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Комитет Сената Аризоны одобрил создание госрезерва из трех криптовалют
Crypto Lobby Group Sounds Alarm Over Senate’s Crypto Bill Threat
According to Coin Center, a fresh version of the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act is on the table and could redraw the lines between crypto, software work and criminal liability.
The bill aims to say, in plain terms, that people who write code or run infrastructure but do not control other people’s crypto funds shouldn’t be treated as money transmitters.
Who Gets Legal CoverSenators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden offered the updated language after the original measure was introduced by Tom Emmer in the House years ago.
Based on reports, the change is meant to draw a clearer line in federal law between creating tools and moving money. Supporters say that without clear rules, simple acts of coding could be treated like operating a bank.
Opponents worry about loopholes. Debates have already split lawmakers and tech teams in Washington.
— Coin Center (@coincenter) February 17, 2026
High-Profile Convictions And RiskReports note several recent prosecutions that helped push this debate into view. The developer linked to Tornado Cash faces charges tied to money transmission. Two men tied to Samourai Wallet were also convicted on similar counts.
Roman Storm is awaiting sentencing. Keonne Rodriguez and Will Lonergan Hill received multi-year terms. These cases are short, sharp reminders that tools used by others can end up at the center of criminal probes.
That fact has pushed more than one developer to ask whether the US remains the easiest place to build.
What Could Change If Protections WeakenAccording to Coin Center policy chief Jason Somensatto, diluting the bill would leave creators guessing where liability begins and ends.
In a letter to to the Senate Banking Committee, he argues that software authors deserve the same basic protections as other internet builders — hosting firms, browser teams, and email providers — who are not jailed when a bad actor misuses their products.
The argument is framed around certainty: clear rules, advocates say, let people decide to stay and invest here rather than move projects offshore.
A Decision With TradeoffsReports say the Senate Banking Committee has not yet marked up the bill. Lawmakers must weigh public-safety concerns against the goal of keeping promising technical work in the US.
Some legal experts want narrower safe harbors. Others want stronger guardrails so that criminal abuse can still be prosecuted.
Whichever path the committee picks will shape where developers choose to work, and how people build the next wave of crypto tools.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin ‘Ghost Whale’ Emerges: New Hong Kong Filer Tops Q4 IBIT Buys
A previously unknown Hong Kong-linked entity called Laurore Ltd. surfaced as a major new buyer of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) in the latest 13F disclosures, triggering a scramble among ETF watchers to identify who’s behind it and why the position appears purpose-built.
The catalyst was a post from ProCap CIO and Bitwise adviser Jeff Park late Tuesday, who highlighted Laurore as the “biggest new entrant into IBIT” from what he described as “a brand new entity” with “no website. No press. No footprint.” The only public breadcrumbs, Park said, are that “the filer’s name is Zhang Hui and it’s HK based.”
A Bloomberg terminal snapshot shared alongside the thread shows Laurore Ltd. reporting an IBIT position of 8,786,279 shares (worth approximately $337,3 million), amounting to roughly 0.65% of shares outstanding. The entry sits above a roster of recognizable allocators and intermediaries in the same view, underscoring how quickly the entity landed among top reported holders.
Who Is The Mysterious New Bitcoin IBIT Whale?Park’s thesis leaned heavily on structure and signaling rather than confirmed identity. “Zhang Hui is the Chinese equivalent of John Smith. It’s what I like to call a ‘non-anonymous anonymous’ name, something hiding in plain sight buried under the statistical weight of millions to make it untraceable,” he wrote. “The ‘Ltd’ suffix suggests a Cayman or BVI structure, the classic offshore wrapper for accessing US markets. And the portfolio? A single holding. Nothing but IBIT.”
He then framed the position as something closer to a bespoke access rail than a conventional manager allocation. “This isn’t a diversified fund. It’s a $436 million Bitcoin access vehicle dressed in institutional clothing,” Park wrote, before pivoting to motive: “Because Chinese investors can’t hold Bitcoin.”
Park argued that if the read is correct, it could point to Chinese institutional capital seeking exposure “not through crypto exchanges or gray market channels, but through a BlackRock ETF,” using a jurisdiction he called “the most ‘transparent non-transparent’ place imaginable.”
