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Bitcoin’s price has fallen sharply over the past few months, bringing an end to the bull market cycle. However, a closely watched Bitcoin market indicator is currently drawing renewed attention in the sector due to its reputation in determining when the next possible BTC bull run could take place.

History Says Bitcoin Rallies When This Metric Flips Red

After Bitcoin’s steep pullback, investors are now watching closely for the next bullish breakout that could kick off another BTC bull run. On-chain indicators have often been a reliable source for determining the next bull run, and Joao Wedson has highlighted a key metric that stands out in this context.

Specifically, the verified author and founder of Alphractal has shared insights into the matter using the Bitcoin Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) for Long-Term Holders. This metric measures the average unrealized profit or loss of the most reliant investors in the market. 

According to the expert, the next bull run for Bitcoin usually begins when this metric flips red. Irrespective of how it sounds, previous cycles have demonstrated that the color shift frequently corresponds with times of highest pessimism when selling pressure peaks and long-term accumulation subtly start.

Recent data seen on the chart tells that the metric is currently positioned at the 0.36 level, which implies that long-term holders remain on average in terms of profit. However, Wedson highlighted that the most significant signal often emerges when the metric shifts into negative territory.

It is worth noting that when long-term holders NUPL shifts into negative territory, it indicates that losses continue to mount even among the most convinced participants. In the past, this pattern has marked the phase of maximum market depression. In Wedson’s view, this stage reflects seller exhaustion, the transfer of coins to stronger hands, and the beginning of a new market cycle.

This was the last stage before a fresh Bull Run began in earlier cycles. “Opportunities are not built at the top, they are built in depression,” Wedson added.

BTC Accumulator Addresses Are Rising

Darkfost, an author at CryptoQuant, has shared a detailed analysis of Bitcoin accumulator addresses, which appear to be steadily rising. According to the expert, these addresses represent a specific class of long-term holders, and their recent actions are very noteworthy. A tendency toward increasing accumulation often indicates that supply is being covertly absorbed, reducing the quantity of Bitcoin on the open market.

Data shows that the current average monthly accumulation is a staggering 372,000 BTC. These investors or corporations, who continue to accumulate aggressively, seem to be taking advantage of the current dip in Bitcoin. In contrast, the average monthly accumulation of these addresses was only over 10,000 BTC in September 2024.

Market structure indicates that some investors are responding emotionally to short-term price movements, while others seem to be planning for the long run, which has always been one of the best ways to invest in BTC.

The Dogecoin price has remained in a prolonged downtrend since last year, mirroring the broader crypto market meltdown. Although the meme coin initiated a slight recovery in recent weeks, its momentum was not strong enough to sustain the rally. With Dogecoin now trading near $0.10, a crypto analyst suggests the meme coin has reached a critical decision point that could trigger a bullish wave of more than 100%.  

Dogecoin Price Enters Key Decision Level

Market analyst Erick Crypto has released a new Dogecoin price outlook on X, noting that the meme coin has hit a major decision point. He noted that after enduring months of steady downward movement, DOGE is now compressing just below a key resistance level. 

According to Erick Crypto, a descending trendline and horizontal support on the price chart are now acting as a critical decision zone around the $0.10 level. Based on the analysis, this area represents a battleground where buyers and sellers are competing for control after an extended downtrend. 

Erick Crypto has projected that if Dogecoin can hold the $0.10 level and eventually break above the descending trendline, then its momentum could change rapidly. He explained that such a breakout would signal the end of Dogecoin’s prolonged compression, triggering a strong price rally toward $0.25. With DOGE currently trading below $0.1, this would represent an increase of approximately 150%.

Supporting his bullish thesis, Erick Crypto noted that liquidity is resting below DOGE’s current price level on the chart, creating the conditions for a larger move higher. He described the meme coin’s current setup as one of compression followed by potential expansion, suggesting that DOGE’s extended decline does not reflect weakness but a temporary pause before a renewed bullish wave.

Analyst Says DOGE Still Lacks Strength

In a separate analysis, crypto market expert Trader Tardigrade discussed a similar descending trendline that formed on the Dogecoin chart following an extended decline. However, he offers a more cautious outlook for the meme coin’s price.

According to him, Dogecoin is currently holding firmly to the descending trendline around $0.10, but its momentum remains weak. He noted that the meme coin recently began trading above the trendline after a recent “back test.” As a result,, Trader Tardigrade believes that Dogecoin’s broader market structure remains bullish, even though it currently lacks strength. 

He explained that before DOGE can confirm a breakout, its price must build more buying pressure. Once this breakout occurs, the analyst expects the meme coin to climb sharply toward $0.15, reflecting a roughly 50% from current levels around $0.10. He added that traders and investors should watch closely for rising volume and stronger candles. Until then, he maintains that the market should remain cautiously optimistic.

Crypto exchange Kraken has pledged to sponsor so-called “Trump Accounts” for every child born in Wyoming in 2026, tying its name to a federal savings program closely associated with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Related Reading: Kraken Backs Trump Accounts, Points To Shared Crypto Vision

The advancement positions the exchange at the center of a politically branded financial initiative while also reinforcing its long-standing alignment with Wyoming’s crypto-friendly regulatory framework.

The decision arrives at a moment when crypto firms are recalibrating their relationships with policymakers after years of regulatory pressure. For Kraken, which is headquartered in Wyoming, the move blends community investment with a clear policy signal to a state that has positioned itself as a testing ground for regulation.

How The Trump Accounts Work

Trump Accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts that parents or legal guardians can open for children under 18.

Under a federal pilot program, every U.S. citizen newborn born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, is eligible for a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury. The funds are invested in approved market index funds and grow on a tax-deferred basis until the child reaches adulthood.

Kraken said it will make an additional contribution to each eligible account opened for Wyoming newborns in 2026, though it has not disclosed the amount or clarified whether its funding will be held in cash or digital assets.

The exchange framed the decision as support for families in the state where it operates and is regulated as a Special Purpose Depository Institution.

Wyoming’s Role in the Decision

Wyoming has spent years building a legal framework tailored to digital assets, offering custody rules and banking charters that few other states had adopted earlier. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a long-time supporter of crypto policy, welcomed Kraken’s pledge, saying it would give children in the state an early financial foundation.

Kraken executives have repeatedly pointed to Wyoming’s regulatory clarity as a reason for deeper, long-term investment. That clarity helped the exchange operate under state oversight even as federal regulators pursued enforcement actions against parts of the industry.

