Crypto World
Bitcoin’s late-night spike fuels broad altcoin rally: Crypto Markets Today
Bitcoin experienced a volatile overnight trading session, rising by as much as 3.7% before giving back some of those gains.
The largest cryptocurrency remains in the black since midnight UTC, up by 2.4% to trade around $65,600. That’s still within a price range that has persisted over the past three weeks.
The altcoin market is also showing signs of life, with layer-1 tokens solana (SOL) and each putting in a 4.5% rally while tokens including VIRTUAL, MORPHO and ETHFI climbed more than 10%.
U.S. equity index futures rose alongside the crypto market. Silver’s 4% rise since midnight suggests the broader risk-asset rally is speculative rather than news-driven.
The average crypto relative strength index (RSI) indicator has moved out of oversold territory back into a neutral zone, suggesting a period of consolidation might be on the cards on Wednesday.
Derivatives positioning
- Cumulative crypto futures open interest (OI) has risen by over 1.5% to $93.5 billion, although much of that notional growth comes from spot price appreciation rather than capital inflows.
- OI in bitcoin and ether (ETH) futures has largely held steady over 24 hours, with futures tied to tether gold (XAUT) seeing a 12% decline in open positions. Capital seems to be rotating out of gold-linked assets.
- TRX, AVAX, SOL, LINK and HBAR stand out as coins with the highest 24-hour cumulative volume delta. Positive CVD readings indicate that buying demand is outpacing selling demand.
- Bitcoin’s annualized 30-day implied volatility index, BVIV, dropped to 56%, reversing the early week pop to 65% to suggest market calm. This is supportive of continued recovery in BTC’s price. Ether’s volatility displays a similar pattern.
- On Deribit-listed bitcoin options, the $60,000 put has become the most popular play, reflecting downside concerns. Puts, or bearish bets, for both BTC and ETH continue to trade pricier than calls, or bullish ones.
Token talk
- The “altcoin season” indicator hit its highest level since early January on Wednesday, buoyed by rallies across the board.
- AI agent token VIRTUAL led the pack, rising 15.5% since midnight and more than 20% in the past 24 hours to make it the best-performing asset in the CoinDesk 80 (CD80) index, which added 1.7%.
- Restaking token ETHFI also rose more than 10% in the past 24 hours after CEO Mike Silagadze hinted at potentially rolling out a stablecoin.
- Lending platform Morpho’s native token rounded off Wednesday’s altcoin rally. It has now risen by 45.9% over the past 30 days after a 15% gain over the past 24 hours.
- On the flip side, toncoin (TON) and pippin (PIPPIN) are both in the red over the past 24 hours after increasing in value earlier this week, indicating asset rotation among traders and investors.
Stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday, driven by rapid growth in its USDC stablecoin business and expanding payments operations, underscoring continued momentum in an otherwise challenging crypto market.
For the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2025, Circle posted revenue of $770 million, a 77% increase from a year earlier, and reported net income of $133.4 million, or 43 cents per share. Analysts expected per-share earnings of 16 cents on revenue of $747 million.
The strong quarter was fueled in part by a 72% year-on-year increase in the circulation of Circle’s US dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDC (USDC), which reached about $75.3 billion by year-end.
For the full year 2025, Circle reported revenue of $2.7 billion, up 64% from the prior year. The company recorded a net loss of $70 million for the year, largely due to $424 million in stock-based compensation tied to its 2025 initial public offering (IPO).
Despite the annual loss, operating income was positive at about $157 million, reflecting solid underlying performance.
Circle’s shares surged on the news, rising more than 20% in early trading Wednesday morning, to nearly $74.
Related: Better, Framework Ventures reach $500M stablecoin mortgage financing deal
Arc rollout and policy tailwinds bolster Circle’s expansion
Circle highlighted several operational milestones during the quarter, including the public testnet launch of Arc, its new blockchain infrastructure platform designed to help institutions build tokenized financial applications. More than 100 institutional participants have joined the testnet, the company said.
The Circle Payments Network, a cross-border payments coordination layer enabling banks to settle transactions using stablecoins, expanded to 55 financial institutions, with additional companies undergoing eligibility review and onboarding.
While Circle is best known for issuing USDC, the world’s second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, its euro-denominated stablecoin, EURC, also posted strong growth. EURC circulation reached 310 million euros ($365 million), up 284% year over year.
