Flüchtiger Krypto-Betrüger erhält 20 Jahre für die Geldwäsche von über 73 Millionen Dollar
Das US-Justizministerium hat Daren Li zu 20 Jahren Gefängnis verurteilt, weil er Gelder gewaschen hat, die mit einem groß angelegten internationalen Krypto-Investitionsbetrug in Verbindung standen.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse Ein US-Gericht verurteilte einen Mann namens Daren Li wegen Geldwäsche von mehr als 73 Millionen Dollar aus mit Krypto verbundenen Investitionsbetrügereien. Das Schema basierte auf US-Shell-Unternehmen und Bankzugang, um die Gelder der Opfer in Kryptowährung umzuwandeln, und zeigte Schwächen in den finanziellen Zugangspunkten auf. Der Fall hebt hervor, wie Betrugszentralen durch die Kombination von Social Engineering mit institutioneller Finanzinfrastruktur skalieren.
Der neue Zyklus von Krypto signalisiert institutionelle Reife, sagt der Gründer von Chainlink
Der aktuelle Marktzyklus hebt strukturelle Fortschritte hervor, anstatt übermäßige Risiken, so die jüngsten Kommentare des Gründers von Chainlink, die auf X geteilt wurden.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse Dieser Zyklus zeigt einen widerstandsfähigeren Kryptomarkt, ohne größere institutionelle Zusammenbrüche. Reale Vermögenswerte bewegen sich unabhängig von den Preisschwankungen von Krypto on-chain. On-Chain-Märkte konkurrieren zunehmend mit der traditionellen Finanzwirtschaft. Die institutionelle Akzeptanz wird durch Infrastruktur und echte Nützlichkeit angetrieben, nicht durch Spekulation. Anstelle einer weiteren Boom-und-Bust-Erzählung scheint diese Phase zu testen, ob die Krypto-Infrastruktur Stress standhalten kann - und bisher hat sie das größtenteils getan.
Ethereum’s Founder Warns Against Rushing AI Development
Vitalik Buterin is revisiting how Ethereum and artificial intelligence should evolve together, arguing that much of the industry is approaching AI from the wrong angle.
Key Takeaways Vitalik Buterin warns that racing blindly toward AGI risks centralization and loss of human control.He sees Ethereum as the foundation for safer AI, focused on privacy, verification, and decentralization.AI could unlock better markets and governance by scaling human decision-making rather than replacing it. Instead of treating “AGI” as a single finish line that everyone must race toward, he believes the real challenge is choosing the right direction early. In his view, unchecked acceleration risks concentrating power, weakening individual freedom, and increasing systemic dangers long before true AGI even arrives. Building on ideas he first outlined two years ago, Buterin presents a clearer, more grounded framework for how Ethereum and AI can intersect in the near term. Rather than abstract theory, his focus is on practical tools and systems that can be built today - tools that shape how AI is used, owned, and controlled before it becomes too powerful to steer. Trust, privacy, and human control One of Buterin’s main priorities is making interactions with AI more private and trustless by design. He highlights the importance of local language models that run on personal devices, reducing dependence on centralized AI providers. Alongside this, he points to zero-knowledge payments for AI services, allowing users to pay for API calls without creating persistent identity trails. The broader goal is to bring Ethereum’s privacy philosophy into the AI world. Just as crypto aimed to remove blind trust from finance, Buterin argues that AI systems should not require users to surrender data, identity, or control simply to function. Cryptographic verification, client-side checks, and privacy-preserving compute are meant to ensure that humans remain in charge, even as models become more capable. Ethereum as the coordination layer for AI Buterin also sees Ethereum evolving into an economic and coordination layer for AI agents themselves. In this model, autonomous agents can transact with each other, post security deposits, build onchain reputations, and be held accountable for their behavior. This enables AI systems that are not all owned or operated by a single company behind closed doors. Importantly, he stresses that this is not about financializing AI for speculation’s sake. Instead, economic tools are used to enable decentralized cooperation. By giving AI agents verifiable identities and incentives, Ethereum can support open, competitive AI ecosystems rather than tightly controlled, centralized ones. Smarter markets and governance Beyond infrastructure, Buterin argues that AI can finally make better markets and governance systems workable. Concepts like prediction markets, advanced voting mechanisms, and decentralized decision-making have long looked good on paper but failed in practice due to limits on human attention and reasoning. Large language models, he says, remove that bottleneck by scaling human judgment. With AI assistance, individuals can participate in more complex decisions without being overwhelmed. This opens the door to governance systems that are more informed, more inclusive, and harder to capture by narrow interests. Overall, Buterin’s message is a clear pushback against blind acceleration. Rather than asking how fast AI can advance, he is asking how it should advance - and who remains in control along the way. In this framing, Ethereum is not competing to build AGI, but providing the foundations for an AI-driven future that is safer, more decentralized, and more aligned with human autonomy. #Ethereum #AI
Chainlink für die On-Chain-Abrechnungsinitiative der britischen Zentralbank ausgewählt
Chainlink wurde ausgewählt, um am Synchronisationslabor der Bank von England teilzunehmen, einer bedeutenden Initiative, die untersucht, wie Zentralbankgeld nahtlos mit tokenisierten Finanzanlagen synchronisiert werden kann.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse Die Bank von England testet aktiv On-Chain-Abrechnungsmodelle. Chainlink ist direkt daran beteiligt, Zentralbankgeld mit tokenisierten Vermögenswerten zu verknüpfen.
