Raw News Items
84 itemsFebruary 20, 2026
- CoinDesk
Bitcoin's weekend selloff may be over with CME's 24/7 crypto trading move
The derivatives exchange giant's switch to around-the-clock crypto trading will have a visible impact on liquidity and volatility on weekends, analysts said.
- The BlockScore: 90
Opening the door: SEC issues guidance on brokers’ capital stablecoin requirements
The SEC introduced new guidance allowing broker-dealers to apply a “2% haircut” to proprietary positions in certain stablecoins.
- DecryptScore: 85
Australian Executive Accused of Selling Cyber Secrets to Russia for Crypto
U.S. prosecutors say the former defense contractor executive took about $1.26 million in crypto to transfer sensitive exploit tools tied to Five Eyes intelligence work.
- CoinDeskScore: 85
Ripple's Brad Garlinghouse says CLARITY bill has '90% chance' of passing by April
The bill would clarify which digital assets fall under securities law versus Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight.
- CointelegraphScore: 85
South Korean authorities under fire over $43B Bithumb Bitcoin error
Lawmakers criticize South Korea’s Financial Services Commission after Bithumb mistakenly credited 620,000 BTC and the probe faces delays.
- CointelegraphScore: 85
Bitcoin ETFs shed $166M as BTC heads for worst start in years
Spot Bitcoin ETFs approach a five-week outflow streak, with $2.7 billion in net redemptions year-to-date, as BTC posts one of its weakest starts to a year.
- DecryptScore: 85
South Korean Lawmakers Slam Regulators Over Bithumb's $43 Billion Bitcoin Blunder
Lawmakers in South Korea are intensifying scrutiny over the role of regulators after Bithumb accidentally gave out $43 billion in Bitcoin.
- The BlockScore: 85
ProShares’ stablecoin-ready ETF generates record $17 billion in day-one trading volume
ProShares on Thursday launched a money market ETF designed to hold assets that qualify as reserves for dollar-backed stablecoins.
- CoinDeskScore: 85
SEC makes quiet shift to brokers' stablecoin holdings that may pack big results
The securities regulator has continued its Project Crypto work to make unofficial policy changes as it moved to let broker-dealers treat stablecoins as capital.
- CryptoSlateScore: 80
Bitcoin-backed loans hit Wall Street — sub-prime-style incentives, but with liquidation triggers
Ledn's $188 million securitization marks the moment Bitcoin-backed consumer credit started looking like mainstream asset-backed debt. Ledn Issuer Trust 2026-1 packages 5,441 fixed-rate balloon loans into rated, tradable notes with investment-grade and subordinated tranches, custody arrangements, liq...
- CoinDeskScore: 80
Bitcoin nears $68,000, gold jumps as US-Iran tensions return
Geopolitical tensions and a cautious tone in U.S. stocks are keeping risk appetite in check, and some strategists warn of a potential retest of 2024 lows before a more sustained recovery.
- CryptoSlateScore: 75
The Bitcoin CME gap is dead – and past gaps could close forever in May this year
CME Group has spent most of its life as the financial plumbing moving the gears behind wheat hedges, rate bets, equity futures, the quiet machinery that keeps risk moving. Now it is taking a very public step into crypto’s always-on world. On May 29, CME says it will launch 24/7 trading for its crypt...
- DecryptScore: 75
House Dems Raise National Security Alarms Over Trump Family’s Crypto Bank Charter Request
Lawmakers warned that approving World Liberty Financial's bank charter application could jeopardize the legitimacy of the U.S. banking system.
- DecryptScore: 75
White House, Banks and Crypto Groups Resume Talks on Stablecoin Rewards
Stablecoin incentives remain a key unresolved issue as lawmakers seek to advance digital-asset market-structure legislation.
- CoinDeskScore: 75
Bitcoin difficulty jumps 15% largest increase since 2021, despite price slump
Bitcoin difficulty rebounds to 144.4T as hashrate recovers to 1 ZH/s despite multi year low hashprice.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
White House floats limited stablecoin rewards in 3rd crypto, bank meeting
White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt reportedly refocused crypto and bank lobby talks on a crypto bill to allow stablecoin rewards tied to transaction activity.
