Editor’s note: Gold has surged on geopolitical uncertainty and sticky inflation, creating a broad bullish backdrop that has carried prices to fresh highs. A pause in the rally, like this week’s dip below US$5,000, can be a healthy consolidation rather than a sign of weakness. This editorial note frames the accompanying press release as a measured read on near-term dynamics, while acknowledging the longer-term drivers — such as central bank activity, ETF demand, and policy expectations — that keep gold well bid. For UAE investors and global traders, the current pullback may offer a cautious entry point into the next leg higher.

Key points

• Gold dips below US$5,000 after a 14% year-to-date rally, seen as consolidation by eToro.
• The move followed hawkish signals from Trump nominee Warsh; trading volumes thinner during Lunar New Year.
• Longer-term drivers remain intact: geopolitical risk, sticky inflation, and a shifting US rate outlook.
• Potential for another leg higher as Fed rate trajectory and cut expectations evolve; UAE investors see entry points in volatility.

Why this matters

This release underlines that near-term volatility does not erase gold’s fundamental support, with central bank demand and ETF inflows suggesting further upside as policy expectations evolve.

What to watch next

• Monitor US inflation data for potential shifts in rate expectations.
• Watch for new geopolitical developments that could reignite momentum.
• Track ETF inflows and central bank activity that could sustain the rally.

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

Press release: Gold Dips Below US$5,000 After 14% Rally

Abu Dhabi, UAE – February 19, 2026: Gold’s pullback below the US$5,000 level this week should not unsettle investors, according to eToro, which views the move as a natural consolidation within one of the strongest bull runs in recent years.

Gold’s dip below US$5,000 this week shouldn’t rattle investors. If anything, it’s a healthy pause in what remains one of the strongest bull runs in recent memory. — Zavier Wong, Market Analyst at eToro

The precious metal touched fresh record highs above US$5,000 earlier this month before retreating, following market reaction to former US President Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair. Investors interpreted the pick as hawkish, weighing on gold prices in the short term.

The move was further amplified by thinner trading volumes during the Lunar New Year period and US market holidays. However, Wong noted that much of the initial reaction has already been priced in, and the broader drivers behind gold’s rally remain firmly intact.

“Gold has gained more than 14% since the start of the year, and the conditions that have driven that rally — including geopolitical uncertainty, sticky inflation concerns, and a shifting US rate outlook — haven’t gone anywhere.” — Wong added

For UAE investors, the fundamentals supporting gold remain unchanged. Central bank buying continues at a steady pace, ETF inflows are building, and institutional conviction behind the rally appears far from exhausted.

“When you layer in growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve could cut rates later this year, the case for holding gold only strengthens. That means another leg higher from here is not off the cards, and further record highs aren’t out of the question.” — Zavier Wong, Market Analyst at eToro

Wong emphasised that the current price action should be viewed as the market “catching its breath” rather than losing conviction, with gold continuing to trade near key technical support levels.

“The best way to look at this current consolidation is that the market is essentially catching its breath rather than losing conviction. Any fresh catalyst – whether a softer US inflation print or an escalation in geopolitical tensions – could quickly reignite momentum.” — he said.

For investors in the UAE already holding gold, this week’s volatility is likely to be short-term noise. For those still on the sidelines, Wong suggested it may offer a more attractive entry point than seen in recent weeks.

About eToro

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According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, the United Arab Emirates has amassed around 700 million dollars of Bitcoin in state-linked mining activities, which is one of the largest sovereign holdings of crypto, which was not obtained by asset seizures or open market buyouts.

UAE Government Holds 6,300 Bitcoin Worth $700M

Arkham latest on-chain research pointed out that digital wallets that are recognized to be under the control of the UAE government are currently storing approximately 6,300 Bitcoin (BTC). Even at current market values, such holdings have a valuation of nearly $700 million, making the Gulf nation one of the largest publicly known sovereign holders of Bitcoin in the world.

THE UAE MINED $450M BITCOIN

The UAE has so far mined $453.6M Bitcoin through their partners Citadel. It appears that they are holding the majority of the Bitcoin they produce, with their most recent outflows 4 months ago.

