BlockchainReporter

The crypto sector has witnessed a rebound over the past 24 hours as institutional inflows are returning to the market. Hence, the total crypto market capitalization has surged by 1.18% to reach $2.33T. However, the 24-hour crypto volume is 3.28% down at $79.46B. At the same time, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains within the “Extreme Fear” zone while accounting for 12 points.

Bitcoin ($BTC) Sees 1.48% Increase While Ethereum ($ETH) Drops by 0.70%

Particularly, the flagship cryptocurrency, Bitcoin ($BTC), is now changing hands at $67820.60. This price indicates a 1.48% rise while the market dominance of $BTC stands at 58.4%. Nonetheless, the leading altcoin, Ethereum ($ETH), is currently trading at $1,956.01, signifying a 0.70% dip. In the meantime, $ETH’s market dominance accounts for 10.2%.

$TRUMP, $ELEVATE, and $MUBARAK Lead Top Crypto Gainers of Day

Apart from that, the PEPE ($TRUMP), Elevate ($ELEVATE), and Mubarak ($MUBARAK) are the leading names on the list of today’s top crypto gainers. Specifically, $TRUMP has surged by a staggering 1281.22%to hit $0.0002600. Subsequently, a 1002.65% increase has placed $ELEVATE’s price at $0.08754. Following that, $MUBARAK is currently hovering around $0.01329, showing a 628.74% increase.

DeFi TVL Surges by 0.07% While NFT Sales Volume Records 52.07% Plunge

Simultaneously, the DeFi TVL has spiked by 0.07% to attain the $94.906B mark. Contrarily, the top DeFi project in terms of TVL, Aave, has dropped by 0.82%, claiming $26.834B. Nevertheless, when it comes to 1-day TVL change, MistSwap is the top player in the DeFi market, accounting for the stunning 47829% increase over the past twenty-four hours.

Contrarily, the NFT sales volume is 52.07% down at $8,116,152. In addition to this, the top-selling NFT collection, Flying Tulip PUT, has slumped by 73.95% to reach $3,210,917.

Upbit and Bithumb Plan $AZTECH Listing and deBridge Introduces MCP for AI-Led On-Chain Transfers

Concurrently, the crypto industry has also experienced several influential developments over 24 hours. In this respect, South Korean exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, have unveiled the plans to list Aztech ($AZTECH) for trading against South Korean won ($KRW), $USDT, and $BTC.

Moreover, deBridge is introducing Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, letting developer tools and AI agents execute non-custodial swaps, multi-step on-chain flows, and bridging across Solana and EVM-compatible chains. Furthermore, the White House has signalled a compromise on rewards, saying that they may remain in the Clarity Act.

Polymarket traders have gained significant attention after bets on the U.S. confirmation of extraterrestrial life ahead of 2027. Specifically, the probability of the contract has jumped to 24% from just 11%. As per the data from CoinRank, this reflects a wide speculative momentum, with market participants seeming more optimistic about the acceleration of disclosure debates.

ALIEN EXISTENCE CONFIRMATION PROBABILITY RISES ON POLYMARKETOn Polymarket, the probability of the U.S. government confirming alien existence before 2027 has increased to 24%, up from 11%. The contract's resolution is contingent on an order from Trump to declassify all evidence… pic.twitter.com/Eo3D7R8R6k

— CoinRank (@CoinRank_io) February 20, 2026

However, the outcome reportedly hinges on the potential issuance of an official order from U.S. President Donald Trump for the declassification of the government evidence regarding UFOs and aliens.

Polymarket’s Alien Contract Hits $3.8M in Volume, with Traders Betting on Trump-Driven Disclosure before 2027

The alien disclosure contract of Polymarket has witnessed broader traction. Particularly, it has successfully attracted up to $3.8M  in terms of trading volume, suggesting strong crypto-native and retail engagement. The respective activity indicates that the decentralized prediction sector has turned into a real-time sentiment gauge regarding unconventional geopolitical subjects.

Hence, the traders are efficiently pricing the probability of alien confirmation by the U.S. authorities ahead of the next year. The stress on the possibility of an executive order highlights the political leadership, especially Trump, as the key figure for the respective disclosure. Other than speculation, the market underscores a wider public thrill with unidentified extraterrestrial phenomena as well as the recent congressional meetings on the topic.

Crowd-Sourced Possibilities Suggest Meaningful Disclosure Traction

Participants seem to be betting that rising pressure could finally result in greater clarity from the federal government agencies. Although the trends in the prediction markets are not a guarantee of outcomes, they reflect shifts in large-scale expectations. Therefore, the rising odds signal a considerable shift leading toward potential disclosure.

According to CoinRank, the almost -$3.8M volume signifies a massive likely payoff for the disclosure regarding a notably uncertain topic. The trend could redefine how observers look at expectations regarding government transparency and disclosure. Overall, the data shows that confidence in likely disclosure is seeing measurable traction.

In this exclusive interview with BlockchainReporter, Maksym Sakharov, co-founder and Group CEO of WeFi, shares why the next crypto winners won’t be the loudest innovators—but the most compliant operators. From regulatory milestones and institutional-grade stablecoin architecture to card rails and cross-border integrations, Sakharov explains how deobanking platforms can turn compliance into a competitive moat while scaling global payments infrastructure.

Q1. You’ve argued the biggest winners will be the “boring” firms that focus on licenses, compliance, and distribution. Practically speaking, what three compliance milestones (licenses, programs, or certifications) set a firm apart as truly future-proof from one that’s still vulnerable to regulatory action?

For a firm to be considered future-proof, it needs to possess full operational licenses in major financial regions like the U.S., EU, UK, and Hong Kong. 

The company also needs to have AML and KYC processes that have undergone external audits and are capable of automatically verifying all accounts. And thirdly, the company must undergo regular independent audits or certifications that demonstrate compliance with local financial regulations. 

Firms hitting these milestones can survive scrutiny, work closely with traditional finance, and comfortably expand globally.

Q2. Where do you see the largest arbitrage today between regulatory readiness and market perception, i.e., which assets, businesses, or regions are properly compliant but still undervalued by users and capital?

The largest arbitrage at the moment can be found in licensed deobanks and regulated stablecoins, which are undervalued in relation to their compliance status. For comparison, stablecoins currently have a collective market value of just over $308 billion, while CoinGecko places the World Liberty Financial portfolio at around $545 billion. 

Geographically, nations like Singapore and Switzerland have multiple fully compliant digital asset firms that, despite having access to regulated rails and custodial networks, are still valued below many offshore platforms or high-volatility tokens. 

In essence, there is an opportunity where regulatory preparedness surpasses hype-driven perception, potentially providing patient, compliance-focused businesses with an edge before the next cycle rewards stability.

Q3. What should be the focus for a buyer’s diligence review of a potential acquisition candidate? Specifically, what compliance concerns should drive the focus of diligence based on any compliance-related issues?

Licenses are only one part of the equation, and two main areas should be examined by acquirers. The first area of examination is the regulatory history of the target. If there are any ongoing investigations or previous enforcement actions, the operational risk of the target is high. The second area is the target firm’s internal compliance culture. If a company does not have structured compliance teams in place or has outdated compliance processes, then its compliance culture is weak and could indicate an unstable organization.

Q4. You’ve said distribution will outcompete pure innovation. What distribution channels (bank partnerships, card rails, embedded finance, custodial networks, exchanges, PSPs) do you expect will win the lion’s share of new users over the next 24 months, and why?

Over the next two years, card rails and bank partnerships will win. This is because in 2025, stablecoin transaction volume achieved “payment network” scale, hitting $27 trillion, per a report from McKinsey. However, those volumes are still mostly crypto-native, so the next wave will focus on enabling cardholders to spend stablecoin balances at any merchant. Visa’s partnership with Bridge and Mastercard’s multi-stablecoin enablement serve as early templates, signaling huge room for growth.

Q5. Stablecoins have become core infrastructure. From a product and risk-management perspective, how should an institutional-grade deobank like WeFi architect custody, reserve reporting, and liquidity layers to make stablecoins safe and scalable for global payments?

Custody should be divided rather than centralized. At WeFi, we have adopted a distributed custody model, which means that there is no single point of failure. For reserves, there must be verifiable evidence that they are backed in real time, as opposed to receiving quarterly attestations. The GENIUS Act mandates that all reserves should be backed by either U.S. dollars or short-term Treasuries in a ratio of one-to-one and that this information be publicly available on the blockchain.

