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According to Decrypt, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida stated that Christopher Alexander Delgado, the former CEO of the cryptocurrency investment firm Goliath Ventures, was arrested for allegedly operating a $328 million "Ponzi scheme" and faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering, which could result in a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.The indictment shows that Delgado lured victims under the guise of investing in a cryptocurrency liquidity pool and promising monthly returns, but the funds were used to pay returns to earlier investors, purchase luxury homes, and finance extravagant activities. The monthly returns received by investors actually came from the funds of later investors. Victims confirmed by law enforcement will receive notice of their rights.

El Salvador officially launched the "Bitcoin Diploma 2" educational program on February 24, 2026, upgrading the national financial literacy curriculum.The program is led by the National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC), distributing new textbooks to public schools nationwide and incorporating Bitcoin-related content into the frameworks of sociology and mathematics courses. The new curriculum covers topics such as the Lightning Network, the history of money, central banking systems, and free market economics, using visual aids and case studies to explain concepts like hash rate, difficulty adjustment, and the UTXO model. The education department stated that approximately 3 hours of related courses will be scheduled each week. Additionally, the plan is being implemented alongside arrangements to deploy AI teaching tools in about 5,000 schools. Reports indicate that at the launch of this educational program, the El Salvador government is still advancing its Bitcoin reserve strategy.

Due to the Layer 2 solution Base announcing its transition from the OP Stack to its independently operated unified tech stack base/base, the native token OP of Optimism has dropped over 20% in price in the past 24 hours.Base stated that this move aims to improve development speed and reduce system complexity. In the future, node operators will need to migrate to the Base client to align with the hard fork. Base went live in 2023 as an OP Stack chain, and according to previous agreements, a portion of its sequencer revenue was to be submitted to the Optimism treasury. With Base transitioning to an independent architecture, this revenue stream will be retained by Base itself. Currently, the trading price of OP is $0.1436, down about 97% from its historical high of $4.84 set in 2024. In contrast, Base has not yet issued any tokens.

According to Forbes, over the past few weeks, the price of Ethereum has continued to fluctuate narrowly around $2,000. Several market observers have pointed out that this reflects Ethereum being caught in a "narrative gap."Analyst Callan Sarre stated, "For the past few years, the story of Ethereum has been simple—L2 carries the scale, while the base layer remains lean and secure. Now, L2 has processed billions of dollars in weekly trading volume, with fees dropping over 90%, but the question is where long-term value accumulates." The market is pushing zero-knowledge technology and privacy features closer to the base layer, "for traders clinging to old models, it feels like the ground is shifting beneath their feet."Sarre emphasized the contradiction between transparency and institutional demand: "Today, every Ethereum transaction is completely public and transparent, which doesn't work for CFOs managing corporate treasuries or funds deploying nine-figure positions. If Ethereum is to attract trillions in institutional capital, privacy must be built into the protocol layer."Grayscale began distributing staking rewards to U.S. Ethereum ETF holders in January, and BlackRock has also applied for its staking ETH fund. PrimeXBT senior market analyst Jonatan Randin stated, "This changes the nature of Ethereum ETFs—not just price exposure, but income-generating products." He emphasized that the growth of the options market is reshaping the asset's volatility characteristics, "the options market around spot ETFs introduces dynamics like covered calls and dealer hedging that didn't exist two years ago."

According to The Block, despite BitGo's stock price dropping on Tuesday, Mizuho Bank has given a positive outlook on the institutional-grade crypto custody platform in its first research report.Mizuho Bank analysts Dan Dolev and Alexander Jenkins described BitGo as a "military-grade custodian," believing that its long-term security record and focus on institutional clients constitute a core advantage in the increasingly competitive custody market.The report noted that over 80% of BitGo's revenue comes from recurring businesses such as custody and staking, rather than volatile trading activities, which sets it apart among crypto infrastructure companies. The analysts assigned BitGo a "buy" rating with a target price of $17, implying nearly 70% upside from the current trading price of about $10.15.Mizuho Bank expects that as stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets drive institutional adoption, the company's revenue growth will accelerate. Nevertheless, BitGo's stock price has fallen about 44% since its NYSE debut at an issuance price of $18 in January, reflecting the overall cautious sentiment in the market towards crypto-related stocks.