Excluding energy costs, the UAE is currently in profit… pic.twitter.com/HcB2CYBQgy

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— Arkham (@arkham) February 19, 2026

In contrast to the United States and the United Kingdom, the government Bitcoin reserves are mostly the result of law enforcement seizure of funds generated by criminal investigations, the UAE cryptocurrency treasure trove is mostly created as a result of local mining.

According to the analysis of Arkham, the major part of the holdings was acquired by way of the mining of Bitcoin by Citadel Mining, a publicly traded mining company that is majority-owned by International Holding Company (IHC), which is a UAE-based conglomerate that has ties to the Royal Group.

International Holding Company is one of the most active investment companies in the Middle East which has spread in various fields such as energy, healthcare, technology, and infrastructure.

UAE Directly Engages in Bitcoin Mining

The UAE is in a unique situation as its majority ownership of Citadel Mining makes it one of the sovereign actors that are directly involved in blockchain infrastructure instead of acquiring digital units by confiscation or allocating them through the treasury.

According to the estimates of Arkham researchers, the total amount of BTC mined by the UAE since the initiation of state-related activities has been approximately 9,300. Out of it, about 6,300 BTC are kept in wallets that belong to government-controlled bodies.

The rest have been sold off or are in related entities, including the Phoenix Group, a digital asset and mining infrastructure firm that had helped to develop the mining facilities.

Reviewed satellite images, and blockchain transaction data reveal that Citadel has built its main mining facility in Abu Dhabi in 2022 with Phoenix Group.

The construction of the facility was also a major stride in the efforts of the country to increase the digital asset infrastructure and use its energy resources to facilitate the high-performance computing processes, including Bitcoin mining.

The findings by Arkham indicate that the strategy of the UAE is related to a larger nationalist diversification plan. The oil-rich federation, long dependent on hydrocarbon revenues, has over the last years hastened efforts in fintech and blockchain technology investment in part of its efforts to lower its reliance on fossil fuels and establish itself as a regional financial innovation centre.

The UAE has made a unique track compared to Western governments that mostly acquired Bitcoin through random means because of a criminal case or exchanges by mining tokens instead of accumulating them through exchanges or asset seizures.

Analysts observe that the reserves that are based on mining can provide more strategic control over the cost of acquisition and development of infrastructure, as well as internalize the sovereign actor more within the underlying network.

The prices of the holdings of the UAE will keep oscillating depending on the volatility of the market price of Bitcoin. But the report by Arkham highlights the increased role of nation-states in direct participation in the digital asset ecosystem.

The UAE model demonstrates a new model in which governments beyond regulation and enforcement increasingly transition to active production and accretion of decentralized assets as more governments consider regulatory frameworks, central bank digital currencies, and strategic crypto reserves.

Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence says the United Arab Emirates has amassed approximately $700 million worth of Bitcoin through state-linked mining operations.

UAE amasses $700M BTC war chest via state-linked miner

According to Arkham’s on-chain research, wallets identified as controlled by the UAE government hold around 6,300 Bitcoin (BTC), valued near $700 million at current prices.

These holdings arise not from asset seizures or market purchases, but primarily from Bitcoin mined via Citadel Mining, a public mining company majority-owned by the UAE-backed conglomerate International Holding Company (IHC), itself linked to the UAE Royal Group.

Arkham notes that the UAE’s Bitcoin reserves make it one of the largest sovereign Bitcoin holders globally, potentially ranking near sixth among nations based on publicly identified holdings.

Unlike other governments whose Bitcoin treasuries stem largely from law enforcement seizures, such as the United States and United Kingdom, the UAE’s stash is a product of industrial-scale mining operations.

Arkham researchers say the UAE has mined roughly 9,300 BTC in total, of which approximately 6,300 BTC remain in government-linked wallets, with the rest either deployed or held in associated entities like Phoenix Group.

Satellite imagery corroborated with on-chain data shows Citadel’s mining facility in Abu Dhabi was built in 2022 in partnership with Phoenix Group. Arkham’s report suggests this approach aligns with broader diversification efforts by the oil-rich nation into digital finance and blockchain infrastructure.