A Policy Bet With Broader Implications

By backing a program branded with a sitting president’s name, Kraken is taking on political risk alongside potential goodwill. Some analysts view the move less as philanthropy and more as a strategic effort to cement its standing in Wyoming and signal alignment with current federal policy direction.

The exchange now joins traditional financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase that have voiced support for the initiative, underscoring how a once-niche crypto firm is increasingly operating within mainstream policy debates.

Related Reading: Zashi Becomes Zodl: Zcash Wallet Rebrands Following Internal Split

Whether this approach pays off may depend on how durable Wyoming’s crypto experiment, and the Trump Accounts program itself, proves to be.

Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview

As anticipation builds around the long-awaited digital asset market structure legislation known as the CLARITY Act, negotiations between the crypto industry and the banking sector appear to be resuming this week. 

White House Considers New Crypto Talks

According to Crypto In America journalist Eleanor Terrett, the White House is weighing the possibility of holding another meeting as soon as Thursday to address one of the most contentious elements of the bill: stablecoin yield. 

Citing two sources familiar with the discussions, Terrett reported that administration officials are considering convening representatives from both banks and crypto firms for renewed talks. However, she noted that no final decision has been made and plans have yet to be confirmed.

The potential meeting follows a previous round of discussions that ended without resolution. Terrett reported Monday that last Tuesday’s White House gathering — which included senior policy staff from major banks, crypto companies, and trade associations — concluded without an agreement. 

According to her reporting, banking representatives circulated a one-page document titled “Yield and Interest Prohibition Principles.” The document argued that stablecoins should not offer yield or rewards, drawing a firm line that has become a central sticking point in the broader negotiations.

Despite the setback, Ripple Chief Executive Officer Brad Garlinghouse has publicly expressed confidence that the crypto and banking sectors will ultimately bridge their differences, clearing the way for final approval of the legislation and its signing by President Donald Trump.

Ripple CEO Says ‘Clarity Is Better Than Chaos’

In comments reported Tuesday by The Street, Garlinghouse suggested that once the remaining disputes are resolved, the CLARITY Act could move swiftly toward enactment. He even alluded to a potential timeline, signaling urgency around the process.

Garlinghouse called on the crypto community to rally behind the legislation rather than hold out for a flawless outcome. He argued that progress should not be derailed by disagreements over specific provisions. 

“I think it’s so clear that clarity is better than chaos,” he said, emphasizing that regulatory certainty would benefit the entire sector. While acknowledging that the CLARITY Act is not perfect, Garlinghouse maintained that no piece of legislation ever is. 

Garlinghouse went further, estimating there is an 80% probability that the anticipated crypto market structure bill will be signed into law by the end of April.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto pundit CryptoSensei has warned that XRP investors are in danger as the banks continue to hold the CLARITY Act “hostage.” He explained that the passage of the crypto bill could provide a major boost to XRP and the broader crypto market, but warned that banks will likely continue to stall as much as possible.

Why XRP Investors Are At Risk 

In an X post, CryptoSensei stated that XRP holders are at risk because the bank is likely to stall the progress of the CLARITY Act as much as possible before it is forced to proceed. The crypto pundit believes the White House will eventually get banks to reach a compromise on the crypto bill, but warned that such a compromise could hurt investors. 

Banks are currently proposing a complete ban on the distribution of stablecoin yields to users, a move that is stalling the CLARITY Act’s progress as crypto leaders push back on this proposal. The passage of the crypto bill could be a major positive for XRP, as it stands out as one of the crypto assets most likely to benefit from regulatory clarity. 

Crypto Sensei stated that he is not too excited about a potential compromise on the CLARITY Act because retail XRP holders and other crypto holders could end up bearing the consequences. However, the pundit remains confident that if the crypto bill passes with favorable terms for the crypto industry, a market boom is likely. 

Crypto Sensei said that he is hopeful but a little discouraged about the way the bank has acted differently. He remarked that the banks could have negotiated these terms during the passage of the GENIUS Act rather than holding the CLARITY Act hostage now. 

Ripple CEO Advocates For The CLARITY Act Passage

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has advocated for the passage of the CLARITY Act despite concerns over the ban on stablecoin yields. He acknowledged that the crypto bill isn’t perfect and that there are aspects he doesn’t like. However, Garlinghouse believes that these imperfections shouldn’t stall progress. 

He also mentioned how Ripple has been a big advocate of the CLARITY Act because of the XRP lawsuit against the SEC. He noted that the token gained clarity from the lawsuit after the Judge ruled that the token isn’t a security. 

However, Garlinghouse still believes that it is important for the broader crypto market to have clarity since Ripple’s fortunes kind of hinge on how well the industry performs. The Ripple CEO predicts that the crypto bill will be 80% close to getting signed into law by April. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.48, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Institutional capital flows and weakening market momentum are converging at a sensitive moment for Ethereum (ETH), placing the second-largest cryptocurrency at a potential turning point.

A major portfolio adjustment by Harvard University’s endowment, combined with declining prices and shifting on-chain signals, has intensified debate over whether the Ethereum price is nearing a bottom or preparing for another leg lower.

Recent regulatory filings show that Harvard Management Company reduced its exposure to Bitcoin exchange-traded funds while initiating its first allocation to Ethereum ETFs. The move comes as ETH trades below the psychological $2,000 level, a price zone that has increasingly acted as resistance rather than support.

Harvard’s Crypto Rebalance Signals Institutional Repositioning

During the fourth quarter of 2025, Harvard cut its stake in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF by roughly 21%, reducing holdings to about $265.8 million. At the same time, the endowment purchased nearly $87 million worth of shares in BlackRock’s Ethereum Trust, marking its first direct ETF exposure to Ether.

The adjustment occurred amid a broader crypto market pullback, with Bitcoin falling sharply from late-2025 highs and Ethereum declining alongside it. Analysts suggest the change may reflect portfolio rebalancing rather than a straightforward shift in sentiment, potentially tied to unwinding complex institutional trading strategies.

Still, the move aligns with wider institutional behavior. Filings show total ownership of major Bitcoin ETFs declined significantly during the same period, indicating investors may be reassessing risk exposure while exploring alternative crypto allocations.

Despite the shift, cryptocurrency ETFs remain a small portion of Harvard’s $56.9 billion endowment, accounting for less than 1% of total assets.

Ethereum Price Stuck Below Key Resistance

Ethereum price has struggled to regain momentum after a steep sell-off. The asset recently hovered near $1,980 after falling about 40% over the past month and remains far below its 2025 peak above $4,900.

