Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

BitMine Immersion Technologies increased its Ethereum (ETH) holdings — buying roughly 40.6–41.8k ETH in the latest disclosed week — bringing its total to about 4.326 million ETH (≈ $8.8bn at current prices). The firm has staked approximately 2.873–2.9 million ETH (around two‑thirds of holdings) to earn passive staking revenue (estimated 3–5% APR, annualized staking revenue previously estimated near $188m). Total reported assets (crypto, cash and equity) are near $10bn–$10.7bn. The ETH position currently carries very large unrealized losses (estimates range from about $6bn to $7.7bn), pressuring BitMine’s equity value: BMNR shares have fallen sharply (roughly 5% intraday in one report; about 31% over one month and ~60% over six months in another). Market commentary notes on‑chain Ethereum activity (daily transactions and active addresses) is at record levels despite price weakness. Short‑term ETH technicals cited include a price near $2,100–$2,300, an oversold RSI (~33), and a downtrend bias with defined supports and resistances. Other institutional players largely maintained positions while some (e.g., Quantum Solutions) sold small amounts (~600 ETH). Analysts view BitMine’s purchases as a long‑term institutional bet on ETH recovery and yield capture via staking, but the combination of heavy unrealized losses and bearish short‑term technicals increases near‑term risk to the company’s stock and market sentiment.

On-chain analytics show a steady decline in the share of Bitcoin held by short-term holders (STH) as BTC trades around $70k amid renewed volatility. Alphractal reports reduced STH supply and negative 90-day net position change, indicating weaker hands are selling or letting long-term holders (LTH) absorb coins. CryptoQuant author Darkfost notes selling pressure has moved from STH cohorts to early LTH cohorts (6–18 months), with realized price levels for older holders (18 months–2 years) around $63,654 acting as a reactive zone. Key data points: STH supply is falling, 90-day net position change shows limited new accumulation, LTH/STH ratio declining, and several LTH cohorts now under pressure with cost bases quoted near $85,849 and $103,188 for some groups. The pattern matches previous bear-market behavior — decreased speculative supply and increased importance of long-term holder reactions. For traders, shrinking STH supply suggests muted marginal demand and a higher likelihood that price direction will depend on whether LTH defend realized-price zones or capitulate, creating potential volatility and opportunity around those support levels.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller warned that the crypto market’s recent surge driven by expectations of a Trump presidency may be losing momentum. Waller said political optimism can temporarily boost risk assets but cautioned that fundamentals and policy remain critical drivers. He emphasized that market euphoria tied to election outcomes can fade as investors reassess interest-rate expectations and macroeconomic data. Waller’s remarks underline the potential for volatility if traders pivot away from political narratives toward economic indicators and Federal Reserve guidance. Primary keywords: Fed, Christopher Waller, crypto market, Trump, market euphoria, volatility. Secondary/semantic keywords: interest-rate expectations, risk assets, election-driven rally, macroeconomic data, investor sentiment.

Forbes reports that Bitcoin-secured options strategies — notably covered calls and cash-secured puts — are underperforming and creating losses for many retail and institutional options sellers. The article highlights that elevated Bitcoin volatility and rapid price declines have exposed structural risks in these income-focused strategies, where sellers collect premiums but remain exposed to large downside moves. Key points: - Covered calls and secured puts have generated steady premium income in calmer markets, but recent Bitcoin drawdowns have led to mark-to-market losses and forced unwinds. - Increasing implied volatility and sudden BTC price drops amplified losses for sellers who relied on theta decay and perceived downside protection. - The article cites examples of traders and funds facing significant losses, noting that options sellers underestimated tail-risk and liquidity constraints when exiting positions. - Analysts warn that these strategies can be a “trainwreck” during volatile cycles and recommend tighter risk controls, better hedging, and stress-testing for sellers. Implications for traders: income strategies using BTC options carry pronounced tail-risk; monitor implied volatility, delta exposure, and liquidity; consider using dynamic hedges or reducing position size during volatility spikes. Primary keywords: Bitcoin options, covered calls, secured puts, implied volatility. Secondary/semantic keywords: theta decay, tail risk, options sellers, premium income, risk controls.

