SuperCryptoNews

MetaMask and Mastercard officially announced the nationwide rollout of the MetaMask Card across the United States. Following a string of successful pilot programs in the United Kingdom and Europe, this launch brings self-custodial crypto payments to 49 states, including the notoriously rigorous regulatory environment of New York. By bridging the gap between decentralized finance and traditional commerce, the partnership aims to transform how digital assets are utilized in daily life, moving beyond speculative holding toward practical, real-world utility.

At the core of this initiative is the ability for users to maintain full custody of their digital assets until the exact moment of a transaction. Unlike traditional crypto debit cards that require users to pre-load balances onto a custodial exchange or third-party platform, the MetaMask Card allows for seamless conversion at the point of sale. This architecture ensures that users retain private key control over their funds, adhering to the core tenets of Web3 while simultaneously accessing Mastercard’s massive global network of over 150 million merchants.

The technical infrastructure supporting this rollout is a collaborative effort involving several key industry players. The cards are issued by the FDIC-insured Cross River Bank and powered by technology from Monavate, ensuring that the transition from on-chain assets to fiat currency is both secure and compliant with federal banking standards. Furthermore, the card’s integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay provides immediate compatibility with modern mobile payment systems, allowing for contactless transactions at physical storefronts and online checkouts globally.

To incentivize adoption, the program introduces a tiered rewards system centered around MetaMask’s own stablecoin, mUSD. Standard cardholders are eligible to receive up to 1% back on their purchases, while a premium “MetaMask Metal” tier offers up to 3% back on the first $10,000 spent annually. This premium subscription, which carries a $199 annual fee, also includes additional travel and spending benefits, positioning the product as a competitive alternative to traditional high-end rewards cards.

Industry leaders suggest that this launch represents a strategic shift in the “on-chain” experience, making the complexities of blockchain technology effectively invisible to the end user. By weaving cryptocurrency into the existing global payment rails, MetaMask and Mastercard are attempting to fade the line between digital wallets and traditional bank accounts. As the card becomes available to millions of American users, it sets a new precedent for the integration of decentralized assets into the mainstream economy, signaling a future where crypto is as spendable as cash.

In a significant move for the digital asset derivatives landscape, STS Digital has successfully closed a $30 million strategic funding round. The investment was led by CMT Digital, with a high-profile roster of participants including Strobe Ventures, Arrington Capital, F-Prime (Fidelity), BitRock Capital, and Payward, the financial infrastructure powerhouse behind the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange. This capital injection is earmarked to accelerate the expansion of STS Digital’s spot and options trading infrastructure as the firm prepares for a massive wave of institutional adoption.

The company intends to use the new funds to deepen its market-making capabilities and bolster its balance sheet, a priority that reflects the growing demand for counterparty strength in the wake of recent market volatility. Currently operating as a regulated principal trading firm, STS Digital offers institutional clients access to over 400 tokens through a unified platform that supports spot, vanilla, and exotic options. By integrating UI, API, and voice channels, the firm aims to provide a seamless execution environment for complex financial strategies.

Maxime Seiler, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of STS Digital, emphasized that the funding round is about more than just the dollar amount, noting that the strategic nature of their new partners will allow the firm to enter new markets and roll out products at an accelerated scale. Seiler highlighted that digital asset options represent the fastest-growing category in the industry. He noted that institutional participants are increasingly moving away from purely directional bets, instead utilizing options for sophisticated hedging, yield generation, and managing volatility exposure.

The investment community has signaled strong confidence in STS Digital’s disciplined approach to risk management. Sam Hallene, Partner at CMT Digital, praised the firm for building a “meaningful liquidity moat” and suggested that STS has the potential to become a foundational layer for the entire crypto derivatives market. Similarly, Arjun Sethi, CEO of Payward, pointed out that the partnership will enhance Kraken’s own derivatives capabilities, providing traders with more robust tools to navigate fast-moving digital markets.

Looking toward the future, STS Digital has ambitious plans to bridge the gap between native crypto and traditional finance. Seiler revealed that the company’s ultimate objective is to create a fully integrated platform that facilitates trading in tokenized traditional assets, including equities, commodities, and foreign exchange. This evolution would allow institutional clients to apply the firm’s sophisticated options and structured product frameworks to a much broader range of global asset classes.

Tether, the company behind the world’s most dominant stablecoin, has announced a major $200 million strategic investment into the digital marketplace Whop, valuing the startup at $1.6 billion. According to Whop CEO Steven Schwartz, this deal is designed to accelerate the adoption of stablecoin payments within the creator economy. Whop has rapidly emerged as a powerhouse for digital entrepreneurs, providing a platform where 18.4 million users buy and sell access to software, trading communities, and educational courses. The marketplace currently processes approximately $3 billion in annual earnings for its participants and reports a monthly growth rate of 25% in transaction volume.

