectoral impacts: housing and mortgage holders are most vulnerable to higher rates, small businesses face cost pressures, while exporters could benefit from currency shifts. TD and other analysts stress a finely balanced RBA decision, with markets to watch upcoming labour, inflation and consumption data closely for volatility around the May meeting.

On-chain data flagged a sharp rise in XRP outflows from centralized exchanges in early 2026, driven by repeated large withdrawals into private custody. The flows—highlighted by commentator STEPH IS CRYPTO—occurred even as XRP’s price pulled back, suggesting accumulation by long-term holders rather than distribution. Contributing factors include the launch of spot XRP ETFs in late 2025 and broader ecosystem developments (notably RLUSD in Dec 2024) that have increased demand for custodial storage and reduced exchange balances. Analysts note exchange reserves are a proxy for potential sell pressure: sustained outflows lower readily available supply and can amplify price sensitivity if demand continues. However, XRP remains liquid with daily volumes typically larger than single outflow events, and macro capital flows, derivatives activity and regulatory changes remain key determinants of price direction. For traders, the net implication is an early bullish signal for XRP given reduced exchange liquidity and growing self-custody, but it is not a guaranteed catalyst without ongoing demand and supportive market conditions.

Anthropic’s Claude Skills plus the Model Context Protocol (MCP) create a two-layer approach to scale organizational expertise. MCP supplies secure, standardized tool access (data warehouses, CRMs, APIs) for AI agents; Skills package tacit judgment—methodologies, escalation rules and domain best practices—into versionable SKILL.md artifacts with supporting assets. Combined, they let Claude agents use live data and follow firm-specific analysis standards. Skills enable governance (version control, PR reviews, audit trails), progressive disclosure to manage context limits, and metered distribution—turning consulting methodologies into billable, distributable services. Trade-offs include reduced visibility into runtime dialogs versus human mentorship, requiring logging, feedback hooks, and outcome-focused governance. Enterprises should audit tacit knowledge, start with bounded workflows, and pair Skills with MCP to realize faster, consistent execution. Early adopters report efficiency gains (e.g., Rakuten’s cited 87.5% faster finance workflow completion). Emerging signals: Skill marketplaces, agent SDKs, and governance tooling will shape adoption in regulated industries.

Bitcoin slipped into the $66k–$69k range on Feb 19, 2026, as a double shock of escalating US–Iran geopolitical tensions and hawkish Federal Reserve minutes prompted a risk-off move. The US deployed over 50 fighter jets plus two carrier strike groups near Iran, while Iran conducted naval exercises and warned of decisive retaliation, pushing investors toward safe havens such as gold (at record highs). Fed minutes signaled policymakers may raise rates further if inflation persists, strengthening the US dollar and tightening liquidity—both headwinds for BTC and major altcoins. Institutional flows were mixed: spot ETF inflows were marginal overall but large products like BlackRock’s IBIT saw outflows, indicating selective reallocations rather than fresh capital. Key near-term levels: support around $65,000 (failure risks a drop toward $60,000); resistance near current $68k–$69k. Traders should watch further Middle East developments and any diplomatic progress (Oman/Geneva) as catalysts for either continued downside or a swift relief rally. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, BTC, US–Iran tensions, Federal Reserve, risk-off. Secondary/semantic keywords: spot ETFs, institutional flows, safe havens, gold, liquidity, USD strength.

Crypto Snack has unveiled a five-pillar ecosystem built around its BEP-20 utility token $SNACK, positioning the token as a crypto payment layer for sports, entertainment, iGaming, consumer rewards, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation. The Barcelona-based company says partnerships and licences are secured after 18 months of development and aims for a coordinated 2026 rollout. Key pillars: 1) Premier League partnership — $SNACK will be accepted for matchday tickets, merchandise, stadium ads, VIP packages and Ticketmaster-integrated ticketing; club identity to be announced. 2) RWA tokenisation — Crypto Snack facilitated the Alkemya Metacore STO (800M tokens, Crypto Snack holds 3%), listing on a regulated securities exchange; the firm is tokenising UK real estate, commodities and securities with projects up to $1.5bn. 3) Licensed iGaming — Snack Casino and Snack Bet (casino and sportsbook) to launch in 2026 with all bonuses and rewards paid in $SNACK. 4) Live consumer rewards — Snack Rewards already live in the US via Affina Loyalty, offering cashback in $SNACK at 2,000+ brands; UK/EU expansion planned for Q3 2026. 5) Snack App & Wallet — unified app with crypto wallet, virtual debit cards, buy/sell/trade and access to rewards. Roadmap highlights: Q1 — Alkemya STO live and US rewards scaling; Q2 — Premier League crypto payments, Snack App and soft-launch of iGaming; Q3 — UK/EU rewards expansion and full iGaming launch; H2 — tier-1 CEX listings, US market expansion, additional RWA projects. $SNACK is available on PancakeSwap. The announcement is a paid press release; readers should consider this as marketing material, not financial advice.