Others in the ETF research orbit offered less romance and more uncertainty. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart replied that he had already tried to chase the trail. “I spent almost an hour trying to figure this out earlier this morning… I got absolutely nowhere. Lol,” he wrote, capturing a broader point: public filings can reveal size and timing while still keeping beneficial ownership largely opaque.
A response by COO and CIO of DeFi Development Corporation (NASDAQ: DFDV) Parker White claimed Laurore Ltd. “appears to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hao Advisors Management,” citing a shared address and what he described as overlapping signatory names.
Parker added that the address sits in “one of the most prestigious office complexes in HK,” a building he said is “widely know[n] for the largest hedge funds,” and argued the setup “seems to be very well structured and very professional.”
Park pushed back on equating name similarity with shared control, but agreed that a shared office address may not be a smoking gun. After another commenter suggested the possibility of a “fund hq” or registered address arrangement where “none of the people actually work there,” Park responded: “Bingo.”
However, none of this is confirmed. It’s informed speculation, and the underlying ownership remains opaque for now.
At press time, BTC traded at $67,713.
Стратегия «живем всего один раз» вернет спрос на биткоин — Wells Fargo
Crypto Industry Bands Together To Demand Clear Betting Market Laws
A new, organized push is under way to shape how crypto prediction markets are treated in the US. A blockchain advocacy group has launched a unit aimed at guiding policy, pressing regulators, and backing industry players through legal fights and public research.
Industry Sets Legal StrategyAccording to the group’s announcement, the first move was a letter praising the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and its chair for arguing that federal oversight should cover many event contracts.
The Prediction Markets Working Group, created by the blockchain advocacy group, The Digital Chamber, called for clearer rules and an end to what it described as enforcement-first regulation.
The group plans to meet with regulators, file policy ideas, publish studies and join court fights through friend-of-the-court briefs to press its view that a single federal regulator should be the lead voice on these crypto markets.
The regulator’s recent public comments were framed as support for that approach. CFTC Chairman Mike Selig has said the agency has overseen similar contracts for many years, and industry backers see that as a foundation for wider federal authority.
4/4 Focusing exclusively on shaping durable and responsible policy and regulation, our Prediction Markets working group looks forward to working closely with the CFTC, Congress, and market participants. Full statement: https://t.co/p9T7pP7e6r
— The Digital Chamber (@DigitalChamber) February 17, 2026
Tests On The GroundReports note that litigation and enforcement are already testing the theory. A major crypto US platform was hit with state action this week, accused of offering unlicensed wagering.
Kalshi faces a civil case brought by a state gaming regulator seeking to stop certain markets that the regulator calls gambling.
Rival platforms have felt the squeeze too; one has moved to federal court to try to head off state bans. Polymarket sued a state to argue federal oversight takes precedence.
The platforms argue their contracts behave like derivatives and should be treated as such, while state officials keep saying these products look a lot like bets.
States Push BackThat tension is clear along state lines. Nevada Gaming Control Board, which enforces strict gambling rules in its jurisdiction, has been among the most aggressive.
Reports say a governor in another state called these markets gambling that harms people, signaling political heat. Utah Governor Spencer Cox criticized federal arguments and framed the issue as one of public safety.
Meanwhile a platform chose to take its fight to the federal courts in a state that has been moving toward enforcement. Massachusetts figures into that legal push.
What Comes NextThe next stretch will likely be shaped by filings and court rulings as much as by rulemaking. Industry lawyers are preparing to press federal primacy; state officials are planning to press their gambling statutes.
Legal briefs and amicus filings will try to persuade judges about what these crypto contracts really are. Regulators could also respond with formal rule proposals, and those would change the tone of the debate.
Featured image from The Center for Public Justice, chart from TradingView
Криптобиржа Kraken проспонсирует «материнский капитал Трампа»
Фонд Питера Тиля избавился от акций одного из главных держателей эфира
Pundit Explains Why Ripple And XRP Are A “Psyop” On Investors
Bitcoin maximalist and founder of BnkToTheFuture, Simon Dixon, has reignited debate over the role of altcoins, accusing Ripple and XRP of undermining Bitcoin’s original purpose. He described XRP as a “psyop,” arguing that the need to explain the difference between it and Bitcoin has constantly helped sow division within the crypto community.