Finally, automated settlement pipelines between stablecoins, fiat, and payment rails are needed for liquidity layers. This will ensure that transactions can happen all over the world without slowing down operations or building up credit risk.

Q6. Many startups will claim, “We can become compliant fast.” Which internal teams, processes, or metrics would you require a promising startup to prove (with evidence) before you’d route distribution or capital through them?

In my opinion, three critical components establish the compliance evidence: 

A committed compliance team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. 

AML/KYC operating procedures that are in operation and being applied regularly to all accounts. 

Last but not least, the ability to demonstrate, through automated reporting systems, consistent adherence to applicable laws and regulations.

Q7. There’s a tradeoff between regulatory conservatism (slow, compliant rollouts) and product velocity (rapid innovation). Have you seen governance or product patterns that let teams move quickly while staying audit-ready? Give an example from WeFi or the market.

At WeFi, we automate compliance through smart contracts wherever we can. For example, WeFi can verify users and stay fully compliant thanks to AI-enabled KYC processes. And because of how we manage our compliance processes, there is no manual effort required for compliance with regulations. We also deploy in phases, launching in those jurisdictions first where WeFi has obtained a license. Once additional approvals are obtained, WeFi will expand into other jurisdictions.

Building compliance into the product’s architecture from day one creates a framework for speed, since rails are pre-audited, eliminating unexpected issues for regulators.

Q8. Cross-border rails and FX are still messy. For crypto-native payment flows to replace/integrate with TradFi at scale, what are the top three technical and commercial integrations that must be solved in the next cycle?

The first goal is to achieve interoperability between different blockchains, considering that stablecoins are fragmented across networks, which creates friction. Adding unified settlement layers could fix this issue. 

The second goal is to make it easy to switch between currencies. Users should be able to switch from crypto to fiat without any problems, and this is especially important in developing countries, where parts of the population still have problems accessing banking services.

Q9. If a major jurisdiction imposes sudden, stricter rules on stablecoin usage or holdings, which business models (exchanges, wallets, deobanks, remittance providers) would be most resilient, and which would be at existential risk?

Since deobanking platforms can operate using multiple rails — and therefore multiple liquidity management strategies — the remittance operations connected with those rails will continue globally at volumes that may lessen the impact of restrictions placed by central bank policymakers on holding stablecoins.

Q10. Distribution often means partnerships with incumbent finance. What are the most surprising cultural or operational gaps you’ve encountered when building those partnerships, and how do you bridge them reliably?

The most significant gap between banking and cryptocurrency is the speed at which they operate. Banking works in quarters and years; crypto moves in minutes. Furthermore, banks’ risk assessors typically expect multiple-year track records before approving integration with other institutions, while the crypto community has become accustomed to iterative improvement at a very rapid pace. 

To bridge this divide, we use dedicated relationship managers who connect both sides and help establish communication. This bridge can be built via small pilot projects with low risk that build confidence in the operation before being expanded.

Q11. As the sector consolidates, compliance and legal expertise become strategic assets. How are you hiring and structuring teams to turn regulatory work from a cost center into a competitive moat?

Our teams consist of former regulators and banking compliance professionals, as well as people who are native to the crypto industry. These groups work together on the same project rather than being separated by their backgrounds or prior experience. 

Additionally, our approach to compliance is that it is a product function, and in this light, we have made investments in technology to automate reporting and monitoring activities, thereby lowering costs and increasing the quality of data collected through these processes.

Q12. For reporters and investors watching the next cycle, what 5 KPIs or signals should they track monthly (e.g., stablecoin circulating supply, number of licensed entities in key jurisdictions, new card/rail integrations, M&A volume, customer deposit stickiness)? Please prioritize metrics that are observable and hard to fake.

First, they could look at non-exchange stablecoin settlement volume, which is the best representation of actual stablecoin usage. Second, they could look at how much revenue is generated from user-paid fees, since this will only rise if there are people using the blockspace. Third, they could watch for real-world asset and off-chain integration growth, including new tokenized treasuries or commodities, verified merchant payment endpoints, and institutional custody balances. If all of these indicators are growing even though hype is fading, that’s a strong health signal.

Additionally, they could track acquisition of regulated crypto businesses, since these actions would prove there is movement of capital toward compliance rather than speculation. Finally, they must monitor new card or banking rail integrations, because this indicates that real onboarding infrastructure is being created, as opposed to the ecosystem buzz we are so used to.

The Canton Foundation has announced that Ledger has joined the Canton Network as a Super Validator to secure the institution-focused blockchain protocol. Ledger’s participation is established under proposal CIP-0069. The Canton Foundation aims to mix the best public blockchain with the security and compliance of traditional finance.

Strengthening Network Integrity and Security

As a Super Validator (weight of 5), Ledger is more than an active participant on the network; it maintains and enhances the base level of security. Ledger has sold over 6 million devices and secured c.$1 trillion of digital assets in these devices. By adding Ledger to the Canton Network, we elevate our infrastructure with extraordinary trust and expertise in security. This provides a true assurance that we can keep our network secure and work to be efficient for high-volume institutional applications.

Ledger’s backing of the Canton Network is validation of the vision for privacy and interoperability that drives its design choices. As a Super Validator, Ledger will participate in consensus and governance while guaranteeing that the decentralization of the network is anchored on hardware roots of trust”.

Driving Adoption via Ledger Live and Enterprise

The partnership between these two companies goes beyond merely verifying that networks are legitimate. According to the announcement, Ledger is adding support for the Canton Token Standard across its offerings, including the Ledger Live app and its Enterprise custody solution. This enhances accessibility within the Canton Network ecosystem for both retail and institutional users.

With the addition of the Canton Token Standard, Ledger gives users the ability to store Canton-based assets using cold storage protection. This helps ensure their assets on the Canton Network remain secure. In addition, this new feature introduces the first step of a milestone/weight system, whereby Ledger’s involvement in the network grows with the amount of “real-world” main-net usage and adoption of the network. Overall, Ledger’s continued role in the governance of support will be based on utility rather than merely an arbitrary number.

The Institutional Shift Toward Regulated DeFi

The partnership represents a larger tendency in the sector as specialized data center operators partner with Decentralized Networks to create an “Institutional DeFi”. As part of their initiative with Canton, Ledger hopes to simplify the transfer and protection of high-value assets between different blockchains.

The purpose of The Canton Network is for use in regulated markets and is being developed with support from non-tangible gigantic organizations such as Goldman Sachs and Deloitte. The addition of Ledger’s custody solution makes the Canton Network a more complete offering for major investment players. It addresses the security concerns that have previously kept many institutions from using blockchain for their assets.

This represents a clear movement toward integrating more institutional investors into digital asset ecosystems. Multiple media reports, including coverage from Reuters, show that institutional adoption of digital asset custody is accelerating.

Conclusion

The designation of Ledger as the Super Validator for the Canton Network represents more than a technical enhancement in the oracle layer. The Canton network will be able to keep evolving its ecosystem through the addition of Ledger hardware asset protection for another layer of security on top of users of the Canton network. The combination of both the Canton network’s interoperable blockchain architecture and Ledger hardware asset protection will provide a way to operate a blueprint for institution grade digital finance.

Taxbit, a renowned crypto tax platform, has collaborated with Backpack, a popular crypto self-custody and exchange entity. The partnership aims to automate regulatory requirements as the worldwide crypto tax requirements have become relatively standardized and strict. As Taxbit disclosed in its official social media announcement, Backpack is integrating its technology to streamline the way consumers track, report, and calculate taxable crypto operations. Hence, the development highlights the wider market push toward audit readiness, regulatory alignment, and transparency.

We’re proud to partner with @Backpack to power compliant digital asset tax reporting. Taxbit enables due diligence data collection, cost basis calculations, 1099-DA reporting, and federal/state filing. Supporting accuracy, compliance, and confidence as regulations evolve. pic.twitter.com/LxRLw2OU1A

— Taxbit (@Taxbit) February 19, 2026

Taxbit and Backpack Alliance Brings 1099-DA Reporting and Cost-Basis Tracking

Taxbit’s integration with Backpack will permit it to offer a comprehensive tax reporting within its ecosystem. This will include automated cost-basis evaluations and the due diligence data aggregation. The respective infrastructure permits precise loss and gain tracking across diverse digital asset transfers. This has become essential amid the growing complexity of crypto trading activity across staking, derivatives, and spot products.