Phemex, the crypto exchange founded in 2019 serving over 10 million users, on 19 February 2026 announced an “AI‑Native Revolution” to make artificial intelligence a foundational layer across management, operations, product development and strategy. Rather than adding isolated AI features, Phemex will redesign workflows and systems to embed AI‑driven processes that automate market analysis, streamline operations, accelerate product iteration, and improve execution. The plan includes strategic hiring and internal talent development to shift staff toward higher‑level problem solving and to build future products on an AI‑first architecture. CEO Federico Variola framed the change as a structural industry shift: competitive advantage will increasingly depend on how intelligently exchanges integrate AI into core infrastructure rather than on listings or fee structures. Phemex says the transformation aims to reduce information asymmetry and deliver more adaptive trading tools as market complexity rises. The announcement was issued as a paid press release and does not constitute trading advice.

A YouGov survey of 4,658 respondents commissioned by Coinbase and BVNK found strong demand for bank-supported stablecoin services. Key findings: 77% of respondents said they would open a cryptocurrency or stablecoin wallet inside their banking or fintech app; 71% said they would use a stablecoin-linked debit card to spend tokens. Stablecoin users hold on average 35% of their annual earnings in such tokens, and 73% of freelancers/contractors reported improved ability to work with international clients due to stablecoins. The survey (conducted Sept–Oct 2025) highlights growing mainstream utility as the stablecoin market cap rose over 50% in 2025 and first topped $300 billion in October (DeFiLlama data). Report authors note that clearer regulation—citing the U.S. GENIUS Act—could increase bank confidence to offer wallets by codifying transparency and cybersecurity standards. Primary keywords: stablecoin, bank wallet, stablecoin debit card. Secondary/semantic keywords: Coinbase, BVNK, YouGov survey, stablecoin adoption, regulation, GENIUS Act.

Bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) edged up—BTC around $67,000 and ETH near $1,970—while the broader altcoin market lagged amid waning volatility since the Feb. 5 selloff. Open interest in derivatives stabilized at $15.38 billion and funding rates moved flat-to-positive, but front-end implied volatility and a raised one-week 25-delta skew (≈12%) show traders are still paying for short-term protection. Coinglass-reported liquidations totaled about $218 million in 24 hours (77% longs), with BTC ($75M) and ETH ($53M) leading. Market breadth is weak: 97 of the top 100 tokens were down in 24 hours and the Fear & Greed Index sits at 11/100. Notable token moves included WLFI (-10% after a sell-the-news reaction), AXS retesting Feb. 6 lows, and MORPHO giving back gains. Macro context: bitcoin remains in a downtrend from its Oct. record high of $126,600, posting lower highs and lower lows; recent events (including a Mar-a-Lago forum) failed to produce a bullish catalyst. Key takeaways for traders: monitor BTC liquidation levels (Binance heatmap highlights ~$67,400), front-end IV/backwardation for hedging costs, funding rates for retail/institutional sentiment, and altcoin liquidity risks in low-volume conditions.

WunderTrading is a 2026 crypto trading platform that combines an execution terminal, automation bots, and multi‑exchange account management. It targets traders who convert TradingView signals into live orders, run grid and DCA bots, and manage several exchange APIs from a single interface. Core features include smart trading (bracket orders, take‑profit/stop‑loss), TradingView alert routing, multi‑API/multi‑account execution, paper trading, spread/arbitrage tools and portfolio tracking. Supported bots cover TradingView automation, grid and DCA strategies, and market‑neutral/spread trading; each has distinct regime fit and operational risks (inventory accumulation for grid, scaling losses for DCA, sensitivity to fees and execution for arbitrage). Pricing is tiered from a free plan (limited bots/paper trading) to higher tiers that raise active‑bot and multi‑API capacity; note the AI Bot is unavailable in some regions including the EU. Security is non‑custodial via exchange API keys — users must practice API hygiene (disable withdrawals, use IP restrictions, rotate keys). Strengths: practical TradingView integration, combined terminal + bots, multi‑account scaling, and paper trading. Weaknesses: regional feature limits (AI bot restrictions), requirement for careful alert-to-order mapping, and common bot risks if traders lack strict risk limits. Recommended workflow: set position‑size and exposure caps, validate in paper mode, segregate strategies by account, implement kill switches, and review net performance after fees, funding and slippage. Overall, WunderTrading suits semi‑pro traders who prioritize TradingView‑driven automation and centralized multi‑API operations but demands disciplined risk controls.

