Crypto World
Bitcoin Targets $84K CME Gap After Rising Accumulation in BTC
Bitcoin (BTC) saw a sharp dip below $67,400 during the Monday session open, after it rallied above $70,000 over the weekend. An immediate recovery may come at the back of BTC order book data, which shows aggressive bid positioning, and onchain data pointing to a rise in long-term accumulation.
Analysts now say the move may extend toward the $80,000–$84,000 region, with order book liquidity playing a key role in the next move.
Key takeaways:
-
The Bitcoin accumulator addresses held over 372,000 BTC on Feb. 15, up from 10,000 BTC in September 2024.
-
BTC order books show the largest bid skew in over two years, signaling a stronger near-term support.
Bitcoin futures and order book data support $80,000 retest
Crypto analyst Mark Cullen said Bitcoin may move toward the early February CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) gap, placing $80,000 to $84,000 as his upper price target this week.
A CME gap forms when the Bitcoin futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange close for the weekend and reopen at a different price, leaving a price range with no traded volume.
Previously, Bitcoin has revisited these gaps to “fill” them, meaning the price trades back through that untested range.
The current gap sits roughly between $80,000 and $84,000, making it a clear technical level. With 9 out of 10 CME gaps filled since August 2025, the $80,000–$84,000 range stands out as the key unfilled level.
Meanwhile, the order book data shared by crypto trader Dom shows roughly $596 million in bids within 0–2.5% of price versus $297 million in asks. This near 2:1 bid-to-ask imbalance represents the largest bid skew in over two years.
A bid skew of this magnitude indicates stronger immediate demand than the supply, which can support a short-term upward trend if sustained.
Dom said traders were hesitant to buy during the sharp drop. After Bitcoin swept below $60,000, demand picked up near the lows, suggesting growing interest in accumulating at discounted prices.
Related: Metaplanet revenue jumps 738% as Bitcoin generates 95% of sales
BTC accumulation demand hits new highs
CryptoQuant data shows that the demand from addresses classified as “accumulators” has reached new highs at roughly 372,000 BTC on Feb. 15. In September 2024, that figure was around about 10,000 BTC.
Crypto analyst Darkfost explained that these addresses are filtered using strict criteria: no outflows, multiple inflows, a minimum balance threshold, at least one active period in the past seven years, and exclusion of exchange, miner, and smart contract wallets.
Meanwhile, the long-term holder (LTH) distribution 30-day sum, which measures the total BTC moved by long-term holders over a rolling 30-day period, has fallen below $100,000, compared to averages above $1 million in November 2025.
A lower distribution suggests reduced selling from the LTHs, partially offsetting whale-driven inflows.
Related: $75K or bearish ‘regime shift?’ Five things to know in Bitcoin this week
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Crypto funds recorded a fourth consecutive week of net outflows, shedding $173 million, as investor caution persisted across major digital assets.
However, the pace of withdrawals has slowed markedly from the heavy selling seen in late January and early February, while select altcoins have continued to attract fresh capital.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Crypto Outflows Persist but Slow from January Peaks
According to the latest weekly fund flows report from CoinShares, cumulative outflows over the past four weeks have reached $3.74 billion, reflecting sustained weak sentiment following earlier market volatility.
While outflows continued, last week’s figure was broadly in line with the previous week’s $187 million decline, suggesting the sharp liquidation phase may be easing.
Earlier in the cycle, digital asset funds experienced much steeper withdrawals, including roughly $1.7 billion in each of the final weeks of January.
Market activity also cooled significantly, with ETF trading volumes dropping to $27 billion, down sharply from the record $63 billion reported the week before.
The decline in turnover suggests investors may be stepping back from aggressive repositioning, even as broader uncertainty persists.
Despite the overall negative flows, sentiment improved slightly toward the end of the week. Softer-than-expected US inflation data helped spark $105 million in inflows on Friday.
“Sentiment improved slightly on Friday following weaker-than-expected CPI data,” wrote James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares.
This suggests macroeconomic signals continue to play a decisive role in shaping short-term crypto demand.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Regional Divergence Becomes More Pronounced as Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead Withdrawals
One of the most notable trends in the latest data was a widening regional divide. The US accounted for $403 million in outflows. This made it the primary driver of the global decline.
While US investors remain cautious, potentially reflecting macro uncertainty and positioning shifts, institutions in other markets may be viewing the recent price weakness as an opportunity to accumulate.
Meanwhile, the largest digital assets continued to bear the brunt of negative sentiment. Bitcoin investment products saw $133 million in outflows, the weakest performance among major assets.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Interestingly, short Bitcoin products also recorded outflows totaling $15.4 million over the past two weeks.
Historically, declines in demand for bearish positions have sometimes coincided with periods of market capitulation. Therefore, it may signal that the worst of the selling pressure could be nearing exhaustion.
Ethereum funds also struggled, posting $85.1 million in outflows as investors reduced exposure to the second-largest crypto. Smaller products were not immune either, with Hyperliquid seeing modest withdrawals of around $1 million.
Altcoins Show Signs of Rotation
In contrast to the broader trend, several altcoins continued to attract capital. XRP led inflows at $33.4 million, followed closely by Solana at $31 million, while Chainlink added $1.1 million.
