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Robinhood Unveils ETH Layer-2 Testnet for Tokenized Assets

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Crypto Breaking News

Robinhood has launched a public testnet for Robinhood Chain, its upcoming Ethereum layer-2 network designed to bring tokenized real-world and digital assets onto the blockchain. The testnet is now open to developers and offers access points, documentation, and compatibility with standard Ethereum development tools, along with early integrations from infrastructure partners. The project emphasizes “financial-grade” use cases, including 24/7 trading, seamless bridging, self-custody, and decentralized products such as tokenized asset platforms, lending markets, and perpetual futures exchanges. A mainnet launch is planned for later this year, with testnet-only assets such as stock-style tokens and tighter integration with Robinhood Wallet anticipated in the coming months.

Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) is at the center of Robinhood Chain, which draws on Arbitrum-style technology to scale and secure on-chain interactions around tokenized assets. In the announcement, Robinhood frames the testnet as laying the groundwork for an ecosystem that could redefine access to tokenized real-world assets and unlock deeper liquidity within the Ethereum ecosystem. The release notes that developers will be able to build and test decentralized applications that interact with on-chain securities, commodities, and other tokenized instruments, all while leveraging the throughput benefits associated with layer-2 scaling. A dedicated documentation hub—docs.chain.robinhood.com—provides step-by-step guidance for onboarding, smart contract development, and bridging between the main chain and the testnet environment.

The broader mission, as outlined by Robinhood, is to move beyond a simple exchange app that supports crypto trading to an on-chain infrastructure that can host a range of tokenized real-world assets. This shift builds on the company’s earlier push to tokenize a substantial slice of traditional markets, including nearly 500 United States stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Arbitrum as part of a broader real-world asset strategy. In practical terms, tokenized stocks and other asset types could offer near real-time settlement, programmability, and new liquidity venues that hinge on the security and efficiency of blockchain settlement. The testnet will serve as a proving ground for these ideas, with the expectation that some features, such as tighter integration with the Robinhood Wallet, will transition to mainnet in the months ahead.

Robinhood’s leadership has framed the project as part of a broader trend in which centralized exchanges pursue end-to-end control over both the user experience and the on-chain rails that enable trading and custody. In parallel, Coinbase has been pursuing its own on-chain expansion through Base, an L2 network aimed at regulated, scalable trading and the eventual rollout of tokenized equities; the company signaled it would begin tokenized equities in December 2025 as part of a broader strategy. This move aligns with the industry’s push for on-chain settlement and more fluid movement between traditional and digital asset markets.

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On the other side of the market spectrum, Kraken has pursued a similar end-to-end approach. The exchange has been developing Ink, its own Optimism-based L2 network, and has signaled a pathway toward tokenized equities such as xStocks. Taken together, these initiatives reflect a sector-wide appetite for on-chain rails that can support regulated trading, custody, and real-world asset tokenization while maintaining robust compliance and risk controls.

Robinhood’s tokenization push

The testnet release underscores a continuing shift in Robinhood’s strategy from simply offering crypto trading to building and operating its own on-chain infrastructure. This explicitly ties into the company’s earlier moves to tokenize real-world assets and integrate them into a broader trading ecosystem. Beyond the testnet, the plan calls for a mainnet launch later this year, with expectations of stock‑style tokens and even deeper integration with the Robinhood Wallet as part of the rollout.

Johann Kerbrat, senior vice president and GM of Crypto and International at Robinhood, framed the testnet as a foundational step toward an ecosystem that could define the future of tokenized real‑world assets. He described the environment as a launchpad for DeFi liquidity within the Ethereum ecosystem, inviting builders to experiment with on-chain representations of traditional financial instruments. The announcement emphasizes that the testnet is designed to support “financial-grade” use cases, including 24/7 trading and cross-chain bridging, while preserving user custody and security.

