The Dow Jones Index retreated sharply this week as geopolitical risks rose ahead of key earnings by companies like NVIDIA and Salesforce.

The blue-chip Dow Jones was trading at $48,805, down by over 3.3% from its all-time high. Other top indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 also dropped by over 1%.

Salesforce and NVIDIA to publish earnings this week

The Dow Jones retreated as market participants positioned to major risks. One key risk is the rising possibility that the US will strike Iran as soon as this week.

The risk of an attack rose after President Donald Trump warned that he may launch a limited attack on Iran, a move that would lead to an escalation. Such an escalation would then lead to higher oil prices and market volatility.

Market participants are also worried about Trump’s tariffs. New tariffs based on Section went into effect on Tuesday as the administration worked on more long-lasting ones.

The Dow Jones Index also retreated as Jamie Dimon warned of a 2008-like Global Financial Crisis. In a statement, he said: 

“Unfortunately, we did see this in ’05, ’06 and ’07, almost the same thing — the rising tide was lifting all boats, everyone was making a lot of money. I see a couple of people doing some dumb things. They’re just doing dumb things to create NII.”

Looking ahead, the next key catalyst for the Dow Jones Index is the upcoming Salesforce and NVIDIA earnings, which will come out on Wednesday this week.

NVIDIA, the biggest constituent, is expected to report strong results and forward guidance as demand for GPUs jumped. The average estimate among analysts is that its revenue rose to over $66 billion in the fourth quarter.

Salesforce stock will be in the spotlight as it has tumbled by over 50% from its all-time high. It has dropped as investors remain concerned about the potential disruption by new AI tools by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI.

Dow Jones Index technical analysis

The daily chart shows that the Dow Jones Index reached a record high of $50,560 earlier this year. It has now pulled back to $48,805 as market risks escalate.

A closer look shows that the index has formed a rising wedge pattern, which is made up of two ascending and converging trendlines. It has already moved below the lower side, confirming the bearish outlook. 

The index also formed a rising wedge pattern as the Relative Strength Index and the MACD indicators moved downwards as it rose.

Therefore, there is a risk that it may keep falling, potentially to the key target at $48,000.

Cloud mining platforms like Hashbitcoin are reshaping crypto mining in 2026, offering hardware-free access to Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin with automated daily payouts.

Today, mining Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin has become easier than ever. Thanks to cloud mining platforms like Hashbitcoin, traditional mining rigs are gradually being replaced. There’s no need to purchase expensive ASIC miners or high-performance GPUs, nor worry about costly electricity bills or technical complexities. By choosing a top-tier cloud mining platform, users can effortlessly enjoy stable and lucrative daily passive cryptocurrency income.

This article provides an in-depth review of the most popular cloud mining platforms in 2026, helping investors easily start their journey of mining Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin. Let’s explore the endless opportunities that cloud mining has to offer.

1.Hashbitcoin: The best cloud mining platform of 2026 for earning cryptocurrency

As one of the world’s leading cloud mining platforms, Hashbitcoin has established itself as the go-to platform for Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin mining. Founded in 2017, Hashbitcoin has been providing premium mining services and is registered with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The platform operates over 100 verified ASIC mining farms globally, offering users a daily return on investment (ROI) ranging from 3% to 9%.

New users can start risk-free with a $15 trial bonus provided by Hashbitcoin. The platform offers a variety of flexible contracts catering to both short-term and long-term investment needs, making it a perfect fit for all types of investors.

Hashbitcoin cloud mining contracts: Flexible plans for maximum profitability

Want to learn more about exciting investment opportunities? Visit Hashbitcoin’s contract page for full details.

What makes Hashbitcoin stand out?

