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Сенат Вирджинии одобрил законопроект, регулирующий работу криптоматов и направленный на защиту жителей штата от мошенничества с цифровыми активами. Документ передан на подпись губернатору.

Покупаете-продаете криптовалюты в России? Зарабатываете на разнице курсов? Держите немного стейблкоинов про запас? Может быть, майните? Налоговую службу сейчас интересуют практически все. Но когда именно криптоинвестор обязан перед ней отчитываться?

Figure Technology confirmed that some customer files were stolen after an employee was tricked, according to reports. The company says the intrusion happened when an internal account was used to download a limited batch of records. The breach did not stem from a flaw in its blockchain system, but from human error.

Reports say the stolen material was later posted online by a hacker collective that claimed responsibility. The group is said to have released about 2.5GB of data after alleging that ransom talks broke down. That public dump quickly drew attention across the crypto and fintech space.

Customer Names, Contact Details Among Items Exposed

Based on reports that reviewed samples of the leaked files, the exposed data includes full names, home addresses, dates of birth, and phone numbers. These are the kinds of details often used in identity fraud or targeted scams.

The exact number of affected customers has not been shared publicly. That missing figure leaves uncertainty about how large the fallout could be.

Security researchers warn that even when bank accounts or crypto wallets are untouched, personal data alone can create serious risk. Phishing calls, fake loan offers, and account takeover attempts often follow this type of leak.

Figure Hit By Social Engineering Attack

According to coverage of the incident, attackers used a social engineering method to gain access to an employee’s credentials or active session. Instead of breaking through code, they relied on deception. Once inside, files were downloaded through that employee’s access rights.

The company said it detected suspicious activity and moved to block it. Outside forensic specialists were brought in to review system logs and determine what was accessed. A broader internal review is also under way.

ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach on its leak site. The group has been linked to prior data exposures involving tech and finance firms. In this case, the data was made public after payment demands were reportedly rejected.

Figure said it will notify customers whose information was involved. Free credit monitoring services are being offered to those who receive formal notice. Impacted individuals are being advised to watch for unusual activity and unsolicited messages.

Funds And Core Services Secure

Reports note that lending operations and on-chain systems were not breached. The platform’s core financial infrastructure was not described as affected. Still, the exposure of personal records carries its own weight.

Financial companies remain frequent targets because they hold detailed customer files. A single employee account, if misused, can open a door wider than expected. That lesson has surfaced again here.

Regulators may seek further details in the coming weeks. Customers will be waiting for clearer numbers. The long-term cost, both financial and reputational, will depend on how widely the data spreads and how quickly protective steps are taken.

Featured image from Yahoo Finance, chart from TradingView

The Bitcoin bear market caught some parts of the crypto crowd by surprise, as several investors expected prices to recover at different stages of the correction. However, some sections of the market saw this corrective phase, using on-chain data as the basis of their prognosis.

One such group is the on-chain data analysts who called the emergence of the bear market based on the decline in apparent demand. Using this same model, a prominent market researcher has come forward with a potential catalyst for Bitcoin’s price recovery.

Bitcoin ETFs Kick Off 2026 With $1.8 Billion Outflows

In a recent post on the social media platform X, pseudonymous analyst Darkfost shared that spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) may play a huge role in the crypto market turnaround. According to market data, demand for crypto via exchange-traded funds has been weak so far in 2026.

This cautious stance from investors and “contraction in liquidity” has had a significant effect on the market, as prices keep tumbling to new lows every other week. Darkfost highlighted that early 2026 has looked more like a period of risk reduction on the spot Bitcoin ETF side, which has been largely driven by substantial capital inflows and strong speculative momentum.

Darkfost wrote in the X post:

Market participants appear to be reassessing their risk exposure in a more uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment. 

Unsurprisingly, recent on-chain data support the increasing apathy of investors towards the Bitcoin ETF market. According to data highlighted by Darkfost, the year 2026 is starting with around $1.8 billion in net outflows, which is in stark contrast to the strongly positive levels witnessed in 2024 and at the start of 2025.

