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PayPal, the digital payments company, has seen its stock price slump by almost half its value in recent months, which has led to conversations about who could realistically step in if a deal were ever pursued. Among the names circulating in online discussions is Ripple, the blockchain payments firm, which has been on a spree of acquisitions in recent months.

Although no talks have been confirmed, the idea of Ripple acquiring PayPal is interesting because of the overlap between both companies in digital payments, cross-border transfers, and stablecoins. The question now is what this potential acquisition would mean for Ripple’s ambitions in global finance.

Can Ripple Realistically Acquire PayPal?

PayPal’s share price has fallen by around 46% over the past year, leading to discussions as to whether there might be a takeover of the company very soon. For instance, Fintech startup Stripe is reportedly in early discussions to potentially buy PayPal.

However, there have also been speculations among members of the XRP community as to whether Ripple might actually be in contention to acquire PayPal. Jay Nisbett, commenting on X, described the idea as purely speculation but also noted that it makes sense from a synergy standpoint. 

He pointed out that PayPal’s market capitalization is around the $40 billion mark, which is reportedly below Ripple’s latest private valuation. However, financing such a deal would still be complicated. PayPal is a publicly traded company with a large shareholder base, regulatory obligations, and global compliance frameworks. 

Ripple, on the other hand, is privately held. Any acquisition would likely require capital raises, structured financing, or even a reverse merger mechanism that allows Ripple to effectively enter public markets through PayPal’s listing.

Nisbett also noted that PayPal’s stablecoin, PYUSD, currently has a $4 billion market cap. An acquisition would allow this to be easily integrated into Ripple’s ecosystem with RLUSD and the XRP Ledger.

Another angle involves regulatory positioning. Ripple recently secured expanded regulatory approvals and financial licenses that could theoretically support payment operations on a broader scale. A PayPal acquisition would instantly plug Ripple into PayPal’s established banking and e-commerce distribution network. This includes Ripple’s large share of global online payment processing and its existing cross-border corridors, which are expected to be about 45% of the total market.

Ripple’s Growing Track Record Of Acquisitions

Ripple has been expanding its footprint in recent months through a series of high-profile acquisitions that are placing its business beyond just payments on the XRP Ledger. To put this into context, Ripple has spent about $2.7 billion in acquisitions in the past three years. 

In 2025 alone, the company bought Hidden Road, a multi-asset prime brokerage firm; GTreasury, a global treasury management platform focused on corporate finance; and Rail, a stablecoin payments platform that focuses on cross-border payment capabilities. Ripple also acquired Palisade, a digital asset wallet and custody technology provider.

At this time, there are no confirmed discussions between Ripple and PayPal, and acquisition talks are all just speculation at this point.

In terms of price action, Solana may be demonstrating a downside trend, but its ecosystem is signaling growing dominance in the Web3 sector. After seeing notable network performance, the blockchain now controls a significant portion of the total decentralized application (dApp) revenue.

A Large Web3 dApp Earnings Covered By Solana

With robust network coverage, Solana, one of the leading blockchains in the cryptocurrency sector, is rapidly cementing its position as a dominant force in the Web3 economy. This is a pivotal moment for the network during a weakening price performance, which could play a role in its price outlook.

A recent report from SOL Strategies, a publicly traded company, discloses that Solana is dominating the web3 economy now by capturing a large share of all dApp revenue. As user activity increases and developers continue to expand throughout its ecosystem, it is becoming more evident that the network may produce actual economic value.

Using data from Syndica, a platform focused on building and scaling blockchain systems, the network currently controls over 41% of all web3 dApp revenue. Solana’s growing revenue footprint, which includes both consumer-facing applications and DeFi technologies, indicates more than just an increase in usage.

According to SOL Strategies, the Solana ecosystem is proving it is the place where real value is created across the web3 ecosystem. With its share of dApp earnings increasing, SOL is becoming a key hub in the upcoming stage of blockchain-driven innovation.

Solana’s network growth and dominance go beyond just the Web3 ecosystem. Its Real World Asset (RWA) ecosystem is accelerating at a remarkable pace, with on-chain value hitting historic levels. In an X post, SolanaFloor reported that SOL in this field has risen to a new all-time high of over $1.71 billion in total value.