Sponsored
Sponsored
These inflows point to a selective rotation rather than a wholesale exit from the crypto sector. Investors appear to be reallocating toward assets perceived to have stronger narratives or relative momentum, even as exposure to larger-cap tokens declines.
Taken together, the latest data paints a picture of a market still under pressure but stabilizing compared with the intense selling seen earlier in the year.
Crypto outflows remain persistent, yet their reduced scale, coupled with regional inflows and continued interest in certain altcoins, suggests investors are adjusting portfolios rather than abandoning the asset class outright.
TLDR
- YZi Labs has filed a revised preliminary consent statement with the SEC to expand the board at CEA Industries.
- The expansion aims to place nominees who align with YZi Labs’ vision for the company’s future.
- YZi Labs raised $500 million in a private placement to build the world’s largest corporate BNB treasury.
- The company accused CEA Industries’ asset managers of attempting to shift from a BNB-only strategy to include other cryptocurrencies.
- The fallout from the treasury dispute caused CEA Industries’ stock to drop by 87%.
YZi Labs has formally filed a revised preliminary consent statement with the SEC, aiming to expand the Board of Directors at CEA Industries Inc. The expansion seeks to add new members who align with YZi Labs’ vision for the company. This move follows mounting tensions over the company’s digital asset strategy, particularly its management of the BNB treasury.
YZi Labs Pushes for Board Expansion
YZi Labs is looking to place nominees in new positions on the CEA Industries board. This move comes after a series of disagreements regarding the company’s asset management. The group has made it clear that its goal is to influence the direction of CEA Industries by installing directors who support their vision.
The push for expansion comes after a private placement raised $500 million for the company in July 2025. The capital was initially intended to build the world’s largest corporate BNB treasury. However, by the end of 2025, YZi Labs accused CEA Industries’ asset managers of trying to diversify away from a BNB-only strategy, which led to disputes within the company.
BNB Treasury Controversy Prompts Action
YZi Labs’ dispute with CEA Industries revolves around its BNB treasury management. The company had amassed over 515,000 BNB, worth $465 million in August 2025, to serve as its main reserve. However, tensions escalated in December 2025 when YZi Labs accused 10X Capital and BNC management of secretly adding other cryptocurrencies, such as Solana, into the strategy.
This shift away from a strict BNB-focused approach led to an 87% drop in CEA Industries’ stock from its post-announcement highs. The rift over the treasury strategy has now evolved into a power struggle, with YZi Labs pushing to control the company’s future by expanding the board.
SEC Review Delays Shareholder Vote
YZi Labs filed its revised preliminary consent statement with the SEC to initiate the board expansion. The filing is currently under review to ensure compliance with legal requirements for soliciting shareholder consents. Shareholders are unable to vote or submit consent forms until the SEC finishes its review process.
Once the SEC approves the filing, YZi Labs will distribute a white consent card to shareholders. This will allow shareholders to officially vote for or against the expansion of the board and the proposed new nominees.
TLDR:
- Bitcoin realized losses surpassed $2 billion daily from February 5-11, marking the highest levels in 2025
- Seven-day loss averages indicate sustained capitulation among weak hands rather than temporary selling
- S&P 500 put-call ratio reached 1.38, the highest reading since Liberation Day, signaling elevated crash risk
- Historical data shows P/C ratios above 1.1 consistently preceded major equity market declines in 2024-2025
Bitcoin investors recorded over $2 billion in daily realized losses throughout the week of February 5-11, signaling potential capitulation among market participants.
The figures represent the highest loss levels observed in 2025 as selling pressure intensifies. Analysts interpret the sustained outflows as evidence that weaker investors are exiting positions after weeks of correction.
Broader market indicators simultaneously point to elevated crash risks, creating a challenging environment for digital assets.
Capitulation Metrics Reach Critical Thresholds
Data from market analyst Darkfost reveals that realized losses have exceeded $2 billion daily since early February. The seven-day moving average maintains this elevated level, indicating persistent rather than sporadic selling. This pattern emerged after January 20, when the market shifted from accumulation to distribution mode.
The magnitude of these losses suggests genuine capitulation is underway. Investors who purchased Bitcoin at higher prices are crystallizing substantial losses rather than waiting for recovery. This behavior typically occurs when market participants lose confidence in near-term price appreciation.
However, the data requires careful interpretation due to several complicating factors. UTXO consolidation transactions can inflate realized loss figures without representing true capitulation.
Additionally, institutional movements such as recent Fidelity Investments transfers contribute to the headline numbers.
Despite record loss levels, Bitcoin prices have demonstrated unexpected resilience in recent sessions. The cryptocurrency has avoided sharp declines even as selling pressure mounts.
This divergence between realized losses and price action indicates strong support from long-term holders who refuse to sell at current levels.
Crash Warnings Compound Downside Risks
Market trader Leshka_eth has documented a troubling pattern in equity market indicators. The put-call ratio currently stands at 1.38, matching the highest reading since the Liberation Day market event. Historical precedent shows S&P 500 declines consistently follow P/C spikes above 1.1-1.2.
This ratio reflects intense hedging activity as investors purchase protective puts. Dealers who sell these options must hedge by selling index exposure through futures and exchange-traded funds.
The resulting selling pressure removes natural market support, potentially triggering self-reinforcing downward spirals.