US headline CPI eased to 2.4% year‑on‑year in January (from 2.7%), with monthly CPI up 0.2%. Core CPI rose 0.3% month‑on‑month and remains 2.5% YoY; services inflation is sticky at 3.2% YoY. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 130,000 and unemployment is 4.3%; annual wage growth is 3.7%. Retail sales softened (flat in December), indicating consumer demand cooling despite steady employment. The Fed has shifted from balance‑sheet runoff to measured expansion to restore reserve levels—an operational liquidity increase rather than aggressive easing. Markets price a higher chance of rate cuts later in the year but the Fed remains cautious given services inflation and labour resilience. For crypto, marginal liquidity improvements and higher odds of easing have supported risk assets tactically, helping bitcoin rallies driven largely by short squeezes and spot buying. However, persistent spot distribution, on‑chain signals (adjusted SOPR around 0.92–0.94) and a decline in futures open interest during the rally imply the advance was largely forced (short covering) and structural demand is still uncertain. Conclusion: expect tactical upside and volatility, but a durable bullish cycle for bitcoin requires clearer disinflation in services or sustained spot demand alongside continued liquidity expansion.

Hawkish minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee signaled that disinflation may be slower and more uneven than expected, reducing the likelihood of imminent rate cuts and leaving the door open to further hikes. The language pushed Treasury yields higher and tightened financial conditions, prompting renewed selling pressure across high-beta crypto assets. Bitcoin (BTC) pulled back toward $65,000 before stabilizing near $66,800, trading below its 50-day SMA (~$82,600) with RSI around 34. Immediate support is at $64,000 and $60,000; resistance at $70,000 and $75,000–$76,000. Ethereum (ETH) consolidated near $1,960 after an early-February sell-off; support at $1,900 and $1,800, resistance at $2,050 and $2,200. XRP (XRP) traded around $1.41, below the mid-Bollinger (~$1.46) with upper resistance near $1.65; supports at $1.35 and $1.25. Market takeaway for traders: reduced odds of near-term rate cuts and rising yields increase downside risk for risk-on crypto positions — expect higher volatility, short-term bearish pressure on BTC/ETH/XRP, and key levels listed for trade planning.

Market weakness appears driven more by investor sentiment than fundamentals. Brian Armstrong and analysts note persistent fear: the Fear & Greed Index has recorded lower lows since October, most recently at an extreme 5. Bitcoin has traded around $65,000 for roughly two weeks and risks a decisive breakdown toward $60,000 or lower unless sentiment shifts toward neutral or greed. Analysts point to rising stablecoin liquidity—ERC‑20 stablecoin supply is back above $150 billion—as an early sign of capital positioning. CryptoQuant and other observers suggest the U.S. midterm elections could act as a psychological inflection point by accelerating regulatory clarity and restoring confidence. For traders, this implies fragile price action and higher probability of continued chop or deeper downside until sentiment improves; a midterm-driven rotation to risk‑on could provide a clearer rebound catalyst. Key keywords: crypto sentiment, stablecoin liquidity, Fear & Greed Index, Bitcoin price, US midterms.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has seen a marked reduction in futures activity after a roughly 129% shift in net futures flow over 24 hours, moving from neutral/slightly positive into clear net outflows. Traders are closing leveraged positions rather than opening new exposure, reducing speculative fuel that typically amplifies meme‑coin moves. Price remains below major moving averages and has failed to reclaim key resistance, producing constrained swings and muted responses to spikes. Analysts note this change is more likely to herald a low‑energy consolidation phase than an immediate crash — lower futures inflows limit upside potential and reduce liquidation risk, making sharp directional moves less likely. Short-term outcomes depend on whether local trendline support holds; a modest recovery is possible but a sustained breakout needs renewed speculative leverage. Primary keywords: Shiba Inu, SHIB, futures flow, net outflows, leverage, volatility.