Eleven reported “crypto wrench attacks” this year mark a shift from digital-only theft to physical coercion of cryptocurrency holders. Most incidents occurred in France and involved criminals using surveillance, social engineering or leaked personal data to identify targets, then threatening victims to surrender private keys or seed phrases. The article links the concentration in France to recent data breaches (including alleged leaks from tax authorities and Waltio’s 2025 hack exposing 50,000 customer records). Security experts describe a common attack pattern—identification, confrontation, coercion, asset transfer—and warn that many cases go unreported. Responses include joint law-enforcement task forces, national safety guidance (France, Germany, UK, Japan), personal protection services, insurance products for coercion losses, and nascent wallet duress features and multi-signature strategies. Legal systems are adapting—some courts treat compelled private-key disclosure as robbery of intangible property—while challenges persist around cross-border investigations and irreversible on-chain transfers. Recommended mitigations for holders: maintain discretion about holdings, use multisig and duress/decoy wallets, distribute assets geographically, avoid public meetup patterns, and consult security professionals. The trend raises market-security concerns: physical targeting adds a human-risk layer that complicates asset custody and could deter high-net-worth participation unless coordinated technological, legal and personal-security measures improve.

Axie Infinity (AXS) saw a sharp uptick in on-chain activity as active addresses nearly doubled within 24 hours, according to Santiment data. The surge accompanied a more than 15% price gain. Most of the increased trading volume was concentrated in large wallets holding 10,000–100,000 AXS, suggesting accumulation rather than short-term speculation. Analysts note that large-holder dominance, rising active-address counts, and a Stochastic RSI bounce from oversold levels point to a probable continuation of the bullish run, though short-term pullbacks or consolidation remain possible. Traders should watch whether large holders keep leading network activity, which would likely sustain upward momentum.

Global equity indexes rose as oil prices weakened and government bond yields fell. U.S. futures climbed after European stocks rallied; Asian markets showed mixed moves. Brent crude dropped on demand concerns, easing inflation pressure and contributing to lower Treasury yields. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield declined, supporting growth-sensitive assets and lifting bank and technology shares. The dollar softened against major currencies, improving conditions for dollar-denominated commodity prices. Market participants cited macroeconomic data, central-bank comments and shifts in risk sentiment as drivers. Traders noted increased appetite for cyclical and rate-sensitive stocks, while defensive sectors lagged. Volatility remained moderate, with investors watching upcoming economic releases and central-bank meetings for confirmation of the shifting rate outlook.

Jump Trading is negotiating minority equity stakes in major prediction-market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi in exchange for providing continuous market liquidity and operational support. Under the reported deals, Jump would supply market-making services — tightening spreads, reducing slippage, and stepping in when counterparties are absent — while taking a direct equity position (Polymarket’s stake would scale with liquidity provided). Polymarket (built on Polygon) and Kalshi (a CFTC-regulated U.S. exchange) have multibillion-dollar valuations after recent funding rounds (Polymarket ~$9B after ICE investment; Kalshi ~$11B). The arrangements combine capital injection with active liquidity provision and follow rising monthly volumes after eased U.S. rules on event-style contracts and high-profile accurate political contracts in 2024. Regulatory risks remain — Kalshi has federal DCM approval but faces state-level legal challenges. For crypto traders, expect narrower spreads, less slippage and deeper order books on related on-chain markets (notably Polygon-based markets), plus potential increases in volume and institutional order flow. This could improve execution and attract higher-frequency and institutional liquidity, though legal and regulatory uncertainty could limit growth. Disclaimer: not investment advice.

Bitcoin and several major altcoins are seeing relief rallies stall as sellers defend range highs, keeping market sentiment cautious. BTC is struggling near $72,000–$74,500 and has pulled back toward $69,500; some traders say the real bottom could be below $50,000, while Santiment suggests $60,000 may have been a genuine low if sustained buying and whale accumulation continue. Quant data (BTC Sharpe ratio ≈ -10) signals historically late-stage bear conditions but not a confirmed bottom. Equity and dollar indexes show mixed momentum: the S&P 500 recovered from a false breakdown, while the US Dollar Index remains under pressure. Technical outlooks for top altcoins: ETH met resistance at $2,111 with upside to the 20-day EMA (~$2,447) if cleared; BNB faces sellers near $676 and key support at $602–$570; XRP holding a channel support but needs a break above the 20-day EMA (~$1.63) to turn bullish; SOL rejected below $95 with critical support at $77 and $67; DOGE capped near $0.10, risking $0.08 then $0.06 if sellers prevail; ADA weakness risks $0.20 if channel support breaks; BCH stalled at the 20-day EMA (~$543) with support near $443. Overall, the technical bias remains tilted toward sellers until major resistance levels and moving averages are decisively broken. Traders should watch key levels (BTC $74.5k and $60k; ETH $2,111 and $2,447) and whale accumulation/volume for confirmation before assuming a sustained uptrend.