Circle has also benefited from a more favorable regulatory backdrop in the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration, including the passage of the GENIUS Act, which establishes a federal framework for payment stablecoins and issuer oversight.
However, broader industry momentum has faced hurdles. As The Wall Street Journal reported, progress on a separate market structure bill known as the CLARITY Act has stalled amid ongoing tensions between crypto industry advocates and banking groups over issues including stablecoin yield and reward mechanisms.
Related: Bank lobby is ‘panicking’ about yield-bearing stablecoins — NYU professor
DeFi cryptocurrency Mutuum Finance has launched its V1 protocol on the Sepolia testnet, introducing the core mechanics of its lending and borrowing system. The team also stated that an additional feature is scheduled to be rolled out next week as development continues.
Mutuum Finance Protocol Upgrade
In a recent statement published on X, the team confirmed that it is working on several upcoming features while refining key components of the codebase, including optimizations to the Stability Factor. According to the update, a new protocol feature is expected to be released in the coming week.
The project has reported more than $20.6 million raised to date, with over 19,000 holders of its MUTM token, currently priced at $0.04. In the same update, the team noted that the Sepolia testnet version of its lending and borrowing protocol has surpassed $90 million in testnet total value locked (TVL), reflecting simulated liquidity activity during beta testing.
Lending and Borrowing with Mutuum Finance
In the current beta version, users can interact with the protocol’s core functionality. The interface displays a protocol overview including total liquidity, available liquidity, and total variable debt. Four assets are currently supported for minting and interaction on testnet: ETH, USDT, LINK, and WBTC. The portfolio section provides data on net worth, net APY, Stability Factor, and total supplied and borrowed balances, with mtTokens also integrated into the current version of the platform.
When users supply assets to the platform, they receive corresponding mtTokens as proof of deposit. For example, supplying WBTC results in the issuance of mtWBTC. These tokens accrue value over time based on the applicable APY, which is determined by pool utilization.
By depositing $10,000 worth of USDT into the protocol, users receive mtUSDT in return. If the average annual percentage yield (APY) is around 4–5% over a one-year period, the position could generate approximately $400 to $500 in passive income, depending on pool utilization and borrowing demand. In addition, users can stake their mtTokens within the safety module, where eligible participants receive dividends denominated in MUTM tokens.
On the borrowing side, collateral is required to secure loans and protect the protocol against default risk. Rather than selling assets, users can post them as collateral and borrow against their value. For example, an investor holding $1,000 worth of ETH who does not wish to liquidate the position can deposit that ETH as collateral and borrow USDT. The borrowed stablecoins can then be used for expenses or deployed into other investments, while the user retains exposure to potential upside in ETH. Once the borrowed amount and accrued interest are repaid, the full collateral can be withdrawn.
Audited Protocol
Mutuum Finance has undergone a security audit of its lending and borrowing protocol conducted by Halborn, a blockchain security firm that has also performed audits for major projects such as Solana. In addition, the MUTM token smart contract was reviewed by CertiK, receiving a Token Scan score of 90 out of 100.
In partnership with CertiK, Mutuum Finance has established a bug bounty program with a reward pool of up to $50,000, aimed at identifying potential vulnerabilities and strengthening protocol security.
The total supply of MUTM is capped at 4 billion tokens. A portion of this allocation is designated for incentives, including giveaways, leaderboard bonuses, and other community reward programs.
Mutuum Finance continues to advance development of its lending and borrowing protocol as testing progresses on the Sepolia network. With additional features scheduled for rollout and security reviews completed, the project remains focused on refining its infrastructure ahead of full deployment.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned a Russia-based cyber “exploit broker” and its affiliates in a high-profile national security action targeting the theft and sale of proprietary U.S. government cyber tools, officials announced Tuesday.
Summary
- The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Russian exploit broker Operation Zero and associates for trafficking stolen U.S. cyber tools, using the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act.
- The action adds individuals and entities to the SDN list, blocking their U.S. assets and barring U.S. persons from dealings with them.
- The sanctions coincide with a DOJ and FBI investigation into a former defense contractor employee who sold proprietary cyber tools for cryptocurrency
Operation Zero blacklisted by U.S.