Technically, the market continues to print lower highs and lower lows, keeping the broader trend bearish. Analysts are closely watching the $2,150–$2,200 range, which must be reclaimed to signal a potential reversal. Failure to hold support near $1,900 could expose downside targets between $1,700 and $1,600.

Derivatives data show declining open interest and trading volumes, suggesting traders are reducing risk rather than positioning aggressively for a breakout. ETF flows have also been mixed, with recent net outflows highlighting cautious institutional sentiment in the short term.

On-Chain Data and Network Fundamentals Offer Mixed Signals

While the Ethereum price action remains weak, blockchain data paints a more nuanced picture. Large holders have continued accumulating Ether, with whale wallets adding substantial balances even as prices declined. Accumulation addresses now hold record amounts of ETH.

Network usage has also strengthened. Ethereum recently processed a record 17.3 million weekly transactions while median fees dropped to fractions of a dollar, signaling improved efficiency and sustained user activity.

Meanwhile, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin reiterated that the network’s long-term value lies in its neutrality and censorship resistance, emphasizing open participation regardless of individual viewpoints. His comments arrive as debates around decentralization and ecosystem direction intensify.

Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview

Market participants continue to search for reliable signals that can define the timing of Bitcoin’s next major expansion phase. While price forecasts, macro narratives, and ETF flows increasingly shape expectations, a chart published on February 16, 2025, by Alphractal founder and CEO Joao Wedson has added a new layer to that discussion. Focusing specifically on the profit positioning of long-term Bitcoin holders, this chart reveals a historic pattern about bull market timing.

What The Bitcoin Chart Tracks — And Why It Matters

In his post, Wedson presented a long-range chart built around the Long-Term Holder Net Unrealized Profit/Loss metric. The indicator measures the average unrealized gains or losses held by investors classified as long-term participants—wallets historically associated with stronger holding behavior and lower sell-side activity.

Related Reading: This Key Bitcoin Metric Signals That The Downside May Persist A Bit Longer

Rather than emphasizing short-term speculation, Wedson framed the metric as a lens into the financial condition of Bitcoin’s most resilient market cohort. According to the data shared, the current reading sits at 0.36. That level indicates long-term holders remain in aggregate profit, meaning their holdings, on average, are valued above acquisition cost.

The chart visualizes this positioning through color-coded zones. Green regions represent periods where long-term holders hold unrealized profits. These phases have historically aligned with either late bull market environments or transitional consolidation ranges. The persistence of green, in Wedson’s presentation, signals that deep cycle stress has not yet fully materialized among conviction investors. By contrast, the most consequential signals in the chart appear when the metric shifts below zero.

When The Metric Turns Negative

Wedson’s analysis places primary emphasis on the moments when Long-Term Holder NUPL enters negative territory. In these intervals, even the most historically patient investors hold unrealized losses. The chart marks these periods in red, visually distinguishing them from profit-dominant phases.

Related Reading: Historical Pattern From 2017 Signals Bitcoin Price Crash To $35,000

Historically, those red zones have coincided with late bear-market conditions—periods characterized by widespread pessimism and compressed valuations. Wedson described this stage as one reflecting maximum market depression, where financial stress extends beyond speculative traders to reach long-term capital.

The chart’s historical mapping shows that these negative phases have preceded every major Bitcoin bull cycle. Each time the metric dropped below zero, it aligned with late-stage capitulation dynamics: seller exhaustion, reduced distribution pressure, and a transfer of coins toward entities with stronger holding capacity.

Within this framework, the red zone functions less as a signal of structural weakness and more as a reset phase. It marks the point where excess leverage and speculative positioning have been cleared, establishing conditions historically associated with cycle bottoms.

Wedson’s interpretation positions opportunity within these depression phases rather than during profit-heavy expansions. As illustrated in the chart, prior bull runs did not begin while long-term holders were comfortably in profit. They emerged after losses had permeated the cohort. With the metric still positive at 0.36, the chart suggests that, based strictly on historical precedent, the final capitulation preceding the next bull run has yet to occur.

Metaplanet posted a dramatic swing in its latest results after shifting much of its business toward Bitcoin. Revenue surged by over 700% year-on-year to close to ¥9 billion (about $58 million), a jump the company ties to income from BTC options and related services. The change was rapid — the firm only launched its Bitcoin income operations late in 2024 — and now those activities make up almost the entire top line.

Revenue And Business Shift

According to the fiscal 2025 filing, roughly 95% of revenue was tied to Bitcoin-related operations. Premiums from options writing and fees from trading products accounted for the bulk of that cash flow.

おはプラネット。最近の株価動向を踏まえ、株主の皆さまにとって厳しい状況が続いていることは、私たちも十分に認識しています。しかしながら、メタプラネットの戦略に変更はありません。私たちは引き続き、ビットコインの積み上げ、収益の拡大、そして次の成長フェーズに向けた準備を、着実に進めてい…

— Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) February 6, 2026

Traditional lines such as hotel and media work were replaced by the crypto arm. That move translated quickly into sales, but it also concentrated the company’s fortunes around one volatile asset.

CEO Reaffirms Long-Term Treasury Plan

Simon Gerovich has reiterated that their strategy will remain in place despite the recent market slump. He posted that there will be no change in direction, and that accumulation will continue. That public commitment matters for continuity, but it does not remove the accounting and market risks.

The Numbers Behind The Headlines

Metaplanet’s operating profit was positive, at about ¥6.28 billion (close to $40 million). Reports note the company still recorded a net loss nearly $620 million after a valuation hit on its Bitcoin holdings.

A drop in market value of more than $660 million wiped out most of the operating gain when fair-value accounting was applied. Capital markets were tapped heavily: the firm has raised over $3 billion since switching to the treasury model.

Source: Metaplanet

Accounting Losses Versus Operating Strength

That gap between operating profit and net loss is a clear example of how accounting rules interact with volatile assets. Gains from option premiums were earned and reported. At the same time, unrealized losses on the coin stash had to be shown on the balance sheet, pushing the bottom line into the red.

Bitcoin Price Action

In the middle of this story sits the market itself. Bitcoin’s swings have driven much of Metaplanet’s year. Prices fell sharply during the broader selloff and checked the company’s valuation, while periods of calmer trading allowed the option business to generate steady income.

Traders pointed to headline risk and overall risk-off moves when the market slid, and that pressure fed into the company’s financial statements.