• Free trial bonus: New users receive a $15 trial bonus upon registration, allowing them to experience real mining earnings without any upfront deposit.
• AI-driven mining optimization: The platform’s mining algorithm automatically selects the most profitable cryptocurrency to mine.
• High-yield referral program: Earn up to 3% commission by inviting friends to join Hashbitcoin, making it easy to generate extra income.
• Multi-cryptocurrency support: With one Hashbitcoin account, users can mine multiple cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, LTC, and DOGE, enabling diversified investments.
• Daily payouts with full transparency: All earnings are settled daily and paid in full, with no hidden fees.
• Eco-friendly mining: Hashbitcoin is committed to using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, creating an efficient and environmentally friendly mining process while reducing carbon emissions.

How to start cloud mining with Hashbitcoin

1. Register an account: Sign up with an email in just a few seconds and instantly receive a $15 free trial bonus.

2. Choose a mining contract: Users can start with the free trial plan or select one of the flexible mining contracts based on their budget.

3. Activate mining: Once payment is confirmed, the mining contract will be activated immediately, and mining will begin automatically.

4. Earn daily profits: Users can enjoy daily passive income with earnings calculated and paid every 24 hours.

5. Withdraw or reinvest: At the end of the contract, users can withdraw their principal and profits or reinvest in a new mining plan.

2. IQMining: A pioneer in cloud mining with stable long-term returns

IQMining is one of the longest-running companies in the cloud mining industry, known for its stable long-term returns. Its “smart mining” technology optimizes mining profitability, and the platform offers diversified investment plans to cater to various investor needs. For those seeking consistent long-term returns, IQMining is a reliable choice.

3. BitFuFu: Industrial-scale mining backed by institutional power

BitFuFu is a cloud mining platform that partners with global mining hardware giant Bitmain to provide industrial-scale mining services. Users can purchase their own ASIC miners through the platform and enjoy high-performance mining. Although the initial deposit requirements are high, the platform’s stable mining capacity makes it an ideal choice for large-scale mining users.

4. NiceHash: A leading global hash power marketplace

NiceHash is a major player in the cloud mining industry, known for its unique hash power trading model. The platform allows users to buy and sell idle hash power, offering great flexibility. However, compared to one-click solutions like Hashbitcoin, NiceHash requires users to have some technical knowledge to get started quickly.

5. StormGain: An integrated cloud mining and trading platform

StormGain is a mobile app that seamlessly integrates cryptocurrency trading and cloud mining. It offers attractive low-cost mining contracts. However, its mining profitability is relatively low unless combined with trading activities. For investors looking to combine mining with trading, StormGain is a good option.

6. BeMine: Unlock mining potential with shared ASIC ownership

BeMine is a cloud mining platform that allows users to share ownership of physical ASIC miners. By purchasing partial ownership of a miner, users can participate in cryptocurrency mining and gradually increase their long-term profitability. Its innovative shared model allows individual investors to benefit from industrial-level mining returns.

7. Binance: Seamless crypto mining with the power of a global exchange

Binance Cloud Mining is one of the top cloud mining platforms, focusing primarily on Bitcoin mining. It integrates seamlessly with Binance accounts, allowing users to dive into Bitcoin mining without additional setup. For users seeking top-tier cloud mining services combined with trading and staking features, Binance Cloud Mining is an ideal choice.

Conclusion

The cloud mining platforms listed above are all legally operating and highly reputable on a global scale. In addition to complying with legal standards, they offer transparent contracts, user-friendly interfaces, and lucrative daily earnings of up to $5,104. Among these excellent platforms, Hashbitcoin stands out as the top choice for investors seeking flexible and high-yield investment solutions, thanks to its fixed ROI, instant withdrawals, and reliability.

To learn more about Hashbitcoin, visit the official website. Contact email: [email protected]

The suit filed by Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy administrator seeks damages tied to alleged pre-collapse positioning.

Terraform Labs’ bankruptcy administrator has filed a lawsuit against Jane Street, alleging the company used insider information to profit from and accelerate the collapse of Terra-Luna.

The lawsuit claims that these trades came at the expense of investors and creditors who lost billions in the crash.