Sustained capital inflows and a significant expansion in market liquidity characterized these periods. However, it is worth mentioning that 2025 ended on a more negative note, with ETF inflows declining from $27 billion to around $20 billion by year’s end.

Hence, this trend shows that the current weakness in demand seems more like a gradual decline than a sudden drop. In any case, this demand weakness has left the Bitcoin market unprotected and more vulnerable to selling pressure and short-term volatility.

Darkfost concluded that a sustained run of Bitcoin ETF inflows could be a “key catalyst” to restoring a stronger market structure and investor confidence. The signs, however, have not been encouraging so far, as the US-based BTC exchange-traded funds bled roughly $360 million in net outflows over the past week.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $70,600, reflecting an almost 2% jump in the past 24 hours.

US lawmakers on Friday stepped up pressure over a reported foreign stake in a crypto firm tied to US President Donald Trump, asking the Treasury’s foreign-investment watchdog to explain whether the deal threatens national security or should be reviewed.

Trump And The $500 Million Deal

Reports say an Abu Dhabi-linked vehicle paid about $500 million for roughly 49% stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI). That investment is said to have put a foreign investor in line to be the largest outside shareholder and to win board seats.

Based on reports, critics worry about what access a large shareholder could have to customer data, system controls, or strategic decision-making at a company that handles stablecoins and user wallets.

Sheikh Named As A Backer

Accounts point to an investment vehicle tied to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Reports say the deal closed in January 2025, a timing that has drawn extra attention from legislators, given its proximity to the transition in Washington.

Some money from the transaction reportedly flowed to entities linked to the company’s founders and affiliates. That detail has raised questions about disclosure and whether any rules governing foreign deals were followed.

Lawmakers Want Answers

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and New Jersey Senator Andy Kim have written to Scott Bessent asking whether the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US — CFIUS — has reviewed the transaction or should now open a formal probe into the Trump-linked crypto venture.

The lawmakers set a response deadline and asked for documents and a clear statement on any national security concerns. Their letter frames the matter as one of foreign access to sensitive financial and identity information, and of potential influence over a firm connected to a sitting president.

Board Appointments And Tech Ties Add To Scrutiny

Reports note that executives with ties to G42 were named to the company’s board after the deal. That link has prompted fresh questions, since G42 has been inspected in past US intelligence reviews for its foreign partnerships.

Lawmakers say those kinds of connections merit a close look when the investor traces back to a foreign government official or agency.

Trump-Linked Crypto: What Happens Next

If CFIUS opens a formal review, it could demand documents, interview executives, and impose mitigation steps or block parts of the deal. If no review is launched, lawmakers say they will press further through oversight hearings and document requests.

The unfolding inquiry highlights a knot of issues: foreign capital in crypto, the handling of consumer data, and how political ties intersect with cross-border investments.

Featured image from David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Компания Grayscale Investments уведомила Комиссию по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC) о планах преобразовать свой траст Aave Trust в биржевой инвестиционный фонд (ETF), отслеживающий криптовалюту AAVE.

Состояние основателя Solana Анатолия Яковенко оценивается в диапазоне от $500 млн до $1,2 млрд, сообщили аналитики платформы Arkham. Основная часть капитала криптопредпринимателя состоит из токенов SOL и доли в компании Solana Labs.

Депутат бразильского парламента Луис Гастао (Luiz Gastão) от партии PSD‑CE внес в парламентский комитет по экономическому развитию законопроект, увеличивающий лимит государственного биткоин-резерва. На самом деле гос-биткоин-резерв до сих пор даже не создан.  

Компания президента США Дональда Трампа Trump Media, владеющая социальной сетью Truth Social, подала в Комиссию по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC) документы на регистрацию двух криптовалютных биржевых фондов (ETF).

Биткоин обладает свойствами, позволяющими использовать его как защитный актив в условиях кризиса, который неминуем из-за развития искусственного интеллекта, заявила генеральный директор инвестиционной компании Ark Invest Кэти Вуд (Cathie Wood).

Абсолютное дно медвежьего тренда для биткоина может находиться около цены $55 000 за монету, считают эксперты компании CryptoQuant. Только от такого дна возможен отскок и рост стоимости первой криптовалюты, дали понять аналитики.