Holdings And Strategy

Reports say holdings rose from about 1,762 BTC at the end of 2024 to roughly 35,102 BTC by the close of 2025, making Metaplanet one of Japan’s largest corporate Bitcoin holders.

The company describes the plan as a long-term treasury approach: acquire and keep Bitcoin to guard against fiat dilution and to capture potential long-term appreciation. That is an explicit bet on future returns offset by short-term volatility.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

A new technical projection is circulating in the crypto market after pseudonymous analyst and XRP Ledger (XRPL) developer Bird forecast a sharp rise in the cryptocurrency’s market capitalization. The analyst predicts that the altcoin could soon reach a valuation of $300 billion, accompanied by a significant price increase from current levels.

XRP Market Cap Forecasted To Surge To $300 Billion

In a post on X, Bird boldly declared that a “$300 billion XRP market cap is coming very soon.” The assertive forecast clearly shows his strong confidence in the token’s near-term growth potential, suggesting a major increase from current levels and reflecting growing optimism around the token despite recent price swings and a broader market downtrend. 

Bird’s forecasts were accompanied by a detailed TradingView chart illustrating a potential breakout scenario for XRP’s market capitalization. At the time of the analysis, its valuation stood at $88.38 billion. Technical levels on the chart highlight a prolonged downturn stretching from early 2025 into early 2026. Additionally, a descending white trendline can be seen connecting multiple lower lows, indicating sustained selling pressure over several months.

The most recent price action shows the market cap revisiting a long-term support zone between $100 billion and $80 billion, an area circled on the chart to emphasize its significance. Fibonacci retracement and extension levels are plotted from a price swing high to a major now, marking key levels at 0.236, 0.382, 0.5, 0.618, 0.702, 0.786, 1, and 1.618. 

The 1 level aligns near the $225 billion region, while the 1.618 extension points above toward Bird’s projected $300 billion market cap. The chart illustrates a large upward green arrow extending from $88.38 billion valuation at the time of the analysis toward $300 billion, representing an increase of more than $211 billion. This suggests that Bird expects its valuation to skyrocket by more than 239%. 

Price At A $300 Billion Market Cap

Analysts calculate XRP’s price by dividing its market capitalization by its circulating supply. Based on its current circulating supply of approximately 60.91 billion tokens and a projected market cap of $300 billion, this would imply a price increase to approximately $5 per token. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is trading near $1.47, meaning a surge to this level would represent a rally of approximately 271%. 

Although $5.45 is a big jump from present lows, many in the crypto community have expressed dissatisfaction with the bullish projection. Some say it’s too low, voicing out frustration and criticizing XRP’s slow price growth over the past decade. 

Others believe the altcoin is still undervalued at a $300 billion market cap, with some members projecting that the cryptocurrency’s valuation could eventually reach trillions of dollars.

Zashi, the flagship mobile wallet built by Zcash’s original engineering team, is rebranding to “Zodl” as its developers formally operate outside the Electric Coin Company (ECC) structure. The change matters less as a cosmetic refresh than as a signal: the same builders are continuing product work, but under a new corporate banner after a governance rupture that spilled into public view in early January.

Zcash Wallet Zashi Renamed Zodl

In a post on X dated Feb. 16, the wallet team said the next app update will rename Zashi to Zodl “without impacting the user experience,” stressing there is “no action required” from users. “It’s a new brand for a new chapter, but everything else stays the same: the wallet, the team behind it, and our commitment to Zcash,” the announcement read. “We’re moving forward with clarity and purpose, and this change reflects the building momentum.”

The post also tied the rebrand to a broader organizational reset. “In January of this year, the entire Electric Coin Company (ECC) team, the original creators of Zcash and Zashi, left ECC and formed a new company,” it said, naming the new entity Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL) and positioning Zodl as the “Zcash flagship wallet.” The team framed the move as a way to pursue growth “without reliance on the Zcash development fund,” while keeping continuity on shipping and support.

On mission, the wallet team used language that will be familiar to long-time Zcash followers, explicitly anchoring the product roadmap to privacy-first payments. “We envision a world without mass financial surveillance. A world where law-abiding people can transact freely and privately, without fear that their data will be exploited or weaponized,” the post said. “There is no sovereignty without privacy. Our banner has changed, but our mission has not.”

The immediate practical effect for users is limited: the same app is expected to update in place, with branding changes rolling out across channels, including the Discord support presence. The more consequential change is governance and ownership context: the wallet is now explicitly presented as a product of ZODL rather than ECC, after weeks of public dispute about who could control, finance, and potentially commercialize consumer-facing efforts around Zashi.

The Background Story

The break traces back to a late-2025 clash between ECC leadership and Bootstrap, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that governs ECC. In early January, former ECC CEO Josh Swihart said board actions left the team no viable path inside the existing structure. “Unfortunately, decisions made by four of Bootstrap’s board members forced every person at ECC to exit the company, very quickly,” Swihart wrote on the Zcash Community Forum on Jan. 9. “I wish we hadn’t been forced to move so quickly. But we had no choice. This is a serious matter. It is not a game. And as you see, the consequences, severe.”

Bootstrap, for its part, has argued the flashpoint was a proposed transaction to move Zashi into a for-profit structure and attract outside capital, which it says had to be handled as a related-party deal involving nonprofit-controlled assets.

In a public statement and accompanying timeline, Bootstrap described talks around external investment and “alternative structures to privatize Zashi” intensifying in late October 2025, then accelerating in December amid rushed deadlines, incomplete documentation, and legal constraints tied to nonprofit fiduciary duties. The timeline states that matters “rapidly escalated” around Dec. 20 when the board was presented with a Jan. 1 deadline to approve a deal, followed by leadership departures in early January and the broader team exit shortly after.

At press time, Zcash traded at $284.34.

Kraken, the crypto exchange, said it will fund “Trump Accounts” for every baby born in Wyoming in 2026, a pledge that ties a private firm to a new federal savings program named after US President Donald Trump.

The move was announced on the Wyoming floor by Senator Cynthia Lummis and later confirmed by Kraken spokespeople.

Reports say the program will give each eligible child a $1,000 seed from the US Treasury; Kraken’s additional contribution is intended to top up that start. Details on how Kraken will allocate its money remain fuzzy.

“We picked Wyoming as our global HQ because it leads with thoughtful, responsible crypto policy,” Kraken’s co-CEO Dave Ripley said.

“We want to keep investing back in the community we call home. Starting early matters, and innovation should make long-term financial opportunity more accessible and affordable,” he said.

Big news for our home state: @KrakenFX is sponsoring @TrumpAccounts for every baby born in Wyoming in 2026.