As a core component of this partnership, Whop will integrate Tether’s specialized wallet tools directly into its infrastructure. This integration allows both creators and customers to hold and transact using USDT and the U.S.-focused USAT stablecoin without leaving the platform. By moving away from traditional banking and credit card networks, creators can settle their earnings globally and instantly, avoiding the friction and high fees often associated with legacy financial systems. This move effectively turns Whop into a bankless financial hub for the next generation of internet-based businesses.

The capital infusion is earmarked for aggressive global expansion, specifically targeting high-growth regions such as Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Beyond simple payments, the two companies plan to introduce lending and borrowing features powered by decentralized finance infrastructure, further blurring the line between social commerce and advanced fintech. For Tether, which currently boasts a market capitalization of $185 billion for its flagship USDT token, this investment represents a calculated move to embed its digital dollar deeper into everyday online commerce and consumer-facing applications.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a prominent Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has launched a formal probe into Binance following allegations that the cryptocurrency exchange facilitated massive sanctions violations. The investigation centers on reports that approximately $1.7 billion was transferred through the platform to Iran-linked organizations, including Houthi militants in Yemen. Senator Blumenthal has requested detailed records from Binance co-CEO Richard Teng regarding the exchange’s dealings with two Hong Kong-based entities, including a vendor known as Blessed Trust, which was allegedly linked to the illicit flow of funds.

The inquiry was prompted by reports from the New York Times and other major outlets suggesting that internal investigators who flagged these suspicious activities were subsequently dismissed by the company. In a letter to the exchange, Blumenthal expressed concern that Binance may have ignored critical warnings and recommendations intended to prevent money laundering schemes. He has specifically demanded that the company turn over records related to the suspension and termination of the compliance staff and investigators involved in identifying the alleged breaches.

Binance has forcefully denied the accusations, calling the reports inaccurate and asserting that it maintains strict “know-your-customer” and compliance procedures. A spokesperson for the exchange stated that there are no Iranian users on the platform and reiterated that the company stands against what it describes as false claims regarding the dismissal of its staff. While Binance confirmed it ceased working with Blessed Trust in January, it maintains that its current exposure to sanctions-related risks is minimal.

This latest federal scrutiny follows a landmark 2023 settlement in which Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties after its founder, Changpeng Zhao, pleaded guilty to violating anti-money-laundering laws. Although Zhao served a four-month prison sentence before being pardoned by President Donald Trump, the company remains under intense regulatory pressure. Binance official Rachel Conlan noted that an internal investigation is currently underway and a comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to the U.S. Justice Department by February 25.

In a move that could fundamentally reshape the global financial landscape, payment processor Stripe is exploring a potential acquisition of its long-time rival PayPal, according to reports from Bloomberg.

The news, which broke Tuesday, indicates that Stripe has expressed “preliminary interest” in purchasing either the entirety of PayPal or a significant portion of its assets. While talks are in the early stages and no deal is certain, the prospect marks a dramatic role reversal: Stripe, the private upstart, eyeing the pioneer that once defined digital payments.

The reports surfaced as Stripe announced it has reached a staggering $159 billion valuation. The company confirmed it has signed agreements with major investors—including Thrive Capital, Coatue, and a16z—to facilitate a tender offer. This deal provides liquidity for current and former employees, allowing them to sell shares in one of the world’s most valuable private entities.

By contrast, PayPal has faced a difficult period. Despite its legacy as the architect of the digital wallet, the company has seen its market share eroded by newer, more developer-friendly platforms like Stripe and mobile-first solutions like Apple Pay. PayPal’s stock (PYPL) has tumbled nearly 40% over the last year, leaving it with a market capitalization of approximately $42 billion—a fraction of Stripe’s latest private valuation.

Industry analysts suggest the acquisition could be driven by a shared vision for the future of money: stablecoins.

Stripe’s Momentum: Last year, Stripe acquired the stablecoin platform Bridge, which recently received conditional approval from the OCC to operate as a federally chartered national trust bank.

PayPal’s Foundation: PayPal launched its own stablecoin, PYUSD, in 2023. As of this month, PYUSD’s market capitalization sits at $3.8 billion, making it a leader in the regulated digital asset space.

“Stripe is building the plumbing for the internet economy, and PayPal has the consumer network,” noted one market analyst. “Merging the two could create a powerhouse capable of dominating both traditional e-commerce and the emerging Web3 payment sector.”