Jane Street Denies Accusations

A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report reveals that Todd Snyder, the court-appointed plan administrator overseeing Terraform’s wind-down, is seeking damages from Jane Street, its co-founder Robert Granieri, and employees Bryce Pratt and Michael Huang.

In a complaint filed in a Manhattan federal court on Monday, Snyder alleges that the trading firm obtained material nonpublic information from insiders and used it to trade ahead of the market, speeding up the company’s downfall.

“Jane Street abused market relationships to rig the market in its favor during one of the most consequential events in crypto history,” wrote the administrator in a statement.

The company first signed on to trade directly with Terraform in late 2018, but its involvement in the project’s tokens did not intensify until February 2022.

The lawsuit claims that Pratt, a former intern at the crypto company who later joined the trading firm, reconnected with his previous colleagues and created a private group chat called “Bryce’s Secret” to collect insider information. He is also accused of coordinating email introductions between the company’s head of business development and the firm’s DeFi team. The complaint claims that these communications were then used to obtain confidential details and inform highly profitable trades.

Meanwhile, Jane Street has rejected the allegations, calling the lawsuit “a desperate attempt to extract money” and insisting that Terraform’s losses were the result of a multibillion-dollar fraud by its management. The firm added that it will defend itself “vigorously against these baseless, opportunistic claims.”

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Insider Trades Linked to Terraform Collapse

The lawsuit highlights a May 7, 2022, incident in which the crypto platform moved 150 million TerraUSD out of the Curve3pool without notifying the market. Less than ten minutes later, a digital wallet reportedly connected to Jane Street withdrew 85 million TerraUSD from the same pool. However, Do Kwon, its founder, said the withdrawal was meant to move TerraUSD to a new liquidity pool for stablecoins.

Two days later, as the digital asset began losing its dollar peg, Pratt allegedly set up a group message with Kwon, Huang, and firm representatives to discuss potential bids on Luna as the company continued to reap more profits from trading the stablecoin.

Terraform collapsed later that month after TerraUSD lost its peg to the dollar, with the sister token Luna also plunging to near zero.

The crash erased roughly $40 billion in value and affected hundreds of thousands of investors worldwide, leading the company to file for bankruptcy in January 2024 and formally establish a wind-down trust later that year. Kwon is now serving a 15-year prison sentence following guilty pleas on two criminal counts in August.

Justin Sun-founded AINFT (formerly APENFT) describes itself as “The Biggest NFT Trading Platform on TRON” on its website.

Sun has recently been aggressively promoting AINFT, posting about it on X on February 20, twice on the 11th, on the 10th, on the 6th, twice on the 5th, and six times on the 3rd.

Despite these frequent endorsements and its advertising, this platform has averaged approximately $6.24 per day in trading volume.

The AINFT marketplace lists a total of 156 TRX volume for its top project over the last seven days, split between only two collections.

At the current price of $0.28 for each individual TRX, that’s a total volume of $43.68 for this week.

If we divide that by the seven days, then we get a result of $6.24 per day in trading volume for the self-described “Biggest NFT Trading Platform on TRON.”

The partnership between BuySellVouchers and Finassets highlights how scalable crypto payment infrastructure can unlock cost-efficient international expansion.

Bank payments on international marketplaces are losing efficiency, while crypto-based marketplace payments are becoming a fundamental payment infrastructure. Their success depends on the right payments partner and a scalable payment gateway for marketplace operations.

The BuySellVouchers case shows how the right payment solution supports expansion into new markets without increasing costs.

Marketplace payment processing must support business growth

BuySellVouchers.com is a global P2P marketplace for digital vouchers and gift cards, operating since 2015 with around $12 million in monthly turnover across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Russia.

Its business model is based on direct peer-to-peer trading, where marketplaces process payments between multiple parties, including cryptocurrency settlements.

As the company prepared for global expansion into new markets and planned to onboard sellers in different regions, it became clear that the existing payment gateway no longer met evolving business needs. Although crypto payments were already integrated, scaling exposed structural limits in the previous setup, turning the payment infrastructure into a bottleneck.

