‍Franklin Templeton and Binance Launch Tokenized MMF Collateral Program Global investment giant Franklin Templeton, in partnership with Binance, has launched an institutional off-exchange collateral program. This initiative allows clients to use tokenized money market fund (MMF) shares as collateral for trading activities, with underlying assets held in regulated custody. The program integrates Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform with global trading infrastructure. Client assets are held off-exchange by Ceffu Custody in Dubai, mitigating counterparty risk. Tokenized MMF shares allow institutions to continue earning yield while benefiting from regulatory protection and operational security. This model reflects a growing trend of tokenizing real-world assets (RWA) for collateral. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/7/franklin-templeton-and-binance-launch-tokenized-mmf-collateral

‍Spark Launches Institutional Suite for Onchain Lending Spark has unveiled Spark Prime and Spark Institutional Lending, a new product suite designed to connect institutional credit markets with DeFi reserves. This initiative provides professional borrowers with simplified access to stablecoin liquidity while maintaining collateral within regulated environments through partnerships like Anchorage Digital. The suite includes Spark Institutional Lending, which has secured $150 million in commitments and aims to scale to billions, and Spark Prime, launching with $15 million. These products enable institutions to tap into DeFi pools without managing complex onchain infrastructure. Spark currently holds $5.24 billion in TVL, positioning it among major DeFi players. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/6/spark-launches-new-institutional-suite-to-scale-onchain-lending

‍Bitcoin Price Dips Below $67,000 Amidst Weak Momentum Bitcoin (BTC) has experienced a notable decline, falling by nearly 3% to approach $66,500. The cryptocurrency failed to sustain support above $70,000, leading to caution among market participants. Analysts point to a lack of buyer demand to flip the $69,000 level into support, a historically significant consolidation zone. While short-term outlooks are mixed, concerns about a potential correction to $50,000 persist. Trading volumes indicate absent momentum for a breakout in spot markets. February's performance for Bitcoin has been its weakest since 2014, with losses reaching -14.4%. Historically, February has been a profitable month for BTC. Technical analysis suggests the current low might be a temporary floor for February. Bearish trends have favored shorting on Mondays since October 2025. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/5/bitcoin-price-slumps-3-as-analysts-flag-weak-bullish-momentum

‍Bithumb Pursues Legal Action After Massive Bitcoin Distribution Error South Korean exchange Bithumb is initiating civil recovery proceedings against users who retained Bitcoin erroneously distributed during a promotional event on December 6. The exchange mistakenly issued approximately $43 billion worth of BTC instead of KRW rewards. While 99.7% of the funds have been recovered, Bithumb is seeking legal recourse for the remaining assets. Legal experts cite South Korean unjust enrichment laws as the basis for civil claims, arguing that users had no contractual right to the Bitcoin. The incident has also highlighted potential gaps in the oversight of centralized exchanges, prompting discussions on enhancing internal control and asset verification frameworks. Bithumb's CEO has outlined a plan to restore user confidence, with the exchange covering the remaining shortfall. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/4/bithumb-seeks-civil-recovery-after-43-billion-bitcoin-error

‍Retail Apathy Dampens Bitcoin ETF Inflows Amidst Diminished Basis Trade Current data indicates a notable absence of retail investor participation, directly impacting spot Bitcoin ETF inflows. Market analysis from Matrixport highlights that low funding rates, driven by sluggish retail demand, are diminishing the incentive for institutional basis trading. This strategy, which profits from the price difference between futures and spot markets, has historically fueled ETF accumulation. The lack of a significant futures-spot spread, often spurred by retail "FOMO," is leading to prolonged market consolidation for Bitcoin. Without a retail-led rally, institutional capital allocation is expected to remain subdued. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/3/retail-apathy-slows-bitcoin-etf-inflows-as-basis-trade-diminishes

