Banking, payments, tokenization and financial markets.
Senate Judiciary leaders are pushing to remove crypto developer protections from a market structure bill, warning the language could weaken enforcement against unlicensed money transmission and illicit finance, complicating efforts to secure bipartisan support amid growing industry pushback.
KBC plans to launch Bitcoin and Ether trading for Belgian retail investors via its Bolero platform from Feb. 16. The bank says the service complies with MiCA, even as Belgium has yet to issue formal MiCA licenses. The move comes amid broader EU debates over crypto supervision, passporting and the role of ESMA
Sygnum expects clearer US crypto regulation to pave the way for sovereign Bitcoin reserves and broader adoption of tokenization by banks in 2026, arguing that early state adopters could accelerate Bitcoin’s emergence as a global store of value despite ongoing political constraints. At the same time, the firm sees tokenized bonds moving steadily toward the financial mainstream as major institutions prepare to issue and manage debt directly on blockchain-based infrastructure.
Pakistan is exploring the use of a Trump-linked stablecoin for regulated payments and remittances, marking a rare sovereign-level engagement with a politically connected crypto venture. The move underscores Islamabad’s ambition to become a global crypto hub while testing stablecoins as part of its evolving digital finance strategy.
Thailand is stepping up efforts to combat illicit finance by unifying oversight of gold and crypto under a single enforcement framework. Stricter reporting, Travel Rule enforcement and a national data hub signal a more aggressive, data-centric approach to tracking “gray money” across both traditional and digital assets.
The latest Senate CLARITY Act draft would allow stablecoin rewards tied to usage, such as payments, wallets and staking, while banning yield paid simply for holding tokens. The proposal reflects a compromise between fostering crypto innovation and addressing banking sector concerns over deposit-like products.
A criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell is reviving concerns over political influence on monetary policy, adding a new narrative tailwind for Bitcoin’s non-sovereign appeal. While sentiment indicators hint at a potential market bottom, professional traders remain cautious on BTC in the near term, favoring selective exposure elsewhere in crypto markets.
The October crypto crash exposed flaws in arbitrage-heavy trading strategies and exchange risk systems, ending years of easy yield for market makers. Liquidity has thinned, funding trades have weakened, and traders are rethinking where and how they deploy capital. BitMEX says the fallout is forcing a long-overdue reset across both centralized and on-chain markets.
Anthropic is seeking to raise $10 billion at a $350 billion valuation, nearly doubling its worth as investor demand for AI exposure remains intense. Backed by major funds and tech giants, the Claude maker is aiming for profitability by 2028 and a potential IPO this year, highlighting how the AI race is reshaping global capital markets.
Visa-linked crypto card spending jumped 525% in 2025, driven largely by stablecoin usage and strong demand from DeFi-native platforms. The data suggests crypto payments are moving beyond experimentation and into everyday use, with Visa positioning itself at the center of that transition.
Whales have moved over $2.4 billion in Bitcoin and Ether onto Binance, but buyer demand has yet to follow. With stablecoin inflows flat and long-term accumulation slowing, analysts warn that rising supply without fresh liquidity could weigh on crypto prices in the near term.
Solana is entering 2026 with rising real-world asset tokenization, growing ETF inflows, and stronger institutional adoption. While SOL’s price remains well below past highs, expanding onchain revenue and regulatory tailwinds could shape its next phase of growth.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says Bitcoin indirectly supports the US dollar by acting as a market check on inflation and excessive spending. While Bitcoin offers a pressure valve during economic stress, stablecoins may play an even more direct role in extending dollar dominance worldwide.
Tokenized commodities are nearing $4 billion in value as record-high gold prices drive demand for onchain exposure to precious metals. While still small relative to traditional markets, the sector highlights how real-world assets are gradually finding practical use cases on blockchains, led largely by Ethereum.
Coinbax has raised $4.2M in seed funding to build a programmable trust layer for stablecoin payments, targeting banks and institutions adopting onchain settlement. The platform adds policy controls, escrow logic, and compliance-ready workflows on top of stablecoins.
Bitmine’s Ethereum holdings have surpassed 4 million ETH after a recent $40 million purchase, marking a key milestone in its treasury strategy. The company continues to build long-term exposure to Ethereum and plans to begin staking its holdings in early 2026.
Northern Data has sold its Bitcoin mining unit, Peak Mining, to companies linked to senior Tether executives, according to the Financial Times. The deal highlights Tether’s expanding role across mining, data centers, and digital infrastructure beyond stablecoins.
Brazil’s crypto activity rose 43% in 2025 as average investment per user crossed $1,000, signaling a more mature market. Investors increasingly favored diversification and lower-risk crypto products, including stablecoins.