PayPal’s stock surged more than 6% on Tuesday following the reports, as investors speculated on a potential exit or a strategic breakup. The company is also undergoing a leadership transition, with Enrique Lores set to take over as CEO on March 1.

Stripe and PayPal have both declined to comment officially on the acquisition rumors.

Vitalik Buterin has swapped a total of 10,723 ETH for stablecoins since the start of February, according to onchain data, following a previously announced plan to fund a range of open-source technology initiatives. Blockchain analytics platforms Onchain Lens and Lookonchain flagged the transactions this week, with the latter citing data tracked by Arkham. According to the data, Buterin sold 3,765 ETH for $7.08 million in the three days leading up to February 24, adding to a series of sales earlier in the month. In total, the Ethereum co-founder has sold 10,723 ETH since February 2 for approximately $21.7 million, with the transactions executed at an average price of $2,027, per Onchain Lens data.

The recent activity follows an announcement Buterin made on January 30. In a post on X, he said he had withdrawn 16,384 ETH, worth roughly $45 million at the time, to personally finance what he termed an “open-source, secure and verifiable full stack” of software and hardware. Buterin said the funds would be deployed over the next few years across sectors including finance, communication, governance, operating systems, secure hardware, and biotech applications. He described the capital allocation as his own share of the austerity during a period in which the Ethereum Foundation has prioritized long-term sustainability and core protocol development.

These sales come during a broader downturn for digital assets. Ether has lost 38% of its value over the last 30 days, according to market price pages, and is currently trading at around $1,825. The cryptocurrency is down 3.5% in the last 24 hours and remains 63% below its all-time high of nearly $5,000 reached in August last year. Market participants on X offered mixed reactions to the continued selling, with some criticizing the timing and others defending the move, noting that Buterin had publicly outlined these funding plans in late January.

Meanwhile, previous large transfers from Buterin’s wallet have coincided with price declines. According to Lookonchain, during a prior sale of 6,958 ETH for $14.78 million, Ether’s price dropped from $2,360 to $1,825, a 22.7% fall. In the two days leading up to February 23, when Buterin sold 1,869 ETH for $3.67 million, Ether fell from $1,988 to $1,875, representing a 5.7% decline.

The global cryptocurrency market faced a significant downturn during Asian trading hours as Bitcoin slipped below the $63,000 mark, extending a period of overnight weakness. Currently trading around $63,270.71, the leading digital asset by market capitalization has seen its value erode by nearly 7% over the past week. This slide marks a return to price levels last witnessed in early February, when the market flirted with the $60,000 threshold, reflecting a sharp shift in investor sentiment that has soured across the broader financial landscape.

The current sell-off is being attributed to a combination of geopolitical friction and macroeconomic shifts. Sentiment turned bearish following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a temporary 15% tariff on imports, an escalation from the 10% rate previously proposed after a Supreme Court ruling impacted his initial trade strategy. This move has mirrored the market volatility seen in April 2025, with Matt Howells-Barby, vice president at Kraken and host of Trading Spaces, noting that renewed tariff-related uncertainty and ratcheting geopolitical tensions are weighing heavily on Bitcoin in the short term, CoinDesk said in a report.

Further pressure is coming from the equity markets, specifically within the technology sector. U.S. stocks fell on Monday as investors began offloading shares in companies perceived to be falling behind in the artificial intelligence revolution. This “AI jitters” phenomenon, combined with the new trade barriers, has triggered a broader retreat from risk assets. Analysts are now closely monitoring the $60,000 support level, which is considered a critical line of defense for bullish investors. Experts warn that if this psychological floor fails to hold, the market could see a further slide into the mid-to-low $50,000 range.

From a technical perspective, historical data suggests that Bitcoin may not have reached its local bottom. Previous major bear markets, such as those in 2018 and 2022, typically concluded only after a “bear cross,” which occurs when the 50-week moving average price crosses below the 100-week average. Currently, the market is far from this signal, as the 50-week average remains positioned well above the 100-week mark. While these lagging indicators confirm trends rather than predict them, further capitulation toward $50,000 or lower might occur before the long-term averages signal a definitive trend reversal.

A fundamental shift in how the United States government finances its debt is underway as stablecoin issuers evolve into some of the world’s largest purchasers of Treasury bills (T-bills). According to new research from Standard Chartered, the rapid expansion of the digital asset market could create a “scarcity” of short-term government debt, potentially forcing the U.S. Treasury to overhaul its borrowing strategy. The Block reports.

Analysts led by Geoffrey Kendrick, global head of digital assets research, and John Davies, U.S. rates strategist, project the stablecoin market capitalization will hit $2 trillion by the end of 2028.

