The majority of voters in a recent poll believes there’s more pain ahead for bitcoin. But, that could be a blessing in disguise.

The past several months have been a consistent struggle for the primary cryptocurrency, which traded above $126,000 in early October – not that long ago.

However, it was rejected there, and the October 10 crash that wiped out over $19 billion in leveraged positions started something that it seems hasn’t ended yet. Although bitcoin didn’t collapse below $100,000 at the time, it did so in November and hasn’t been within a six-digit price territory ever since.

It ended 2025 in the red, making it the first post-halving year to do so. Although it started 2026 on the right foot and neared $100,000 by the middle of January, it faltered there, and the subsequent rejection was more than just a healthy correction.

In the span of just a few weeks, the cryptocurrency plunged by almost $40,000 and dumped to $60,000 on February 6. This meant that the asset had crashed by more than 50% since its October all-time high.

Although this is a massive price calamity that brought down the entire market and the overall sentiment with it, especially in times when other financial industries were thriving, most people in a recent survey voted that the bottom is not actually in.

A poll by Ali Martinez shows that only 22.7% of the voters responded that $60,000 was the lowest BTC will ever go in this market cycle. The answer with the most votes – 30.4% – was actually $38,000, which, given bitcoin’s price of $70,000 now, would mean another near-50% crash.

Price Prediction: $BTC Market Bottom

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) February 12, 2026

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Some recent reports agree with the aforementioned results, indicating that the overall market structure has fundamentally changed and the bears are now in control. Analysts are split on trying to determine whether the bottom lies, but most believe it could be somewhere around $50,000.

On the other hand, Warren Buffett has repeatedly reasserted that investors should be greedy when others are fearful, and vice versa. Additionally, the analytics company Santiment has frequently noted that BTC typically moves in the opposite direction of the crowd’s expectations, so there might be a surprise rally hidden somewhere in this pile of fear.

TLDR:

• China mandates blockchain technology for full-chain green electricity certification by 2030. 
• Market-based electricity trading will reach 70% of national consumption under unified system. 
• Green certificates will integrate with carbon emission accounting through blockchain tracking. 
• China seeks to promote domestic green power consumption standards as international benchmarks.

China will deploy blockchain technology across its national green electricity certification system under new State Council guidelines released in February 2026.

The reform document mandates full-chain certification for green electricity production and consumption using distributed ledger technology.

Blockchain integration represents a central component of the country’s unified electricity market reform scheduled for completion by 2030.

The certification mechanism aims to establish transparent tracking of renewable energy from generation through end-user consumption.

China seeks to transform its green electricity consumption standards into international benchmarks through this technological infrastructure.

Blockchain Powers National Green Certificate Tracking Infrastructure

The green electricity market reform introduces blockchain as the technical foundation for certification processes. The policy directs authorities to “fully introduce blockchain and other technologies” into the national system.

Full-chain certification will track renewable energy across production, transmission, and consumption stages. The technology deployment ensures transparency and prevents double-counting in green electricity claims.

Green certificates will function as basic identification tools for renewable energy environmental attributes. The national unified green certificate market will expand in scale and functionality.

Blockchain implementation supports monitoring of certificate prices to maintain reasonable market levels. The system combines compulsory consumption requirements with voluntary participation options for market participants.

Multi-year purchase agreements between renewable energy issuers and users will operate on blockchain infrastructure. The technology enables automated verification and settlement of long-term contracts.

Inter-provincial new energy priority generation plans can be implemented through blockchain-tracked green power trading.

Various trading models including aggregation transactions will leverage the distributed ledger framework for enhanced efficiency.

Carbon Accounting Integration Targets International Recognition

China will study feasible pathways for including green certificates in carbon emission accounting systems. Blockchain traceability features support accurate measurement of emission reductions from renewable energy consumption.

The certification mechanism connects green electricity markets with carbon trading frameworks. Agricultural and forestry biomass power generation projects may participate in voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction markets.

The reform strengthens international communication regarding green certificate application and accounting methods.

China aims to promote domestic green electricity consumption standards as international norms. Blockchain-based certification provides verifiable data for cross-border recognition of renewable energy attributes.