The designation marks the first use of the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act (PAIPA) in a sanctions case aimed at combatting digital trade-secret theft.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) placed Russian national Sergey Sergeyevich Zelenyuk and his St. Petersburg-based company Matrix LLC, also known as Operation Zero, on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, along with five associated individuals and entities.
The sanctions target the acquisition and redistribution of “exploits,” specialized computer code that can be used to take advantage of vulnerabilities in widely used software.
According to the Treasury, at least eight U.S. government cyber tools developed for defense and intelligence use were stolen from a U.S. company and allegedly sold by Operation Zero to unauthorized actors.
In its announcement, the Treasury said that Zelenyuk and his network offered substantial bounties to obtain exploits and then monetized the tech with buyers in Russia and elsewhere. Federal officials have expressed concern that such tools could be used for criminal activity or espionage, including ransomware and other destabilizing cyber operations.
The sanctions also encompass individuals linked to the group’s operations, including an affiliate company based in the United Arab Emirates and suspected members of the Trickbot cybercrime gang, previously sanctioned in other actions.
Under U.S. sanctions law, the property and interests of SDN-designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
The action works in tandem with an ongoing criminal investigation by the Department of Justice and FBI into a former U.S. defense contractor employee who pleaded guilty last year to stealing the cyber tools and selling them for cryptocurrency.
Treasury officials said the sanctions aim to deter future theft of American intellectual property that could threaten national security, underscoring Washington’s broader strategy to hold foreign cyber actors accountable through economic and financial tools.
A regulatory spotlight has intensified around prediction markets after Kalshi, a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated platform, banned a high-profile political candidate for trading on his own candidacy. The case underscores how even modest bets on real-world outcomes can trigger fast discipline when they intersect with insider-trading rules, and it comes as lawmakers and agencies sharpen their focus on the speculative-use cases that have quietly grown alongside the crypto ecosystem.
Key takeaways
- Kalshi issued a five-year ban plus a $2,000 penalty after a former California gubernatorial candidate wagered on his own bid and publicized the action on social media, violating platform rules.
- The politician’s actions align with reports that the description matches Kyle Langford, who has shifted from a Republican to a Democrat run for California’s 26th Congressional District; Kalshi noted he is no longer seeking the governorship and is pursuing Congress instead.
- In a May 25, 2025 X post, Langford showed a Kalshi bet of $98.76 on the odds of his victory, a detail Kalshi disclosed as part of the enforcement case and the public record surrounding the incident.
- Separately, a YouTube editor—widely reported as Artem Kaptur of MrBeast notoriety—tolerated a roughly $4,000 accumulation on YouTube stream markets between August and September 2025, resulting in a two-year penalty and about $20,000 in fines for insider-trading violations.
- Kalshi has signaled a broader crackdown, stating it has investigated around 200 cases, frozen several flagged accounts, and now operates with a surveillance audit committee and a partnership with Solidus Labs to detect market abuse as prediction markets scale.
Market context: Kalshi’s enforcement actions occur as prediction markets move toward greater mainstream participation and face intensified regulatory scrutiny. The company has pointed to internal surveillance capabilities and industry collaboration to curb abuse, while lawmakers have floated bills to curb insider trading among government insiders on these venues. The evolving framework aims to balance innovation with investor protection in markets that resemble, in some respects, both traditional trading and decentralized crypto ecosystems.
Why it matters
For traders and ordinary users, the Kalshi cases emphasize a core truth of prediction markets: information asymmetry and improper access carry legal risk. When a participant leverages privileged information—whether real-time, non-public data or an enhanced awareness of an opponent’s strategy—the odds of a fair outcome are eroded. Kalshi’s enforcement actions demonstrate that even seemingly modest bets can become substantial violations if they breach platform rules or disclosures, and they highlight the tension between the novelty of prediction markets and established securities-like expectations of fairness and compliance.
The enforcement framework also signals to other platforms that regulators and market monitors will pursue insider-trading and market-manipulation cases with visible penalties. Kalshi’s public disclosures about the Langford case and the YouTube-creator episode reveal a broader ambition: to deter participants from exploiting private information or unusual access to information channels, whether through social media disclosures, behind-the-scenes connections, or content-driven data streams. The platform’s stance can be read as a commitment to strict governance as prediction markets integrate with mainstream media, political events, and high-profile personalities.