How to recognize when a payment provider no longer fits a business

Several warning signs indicated misalignment between the provider and the business model:

At scale, these issues directly impact margins, predictability, and global expansion capability.

High volume payment processing requires strict technical and operational standards

For international growth, BuySellVouchers needed more than basic payment processing. It required marketplace payment solutions aligned with its business model.

The company defined clear criteria for a new payment gateway for marketplace operations:

Keeping costs stable as volume grows

The payment solution had to ensure that increasing transaction volume would not proportionally increase costs. This was critical to maintaining stable margins as the business expanded into different regions.

Clear pricing for financial planning

Transparent pricing without hidden monthly fees or setup fees, clear transaction statuses, and visibility across all marketplace payments were essential for financial forecasting and managing funds.

Regulatory coverage across regions

Processing had to comply with financial regulations, local regulations, and global regulations, ensuring compliance without limiting global expansion.

Easy onboarding and technical stability

• Scalable APIs capable of supporting growth
• Reliable high-volume payment processing
• Fast resolution of non-standard transaction scenarios typical for P2P marketplaces

Growth requires predictability, financially and operationally.

Finassets removed structural barriers for BuySellVouchers

After switching providers, BuySellVouchers partnered with Finassets.io low fee crypto payment gateway, which delivered a scalable marketplace payment platform designed for global payments and global payouts.

Low cost payment processing: financial effect of reducing processing costs by 50%

A fixed-fee model was implemented, allowing the company to forecast operational costs in advance and manage margins effectively.

Additionally, TRC-20 transaction optimization was introduced through the use of pre-purchased TRON Energy instead of burning TRX for every transaction.

As Vitalijs Feldmanis, CEO of Finassets, explains: “One of Finassets’ key advantages is that clients save significantly on transaction fees for the TRON network (TRC-20), because we cover network fees with purchased energy instead of burning TRX.”

Results:

• Processing fees reduced in half
• Predictable unit economics as turnover increased
• Direct positive impact on profitability

Broad network support

Support for more than 70 cryptocurrencies and networks, including ERC-20, BEP-20, Polygon, and others, allowed the platform to adapt to regional preferences and expand without structural payment limitations.

Compliance as a growth enabler

The processing structure aligned with BuySellVouchers’ offshore operating model and provided AML/KYC procedures adapted to the P2P risk profile, without excessive banking-style bureaucracy.

This enabled the company to:

• Standardize compliance processes
• Reduce internal operational workload
• Simplify interactions with a global user base

Compliance became a structured system rather than a scaling obstacle.

Operational stability as a competitive advantage

For a P2P marketplace, transaction speed and predictability directly influence user trust.

After implementing the Finassets infrastructure:

• Transaction statuses became fully transparent
• Delays and manual investigations were minimized
• High transaction volumes were processed reliably

Payments became predictable and manageable at scale.

Centralized visibility and financial control

The Finassets dashboard became a core operational tool for the BuySellVouchers team, particularly the Balance, Transactions, and B2B crypto Exchange tabs.

It enabled transparent balance tracking, full transaction visibility, real-time fiat equivalents, and simplified accounting exports. As a result, financial processes became more structured and operational workload was reduced.

Batch global payouts for high-volume operations

The mass payout feature accelerated recurring and large-volume transactions, a critical function for P2P and digital goods marketplaces.

This helped the business manage payouts more efficiently, save time internally, and maintain full control over payment operations.

Ongoing support and crypto expertise

Through the Finassets dashboard, the team gained:

• Full auditability
• Real-time fiat equivalents
• Simplified accounting

Sergej Balanel, CEO of BuySellVouchers.com, emphasized the importance of partner support: “We want to highlight the ongoing support from our partner, including their specialists being always available on Telegram. We got quick advice from the team, which helped us work smoothly together and speed up the integration process.”

With experienced technical specialists supporting operations, payments became a stable foundation for scalable growth.

Entering new markets without increasing payment costs

Traditionally, entering new markets leads to rising expenses due to fragmented payment methods, local options, bank transfers, and complex compliance requirements.

“As our volumes grew, processing costs and transaction predictability became critical. Finassets removed payments as a bottleneck, which directly improved realized turnover and simplified day-to-day operations. This is infrastructure we can confidently scale on.”
— Sergei B., CEO, BuySellVouchers

Using a unified payment gateway for marketplace operations allowed the company to:

• Maintain a consistent fee structure across regions
• Eliminate chargebacks
• Avoid frozen funds
• Preserve predictable cash flow

Payments became a controllable, scalable infrastructure layer.

Scalability depends on payment architecture

The BuySellVouchers case shows that crypto payments alone do not guarantee lower costs or scalability.

What truly matters is the architecture of the payment gateway for marketplace operations and the strategic choice of a reliable processing partner.

A well-structured payment infrastructure allows businesses to enter new markets without increasing unit costs, improve margins as transaction volumes grow, and reduce operational and regulatory risks.

When payment operations become predictable and scalable, a marketplace gains a stable foundation for sustainable global growth.

Stripe, which processed $1.9 trillion in transactions last year and was recently valued at $159 billion, is considering an acquisition of all or parts of PayPal (PYPL), according to a Bloomberg report.

Deliberations are in early stages, the report continued.

If completed, the deal would bring together two major payment firms that have both moved into stablecoins.

PayPal launched its dollar-backed stablecoin PYUSD$1.0005 in 2022 through issuer Paxos. The token has since grown to a market value of about $4 billion. It allows users to move dollars across crypto networks at any time of day, often at a lower cost than bank wires.

Stripe has also pushed deeper into crypto. In 2024, it acquired Bridge for $1.1 billion, a company that builds tools for businesses and crypto projects to issue their own U.S. dollar-backed tokens. Stripe is also working with venture firm Paradigm to develop Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain now in testing.

PayPal has struggled mightily in recent years, its stock tumbling about 80% from record highs hit in 2021. Shares were already higher this week on buyout chatter, and they rose another 7% late Tuesday in the wake of the Stripe report.

Read more: Stripe’s Bridge sees stablecoin volume quadruple as utility insulates from ‘crypto winter’

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Crypto isn’t just building faster payments rails. It may be building the financial system for non-humans.

As AI agents grow more autonomous, developers are already giving them crypto wallets, allowing software to hold assets, pay for services, trade tokens and even hire other agents. The technical pieces are falling into place. The legal ones are not.

At a recent panel at NEARCON 2026, Electric Capital’s Avichal Garg framed the moment as historically significant.

“What happens if there’s not a human behind it at all?” Garg asked. “It’s some piece of code that owns a wallet, executing code to make more money… How does liability work in that case? I actually don’t know.”

Crypto makes this possible in a way traditional finance cannot. Blockchains allow programmable money, instant settlement and global access. Pair that with AI agents capable of making decisions, and you get something new: software that can both think and transact.

Garg compared the shift to the creation of the limited liability corporation in the 19th century — a legal breakthrough that unlocked pooled capital and industrial-scale growth.

“The cost of participating in the economy has come down so far,” he said. “You’re talking about anybody in the world, with relatively little money, being able to create value.”

But enforcement remains unresolved.

“You can’t punish an AI,” Garg noted. “You can turn them off, but they don’t care.”

If autonomous agents begin trading, lending, hiring and scaling businesses onchain, lawmakers may face a foundational question: Who is liable when software with its own wallet acts independently?

Read more: Kraken’s co-CEO could trust AI with 100% of his crypto — Dragonfly’s Haseeb Qureshi isn’t convinced

Cryptocurrency markets are under pressure again, with traders reacting to broader AI-linked fears, lingering macro uncertainty and signs of waning institutional demand. Today, Feb. 24, total crypto market capitalization slipped 2.5%, currently hovering around $2.27 trillion.

Bitcoin (BTC) slid from about $66,000 on Monday morning, Feb. 23, to near $63,700 at press time, marking a 3% daily decline. BTC’s weekly losses are around 6%.

Ethereum (ETH) tracked BTC’s move, falling 3% to $1,840, and down 5.4% on the week.

Among the rest of the top-10 assets, most are seeing mild to moderate losses today. XRP is down 1.7% to $1.35, BNB lost 3.6% to about $585, and Solana (SOL) declined 3% to $77.

Figure Heloc (FIGR_HELOC) was the only top-10 large-cap in the green this morning, up 1.5%.

Oversold

Alex Thorn, head of firmwide research at Galaxy Digital, noted in an X post today that BTC is approaching all-time oversold territory, with weekly RSI readings lower than any moment outside the deepest bear markets, citing November-December 2018 and mid-2022 as rare comparable periods.

Wintermute analysts highlighted in another X post today that Bitcoin has repeatedly failed to break through the $70,000 mark in the past two weeks, while ETH dipped below the psychologically important $1,900 mark.

“Multiple times over the past decade, growth scares have triggered rotations that ultimately reversed as risk appetite returned and the market found its way back to momentum,” the analysts noted.

They added that thin liquidity with derivatives signals a lack of directional conviction. Some selective interest in altcoins from high-net-worth investors briefly emerged mid-week but quickly faded.

Big Movers and Liquidations

Looking at the top-100 assets by market cap, PIPPIN gained the most, up 6.6% to $0.77 on the day, while Monero (XMR) rose 3.4% to $325.

On the downside, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) led losses at 11% to $475.40, followed by NEXO, down 5.5% to $0.80.

According to CoinGlass data, around 137,000 traders were liquidated over the past 24 hours, with total losses of $412.9 million, where BTC accounted for $156.3 million and ETH for $131.7 million, while other altcoins accounted for $22.1 million.

ETFs and Macro Conditions

Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $203.8 million in outflows on Monday, bringing cumulative assets to $80.7 billion. Ethereum ETFs recorded $49.4 million in outflows, with total net assets now at $10.4 billion, per SoSoValue data.

Macro conditions still feel shaky. Shares of IBM plunged about 13% on Monday, Feb. 23 — the stock’s steepest drop in more than 25 years. The selloff came after Anthropic said its Claude Code tool can automate COBOL modernization, the old-school language that still rakes in serious revenue for IBM.

Adding to the nervous mood, analysts at Citrini Research warned in a Feb. 22 note that rapid AI adoption could displace large numbers of white‑collar jobs, squeeze consumer spending, and put pressure on both financial and tech sectors.

In comments to investors on Monday, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon drew comparisons between current credit and risk dynamics and those seen in the run‑up to the 2008 financial crisis, fueling more caution among investors.

Editor’s note: The GCC region is moving quickly from experimenting with Generative AI to embedding it across core business functions. Deloitte’s newly released survey of tax, finance and legal leaders shows a clear acceleration in GenAI adoption, driven by a demand for smarter research, decision support and quality assurance. As regional companies navigate data privacy, governance and implementation roadmaps, this editorial note highlights momentum and the remaining gaps that organizations must address to translate ambition into measurable outcomes.

Key points

• GenAI adoption is accelerating across tax, finance and legal functions in the GCC.
• Non-adoption fell from 52% in 2024 to 29% in 2025, with participation rising 47% year over year.
• Priorities have shifted toward research and analysis (41%) and quality improvement (38%).
• Only 18% are piloting GenAI, 9% are scaling, and 10% have enterprise-wide AI strategies and governance in place; 63% remain in pre-implementation.
• Automation remains a major opportunity, with 53% prioritizing automation; emphasis on research and data analysis (41%).

Why this matters

GenAI adoption in the GCC signals a shift from experimentation to strategic capability across tax, finance and legal functions. The findings underscore the importance of governance, robust operating models and workforce readiness to translate momentum into measurable business value and trusted, scalable deployment across enterprises. With rising confidence in AI’s long-term potential, organizations must balance speed with quality, risk controls and responsible governance to sustain momentum.

What to watch next

• Move from pilots to enterprise-wide AI strategies and governance frameworks.
• Strengthen governance, operating models and adoption roadmaps.
• Invest in data quality and capability development for deeper analytics.
• Monitor automation opportunities and balance between speed and quality.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

GCC Leaders Accelerate GenAI Adoption in Tax, Finance and Legal Functions

 A new Deloitte survey reveals rapid uptake across the region, alongside growing gaps in governance, strategy and implementation.

Dubai, UAE – 24 February, 2026: A new regional survey by Deloitte’s Tax & Legal business shows that organizations across the GCC are rapidly adopting Generative AI (GenAI) in tax, finance, and legal functions – but many are still struggling to move from experimentation to enterprise-wide impact.

Based on insights from senior tax and finance leaders across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, the survey shows rapid acceleration in GenAI adoption across the GCC. Non-adoption fell sharply from 52% in 2024 to 29% in 2025, while survey participation rose 47% year over year. The survey results indicate that GenAI has become a mainstream strategic priority for regional leadership teams.

While early adoption focused on basic productivity tasks such as email drafting, priorities have moved toward research and analysis (41%) and accuracy and quality improvement (38%). This reflects a transition from efficiency-led experimentation to more strategic value creation. At the same time, 93% of respondents expect AI to have a significant impact on their organizations, highlighting strong regional confidence in the technology’s long-term potential.

Yet despite this momentum, execution remains a key challenge. While 18% of organizations are actively piloting GenAI use cases, only 9% have begun scaling solutions, and just 10% report having enterprise-wide AI strategies and governance frameworks in place. More than 63% remain in pre-implementation stages, underscoring the need for clearer operating models, stronger governance, and structured adoption roadmaps to translate ambition into measurable outcomes.

Automation continues to be a major opportunity area, with 53% of respondents prioritizing automation, particularly in data validation and data reconciliation. However, leaders are increasingly emphasizing quality over speed, with research and data analysis accounting for 41% of current GenAI applications, signalling demand for deeper analytical support rather than simple task automation.

Implementation approaches vary widely across the region. While some organizations are adopting subscription-based or hybrid models, 38% say they are still exploring how to operationalize GenAI, reinforcing the need for advisory support to bridge strategy and execution.

Reflecting on the regional landscape, Muhammad Bahemia, Middle East Tax Leader at Deloitte, said: “The pace of Generative AI adoption across the GCC reflects a region that is both ambitious and pragmatic. Leaders clearly recognize the technology’s potential, but many are now confronting the harder question of how to scale it responsibly. Through our work across tax, finance, and legal functions, Deloitte is helping organizations translate innovation into disciplined execution; strengthening governance, building capabilities, and embedding AI in ways that deliver measurable value and enduring trust.”

Further commenting on the findings, Mohamed Serokh, Partner, at Deloitte Middle East, said: “What we’re seeing across the GCC is a clear shift from curiosity to action. Leaders recognize GenAI’s potential to fundamentally reshape tax, finance, and legal functions, particularly in research, analysis, and quality improvement. However, our survey also shows that many organizations are still navigating how to move from pilots to scalable impact. Success will depend on strong governance, capability development, and a disciplined approach to implementation.”

The survey concludes that while experimentation is widespread, the next phase for GCC organizations must focus on structured execution. Prioritizing high-impact use cases in research and tax analysis, strengthening governance frameworks, and investing in workforce readiness to support responsible, scaled adoption.

Explore the survey insights on this link.

© 2026 Deloitte & Touche (M.E.). All rights reserved.

In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

About Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) LLP

Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) LLP (“DME”) is the affiliate for the territories of the Middle East and Cyprus of Deloitte NSE LLP (“NSE”), a UK limited liability partnership and member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”).