The technology addresses growing demand from multinational corporations for auditable clean energy procurement.

Green power standard systems will undergo improvements to align with global practices. Full-chain blockchain certification offers third-party verification capabilities without central authority dependencies.

This approach appeals to international stakeholders requiring independent validation of environmental claims. The distributed architecture supports integration with emerging global carbon accounting protocols.

Unified Market Framework Enables Blockchain Deployment Scale

The broader electricity market reform creates necessary conditions for blockchain technology adoption. By 2030, market-based trading will reach 70% of total electricity consumption nationwide.

All power sources and users except guarantee customers will participate directly in market transactions. This scale provides sufficient transaction volume to justify distributed ledger infrastructure investments.

Cross-provincial and intra-provincial joint transactions will operate through interconnected platforms. Blockchain technology facilitates information sharing and mutual recognition across regional boundaries.

The system enables registration in one location with nationwide data sharing for electricity market operators. Standardized data models and information interaction protocols support blockchain interoperability requirements.

New business entities including virtual power plants will participate in blockchain-enabled markets. These operators must meet technical standards for operation monitoring and information interaction.

Distributed energy resources can aggregate and trade through blockchain smart contracts. The technology reduces transaction costs for smaller participants while maintaining security and transparency.

Market participants will access unified credit systems built on blockchain infrastructure. Credit information collection and sharing will operate through distributed networks.

Power generation enterprises, electricity sales companies, and users will receive credit evaluations using blockchain-verified transaction histories.

The tamper-resistant nature of distributed ledgers enhances trust in market operations and regulatory compliance.

The Ethereum Foundation appointed Bastian Aue as interim co-Executive Director on February 13. The organization positioned the move as a strategic pivot toward institutional longevity and “cypherpunk” values.

Aue replaces Tomasz Stańczak, who steps down after nearly a year in the role. He would be leading the Foundation alongside Hsiao-Wei.

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ETH Reclaims $2,000 as Foundation Outlines New Strategic Mandate

The transition comes as the non-profit steward of the Ethereum blockchain seeks to balance operational efficiency with a mandate to ensure the network’s survival for “1,000 years or more.”

Aue, who previously worked with the executive team on grants and operations, brings deep institutional knowledge to the role.

In a statement, he emphasized a return to the network’s ideological core and pledged to prioritize “real permissionless infrastructure.”

“The mandate of the EF is to make sure that real permissionless infrastructure, cypherpunk at its core, is what gets built. Ethereum should outlast us, and it has been our job from the beginning to make sure it is robust enough to do so,” Aue said.

This rhetoric suggests a strategic reprioritization for the blockchain network. The goal is to ensure the protocol is robust enough to survive centuries of geopolitical and technological shifts, rather than reacting to short-term industry trends.

Notably, Stańczak’s tenure marked the beginning of a critical restructuring phase of the blockchain network’s leadership.

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He was appointed approximately 12 months ago, during a period when the Foundation faced mounting industry criticism for perceived laxity and bureaucratic inertia.

Under him, the Foundation shifted gears as he injected a sense of urgency into the organization. Stańczak helped to streamline internal teams and expand the EF’s engagement with the broader developer ecosystem.

The Foundation noted his guidance was instrumental in “maturing” the organization’s operations during a volatile market cycle.

“In his year at the EF, Tomasz helped to greatly increase the efficiency of many parts of the foundation, and turn the EF into an organization that is much more responsive to the world outside. He brought fresh new energy to the organization, and as a result of his encouragement and support, the Ethereum Foundation is regularly doing things well outside its previous comfort zone,” Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum co-founder, said.

With the organizational ship steadied, the appointment of Aue signals a shift in focus from operational triage to existential durability.

Meanwhile, the leadership continuity plan was announced amid broader market volatility.

Ethereum traded roughly 5.5% higher over the past 24 hours, reclaiming the $2,000 level to trade near $2,051 as of press time.

This price appreciation contrasts with the broader market’s poor performance since the beginning of the year.

ETH remains down approximately 36% over the last quarter, highlighting the turbulent environment Aue inherits as he attempts to steer the Foundation toward its millennial vision.