This growth – largely driven by emerging markets – is expected to generate between $800 billion and $1 trillion in new demand for T-bills. Under the regulatory framework of the GENIUS Act passed in July 2025, issuers are required to back their tokens with high-quality liquid assets, primarily short-dated Treasurys.

“Stablecoin issuers are becoming the biggest buyers of U.S. T-bills,” the analysts wrote, noting that this demand, combined with Federal Reserve management purchases, could create a $900 billion shortfall in available T-bills over the next three years.

To meet this insatiable appetite for short-term debt, Standard Chartered suggests the U.S. Treasury may need to reduce its issuance of long-dated notes and bonds.

The bank’s calculations indicate that shifting $900 billion from the “long end” of the curve into T-bills could theoretically allow the Treasury to suspend 30-year bond auctions for up to three years. While a similar pause occurred between 2002 and 2006, the current fiscal environment is significantly more challenged, with deficits hovering between 5% and 6%.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently signaled an openness to this shift, testifying in February that the GENIUS Act could become “an important feature of financing the U.S. government.”

Newity, a Chicago-based fintech firm specializing in small business financing, announced on Thursday that it has raised $11 million in a strategic funding round. The investment was led by CMT Digital, a division of the trading and investment firm CMT Group, and included participation from several undisclosed private and institutional investors. This capital injection marks the company’s first formal fundraise, which began in late 2024 and concluded in December 2025. Structured as a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE), the round aims to bolster Newity’s mission to digitize the lending landscape and explore the transition of traditional loans onchain, The Block said in a news report.

The company was founded in 2020 by co-CEOs David Cody and Luke LaHaie during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially established to help small businesses navigate the complexities of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Newity successfully pivoted its model after the program ended in May 2021. Today, the firm acts as a lending service provider for Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) government-backed loans and growth term loans. Rather than acting as a direct lender, Newity provides the technological infrastructure for partner institutions, such as Northeast Bank, to originate and approve financing for entrepreneurs.

Since its inception, Newity has processed and serviced more than $12 billion in financing for over 125,000 small businesses. The firm reports an average life-to-date loan size of approximately $118,800, with a maximum loan ceiling of $350,000. According to Cody, the primary differentiator for Newity is its ability to bypass the “paper-heavy” and inconsistent timelines often associated with traditional SBA lenders. While some banks have been slow to adopt modern technology, Newity offers a fully online application process and automated workflows that can reduce the time to funding from 12 weeks to just 21 days.

The firm’s proprietary “AI-first underwriting platform” is central to this efficiency. By analyzing hundreds of data points—including credit checks, identity verification, and tax document summaries—the system can provide borrowers with a prequalified loan amount in less than 10 minutes. This technological edge is intended to address a massive $350 billion annual funding shortfall faced by small businesses, which represent 99.9% of all U.S. firms. Co-CEO Luke LaHaie emphasized that the company is not merely improving lending but reinventing the financial infrastructure through the combined power of AI and blockchain.

Looking ahead, Newity generates its revenue through loan-processing fees and is preparing for a significant expansion into the digital asset ecosystem. The firm is currently exploring various options to bring small business loans onchain and expects to announce its specific technical roadmap in the first quarter of 2026. Currently employing approximately 115 staff members, Newity is actively hiring across its technology, marketing, and partner roles to support its growth and its vision of a more scalable, transparent financial market for entrepreneurs.

Defying a deepening industry downturn, crypto venture powerhouse Dragonfly Capital has successfully closed its fourth fund at $650 million. The raise significantly overshot the firm’s initial $500 million target announced in September, signaling a robust appetite for blockchain investments even as competing venture firms struggle to secure capital. Managing Partner Haseeb Qureshi characterized the milestone as a “weird time to celebrate,” noting the pervasive “gloom of a bear market” currently weighing on the digital asset sector.

The fund’s debut arrives amid a staggering market contraction. Bitcoin has retreated roughly 46% from its October 2025 peak of over $126,000, contributing to a broader trend that has erased more than $1.4 trillion in total crypto market capitalization. Despite these headwinds, Qureshi maintains that Dragonfly’s history of raising capital during major crashes – including the 2018 ICO collapse and the 2022 Terra fallout – has historically resulted in the firm’s highest-performing “vintage” portfolios.

Dragonfly’s latest vehicle marks a decisive strategic shift away from speculative Web3 applications and toward “crypto-financial infrastructure.” In his Tuesday announcement, Qureshi argued that while non-financial use cases are faltering, the financial sector of crypto is “exploding.” He pointed to the rise of stablecoins, the growth of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) to levels rivaling traditional institutions, and the emergence of prediction markets as the internet’s “most trusted source of truth.”