From a policy perspective, the incidents sit at an intersection of financial-market integrity and digital-age governance. The industry has long argued that prediction markets offer useful foresight on real-world events, yet skeptics warn about the potential for manipulation and the overhang of regulatory risk. The Kalshi actions echo broader conversations in Washington about how to supervise new betting formats that blend real-world outcomes with digital platforms, while ensuring that insiders do not gain unfair advantage or profit from information unavailable to the broader public.
Beyond Kalshi, the regulatory mood has grown louder. Congressional discussions and CFTC-led efforts point to a growing taxonomy of enforcement priorities—insider trading, information leakage, and market abuse—that now extend to online prediction platforms with real-money stakes. In parallel, related coverage around Polymarket and other venues has amplified calls for clear guardrails, while public officials outline steps to harmonize the rules with ongoing crypto-market developments. The tension between innovation and accountability remains central to the evolving narrative around prediction markets and crypto-linked financial ecosystems.
In this environment, enforcement actions that surface publicly—such as the Langford-related ban and the YouTube-creator incident—serve as high-profile reminders for participants to treat prediction-market markets with the seriousness they deserve. Kalshi’s leadership has framed these cases as part of a broader discipline strategy, noting that its surveillance apparatus, governance enhancements, and third-party partnerships are designed to identify, investigate, and address market abuse before it becomes systemic.
What to watch next
- Follow Kalshi’s ongoing enforcement docket for new cases and the status of active investigations, including any additional penalties or account suspensions.
- Monitor the CFTC’s predicted shift toward formal advisory collaboration with industry players on prediction-market integrity and insider-trading enforcement.
- Watch for any legislative developments in the United States that would constrain or guide insider trading in prediction markets, especially in relation to government insiders.
- Track updates on the Kalshi-surveillance partnership with Solidus Labs and how their joint framework shapes market abuse detection across listings and events.
- Observe related coverage around high-profile figures and content creators involved in prediction-market activities, including how platforms handle disclosures and potential MNPI issues.
Sources & verification
- Kalshi’s enforcement case page documenting the governance action and penalties tied to the California candidate case.
- Public X posts by Kyle Langford referencing his Kalshi bet and candidacy status.
- Reports surrounding Artem Kaptur and the YouTube-stream-market enforcement action, including Kalshi’s disclosures and penalties.
- Kalshi’s statements on expanding surveillance and partnering with Solidus Labs to address market abuse.
- CFTC leadership statements and the establishment of a prediction markets advisory to coordinate enforcement efforts.
Kalshi enforcement actions highlight insider-trading risk in prediction markets
A political candidacy became the focal point for a broader discussion about market integrity after Kalshi announced a five-year ban and a $2,000 penalty on a former California gubernatorial hopeful who bet on his own bid and publicized it on X. The company said the individual placed a wager of about $200 on his candidacy, and Kalshi emphasized that the account did not generate profits from the trade. The public references tied to this case align with a broader pattern in which prediction-market platforms maintain strict prohibitions against insider trading, and violations are met with tangible penalties and disqualification from the platform.
The athlete-candidate narrative quickly shifted to a widely discussed possible match to Kyle Langford, who has since pivoted to a bid for California’s 26th Congressional District. Kalshi confirmed that the description fits Langford, noting he is no longer pursuing the governorship and has turned his ambitions toward Congress. A May 25, 2025 post on X shows Langford sharing a video of himself placing the Kalshi bet—specifically $98.76 on the odds of victory. Kalshi stated that this account did not withdraw profits, and the case was reported to the CFTC for further review. The company’s decision to publicize the enforcement action underscores its commitment to transparency in maintaining a level playing field for all users.
In a separate enforcement action that drew public attention, Kalshi flagged a YouTube editor for insider-trading-like activity across YouTube stream markets during August and September 2025. The editor traded approximately $4,000 on Kalshi markets in ways that violated Kalshi’s internal rules, resulting in a two-year penalty and roughly $20,000 in fines. The platform described the trading as statistically anomalous, pointing to an unusually high success rate on markets with low odds. Kalshi’s investigators concluded that the individual likely had access to material non-public information, though the specific identity was not disclosed in the company’s public release. The coverage in mainstream media has widely identified the implicated party as Artem Kaptur, a member of MrBeast’s team, highlighting how public content creators can intersect with financial-market activity in novel ways.