The spike indicates increased institutional experimentation as well as heightened trust in the network’s infrastructure to sustain high-value, compliant assets. This massive figure represents a more than 45% increase in the last 30 days. The network’s most recent milestone highlights how tokenization is progressing from concept to actual on-chain growth, with capital coming in and acceptance expanding.

Here’s The Next Potential Catalyst For SOL

While price has been moving sideways, Solana could still be setting up for a super cycle, and APAC institutions may be the catalyst for this upswing. CryptoRus shared that Solana Company HSDT has announced the launch of Pacific Backbone, a quick, low-latency infrastructure buildout that links Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong. 

This move is aimed at APAC institutions, which pairs Decentralized Finance (DeFi) tooling with liquid staking and Traditional Finance (TradFi) style execution to foster new capital flows in Solana. If this thesis is correct, SOL becomes the standard high-throughput settlement layer for an expanding area of capital markets rather than merely another Layer 1 pump. Furthermore, should institutions move in, the altcoin could gain momentum for a multi-phase run.

Indiana is moving closer to formally embedding crypto into its public financial system after lawmakers approved House Bill 1042, commonly referred to as the Bitcoin Rights Bill. The legislation has cleared both legislative chambers and now awaits the signature of Governor Mike Braun.

Related Reading: Binance Faces US Senate Inquiry Tied To $1.7 Billion In Sanctions-Related Transactions

If enacted, the law would allow certain public investment programs to provide exposure to crypto through regulated ETFs and establish legal protections for individuals who use or hold digital assets. The measure reflects a broader shift among U.S. states as they explore how crypto fits within traditional finance.

Public Funds and Retirement Plans Open to Crypto ETFs

HB 1042 permits state-managed investment funds to include cryptocurrency ETFs as investment options rather than allowing direct token purchases. The approach aims to provide exposure through regulated financial products while maintaining oversight mechanisms.

Under the bill, several state-administered programs must offer self-directed brokerage accounts containing at least one digital asset investment option. These include retirement plans for teachers, public employees, and legislators, as well as the Hoosier START 529 education savings program.

Participation would remain voluntary, meaning individuals could choose whether to allocate funds toward crypto-related investments. Before rollout, the state must establish approved investment structures designed to manage compliance and risk oversight.

The legislation also allows eligible investment funds from outside Indiana to allocate assets into crypto ETFs under the state’s framework, potentially expanding institutional participation beyond state borders.

Legal Protections for Digital Asset Users

Beyond access to investment, the bill introduces protections for cryptocurrency users. Public agencies, with limited exceptions, would be restricted from banning or limiting lawful digital asset activities.

Residents would retain the right to accept crypto payments for legal goods and services and to store assets in self-custodied or hardware wallets. The proposal also prevents the state from imposing special taxes on crypto transactions and requires taxation rules to align with those applied to other financial activities.

Supporters argue that these provisions provide legal clarity for individuals and businesses operating in the digital asset space, while critics continue to highlight concerns about market volatility and retirement risk exposure.

Part of a Broader U.S. Policy Shift

Indiana’s move comes amid growing institutional interest in cryptos, following the expansion of crypto ETFs and evolving federal policy discussions on retirement portfolio diversification. Other states are considering similar measures, signaling a gradual shift toward incorporating digital assets into public finance structures.

HB 1042, introduced by State Representative Kyle Pierce, completed the legislative process after the House approved Senate amendments. If Governor Braun signs the bill, the law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, triggering implementation by state agencies and retirement administrators.

Related Reading: Netherlands To Amend Controversial 36% Tax On Unrealized Crypto, Stock Gains

As more states evaluate crypto-focused legislation, Indiana’s decision could serve as another trigger to the continued adoption of crypto in other states’ financial systems.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart on Tradingview

Solana projects Step Finance and its sister platforms have announced they are winding down operations following an exploit last month. This also comes as crypto prices struggle amid the current bear market, with SOL still below the psychological $100 level. 