Billionaire investor Thomas Kaplan reiterated a bullish outlook for gold and silver after both metals recovered from a late-January selloff. Gold hit an all-time high near $5,560 in January before plunging to about $4,400 during the Jan. 30 market rout; silver fell from over $120 to about $64. Since then, gold has reclaimed the $5,000 level (up ~2% on the day) and silver has rebounded to roughly $83 (up ~6%). Kaplan told Business Insider he views the pullback as short-term within a longer structural uptrend driven by rising global debt, currency debasement and weakening confidence in fiat currencies. He called gold a “non-liability asset” and described silver as “gold on steroids,” warning that central banks may move to consolidate or nationalize gold reserves, increasing scarcity. Kaplan said he has held gold and silver since the 2008 financial crisis and expects the rally to continue over years, not weeks. Primary keywords: gold price, Thomas Kaplan, gold rebounds. Secondary/semantic keywords: precious metals, silver rebound, fiat currency debasement, central bank reserves, market volatility.

OpenAI has begun testing advertisements inside ChatGPT for a subset of Free and $8/month Go users in the United States, marking the chatbot’s first ad-based monetization effort. Ads will be clearly labeled as sponsored, shown separately from assistant replies, and will not change model outputs. Targeting may use conversation topics, past ad interactions and stored memory data, while OpenAI says advertisers will not see user chats or histories. Users can dismiss ads, view ad history, and opt out of personalization or ad data retention. Ads will be excluded around sensitive topics (health, politics, mental health) and from accounts for users under 18. Paid tiers (Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Education) remain ad-free. The trial follows the global launch of the lower-cost ChatGPT Go tier and is intended to help fund large infrastructure costs and broaden free access without altering paid plans. OpenAI will use results from this initial U.S. test to shape future ad formats, buying models and integrations. For crypto traders: the move increases OpenAI’s monetization avenues and may accelerate revenue growth that funds infrastructure and product expansion; it could indirectly affect sentiment and institutional adoption of AI tools in crypto trading workflows, but has no direct impact on individual crypto protocols.

BCH (BCH/USDT) closed the week near $532 after a narrow consolidation between $511.20 and $536.00, showing a modest weekly gain (≈0.53%). Key technicals: price below EMA20 ($544.70), RSI ~46, negative MACD histogram, and limited volume (~$181.5M) — all indicating the dominant downtrend remains intact. Critical levels: support pivot $517.17 (high-confluence), secondary supports $475 and $423, and resistances at $546.30, $575.40 and $636.82. Analyst takeaways: hold above $517 to avoid a bearish breakout targeting $475/$423/$271; a daily close above $546.30 with BTC stabilization would validate bullish entries toward $575 and extension $822. BCH shows strong correlation with BTC (~0.85); BTC moves (support $68,308 / resistance $72,183) will likely dictate BCH direction. Trading guidance: aggressive longs only after confirmed breakout + volume; short setups on break below $517 with tight stops and low leverage. This analysis emphasizes confluence across timeframes, accumulation signs in the $517–$546 range, and the need for volume confirmation before trend change.

Alphabet (GOOG) is conducting a historic debt offering that is lifting its shares even as the VIX rises. The company is selling five sterling bonds including a rare 100‑year issue maturing in 2126 — the first century corporate bond from a tech firm since 1997 — and a $20 billion U.S. dollar bond sale that attracted over $100 billion of orders. Demand pushed yields tighter (a 2066 tranche tightened from +1.2 to +0.95 percentage points over Treasuries). The fundraising is tied to Alphabet’s massive AI-driven capital plan: the company said it may spend up to $185 billion on data centers and AI chips this year, with some forecasts extending to $250 billion through 2027. Major banks including JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America are leading the deal. Analysts note heavy AI investment is compressing free cash flow across major internet firms, but Alphabet still holds substantial cash reserves. Traders see the bond demand as a sign of strong funding access and investor appetite for AI exposure, which helps explain GOOG’s outperformance despite higher market volatility. Risks flagged include concentration of AI bets and the potential for systemic shocks if a major AI player stumbles.