Silver rallied sharply over the past two weeks, breaking key technical resistance and approaching late-2024 highs as persistent buying extended across Asian, European and U.S. sessions. Drivers include stronger-than-expected industrial demand (electronics, solar PV, medical equipment), sustained net inflows into silver-backed ETFs and funds, increased physical bullion purchases, and dollar weakness amid shifting monetary policy expectations. Supply-side constraints — notably that primary silver mining accounts for only ~30% of total supply, with much output as a byproduct of other metal mines — plus rising energy, labor and regulatory costs are tightening availability. Compared with peers, silver outperformed gold during the move. Analysts highlight silver’s dual role as an industrial metal and store of value, which can amplify price swings during economic transitions. For traders: watch manufacturing data, central-bank signals, U.S. dollar moves, ETF flows, exchange inventories and mining production for near-term cues; consider volatility, profit-taking risk, liquidity and storage/tax implications; and manage exposure via physical metal, ETFs or mining stocks and dollar-cost averaging depending on risk tolerance.

The UAE’s Royal Group, via its majority stake in Citadel Mining, holds 6,782 BTC and reported approximately $344 million in unrealized gains based on current market prices. Citadel Mining produces about 4.2 BTC per day. The $344M figure is a pre-energy and operational cost valuation. The report highlights the UAE’s growing role as a crypto mining hub, citing regulatory clarity from the Dubai VARA, abundant renewable energy potential (notably solar), favorable climate and business policies. Analysts note mining profitability depends on Bitcoin price, energy costs and hardware efficiency; efficient operators typically fare better after halving events. Comparisons place Royal Group’s holdings below major U.S. miners (e.g., Marathon’s ~23,000 BTC) but significant for the Middle East. Short-term implications include increased institutional validation for PoW mining and potential selling pressure if the entity chooses to realize gains; long-term effects point to stronger regional mining infrastructure and more institutional crypto allocation. This is not financial advice.

An analyst known as CryptoBull reiterated a bullish projection that XRP could reach $70 by the end of June 2026, based on a long-range logarithmic price framework that emphasises percentage-based growth and aligns historical lows (2014 and 2020) to reveal a recurring upward curvature across past bull cycles. The outlook relies on macro-structure breakout zones rather than short-term momentum. Supportive fundamentals cited include the likely resolution of Ripple’s U.S. regulatory dispute in 2025, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin launch in December 2024, and rising institutional participation and payment integrations that can strengthen on‑chain liquidity and utility. The analyst warns that modern market conditions — deeper derivatives, algorithmic liquidity and tighter compliance — may compress returns and require sustained inflows to reach such an extreme target. The call is presented as a probability-based, long-term technical view, not trading advice; timing risk, regulatory clarity and genuine adoption remain critical dependencies. Traders should monitor structural resistance breaks, institutional flows, macro liquidity and regulatory developments as primary catalysts for any sustained uptrend in XRP price.

The Federal Reserve’s January FOMC minutes signaled continued concern over persistent services inflation and a cautious stance on rate cuts, supporting recent dollar gains. The committee was split on slowing balance-sheet runoff, leaving liquidity timing uncertain. Key drivers for dollar strength include higher U.S.–Eurozone interest-rate differentials (2-year Treasury yields roughly 150bp above German bunds), weaker global risk sentiment boosting safe-haven flows, and comparatively stronger U.S. growth indicators. Latest data: U.S. Q4 GDP +2.1% annualized, core inflation 2.8% YoY, unemployment 3.8%; Eurozone Q4 GDP +0.3% QoQ, core inflation 3.1% YoY, unemployment 6.5%. The euro faces structural and cyclical headwinds—dovish ECB rhetoric, fragile manufacturing, political uncertainty, energy risks and fiscal fragmentation. Technically EUR/USD meets strong resistance near 1.0850 (200-day MA ~1.0832) with support around 1.0720–1.0700; a break below 1.0700 could open declines to 1.0650. Market positioning shows leveraged funds increasing net dollar longs; options markets reflect demand for dollar upside protection. DXY rose to ~104.85 then settled near 104.65; EUR/USD trades near 1.0760. Traders will watch upcoming Fed (Mar 19–20) and ECB (Apr 10) meetings and data for guidance on rate-cut timing. Implications: stronger dollar raises emerging-market debt servicing costs, pressures commodity prices and alters trade balances—benefiting some exporters while increasing import-driven inflation in the eurozone. This dynamic mirrors past Fed–ECB divergence episodes but with different starting inflation/fiscal contexts. (Disclaimer: not trading advice.)