- The BlockScore: 75
Tennessee judge grants preliminary injunction blocking state enforcement against Kalshi
The judge found Kalshi is likely to succeed in arguing that sports event contracts qualify as swaps under federal commodities law, potentially preempting state regulation.
- The BlockScore: 75
BlackRock’s UNI purchase and other DeFi developments, with Lido and Chaos Labs
Chaos Labs' Craig La Riche and Lido's Will Shannon said BlackRock's purchase of UNI marks a turning point for institutional DeFi adoption.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Tether USDT supply set for biggest monthly decline since 2022 FTX collapse
Tether’s USDT is nearing its largest monthly supply drop since the collapse of FTX, with whales and smart money traders continuing to reduce their USDT holdings.
- The BlockScore: 75
Crypto prices rally as Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s broad tariff regime
21shares said “a negative ruling on tariffs could potentially hurt Treasuries and the dollar, while favoring stocks and crypto.”
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Wall Street boosts Bitmine stakes as DeFi lenders buckle on liquidity: Finance Redefined
Crypto illiquidity is pressuring DeFi lending companies, but Wall Street giants continue to increase their exposure to the world’s largest Ethereum treasury company.
- The BlockScore: 75
BNP Paribas taps Ethereum for new money market fund tokenization pilot
The tokenized shares were issued by the BNP Paribas’ AssetFoundryTM platform using a "permissioned access model on Ethereum."
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Bitcoin whales participate in V-shaped accumulation, offsetting 230K BTC sell-off
Despite the sharp multi-month market downtrend, Bitcoin whales added 236,000 BTC since December 2025, with order size data showing large players building new positions.
- CryptoSlateScore: 70
Sui ETFs just launched — and the volume is collapsing because nobody’s showing up
Two spot Sui ETFs began trading in US markets on Feb. 18. Canary's SUIS is listed on Nasdaq, while Grayscale's GSUI appeared on NYSE Arca. Both products offer staking-enabled exposure to Sui, the layer-1 blockchain positioned as a high-throughput alternative to Ethereum. By the end of the first trad...
- CryptoSlateScore: 70
ECB slaps a €1.3B price tag on the digital euro amid leadership change rumors
European Central Bank President, Christine Lagarde, runs an institution that trades in certainty, and she does it in a moment that rewards ambiguity. Earlier this week, the story around her took on a familiar European shape: official silence wrapped around very specific timing. The FT reported Lagar...
- CointelegraphScore: 70
Illicit stablecoin activity hit 5-year high of $141B in 2025: TRM Labs
Sanctions evasion networks, guarantee marketplaces, and large-scale money laundering schemes dominated illicit stablecoin use, says TRM Labs.
- CointelegraphScore: 70
Crypto miner Bitdeer tanks 17% after $300M debt offering
Bitdeer has launched its second-ever convertible senior note offering, which has seen its shares tumble 29% so far this year.
- The BlockScore: 70
Bitcoin mining difficulty jumps 15%, posting record absolute increase as hashrate rebounds after US winter storm
Bitcoin mining difficulty jumped 14.7% to 144.4T in a record absolute increase as hashrate rebounded after U.S. winter storm curtailments.
- DecryptScore: 70
Bitcoin ETFs Lose Another $166M as Five-Week Withdrawals Near $4B
Bitcoin ETF outflows near $4 billion over the past five weeks, as experts debate whether the streak signals a reset or structural weakness.
- CointelegraphScore: 70
Stablecoin A7A5 grows parallel system for sanctioned companies
Stablecoin ecosystem A7A5 has faced accusations of sanctions evasion and, according to some analysts, is creating an alternative, sanctions-free financial network.
- CointelegraphScore: 70
Tennessee judge issues injunction blocking state move against Kalshi
US Federal Judge Aleta Trauger granted Kalshi a preliminary injunction against Tennessee, finding its sports event contracts fall under CFTC jurisdiction.