Apart from that, the system also focuses on generating 1099-DA forms, under the exclusive tax reporting benchmark in the U.S. for digital assets. This helps consumers comply with impending federal requirements. Additionally, the solution backs jurisdiction-focused compliance workflows and state-level filings. This is specifically significant while the regulatory authorities are broadening reporting responsibilities for brokers and exchanges dealing with digital assets.

By incorporating tax instruments into the trading ecosystem, Backpack minimizes dependence on 3rd-party manual reconciliation. It is a procedure that often paves the way for underreporting and errors. Therefore, the collaboration attempts to elevate both regulatory risk reduction and operational efficiency. The development can enhance consumer confidence while minimizing administrative pressure linked with crypto taxation season. Keeping this in view, this move makes tax reporting a primary infrastructure layer for the entities dealing with digital assets.

Redefining Crypto Regulation with Proactive Tax Framework

According to Taxbit, the partnership with Backpack underscores the growing maturity of the crypto market amid the rising demand for regulatory readiness and operational transparency. With the rollout of reporting standards such as 1099-DA, exchanges failing to deliver automated solutions have a risk of facing consumer attrition as well as increased compliance charges. Contrarily, by adopting Taxbit’s infrastructure, Backpack shows a proactive approach when it comes to advancing tax frameworks. Overall, such collaborations are a part of the broader trend for the integration of reporting automation, compliance, and accuracy into the crypto trading sector.

Elderglade, an artificial intelligence (AI-driven) retro-style pixel-art fantasy MMORPG featuring turn-based PvPvE extraction looter gameplay, has announced its strategic partnership with Nomis, an on-chain reputation protocol that turns wallet activity into a reputation score. The primary purpose of this partnership is to strengthen rewarding and competitive Web3 gaming.

Elderglade 🤝 NomisWe’re thrilled to partner with @0xNomis— the multichain identity & reputation protocol powering 1.5M+ users across 20+ networks.Together, we’re exploring Elderglade’s presence on ScoreFront — delivering rewards for Nomis Score Holders, expanding competitive… pic.twitter.com/IJYwYu77QE

— Elderglade (@Elderglade) February 19, 2026

Basically, Nomis is playing its major role in developing reputational scores for the Web3 gaming, so it is very famous in the market and has a unique place in users’ hearts. Elderglade’s collaboration with Nomis is no less than a milestone achievement for both of the partners. Elderglade is also developing and bringing more advancement for Web3 gamers. Elderglade has released this news through its official social media X account.

Elderglade and Nomis Bring Incentives to Competitive Web3 Gaming

The collaboration brings many rewards for Web3 players in order to catch the users’ attention. This reward system will create a strong type of competition between players and enhance the enjoyment of games. Moreover, Nomis also has an attractive figure of people and carefully provides reputational services to more than 1.5M users across 20+ networks.

This vastness of Nomis access adds a plus point for Nomis trust in Web3 gamers and also acts as an advertisement tool. Basically, both platforms are strongly trying to push the Web3 boundaries further and try to cover the area as much as they can.

Elderglade and Nomis Elevating Web3 Gaming with Rewards & Reputation

The unification of Elderglade and Nomis is more powerful and long-lasting for Web3 game players because it brings innovation in terms of rewards and reputational scores. Simultaneously, this collaboration plays a prominent role in the growth of the Web3 community and expands the competitive gaming experience.

In short, both platforms make the Web3 gaming experience more interactive, interesting, and competitive, with a wealth of rewards. That competition is purely on-chain in order to avoid any mistakes or negligence.

GOHOME has partnered with TokenPlay to take advantage of the rapidly changing market in DeFi, where there is no longer a distinction between meme coins and utility coins. The goal of this partnership is to use the creativity and imagination associated with memes and apply them to create value for the games being played in web3; thereby creating real, user-based experiences for the community around GOHOME.

Turning Viral Momentum into Playable Assets

GOHOME & TokenPlay have formed a strategic cooperative agreement, which allows them to create an integrated, community-driven ecosystem that leverages the superior technological infrastructure of TokenPlay’s gaming platform. Meme tokens have often been criticized for lacking intrinsic value because they rely heavily on social media hype. GOHOME welcomes the partnership to show its commitment to building a Play-to-Earn gaming model.

TokenPlay is using AI to improve workflows in game development and asset integration so meme-based projects can create interactive experiences in a short time and without hassle. This approach benefits mainly GOHOME token holders along with the other holders of digital assets. With access to the gaming ecosystem, tokens holders will be able to buy items, rewards and a vote in the games governance system.

The Rise of “Meme-Utility” Hybrid Models

This collaboration is part of the wider trend towards sustainability for blockchain projects bringing gamification into their business models. According to research from CoinMarketCap, GameFi has been one of the strongest parts of the crypto market in recent months of volatility.

GOHOME will take advantage of TokenPlay’s AI tools to reduce entry barriers into the world of crypto and DeFi for social-oriented customers that are not familiar with complex Dapp mechanics. This strategy has also been seen in previous successful integrations where culture was transformed into a functional digital economy. As a result, communities that initially engage during the hype cycle often remain involved over time.

Strengthening the Web3 Gaming Ecosystem

The GOHOME/TokenPlay partnership is indicative of a growing trend towards creating Cross-Platform Interoperability approaches in the Web3 world. As different projects try to build additional value into their tokens, there should be an increasing demand for gaming engines that provide unique functionality like the TokenPlay gaming engine. The current combination of lifestyle features and blockchain reward components aligns with earlier efforts in the industry aimed at enhancing the overall user experience.

The gaming function for GOHOME will be a foundational aspect in determining the success of the “Revolution” outlined in their press release when they go live. If successful, it could become the model for other meme tokens to use while transferring to utility projects.

Conclusion

GOHOME Token’s strategic alliance with TokenPlay marks a significant advancement for meme-derived assets entering the mainstream. Emphasizing “real-world use,” GOHOME aims to seize part of the marketplace that requires entertainment as well as value. The development of the Web3 gaming industry will lead to greater use of similar partnerships to define the next evolution of community-driven finance and create a long-term presence using viral memes, based on technological appeal.

Crypto.com Exchange, a centralized high-performance cryptocurrency trading platform for retail and institutional investors, is excited to announce its landmark integration with OpenClaw, a rapidly growing open-source autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent platform. The main objective of this partnership is to enable users to instantly connect their accounts seamlessly and automate trading in a protected way.

Automate your trades on https://t.co/A7lhUEyoao Exchange!Connect securely with @OpenClaw using sub-accounts, scoped API permissions, and IP whitelisting – all in minutes!Learn how to set it up 👇https://t.co/rjewrK5Atz pic.twitter.com/ObmFTx8XeV

— Crypto.com Exchange (@Cryptocom_Exch) February 19, 2026

Crypto.com Exchange guides users step by step and makes a secure and smooth pathway for connecting with OpenClaw. These steps are very simple and easy to handle to get access to accounts. Moreover, Crypto.com offers all types of users with this service, irrespective of users’ background in the market. In this way, users will be able to trade with the help of automated AI agents. Crypto.com has revealed this news through its official social media X account.

A Practical Guide to Sub-Accounts and API Settings on Crypto.com

The first step in which users have to manage their accounts. For this purpose, users just need to start logging in to their Crypto.com Exchange account by clicking on the profile icon in the top-right corner of the dashboard. From there, they have to choose Manage Account, after that second step will start in which they create a Sub-account.  The need for this Sub-account is basically to ensure the security and better organization.

Users have to create a sub-account by simply clicking on the button in the Account Management page. After the successful creation of the Sub-account, they just have to place a descriptive label, like OpenClaw2, for easy identification purposes. At this stage, users have to confirm the sub-account by clicking on the confirm button. As the steps for the Sub-account are completed, users must tap on API Management in order to get API key settings.

Two-Factor Authentication and IP Whitelisting for Safer Automation

Users will be required to create a new API key; for that, they should click on the Account drop-down and select their newly created Sub-account, and click on Create a new API key for initiation of the API creation process. The next step is to enter a label for your API key, like OpenClaw2, and provide the 2FA code from the authenticator app for security verification.  Here, your API credentials are created successfully. Immediately copy and secure that secret key, because it will appear only once.

In the last step, users need to configure API Permissions by just clicking on the edit button, enabling the vital permissions for OpenClaw to function smoothly, and adding the IP address of the OpenClaw server to the whitelist. Continue the 2FA code to confirm the changes, and now your Crypto.com Exchange account is connected to Automated OpenClaw. The whole process takes only a few minutes for automated trading.