This investment thesis is already being reflected in Dragonfly’s recent activity with companies like Polymarket, Ethena, Rain, and Mesh. The firm’s “biggest bet yet” focuses on the belief that the industry is undergoing a fundamental realignment rather than a terminal decline.

While the new $650 million fund is earmarked for early-stage projects, the firm has yet to identify specific targets for its initial deployments. This fourth fund matches the size of Dragonfly’s third vehicle, raised in May 2023 for later-stage companies, further consolidating the firm’s influence over the blockchain landscape. As the industry recalibrates, Dragonfly’s latest raise stands as a $650 million vote of confidence that the “crypto revolution” is still in its early stages of exponential growth.

Bitcoin treasury leader Strategy announced on Tuesday that it has acquired an additional 2,486 BTC for approximately $168.4 million. According to an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the purchases were made between February 9 and February 16 at an average price of $67,710 per token. This latest acquisition brings the company’s total holdings to 717,131 BTC, a massive stake representing more than 3.4% of Bitcoin’s total 21 million supply.

The firm’s aggressive accumulation continues even as its broader portfolio remains under pressure. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor confirmed that the total treasury was built at a cumulative cost of $54.5 billion, including fees, resulting in an average purchase price of $76,027 per bitcoin. With the current market price lagging behind that average, the company is currently carrying approximately $5.7 billion in mark-to-market losses.

To fund the recent buys, Strategy utilized its at-the-market (ATM) equity programs. The company raised $90.5 million by selling 660,000 shares of its MSTR Class A common stock and another $78.4 million through the sale of 785,354 shares of its STRC “Stretch” perpetual preferred stock. Significant capital remains available for future purchases, with the company reporting nearly $7.9 billion left in its common stock program and $3.54 billion remaining in the STRC program.

These offerings are part of a broader “42/42” plan, an ambitious roadmap aiming to raise $84 billion through 2027 to acquire more bitcoin. The company’s capital structure is uniquely diversified through four tiers of perpetual preferred stock—STRK, STRC, STRF, and STRD—each offering different dividend structures and risk profiles to attract various institutional investors.

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, is officially moving toward its “everything app” vision by integrating stock and cryptocurrency trading directly into the user timeline. The company’s head of product, Nikita Bier, recently confirmed that the platform will launch “Smart Cashtags” in the coming weeks. This new functionality will allow users to interact with ticker symbols in their posts, viewing real-time quotes and price charts before executing trades without leaving the application, CoinDesk said in a report.

The rollout of these trading tools coincides with the launch of the external beta for X Money, the platform’s proprietary in-house payments system. Musk has confirmed that X Money is already undergoing internal testing and will be made available to a limited group of external users within the next one to two months. The system is designed to act as a centralized hub for all monetary transactions on the platform, ranging from peer-to-peer transfers to professional investing.

By embedding these financial services, Musk aims to create a one-stop digital ecosystem where messaging, content, and banking coexist. He has compared the integration to a digital version of a bank, suggesting that users could eventually manage their entire daily digital lives—from paying bills to managing portfolios—within the X interface. This strategy mirrors successful “super-apps” like WeChat, which dominate the digital landscape in other global regions.

Musk’s long-standing interest in the crypto market provides a strong foundation for this shift. His companies already hold significant digital assets, with Tesla maintaining a balance of 11,509 bitcoin and SpaceX controlling roughly 8,285 BTC. Additionally, Musk has frequently signaled his support for dogecoin, previously integrating the meme-inspired currency into Tesla’s merchandise store and teasing its future role in his broader space and tech ventures.

While the primary focus of the initial X Money rollout appears to be fiat currency facilitated through a partnership with Visa, the addition of Smart Cashtags ensures that digital assets remain a core part of the experience. As the platform transitions into a financial services provider, the integration of real-time trading data and execution tools marks the beginning of a new era for social media interaction and personal finance.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced the formation of a high-powered Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC). The 35-member panel is composed of a diverse group of industry leaders tasked with guiding the derivatives regulator through the evolving landscape of digital assets and financial technology. By integrating voices from across the marketplace, the agency aims to refine its regulatory framework to better accommodate emerging innovations.

The newly established committee features an expanded roster of digital asset heavyweights, including the chief executives of Coinbase, Ripple, Robinhood, and Uniswap Labs. This group builds upon a previous CEO council formed late last year, retaining original members such as Gemini’s Tyler Winklevoss and Kraken’s Arjun Sethi. The expanded membership also bridges the gap between decentralized finance and traditional markets, bringing in the heads of established institutions like Nasdaq, CME Group, and the London Stock Exchange Group.

