Quantonation Ventures Secures $260 Million for Physics-Based Technologies Fund
Quantum investment firm Quantonation Ventures has successfully raised $260 million for its second fund focused on physics-based technologies. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the involvement of key backers such as data center builder ACS and Novo Nordisk’s controlling shareholder. This funding round aims to support advancements in quantum computing and related fields, reflecting growing interest and investment in cutting-edge scientific innovations.
Wells Fargo analysts anticipate a revival of the 'YOLO' (You Only Live Once) trading strategy as the U.S. tax refund season approaches. According to NS3.AI, approximately $150 billion in tax refunds is expected to enter the market by the end of March. This substantial capital influx is likely to enhance risk assets, such as Bitcoin and stock markets.
BitMine's Potential Investment in Mr. Beast Gains Attention
BitMine Chair Tom Lee posted on X about the possibility of $BMNR investing a small fraction into Mr. Beast. The idea has sparked interest and discussions among stakeholders and the broader community. The potential investment is seen as a strategic move that could enhance BitMine's market presence and diversify its portfolio. However, details regarding the investment's scale and timeline remain undisclosed.
BitMine Chair Tom Lee posted on X, emphasizing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) clear stance on prediction markets. According to Lee, these markets serve essential functions for those requiring hedging and act as a check on media narratives. The CFTC asserts its jurisdiction over these markets, rather than individual states, and challenges those who disagree to take legal action. This statement is seen as support for platforms like Polymarket, Kalshi, and MyriadMarkets. Lee also noted that insights from prediction markets are frequently utilized by his organization.
U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs experienced net inflows of $48.61 million on February 17, marking the second consecutive day of gains. According to NS3.AI, significant inflows were observed in BlackRock's ETHA, Fidelity's FETH, and Grayscale's Mini ETH ETFs. This trend underscores increasing investor interest in gaining Ethereum exposure through regulated financial products.
This post highlights that major movements of BTC from retail to institutional hands. We'll be watching whether this trend continues and how exchange liquidity responds. How do you think the continued institutional accumulation will reshape the market’s liquidity profile? Share your thoughts below 👇
bannks
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The shift in Bitcoin ownership; where we are right now.
While a lot of retail traders, I inclusive are focused majorly on price action and movement, major shift is happening in Bitcoin ownership. Major chunk of BTC is shifting from retail hands to instructional hands. Why are institutions so interested in BTC and stacking? Let's answer this question in a bit. The Shift in Bitcoin Ownership: Where We Are Right Now The Bitcoin landscape underwent a seismic shift throughout 2025, evolving from a retail-dominated speculative asset into a cornerstone of institutional and sovereign treasuries. As of December 31, 2025, data reveals a market that is increasingly "concentrated" among large-scale entities. The most striking trend of the past year was the massive transfer of BTC from individual hands to corporate and institutional balance sheets. Individuals in Retreat: Individual holders saw a staggering net decrease of 696K BTC in 2025. This represents a significant exit of retail positions compared to the 2024 figures.The Rise of the "Bitcoin Treasury": Businesses led the charge in accumulation, adding 489K BTC to their holdings, the largest growth sector of the year.ETF and Fund Dominance: Institutional vehicles, including Funds and ETFs, absorbed an additional 205K BTC.Sovereign Adoption: Governments also increased their stakes, adding 135K BTC through strategic acquisitions and other means. Current Ownership Distribution (Year-End 2025) Despite the aggressive institutional buying, individuals still command the largest share of the network, though their dominance is narrowing. Out of the 21 million total supply, the distribution stands as follows: Individuals hold 14.01M BTC, accounting for 66.7% of the total supply.Funds & ETFs control 1.49M BTC, representing 7.1% of the supply.Businesses own 1.45M BTC, making up 6.9% of the supply.Governments hold 432K BTC, which is 2.1% of the total supply.Satoshi/Patoshi holdings are estimated at 968K BTC, or 4.6% of the supply.Lost Bitcoin accounts for an estimated 1.61M BTC, totaling 7.7% of the supply.Remaining to be Mined stands at 1.04M BTC, representing the final 4.9%.
Key Takeaways for the Cycle The "shift" is no longer just a theory; it is a mathematical reality. — Supply Scarcity: With 14% of the supply now held by Funds, ETFs, and Businesses, the liquid supply available on exchanges is tightening. — Institutional Floor: The aggressive accumulation by businesses, nearly half a million BTC in one year suggests that corporations are now treating Bitcoin as a primary reserve asset. — Retail Capitulation: The massive exit of 696K BTC by individuals likely fueled the liquidity needed for institutions to build these large-scale positions. Whether you like it or not, a major shift is happening in BTC ownership and it can only point to one thing alone: BTC yet has astronomical potential for growth and a lot of institutions and business are catching up on this fact, so as a retail or individual holder, don't be shaken out of your position, there's yet generational wealth potentials in Bitcoin. #BTC #BTC走势分析
New ETF Offers Direct Investment in SUI with Staking Rewards
A new exchange-traded fund (ETF) is set to provide investors with the opportunity to directly invest in SUI. According to ChainCatcher, this ETF will include potential staking rewards. Historically, the annual yield for Sui staking rewards has averaged between 1.7% and 3.3%.
Qualcomm Plans $150 Million Investment to Boost India's AI Startup Ecosystem
Qualcomm has announced its intention to invest up to $150 million to support the growing ecosystem of technology and artificial intelligence startups in India. According to Jin10, the funds will be channeled through Qualcomm Ventures to startups at various stages of development, with a focus on AI applications in the automotive, IoT, robotics, and mobile sectors.
Nvidia and Yotta Data Sign $1 Billion Partnership Agreement
Nvidia has entered into a significant partnership with India's Yotta Data, according to Jin10. The collaboration, valued at over $1 billion, spans four years and aims to enhance technological capabilities and data solutions. This agreement marks a substantial investment in the data and technology sector, highlighting the growing importance of strategic alliances in advancing digital infrastructure.
In the past 24 hours, major cryptocurrency futures have undergone substantial liquidations. According to NS3.AI, Bitcoin saw $73.33 million liquidated, with 73.63% of these being long positions. Ethereum experienced $46.79 million in liquidations, with 64.52% of them being longs. Solana witnessed $8.05 million liquidated, with longs constituting 75.37%. These figures indicate a significant unwinding of leveraged long positions across top crypto assets.
Arizona Senate Committee Approves Digital Asset Reserve Fund Bill
The Arizona Senate Finance Committee has approved the Digital Asset Reserve Fund Bill (SB1649) with a 4-2 vote. According to PANews, the bill will now proceed to the Rules Committee for further consideration.
Japan's Exports to the U.S. Decline for Second Consecutive Month Amid Tariff Impact
Japan's Ministry of Finance reported on February 18 that the country's exports to the United States fell for the second consecutive month in January. According to Jin10, the decline was attributed to the impact of U.S. tariff policies. The data revealed a 5% year-on-year decrease in exports to the U.S., amounting to 1.46 trillion yen. The reduction was primarily driven by decreased exports of pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and metalworking machinery.
Arthur Hayes Deposits 1000 ETH into Centralized Exchange
On February 18, Arthur Hayes transferred 1000 ETH to a centralized exchange. According to BlockBeats On-chain Detection, this transaction occurred 10 hours prior to the report. Hayes' activity was monitored by Lookonchain, highlighting his involvement in the cryptocurrency market.
Stock Markets Unmoved by India-U.S. Trade Deal and Federal Budget
A recent trade agreement between India and the United States, along with the announcement of a federal budget, has failed to invigorate stock markets. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the lack of enthusiasm in the markets despite these significant developments. Analysts had anticipated a positive reaction, expecting the trade deal to bolster economic ties and the budget to provide fiscal clarity. However, the anticipated market boost did not materialize, leaving investors cautious. The muted response suggests that traders are waiting for more concrete economic indicators before making significant moves. This situation reflects broader uncertainties in global markets, where geopolitical tensions and economic forecasts continue to influence investor sentiment.