Why Ripple and XRP Are A “Psyop”In a recent YouTube podcast with BTC Sessions, Dixon spoke about several factors, major historical events, and prominent figures in the financial industry that have had a significant impact on Bitcoin’s growth over the years. While he mentioned the rivalry between XRP and BTC as one of the ultimate psyops that fractured the Bitcoin community, he also highlighted the influence of altcoins in general, and how “shitcoinery and gambling” distracted investors from Bitcoin for a significant period.
During the podcast, Dixon argued that the emergence of XRP contributed to long-standing fractures within the Bitcoin ecosystem by drawing attention away from BTC’s original vision as a decentralized monetary system. He noted that the persistent need to clarify the difference between XRP and Bitcoin had created confusion among investors and internal divisions within the community.
Beyond XRP, Dixon also highlighted that the failure of Mt. Gox in 2014 was one of the first major shocks that weakened trust and unity among BTC holders. He characterized Mt.Gox as a deliberate war “op,” stating that the combination of hacking incidents and the disappearance of large amounts of BTC from the now-defunct exchange had “destroyed Bitcoin’s reputation” at a critical stage in its early development and nearly brought the crypto project to an end.
Other Historical Events And Controversies That Shaped BitcoinIn the podcast, Dixon also revisited the contentious block-size war from years ago, which culminated in multiple network splits, including the creation of Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and later Bitcoin SV. These hard forks reflected deep disagreements over scalability, governance, and Bitcoin’s future direction.
According to him, each of these controversial episodes fragmented the Bitcoin community and redirected energy toward competing projects rather than reinforcing a single, cohesive movement. He further alleged that prominent figures such as Brock Pierce, the co-founder of Tether, may have been involved in the hard fork events that indirectly contributed to divisions in BTC’s ecosystem.
Dixon further referenced potential historical associations involving Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting that controversial networks of influence may have intersected with early crypto developments.
While his claims remain speculative, Dixon strongly characterized these moments as part of a recurring “divide and conquer” war tactic that weakened Bitcoin’s momentum and the growth of the crypto space. Despite these internal conflicts, Bitcoin has continued to recover, emerging stronger as it expands in adoption, market value, and institutional recognition. It remains the number one cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization of $1.35 trillion.
German Central Bank Chief Backs Stablecoins, CBDCs For Europe’s Payment Independence
The President of the German central bank has supported the use of euro-pegged stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) to protect the bloc’s payments independence.
Bundesbank Chief Pushes For Stablecoins, CBDCsOn Monday, Joachim Nagel, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, touted euro-pegged stablecoins and CBDCs as strategic tools for reducing the European Union’s (EU) reliance on the US dollar (USD).
In a speech at the New Year’s Reception of the American Chamber of Commerce in Frankfurt, Nagel highlighted that Europe has been affected by geoeconomic fragmentation, which has slowed the bloc’s economic growth and decreased competitiveness over the last couple of years.
As a result, the German Central Bank’s chief affirmed that Europe must take “decisive” measures to boost its economic dynamic, focusing on supporting the international role of the euro and making the EU “more independent in terms of payment systems and solutions.”
He highlighted the bloc’s efforts with CBDCs, noting that “Currently, the Eurosystem is working hard on the introduction of the digital euro – a retail central bank digital currency, or CBDC. This will be the first pan-European retail digital payment solution, based solely on European infrastructures.”
Additionally, Nagel emphasized the role of stablecoins, reaffirming that he sees merit in euro-denominated stablecoins for cross-border payments by both individuals and firms at a lower cost.
Last week, he outlined the benefits of the fiat-pegged tokens at a dinner speech at the Euro50 Group meeting. The Bundesbank president noted that stablecoins open the door for programmable transactions and could facilitate cross-border payments by reducing the transaction costs and duration.
However, he also discussed the potential European monetary policy challenges in the new geopolitical environment, including central bank independence and the rise of US-denominated stablecoins.
European Sovereignty At RiskAccording to Nagel, the rise of stablecoins could pose risks for the EU if the digital assets, particularly those denominated in a foreign currency, become widely used as means of payment and store of value in the euro area.
He noted that the US, under the Trump administration, has been promoting the development of the crypto industry by working on establishing a clear regulatory framework that protects customers and fosters innovation.
Notably, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, also known as the GENIUS Act, last July, offering a legal framework for issuers to operate within the US.
Since then, the sector has seen strong growth, with its market capitalization rising nearly 50% last year from $205 billion at the start of the year to over $300 billion in late 2025. Nonetheless, most of the market is dominated by USD-denominated stablecoins, while the share of euro-pegged tokens accounts for less than 1%.