While the value of the holdings will fluctuate with Bitcoin prices, the data highlights the UAE’s unique path into crypto: a production-based Bitcoin reserve rather than simple accumulation through market buys or seizures, spotlighting how sovereign actors are navigating and participating in the digital asset ecosystem.

Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR), the blockchain company helmed by ex-SoFi CEO Mike Cagney, is debuting Thursday a new, tokenized class of its stock that trades entirely on blockchain rails cutting out traditional intermediaries, the firm told CoinDesk.

The stock token, dubbed FGRD, will be available on Figure’s Onchain Public Equity Network (OPEN), where it is issued, traded and settled without relying on the traditional clearing and custody systems that underpin most of Wall Street.

Instead, FGRD transactions are recorded and finalized directly on a blockchain, allowing for faster execution and programmable compliance, the company said.

Investors can access the asset through the Figure Markets app and self-custody wallets integrated with the network. Investors will also be able use their stock tokens for lending or borrowing through Figure’s decentralized finance protocol Democratized Prime.

Figure operates a blockchain-native capital markets platform that connects loan origination, funding and secondary trading. The company has originated over $22 billion in home equity loans and offers tools for digital asset custody, tokenization and onchain yield products. Its infrastructure is used by banks, credit unions and fintechs to bring traditional assets onto public blockchains.

Tokenized equities — digital versions of traditional stocks that trade on blockchain rails — have drawn attention recently for their potential to reduce settlement risk, improve transparency and increase market access. Most are backed by offchain assets and depend on intermediaries to reflect real-world ownership. FGRD differs in that it is issued natively onchain, representing the actual equity rather than a derivative or proxy.

“Public equity still runs on decades-old market plumbing, and it simply doesn’t make sense anymore,” said Mike Cagney, executive chairman of Figure.

“By issuing FGRD natively onchain, we’re re-architecting the core infrastructure of capital markets to be real-time, transparent, and programmable, while removing layers of intermediaries that add cost, risk, and friction,” he added.

Figure’s tokenized stock debut comes amid the company’s secondary public offering, which was upsized to $150 million. Venture firm Pantera Capital participated in the deal. The firm also said to repurchase $10 million of its common stock from existing shareholders.

Figure went public in September, with its shares erasing gains over the past month as crypto prices tumbled.

• Solana (SOL) has fallen below $82 as selling pressure and risk aversion increased.
• Rising liquidations show leveraged traders are exiting positions.
• $80 support remains critical, with $75 and $90 as key levels to watch.

Solana has entered a fragile phase as selling pressure builds and confidence across the market continues to fade.

The token has slipped below the $82 area, a level that previously acted as a short-term cushion for price action.

Liquidations rise as leverage unwinds

The futures market has played a major role in amplifying Solana’s downside move.

Liquidations have increased, and long positions have been forced out as price drifts lower, creating bursts of sharp selling during the intraday declines.

Open interest across derivatives markets has also been falling, pointing to traders closing positions and stepping aside rather than betting on a fast rebound.

Funding rate has also turned negative, showing a growing dominance from short sellers who are willing to pay to maintain bearish exposure.

While leverage flushes can sometimes reset the market, there is little evidence of that shift yet.

Instead, each liquidation wave has been followed by muted buying interest.

Sentiment cools as on-chain activity slows

Beyond price and derivatives, Solana is also facing softer signals from on-chain activity.

Transaction-driven revenue has declined from recent peaks, suggesting lower demand for block space and reduced speculative activity.

A good percentage of the network usage is currently tied to short-lived trends rather than sustained growth.

That reliance leaves the network activity vulnerable as market sentiment cools.

Investor confidence has also softened as the price struggles to reclaim key resistance zones.

Repeated failures near higher levels have reinforced a wait-and-see attitude.

Even though new wallets continue to appear, overall engagement lacks momentum, especially as the hype around memecoins, which form the bulk of Solana’s engagement, fades.

This imbalance highlights the difference between long-term interest and short-term participation.

The result is a market caught between underlying potential and immediate pressure.

Solana price forecast

Traders should closely watch the $80 level as the first major line of defence in case of a further decline.

A clean break below this zone could expose the price to deeper losses.

If selling continues, the next area of interest sits between $75 and $76, which has previously acted as a stabilisation zone during corrections.