The crypto market isn’t chasing the next meme coin right now; it’s leaning into something a bit more old-school: tokenized real-world assets. That’s the takeaway from a recent tweet by CryptoDep, which shared a snapshot from RWA.xyz showing which platforms currently hold the most value on-chain. The numbers are big enough to make even skeptical traders sit up. Several projects have crossed the billion-dollar mark, and the list reads like a who’s who of different approaches to bringing traditional finance onto blockchains.

At the top of the list sits Securitize with about $3.21 billion locked. That’s a hefty endorsement for the compliant, securities-focused model, tokenizing shares or debt in a way that lines up with regulations and familiar investor protections. Close behind is Ondo with $2.56 billion. Ondo’s strength has been packaging yield-bearing, custody-integrated products that appeal to institutions and yield-hungry retail alike. The third big name, Syrup, sits at roughly $2.30 billion and shows that there’s an appetite for different flavors of real-world exposure, not just one template.

After those three, you get into a mid-tier of projects that are still very much players: STOKR ($1.56B), Centrifuge ($1.33B), and Libeara ($1.07B). Then come firms like Superstate and Spiko, both hovering right around the $1 billion mark. Established financial houses haven’t stayed out of the room either. WisdomTree shows up with $767 million, while newer entrants such as xStocks sit at about $215 million.

What’s interesting about this list isn’t just the raw TVL figures; it’s the variety. Some platforms are tokenizing private equity or fund shares, others are focused on invoices or short-term commercial paper, and a few try to offer regulated products that institutional desks can actually use. That diversity matters because it points to a broader truth: RWAs aren’t a single product you can bolt onto a blockchain. They’re an umbrella term for a bunch of different financial engineering plays trying to solve the same problem: how to make traditionally illiquid or cumbersome assets more accessible and efficient using tokens.

TVL is an Imperfect Metric

TVL can be influenced by how assets are counted, whether collateral is off-chain, and the custodial arrangements behind the scenes, but it’s hard to argue with scale. Billion-dollar TVLs tend to indicate real capital moving, not just speculative paper. And seeing veteran asset managers alongside native crypto teams suggests that this could be more than a fad. Incumbents are exploring blockchain rails because they can cut costs and open new markets; crypto-native projects are pushing for composability and liquidity. If those two forces meet productively, you get something that looks a lot more like mainstream adoption.

That doesn’t mean everything is smooth sailing. Tokenizing real assets brings legal and regulatory complexity; clarity varies widely by jurisdiction, and regulators are paying attention. Platforms that can pair on-chain efficiency with airtight legal wrappers, transparent reporting, and secure custody will have a big advantage. For traders and portfolio managers, that’s the key question: which providers can scale while keeping the compliance and operational basics right?

For now, the takeaway is straightforward. The RWA space has moved from a niche experiment to a serious market segment. With several projects clearing the billion-dollar TVL threshold and traditional asset managers dipping their toes in, tokenized real-world assets look like they’re here to stay, but the winners will be the teams that can bridge the gap between legacy finance and the on-chain world without cutting corners. CryptoDep’s snapshot, powered by RWA.xyz data, is a useful scoreboard, and it’s worth watching how these projects evolve as regulators, institutions, and everyday investors test the model in earnest.

Alchemy Pay, a leading payment infrastructure entity, has announced support for Ultima ($ULTIMA), a blockchain-based multi-product network. The integration marks a key move toward wider accessibility for consumers across the globe. As Alchemy Pay mentioned in its official X post, the development offers seamless fiat off-ramp and on-ramp support. Hence, consumers can efficiently sell and buy $ULTIMA via familiar methods of payment across 173 jurisdictions.

. $ULTIMA is now supported on #AlchemyPay. 🤝Users can buy and sell Ultima’s ecosystem token with fiat using cards, bank transfers, and mobile wallets across 173 countries, making access to @UltimaEcosystem simpler and more global.👉 https://t.co/3GbzXnxaRR… pic.twitter.com/V7BGNcgLhM

— Alchemy Pay|$ACH: Fiat-Crypto Payment Gateway (@AlchemyPay) February 19, 2026

Alchemy Pay Supports $ULTIMA for Wider Fiat Access 

With the integration of Ultima ($ULTIMA), Alchemy Pay is growing fiat access, letting users sell and purchase the token across 173 jurisdictions worldwide. In addition to this, the integration also improves liquidity while lowering entry barriers for clients looking for engagement in swiftly broadening Ultima network. Specifically, the infrastructure token, $ULTIMA, drives several blockchain-based products, taking into account DeFi-U staking, debit card products, a trading platform, and a marketplace.

Keeping this in view, by adding fiat backing for the $ULTIMA token, the platform is permitting numerous consumers to reach the token without sole dependence on crypto-based payment channels. In this respect, the users can utilize Google Pay, Apple Pay, Mastercard, Visa, mobile wallets, and bank transfers for $ULTIMA purchase. The respective gateway supports over fifty fiat currencies to make the procedure accessible, fast, and simple for experienced and new crypto consumers.

At the same time, the partnership facilitates businesses and builders with the Ultima network. With easier $ULTIMA access, participants can interact more effectively with the DeFi, utility-led applications, and payments of the ecosystem. So, the integration is anticipated to bolster continued adoption and growth across Ultima’s series of advanced blockchain products. Additionally, the worldwide payment infrastructure of Alchemy Pay has a solid regulatory foundation, reaffirming security and trust for consumers.

Integration Bridges Blockchain Innovation with Conventional Finance

As Alchemy Pay puts it, Ultima’s ($ULTIMA) integration enables it to continue its objective of expanding the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency. In this respect, it is bridging blockchain innovation and conventional finance together. Additionally, the development improves accessibility while showing the rising demand for streamlined fiat-to-crypto solutions. Overall, the move is set to boost wider DeFi participation while also strengthening the infrastructure driving cutting-edge blockchain ecosystems.

ATT Global has just declared that it is a strategic partner with PinGoAI, an AI and DePIN solution that uses the TON Network, a step that is aimed at linking real world advertising traffic with decentralized computing infrastructure. The partnership will convert disjointed idle computer infrastructure into scalable infrastructure that can be used to build AI models and interact with Web3.

🤖 From Unlocking Traffic to Unlocking Compute: ATT Global × PinGoWe are excited to announce our partnership with @PinGoAI, the AI and DePIN solution on TON Network that transforms fragmented idle computing resources into scalable infrastructure for AI model development —… pic.twitter.com/HnJdMBZFRd

— ATT (@aiwayworld) February 19, 2026

According to the announcement, both companies share the common vision of closing the gap between Web2 traffic and Web3 ecosystems and transforming user interaction into a real processing force.

Turning Idle Devices Into Scalable AI Infrastructure With ATT

The main point in the collaboration is the decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) of PinGoAI, which consolidates approximately 100,000 devices provided by Cpin Web2 integration. Such distributed resources are re-used to deliver scalable AI applications compute power.

PinGo can take advantage of TON Network blockchain architecture to deliver decentralized cloud services to serve AI workloads. The model enables less utilized devices to provide a processing capacity, forming a distributed network, which can be expanded on demand.

This strategy follows trends of increased market interest in decentralized cloud infrastructure, especially with the accelerated development of AI and the growing need of cost and capacity pressure on centralized cloud vendors.

Bridging Web2 Advertising and Web3 Engagement

The partnership also relates ATT Global real-world asset (RWA) and DePIN-based advertising ecosystem to the decentralized network of PinGo. The Advertising Time Trace (ATT) model by ATT is aimed at the mediation of real-world advertising assets and blockchain-based engagement systems.

In such a way, using this integration, it is possible to direct Web2 traffic to Web3 ecosystems more efficiently. The intelligent routing and performance monitoring is supported by PinGo infrastructure, such as Pinger CDN and Telegram traffic analytics. The integrated system tries to establish quantifiable engagement channels between the traditional advertising channels and decentralized systems.

This architecture puts advertising impressions and user attention beyond marketing measures. Instead, the participation is a door to the decentralization of infrastructure.

Advertising as a Gateway to Compute Utility

The effort at the partnership to blur the divide between user engagement and compute infrastructure is one of the more innovative areas of the partnership. The companies indicate that physical touchpoints in advertising can be connected to the decentralized layers of compute.

In reality, it would imply that user attention and flows of traffic might be converted into contributions to distributed computing resources. Engagement will be integrated into a larger ecosystem that promotes the development of AI models and decentralized applications instead of being presented as mere pieces of marketing data.