“Thus, if this market composition persists, a hypothetical replacement of a domestic currency with stablecoins would be equivalent to a dollarization of the corresponding economy,” the Bundesbank Chief explained. “In this scenario, the effectiveness of domestic monetary policy could be severely impaired, not to mention that European sovereignty could be weakened.”
Nagel asserted that the risk of this scenario materializing is small, but added that authorities are exploring ways to leverage new technological opportunities to reduce its likelihood.
He advocated for a wholesale CBDC to allow institutional actors on financial markets to execute programmable transactions in central bank money. In addition, they could support DLT-based payment instruments not directly related to central bank money, such as tokenized deposits and euro-denominated stablecoins.
To him, “these measures will allow us to utilise cutting-edge digital technologies to maintain our monetary policy effectiveness in an uncertain geopolitical future. Additionally, they will increase our sovereignty.”
Набиуллина предложила наказывать за «нерегулируемые операции» с криптовалютой
Strategy Continues To Load Up Bitcoin, Adds Another $168 Million
Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy has continued to buy despite the market downturn as it has increased its holdings by another 2,486 BTC.
Strategy Has Added Bitcoin Worth $168 Million To Its ReservesIn a new post on X, Strategy co-founder and chairman Michael Saylor has shared the details related to the latest Bitcoin acquisition completed by the company. With this new purchase, The firm has added 2,486 BTC to its treasury at a price of $67,710 per token or $168 million in total.
According to the filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the buy occurred between February 9th and 16th and was funded using proceeds from the company’s STRC and MSTR at-the-market (ATM) stock offerings.
Usually, Strategy drops its purchases on Mondays, but this time the announcement has come on a Tuesday instead. The reason behind it is likely to be the fact that this Monday was a federal holiday: Presidents’ Day.
Following the new acquisition, the treasury firm’s holdings have risen to 717,131 BTC. Strategy spent a total of $54.52 billion on this stack, but at the current exchange rate of the cryptocurrency, its value is just $48.66 billion, meaning that the company’s tokens are holding a net unrealized loss of more than 10.7%.
Strategy’s holdings have gone underwater as a result of the downturn that Bitcoin and the digital asset sector as a whole have faced in recent months. The collapse since the end of January, in particular, has taken the token’s price below the firm’s cost basis. At present, the company’s acquisition level is sitting at $76,027.
Despite its massive reserve dipping into losses, Saylor’s firm doesn’t appear to have given up on accumulating more Bitcoin. On Sunday, Strategy’s official X handle made an X post explaining that the company can withstand a BTC drawdown to $8,000 and still have assets left to fully cover its debt. “Our plan is to equitize our convertible debt over the next 3–6 years,” noted Saylor in a quote-repost
Strategy’s latest purchase was its 99th overall since the company adopted a Bitcoin treasury model back in 2020. Saylor’s routine Sunday post foreshadowing the acquisition referenced this, with the chairman using the caption “99>98” alongside an image of the company’s BTC portfolio tracker.
In related news, the largest Ethereum treasury company, BitMine, has also announced a new acquisition. The firm has purchased 45,759 ETH, taking its total holdings to 4,371,497 ETH, equivalent to 3.62% of the total Ethereum circulating supply.
BitMine has continued to buy even as the firm’s holdings have been in a significant amount of loss due to the market downturn. “In our view, the price of ETH is not reflective of the high utility of ETH and its role as the future of finance,” noted Tom Lee, BitMine chairman.
BTC PriceAt the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $67,700, down nearly 2% in the last seven days.
Создатель CryptoQuant предложил заморозить биткоины Сатоси Накамото
Правозащитники потребовали от сенаторов защитить блокчейн-разработчиков
В Калифорнии криптосервисам установили дедлайн для получения разрешения на работу
17-18 июня в Москве состоится пятнадцатая конференция TECH WEEK
Gemini Loses Three Senior Leaders In Sudden Executive Departures
Crypto exchange Gemini (GEMI) is facing a period of significant upheaval, as three of its top executives exit the company just months after its New York initial public offering (IPO).
Gemini COO, CFO And CLO Leave The ExchangeOn Tuesday, the firm — founded and led by billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss — disclosed in a regulatory filing that Chief Operating Officer Marshall Beard, Chief Financial Officer Dan Chen, and Chief Legal Officer Tyler Meade are departing effective immediately.