Failure there would open the door toward the low $70s, which would result in even more liquidations.

On the upside, analysts note that Solana needs to reclaim the $85-87 range to ease immediate pressure.

If SOL moves above $87, bulls will be in control, and the next target sits around $90.

A move beyond that level would be required to shift sentiment meaningfully.

In the past few decades, the global film industry relied on a centralized capital system that has been dominated by studios, institutional financiers, and private equity syndicates. While the traditional capital structure has allowed for the creation of high production value cinematic works, it has also limited the number of independent creators who are able to produce content, while excluding many retail investors from participating in the film industry in meaningful ways. As production costs ascend and audience fragmentation continues to grow into 2026, traditional capital structures are likely to expose structural inefficiencies.

As an increasing number of investors desire greater levels of liquidity, transparency, and diversified exposure, and filmmakers desire faster access to capital as well as greater creative control, traditional funding sources, which rely heavily on intermediaries and entail opaque reporting processes, will have difficulty satisfying these modern investor and filmmaker requests.

Through the advancement of asset tokenization platform development, a massive structural solution is emerging that will allow studios and independent producers to modernize their approach to raising capital. In addition, through the use of comprehensive asset tokenization services, studios and independent producers will be able to issue tokens that comply with legal requirements, allocate revenue automatically based on contractual structures, and include a broader range of potential investors.

Key Drivers:

• Demand for alternative yield-generating asset classes
• Escalating production and distribution costs
• Investor preference for programmable financial instruments
• Regulatory evolution supporting compliant digital securities

Legacy Market Inefficiencies Holding Back Film Capital

Prior to the advent of asset tokenization platform development, the film financing industry was a closed system, relationship-based, and geographically limited in terms of capital access and structural centralization. The lack of flexible ownership distribution and investor engagement, due to the unavailability of scalable tokenization platform development infrastructure, made the system inefficient.

The lack of organized asset tokenization services made revenue sharing, cap table management, and royalty reporting highly manual and prone to errors. With the growing global need for digital content, such inefficiencies are no longer tenable.

Capital Concentration in Institutional Networks

Prior to the advent of asset tokenization platform development, the film financing industry remained a concentrated system, controlled by the film studios, and restricted access to new entrants unless they had connections with established industry insiders.

The lack of an organized tokenization platform development infrastructure made fractional ownership engagement limited and exclusive. This is now remedied by modern asset tokenization services, which provide programmable engagement mechanisms.

Impact:

• Restricted access for independent producers
• Limited cross-border capital participation
• Narrow storytelling diversity
• Overreliance on centralized approval systems

High Investment Barriers for Retail Inclusion

The traditional process of film financing involved high capital investment barriers. Without asset tokenization platform development, fractionalization structures were complex and not unified from a legal perspective.

With the development of asset tokenization platforms, film assets can be broken down into programmable units that comply with regulatory requirements. The use of integrated asset tokenization services reduces investment barriers while maintaining regulatory requirements.

Impact:

• Retail investor exclusion
• Concentrated risk exposure
• Limited portfolio diversification
• Weak alignment between audiences and financial upside

Extended Lock-In Periods and Liquidity Issues

The traditional process of film investment involves extended periods of film production and monetization. Without asset tokenization platform development, which facilitate secondary markets, investors are subject to extended capital lock-in periods.

The asset tokenization platform development embeds exit strategies into digital infrastructure.

Impact:

• Capital tied up for extended periods
• Reduced investment agility
• Elevated opportunity costs
• Lower comparative attractiveness versus liquid alternatives

Fragmented Royalty Reporting and Manual Reconciliation

The traditional revenue reporting infrastructure is based on middlemen, ranging from distributors to exhibitors and streaming services. Without development in the asset tokenization platform, it was impossible to execute smart contracts automatically.

The development of the tokenization platform incorporates programmable revenue sharing, and sophisticated asset tokenization capabilities provide audit-compliant transparency.

Impact:

• Delayed settlements
• Accounting discrepancies
• Reduced investor trust
• Administrative inefficiencies

The Tokenization Framework: Infrastructure-Led Resolution of Film Finance Bottlenecks

The shift in film financing in 2026 is not based on speculative digital innovation—it is based on infrastructure renewal. The development of asset tokenization platforms represents a paradigm shift in the management of intellectual property, revenue streams, and investment access. Instead of applying technology to existing infrastructure, tokenization rebuilds the financing infrastructure itself.