Crypto analyst Bird flagged a potential short-term turning point for XRP after posting a 4-hour XRP/USD chart. XRP has retraced from near $1.80 to a consolidation area around $1.40. The analyst notes compressed volatility with sustained trading participation and a potential bullish divergence at roughly $1.406 — price making lower lows while momentum indicators make higher lows. This pattern suggests selling pressure is waning and accumulation may be starting. Traders are watching timing closely: if buyers defend the $1.40 support and momentum confirms divergence, XRP could rebound toward recent resistance levels; failure to hold would likely prolong sideways action. The article emphasizes structural chart tension rather than new fundamental catalysts. Disclaimer: this is market commentary, not financial advice.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said negotiations on the Crypto-Asset Market Structure bill (the CLARITY Act) have stalled, deepening uncertainty over which federal agency — the SEC or the CFTC — will hold primary authority over most crypto tokens. The impasse centers on definitions and the scope of regulatory power, leaving markets to operate under fragmented state rules and aggressive agency enforcement. Key consequences include higher compliance costs for exchanges, delayed banking integration, deferred stablecoin oversight, and investor uncertainty over custody and disclosures. The article situates the stalemate within a multi-year regulatory push that accelerated after the 2022 Biden Executive Order; bipartisan drafts like the CLARITY Act and the Responsible Financial Innovation Act failed to reach consensus. Analysts suggest breaking the bill into narrower measures (for example, stablecoin rules or AML standards) or awaiting post-election momentum. For traders, the lack of federal clarity could sustain volatility, sustain regulatory-driven selloffs tied to enforcement actions, and incentivize capital migration to clearer jurisdictions like the EU under MiCA. The stalemate lowers near-term regulatory tail-risk predictability but leaves open long-term outcomes depending on congressional compromise or piecemeal legislation.

Rosen Law Firm has launched an investigation and is preparing a securities class-action on behalf of Balancer (BAL) investors following a major exploit on November 3, 2025 that saw attackers drain more than $100 million from the protocol. Rosen alleges Balancer may have provided materially misleading information to investors before the breach and is soliciting affected BAL holders to contact the firm (contingency-fee arrangement). The November exploit targeted vulnerabilities in Balancer V2 smart contracts — arithmetic precision/pool invariant calculation errors and vault access-control weaknesses — enabling rapid cross-chain balance manipulation and asset drainage. Security firms PeckShield and Cyvers tracked ongoing siphoning; some funds were later recovered by white-hat actors. Balancer proposed non-socialized, pro-rata reimbursements for affected liquidity providers (LPs), including $8 million from recovered assets and in-kind returns; governance review proceeded but widespread full payouts had not been confirmed as of February 2026. Key entities: Rosen Law Firm (securities class-action specialist), Balancer protocol (BAL), security firms PeckShield and Cyvers, white-hat recoverers. Primary keywords: Balancer, BAL, exploit, class action, Rosen Law Firm. This development raises legal and reputational risks for Balancer and may influence trader sentiment around BAL and related DeFi assets.

Ethereum (ETH) has reached a decisive market moment after a week of volatile price action. Currently trading near $1,950, ETH sits below the 0.80 MVRV band—a historically strong panic-selling zone where forced sales often end. Key near-term support is the $1,800–$1,850 ascending trend line; if that holds, technical indicators (RSI in the 30s, weakening negative MACD) point to a potential short-term relief rally toward $2,150–$2,300. A confirmed recovery, however, would require surpassing the 1.0 MVRV level at $2,450 and reclaiming $2,800 with volume to change the primary trend. Conversely, a break below $1,800 could lead ETH toward prior buying zones near $1,600. On-chain data show exchange ETH reserves at their lowest since 2016, implying supply contraction and higher upside if demand returns. The ETH/BTC pair remains weak but is trying to defend the 0.029–0.030 BTC long-term demand zone. Traders should view any near-term bounce as potentially reactive unless accompanied by strong volume and MVRV improvement. (Keywords: Ethereum, ETH price, MVRV, support, resistance, RSI, MACD, exchange reserves)