Solana Projects To Wind Down Following Exploit And Amid Price Struggle

In an X post, Solana DeFi aggregator Step Finance announced that it and its sister projects, SolanaFloor and Remora Markets, will be winding down all operations. This follows the hack towards the end of last month involving the firm’s treasury wallets, which resulted in a loss of around $40 million. 

Related Reading: This Analyst Predicted Solana Sell-Off At $250, And Is Back With A New Prediction

StepFinance stated that following the hack, they explored every possible path forward, including financing and acquisition opportunities. However, the Solana project was unable to secure a viable outcome, which is why it has decided to end all operations effective immediately. The firm also revealed that it is working on a buyback for STEP holders based on a snapshot taken before the incident. 

The STEP token is down over 40% in the past week amid this announcement, currently trading at around 0.00060. The token is down by over 99% from its all-time high (ATH) of $10, set in August 2021. 

Furthermore, Step Finance stated that it is also working on a redemption process for Remora rToken holders, with these tokens still backed 1:1. Remora Markets, a tokenized stock marketplace on SOL, also confirmed that it is winding down operations alongside its parent company, Step Finance. Remora stated that they are currently working on a redemption process to allow holders to redeem their tokens for USDC and that they will share more details soon. 

Media Outlet To Also Wind Down

Solana media platform Solana Floor, a sister company to Step Finance, also confirmed that it is winding down operations. The platform will no longer publish new content, but the existing website, videos, and newsletters will remain available as an archive. Solana wallet Solflare stated that it will pause its News section inside the wallet due to Solana Floor’s sunsetting. 

Related Reading: XRP, Solana Secure Inflows As Institutions Move $1 Billion Out Of Bitcoin And Ethereum

Solflare also revealed that it is considering opening up the space to community-driven articles published directly in the wallet. This will include original long-form articles, fresh insights, analysis, and strong opinions, deep dives into SOL projects/trends, educational crypto explainers, and market analysis. 

Meanwhile, Step Finance co-founder George Harrap indicated that there was still the possibility of an acquisition of any of their projects. He stated that some people have reached out about acquiring various businesses and that they will pursue those if serious and have interest, but warned that they are working on a “time crunch.

At the time of writing, the Solana price is trading at around $89, up 8% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

After weeks stuck below a key psychological level, Ethereum (ETH) surged past $2,000 in a swift rally, pushing prices to $2,158 within a day. The recovery comes after a prolonged period of sideways trading around $1,900 and a broader correction that had pushed ETH more than 60% below its previous peak.

The latest double-digit recovery coincided with a wider cryptocurrency market rebound, with total market capitalization rising by over 4% and Bitcoin also advancing during the same period.

Ethereum ETF Inflows and Institutional Activity Drive Recovery

Renewed institutional demand helped drive Ethereum’s breakout, as spot ETFs recorded fresh inflows after weeks of outflows. Daily investments topped $20 million in some sessions, with total inflows exceeding $125 million on February 25, led largely by Grayscale and Fidelity products.

On-chain data also pointed to accumulation by large holders. Whale wallets added thousands of ETH while others withdrew significant amounts from exchanges, a pattern often interpreted as long-term positioning rather than short-term trading.

The Ethereum Foundation added another layer of support by announcing plans to stake 70,000 ETH from its treasury. The move reflects a shift toward active reserve management while reducing the circulating supply available on the market.

Technically, momentum indicators turned positive as capital flowed back into the asset. Analysts identified resistance zones between $2,080 and $2,150, while support formed around the psychologically important $2,000 level.

Upgrade Roadmap Signals Faster and More Secure Ethereum

Beyond price action, investor attention has also focused on Ethereum’s long-term development roadmap. Co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently outlined proposals to significantly improve transaction speed and security over the next several years.

The plan includes gradually reducing block slot times from 12 seconds to as low as two seconds, allowing faster transaction processing. Developers are also targeting transaction finality between 6 and 16 seconds, a major reduction from the current confirmation timeframe, which can stretch into minutes.

The roadmap spans multiple protocol upgrades expected through the end of the decade and introduces quantum-resistant cryptography designed to prepare the network for future computing risks. Changes will be implemented gradually to limit disruption and maintain network stability.