With robust tokenization platform development, film initiatives are created as digitally native financial systems. Ownership tokens, revenue streams, and governance rights are encoded in smart contracts, allowing for autonomous execution without the need for disparate intermediaries. Full-service asset tokenization solutions provide for regulatory compliance, secure issuance, and transparent reporting.

This infrastructure-centric strategy specifically targets the pain points enumerated above—capital concentration, lack of accessibility, illiquidity, and fragmented reporting.

Structural Digitization of Film Assets

At the core of asset tokenization platform development is the digitization of underlying rights. Film-related assets—including distribution rights, licensing agreements, streaming revenues, and profit participation models—are mapped into programmable digital tokens.

This structured conversion creates:

• Fractional ownership units tied to defined revenue streams
• Immutable records of entitlement and allocation
• Automated enforcement of contractual conditions
• Transparent cap table representation

Unlike traditional agreements stored across legal silos, digitally structured assets exist within a unified, tamper-resistant environment. This ensures clarity in ownership hierarchy and eliminates ambiguity in entitlement calculations.

Automated Revenue Allocation Through Smart Contracts

One of the most critical inefficiencies in legacy film finance lies in royalty distribution. Tokenization platform development replaces manual reconciliation with smart contract–based automation.

Under this model:

• Revenue inflows are programmatically routed to token holders
• Predefined waterfall structures execute automatically
• Distribution timelines are reduced from months to near real-time
• Administrative overhead is significantly minimized

Integrated asset tokenization services manage ongoing reconciliation across theatrical releases, streaming platforms, syndication channels, and international licensing deals. This reduces disputes, enhances transparency, and builds investor confidence through consistent reporting mechanisms.

Capital Democratization Through Programmable Fractionalization

Traditional financing structures require high minimum investment thresholds. Asset tokenization platform development resolves this through compliant fractionalization mechanisms.

By segmenting intellectual property into regulated digital units, studios can:

• Lower entry barriers while maintaining compliance
• Expand participation to geographically diverse investors
• Enable diversified exposure across multiple productions
• Align audience communities with financial participation

Well-structured tokenization platform development ensures that these fractional offerings adhere to securities classifications and jurisdictional regulations. Meanwhile, end-to-end asset tokenization services manage investor onboarding, KYC/AML verification, and governance rights distribution.

Embedded Liquidity Architecture

Liquidity constraints have historically discouraged broader participation in film investments. Infrastructure-focused asset tokenization platform development incorporates secondary trading enablement directly into the framework.

This includes:

• Regulated marketplace integrations
• Peer-to-peer transfer functionality within compliance parameters
• Automated lock-up enforcement where required
• Transparent pricing mechanisms

Through advanced tokenization platform development, liquidity is no longer an afterthought—it becomes an engineered component of the financing ecosystem. Asset tokenization services ensure these liquidity pathways remain compliant and operationally secure.

Integrated Compliance and Governance Controls

Regulatory compliance remains central to sustainable adoption. Enterprise-grade asset tokenization platform development integrates:

• Jurisdiction-specific securities rule alignment
• Automated investor accreditation validation
• Transaction monitoring systems
• Governance voting modules

Rather than relying on manual legal oversight, compliance becomes embedded within the digital architecture. Comprehensive asset tokenization services continuously update compliance frameworks in response to regulatory evolution, ensuring long-term viability.

This governance integration strengthens institutional confidence and positions tokenized film financing within mainstream capital markets rather than speculative environments.

Real-Time Transparency and Investor Intelligence

Modern investors demand visibility. Through scalable tokenization platform development, stakeholders gain access to real-time dashboards displaying:

• Revenue performance metrics
• Token distribution records
• Transaction history logs
• Forecasted payout schedules

These reporting capabilities, delivered via structured asset tokenization services, eliminate informational asymmetry between producers and investors. Transparency becomes operational rather than aspirational.