TRM Labs found wallets linked to Xinbi, a Chinese-language crypto guarantee marketplace, moved about $17.9 billion on-chain (incoming, outgoing and internal transfers). After Telegram removed many Chinese guarantee groups in 2025, Xinbi migrated users to alternative messaging platforms and launched a native wallet, XinbiPay, which enabled more internal circulation and complicated traceability. On-chain activity for XinbiPay rose in early 2026 following a brief slowdown in late 2025. TRM alleges Xinbi has been used as a conduit for laundering by scam networks and cybercrime groups (including pig-butchering schemes) but notes the $17.9 billion figure is total on-chain volume, not confirmed criminal profit. For traders: the disclosure highlights sustained on-chain flows tied to guarantee marketplaces, growing use of native wallets (XinbiPay), and increased regulatory and law-enforcement scrutiny — factors that could affect market sentiment, increase compliance risk for counterparties, and prompt targeted enforcement actions that may create short-term volatility in related token markets.

Citi reiterated a Buy rating on MicroStrategy (MSTR) with a $325 12–18 month target on Feb. 9, signaling continued institutional demand for Bitcoin despite recent weakness. Analyst Peter Christiansen published the update; Citi manages roughly $1.75 trillion. MicroStrategy — now operating as Strategy — reported a Q4 net loss of $12.4 billion and disclosed that its Bitcoin holdings fell below its average purchase price of $76,052 for the first time since 2023. Executives, including Michael Saylor and CEO Phong Le, said balance-sheet liquidation risk remains low (citing an extreme stress case of BTC at $8,000 for five years). CFO Andrew Kang said capital structure and funding flexibility have improved. Citi’s lower price target (from prior, larger estimates) reflects a more conservative short-to-medium term view tied to updated Bitcoin price forecasts, higher expected volatility, and the company’s debt-financed Bitcoin accumulation. Other brokers (Canaccord, Maxim, TD Cowen) continue to support MSTR, though some have cut targets (Maxim from $425 to $200). Shares fell ~4% premarket on Feb. 9 after a prior-day surge; Bitcoin traded near $69,110, down ~2% over 24 hours. Key takeaways for traders: treat MSTR as a leveraged BTC proxy, monitor MSTR’s premium/discount to its Bitcoin treasury, track BTC price and volatility, and factor MicroStrategy’s debt exposure into position sizing and risk management. SEO keywords: MicroStrategy, MSTR, Bitcoin, Citi, institutional Bitcoin demand.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, reiterated his preference for Bitcoin over gold in a recent tweet. He advised diversification with gold and silver but said if forced to choose one asset he would pick BTC because bitcoin is capped at 21 million coins, creating built-in scarcity, whereas gold’s supply can expand as more mining occurs. The article notes Bitcoin’s circulating supply is about 19.98 million, under 2 million from the 21 million limit. Kiyosaki called the fixed supply a “brilliant strategy” likely to push BTC’s value higher. The piece also highlights Kiyosaki’s inconsistent past statements about buying and selling BTC — he previously claimed to buy during price rises, said he stopped buying at $6,000, and later sold a stash he’d bought at that price for $2.25 million to fund other businesses — raising questions about which holdings he referenced in his latest tweet.

Rumors have resurfaced that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may be investigating Binance over the October 10, 2025 liquidation event — the largest single-market wipeout in crypto history. On that day roughly $19 billion in leveraged positions were liquidated, including $3.21 billion in a single minute, forcing about 1.6 million traders out as Bitcoin fell from ~$122,000 to ~$104,000. The claim of an SEC probe originates from social posts and is unconfirmed. Since the crash, Binance has attributed the event to macro shocks, paid roughly $283 million in compensation, and later offered about $600 million in relief to affected users and businesses. High-profile figures have weighed in: Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood suggested a “Binance software glitch” caused the crash; OKX CEO Star Xu criticized Binance’s marketing; former CFTC official Salman Banaei compared the event to the 2010 Flash Crash and urged a formal review. Binance denies culpability and has sent cease-and-desist letters to social media users questioning its solvency. For traders, the renewed speculation about SEC involvement — even unconfirmed — raises regulatory and operational risk for Binance and could increase volatility in Bitcoin (BTC) and exchange tokens such as BNB. Key keywords: Binance, SEC investigation, October 10 liquidation, $19 billion liquidations, Bitcoin price drop, exchange risk, market volatility.