Kalshi’s broader enforcement program is not limited to these cases; the platform has publicly disclosed investigations into around 200 cases and has frozen several flagged accounts. Earlier in the month, Kalshi announced the creation of a surveillance-audit committee and a collaboration with Solidus Labs to bolster its ability to detect market abuse and insider trading across its prediction markets. The aim is to raise the bar for governance, promote integrity, and deter would-be insiders from exploiting information asymmetries for personal gain as these markets continue to attract participation from a broader audience, including institutions and highly-visible public figures.
The intensified regulatory posture surrounding prediction markets is also reflected in political developments. US lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at curbing trading by government insiders after a Polymarket user earned more than $400,000 on bets tied to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—trades executed hours before U.S. authorities captured Maduro in Caracas. In response, the CFTC chair signaled that the agency would not hesitate to pursue violators, stating that a new advisory group would work with industry participants to identify and address insider trading in prediction markets. The combined signal from Kalshi, policymakers, and regulators suggests a turning point for how these markets are policed as they move from niche experiments to potential mainstream financial instruments.
As this environment evolves, the line between innovation and enforcement becomes more pronounced. Kalshi’s actions, the high-profile cases, and the regulatory dialogue reflect a broader industry shift toward more robust surveillance, clearer governance, and stricter penalties for those who undermine market integrity. For users, developers, and participants in the growing ecosystem around event-based markets, these developments serve as a reminder to prioritize compliance, transparency, and responsible trading practices—an essential framework if prediction markets are to achieve scalable trust and sustainable growth.
The Blockchain Association has proposed a set of crypto tax reforms after meeting with House Ways and Means Committee offices on Capitol Hill.
Summary
- The Blockchain Association has proposed crypto tax reforms in a meeting with House Ways and Means Committee offices.
- The group called for staking rewards to be taxed only upon sale, alongside privacy-focused reporting rules and broker clarity for non-custodial platforms, among others.
“There is real bipartisan opportunity to modernize digital asset tax policy in 2026. We look forward to continued engagement with lawmakers to deliver clear, workable rules that support compliance and strengthen U.S. competitiveness,” the Blockchain Association wrote in a Tuesday X post.
In its Digital Asset Tax Principles, released the same day, the crypto advocacy group lobbied lawmakers for a “de minimis exemption for small digital asset transactions” and for treating stablecoins as cash for tax purposes, saying routine use should not create disproportionate tax reporting obligations.
The Blockchain Association also said that reporting rules should safeguard taxpayer privacy while still enabling effective enforcement against illicit activities. Further, it added that developers and non-custodial platforms should not be treated as brokers.
The group also contends that taxing staking rewards “upon creation” can create liquidity and valuation challenges, and proposed treating them as self-created property taxable only upon sale or disposition.
Other key proposals included extending wash sale rules to digital assets and introducing a statutory safe harbor for foreign persons trading on U.S. exchanges.
As previously reported by crypto.news, last year Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced a standalone bill that pushed for a de minimis exemption on crypto transactions under $300 alongside a $5,000 annual cap on total tax-free activity.
The senator’s bill also targeted the issue of double taxation that digital asset holders face during the staking and mining process, where rewards can be taxed at the time of receipt and again upon sale.
However, it was met with strong opposition from Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who said at the time that the proposal would allow crypto investors to avoid reporting income on certain transactions and create what she described as a loophole in the tax code.
Decentralized finance protocol Aave has surpassed $1 trillion in cumulative lending volume, marking a historic first in the DeFi industry.
“A decade ago, DeFi and Aave didn’t exist. They were just ideas. Today, Aave stands as the backbone of onchain lending, powering a new financial system that is open, global, and unstoppable,” Aave Labs CEO Stani Kulechov said in an X post on Wednesday.
The feat marked another step toward Aave’s goal of becoming the “largest, most efficient liquidity network in the world,” Kulechov added. “One that builders, banks, and fintechs plug into by default, fundamentally improving liquidity and cost structures across global finance.”
In August, Aave Labs launched Aave Horizon, a new lending market on Ethereum, specifically for traditional finance firms and other institutional investors to borrow stablecoins against real-world assets.
VanEck, WisdomTree and Securitize were among the first participants to use Aave’s institutional offering.