Strategic Infrastructure Impact

By embedding automation, compliance, liquidity, and transparency within the core framework, asset tokenization platform development transitions film financing from relationship-driven exclusivity to programmable scalability.

The infrastructure-led model delivers:

• Reduced fundraising cycle durations
• Diversified global capital access
• Lower operational overhead
• Enhanced investor trust
• Improved financial predictability for studios
  

In 2026, tokenization platform development is not simply enabling new fundraising channels—it is redefining how entertainment assets function within digital capital markets. Through structured asset tokenization services, film financing evolves into a secure, transparent, and globally accessible financial ecosystem.

Conclusion

Film financing in 2026 is transitioning from centralized gatekeeping to infrastructure-driven democratization. Asset tokenization platform development removes structural barriers while maintaining compliance integrity. Tokenization platform development introduces liquidity, automation, and operational efficiency.

Integrated asset tokenization services provide the technological backbone enabling transparent collaboration between creators and investors. By digitizing intellectual property rights into programmable financial instruments, the industry is redefining capital participation.

Film financing is no longer exclusively studio-controlled—it is increasingly infrastructure-enabled, globally accessible, and strategically programmable.

In 2025, illicit entities received $141 billion in stablecoins, the highest level observed in five years, according to a new report from TRM Labs. The report noted that overall stablecoin activity exceeded $1 tillion per month on several occasions last year.

Sanctions-related activity accounted for 86% of illicit crypto flows, the report said, with bad actors mostly relying on stablecoin platforms.

Of that $141 billion, $72 billion was linked to the A7A5 token, a ruble-pegged stablecoin operating within sanctions-linked networks.

Oleg Ogienko, A7A5’s director for Regulatory and Overseas Affairs, told CoinDesk that “TRM Labs tries to call all Russian external trade illicit or illegal. But this is of course a wrong statement.”

In separate comments during an interview at Consensus Hong Kong 2026, Ogienko was even more defiant, saying he was looking to debate anyone who accuses him of breaking any compliance laws through his stablecoin company.

“We are fully compliant with the regulations of Kyrgyzstan. We do not do illegal things,” he said. “We have KYC procedures, and we have AML mechanisms embedded into our infrastructure. We do not violate any Financial Action Task Force principles.”

However, Old Vector LLC and A7 LLC, A7A5’s issuing and affiliated entities, and Promsvyazbank (PSB), the bank that holds the reserves, are sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, barring the U.S. dollar-denominated financial world from interacting with them.

Some analysts note withdrawals can reflect conviction, as traders rarely shift assets off platforms during panic phases suddenly.

XRP holders have moved approximately 200 million tokens off the Binance exchange over the past ten days, according to CryptoQuant contributor Darkfost.

The move comes with the Ripple token trading 27% lower than a month ago, suggesting some investors see current prices as an accumulation opportunity rather than an exit point.

Exchange Outflows Signal Shift in Investor Strategy

Data tracked by Darkfost shows a steady drop in XRP balances held on the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume. Per the on-chain observer, the XRP supply ratio on the platform fell from 0.027 to 0.025 over ten days, which translates to about 200 million tokens leaving Binance in the period.

Usually, when investors withdraw assets from exchanges, it reduces immediate selling pressure and points to longer-term holding strategies, as tokens moved to private custody are less accessible for quick trades.

“This dynamic therefore suggests that some investors consider current price levels to be attractive from an accumulation standpoint,” Darkfost concluded.

While some movements could reflect internal exchange reallocations, Binance tends to publish its custody addresses, allowing analysts to distinguish between operational adjustments and organic user-driven withdrawals with reasonable accuracy.

The timing of these outflows coincides with a difficult period for XRP holders. The asset has corrected roughly 40% since the start of the year, with the decline pushing it down to a 15-month low near the $1.00 level earlier in the month.

At the time of writing, the Ripple token was trading at around $1.42, down 4.5% in the last 24 hours and 27% over the past month, based on data from CoinGecko. Over a year, XRP has fallen by more than 44% and currently sits 61% below its all-time high of $3.65 reached in July 2025.

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Still, the token has risen about 3% in the last week, outperforming the broader crypto market’s 1.4% gain in the same period. Daily trading volume has also climbed about 6% to just over $2.3 billion, a sign of increased activity even with prices slipping.

Market Sentiment Diverges From Price Action

Despite the price pressure, XRP has continued to attract attention from investors and analysts, with Grayscale recently identifying it as the second-most discussed asset in its community after Bitcoin (BTC).

The firm’s head of product and research, Rayhaneh Sharif-Askary, said during Ripple Community Day that clients frequently ask about XRP and related products tied to the Ripple ecosystem.

Additionally, a recent report from CoinShares showed XRP-linked funds drew about $33 million in inflows at a time when crypto investment products associated with heavyweights like Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) suffered a fourth straight week of outflows.

Nevertheless, some market observers and traditional financial institutions have tempered expectations about XRP’s performance this year. For instance, banking giant Standard Chartered slashed its year-end XRP price target by 65%, pushing down its forecast from $8.00 to $2.80, citing challenging near-term conditions across digital assets. The firm also lowered forecasts for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana (SOL).

TLDR

• eBay is buying Depop from Etsy for $1.2 billion in cash, deal expected to close Q2 2026.
• Depop hit $1 billion in gross merchandise sales in 2025, with ~60% U.S. growth year-over-year.
• eBay stock rose ~6.7% and Etsy stock surged ~16.9% after the announcement.
• eBay beat Q4 estimates: adjusted EPS of $1.41 vs. $1.35 expected; revenue $2.96B vs. $2.88B forecast.
• Etsy originally paid $1.62 billion for Depop in 2021, taking a loss on the sale.

eBay is acquiring secondhand fashion platform Depop from Etsy for $1.2 billion in cash. Both stocks moved sharply higher Wednesday following the announcement.

eBay shares climbed around 6.7% while Etsy stock surged roughly 16.9% in after-hours trading. Both boards unanimously approved the deal.

eBay Inc., EBAY

Depop is a London-based resale platform where buyers and sellers trade secondhand clothing. Nearly 90% of its 7 million active buyers are under 34, making it one of the more Gen Z-heavy platforms in the space.

The platform generated around $1 billion in gross merchandise sales in 2025, with close to 60% U.S. growth year-over-year. It has over 3 million active sellers and 56.3 million registered users.

Why eBay Wants Depop

For eBay, this is a play for a younger audience. CEO Jamie Iannone said Depop fits into the company’s fast-growing “recommerce” category and gives eBay direct access to Gen Z and Millennial shoppers it hasn’t been able to reach at scale.

Etsy is walking away from an investment it made at a higher price. The company paid $1.62 billion for Depop in 2021 as part of a broader “house of brands” push. That strategy has since been unwound, with Etsy also selling off Elo7 and Reverb in recent years.

CEO Kruti Patel Goyal framed the sale as a way to sharpen Etsy’s focus on its core marketplace, calling it “a great outcome for Etsy’s shareholders.”

eBay Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates

eBay also reported Q4 results Wednesday that topped Wall Street expectations on both lines.

Adjusted EPS came in at $1.41, ahead of the $1.35 estimate. Revenue hit $2.96 billion versus the $2.88 billion forecast — up 15% year-over-year.

Q1 guidance was also strong, with eBay projecting adjusted EPS of $1.53 to $1.59 and revenue of $3 billion to $3.05 billion, both ahead of analyst estimates.

What’s Next for Etsy

Etsy reports Q4 2025 earnings Thursday morning. Analysts are expecting EPS of $0.84, which would mark an 18.4% decline from the same quarter last year.

Wall Street holds a consensus Hold rating on Etsy stock, with an average price target of $61.58 — implying roughly 40% upside from recent levels.

The Depop transaction remains subject to regulatory approval, with both companies targeting a Q2 2026 close.

Key takeaways

• Polymarket’s federal lawsuit against Massachusetts could determine whether prediction markets are regulated solely by the CFTC or also by states.

• The dispute centers on whether event contracts qualify as financial derivatives under the Commodity Exchange Act or as gambling under state laws.

• The lawsuit followed state-level actions against platforms like Kalshi, with Massachusetts and Nevada moving to restrict sports-related prediction contracts.

• A ruling in favor of Polymarket could establish uniform national oversight and prevent a patchwork of differing state regulations.

