‍Base App Shifts Focus from Creator Rewards to Trading Coinbase's Base App is discontinuing its Creator Rewards program and Farcaster-powered social feed to concentrate on tradable assets. The initiative distributed approximately $450,000 to 17,000 participants over seven months, averaging $26 per creator. Jesse Pollak, creator of Base, stated the app needs to "do less, better," prioritizing financial instruments. Final rewards accumulation ends this Sunday, with payouts on February 18, 2026. The Creator Coins program remains unaffected. The app aims to become a self-custody wallet and trading hub. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8976/coinbase-strategy-shift-base-app-sunsets-creator-rewards-for-trading

‍US Crypto Market Structure Bill Expected by Memorial Day High-ranking US officials indicate a comprehensive cryptocurrency market structure bill is nearing passage. The legislation aims to establish a clear legal framework for digital assets and blockchain technology, resolving regulatory ambiguity. The bill is projected to reach the President's desk around Memorial Day 2026, with the White House prioritizing negotiations between traditional banking and crypto firms. Key challenges include defining the jurisdictions of the SEC and CFTC, and the treatment of stablecoin yields, balancing innovation with investor protection. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8975/us-crypto-market-structure-bill-expected-to-pass-by-memorial-day

‍Crypto Fraudster Sentenced to 20 Years for $73.6M Laundering Scheme A federal court has sentenced 42-year-old Daren Li to 20 years in prison for his role in a global cryptocurrency scam that defrauded investors of over $73.6 million. Li pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in November 2024 but fled federal supervision in late 2025, resulting in a sentencing in absentia. The operation used social media, dating apps, and phone solicitations to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency trading platforms, a tactic known as "pig butchering." Stolen funds, totaling at least $59.8 million, were laundered through shell companies in the U.S. Li absconded in December 2025 after removing his electronic monitoring device; an international search is ongoing. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8974/crypto-fraudster-sentenced-to-20-years-over-73m-laundering-plot

‍Crypto Market Caution: Is the Bottom Really In? Recent data from macro researcher Adam at Greeks.live indicates a potential disconnect between market expectations and actual price movements. A significant drop in Volatility Risk Premium (VRP) suggests traders are underestimating future price swings, potentially exposing the market to unexpected shocks. This rapid cooling of volatility expectations is impacting institutional investors. Historical data points to potential secondary downturns rather than sustained recovery when such discrepancies arise. Investors are advised to monitor on-chain data and derivative metrics closely as the crypto market correction may be incomplete. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8973/crypto-market-volatility-signals-warning-has-the-bottom-truly-formed

‍MrBeast Acquires Fintech App Step YouTube creator MrBeast has acquired the mobile banking platform Step, targeting teenagers and young adults. This move by Beast Industries follows a $200 million investment from Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Immersion Technologies. The acquisition aims to provide Gen Z with financial literacy tools. Step currently serves over 6.5 million users. Speculation is rife about potential cryptocurrency integration into MrBeast's financial products, fueled by a trademark filing for "MrBeast Financial" including cryptocurrency exchange services. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8972/mrbeast-acquires-fintech-app-step-following-200m-bitmine-investment

‍Soil Launches Single Asset Vault on XRPL for Institutional Lending Soil, a subsidiary of ORQO Group, has launched a Single Asset Vault (SAV) on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), effective February 9, 2026. This infrastructure aims to streamline capital aggregation and debt management for institutional clients. The SAV utilizes Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, for capital pooling, enabling near-instant settlement and predictable costs. Key features include automated tracking of loan lifecycles, real-time reporting for lenders, and a target yield of 8% APR for private credit and money market strategies. Soil employs a hybrid model, with on-chain settlement and accounting on XRPL, while credit underwriting, KYC/KYB, and risk assessments remain off-chain to comply with global regulations. This allows family offices and fund managers to engage with digital assets securely. The initiative integrates Real World Assets (RWA) with XRPL’s lending capabilities, positioning Soil as a bridge between traditional corporate debt and the digital economy. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8971/soil-launches-single-asset-vault-on-xrpl-for-institutional-lending