On Feb. 15, Kulechov said DeFi lending could benefit from tokenizing “abundance assets,” like solar, batteries for energy storage and robotics for labor. He expects those assets to be worth a combined $50 trillion by 2050.
Kulechov originally launched Aave as ETHLend in November 2017 before rebranding to Aave in September 2018. It now secures over $27.2 billion in total value locked, enabling users to earn interest on deposits and borrow instantly using crypto as collateral.
Aave leads several prominent DeFi lending platforms in TVL, such as Morpho, JustLend, SparkLend, Maple, Kamin Lend and Compound Finance, each of which holds over $1 billion in total value locked.
Related: Tokenization without provenance is complicity
Aave has generated over $83.3 million in fees over the last 30 days, nearly four times that of its next-closest competitor, Morpho.
DAO proposal has caused division within Aave community
Aave’s milestone comes amid a protocol-wide feud over how much funding and revenue control Aave Labs should receive versus Aave’s decentralized autonomous organization.
Aave (AAVE) token holders have been asked to approve a package worth up to $42.5 million in stablecoins and 75,000 AAVE for Aave Labs.
In return, Aave Labs would route all revenue from Aave-branded products to the Aave DAO treasury under a DAO-funded operating model.
Magazine: A ‘tsunami’ of wealth is headed for crypto: Nansen’s Alex Svanevik
The crypto market cap rebounded 2.7% to $2.32 trillion on Wednesday after recovering some of the previous days’ losses as investors bought the dip.
Summary
- The crypto market recovered from Tuesday’s losses as institutional investors capitalized on the dip.
- A rally in tech stocks and improving geopolitical conditions have acted as a tailwind for risk assets like crypto.
Bitcoin (BTC), the industry’s primary bellwether, climbed 5.5% to hit an intraday peak of $66,233 before consolidating near $65,000, a level now serving as a vital psychological floor.
Ethereum (ETH) followed suit with a 4% rise, stabilizing around $1,900, while other major assets, including XRP, Tron (TRX), and Dogecoin (DOGE), recorded more modest gains between 1% and 3%.
Leading the large-cap pack, Solana (SOL) outperformed with a surge of nearly 7% and had successfully reclaimed the $80 threshold at the time of writing.
Crypto prices rebounded amid millions of liquidations across leveraged markets. Data from CoinGlass shows that around $154 million in short positions were liquidated across the futures market. Over the past 24-hour session, nearly $343 million was liquidated from the broader market, with the majority coming from short liquidations.
When short positions get liquidated, they force the exchange’s liquidation engine to buy back the underlying assets at current market prices to close out the positions, and thus result in an upward short squeeze that accelerates the price recovery.
Crypto market rebounds amid institutional dip buying
The crypto market recovery was primarily supported by investors buying into the recent dip.
Notably, Bitcoin plunged more than 7.5% yesterday, as it moved closer to the critical $60,000 support level. The move sparked a relief bounce, during which BTC successfully reclaimed the $65,000 threshold. The biggest tailwind for the jump was a surge in institutional buying spearheaded by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which acquired additional BTC during the pullback.
Another key catalyst fueling the market rally came in the form of the Coinbase Premium becoming positive for the first time in 40 days. A positive reading on this metric means Bitcoin is more expensive on Coinbase than on global exchanges. Such a significant price gap is a classic signal of strong buying pressure from American investors and institutions.
As Bitcoin reclaimed the support that analysts believe is essential to avoid more downside volatility, the positive momentum rippled across the broader market.
Market rebound was supported by tech stocks rally
Crypto prices also rose after several Asian tech stocks rallied. South Korea’s KOSPI Index rose to record highs, signaling a broader risk-on sentiment among investors across global markets.
Major traditional U.S. stock indices, such as the S&P 500 and Russell 2000, also stood higher on the day. Cryptocurrencies often tend to rally when such equity markets show signs of strength and stability.
Meanwhile, the crypto market’s tight correlation with technology stocks remained evident, with software shares (IGV) rebounding nearly 1.7% over the past day after recent losses triggered by fears that generative AI tools could disrupt traditional software business models.
However, these concerns are easing as industry leaders like Intuit and DocuSign announce strategic partnerships with AI firm Anthropic, signaling that established companies may successfully adapt to the technology rather than being displaced by it.