Infrastructure needs to grow beyond mere transactional processing as tokenized real-world assets and stablecoins start to move on-chain. It becomes necessary to have identity abstraction, safe settlement structures, and risk intelligence frameworks. PinGo infrastructure layer is constructed to take into account these requirements and hold the compute capacity at the same time scaled in parallel.

TON Network as the Infrastructure Backbone

The application on the TON Network offers the partnership with high-throughput blockchain and built-in messaging functionality. The ecosystem of TON, adopted by more users with Telegram-linked services, provides a natural transition point between users of the Web2 world and the Web3 infrastructure.

PinGo MiniApp and decentralized cloud solutions are based on this environment and are used to simplify the onboarding process without restricting them to blockchain-native features. Scalability of TON and its increasingly large ecosystem of decentralized applications are beneficial to the collaboration.

Marina Protocol, a community-led Web3 onboarding entity, has partnered with Xyra Labs, a renowned Web3 infrastructure company. The partnership attempts to redefine Web3 access with borderless DeFi infrastructure. As per Marina Protocol’s official social media announcement, the collaboration enables seamless liquidity and trading across both non-EVM and EVM ecosystems. Thus, the duo is poised to eliminate barriers hindering the wider adoption of robust technologies in the mainstream.

Our team @xyralabs_ is super stoked to announce this partnership with @MARINA_PROTOCOL !Miles to go 🚀 https://t.co/6SDdSxUl6l

— Xyra Labs (@xyralabs_) February 19, 2026

Marina Protocol and Xyra Labs Accelerate Borderless Web3 Experience

The partnership between Marina Protocol and Xyra Labs attempts to unlock borderless Web3 gateway. In this respect, by incorporating the smooth onboarding solutions of Xyra Labs, such as gas stations and social logins, Marina Protocol endeavors to remove technical hurdles discouraging new consumers. This signifies that the individuals coming towards the crypto sector will not require struggling with complicated gas fee management or wallet setups. On the other hand, they will get a seamless path from the initial setup into the advanced Web3 landscape for cross-chain trading.

Apart from that, Xyra Labs has gained notable traction for next-gen solutions like CLOB-based perpetuals as well as account abstraction in the case of Move-VM chains. At the same time, Marina Protocol has earned a great reputation regarding “Learn & Earn” projects, strengthening communities for seamless adoption of cutting-edge decentralized technologies. Hence, the development highlights a shared vision to make DeFi widely accessible, irrespective of the users’ technical background.

When it comes to the community of Marina Protocol, the collaboration denotes a crucial step. It helps achieve the platform’s objective to empower and educate clients with the integration of Xyra’s infrastructure. By decreasing entry barriers, the development is anticipated to attract a wider audience, including curious newcomers and the seasoned traders alike.

Driving Next DeFi Growth Phase with Cross-Chain Interoperability

According to Marina Protocol, the partnership is set to offer an inclusive infrastructure layer to connect ecosystems. Its backing for non-EVM and EVM chains guarantees that the trading opportunities and liquidity are not restricted to a confined environment. This interoperability is crucial for the next DeFi growth wave, marked by wider cross-chain accessibility. Ultimately, by merging technical innovation, accessibility, and education, the joint initiative is a key effort to revolutionize how consumers interact with DeFi and Web3 ecosystems.

Prediction markets have a settlement problem, and social consensus is not going to fix it.

While platforms like Polymarket have proven massive demand for event-based trading, they have also exposed a structural weakness that limits institutional participation: resolution risk. When a market’s final outcome depends on human voters rather than deterministic data, professional liquidity providers treat that uncertainty as unquantifiable risk. Spreads widen, capital retreats, and markets remain cyclical.

Inframarkets is building an energy prediction market designed to eliminate this failure. By anchoring prediction markets resolution to machine-verifiable data through the Inframarkets Oracle System (IOS), and by focusing on event contracts that connect to deep global energy markets, Inframarkets introduces institutional-grade prediction markets with deterministic settlement, real-world hedgeability, and exchange-level execution on Solana.

The Liquidity Problem in Traditional Prediction Markets

Prediction markets have gained significant traction as a new financial primitive. However, sustained professional liquidity remains a persistent constraint. Many markets attract retail participation during high-profile political cycles or major sporting events, yet deep, consistent market-making is harder to achieve.

The core reason is settlement uncertainty. Market makers evaluate not only volume and volatility but also resolution risk. If the outcome of a contract can be disputed, delayed, or subjected to governance override, capital efficiency declines and spreads widen. Institutional-grade prediction markets require more than user activity. They require predictable settlement, reliable resolution mechanisms, and low legal ambiguity.

Social Truth and Resolution Risk: The Polymarket Comparison

Many traditional prediction markets rely on a social truth model for prediction markets resolution. External voting systems determine the final outcome of a market, introducing a human-in-the-loop dependency at the most critical point in the contract lifecycle: settlement.

The Polymarket comparison illustrates this issue clearly. Polymarket relies on UMA’s optimistic oracle for resolution in many of its markets. While the mechanism is functional, it introduces UMA resolution risk where token holders determine final outcomes. This structure can produce perceived conflicts of interest, dispute windows, and governance complexity – particularly during controversial or high-profile events. Professional desks treat this as unquantifiable tail risk.

For retail users, this friction may be acceptable. For professional liquidity providers, dispute risk directly affects capital allocation decisions. Institutional participants require deterministic outcomes tied to authoritative, machine-readable data sources – not governance votes.

Why Political and Sports Markets Lack Hedgeability

Another structural limitation of traditional prediction markets is hedgeability. Political or sports markets are nearly impossible to hedge externally. A market maker providing liquidity on an election outcome or a championship result has no correlated instrument in regulated venues to offset exposure.

This absence of hedgeable prediction markets increases risk asymmetrically. Without external instruments to balance positions, liquidity providers face directional exposure they cannot manage. As a result, spreads widen and participation becomes cyclical, surging around events and evaporating afterward.

Inframarkets takes a fundamentally different approach by focusing on event contracts tied to real-world energy markets. Energy markets are deeply connected to global commodity infrastructure. Power prices, natural gas benchmarks, renewable generation metrics, and weather-related indicators are referenced by existing financial and physical markets worldwide.

This makes energy prediction market structures inherently more hedgeable. A liquidity provider on an Inframarkets power contract can offset directional exposure using correlated instruments such as CME energy futures – something structurally impossible on a presidential election market. Hedgeable prediction markets support tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and sustainable professional participation.

The Inframarkets Oracle System (IOS): Deterministic Settlement by Design

At the center of the Inframarkets model is the Inframarkets Oracle System (IOS), a deterministic oracle system designed to anchor prediction markets resolution to machine-verifiable data rather than human consensus.

Each IOS-settled contract references:

A clearly defined, authoritative data source (e.g., ERCOT real-time settlement point prices, EIA published benchmarks, or ISO generation data)

A specific observation timestamp

A predefined settlement rule

A documented fallback policy for data unavailability or revision

The first officially published value at the specified timestamp from the designated source becomes the settlement reference. There is no subjective voting, no dispute window, and no governance override. Machine-verifiable resolution enhances transparency, auditability, and capital efficiency.

By replacing social truth with machine truth, Inframarkets strengthens the structural integrity of prediction markets. Settlement is rule-based and data-driven rather than governance-dependent. 

Energy as a Foundation for Institutional-Grade Prediction Markets

Energy markets present a distinct opportunity for prediction market evolution. Power volatility, renewable intermittency risk, transmission congestion, and demand variability generate measurable and frequent data points – creating a rich surface for contract design.

An energy prediction market built on observable outcomes transforms operational signals into tradable instruments. On-chain energy derivatives allow participants to take positions on clearly defined events such as price thresholds, generation metrics, or demand-response triggers.

Because these markets are tied to authoritative data and real-world infrastructure, they are fundamentally better suited for professional liquidity provision than narrative-driven event markets. Hedgeable prediction markets reduce counterparty anxiety and support sustainable, deep participation.

Solana Settlement and Performance

Inframarkets combines deterministic oracle logic with Solana settlement. By leveraging Solana,as  the most performant blockchain for high-throughput execution, the platform supports sub-second finality.Solana settlement provides on-chain transparency and finality while maintaining exchange-level execution performance. This architecture enables institutional-grade prediction markets to operate with the responsiveness of a centralized exchange while preserving the auditability and composability of on-chain infrastructure.