Options Expiry Could Increase Short-Term Volatility

Despite improving sentiment, derivatives markets may introduce near-term volatility. Around $893 million worth of ETH options are set to expire this week, with a “max pain” level near $2,200. The put-to-call ratio below 1 suggests traders are leaning toward upside exposure, though expiry mechanics can temporarily influence price direction.

Ethereum’s ability to hold above $2,000 remains the key signal for traders. Sustained institutional inflows and progress on network upgrades could determine whether the latest rally develops into a broader trend reversal or remains a short-term recovery within a larger consolidation phase.

Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart on Tradingview

New developments in XRP’s active address count suggest that investors may be jumping ship from the leading cryptocurrency. According to on-chain metrics, the number of active addresses on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has dropped by more than half in one day, marking a new low in 2026. The decline in this metric comes as the cryptocurrency continues to consolidate near the $1.40 region after its price fell by more than 20% over the past month.

XRP Active Address Drop Raises Investor Exit Concerns

Recent data from market analytics platform CryptoQuant paints a worrying picture for XRP, as more than 18,130 active addresses have disappeared from the network. The decline is particularly striking considering that on February 10, active addresses had surged to a yearly high of 32,684. At the time, the altcoin was trading low at $1.399. However, despite the subdued price, network participation continued to climb, signaling increased engagement.

Following this peak, XRP active addresses dropped the next day to 17,275, representing a decline of more than 15,409 addresses. This slump coincided with an almost 3% decrease in the XRP price, which was around $1.36 at the time. In the subsequent days, active address counts fluctuated between 16,000 and 17,000 before experiencing another major drop, eventually settling at 14,551. Notably, this marked the lowest level of active addresses seen throughout this year. 

Importantly, active address measures the number of unique wallet addresses that participated in transactions over a given period. It serves as a key indicator of a network’s activity level and, to some extent, investors’ interest in a cryptocurrency. Typically, a decline in active addresses suggests reduced user participation on the blockchain. It can also signal a more concerning trend of investors exiting a cryptocurrency and diminishing retail interest.

If investors are indeed abandoning XRP, it would come as no great surprise given the cryptocurrency’s recent price performance. CoinMarketCap data shows that year-to-date, the price has fallen by more than 36%. The cryptocurrency has also declined by more than 52% from its 2025 peak above $3, underscoring its continued bearish trend amid ongoing market volatility and eroding investor confidence.

What Analysts Are Saying About The Price

Despite its subdued price action and poor performance this year, analysts remain optimistic about XRP’s outlook. According to market expert Bird, XRP’s corrective phase appears to have ended after the cryptocurrency completed a triangle pattern, marked by declining price action.

After a recent rebound above the $1.30 range into the $1.40 region, Bird suggests that the market may be on the verge of a confirmed price reversal. He noted that XRP will need additional upward momentum before it can advance toward the next projected target above $1.7 on the price chart.

Сооснователи американского платежного сервиса Stripe Патрик и Джон Коллисон (Patrick, John Collison) заявили, что большинство современных блокчейнов не подходят для проведения платежей, хотя для этой задачи годятся стейблкоины.

Майнинговая компания сыновей президента США Дональда Трампа American Bitcoin объявила об убытке $59 млн по итогам четвертого квартала ушедшего года. За 2025-й нереализованный убыток от ее биткоин-резерва достиг на фоне падения стоимости криптовалюты $227 млн.

Ripple has backed AI infrastructure startup t54 in a $5 million seed round, a move that ties the company more closely to the emerging market for autonomous payments and agent-driven financial activity. The investment also puts the XRP Ledger in the frame as one of the networks being positioned for machine-to-machine commerce.

Ripple And The XRP Ledger Enter The Agentic Payments Race

t54 announced on February 25 that its seed round was led by Anagram, PL Capital, and Franklin Templeton, with strategic participation from Ripple, alongside Virtuals Ventures, Blockchain Coinvestors, and ABCDE. The company describes itself as a “trust layer for the agentic economy,” focused on a problem that is starting to attract more attention as AI systems move from recommendation to execution: how to verify an agent’s identity, evaluate its risk, and assign accountability when something goes wrong.