Die Initiative zielt auf reale Anwendungsfälle wie Devisen, Anleihen und Sicherheiten ab. Dies ist eine Infrastruktur-Ebene Adoption, kein verbraucherorientierter Pilot.
XRP-Ausblick: Erleichterung durch regulatorische Klarheit, On-Chain-Stress, vorsichtige Preisbewegung
Der ehemalige US-Regulierungsbehörde für Derivate, Chris Giancarlo, hat XRP als ein seltenes Beispiel für ein digitales Asset beschrieben, das jahrelanger aggressiver regulatorischer Prüfung standgehalten hat und weiterhin betriebsfähig ist.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse XRP wird als regulatorischer Überlebender positioniert, nachdem es jahrelangem rechtlichen Druck ausgesetzt war, wobei sein Kernnetzwerk und Anwendungsfall weiterhin intakt sind. Die kurzfristige Preisbewegung bleibt ungewiss, da XRP sich nahe bei $1.41 konsolidiert, mit neutralem RSI und flachem MACD-Momentum. On-Chain-Daten zeigen Stress, da Inhaber Verluste realisieren und der SOPR unter 1 fällt, ein Setup, das oft mit einer verlängerten Konsolidierung verbunden ist.
Die Krypto-Rallye nach den Wahlen verliert an Schwung, Fed warnt
Der Anstieg des Optimismus, der die Kryptowährungsmärkte nach den Wahlen in den USA erfasste, beginnt sich abzukühlen, so Christopher Waller, ein Gouverneur der Federal Reserve.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse Die Begeisterung für Kryptowährungen nach den Wahlen lässt nach, was zu höherer Volatilität führt Das institutionelle Risikomanagement treibt den jüngsten Druck auf den Markt voran Regulatorische Unsicherheit im Kongress belastet die Stimmung Bei einer Rede am 9. Februar 2026 sagte Waller, dass die jüngsten Preisschwankungen eine Rückkehr zu vertrauteren Marktdynamiken widerspiegeln, anstatt einen fundamentalen Zusammenbruch.
Bitcoin führt ETF-Zuflüsse, während Investoren selektiv rotieren
Die ETF-Ströme am 9. Februar 2026 zeigen einen Markt, der weiterhin mit Krypto-Engagement verbunden ist, jedoch auf eine sehr selektive und defensive Weise.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse: Bitcoin-ETFs verzeichneten netto positive Zuflüsse, was auf erneute institutionelle Unterstützung hinweist. Ethereum-ETFs wiesen moderate netto Zuflüsse auf, jedoch mit sichtbarer Streuung zwischen den Emittenten. Die ETF-Ströme von Solana blieben stabil, was auf Zögern gegenüber höher-beta Vermögenswerten hinweist. XRP-ETFs verzeichneten starke netto Zuflüsse, was das wachsende Vertrauen in die regulatorische und institutionelle Perspektive unterstreicht.
TON Launches Native Crypto Payments Inside Telegram
The TON Foundation has officially rolled out TON Pay, a new payments software development kit designed to turn Telegram into a full-scale blockchain commerce platform.
Key Takeaways TON Pay brings native TON and USDT payments directly into Telegram Mini Apps.The SDK is wallet-agnostic and positions TON as Telegram’s settlement layer.Toncoin trades near $1.35 with weak short-term momentum, still far below its 2024 peak. Announced on February 9, 2026, the launch brings native crypto payments directly into Telegram Mini Apps, removing the need for external checkout tools or redirects. TON Pay enables merchants and developers to accept crypto payments seamlessly inside Telegram, with initial support for Toncoin (TON) and Tether (USDT). The SDK is wallet-agnostic, allowing users to pay with any compatible TON wallet rather than being locked into a single provider, a move aimed at reducing friction and improving user choice.
