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ETH trades in a narrow band as resistance near $2,150 stalls every recovery attempt this month.

Momentum and futures data show traders holding back while the market searches for direction.

Extreme fear readings push capital toward Bitcoin and leave ETH reacting sharply to uncertainty.

Ethereum has extended its pullback again today as its chart flattened into an increasingly narrow pocket of trade, leaving the market to navigate yet another stretch of indecision. At press time, ETH exchanges hands near $1,959, down roughly 5% on the day and sitting squarely between the two levels that have defined its behavior all month.

The coin has been stuck beneath $2,150 while refusing to give up the $1,750 floor, a corridor that continues to tighten as volatility drops. Recently, a short-lived rally pushed ETH up nearly 20% earlier this week, but the move hit a wall almost immediately. Sellers defended the upper boundary with enough strength to knock the price back toward the center of the range, erasing the attempt to build momentum.

Rejection at Resistance Reinforces the Ceiling

However, that rejection was not entirely unexpected. The same ceiling halted previous advances, and the latest test simply reaffirmed where supply remains heavy. This range formed after a more dramatic technical breakdown.

Earlier, Ethereum lost support from a symmetrical triangle pattern that had constrained movement for months. The structure reflected extended compression. Once the price broke below the lower trendline, bearish momentum accelerated.

Source: TradingView

Consequently, the breakdown resulted in a 42% slide, sending the token to a 10-month low near $1,741. That level now anchors the lower boundary of the current band. Since then, stabilization has replaced panic, but no confirmed bullish reversal has emerged. Instead, price continues to oscillate between $1,750 and $2,150.

Indicators Signal Hesitation, Not Panic

On the same accord, momentum readings paint a muted picture. The Relative Strength Index sits at 42, soft but well above oversold territory. It suggests buyers lack urgency, though bears aren’t overwhelming the tape either.

It’s a middle-ground reading that often shows up during cooling phases, when traders wait for a clearer signal. Futures activity follows the same pattern. Per CoinGlass data, open interest has hovered between $23 billion and $26 billion throughout February.

Source: CoinGlass

This signals that ETH traders are neither chasing long positions nor piling into shorts. Derivatives desks have kept their exposure mostly unchanged, echoing the tight action seen in spot markets. The pause reflects caution rather than outright fear.

ETH Trails Broader Market in Risk-Off Mood

Notably, the underperformance becomes clearer when compared with the wider market. Bitcoin slipped only 2.18% in the same window, and global crypto valuations eased less than 3%. However, Ethereum’s steeper slide highlights how quickly sentiment can erode when traders become selective about risk.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Similarly, the market’s mood is already fragile. The CoinMarketCap Fear & Greed Index sits at 16, deep in “Extreme Fear.” Under such conditions, traders often rotate toward assets perceived as steadier. That flow tends to benefit Bitcoin rather than alternative tokens, leaving ETH exposed to sharper moves when confidence thins.

Related: HYPE Jumps 6% as Bullish Structure Holds: Key Levels Ahead?

Key Levels Still Dictate Direction

For now, nothing breaks the pattern. The $1,750–$2,150 range continues to anchor short-term expectations. Yet, a close above the upper band would signal that buyers have regained control, opening the door to retracement levels near $2,394 and $2,595.

Conversely, a decisive drop under $1,750 would do the opposite and risk a fresh cycle low. Until one side finally forces that move, Ethereum remains boxed in, a market waiting, watching, and trading cautiously inside the narrow path it has carved for itself.

The post Ethereum Slips 5% as Price Stalls in Tight Range: What’s Next for ETH? appeared first on Cryptotale.

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The OCC said it will review World Liberty Financial’s bank charter like any filing.

Warren pressed Jonathan Gould yet he refused to pause or reject the application.

A new Terra lawsuit revived LUNC interest as traders tracked legal accountability.

A dispute over President Donald Trump’s business ties and crypto regulation resurfaced in Congress after the nation’s top banking regulator refused to pause review of a bank charter linked to Trump’s crypto venture. During a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould rejected calls from Senator Elizabeth Warren to halt consideration of World Liberty Financial’s proposed national trust bank. 

Gould said the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency would handle the filing like any other application. Markets showed little reaction to the exchange.

Senate Clash Over Crypto Bank Charter

The confrontation unfolded during a hearing on prudential regulators before the Senate Banking Committee. Senator Elizabeth Warren, the panel’s ranking member, urged Gould to delay or deny the application connected to World Liberty Financial.

The application came from WLTC Holdings LLC last month. It seeks approval to create World Liberty Trust Company, National Association. The proposed entity would operate as a federally regulated trust bank designed to support the firm’s USD1 stablecoin operations.

Warren referenced a Jan. 13 letter she sent to the OCC. In that letter, she called for an immediate halt to the review. She argued that approval while Trump maintains financial ties to World Liberty Financial would place the regulator in an unprecedented position.

BREAKING

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN SLAMS TRUMP-BACKED WLFI

“President Trump’s crypto company is the most disgraceful presidential corruption scandal in HISTORY”

“Anyone who owns 10% or more of World Liberty Financial must be disclosed or the bank application will be… pic.twitter.com/kuVLPx3aiC

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) February 27, 2026

She said the OCC would oversee and shape the profitability of a company connected to a sitting president. She pressed Gould on whether he would pause or reject the charter.

Gould declined. He said the agency would process the submission “as we process all applications.” When Warren repeated her request, he responded, “The only political pressure I have felt from any part of the US government, Senator, is from you.”

World Liberty Financial said it complied with all required disclosures during the application process. A company spokesperson accused Democrats of “playing politics” and said the filing would move forward in a “fair and evenhanded manner.”

Gould also said agency staff manage the licensing process under publicly available procedures. He said transparency remains essential to maintaining public trust in the regulatory framework. Will political scrutiny alter the course of the OCC’s review?

Institutional Moves and Corporate Earnings

While the hearing drew attention in Washington, markets remained largely steady. Still, institutional investors adjusted positions in other sectors. First American Trust FSB increased its holdings in Charter Communications by 65.9%. The firm now owns 25,772 shares valued at $7.09 million. In contrast, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. reduced its stake in Charter Communications by 22.8%.

It sold 7,090 shares and retained 24,060 shares worth $6.619 million. The move reflected a strategic portfolio adjustment. Meanwhile, Optical Cable Corporation reported revenue growth of 9.5% to $73 million in fiscal year 2025. The company reduced its net loss to $1.5 million from $4.2 million.

Management credited expansion into the data center market, including collaboration with Lyttera. Gross profit margin improved to 30.9%. Sales order backlog rose to $7.3 million from $5.7 million year over year. For fiscal year 2026, management forecasts stable revenue of $66.67 million. It expects stronger performance in the second half of the year due to seasonal trends.

Related: Senate Panel Advances Market Structure Bill in Narrow Party-Line Vote

Terra Lawsuit Revives Market Interest

Elsewhere, legal developments stirred the crypto market. On Monday, Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy administrator filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan. The complaint alleges that Jane Street used non-public information to execute profitable trades. It claims those trades accelerated the 2022 collapse of TerraUSD and LUNA, which led to about $40 billion in losses.

The lawsuit renewed attention around LUNC. Lee said the legal action has “reignited trader sentiment around accountability and potential compensation.”

He added that some traders position themselves on the belief that favorable developments could shift market perception or unlock value for legacy holders. He also said headlines about alleged insider trading have correlated with short-term spikes in trading activity and price interest.

Lee cautioned that the ultimate legal outcome remains uncertain. He said that if spot-buying activity continues without price declines, the rally could extend higher.

The post OCC Rejects Calls to Pause Trump-Linked Crypto Bank Bid appeared first on Cryptotale.

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Bankman-Fried says AI may favor crypto since banks cannot easily verify software agents.

He argues digital wallets could let AI buy computing faster without human identity checks.

His remarks come as U.S. lawmakers keep debating rules that may reshape crypto markets.

Imprisoned FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has identified what he calls the biggest question for crypto: whether artificial intelligence will use it as a payment layer. Writing on X, he asked how AI systems like ChatGPT or Claude would pay for compute as they grow more autonomous. He argued that traditional finance poses obstacles to AI-driven transactions, while crypto may offer a digital alternative.

Bankman-Fried framed the issue in terms of payment rails. He questioned whether an AI seeking more processing power would use wire transfers, credit cards, or crypto. He wrote that traditional finance “doesn’t work well for AIs” because they lack passports, addresses, or social security numbers.

He added that crypto “works much better” because it is digital and permissionless. He noted that AI systems can already query blockchains and generate wallet addresses. That structure, he suggested, aligns with the needs of autonomous software.

AI, Compute, and Digital Payments

As AI models scale, their demand for compute continues to rise. Compute refers to the processing power required to run advanced systems. According to Bankman-Fried, the method of payment for that resource could shape crypto’s role.

The biggest question for crypto:

will AI use it?

Say an instance of ChatGPT, or Claude, wants more compute.

Does it pay by wire transfer, credit card, or crypto?

On the one hand, trad finance doesn't work well for AIs.

Like—how do they KYC? They have no passport, address,…

— SBF (@SBF_FTX) February 26, 2026

He argued that decentralized ledgers allow AI agents to transact without identity documents. An AI can generate a wallet and sign transactions. It can also execute micro-payments in real time, matching digital operations with digital settlement.

In contrast, he described legacy banking as identity-based. He asked how an AI could complete know-your-customer checks without legal documents. That friction, he suggested, may limit traditional rails for autonomous agents.

He then posed a broader fork in the road. Either finance adapts to become natively digital for AI, or AI remains tied to a human “master” model. That model would treat each AI as an agent of a specific person.

Under that structure, the human would complete KYC checks and assume responsibility. Bankman-Fried asked, “Who is legally responsible for what an AI does?” He described liability as a key unresolved issue.

Liability and Legal Uncertainty

Bankman-Fried noted that granting an AI a crypto wallet and trading authority raises legal risks. If an AI causes market disruption or executes harmful trades, current laws offer limited guidance. Regulators would need to determine responsibility among programmers, owners, or other parties.

Related: Sam Bankman-Fried Challenges 25-Year Sentence With New Trial Bid

He wrote that “some work needs to be done to plug the world of AI into the world of trading and payments.” He said the solution will either rely on crypto-native systems or a human-supervised model. He added that the direction will carry large implications.

His remarks arrive as lawmakers continue debates over crypto regulation. The Clarity Act seeks to define jurisdiction between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The House passed the bill last year, and Senate discussions continue.

The bill has faced debate over stablecoin yield treatment and conflict-of-interest concerns. Some firms adjusted positions as revisions moved forward. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said clearer rules would reassure markets, while prediction market data shows fluctuating odds of passage before the year’s end.

SBF’s Conviction and Political Context

Bankman-Fried was convicted in 2023 on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy after FTX collapsed in November 2022. Prosecutors said he misused customer funds through Alameda Research. In 2024, a federal court sentenced him to 25 years in prison. He is appealing the conviction.

Recent social media posts attributed to him included supportive remarks about President Donald Trump. Some observers viewed those posts as efforts to seek a presidential pardon. Reports indicate that the White House has said no pardon is planned.

Trump previously granted clemency to other crypto figures, yet officials ruled out similar action for Bankman-Fried. He previously supported the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act in 2022, though that proposal lost momentum after FTX collapsed.

Lawmakers from both parties have stated that crypto regulation debates will proceed independently of his public statements. Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried’s central question remains: will AI adopt crypto as its native payment layer?

The post Can AI Make Crypto the Main Payment Rail for Global Trade? appeared first on Cryptotale.

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The Fed is seeking to block sealed subpoenas tied to Powell’s renovation testimony.

Jeanine Pirro’s inquiry has sharpened pressure on Powell and the Fed leadership.

The dispute now risks delaying Kevin Warsh’s nomination in the Senate process.

The Federal Reserve has launched a sealed legal effort to block two subpoenas issued in U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Fed asked a judge to quash the demands as prosecutors examine whether Powell gave false testimony to Congress about a $2.5 billion renovation project. The dispute unfolds before a grand jury and remains largely out of public view due to secrecy rules governing criminal cases.

Pirro, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, opened the probe in November. The investigation focuses on answers Powell gave during a Senate hearing last summer about cost overruns tied to renovations of two historic Federal Reserve buildings.

The Justice Department sent the subpoenas to the Fed on Jan. 9, one day after Pirro attended a White House event where Trump criticized U.S. attorneys for not prosecuting his preferred targets quickly enough. The subpoenas requested a response toward the end of January.

Sealed Legal Fight Over Subpoenas

The WSJ reported that the Federal Reserve is challenging the subpoenas in sealed proceedings. Its specific legal arguments remain undisclosed. Courts often allow subpoena recipients to contest requests they consider overly broad or protected by privilege.

Because the matter sits before a grand jury, secrecy rules limit public access to filings and arguments. As a result, details about the Fed’s position remain unknown.

Pirro has defended the inquiry. She said her office issued the subpoenas after it failed to receive answers to multiple information requests. In December, a lawyer from her office sent two emails to the Fed seeking a meeting about the renovation project.

Meanwhile, Powell addressed the investigation directly. In a Jan. 11 video statement, he said the probe served as a pretext in Trump’s campaign to pressure the central bank to lower interest rates and weaken its independence.

Renovation Testimony and Political Tensions

The investigation centers on a brief exchange at a Senate hearing last summer. Lawmakers questioned Powell about renovation costs for two historic Fed buildings.

White House officials later suggested that Powell either made false statements about costs or that the Fed failed to update building records. The dispute eased after Trump toured the project with Powell in July.

During Senate testimony, Powell rejected claims that the renovations were lavish. He called certain descriptions “misleading and inaccurate.” He said the project included no new marble beyond necessary replacements, no special elevators, and no rooftop gardens or new water features.

At the same time, Trump has pressed the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to spur growth and lower borrowing costs. The Fed has taken a cautious approach, citing inflation risks. Trump has publicly criticized Powell, calling him a “moron,” a “stubborn mule,” a “Trump Hater,” and “Mr. Too Late.”

Against this backdrop, one question remains: will the legal clash reshape the balance between political pressure and central bank independence?

Related: Powell at The Supreme Court Tests Federal Reserve Independence

Confirmation Standoff and Senate Resistance

The investigation has also complicated the Senate confirmation process for Kevin Warsh, the former Fed governor whom Trump selected to succeed Powell when his term ends in May.

Republicans have sought a resolution to the standoff. The dispute threatens to delay Warsh’s confirmation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed the matter on CNBC, saying, “There were subpoenas issued. But that doesn’t have to mean that there are charges.”

Earlier in January, Bessent told CBS, “I think that the message is that independence does not mean no accountability.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, has said he will not advance any Fed nomination, including Warsh’s, until the Justice Department concludes its probe. All Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee have taken the same position. As a result, the committee’s 13-11 Republican majority cannot move a nominee forward without Tillis.

Tillis has warned that steps taken outside traditional channels could erode investor confidence in the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates without political interference.

Trump has signaled that Pirro intends to pursue the investigation fully. On Feb. 2, he told reporters at the White House that Pirro “is going to take it to the end and see.” During that appearance, he described the renovation cost as $4 billion, exceeding the $2.5 billion figure previously cited.

The post Powell Probe Deepens as the Fed Moves to Block Subpoenas appeared first on Cryptotale.

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Heinen spune că proiectul de lege olandez privind impozitul pe criptomonede nu poate fi adoptat în forma actuală și necesită revizuiri.

Impozitul propus de 36% taxează câștigurile pe hârtie chiar și atunci când investitorii nu au vândut activele.

Aprobarea Senatului rămâne în așteptare în timp ce miniștrii reiau discuțiile înainte de începutul din 2028.

Investitorii olandezi în criptomonede au reacționat cu ușurare după ce ministrul de Finanțe Eelco Heinen a spus că va modifica legislația care taxează câștigurile nerealizate pe active digitale. Legea ar impune un impozit de 36% pe creșterile pe hârtie ale valorii criptomonedelor. Heinen a spus că proiectul de lege nu poate trece în forma sa actuală și necesită modificări înainte de a face progrese suplimentare.

Jeff Park says no evidence shows firms are capping Bitcoin around 10 a.m. daily.

He says ETF hedging can distort price action without proving deliberate market abuse.

ETF inflows stayed strong even as Bitcoin faced pressure and drew fresh scrutiny.

Bitwise advisor Jeff Park rejected claims that Bitcoin faces deliberate price suppression around 10 a.m. He said no evidence shows coordinated manipulation or price capping by any firm. The debate grew after speculation linked ETF market-making activity to repeated intraday weakness in Bitcoin prices. Park argued critics misunderstand how ETF liquidity and price discovery operate.

Claims of 10 A.M. Price Suppression

The discussion began after parts of the crypto community questioned recurring price patterns near 10 a.m. Some traders suggested institutional market makers tied to spot Bitcoin ETFs pushed prices lower during that window. Critics cited trading behavior and links to major liquidity providers.

NEW: NO PROOF OF 10AM BITCOIN “MANIPULATION,” SAYS BITWISE ADVISOR

Bitwise (@Bitwise) advisor Jeff Park (@dgt10011) pushes back on claims of deliberate 10am Bitcoin $BTC price suppression.

He argues the structure of ETF market-making is being misunderstood.

Park states no… pic.twitter.com/payM0LZZNS

— BSCN (@BSCNews) February 26, 2026

Park dismissed those claims. He said no participant explicitly caps Bitcoin’s price. He added that no meaningful proof supports allegations against firms such as Jane Street or other designated market makers.

According to Park, observers misread normal ETF operations. He said price discovery inside ETF structures often appears complex. He explained that arbitrage and liquidity provision help keep ETF prices aligned with underlying assets. Those mechanics can create patterns without signaling manipulation.

At the same time, he noted that misunderstanding ETF flows may fuel suspicion. Some retail investors see repeated price dips and assume coordinated action. Park maintained that the structure, not conspiracy, drives those outcomes.

Related: Bitwise Adds AVAX Staking to Avalanche ETF Proposal

ETF Structure and Authorized Participants

Separately, Park discussed the role of Authorized Participants in spot Bitcoin ETFs such as IBIT. He said APs operate within a regulatory framework that includes a “gray window” under Regulation SHO. That exemption removes borrowing costs when they short as part of ETF creation activity.

Park explained that APs can hedge ETF creations using futures instead of buying spot Bitcoin. As a result, ETF inflows do not always translate into direct spot purchases. He described the process as structural rather than conspiratorial.

“It’s not a conspiracy, it’s structural,” Park said, referring to how zero-cost, long-duration hedging can shape price action. He argued that this setup may keep Bitcoin from rising as quickly as inflows suggest.

Investors reacted to that assessment. Some agreed that structural hedging may explain why Bitcoin has not reached $150,000 despite strong ETF demand. The debate expanded beyond 10 a.m. price moves to broader questions about ETF influence.

Everyone is asking: "Is Jane Street why Bitcoin isn't at $150k?"

As expected, the answer is trickier than the question. But it's also more structurally unsettling than the conspiracy theory itself—and once you understand the actual mechanics, you won't be able to unsee them pic.twitter.com/iLEeJpDeo4

— Jeff Park (@dgt10011) February 25, 2026

ETF Inflows and Market Reaction

Meanwhile, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded strong inflows during the controversy. On Feb. 25, 2026, they attracted $506.6 million in one day. BlackRock’s IBIT led with $297.4 million.

The inflow followed $257.7 million recorded on Feb. 24. Together, the two sessions marked a short inflow streak. Earlier in the month, flows alternated between positive and negative days.

Since launch, total net inflows have surpassed $54 billion. Average daily inflow stands near $102.5 million. Peak daily inflows have exceeded $1.3 billion, signaling institutional participation.

Even so, Park argued that these inflows have not fully translated into price surges because of AP hedging practices. Options activity turned bearish during a sharp correction in early February. Yet net ETF flows remained positive.

Park attributed that volatility to risk reduction across traditional finance channels and non-directional hedging by professional traders. He said long-term capital did not exit in large numbers.

The post Bitwise’s Jeff Park Denies 10 A.M. Bitcoin Price Suppression appeared first on Cryptotale.

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HYPE revine cu 6% la 28.16 dolari după o retragere de 16%, extinzând o fază de recuperare de trei zile.

Volumul de tranzacționare crește cu 62% la 348 milioane de dolari, pe măsură ce interesul deschis crește la 1.11 miliarde de dolari, semnalizând o poziționare nouă.

O recuperare decisivă a benzii de rezistență de 29–27 dolari rămâne critică pentru continuarea bullish.

HYPE a crescut din nou joi, extinzând o revenire care s-a întins acum într-o a treia sesiune consecutivă. Tokenul se schimba mâini aproape de 28.16 dolari în momentul redactării, în creștere cu aproximativ 6% în ultimele 24 de ore.

Revenirea vine după o inversare bruscă la începutul săptămânii, când prețul a scăzut cu aproximativ 16% de la un vârf aproape de 30 dolari la minime în jur de 25 dolari. Acea scădere a perturbat temporar o bandă de suport între 29 și 27 dolari, o zonă care a conținut cea mai mare parte a retragerilor din februarie.

Hackers used fake ‘bug bounty’ prompts to bypass Claude AI safety guardrails.

Around 150GB of data, including 195M taxpayer records, was reportedly extracted.

Anthropic banned linked accounts and strengthened safeguards after the breach.

A month-long cyber campaign has exposed how generative tools can be turned into operational hacking assistants. According to reports, investigators say an attacker manipulated Claude AI, the chatbot developed by Anthropic, to generate exploit scripts and reconnaissance plans that were later used against Mexican government systems.

HACKERS USE CLAUDE AI TO STEAL 150GB FROM MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Hackers reportedly exploited Anthropic’s Claude evading its safeguards by repeatedly framing prompts as a “bug bounty”.

The generated scripts were used to breach 150GB of data from Mexican agencies that… pic.twitter.com/hC5KTZZyoq

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) February 26, 2026

Israeli cybersecurity firm Gambit Security disclosed that the intruder extracted roughly 150 gigabytes of sensitive information. The haul allegedly included 195 million taxpayer records, voter registration files, civil registry documents, and government employee credentials. The breach has raised new scrutiny of how persistent, carefully framed prompts can bypass guardrails in advanced AI systems.

A Prompt Strategy Disguised as Security Research

According to Gambit Security, the campaign began in December 2025 and lasted about four weeks. The attacker repeatedly presented malicious requests to Claude AI as if they were part of a legitimate bug bounty program. Each prompt was written in Spanish and structured to resemble standard vulnerability testing procedures.

Investigators said Claude AI initially rejected several instructions. However, the hacker continued refining the prompts, gradually persuading the system to respond. Over time, the chatbot generated vulnerability scan scripts, exploit code targeting configuration weaknesses, and automation workflows for extracting data from compromised systems.

Reporting by Bloomberg noted that the chatbot flagged some requests as policy violations before eventually producing technical outputs. The attacker reportedly framed the activity as ethical hacking exercises, allowing the model’s safeguards to be circumvented through repetition and context manipulation.

When Claude AI could not provide detailed guidance, evidence suggests the intruder consulted OpenAI’s ChatGPT for supplementary explanations about lateral network movement and internal architecture mapping.

Systems Allegedly Affected

The data reportedly originated from multiple public-sector entities. Among those named were Mexico’s Federal Tax Authority, known as Servicio de Administración Tributaria, and the National Electoral Institute, or Instituto Nacional Electoral. Several state government systems and public utilities were also cited in the findings.

The volume of exposed material has intensified concerns. Taxpayer files alone accounted for nearly 195 million records. Investigators also documented voter registration databases and internal access credentials tied to public employees.

However, some Mexican authorities have disputed claims of unauthorized entry. Jalisco state officials and representatives from the electoral institute said internal access logs showed no confirmed breaches. Other agencies declined to comment but emphasized ongoing reviews of cybersecurity protocols.

Related: U.S. Senate Inquiry Targets Binance Over Alleged $1.7B Iran, Russia Illicit Crypto Flows

Company Response and Containment Measures

Anthropic confirmed that it examined the misuse of Claude AI after receiving the research findings. The company said it identified and suspended the accounts linked to the activity. It also stated that lessons from the incident informed updates to newer Claude AI models, including improved safety training and stronger abuse detection systems.

The episode comes amid broader warnings about AI-assisted cybercrime. Per reports, researchers at Amazon recently briefed that a small group of hackers breached more than 600 firewall devices across dozens of countries using widely available AI tools.

On the other hand, security analysts describe the Mexican incident as a case study in prompt engineering abuse. Instead of exploiting a software flaw, the attacker exploited context and persistence. By reframing commands as sanctioned security testing, the hacker transformed Claude AI into a tool for reconnaissance and code generation.

Investigations remain ongoing as authorities assess the full scope of compromised data. The case underscores how advanced chatbots, when manipulated, can accelerate intrusion planning and scale the technical output available to a single actor.

The post Hackers Frame “Bug Bounty” Prompts to Access Mexican Government Data appeared first on Cryptotale.

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Kalshi disclosed two insider trading cases and said more than a dozen remain active.

One case involved a MrBeast editor accused of trading on privileged show knowledge.

The CFTC endorsed Kalshi’s action and warned it can pursue similar violations swiftly.

Kalshi said it penalized two users for insider trading, including an editor linked to social media star MrBeast. The regulated prediction market platform disclosed the actions on Wednesday. It said it has more than a dozen active cases among 200 investigations. The company operates as a designated contract market licensed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC noted it can investigate and prosecute violations when appropriate.

MrBeast Editor Suspended and Fined

Kalshi identified one user as Artem Kaptur, who worked for James Donaldson, known as MrBeast. Donaldson’s brand spans a large social media presence and the reality competition show “Beast Games.”

Kaptur worked as a visual effects editor on the show. Kalshi said he placed $4,000 in trades tied to outcomes on MrBeast content. The company determined that he used unique knowledge related to his work.

As a result, Kalshi suspended Kaptur for two years. It also fined him more than $20,000. The company stated that insider trading violates its user policy and exchange rules.

@jesseahamilton reports.https://t.co/PkS68Nuxel

— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) February 25, 2026

Beast Industries, Kaptur’s employer, responded in a statement. “Beast Industries has no tolerance for this behavior, whether by contestants or our own employees,” the company said. It added that it maintains a longstanding policy barring employees from using proprietary company information.

The company also said it has initiated an independent investigation. At the same time, it encouraged Kalshi to communicate its findings more openly in the future.

Second Case Involves Political Candidate

Kalshi also resolved a case involving user Kyle Langford. The company said Langford bet $200 on his own candidacy for California governor. He then posted about the wager on social media.

Kalshi banned Langford for five years. It also imposed a penalty equal to 10 times his trade amount. Langford now runs for Congress. He did not respond to a request for comment.

The CFTC issued an advisory on Wednesday that referenced both matters. The regulator said Kalshi’s internal enforcement handled the cases. It added that the agency can investigate and prosecute violations when it deems involvement appropriate.

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig addressed the issue on X. “Our exchanges are the CFTC’s first line of defense in policing insider trading in prediction markets,” he wrote. He added that he was pleased to see Kalshi act. “Let me be clear: if you attempt to engage in manipulation, fraud, or insider trading, we will find you and take action.”

Our exchanges are the @CFTC’s first line of defense in policing insider trading in prediction markets. I'm pleased to see that our exchanges are adhering to their oversight responsibilities as self-regulated organizations and our Enforcement Advisory today reflects that. Let me… https://t.co/ajXnAR8OCw

— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) February 25, 2026

Industry Growth and Ongoing Scrutiny

Prediction markets have drawn heavy wagering in recent years. According to BBC News, leading firms attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in bets on the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Regulators scrutinized the industry during the Biden administration. In contrast, the sector has received a warmer reception during Donald Trump’s presidency. Donald Trump Jr. serves in advisory roles at Kalshi and Polymarket.

Insider trading remains illegal in the stock market. Yet prediction markets operate under fewer regulations. That gap has raised questions about enforcement standards.

In another high-profile case, a gambler made nearly half a million dollars on the capture of Venezuela’s president just before officials announced it. The incident raised concerns about possible use of inside knowledge tied to a U.S. operation.

Related: Kalshi’s Massachusetts Case Tests Finance Vs Gambling Rules

During a recent CNBC interview, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour addressed a hypothetical scenario. He struggled to define insider trading in an example involving people in a stadium before the Super Bowl who might know what performer Bad Bunny would sing first. Kalshi had listed contracts tied to that outcome.

Mansour compared Kalshi’s controls to those of stock market firms. “We do the same thing on Kalshi. We have the same mechanism for enforcement,” he said. He also stated that users must recognize the risks of betting on information under uncertain restraints. “We want to work with policymakers and regulators to get that right,” he said.

As prediction markets expand and draw political and entertainment-linked contracts, one question remains: how will regulators define and enforce insider trading in a sector that blends finance with real-world events?

The post Kalshi Cracks Down on Insider Trading in Two Major Cases appeared first on Cryptotale.

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Bitcoin Depot acum necesită un act de identitate pentru fiecare tranzacție la ATM în desfășurarea sa la nivel național.

Statele au crescut presiunea după pierderi din fraudă, iar noile legi privind ATM-urile cripto au restrâns regulile.

Multiple procurori generali au dat în judecată Bitcoin Depot pentru protecții slabe împotriva escrocheriilor.

Bitcoin Depot a avansat cu o nouă regulă în această lună, cerând fiecărui client de la chioșcurile sale să prezinte o identificare înainte ca o tranzacție să poată continua. Schimbarea a fost implementată în tăcere încă din februarie, iar compania spune că o face în întreaga sa rețea din SUA în etape.

The paper calls for clear tax rules that reduce friction for everyday digital asset use.

It also backs privacy safeguards and workable standards for crypto tax reporting.

The proposal ties tax treatment to true ownership and actual economic change in use.

The Blockchain Association on February 24, 2026, released a formal set of principles guiding U.S. digital asset tax legislation. The document outlines consensus positions on administrability, privacy, global competitiveness, and economic ownership. It calls for clear rules that support compliance while reducing undue burdens on taxpayers.

The association states that tax policy must remain workable for both individuals and the IRS. It argues that digital asset taxation should reflect the realities of modern financial activity. The framework presents ten core principles intended to shape legislation and regulation.

The group also affirms that taxpayers must comply with the law. At the same time, it says they deserve clear tools and predictable standards to meet obligations accurately.

Administrability and Functional Consistency

The association calls for a meaningful de minimis exemption for digital asset transactions. It states that reporting negligible gains from routine transactions imposes disproportionate compliance costs. It adds that billions of low-dollar reports would generate minimal capital gains revenue.

It also proposes that stablecoins should receive cash treatment for tax purposes. According to the document, this change would prevent taxpayers from tracking fractional gains on routine payments. It further recommends removing stablecoins from the digital asset reporting definition under IRS Form 1099-DA.

In addition, the association urges functional consistency across financial products. It argues that similar economic activities should receive similar tax treatment regardless of technical structure. Modernization, it states, ensures certainty as technologies evolve.

The document addresses mining and staking. It describes them as core mechanisms that secure decentralized networks. It proposes taxing rewards upon disposition rather than creation. It also says sourcing should align with the token owner’s residence.

Privacy, Competitiveness, and Anti-Abuse

The association stresses taxpayer privacy within reporting regimes. It warns that applying traditional cash-reporting models to transparent blockchains may create unintended safety risks. It also reiterates that reporting should apply only to intermediaries with custody or control.

Congress previously determined that non-custodial developers and infrastructure participants should not be treated as brokers. The document echoes that position. It frames this limitation as essential to enforcement without overreach.

The group also calls for global competitiveness. It proposes a statutory safe harbor for foreign persons trading digital assets on U.S. exchanges. It states that such alignment would support liquidity and reduce offshore migration.

On anti-abuse measures, the document supports extending wash sale rules to digital assets. Yet it says lawmakers must craft those rules carefully. It recommends exemptions for employees compensated in digital assets and coordination with mark-to-market regimes.

Related: IRS Delays Crypto Tax Rules, Easing Burden on Investors

Economic Ownership and Market Treatment

The association argues that taxation should follow economic substance rather than technical form. It explains that wallet transfers, smart contract interactions, or cross-chain representations often do not change economic exposure. It proposes treating such transactions as nonrecognition events.

Taxation, it states, should apply only when economic position changes. Examples include selling an asset or exchanging it for materially different exposure. This approach aligns tax with realized gain.

The framework also addresses equal access. It calls for clarity that staking does not constitute impermissible business activity within grantor trusts or partnerships. It further supports allowing digital assets in retirement accounts.

The document proposes optional mark-to-market accounting for assets with readily determinable market values. It states that taxpayers should select methods reflecting their economic reality. It also encourages charitable giving without mandatory third-party appraisals for liquid assets.

Finally, the association urges recognition of blockchain development as qualifying research and development activity. It states that clarifying eligibility for R&D tax credits would align incentives with technological advancement.

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Senate probe targets Binance over $1.7B Iran and Russia crypto transfers flagged internally.

Reports cite IRGC wallets and Russia’s shadow fleet oil payments via intermediaries.

Binance says upgrades cut sanctions exposure by 96.8 percent from 2024 to 2025.

Binance is again facing questions in Washington, this time over allegations that roughly $1.7 billion in crypto transactions may have reached sanctioned Iranian and Russian networks through its platform. A senior U.S. senator has opened a preliminary inquiry, asking whether the exchange’s internal controls failed at a critical moment.

According to reports, Senator Richard Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, confirmed he sent a formal letter to Binance Chief Executive Richard Teng seeking documents and internal records.

The request focuses on reported transfers tied to Iranian entities and Russia’s sanctions-evading oil trade. It also questions why certain compliance employees were reportedly sidelined after flagging suspicious activity.

Senate Letter Cites Media Investigations

The inquiry follows recent reporting by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Fortune. According to Richard, those accounts described internal findings at Binance that allegedly connected two platform partners, Hexa Whale and Blessed Trust, to transactions involving Iranian government-linked entities.

He further noted that compliance staff raised concerns that Hexa Whale had acted as an intermediary in moving funds connected to groups such as the Yemeni Houthis. Internal investigators also identified transfers to digital wallets associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, along with payments tied to crew members operating vessels in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” used to move oil outside sanctions frameworks.

Blumenthal’s letter said the activity went undetected until close to $2 billion had moved. He questioned whether the scale of those flows was compatible with the compliance commitments Binance made in its 2023 settlement with U.S. authorities. This led to the senator requesting documentation outlining how the transactions were handled and what steps were followed once they were discovered.

Past Violations and Regulatory History

The inquiry revisits a company that has already paid a steep price for past lapses. In 2023, Binance agreed to more than $4 billion in penalties tied to anti-money laundering failures. As a result, founder Changpeng Zhao later served jail time related to those violations.

Recently, Blumenthal described the exchange as a ‘repeat offender’ and argued that dismissing or suspending staff who identified problematic transfers would raise further questions. His letter also referenced Binance’s financial partnership with World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm linked to members of the Trump family and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.

Per Richard, this influence campaign worked. He pointed to May 2025, when the Securities and Exchange Commission dropped a lawsuit accusing Binance of misleading regulators and mishandling funds. Months later, Zhao received a presidential pardon. The timing, Blumenthal suggested, warrants additional review.

Related: Why Bitcoin Below Strategy Holdings’ Price Matters Now: Saylor’s Discount

Binance Responds to U.S. Senate Inquiry Claims

Binance, on the other hand, has rejected the allegations. In a blog post responding to the initial media coverage, the company said its compliance program is “best-in-class” and described the reports as distorted accounts relying on claims from former employees.

The exchange acknowledged that global financial systems face persistent risks from bad actors. However, it said it has invested heavily in upgrades since 2023, expanding sanctions screening and transaction monitoring tools.

Binance stated those efforts led to a 96.8% decline in sanctions-related exposure between January 2024 and July 2025. Company officials maintained that the compliance process worked in the cases cited and said Binance continues to cooperate with law enforcement agencies worldwide.

For lawmakers, the issue now extends beyond a single exchange. The inquiry underscores broader concerns about whether digital asset platforms can effectively block sanctioned entities from moving funds across borders. The Senate subcommittee is expected to review Binance’s response in the coming weeks before deciding whether further action is necessary.

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South Korea Customs will expand training to sharpen crypto crime probes nationwide.

KCS will add blockchain analysis and field drills to track illicit digital flows.

Cambodia and South Korea also agreed to deepen trade and crime enforcement ties.

South Korea’s Korea Customs Service agreed with Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation and crime enforcement. At the same time, KCS unveiled a sweeping redesign of its special judicial police training to combat cryptocurrency-related financial crimes and cross-border offenses.  The agreement and training overhaul signal tighter enforcement against illicit drug trafficking and digital asset abuse.

The announcement followed a meeting in Phnom Penh on February 12, where GDCE Director General Kun Nhem received a Korean delegation led by KCS Director General Lee Myeong-koo. Both sides discussed joint operations, intelligence sharing, and coordinated action against transnational crime.

Lee stated that KCS will transform how its special judicial police investigate financial crimes. The agency will upgrade professional education at the Customs Border Control Training Institute while expanding on-the-job training across customs offices nationwide.

Training Overhaul Targets Digital Crime

KCS outlined detailed plans to reshape investigative training across multiple levels. First, the Customs Border Control Training Institute will introduce enhanced professional programs that focus on financial crime detection. At the same time, regional customs offices will strengthen field-based instruction to connect theory with daily enforcement work.

The agency will also launch a new long-term course dedicated to foreign exchange investigations. This program will cover virtual asset tracking methods, blockchain analysis tools, and structured case studies drawn from prior investigations. Officers will practice tracing transaction patterns across exchanges and identifying suspicious flows.

Related: South Korea Tightens Seized Crypto Rules After 22 BTC Loss

In addition, the curriculum will address cryptocurrency mixing services and privacy-focused coins that criminals often exploit. Officers will work with real-world case data to build technical skills and investigative judgment. Through this dual structure, KCS aims to develop field investigators capable of responding to complex financial schemes.

Lee Myeong-koo said, “The redesign of the training system is an investment to enhance the professionalism and accountability of customs investigations fundamentally.” He added, “We will systematically cultivate excellent field investigation personnel to leap forward as a trustworthy investigative agency that protects the safety of the people and a fair market order.”

Bilateral Cooperation Expands Enforcement Scope

Meanwhile, the meeting in Phnom Penh centered on stronger cooperation between Cambodian and South Korean customs authorities. Kun Nhem welcomed the Korean delegation and expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship between the two agencies.

He observed that trade has progressed through cooperative efforts, which also enhanced intelligence-sharing capabilities to fight international criminal activities. The partnership provided technical support, which helped develop human resources for customs administration functions. 

The two parties reached an agreement to conduct joint operations against drug trafficking and financial crime activities. The two parties’ commitment to establishing better methods for sharing information and coordinating their activities. The customs authorities of both nations plan to enhance their ability to address new security challenges.

Adapting to a Rapidly Changing Financial Landscape

The training redesign reflects South Korea’s response to the growing role of virtual assets in the global financial system. South Korea ranks among the most active cryptocurrency markets, and authorities have dealt with high-profile crypto money-laundering cases.

Investigations have shown that criminal networks use cryptocurrencies to move funds across borders and conceal their origins. They often rely on mixing services, privacy-centric coins, and decentralized exchange platforms. In this environment, how can customs authorities keep pace with fast-moving digital transactions?

KCS has therefore integrated international cooperation protocols into its new training structure. Officers will train alongside financial intelligence units from other countries to address cross-border crypto investigations. The program also covers legal frameworks that govern virtual asset seizures and anti-money-laundering compliance.

Officials said the overhaul extends beyond technical tools. It also aligns training with evolving domestic and global regulations on virtual asset exchanges and reporting requirements. South Korean authorities continue to update oversight measures and coordinate among agencies that handle financial crimes, as digital assets gain prominence in both legal and illicit markets.

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Reports say investigators traced $1.7B in flows to Iran-linked entities and IRGC-tied wallets.

Reports cite 1,500+ Iran-accessed accounts and USDT transfers via Hong Kong entities.

Binance denies violations and firings while citing Iran exchange exposure since 2024.

Binance has rejected reports that internal investigators uncovered $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency flows to Iranian-linked entities and later faced dismissal. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported that investigators traced funds to accounts linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and other Iran-backed groups. Binance denied violating sanctions laws and said no employee faced dismissal for raising compliance concerns.

Internal Probe and Alleged Iran Links

According to the New York Times, Binance investigators discovered last year that more than 1,500 accounts had been accessed from Iran. They also found that roughly $1.7 billion moved from two Binance accounts to Iran-linked entities.

The report stated that one of the accounts belonged to Blessed Trust, a Hong Kong payments firm that acted as a fiat partner for Binance. Investigators presented their findings to CEO Richard Teng and Chief Compliance Officer Noah Perlman.

Leung Ka Kui, a director of Blessed Trust, told the New York Times that the company did not knowingly facilitate sanctions-breaching transactions. He said its work with Binance involved routine disbursements such as invoices and payroll. Blessed Trust did not provide further comment.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that another Hong Kong entity, Hexa Whale Trading, moved roughly $500 million in USDT to the same Iranian network. Both publications cited documents stating that the funds supported Iran-backed groups, including Yemen’s Houthis.

Investigators reportedly concluded that the transactions were connected to entities tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The publications cited internal documents to support their accounts.

Disciplinary Actions and Executive Changes

Reports claim that Binance suspended or fired investigators involved in the probe in 2025 after they presented their findings. The Wall Street Journal reported that executives dismantled the probe weeks after Zhao received a U.S. presidential pardon in October.

The NYT stated that at least four investigators faced discipline for alleged mishandling of confidential client data shortly after they reported the Iran-linked transactions. Both outlets cited internal documents and unnamed sources.

Several senior compliance officials have exited in recent months. The exchange has searched for a successor to Chief Compliance Officer Noah Perlman, who is expected to depart later this year.

The reports surfaced after Zhao founded Binance in 2017 and built it into the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to money laundering, resigned, and received a four-month prison sentence. He also agreed to pay a $50 million fine and accepted a ban from involvement in the business.

Related: Binance Founder CZ Meets Trump Allies as USD1 Push Expands

Binance Response and Broader Context

In a statement to the Guardian, a Binance spokesperson said the company “did not violate sanctions laws in respect of the transactions described.” The spokesperson also denied that internal investigators lost their jobs for raising compliance concerns.

“No investigator was dismissed for raising compliance concerns or for reporting potential sanctions issues,” the statement said. Binance also addressed the issue on X, citing reduced exposure to Iranian entities.

The exchange stated that it reduced direct exposure to the four largest Iranian crypto exchanges by more than 97.3% between January 2024 and January 2026. Exposure reportedly fell from $4.19 million to about $0.11 million.

“Public blockchains are permissionless. Anyone can send assets to an exchange deposit address. Exposure cannot be reduced to zero,” Binance wrote on X. Zhao also posted that media reports repeated “negative narratives” from fired employees and claimed Binance has the “best compliance program in the industry.”

In 2023, Binance pleaded guilty and agreed to internal monitoring along with a criminal fine of nearly $1.81 billion and a $2.51 billion forfeiture order to settle three charges. The company also pledged to pursue bad actors, including customers from Iran.

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Bitcoin trades below Strategy’s $76K realized price, spotlighting corporate cost pressure.

Strategy holds 717,722 BTC, equal to roughly 3.4 percent of the total circulating supply.

Firm deployed $22.4B in 2025, marking its largest annual Bitcoin accumulation to date.

Bitcoin is trading below the average price paid by its largest corporate holder, and that gap has placed fresh attention on Strategy Inc.’s balance sheet. The company, formerly known as MicroStrategy, has accumulated more than 717,000 coins since 2020 and has not sold any of them. Its estimated realized price stands near $76,000 per coin, while the market recently hovered around $63.4K.

That difference, described as “Saylor’s discount,” refers to the gap between the company’s acquisition cost and current market value. It matters because Strategy now controls roughly 3.4% of the circulating supply, embedding its cost basis into the broader market structure.

Six Years of Relentless Accumulation

Strategy began its accumulation program in 2020 under Executive Chairman Michael Saylor. Since then, it has deployed capital at a scale rarely seen in public markets. Annual purchases reached $1.1 billion in 2020 and $2.57 billion in 2021. Spending slowed to $276 million in 2022 before rising to $1.9 billion in 2023.

Source: Strategy

The pace accelerated sharply afterward. The company invested $21.9 billion in 2024 and $22.4 billion in 2025. In 2026 alone, it has already allocated $4.1 billion. According to CryptoQuant data, 2025 marked its largest year of capital deployment.

Recently, an SEC filing shows Strategy added another 592 coins yesterday for nearly $40 million, paying an average of $67,286 per coin. The purchase raised total holdings to 717,722 coins, valued at about $48 billion at current prices.

Per the report, the acquisition was funded by selling 297,940 shares of Class A common stock through an at-the-market program. The disclosure followed a post by Executive Chairman Michael Saylor featuring a chart titled “The Orange Century.” Market participants interpreted the image as a signal that another purchase was imminent.

The Orange Century. pic.twitter.com/8zelTduTPC

— Michael Saylor (@saylor) February 22, 2026

The timing aligned with the company’s established pattern of incremental accumulation. Since 2020, Strategy has executed 99 separate acquisitions. Yesterday’s transaction marked its 100th purchase, underscoring the consistency of its approach. The running tally highlights a structured buying strategy rather than attempts to time short-term price swings.

Realized Price vs. Market Price

Strategy’s realized price, estimated near $76,000, represents its average acquisition cost. With Bitcoin trading well below that level, the company sits on an unrealized loss relative to its aggregate entry price.

Analysts caution that realized price is not a valuation model. It reflects cost basis rather than intrinsic worth. However, when a single entity controls more than 3% of supply, its average cost becomes a visible reference point for market participants.

Per CoinMarketCap’s data, the market recently dipped about 5% in 24 hours, leaving the asset near $63.4K and below the $65,000 threshold. Traders are now watching $60,000 as the next key support level. Volatility remains elevated, and liquidity conditions have tightened.

Meanwhile, Strategy’s Class A shares traded at $123.71, down 7.34% on the day referenced. The company’s stock performance often tracks movements in Bitcoin due to the scale of its holdings.

Related: Crypto Panic Deepens as Fear Index Hits 8 and Liquidations Surge to $375M

Why the Discount Draws Attention

The current price gap does not automatically imply undervaluation. Instead, it highlights how deeply institutional participation has integrated into market mechanics. With more than 717,000 coins on its books, Strategy’s cost basis has become a benchmark watched by both traders and analysts.

Bitcoin below Strategy’s realized price reflects broader macro pressure and persistent selling rather than a shift in corporate policy. The firm continues to accumulate despite price weakness.

For now, the “Saylor’s discount” captures a measurable divergence between corporate conviction and market pricing. As long as Bitcoin trades under that $76,000 threshold, the gap will remain part of the market conversation.

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The Missouri House moves Bill 2080 ahead, targeting a long-term state Bitcoin reserve.

The plan gives the Treasurer custody powers with strict reporting and security rules.

Renewed effort follows a prior bill that stalled before digital asset momentum grew.

The Missouri House has pushed Bill 2080 deeper into the legislative process, giving new momentum to a proposal that would place Bitcoin inside a state-managed reserve for the first time in Missouri’s history.

The measure surfaced early in the 103rd General Assembly and quickly cleared its initial readings before landing in the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 19. Per reports, it is a renewed attempt by lawmakers to formalize a digital asset strategy after an earlier effort stalled last year.

Missouri’s 103rd General Assembly introduced House Bill 2080 (Rep. Keathley) to create a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund in RSMo Chapter 30. Managed by the State Treasurer, the fund accepts resident Bitcoin donations or bequests, stores them securely for at least five years, and…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) February 23, 2026

Essentially, Bill 2080 lays out a clear structure but stops short of grand promises, instead centering on custody, oversight, and a long holding horizon. According to an official report, the Missouri State Treasurer would take charge of a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund, built under Chapter 30 of state law.

Besides, residents could donate Bitcoin directly to the state, including through estate transfers, with each contribution locked in secure storage for no less than five years. Only after that window could the Treasurer consider any sale or conversion.

Inside the Structure of Missouri’s Proposed Bitcoin Reserve

The legislation outlines a framework that leans heavily on security and compliance. Basically, Bill 2080 bars foreign or unlawful involvement in the reserve, limiting participation to approved U.S.-based partners that may assist with custody or related services.

The Treasurer, for instance, would be required to issue biennial reports detailing holdings, storage protocols, and any changes to reserve management. These reports stand as the main public-facing accountability mechanism. The proposal also introduces a simplified donation process.

Individuals who transfer Bitcoin to the state could receive recognition through a formal acknowledgment program. Beyond donations, the bill directs government agencies to accept specified cryptocurrency payments once the operational framework is established, effectively weaving digital assets into certain public-facing transactions.

A Renewed Push After an Earlier Bill Fell Short

This measure marks Representative Ben Keathley’s second push to create a state-backed Bitcoin structure. His earlier bill, HB 1217, surfaced in February 2025 and contained similar provisions, including Treasurer oversight and long-term custody requirements.

That effort received a committee hearing in March 2025 but never advanced and expired at the end of the session. However, Bill 2080 reopens the discussion in a different committee and in a broader political climate.

Notably, over the past year, several states have taken steps to explore or adopt their Bitcoin reserve plans, while national policy changes have reshaped expectations about digital asset management. The Missouri House is now positioning itself to revisit an idea that gained traction elsewhere after Missouri’s first attempt fell short.

National Shifts Push States Toward Bitcoin Reserve Strategies

Interest in the public sector Bitcoin reserves accelerated in 2025 when the federal government established its national strategic reserve under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

That move set off a wave of state-level proposals. Lawmakers in Kansas and Florida introduced similar measures, while Arizona, Texas, and New Hampshire passed legislation supporting digital reserve structures.

If passed, Bill 2080 would place Missouri among states evaluating Bitcoin as part of long-term treasury planning rather than speculative investment. By setting strict custody horizons and barring volatile short-term maneuvers, the bill adopts a conservative approach that mirrors the direction of several recently drafted state policies.

Related: New SEC Policy Allows 2% Haircut Rule for Stablecoin Capital

Next Steps in the Bill 2080 Legislative Path

Overall, if enacted, Bill 2080 would take effect in August 2026. The measure focuses narrowly on asset handling, reporting, and donation pathways, framing Bitcoin as a strategic contribution rather than a tool for immediate fiscal operations.

Whether the Missouri House ultimately backs the concept will depend on upcoming committee discussions, but the forward movement alone signals a notable shift. Missouri is again weighing whether digital assets deserve a foothold in its treasury strategy, this time with broader national precedent behind it.

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Aproximativ 20 de clienți au raportat 2,67M USDT lipsă din conturi începând de la începutul lunii ianuarie.

Jurnalele interne au legat un inginer de 34 de ani de verificările bazei de date ale conturilor clienților.

Poliția l-a arestat pe angajat, iar echipa Yau Tsim 9 urmărește acum ancheta completă privind furtul.

O companie de investiții în criptomonede din Tsim Sha Tsui a raportat că aproximativ 20 de clienți au pierdut USDT în valoare de 20,87 milioane HK$ la începutul acestui an, ceea ce a determinat poliția să aresteze un angajat al companiei sub suspiciunea de furt. Pierderile au implicat aproximativ 2,67 milioane USDT și au avut loc într-o firmă care operează o platformă de decontare a criptomonedelor în Turnul de Sud al Hong Kong Plaza, pe Science Museum Road.

Crypto panic intensifies as Fear and Greed Index collapses to an extreme reading of 8.

Over $375 million in liquidations wipe out 124,557 traders in a 24-hour cascade.

Bitcoin and Ethereum lead broad losses as tariff headlines pressure risk markets.

Crypto markets lost their footing again, and the tone shifted fast. During early trading sessions, the Fear and Greed Index fell to 8, a level associated with outright capitulation. The reading, tracked by CoinNess, placed sentiment deep inside the “extreme fear” band, territory usually reserved for disorderly pullbacks rather than routine corrections.

Source: CoinNess

However, the mood change was not subtle. Liquidation data and spot prices moved in tandem, reinforcing a sense that traders were backing away all at once. Figures compiled by CoinGlass showed that $375.45 million in crypto derivatives positions were wiped out over 24 hours, underscoring a rapid unwind of leveraged exposure.

Sentiment Hits Rare Lows

The Fear and Greed Index, which aggregates volatility, trading activity, and broader engagement signals, runs from zero to 100. A reading of 8 suggests markets are operating with minimal risk appetite. Such readings tend to appear when downside momentum has already accelerated and confidence thins out quickly.

Consequently, red screens dominated across the majors. CoinMarketCap data indicated that each of the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market value declined over both the daily and weekly time frames. Losses ranged from 1% to as much as 12%, underscoring that the weakness was broad rather than isolated.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Bitcoin, for instance, slipped 4.42% to trade near $63,044, while Ether dropped 3.41% to around $1,822. The total crypto market capitalization also fell 2.98%, landing near $2.19 trillion. None of the moves was historic in isolation. Taken together, they reinforced the sense of coordinated retreat.

Long Positions Bear the Brunt

Following these adverse sentiments, the derivatives desks absorbed the sharpest impact. Of the $375.05 million in liquidations, long positions accounted for $291.38 million, a major contrast with shorts, which represented $84.69 million. The imbalance points to a classic long squeeze, where leveraged bullish bets are forced to unwind into falling prices.

Source: CoinGlass

In total, 124,557 traders were liquidated within the day. Not to leave out, the largest single order, valued at $2.95 million, occurred on Aster’s BTCUSDT pair. Per the report, Bitcoin alone saw approximately $150 million in liquidations, while Ether followed with $105 million.

The pattern was straightforward: as prices drifted lower, margin thresholds were breached. Automated closures added to the selling pressure. Momentum fed on itself for several hours before stabilizing.

Macro Crosscurrents Return

The selloff did not occur in isolation. Market data showed an 88% correlation between crypto assets and the S&P 500 ETF, SPY, which declined 0.9% during the same period. The alignment suggests digital assets were moving in step with broader risk markets rather than carving out an independent path.

Besides, equities reacted to renewed trade tensions tied to former President Donald Trump. Reports indicated the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump had exceeded his authority when invoking emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs.

However, within hours, Trump turned to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, announcing a 10% duty on imports and later stating the rate would rise to 15%, the maximum allowed under current law.

The timing overlapped with renewed selling in equities and cryptocurrencies alike. Traders cited policy uncertainty as one factor behind the repositioning.

Related: Is DOGE Primed for a Breakout as the $0.09 Floor Remains Intact?

A Market in Defensive Mode

With the Fear and Greed Index at 8 and hundreds of millions in positions erased, the current stretch reflects defensive behavior rather than selective rotation. The liquidation imbalance, the broad-based declines, and the equity correlation all point in the same direction.

Crypto panic, as reflected in the fear and greed index, has become measurable in both sentiment and leverage data. Whether conditions stabilize will depend on how quickly risk appetite returns. For now, the numbers show a market pulling back, decisively and without much hesitation.

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Terraform’s plan administrator alleges Jane Street used non-public TerraUSD data.

The suit points out a Curve3pool withdrawal sequence during the May 7, 2022 depeg.

Jane Street rejects the claims and is still waiting for a formal court response.

Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy administrator has sued Jane Street in U.S. federal court, alleging the trading firm used non-public information to profit during the 2022 TerraUSD collapse. The complaint claims Jane Street accessed internal liquidity decisions and positioned trades as TerraUSD lost its dollar peg, according to The Wall Street Journal. The case adds to ongoing legal fallout from the Terra ecosystem’s $40 billion wipeout.

Todd Snyder, the court-appointed plan administrator for Terraform, accused Jane Street of exploiting confidential communications during a crisis. “Jane Street abused market relationships to rig the market in its favor during one of the most consequential events in crypto history,” Snyder told The Wall Street Journal.

JUST IN: Terraform Labs files lawsuit against Jane Street, alleging insider trading tied to $UST and $LUNA collapse. pic.twitter.com/pU2A4FbkHb

— CryptoGoos (@cryptogoos) February 24, 2026

Jane Street denied the claims. A company spokesperson described the lawsuit as a “desperate attempt to extract money,” according to statements cited by the publication. The firm has not yet filed a formal court response.

Alleged Use of Non-Public Information

According to the complaint cited by The Wall Street Journal, Jane Street gained advance insight into Terraform’s internal liquidity plans as TerraUSD began to lose its peg in May 2022. The lawsuit claims the firm used that knowledge to structure profitable trades.

The complaint points to Bryce Pratt, a Jane Street employee and former Terraform Labs member, as a key link. Snyder alleges Pratt maintained communication lines with former colleagues at Terraform, including a software engineer and the head of business development.

Those conversations allegedly occurred in a private chat group. Snyder claims the channel transmitted Terraform-related information to Jane Street during a period of extreme market stress.

In one instance, the complaint describes a withdrawal of 150 million TerraUSD from the Curve3pool on May 7, 2022. Terraform did not announce the move publicly. Within ten minutes, a wallet allegedly tied to Jane Street withdrew an additional 85 million TerraUSD from the same pool. The lawsuit states that the timing and details of these withdrawals were not disclosed to the public.

Broader Legal Fallout From Terra’s Collapse

Terraform Labs, led by founder Do Kwon, collapsed in 2022 after its algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD entered a death spiral alongside its sister token Luna. The crash erased more than $40 billion in market value and triggered bankruptcies across the crypto lending sector.

After failed revival efforts, Terraform filed for bankruptcy in 2024. Following that filing, the company agreed to pay the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission $4.47 billion in penalties.

Meanwhile, legal action expanded beyond Jane Street. In late December, Terraform’s administrator filed a separate lawsuit against Jump Trading in U.S. federal court. That complaint accused the firm of unlawfully profiting from and materially contributing to the Terra ecosystem’s collapse.

Last December, Do Kwon received a 15-year prison sentence in the United States after pleading guilty in August to two criminal counts. His conviction marked a major milestone in the government’s response to the Terra collapse.

Related: Terraform Labs Launches Claims Portal for Crypto Losses

A Test of Insider Trading Theory in Crypto

Legal observers say the Jane Street case could test the boundaries of insider trading law in digital asset markets. The complaint relies on a stricter misappropriation theory, which does not require a traditional corporate insider relationship.

Under that approach, liability may arise if a market participant obtains confidential information from a protocol team and trades against the broader market. Rossow, cited in the report, said the theory could expand who qualifies as an insider in crypto cases.

“It suggests that in crypto, an ‘insider’ isn’t just an executive; it’s anyone with a private line to the ‘war room’ of a protocol during a crisis,” Rossow said.

The case will likely hinge on materiality and the source of the information, Rossow added. Analysts now watch how courts interpret communication channels between decentralized finance protocols and market makers.

The post Terraform Targets Jane Street in TerraUSD Insider Trade Claim appeared first on Cryptotale.

The post Terraform Targets Jane Street in TerraUSD Insider Trade Claim appeared first on Cryptotale.

La Secția de Poliție Gangnam din Seoul, 22 BTC au dispărut în timp ce dispozitivul USB a rămas securizat.

Auditorul Agenției Naționale de Poliție a început după ce procurorii au pierdut 320 BTC în Gwangju din cauza phishing-ului.

Procurorii verifică acum wallet-urile prin Blockchain.com și Etherscan pentru a preveni utilizarea necorespunzătoare a cheilor.

Autoritățile sud-coreene plănuiesc noi linii directoare de gestionare pentru criptomonedele confiscate, după ce poliția a descoperit că 22 de Bitcoin au dispărut în timpul unei investigații. Pierderea a avut loc la Secția de Poliție Gangnam din Seoul. Investigatorii au găsit cei 22 BTC, în valoare de aproximativ 1,5 milioane de dolari, care nu mai erau în wallet-ul rece folosit din noiembrie 2021. Wallet-ul fizic USB a rămas în custodia poliției, totuși cineva a mutat Bitcoin-ul într-un wallet extern fără autorizație.