PI has surged by almost 20% since its latest all-time low registered just a few days ago.

Bitcoin’s impressive price ascent that began late on Friday drove the asset to a multi-day low of just under $70,000, where it faced some resistance.

The altcoin space is filled with notable gainers as well, with ETH surging toward $2,100, SOL going to $86, and XRP aiming at $1.45.

BTC Eyes $70K

After dumping to $60,000 on February 6, the primary cryptocurrency bounced off to $72,000 almost immediately but couldn’t penetrate that level and was sent south toward $68,000. The following several days were quite underwhelming as BTC spent them trading sideways between $68,000 and $72,000.

The upper boundary rejected the latest attempt on February 10, and bitcoin began to lose value rapidly, going down to $66,000 on February 12 and $65,000 on Friday morning. However, the bulls managed to defend that support and actually helped BTC reverse its trajectory.

They initiated a notable leg up that drove bitcoin to $68,000 $69,000 on Friday evening. After it stalled there for some hours, the bulls pushed the asset further to almost $70,000 on Saturday morning, but that resistance is yet to fall.

For now, bitcoin’s market cap has risen to $1.390 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the altcoins has remained relatively stable at 56.7%.

Alts on the Rise

Ethereum struggles mid-week as it dumped below $2,000 after the latest leg down. However, it reacted positively to this drop and now sits close to $2,100 after a 6% daily increase. XRP, which went down to $1.35 at one point, stands at $1.45 now after a similar daily increase.

Zcash is the biggest gainer from the larger-cap alts. ZEC has soared by 20% to $280, followed by HBAR (9%), BCH (8%), XLM (8%), and LINK (6%). SOL has shipped to $86 after a 7.3% daily jump.

Pi Network’s native token has finally shown some signs of revival. It’s up by 8% daily and 18% since its all-time low marked just three days ago, which prompted some analysts to speculate whether this is a sustainable recovery or just another dead-cat bounce before a new plunge.

The total crypto market cap has added roughly $100 billion in a day and is up to $2.455 trillion on CG.

ARK Invest has quietly reloaded on Coinbase Global (EXCHANGE: COIN) shares, deploying roughly $15 million across its flagship ETFs after trimming the position at the start of February. The Cathie Wood-led firm disclosed purchases totaling 66,545 Coinbase shares through the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), 16,832 shares via the Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW), and 9,477 shares through the Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF), according to ARK’s daily trade disclosures. The move followed a strong price session for Coinbase stock, which closed at $164.32 on Friday, up about 16% on the day and trading higher in after-hours action. Taken together, the buys lift ARK’s reported Coinbase exposure to roughly $15.2 million in aggregate across the three ETFs. In parallel, ARK stepped up its stake in Roblox Corporation (EXCHANGE: RBLX), with purchases routed through the same trio of ARK funds as Roblox traded near $63.17 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

• ARK’s fresh Coinbase exposure amounts to roughly $15 million across ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF, including 66,545 shares in ARKK, 16,832 in ARKW, and 9,477 in ARKF.
• Coinbase stock surged roughly 16% intraday, closing at $164.32 and extending gains after the session, underscoring a supportive price backdrop for the trading activity.
• The same day also saw ARK lift its Roblox (EXCHANGE: RBLX) holdings across its ETFs, with Roblox trading near the $63.17 mark on Friday.
• ARK had trimmed Coinbase shares earlier in February, including roughly $17.4 million sold on Feb. 5—the first reduction since August 2025—and an additional $22 million sold across several ETFs on Feb. 6.
• Coinbase’s quarterly results in late 2025 showed a material swing in profitability, with a Q4 net loss of $667 million on revenue of $1.78 billion; transaction revenue declined year over year while subscription and services revenue rose.
• The broader market backdrop for crypto equities remained volatile, with ARK ETFs previously contending with crypto-market pullbacks that pressured performance.

Tickers mentioned: $COIN, $RBLX, $BTC, $ETH

Sentiment: Neutral

Price impact: Positive — the session’s sharp rally in Coinbase shares coincided with ARK’s renewed buying across its ETFs, signaling renewed institutional interest even as the broader crypto cycle remained choppy.

Market context: The episode unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing crypto market volatility and shifting risk sentiment. ARK’s activity reflects how ETF flows can momentarily diverge from broader sector headlines, with price action in Coinbase acting as a barometer for investor appetite in crypto-linked equities amid a period of volatility in digital assets.

Why it matters

The resurgence of ARK’s Coinbase exposure matters for investors watching how fast-moving ETF flows interact with crypto-adjacent equities. Coinbase, a primary onramp and exchange operator exposed to the cyclicality of digital asset markets, has endured a brutal 2025 as crypto prices and volumes sagged. The new purchases signal that ARK’s active-management approach remains willing to tilt toward Coinbase when its price action aligns with a broader risk-on tone in the market. The trades also occur alongside ARK’s continued interest in Roblox, a name that remains sensitive to consumer engagement and online platform monetization, highlighting how ARK’s thematic bets span both crypto-enabled fintech and broader digital ecosystems.

From a fundamental perspective, Coinbase’s quarterly results underscore the complexity of monetizing a crypto-connected business in a market where transaction revenue can be volatile. In Q4 2025, Coinbase posted a net loss of $667 million as revenue declined to $1.78 billion, though the company noted a shift in revenue mix with subscription and services delivering modest gains. The variance in quarterly performance was echoed by real-time market dynamics, as COIN’s stock moved with broader crypto sentiment rather than solely company-specific catalysts. This backdrop helps explain why ARK’s ETF footprints can swing with both macro risk sentiment and micro-level earnings data.

For readers tracking the intersection of traditional finance and crypto-native exposure, the narrative around Coinbase also intersects with broader media and product initiatives. Coinbase has been spotlighted for recent product enhancements—whether via AI-oriented wallet features or other wallet innovations highlighted in industry coverage—and for high-profile marketing moves tied to broader consumer appeal. The juxtaposition of strong price moves in COIN with ongoing earnings scrutiny illustrates how investor expectations for growth, revenue diversification, and cost discipline remain essential to how ARK and other active managers position crypto-adjacent equities in a volatile environment.

Additionally, ARK’s strategic positioning in Roblox underscores the firm’s broader appetite for platforms with sticky user engagement and scalable monetization. Roblox’s performance sits at an interesting cross-section of entertainment, user-generated content, and in-app economics, which can be sensitive to digital advertising trends and consumer spending patterns. The simultaneous moves in both Coinbase and Roblox highlight a broader narrative: active managers are testing whether distinct but thematically linked equities can weather the near-term cyclical headwinds while offering exposure to longer-term secular themes in fintech and digital experiences.

Related coverage in the crypto business space has framed Coinbase within a broader technology and asset-management ecosystem, including AI-driven wallet concepts and other crypto-native products that aim to tailor services for developers and users alike. For example, articles detailing Coinbase’s wallets built for AI agents offer a window into how the firm is aligning product development with evolving user demands in a rapidly changing tech landscape. Meanwhile, Coinbase’s public advertising presence continues to shape investor expectations around user growth and platform monetization as the company navigates a shifting regulatory and competitive backdrop.

What to watch next

• ARK’s next batch of daily trade disclosures—monitor for further changes in COIN exposure across ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF.
• Coinbase’s upcoming earnings cycle and updated guidance on subscription revenue trajectory and planned product initiatives.
• Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) price action to gauge how macro crypto volatility influences crypto-adjacent equities.
• Roblox (EXCHANGE: RBLX) performance metrics and engagement trends as ARK maintains exposure through its ETFs.
• Regulatory developments or ETF-flow shifts that could alter sentiment for crypto-linked equities and related fintech names.

Sources & verification

• ARK Invest daily trade disclosures detailing purchases across ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF and the corresponding Coinbase (COIN) and Roblox (RBLX) allocations.
• Coinbase Q4 2025 earnings release and accompanying financial results (net loss, revenue breakdown, and commentary on future revenue streams).
• Google Finance data showing Coinbase closing price of $164.32 and subsequent after-hours movement on the referenced session.
• Pricing and trading data for Roblox (RBLX) around the same session to corroborate ARK’s increased stake.
• February 5 and February 6 ARK trades reported publicly, including reductions in Coinbase exposure and reallocations within the ETF family, as described in accompanying coverage.

ARK’s renewed Coinbase bet signals renewed institutional appetite amid crypto volatility

ARK Invest’s latest moves reflect a nuanced stance on the intersection of crypto markets and listed equities. The firm’s decision to add approximately $15 million in Coinbase Global stock across ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF comes after a period of selective trimming, suggesting a calibrated stance rather than a blanket turnaround. By acquiring 66,545 shares in ARKK, 16,832 in ARKW, and 9,477 in ARKF, ARK is signaling a belief that Coinbase can absorb near-term volatility while retaining a longer-term growth narrative tied to crypto adoption and fintech infrastructure. Coinbase’s price response—closing above $164 and moving higher in after-hours trade—provides a recent price signal that could attract further ETF-driven demand if the momentum persists.

Against that backdrop, the Roblox position adds another dimension to ARK’s strategy. Roblox is a platform with a large, engaged user base and monetization opportunities spanning in-game purchases, licensing, and developer ecosystem expansion. ARK’s firm-wide tilt toward RBLX across its ETFs underscores an ongoing conviction that digital platforms with scalable network effects remain a core theme for long-term equity growth, even amid episodic volatility in the broader market.

These movements also connect to Coinbase’s ongoing product and marketing efforts, including initiatives highlighted in related coverage that emphasize how the company positions its wallets and services for a world increasingly shaped by AI-assisted technologies and consumer demand for seamless digital-finance experiences. While Coinbase reported a net loss in Q4 2025, driven by the broader crypto market downturn and revenue mix shifts, the stock’s reaction in the Friday session demonstrates that investors are differentiating between near-term earnings results and longer-term strategic positioning—especially when ETF flows reflect renewed confidence in a given name. For readers who track the crypto ecosystem, the sequence underscores how institutional positioning can diverge from macro crypto momentum for periods as investors discern the implications of product diversification, regulatory developments, and platform monetization strategies.

In summary, ARK’s renewed Coinbase exposure and its parallel Roblox moves embody a cautious, theme-driven allocation approach in a market where both crypto volatility and macro sentiment continue to drive sector-wide fluctuations. As the sector evolves, such actions will be watched closely for implications on ETF flows, investor appetite for crypto-linked equities, and the resilience of platform-based business models in digital economies.

ARK Invest has returned to buying shares of Coinbase Global after trimming its position, adding roughly $15 million worth of stock across several of its actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Friday.

The Cathie Wood-led asset manager purchased 66,545 Coinbase shares through the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), 16,832 shares through Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) and 9,477 shares through Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF), according to the firm’s daily trade disclosures.

The buying activity coincided with a sharp surge in Coinbase stock. Shares closed the trading session at $164.32, up about 16.4% on the day, before edging higher in after-hours trading, according to data from Google Finance. The surge put the firm’s total purchase at roughly $15.2 million.

Alongside Coinbase, ARK also increased its stake in Roblox Corporation, buying shares in ARKK, ARKW and ARKF. Roblox closed near $63.17 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.

Related: Coinbase unveils crypto wallets designed specifically for AI agents

ARK cuts Coinbase shares across ETFs

Last week, ARK Invest reduced its exposure to Coinbase, selling about $17.4 million in Coinbase stock on Feb. 5 for the first time this year and its first reduction since August 2025.

The exchange then sold another $22 million worth of Coinbase shares across several ETFs on Feb. 6, while increasing its position in digital-asset platform Bullish.

As Cointelegraph reported, Coinbase became the top detractor across several of Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest ETFs in the fourth quarter of 2025, as a broader crypto market pullback pressured performance. Shares of Coinbase fell more sharply than both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) during the quarter.

Related: Coinbase bets on Backstreet Boys nostalgia in return to Super Bowl

Coinbase posts $667 million Q4 loss

Coinbase reported a net loss of $667 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, ending an eight-quarter run of profitability. Earnings per share came in at 66 cents, missing analyst expectations of 92 cents, while net revenue fell 21.5% year-over-year to $1.78 billion. Transaction revenue dropped nearly 37% to $982.7 million, although subscription and services revenue rose more than 13% to $727.4 million.