Beyond the core financial and crypto sectors, the CFTC has recruited leaders from the gaming and venture capital worlds. The inclusion of the presidents and CEOs of FanDuel and DraftKings highlights the regulator’s interest in the intersection of prediction markets and technology. Meanwhile, prominent venture capital figures such as Chris Dixon of a16z Crypto and Alana Palmedo of Paradigm will provide insight into the investment trends shaping the next generation of financial infrastructure.

The initiative is a cornerstone of Chairman Mike Selig’s broader regulatory strategy. In a formal statement, Selig emphasized that the committee will serve as a “major asset” in the Commission’s efforts to modernize rules for today’s technological advancements. This collaborative approach comes as the CFTC intensifies its coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the “Project Crypto” banner, signaling a more unified federal stance on digital asset oversight.

In a landmark move for Southeast Asian financial markets, the Thai government has officially recognized cryptocurrencies as underlying assets under the Derivatives Trading Act. Following a proposal from the Ministry of Finance approved on February 10, 2026, digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are now classified as “permissible goods and variables.” This legal reclassification allows for the creation and trading of regulated futures and options contracts, effectively shifting cryptocurrency from a speculative standalone product to a foundational pillar of Thailand’s regulated capital markets.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now tasked with drafting the specific regulatory requirements to govern this new market segment. SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon noted that the agency will amend existing derivatives business licenses to allow digital asset operators to offer these advanced financial instruments. To safeguard investors against the sector’s inherent volatility, the SEC will establish rigorous contract specifications and review the frameworks for brokers and clearinghouses to ensure they meet institutional-grade standards.

Beyond derivatives, Thailand is aggressively pursuing a broader digital asset roadmap for 2026. The SEC has confirmed plans to launch crypto Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) earlier this year, aiming to provide retail and institutional investors with a regulated vehicle to gain exposure to digital assets without the complexities of wallet management. Under current proposals, investors may be permitted to allocate up to 5% of their diversified portfolios to these digital asset products. Furthermore, the SEC is collaborating with the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) to facilitate the debut of Bitcoin futures, reinforcing the nation’s goal to become a regional “crypto trading powerhouse.”

Innovation is also extending into the real economy through the tourism sector. The “TouristDigiPay” initiative, launched as a regulatory sandbox, now allows travelers to convert their digital assets into Thai Baht for use at local merchants via the country’s national QR payment infrastructure. While direct crypto payments remain restricted, this system ensures that merchants receive local currency while offering travelers a seamless way to utilize their digital wealth. Simultaneously, the government is modernizing environmental finance by reclassifying carbon credits as “goods,” paving the way for physically delivered carbon credit futures as Thailand aligns its financial innovation with global sustainability goals.

Coinbase has officially launched Agentic Wallets, a first-of-its-kind infrastructure specifically engineered for autonomous AI agents. Announced by the Coinbase Developer Platform on February 11, 2026, this new tool allows AI bots to move beyond their traditional roles as digital assistants and emerge as independent economic actors. By providing agents with the ability to hold funds, execute trades, and manage on-chain transactions autonomously, Coinbase is addressing a significant technical hurdle: the “financial wall” that currently prevents AI from completing tasks that require capital.

The development of Agentic Wallets is a strategic expansion of Coinbase’s existing technology, building upon the previously released AgentKit framework. While AgentKit allowed developers to embed wallets during the creation of an agent, Agentic Wallets provides a more “plug-and-play” solution designed for seamless integration. The system relies on the x402 protocol – a machine-to-machine payment standard co-developed with internet stakeholders – which has already processed over 50 million transactions. This protocol enables AI agents to bypass traditional human-centric payment systems, facilitating direct, programmatic access to digital resources like API keys, compute power, and premium data streams.

Security remains a primary focus of the new infrastructure, as autonomous financial software introduces unique risks such as prompt injection and unauthorized spending. To mitigate these threats, Coinbase has integrated “Smart Security Guardrails” that allow users to program specific constraints, including spending limits, session caps, and transaction controls. Furthermore, the system utilizes “enclave isolation,” a security architecture that keeps private keys within Coinbase’s secure infrastructure. This ensures that the agent’s underlying large language model (LLM) never has direct exposure to the keys, effectively preventing the AI from accidentally or maliciously compromising the wallet’s security.

The operational scope of Agentic Wallets is broad, with initial support for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible chains and Solana. A key highlight for developers is the ability to perform gasless transactions on Base, the Coinbase-incubated Layer 2 network, which prevents agents from becoming “stuck” due to a lack of network fees. This capability allows for continuous, 24/7 operations, such as an agent automatically rebalancing a DeFi portfolio at 3:00 AM to capitalize on yield opportunities. By providing a native financial layer for code, Coinbase is laying the groundwork for a burgeoning “machine economy” where AI systems operate independently within trusted boundaries.