The result is an integrated stack:

Deterministic oracle resolution through the Inframarkets Oracle System (IOS)

On-chain energy derivatives with machine-verifiable settlement

Orderbook-based execution for professional trading workflows

Solana settlement infrastructure for throughput and composability

From Speculation to Structured Markets

The next phase of prediction markets will be defined by two things: settlement integrity and liquidity sustainability. Platforms that solve both will capture institutional capital. Those that don’t will remain retail-cyclical.

Inframarkets addresses both by combining machine-verifiable data with hedgeable real-world markets. The Inframarkets Oracle System (IOS) introduces a deterministic oracle system that removes the ambiguity, dispute risk, and governance overhead that limit existing platforms. By focusing on energy prediction market structures that connect to global commodity infrastructure – rather than purely narrative events – Inframarkets is building a new on-chain energy derivative.

In the choice between social truth and machine truth, the long-term viability of prediction markets may depend on which model delivers greater certainty, deeper liquidity, and lower structural risk. Inframarkets positions machine-verifiable settlement as the foundation for that next phase.Follow Inframarkets.io on X: https://x.com/InframarketsFollow Inframarkets.io on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inframarkets/

This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.

AEON has teamed up with Ultima in a move designed to push crypto out of the portfolio and into the pocket. The strategic integration announced today brings support for the $ULTIMA token across AEON’s global payment rails, letting users pay with $ULTIMA at checkout via AEON Pay, AEON’s Web3 mobile payments product, both online and at physical stores. The partnership positions $ULTIMA for everyday spending, from coffee runs to service purchases, while folding the token into AEON’s longer-term vision for AI-native economic systems.

Under the deal, AEON Pay users will be able to transact directly from wallets and exchanges that already hold $ULTIMA, opening up practical spending scenarios that many crypto holders have long wanted: offline shopping, dining, transit and daily purchases without first converting to fiat. AEON says the integration already supports payments at more than 50 million merchants across markets, including Southeast Asia, Nigeria, Mexico, Brazil and Georgia, with further rollout planned across wider regions in Africa and Latin America. That merchant footprint joins a growing laundry list of AEON collaborations that aim to make QR-code and bank-transfer-backed crypto payments a real alternative at the point of sale.

Web3 Payments Scale Up

Accessibility was a clear priority for the two teams. AEON Pay is available through the Telegram Mini App and is already accessible via a variety of leading wallets and platforms, including Bitget Wallet, Binance Wallet, OKX Wallet, Solana Pay, TokenPocket, KuCoin and Bybit. That broad compatibility, advocates say, lowers the friction for people who already hold tokens on popular custodial and non-custodial platforms and want to spend them without extra steps.

For Ultima, the move is more than a payments partnership: it’s a practical step toward turning the token into a medium of exchange rather than only something to stake or trade. Ultima, launched in March 2023, supports an expanding suite of blockchain products, from staking mechanisms that can pay rewards in $ULTIMA to marketplaces, payment tools and trading services.

The project says its community now spans millions of users across more than 120 countries, and its roadmap includes physical debit cards, an exchange and travel and crowdfunding platforms. By weaving $ULTIMA into AEON’s on-the-ground payments infrastructure, the token gains real-world velocity: consumers can buy goods and services directly with $ULTIMA, and merchants can accept it as payment without adding complicated crypto rails.

Both sides also framed the deal as preparation for the machine-driven markets that many technologists expect to emerge. AEON has been an early proponent of standards intended to let autonomous agents and AI-native applications transact on-chain, and it is experimenting with payment and identity standards such as x402 and ERC-8004 so that intelligent agents can earn, spend and settle value natively. Integrating ecosystem tokens like $ULTIMA into these rails means the token could be used not just by people but by future software agents acting on users’ behalf.

AEON points to real traction: by 2025, its AI payment and Web3 mobile payment solutions processed millions of transactions and hundreds of millions of dollars in volume across tens of millions of merchants in emerging markets. That history of deployments and integrations gives the partnership immediate heft and a plausible pathway from niche crypto payments to everyday utility.

The combined message from AEON and Ultima is straightforward: if crypto is to move beyond volatile speculation, it must become useful in daily commerce. This partnership tries to do exactly that, turning a token launched in 2023 into a tool people can use at checkouts today, while building the underlying rails that could let human and machine economies interoperate tomorrow.

WhiteBIT, the largest European crypto exchange by traffic, has listed PRZK, the native token of Prizrak (“Phantom”) ecosystem, opening the PRZK/USDT and PRZK/TRY pairs to traders worldwide. To mark the listing, WhiteBIT and Phantom have launched a global campaign with a total prize pool of 1,100,000 PRZK (approximately $9000), designed to reward early participants and increase engagement with the token.

PRZK: Bridging Trading Signals and Strategy

PRZK is the native token of Prizrak.ai (“Phantom”), the project with Ukrainian-Moldovan roots focused on structured trading methodologies. The ecosystem combines analytical trading signals with predefined risk parameters, performance tracking, and transparent reporting, helping users make more disciplined and systematic trading decisions.

Instead of simply delivering signals, the project aims to help users trade with more structure and control, reducing emotional decision-making and improving consistency.

PRZK Global Campaign Details 

To support the listing and facilitate broader market participation, a global campaign has been launched with a total prize pool of 1,100,000 PRZK (approximately $9000).

The campaign offers missions that motivate users to interact with the token. Participants can earn rewards by completing tasks such as acquiring PRZK, reaching trading volume milestones, holding tokens, and engaging in interactive ecosystem activities.

More than 100 participants will receive rewards.

Full campaign details are available on the official landing page.

Listing on WhiteBIT

PRZK’s listing on WhiteBIT demonstrates the exchange’s commitment to onboarding digital assets with clear utility and ecosystem value.

For token teams, WhiteBIT offers access to a global trading audience, deep market infrastructure, and international visibility. Users benefit from a curated selection of assets, secure trading conditions, and transparent market mechanisms.

Beyond market access, WhiteBIT supports listed projects through post-listing initiatives, including a Listing Support Program that offers up to 70% cashback for eligible teams. This enables reinvestment in product development, ecosystem growth, and community expansion, complemented by integrated marketing and liquidity tools to strengthen long-term market performance.

The current crypto market is marked by an intense level of caution, with investors shifting their focus from high-risk speculative assets to tokens that hold genuine value. However, while the overall market has remained ‘stagnant’ in this timeframe; today’s activity led by UNUS SED LEO (LEO) shows a definitive shift to projects with strong operating internal economies and safe-haven assets.

UNUS SED LEO (LEO) – The Deflationary Powerhouse

Currently leading the pack is UNUS SED LEO (LEO) trading at about $8.66. The token’s steadfastness is rarely happenstance. Unlike many utility tokens based on future “roadmaps,” LEO runs on a relentless deflation engine. iFinex (the company that operates Bitfinex), LEO’s parent organization, is contractually obligated to use a minimum of 27% of its overall monthly revenue to buy back and burn LEO tokens from the market.

This system offers the advantage of creating a consistent, reliable demand floor that is free from speculation. In a world where many currencies have “infinite supply,” LEO was created with an ever-decreasing circulating supply to eventually hit a level of zero. LEO has been showing signs of strong confidence in the state and performance of Bitfinex (with the exchange recently removing lots of trading fees to allow for stimulating more trades, as well as increasing the token burn rate).

The Gold Standard – PAXG and XAUT as Hedge Assets

The “Top Gainers” list includes some rarely seen gold-backed assets, in addition to crypto exchange tokens. Both PAX Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold (XAUT) have made it to the top ranks of gainers with prices approaching the $5,000 price range. Gold’s inclusion among the gainers reflects a continued growing “risk-off” approach in the underlying global economy.

According to Bloomberg’s research analysts, tokenized assets (RWAs), will be the most popular form of investment for digital-native individuals who want to hedge against inflation, while remaining inside the blockchain ecosystem. These tokens provide both the historical stability of physical gold and 24/7 trading liquidity as a digital asset.

Moving Beyond Simple Trading

With the market rewarding new definitions of utility, it is clear there will be exchange based utility within projects like LEO. More broadly, the use of blockchain for non-exchange, day-to-day activities is set to expand across the Web3 experience and into the real world.

There is already a clear precedent for this shift. It could lead to an entirely different set of market gainers than those seen so far, where value is driven by real-life involvement rather than pure trading volume.