China’s BYD has filed a lawsuit at the U.S. Court of International Trade (case No. 26-00847) seeking billions of dollars in refunds for tariffs imposed since April under former President Donald Trump’s emergency tariff programme. Four BYD U.S. subsidiaries argue the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize tariffs, saying the law’s text never uses the word “tariff.” BYD says it sued to preserve its right to recover amounts already paid should courts rule the tariff programme unlawful. The action is the first time a Chinese automaker has sued the U.S. over these tariffs; thousands of other firms have filed related challenges and the U.S. Supreme Court is also reviewing the programme. BYD continues substantial U.S. operations — including a Lancaster, California plant (≈750 employees) and sales in buses, trucks, batteries, solar and energy storage — and says it intends to keep building in the U.S. Meanwhile, BYD is advancing battery tech: sulfide-based solid-state batteries with limited production targeted for 2027 and a third-generation sodium-ion platform reportedly rated to ~10,000 cycles. BYD’s European sales climbed sharply in 2025 (27,678 registrations in December; 187,657 for the year), narrowing the gap with Tesla. Key points for traders: potential large refunds could affect BYD’s cash flow and U.S.-China trade tensions; a favorable legal outcome would reduce tariff-related cost risk for BYD and suppliers, while an adverse ruling would sustain margin pressure and supply-chain uncertainty.

CIBC Capital Markets’ chief economist argues the US dollar remains fundamentally sound despite recent market worries about depreciation. The bank points to structural supports: roughly 60% of global FX reserves are dollar-denominated (IMF), deep and liquid US financial markets, network effects in trade, safe‑haven demand, and relative US economic strength including energy independence and tech-led productivity gains. CIBC highlights interest-rate differentials favoring dollar assets, heavy institutional demand (pension funds, sovereign wealth funds), dominant clearing/settlement infrastructure, and technical positioning (extreme hedge fund dollar shorts in late 2024) as reasons a rapid collapse is unlikely. Risks cited include sustained US fiscal deterioration, faster-than-expected central bank digital currency (CBDC) adoption, or coordinated moves away from the dollar, but these are framed as longer-term or low-probability scenarios. The analysis concludes that market fluctuations largely reflect technical adjustments rather than structural breakdown, recommending focus on nuanced risk management rather than catastrophic forecasts.

Tether (USDT) market dominance has climbed into the 8.50%–9.00% range — a zone that previously coincided with Bitcoin bear-market lows. Historically, peaks in USDT dominance signaled risk-off positioning as traders parked funds in stablecoins, and subsequent rollovers aligned with large Bitcoin rebounds (e.g., November 2022 peak near 8.5%–9% preceded BTC’s 2023–24 rally). In February, BTC’s weekly RSI dipped below 30 while price tested the 200-week simple moving average — a combination that has preceded multi-month rallies in prior cycles. On-chain flows show accumulation: large holders added roughly 40,000 BTC after the price fell below $60,000, Binance increased its SAFU reserve by about $300 million in BTC, and Strategy disclosed a $90 million BTC purchase. Bernstein analysts called the pullback the “weakest” in history and reiterated a $150,000 BTC target by end-2026. The article notes that if USDT dominance does not exceed the 8.50%–9.00% range, the odds of a BTC bottom in coming weeks rise. This is market analysis, not investment advice.

Utexo has introduced an adapter module (wdk-wallet-rgb) that integrates RGB — a Bitcoin-native protocol that keeps asset state offchain and validates client-side — into Tether’s Wallet Development Kit (WDK). Wallet SDKs typically assume onchain, globally observable asset state; RGB’s client-side validation, offchain consignments and local proofs break those assumptions, complicating balance tracking, transaction lifecycle coordination and state recovery. The wdk-wallet-rgb module translates RGB operations into WDK-compatible abstractions, derives RGB keys from BIP-39 seeds, exposes RGB balances through existing account interfaces, aligns RGB issuance/transfers with standard transaction workflows, and allows encrypted backup/restore of RGB state alongside wallet data. The module deliberately omits RGB Lightning node features, network discovery, UX flows and full infrastructure automation — it’s scoped as an integration layer, not a replacement for RGB infrastructure. Developed within the CTDG Dev Hub, the integration signals evolving wallet responsibilities as more Bitcoin-native protocols move validation offchain. Primary keywords: RGB integration, wallet SDK, WDK, Utexo, client-side validation.