We picked Wyoming as our global HQ because it leads with thoughtful, responsible crypto policy. We want to keep investing back in the community we call home. Starting…

— Dave Ripley (@DavidLRipley) February 16, 2026

State Law And Company Motives

Reports note Wyoming has passed laws and rules favorable to crypto firms, which helped draw Kraken’s global operations to the state.

Company leaders praised the state’s legal clarity. Some observers view the sponsorship as a vote of confidence in Wyoming’s approach to finance and technology, while other commentators see a political signal as much as a charitable act.

Why This Is Unusual

The arrangement mixes public policy and corporate money in a way few expected. A federal account gets a private backer. That raises basic questions about custody, investment choices, and the path those savings will take over years.

At present, it’s not publicly confirmed whether Kraken’s funds will be held in traditional assets, stablecoins, or other crypto instruments. Families who accept the accounts may later choose how the money is used when children reach maturity.

Market And Regulatory Threads

Reports say the announcement landed amid a wider easing of enforcement and a friendlier tone from federal policymakers this year, which many in the crypto sector welcomed.

Kraken itself has faced enforcement scrutiny in the past, and its new pledge comes at a time when regulators and lawmakers are talking about how to fold crypto into mainstream finance.

Some analysts warn that corporate ties to government programs can invite extra oversight, while supporters argue such partnerships expand access to capital for families.

Voices On Both Sides

Supporters call the plan practical and forward-looking. They argue that a small deposit at birth, boosted by private sponsors, can compound into meaningful savings by adulthood.

Critics question motives and transparency. They want clear rules about investment strategy, fee structures, and who controls the accounts. A number of civil groups and local news outlets have asked for formal disclosures from Kraken and the state to settle those uncertainties.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Shiba Inu has put its long-trailed SOU recovery framework into production, opening claims for users affected by last year’s Shibarium bridge exploit and turning those claims into transferable, on-chain NFTs on Ethereum. The launch matters because it moves the project’s compensation effort from a promised structure into a live system with visible balances, payout mechanics, and a secondary-market option for anyone who wants liquidity now.

The SOU concept itself isn’t new. In a year-end letter dated Dec. 29, 2025, Shibarium developer Kaal Dhairya introduced “SOU: Shib Owes You” while stressing it was “Not live yet, beware of scammers,” describing it as a system where “every affected user has an SOU NFT — an on-chain, verifiable record of exactly what the ecosystem owes them.”

Shiba Inu ‘Shib Owes You’ Goes Live

That warning is now being replaced by a go-live announcement. Via X, the official Shiba Inu account wrote:

“SOU is live. Introducing SOU (Shib Owes You) an onchain NFT built as a good-faith effort to support impacted users with payouts, donations, and occasional rewards. Transparent. Tradable. On-chain. You can transfer it, split it, merge it, or trade it on marketplaces. Claim your SOUs: https://shib.io/sou”

In Shib’s documentation, the system is framed as an attempt to make the recovery ledger public, auditable, and mechanically enforced rather than tracked in private databases. “SOU (Shib Owes You) is more than just a name; it is a commitment,” the docs say.“It represents the Shib ecosystem’s dedication to making users whole through a transparent, audited, and on-chain recovery system. Activity Notifications: The system provides a real-time activity feed, notifying the community whenever a new donation is received or a payout is distributed, ensuring complete visibility into the recovery progress.”

The mechanism hinges on two balances: “Original Principal,” the immutable historical record of what a user lost, and “Current Principal,” which declines as payouts are claimed or contributions flow in. The docs also draw a hard distinction between debt repayment and incentives. “Payout” reduces principal as compensation, while a “Reward” is additive and “No Change” to the owed balance, positioning rewards as bonuses on top of repayment rather than substitutes.

SOU is also designed to be a financial instrument, not just a receipt. Claims can be merged or split to manage position sizing, transferred between wallets, or sold on marketplaces, effectively enabling a market in discounted claims for users who don’t want to wait for recovery flows.

Shib’s docs also describe a funding model that routes ecosystem revenues and community donations into a common pool, with donations applied proportionally across affected claims, and optional creator fees on secondary sales directed back to payouts or rewards.

The backdrop is the September 2025 Shibarium bridge incident, where Shib’s own security update said “unauthorized validator signing power” was used to push a malicious exit through the PoS bridge, enabling withdrawals of multiple assets.

At press time, Shiba Inu traded at $0.00000656.

After emerging as a major political player in the 2024 elections, the cryptocurrency industry is once again preparing to flex its financial muscle—this time ahead of the 2026 midterms. 

Two years ago, crypto-focused super political action committees helped shape key races as President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in the House and Congress secured victories. 

Now, with digital asset prices under pressure and Congress still debating the landmark CLARITY Act, the industry is ramping up spending in an effort to protect and expand its influence in Washington.

Fairshake Enters 2026 With $193M

According to reporting by The Hill, Fairshake—the leading super Political Action Committee (PAC) network aligned with the crypto sector—entered 2026 with more than $193 million in cash on hand, already identifying priority races for the current cycle. 

It is reportedly supporting Republican Representative Barry Moore in Alabama’s Senate race and working to unseat Democratic Representative Al Green in the House. 

Leonard Kostovetsky, an associate professor at Baruch College and a vocal skeptic of crypto, said the strategy resembles what the industry deployed two years ago. “It’s going to be similar to the previous cycle where they will kind of flex their muscles to show the political power of the crypto industry,” he said.

The industry’s political footprint expanded significantly during the 2024 election cycle, when crypto-aligned groups poured millions into competitive primaries and closely watched races. Federal filings show that Fairshake and its three affiliated organizations spent nearly $180 million during that cycle alone.

Beyond elections, the industry has secured at least one significant legislative victory. Lawmakers passed the GENIUS Act, which established a regulatory framework for dollar-backed stablecoins. 

Yet the more comprehensive market structure legislation—widely viewed as the industry’s top priority—remains unfinished. The proposed bill would provide long-sought clarity for digital asset businesses. Although the House passed its version, the measure has stalled in the Senate.

Crypto Groups Push For Regulatory Clarity

As Congress debates this broader framework, crypto-affiliated political groups have wasted no time engaging in midterm contests. Defend American Jobs, one of Fairshake’s partner PACs, announced this week that it would spend $5 million to support Moore’s Senate campaign in Alabama. 

Meanwhile, another affiliated PAC, Protect Progress, revealed plans to invest $1.5 million to oppose Green in the Democratic primary for Texas’s newly redrawn 18th Congressional District. 