Ethereum price might have experienced some modest recovery late last week. However, the popular altcoin still reflects a broader bearish structure. Interestingly, a recent on-chain evaluation has surfaced, which paints a dark picture for Ethereum’s mid-term future, as opposed to imagined sustained relief.

Taker Buy Sell Ratio Plummets To November 2025 Lows

In a recent post on QuickTake, market analyst CryptoOnchain reveals that Ethereum derivatives traders are currently being dominated by aggressive sellers as indicated by the Ethereum: Taker Buy Sell Ratio on Binance, smoothed over with the 30-day moving average.

For context, this metric measures whether aggressive market buyers or aggressive sellers are dominating the ETH futures market, and specifically on Binance (the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume). When the Taker Buy Sell ratio drops below the 1.00 threshold, it is a sign that taker sell volume is more than the taker buy volume.

Basically, this means that there are more aggressive sellers than there are buyers. On the other hand, sustained readings above 1.00 signal that the futures market is currently being dominated by aggressive buyers.

CryptoOnchain points out in his post that the metric’s readings currently sit around the 0.97 level, indicating that Ethereum’s current price action is being driven more by aggressive selling pressure.  The 0.97 zone, interestingly, is the lowest since November, 2025. CryptoOnchain explains that this reveals a bigger sentiment shift among Ethereum futures traders over the past month, rather than being a temporary reaction to price action.

 

What It Means For ETH Price

The decline of the Taker Buy Sell ratio to 0.97 does not guarantee an immediate sell-off; more accurately, it shows that the bears are more likely to profit from Ethereum in the short-term. In the event that this bearish pressure is absorbed by spot demand, a sell-off would not ensue. On the other hand, if demand at key support levels fails to buffer Ethereum’s fall, the second-largest cryptocurrency could fall further. 

In addition, if there is a sudden injection of demand, the futures market simultaneously retains its extremely bearish sentiment; the Ethereum market could see a short squeeze, where the leveraged short positions are wiped out, thereby pushing prices to the upside with momentum.

Hence, the Ethereum market is still in a very unstable phase, as prices could go in either direction, and with high momentum, depending on what happens first. As such, market participants are advised to tread the charts with caution. As of this writing, Ethereum holds a valuation of $2,085, reflecting a slight 1.7% gain since the past day, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Featured image from Flickr, chart from Tradingview

The US Bitcoin Spot ETFs continued to experience capital flight last week, recording significant net outflows across major issuers. The sustained withdrawals reflect cautious institutional sentiment amid Bitcoin’s recent price struggles, as the premier cryptocurrency is presently down by 30% on its monthly chart.

Grayscale’s BTC Shines With $110M Amid Market Struggles 

According to data from SoSoValue, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded total net outflows of $359.91 million in February’s second week, driven primarily by mid-week capital withdrawals. The week began on a bullish note, with investors making a combined net deposit of $311.56 million between Monday and Tuesday. However, the optimism proved short-lived as the ETF market registered $686.87 million in net withdrawals between Wednesday and Thursday. Friday closed the week with a modest $15.20 million inflow, suggesting slight stabilization in investor sentiment.

In analyzing individual fund performance, there was mixed performance across the market. The largest outflows came from market leader BlackRock’s IBIT, which saw $234.65 million in net withdrawals, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC, recording $124.73 million in outflows. Grayscale GBTC also experienced notable aggregate redemptions totaling $77.03 million, though its secondary product, Grayscale BTC, attracted $110.08 million in net inflows, partially offsetting losses.

Ark Invest/21Shares’ CBOE and Bitwise’s BITB posted net outflows of $19.44 million and $29.81 million, respectively, while VanEck’s HODL each recorded modest inflows of $4.03 million. Meanwhile, Franklin Templeton’s EZBC attracted $2.35 million, while WisdomTree’s BTCW recorded a stronger inflow of $14.06 million. Similarly, Invesco’s BTCO lost $6.84 million, and Valkyrie BRRR saw small inflows of $2.08 million, while Hashdex’s DEFI registered no notable movement during the period.