Trend Research, an Edmonton-based data firm, has completed a prolonged unwind of 651,757 ETH (~$1.34 billion) by depositing the holdings to Binance to repay leveraged positions. On-chain trackers and commentator MartyParty report the average exit price was about $2,055, with realized losses estimated at roughly $745–747 million. The firm had built a large ETH long by borrowing stablecoins on Aave against ETH collateral and increasing exposure to over $2 billion at peak. Forced selling began when ETH dropped from roughly $2,055 to $1,750 in early February 2026; Trend Research moved ETH in batches (10k–90k ETH) until wallets were effectively emptied. Market observers note the unwind removes a major known source of near-term sell pressure, but broader direction depends on macro factors, ETF flows and other whale activity. On-chain data shows whales have been accumulating while retail addresses pare back holdings, indicating a supply shift from weaker to stronger hands. Key figures: 651,757 ETH sold, ~$1.34B value, average exit ~$2,055, realized loss ≈ $745–747M. Primary keyword: Trend Research Ethereum unwind. Secondary keywords: ETH sell-off, whale accumulation, leveraged long, Binance deposit, Aave borrowing.

MicroStrategy purchased 1,142 BTC between Feb 2–8, 2026, spending about $90 million at an average price near $78,815 per BTC. The acquisition raises the company’s bitcoin treasury to 714,644 BTC, acquired at an average cost of roughly $76,056 per BTC (≈$54.35 billion total, excluding fees). The position equals more than 3.4% of Bitcoin’s fixed supply, keeping MicroStrategy as the largest corporate BTC holder. The latest purchase was financed via an at‑the‑market equity program: MicroStrategy sold 616,715 common shares and raised about $89.5 million in net proceeds. Recent BTC price declines have pushed the company into estimated unrealized losses of about $5.0–$5.2 billion. After disclosure, MSTR shares fell roughly 4.2% in pre‑market trading to about $129, reflecting investor caution. Management, led by Michael Saylor, reiterated a long‑term accumulation strategy despite short‑term volatility. For traders: the trade confirms ongoing corporate demand, further concentrates BTC on MicroStrategy’s balance sheet, and increases MSTR’s sensitivity to bitcoin price swings. Expect elevated volatility around MSTR and potentially BTC when share‑financed purchases occur or if BTC endures further markdowns.

Bybit has launched the Master Trading Challenge: TradFi VS Crypto, a global copy-trading tournament offering a 300,000 USDT prize pool across two independent two-week rounds (Round 1: Feb 9–24, 2026; Round 2: Feb 27–Mar 14, 2026). Each round carries a 150,000 USDT prize pool and separate leaderboards. Master Traders may compete in two categories — classic crypto perpetual contracts or TradFi-style products — with rankings based on team trading volume and profit-and-loss. Eligibility requires minimum team trading volumes (classic: 75,000 USDT; TradFi: 1,500,000 USDx) and at least 20 unique active followers per Master Trader. The top 50 Master Traders per round share awards (first place receives 39,000 USDT); winners keep 50% of team rewards while the remainder is distributed to followers proportionally. A social “Like” reward gives the first 1,000 supporters of a top-three liked trader a share of 2,000 USDT. Bybit positions the event amid rising retail interest in copy trading as a way for less experienced traders to mirror seasoned strategies during volatile markets. Terms and eligibility apply.

Bernstein research projects Bitcoin (BTC) could reach $150,000 before the end of 2026, citing rising institutional adoption and a more favorable U.S. regulatory environment as key drivers. The report notes fewer systemic shocks this cycle (no major bankruptcies or scandals) and growing allocation of banks, funds and investment firms to BTC, positioning it as a mainstream financial instrument. Counterarguments include on‑chain analyst Ali Martinez, who forecasts a drop to $38,000 by October based on historical cycle patterns, and investor Michael Burry, who has pointed to similarities with prior corrections. Other bullish voices such as Tom Lee highlight renewed inflows to spot Bitcoin ETFs and call the recent decline temporary. Bitcoin has fallen about 22% year‑to‑date in early 2026 but rebounded from roughly $60,000 to $68,000; Bernstein’s $150,000 target implies roughly a 117% upside from current levels. The article underscores regulatory debate within industry leaders (e.g., support from Ripple’s CEO, objections from Coinbase and Cardano founders) and warns that predictions vary widely, advising readers that the content is not investment advice.