Multiple headwinds are converging to pressure risk assets. Kevin Warsh’s Federal Reserve Chair nomination signals potential monetary tightening and balance sheet reduction.
The central bank’s $6.6 trillion balance sheet could face systematic unwinding, removing liquidity from financial markets.
Global markets have already contracted sharply, with $12 trillion in losses recorded during January alone. Commodities experienced severe declines, including gold down 13% and silver plunging 37%.
Corporate earnings reports reveal deteriorating fundamentals even as valuations remain historically elevated. These conditions create an unfavorable backdrop for speculative assets like Bitcoin, where capitulation may accelerate if equity markets destabilize further.
HONG KONG — Oleg Ogienko, A7A5’s director for Regulatory and Overseas Affairs, is looking to debate anyone who accuses him of breaking any compliance laws through his stablecoin company.
Speaking to CoinDesk during Consensus Hong Kong, the public face of the Ruble-denominated stablecoin issuer A7A5 — which grew faster last year than USDT or USDC — stressed that, like any stablecoin issuer, compliance with the laws of where it is incorporated is key (in this case, Kyrgyzstan), and criminals are not welcome on the platform.
“We are fully compliant with the regulations of Kyrgyzstan. We do not do illegal things,” he said, emphasizing the issuer’s regular audits. “We have KYC procedures, and we have AML mechanisms embedded into our infrastructure. We do not violate any Financial Action Task Force principles.”
But here is the catch: A7A5’s issuing and affiliated entities, Old Vector LLC and A7 LLC, and the bank that holds the reserves, Promsvyazbank (PSB), are sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, barring the U.S. dollar-denominated financial world from interacting with them.
So while the company’s affiliates are restricted by the U.S (whose laws underpin a majority of the global trade), being used by Russian companies to avoid sanctions is not a crime in Kyrgyzstan (where A7A5 is based) or in Russia.
A7A5 facilitates cross-border payments for Russian users facing banking restrictions, while also providing a route into USDT liquidity, the market leader, through decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols without holding dollar stablecoins directly.
In fact, the restriction became one of the driving forces behind the stablecoin’s surprising growth. It added almost $90 billion in circulating supply last year, outpacing USDT, which added $49 billion, and Circle’s USDC, which added about $31 billion, according to data from Artemis.
Going beyond sanctions
Ogienko admitted that life under sanctions puts pressure on people and limits access to some Western goods and services.
However, he argued that it has not stopped business activity or cross-border trade, describing the restrictions as an obstacle rather than an economic dead end and creating a market where A7A5 is in demand.
Ogienko said A7A5’s primary demand comes from businesses in Asia, Africa, and South America that trade with Russian exporters and importers and need cross-border payment mechanisms.
Right now, liquidity is limited because centralized exchanges won’t list the token due to the risk of secondary sanctions. DeFi liquidity pools exist where A7A5 can be swapped for USDT, though A7A5’s own dashboard says only around USDT 50,000 is available.
Ogienko says he was on the ground in Hong Kong trying to fix that, using the trip to Consensus to meet with exchanges and other blockchains — declining to name specifics — to build partnerships.
“We’ve been deployed on Tron and Ethereum, and now we are thinking about deploying on some other blockchains … we’re here to do cooperation with them,” he said.
While the firm wasn’t a sponsor at Consensus, having a U.S.-sanctioned entity at any conference could make organizers and sponsors nervous, even when its sponsorships are technically legal in some regions. This played out at Token2049 in Singapore — where A7A5 was a sponsor, organized by Hong Kong-registered BOB Group — a jurisdiction with no sanctions on Russia. BOB, however, later scrubbed references to A7A5 from the lists, after worries emerged from other sponsors.
Still, the sanctions and the politics surrounding the restrictions don’t bother Ogienko’s ambition to grow his business.
“We think that we can make the trade volumes settled in A7A5 grow … we hope that we can do more than 20% of Russia’s trade settlements with different countries in A7A5,” he said.
However, A7A5 still can’t be used in Russia, as lawmakers are still drafting stablecoin regulations.
Ogienko said that he is in contact with authorities in the country, describing the relationship as consultative and focused on blockchain regulation and financial infrastructure rather than direct government control.
“We’re not politicians. We are traders. We are businessmen,” he said, emphasizing neutrality. “We’re open for business cooperation with any country.”
Read more: Most Influential: Oleg Ogienko
Let’s be honest: if your Web3 project isn’t on social media, do you even exist? The days of Discord-only communities and airdrop farming as a marketing strategy are numbered. In 2026, social media is where the real alpha is and the platforms are evolving faster than Layer 2 gas fees after a memecoin pump.
After analyzing trends across tens of thousands of global brands, here are six predictions that will shape social media strategy in 2026, with a crypto-native lens on what it means for our industry.
1. Short-Form Video + UGC Will Dominate (Yes, Even for DeFi)
Research shows 73% of marketers are prioritizing short-form video heading into 2026, with 47% specifically focusing on UGC video content. Translation: your community’s unboxing videos and tutorial clips are worth more than your polished explainer animations.
The crypto angle: Stop making 20-minute tokenomics deep-dives nobody watches. Start amplifying the 30-second clips of community members showing their first successful swap, their hardware wallet setup, or their reaction to actually understanding what a rollup is. Authenticity beats production value always has, but now the algorithms are enforcing it.
