‍FCA Takes Legal Action Against HTX for Unauthorized Promotions The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched legal proceedings against cryptocurrency exchange HTX. The regulator alleges HTX persistently violated financial promotion rules by targeting UK consumers without authorization, despite prior warnings. HTX reportedly used its website, TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram to disseminate unauthorized promotional content, defying regulations designed to ensure crypto advertisements are fair and clear. The FCA expressed concern over HTX's opaque corporate structure and lack of transparency. While HTX has restricted new UK registrations, the FCA deems these measures insufficient and notes existing users still have access to promotional materials. This action sets a precedent for how UK authorities will handle global platforms ignoring local compliance. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/27/fca-launches-legal-action-against-htx-over-unauthorized-promotions

‍CME-Backed BlockFills Halts Withdrawals Amid Liquidity Concerns BlockFills, a cryptocurrency trading and lending platform with backing from CME Ventures and Susquehanna Private Equity, has suspended customer withdrawals and deposits. The move, effective the first week of February 2026, aims to protect clients and restore liquidity. While trading functions are partially operational, the firm has not provided a timeline for resuming full services. The lack of transparency regarding the liquidity deficit is causing uncertainty among its institutional clientele, including hedge funds and asset managers. This situation underscores the risks associated with centralized lending entities in the digital asset sector. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/26/cme-backed-blockfills-suspends-withdrawals-amid-liquidity-crisis

‍Crypto Market Growth Limited by Credit Shortage and Lack of Prime Brokerage Recent crypto market corrections, particularly the one in October 2025, have exposed critical liquidity issues stemming from a shortage in crypto credit and the absence of robust prime brokerage services. Unlike traditional finance, crypto trading often requires 100% upfront capital, and capital withdrawals during volatility drastically widen spreads. The limited participation of investment banks due to Basel III regulations exacerbates this problem. The industry requires native crypto prime brokers to provide essential credit, enabling market makers and institutional investors to utilize capital more dynamically. The evolution of market structure, moving towards a credit-based ecosystem, is deemed crucial for sustainable growth and global institutional adoption. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/25/crypto-market-growth-hinges-on-expanded-credit-and-prime-brokerage

‍SEC Chair Faces Scrutiny Over Crypto Enforcement Policy Shift SEC Chair Paul Atkins appeared before the House Financial Services Committee on February 12, 2026, addressing allegations of a relaxed regulatory approach. Lawmakers questioned the rationale behind withdrawing high-profile legal cases, including those against Justin Sun and Tron Foundation, citing potential market manipulation and unregistered securities offerings. Representative Maxine Waters led the inquiry, questioning if political ties influenced the decisions, particularly concerning Sun's business connections. The hearing also touched upon the impartiality of regulatory actions and the evolving application of the Howey Test for digital tokens. This shift signals a potential pivot toward a more lenient regulatory framework, though lawmakers continue to demand accountability and investor protection. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/24/sec-chair-paul-atkins-faced-scrutiny-over-crypto-enforcement-policy

‍Coinbase Launches Agentic Wallets for Autonomous AI Transactions Coinbase has introduced Agentic Wallets, enabling AI programs to autonomously manage digital assets, trade, and engage in DeFi on Ethereum Layer-2 via the Base network. This infrastructure allows AI to act as active participants in the digital economy, executing financial strategies without human intervention. The development builds on Coinbase's AgentKit framework and utilizes the x402 protocol. This innovation mirrors trends across the industry, with Lightning Labs enabling AI agents on the Bitcoin Lightning Network and Crypto.com launching ai.com. Experts predict a future where billions of AI agents utilize stablecoins and cryptocurrencies for transactions. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/23/coinbase-launches-agentic-wallets-for-autonomous-ai-transactions

‍Strategy CEO Unveils Perpetual Preferred Stock to Curb Volatility Phong Le, CEO of Strategy, announced plans to expand the issuance of perpetual preferred stock, dubbed "Stretch," to stabilize the company's market valuation. This move aims to provide a buffer against the volatility of common equity, which is often correlated with Bitcoin (BTC). "Stretch" is designed to trade near its par value of $100, featuring a monthly resetting dividend rate, currently at 11.25% as of February 2026. This product offers advantages such as raising capital without diluting common shareholders, reducing portfolio beta for risk-averse investors, and providing a consistent funding source for digital capital acquisitions. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/22/strategy-ceo-unveils-perpetual-preferred-stock-to-curb-volatility