DME is a leading professional services organization established in the Middle East region with uninterrupted presence since 1926. DME’s presence in the Middle East region is established through its affiliated independent legal entities, which are licensed to operate and to provide services under the applicable laws and regulations of the relevant country. DME’s affiliates and related entities cannot oblige each other and/or DME, and when providing services, each affiliate and related entity engages directly and independently with its own clients and shall only be liable for its own acts or omissions and not those of any other affiliate.

DME provides services throughout 26 offices in 14 countries with more than 7,000 partners, directors and staff.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte organization”). DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms and related entities are legally separate and independent entities, which cannot obligate or bind each other in respect of third parties. DTTL and each DTTL member firms and related entity is liable only for its own acts and omissions, and not those of each other. DTTL, NSE and DME do not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more.

Deloitte provides Audit & Assurance, Tax & Legal and Consulting and related services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500® and thousands of private companies. Our professionals deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society and a sustainable world. Building on its 175-plus year history, Deloitte spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte’s approximately 457,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.

Noora Cheikh

Eminence, Media & Digital Marketing Leader

Deloitte & Touche (M.E.)

ncheikh@deloitte.com | www.deloitte.com

Fluid DAO is considering a proposal to transfer all of the DeFi platform’s intellectual property into a Cayman Islands foundation, and to approve a $250,000 monthly grant to fund development and operations.

The proposal was submitted on Monday, Feb. 23, by DMH, the COO of Instadapp, the firm behind Fluid. It calls for the creation of the Fluid Foundation governed by DAO votes, a familiar corporate setup for crypto organizations.

Under the plan, “all Fluid Protocol smart contract code,” front-end interfaces, domains, trademarks and related assets would be transferred to the foundation. Once completed, the assets would “belong to the Foundation — not to any individual, company, or labs entity,” DMH wrote.

The foundation would have no owners and would operate through custodians and directors, according to the proposal. Its sole purpose would be to hold and steward the protocol’s intellectual property on behalf of the DAO.

“The Fluid team acts as custodians of the Foundation — not owners,” the proposal states, with FLUID token holders retaining “ultimate authority” through governance.

Control Stays with DAO

The proposal argues that a legal entity is needed as the protocol, which now has over $1 billion in total value locked (TVL), expands and engages with off-chain counterparties. A foundation structure would allow Fluid to meet “AML, KYC, banking, and regulatory requirements” without altering how token-based governance functions, the proposal argues.

Token holders would also retain the power to change foundation policy or shut it down entirely. The proposal says holders could “in an extreme case, dissolve the Foundation entirely through a governance vote.” DMH further elaborated in a response to a comment on the proposal:

To fund the structure, the DAO is being asked to approve a $250,000 monthly grant, or about $3 million a year from its treasury, which is funded by protocol revenue. The budget would cover engineering, infrastructure, security, business development and general operational costs, according to DMH.

‘Foundation Bears the Legal Costs’

Fluid operates a decentralized lending and borrowing protocol, as well as a swap interface. According to data from DefiLlama, that combination has brought Fluid roughly $1.2 billion in TVL and generated about $1.1 million in revenue in January. In August, the platform saw a record high revenue of $1.52 million. Taking Fluid’s best revenue month yet, the grant would consume around 16% of that monthly revenue.

If approved, legal work to transfer the IP is expected to be completed by mid-2026, with Cayman Islands counsel handling the process. The team also plans to move ownership of all EVM deployments under direct DAO governance.

Some raised concerns about liability if the foundation were sued. In response, DMH said that “if the foundation gets sued, the foundation itself bears the legal costs and any liability.”

Over the past 24 hours, FLUID slid 6% from around $2 to $1.88, but has since recovered to $1.96.

The Defiant reached out to Instadapp for comments on the proposal, but hasn’t heard back by press time.

Late last year, a fee-related dispute between the two main entities behind Aave — Aave Labs and Aave DAO — turned into a broader debate on how crypto organizations should be structured.