‍Crypto Super PAC Backs Barry Moore with $5M for Senate Bid Defend American Jobs, an affiliate of Fairshake Super PAC, has committed $5 million to support Representative Barry Moore’s Senate campaign in Alabama. This substantial expenditure, running for five weeks and utilizing media advertisements, including Fox News Channel, underscores the crypto industry's push for legislative influence. The campaign highlights President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Moore, who has a legislative record supportive of digital assets, including his involvement with the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. Despite this backing, Moore faces a competitive primary. This $5M investment is part of a larger trend of crypto political spending, with Fairshake holding significant cash reserves. The industry aims to ensure a favorable regulatory environment for decentralized finance and digital asset markets. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/2/crypto-super-pac-commits-5m-to-support-barry-moore-s-senate-bid

‍White House Crypto Talks Yield Impasse Over Stablecoin Rewards The White House convened meetings between crypto industry representatives and banking groups to advance federal market structure legislation. While discussions were productive, a final agreement on stablecoin provisions remains elusive. A key point of contention is whether stablecoin holders should earn yield or interest. Banking lobbyists argue this poses a systemic risk to traditional deposits, proposing a ban on yield payments. The crypto industry, however, advocates for clarity and swift legislative action, with some urging to separate the yield debate from broader market structure goals to capitalize on current political momentum. The path forward hinges on reaching a compromise on stablecoin rewards. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/1/white-house-crypto-talks-reach-productive-phase-despite-yield-impasse

‍KuCoin Joins Humanitarian Mission in Sumatra Global cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin is partnering with the Global CSR Foundation, the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), and Yayasan Srikandi Merah Putih for the "A Matter of Dignity – Sumatra Relief" initiative. This mission aims to provide essential healthcare and nutritional support to disaster-affected regions in Aceh and Medan, Indonesia. The effort will distribute 5,000 menstrual hygiene kits, medicines, and fresh food supplies, with a focus on women in recovery. The distribution is set to begin in early April 2026. Sylvie Dong, CSR Director at KuCoin, stated, "Corporate responsibility means showing up in practical ways when communities are affected by disaster. KuCoin will continue to support CSR initiatives that address real needs and deliver meaningful help on the ground." https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9027/kucoin-partners-for-a-matter-of-dignity-relief-effort-in-sumatra

‍ARK Invest Forecasts Multi-Year AI CapEx Boom Reaching $527 Billion ARK Investment Management predicts a prolonged capital expenditure cycle driven by AI, with global hyperscale cloud providers fueling significant productivity gains. Goldman Sachs has revised its 2026 AI CapEx forecast to $527 billion, indicating infrastructure spending is surpassing previous expectations. This wave is led by Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, investing billions in computing and storage for AI models. This trend is impacting traditional software companies, with OpenAI launching GPT-5.3-Codex and Anthropic introducing open-source plugins for its Claude Cowork agent. The report also highlights a convergence of AI with life sciences, such as the collaboration between OpenAI and Ginkgo Bioworks for autonomous robotic drug discovery labs. Ryan Yoon, senior analyst at Tiger Research, noted, "The acceleration of investment reflects both preparation for the future and the risk of overcommitting capital to uncertain outcomes." In contrast, the automotive industry faces EV write-downs totaling $59 billion from manufacturers like Volkswagen, General Motors, and Ford, due to higher interest rates and macroeconomic factors. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9026/ark-invest-forecasts-multi-year-ai-capex-boom-reaching-527-billion

‍Tokenized Commodities Market Surges Past $6 Billion, Outpacing Crypto The market for tokenized commodities has seen a remarkable 53% surge in less than six weeks, now exceeding $6.1 billion. This rapid growth makes commodities the fastest-expanding sector within real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Gold-backed tokens are leading this rally, with Tether Gold (XAUt) reaching $3.6 billion and PAX Gold (PAXG) at $2.3 billion. This growth outpaces tokenized stocks and funds, reflecting a shift towards digital representations of precious metals for increased liquidity and accessibility. While gold achieves new all-time highs, Bitcoin (BTC) experiences significant volatility, leading some, like Grayscale, to question its "digital gold" narrative. Investors appear to favor the stability of tokenized gold over the crypto market's fluctuations. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9025/tokenized-commodities-surge-to-6b-as-gold-outpaces-crypto-growth