- CoinDeskScore: 70
Bitcoin pops then drops as Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs
As has been typical in crypto markets of late, even the most modest move higher was met with immediate selling.
- CointelegraphScore: 70
BTC treasury executives call for reform of 1,250% risk weight in Basel III
Private equity, which has the second-highest risk weighting, carries a 400% weight under the current Basel III banking framework.
- The BlockScore: 70
MARA completes purchase of majority stake in French data center unit
Last August, Bloomberg reported MARA would pay $168 million in cash to secure a 64% stake in Exaion from EDF Pulse Ventures.
- CointelegraphScore: 70
Bitcoin bears at risk of $600M liquidation, raising chance for rally to $70K
Despite bearish pressure and weak US economic data, Bitcoin's recovering hashrate and new onchain security protocols raise the chance for a surge to $70,000.
- CoinDeskScore: 70
Bitcoin shrugs off Trump's new tariffs, nears $68,000 as altcoins lead modest bounce
Crypto prices edged higher on Friday despite a splash of tariff turbulence after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump's levies illegal.
- CoinDeskScore: 65
Bitcoin logs worst first 50-day start to a year on record
Bitcoin is on course for its first ever back to back declines in January and February.
- CoinDeskScore: 65
Panic premium lingers in options even as bitcoin recovers from lows
Bitcoin rebounded above $68,000 as ETF outflows hit $6.8 billion and funding flips positive. A break above $72,000 is needed to confirm a bullish shift.
- The BlockScore: 65
House Democrats press Treasury Sec. Bessent over OCC review of Trump-linked World Liberty Financial’s trust bank charter
The latest inquiry lands amid broader Democratic pressure over Trump-linked crypto activity and World Liberty Financial.
- CoinDeskScore: 65
Dubai takes next step to make real estate flips instant in $16 billion tokenization plan
Dubai Land Department and Ctrl Alt move to the next phase of real estate tokenization project, enabling the resale of property tokens.
- CointelegraphScore: 65
Dutch authorities call on Polymarket arm to cease activities
The prediction market's Dutch arm, Adventure One, allegedly offered illegal bets, including on elections in the Netherlands.
- CryptoSlateScore: 60
Ethereum’s 2026 roadmap just hit — but ETH won’t recover until one metric flips
Ethereum’s new roadmap lands in a market that is less interested in vision and more interested in evidence. That is the core tension behind the Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol Priorities Update for 2026, which breaks the network’s next phase into three tracks, including Scale, Improve UX, and Harden ...
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Parsec shuts down amid ongoing crypto market volatility
The on-chain analytics firm‘s focus on decentralized finance and non-fungible tokens had fallen out of step with the industry‘s current trajectory.
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Metaplanet CEO rejects claims it hid details of Bitcoin trades
Metaplanet’s Simon Gerovich hit back at critics who accused the company of hiding losses and key details of its Bitcoin bets, as investor anger over leveraged Bitcoin treasuries spreads.
- DecryptScore: 60
Silicon Valley Engineers Charged With Theft of Google, Tech Trade Secrets
Three engineers are accused of stealing sensitive mobile processor and cryptography files from Google and two other companies.
- The BlockScore: 60
Bitcoin remains below key onchain level as ETF outflows persist, liquidity stays tight: analysts
Analysts warned that weak ETF flows, constrained liquidity, and fragile accumulation are keeping bitcoin's price rangebound and indecisive.
- CointelegraphScore: 60
House Democrats press Treasury on World Liberty bank charter and UAE stake
House Democrats are pressing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over World Liberty Financial’s push for a national trust bank charter, citing systemic risk.
- The BlockScore: 60
Malaysian authorities arrest 12 police officers over alleged crypto extortion: report
Malaysian authorities arrested 12 police officers accused of forcing a Chinese national to transfer their cryptocurrency during a raid.
- DecryptScore: 60
Netherlands Bans Polymarket Over ‘Illegal Gambling Services’
Dutch regulator the Netherlands Gambling Authority this week ordered the prediction market to halt operations immediately.