Developer Focus and Telegram Ecosystem Strategy From a development standpoint, TON Pay simplifies one of the most complex parts of crypto integration. The SDK consolidates wallet infrastructure, settlement, and checkout flows into a single integration, significantly lowering technical overhead for developers. For users, the experience is designed to feel native rather than experimental. By minimizing gas-related friction and reducing the number of approval steps, TON Pay targets everyday consumer transactions rather than niche crypto use cases. Strategically, this positions the TON blockchain as the settlement layer for Telegram’s ecosystem, which now reaches close to 1.1 billion users worldwide. Nikola Plecas, Vice President of Payments at the TON Foundation, said the goal is to make payments “seamless and native,” enabling developers to activate crypto payments with minimal setup while keeping the user experience intuitive. Roadmap: Subscriptions and Gasless Transactions The TON Foundation has signaled that TON Pay is only the starting point. Future updates are expected to introduce subscription-based payments and gasless transactions, features that could further reduce onboarding barriers for merchants and consumers alike. These additions would allow Telegram Mini Apps to support recurring payments and frictionless microtransactions, reinforcing Telegram’s push toward becoming a self-contained digital commerce platform rather than just a messaging app. Toncoin Price Action and Technical Snapshot Toncoin is currently trading around $1.35, consolidating after a volatile start to February. Short-term technical indicators reflect a cautious market structure. The RSI is hovering in the mid-40s, pointing to weak momentum without reaching oversold conditions. Meanwhile, the MACD remains near the zero line with shallow negative histogram bars, suggesting limited directional conviction in the near term. From a longer-term perspective, TON remains in a deep correction phase. The token peaked at an all-time high of $8.24 in June 2024 and has since declined by roughly 64.2% over the past year. Even so, Toncoin is still trading well above its all-time low of $0.39, recorded in September 2021. As TON Pay begins rolling out across Telegram Mini Apps, market participants will be watching closely to see whether increased payment activity translates into sustained on-chain usage and renewed momentum for Toncoin’s price. #TON
Großer Bithumb-Fehler löst Krypto-Kontrolle in Südkorea aus
Südkoreas Finanzaufsicht bewegt sich in Richtung strengerer Krypto-Überwachung nach einem großen Betriebsfehler bei Bithumb, der die von den Regulierungsbehörden beschriebenen schwerwiegenden Schwächen in den Handelssystemen aufgedeckt hat.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse Bithumb hat versehentlich Hunderttausende von Bitcoins statt eines kleinen Bargeldbonus verschickt. Der Fehler führte zu einem kurzen Verkaufsdruck, bevor die Börse die Konten sperrte. Fast alle falsch verteilten Vermögenswerte wurden mittlerweile zurückgeholt. Am 6. Februar 2026 verteilte Bithumb versehentlich etwa 620.000 Bitcoins als Werbeprämien. Anstatt den Nutzern einen kleinen Bonus von 2.000 Won zu senden, kreditiert das System mehreren Hundert Konten jeweils etwa 2.000 BTC, was den Wert des Fehlers kurzzeitig über 40 Milliarden Dollar trieb.
Top 10 Crypto Projects With the Most Development Activity
Developer activity across the crypto sector has picked up over the past 30 days, offering a clearer signal of where long-term investment and innovation are being directed.
Key Takeaways Crypto development activity increased over the past month despite weak market sentiment.MetaMask, Hedera, and Chainlink led the rankings, driven by infrastructure and interoperability upgrades.Layer-1 and scaling networks continue to build aggressively, signaling a focus on long-term adoption rather than short-term price moves. While prices across many tokens remain under pressure, code commits and protocol upgrades show builders are anything but inactive. The latest rankings highlight wallets, base-layer blockchains, and core infrastructure projects that have seen the strongest development momentum compared with last month. Wallets, Infrastructure, and Interoperability Lead the Rankings At the top of the list sits MetaMask, whose mUSD initiative recorded the highest overall development activity. The wallet provider has sharply increased GitHub contributions as it pushes to make self-custody more accessible, focusing on prediction market features and expanded social login options aimed at onboarding mainstream users. Infrastructure-focused projects also dominate the upper ranks. Hedera continued its climb as development intensified around enterprise-grade scaling and the Hiero initiative, which is moving Hedera’s core codebase into a fully open-source structure under the Linux Foundation. Chainlink maintained strong activity as it evolves beyond oracles into a broader interoperability layer, with ongoing work tied to live bank settlements and real-time equities data streams.
Long-Running Builder Momentum Across Layer-1 Networks Several layer-1 networks remain consistent developer magnets. Internet Computer has now ranked near the top for developer activity for nine consecutive months, with current efforts centered on its Mission 70 tokenomics reset designed to significantly lower inflation by the end of 2026. Cardano also moved higher as it enters its Voltaire governance phase, with development focused on decentralized treasury management and further optimization of its Hydra scaling solution. Meanwhile, Aptos continues to push performance improvements through upgrades to its Move programming language and expanding enterprise partnerships, particularly in gaming and social applications. Scaling, DeFi, and High-Performance Execution in Focus Scaling and DeFi-oriented projects remain highly active, even if some slipped slightly in rank. Starknet is concentrating development on a roughly fourfold throughput increase and the expansion of its BTCFi ecosystem, aimed at integrating Bitcoin liquidity into zero-knowledge rollups. Within the Sui ecosystem, both DeepBook and Sui posted rising activity. DeepBook is rolling out margin trading and gasless transactions to attract professional traders, while Sui’s core development targets sub-400 millisecond transaction speeds and deeper institutional DeFi integrations. Alongside them, Safe continues advancing modular smart accounts designed for AI-driven automation and stronger cross-chain security. Taken together, the latest rankings suggest that while market sentiment remains cautious, development across crypto’s core layers is accelerating rather than slowing. Historically, periods of strong builder activity during quieter market phases have often preceded renewed adoption, making these trends closely watched by long-term investors and ecosystem participants alike. #altcoins
Tether Nachrichten: Neue Einstellungen, Neue Geschäftsbereiche und eine breitere globale Strategie
Tether gestaltet sich leise um. Lange bekannt als ein eng geführter Stablecoin-Emittent, bewegt sich das Unternehmen nun in Richtung einer viel breiteren Unternehmensidentität - einer, die weniger wie ein Krypto-Dienstprogramm aussieht und mehr wie eine diversifizierte globale Gruppe, die Finanzen, Energie, KI und Infrastruktur umfasst.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse Tether erweitert seine Belegschaft um 50 Prozent, was einen klaren Wandel von einem schlanken Emittenten zu einer diversifizierten globalen Gruppe signalisiert. Rekordgewinne und massive Reserven finanzieren das Wachstum in den Bereichen KI, Energie, Bildung und regulierte Finanzen.