Market analysts are pointing directly to the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair as the primary catalyst for the decline. According to Andri Fauzan Adziima, research lead at Bitrue, the move lower follows a hawkish shift in Fed expectations, which signals tighter liquidity and fewer rate cuts ahead. Traders are now closely watching for price stabilization around the $60,000 to $65,000 support levels, noting that a renewed spark in macro easing would likely be required to trigger a meaningful rebound, The Block reported. 

Despite the sharp price drop, some experts believe the correction has served to stabilize market mechanics. Vincent Liu, CIO of Kronos Research, observed that derivatives data suggests much of the excess leverage has been flushed out of the system. He noted that Bitcoin and Ethereum dipped as exchanges underwent deep deleveraging, with funding rates now signaling that most over-leveraged positions have been cleared. However, Liu added that institutional capital appears to be holding back, waiting for sustained ETF momentum or fresh macro signals before re-entering the market in size.

Investment activity through exchange-traded funds remained positive despite the volatility. On Tuesday, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $166.56 million in net inflows, an increase from the $145 million seen the previous day. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw more modest participation, bringing in $13.82 million compared to Monday’s $57 million. This continued inflow suggests that while the spot price is struggling, there is still underlying demand from fund investors.

In traditional markets, the backdrop was mixed as Asian equities moved higher on Wednesday morning. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.24% by midday and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged up 0.42%, while Japanese markets remained closed for a public holiday. This contrasted with the U.S. markets on Tuesday, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite declined following weaker-than-expected retail sales data for December. Analysts believe the next major indicator for risk appetite will be Thursday’s U.S. labor market report, which will offer clearer signs on the future path of interest rates.

Recent blockchain data has sparked intense debate across the digital asset industry as it reveals that Binance now controls the vast majority of the circulating supply of USD1, a stablecoin closely associated with World Liberty Financial (WLFI). According to a report from Forbes on Monday, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange holds approximately $4.7 billion in USD1, representing nearly 87% of the token’s $5.4 billion total supply. This level of concentration is considered an anomaly in the stablecoin market, where leading assets like USDT and USDC are typically distributed across a wide network of independent wallets and global exchanges.

The rapid consolidation of USD1 on Binance appears to be the result of a series of strategic integrations and high-value corporate deals occurring over the past year. In early 2025, the Abu Dhabi-backed fund MGX utilized $2 billion worth of USD1 to acquire a minority stake in Binance, immediately placing a significant portion of the stablecoin’s reserves under the exchange’s custody. More recently, in December 2025, Binance further integrated the asset by converting the remaining collateral from its defunct BUSD stablecoin into USD1. Aggressive promotional campaigns have also played a role; in late January, Binance launched a $40 million reward program, distributing WLFI governance tokens to users who hold USD1 on the platform, which significantly boosted on-chain activity.

The ties between the stablecoin and the current U.S. administration have added a layer of political scrutiny to these financial developments. USD1 is issued by World Liberty Financial, a venture founded by the Trump family, with an affiliated LLC owning a 38% stake in the company. Financial disclosures indicate the project has already contributed roughly $1 billion to President Donald Trump’s net worth. The relationship between the exchange and the project has faced additional questioning following President Trump’s October 2025 pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. While both Binance and World Liberty Financial maintain that their partnerships follow standard industry practices, the SEC recently dropped a long-standing lawsuit against the exchange shortly after it listed USD1.

Market analysts and security researchers warn that such extreme concentration creates significant systemic and governance risks. If a single entity controls nearly 90% of an asset, any technical failure, legal dispute, or financial stress at that exchange could effectively freeze the entire USD1 ecosystem. Furthermore, transparency remains a primary concern, as it is currently unclear what portion of the $4.7 billion held by Binance belongs to the exchange itself versus its individual customers. As USD1 continues to expand into decentralized lending and prediction markets, the industry remains focused on whether this centralized influence will hinder the stablecoin’s long-term stability and regulatory standing.

Backpack, the cryptocurrency exchange established by former FTX and Alameda Research executives, has officially achieved unicorn status, Axios reported on Monday. The firm is reportedly in discussions to secure $50 million in fresh financing, which would place its pre-money valuation at $1 billion. This surge in valuation highlights a significant recovery and growth trajectory for the team, which transitioned from a Solana-based wallet project into a comprehensive global trading platform.

The announcement of this funding round coincides with the introduction of Backpack’s innovative tokenization scheme, which aims to redefine how exchange tokens are distributed and managed. Under this plan, 37.5% of the total 1 billion token supply is reserved for a “post-IPO” company treasury. Co-founder Armani Ferrante explained that this structure is specifically designed to prevent the common practice of “dumping” tokens on retail investors. By tying the team’s financial rewards to an eventual public listing or equity exit, the firm intends to ensure long-term alignment between the developers and the community.