Bitcoin Spot ETFs Outlook

The recent weekly losses contribute to a broader trend of declining ETF flows in 2026. So far, February has recorded total net outflows of $677.86 million, with aggregate 2026 withdrawals now at $2.28 billion, reflecting persistent institutional caution. The sustained redemptions appear closely tied to Bitcoin’s recent price volatility, which appears to dampen risk appetite among institutional investors.

Nevertheless, the ETF ecosystem remains strong, with total net assets across all Bitcoin spot ETFs currently at approximately $87 billion. Additionally, cumulative net inflows since the launch in January 2024 remain robust at $54.33 billion, suggesting that long-term institutional adoption remains intact even amid short-term capital rotation.

At press time, Bitcoin continues to trade at $69,479, reflecting a minor 0.99% gain in the last day. 

The current market landscape for Bitcoin remains largely bearish following a net 2.41% loss over the past week. While Bitcoin is presently stabilizing around $68,000, the digital asset remains about 46% off its all-time high ($126,100) recorded in late 2025.

Bull Or Bear? Decoding Bitcoin’s SSR Liquidity Signals 

In a QuickTake post on the CryptoQuant platform, a pseudonymous analyst, MorenoDV, explained how the Stablecoin Supply Ratio (SSR) acts as a liquidity signal for Bitcoin and why the current level around 9.5–9.6 is important.

SSR measures Bitcoin’s market cap relative to stablecoin supply. In other words, it reflects how much “dry powder“ (buying power) exists in the market. High SSR shows that Bitcoin’s market cap is large relative to stablecoins – less sidelined buying power, while Low SSR indicates stablecoin supply relatively strong to Bitcoin — more potential buying power available.

 

According to analyst MorenoDV, the SSR is not a straightforward bullish or bearish indicator; its significance depends on the direction of the market’s approach to the 9.5 level. When the SSR falls towards 9.5 from higher levels, it typically signals strengthening stablecoin liquidity, which has often led to Bitcoin finding support or reversing upward in past cycles.

Conversely, if the SSR rises toward 9.5 from lower levels, it suggests fading liquidity, historically preceding local tops and short-term corrections.

Analyst MorenoDV describes the 9.5 level as a liquidity equilibrium zone due to its ability to act as support or resistance based on the market approach. As the SSR navigates this critical zone, market traders will closely observe if stablecoin inflows are maintained at a constant level, or if there is an impending liquidity exhaustion, which would be indicated by a rejection at this equilibrium zone.

Bitcoin Price Overview

As of writing, Bitcoin’s price stands at ~$68,840, reflecting a 3.97% increase over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, its daily trading volume is down by 15.3% and valued at $37.33 billion. According to data from Coincodex, the Fear and Greed index stands at 9, indicating extreme levels of caution among investors.

However, Coincodex analysts and investors will gradually adopt a more bullish stance, as their projections hint at a $73,769 target in five days and $77,687 in a month. Meanwhile, a three-month target of $72,480, suggest some levels retracement following the initial surge, in line with a classic ascending pattern.

Featured image from XVerse, chart from Tradingview.com

Speculation around XRP is gaining momentum after reports surfaced of a private, closed-door meeting between executives from SWIFT and Ripple. While no official statements have been released, the idea that leaders from the world’s dominant interbank messaging network and one of blockchain’s most established payments firms may have met discreetly has captured the market’s attention.

Could Institutional Adoption Of XRP Be Accelerating?

Reports suggest that executives from SWIFT and Ripple may have held a private lunch in Miami, reigniting speculation that SWIFT could be preparing to move forward with XRP. An analyst known as Skipper noted on X that the discussion gains additional context from comments last year by Brad Garlinghouse, who stated that the XRP Ledger could capture roughly 14% of the transaction volume currently processed by SWIFT within five years.

Tokenization is no longer a dream; it is becoming a new reality. The ability to unlock and move trillions of dollars in real-world assets onto blockchain rails is accelerating. At the same time, RealFi is reportedly finalizing an agreement with a global Tier-2 exchange processing roughly $580 billion in annual volume to list the REAL Token, signaling that institutional-scale markets are preparing to migrate onto XRPL-based rails.