Strategy Adds $90M in Bitcoin With Citi Upgrading Its Market Outlook
Strategy has resumed its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation, adding fresh exposure as the world’s largest cryptocurrency trades just below the $70,000 mark at the time of writing.
Key Takeaways: Strategy bought 1,142 BTC, raising total holdings to 714,644 BTCBitcoin was trading near $70,000 at the time of writingStrategy shares jumped over 26% on the day The move reinforces the company’s long-standing conviction that Bitcoin remains a superior long-term store of value despite ongoing market volatility. In a statement shared by Michael Saylor, the company confirmed it had purchased 1,142 Bitcoin for approximately $90 million, at an average price of around $78,800 per coin. Following the transaction, Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings climbed to 714,644 BTC, accumulated at an average cost close to $76,000 per Bitcoin. In total, the company has now committed more than $54 billion to Bitcoin over several years. The purchase comes as Bitcoin stabilizes near $70,000 after a sharp correction from late-2025 highs, suggesting Strategy is once again using periods of consolidation and weakness to increase exposure rather than reduce risk.
Bitcoin Near $70K as Strategy Stays Aggressive At the time of the announcement, Bitcoin was trading in the $68,000-$70,000 range, recovering from recent downside pressure. While many institutional investors remain cautious amid tightening financial conditions and equity market volatility, Strategy’s latest move signals confidence that current prices still represent long-term value. Rather than attempting to time market bottoms, the company has consistently added Bitcoin across multiple price levels, framing its strategy around multi-year adoption trends rather than short-term cycles. Shares Surge as Market Responds Investors responded positively. Shares of Strategy Inc. surged more than 26% on the day, closing near $135 after one of the strongest single-session rallies in recent months. The rebound followed a steep early-February selloff that briefly pushed the stock toward the $110 area. The sharp move highlights how closely Strategy’s equity performance remains tied to Bitcoin sentiment. As Bitcoin steadied near $70,000, traders appeared to rotate back into the stock, viewing it as a high-beta proxy for renewed upside in the crypto market. Technical Signals Point to Short-Term Recovery From a technical standpoint, Strategy’s chart is showing signs of a potential trend reversal. After establishing a local bottom, the stock rebounded sharply, reclaiming the $130 zone - a level that previously acted as a key support area. Momentum indicators have turned constructive. The MACD has flipped bullish, with rising histogram bars suggesting strengthening upside momentum, while the RSI has climbed back toward the upper-50s, moving away from oversold territory. These signals point to improving short-term sentiment, though volatility remains elevated.
If the stock can maintain support above $130, traders may look toward the $150-$160 range as a next resistance zone. A failure to hold this level, however, could result in consolidation following the rapid rebound. Beyond crypto-specific signals, broader equity market expectations also remain supportive of risk assets. Citi Research projects that the current bull market is likely to extend into a fourth year in 2026, with a year-end S&P 500 target of 7,700. The forecast is based on an estimated $320 in earnings per share for the index and an outlook that market leadership should gradually broaden beyond mega-cap technology stocks toward small- and mid-cap names. According to Citi, this wider participation could help sustain upside momentum across risk markets, even as volatility persists. A Treasury Strategy Built Around Bitcoin The latest purchase confirms that Strategy’s broader playbook remains unchanged. The company continues to treat Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset, using a combination of capital markets activity and operating cash flow to expand its holdings. With more than 714,000 Bitcoin on its balance sheet, Strategy has effectively positioned itself as a publicly traded Bitcoin holding company. As Bitcoin trades near $70,000, each additional purchase further amplifies the company’s exposure to long-term price appreciation - and reinforces its status as the most prominent corporate Bitcoin bull in global markets. #Bitcoin❗
Why Ethereum, Not Faster Chains, Is Becoming the Base Layer for AI
Ethereum is increasingly being positioned as the natural foundation for AI agents, as developers and investors argue that autonomous intelligence needs a neutral and resilient settlement layer rather than pure transaction speed.
Key Takeaways The AI agent narrative prioritizes trust and neutrality over raw transaction speed.Ethereum’s long uptime and composable ecosystem are central to its AI thesis.ERC-8004 is emerging as a foundational standard for on-chain AI agents.Layer-2 networks reinforce Ethereum’s role as the backbone of AI-driven economies. This framing directly challenges the view that faster blockchains like Solana are best suited for AI-driven economies. Why AI Agents Need a Trust Layer The core thesis is that AI agents are evolving into real economic actors. These systems are expected to allocate capital, execute transactions, call APIs, and deliver verifiable outputs without human oversight. For this to work at scale, the infrastructure beneath them must be decentralized, censorship-resistant, and reliable under all conditions. Supporters argue that centralized systems or networks prone to outages introduce unacceptable risk once machines, not humans, are making financial decisions. Advocates point to Ethereum’s operational history as a key advantage. The network has operated continuously for more than a decade without a full shutdown, while maintaining global accessibility and strong composability across applications. This consistency is viewed as essential for AI agents that may need to act autonomously at any time, without relying on trusted intermediaries or centralized infrastructure. ERC-8004 and the Rise of On-Chain AI Standards A major catalyst behind Ethereum’s AI narrative is ERC-8004, a proposed standard designed to define how AI agents interact with capital, data, and services on-chain. As the originator of the standard, Ethereum has become the focal point for early experimentation. Builders are using ERC-8004 to give agents persistent identities, programmable permissions, and verifiable economic behavior. The ERC-8004 ecosystem map shows rapid expansion across multiple layers. Projects are emerging in agent finance, orchestration, marketplaces, discovery tools, and data and context services. Ethereum layer-2 networks such as Arbitrum, Base, Scroll, and Linea extend this vision by offering lower costs and higher throughput while anchoring security back to Ethereum’s base layer. Institutional Confidence and Developer Gravity Ethereum’s dominance in decentralized finance, its large and experienced developer base, and its growing acceptance among institutions are seen as critical for AI adoption. Proponents argue that AI agents interacting with real capital and real markets require an environment with strong legal, technical, and social legitimacy - something Ethereum has been building for years. A Settlement Layer for the Machine Economy Rather than marketing Ethereum as a standalone “AI chain,” supporters describe it as the settlement and trust layer for a future machine-driven economy. In this model, performance optimizations can happen on higher layers, but final settlement, coordination, and credibility remain anchored on Ethereum. If AI agents are to trade, coordinate, and allocate resources independently, the argument goes, they will need infrastructure that prioritizes security, permanence, and open standards above all else. #Ethereum #Aİ
Bitcoin Is Near the End of Its Down Cycle, Says Cathie Wood
Bitcoin is facing renewed pressure from the derivatives market, even as some analysts argue that the broader monthly structure still points to a much larger move ahead.
Key Takeaways Bitcoin is facing renewed selling pressure from the derivatives market as Net Taker Volume turns negative again.Seller dominance has intensified, with taker flows dropping to around -$272 million and Binance ratios slipping below 1.Futures trading continues to outweigh spot demand, making the recent price rebound look fragile despite a bullish long-term chart setup. Recent data shows that sellers are once again firmly in control, raising questions about whether the latest rebound can hold in the near term. Derivatives selling regains control On a monthly average basis, Bitcoin’s Net Taker Volume has flipped back into negative territory, signaling that aggressive sellers are dominating futures markets. After a relatively calm stretch between November and January, when buyers briefly pushed net taker flow to around $36 million, the balance has now swung sharply the other way. Current readings show selling pressure near $272 million, a clear shift back toward risk-off positioning.
This trend is also visible on Binance, the exchange that concentrates a large share of global derivatives volume. Over the same period, the taker buy-sell ratio slipped from 1.00 to 0.97, reinforcing the picture of growing sell-side dominance. More concerning for bulls is the pace of change: the selling pressure is not just persistent, but accelerating, which increases the burden on spot buyers to absorb futures-driven weakness. Spot demand lags futures activity Despite periodic ETF inflows and moments of spot buying, futures volumes continue to dictate short-term price action. The gap between derivatives activity and spot demand remains wide, suggesting that leveraged positioning is still the main driver of Bitcoin’s swings. In this environment, even modest macro shocks can amplify moves, especially if forced liquidations reappear. With key macro data such as US CPI and unemployment figures approaching, traders are increasingly cautious. The recent bounce in price is widely seen as fragile, vulnerable to renewed downside if macro conditions or risk sentiment deteriorate. A conflicting bullish signal on the bigger picture Adding complexity to the outlook, analyst Merlijn The Trader points to a very different signal on the monthly chart. According to his analysis, Bitcoin is forming a textbook cup-and-handle pattern, a structure typically associated with powerful continuation moves. He argues that such patterns rarely resolve quietly and tend to reprice the asset decisively once the breakout occurs.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $68,945, sitting uncomfortably between short-term derivative pressure and a potentially bullish long-term setup. For now, the tension between these two forces defines the market: heavy selling in futures is capping upside, while longer-term chart structures keep the bullish narrative alive. Until spot demand meaningfully overtakes derivatives activity, caution is likely to remain the dominant theme, even for traders who believe the bigger breakout is still ahead. #bitcoin
Binance Completes $300M Bitcoin Purchase for SAFU Fund
Binance has moved decisively to reinforce confidence in its safety infrastructure, completing the purchase of 4,225 Bitcoin for its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU).
Key takeaways Binance added 4,225 BTC to the SAFU fund using $300 million in stablecoinsTotal SAFU Bitcoin holdings now stand at 10,455 BTCThe conversion is part of a broader plan to fully rebalance the fund within 30 daysThe move signals long-term confidence rather than short-term price sensitivity The acquisition, funded with approximately $300 million in stablecoins, brings the SAFU Bitcoin balance to 10,455 BTC, underscoring a continued shift toward holding reserves directly in the leading digital asset.
SAFU conversion signals strategic confidence According to the update from Binance, the SAFU fund conversion is progressing as planned, with additional Bitcoin purchases expected as the process continues. By reallocating stablecoin reserves into Bitcoin, the exchange is effectively reducing exposure to fiat-linked assets while increasing alignment with the core crypto market. Binance emphasized that further updates will be shared publicly as each step is completed, reinforcing transparency around the fund’s composition. This strategy comes at a time when market participants are paying close attention to how major platforms manage risk and reserves. Rather than reacting to short-term volatility, the SAFU adjustment appears structured and pre-announced, suggesting a longer-term balance sheet decision rather than opportunistic buying. Market reaction remains measured Despite the size of the purchase, Bitcoin price action has remained relatively contained. After a brief dip, the market stabilized near the $69,900 level, with momentum indicators showing a recovery from oversold conditions rather than an impulsive breakout.
This muted response suggests the market had largely anticipated the SAFU conversion or views it as a structural move rather than a catalyst for immediate upside. Still, the broader implication is difficult to ignore: one of the largest crypto exchanges is steadily increasing its Bitcoin-denominated reserves. Over time, actions like this can contribute to reduced circulating supply and reinforce Bitcoin’s role as the primary reserve asset within the crypto ecosystem - even if the price impact unfolds gradually rather than all at once. #Binance
Bitcoin-Mining erleidet den größten Rückschlag seit 2021, als die Hash-Leistung sinkt
Das Bitcoin-Netzwerk hat gerade einen der schärfsten Stresstests seit Jahren durchlaufen, nachdem ein plötzlicher Rückgang der Mining-Aktivität die größte nach unten gerichtete Schwierigkeitsanpassung seit Chinas Mining-Verbot im Jahr 2021 ausgelöst hat.
Wichtige Erkenntnisse Die Mining-Schwierigkeit von Bitcoin fiel um 11,16 %, der größte Rückgang seit 2021, nach einem plötzlichen Verlust der Hash-Leistung. Extreme Winterwetter und fallende Preise haben dazu geführt, dass bis zu 20 % der Miner offline gingen, insbesondere in den USA. Trotz der Störung passte sich das Netzwerk reibungslos an und arbeitete ohne Probleme weiter.
French Magistrate Abducted in Crypto Extortion Plot
French police have arrested six suspects, including one minor, following the violent kidnapping of a magistrate and her mother in a case tied to cryptocurrency extortion, authorities confirmed this week.
Key Takeaways Magistrate and mother kidnapped near Grenoble in a crypto-linked ransom plot€1.6M cryptocurrency demand made, but no ransom was paidVictims escaped after 30 hours; six suspects arrestedCase adds to rise in violent “wrench attacks” in France The abduction occurred during the night of February 4–5, 2026, in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, near Grenoble. According to investigators, masked attackers broke into the home of a 35-year-old magistrate at around 3:00 a.m. The woman and her 67-year-old mother were overpowered, forced into the trunk of a car, and driven approximately 100 kilometers to Bourg-lès-Valence. The victims were held for nearly 30 hours inside a garage, restrained and under constant threat, before managing to escape. Crypto-Linked Ransom Demand Authorities believe the motive was financial and directly linked to cryptocurrency. The magistrate was targeted because her partner holds a senior position at a cryptocurrency startup. Shortly after the kidnapping, the partner received a photograph of the two women along with a ransom demand of €1.6 million, payable in cryptocurrency. The message reportedly included threats of severe physical harm if the transfer was not made quickly. No ransom was ultimately paid. Escape and Medical Treatment On February 6, the two women managed to free themselves from their restraints and began banging on the garage door and screaming for help. A nearby resident heard the commotion and alerted emergency services. Both victims were hospitalized suffering from injuries and shock. Prosecutors said the magistrate sustained head injuries during the abduction. Arrests and Suspects in Custody Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran confirmed that six suspects are currently being held in custody. Most of those arrested are between 18 and 20 years old. One of the suspects is a minor. Two individuals were arrested while attempting to flee France by bus toward Spain. A woman taken into custody is believed to be the partner of one of the four male suspects. Investigators continue to examine the group’s roles and any wider criminal connections. Rising Concern Over “Wrench Attacks” The case adds to a growing list of so-called “wrench attacks” in France, where criminals resort to physical violence and kidnapping to extort cryptocurrency rather than relying on digital hacks. In January 2026, a retired couple in Haute-Savoie was abducted after attackers discovered their son worked in the crypto sector, with a ransom demand of €8 million. A year earlier, in January 2025, a co-founder of hardware wallet firm Ledger was kidnapped, during which attackers severed one of his fingers before he was rescued. French authorities have warned that individuals linked to the cryptocurrency industry are increasingly being targeted offline, underscoring the escalating security risks tied to digital wealth. #crypto #crime
Ripple and XRP are entering mid-February 2026 with a rare convergence of regulatory progress, institutional adoption, and renewed market focus.