The group cited Green’s voting history on crypto-related measures, arguing that he has sought to “stop American innovation in its tracks.” Green voted against the GENIUS Act and the House’s CLARITY Act.

Ohio-based Democratic strategist Jeff Rusnak questioned whether crypto groups should be permitted to deploy what he described as essentially “unregulated money” in federal elections. 

Yet, industry advocates counter that their political engagement is aimed at fostering responsible regulation rather than avoiding it. A source familiar with the Fairshake network argued that election spending has helped move policymakers toward creating clearer rules. 

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto lender Nexo has officially reentered the United States market, marking a return three years after it withdrew operations and paid a $45 million fine to settle charges with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

The company confirmed on Monday that 2026 represents its formal comeback to the US, positioning the move against a backdrop of more crypto-friendly policies and a notable shift in regulatory tone at the SEC.

New SEC-Compliant Structure, Bakkt Partnership

Nexo previously exited the country following regulatory clashes that culminated in a 2023 SEC order over “unregistered offering” of a crypto asset lending product. As part of that settlement, the company agreed to discontinue the product for US investors. 

In a statement to Reuters, a Nexo spokesperson emphasized that the firm complied fully with the order. “Nexo discontinued the product covered by the 2023 SEC order for US investors as required,” the spokesperson said.

The company’s renewed US strategy is structured differently from its earlier model. According to Nexo’s Monday disclosure, the relaunch is being carried out through partnerships with regulated entities to ensure compliance with American securities laws. 

The firm said its investment and credit products are now delivered within a US-compliant framework, including, where applicable, through an SEC-registered investment adviser for advisory services. 

As part of this relaunch, Nexo has also partnered with Bakkt, a publicly traded US-based digital asset platform designed to support institutional-grade risk management and regulatory compliance. 

The company’s updated offering includes flexible and fixed-term yield programs that allow clients to earn returns through investment structures. Nexo is also rolling out an integrated exchange, enabling users to buy and sell digital assets. 

In addition, the firm is reintroducing crypto-backed credit lines, allowing customers to access liquidity without selling their digital holdings. These credit products feature flexible repayment options and support multiple forms of collateral.

Nexo Denies Trump Family Ties

Nexo’s return comes amid broader political and regulatory developments in the United States. Reuters reported that the company hosted Donald Trump Jr at a “Trump Business Vision 2025” event held in Sofia, Bulgaria, last April. 

The event has drawn attention, given increased scrutiny surrounding crypto-related business dealings connected to the Trump family under the current administration.

When asked by Reuters about the relationship between those interactions and the company’s US relaunch, Nexo denied any connection. The spokesperson stated that the decision to return to the American market was “based on our ability to offer products in a compliant structure” and was unrelated to its contacts with the Trump family. 

The company further clarified that its sports sponsorships and event participation have no bearing on its regulatory standing or operational approval in the United States.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

A former White House crypto adviser has shared his thoughts on the delay of the long-awaited market structure bill and whether the banking and digital assets industry will resolve their differences soon.

Bo Hines Optimistic About Crypto Legislation

On Monday, Bo Hines, CEO of Tether US and former executive director of the US President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, expressed optimism about the passage of the crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act.

In a recent interview with journalist Eleanor Terret at the Digital Assets at Duke Conference, Hines affirmed that he’s “actually confident that CALRITY will get passed” despite the delay.

It’s worth noting that the highly anticipated legislation has been stalled after hitting a roadblock a month ago due to restrictions on the payment of stablecoin yield, meant to address the banking industry’s concerns of deposit flight risk.

The crypto industry heavily criticized the Senate Banking Committee’s policy, leading to the delay of the mid-January markup session and an extended negotiation process between lawmakers and leaders from both industries.

Now, time seems to be running out, Terret noted, as we approach the alleged White House’s end-of-month deadline for the crypto and banking industries to solve the stablecoin yield dispute.

Due to this, Hines affirmed that both sides “are in the pressure cooker right now,” arguing that the two industries understand they must make concessions to reach an agreement and advance the bill.

As reported by Bitcoinist, the digital assets industry has already proposed some compromises to salvage the crypto legislation, such as giving community banks a larger role in the stablecoin system.

The former White House adviser highlighted the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) recent moves. Notably, the OCC has started to issue conditional licenses to more digital assets native companies, which he considers will provide a pathway to “find a resolution that (…) protects banks from deposit flight, but also allows these crypto companies to be innovative and offer different solutions to their customers.”

CLARITY Act’s Window ‘Rapidly Closing’

Hines also noted that the crypto industry is aware that they must take advantage of the legislative momentum, “especially under this administration that’s been extremely pro- digital assets.”

As he explained, “this is where you’re going to get the best return on investment in a sense of like what you’ve been doing over the course of (…) the last few years in terms of political activity and engagement.”

Similarly, Patrick Witt, the current executive director of the US President’s Crypto Council, shared a similar perspective on Friday. The advisor affirmed that they are “working hard to address the issues that were raised that led to the postponement of that markup and hopefully get that back on the books soon.”

Nonetheless, he urged lawmakers to keep the momentum going, emphasizing that the window to pass the legislation is still open, but it is “rapidly closing” as the midterm election campaign season approaches, which “takes all the oxygen out of the room.”

The US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent also pressed lawmakers to advance the bill soon, highlighting the importance of getting the legislation on President Donald Trump’s desk before the end of the spring legislative window.

Bessent stressed that the chances of getting a deal done could collapse if Democrats take control in November, recalling the crackdown on the industry during the Biden administration.

“There’s a lot of innovation that goes on adjacent to crypto, the blockchain, and DeFi. So, I think it’s important to get this clarity bill done as soon as possible and on the president’s desk this spring,” he declared on Friday.

The founder of Capriole Investments has pointed out how Google searches related to “Quantum Computing Bitcoin” peaked alongside the price top.

Bitcoin Saw Increased Interest In Quantum Threat During Bull Run

In a new post on X, Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards has talked about the trend in the Google search interest around the Quantum Computing threat to Bitcoin.

Below is the NYDIG chart cited by the analyst that lines up the Google search data for “Quantum Computing Bitcoin” against the cryptocurrency’s price trajectory.

As displayed in the graph, the Google search interest in the topic witnessed a sharp surge just as last year’s bull rally reached its peak. This would imply that the price appreciation brought with it risk evaluation around the Quantum Computing threat to the cryptocurrency.