Mizuho Bank Offers Positive Outlook on BitGo Despite Stock Decline
BitGo's stock experienced a decline on Tuesday, yet Mizuho Bank has expressed a positive outlook on the institutional-grade crypto custody platform in its first research report. According to ChainCatcher, Mizuho Bank analysts Dan Dolev and Alexander Jenkins described BitGo as a 'military-grade custodian,' highlighting its long-standing security record and focus on institutional clients as key advantages in the increasingly competitive custody market.
The report noted that over 80% of BitGo's revenue is derived from recurring activities such as custody and staking, rather than volatile trading activities, distinguishing it among crypto infrastructure companies. Analysts have given BitGo an 'outperform' rating with a target price of $17, suggesting a potential upside of nearly 70% from its current trading price of approximately $10.15. Mizuho Bank anticipates that the adoption of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets will drive accelerated revenue growth for the company. Despite this optimism, BitGo's stock has fallen about 44% since its January listing on the New York Stock Exchange at an initial price of $18, reflecting the market's overall cautious sentiment towards crypto-related stocks.
Crypto KOL Danny (@agintender) posted on X about the current state of the stablecoin market, highlighting a critical growth threshold between $12 billion and $15 billion. Once this threshold is reached, growth is expected to accelerate, provided no major missteps occur. However, recent operations have faced challenges due to some overlooked details, leading to a sense of awkwardness in the market.
Danny emphasized that the stablecoin business requires significant upfront investment, with marginal costs becoming negligible over time. Compliance, licensing, and security are fixed costs that can only be covered once a certain scale is achieved. With additional resources, companies can expand marketing and channel activities to grow further.
The urgency for growth is underscored by the anticipation of large-scale interest rate cuts in the United States. A decrease in U.S. Treasury yields would lower stablecoin returns, posing a risk if the market scale is insufficient to cover fixed expenses. This scenario explains why some stablecoin issuers are eager to expand quickly.
USDC, on the other hand, appears less aggressive in its efforts, possibly due to its awareness of the impending interest rate cycle. Newer stablecoins may struggle to withstand the pressure of reduced yields.
Regarding narratives around payment systems and AI agents, Danny suggests that stablecoins serve merely as one of the token mediums required by AI, indicating that these narratives should be approached with caution.
U.S. Military Targets Alleged Drug Vessels in Pacific and Caribbean
The U.S. Southern Command announced on social media that on the night of February 16, American forces attacked three vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals. According to Jin10, these operations are part of a series of assaults on what the U.S. terms 'drug trafficking ships' since early September last year. However, the U.S. government has not released any evidence to substantiate claims that these targets were involved in drug trafficking.
Private Credit Supports Aidacare with $382 Million Loan
Bain Capital and UBS are reportedly providing a combined loan of $382 million to Australian health-equipment manufacturer Aidacare. Bloomberg posted on X that this move highlights the growing trend of private credit being utilized to finance stakeholder returns. The loan is part of a broader strategy to support Aidacare's financial objectives and enhance its market position. This development underscores the increasing role of private credit in corporate financing, offering companies alternative funding options beyond traditional banking channels.
Dexus CEO Confident in Continued Demand for Premium Office Space
Dexus CEO Ross Du Vernet has addressed concerns regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on real estate demand, asserting that the market for premium office space remains robust. Bloomberg posted on X that Du Vernet emphasized the ongoing strength in demand for high-quality office environments, despite technological advancements. He reassured stakeholders that the appeal of premium office spaces continues to attract businesses seeking top-tier facilities. Du Vernet's comments come amid broader discussions about the potential effects of AI on various sectors, including real estate.
Bitcoin and Nasdaq Divergence Signals Potential Liquidity Warning
Bitcoin's recent divergence from the Nasdaq index has raised concerns about a potential AI-driven credit crisis. According to Bitalk News, Arthur Hayes suggests that this separation indicates an impending tightening of U.S. dollar credit. While Bitcoin has declined since its peak in October 2025, the Nasdaq remains stable, reflecting the employment impacts of AI advancements. Hayes predicts significant loan losses for U.S. banks due to AI, though the timeline is debated by experts.
Market participants believe Bitcoin's sensitivity to liquidity changes could signal a reassessment of the monetary system's stability. The possibility of large-scale money printing might drive Bitcoin to new highs.