Key Takeaways Ripple’s valuation and IPO prospects are strengthening as institutional interest accelerates.Regulatory changes could unlock derivatives-market access for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin.XRPL adoption is rising fast, driven by real-world assets and stablecoin growth.XRP’s price rebound is losing momentum, pointing to short-term consolidation.
While price action remains choppy in the short term, developments around Ripple’s business, the XRP Ledger, and regulatory positioning are strengthening the long-term narrative. Ripple Emerges as a Top Global IPO Candidate Over the past 48 hours, Ripple has gained fresh attention after being ranked as the 9th-largest global IPO candidate. Current estimates place the company’s valuation near $50 billion, representing an increase of roughly 25% compared to late 2025. This re-rating reflects growing confidence that Ripple’s regulatory battles are largely behind it and that its infrastructure is increasingly relevant to traditional finance. The IPO discussion is also feeding into broader institutional interest in XRP, as investors assess Ripple not just as a crypto-native firm, but as a regulated financial infrastructure provider. CFTC Decision Opens a New Institutional Door A major regulatory milestone was reached on February 7, when the Commodity Futures Trading Commission updated its collateral guidance for derivatives markets. The revised framework now allows stablecoins issued by state-supervised banks to be used as eligible collateral. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin meets these criteria, potentially positioning it for use in institutional clearing and settlement across futures and options markets. If adoption follows, this could expose Ripple’s ecosystem to derivatives markets measured in the trillions of dollars, a scale few blockchain projects can realistically access. XRPL Sees Surge in Real-World Assets and Stablecoins On-chain data shows accelerating adoption on the XRP Ledger itself. Over the past 30 days, the value of real-world assets issued on XRPL jumped 265%, reaching approximately $1.4 billion. At the same time, the number of unique organizational holders rose by 69%, signaling growing enterprise participation rather than retail-only activity. Stablecoin usage on XRPL is also expanding. Total stablecoin market capitalization increased 18% month over month to $416 million, while transfer volumes climbed 45%. Together, these trends point to rising utility in payments, tokenization, and enterprise settlement. Community and Institutional Engagement Intensifies Ripple has confirmed that XRP Community Day 2026 will take place globally on February 11–12. The event is expected to feature updates from Brad Garlinghouse and Monica Long, with discussions centered on XRP ETFs, new partnerships, and institutional use cases. In parallel, Evernorth announced plans to go public via a SPAC merger, aiming to raise more than $1 billion to build what it describes as the world’s largest public XRP treasury. If realized, the move would mark one of the most aggressive corporate treasury strategies focused specifically on XRP. Upcoming XRPL Network Upgrade Developers are now preparing for a major XRPL amendment scheduled for activation on February 12. The upgrade introduces features such as permissioned domains, designed to support compliance-driven environments, along with early infrastructure for institutional DeFi, including single-asset vaults and regulated lending frameworks. Ripple has encouraged developers to test projects ahead of the upgrade to avoid potential disruptions once the amendment is live. XRP Market Context and Supply Dynamics XRP is currently trading in the mid-$1.40 range after rebounding from a sharp early-February selloff. The recovery followed Ripple’s routine release of 1 billion XRP from escrow on February 1, part of its long-standing and predictable supply schedule. While escrow releases often draw attention, the market reaction this time suggests traders are more focused on broader macro and regulatory factors than on supply mechanics alone. Technical Analysis: Momentum Fades After Sharp Rebound The 1-hour XRP/USD chart shows a strong rebound from the $1.20 area, followed by a loss of momentum near $1.45. After briefly escaping oversold territory, the RSI has slipped back into the high-30s to mid-40s range, indicating weakening bullish strength.
MACD signals reinforce this view. The indicator has rolled over near the zero line, with histogram bars turning negative, suggesting fading upside momentum. Price action has shifted into a sideways consolidation, with XRP struggling to reclaim resistance around $1.48–$1.50. If the current range breaks lower, traders are likely to watch the $1.30–$1.32 zone as near-term support. On the upside, a decisive move above $1.50 would be needed to restore bullish momentum and reopen the path toward recent highs. Outlook: Strong Fundamentals, Cautious Price Action Ripple’s expanding regulatory clarity, institutional traction, and on-chain growth present one of the strongest fundamental setups XRP has seen in years. However, the technical picture suggests the market may need additional time to consolidate before committing to the next directional move. For now, XRP sits at a crossroads, supported by improving fundamentals but constrained by short-term momentum signals that remain fragile. #Ripple
Coinbase Announces Infrastructure-Level Integration With Sui Network
The Sui Network and Coinbase revealed a major strategic partnership on February 6-7, 2026, elevating Sui beyond a standard exchange listing.