2. Paid Media Shifts to Video and AI Conversations
Budgets are moving to Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok platforms where video storytelling and social commerce thrive. But here’s the interesting part: conversational commerce is emerging as a new frontier.
Walmart’s ChatGPT integration lets users make purchases directly in chat. Think about that for a second: AI-powered shopping, inside a conversation.
The crypto angle: This is where it gets spicy. Imagine AI agents that don’t just recommend products they execute on-chain transactions. We’re not far from “Ask Claude to swap your ETH for that NFT you’ve been eyeing.” The ad format of the future might be a persuasive AI conversation, not a banner. Crypto-native brands should be experimenting with AI-commerce integrations now.
3. AI Moves From Experimentation to Infrastructure
By 2026, generative AI won’t be a “nice to have”; it’ll be embedded in the operating layer of marketing stacks. Agentic AI systems will draft copy, test creatives, and adjust ad spend mid-campaign, all in real-time.
Direct-to-consumer businesses already post six times more content than traditional retailers. The only way to compete is AI-augmented content creation.
The crypto angle: Web3 projects are uniquely positioned here. Many crypto teams are already AI-native in their workflows. The question is whether you’re using AI agents just for content, or building them into your entire community management stack from sentiment analysis to automated governance summaries to personalized engagement. Soon, teams won’t talk about using AI. They’ll just run on it.
4. Virtual Influencers Rise (With a Reality Check)
Earlier in 2025, nearly 60% of marketers planned to increase virtual influencer collaborations. Fast forward a few months, and partnerships with AI-only influencers dropped; audience fatigue and underperformance hit hard.
The crypto angle: We’ve been here before. Remember when every NFT project had a fictional founder? The lesson: virtual creators work as hybrid collaborators, not replacements for real voices. Use AI-generated characters for scalable storytelling and visual experimentation, but anchor campaigns in authentic community members. Transparency about AI’s role isn’t optional, it’s survival.
5. Burnout Prevention Becomes Survival Strategy
Most social teams have fewer than six people managing global brand presence. Nearly half report frequent burnout. With content demands rising and budgets tightening, automation isn’t a luxury; it’s triage.
The crypto angle: Crypto social managers have it worse. You’re running 24/7 Discord servers, managing global communities across multiple timezones, and expected to respond to FUD at 3am. In 2026, the projects that retain talent will be the ones treating automation as a force multiplier—AI handles scheduling, reporting, and routine engagement while humans focus on actual community building and creative strategy. Your community manager shouldn’t be burnt out; they should be empowered.
6. Social, Commerce, and Care Fully Converge
Two-thirds of marketers now collaborate closely with commerce and care teams. The lines between customer touchpoints are blurring into a seamless experience: a TikTok ad opens into a shopping cart, a DM uncovers an upsell opportunity, a chatbot drives recurring purchases.
The crypto angle: This is Web3’s moment to shine. Social tokens, wallet-connected experiences, on-chain loyalty programs—these aren’t future concepts, they’re here. Imagine a Discord message that triggers a token-gated discount, or a Twitter Space that unlocks exclusive NFT access. The brands that connect social engagement with on-chain commerce (without the friction) will transform community from a cost center into a revenue engine.
The future of social media is AI-powered, authenticity-driven, and increasingly commerce-enabled. For crypto-native brands, this isn’t about keeping pace, it’s about leading the charge.
The projects that treat AI as infrastructure, authenticity as strategy, and community as commerce will define the new standard in Web3 engagement.
The rest will be building on Solana and posting threads about it to 47 followers.
Editor’s note: The collaboration between Binance and Franklin Templeton highlights a pivotal step toward institutional-grade efficiency in digital markets. By enabling tokenized real-world assets to function as off-exchange collateral, the partnership aims to combine regulated custody with flexible yield opportunities, reducing counterparty risk for traders and asset managers. As institutions seek safer, more scalable models for on-chain activity, this program demonstrates how traditional finance instruments can operate within crypto rails while preserving safeguards. Crypto Breaking News will monitor the rollout and its implications for liquidity, risk management, and custody standards.
Key points
- Tokenized Benji fund shares used as off-exchange collateral on Binance.
- Assets stay off-exchange in regulated custody; value mirrored in Binance.
- Reduces counterparty risk while enabling yield for institutional participants.
- Custody and settlement backed by Ceffu.
Why this matters
By enabling tokenized real-world assets to settle on-chain with off-exchange collateral, the program strengthens risk controls and liquidity for institutions, illustrating a practical path to integrate traditional instruments into digital markets while preserving custody protections.
What to watch next
- More institutions participate in off-exchange collateral programs.
- Expansion of tokenized real-world assets available on Binance for collateral settlement.
- Ongoing collaboration between Franklin Templeton and Binance expands the network of program partners.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
Binance and Franklin Templeton Advance Strategic Collaboration with Institutional Collateral Program
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, February 16, 2026/ — Franklin Templeton, a global investment leader and Binance (www.Binance.com), the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and users, announced a new institutional off-exchange collateral program, making digital markets more secure and capital-efficient. Now live, eligible clients can use tokenized money market fund shares issued through Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform as off-exchange collateral when trading on Binance.