Quantum Computing is an emerging technology that could, in theory, exploit the vulnerabilities present in old BTC wallets to access the tokens stored inside them and dump them on the market.

The timeline related to when Quantum Computing could become advanced enough to do this remains yet uncertain, but it has nonetheless raised concerns among many in the BTC community. Edwards has been one of the loudest voices when it comes to this issue, urging the community to work together on a solution as soon as possible.

Based on the Google search interest chart, the analyst has noted, “Evaluation of the risk was at a maxima when price was, resulting in derisking, a leading indicator to price falling.” Shortly after the peak in the metric, the asset observed a bearish shift that has today taken it below the $70,000 mark. “The Quantum threat drove Bitcoin down,” said Edwards.

From the graph, it’s also visible that a similar trajectory was visible during the price surge that occurred in late 2024. Back then, the topic saw slightly lower peak traction and faded quickly once the cryptocurrency slowed down.

Interest in the topic has gone down this time as well as Bitcoin has declined, but it still remains significantly above the low from early 2025, a potential sign that the floor interest in the risk has gone up. “The good news is, at least this means we are starting to get traction and attention in the right places to solve the problem (Strategy, Eth foundation etc),” noted the Capriole founder.

Analyst Willy Woo has also made an X post discussing the Quantum risk. As the chart shared by Woo illustrates, the Bitcoin vs Gold price has broken a twelve-year trend recently.

The XAUBTC ratio was in a state of downtrend for twelve years, but its value saw a reversal last year and has since been rising. “The valuation trend broke down once QUANTUM came into awareness,” explained the analyst.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $68,600, down 2.4% over the last week.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) latest attempt to stabilize has left traders divided. After briefly reclaiming the $70,000 level over the weekend, the asset slipped back toward $68,000, extending a four-week losing streak that has weighed on broader crypto markets.

Related Reading: Did SBI Holdings Really Buy $10 Billion Worth Of XRP? CEO Reveals The Real Figure

While macro uncertainty and technical resistance continue to cap upside momentum, emerging indicators suggest the market may be preparing for a short-term recovery.

The decline comes after weeks of sustained selling pressure that followed Bitcoin’s earlier rally toward record highs. Market sentiment has weakened alongside concerns over interest rates and reduced inflows into speculative assets, pushing the asset into a corrective phase rather than a confirmed reversal.

Bitcoin (BTC) Market Structure Remains Fragile Below $75K

Technical analysis shows Bitcoin is still trading within a descending channel on higher timeframes, keeping the broader trend cautious. The breakdown below $75,000 earlier accelerated losses toward the $60,000 demand zone, where buyers re-entered the market, triggering the current rebound.

Price action is now compressing between $68,000 and $72,000, an area viewed as key resistance. Analysts note that a sustained move above $72,000 could open the path toward $75,000, while repeated rejection may send Bitcoin back toward $65,000 or even retest the $60,000 support region.

Momentum indicators also reflect this uncertainty. Bitcoin remains below its 50-day moving average, confirming that the short-term trend has not yet shifted bullish despite the recent bounce.

Bullish Divergence and Liquidations Offer Mixed Signals

Despite the downtrend, technical momentum is showing early signs of improvement. The RSI has formed a bullish divergence, meaning momentum is strengthening even as price recently printed lower lows, a pattern often associated with relief rallies.

Similarly, more than $75 million in Bitcoin futures positions were liquidated during recent volatility. Such liquidations can reset market positioning and sometimes precede stronger directional moves. Analysts are now watching the $71,000 resistance closely as the next test for bullish momentum.

On-chain sentiment adds another layer to the outlook. Larger orders appeared near the $60,000–$65,000 range, suggesting accumulation by larger market participants during the sell-off, while recent upward moves appear to be driven more by retail traders.

Macro Events and Seasonal Factors in Focus

Seasonal narratives are also attracting attention as markets approach the Chinese New Year, which has historically coincided with mixed performance in crypto markets. Some traders expect short-term liquidity shifts, though analysts caution that global participation has reduced the impact of regional events over time.

Related Reading: Crypto Courtroom Drama: Kevin O’Leary Wins Nearly $3M Against YouTuber ‘Bitboy’

Meanwhile, corporate conviction remains visible. Strategy chairman Michael Saylor recently stated the firm could withstand an extreme Bitcoin decline to $8,000 while continuing to hold and accumulate the asset, underscoring a long-term outlook despite current volatility.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSUD chart from Tradingview

Crypto’s week is stacked: ETHDenver pulls builders into Denver, a major DAO votes on supply, and US macro hits just as liquidity comes back after the holiday. Here’s what to watch:

Ethereum (Feb. 18): ETHDenver Kicks Off

ETHDenver’s main programming and opening ceremony are slated for Wednesday, Feb. 18, with a multi-day run into the weekend and a packed schedule across stages, side events, and builder tracks.

ETHDenver is where the Ethereum stack gets judged in real time: tooling, L2/app UX, account-abstraction product choices and the ecosystem’s current priorities, for better or worse. Don’t trade it like a single catalyst, but it’s still an info dump: partnerships get soft-launched, roadmaps get clarified, and the politics show up in Q&As before anyone writes the post-mortem.

Jupiter (Feb. 17): JUP’s ‘Pause Emissions’ Vote Goes Live

On Feb. 17, Jupiter DAO is expected to put a blunt question to holders: pause emissions and take dilution off the table, or keep incentives running as the default cost of growth.

The proposal goes beyond optics. It targets net emissions, including team-reserve flows and how team liquidity events get handled, which makes it a real token-policy decision: near-term distribution versus tighter supply discipline. If this passes, it’s not just a parameter tweak; it’s a message about what Jupiter thinks the market will reward this cycle.

Hyperliquid (Feb. 18): Second Airdrop Chatter

The real trade here is expectations. X is leaning into “Season 2” airdrop talk for Feb. 18 — but there’s still nothing official from the team.

The reason it keeps coming back is simple: the November 2024 drop was huge (big allocation, bigger mindshare) so traders keep trying to front-run a sequel. Until Hyperliquid pins anything down (team announcement, governance post, or an explicit timeline), this is positioning risk, not a confirmed event.

Macro Events To Watch This Week For Bitcoin And Crypto

Monday (Feb. 16): Presidents’ Day Shuts US Markets

With NYSE and Nasdaq shut for Presidents’ Day, macro flows are thinner and that’s when crypto tends to overreact to relatively small pushes. The bigger point is timing: for a lot of US-based participants, the “real” week starts Tuesday, which compresses reaction windows ahead of Wednesday’s Fed minutes and Friday’s inflation print.