‍OpenAI Integrates ChatGPT into Pentagon's GenAI.mil Platform OpenAI has deployed a specialized version of ChatGPT onto the U.S. Department of Defense's GenAI.mil platform. This initiative aims to enhance unclassified administrative and operational tasks, expanding the military's generative AI capabilities. The integration follows the Pentagon's trend of adopting commercial technologies. ChatGPT joins Google Gemini and xAI Grok on the platform, with a focus on providing advanced tools for national defense under proper safeguards. Despite security measures, concerns persist regarding potential data leakage and "automation bias," where users may over-rely on AI outputs without sufficient verification. This deployment is part of a broader strategy to integrate AI across both unclassified and classified networks. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9024/openai-deploys-custom-chatgpt-for-pentagon-s-genai-mil-platform

‍Grayscale: Bitcoin's Correlation Shifts Toward Tech Stocks Grayscale Investments reports that Bitcoin (BTC) is now tracking technology stocks rather than safe-haven assets like gold. Over the past year, BTC's price action has aligned with high-valuation software companies and growth equities. This trend suggests market participants view Bitcoin as a high-risk, high-reward growth asset, mirroring declines in the Nasdaq during broad market risk aversion. While Bitcoin shares characteristics with gold, such as a fixed supply, its journey to becoming a global monetary asset is still in its early phases compared to gold's millennia-long history. Consequently, short-term BTC price discovery is influenced by macroeconomic factors and equity market performance. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9023/grayscale-analysis-bitcoin-correlation-shifts-toward-tech-stocks

‍Solana Foundation Chair Outlines Vision for "Internet of Capital Markets" Lily Liu, Chairman of the Solana Foundation, presented a vision for decentralized finance as the "internet of capital markets" at Consensus Hong Kong 2026. She emphasized blockchain's utility in transforming financial infrastructure through open, tokenized markets to democratize global asset access. Liu highlighted Asia as a core market due to its historical significance and current user base, noting its talent pool and infrastructure are crucial for deploying new financial technologies. This strategic shift signals a maturation of the Solana ecosystem towards institutional-grade services, leveraging its blockchain for the next generation of global finance. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9022/solana-foundation-chair-lily-liu-unveils-vision-for-global-capital-markets

‍Hong Kong Accelerates Web3 Growth Towards Global Hub Status Hong Kong is intensifying efforts to become a leading international center for digital asset innovation. At the Consensus Hong Kong conference on February 11, 2026, Chief Executive John Lee reiterated the government's commitment to a comprehensive regulatory framework. This strategy aims to foster sustainable Web3 development, balancing growth with investor protection. The region has finalized its legislative environment, moving from exploration to active policy implementation. Key advancements include the development of stablecoin regulations and licensing for virtual asset service providers (VASPs). Hong Kong leverages its position as a bridge between mainland China and global markets, integrating traditional finance with decentralized technologies and expanding its regulatory sandbox. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9021/hong-kong-fast-tracks-web3-growth-to-become-global-crypto-hub

‍Fairshake PAC Invests $5 Million in Alabama Senate Primary Fairshake PAC has committed $5 million to support Republican incumbent Barry Moore in the Alabama Senate primary, marking a significant entry into the 2026 election cycle. The funds will support an advertising campaign focusing on traditional political themes and Donald Trump's endorsement, deliberately omitting cryptocurrency mentions. This substantial investment, part of Fairshake's $193 million war chest, highlights the growing financial power of the crypto industry in U.S. politics. The PAC's strategy aims to elect lawmakers favorable to the digital asset sector. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9020/fairshake-pac-commits-5-million-to-alabama-senate-primary-race