The program alleviates a long-standing pain point for institutional traders by allowing them to use traditional regulated, yield-bearing money market fund assets in digital markets without parking those assets on an exchange. Instead, the value of Benji-issued fund shares is mirrored within Binance’s trading environment, while the tokenized assets themselves remain securely held off-exchange in regulated custody. This reduces counterparty risk, letting institutional participants earn yield and support their trading activity without hedging on custody, liquidity, or regulatory protections.
“Since partnering in 2025, our work with Binance has focused on making digital finance actually work for institutions,” said Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton. “Our off-exchange collateral program is just that: letting clients easily put their assets to work in regulated custody while safely earning yield in new ways. That’s the future Benji was designed for, and working with partners like Binance allows us to deliver it at scale.”
“Partnering with Franklin Templeton to offer tokenized real-world assets for off-exchange collateral settlement is a natural next step in our mission to bring digital assets and traditional finance closer together,” said Catherine Chen, Head of VIP & Institutional at Binance. “Innovating ways to use traditional financial instruments on-chain opens up new opportunities for investors and shows just how blockchain technology can make markets more efficient.”
Assets participating in the program remain held off-exchange in a regulated custody environment, with tokenized money market fund shares pledged as collateral for trading on Binance. Custody and settlement infrastructure is supported by Ceffu, Binance’s institutional crypto-native custody partner.
“Institutions increasingly require trading models that prioritize risk management without sacrificing capital efficiency,” said Ian Loh, CEO of Ceffu. “This program demonstrates how off-exchange collateral can support institutional participation in digital markets while maintaining strong custody and control.”
Launching the institutional off-exchange collateral program expands on both Franklin Templeton’s and Binance’s growing networks of off-exchange program partners and represents another effort since announcing Franklin Templeton and Binance’s strategic collaboration in September 2025.
By using Benji to bridge tokenized money market funds, Franklin Templeton is taking trusted investment products and making them work in modern markets—allowing institutions to trade, manage risk, and move capital more efficiently as digital finance becomes an everyday part of the financial system.
Offering more tokenized real-world assets on Binance meets the increasing institutional demand for stable, yield-bearing collateral that can settle 24/7. This gives investors greater choice and enhances their trading experience on the world’s largest regulated digital asset exchange.
Franklin Templeton is a pioneer in digital asset investing and blockchain innovation, combining tokenomics research, data science, and technical expertise to deliver cutting-edge solutions since 2018. Learn more at Franklin Templeton Digital Assets.
About Binance
Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 300 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, trading engine speed, protections for investors, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products and offerings from trading and finance to education, research, social good, payments, institutional services, and Web3 features. Binance is devoted to building an inclusive crypto ecosystem to increase the freedom of money and financial access for people around the world with crypto as the fundamental means. For more information, visit: http://www.Binance.com
About Ceffu
Ceffu is an institutional-grade custody platform offering custody and liquidity solutions that are ISO 27001 & 27701 certified and SOC2 Type 2 attested. Our multi-party computation (MPC) technology, combined with a customizable multi-approval scheme, provides bespoke solutions allowing institutional clients to safely store and manage their virtual assets.
For the purposes of this program, custody services for Benji-issued tokenized money market fund shares are provided by Ceffu Custody FZE, a virtual asset custodian licensed and supervised in Dubai.
About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Templeton is a trusted investment partner, delivering tailored solutions that align with clients’ strategic goals. With deep portfolio management expertise across public and private markets, we combine investment excellence with cutting-edge technology. Since our founding in 1947, we have empowered clients through strategic partnerships, forward-looking insights, and continuous innovations – providing the tools and resources to navigate change and capture opportunity.
With more than $1.7 trillion in assets under management as of January 31, 2026, Franklin Templeton operates globally in more than 35 countries.
To learn more, visit http://www.FranklinTempleton.com
Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN]
All investments, including money funds, involve risk, including loss of principal. There are risks associated with the issuance, redemption, transfer, custody, and record keeping of shares maintained and recorded primarily on a blockchain. For example, shares that are issued using blockchain technology would be subject to risks, including the following: blockchain is a rapidly-evolving regulatory landscape, which might result in security, privacy or other regulatory concerns that could require changes to the way transactions in the shares are recorded.
TLDR
- Anthropic has doubled its revenue run rate in India in just four months.
- Developer adoption of Anthropic’s Claude Code has been a key driver of growth in India.
- The company has opened an office in Bengaluru to support its expanding operations.
- Anthropic has formed strategic partnerships to expand its AI solutions in the public sector.
- Air India is using Claude Code to improve software development and reduce costs.
AI startup Anthropic has seen rapid revenue growth in India, with its AI tools gaining traction across various sectors. The company’s revenue run rate has doubled in just four months, driven by high demand from developers and early government deployments. Anthropic has also expanded its presence in the country by opening an office in Bengaluru.
Strong Developer Adoption in India Drives Revenue Growth
Anthropic’s revenue growth in India is largely due to high adoption rates among developers. The company’s Claude Code has seen increased use in India, a country known for its large pool of tech talent. Developers are leveraging the tool to enhance productivity and speed up software development processes. According to Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, India’s developer-centric culture has accelerated the company’s growth. Amodei noted, “Since my last trip here, the company has doubled its run rate revenue in India.”