‍US Job Growth Delays Fed Rate Cut Expectations, Impacting Crypto Recent US non-farm payrolls data reveal unexpected employment strength, shifting Federal Reserve rate cut forecasts from June to July. This macroeconomic shift is affecting risk assets like Bitcoin (BTC), as traders weigh a strong economy against prolonged high borrowing costs. Yields on US Treasury notes have risen, signaling market anticipation of a "higher for longer" interest rate environment. While higher rates typically pressure the crypto sector, the robust US economy may support general risk appetite. Analyst Bret Kenwell suggests viewing the employment report favorably, as a strong economy supports a long-term positive outlook for digital assets, despite potential short-term volatility due to delayed liquidity expansion. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/21/us-job-surge-delays-fed-rate-cut-hopes-as-yields-impact-crypto-markets

‍Mass Exodus at xAI Amid Safety Concerns Senior researchers, including co-founders Jimmy Ba and Yuhuai “Tony” Wu, are departing Elon Musk’s xAI between February 3-11, 2026. These resignations coincide with new safety warnings from Anthropic and regulatory scrutiny of OpenAI. Departures from xAI, which is merging with SpaceX, follow concerns about "recursive self-improvement loops" in AI systems. Meanwhile, Anthropic has implemented high-level safeguards for its Claude Opus 4.6 model due to "sabotage risks." OpenAI faces allegations of violating California's SB 53 safety law with its GPT-5.3-Codex model. Former researcher Zoë Hitzig noted that economic incentives are increasingly overriding safety rules. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/20/ai-industry-alarm-mass-resignations-at-xai-amid-new-safety-risks

‍Sonic Labs Adopts Vertical Integration to Boost S Token Value Sonic Labs is shifting from a Layer 1 gas fee model to a vertically integrated strategy. This involves developing or acquiring core applications and financial primitives to capture value directly. Trading fees and protocol income will now be directed towards the S token to ensure long-term sustainability, addressing issues of blockspace oversupply and fee compression. The new model focuses on a suite of integrated products, including decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, and payment gateways. Revenue will be recycled to reduce user acquisition costs, moving away from broad airdrops towards a more disciplined fiscal approach. Future S token buybacks will be funded by protocol revenue, not treasury drawdowns, creating a self-sustaining loop for token holders. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/19/sonic-labs-shifts-to-vertical-integration-for-enhanced-s-token-value

‍SEC Chair Proposes New Crypto Legislation and Regulatory Streamlining SEC Chair Gary Gensler has outlined a plan to modernize financial oversight, focusing on simplifying corporate disclosures, advancing cryptocurrency legislation, and reducing regulatory costs. Gensler supports the CLARITY Act to provide legal certainty for crypto assets, acknowledging the current framework is inadequate. The SEC is collaborating with the CFTC on token classification and developing on-chain transaction exemptions. The initiative also aims to reduce burdens on public companies for IPOs and optimize internal systems, ensuring investor protection while fostering innovation in the blockchain ecosystem. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/36/sec-chair-proposes-new-crypto-legislation-and-regulatory-streamlining

‍HTX Launches Trading Championship II With $1.5M Prize Pool and Gold Global cryptocurrency exchange HTX has announced the HTX Trading Championship II, running from February 11 to March 23, 2026. The event features a $1.5 million prize pool and includes a Points Contest with $400,000 in physical gold rewards, an advanced Trading Challenge, and an AI-powered Team Battle. This initiative aims to boost user engagement through a "trade-as-you-earn" model, combining various trading activities with incentives. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/35/htx-launches-trading-championship-ii-with-1-5m-prize-pool-and-gold

‍Solana ETFs See Strongest Inflows Since January Amid Price Decline Solana (SOL) spot ETFs in the U.S. recorded $8.43 million in net inflows on February 10, the highest daily volume since mid-January. This institutional interest contrasts with SOL's price slump, attributed to macroeconomic uncertainty. Bitwise and Fidelity led the demand, boosting total assets under management to $700.21 million. Despite a 42% monthly price decline for SOL, Standard Chartered raised its 2030 price target to $2,000, though immediate sentiment remains bearish. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/34/solana-etfs-record-best-inflows-since-january-amid-price-slump

‍SBF Seeks New Trial, Citing Alleged DOJ Witness Intimidation Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of FTX, is seeking to overturn his fraud conviction, alleging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) pressured key witnesses. In a motion filed under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 33, Bankman-Fried claims new evidence shows intimidation prevented the jury from hearing testimony on the exchange's financial health. The motion centers on declarations from former FTX data science head Daniel Chapsky, who reportedly claims he and others were discouraged from testifying by warnings of retaliatory action from the prosecution. Chapsky's testimony, if heard, was intended to refute claims of customer fund misuse and demonstrate the solvency of FTX and Alameda Research, challenging the prosecution's narrative of insolvency due to an $8.9 billion shortfall. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/33/sbf-files-for-new-trial-citing-alleged-witness-intimidation-by-doj

‍Aurora Labs Simplifies NEAR Integration with Intents Widget Aurora Labs has launched the Intents Widget, a tool to ease the integration of NEAR Intents into third-party applications. Released on February 11, 2026, this solution bypasses complex frontend and backend development, enabling developers to embed cross-chain liquidity features directly into their platforms. The widget automates routing, wallet flows, and cross-chain execution, streamlining processes that previously required significant engineering. A browser-based configurator, the Intents Widget Studio, allows for network and asset selection, routing customization, and the generation of embed codes. This move towards standardized, interoperable DeFi components aims to reduce user friction by allowing single-transaction funding across multiple chains. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/32/aurora-labs-launches-intents-widget-to-streamline-near-integration

‍Lombard Bridges Institutional Bitcoin Custody with DeFi Lombard is set to launch Bitcoin Smart Accounts in Q1 2026, integrating institutional custody with DeFi. This allows institutions to use BTC as on-chain collateral without losing control or moving assets. The system uses a BTC.b receipt token, enabling access to liquidity pools while retaining ownership. Initial partner Morpho will provide lending for isolated Bitcoin. This follows similar institutional yield products from Coinbase, Solv Protocol, and Fireblocks. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/31/lombard-to-bridge-institutional-bitcoin-custody-and-defi-markets

‍Bybit and Doppler Finance Launch Institutional XRP Yield Products Bybit, the second-largest crypto exchange, has partnered with Doppler Finance to offer institutional-grade yield products for XRP. This collaboration addresses XRP's lack of native staking by providing a secure, transparent, and compliant yield-generating infrastructure within Bybit Earn. The new platform utilizes specialized XRP-native yield vaults and risk-managed strategies. Key features include regulated custody, audited reserves, and real-time verification, bridging TradFi security standards with DeFi innovation. This initiative aims to serve both Bybit's retail users and institutional clients seeking compliant digital asset rewards, reinforcing Bybit's commitment to a trusted trading ecosystem. Doppler Finance's architecture is optimized for XRPfi, offering capital efficiency and a high safety profile. This integration signifies a growing trend in tokenization and institutional-grade yield models, enhancing XRP Ledger's utility and providing holders with a verified path to earn rewards. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/30/bybit-and-doppler-finance-launch-institutional-xrp-yield-products

‍BTCC Launches BTCC Earn with Up to 20% APY and New User Bonuses Global cryptocurrency exchange BTCC has launched BTCC Earn, a new suite of financial products offering passive income on digital assets. The platform introduces Flexible Savings with up to 20% APY. New users can access a special 300% APY on USDT for a 2-day fixed term within seven days of registration. BTCC Earn's Flexible component allows users to earn competitive yields while maintaining full liquidity and immediate access to their assets, supporting various blockchains. Established in 2011, BTCC serves over 11 million users in over 100 countries. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/29/btcc-exchange-debuts-earn-program-with-20-flexible-apy-and-bonuses

‍TPS: The Myth vs. Reality of Blockchain Scalability Headline TPS figures often mislead, failing to account for decentralized verification costs and network latency. Carter Feldman of Psy Protocol explains that isolated benchmarks, like testing on a single node, don't reflect real-world blockchain performance. Historical examples like EOS and Solana demonstrate a significant drop in TPS when moving from test environments to live networks. Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs offer a promising scaling solution by bundling transaction verification, but integrating them into existing architectures remains complex. Investors should consider economic signals like transaction fees for a more accurate assessment of a blockchain's health. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/28/why-blockchain-tps-numbers-collapse-under-real-world-conditions

‍XRP Price Analysis: Analysts Forecast Potential Drop Below $1 XRP has retraced approximately 63% from its peak, currently near $1.36. Technical indicators suggest further downward pressure, with analysts monitoring the Gaussian Channel at $1.16. A sustained move below $1.12 could trigger a decline toward the $0.70-$1.00 range. However, on-chain metrics and institutional flows offer a bullish divergence. Spot XRP ETFs have seen $1.23 billion in net inflows, reaching $1.01 billion in assets under management. Network activity on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has surged, with active addresses reaching a six-month high. Large-scale investors are also increasing their positions. This indicates a battle between bearish chart patterns and bullish fundamental growth. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/27/xrp-price-analysis-why-analysts-forecast-a-possible-drop-below-1

‍LayerZero Labs Unveils Zero: New L1 Blockchain Targets 2 Million TPS LayerZero Labs has introduced Zero, a Layer 1 blockchain designed for extreme scalability, aiming for 2 million transactions per second (TPS) per "Zone." This innovative protocol employs a heterogeneous architecture, leveraging Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs to separate roles between Block Producers and Block Validators, enabling verification on consumer-grade hardware. The roadmap includes a Fall 2026 launch with specialized environments for EVM, privacy-focused payments, and institutional trading. Industry experts suggest Zero's potential to significantly advance blockchain technology. The success will hinge on technical execution and network security. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/26/layerzero-unveils-zero-new-l1-blockchain-targets-2-million-tps