Hopes of de-escalation in U.S. and Iran conflict
Another major catalyst for today’s rally is market hopes of a potential de-escalation of conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Reports cited that Iran’s deputy foreign minister has hinted that the country is looking to take any required step to reach a deal with the U.S., reducing fears of an imminent military conflict.
Earlier last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to launch an attack within ten days from that time, spooking investors and reducing risk-on appetite.
With the latest positive headlines, investors are likely taking a breather as they await more clarity on the diplomatic front. As the geopolitical tensions eased, traditional safe-haven assets such as gold and crude oil lost the momentum they had been riding on, giving crypto assets the room to regain footing.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Crypto World
Bitcoin Depot announces mandatory ID check for every crypto ATM transaction across U.S.
Bitcoin Depot has been implementing a new requirement across its crypto ATM network in the United States, and now requires users to provide identification for every transaction.
Summary
- Bitcoin Depot now requires identification for every transaction across its U.S. crypto ATM network.
- The rollout began in early February, with the company stating that continuous verification will help flag suspicious activity.
According to the official announcement, the new policy has been live since early February as it hopes to strengthen “safeguards against potential misuse.”
“By requiring identification for every transaction, the enhancement adds another layer of protection designed to help prevent account sharing, identity theft, and account takeover attempts as deployment continues,” the company said.
According to the firm’s CEO, Scott Buchanan, using continuous verification will help detect suspicious activity based on “customers, locations, or transaction amount.”
The mandate comes as Bitcoin Depot faces increased scrutiny from regulators. Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell sued the company for not implementing proper safeguards to prevent scams.
Bitcoin Depot was also targeted by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird last year for similar reasons.
According to data from Coin ATM Radar, Bitcoin Depot is the largest crypto ATM operator in the U.S., with 9,019 kiosks in operation. It first started implementing ID requirements in October, but the measure was limited to new users only.
Reports from the FBI and other third-party agencies have warned that bad actors have continued to misuse crypto ATMs to conduct fraud, impersonation scams, and other illicit transfers, often targeting elderly victims and pressuring them to convert cash into digital assets that are difficult to trace or recover. As a result, lawmakers across the U.S. have moved to tighten oversight.
Last year, Washington’s Spokane city implemented a ban on all crypto ATMs. Elsewhere, in North Dakota, a bill was introduced to implement daily transaction caps and mandatory fraud warnings. Nebraska has also taken similar steps.
Anchorage Digital, the federally chartered U.S. crypto bank, signaled deepening institutional conviction in Bitcoin by disclosing it holds perpetual preferred stock issued by Strategy on its balance sheet.
Summary
- Anchorage Digital disclosed holdings of Strategy’s Nasdaq-listed perpetual preferred stock (STRC), signaling strategic alignment with the leading corporate Bitcoin treasury firm.
- Strategy recently completed its 100th Bitcoin purchase, bringing total holdings to over 717,000 BTC and reinforcing its role in institutional Bitcoin accumulation.
- The move follows Anchorage’s $100 million equity investment from Tether and may support its broader strategic initiatives ahead of a potential IPO.
Anchorage Digital backs Strategy’s Bitcoin play with STRC bet
CEO Nathan McCauley framed the move as a meaningful alignment between the company that “operationalizes Bitcoin infrastructure” and the firm that has become synonymous with corporate Bitcoin accumulation.
McCauley posted on social platform X that the investment in STRC, Strategy’s perpetual preferred security, underscored conviction rather than casual interest in digital assets.
STRC is a Nasdaq-listed perpetual preferred security that pays an attractive annual dividend, roughly 11.25% before expenses, and is closely tied to Strategy’s Bitcoin treasury strategy.
Strategy, led by executive chairman Michael Saylor, has aggressively expanded its Bitcoin holdings through regular purchases funded by equity and preferred stock offerings. The firm recently marked its 100th Bitcoin acquisition, adding another 592 BTC and bringing its total to more than 717,000 coins, roughly 3% of all Bitcoin in circulation.
McCauley’s post was met with affirmation from Saylor himself, who echoed the sentiment that “conviction is contagious,” offering a rare glimpse into how significant institutional actors are positioning around Bitcoin beyond simple custodial services or trading exposure.
Anchorage Digital declined to disclose the size or timing of its holdings, but McCauley described the move as more than symbolic, suggesting that when a regulated crypto bank puts capital alongside the world’s largest dedicated corporate Bitcoin holder, it speaks to confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term relevance.
