Editor’s note: In a milestone year for the company, eToro’s public results reflect a strategic pivot to a global, AI-enabled investing platform with a growing multi-asset offering. The press release below provides the official quarterly and full-year numbers, while this editorial note highlights the broader implications for users, investors, and the evolving financial landscape. As eToro expands access to markets, introduces AI-powered tools, and moves toward on-chain capabilities, readers can gauge how the platform aims to empower a new generation of investors across regions and asset classes.
Key points
Full-year 2025: Net Contribution up 10% to $868 million; GAAP Net Income up 12% to $216 million; Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income up 10% to $251 million; Adjusted EBITDA up 4% to $317 million; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $2.64.
Q4 2025: Net Contribution down 10% to $227 million; GAAP Net Income up 16% to $69 million; Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income up 6% to $70 million; Adjusted EBITDA down 19% to $87 million; Funded Accounts rose to 3.81 million; AUA grew to $18.5 billion; cash and equivalents at $1.3 billion.
January 2026 KPIs show continued activity across capital markets, crypto, and money transfers, signaling ongoing platform utilization and growth momentum.
Strategic focus areas include AI adoption, 24/7 access for select assets, and app ecosystem expansion ahead of the eToro App Store launch.
Why this matters
eToro’s results underscore a transition to a multi-asset, digital-first investing platform that leverages AI and on-chain capabilities to broaden access, personalization, and cross-border reach. With a stronger balance sheet, diversified revenue streams, and ongoing product innovation, eToro is positioned to capture long-term growth opportunities while expanding services for retail and professional users worldwide.
What to watch next
Rollout of 24/7 access to select assets with plans to expand across asset classes.
Launch of several apps ahead of the eToro App Store, enabling investor builders to publish and share tools.
Ongoing share repurchase activity and potential accelerated programs as part of capital allocation strategy.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
eToro Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
UAE, Abu Dhabi, February 17, 2026 – eToro Group Ltd. ( NASDAQ: ETOR ), the trading and investing platform, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025 which ended December 31, 2025.
Yoni Assia, CEO of eToro
“This was a milestone year for eToro,” said Yoni Assia, CEO of eToro. “We became a publicly traded company and significantly advanced the build-out of our global financial super-app. In 2025, we accelerated product innovation and AI adoption, expanded access to global markets, broadened and localized our offering, and strengthened eToro’s footprint around the world. We are operating at a pivotal moment for financial services. Artificial intelligence and progress towards on-chain market infrastructure are reshaping how people invest and interact with markets and eToro is uniquely positioned to capture this opportunity. Through our public APIs and suite of AI-powered tools, users and partners can build, share, and scale strategies and tools, as part of a growing ecosystem. We are launching a number of apps ahead of the roll out of the eToro App Store, bringing enhanced capabilities to our retail audience. In parallel, we are positioning eToro for a financial system that is increasingly moving on-chain. With our long-standing leadership in crypto and tokenization, we are well placed to help shape this transition. This quarter, we are introducing 24/7 access to select popular assets with plans to expand around-the-clock access across asset classes. Our focus remains on empowering users through a simple, transparent, and digital-first investing experience, while positioning eToro to serve the next generation of investors at every stage of their journey. We are uniquely positioned as both a natively crypto company and a global equities trading platform. We look forward to capturing the many long-term growth opportunities ahead for the benefit of our users, shareholders, and partners.”
Meron Shani, CFO of eToro, said: “Our fourth quarter results reflect the strength and resilience of our mult-asset business model. We delivered compelling financial performance through a combination of diversified revenue streams, healthy funded accounts growth, and disciplined financial management. Furthermore, we are off to a strong start to 2026 with our January capital markets KPIs demonstrating the ability of our platform to adapt and perform across all different market conditions, including the recent spike in commodities trading. With our strong balance sheet and a clear execution roadmap, we believe that we are well positioned to deliver accelerated growth in 2026.”
Full year 2025 Financial Highlights1
Net Contribution increased by 10% year over year to $868 million, compared to $788 million in 2024.
Net Income (GAAP) increased 12% year over year to $216 million, compared to $192 million in 2024.
Adjusted Net Income (Non-GAAP) increased 10% to $251 million, compared to $228 million in 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) increased by 4% year over year to $317 million, compared to $304 million in 2024
Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) was $2.64, compared to $2.67 in 2024.
Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights2
Net Contribution decreased by 10% year over year to $227 million, compared to $253 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Net Income (GAAP) increased 16% year over year to $69 million, compared to $59 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Adjusted Net Income (Non-GAAP) increased 6% year over year to $70 million, compared to $67 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) decreased by 19% year over year to $87 million, compared to $108 million in the fourth quarter of 2024
Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) was $0.71, compared to $0.79 in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Funded Accounts increased 9% year over year to 3.81 million compared to 3.48 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Assets Under Administration (AUA) grew by 11% year over year to $18.5 billion, compared to $16.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments were $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2025.
January KPI metrics3
eToro also reported the below selected monthly business metrics for January 2026:
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Assets under Administration (AUA) were $18.4 billion, up 2% year-over-year.
Funded accounts were 3.85 million, up 9% year-over-year.
Capital Markets/ECC Activity
Total number of trades for January was 74 million, up 55% year-over-year;
Invested amount per trade for January was $252, up 8% year-over-year;
Crypto Activity
Total number of trades for January was 4 million, down 50% year-over-year;
Invested amount per trade for January was $182, down 34% year-over-year;
Interest Earning Assets for January was $7.7 billion, up 17% year-over-year.
Total Money Transfers for January was $1.8 billion, up 68% year-over-year.
Business Highlights
eToro is demonstrating strong progress across its four product pillars driven by continued product innovation, localization, and strategic partnerships.
Trading: eToro expanded access to global markets while advancing toward always-on trading. With the addition of equities listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and across the Nordics, eToro now offers access to equities from 25 stock exchanges. The Company grew its crypto offering to more than 150 cryptoassets, including an expanded range of more than 100 cryptoassets for US users. eToro also broadened derivatives access, expanding its futures offering across Europe and launching futures and options in the UK. It has also begun the roll out of stock margin trading, where eligible users can access leveraged exposure to U.S. equities. In 2025, eToro expanded 24/5 trading to all S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 stocks, and in Q1, the Company is introducing 24/7 access to a select number of popular assets with plans to expand this across asset classes.
Investing: eToro strengthened its investing proposition by expanding access to intelligent, long-term investment solutions. The Company launched Tori, its AI Analyst, and through its public APIs and suite of AI-powered tools, users and partners can build, share, and scale strategies and tools, creating a growing ecosystem. This quarter, eToro is introducing a number of apps ahead of the launch of the eToro App Store, where ‘investor builders’ and partners can publish and share their apps with millions of eToro users globally. eToro continued to expand its range of Smart Portfolios including launching portfolios with Franklin Templeton, WisdomTree, ARK Invest and Amundi. The launch of Alpha Portfolios provides retail investors with access to quantitative, data driven strategies leveraging eToro’s data for the benefit of our customers. Having pioneered social investing, users can follow, copy, and engage with over 5,000 members of eToro’s Pro Investor Program, with Copy Trading now also launched in the US. During 2025, eToro introduced securities lending in the UK, Europe and the UAE, as well as expanding its staking program to help users access passive yield generating opportunities. eToro launched the eToro Club Subscription providing access to premium investing tools, financial perks and dedicated support.
Wealth Management: eToro continued to scale its long-term savings solutions in 2025. The Company partnered with Generali to provide French users with access to long-term, tax advantaged retirement (PER) and life insurance products. eToro also expanded its ISA offering in the UK with the addition of a self-directed stocks and shares ISA and a cash ISA. The AuA in eToro’s UK ISA products grew by 7x from Q4 2024 to Q4 2025. Assets under administration in our Australian savings products grew 44% between 2023 and 2025, supported by strong momentum following the launch of our superannuation offering.
Neo-Banking: During 2025, eToro accelerated the localization of its money management experience. The expansion of local bank accounts to more countries and the continued roll out of the debit card across Europe resulted in eToro Money’s transaction volume increasing 6.5x year-over-year. eToro Money ended the year with 1.87 million accounts. eToro Money, including eToro’s crypto wallet, is now fully integrated into the eToro app and provides seamless crypto transfers including 1% stock-back rewards on eligible crypto transfers.
Partnerships: eToro announced a multi-year partnership with BWT Alpine Formula 1 extending the business’ global brand presence and engagement with a fast-growing, international audience. eToro also entered into a partnership with Gemini Space Station Inc to support the migration of their customers from the UK, Europe and Australia onto the eToro platform, reinforcing its position as a leading, global, multi-asset broker.
Share Repurchase Program eToro today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a $100 million increase to its existing share repurchase program. The program previously authorized $150 million, of which $100 million has already been used, leaving $50 million remaining. Following the increase, total remaining authorization is $150 million. Such repurchases may be made through a variety of methods, including through open market transactions (including through Rule 10b5-1 plans), privately negotiated transactions, block trades and by way of an accelerated share repurchase program. Additionally, subject to market and other conditions, the Company intends to enter into an Accelerated Share Repurchase (“ASR”) agreement to repurchase approximately $50 million of its common shares under the new authorization. This authorization reflects the Company’s confidence in its long-term strategy and growth prospects, financial strength, and commitment to deliver shareholder value. eToro believes that its current share price does not fully reflect the Company’s fundamental value, and that repurchasing shares represents a prudent allocation of capital. The program also provides additional flexibility to support potential future strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, where eToro shares could serve as an effective transaction currency. The actual timing, number, manner and value of any shares repurchased will depend on several factors, including the market price of our shares, general market and economic conditions, our liquidity requirements, applicable legal requirements and other business considerations. The authorization does not expire.
About eToro
eToro is the trading and investing platform that empowers you to invest, share and learn. We were founded in 2007 with the vision of a world where everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today we have 40 million registered users from 75 countries. We believe there is power in shared knowledge and that we can become more successful by investing together. So we’ve created a collaborative investment community designed to provide you with the tools you need to grow your knowledge and wealth. On eToro, you can hold a range of traditional and innovative assets and choose how you invest: trade directly, invest in a portfolio, or copy other investors. You can visit our media center here for our latest news.
Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure
Billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund has fully exited Ether treasury company ETHZilla, according to a Tuesday filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Entities linked to Thiel now report owning zero shares in the company in a 13G amendment filed on Tuesday, after disclosing a 7.5% stake on Aug. 4, 2025.
At that time, the group beneficially owned 11,592,241 shares of what was then known as 180 Life Sciences Corp., representing 7.5% of the 154,032,084 shares outstanding and worth about $40 million based on trading at around $3.50 per share in early August.
Founders Fund 13G Filing with SEC. Source: SEC
The company later moved to raise another $350 million via convertible bonds in September to expand its Ether (ETH) holdings and deploy them across decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenized assets, at one point holding more than 100,000 Ether.
ETHZilla began unloading tokens as markets turned, liquidating 24,291 Ether for $74.5 million in December 2025 at an average price of $3,068.69 per token, to repay debt, leaving about 69,800 ETH on its balance sheet.
Strain on Ether treasury company models
Thiel’s exit is the latest stress signal for public companies with crypto treasuries built around Ether rather than Bitcoin (BTC).
Other large Ether accumulators are taking different approaches. BitMine Immersion Technologies, the largest listed Ethereum holder, acquired a further 40,613 ETH on Feb. 9, lifting its total holdings to more than 4.325 million ETH, worth about $8.8 billion at current prices.
ETHZilla has since tried to diversify by launching ETHZilla Aerospace, a subsidiary offering tokenized exposure to leased jet engines. However, Thiel’s exit magnifies how volatile Ether‑heavy treasury strategies have become in a market still digesting last year’s peak.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
A relatively unknown crypto trader gained $7 million from shorting ETH while major investors suffered huge losses.
An anonymous trader known only as 0x58bro has accumulated $7 million in unrealized profits by shorting Ethereum (ETH) and a handful of other cryptocurrencies, according to data from on-chain intelligence platform Arkham.
What’s noteworthy about their success is that it has come at a time when several high-profile crypto personalities have suffered eight-figure losses betting on price increases.
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The Quiet Whale Swimming Against the Current
Despite holding a portfolio valued at just under $13 million, 0x58bro maintains a minimal social media presence with just 1,300 followers on X. Arkham’s analysis shows the trader has generated the bulk of his profits from two positions: a $3.7 million gain shorting ETH and $1.45 million from shorting ENA, the governance token of Ethena Labs.
The trader’s wallet composition also revealed a strategic approach to the current market volatility. They hold over $7.5 million in Aave’s interest-bearing ETH token (aETHWETH) and $5 million in Aave’s USDC deposit token (aETHUSDC), suggesting they have positioned capital to earn yield while maintaining the flexibility to deploy it against further downside.
A smaller position of 10 million HANA tokens, currently worth close to $353,000, represents their only significant long exposure.
The timing of these short positions has proven critical, with Ethereum struggling to maintain momentum in recent weeks and prices hovering around the $2,000 psychological support level.
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Market Backdrop Shows Leverage Risks and Speculation Cycles
While 0x58bro is profiting from market declines, other traders have faced catastrophic losses attempting to catch a falling knife. On-chain data shows that Machi Big Brother, a well-known crypto personality once worth nearly nine figures, has seen his Hyperliquid account value fall below $1 million. To meet margin calls on his long positions, he was forced to tap into PleasrDAO treasury funds deposited five years ago, with his total losses now standing at $28 million.
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The contrast extends to institutional players as well. For instance, Trend Research, the trading firm led by Liquid Capital founder Jack Yi, fully exited its Ethereum positions last week after accumulating about $1.34 billion in ETH at an average entry of $3,180. The exit locked in losses of approximately $869 million, according to Arkham data, coming just days after Yi publicly predicted ETH would reach $10,000.
While Trend Research was forced to unwind what was once Asia’s largest ETH long position, on-chain data from CryptoQuant shows that wallets with no history of outflows holding at least 100 ETH, known as “accumulation addresses,” are still buying through the downturn. These addresses now hold around 23% of Ethereum’s circulating supply and have maintained their accumulation even when prices were trading below their average cost basis.
Whether 0x58bro will maintain his short positions or join the accumulating addresses betting on a rebound remains unknown. But for now, the trader with 1,300 followers has outperformed an industry of influencers with millions watching their every move.
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Thai SEC adds BTC and other digital assets plus carbon credits as eligible underlying assets for regulated derivatives, with TFEX to design crypto-linked contracts to attract institutional traders and support ETF-like products.
Summary
Thai SEC now recognizes BTC and other crypto as underlying assets for futures and options on regulated exchanges.
Licensed digital asset operators will be allowed to offer derivatives contracts referencing cryptocurrencies under updated licenses.
TFEX and clearinghouses will revise frameworks and contract specs to support crypto-based derivatives and broader digital finance goals.
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission has expanded the country’s regulated derivatives framework to include digital assets and carbon credits as eligible underlying instruments, according to an announcement from the regulator.
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The move, built on an earlier one from Feb. 12, formally recognizes cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, as investment assets for futures, options, and other derivatives on exchanges such as the Thailand Futures Exchange, the SEC stated. The change follows Cabinet approval to align the derivatives market with international standards while ensuring supervision, risk mitigation, and investor protection.
SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon said the expansion will promote market growth, diversify products, and improve risk management while broadening investment opportunities, according to the announcement.
The SEC plans to draft supporting regulations, including updates to derivatives business licenses to permit licensed digital asset operators to offer contracts referencing cryptocurrencies, the regulator stated. Exchange and clearinghouse frameworks will also be reviewed to accommodate crypto-based products, while TFEX will finalize contract specifications to ensure practical usage and effective risk oversight.
Thailand has positioned the development as part of a broader effort to establish the country as a regional hub for digital finance, according to the SEC. The regulator previously announced plans to introduce comprehensive rules covering digital asset products, including crypto ETFs, signaling a growing openness to integrating traditional finance and blockchain-based assets.
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Market participants indicated the move could attract more international traders and institutional investors seeking regulated crypto derivatives, creating a bridge between local markets and global digital asset liquidity, according to industry observers.
Editor’s note: The Global AI Show in Riyadh signals how rapidly AI is moving from labs into everyday business, healthcare, and public life. This editorial looks at why the GAIS Riyadh edition matters for innovators, policymakers, and investors alike, and how responsible AI practices can help societies reap the benefits while mitigating risks. As the AI ecosystem expands across regions, high-profile events shape standards, collaboration, and opportunity. Crypto Breaking News aims to illuminate what this gathering could mean for global AI adoption and the maturation of AI-enabled industries.
Key points
GAIS 2026 in Riyadh focuses on AI across sectors including business, healthcare, and user-centric applications.
Ethics, regulation, and responsible AI deployment are central themes with dialogue on data privacy and algorithmic fairness.
Attendees will engage with AI tools and real-world business applications.
A distinguished lineup of global leaders and innovators, including Nate Glubish, Shafi Ahmed, John Nosta, Janet Adams, and Jeanie Fang.
Why this matters
GAIS Riyadh positions Saudi Arabia as a hub for AI-driven growth and international collaboration. The event’s blend of strategy discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and policy-focused sessions underscores how responsible, human-centered AI can accelerate innovation while safeguarding privacy and fairness. By convening leaders from tech, governance, and healthcare, GAIS Riyadh could influence global norms, spur partnerships, and accelerate practical AI deployments that benefit businesses and citizens alike.
What to watch next
Keynote and panel topics on AI applications in healthcare, drug discovery, and personalized medicine.
Discussions on AGI implementations and AI-driven healthcare advancements.
The evolving Saudi AI strategy toward 2030 and its global implications.
The emphasis on networking zones fostering partnerships and investments.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
Saudi Arabia Leads the AI Revolution with Global AI Show 2026
The Global AI Show 2026 in Riyadh brings an engaging experience for anyone interested in the future of artificial intelligence. Organized by VAP Group and Powered by the Times of AI, the Global AI Show (GAIS) is planned with a vision to explore AI’s potential across multiple sectors, from business solutions to user-centric applications. GAIS brings to fore the transformation of different human spheres led by AI.
Attendees will be a part of deep discussions on AI strategy, machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics. Participants will also engage directly with AI tools and platforms, which will help them with applications in real-world business issues.
Ethics and regulation are central themes, and hence, there will be sessions dedicated to responsible AI deployment, algorithmic fairness, and data privacy. As AI adoption accelerates globally, understanding these frameworks is necessary for businesses and policymakers alike. The event will encourage dialogue on how innovation and responsibility can coexist to create long-term AI solutions.
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Our past speakers were a remarkable mix of global leaders, visionaries, and innovators across technology, governance, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Honourable Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta, Canada, has shared his insights alongside Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir UAE. Professor Shafi Ahmed, a renowned surgeon, futurist, humanitarian, and CEO of Medical Realities, and John Nosta, leading innovation theorist in technology, AI, and medicine and Founder of NOSTALAB, have also been part of the lineup. Janet Adams, COO and Board Director at SingularityNET/ASI, and Jeanie Fang, Director of Data & AI at Crunchbase, have brought their expertise in artificial intelligence and data innovation.
Networking is a key focus, with interactive zones designed to facilitate partnerships, investments, and collaborations.
The Global AI Show places a strong emphasis on networking and collaboration, creating a dynamic environment where industry leaders, innovators, and investors can connect and explore new partnership opportunities. The sessions are designed to inspire forward-thinking discussions on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in shaping industries and societies worldwide.
The program includes a series of headliners, keynotes, and panels discussing the future of AI, its real-world applications, and its radical impact across critical industries. The topics address Saudi Arabia’s vision of an AI-led future and its implications globally, the vision for AI by 2030, and the changing partnership between humans and smart machines. These conversations will also delve into actual AGI implementations, the AI-driven revolution toward patient-centered healthcare, breakthroughs in drug discovery, the use of AI in personalized medicine, and predictive technologies transforming healthcare outcomes.
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Collectively, these sessions highlight how AI is reshaping possibilities, facilitating cross-industry conversations, and propelling the next generation of technological and societal advancement.
By convening global AI experts, innovators, and stakeholders, the Global AI Show reinforces Riyadh’s reputation as a center for technological advancement. Get inspired, informed, and ready to use AI for meaningful impact, and be a part of GAIS Riyadh edition.
The demand for Ethereum staking has skyrocketed despite the asset price crashing back to bear market lows.
Ethereum’s proof-of-stake contract address now holds over half of the Ether supply “for the first time in the coin’s eleven-year history,” reported on-chain analytics provider Santiment on Wednesday.
This appears somewhat misleading, as approximately 37 million ETH are currently staked, representing approximately 30% of the total supply of 121.4 million tokens. However, Santiment explained that there is often confusion about how the proof-of-stake address works. It described the address as a “one-way vault that temporarily locks ETH to help secure the network.”
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“When someone stakes ETH, it gets sent into this contract and is removed from normal circulation, meaning it cannot be spent or traded while it is staked.”
Different Methods Of Counting Supply
When validators leave and withdraw, the Ether is released back into circulation as newly issued coins on Ethereum’s main network, “rather than being pulled back out of the vault itself,” Santiment explained.
“As a result, the existing supply can often differ based on whether only pre-burned or total post-burned coins are being counted.”
So over time, the “vault” accumulates ETH without it easily flowing back out the same way it went in, making the contract’s share of the current supply appear larger. This results in a calculation of 50.18% based on ETH issued historically before burns. Santiment predicted that this figure will increase, especially during bear markets and poor trading conditions.
“As staking continues to increase in popularity, expect that this address will continue its ascension, particularly when trading slows down during bear cycles.”
🤑 BREAKING: Ethereum’s proof-of-stake contract address now holds over half of Ethereum’s supply for the first time in the coin’s 11-year history.
🔐 There is often confusion about how this proof-of-stake address works. Think of it as a one-way vault that temporarily locks $ETH… pic.twitter.com/agj2YG37nu
Regardless of what figure is taken, the demand for staking has surged, and the percentage of ETH supply staked is at record highs.
Additionally, the validator entry queue is also around record highs, with around 3.9 million ETH waiting to be staked, and the wait time is 67 days.
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Meanwhile, the exit queue has dropped to its lowest ever levels with around 11,500 ETH and less than five hours wait.
Ether Price at Bear Market Lows
Panic selling by retail traders has pushed Ether prices to bear market lows below $2,000. ETH touched this psychological level briefly in late Tuesday trading, but again was beaten back by resistance, falling to $1,970 during the Wednesday morning session in Asia.
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“Ethereum isn’t expensive right now, it’s boring,” said analyst Merlijn The Trader before adding, “boring is where positions are built.”
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The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has moved to defend its authority over prediction markets, filing a friend-of-the-court brief as state-level legal challenges against the sector intensify.
Summary
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a friend-of-the-court brief to defend its exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets amid rising state-level legal challenges.
Chairman Mike Selig said the agency has regulated prediction markets for over two decades and warned challengers: “We will see you in court.”
The move comes as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission signals some event-based contracts may qualify as securities, while states like Nevada attempt to restrict platforms including Coinbase.
CFTC defends control of US prediction markets
In a video posted on X, CFTC Chairman Mike Selig said American prediction markets have faced “an onslaught of state-led litigation” over the past year. In response, the agency is stepping in to assert what it describes as its exclusive jurisdiction over these derivative products.
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“Prediction markets aren’t new,” Selig said. “The CFTC has regulated these markets for over two decades.”
He argued that such markets play a valuable role by allowing Americans to hedge commercial risks, including temperature fluctuations and energy price spikes. He also suggested they function as a check on media narratives and broader information flows.
The legal battle comes as regulators debate whether certain prediction market contracts fall under securities or commodities law. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently warned that some event-based contracts could be classified as securities, potentially subjecting platforms to its oversight.
Meanwhile, states including Nevada have sought to restrict the operations of crypto-linked prediction platforms, though a Nevada court recently declined to block Coinbase from offering certain prediction market services.
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The CFTC’s filing underscores escalating jurisdictional tensions between federal and state authorities, as well as between financial regulators. Selig emphasized that the agency intends to protect the “integrity, resilience, and vibrancy” of US derivatives markets.
“To those who seek to challenge our authority in this space, let me be clear,” he said. “We will see you in court.”
The case could have significant implications for the future of US-based prediction markets and their regulatory framework.
Pi Network’s native token is the top performer on a weekly scale, followed by STABLE and MORPHO.
Bitcoin’s rather underwhelming price movements around $68,000 continue as the asset slipped below that level on a couple of occasions in the past 24 hours.
WLFI has soared the most from the larger-cap alts in the past 24 hours, while significantly more modest gains from ETH have pushed the asset to just over $2,000.
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BTC Fragile at $68K
The first trading week of the current month resulted in a massive calamity for bitcoin, as the asset plunged to $60,000 for the first time since October 2024. This crash represented a $30,000 decline in the span of just over a week.
The bulls finally intervened at this point and helped BTC recover $12,000 in just a day. However, it faced immediate selling pressure at $72,000 and spent the following several days trading between that upper boundary and the lower one at $68,000.
It lost the support a week ago, but quickly reclaimed it and rocketed to over $70,000 during the weekend. However, that was another fakeout and returned to under $70,000 a day later. It slipped below $67,000 yesterday after the latest rejection, but now stands above $68,000, which is essentially the same level as this time yesterday.
Its market cap has remained calm at $1.365 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the alts is down to 56.2%.
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BTCUSD Feb 18. Source: TradingView
PI’s Weekly Surge
Ethereum is up by 2% in the past day and now sits above $2,000 once more. XRP has neared $1.50 after a minor increase. BNB, DOGE, BCH, and CC are also slightly in the green, while TRX and HYPE are with minor losses. WLFI has stolen the show in the past 24 hours, surging by over 17% to over $0.115.
On a weekly scale, though, Pi Network’s PI token shines. The asset is up by over 40% within this timeframe, as it dumped to a new all-time low of $0.1312 at the time. It now sits close to $0.19 after another 6% daily increase.
The total crypto market cap has added over $25 billion in a day and is up to $2.430 trillion on CG.
Cryptocurrency Market Overview Feb 18. Source: QuantifyCrypto
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WLFI rallied 20% as traders positioned ahead of the World Liberty Forum and large on-chain withdrawals drew attention.
Summary
World Liberty Financial price surged 20% and approached the top of its weekly range.
Trading volume more than doubled while derivatives positioning declined.
Price must clear the $0.12–$0.14 zone to shift short-term structure bullish.
World Liberty Financial (WLFI) was trading at $0.1178 at the time of writing, up about 20% in the past day. The token is currently close to the peak of its seven-day range, which spans from $0.09947 to $0.1183.
Even with the rally, WLFI is still down 27% over the past 30 days and sits roughly 64% below its September 2025 all-time high of $0.3313. The larger trend has been negative, but short-term momentum has picked up.
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Spot trading activity surged. Over the past 24 hours, volume reached $224 million, marking a 118% increase from the previous day. Buyers stepped in aggressively during the move higher.
In contrast, derivatives positioning softened. CoinGlass data shows futures volume slipped 0.49% to $11 million, while open interest fell 4.83% to $1.20 million. When price rises as open interest drops, the move is often driven by spot demand or short covering rather than heavy new leverage.
Forum hype and large withdrawals draw attention
Much of the excitement appears tied to the World Liberty Forum, an invitation-only event that will be hosted at Mar-a-Lago on Feb. 18.
According to reports, the event has reached capacity with around 400 attendees. Executives of prominent financial firms like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, NYSE President Lynn Martin, Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman, and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon are among the high-profile attendees.
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The forum will focus on digital assets, regulation, and integration between traditional finance and crypto. The project’s political connections have increased visibility, which has fueled speculation ahead of potential announcements.
On-chain data added to the narrative. On Feb. 18, analytics platform Onchain Lens reported that 313.31 million WLFI, worth about $33.76 million, was withdrawn from Binance within 11 hours.
Exchange outflows of that size are often interpreted as tokens moving into longer-term storage, though the intent behind transfers is not always clear.
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The recent announcement of an upcoming World Swap forex and remittance platform has also attracted interest. The product targets cross-border payments, a sector with significant global demand.
World Liberty Financial price technical analysis
On the daily chart, WLFI has been in a short-term downtrend since early February. The price is trading below the 20-day moving average, and lower highs and lows are evident.
The downward slope of the moving average indicates that there has been consistent selling pressure in recent weeks.
WLFI daily chart. Credit: crypto.news
The Bollinger Bands widened during the most recent decline. Price touched the lower band near $0.086, then bounced sharply. That reaction pushed the relative strength index from below 30 to around 45–46. Momentum has improved, but RSI has not crossed above 50, so buyers have not fully taken control.
The current zone around $0.117–$0.12 acts as immediate resistance. A daily close above $0.12 would be the first technical improvement. If that level breaks with strength, price could test $0.14–$0.15, where the upper Bollinger Band and prior structure align.
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Support sits near $0.10–$0.11, with stronger backing at $0.085–$0.090. A drop below $0.085 would expose the token to a move under $0.08.
Billionaire venture capitalist and co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, has fully divested from ETHZilla, a digital asset treasury firm that holds Ethereum (ETH).
The development comes as digital asset treasury firms face mounting pressure amid the broader crypto market downturn.
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Peter Thiel Cuts Ties With ETHZilla During Crypto Market Slump
The digital asset treasury wave gained momentum last year, with several companies adopting Strategy’s (formerly MicroStrategy) 2020 Bitcoin (BTC) playbook. Firms began accumulating cryptocurrencies as reserve assets, attracting heightened investor attention as prices climbed and equity valuations expanded.
BeInCrypto reported in August 2025 that through entities such as The Founders Fund, Thiel controlled a 7.5% stake in ETHZilla. However, the latest SEC filing shows that entities managed by Thiel reported zero ownership in the company by the end of 2025, indicating a complete exit.
“This matters because Thiel is considered smart institutional capital, and a full exit from an ETH treasury firm could signal shifting sentiment, risk reduction, or a strategic rotation away from Ethereum exposure,” Crypto Town Hall posted.
The move comes against the backdrop of a broader market downturn. In October, crypto markets suffered a sharp downturn, often referred to as the “10/10” or “Black Friday” crash. The subsequent months extended the decline.
According to CryptoRank data, Ethereum fell 28.4% in Q4 2025, marking its first negative fourth quarter since 2022. Although 2026 began with a brief recovery, the rebound quickly reversed.
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ETH closed January 2026 down 17.7%, and so far in February, its price has declined another 18.1%. At press time, it traded at $2,017.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Performance. Source: TradingView
Treasury Strategy Under Strain as Ethereum Decline Hits Corporate Holders
The sustained price weakness has directly impacted digital asset treasury firms, reducing the value of their crypto holdings and pressuring stock prices. For example, BitMine is currently sitting on unrealized losses exceeding $7 billion. Furthermore, its share price is down 25.7% year-to-date.
ETHZilla, which previously operated as 180 Life Sciences before pivoting toward an Ethereum treasury strategy and rebranding, has faced similar headwinds. At its peak, the company held more than 100,000 ETH.
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As market conditions deteriorated in October, the company moved quickly to trim its exposure. Toward the end of that month, ETHZilla offloaded roughly $40 million in Ether, directing the proceeds toward share buybacks.
A second round of sales followed in December, totaling about $74.5 million. The funds were allocated to repay senior secured convertible debt. CoinGecko data shows the company now holds 69,802 ETH, a substantial reduction from its previous peak position.
The company has since outlined yet another strategic shift. According to Bloomberg, ETHZilla’s wholly owned subsidiary, called ETHZilla Aerospace, is seeking to provide tokenized exposure to equity in leased jet engines.
Bitcoin-focused public company Nakamoto Inc., led by chairman and CEO David Bailey, has signed definitive agreements to acquire BTC Inc. and UTXO Management GP, LLC in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $107.3 million.
Summary
Nakamoto Inc., led by David Bailey, will acquire BTC Inc. and UTXO Management GP, LLC in a $107.3 million all-stock deal.
The transaction consolidates Bitcoin media, events, and asset management businesses under one publicly listed entity.
Nakamoto aims to build a vertically integrated Bitcoin platform spanning publishing, conferences, advisory, and investment strategy.
The deal brings together companies closely tied to Bailey, who co-founded BTC Inc. and later helped launch UTXO Management, under a single publicly listed Bitcoin-focused entity.
Under the terms of the deal, Nakamoto will issue common shares to the sellers at a pre-negotiated price of $1.12 per share. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions.
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The acquisition brings together media, events, and asset management businesses under a single public holding company. BTC Inc. is best known for publishing Bitcoin Magazine and organizing The Bitcoin Conference, one of the largest Bitcoin-focused gatherings globally. UTXO Management advises Bitcoin-centric investment vehicles and focuses on capital allocation across public and private markets.
Nakamoto said the combination is designed to create a vertically integrated Bitcoin platform with diversified revenue streams.
David Bailey’s expanding Bitcoin platform
The deal further consolidates businesses tied to David Bailey, Nakamoto’s chairman and CEO. Bailey co-founded BTC Inc. in 2013 and later helped launch UTXO Management.
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“Bringing BTC Inc and UTXO into Nakamoto has been a part of our vision since day one,” said David Bailey. “We intend to operate a portfolio of companies across media, asset management, and advisory services that can scale with Bitcoin’s long-term growth.
Over the past decade, he has been an active voice in the Bitcoin (BTC) industry and has served on the board of the Bitcoin Policy Institute.
Nakamoto has positioned itself as a Bitcoin-native public vehicle focused on media, advisory services, and treasury strategy. The company’s leadership has signaled interest in further expansion as institutional adoption of Bitcoin grows.
If completed, the transaction would mark a notable consolidation in the Bitcoin sector, combining publishing, large-scale events, and capital management operations within a single listed entity.
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