‍Japan’s Financial Giants Pilot Stablecoin Securities Settlement A consortium of Japan's leading financial institutions, including Nomura Holdings, Daiwa Securities, MUFG Bank, SMBC, and Mizuho Bank, has launched a pilot project to integrate stablecoin-based settlements for traditional securities trading. The initiative aims to tokenize assets like stocks, bonds, and ETFs, using a Japanese yen-pegged stablecoin for real-time Delivery versus Payment (DvP). This system is designed to enable 24/7 settlements, reduce counterparty risk via smart contracts, and shorten current multi-day settlement cycles to near-instantaneous. The pilot, set to begin in February 2026, seeks to enhance market liquidity and attractiveness for investors. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9019/japan-s-financial-giants-launch-stablecoin-securities-pilot

‍Russia Approves Law for Seizure of Crypto Assets The State Duma of the Russian Federation has approved a new law enabling the seizure and confiscation of cryptocurrencies in criminal proceedings. Digital assets are now formally categorized as property, providing law enforcement with legal tools for virtual asset management during investigations. The legislation mandates detailed documentation of seized assets, including type, quantity, and wallet addresses. It also allows for transfer to state-controlled wallets and secure storage of private keys. The bill permits cooperation with foreign exchanges for asset recovery beyond domestic jurisdictions. The law is set to take effect ten days after publication, pending approval from the Federation Council and the President. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9018/russia-passes-new-law-for-seizure-and-confiscation-of-crypto-assets

‍Robinhood Launches Ethereum Layer-2 Testnet for Real-World Assets Robinhood has entered the blockchain infrastructure space with the launch of a public testnet for Robinhood Chain, an Ethereum Layer-2 network built on Arbitrum technology. This network is designed to facilitate the migration of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and digital products. The move signifies Robinhood's strategic expansion into decentralized financial rails, supporting financial-grade use cases requiring 24/7 trading and high-throughput settlement. The testnet offers developers access and documentation for building on the chain, which aims to support tokenized equities, perpetual futures, and stock-style digital tokens. This venture follows Robinhood's initiative to tokenize U.S. stocks and ETFs on the Arbitrum network. The company is creating a vertical ecosystem, similar to Coinbase's Base and Kraken's Ink, controlling both the user interface and the execution layer. The mainnet is scheduled for launch later in 2025. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9017/robinhood-debuts-ethereum-layer-2-testnet-for-real-world-assets

‍Michael Saylor Reaffirms MicroStrategy’s Long-Term Bitcoin Strategy Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, has dismissed market concerns about liquidating the company's Bitcoin holdings. He stated the firm remains committed to its digital asset accumulation policy and can withstand market fluctuations. Saylor highlighted MicroStrategy’s strong financial position, noting its net leverage is half that of standard investment-grade corporations and its cash reserves can cover 50 years of dividends. He characterized Bitcoin's volatility as an inherent feature of "digital capital," arguing its superior performance potential compensates for the risk. "We are not selling; we are continuing to buy Bitcoin," Saylor stated. "I anticipate buying Bitcoin every quarter moving forward." MicroStrategy aims to be a pioneer in corporate treasury adoption of decentralized assets, viewing Bitcoin as a superior form of capital and a permanent fixture in the blockchain ecosystem. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9016/michael-saylor-reaffirms-microstrategy-s-long-term-bitcoin-strategy

‍White House Meeting on Stablecoin Yields Concludes Without Agreement The White House recently hosted a meeting with banking and digital asset industry stakeholders to discuss the regulatory framework for stablecoin yields. While described as "productive," the session concluded without a definitive agreement on how interest-bearing digital assets should be governed. Banking associations presented "red lines," outlining regulatory boundaries they are unwilling to cross. Key developments included a shift in the banking sector's stance on transaction-based yields and the introduction of discussions around regulatory exemptions. Stuart Alderoty of Ripple noted a growing atmosphere for compromise. The lack of a final agreement highlights the complexity of integrating DeFi principles into the existing financial system. The focus will now move toward concrete legislative drafting. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/9015/white-house-stablecoin-yield-meeting-ends-with-no-final-agreement