The speed at which developers are adopting AI tools in India is a key factor in Anthropic’s success. Unlike other countries where casual consumers also use AI, India’s AI adoption is concentrated in the professional sector. This intense use by developers reflects the country’s focus on productivity and rapid experimentation. In India, AI adoption is characterized by a culture of quickly testing new ideas and moving forward with adjustments if necessary.
Anthropic Expands Partnerships to Support Public Sector Growth
In addition to its success in the developer market, Anthropic has formed several strategic partnerships in India. These partnerships will help expand its AI solutions into the public sector, including education, healthcare, and judicial services. The company’s India team will also provide applied AI expertise to startups and enterprises, assisting them in building and scaling AI-driven solutions.
One of the key enterprise clients, Air India, has adopted Claude Code to improve its software development speed. By integrating AI into its operations, the airline aims to reduce costs and increase efficiency. This collaboration reflects the growing interest in AI-powered tools across industries, as businesses recognize their potential to drive productivity improvements.
Government agencies in India have also shown interest in using AI technology, further accelerating Anthropic’s growth in the country. The Ministry of Statistics, for example, is working on an AI-powered server for economic data and statistics. Anthropic’s CEO highlighted that such efforts are progressing much faster than similar projects in other countries. He credited India’s entrepreneurial spirit and technical expertise for the rapid pace of adoption.
A surge in AI data-center activity has rekindled a long-running energy debate, pitting grid operators and policymakers against critics who warn that massive computing operations threaten power reliability and push up electricity costs in parts of the United States. In this backdrop, a February 2026 research note from Paradigm reframes Bitcoin mining within electricity markets, arguing that it behaves as a flexible demand source rather than a static drain on energy resources. The note, which surveys grid conditions and market signals, estimates Bitcoin’s current share of global energy use at about 0.23% and its global carbon emissions at roughly 0.08%. It emphasizes that the network’s issuance schedule and periodic reward reductions inherently cap long-run energy growth, shaping how miners respond to price signals and competing generators. The analysis by Paradigm’s Justin Slaughter and Veronica Irwin, anchored by a public discussion of energy modeling assumptions, invites a more nuanced view of mining’s role in modern electricity systems, beyond broad environmental comparisons.
Key takeaways
- Paradigm argues that Bitcoin mining is best viewed as flexible grid demand, adjusting consumption in response to real-time electricity prices and grid stress rather than remaining a fixed, unresponsive load.
- The note quantifies mining’s slice of the energy pie—about 0.23% of global energy use and roughly 0.08% of global carbon emissions—while noting the long-run growth is economically constrained by the fixed issuance schedule and periodic halving of rewards.
- Critiques of mining energy use that rely on per-transaction measurements are highlighted as misleading, since energy consumption is tied to network security and miner competition, not transaction volume alone.
- With increasing AI data-center deployments, several miners are partially pivoting to AI workloads to capture higher margins, reshaping the industry’s profile and demand patterns for power.
- The policy implication is a shift from alarmist energy comparisons to evaluating mining within the broader electricity market—raising questions about how regulators should model and price flexible demand in grid planning.
Tickers mentioned: $BTC
Sentiment: Neutral
Market context: The conversation sits at the intersection of expanding AI infrastructure, grid reliability concerns, and a broader shift toward demand-side flexibility in electricity markets as crypto miners and traditional energy users alike react to price signals and regulatory frameworks.
Why it matters
The framing offered by Paradigm has the potential to recalibrate how policymakers and market participants think about crypto mining. If mining is treated as a responsive load that can scale up or down with grid conditions, it could be integrated more deliberately into demand-response programs and ancillary-services markets. This view challenges simplistic comparisons that measure energy use in isolation or rely on per-transaction efficiency metrics, which may obscure how miners contribute to grid resilience during periods of surplus or shortage.
The discussion also taps into a broader industry trend: the repurposing of crypto-era infrastructure to artificial intelligence workloads. As margins in traditional mining shift and data-center economics evolve, several players have begun to reallocate hardware and capacity toward AI processing. The shift has been noted across industry reporting and is reflected in the pathways taken by some miners to pursue higher-margin opportunities while continuing mining activities where economics permit. For example, coverage of the AI-data-center wave highlights how existing facilities and equipment can be adapted to meet surging demand for AI workloads, potentially altering regional power usage profiles and pricing dynamics.
At the core of Paradigm’s argument is the idea that energy modeling should reflect the realities of competitive electricity markets rather than rely on static benchmarks. By foregrounding grid conditions, price signals, and the possibility of demand response, the authors argue that Bitcoin mining’s energy footprint can be contextualized within the wider ecosystem of grid economics. This does not absolve miners of responsibility for energy use, but it suggests a framework in which policy decisions are informed by how mining interacts with supply and demand in real time, including its capacity to absorb excess generation or reduce demand during stress events.
The note also emphasizes that energy use and emissions are not the only metrics at play. Understanding where mining sits on the supply curve—where electricity is produced or curtailed—can illuminate why certain regions attract mining operations at particular times and how these operations might contribute to stabilizing grids during peak periods. In this sense, the narrative shifts from a binary “drain vs. benefit” debate to one about how energy users of all kinds can participate in a more dynamic, price-responsive market environment.