As the industry moves toward more comprehensive on-chain rails, tokenized assets are increasingly viewed as a way to reduce settlement times and unlock new liquidity pools. The Robinhood Chain testnet embodies this ambition by offering a sandbox where developers can test tokenized securities and other asset types, ensuring that the underlying rails and tooling can withstand real-market stress, while integrating with existing Ethereum tooling and infrastructure. The initiative also participates in a broader narrative about regulated, practitioner-friendly deployments of decentralized finance on established networks.

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Historically, Robinhood has faced regulatory scrutiny and public criticism related to outages during periods of market stress and questions about the company’s use of payment for order flow in equities. The company’s leadership has argued that tokenized stocks could help prevent trading freezes by enabling real-time settlement on-chain. Whether the testnet and subsequent mainnet deployment will meaningfully mitigate past concerns remains a topic of ongoing scrutiny among regulators and market participants.

What to watch next

  • Mainnet launch in the latter part of the year, with a clear roadmap for introducing stock-style tokens on Robinhood Chain.
  • Expansion of testnet assets beyond basic tokenized instruments, including tighter integration with Robinhood Wallet and enhanced developer tooling.
  • Continued activity from peer exchanges pursuing on-chain rails and tokenized equities, such as Base (Coinbase) and Ink (Kraken), and how these ecosystems interact with the broader DeFi liquidity landscape.
  • Regulatory clarity and potential oversight around on-chain tokenized securities and cross-border custody arrangements as these platforms move from testnet to mainnet.

Sources & verification

  • Official Robinhood release outlining the Robinhood Chain testnet, its documentation hub, and the roadmap for 24/7 trading, bridging, and self-custody.
  • Statement from Johann Kerbrat on the testnet’s role in enabling a future tokenized real-world assets ecosystem.
  • Coinbase coverage of stock trading and prediction markets as part of its broader “everything app” strategy and tokenized equities rollout.
  • Kraken coverage of Ink, its Optimism-based L2, and the xStocks tokenization initiative as part of an end-to-end approach to on-chain markets.
  • Historical context on Robinhood’s tokenization efforts, including the tokenization of nearly 500 US stocks and ETFs on Arbitrum.

Why it matters

The Robinhood Chain testnet marks a pivotal step in the ongoing transition of traditional financial assets to on-chain representations. By coupling Ethereum‑level security with layer-2 scalability and tokenized instruments, Robinhood aims to provide a more predictable and programmable framework for on-chain asset trading. If mainnet deployment succeeds, developers could build decentralized markets that mirror or improve upon real-world asset trading, with potential benefits such as faster settlement, improved liquidity, and enhanced transparency.

From a market perspective, the initiative contributes to a broader trend of regulated, infrastructure-focused expansion by mainstream financial incumbents into the Web3 and DeFi space. The convergence of wallet-centric custody, tokenized securities, and cross-chain interoperability could influence how liquidity flows between centralized exchanges and decentralized venues, potentially shaping user experience and capital flows for years to come. At the same time, observers will be watching how these platforms address risk controls, regulatory expectations, and incident response given Robinhood’s historical outages and public scrutiny.

Market context

As the crypto and digital asset ecosystem matures, more traditional platforms are experimenting with on-chain rails to support tokenized real-world assets. The Robinhood Chain testnet fits into a wider pattern of exchanges grafting on-chain capabilities to support regulated activity while offering developers a sandbox to refine interoperability with Ethereum-based tooling. The deployment—spanning testnets, mainnet timelines, and collaborations with wallet ecosystems—illustrates a broader industry shift toward programmable, real-time settlement mechanisms and the integration of traditional markets with decentralized infrastructure.

What to watch next

  • Mainnet timing and any delays or accelerations announced by Robinhood for Robinhood Chain.
  • Progress on stock-style tokens becoming live on the mainnet and any regulatory disclosures tied to those assets.
  • Enhanced interoperability between Robinhood Wallet and other DeFi layers or bridges, including potential cross-chain use cases.

