ChainGPT AI News

After a brutal drawdown of more than 95% from its 2021 peak, Avalanche (AVAX) is beginning to show technical signals that could mark a major macro turning point — and traders are paying attention. Why it matters - AVAX has been locked in a multi-year descending channel since the 2021 all-time high. That long-term downtrend has kept bulls at bay for years, but the weekly chart is now registering a structure consistent with an early-stage reversal. - Crypto analyst Crypto Patel argues the token completed Wave 1 of an Elliott Wave sequence with a macro low near $5.67, and is now entering an early Wave 2 recovery. If true, this phase often sets the tone for whether a sustained expansion follows. What the charts show - Weekly Elliott Wave structure: Wave 1 appears to have bottomed in the $8–$5 range, establishing a potential base. - Price action features a bearish breakdown followed by a retest of the lower trendline — a classic deviation/retest setup. - The chart also recorded a liquidity sweep into the weekly demand zone between $8 and $7, which can be a common precursor to trend reversals. - The broader fractal picture mirrors the compression seen before the last cycle’s expansion, suggesting the market may be building energy for a move higher — but confirmation is needed. What would confirm the thesis - Crypto Patel highlights that sustained weekly strength and a push back toward mid-channel resistance would bolster the bullish Wave 2 case. In short: weekly closes with real momentum higher, not just volatile chop, are required to validate a larger recovery. Upside roadmap and risk levels - Target sequence (as outlined by Crypto Patel): $33 → $58 → $97 → $147. If channel expansion unfolds into 2026–2027 and price reaches the upper boundary, this path from the macro bottom to the final target would imply an approximate 2,489% expansion. - Key invalidation level: a weekly close below $5.50 would break the Wave 1 low and invalidate the current recovery scenario, signaling renewed structural weakness. Bottom line Avalanche is showing early technical clues of a high-timeframe inflection after a severe cycle correction. The setup offers a high-asymmetric risk/reward for spot accumulators and long-term holders — but it is a patience-driven, confirmation-dependent trade. Watch weekly strength and the $5.50 support level; a sustained move toward mid-channel resistance would be the clearest sign that the larger recovery is starting to take shape. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Bitcoin is edging toward levels that historically signal “undervaluation,” according to CryptoQuant contributor Crypto Dan, as traders look for evidence the market’s four-month slide since October 2025’s all-time high is moving from distribution into accumulation. What the MVRV is showing In a post on X, Crypto Dan said Bitcoin is “approaching the undervalued zone,” pointing to the market-value-to-realized-value (MVRV) ratio. Historically, MVRV readings below 1 have marked attractive entry points for longer-term buyers; the current MVRV sits near 1.10 — close to that threshold and noticeably compressed compared with previous cycle highs. Dan’s chart highlights earlier sub-1.0 dips that coincided with prior cycle lows. A cautionary note Dan warned investors not to assume this cycle will replay prior drawdowns exactly. Unlike earlier cycles, Bitcoin’s most recent run-up did not push sharply into the “overvalued” territory on common valuation measures, so the structure and timing of the decline — and the eventual bottom — could differ. That caveat prompted some debate in replies: one user asked whether a faster prior ascent might mean a faster winter; Dan replied that he’s setting criteria differently this cycle because of those differences. Other long-term indicators also point to accumulation Analyst Will Clemente flagged two other time-tested bottom signals that are now in historically constructive ranges: the Mayer Multiple (price relative to the 200-day moving average) and the 200-week moving average. Clemente’s chart shows a Mayer Multiple around 0.60 — a level that has previously aligned with long-term accumulation windows — and places the 200-week moving average at roughly $57,926. BTC is trading about 15% above that long-term trendline and has not touched it during the current drawdown. Where price stands At the time of reporting, Bitcoin traded around $67,277. Bottom line Multiple valuation metrics are converging into ranges that, historically, have offered compelling risk-reward for patient buyers. That said, analysts urge caution: structural differences in this cycle mean past patterns may not unfold identically, and these indicators are signals, not guarantees. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

XRP remains under steady selling pressure, showing little momentum as the wider crypto market stays fragile. After failing to sustain gains, the token has struggled to form a clear recovery trend — a sign of cautious investor sentiment and muted speculative activity. Volatility has cooled from prior sharp moves, but the lack of decisive buying suggests the market is consolidating rather than rebounding. CryptoQuant data on Binance adds color to the picture. XRP is trading near $1.37 with daily volume roughly 173 million XRP. Using a 30-day Z-Score framework, trading activity is hovering close to zero, meaning volume is broadly in line with recent averages and there are no pronounced spikes or contractions. That equilibrium typically reflects a balance between buyers and sellers and often follows periods of elevated volatility. Practically, the neutral volume reading points to a phase of reassessment: traders are holding positions and waiting for clearer directional signals. Historically, CryptoQuant’s volume Z-Score has acted as a leading indicator — sharp spikes in the metric have often preceded major price moves in either direction. By contrast, when the Z-Score sits near zero, markets tend to enter consolidation periods where prices drift until participation expands or contracts. Technically, XRP’s structure remains tilted bearish. The token failed to hold the $2.00–$2.20 area and has since accelerated lower toward the $1.30–$1.40 range, which is now the closest visible support zone. Price is trading below major moving averages that are sloping down — a setup that typically makes rallies hard to sustain and favors sellers. The recent drop was accompanied by higher-than-usual activity compared with prior quiet phases, indicating active participation in the selloff rather than thin, illiquid price moves. What traders will watch next: a sustained pickup in volume and a rise in the Z-Score (notably a move well above recent average thresholds) would signal renewed conviction and could precede a directional breakout to the upside. Conversely, an abrupt increase in selling volume would raise the risk of continued downside or capitulation. From a price perspective, reclaiming the $1.80–$2.00 area would be an important step toward stabilizing sentiment; until then, consolidation and further weakness remain plausible. Bottom line: XRP’s current picture is one of measured equilibrium — lower volatility and balanced volume for now — but that calm is a prelude to the next major move. The catalyst will likely be a clear shift in participation: more buyers pushing volume higher could spark a rally, while a fresh surge of selling would extend the downtrend. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Huntress: ransomware gang abused employee-monitoring “bossware” and SimpleHelp to hunt crypto, then tried to drop Crazy ransomware Cybersecurity firm Huntress says attackers are increasingly weaponizing legitimate workforce-monitoring tools as covert remote access trojans (RATs) — and using them to hunt cryptocurrency before attempting ransomware deployments. In a new report covering two intrusions from late January and early February 2026, Huntress’ Tactical Response team describes how threat actors combined Net Monitor for Employees Professional with SimpleHelp to gain resilient access to corporate networks and search for crypto assets. What happened - In both incidents the adversary used Net Monitor for Employees Professional (made by NetworkLookout) as an initial foothold and then pulled down SimpleHelp, a remote-access tool, as a secondary persistence channel. That dual setup lets attackers survive takedowns of any single entry point and blend into normal administrative traffic. - In the first case Huntress investigators saw suspicious account manipulation (disabling Guest, enabling Administrator), multiple net commands to enumerate and create accounts, and a Net Monitor-linked binary spawning a pseudo-terminal to run commands. The attacker fetched SimpleHelp from an external IP, tried to tamper with Windows Defender, and attempted to drop multiple variants of Crazy ransomware (part of the VoidCrypt family). - In the second case attackers entered through a compromised vendor SSL VPN account, used RDP to a domain controller, then installed the Net Monitor agent from the vendor site. They customized service and process names to mimic legitimate Windows components (e.g., disguising services as OneDrive), installed SimpleHelp for backup access, and configured keyword-based monitoring rules specifically targeting cryptocurrency wallets, exchanges, payment platforms and other remote-access tools. Huntress says this shows clear financial motivation and deliberate defense evasion. Why this matters for crypto businesses - “Bossware” is widely deployed — estimates put adoption at about a third of UK firms and roughly 60% of US businesses — which makes these tools attractive prey for attackers. Monitoring agents that can take screenshots, track activity or execute remote shells easily become covert RATs when abused. - The keyword-based monitoring aimed at wallet addresses, exchanges and payment platforms highlights that the attackers were specifically hunting for crypto-related targets and credentials before trying to deploy ransomware or exfiltrate value. Vendor response and root causes - NetworkLookout told Decrypt the agent requires administrative privileges to install, saying installation “isn’t possible” without admin rights and advising organizations to restrict administrative access. - Huntress emphasized that the underlying problems are exposed perimeters and poor identity hygiene — compromised VPN accounts and excessive admin rights remain the primary enablers of these attacks. Context and precedent - This is not an isolated pattern: in April 2025 researchers found WorkComposer had exposed more than 21 million real-time screenshots in an unsecured cloud bucket, demonstrating how surveillance tools can leak sensitive data or be abused by attackers. Practical recommendations (for crypto firms, exchanges, custodians, vendors) - Limit administrative privileges and use least-privilege policies for endpoints. Prevent non-admin installations of monitoring agents. - Harden remote-access channels: enforce strong MFA, monitor for unusual VPN/RDP logins, and apply zero-trust network segmentation for vendor and third-party access. - Monitor for signs of abuse: unexpected service/process name changes, new persistent remote-access binaries, account creation/reset commands, and unusual outbound connections to external IPs. - Treat “bossware” like any privileged remote access tool — log its installations, audit its configuration, and only deploy trusted solutions with strict controls. - Backup detection and response: keep offline backups, maintain EDR/AV hygiene, and prepare incident response playbooks that include vendor-compromise scenarios. Bottom line Attackers are turning legitimate workforce-monitoring tools into stealthy RATs and combining them with commodity remote-access software to hunt for crypto and deploy ransomware. For organizations in the crypto ecosystem — where high-value credentials and funds are prime targets — tightening identity hygiene, limiting admin rights and treating monitoring software as high-risk software are critical defenses. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

A 24-year-old Connecticut man has been federally indicted for allegedly defrauding crypto investors of nearly $1 million and gambling the proceeds away on an offshore crypto betting platform. Federal prosecutors say Elmin Redzepagic marketed himself as a skilled digital-asset manager who delivered high returns. Instead, the Department of Justice alleges, Redzepagic collected investor funds and routed them to Stake — a controversial offshore crypto casino — where he lost more than $950,000 of client money. A New Haven grand jury returned an indictment last month charging Redzepagic with seven counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of international money laundering, and three counts of making false statements to IRS criminal investigators. If convicted on every count, he faces as much as 375 years behind bars. On Thursday he pleaded not guilty in federal court in Hartford and was released on a $500,000 bond. According to the DOJ and the IRS, Redzepagic built an elaborate sales pitch to convince victims they were investing in a legitimate crypto business. Prosecutors say he claimed to work for a mysterious “crypto guru” known only as “The Chef,” who supposedly dictated trading decisions and generated steady profits for investors. The indictment alleges the scheme used repeated tactics to extract more money — including demands for additional “network gas” fees to release funds — and that Redzepagic sometimes made large “lulling” payments to placate clients while the scheme continued. The government further alleges he gave false statements to IRS agents during a 2023 interview and maintained the operation through March 2025. The case highlights persistent risks in the crypto space: platforms operating offshore, promises of outsized returns, and requests for extra payments framed as fees. The prosecution is ongoing, and the allegations have not been proven in court. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Google’s threat intelligence team is warning the crypto and security worlds: state-backed hackers are increasingly weaponizing popular AI tools — including Google’s own Gemini — to speed up reconnaissance, craft hyper-personalized phishing lures, and even help build malicious code. What Google found - The Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) says model-extraction attempts are on the rise. In model extraction, an attacker repeatedly queries an AI service to infer its internal logic and recreate the model — essentially stealing intellectual property and potentially creating a copy that can be used without safety controls. - More worrying to GTIG than theft is the way government-backed actors are using large language models (LLMs) for technical research, target profiling, and automated generation of sophisticated phishing content. The report flags activity linked to DPRK, Iran, China and Russia. - LLMs let attackers scale open-source intelligence (OSINT) collection and produce hyper-personalized lures that replicate the tone and cultural nuance of legitimate organizations. “This activity underscores a shift toward AI-augmented phishing enablement,” Google writes. “Targets have long relied on indicators such as poor grammar, awkward syntax, or lack of cultural context to help identify phishing attempts. Increasingly, threat actors now leverage LLMs to generate hyper-personalized lures that can mirror the professional tone of a target organization.” - With a target’s biography or online footprint, models like Gemini can produce realistic personas and scenarios tailored to extract trust or credentials. AI also improves translation and localization, removing language barriers that once limited phishing reach. - Growing code-generation capabilities make AI useful for troubleshooting and prototyping malicious tooling, and GTIG sees increasing experimentation with agentic AI — systems that can perform tasks autonomously — which could accelerate malware development and automation. Why crypto firms and users should care - The same AI-powered profiling and personalization techniques that trick corporate employees are highly effective against crypto users: wallet-targeting phishing, SIM-swap social engineering, spear-phishing of exchange staff, rug-pull impersonations, and more. - Model extraction and AI-enabled toolchains could also be leveraged to analyze smart-contracts at scale, attempt automated exploit generation, or create tailored scams against high-value crypto targets. How Google is responding - Google says it’s working on multiple fronts: publishing GTIG reports, running dedicated threat-hunting teams, and hardening Gemini and other models to reduce misuse. Through DeepMind and other internal efforts, Google aims to identify and remove malicious functions before they can be weaponized. - Importantly, GTIG notes that while use of AI in the threat landscape has increased, there are yet no “breakthrough” offensive capabilities — the immediate risk is scale and refinement, not a new class of unstoppable tools. Bottom line AI is lowering the technical and financial barriers for sophisticated social engineering and malware development. For the crypto ecosystem — which remains a prime target for credential- and fund-centric attacks — the report is a reminder to double down on phishing-resistant controls, multi-factor authentication, staff training, and threat monitoring while vendors and defenders work to harden AI platforms. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: Dormant Mixin Hack Wallet Moves $3.85M in Ether to Tornado Cash After Nearly Two Years A wallet tied to the notorious September 2023 Mixin Network exploit has moved $3.85 million worth of Ethereum into a new address—and that new address immediately pushed the funds into coin mixer Tornado Cash. Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence has tagged the original attacker-controlled address as the “Mixin Hacker” wallet. Late on Feb. 12, 2026, that wallet sent 3.85 million dollars in ETH to an unknown address beginning with 0x9c. The 0x9c wallet then split and routed the full amount to Tornado Cash across 20 separate transactions. Background The transaction traces back to one of last year’s largest cross-chain infrastructure breaches. In September 2023, Hong Kong-based Mixin Network suspended deposits and withdrawals after attackers drained roughly $200 million from its cloud service provider’s database. The theft impacted assets across multiple chains and forced the platform to halt operations temporarily. Mixin’s response and repayment plan Following the hack, Mixin announced a mixed compensation approach: up to 50% of losses would be reimbursed in stablecoins, while the remainder would be issued as tokenized claims. In October 2025 the team updated users on a debt-registration and repayment program, issuing the Mixin Debt Token (MDT) series—MDTu, MDTb, and MDTe—to represent claims across affected asset categories. Mixin said it intends to fully repay the debt represented by MDTu (roughly $23 million) by Sept. 23, 2026. However, there is currently no repayment timetable for MDTb and MDTe. At the time of the breach, the team also said it had engaged Google and security firm SlowMist to assist with the investigation. Why this matters Sending the funds to Tornado Cash—an on-chain mixer commonly used to obfuscate transaction trails—raises red flags for investigators and could complicate recovery efforts. The attacker-controlled address had been largely dormant for nearly two years before the Feb. 12 movement, making this a notable resumption of activity that may indicate an attempt to cash out or re-route stolen assets. Mixin today Despite the exploit, Mixin did not shut down. The project still reports over $1 billion in assets under management and more than 1 million users, operating wallet, custody, and trading infrastructure. The movement will likely draw fresh attention from blockchain sleuths and enforcement agencies tracking funds from the 2023 breach. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

A suspected home invasion targeting the CEO of Binance France ended with a minor theft and three arrests, local media and company posts say — underscoring growing concerns about violent, crypto-linked attacks in France. What happened - RTL News reported that three assailants broke into the residence of a Binance France executive while he was away. The intruders reportedly fled after taking two cell phones. - CCTV footage showed the trio traveling in a vehicle; investigators say the suspects first entered a different apartment in the building while asking for directions to the executive’s unit, then went to another address and were overheard discussing the wrong flat before fleeing. - Police tracked the group on public transport and arrested them later the same day at Lyon Perrache train station. Who is involved - RTL did not name the executive; Binance’s France CEO is David Prinçay. Binance co-CEO Richard Teng confirmed on X that the colleague and his family are safe and that the company is “working closely with law enforcement.” Teng added that three individuals have been arrested and the investigation is ongoing. - Binance declined to comment on specific details to Decrypt, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and the safety of those involved. - Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao also posted on X, welcoming news that the executive and his family were safe and stressing the importance of privacy and security. Context: part of a wider trend - French authorities and crypto-security experts have flagged a wave of so-called “wrench attacks” — physical assaults, kidnappings or coercion aimed at forcing victims to hand over crypto keys or authorize transfers. - Recent high-profile incidents include last week’s reported kidnapping of a magistrate for a crypto ransom (six arrests were made), multiple attacks reported in January, and the 2025 kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland. - A database compiled by Casa co-founder Jameson Lopp lists 14 wrench attacks so far this year, 11 of them in France. Blockchain security firm CertiK reported that wrench attacks rose 75% year-over-year in 2025 and led to a record high in confirmed crypto losses, totaling nearly $41 million. Why it matters The attempted robbery of a high-profile crypto executive — even when it results in limited material loss — highlights persistent physical-security risks for industry figures and the community at large. Companies and individuals in the space continue to face threats that go beyond online hacking: targeted, real-world coercion aimed at forcing access to digital assets. Authorities are investigating the Lyon incident; Binance says it is cooperating fully. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Figure, the publicly traded blockchain lender, confirmed Friday that an employee was duped in a social‑engineering attack that allowed an intruder to download customer files — a breach that the hacking group ShinyHunters says yielded roughly 2.5 GB of data. ShinyHunters claimed Figure refused to pay a ransom and published the stolen material. TechCrunch, which first reported the incident, said it reviewed some of the files and found customer full names, home addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers. Figure told Decrypt it “recently identified that an employee was socially engineered, and that allowed an actor to download a limited number of files through their account,” adding the company moved quickly to block the activity and hired a forensic firm to investigate which files were affected. Social engineering—where attackers trick employees via deceptive emails, calls or messages to obtain credentials or authorize access—has surged in sophistication. A January Chainalysis report estimated more than $17 billion in crypto was stolen last year through AI‑powered impersonation scams. And data breaches at large remain widespread: a December 2025 Privacy Rights Clearinghouse report logged over 8,000 notification filings tied to more than 4,000 incidents affecting at least 374 million people. While Figure’s spokesperson declined to provide further technical detail, a source quoted to TechCrunch said ShinyHunters framed the incident as part of a broader campaign hitting organizations that use Okta single‑sign‑on; other alleged victims cited in reporting include Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 2018 and based in New York, Figure runs its loan platform on the Provenance blockchain and focuses on home equity lines of credit. The company went public in September 2025 under ticker FIGR, raising $787.5 million in an IPO that valued it at about $5.3 billion. The breach announcement came the same day Figure proposed a secondary offering of up to 4,230,000 shares of its Series A Blockchain Common Stock and disclosed plans to repurchase up to $30 million of Class A shares from underwriters. Figure’s stock closed up 3.57% at $35.29 on Friday, though it has fallen roughly 37% over the past month. Figure said it is notifying impacted individuals and partners, implementing additional safeguards, and offering complimentary credit monitoring to those who receive breach notices. It also stressed that it continuously monitors accounts and maintains protections intended to safeguard customer funds and accounts. For customers and crypto users, the incident underscores the growing role of human‑targeted attacks in blockchain and fintech breaches—and the importance of multi‑layered defenses around identity and access management as attackers increasingly combine social engineering with AI tools. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

The “Trump trade” that electrified crypto markets after the election is losing steam — and investors are feeling it. A new Morning Consult poll underscores fading political momentum for President Donald Trump: his approval rating has slipped to 45% while disapproval sits at 52%, down slightly from two weeks ago and well below the 52% approval he held at the start of his second term. Support remains concentrated with Republicans (86%), while Democrats (11%) and Independents (33%) are largely unconvinced. Even a headline-grabbing stock market — the Dow briefly topped 50,000 earlier this month — hasn’t translated into broader voter relief. Just 42% approve of his handling of health care costs and 44% approve of his economic stewardship; dissatisfaction is highest on those fronts. That political cool-off has spilled into crypto. The post-election rally that pushed Bitcoin above $125,000 in October 2025 has reversed: Bitcoin is now down more than 28% year-to-date. Speculative bets on projects directly tied to the administration have cratered as well — memecoin $TRUMP, once a poster child of the rally, has plunged as much as 95%. Industry voices point to several causes. Policy outcomes so far have failed to meet many expectations. Proposed legislation such as the CLARITY Act has drawn criticism from decentralization advocates who worry it could consolidate regulatory control rather than protect crypto’s permissionless model. Market psychology has shifted too: a once feverish risk-on environment is giving way to cautious, risk-off trading. High-profile figures have expressed disappointment. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson called the administration’s impact on crypto “somewhat useless,” while Nobel laureate Paul Krugman described the Bitcoin decline as “the unraveling of the Trump trade.” Public sentiment reflects that frustration. A survey by The Information found about 71% of respondents oppose the administration’s cryptocurrency policies, with 59% strongly opposed and only roughly 20% in support. Even among crypto owners — who made up about 40% of survey respondents — opposition outpaced support, bucking earlier trends that showed crypto holders more favorably disposed toward Trump. Critics cite potential conflicts of interest tied to Trump and family crypto ventures, concerns that a strategic Bitcoin reserve could weaken the U.S. dollar, and broader worries about fraud, crime, and market volatility. Bottom line: the combination of tepid policy wins, contentious legislation, shifting investor sentiment, and growing public skepticism has turned what was a bullish political narrative for crypto into a cautionary market moment — and for many investors, the honeymoon is over. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Grayscale Files S-1 for Potential AAVE Spot ETF Grayscale Investments has quietly submitted an S-1 registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a spot AAVE exchange-traded fund, according to recent regulatory filings. The filing signals that the largest digital-asset manager is exploring a new product tied to the governance token of the AAVE protocol. The move comes as AAVE — a leading decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol — has been in the spotlight following a governance vote that would further decentralize its operational structure. Reports say the proposal won community backing, underscoring growing on-chain governance activity around the protocol and its token. Grayscale has not disclosed details about the proposed ETF’s structure or timing. The firm manages billions in crypto assets and has a history of pursuing ETF and other regulated investment products; some of its spot crypto ETF efforts have received SEC approval in recent years. Why it matters: An AAVE spot ETF would give traditional investors direct exposure to the AAVE token via a familiar, regulated vehicle, potentially widening access beyond crypto-native exchanges and wallets. For AAVE, increased institutional exposure could influence liquidity and governance dynamics — though any market impact will depend on the ETF’s size and investor demand. Next steps: An S-1 is the formal registration step with the SEC; the clock now starts for the agency’s review process. Grayscale’s lack of timing specifics means investors will be watching closely for further filings or announcements. We’ll keep tracking the SEC filing and any updates from Grayscale and the AAVE community. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

CoinDesk 20 rises as Uniswap posts biggest gain The CoinDesk 20 Index climbed 2.0% on Friday, settling at 1,920.47 — a gain of 36.77 points versus the 4 p.m. ET close on Thursday — as most major tokens pushed higher. CoinDesk Indices reports 18 of the index’s 20 constituents advanced. Top movers - Uniswap (UNI): +5.4% — the day’s strongest performer - Bitcoin Cash (BCH): +5.3% Lagging names - Internet Computer (ICP): -2.1% - Binance Coin (BNB): -1.1% The CoinDesk 20 is a broad-based benchmark that tracks major crypto assets and is traded across multiple platforms in several regions worldwide. CoinDesk Indices provides this daily snapshot of leaders and laggards within the index. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Tomasz Stańczak, who has served as co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation since early 2025, announced he will step down from his leadership role at the end of February 2026. In a blog post, Stańczak said he believes the foundation — and the wider Ethereum ecosystem — are “in a healthy state” as he prepares to hand the co-executive director role to Bastian Aue, who will serve alongside Hsiao‑Wei Wang. Stańczak joined the EF amid a period of internal turmoil and public criticism of the organization’s direction. His arrival followed long-time executive director Aya Miyaguchi’s move into a different leadership position and came as community members voiced concerns that the foundation was not doing enough to aggressively advance Ethereum. Complaints ranged from perceived disconnects with developers and clashes over strategic priorities to frustrations tied to ETH’s price performance — pressures that helped drive the foundation’s recent leadership reshuffle. While stepping back from the executive role, Stańczak made clear he will remain active in the space: “I plan to continue working directly with founders in frontier tech and Ethereum. I want to see and support the realization of the vision that I have talked about over the last years. It is one of the most exciting times to be a builder on Ethereum,” he wrote. The transition hands day‑to‑day co-leadership to Aue and Wang, and marks another chapter in the EF’s efforts to rebuild trust and sharpen its focus. For observers, the change raises questions about how the foundation will balance community expectations, developer relations, and strategic initiatives as Ethereum continues to evolve. Watchpoints going forward include how Aue and Wang define their joint agenda, whether the EF can close gaps with developer communities, and how leadership choices will influence Ethereum’s technical roadmap and ecosystem growth. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Die Aktien von Coinbase stiegen am Freitag um 12%, obwohl die Börse die Erwartungen im vierten Quartal verfehlte - ein Zeichen dafür, dass die Investoren kurzfristige Schwächen gegen einen diversifizierten, langfristigen Ausblick abwägen. Die Ergebnisse - Nettoumsatz: $1.71 Milliarden (Schätzung von Wall Street: $1.81 Milliarden) - Bereinigtes EBITDA: $566 Millionen (Konsens ~ $653 Millionen) - GAAP-Nettoverlust: $667 Millionen, hauptsächlich verursacht durch einen nicht realisierten Verlust von $718 Millionen im Krypto-Investitionsportfolio von Coinbase und einen Verlust von $395 Millionen bei strategischen Investitionen. Warum die Aktie gestiegen ist. Die Händler schienen sich auf strukturelle Verbesserungen und Kapitalmaßnahmen zu konzentrieren - wachsende Geschäftsdifferenzierung, Zuwächse bei Abonnenten und aggressive Rückkäufe - anstatt auf die Umsatz- und Gewinnminderung. Analysten reagieren: Kürzungen, aber nicht alles Pessimismus - Barclays (Benjamin Budish): Nannte das Q4 "eine durchweg schlechte Leistung" und verwies auf schwache Transaktions- und Abonnementumsätze sowie höhere Betriebskosten. Budish senkte sein Kursziel von $258 auf $149 und warnte, dass Handelsaktivitäten, Zinsen auf Stablecoins und Krypto-Preise weiterhin die meisten Leistungen von Coinbase bestimmen. Er merkte jedoch Positives an: einen größeren Marktanteil von USDC, mehr Coinbase One-Abonnenten und Rückkäufe, die die Anzahl der Aktien um etwa 8 % im Quartalsvergleich verringerten. - Benchmark (Mark Palmer): Beibehaltung einer Kaufempfehlung trotz der Senkung seines Ziels von $421 auf $267. Palmer wies auf das wachsende Derivategeschäft von Coinbase, das breitere Produktangebot und die steigende Akzeptanz von Stablecoins als Zeichen hin, dass das Unternehmen "diversifizierter und langlebiger" wird. - Clear Street (Owen Lau): Wies auf Druck bei der Monetarisierung von Verbrauchern hin - die Einzelhandelsgebühr fiel im Q4 von 1.43 % im Q3 auf 