As AI infrastructure expands, the mining ecosystem’s response matters for both regional policy and investor sentiment. The industry’s evolving footprint—toward AI workloads in some cases—could influence where and how power is allocated, how utilities price peak versus off-peak energy, and how regulators design frameworks that accommodate flexible demand. While Paradigm’s conclusions are not universal prescriptions, they provide a structured lens for evaluating mining within electricity markets rather than through narrow environmental comparisons alone. The broader takeaway is a push for more sophisticated, market-responsive energy modeling that accounts for price signals, grid constraints, and the real-world behavior of miners under variable conditions.
What to watch next
- Publication and discussion of Paradigm’s February 2026 note and any ensuing responses from policymakers or industry groups.
- New analyses or grid studies examining the elasticity of mining demand in response to real-time pricing and transient grid conditions.
- Regulatory activity at state or federal levels addressing crypto-mining energy use, permitting, and integration with demand-response programs.
- Updates on the mining-to-AI workload transition, including pilot projects and capital reallocation by major miners such as those that have publicly discussed strategic shifts.
Sources & verification
- Paradigm, “Clarifying misconceptions about Bitcoin mining” (February 2026) – note the energy-use and emissions figures and the discussion of market signals. https://www.paradigm.xyz/2026/02/clarifying-misconceptions-about-bitcoin-mining
- Discussion of AI data centers and Bitcoin mining’s local resistance in the U.S. referencing grid- and energy-demand concerns. https://cointelegraph.com/news/ai-data-centers-local-resistance-bitcoin-mining
- Bitcoin mining outlook and profitability shifts in the context of AI-driven infrastructure changes. https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-mining-outlook-2026-ai-profitability-consolidation
- Bitcoin miner production data illustrating the scale of winter-storm disruption in the U.S. https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-miner-output-us-winter-storm-latest-data
Bitcoin mining as flexible grid demand in the AI era
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) mining is increasingly described as a dynamic, price-driven participant in electricity markets rather than a fixed-energy burden. The February 2026 Paradigm note insists that miners act as flexible loads, changing consumption in response to grid stress or surplus supply. This reframing rests on the premise that energy use is not merely a function of transaction volume; it is tied to network security, miner competition, and how power markets price electricity in real time. In practical terms, mining operations tend to gravitate toward the lowest-cost energy sources, often leveraging off-peak generation or surplus capacity, which enables them to scale demand up or down as conditions warrant. The ability to modulate consumption makes mining responsive to price signals, a characteristic that can be valuable to grid operators seeking to balance supply and demand without relying solely on traditional capacity additions.
AI data centers have accelerated this discussion, as industry coverage highlights shifts in crypto-era infrastructure toward AI workloads in some cases. While Bitcoin mining remains a core use case for many facilities, the broader trend underscores how high-density computing can be repurposed to align with profitability drivers and grid economics. Several traditional mining operators, including Hut 8, HIVE Digital, MARA Holdings, TeraWulf, and IREN, have begun exploring partial transitions toward AI processing, highlighting how portfolio strategy can adapt to evolving margins and demand profiles. The implications for energy policy are meaningful: rather than treating all high-energy activities as equivalent, regulators may consider how to integrate flexible-demand resources into reliability and pricing frameworks while maintaining environmental safeguards.
Paradigm’s argument also emphasizes that energy models should reflect the realities of constrained energy systems. If mining adapts to price signals and grid conditions, its contribution to energy demand may be more volatile but potentially more compatible with markets seeking to absorb intermittent generation or reduce peak demand. The authors point to a broader energy-economics logic: when miners respond to scarcity or surplus, they participate in price formation and help balance the system—an argument that invites policymakers to evaluate mining within the rightsized context of electricity markets and grid resilience rather than through simplistic energy-versus-environment comparisons. The discussion aligns with recent coverage of AI infrastructure’s supercycle, suggesting that the real opportunity lies not in static energy tallies but in understanding how demand shapes and responds to evolving grid dynamics.
Armstrong had previously published O’Leary’s private phone number and urged followers to harass him as a supposed murderer.
A United States federal judge has ordered crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, previously known as “BitBoy,” to pay $2.8 million after he failed to defend himself in a defamation lawsuit brought by investor and television personality Kevin O’Leary.
According to court documents, US District Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida entered the default judgment on Thursday, while citing Armstrong’s lack of any response during the proceedings. The damages award includes roughly $78,000 for reputational harm, $750,000 for emotional distress, and $2 million in punitive damages.
Background of the Case
The case stems from a series of posts Armstrong published on X in late March 2025, in which he accused O’Leary and his wife of murder and alleged they paid millions of dollars to cover up their involvement in a fatal 2019 boating collision in Ontario.
Two people were killed when one boat struck another on a lake, but O’Leary was only a passenger and was never charged. His wife, Linda O’Leary, on the other hand, was later acquitted of careless operation of a vessel following a 13-day trial. Armstrong publicly disclosed O’Leary’s private phone number and urged followers to contact him as a “real-life murderer.” These posts prompted a temporary suspension from the platform.
In January 2026, Armstrong moved to overturn the default judgment. He said incarceration and mental health problems prevented his involvement, while sealed filings referenced a bipolar disorder diagnosis. The court rejected the request and noted that Armstrong had been properly served and waited nearly a year before taking action.