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) activated XLS-81, the Permissioned DEX amendment, and immediately recorded the first permissioned offer on its decentralized exchange. The transaction, labeled “Permissioned – Offer Create,” listed 5.89 XRP for 589 RLUSD and embeds compliance conditions that restrict execution to authorized accounts (for example, KYC/AML-verified entities). XLS-81 builds on the Permissioned Domains feature to create isolated, gated DEXes on the XRPL mainnet with separate order books and currency pairs accessible only to approved participants. The upgrade targets regulated institutions — banks, brokers and other financial firms — enabling them to access on-chain liquidity and settle trades without third-party intermediaries while maintaining on-chain transparency and XRPL performance. This development complements recent and proposed protocol changes such as XLS-85 (token escrow for issued assets) and the proposed XLS-66 (XRPL lending protocol), together forming an institutional DeFi toolkit for use cases like stablecoin FX rails, tokenized funds and compliant secondary markets. For traders, XLS-81 could increase institutional flow and liquidity on XRPL markets while introducing segmented liquidity pools limited to permissioned participants; price impact on public XRP markets may be modest initially but institutional adoption raises longer-term liquidity and credibility for XRPL-based trading venues.

MEXC increased the annual interest rate for its USDT Flexible Savings product to as high as 20% for deposits between 0–300 USDT, up from 16%. Balances from 300–100,000 USDT now earn 10% annually, double the previous rate for that tier. Funds remain withdrawable on demand with no lock-up or withdrawal limits. The promotion targets stablecoin holders (USDT, USDC), and the platform also offers short-term fixed savings promotions for new users, including tokenized gold and silver (XAUT, SLVON) and yield opportunities on ETH, SOL and XRP. MEXC has expanded its product suite with lending (zero-interest loan promotion through end of February), Futures Earn for USDT/USDC balances, and zero-commission equity futures tied to US-listed companies. The moves aim to attract users seeking stable, on-demand yields and to differentiate MEXC amid growing competition for stablecoin deposits and crypto savings products. Disclaimer: not investment advice.

Tim O’Reilly interviews Addy Osmani on practical priorities for software developers working with AI. Key takeaways: coordination, not generation, is the central engineering challenge — teams must focus on orchestrating modest, traceable sets of agents rather than simply running many. Frameworks (e.g., Google’s Agent Development Kit) and protocols (A2A, MCP) are emerging to enable agent-to-agent and agent-to-tool communication. Developers should invest more time in planning (defining constraints, success criteria, architecture and best practices) because LLMs default to common patterns unless guided. Code review and maintenance become harder as AI-generated PR volume increases; teams need clear quality bars and review policies. Token costs merit experimentation and measurement to assess ROI. Addy predicts agent-first code and faster-than-expected capability gains, but cautions adoption lags capability. He encourages new engineers to enter software, emphasizing orchestration, model trade-offs and the opportunity to build new products. Practical trader-relevant signals: faster adoption of AI tooling will accelerate demand for cloud AI and developer platforms (benefiting cloud and AI service providers), but the technology’s true impact depends on enterprise orchestration, cost-efficiency and standards adoption.