‍Backpack Exchange Unveils Tokenomics, Allocating 24% to Airdrop Backpack Exchange has released its tokenomics, detailing a total supply of 1 billion tokens for its native asset. The initial Token Generation Event (TGE) will see 25% of the total supply enter circulation. A significant portion, 24% (240 million tokens), is allocated to participants of the Backpack points system, with an additional 1% (10 million tokens) reserved for holders of Mad Lads NFTs. This distribution prioritizes early adopters and active community members. The remaining 75% is structured for long-term growth, with 37.5% allocated for pre-IPO phases tied to growth targets and the final 37.5% held in the company treasury post-IPO, locked for one year. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8970/backpack-exchange-reveals-tokenomics-with-24-airdrop-for-points-holders

‍MicroStrategy Acquires an Additional 1,142 BTC for $90 Million MicroStrategy, a prominent corporate holder of digital assets, has further expanded its Bitcoin holdings. The company announced via an SEC filing on February 9, 2026, that it purchased 1,142 BTC for approximately $90 million. This acquisition, at an average price of $78,815 per Bitcoin, underscores MicroStrategy's ongoing treasury strategy of converting cash reserves into BTC. The firm's total Bitcoin reserves now stand at 714,644 BTC, with a total investment of roughly $54.35 billion. This move aligns with MicroStrategy's consistent approach of accumulating Bitcoin, even amidst market volatility. The stock performance of MSTR remains closely correlated with Bitcoin's price. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8969/saylor-s-strategy-boosts-bitcoin-holdings-with-90m-acquisition

‍CEO of Digital Asset: Crypto Market Shifts Towards Utility and Sustainable Models Yuval Rooz, CEO of Digital Asset, notes that cryptocurrency market volatility is driving a shift from speculative assets to protocols with sustainable business models. He highlights institutional demand for architectures offering privacy and interoperability without the risks of cross-chain bridges. Rooz criticizes current cross-chain bridges as centralized points of failure, citing that approximately $21.8 billion in illicit funds moved through such services in 2025. Institutional needs include predictable costs, native interoperability, and privacy compliance, pushing for networks that balance these requirements. Despite the rise of specialized networks, major asset managers continue to use public infrastructure like Ethereum and Polygon. JPMorgan's multi-chain strategy, integrating JPM Coin across Base and Canton Networks, exemplifies a hybrid future where public and permissioned systems coexist. Rooz emphasizes that investors are increasingly drawn to platforms demonstrating tangible utility over speculative narratives. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8968/crypto-market-shift-digital-asset-ceo-predicts-rise-of-utility-models

‍Cango Inc. Pivots to AI Compute and Global Expansion Cango Inc. (NYSE: CANG) has announced a significant strategic shift from Bitcoin mining to becoming an AI compute infrastructure platform. Leveraging existing energy assets and technical expertise, the company aims to bridge the "Power Gap" in the AI sector. Over the past year, Cango achieved operational milestones including 50 EH/s of hashrate efficiency and securing 50 MW of energy infrastructure across four regions. The company is now embarking on a three-phase roadmap to deploy GPU nodes, develop an orchestration platform, and create a global distributed inference grid. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8967/cango-inc-announces-pivot-to-ai-compute-and-global-expansion

‍Binance Strengthens SAFU Fund With $300M Bitcoin Acquisition The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has significantly bolstered its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) by acquiring $300 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC). This strategic move, involving 4,225 BTC, reinforces the exchange's commitment to a Bitcoin-backed protection model amid market volatility. The total Bitcoin reserves in the SAFU wallet now exceed $720 million. This acquisition is part of Binance's broader initiative to transition its $1 billion user protection fund into Bitcoin, reflecting long-term confidence in the cryptocurrency. The exchange plans to maintain a target fund value of $1 billion, rebalancing if it drops below $800 million. This approach positions BTC as the primary collateral asset, a strategy being watched closely given current market sentiment and institutional positioning. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8966/binance-bolsters-safu-fund-with-300m-bitcoin-buy-amid-volatility