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Core technical contributor to cease involvement with Aave DAO
After four years contributing, BGD Labs said it would be leaving the DAO, citing changes to the organization and taking an “adversarial position“ to its liquidity protocol.
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Bitcoin mining difficulty rebounds 15% as US miners recover from winter outages
Bitcoin’s mining difficulty climbed to 144.4 trillion after January storms briefly slashed hash rate, while some US miners offset downtime by selling electricity back to the grid.
- CoinDeskScore: 60
Specialized AI detects 92% of real-world DeFi exploits
New research claims specialized AI dramatically outperforms general-purpose models at detecting exploited DeFi vulnerabilities.
- DecryptScore: 60
Bitcoin Sell Pressure Is Easing, But Whales Keep Dumping on Exchanges: CryptoQuant
Bitcoin is down 46% from its October peak—and the largest holders keep depositing to exchanges, presumably to sell, says CryptoQuant.
- CryptoSlateScore: 60
Bitcoin may tumble toward $30,000 next year unless it shows real progress toward quantum proof upgrades
Bitcoin's current bear market could worsen over the next year if the flagship digital asset fails to address concerns about quantum computing. In a Feb. 20 report, Charles Edwards, Capriole founder, claimed that Bitcoin’s market value should already be discounted for quantum risk and warned that the...
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Tokenized real estate projects advance in Dubai and Maldives
A Trump-tied hotel development in the Maldives and the Dubai Land Department announced details on tokenizing their real estate projects this week.
- CoinDeskScore: 55
Dual South Korean listings send Ethereum layer-2 token AZTEC surging 82%
Korean exchanges Upbit and Bithumb both added local currency pairs for the privacy-focused layer-2 token, triggering a sharp move in a thinly traded market.
- The BlockScore: 55
BGD Labs to cease Aave contributions after four years as governance tensions grow
BGD Labs said it will cease contributions to Aave after April 1, ending a four-year role as a core protocol contributor.
- DecryptScore: 55
Bitcoin Rises After Supreme Court Rules Against Trump Tariffs
Bitcoin ticked up after the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority in imposing most tariffs on foreign goods.
- The BlockScore: 55
Vitalik Buterin is building a ‘cypherpunk principled non-ugly Ethereum’ as devs officially add FOCIL to upgrade roadmap
FOCIL was officially “scheduled for inclusion” as the consensus-layer (CL) headliner for the upcoming Hegota upgrade, targeted for late 2026.
- DecryptScore: 50
Risk-Off Capital Shifts Toward Tokenized Assets as DeFi Pulls Back
Capital is rotating out of DeFi into tokenized assets as experts say the shift reflects maturing markets, not capitulation.
- DecryptScore: 50
Morning Minute: Base Breaks Up With Optimism
Base is taking their ball (onchain revenue) and going home (to their own chain).
- CoinDeskScore: 50
Goldman Sachs, Franklin Templeton, and Nicki Minaj: Inside Trump’s surreal Mar-a-Lago crypto summit
Crypto, real estate and politics collided at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club as insiders debated tokenization and regulation.
- CointelegraphScore: 50
Bitcoin ignores US Supreme Court Trump tariff strike amid talk of $150B refund
Bitcoin stayed rangebound within a "downward trajectory" as the Supreme Court concluded that some US trade tariffs were illegal and liable for a refund.
- CointelegraphScore: 50
Crypto slides, but tokenized RWAs and VC push ahead
As Bitcoin and altcoins continue to sell off, venture capital is raising millions for blockchain-based financial infrastructure, while real-world assets continue to draw capital.
- DecryptScore: 45
After State Lawsuit Losing Streak, Kalshi Nabs Victory in Tennessee—This Could Be Why
States are scoring victories against prediction markets when they invoke congressional intent, said a legal expert—and losing when they focus on narrower legal definitions.
- DecryptScore: 45
Trump-Backed World Liberty Plots 'Exit Mechanism' for Maldives Hotel Tokenization Project
Eric Trump called the offering a balance against meme coins, as the tokenization project has a lengthy timeline.