Key Takeaways Sui is being integrated into Coinbase’s core infrastructure, not just listed as a tradable token.The move strengthens Sui’s institutional and regulatory positioning, including ETF-related custody.SUI price moved higher after the announcement despite recent token unlock pressure. The agreement embeds the Sui Token Standard directly into Coinbase’s global infrastructure, effectively positioning Sui alongside core networks such as Ethereum and Solana within the exchange’s internal systems. This type of integration is rare and signals that Coinbase views Sui as foundational infrastructure rather than just another supported asset. More Than a Listing: What the Integration Means Unlike typical listings, Coinbase is adopting the Sui Token Standard across its wallets, custody solutions, and backend services. This allows SUI-based tokens to move seamlessly through the Coinbase ecosystem, reducing friction for developers launching new tokens and simplifying onboarding for users interacting with Sui applications.
For builders, this lowers technical barriers. For users, it means smoother transfers, storage, and interaction with Sui-native assets across Coinbase products. Institutional and Regulatory Expansion The partnership also deepens ties between Coinbase Institutional and the Sui Foundation. The two are expanding custody and treasury management services aimed at institutional investors, reinforcing Sui’s positioning as an institution-ready blockchain. Regulatory access plays a key role as well. The move builds on Coinbase’s decision in December 2025 to enable SUI trading for New York residents under the state’s strict BitLicense framework, a regulatory milestone that few digital assets achieve. ETF Links Strengthen the Narrative The collaboration aligns closely with Bitwise’s recent filing for a proposed SUI exchange-traded fund. Coinbase Custody was named as the ETF’s asset custodian, tying the exchange directly into Sui’s potential expansion into traditional financial markets. This overlap between infrastructure integration and ETF custody adds another layer of institutional credibility to the network. Sui’s 2026 Roadmap Comes Into Focus Coinbase cited strong developer activity and Sui’s Move-based programming model as key reasons for the deep integration. The timing also coincides with Sui’s broader 2026 roadmap, which includes protocol-level private transactions with no user opt-in, the launch of a native USDsui stablecoin offering gas-free transfers, and the rollout of Sui Stack (S2), an initiative designed to evolve Sui into a full-stack development platform. Market Reaction and Price Context Following the announcement, SUI posted daily gains in the range of roughly 3% to 14%, trading near the $1.00 level as it recovered from broader market lows. The rebound came after short-term selling pressure earlier in the month, triggered by a $65 million token unlock on February 1, 2026. While volatility remains, the Coinbase partnership appears to have shifted attention back toward Sui’s longer-term growth and institutional trajectory. #coinbase #SUİ
Ethereum Activity Hits Record High as Price Lags Behind
Ethereum’s on-chain activity is surging to levels never seen before, even as its market price remains far below previous highs.
Key Takeaways Ethereum mainnet transactions have reached a new all-time high of about 70.4 million monthly.ETH remains roughly 60% below its previous peak despite accelerating network usage.Binance ETH reserves have fallen to their lowest level since 2024, reducing available sell-side supply.Traders increasingly view current price action as base-building, with $4,000 as a key confirmation level. New data shows a growing disconnect between network usage, exchange supply, and price action - a combination that analysts say often appears during long base-building phases rather than market tops. Record activity on Ethereum mainnet Ethereum has quietly set a new benchmark for network usage. Monthly transactions on the mainnet have climbed to roughly 70.4 million, marking an all-time high. Activity has accelerated sharply, with transactions up around 36% over the past month, 46% over six months, and nearly 90% compared to the same period last year.
The rise reflects steady growth in users, applications, and demand for block space, rather than a short-lived spike. Analysts tracking on-chain metrics note that this type of expansion usually signals deeper network adoption, even when price action lags behind fundamentals. Despite this explosion in activity, ETH is still trading roughly 60% below its all-time high, reinforcing the idea that the market has yet to fully reprice Ethereum’s underlying usage. Price structure points to base formation From a technical perspective, traders are increasingly framing Ethereum’s current range as accumulation rather than distribution. According to market commentary from Merlijn The Trader, ETH has successfully held the $1,500-$2,200 zone as demand, while recent sell-offs appear to have flushed out weaker hands.
Liquidity sweeps below key levels have so far failed to trigger sustained downside follow-through. The next critical test sits near the $4,000 mark, which traders view as the level that would confirm a broader trend reversal. Until then, price consolidation remains consistent with a prolonged base-building phase. Exchange reserves keep falling On the supply side, exchange data adds another layer to the story. According to CryptoQuant, Ethereum reserves on Binance have declined to around 3.7 million ETH, the lowest level since 2024. Importantly, the drawdown has been gradual rather than sudden, suggesting intentional repositioning rather than panic withdrawals. Exchange reserves represent ETH readily available for spot selling. When balances trend lower over time, it often signals reduced immediate sell pressure, as more coins move into long-term storage, staking, or DeFi usage.
Historically, similar reserve declines have preceded periods of tighter supply, especially when paired with rising on-chain activity. Fundamentals strengthening beneath the surface Taken together, Ethereum’s rising transaction counts, declining exchange balances, and stable price structure paint a picture of strengthening fundamentals that are not yet reflected in market valuation. While short-term price volatility remains possible, the underlying data suggests Ethereum is consolidating rather than topping out. For long-term observers, the gap between usage growth and price performance may be one of the most notable developments in the current cycle. #Ethereum