Wednesday (Feb. 18): FOMC Minutes Hit

The minutes from the Fed’s late-January meeting land Wednesday, three weeks after the decision. Traders will read them for internal disagreement, how officials framed inflation persistence versus labor-market cooling, and what would actually have to break to move the rate path.

In practice, the market tends to move on nuance. The key is whether “higher for longer” reads like the base case or just one scenario, and how confident the committee sounds that disinflation is still doing the work.

Friday (Feb. 20): PCE Inflation Print

The BEA’s Personal Income and Outlays release hits Friday, Feb. 20, including headline and core PCE, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, right into the close of a holiday-shortened week.

For crypto, it’s rarely about the number in isolation. The trade is the knock-on effects: rate-cut timing, real yields, and whether macro funds re-risk into the weekend. If PCE surprises in either direction, it can dominate the weekly close and set the tone for the next stretch.

Friday (Feb. 20): Supreme Court Tariffs Decision?

Feb. 20 is also on the radar as a potential opinion day in the Supreme Court case tied to President Trump’s signature tariff policy. Markets don’t need a full rewrite to move, they need direction. Any signal that the tariff framework stands, gets narrowed, or gets clipped feeds straight into rates, the dollar, and broader risk pricing.

Crypto won’t trade the ruling directly, but the linkage is real. If tariffs reprice growth and inflation expectations, crypto is likely to move with the broader risk complex, especially in a week where liquidity and macro timing are already doing the heavy lifting.

At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $2.32 trillion.

Retail investors appear to be holding their ground through the latest wave of crypto market volatility, according to new data shared by Brian Armstrong, chief executive of Coinbase.

The exchange says many individual users have continued accumulating major cryptocurrencies despite price swings, a trend Armstrong described as evidence of “diamond hands.”

The remarks arrive at a time when digital asset markets remain uncertain, shaped by macroeconomic pressure, regulatory developments, and leveraged trading activity. While prices have fluctuated sharply, Coinbase’s internal metrics suggest retail traders are behaving differently compared to previous downturns.

Retail Investors Buy the Dip During Market Volatility

Armstrong said platform data shows most retail customers now hold equal or greater amounts of Bitcoin and Ethereum than they did in December 2025. The figures track “native units,” meaning the number of coins held rather than their dollar value, indicating accumulation even as prices moved lower.

Bitcoin recently traded near $68,500, while Ethereum hovered around the $2,000 level after a period of declines and rebounds. According to Coinbase, many users responded to the pullback by adding to their positions rather than exiting the market.

The trend contrasts with earlier crypto cycles, when retail investors were often seen selling during sharp corrections. Analysts note that steady spot buying from smaller investors can help counterbalance volatility driven by derivatives markets, where leveraged positions frequently amplify price swings through liquidations.

Coinbase also reported that retail accumulation contributed to renewed activity on the platform, with its stock rising in recent sessions alongside increased trading interest in the two largest cryptocurrencies.

Executive Stock Sales Draw Attention

Armstrong’s praise for retail resilience has coincided with scrutiny over his own share sales. Regulatory filings show the CEO has sold more than $550 million worth of Coinbase stock between April 2025 and January 2026, including transactions exceeding $100 million in recent months.

The sales were executed under a prearranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, a mechanism commonly used by public-company executives to schedule stock disposals in advance.

Supporters argue that such plans are standard financial management tools, while critics say the scale of the sales sends mixed signals, encouraging retail investors to hold through volatility.

Similarly, Coinbase continues to navigate broader challenges, including regulatory disputes tied to new product expansions such as prediction markets in several U.S. states.

What Retail Resilience Means for Market Sentiment

Market analysts say sustained retail accumulation could play a stabilizing role if macro conditions improve. Historically, periods where smaller investors continue buying during downturns have sometimes preceded recovery phases in crypto cycles.

However, sentiment remains sensitive to interest rate expectations, geopolitical risks, and institutional flows. For Coinbase, the combination of strong retail engagement and ongoing insider selling highlights the complex balance between leadership messaging, investor perception, and market performance in a volatile environment.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

Binance and news reporters are locking horns over a set of serious claims that have put more heat on the exchange’s compliance record. The matter centers on alleged transfers tied to Iran and on the treatment of staff who flagged those moves. At stake is how a giant platform handles risk when past missteps still hang over it.

Allegations And Denials Collide

According to reporting by Fortune, internal teams found more than $1 billion in transfers linked to Iranian entities that moved through the exchange between March 2024 and August 2025.

The pieces named stablecoin flows on the network run by Tron and pointed to a familiar issuer, Tether.

Reports say several investigators who documented those flows were later let go. That claim, if true, would raise questions about how warnings from inside a company are handled.

Binance pushed back hard. The platform, represented by its leadership, called the claims false and said a full internal review with outside counsel found no sanctions breaches.

The record must be clear.

No sanctions violations were found, no investigators were fired for raising concerns, and Binance continues to meet its regulatory commitments.

We’ve asked for corrections to recent reporting. pic.twitter.com/glA9bdGaw1

— Richard Teng (@_RichardTeng) February 16, 2026

“This is categorically false. No investigator was dismissed for raising compliance concerns or for reporting potential sanctions issues as there are no violations,” the exchange disclosed in an email circulated by Binance CEO, Richard Teng.

“The record must be clear. No sanctions violations were found, no investigators were fired for raising concerns, and Binance continues to meet its regulatory commitments,” Teng said in an X post.

The response noted that none of the wallets in question were sanctioned at the time the activity took place. Still, critics say the real test is evidence and outside oversight, not statements from either side.

Questions Around Internal Reviews

A separate set of reporting by Financial Times added fuel to the debate last December by showing internal data that, according to that outlet, suggested suspicious accounts continued to move big sums after Binance’s 2023 settlement with US authorities.

That 2023 agreement led to a $4.3 billion penalty and to changes in leadership. The firm’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, later faced legal consequences.

Legal experts say there is a meaningful legal line between knowingly processing funds tied to sanctioned entities and handling transactions that later turn out to be problematic.

Records and timestamps matter. So do who knew what, and when they knew it. In this case, the exchange says internal checks found no violations and that monitoring continues under the terms of its US settlement.

Regulators Watch Closely

Reports note that the story adds to an ongoing narrative: big crypto firms operating under close scrutiny, where any hint of lax controls draws attention.

This dispute may end with more documentation, an independent probe, or simply with each side standing by its version.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView