Crypto World

In conversation with Inteliumlaw’s Elena Sadovskaya

Published

5 hours ago

11 February 2026

In conversation with Inteliumlaw's Elena Sadovskaya

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Elena Sadovskaya reflects on how experience and shifting crypto regulation shape Inteliumlaw’s hands-on, long-term legal approach.

Summary

Elena’s early experience at a Big Four firm shaped a practical, hands-on approach to complex cross-border structuring and high-stakes regulatory work.
Inteliumlaw’s growth has been driven by MiCA-era demand, with CASP licensing and EU-compliant token listings becoming core client needs in 2025.
Elena sees crypto’s future defined by adaptation: firms that treat regulation as a strategic framework, not an obstacle, are the ones built to last.

Navigating international business structuring in today’s regulatory climate is rarely straightforward, especially for companies operating across borders and emerging sectors like crypto. To better understand how legal professionals approach this complexity in practice, we spoke to Inteliumlaw’s Elena Sadovskaya about how her early experience studying law and later working at Ernst & Young shaped her thinking. Here’s what she had to say.

Hi Elena! Can you share with us how your experience practicing law during the 2nd year of university and later working at a firm like Ernst & Young influenced the way you approach complex international business structuring today?

Elena: Spending almost 4 years at a Big 4 company, Ernst & Young (E&Y), has truly felt like the equivalent of a whole 10 years at most other consulting firms. During this period, I frequently managed multiple tax and transaction structuring projects in parallel for major international clients across a range of industries. Every time it was working with significant deals, large transactions, and high-profile cases, which all allowed me to develop a strong grasp of how large businesses work and what their legal needs are. Most importantly, however, it all sharpened my understanding of how lawyers can guide them through different situations – be it shifting laws at home base, international scaling, heightened regulator attention, or other complex challenges – with tailored solutions.

Now, for Inteliumlaw, neither “impossible” nor “unresolved” cases are part of our vocabulary. With hands-on experience as lawyers for major firms and high-profile cases, we have the necessary know-how to provide robust support for enterprises and also help small businesses eventually grow into larger organizations.

At Inteliumlaw, we uphold the highest standards of work in everything we do, based on our experience with large, sophisticated businesses and a clear understanding of the level of quality they expect and shall get from legal advisers. A core part of these standards is a genuinely responsive attitude to projects we work with, where my overtime experience at E&Y showed how far a law firm must go so that the project gets the desired quality. Today, this enables us to effectively advise on complex international business structuring and other critical legal matters.

In a recent big interview, you shared that Inteliumlaw grew from a small circle of experts to a full-fledged law firm specializing in crypto licensing and other blockchain legal services. What new services or solutions did you introduce in 2025? Which ones have become “bestsellers” among your clients in crypto?

Elena: Last year was extremely fast-paced for all of us at Inteliumlaw. As regulations continued to evolve, we expanded and diversified our legal solutions to meet the demands of modern businesses.

For the crypto sector, we introduced an opportunity to obtain a CASP license in a select few jurisdictions like Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Cyprus, and beyond. These countries’ licensing conditions went through our rigorous internal analysis and were deemed the most favorable and relevant after MiCA entered into force and replaced the legacy VASP license. In parallel, our scope has expanded to include DAO structuring in the Marshall Islands and RAK, a foundation in Panama, alongside securing a crypto license in UAE (Dubai, VARA), El Salvador, and other markets where a VASP license currently presents a meaningful opportunity. Our website is being gradually updated to reflect the complete range of services we can support you with.

When it comes to “best sellers,” it is hard to highlight something in particular as the answer largely lies in regulatory development, including newly emerged regimes, shifts in current rules, and the scale of adaptation expected from businesses. This year, it was all centered around Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, and our main focus was assisting firms to adapt to this new reality. Now, Inteliumlaw advises firms on getting a CASP license and delivers end-to-end MiCA-relevant support for token issuance, exchange listings, DeFi project launch, and the preparation of MiCA-compliant white papers and the notification submission process.

Therefore, I could say that our 2025 best-seller request was securing a CASP license and listing a token in Europe with MICA-compliant white papers, where we provide end-to-end, hands-on support through every stage of the process.

Your firm positions itself as a long-term strategic partner rather than a traditional legal service provider. How do you maintain that level of involvement with clients?

Elena: What we do is not just some careless execution of the client order made on autopilot. Rather, every Inteliumlaw client receives a customized approach designed to serve their interests in the most effective way. Our goal is to build long-term relationships with our clients, not driven by “capitalist motives,” but because this is the only way we can always stay on top of their current needs and help them grow a business that will sustain in the long term. When our clients grow, so do we.

As part of our customised approach, we ensure every client has a dedicated manager for their project from day one. In this case, they always have a point of contact who coordinates the project and maintains a 24/7 insight into the client’s status and needs, allowing us to offer the right legal solution.

When maintaining continuous involvement with the client and their needs, for instance, our lawyers continuously analyze the regulations in their home base and in their target expansion markets, helping identify what they might be exposed to early, help them adapt, and advise on the alternatives if needed. Most importantly, we do not walk away when the stakes rise and never leave clients in complex cases, but are actively engaged in finding the best possible solution for them. It makes our life a little bit more complicated compared to other law firms, but it is a principle we do not compromise on.

Many crypto entrepreneurs feel that regulation kills innovation. From your perspective, is this a fair statement? What is your opinion?

Elena: In many cases, yes, though it highly depends on the jurisdiction and its regulation, where the “killing innovation” narrative often stems from authorities imposing unrealistic expectations that far outpace current realities. In some cases, regulators could have opted for a less strict approach to some aspects, which would ultimately lead to minimized conflict and a slower pace of innovation and new projects’ development.

On the other side, without regulation as it is, projects cannot exist. Yet, reacting promptly to different changes can keep the project stable and demonstrate credibility to the market. In practice, the strongest players on the market today are those who are able to adapt to the regulatory expectations; this is what defines the long-term sustainability and how a project gains trust from customers.

An unregulated industry certainly equals much more space for projects that are not reliable. So the ultimate question here is to strike a balance, a “golden mean,” which, in most cases, simply doesn’t exist, making businesses’ lives more complicated.

When a new crypto business approaches you with a request, what are the first questions you ask before even talking about jurisdictions, licenses, or other legal support?

Elena: The very first thing we discuss before everything is each project’s operational model and details of how they function, ensuring we understand the business almost as if we are the one and only founder. This is the foundation of everything: from jurisdiction-based classification of their project and the subsequent regulations applicable to which legal solution(s) we can deliver to best fit the project’s needs.

Luxury ateliers never proceed to manufacturing a tailored suit without taking precise measurements. Our approach is no different. Based on the client’s near- and long-term goals, vision, and the detailed specifics of their work, we advise on the solutions that best match their needs.

Without clear, detailed answers upfront, any discussion of how we can assist would be irrelevant. A minor oversight of a tiny detail can make a tailored suit feel suffocating. Likewise, a small nuance can completely change the course and redefine what the right solution looks like.

How do you evaluate which crypto license is optimal for a client’s business model? Especially, how does this process go for choosing an EU jurisdiction for getting a CASP license?

Elena: Long before the client reaches out, a preliminary analysis has typically been made internally. Every jurisdiction is carefully reviewed for the requirements and the regulator’s approach to issuing licenses, so we understand the level of complexity involved and identify which businesses are most likely to pass through the process.

When the client approaches us, we carry out an in-depth analysis of their setup and objectives. We explore token issuance plans, targeted markets for expansion, where the team is located, and a lot more to shape a compliant strategy. Only after assessing licensing complexity, the client’s objectives, and the budget allocated to ongoing compliance can we recommend the most suitable alternative.

MiCA has completely reshaped how crypto businesses must operate in Europe. What is the biggest misconception companies still have about this regulation?

Elena: Working with crypto firms worldwide – including those already serving EU clients or planning to enter the market – I see one misconception more than any other: many still misunderstand the difference between a VASP and a CASP, assuming they can still onboard EU customers without securing the new authorization. This is especially the case with firms registered in offshore regimes with little oversight. In fact, they can’t.

This misconception is similarly prevalent among companies previously having VASP in Poland and other EU countries. Where firms were not prepared to meet higher requirements beyond their “light-touch” setup, it is becoming hard to adapt to substance requirements, organize client workflows, and develop comprehensive documentation. For businesses already operating in tightly regulated regimes, the transition is typically smoother.

So, I would say the biggest myth now is that a business can still operate as before, targeting Europe while being registered in an unregulated jurisdiction or one known for little oversight. These times are now officially over. Even more concerning is that, in 2026, some still believe crypto is unregulated; it is regulated.

In a recent interview, you called the UAE “one of the most promising global hubs for crypto and Web.” What specific regulatory or economic features give the UAE an edge over Europe or the US?

Elena: What makes them different is their vast resources, readiness, and willingness to invest substantially in the crypto sector, all with the focus on innovation. The UAE is home to lots of corporations with a significant appetite to invest and lead in crypto, which is why there is a consistent effort to shape a regulatory environment that accelerates growth.

The UAE’s approach is truly something unique now. Where Europe tries to follow US standards with an even more stringent rule, the UAE chooses a more liberal option and approaches it more like an opportunity to strengthen the economy. The EU treats crypto much like early societies treated fire: extremely dangerous without control. That’s why the regulation is made to avoid fraud, protect customers, and reduce the room for unreliable projects.

The UAE, on the other hand, is not afraid to introduce something new. It is therefore unsurprising that they have higher adoption rates, new solutions appear faster, and central bank digital coins are being adopted much sooner than anywhere else in the world.

Imagine you can design a new “ideal” crypto jurisdiction by combining elements of 3 already-existing regimes, which would you select and why?

Elena: There is no real need to merge 3 regimes when we can choose one framework as the core and make small adjustments.

In essence, the ideal crypto jurisdiction would match the UAE innovation-first model while offering a less complex procedure to roll out in the region(s). The process of issuing authorization permits (licenses) and understanding projects’ specifics is way too overwhelming now in the UAE. Even so, however, the select few who successfully make it through the process – often after months of waiting for the regulator’s feedback, sometimes only for minor clarifications – ultimately gain access to everything the jurisdiction has to offer.

Subsequently, rationalizing this process to the extent possible would materially strengthen the jurisdiction’s reputation as a crypto-friendly hub, making it the #1 or very close to this status.

In your experience, what are the most underestimated risks when crypto businesses operate “non-compliant but profitable,” beyond fines and license revocation?

Elena: It all comes down to the severity of non-compliance. On the administrative level, there are fines of different sizes and, in the worst cases, license revocations. Yet this is not the greatest fear of most businesses.

The most horrifying skeleton in the closet is when a case turns to criminal law, and the impact goes beyond the project finances to human lives. There are numerous high-profile cases where exchange executives are arrested and prosecuted for money laundering, and this is precisely what everyone wants to avoid.

We’ve learned that you’ve designed over 50 tax-efficient and future-proof structures while also supporting multimillion-dollar deals. Which projects are you the most proud of and why?

Elena: It’s honestly difficult to single out just one project, because every structure we design at Inteliumlaw is built around a very specific business and risk profile. Each of them is its own story, and behind every “successful structure” there are months of very detailed, customized legal, tax, and regulatory work.

That said, I’m especially proud of the projects where we supported businesses from a very early stage and further during their growth into well-known brands. There’s something very rewarding about knowing you didn’t just advise on a structure but helped build the strong legal foundation that allowed the company to scale safely.

In the crypto and web3 space specifically, we’ve worked on a wide range of complex matters: from tokenization of real-world assets (including immovable property) and structuring decentralized exchange and trading infrastructure projects to token issuance and token classification, governance models, and cross-border tax and corporate setups for founders and groups. We’ve also supported projects building trading terminals, platforms, and hybrid web2/web3 models.

What I’m most proud of is not just the number of structures we’ve built, but the fact that many of them were designed to be “future-proof.”

And lastly, what regulatory developments in crypto do you anticipate in 2026? Most importantly, do you think the primary regulatory risk for crypto firms will come from new laws or from aggressive reinterpretation of rules that already exist today?

Elena: 2026 will be a very important year for regulatory consolidation in crypto, especially in Europe. First of all, we expect the expiration of the MiCA grandfathering period around mid-2026, which will force many existing VASP-style structures to either become fully licensed CASPs or exit the market. In practice, this will mean a major clean-up of the industry, with higher compliance costs but also a much clearer regulatory perimeter for serious players.

At the same time, we expect increasing global pressure on so-called “regulatory gap” jurisdictions. Many offshore and semi-offshore hubs that historically served crypto businesses precisely because of lighter regulation will likely introduce more formal crypto frameworks, licensing regimes, and substance requirements. We’re already seeing the early stages of this trend.

On the structural side, I think we’ll see more legally recognized DAOs and on-chain governance models entering the mainstream. But in parallel, decentralized and hybrid web3 projects will continue to move under closer regulatory scrutiny, especially where there is any element of custody, intermediation, token distribution, or profit expectation.

As for regulatory risk, it will likely come from both sides: new laws and aggressive reinterpretation of existing rules. In practice, enforcement and re-qualification under existing financial, securities, AML, and consumer protection regimes may be just as disruptive as brand-new legislation. The industry is maturing, but companies should plan for a tougher, more enforcement-driven environment in the near term.

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

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BTC and XRP Crash Over? Analyst Pinpoints Exact Rebound Timeline

Published

34 seconds ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

BTC and XRP Crash Over? Analyst Pinpoints Exact Rebound Timeline

The timeframe might be shorter than you expect.

The cryptocurrency market is bleeding out once again, led by bitcoin’s decline to under $67,000 for the first time since last Friday’s calamity.

However, one analyst believes there’s finally good news for BTC and XRP, and he even provided a more precise timing for the potential rebound.

The primary cryptocurrency has been in a free-fall state for weeks. It stood over $90,000 on January 28, but dumped by $30,000 since then to bottom out, at least for now, at $60,000 last Friday.

It tried to recover some ground since then and tapped $72,000 on a couple of occasions, but was stopped yesterday again and driven to under $67,000 as of press time.

Approximately at the time when the latest correction took place, popular analyst Ali Martinez said on X that the early TD Sequential buy signal had flashed for BTC. Moreover, he was precise with the timing of the potential rebound, claiming that it could be in the next 3-9 days.

Early TD Sequential buy signal on Bitcoin $BTC, suggesting a potential rebound could take shape over the next 3–9 days. pic.twitter.com/E1poXoOcNI
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) February 10, 2026
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The metric, developed by Tom DeMark, identifies potential market reversal points, usually after a strong move in either direction. Martinez has frequently posted about the TD Sequential for several cryptocurrencies, and the indicator’s success rate has been rather impressive, especially for Ripple’s XRP.

Crypto World

Bitcoin Drop Wipes $10 Billion From Brian Armstrong’s Net Worth

Published

8 minutes ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Coinbase (COIN) Stock and Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performances

Brian Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, has dropped out of Bloomberg’s list of the world’s 500 richest people.

Armstrong’s net worth has fallen by more than $10 billion since July 2025. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, it is down from a peak of $17.7 billion to around $7.5 billion.

Brian Armstrong’s Wealth Plummets as Coinbase Shares and Bitcoin Price Slide

The latest slide comes after JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut its price target for Coinbase stock by 27% on February 10, citing “softness in crypto prices,” declining trading volumes, and slower stablecoin adoption.

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JPMorgan cuts Coinbase price target.
JPMorgan cut its target for $COIN from $399 to $290 ahead Coinbase reports earnings.
The bank cited weaker crypto trading volumes, softer prices and slower USDC growth as key risks. pic.twitter.com/0cmv1OhM0B
— Selcoin Global (@selcoinglobal) February 11, 2026
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Coinbase shares have mirrored Bitcoin’s volatility, falling 60% from a July 18 high, while Bitcoin itself has dropped nearly 50% from its early October 2025 all-time high of around $126,000 to below $63,000 as of early February 2026.

Armstrong’s wealth is closely tied to his 14% stake in Coinbase, the New York-based crypto trading platform he co-founded with Fred Ehrsam in 2012.

He also holds investments in NewLimit, a biotech startup focused on longevity, and has historically sold portions of his Coinbase holdings over time.

Despite the sharp paper losses, Armstrong remains a billionaire, with his net worth estimated at approximately $7.5 billion.

The impact of the crypto slump extends beyond Armstrong. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of Gemini, have seen their net worths fall to $1.9 billion each from $8.2 billion in October 2025.

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Gemini recently announced plans to cut roughly 25% of its workforce and scale back some international operations.

Coinbase Earnings Projections. Source: Polymarket

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New Bitcoin Transfers Reported in Nancy Guthrie Ransom Account

Published

14 minutes ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

New Bitcoin Transfers Reported in Nancy Guthrie Ransom Account

New activity has been reported in a Bitcoin wallet tied to an alleged ransom demand in the high-profile disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.

Summary

New Bitcoin activity has been detected in a wallet linked to an alleged ransom demand in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.
The transaction marks the first reported movement in the crypto account since ransom notes demanding millions in Bitcoin were sent to media outlets earlier this month.
Authorities have not confirmed who initiated the transfer, as the FBI continues to investigate Guthrie’s disappearance as a likely abduction.

TMZ confirmed Tuesday that for the first time since the ransom note was received, there has been “activity” in the cryptocurrency account referenced in the initial ransom demand sent to multiple media outlets, including TMZ itself.

The details of the transaction, including the amount transferred and the sender, have not been disclosed publicly. Still, the development marks a significant update in an investigation that had seen no confirmed contact from the kidnappers since earlier deadlines for ransom payments passed.

Here’s what we know about the Nancy Guthrie abduction

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona in late January and was reported missing on February 1. Law enforcement has treated her disappearance as a likely abduction after finding evidence of a struggle and DNA-matched blood at the scene.

Shortly after her disappearance, at least one ransom note demanding payment in Bitcoin (BTC) was sent to two Tucson television stations and TMZ. The note reportedly set two deadlines and demanded millions in Bitcoin for Guthrie’s safe return.

According to TMZ founder Harvey Levin, the ransom wallet tied to the first letter showed activity late Tuesday, hours after the FBI released surveillance images of a person of interest. Levin said he observed the activity “about 12 minutes” after it happened, though he declined to elaborate on the nature of the transaction.

Surveillance footage and photos of a masked person seen near Guthrie’s home early the morning she vanished, and a person of interest was detained for questioning south of Tucson earlier this week.

New images in the search for Nancy Guthrie:

Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost,… pic.twitter.com/z5WLgPtZpT
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) February 10, 2026

At present, officials have not confirmed whether the Bitcoin transaction is connected to the alleged kidnappers, the Guthrie family, law enforcement, or another party, and investigations are ongoing.

The reported Bitcoin wallet activity in the Guthrie case comes amid a wider global surge in cryptocurrency-linked kidnappings. French authorities recently arrested six suspects in a case where a magistrate and her mother were held for a crypto ransom before being rescued.

In a separate cross-border operation last year, Spanish and Danish police dismantled a gang accused of abducting and killing a crypto holder in a violent attempt to seize access to digital wallets, underscoring the growing physical security risks faced by holders of digital assets.

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Crypto Super PAC to Pour $5M Into Barry Moore’s Senate Bid: Report

Published

22 minutes ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Defend American Jobs, an affiliate of the crypto-focused Fairshake PAC, is planning a $5 million push to back Alabama Senate candidate Barry Moore, according to Bloomberg. The five-week campaign, set to roll out on broadcast television and the Fox News Channel, includes a Trump endorsement as part of its messaging. The reporting cites a Fairshake statement, underscoring how crypto-aligned political committees are leaning into federal races to shape policy considerations around digital assets. The move arrives amid a broader pattern of crypto-adjacent fundraising that has become a defining feature of contemporary U.S. politics, with parties and PACs leveraging media buys to influence voters on regulatory and market issues.

Key takeaways

Crypto-linked PACs are deploying large ad buys (millions) across major TV outlets to influence voters in Senate races where crypto policy is a live issue.
Fairshake is backed by notable crypto industry players, signaling the depth of corporate interest behind crypto-friendly political campaigns.
Barry Moore has a documented history of crypto-friendly positions, including past committee work and public statements endorsing a pro-crypto stance.
Past fundraising cycles show substantial crypto-related spending, with tens of millions directed toward pro-crypto candidates and policies.

Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $COIN

Sentiment: Neutral

Price impact: Neutral. The article centers on political fundraising rather than immediate market responses.

Trading idea (Not Financial Advice): Hold. Monitor policy developments and campaign activity for potential long-term crypto-market implications.

Market context: The episode illustrates how regulatory debates and macro-fund flows intersect with political campaigns, as crypto-friendly narratives gain traction in a climate of heightened attention to digital assets and related policy clarity.

Why it matters

The funding activity highlights a strategic approach by crypto interests to influence policy at a national level. Fairshake’s $5 million expenditure, backed by high-profile crypto affiliates, shows how political spending can be concentrated around candidates perceived as sympathetic to favorable regulatory treatment. The push also underscores how partisan environments can amplify crypto policy debates, potentially shaping how lawmakers address innovation, market structure, and consumer protections in the years ahead.

Barry Moore’s profile in this narrative is notable. Elected to the U.S. House in 2020, Moore served on the Agriculture Committee and has been associated with discussions around responsible crypto regulation, including the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. His public statements have aligned with a view of digital assets as integral to the state’s and the nation’s economic future. A December post on X appeared to reflect support for Trump’s crypto position and executive actions, reinforcing the broader pattern of crypto-leaning rhetoric among certain Republican lawmakers.

Observers point to independent assessments that rate Moore as strongly supportive of crypto, based on a track record of statements and policy positions. This kind of labeling—when aggregated by advocacy groups—helps investors and voters gauge which candidates might push for clearer rules, more predictable tax treatment, and policies that foster blockchain innovation. However, the policy landscape remains unsettled, with regulators and lawmakers weighing a range of approaches to digital assets and market infrastructure. The Alabama polling data cited in local coverage suggests a demographic segment receptive to pro-crypto messaging, even as battles over specifics persist.

What to watch next

Watch the five-week ad schedule for Moore’s campaign, including potential follow-ups on Fox News and other broadcast outlets.
Monitor any new statements from Fairshake or its affiliates about policy positions, as the fundraising narrative evolves ahead of the primary and general election.
Track regulatory developments in Washington related to digital assets that could influence campaign messaging and voter concerns.
Observe polling updates in Alabama and other states where crypto-leaning politicians are contesting elections, as shifts could alter fundraising dynamics.

Sources & verification

Bloomberg Government reporting on Fairshake’s $5 million Alabama Senate primary ad buy and Trump endorsement.
The Fairshake statement cited by Bloomberg outlining support for Barry Moore and the five-week media push.
References to Fairshake’s backing by Coinbase and Ripple Labs and the broader crypto-aligned PAC ecosystem.
Historical spending by crypto-related PACs, including a figure around $130 million in the 2024 elections.
Alabama Daily News poll data showing initial voter preferences for Moore and Marshall in a February snapshot.

Crypto influence in Alabama politics and the midterms

Defend American Jobs’ $5 million commitment to back Barry Moore illustrates how crypto-aligned fundraising seeks to shape policy conversations ahead of the midterms. The campaign’s five-week plan, anchored in television and cable advertising, reflects a broader strategy: deploy high-impact media in key markets to foreground a crypto-friendly economic narrative. The Bloomberg report underscores that Fairshake’s approach includes support from a constellation of industry players, and it notes that the PAC’s actions are part of a wider effort to elevate crypto policy in electoral debates. The involvement of a presidential figure in the messaging—Donald Trump—also signals the high-level salience of digital-asset policy among partisans and donors as they map out policy priorities for the coming years.

Beyond the Alabama race, the story speaks to the persistence of crypto-asset policy as a political issue. Fairshake’s public positioning, supported by industry backers, demonstrates how corporate resources are deployed to influence voters’ perceptions of digital assets, market structure, and regulatory clarity. The fact that Fairshake is described as one of the most prominent crypto-related PACs—backed by major players—highlights the scale of financial flows that can accompany policy debates. As crypto advocates argue for clearer rules and more predictable frameworks, lawmakers who express supportive positions could become central figures in shaping the regulatory environment that will govern innovation, exchanges, and the broader ecosystem.

Barry Moore’s record and public statements contribute to a broader pattern in which certain members of Congress articulate a forward-looking view of crypto as economic infrastructure rather than a niche technology. From his early congressional tenure to his more recent statements, Moore has tied his messaging to the idea that crypto is part of Alabama’s—and America’s—future. The X post from December, implying alignment with Trump’s stance on crypto, reinforces this posture in a political climate where party alignment and donor influence can translate into policy signals with real-world implications for the industry’s growth and regulatory trajectory. In parallel, local polling indicates a receptivity to pro-crypto messaging among Republican voters, suggesting that fundraising narratives could gain traction as campaigns scale their outreach ahead of primary and general elections.

What to watch next

Track the continuation of Moore’s ad campaigns as the five-week window unfolds, including potential interviews and discussions on crypto policy among campaign surrogates.
Watch for further disclosures from Fairshake and its industry partners regarding policy positions and voting records that align with crypto-friendly approaches.
Follow regulatory developments at the federal level that could influence campaign messaging, such as discussions around tax treatment, market structure, and consumer protections for digital assets.

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Franklin Templeton and Binance Launch Tokenized Collateral Program

Published

28 minutes ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Franklin Templeton and Binance Launch Tokenized Collateral Program

Eligible clients can now use tokenized money market funds as off-exchange trading collateral.

Asset manager Franklin Templeton, which oversees about $1.6 trillion in assets, and Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by daily trading volume, have launched a new program that allows institutions to use tokenized money market funds (MMFs) as collateral when trading on Binance.

Under the collaboration, eligible clients can use tokenized fund shares issued through Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform as collateral, according to a press release viewed by The Defiant. Benji is Franklin Templeton’s proprietary blockchain-based technology stack.

The release said the assets stay off the exchange in regulated custody, while their value is “mirrored” inside Binance’s trading system. Custody and settlement are handled through Ceffu, Binance’s institutional custody partner.

The setup is meant to reduce risk for institutions while allowing them to keep earning yield on their assets. The move highlights a larger trend of firms offering yield as a way to stay competitive – especially as more financial activity moves on-chain.

“Since partnering in 2025, our work with Binance has focused on making digital finance actually work for institutions,” said Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton. “Our off-exchange collateral program is just that: letting clients easily put their assets to work in regulated custody while safely earning yield in new ways. That’s the future Benji was designed for, and working with partners like Binance allows us to deliver it at scale.”

The launch follows Franklin Templeton’s broader push to bring MMFs into blockchain-based finance while remaining fully regulated. Earlier this year, the firm updated two institutional funds to support stablecoin reserves and enable distribution via blockchain systems.

It also builds on the expansion of the Benji platform across public blockchains. In September 2025, Franklin Templeton rolled out Benji on BNB Chain, joining existing deployments on Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, and Stellar.

Binance’s native token BNB is down about 2.5% on the day, changing hands at $622, according to CoinGecko.

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Binance teams up with Franklin Templeton to use tokenized money market funds as off-exchange collateral

Published

35 minutes ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Binance to shift $1 billion user protection fund into bitcoin amid market rout

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is working with crypto-friendly tradfi firm Franklin Templeton to offer an institutional off-exchange collateral program, making digital markets more secure and capital-efficient.

The new service allows eligible clients to use tokenized money market fund shares issued through Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform as off-exchange collateral to trade on Binance using Ceffu’s, the exchange’s partner custody layer.

The program alleviates a long-standing pain point for institutional traders by allowing them to use traditional, regulated, yield-bearing money market fund assets in digital markets without having to park them on an exchange, according to a press release.

The value of Benji-issued fund shares is reflected in Binance’s trading environment, while the tokenized assets themselves are securely held off-exchange in regulated custody. This reduces counterparty risk, letting institutional participants earn yield and support their trading activity without hedging on custody, liquidity, or regulatory protections, the firms said.

“Partnering with Franklin Templeton to offer tokenized real-world assets for off-exchange collateral settlement is a natural next step in our mission to bring digital assets and traditional finance closer together,” said Catherine Chen, Head of VIP & Institutional at Binance.

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What to Expect From January US Nonfarm Payrolls Data

Published

43 minutes ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

What to Expect From January US Nonfarm Payrolls Data

The United States (US) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the delayed Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data for January on Wednesday at 13:30 GMT.

Volatility around the US Dollar (USD) will likely ramp up on the employment report, with investors looking for fresh insights on the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) path forward on interest rates.

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What to Expect From the Next Nonfarm Payrolls Report?

The BLS reported early last week that it had postponed the release of the official employment report, originally scheduled on Friday, due to the partial government shutdown. After the US House passed a package on Tuesday to end the shutdown, the agency announced that it will release the labor market data on Wednesday, February 11.

Investors expect NFP to rise by 70K following the 50K increase recorded in December. In this period, the Unemployment Rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.4%, while the annual wage inflation, as measured by the change in the Average Hourly Earnings, is projected to soften to 3.6% from 3.8%.

Previewing the employment report, TD Securities analysts note that they expect job gains to have remained subdued in January, increasing by 45K.

“We look for private to add 40K and government to add 5K. We expect private sector strength to be concentrated in healthcare and construction. We look for the Unemployment Rate to show continued signs of stabilization, remaining at 4.4%. The low-fire, low-hire labor market remains. Average Hourly Earnings likely increased 0.3% m/m and 3.7% y/y,” they add.

How Will the US September Nonfarm Payrolls Affect Eur/USD?

The USD started the month on a firm footing as markets reacted to the nomination of Kevin Warsh, who served as a Fed Governor from 2006 to 2011, as the new chair of the Fed. Meanwhile, the USD also benefited from the heightened volatility surrounding precious metals, especially Silver and Gold, and Stock markets.

In turn, the USD Index, which gauges the USD’s valuation against a basket of six major currencies, rose 0.5% in the first week of February. Fed Governor Lisa Cook said earlier in the month that she believes the labor market will continue to be supported by last year’s interest rate cuts.

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Cook further noted that the labor market has stabilized and is approximately in balance, adding that policymakers remain highly attentive to the potential for a rapid shift.

Similarly, Governor Philip Jefferson argued that the job market is likely in balance with a low-hire, low-fire environment. The CME Group FedWatch Tool shows that markets are currently pricing in about a 15% probability of a 25 basis-point (bps) rate cut in March.

In case the NFP reading disappoints, with a print below 30K, and the Unemployment Rate rises unexpectedly, the USD could come under pressure with the immediate reaction, opening the door to a leg higher in EUR/USD. On the other hand, an NFP figure at or above the market expectation could reaffirm another policy hold next month.

The market positioning suggests that the USD has some room on the upside in this scenario. Investors will also pay close attention to the wage inflation component of the report.

If Average Hourly Earnings rise less than expected, the USD could find it difficult to gather strength, even if the headline NFP print arrives near the market forecast.

Danske Bank analysts argue that softer wage growth could negatively impact consumer activity and pave the way for a dovish Fed action.

“The Challenger report showed more job cuts than expected in January and the JOLTs Job Openings came in at 6.5m in December (consensus 7.2m). Hence, the US ratio of job openings to unemployed fell to just 0.87 in December. Such cooling is usually a good predictor for weakening wage growth and may be a concern for the private consumption outlook and, all else equal, supports the case for earlier cuts from the Fed,” they explain.

Eren Sengezer, European Session Lead Analyst at FXStreet, offers a brief technical outlook for EUR/USD:

“The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the daily chart holds above 50, and EUR/USD fluctuates above the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) after having tested this dynamic support last week, reflecting buyers’ willingness to retain control.” “On the upside, 1.2000 (round level, psychological level) aligns as the next resistance before 1.2080 (January 27 high) and 1.2160 (static level). Looking south, the first key support level could be spotted at 1.1680, where the 100-day SMA is located, before 1.1620-1.1600 (200-day SMA, Fibonacci 23.6% retracement of the January 2025-January 2026 uptrend). A decisive drop below this support region could attract technical sellers and open the door for an extended slide.”

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Crypto World

Tokenization Will Revolutionize Financial Markets, Says Paul Atkins

Published

58 minutes ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

21Shares Introduces JitoSOL ETP to Offer Staking Rewards via Solana

TLDR

Tokenization can enhance financial market transparency and create more predictable systems, according to Paul Atkins.
Tokenization represents digital ownership of assets, moving traditional securities onto blockchain for efficient management.
Real-time on-chain clearance and settlement could eliminate traditional delays, reducing the gap between transactions and settlements.
The SEC, under Atkins’ leadership, aims to provide clarity and regulatory support for tokenization and blockchain technologies.
Tokenization could reshape financial services by enabling safer and faster transactions.

In a Fox News interview, Paul Atkins, former SEC commissioner, outlined how tokenization could reshape financial markets. He emphasized that tokenization would improve transparency and create more predictable systems in the financial world. According to Atkins, the SEC is actively working to provide clarity for market participants and embrace technological innovation. Tokenization, he explained, is a promising tool for enhancing efficiency in financial services.

The Potential of Tokenization for Financial Markets

Paul Atkins highlighted that tokenization, at its core, represents a digital version of an underlying asset. “A token is essentially a smart contract, a digital representation of ownership,” he stated during the interview.

In the case of securities, which are already traded electronically, tokenization brings a new way to manage these assets on a blockchain. He pointed out that whether a security is in paper form or stored digitally, tokenization could simplify the entire process by moving it onto the blockchain.

This shift could allow transactions to be cleared and settled on-chain in real time, reducing the traditional delay. Atkins also noted that moving towards a T-zero (immediate) settlement model would de-risk the financial services sector.

“The time between transaction and settlement has already reduced from five days to one, and we aim to bring it down even further,” he explained. This faster and more secure process could have a significant impact on global financial transactions.

The SEC’s Approach to Innovation and Clarity

Under Atkins’ leadership, the SEC has focused on providing a clear regulatory framework for tokenization and blockchain technologies. He stressed that innovation in financial markets must go hand in hand with regulatory clarity.

Atkins also pointed out that market participants would decide the most efficient methods for conducting transactions, such as using stablecoins, tokenized mutual funds, or bank deposits. “We are at the cusp of a transformative change,” he concluded, underlining the importance of embracing new technologies while ensuring transparency and security for investors.

Atkins believes that the growth of tokenization will reshape the financial landscape, allowing for safer, faster transactions across multiple sectors. As the SEC continues to support these technological advancements, the future of financial transactions appears poised for significant changes.

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Crypto World

Tether Backs LayerZero Labs as USDt0 Surpasses $70 Billion in Cross-Chain Transfers

Published

1 hour ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

TLDR:

Tether invests in LayerZero Labs to support proven cross-chain interoperability infrastructure
USDt0 has processed over $70 billion in cross-chain value transfers in less than twelve months
LayerZero technology enables seamless asset movement across blockchains without fragmentation
Partnership combines Tether’s WDK with LayerZero infrastructure for agentic finance capabilities

Tether Investments announced a strategic investment in LayerZero Labs on February 10, 2026. The move supports the development of cross-chain interoperability infrastructure.

USDt0, an omnichain fungible token built on LayerZero’s technology, has processed over $70 billion in cross-chain value transfers since its launch.

The investment reflects Tether’s commitment to reducing blockchain fragmentation and improving liquidity efficiency across digital asset markets.

Tether announced a strategic investment in LayerZero Labs, the developer of a cross-chain interoperability protocol, to support the development of its cross-chain infrastructure. Tether said that USDt0, an omnichain fungible token built on LayerZero, has facilitated more than $70…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) February 10, 2026
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USDt0 Demonstrates Global-Scale Interoperability Performance

LayerZero Labs created one of the most widely adopted bridging frameworks in the digital asset industry. The company’s technology enables secure and efficient asset movement across multiple blockchain networks.

Everdawn Labs leveraged LayerZero’s infrastructure to develop and launch USDt0 and XAUt0 to the market. These implementations proved that stablecoins and tokenized assets can transfer seamlessly without fragmenting liquidity.

USDt0 achieved remarkable transaction volume in less than twelve months of operation. The omnichain fungible token facilitated more than $70 billion in cross-chain value transfers.

This performance validated LayerZero’s technology as critical infrastructure for major digital assets. The platform demonstrated its capability to handle global-scale operations under live market conditions.

The Omnichain Fungible Token standard provides the technical foundation for these cross-chain transfers. Assets move across different blockchain environments without losing their properties or liquidity.

This approach addresses a fundamental challenge in the digital asset ecosystem. Multiple blockchain networks can now operate more cohesively through this interoperability layer.

Tether’s Wallet Development Kit combines with LayerZero’s infrastructure to create advanced foundational rails. The system supports digital asset payments, settlements, and custody for real-world applications.

This combination also enables agentic finance capabilities. AI agents can operate autonomous wallets and transact with stablecoins at scale.

Technology Alignment Supports Future Market Development

Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino commented on the investment rationale and the company’s infrastructure focus. “Tether invests in infrastructure that is already delivering real-world utility,” Ardoino stated.

He noted that LayerZero’s technology allows real-time asset transfers across any transport layer. The infrastructure supports the emerging agentic AI economy requiring micro-payment orchestration at unprecedented scale.

LayerZero’s CEO Bryan Pellegrino responded to the investment announcement with recognition of Tether’s market position. “Tether is a company the world envies,” Pellegrino said.

He described USDt0’s success as an important stepping stone for the partnership. The investment represents validation of LayerZero’s engineering approach and execution capabilities according to Pellegrino.

The investment aligns with Tether’s broader infrastructure strategy. The company supports systems that reduce fragmentation across blockchain networks.

Enhanced liquidity efficiency enables stablecoins to function as global settlement instruments. This approach addresses practical challenges in cross-chain asset movement.

LayerZero’s proven track record influenced Tether’s investment decision. The technology has demonstrated its ability to support major assets under production conditions.

Both companies aim to build infrastructure for global permissionless markets. The partnership strengthens the foundation for future cross-chain financial applications.

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Crypto World

Robinhood Chain Testnet Launches on Arbitrum for Tokenized Real-World Assets

Published

1 hour ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

TLDR:

Robinhood Chain testnet enables developers to build financial-grade apps on Arbitrum technology
Infrastructure partners Alchemy, Chainlink, LayerZero, and TRM already integrating with platform
Testnet will feature Stock Tokens for integration testing ahead of mainnet launch later in 2025
Platform supports tokenized assets, lending protocols, and perpetual futures exchanges on Layer 2

Robinhood Chain has officially launched its public testnet, marking a major step in the company’s blockchain ambitions.

The Layer 2 network, built on Arbitrum technology, targets financial services and tokenized real-world assets. Developers can now access the testnet to build and validate applications on the Ethereum-compatible platform.

Infrastructure partners including Alchemy, Allium, Chainlink, LayerZero, and TRM have already begun integration work.

Infrastructure and Technical Foundation

Robinhood announced the testnet launch through its official social media channels, inviting developers to explore the platform’s capabilities.

The company tweeted that developers can now build on a financial-grade Ethereum Layer 2 designed to support tokenized assets.

The network provides compatibility with standard Ethereum development tools while leveraging Arbitrum’s proven Layer 2 technology.

This approach enables developers to work within a familiar environment while accessing enhanced scalability features.

The Robinhood Chain public testnet is live 🛠️
Developers can now build on a financial-grade Ethereum Layer 2 built on @arbitrum— designed to support tokenized real-world and digital assets.
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Start building with the core foundation of Robinhood Chain: https://t.co/yHCQRh5x3j…
— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) February 11, 2026

The company has published comprehensive developer documentation at https://docs.robinhood.com/chain to support early builders.

Network entry points are now accessible, allowing participants to connect and begin testing their applications. The testnet phase serves multiple purposes, from identifying technical issues to establishing network stability before mainnet deployment.

Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto and International at Robinhood, outlined the platform’s vision in a statement. “The testnet for Robinhood Chain lays the groundwork for an ecosystem that will define the future of tokenized real-world assets,” he said.

The executive added that the platform will “enable builders to tap into DeFi liquidity within the Ethereum ecosystem.” Kerbrat expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with infrastructure partners to bring financial services onchain.

Early infrastructure partners play a crucial role in the testnet phase. Their involvement ensures that essential services and tools are available from the start.

This collaborative approach aims to create a robust foundation for future applications and services on the network.

Developer Features and Future Roadmap

The testnet environment supports seamless bridging and self-custody functionality for digital assets. Developers can build financial-grade decentralized products, including tokenized asset platforms and lending protocols.

The architecture also accommodates perpetual futures exchanges and similar complex financial applications.

Robinhood plans to introduce testnet-only assets in coming months to facilitate integration testing. Stock Tokens will be available exclusively for development purposes, allowing builders to test trading mechanisms and settlement processes. Direct testing with Robinhood Wallet will provide additional integration opportunities for developers.

The platform emphasizes reliability, security, and compliance as core design principles. These priorities reflect Robinhood’s experience in regulated financial services and its infrastructure capabilities. The mainnet launch is scheduled for later this year, though specific timing remains to be announced.

Steven Goldfeder, Co-Founder and CEO of Offchain Labs, emphasized the partnership’s potential in his remarks. “With Arbitrum’s developer-friendly technology, Robinhood Chain is well-positioned to help the industry deliver the next chapter of tokenization,” he stated.

Goldfeder noted the collaboration aims to advance permissionless financial services across the ecosystem. “Working alongside the Robinhood team, we are excited to help build the next stage of finance,” he added.

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