That framing was echoed by Ripple President Monica Long, who wrote on X that “as autonomous agents begin managing and transacting with real capital, trust infrastructure becomes a foundational piece of the equation.” She added that Ripple was “proud to be at the forefront of AI innovation,” calling out t54 as a team “building the trust layer for the agentic economy.”

The company’s pitch is that existing financial rails were built around humans, not software agents acting on delegated authority. In the press release, founder Chandler Fang laid that out directly:

“We are building trust infrastructure for the agentic economy. Financial systems were designed around human identity and human decision-making. As agents become autonomous participants, we need agent-native financial primitives—verifiable agent identity (KYA), real-time risk assessment, and programmable accountability—built for how agents operate.”

That thesis is not just about identity in the abstract. t54 says its platform is built across four pillars: identity and verification, risk and fraud, credit, and a broader operating platform that combines controls with settlement. The idea is to give institutions a way to bind agents to verified developers or human operators, monitor their behavior in real time, and decide when they should be allowed to transact, borrow, or execute payment flows.

The company is also making a direct bet on crypto rails as part of that stack. Among the products it listed is an “XRPL x402 Facilitator,” described as infrastructure that lets AI agents pay for services using XRP and RLUSD. It also highlighted an open-source secure layer on x402 and said its ecosystem spans XRPL, Solana, Base, and Virtuals, suggesting it is not building for a single chain, even if Ripple’s involvement gives XRPL special relevance.

That matters because Ripple’s interest here goes beyond venture exposure. Markus Infanger, SVP at RippleX, framed the opportunity as a shift in the nature of economic actors themselves:

“Autonomous systems are becoming participants in economic activity, not just tools. The financial infrastructure that supports them must evolve accordingly. We support t54’s efforts to build the identity and risk capabilities that will be foundational as AI agents operate across payments, treasury, and capital markets.”

Tony Pecore, Franklin Templeton SVP and director of digital asset management, said:

“As institutions embrace tokenization and autonomous systems, the infrastructure layer must evolve to match. t54 is building the trust and verification framework that institutional finance will require as AI agents become participants in financial markets.”

t54 also backed its market argument with survey data. It cited a recent YouGov study showing 42% of US consumers would allow an AI agent to make purchases on their behalf if it secured the lowest price.

At the same time, research from Keyfactor found 86% of cybersecurity professionals believe autonomous systems and AI agents should have unique, dynamic digital identities. Together, those figures capture the tension t54 is trying to monetize: growing willingness to delegate financial actions to software, but only with tighter controls.

For Ripple and XRPL, the bet is clear. If autonomous agents do become active users of payment rails, then Ripple wants XRP Ledger infrastructure to be part of that next layer.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.4397.

After several days of online speculation, blockchain investigator ZachXBT has published the findings of a probe he first alluded to earlier this week, detailing what he describes as insider trading and internal data abuse at Axiom Exchange.

In a series of posts, ZachXBT identified Broox Bauer, known on X as @WheresBroox, as a central figure in the alleged scheme. Bauer is described as a senior business development employee at Axiom based in New York. 

Alleged Wallet Lookups And Insider Trading Scheme

According to the investigation, Bauer and others exploited insufficient access controls on internal tools to retrieve sensitive user information and track private wallet activity, allegedly using that data to inform trades as far back as early 2025.

Audio clips shared as part of the report appear to show Bauer explaining how he could monitor any Axiom user through referral codes, wallet addresses or internal user IDs. In one recording, he claims he can “find out anything to do with that person.” 

He also describes starting by reviewing 10 to 20 wallets and gradually expanding the scope over time “so it does not look that suspicious.” In another excerpt from the same private group call, Bauer outlines procedures for requesting wallet lookups and says he would provide a full list of tracked addresses. 

The investigation cites specific instances of alleged misuse of internal dashboards. In April 2025, Bauer reportedly shared a screenshot from an Axiom internal interface showing private wallet information for a trader identified as “Jerry.” 

In August 2025, he allegedly circulated another image displaying registration data and linked wallets for a trader known as “Monix.” That same month, he is said to have discussed conducting lookups on Axiom users who had traded the meme coin AURA.