1.31 %, da Nutzer zu fortgeschrittenen Handelswerkzeugen und dem Coinbase One-Abonnement wechselten - was den Umsatz pro Trade verringerte. Lau senkte sein Ziel von $344 auf $277 und verwies auf einen anhaltenden Krypto-Abwärtstrend, schwache Einzelhandelsbeteiligung und ein strengeres makroökonomisches Umfeld. Dennoch hob er hervor, dass Coinbase jetzt 12 Geschäftszweige hat, die über 100 Millionen Dollar an annualisiertem Umsatz generieren (zwei davon über 1 Milliarde Dollar), und die Infrastruktur über den Spot-Handel hinaus wächst. - JPMorgan: Senkte ebenfalls sein Kursziel und wies auf kurzfristigen Druck auf die Erträge hin. Management-Haltung Coinbase bekräftigte sein Engagement, über Marktzyklen hinweg bereinigtes EBITDA-positiv zu bleiben, und sagte, dass es über 14.1 Milliarden Dollar an verfügbaren Ressourcen hat. Das Management bestätigte fortlaufende Aktienrückkäufe und eine weiterhin wachsende Bitcoin-Akkumulation, wobei BTC zum Zeitpunkt des Berichts bei etwa $68,884.88 gehandelt wurde. Fazit Das Quartal offenbarte kurzfristige Gegenwinde - schwächere Handels- und Abonnementumsätze sowie einen GAAP-Schlag durch Investitionsverluste - aber Investoren und einige Analysten setzen auf die Verschiebung von Coinbase hin zu Derivaten, Stablecoin- und Abonnementumsätzen sowie Kapitalrückflüssen, um die Plattform im Laufe der Zeit langlebiger zu machen. Kurzfristige Kursziele wurden gesenkt, aber der Optimismus über die sich entwickelnde Geschäftsmischung des Unternehmens half, die Aktie zu steigern. Lesen Sie mehr KI-generierte Nachrichten auf: undefined/news

Die Commodity Futures Trading Commission hat diese Woche beschlossen, ihr Engagement im Kryptosektor zu vertiefen, indem sie ein 35‑köpfiges Innovationsberatungs-Gremium vorstellt, das der Behörde eine direkte Verbindung zu den Marktteilnehmern geben soll, während sie die Politik für digitale Vermögenswerte gestaltet. Die Liste — die am 12. Februar 2026 bekannt gegeben wurde — liest sich wie ein Who’s Who der Krypto- und traditionellen Märkte: Coinbase-CEO Brian Armstrong und Ripple-CEO Brad Garlinghouse gehören zu den Mitgliedern, neben Börsenleitern, DeFi-Gründern, Betreibern von Handelsplattformen und Vertretern aus der traditionellen Marktinfrastruktur. Branchenvertreter, darunter der Investor Chris Dixon, begrüßten die Ernennungen öffentlich als Gelegenheit, klarere Regeln für Gründer und Betreiber zu schaffen. CFTC-Vorsitzender Mike Selig umreißte den Zweck des Gremiums als praktisch und zukunftsorientiert und sagte, das Gremium werde helfen, „die Entscheidungen der CFTC mit den realen Marktbedingungen in Einklang zu bringen“ und die Kommission dabei unterstützen, klare Richtlinien für das, was er die „Goldene Ära der amerikanischen Finanzmärkte“ nannte, festzulegen. Das Gremium ist ausdrücklich darauf ausgelegt, aktuelle Branchenperspektiven zu technischen Fragen wie Derivaten, Marktstruktur und Token-Klassifizierung einzubringen. Berichten zufolge haben etwa 20 Mitglieder direkte Verbindungen zu Krypto-Unternehmen, während die übrigen aus der traditionellen Finanzwelt und der Marktinfrastruktur stammen — eine gezielte Mischung, die der CFTC eine Vielzahl von Perspektiven bei der Prüfung von Politikideen geben soll. Führungskräfte nahmen aus unterschiedlichen Gründen Platz: einige wollen auf regulatorische Klarheit drängen, andere, um Geschäftsmodelle zu schützen, während die Regulierungsbehörden entscheiden, welche Aktivitäten unter das Warenrecht oder das Wertpapierrecht fallen. Das Beratungsmodell könnte die Feedback-Schleifen zwischen Regulierungsbehörden und der Branche verkürzen und praktischere, umsetzbare Regeln hervorbringen. Es wirft jedoch auch bekannte Fragen zu Interessenkonflikten und der Unparteilichkeit der Behörde auf: Kritiker warnen, dass eine starke Branchenpräsenz das Risiko birgt, die Politik zugunsten von etablierten Unternehmen über kleinere Innovatoren oder das öffentliche Interesse zu gestalten. Die CFTC wird Governance-Schutzmaßnahmen benötigen — Transparenz, Rücktritte und klare Berichterstattung — um offenes Feedback mit unparteiischer Regelsetzung in Einklang zu bringen. Das Gremium soll in den kommenden Wochen mit den Sitzungen beginnen. Zu den frühen Tagesordnungspunkten werden voraussichtlich Aufbewahrungsregeln, Klassifizierung von tokenisierten Vermögenswerten, Aufsicht über Derivate, die mit digitalen Vermögenswerten verbunden sind, und die Handhabung von Marktdaten gehören. Ob die Empfehlungen des Gremiums in formelle Regelvorschläge übersetzt werden, wird das klarste Signal dafür sein, ob dieses Beratungsexperiment die Art und Weise, wie die USA digitale Vermögenswerte regulieren, umgestaltet. Während die CFTC diesen neuen Kanal öffnet, werden Märkte und Beobachter genau hinschauen: Das Beratungs-Gremium könnte helfen, langjährige Zuständigkeitsstreitigkeiten zu lösen und die dringend benötigte Vorhersehbarkeit zu bieten — oder es könnte neue Spannungen darüber aufwerfen, wer die Regeln beeinflussen darf, die das nächste Kapitel von Krypto gestalten.

Headline: CLARITY Act hits fresh roadblocks as 2026 midterms divert Washington’s attention The long‑awaited CLARITY Act — the Biden administration’s bid to create a clearer regulatory market structure for crypto — is losing legislative traction as Capitol Hill shifts focus toward the 2026 midterm elections. Despite private talks at the White House and ongoing negotiations among lawmakers, banks and crypto firms, lawmakers have yet to forge the bipartisan consensus needed to move the bill forward. Time running short, administration warns Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, told Yahoo Finance’s Opening Bid that momentum is slipping and urged policymakers to act quickly. “Let’s not let any moss grow here,” Witt said, adding the window to pass the bill is “rapidly closing” as campaign season takes over the congressional calendar. He warned that midterm cycles typically crowd out complex policy debates, making swift action increasingly difficult. Stablecoins remain the central sticking point A core area of disagreement is stablecoin regulation and its implications for the traditional banking system. Lawmakers and banking representatives have warned of a potential large-scale deposit migration from banks if stablecoins are not subject to clear and appropriate rules. One hotly contested question is whether stablecoins should be allowed to pay yield — a provision that opponents argue could accelerate deposit outflows and further complicate efforts to marshal enough votes for passage. Industry optimism — for now Despite the headwinds, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong struck an optimistic tone during the company’s recent earnings call, saying he’s “quite optimistic” that some form of the legislation could be approved “in the next few months.” Armstrong pointed to alignment among major crypto companies and framed the negotiations as an opportunity to craft balanced rules that benefit banks, crypto firms and consumers alike. Administration pledges to keep pushing Witt said the administration remains committed to refining the proposal and working across the aisle to shore up the bill’s weaker points while preserving its core goals. “It’s a good product at the end of the day,” he said, signaling that the White House plans to continue negotiations even as the political calendar gets crowded. What to watch next - Whether negotiators can bridge differences on stablecoin yields and deposit protections. - If lawmakers can find a compromise before campaign activity consumes Capitol Hill. - Signals from major crypto firms and banks on concessions they’ll accept to break the impasse. Featured image: OpenArt. Chart: TradingView.com. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Headline: On-chain metrics show Bitcoin’s capitulation still incomplete as realized-price support holds Bitcoin’s sell-off from six-figure highs into the $80k–$70k band has met meaningful on-chain support, keeping a full capitulation from unfolding so far. Even as profit-taking and weaker inflows pushed BTC lower, the price remains roughly 18% above the network’s $55,000 realized price — a level that, historically, Bitcoin has traded 24–30% below during true bear-market washouts (CryptoQuant). Why capitulation hasn’t arrived Several on-chain indicators explain why panic-driven capitulation has not yet formed: - NUPL (Net Unrealized Profit/Loss) fell into the 0.20–0.30 zone as unrealized profits compressed, but it has not dropped to zero or negative territory typically seen at cycle bottoms — a signal that widespread panic losses haven’t occurred. - MVRV (market value to realized value) cooled toward ~2.0, reflecting profit reduction, yet it remains well above the sub-10 levels characteristic of capitulation periods. - Roughly half the supply is still in profit, meaning forced selling pressure has been limited and long-term holders remain generally profitable. These conditions have allowed BTC to stabilize and form a broader base rather than crash into a deep washout. Capital flows, impulse and the slowing of momentum Realized Cap Impulse — a measure of real capital inflows into realized capitalization — was comfortably above +2.0 across 2023 and early 2024. That period saw BTC climb from under $30k to the $70k–$100k range, supported by ETF inflows, institutional allocations and long-term holder absorption (Alphractal). As the cycle matured into late 2025, impulse peaks eased from >+4.5 down toward +2.0 even while the price hovered near $100k, indicating fresh capital was arriving more slowly and profit-taking increasingly replaced fresh accumulation. By early 2026 the impulse contracted toward 0.0 and turned negative, signaling structural capital contraction. With supply still available, price softened into the $85k–$90k range. From here, renewed upward momentum will depend on fresh ETF inflows, resumed long-term accumulation and broader macro liquidity — while continued deterioration in inflows could extend corrective conditions. Holder behavior and exchange liquidity Short-term holder stress has been notable: STH-MVRV sits near 0.95, indicating recent buyers are underwater and explaining episodes of panic selling. Indeed, realized losses spiked as short-term holders moved more than 100,000 BTC to exchanges, a sign of forced distribution. At the same time, LTH realized cap has remained relatively stable, suggesting long-term conviction persists and that selling has been concentrated among newer entrants. Exchange flows paint a mixed picture: capitulation-style inflows appeared during dips, but intermittent outflows and thinning spot volumes — alongside ETF outflows — have set up a defensive consolidation phase that awaits fresh capital to break. Meanwhile, rising Accumulation Trend Scores point to growing dip-buying and some absorption of sell-side pressure. Bottom line On-chain metrics show that while BTC is under pressure and structural capital expansion has cooled, critical capitulation thresholds have not been breached. The market remains in a defensive consolidation where long-term holders continue to anchor supply and short-term losses drive episodic volatility. A sustained recovery will likely need renewed institutional and ETF demand, renewed long-term accumulation, or looser macro liquidity conditions. Sources: CryptoQuant, Alphractal Disclaimer: AMBCrypto’s content is informational and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading is high risk; do your own research. © 2026 AMBCrypto Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has set off a fresh wave of speculation across the crypto market after a recent, widely shared update that many observers are calling a major development for XRP and its ecosystem. What was said Garlinghouse told audiences that Ripple is focused on driving XRP and its broader ecosystem forward — and expressed confidence that a crypto company could become a trillion-dollar firm, a milestone he suggested Ripple is positioned to pursue. His remarks, which quickly circulated across social media and trading desks, referenced forthcoming ecosystem initiatives but did not provide specific details. Market reaction The comment drew swift reaction from market participants. Investor and analyst Stern Drew described the CEO’s remarks as “a massive bombshell for XRP holders,” noting that whether the catalyst is institutional adoption, regulatory progress, or strategic product growth, the announcement has reignited debate over XRP’s medium- to long-term prospects. Technology spotlight: zk-privacy and DNA Protocol On the technical front, proponents note that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is among the chains pushing toward privacy-enhancing upgrades. As of 2026, XRPL is reportedly one of the closest projects to launching zk-privacy capabilities via the DNA Protocol — a platform promoting blockchain bio-identity — putting Ripple in a visible position on the privacy and identity frontier. Technicals and price outlook Technically, XRP’s price action has been consolidative for an extended stretch, but a number of indicators point to building momentum. Analysts point to relative strength metrics and shifting capital flows as signs that XRP may be preparing for a breakout. Crypto analyst Bird shared a chart showing a long descending trend line in place since early 2025 and suggested that, if a decisive move begins, XRP could ultimately target as high as $27. Bird’s analysis — including a comparison against Ethereum — frames the potential breakout as the culmination of a protracted cycle, one he characterizes as the final “fifth wave.” A note on predictions: these targets are speculative and reflect individual analyst viewpoints rather than consensus forecasts. Current market snapshot At the time of writing, XRP traded around $1.35, slipping roughly 2% in the past 24 hours. Trading volume has declined sharply, down more than 19% over the same period, and sentiment remains cautious among investors. Bottom line Garlinghouse’s remarks have rekindled headlines and debate around XRP’s roadmap and ambitions. With privacy upgrades like DNA Protocol on the horizon and technical indicators signaling potential momentum, the coming months could be pivotal — but much depends on concrete product rollouts, regulatory developments, and whether market momentum follows the narrative. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