Beard has also stepped down from Gemini’s board of directors. The company stated in the filing that Beard’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the firm.
In a research note reported by Bloomberg, Truist Securities analyst Matthew Coad warned that the departures “could result in more investors becoming concerned about Gemini’s solvency.”
Gemini indicated it does not plan to replace Beard at this time. Instead, President Cameron Winklevoss will take on several of the former COO’s responsibilities. The company named Chief Accounting Officer Danijela Stojanovic as interim chief financial officer, while Kate Freedman will step in as interim general counsel.
The executive shake-up follows another major announcement earlier this month, when Gemini revealed plans to reduce its workforce by as much as 25% and to wind down operations in the United Kingdom, European Union, and Australia.
Post-IPO Struggles DeepenFinancially, the company is also under pressure. Alongside the leadership news, Gemini released preliminary guidance for its 2025 results. It expects to report an adjusted pre-tax loss between $267 million and $257 million.
Net revenue is projected to come in between $165 million and $175 million, with approximately 600,000 monthly transacting users as of Dec. 31. Operating expenses are forecast to reach between $520 million and $530 million, a substantial increase from $308 million a year earlier.
Gemini attributed the rise largely to higher personnel-related costs and continued investments in technology, administrative functions, and marketing efforts. The company has not yet announced a definitive date for its full earnings release.
Gemini went public back in mid-September of last year, and its shares surged to a record high of $45.89 the day after trading began. However, the stock has fallen steadily since its debut, mirroring the broader crypto market decline led by Bitcoin (BTC).
The exchange’s shares trading under the ticker name GEMI fell sharply on Tuesday, dropping nearly 15% to a record intraday low. As of this writing, the stock was down as much as 14% at $6.64, marking its steepest one-day decline since November.
Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Глава CryptoQuant назвал два сценария восстановления биткоина
Темная сторона ИИ: как технологии помогают мошенникам
Названа причина затишья на крипторынке
Steak ‘n Shake Reports ‘Dramatic’ Increase In Sales After Bitcoin Adoption
American fast food brand Steak ‘n Shake has said same-store sales have dramatically increased since the firm started accepting Bitcoin payments.
Steak ‘n Shake Has Seen A Boost In Sales After Accepting BitcoinIn a new post on X, Steak ‘n Shake has shared an update on how the burger joint’s Bitcoin strategy has been going. The firm first opened itself to the cryptocurrency back in May 2025, allowing customers to make payments in BTC at all its locations.
Monday marked exactly nine months since Steak ‘n Shake made the move, and according to the company’s official X handle, same-store sales rose “dramatically” during the period.
Steak ‘n Shake’s Bitcoin strategy doesn’t only include accepting BTC payments; the firm has also been maintaining a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) using proceeds from BTC payments.
In January, the company also added to the reserve through purchases, increasing its holdings by a total of $15 million in notional value. In the same month, the firm announced a new scheme for its workers: bonus payments in Bitcoin.
Under the scheme, all hourly employees receive a $0.21 BTC bonus for every hour worked. “Bitcoin payments for Steak n Shake burgers go into our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which then funds Bitcoin bonus pay for our employees,” noted the firm.
Though, while all hourly employees receive the bonus, not everyone is immediately eligible to collect it. According to the firm, employees need to have cleared a two-year vesting period before they can redeem the BTC.
Overall, it would appear that the cryptocurrency’s adoption has turned out to be successful for Steak ‘n Shake. “We have combined a decentralized, cash-producing operating business with the transformative power of Bitcoin,” said the company.
A BTC reserve like Steak ‘n Shake’s is something that has gained traction among public firms in recent years, led by the aggressive conviction showcased by Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy).
While Steak ‘n Shake’s buys from last month are sizeable on their own, they aren’t much compared to the purchases that treasury companies like Strategy tend to make. Last Monday alone Strategy acquired $90 million worth of the digital asset.
The accumulation from treasury companies as a whole has seen a slowdown recently, however, as Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards has highlighted in an X post.
As displayed in the above chart, the percentage of BTC treasury company buyers has declined to 70% as the cryptocurrency’s price has gone through its bearish price action. “The last time we crossed under this threshold was 2022,” said Edwards. It now remains to be seen whether the trend will continue in the near future or if buying will make a return among these firms.
BTC PriceAt the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $68,000, down 1% over the last week.
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