According to the findings, the group compiled wallet addresses of multiple key opinion leaders (KOLs) into a Google Sheet. The document mapped out addresses gathered from Axiom’s internal dashboard. 

Several KOLs named in the sheet or visible in leaked screenshots were contacted and independently confirmed that the wallet data attributed to them was accurate.

Axiom Case May Fall Under SDNY Jurisdiction

The report raises broader concerns about internal oversight at the exchange. It claims there was little to no effective monitoring or restriction on employee access to sensitive user data, regardless of whether senior figures identified as Cal or Mist were aware of the activity. 

Given that Bauer is based in New York City, ZachXBT suggested the matter could fall within the jurisdiction of the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). 

He stated that, regardless of whether criminal charges are ultimately pursued, Axiom’s co-founders should conduct a thorough internal review and consider legal action against any employees found to have abused their access.

Adding to the controversy, separate reports indicate that roughly three hours before ZachXBT publicly disclosed the alleged insider trading activity, a suspected insider placed bets totaling $59,800 using two newly created wallets. 

Those trades reportedly generated nearly $109,000 in profit, further fueling concerns about the potential misuse of privileged information.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Блокчейн-детектив ZachXBT опубликовал результаты своего расследования, заявив, что несколько сотрудников трейдинговой платформы Axiom использовали данные площадки для инсайдерской торговли.

Ethereum is getting a makeover — a big one. Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of the world’s second-largest blockchain network, has shared his thoughts on a newly published four-year upgrade plan that aims to make Ethereum both faster and safer from the growing threat of quantum computing.

The plan, called “Strawmap,” was put out by the Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol team and lays out a series of changes expected to roll out over the next four years through seven scheduled hard forks, roughly one every six months.

Ethereum: Cutting Block Time From 12 Seconds To 2

Right now, Ethereum produces a new block every 12 seconds. That may sound quick, but for a network that wants to power payments, apps, and financial tools at a global scale, it is not fast enough.

A very important document. Let’s walk through this one “goal” at a time. We’ll start with fast slots and fast finality.

I expect that we’ll reduce slot time in an incremental fashion, eg. I like the “sqrt(2) at a time” formula (12 -> 8 -> 6 -> 4 -> 3 -> 2, though the last two… https://t.co/ni9wIF2BgJ

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 25, 2026

According to Buterin, the plan is to bring that number down to just two seconds — but not all at once. Reports say the reduction will happen in stages, following a rough pattern from 12 seconds down to eight, then six, then four, and finally two.

Buterin also pointed out that improving how nodes on the network share information with each other — passing along new blocks without sending the same data repeatedly — can make shorter block times safe without creating new security risks.

“Fast slots are off in their own lane at the top of the roadmap,” Buterin wrote, adding that this part of the plan operates mostly on its own, separate from the other upgrades.

Two hard forks are already locked in for this year. Glamsterdam and Hegotá are both confirmed and expected to arrive in the months ahead, marking the first concrete steps in the timeline.

A 16-Minute Wait For Finality Is Also On The Chopping Block

Speed is only half the story. The other major change targets something called finality — the point at which a completed transaction is mathematically locked in and cannot be reversed. On Ethereum today, that takes around 16 minutes.

The goal is to slash that window down to somewhere between six and 16 seconds by replacing the current confirmation process with a simpler, cleaner system. That new system would also be built to resist attacks from quantum computers, which are widely expected to eventually break the kind of encryption that blockchains currently depend on.

“The goal is to decouple slots and finality, to allow us to reason about both separately,” Buterin said.

He described the planned changes as “a very invasive set of changes,” which is why the team plans to bundle the most significant steps with a switch to what are known as post-quantum hash-based signatures — a type of cryptography designed to hold up even against powerful quantum machines.

Featured image from Cyber Security 360, chart from TradingView 

Совет директоров торгующейся на бирже Nasdaq компании GD Culture Group (GDC) разрешил распродать часть резерва биткоинов. Причина — финансирование программы обратного выкупа акций.

Сооснователь Википедии, американский бизнесмен Джимми Уэйлс (Jimmy Wales) предположил, что к середине века курс первой криптовалюты рухнет до $10 000.

Компания ETHZilla, один из крупных публичных держателей эфира, проведет ребрендинг и сменит название на Forum Markets. Компания также получит обновленный тикер на бирже NASDAQ.

Основатель криптовалютного инвестфонда Cyber Capital Джастин Бонс (Justin Bons) подверг критике блокчейны Ripple, Canton, Stellar, Hedera и Algorand, назвав их слишком централизованными сетями, не соответствующими базовому принципу криптовалют.

Morgan Stanley is preparing to expand its Bitcoin and crypto offering beyond simple access, with plans that span spot trading on E*TRADE, a longer-term move toward native custody and an internal exchange stack, and early-stage exploration of yield and lending services backed by Bitcoin.

The roadmap was outlined onstage at Strategy World 2026 in Las Vegas by Amy Oldenburg, Morgan Stanley’s head of digital asset strategy, during a discussion with Strategy President and CEO Phong Le at the Bitcoin for Corporations conference.

From ‘Renting’ Bitcoin Rails To Building Them

Oldenburg framed Morgan Stanley’s near-term step as enabling E*TRADE clients to “buy and sell crypto, spot crypto,” via a partnership, before potentially moving to “a native custody and exchange solution” over the next year. She suggested that would put Morgan Stanley in position to be “the first major bank” to offer that combination in-house.

Oldenburg asked why the custody-and-exchange layer matters strategically. The answer, she said, comes down to control, trust, and liability. “It’s a natural. We really need to build this out internally. We can’t just primarily rent the technology to do this,” she said. “People expect Morgan Stanley, they trust our brand, to be no-fail. And when you sit in that position, you have a significant responsibility to your clients to make sure that you’re delivering that in any level of technology.”

For Morgan Stanley, custody is not just another feature in the product checklist, it changes the bank’s role and responsibility. “It’s a totally different environment to know that you are custodying your assets,” Oldenburg continued. “You have legal custody with Morgan Stanley, and Morgan Stanley is overseeing those assets for you. There’s always those that are going to want to self-custody. That’s a natural part of this space, especially in the Bitcoin space.”

Oldenburg also positioned the push as a response to client behavior: crypto wealth exists, but not necessarily where Morgan Stanley can serve it. With “$8 trillion in assets on platform,” Le pressed the commercial logic that “people have crypto assets off platform.” Oldenburg agreed and characterized the pool as material, saying it is “a considerable number” of “current clients.”

Oldenburg linked her thinking on adoption back to her prior career running Morgan Stanley’s emerging markets investing business, arguing she has watched Bitcoin and crypto usage develop up close for years. “This has been a very, very long journey for me, being on the ground with many of these companies and investors and users of cryptocurrencies early on,” she said, adding that the goal now is to provide services as crypto “continues to mainstream and institutionalize.”

Morgan Stanley’s new Head of Digital Asset Strategy confirms the bank is building out Bitcoin trading, lending, yield, and custody services. pic.twitter.com/v1qrS2MQ4t

— TFTC (@TFTC21) February 25, 2026

Oldenburg confirmed that yield and lending against Bitcoin are not theoretical topics inside the firm. Asked directly whether Morgan Stanley might offer “yield and lending services against that Bitcoin,” she replied: “Absolutely. That’s part of the discussion and the exploration. It’s a natural part of the roadmap to continue to explore.”

She added that the bank is still early in designing those products, while noting renewed activity in onchain credit markets. “I think we’re in a very early journey on that, just in terms of the number of products that are out in the market,” she said. “I think we’ve seen, even this year, a little bit surprised at how much momentum there is around DeFi lending.”

In October last year, Morgan Stanley classified Bitcoin as “digital gold,” citing its fixed supply, decentralized architecture, and perceived role as a hedge against macroeconomic instability. The firm also recommended a 2%–4% allocation to digital assets.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $68,138.

With the XRP price still struggling to reclaim $1.5, it comes as no surprise that sentiment has plunged toward the negative. Naturally, this has led to major sell-offs across the board, causing a downward cascade. Amid this sell-off, a pundit has warned that XRP investors could be making a grave mistake by panic-selling. Instead, he has proposed a way that XRP investors could use their coins without having to offload them on the market.