The bank’s move follows a $100 million equity investment from stablecoin issuer Tether and precedes Anchorage’s planned IPO.
Hong Kong will introduce sweeping reforms to strengthen its position as a global digital asset hub, Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced in his 2026-27 Budget speech, outlining new licensing rules, stablecoin approvals and tokenization initiatives.
Summary
- Hong Kong will introduce a bill this year to establish licensing regimes for digital asset dealers and custodians as part of its expanded regulatory framework.
- The government confirmed the first batch of fiat-referenced stablecoin issuer licenses will be granted next month, marking a key milestone in its crypto roadmap.
- Authorities will support tokenized bond issuance, enhance digital asset market liquidity, and implement the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework to boost tax transparency.
The government will table a bill this year establishing licensing regimes for digital asset dealing platforms and custodian service providers, expanding the city’s regulatory perimeter beyond exchanges.
The move follows Hong Kong’s second policy statement on digital assets, which aims to create what officials describe as a “comprehensive regulatory framework” for innovation and investor protection.
Chan also confirmed that Hong Kong has implemented a licensing regime for issuers of fiat-referenced stablecoins, with the first batch of licenses set to be issued next month. Authorities said they will work with approved issuers to explore compliant, risk-controlled use cases, signaling a shift from policy design to real-world deployment.
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will take additional steps to deepen liquidity in the city’s digital asset market, particularly for professional investors. The regulator plans to broaden the range of products and services available and launch an accelerator program aimed at fast-tracking innovation within regulatory guardrails.
Tokenization is another key focus. The government will publish guidance clarifying that debenture holder registers can be maintained using distributed ledger technology, while exploring electronic signatures for bond issuance documents and the digitalization of bearer bonds.
In parallel, Hong Kong will amend its Inland Revenue Ordinance to implement the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and updated Common Reporting Standard over the next two years. The changes, with a bill expected in the first half of this year, are designed to enhance tax transparency and combat cross-border tax evasion.
Together, the measures mark one of Hong Kong’s most comprehensive digital asset policy pushes to date, reinforcing its ambition to compete with major global crypto financial centers.
BlueScope rebuffs latest bid but leaves door open
Circle Beats Earnings as USDC Circulation Hits $75B
NeNe Leakes Seen Kissing Memphis Attorney at Grizzlies Game
-
Video6 days agoXRP News: XRP Just Entered a New Phase (Almost Nobody Noticed)
-
Politics4 days agoBaftas 2026: Awards Nominations, Presenters And Performers
-
Fashion5 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Boden – Corporette.com
-
Sports2 days agoWomen’s college basketball rankings: Iowa reenters top 10, Auriemma makes history
-
Politics2 days agoNick Reiner Enters Plea In Deaths Of Parents Rob And Michele
-
Crypto World2 days agoXRP price enters “dead zone” as Binance leverage hits lows
-
Business4 days agoMattel’s American Girl brand turns 40, dolls enter a new era
-
Business3 days agoLaw enforcement kills armed man seeking to enter Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, officials say
-
Tech1 day agoUnsurprisingly, Apple's board gets what it wants in 2026 shareholder meeting
-
NewsBeat6 hours agoManchester Central Mosque issues statement as it imposes new measures ‘with immediate effect’ after armed men enter
-
NewsBeat4 hours agoCuba says its forces have killed four on US-registered speedboat | World News
-
NewsBeat3 days ago‘Hourly’ method from gastroenterologist ‘helps reduce air travel bloating’
-
Tech3 days agoAnthropic-Backed Group Enters NY-12 AI PAC Fight
-
NewsBeat3 days agoArmed man killed after entering secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, Secret Service says
-
Business1 day agoTrue Citrus debuts functional drink mix collection
-
Politics4 days agoMaine has a long track record of electing moderates. Enter Graham Platner.
-
NewsBeat1 day agoPolice latest as search for missing woman enters day nine
-
Crypto World1 day agoEntering new markets without increasing payment costs
-
Sports3 days ago2026 NFL mock draft: WRs fly off the board in first round entering combine week
-
Crypto World6 days ago83% of Altcoins Enter Bear Trend as Liquidity Crunch Tightens Grip on Crypto Market