Prediction markets are platforms where people trade contracts based on the outcomes of future events. Recently, they have been in the news due to a major legal battle in the US over regulatory authority. Central to the dispute is Polymarket’s federal lawsuit against Massachusetts. The outcome of this case could determine whether these markets are regulated exclusively at the federal level or whether states can also enforce their own rules.

This article explores Polymarket’s federal lawsuit against Massachusetts. It examines the broader legal clash over whether prediction markets fall under the exclusive authority of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or under state gambling laws. It also analyzes how the case could reshape regulatory control, market access and the future of US event-based trading platforms.

A federal lawsuit with broad implications

In February 2026, Polymarket filed suit in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts to preempt enforcement by state regulators that would require it to comply with Massachusetts gambling laws. The company contends that Congress has granted exclusive authority over “event contracts,” the core products of prediction markets, to the CFTC. According to Polymarket, this renders state efforts to stop or limit its operations unlawful.

Polymarket chief legal officer Neal Kumar argues that the dispute involves national markets and that the relevant legal questions should therefore be resolved in federal court. The company opposes piecemeal enforcement by individual states. He said that restricting markets could hinder industry development.

Where it all started: State actions against Kalshi

The lawsuit’s timing was deliberate. It came shortly after Massachusetts courts acted against rival platform Kalshi, blocking sports-related contracts under state gambling laws. A judge upheld a preliminary injunction requiring Kalshi to prevent residents from accessing certain markets without a gaming license. The court directed that these markets be treated as unlicensed sports wagers.

Massachusetts’ approach to prediction markets has received support from similar state-level actions elsewhere. In Nevada, regulators obtained a temporary restraining order against Polymarket’s sports-related offerings, arguing that they violated the state’s sports betting regulatory framework.

Did you know? Corporations have used prediction markets to forecast product launches and internal project deadlines. Some companies quietly rely on employee-based markets because aggregated crowd opinions often outperform traditional executive forecasts.

What is at stake: Federal vs. state authority

The lawsuit centers on a jurisdictional dispute. Polymarket claims its event contracts, whether covering elections, economics or sports, are financial derivatives under the CFTC’s Commodity Exchange Act. In this view, federal law supersedes state gambling statutes, preventing states from independently banning or regulating these markets.

Massachusetts and other states argue that when prediction markets resemble gambling, particularly in the context of sports, they must comply with state gambling frameworks to safeguard consumers and maintain local licensing and age requirements.

If federal courts side with Polymarket, it could strengthen the case for uniform national oversight, preventing a “patchwork” of varying state-level rules or prohibitions. Conversely, upholding state authority would allow states to apply their own gambling laws to platforms operating nationwide.

Did you know? Prediction markets sometimes rival opinion polls in forecasting election outcomes. Universities have studied them for decades as tools for measuring collective intelligence and information efficiency.

Why Polymarket’s lawsuit matters

Prediction markets have experienced growth, with rising trading volumes and visibility. Data tracked by Dune showed that prediction markets recorded about $3.7 billion in trading volume in a single week in January 2026, an all-time high.

As platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi gain mainstream traction, states are pushing to apply protections comparable to those governing traditional gambling. This dynamic has prompted action by multiple states.

The CFTC’s stance has added complexity to the issue. While the federal agency has long regulated derivatives markets, including certain event contracts, it has faced pressure to stay out of specific disputes or to restrict prediction contracts involving war or terrorism.

Did you know? Prediction markets are structured using blockchain smart contracts, automatically settling trades once an outcome is verified. This automation reduces counterparty risk but raises new regulatory and oracle-related challenges.

How jurisdictional disputes are reshaping event contracts

Polymarket’s legal action represents just one element of the broader legal and regulatory disputes surrounding prediction markets across the United States. Courts in jurisdictions such as Massachusetts and Nevada are currently examining the limits of state authority, while federal officials and legislators deliberate over comprehensive guidelines. The outcomes of these proceedings will likely influence how companies structure and offer event contracts.

Whether courts ultimately uphold Polymarket’s federal argument or affirm state authority, the decision will have long-lasting implications for the growth of prediction markets. It will shape user access to these platforms and the balance regulators strike between innovation and consumer protection.