Selling XRP To Take Profits Is Not The Way

Max Avery, a staunch XRP supporter, went to the X platform to warn investors of an expensive mistake they could be making. According to the pundit, selling off XRP coins right now in a bid to “take profit” could turn out to be a very expensive mistake for investors.

According to Avery, by selling their coins, XRP investors are not just risking losing their coins, but also getting themselves on the hook for taxes. Explaining further, Avery said that the sell-off could trigger a 15-37%, depending on the jurisdiction.

After doing this, to get back into the digital asset, investors are now burdened with trying to time the market and figuring out the best time to re-enter the altcoin. Essentially, trying to call the bottom, something that has been historically near impossible to do.

Instead, the pundit tells investors that rather than selling off their their coins, it is better to borrow against the asset. This way, investors are able to get cash to spend when needed, while also maintaining their token holdings. Additionally, this triggers no tax event, making it easier to spend.

How XRP Is Faring

Some interesting developments surrounding XRP during this time include the fact that its open interest has seen a major crash, data from Coinglass shows. It went from a peak of over $10.8 billion to sitting below $3 billion at the time of writing. Since open interest is the total of the contracts open on the cryptocurrency, it means that participation among traders has waned for the digital asset.

In the same vein, daily trading volume has also seen a notable decline. In the last few months, XRP’s daily trading volume has trended below $10 billion, a stark contrast compared to the $78 billion that was recorded in late 2024.

These trends suggest that XRP is now in a bear market, especially as investors begin to take profits from the market. However, times like these have often helped to mark a bottom in the past, and if that is the case here, the altcoin may be gearing up for a rebound soon.

Группа трейдеров обвинила крупную американскую торговую компанию Jane Street в том, что она несколько месяцев подряд каждый день в определенное время продавала биткоины. Критики считают, что компания намеренно пытается снизить стоимость криптоактива, чтобы потом скупать по выгодной цене.

The White House is expected to host another round of talks this Friday between representatives of the crypto industry and major banking institutions, as both sides race to meet a March 1 deadline aimed at advancing the long-delayed crypto market structure bill (CLARITY Act). 

The renewed discussions come after weeks of negotiations in Washington, D.C., where participants have been attempting to bridge a key divide over the treatment of stablecoins.

SEC Safe Harbor And Strategic Crypto Reserve

The dispute has centred on whether stablecoin issuers should be permitted to offer interest on unused token balances. However, as Bitcoinist reported earlier this week, the prospect of paying interest-like returns on dormant stablecoin holdings — a priority for many crypto-native firms — has effectively been ruled out. 

The conversation has instead shifted toward a narrower question: whether companies may provide rewards tied to specific user actions or engagement, rather than simply compensating users for holding balances.

Despite signs that at least one contentious issue may be cooling, expectations for Friday’s meeting remain high. Market expert Paul Barron has suggested the gathering could produce several significant developments. 

In a recent post on X, Barron predicted a potential truce between banks and stablecoin issuers. He also floated the possibility of formal Treasury protocols governing a proposed strategic reserve, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP.

In addition, Barron suggested that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could introduce “safe harbor” guidelines designed to reduce enforcement actions and provide clearer regulatory pathways for crypto projects.

However, reporting from Eleanor Terrett of Crypto In America indicates that a breakthrough may not yet be imminent. 

DeFi And Ethics Issues Might Resurface

Citing sources on both sides of the negotiations, Terrett noted that no decisive “eureka” moment has emerged since draft legislative language was circulated following last week’s meeting, which participants described as constructive. 

That session marked the third formal attempt by industry and banking representatives to find common ground. It remains uncertain whether an agreement will be finalized by the White House’s March 1 target date or whether negotiators will settle on a compromise that prompts a public announcement.

Attention is now expected to return to other unresolved matters within the broader market structure framework. Concerns surrounding decentralized finance (DeFi) and ethical considerations are likely to resurface, particularly during a Senate Democratic member meeting on market structure scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. 

With the deadline fast approaching, the upcoming White House session may prove pivotal in determining whether months of negotiations translate into legislative progress or whether further delays await the CLARITY Act.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com