The next wave of blockchain innovation is quietly taking shape in Sydney. According to Wave Of Innovation on X, on February 28 and March 1, serious builders will converge for a 24-hour sprint at XRP Australia 2026, an event designed for real construction, not surface-level experimentation. 

Participants will have direct access to work with core protocol developers and architects, enabling deep technical guidance, real-time problem-solving, and the opportunity to build alongside those actively shaping the XRPL stack. The objective is to deliver working functional MVPs that can live beyond the event.

Builders are encouraged to develop across a wide range of verticals, including RLUSD-powered applications, DeFi protocols, developer tooling, infrastructure, and real-world utility use cases, all natively on the Ledger. Beyond the prize pool, the sprint represents a gateway to the ecosystem. Exceptional teams may be considered for future XRPL funding programs, making this a potential launchpad for builders who are seriously focused on adoption. 

How The Altcoin Is Preparing For The Next Directional Move

A bullish scenario is beginning to take shape for the token. Crypto investor and trader Xaif Crypto has highlighted that a breakout in the volume Z-Score above +2 could ignite the next expansion. Currently, Binance volume Z-Score is hovering near zero, indicating a state of pure equilibrium.

However, with the price trading around $1.37 and volume closely aligned with its 30-day average, the data is signaling consolidation rather than exhaustion. Historically, the altcoin’s most powerful moves have followed sharp volume Z-Score expansions. These calm phases often precede strong directional moves.

A US court has sentenced the CEO of Bitcoin trading firm, Praetorian Group International (PGI), to 20 years in prison after convicting him of operating a large-scale Ponzi scheme. The fraudulent investment platform, which falsely claimed to generate profits through cryptocurrency trading, misappropriated substantial capital from tens of thousands of investors globally.

Over 8,000 Bitcoin In Palafox Scam Operation – DOJ 

According to a recent release by the DOJ, Ramil Ventura Palafox, a 61-year-old dual citizen of the United States and the Philippines, orchestrated a sophisticated fraudulent operation through his registered trading company, PGI. The DOJ notes explain that, as chairman, chief executive officer, and lead promoter, Palafox marketed PGI as a Bitcoin trading firm capable of generating daily returns ranging from 0.5% to 3%. However, investigations revealed that the company was not conducting legitimate bitcoin trading at a scale that could support such profits.

The scheme reportedly operated between December 2019 and October 2021. During this period, PGI attracted at least 90,000 investors globally who collectively invested more than $201 million into the platform. This included over $30 million contributed in fiat currency and approximately 8,198 bitcoin valued at more than $171 million at the time of investment. Despite these significant inflows, authorities discovered that investor payouts were largely funded using money obtained from newer participants rather than genuine trading profits.

To sustain investor confidence, Palafox took another drastic step in establishing an online portal that displayed fabricated investment performance data. Between 2020 and 2021, the portal consistently showed increasing account balances, convincing investors that their funds were secure and generating reliable returns. 

Meanwhile, investigations also uncovered extensive misuse of investor funds for personal luxury expenditures. Palafox allegedly spent approximately $3 million purchasing 20 high-end vehicles, while splashing equal amounts on accessories such as jewelry, clothing, watches, etc., among other forms of misappropriation. The American-Filipino was found guilty of wire fraud and money laundering and is expected to spend the next two decades in prison.

FBI Explores Potential Restitution For PGI Victims

In other developments, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office is currently working to identify individuals who suffered financial losses through investments in PGI between 2020 and 2021. 

Following an initial conviction of Palafox in September 2025, the federal law agents have encouraged individuals who believe they may be eligible for restitution payments or in need of victim services to reach out and fill the relevant form. Notably, total losses associated with the Bitcoin Ponzi scheme are presently estimated at $62.7 million. 

The price of Bitcoin has been under intense pressure so far in 2026, with the bear market wiping out the profits of several classes of investors. According to the latest on-chain data, this trend could have a broader ripple effect on the premier cryptocurrency in this bear market, especially as it affects an important cohort of the largest BTC investors.