In the interim, the distribution strategy focuses on rewarding early supporters and hitting measurable growth targets. Another 37.5% of the supply will be circulated “pre-IPO” based on the company’s success in expanding into new geographic regions and launching new products. While a specific date for the token generation event has not yet been set, the exchange has committed to airdropping 250 million tokens to early backers, including participants in the Backpack Points program and holders of the Mad Lads NFT collection.

Backpack’s rapid ascent is rooted in its evolution from a specialized wallet to a regulated spot and derivatives exchange headquartered in Dubai. The founding team, which includes Armani Ferrante and former FTX general counsel Can Sun, has leveraged deep industry experience to navigate the regulatory landscape, notably obtaining a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license. Following the acquisition of FTX EU last year, the platform has continued to expand its offerings to include lending and prediction markets, positioning itself as a major institutional player in the digital asset ecosystem.

Binance has accelerated its strategic shift toward Bitcoin by purchasing an additional 3,600 BTC for its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU). This acquisition, executed using approximately $250 million in stablecoins, brings the emergency fund’s total Bitcoin holdings to 6,230 BTC. The move is a key part of an aggressive plan announced on January 29 to convert the exchange’s $1 billion user-protection reserve from dollar-pegged tokens into Bitcoin within a 30-day window.

The exchange has framed this transition as a statement of long-term conviction, describing Bitcoin as the foundational asset of the crypto ecosystem. By moving the SAFU reserves into Bitcoin, Binance aims to ensure the backstop remains transparent, auditable, and resilient to inflation. To maintain the fund’s efficacy, Binance has pledged to keep the reserve value at $1 billion, promising to top it back up if market volatility ever drives the total valuation below the $800 million mark.

This significant accumulation is taking place against a backdrop of broader market turbulence and a “risk-off” sentiment among investors. While Binance is effectively buying the dip for its insurance chest, major digital assets have struggled to maintain their footing. Bitcoin has recently traded near $66,600, down roughly 5% in a single day, while Ethereum and Solana have seen even sharper drawdowns. Despite this immediate volatility, Binance remains committed to completing the full $1 billion conversion by the end of February.

Industry analysts view the move as both a defensive safeguard and a strategic bet on the future of digital reserves. Market trackers indicate that Binance has already deployed nearly $430 million toward Bitcoin purchases for the SAFU wallet in just a few days. However, the broader market remains cautious, with some technical indicators suggesting that if current support levels fail, the price of Bitcoin could potentially slide toward the low-$40,000 range despite high-volume institutional buying.

The Royal Government of Bhutan, operating through its sovereign investment arm, Druk Holding & Investments (DHI), has mobilized more than 284 Bitcoin – valued at approximately $22.3 million – over the past week,  

According to on-chain analytics from Arkham Intelligence, the movement included a notable transfer of 184 BTC worth $14.1 million on Wednesday, following a previous transaction of 100 BTC worth $8.3 million last Friday. These funds were directed to Singapore-based market maker QCP Capital, a destination typically associated with institutional liquidity management and asset repositioning.

While these transfers do not confirm an outright sale, they follow a documented pattern of “structured clips” where Bhutan offloads assets in batches of approximately $50 million. Market analysts are watching the activity closely as Bitcoin faces significant price pressure, having tumbled roughly 40% from its October 2025 all-time high of $126,000 to levels near $70,000. 

The kingdom’s total reserves have notably declined from a peak of 13,295 BTC in late 2024 to roughly 5,700 BTC at present, a shift that has seen Bhutan slip to the seventh-largest sovereign holder globally.

Bhutan’s approach to digital assets remains unique because its holdings are generated through state-backed mining operations rather than legal seizures. By leveraging its vast hydroelectric resources, the nation effectively converts surplus renewable energy into liquid foreign currency reserves. 

This strategic mining initiative, which began as early as 2019, has reportedly funded national priorities such as civil servant salary increases and infrastructure development, even as the cost of production has nearly doubled following the most recent halving event.

Beyond Bitcoin, the nation’s treasury activity suggests a sophisticated and active management style rather than passive holding. On-chain data recently flagged $1.5 million in USDT moving between exchange-linked wallets and DHI addresses, alongside various Ethereum transactions. 

As the Himalayan kingdom continues to integrate digital assets into its macroeconomic strategy -including plans to fund the “Gelephu Mindfulness City” initiative – its on-chain movements have become a critical psychological bellwether for institutional and sovereign sentiment in the crypto market.