Tickers mentioned: $ETH, $COIN

Market context: The launch is part of a broader movement toward on-chain rails for regulated assets and DeFi liquidity on Ethereum-layer-2s.

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What to watch next: Mainnet timing, broader tokenized-asset rollout, and wallet-chain integrations will shape the near-term trajectory of Robinhood Chain and related ecosystems.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Ethereum price prediction as 220K ETH leaves exchanges

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Ethereum price prediction as exchange supply shrinks by 220K ETH - 1

Ethereum price is testing a key demand zone as more than 220,000 ETH leaves exchanges, tightening liquid supply during a sharp market pullback.

Summary

  • Ethereum price prediction hinges heavily on ETH holding the $1,850 demand zone.
  • Exchange reserves have dropped by 220,000 ETH, while accumulating addresses now hold 27 million ETH, about 23% of supply.
  • Holding $1,850 could open a rebound toward $2,000–$2,100, while a breakdown risks a move toward $1,750.

Ethereum was trading at $1,975 at press time, down 4% in the past 24 hours. The broader trend remains under pressure. ETH has fallen 12% over the last seven days, 37% in the past month, and is now down 61% from its August 2025 high of $4,946.

Spot trading volume came in at $22 billion, down 11.30% over the past day. On the derivatives side, Coinglass data shows futures volume declining 14% to $47 billion, while open interest dropped 5% to $23 billion.

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That combination suggests traders are closing positions rather than aggressively adding new leverage.

220K ETH leaves exchanges as long-term wallets grow

While price has struggled, on-chain behavior tells a different story.

According to a Feb. 10 analysis by CryptoQuant contributor Arab Chain, more than 220,000 Ethereum (ETH) has been withdrawn from exchanges in recent days, the largest net outflow since October. On Feb. 5, Binance alone recorded approximately 158,000 ETH in daily net outflows, the highest since last August.

Large exchange withdrawals typically reduce immediate sell-side pressure. When ETH moves into private wallets or long-term storage, it becomes less accessible for quick liquidation.

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This doesn’t guarantee upside, but it changes the supply dynamic. If demand stabilizes, a tighter float can amplify price reactions.

Additional data from analyst _OnChain shows that “accumulating addresses” — defined as wallets that have never recorded an outflow, hold at least 100 ETH, and are not linked to exchanges or miners — now control 27 million ETH, or roughly 23% of the circulating supply.

Historically, Ethereum has traded below the realized price of these accumulating addresses only twice in nine years: during the 2025 all-time low and again since January 2026. That context suggests long-term holders are less likely to sell near current levels.

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Ethereum price prediction: Can $1,850 hold?

With lower highs and lower lows, Ethereum is still clearly in a downward trend. Selling pressure increased after the recent drop below the $3,200–$3,300 range, and the price moved closer to the $1,850 support zone.

During the sell-off, the 20-period Bollinger Bands widened considerably, suggesting increased volatility.

Ethereum price prediction as exchange supply shrinks by 220K ETH - 1
Ethereum daily chart. Credit: crypto.news

The price briefly touched the lower band around $1,690, as is often the case with large declines. The middle band, which is now at $2,490, is acting as resistance, while the upper band is situated near $3,290.

The relative strength index fell below 30, entering oversold territory, and currently hovers around 30–32. Momentum is weak, though the pace of the decline has slowed, and there’s no clear bullish divergence yet.

If the $1,850 support holds, Ethereum could stabilize and attempt a rebound toward $2,000–$2,100. A more sustained recovery would require a move above $2,490 to reclaim the middle band and signal a potential trend shift. For that to happen, RSI would need to climb above 40–45, and volume would need to expand on green candles.

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If $1,850 fails, downside risk increases quickly. A break below that level could expose $1,750, followed by the lower Bollinger Band around $1,690. Continued declines in open interest and weak spot volume would reinforce a bearish continuation scenario.

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Banks, Crypto fail to reach agreement in White House stablecoin meeting

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Banks, crypto fail to reach agreement in White House stablecoin meeting - 1

A White House meeting on stablecoin yield and rewards ended without a deal, but participants described the discussions as more productive than previous talks, according to details shared by journalist Eleanor Terrett.

Summary

  • White House stablecoin yield talks ended without a deal, but both banks and crypto firms described the meeting as more productive than earlier discussions.
  • Banks introduced written “prohibition principles” and signaled limited flexibility by acknowledging potential exemptions for transaction-based stablecoin rewards.
  • The White House urged both sides to reach an agreement on stablecoin rewards regulation by March 1, with further talks expected soon.

The gathering brought together senior banking executives, crypto industry leaders, and policy staff to debate whether and how stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield or rewards.

While no compromise was reached, negotiations moved into more detailed territory.

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White House stablecoin talks show progress but no final deal

Banking representatives arrived with a written set of “prohibition principles” outlining firm red lines around stablecoin rewards. These principles detailed what banks are willing to accept and where they refuse to budge.

Banks, crypto fail to reach agreement in White House stablecoin meeting - 1

One notable shift emerged. Banks included language allowing for “any proposed exemption” related to transaction-based rewards.

Sources described this as a meaningful concession, as banks had previously declined to discuss exemptions altogether.

Much of the debate centered on “permissible activities.” This refers to what types of account behavior would allow crypto firms to offer rewards. Crypto companies pushed for broad definitions. Banks argued for narrower limits to reduce risk and regulatory exposure.

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Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty said that “compromise is in the air,” signaling cautious optimism despite unresolved issues.

March 1 deadline looms as talks continue

The meeting was smaller than the first White House session on stablecoins. It was led by Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Crypto Council. Staff from the Senate Banking Committee were also present.

Crypto attendees included representatives from Coinbase, a16z, Ripple, Paxos, and the Blockchain Association. Major banks in attendance included Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, PNC, and U.S. Bank, alongside leading banking trade groups.

The White House has urged both sides to reach an agreement by March 1. Further discussions are expected in the coming days. However, it remains unclear whether another full-scale meeting will be held before the deadline.

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xMoney Expands Domino’s Partnership to Greece, Powering Faster Checkout Experiences

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xMoney Expands Domino’s Partnership to Greece, Powering Faster Checkout Experiences

[PRESS RELEASE – Vaduz, Liechtenstein, February 9th, 2026]

xMoney ($XMN) is expanding its partnership with Domino’s, bringing its payment infrastructure to Domino’s Greece following a successful rollout in Cyprus.

The collaboration focuses on acquiring services, enabling Domino’s Greece to accept card payments and digital wallets, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, across both web and mobile ordering platforms.

At the core of the integration is xMoney’s embeddable checkout solution, designed to deliver a seamless payment experience without redirection. Customers complete their orders faster, while all sensitive payment data is securely handled by xMoney’s compliant infrastructure.

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The expansion was announced in person at a community event hosted at SuiHub Athens – a community space established to support builders and Sui ecosystem partners – bringing together the xMoney and Sui teams, Domino’s representatives, and building on xMoney’s previously announced work with Sui to expand real-world payment access across Europe.

“Domino’s operates in a high-volume, real-time environment where speed and reliability are critical,” said Manos Tsouloufris, CTO of Daufood. “xMoney’s checkout solution supports multiple payment methods in a single, seamless flow, helping us serve customers faster at scale.”

While the current implementation focuses on fiat payments, the two teams are also exploring future possibilities around digital asset payments, where network speed, user experience, and confirmation times make sense for real-world commerce.

The launch in Greece represents the next step in a broader European expansion, reinforcing xMoney’s role as a trusted payments partner for brands that operate at scale and its presence within the Sui ecosystem reflects a growing focus on practical, consumer-facing payment experiences built for everyday use.

“When people order food, they don’t think about payments, and that’s exactly the point,” said Gregorious Siourounis, Co-Founder and CEO of xMoney. “Our role is to make checkout fast, reliable, and invisible, so brands like Domino’s can focus on their customers. Bringing this experience to Greece is a natural next step.”

As xMoney expands across markets and merchant use cases, XMN supports the broader ecosystem by aligning long-term participation and infrastructure growth across the network. Designed to sit alongside xMoney’s licensed payment rails, XMN helps structure how value, incentives, and future on-chain capabilities evolve, without impacting the simplicity of everyday checkout experiences.

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Faster checkout. Less friction.

Payments that deliver.

About Domino’s

Founded in 1960, Domino’s Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout pizza. It operates a network of company-owned and independent franchise stores in the United States and more than 90 international markets.

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About xMoney

xMoney is revolutionizing the payments landscape with strategic European licenses, delivering a seamless, secure, and forward-thinking ecosystem powered by innovative product design, cutting-edge technology, and unwavering compliance. XMN, xMoney’s newly launched token, is natively integrated into the licensed and regulated payment infrastructure – empowering merchants and consumers with lightning-fast, trustworthy transactions underpinned by full regulatory transparency. Now trading on Kraken, KuCoin, MEXC, Bitvavo, Bluefin and other exchanges, XMN is primed for broader adoption with a robust pipeline of integrations ahead.

Contact details:

Website: www.xmoney.com

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Crypto Speculation Era Ending As Institutions Enter Market

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Crypto Speculation Era Ending As Institutions Enter Market

The days of outsized gains in crypto may be coming to an end as more risk-averse institutional players are entering the space, replacing retail investors who chase rapid gains, according to Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz.

Novogratz reportedly said at the CNBC Digital Finance Forum on Tuesday in New York that it reflects the maturing industry. 

“Retail people don’t get into crypto because they want to make 11% annualized,” he said. “They get in because they want to make 30 to one, eight to one, 10 to one,” he said. 

Novogratz referenced FTX’s collapse in 2022, which resulted in a bear market that saw Bitcoin (BTC) prices fall 78% from $69,000 to $15,700 in November that year, stating that there was a “breakdown in trust” then. 

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Novogratz also acknowledged that the Oct. 10 leverage flush, which he called a significant event that “wiped out a lot of retail and market makers,” and increased selling pressure — though there wasn’t any major catalyst.

“This time, there’s no smoking gun,” he said. “You look around like, what happened?”

“Crypto is all about narratives, it’s about stories,” he said. “Those stories take a while to build, and you’re pulling people in … so when you wipe out a lot of those people, Humpty Dumpty doesn’t get put back together right away.”

Tokenized real-world assets will drive markets

Novogratz said he expects the industry to shift from high-return speculation to more practical applications, such as tokenized real-world assets that offer steadier returns.

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However, some traders will always speculate, said Novogratz, but it’s going to be “transposed or replaced by us using these same rails, these crypto rails, to bring banking [and] financial services to the whole world. And so, it’s going to be real-world assets with much lower returns.”

Related: Chainlink co-founder’s 2 reasons this bear market feels different

Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov made a similar argument on Tuesday, stating that tokenized RWAs will “surpass cryptocurrency in the total value in our industry, and what our industry is about will fundamentally change.”

Long-term Bitcoin believers will be fine

David Marcus, the co-founder and CEO of Lightspark and a former PayPal executive, told Bloomberg on Tuesday that there has also been a shift in who is holding Bitcoin

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“It’s just a change of who’s holding Bitcoin, and you’re moving from people that had long-term belief and were holding Bitcoin directly to just access to Bitcoin being wired off to our financial system and markets.”

He added that the change in holders and the Oct. 10 leverage flush have changed the dynamic, but those who have long believed that Bitcoin is a “hedge to everything else that’s happening in the markets” will be fine.

David Marcus speaks on Bitcoin holder changes. Source: Bloomberg

Magazine: Bitcoin difficulty plunges, Buterin sells off Ethereum: Hodler’s Digest