‍Crypto Prediction Markets: A New Frontier for Global Espionage Onchain prediction markets and decentralized derivatives are inadvertently becoming tools for state-level espionage. The transparency of blockchain ledgers transforms private insider information into open-source intelligence (OSINT). Several geopolitical events in early 2026 were preceded by massive trades on platforms like Polymarket and Hyperliquid, suggesting insiders are monetizing secrets. Incidents in late 2025 and early 2026 highlight vulnerabilities. A trader made nine-figure profits betting against BTC and ETH before a US tariff announcement. Another wagered on the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro before a covert US operation. These platforms are turning into real-time signal feeds for military movements. Foreign intelligence agencies are reportedly pivoting toward data mining blockchain activity, using AI to detect "unnatural" market movements as early-warning signals. These trades, often involving stablecoins on permissionless protocols, exist in a legal blind spot. The desire for profit is outweighing operational security, offering a low-risk method for tracking global superpower intentions. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8965/crypto-prediction-markets-emerge-as-new-frontier-for-global-espionage

‍Bloomberg Strategist: US Treasuries Poised for Major Trading Opportunity Amidst Crypto Volatility Mike McGlone, a senior macro strategist at Bloomberg, suggests that U.S. Treasury bonds are emerging as a significant trading opportunity. This outlook is based on observed "pump and dump" cycles in Bitcoin, gold, and silver, which could signal a broader shift towards disinflationary trends. McGlone's analysis indicates that commodities like gold, silver, and copper may reach "crypto-like" peaks in 2025 before a market cooldown redirects investors to stable government debt securities. The strategists notes that speculative peaks in high-risk assets historically precede a flight to safety. By February 2026, a cooling inflationary environment could make U.S. Treasuries a prime destination for institutional capital, especially if equity markets stabilize. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8964/us-treasuries-may-emerge-as-key-asset-as-crypto-volatility-peaks

‍Bitcoin Whales Accumulate 40,000 BTC Amidst Price Dip Large investors, known as "whales," have strategically acquired approximately 40,000 BTC during a recent price correction that saw Bitcoin fall below $60,000. This significant accumulation by addresses holding 1,000 BTC and above, alongside purchases from Binance's SAFU and continued Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows, has fueled a recovery towards the $70,000 mark. Despite this buying pressure, Bitcoin faces technical resistance around $72,000. Analysts are closely watching the $66,000-$68,000 support zone, aligning with the 200-week EMA. The market remains cautious, with potential for consolidation or a deeper correction if key support levels fail to hold. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8963/bitcoin-whales-buy-the-dip-as-btc-accumulation-reaches-40-000-coins

‍Minfin.com.ua Launches Crypto Monitoring Tool for Ukrainian Market The Ukrainian financial portal Minfin.com.ua has introduced an advanced cryptocurrency exchange monitoring tool. This platform offers real-time data, analytics, and transparency for investors in the digital asset landscape. It aggregates data from various trading platforms to combat information asymmetry and aid in risk management, providing a user-friendly interface for both professional and casual investors. This initiative by Treeum, the operator of Minfin.com.ua, signifies an expansion into digital financial services, aiming to bridge traditional finance and the decentralized economy. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8962/minfin-com-ua-launches-crypto-monitoring-tool-for-ukrainian-market

‍Hyperliquid (HYPE) Surges 42% Amidst Market Downturn, Partners with Ripple Decentralized finance platform Hyperliquid (HYPE) has experienced a significant price increase of 41.5% over the past two weeks, outperforming a declining cryptocurrency market. This growth is attributed to a strategic partnership with Ripple Prime and a substantial reduction in token supply inflation. The integration with Ripple Prime, a key development for the U.S.-focused platform, aims to connect institutional liquidity with decentralized derivatives. Furthermore, Hyperliquid's recent HIP-3 upgrade introduced trading for commodities and traditional equities on-chain, diversifying its revenue streams. A crucial factor driving HYPE's valuation is the significant reduction in its token unlock schedule. February's unlock was cut by 88%, from 1.2 million to 140,000 HYPE tokens, alleviating approximately $34 million in monthly sell pressure. This, combined with token burns and increased adoption, has created a favorable supply-demand dynamic. Despite strong fundamentals, short-term trader sentiment shows some caution, with a decreased probability of HYPE retesting the $41 price level. This highlights a market trend favoring platforms with proven utility and sustainable tokenomics. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8961/hyperliquid-hype-defies-market-slump-with-42-rally-and-ripple-tie-up

‍French Authorities Arrest Six in Crypto Ransom Kidnapping Case Six individuals, including a minor, have been apprehended in France in connection with the kidnapping of a magistrate and her mother. The abduction was reportedly a cryptocurrency ransom plot targeting the magistrate's partner, a digital asset entrepreneur. The victims were held for 30 hours before escaping. This incident highlights a rise in "wrench attacks" in France, where physical violence is used to extract digital assets. Data shows a significant increase in such crimes, with 25 suspects charged in 2025. Experts warn about the risks to publicly known crypto holders and advise strong operational security (OpSec). https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8960/france-arrests-six-suspects-following-crypto-linked-kidnapping

‍Infini Exploit Attacker Trades Stolen Funds Amidst Market Volatility The wallet linked to the $50 million Infini protocol exploit has resurfaced after nearly a year. The attacker capitalized on a significant market downturn, purchasing $13.3 million worth of Ether (ETH) at an average price of $2,109, before routing the funds through Tornado Cash. This strategic move occurred during a period of substantial market liquidations, with approximately $2.56 billion in leveraged positions liquidated. The attacker's proficiency in timing market cycles was previously noted. The original exploit in early 2025 saw Infini lose $50 million in USDC, which was converted to DAI. Infini has pursued legal action against a former developer. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8959/infini-exploiter-reappears-to-purchase-13m-in-ether-during-market-dip

‍L2 Projects Re-evaluate Strategy Amidst Industry Shifts Layer 2 (L2) scaling solutions are reassessing their market positions due to changing industry sentiment. This comes as institutional setbacks, like Tencent's reported $700 million crypto loss, contrast with the growth of infrastructure firms such as TRM Labs, which achieved a $1 billion valuation. Following commentary from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, L2 projects are reportedly re-evaluating their value propositions amid concerns of market undervaluation. This strategic pivot coincides with a broader shift in investment philosophy, with venture capitalists like Kyle Samani reportedly altering their strategies. Meanwhile, the regulatory technology (RegTech) sector continues to attract capital. TRM Labs secured $70 million in a Series C funding round, reaching a $1 billion valuation, signaling institutional demand for compliance-focused solutions in the evolving digital economy. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8958/l2-projects-re-evaluate-strategy-as-trm-labs-hits-1b-valuation

‍Xinbi Processes $17.9 Billion Amidst Global Regulatory Pressure The Chinese-language crypto guarantee service Xinbi has processed nearly $17.9 billion in transactions, demonstrating resilience despite regulatory actions and platform bans. TRM Labs reports that Xinbi has adapted by migrating operations and launching its own wallet system, XinbiPay, to facilitate money laundering and exchange of illicit goods. This highlights the ongoing challenge for regulators in combating decentralized financial crime infrastructure. Ari Redbord of TRM Labs noted, "Guarantee services like Xinbi are learning to survive enforcement by fragmenting across platforms and building their own infrastructure." The service, which previously received $8.4 billion in stablecoins linked to scam activities, continues to utilize Tether and other stablecoins for its operations. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/8957/xinbi-crypto-guarantee-service-processes-17-9b-despite-global-bans