Projects that reward sports participation or physical activity with points or currency are building more stable ecosystems. These models rely less on FX dynamics and short-term market fluctuations, allowing growth to be anchored in consistent real-world usage.

Conclusion

The two strongest forces in cryptocurrency, according to today’s market leaders, are “scarcity” and “utility.” The leaders have demonstrated their ability to deliver a clear value proposition in an uncertain macro landscape through either asset-backed or revenue-backed utility. Examples include UNUS SED LEO, which uses a revenue-backed burn mechanism, as well as gold-pegged tokens. The savvy investor’s lesson here? Look beyond the hype and remember the revenue.

Today, Celo (CELO) witnessed a 7.06% drop over the past 24 hours, a noticeable fall that made the cryptocurrency erase recent gains, according to a revelation disclosed by the market analyst PumpDumpAlert.

Celo (CELO) is a native PoS (proof-of-stake) token powering Celo, an Ethereum-compatible Layer-2 blockchain network designed to drive fast, low-cost payments, native stablecoins, and DeFi applications.

With the price decline noticed today, CELO currently trades at $0.07769. Its price has also been down 6.4% over the past week, meaning the asset is now underperforming the wider crypto market, which has been up 1.20% over the past week, according to data from CoinGecko.

🔴 2x DUMP #CELO from 0.0836 to 0.0777 USDT = -7.06 %$CELO #CeloGold #celo_usdt pic.twitter.com/4sBAOoorDq

— Crypto Pump Dump Alert (@PumpDumpAlert) February 19, 2026

Celo Heads For 40.8% Plunge

Celo is currently displaying a bearish outlook, as pointed out by a pennant formation on its weekly timeframe. Coupled with this bearish setup (as indicated in the technical analysis), Celo’s network activity is on a decline. The interplay and presence of these two metrics signal a continuation of CELO’s downturn movement, indicating that the asset’s price is set to further drop to $0.046.  

Technical analysis shows that maintaining the $0.059 support level is essential in invalidating the pennant. However, CELO’s falling network activity creates a potential downward pressure on CELO’s price. With the pattern formation, if the price drops below the lower trend line at the $0.059 support zone, the fall will lead to a further price decline, targeting $0.046, a 40.8% decrease from the current price.

The current price of Celo is $0.07724. HNT, RPL, QIE, and ATOM Lead in POS Sector Market Rally

CELO’s price fall is not a cause for panic; it suggests increased selling pressure in the market and indirectly indicates a buying opportunity for savvy investors seeking to position themselves for a potential uptrend in the market.

The drop is part of the wider cooldown momentum currently being noticed in the wider cryptocurrency market and especially in the PoS sector. However, some of the PoS coins leading with top market-sector surge include Helium (HNT), Rocket Pool (RPL), QIE Blockchain (QIE), and Cosmos Hub (ATOM), which have been up 85.4%, 52.2%, 16.3%, and 15.4% over the past week, respectively (according to metrics from CoinGecko), showing their innovativeness and increased popularity.

Bazaars ($BZR), a peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace for secure, private, and transparent crypto-based trading, has announced its strategic landmark collaboration with Trezor, a premier hardware cryptocurrency wallet for ensuring the security of private store keys offline. The core purpose of this partnership is to provide sufficient security for crypto users’ wallets, Web3 economy along with safe self-custody of $BZR tokens.

Unlock your BZR power with Trezor.Secure, simple, and ready for the Web3 economy.#BZR #Trezor #CryptoCommerce #Bazaars #ORC55 #Web3 pic.twitter.com/qX3tkonpPS

— Bazaars (@BazaarsBzr) February 19, 2026

Fundamentally, both partners are purposefully built for the security, privacy, and transparency of crypto trading. But they are a little bit better than each other in specific features, which contribute to the security of crypto traders. Trezor facilitates users with offline services for private store keys. Bazaars ($BZR) has released this news through its official social media X account.

Advancing Web3 Economy Protection for Modern Traders

Privacy and transparency are the two things that are utmost need of crypto users for a successful cryptocurrency transaction. Therefore, both platforms are well aware of this reality and inspire crypto traders with their special features. Definitely, this collaboration will engage a lot of people to get benefits from this golden chance.

Bazaars ($BZR) and Trezor are actively participating in the development of crypto users through a secure, private, and protected trading system. Trezor pays its full attention on hardware wallet while Bazaars ensures seamless transactions. Nobody bears the weak side of security, especially in crypto trading.

Bazaars and Trezor Set a New Standard in Wallet Security

The Integration of Bazaars ($BZR) and Trezor is playing history making role in strengthening the wallet security and privacy aspect. This partnership is purely done for the development of crypto users, along with a certified safeguard system.

Moreover, both partners have a strong foundational value in the market about their services and successful history record. This partnership also reduces the risk of being hacked as compared to hot wallets.

Which February 2026 token presale picks have real structure behind the hype? Many investors want early pricing, but they also want clear rules, visible tokenomics, and a liquidity plan. That is why this list focuses on projects already covered in the February presale roundups and on official pages with details that can be checked.

IPO Genie ($IPO) also appears early in this conversation because it links the token to private-style deal access and publishes key token data. This guide highlights the top 5 crypto presale opportunities with simple checks, not vague claims.

February 2026 Quick Snapshot of Presales 

IPO Genie ($IPO) – AI-powered private market access

DeepSnitch AI (DSNT) – AI market analytics

Pepepawn (PEPA) – Collateralized crypto lending

Ozak AI ($OZ) – Predictive AI platform

Digitap ($TAP) – Utility ecosystem token

Comparison of Top 5 Crypto Presale Opportunities in 2026

Project What it is February headline detail Best “Quick Checks.” IPO Genie ($IPO) presale Token-based AI access to private-style deal flow + triple  Reported raising over $1M in presale stages Tokenomics split, vesting, total supply, staking, tiers access & bonus rules, risk notes DeepSnitch AI (DSNT) presale AI agents for sentiment + on-chain risk signals Reported raising over $1.5M in the first five stages Product proof, token utility, audit references Pepepawn (PEPA) presale Meme brand with DeFi pawn-shop lending angle Reported raising about $2.32M over 11 stages Collateral rules, liquidation logic, smart-contract risk Ozak AI presale AI platform promoted with a presale path on the official site Presale shown as a main site action Whitepaper clarity, token use, realistic roadmap Digitap ($TAP) presale Utility-first token positioning Reported raising roughly $4.6M Vesting schedule, distribution, liquidity plan

How to Spot Crypto Presale Opportunities in February 2026

Investors searching for top crypto presales to invest in usually want a repeatable method, not a long story. So the fastest filter is a five-point checklist for high-potential presale, and top crypto presale to buy in February 2026.

5 checks that save you time

Tokenomics in plain view: supply, allocation, lockups

Vesting rules: team and early allocations should not be a mystery

Working path: a real presale portal or clear buy steps

Utility clarity: what the token does inside the product

Risk notes: direct statements about uncertainty and limits

Used together, these checks help early participants compare crypto presale opportunities without guessing.

1) IPO Genie ($IPO) Presale

AI-Scored Private Deal Access With 20% Welcome Bonus and 15% Referral Rewards

Live Presale: ipogenie.ai

IPO Genie is framed as a token-first route to deals that normally sit behind private or venture networks. Its concept is explained as opening early-stage exposure to a wider audience through tokenization. Also, $IPO security stack targets institutional standards through a triple approach:

CertiK audit for smart contract safety, 

Fireblocks custody for asset and treasury protection, 

and Chainlink oracles to verify real-world deal data on-chain.

The strongest part is the public structure. The tokenomics page lists a

Bonus rules are also stated publicly. The official referral page says a user can share a code and both wallets can receive 15% extra $IPO after a $20+ purchase. 

Also, $IPO offers the 20% welcome bonus for new participants, which is often mentioned alongside the referral reward.

A credibility proof that can be tied to a fixed date is also useful. Redwood AI Corp’s listing date is confirmed as February 6, 2026, on the Canadian Securities Exchange under AIRX, which supports the timeline behind the “Redwood AI call” story often discussed around IPO Genie.The $IPO token utility presents a credible layer for crypto analysts seeking a reliable crypto presale in February 2026.

Moreover, according to one of the recent 17th February 2026 reports, IPO Genie is the top trending AI token that sets the standard for early-stage access among the top 3 AI presales in 2026. This is also one of the reasons that experts say it is the most promising token opportunity in February 2026.  