- CointelegraphScore: 40
Bitcoin selloff due to quantum fears doesn’t add up with Ether flat, says dev
Bitcoin developer Matt Carallo says Bitcoiners are looking to “blame something” for the asset’s sluggish price, dismissing quantum fears as the culprit.
- CointelegraphScore: 40
Fed’s Kashkari lashes crypto and stablecoins, praises AI
Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari says crypto is “utterly useless” compared to AI, and that pro-stablecoin arguments are “a buzzword salad.”
- CoinDeskScore: 40
Bitcoin gains, is still 'signficantly undervalued,' Bitwise says. 'Extreme fear' dominates.
Your day-ahead look for Feb. 20, 2026
- CoinDeskScore: 40
What next for XRP as volatility sinks to 2024 lows
Technical traders see a compression setup, with $1.39 as key support and $1.44 as near-term resistance that could open a move toward $1.50 to $1.62 if reclaimed.
- CoinDeskScore: 40
CoinDesk 20 performance update: AAVE falls 3.3%, leading index lower
Bitcoin Cash (BCH), down 2.1% from Thursday, was also among the underperformers.
- CoinDeskScore: 40
RWA issuers prioritize capital formation over liquidity, according to Brickken survey
Exclusive fourth quarter data shows 69.2% of issuers are live, while 84.6% report regulatory friction shaping tokenization rollout.
- The BlockScore: 40
The Daily: Ripple CEO sees 90% chance of crypto bill passing by end of April, BGD Labs to stop contributing to Aave, and more
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
- CoinDeskScore: 40
U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Trump's tariffs may not rock crypto — yet
The more significant result from the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of President Donald Trump's trade tariffs may be political, which could sting the industry.
- DecryptScore: 30
Custodia CEO Says Trump Family Crypto Ties Are Part of Clarity Act Problem
At ETH Denver, Caitlin Long said the ethics controversy around Trump-linked crypto projects has complicated Senate support.
- CoinDeskScore: 30
Metaplanet CEO rebuts critics over bitcoin strategy and transparency
Simon Gerovich defends disclosure standards, options trading model, and hotel operations.
- DecryptScore: 30
What Is Strategy (MSTR)? The Bitcoin Treasury Company
Software firm Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and its co-founder Michael Saylor have become synonymous with Bitcoin. Here’s what you need to know.
- CryptoSlateScore: 30
If Bitcoin stays near $67k, it breaks the Power Law floor by mid-December
Bitcoin has until the end of the year to recover, or the Power Law will be invalidated. The Power Law model isn't a prophecy. It's a time-based regression that treats Bitcoin's long-run price path as a power curve, and the “deadline” talk centers on a rising floor. Better yet, a lower ba...
- CointelegraphScore: 25
Trump announces 10% global tariff following SCOTUS ruling
The United States Supreme Court ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump could not use national emergency powers to levy tariffs during peacetime.
- CointelegraphScore: 20
AI agents not worth the cost as humans still cheaper: Tech execs
Tech investor Jason Calacanis says he’s paying around $110,000 annualized to run an AI agent, more than most US salaries, and it’s not running at full capacity.
- The BlockScore: 20
‘We have not underperformed’: Metaplanet CEO pushes back against online criticism
Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich pushed back against online criticism of the company's transparency and bitcoin strategy.
- DecryptScore: 20
AMC Theatres Blocks AI Short Film From Screening in Pre-Show Advertising
The cinema chain has stepped back from screening an award-winning AI short while Hollywood battles over the technology’s creative role.
- CointelegraphScore: 20
Price predictions 2/20: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, BCH, ADA, HYPE, XMR
The failure of the bulls to start a strong recovery in Bitcoin and the major altcoins suggests that the bears intend to remain active at higher levels.
- CointelegraphScore: 20
SCOTUS strikes down Trump tariffs, but 'alternative' plans brewing
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that tariffs could help pay down the $38 trillion, and growing, US national debt.