Bitcoin’s short-term Sharpe Ratio has collapsed to around -38, a level previously recorded at major cycle bottoms (2015, 2019, late 2022). The Sharpe Ratio measures risk‑adjusted returns; a deeply negative reading signals severe short-term losses, heightened volatility, heavy selling pressure and forced liquidations. Earlier in 2024 the metric spiked as BTC pushed above prior highs, but recent on‑chain activity (over 8% of supply moved in one week) and a 23% drawdown — a loss of more than $24,000 in 10 days with a low near $82,000 before a partial rebound to ~$89,000 — correspond with the current trough. Historically, comparable Sharpe troughs have coincided with capitulation and margin stress and were followed by market stabilization and recoveries over subsequent months, attracting “smart money.” Analysts caution the indicator alone does not guarantee an immediate bottom: macro conditions, liquidity shocks and monetary policy can prolong downside. Traders should treat the low Sharpe Ratio as a signal of short‑term market exhaustion. Combine it with price action, volatility, funding and liquidity metrics, and macro data when sizing positions, managing leverage and placing stop orders.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said he expects a “win‑win” outcome for the crypto industry, banks and consumers despite delays to the CLARITY Act in the U.S. Senate. Speaking at Mar‑a‑Lago on CNBC, Armstrong argued the bill offers regulatory certainty and will help the U.S. remain competitive in digital assets. The CLARITY Act passed the House 294–134 in July 2025 but has not received a Senate floor vote after committee markups scheduled in January 2026 were postponed amid industry pushback and internal disagreements. Stablecoin yield (whether issuers can offer rewards or interest) remains a core sticking point: Senator Bernie Moreno opposes stablecoin rewards, while Armstrong says rewards are essential to build a competitive domestic market. Related legislative moves include the Senate Agriculture Committee advancing a measure with elements of the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act (S.3755) on a party‑line vote. The White House is reportedly considering a further meeting to resolve the stablecoin yield deadlock. Armstrong noted some banks are partnering with Coinbase and that embracing crypto innovation is important for U.S. competitiveness. Traders should monitor legislative timelines (including an April target mentioned by Senator Moreno), stablecoin yield provisions, and any White House or committee actions — developments could affect stablecoin demand, on‑exchange liquidity and sector sentiment.

The Royal Group–linked Citadel Mining in the UAE controls a wallet cluster holding 6,782 BTC (on-chain cluster traced to March 2022), attributed largely to mining payouts from pools such as Foundry Digital. At spot prices near $66,900, the stash is valued at roughly $454 million; a simplified paper-profit estimate (excluding energy, capex, staffing) is about $344 million. Activity accelerated in late 2025 and tracked wallets show no clear outbound sales since then. The operation is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and has expanded local capacity where industrial power costs are competitive. Market context: BTC has pulled back from October’s record (~$126,500) and traded mostly between $65k–$71k after a ~30% drop from the $88k–$90k area; key technical levels cited include resistance near $80k and support at $60k, with deeper risk toward $50k–$40k if $60k breaks. Analysts note Bitcoin is on track for a multi-week losing run and has lagged gold for months; geopolitical and macro tightening risks (including Middle East tensions) are also influencing sentiment.

Uranium equities are attracting investor attention in 2026 as global energy policy shifts toward low‑carbon power and nuclear demand rises amid tightening supply. This report highlights five uranium-related stocks: Cameco (CCJ), a large, low-volatility Canadian producer with major Athabasca Basin assets and fuel-cycle exposure; Kazatomprom (KAP), the world’s largest, low-cost Kazakhstan producer with dominant global supply influence; NexGen Energy (NXE), a development-stage high-grade growth play in the Athabasca Basin with longer-timeline upside; Paladin Energy (PDN), a mid-tier producer ramping output (notably Langer Heinrich) offering production-growth exposure outside North America; and Energy Fuels (UUUU), a U.S.-focused miner and mill operator positioned to benefit from domestic critical-minerals and nuclear fuel security policies. Key catalysts include rising uranium prices, long-term utility contracts, and government support for domestic supply chains. Risks: commodity price volatility, geopolitical exposure (notably Kazakhstan), development and permitting timelines for juniors, and execution risk for ramp-ups. Traders should consider position sizing according to risk profile: choose majors for stability (Cameco, Kazatomprom), juniors for leverage to spot uranium moves (NexGen, Paladin), and policy-driven U.S. exposure for event-driven opportunities (Energy Fuels). Primary keywords: uranium stocks, uranium price, nuclear energy; semantic keywords: supply tightness, Athabasca Basin, domestic nuclear fuel, production ramp-up, long-term contracts.

South Korean prosecutors have recovered roughly $21 million worth of Bitcoin that was stolen last year after the hackers returned the funds. Authorities say the recovery followed freezes placed on centralized exchange accounts linked to the stolen assets; the identity of the hacker(s) remains unknown. The move involved tracing the funds and coordinating with exchanges to block related transactions, leading to the return of the Bitcoin to law enforcement. No arrests or charges have been reported. Key details: ~$21M in BTC recovered, assets traced to accounts on centralized exchanges, hacker identity still unidentified. Primary keywords: Bitcoin, stolen Bitcoin, South Korea. Secondary/semantic keywords: crypto theft recovery, centralized exchange freezes, law enforcement, asset tracing.