What to verify in five minutes

Tokenomics numbers and vesting details on the tokenomics page

Referral terms (15% extra on $20+ buys) on the official referral page

Whether any “deal access” claims come with process steps and risk notes on the site

2) DeepSnitch AI ($DSNT) Presale

AI-Powered On-Chain Analytics and Sentiment Tracking for Smarter Token Decisions

DeepSnitch AI is presented as a suite of AI tools that filter market noise into readable signals. It is described as using agents to scan on-chain data, sentiment trends, and project risks.

1 $DSNT = $0.040

The presale traction is also stated in that coverage: over $1.5 million raised across the first five stages. However, funding is not the same as a working product. So, the main question becomes whether the tooling is visible, testable, and tied to the token.

What to verify

Screens, demo clips, or a working beta that shows the tools exist

Token utility that is more than “access” wording

Any audit links and a clear explanation of what is and is not live

Join the Biggest Crypto Presale Before the End of February 2026!

3) Pepepawn ($PEPA) Presale

Collateral-Backed DeFi Lending Platform Blending Meme Branding With Utility

Pepepawn mixes meme identity with a DeFi pawn-shop idea. It is described as letting users borrow against crypto assets for short-term liquidity instead of selling.

1 $PEPA = $0.00045

Coverage reports about $2.32 million raised over 11 stages. Still, lending mechanics are where many projects break. As a result, readers should spend more time on liquidation rules than on marketing.

What to verify

Collateral types, liquidation triggers, and repayment terms

Whether smart-contract addresses are public and reviewable

Any limits on supported chains and fee impact during high congestion

4) Ozak AI ($OZ) Presale

Predictive AI Financial Intelligence Platform With Active $OZ Token Presale

Ozak AI is promoted as an AI-driven platform, and its official presence shows a clear presale path.

1 $OZ = $0.014

Even so, AI claims are common in 2026. For that reason, investors should focus on inputs, outputs, and clear product milestones. In other words, what does the platform do on day one, and what comes later?

What to verify

Whitepaper sections that explain data sources and limits

Token role in the product, not just token holding benefits

5) Digitap ($TAP) Presale

Utility-Driven Token Focused on Real Use Cases and Structured Presale Growth

Digitap is described as more utility-first than meme-first. That same coverage reports a roughly $4.6 million presale raise.

1 $TAP = $0.0485

A larger raise can signal interest, but it can also raise supply questions. Therefore, the most important check is how distribution and token lockups are structured, plus how liquidity is planned after launch.

What to verify

Vesting schedule and distribution that reduce sudden sell pressure

Liquidity plan and whether exchange steps are described clearly

Why IPO Genie Leads the Top 5 Crypto Presale Opportunities for February 2026

IPO Genie stands out in this February 2026 shortlist because it gives investors more than a trend story. It publishes clear tokenomics, including supply, allocation, and a defined team lockup timeline, which makes the risk easier to measure than many presales. 

Its public bonus structure also adds real value for early buyers, with an official referral rule set and widely reported welcome incentives that can increase starting allocation when used correctly. 

Above all, the Web3 project’s private market deal access is easy to understand and matches what many early participants want in 2026: a token with a purpose that goes beyond short-term hype. For anyone comparing February presales side by side, IPO Genie is the most structured pick in the Top 5 list, with the clearest public details to review before making a decision.

So, if you want to maximize return in February 2026, then IPO Genie is the best crypto token among the top 5 crypto presales to invest in February 2026. Because it has strong fundamentals & high potential to provide a massive gain in 2026. 

Join the Best Crypto Presale for Amazing Rewards with Just $1000!

Official website 

 Twitter (X)  

 Telegram

Whitepaper

This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.

Introduction

Literally, materially, economically, monetarily, gold has always surpassed any other store of value in human history. With a market cap now reaching over $35 trillion, it has been making waves in the news every other day. The uptrend has been unprecedented and phenomenal, but many aspiring investors remain sidelined due to a lack of sufficient capital to gain real exposure to this precious metal. And here comes tokenization to console the sidelined investors, who cannot enjoy the price action of gold without actually owning and having to worry about storing it. Crypto developers have proposed a practical solution to the problem: tokenized gold in the sector of real-world assets in the crypto market.

What is Tokenized Gold?

Tokenized gold is a blockchain-based asset that has a specific quantity of gold behind it, and represents legal ownership rights. The developers of the project buy real gold, keep it in custody, and issue crypto tokens on a blockchain in the amount corresponding to the gold in custody. The representation of the token depends on the developers’ own strategy and the intended tokenomics of the project. One token may be equal to one gram or one ounce.

How Tokenized Gold Works

As hinted earlier, the crypto tokens that represent gold are really tethered to gold, which the issuing authority actually owns. It saves general investors from the hassle of storing the precious metal, which ends up in the insured vaults of the issuer. A process of verification is duly completed by recording the weight, purity, and serial number of the stored bars. Thereafter, investors get the tokens for buying, selling, and trading on any of the popular blockchains in the crypto market.

Initially, all the gold belongs to the issuers. When a trader buys a token, the ownership of the corresponding quantity of the stored gold changes on the blockchain. Now, if the trader redeems the token, the issuer is bound either to pay the equivalent amount of gold or its value. Afterwards, the token is burnt permanently to keep the tethering equal.

The Significance of the Idea

The most serious issue that the tokenization of gold claims to resolve is that it is practically impossible for small investors to buy gold with the meager savings they usually manage. Dramatic price action shown by gold has made it difficult even for those who had been thinking about buying gold. The amount of gold bought with little money, if any shop offers it at all, is so tiny and insignificant that it can easily be misplaced during any shifting process. Besides, those who can afford to buy in large amounts ultimately turn to safe storage options like lockers, which incur additional cost. On the other hand, you can buy a gold-tethered crypto token as per your budget, no matter how small it is.

Moreover, shops are open for a fixed time of the day. Even if a trader opts to trade gold on an exchange, it does not offer trading around the clock. A token on a crypto exchange is open for trading 24/7. You do not need to wait for an exchange to open.

Ownership and Transparency

Where the crypto market is infamous for manipulation, scams, and fraudulent practices, it also has a few strengths that help it win traction among the public. Among these plus points is transparency and decentralization. A blockchain is like a public ledger on which every transaction is recorded, making it visible to everyone. The movement of tokenized gold is traceable, and some issuers even let holders check the exact gold bar backing their token through serial numbers and audit reports.

Independent accounting firms regularly verify that the vault contains enough gold to match circulating tokens. This verification is important because the gold itself stays off the blockchain, so trust in custody and auditing remains necessary.

Examples in the Real Market

Today’s crypto market is teeming with examples of gold being traded in the form of crypto tokens. Just as Bitcoin has different tickers on different ETF platforms, tokenized gold also comes with variable titles. This article has also stated that different tokenized versions of gold represent different amounts. For example, XAUT/USDT, Tether Gold, represents one troy ounce. The gold stored in the Swiss vaults backs this token, which is available for trading on Binance and OKX. Also, Binance, Kraken, and Crypto.com have listed PAXG/USDT (Paxos Gold), which has physical reservoirs in London. Furthermore, Kinesis Gold (KAU/USDT), Matrixdock Gold (XAUM/USDT), and Comtech Gold (CGO/USDT) represent one gram of gold each.

Risks and Limitations

Despite innovation, it is not completely trustless. The blockchain proves token ownership, but cannot physically verify the gold in vaults. Users have to rely on the issuing company, auditors, and legal systems to ensure backing exists. Redemption conditions may also vary. Large minimum amounts, location restrictions, or fees can apply when requesting real metal delivery. Therefore, tokenized gold is closer to a digital claim on gold rather than gold stored personally at home.

Regulation and Future Outlook

Governments have started defining rules for real-world asset tokens. Regulated issuers publish audits and operate under financial authorities to increase confidence. As legal clarity improves, banks and payment apps are expected to integrate tokenized commodities. Experts believe the technology may eventually connect global trade settlement with physical assets. Instead of transferring currency, companies could settle invoices directly in gold value recorded on blockchain networks.

Conclusion

The sum and substance of the discussion is that, regardless of the fact that gold has occupied a stable and secure place among all assets humans have ever traded, it is inconvenient to buy and hold it for small investors as well as whales. The tokenization of this precious metal has made gold accessible to every investor. It is as easy to buy and sell gold now as sending a message to someone online. Also, there is no need to worry about its storage or theft. Real gold stays with the issuer of the token, who keeps the metal in duly protected vaults.