Legal Woes
The ruling further expands the list of legal troubles facing Armstrong, who has faced repeated arrests since 2023. He was taken into custody in March 2025 on a fugitive warrant tied to alleged threats sent to a Georgia judge and was arrested again in June 2025 on multiple counts of harassing phone calls.
Armstrong was removed from the BitBoy Crypto brand in August 2023 after its parent company cited substance abuse concerns, which ended his run as one of the most visible figures in crypto media.
His career was repeatedly overshadowed by controversy, including admissions of paid promotions for failed or fraudulent projects and a high-profile legal dispute with YouTuber Atozy that he ultimately abandoned after a backlash from the crypto community.
SECRET PARTNERSHIP BONUS for CryptoPotato readers: Use this link to register and unlock $1,500 in exclusive BingX Exchange rewards (limited time offer).
TLDR
- The total value of tokenized real-world assets increased by 13.5% over the past 30 days.
- Ethereum led the growth in tokenized assets, with a $1.7 billion rise in value.
- Tokenized US Treasuries and government debt remain the largest category in the market.
- Institutional participation is growing, with major players like BlackRock and JPMorgan entering the space.
- Tokenized money market funds are evolving, now serving as collateral in trading and lending markets.
Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) have seen consistent growth, with the total value of onchain RWAs rising 13.5% over the past month. Despite the broader cryptocurrency market shedding $1 trillion in value, the tokenized asset sector continues to show resilience. The demand for tokenized RWAs, especially among institutional investors, reflects a growing interest in utilizing blockchain for traditional financial products.
Ethereum Leads Growth in Tokenized Assets
Ethereum recorded the highest growth in tokenized asset value, with an increase of $1.7 billion. Other blockchain networks, such as Arbitrum and Solana, followed closely, showing $880 million and $530 million in growth, respectively. The surge in value across these networks reflects the broader adoption of blockchain-based tokenized products.
The rise in Ethereum’s dominance highlights the growing role of the blockchain in asset tokenization. As the blockchain’s infrastructure strengthens, more institutions are entering the space, increasing demand for tokenized products. The growth in tokenized asset issuance has also contributed to the overall market rise.
Tokenized US Treasuries and government debt continue to dominate the tokenized asset space, accounting for over $10 billion in onchain products. These assets have seen continuous inflows, which further support their dominant position. As demand grows, more tokenized government securities are being issued on public blockchains.
The expansion of tokenized government debt demonstrates the increasing appeal of blockchain for settling traditional financial assets. Large institutions such as BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs have shown active participation in this growing market. Their involvement indicates that tokenized government products are becoming a key focus of institutional investment.
Institutional Participation Drives Tokenized Asset Growth
The demand for tokenized assets points to deeper institutional participation in the space. Asset managers are increasingly issuing and settling tokenized versions of traditional financial products. Tokenized money market funds, which were once seen as yield vehicles, are now serving as collateral in trading and lending markets.
BlackRock’s move into decentralized finance with the launch of its tokenized US Treasury fund is one of the latest examples of institutional involvement. This shows a shift in how traditional financial institutions are engaging with blockchain technology.
Goodwin rakes in cash from Hungarian far-right
Yankees’ Aaron Judge eyeing more stolen bases during 2026 MLB season
Person rushed to hospital after major M11 crash
-
Sports5 days agoBig Tech enters cricket ecosystem as ICC partners Google ahead of T20 WC | T20 World Cup 2026
-
Tech6 days agoSpaceX’s mighty Starship rocket enters final testing for 12th flight
-
Crypto World7 days agoU.S. BTC ETFs register back-to-back inflows for first time in a month
-
Video6 hours agoBitcoin: We’re Entering The Most Dangerous Phase
-
Tech2 days agoLuxman Enters Its Second Century with the D-100 SACD Player and L-100 Integrated Amplifier
-
Video3 days agoThe Final Warning: XRP Is Entering The Chaos Zone
-
Crypto World6 days agoBlockchain.com wins UK registration nearly four years after abandoning FCA process
-
Crypto World5 days agoPippin (PIPPIN) Enters Crypto’s Top 100 Club After Soaring 30% in a Day: More Room for Growth?
-
Crypto World3 days agoBhutan’s Bitcoin sales enter third straight week with $6.7M BTC offload
-
Video5 days agoPrepare: We Are Entering Phase 3 Of The Investing Cycle
-
Crypto World7 days agoEthereum Enters Capitulation Zone as MVRV Turns Negative: Bottom Near?
-
NewsBeat1 day agoThe strange Cambridgeshire cemetery that forbade church rectors from entering
-
Business4 days agoBarbeques Galore Enters Voluntary Administration
-
Crypto World6 days agoCrypto Speculation Era Ending As Institutions Enter Market
-
Crypto World4 days agoEthereum Price Struggles Below $2,000 Despite Entering Buy Zone
-
Politics6 days agoWhy was a dog-humping paedo treated like a saint?
-
NewsBeat1 day agoMan dies after entering floodwater during police pursuit
-
Crypto World3 days agoBlackRock Enters DeFi Via UniSwap, Bitcoin Stages Modest Recovery
-
NewsBeat2 days agoUK construction company enters administration, records show
-
Sports6 days agoWinter Olympics 2026: Australian snowboarder Cam Bolton breaks neck in Winter Olympics training crash