Whales’ Realized Losses Could Put Further Pressure On Price

In a February 13th post on the social media platform X, pseudonymous crypto analyst Darkfost shared an insight into the current holdings of a relevant group of investors known as Bitcoin whales. According to the market pundit, the unrealized profits of this investor cohort are getting wiped out by the current market correction.

Specifically, this on-chain is based on the Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) metric of the “Big Whales,” which represents addresses holding more than 1,000 BTC. For context, the NUPL is a ratio of investors’ unrealized profits and losses; with a high (and often positive) ratio indicating the dominance of unrealized profits, while a negative value suggests otherwise.

According to the highlighted CryptoQuant data, the NUPL value for the largest Bitcoin whales currently stands at around 0.2. As shown in the chart below, this NUPL level (around the yellow region) has historically coincided with well-advanced stages of the bear market, meaning that this group of whales is nearing zero unrealized profits.

While this is yet to be the case, it is worth mentioning that these BTC whales have historically always held mostly unrealized losses at bear market bottoms. Hence, what’s important is what happens with their holdings between now and the end of the current corrective phase. 

According to Darkfost, whales’ holdings being under this much pressure could mean market capitulation, further dragging the Bitcoin price downward. Hints of this trend can already be seen in recent days, especially amongst the new whales.

These short-term Bitcoin whales are currently realizing significant losses at a rapid rate. Between February 3 and 7, more than $3 billion in losses were realized by this new group of whales. In essence, sustained capitulation by this investor cohort could be a fresh source of selling pressure for the BTC price.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $68,710, reflecting an over 5% jump in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the premier cryptocurrency is down by nearly 3% in the past week.

Patrick Witt, a senior White House crypto adviser, told reporters that banks should not see stablecoin yield programs as an existential threat.

He argued that banks and crypto firms can both offer similar products to customers and that the controversy over rewards is fixable through compromise.

Reports note he made the comments in a sit-down with Yahoo Finance as lawmakers and industry groups continue talks.

Banks Can Offer Similar Products

Big lenders have options, and some are already moving to use them. According to meetings and follow-ups, several banks are seeking OCC charters and exploring ways to provide stablecoin-style accounts to customers, which undercuts the idea that yield programs automatically steal deposits from traditional banks.

That dynamic helped bring both sides into a recent White House convening, but the talks did not settle the core dispute over whether platforms should be allowed to pay rewards to holders.

Stablecoin Yields Hold Up Legislation

At the center of the fight is the CLARITY Act, a bill meant to draw lines between the SEC and the CFTC while creating a basic asset taxonomy for cryptocurrencies.

Reports say the debate over rewards and interest has become a major hold-up, with senators and industry groups trading proposals and pushbacks as they try to hash out workable language. SEC and CFTC are both part of the tug-of-war over who gets to police different tokens and services.

A Race Against The Calendar

Pressure to finish a deal is rising because lawmakers face an election calendar that could change the political math. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that if Democrats win back the House the bipartisan coalition working on the bill could fracture, making rapid progress less likely.

That warning is echoed around Capitol Hill by lobbyists and some industry leaders, who say the current window to pass a compromise is dwindling.

A Narrow Window To Act

The White House has signaled it wants a solution before the fall slog of midterm politics takes hold. White House advisers have urged both sides to find middle ground, saying a functioning framework would unlock large pools of institutional capital now sitting on the sidelines.

Reports have disclosed that these investors are reluctant to deploy funds until the rules are clearer, which is one reason the administration is pressing for movement.

The debate is not only technical; it is political and strategic. Lawmakers will need to balance banks’ worries about deposits with crypto firms’ demand to preserve business models that rely on customer rewards.

For consumers, the immediate effect will depend on how any compromise treats protections, transparency and how rewards are funded.

For markets, the bigger prize is legal certainty — and that prize is getting harder to win as the calendar tightens.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Многие трейдеры считают, что сектор мемкоинов прекратил свое существование, однако эксперты платформы Santiment считают, что сейчас вокруг этого класса криптоактивов усиливается тренд «ностальгии».

Несколько сотрудников из комплаенс-команды крупнейшей криптовалютной биржи Binance были уволены после того, как провели внутреннее расследование в компании и выявили вероятные нарушения санкционного режима в отношении Ирана.