Makroungewissheit bringt die $50.000 Bitcoin-Warnung von Standard Chartered ins Rampenlicht. Die Märkte handeln aufgrund von Erwartungen und nicht aufgrund von Ereignissen – ein Muster, das in diesem Zyklus bei Risikoanlagen sichtbar ist. Im Gegensatz zu früheren Abstürzen, die durch konkrete Schocks (Zölle, Stilllegungen, Kriege) ausgelöst wurden, versuchen die heutigen Anleger, Risiken zu bewerten, bevor sie sich materialisieren. Polymarket zum Beispiel bewertete eine Stilllegung der US-Regierung zum Zeitpunkt der Berichterstattung mit etwa 96 % Wahrscheinlichkeit – ein Signal, dass Händler jeden makroökonomischen Datensatz nach Hinweisen durchsuchen, die Bitcoin (BTC) bewegen könnten. Warum das jetzt wichtig ist - CPI: Der US-Verbraucherpreisindex-Bericht, der am 13. Februar um 8:00 Uhr ET fällig ist, ist zu einem wichtigen Markt-Katalysator geworden. Der Konsens an der Wall Street erwartet, dass der CPI von 2,7 % auf 2,5 % sinkt, und jede Überraschung hier könnte die Zinserwartungen und Krypto-Flüsse erschüttern. - Arbeitsmarktdaten: Ein kürzlich veröffentlichter US-Arbeitsmarktbericht fiel stärker aus als erwartet, was bereits die Erwartungen an Zinssenkungen der Fed im März gesenkt hat – ein weiterer Faktor, der die Händler nervös hält. - Stimmung: Die Krypto-Stimmung ist fragil. Der Angst- und Gier-Index erreichte mit 5 einen historischen Tiefstand (niedriger als während des COVID-Absturzes) und unterstreicht, wie dünn das Vertrauen in die wahrgenommenen Unterstützungsniveaus von Bitcoin ist. Herabstufung und $50k-Szenario von Standard Chartered - Standard Chartered hat sein BTC-Ziel für Ende 2026 von $150.000 auf $100.000 gesenkt – die zweite Reduzierung der Bank innerhalb von drei Monaten. Entscheidend ist, dass ein Abwärtsszenario hervorgehoben wurde, in dem Bitcoin auf $50.000 fallen könnte. - Diese Stufe mag extrem erscheinen: BTC lag zum Zeitpunkt des Berichts immer noch etwa 23 % über $50k. Aber die These von Standard Chartered basiert auf einem schwächeren makroökonomischen Hintergrund und verzögerter Fed-Einigung, kombiniert mit dem bestehenden Marktdruck. On-Chain- und Flussdaten, die das Abwärtsrisiko unterstützen - KryptoQuant-Daten setzen den realisierten Preis von Bitcoin auf etwa $55.000 – eine Kennzahl, die historisch mit Zyklus-Bodenwerten assoziiert ist. In früheren Zyklen handelte BTC 24–30 % unterhalb dieses realisierten Preisniveaus, bevor es sich stabilisierte; derzeit lag BTC bei ~18 % darüber. - Anleger haben zudem fast $8 Milliarden aus US-Spot-Bitcoin-ETFs abgezogen, was auf spürbare Abflüsse hinweist, die den Verkaufsdruck verstärken könnten. - Wenn man die FUD rund um eine mögliche Regierungsstilllegung, den bevorstehenden CPI-Druck und einen extrem vorsichtigen Markt hinzufügt, wird der $50k-Abwärtstrend zu einem plausiblen Stressszenario anstelle reiner Spekulation. Fazit: Makrosignale, schwache Stimmung, ETF-Abflüsse und On-Chain-Metriken haben zusammen dazu geführt, dass Abwärtsszenarien für Bitcoin für große Institutionen sichtbarer werden. Die $50k-Warnung von Standard Chartered betrifft weniger eine kurzfristige Schlagzeile und mehr, wie eine Reihe ungünstiger makroökonomischer Überraschungen das Risiko eines substanziellen Rückgangs wiedereröffnen könnte. Haftungsausschluss: Die Inhalte von AMBCrypto sind informativ und keine Anlageberatung. Kryptowährungen sind risikobehaftet; die Leser sollten ihre eigenen Recherchen durchführen, bevor sie Entscheidungen treffen. © 2026 AMBCrypto Lesen Sie mehr KI-generierte Nachrichten auf: undefined/news

Headline: Circle revenue-sharing deal could be the lifeline Lighter’s perpetual DEX needs — and a boost for LIT Lighter’s perpetual DEX (LIT) has reportedly struck a revenue-sharing arrangement with Circle to capture interest income generated by USDC held on the platform — a move analysts say could materially shore up the protocol’s finances and act as a bullish catalyst for its native token. How big could it be? - Ryan Watkins, co-founder of crypto VC Syncracy Capital, estimates the arrangement could be worth $30–40 million a year. - Watkins argues the significance isn’t only more buybacks; it effectively subsidizes traders by lowering funding costs, which should raise open interest (OI) and trading activity. Why Lighter needs a boost - Lighter’s perp ecosystem has weakened since the end of its second farming phase in late 2025, when many airdrop-driven participants left. - DeFiLlama data: weekly perp volumes plunged from roughly $300 billion in November 2025 to below $50 billion by February 2026 — a ~6x drop in two months. - Monthly revenue fell from about $24 million in November to $13 million in January; through the first half of February Lighter generated only $1.7 million. Why interest income matters - Circle earns interest by investing USDC reserves in U.S. Treasuries. Platforms that capture a share of that yield can add a steady revenue stream to protocol economics. - Coinbase’s arrangement captures 100% of interest on USDC it holds on-platform and 50% on USDC outside its platform — reportedly producing over $900 million for Coinbase in 2024. - Protocols can use such revenue for buybacks, token accrual, or trading fee rebates; some projects instead launch their own stablecoins (e.g., Hyperliquid’s USDH) to retain all interest income. What’s public (and what isn’t) - Precise terms of the Circle–Lighter agreement haven’t been disclosed, but some observers link it to Lighter’s recent announcement of trading fee rebates. If true, the deal could meaningfully improve token economics and trader incentives. Market reaction and outlook - Syncracy’s Daniel Cheung called LIT “criminally undervalued,” arguing the perps category will outgrow expectations and that LIT trades at a steep discount to peers. - LIT jumped about 10% after the update, bringing February gains to roughly 20%. Technical watchers say a further recovery to ~33% is possible if price reclaims the $1.70 level; downside trendline support remains key. Takeaway A Circle revenue-share could provide Lighter with a recurring, non-trading revenue stream — a direct subsidy for traders and indirect support for tokenomics through buybacks and rebates. With perps volumes and revenues under pressure, that kind of income could be an important stabilizer — but details and implementation will determine how much it changes Lighter’s trajectory. Disclaimer: This summary is informational only and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading is high risk; do your own research before making any decisions. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news