According to The Block, Benchmark maintains a "buy" rating on Metaplanet but has lowered its target price by more than half, stating that the company's latest financial report highlights the "prospects and risks" of its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy.Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer, in a research report on Tuesday, reduced the target price for the Tokyo-listed Bitcoin reserve company from 2,400 yen to 1,100 yen. He wrote that recent performance shows the "hope and danger" of the company's Bitcoin-centric financial strategy. The stock is traded under the OTC code MTPLF in the U.S., currently priced at about $2.20, having briefly fallen to around $1.85 earlier this month, close to its lowest level since the company began its Bitcoin purchasing strategy in April 2024.Metaplanet reported a net loss of $619 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, primarily due to non-cash valuation losses from its holdings caused by the decline in Bitcoin prices late last year. Nevertheless, its operational performance has significantly improved, with revenue and profits increasing due to Bitcoin-related financial services activities.A core pillar of Benchmark's investment logic is Metaplanet's continuously expanding Bitcoin revenue-generating business, which generates income through Bitcoin-related options and yield strategies. Analysts believe this segment allows the company to pay dividends on newly issued perpetual preferred shares without selling its core Bitcoin holdings, thereby funding subsequent BTC purchases through operating cash flow rather than asset sales.The company added that investor demand for these preferred instruments will likely determine whether Metaplanet can successfully continue to expand its financial reserves while controlling dilution risk.

According to Bitcoin News, attacks against Bitcoin holders in France are accelerating.Since 2017, there have been 47 recorded attacks against Bitcoin holders in France, with 38 occurring in the past 13 months. The vast majority of these incidents have happened recently, indicating a sharp increase in criminal activities targeting cryptocurrencies.

According to The Block, Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer has lowered the target price for Coinbase (COIN) from $421 to $267, a decrease of 37%, while reiterating a "buy" rating. This adjustment comes after the company announced its fourth-quarter financial results, which fell short of expectations due to an overall pullback in the crypto market, impacting both revenue and earnings.Palmer has reduced the fiscal year 2026 earnings per share (EPS) forecast by 21% to $5.34, with the EPS expectation for the first quarter of 2026 at $0.96, approximately 19% lower than the market consensus. However, based on the current stock price of about $164, the new target price still implies about 60% upside potential.The financial report shows that Coinbase's net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $1.71 billion, a 5% decrease quarter-over-quarter; the GAAP net loss was $667 million, primarily due to an unrealized loss of $718 million on crypto asset holdings and a strategic investment loss of $395 million. Despite short-term pressures, Palmer noted that the company's business structure is becoming "more diversified and resilient":Institutional trading revenue increased by 37% quarter-over-quarter to $185 million, benefiting from the acquisition of the derivatives platform Deribit for $2.9 billion last August;Stablecoin revenue grew by 3% quarter-over-quarter to $364 million, with USDC average balances reaching an all-time high;Subscription and services revenue reached $727.4 million, accounting for about 43% of net revenue, with full-year subscription and services revenue increasing by 23% year-over-year to $2.8 billion.The company expects subscription and services revenue for the first quarter of 2026 to be between $550 million and $630 million, with trading revenue for the period as of February 10 estimated at about $420 million. As of the end of 2025, the company held $11.3 billion in cash and had repurchased $1.7 billion in stock in the fourth quarter and early February, with the board also approving an additional $2 billion repurchase authorization.

According to the official announcement, on February 12, Gate founder and CEO Dr. Han was invited to attend the main stage of the Consensus HK event, where he delivered a keynote speech on "Rebuilding Finance for Intelligent Web3." Dr. Han stated that Gate has gradually evolved from an early cryptocurrency trading platform into a comprehensive Web3 platform that integrates CEX, DEX, and AI capabilities. The platform currently has over 49 million global users, and in terms of products, centralized trading covers spot, contracts, options, and TradFi assets, while the decentralized direction includes the construction of infrastructure such as Gate Layer, Perp DEX, Gate Fun, Meme Go, and Gate DEX.When discussing industry development trends, Dr. Han pointed out that as the ecosystem expands, the barriers for users to understand information and complete transactions continue to increase. Therefore, Dr. Han proposed the development direction of "Intelligent Web3," and Gate has officially launched GateAI, which is deeply integrated into the Gate App to help users optimize their trading and asset management experience. Gate is exploring a more efficient and scalable Web3 financial infrastructure path through the synergy of AI capabilities and a diverse product system.

Grok AI, owned by Elon Musk, has confirmed that X Money is considering integrating BTC.

According to Nikkei News, Japan's Nomura Holdings and Daiwa Securities Group are collaborating with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, and Mizuho Financial Group to jointly promote a pilot project for securities trading based on stablecoins, aiming to achieve 24-hour real-time settlement on the blockchain.The project plans to convert assets such as stocks, government bonds, corporate bonds, investment trusts, and ETFs into digital securities. After investors place orders through brokers, transactions will be settled in real-time using yen stablecoins jointly issued by the three major banks, with asset rights simultaneously transferred to the buyer. The experiment is expected to start as early as this month after notifying financial regulatory authorities, and may attract more financial institutions in the future.The project aims to support round-the-clock trading through the tamper-proof characteristics of blockchain, extending trading hours and shortening settlement cycles to invigorate the markets for stocks, bonds, and investment trusts. However, implementation still faces compliance and practical challenges related to broker order verification and other operational processes, and the pilot will focus on identifying and addressing related obstacles.

Guotai Junan Securities released a research report stating that HashKey HLDGS (03887.HK), as a leading licensed digital asset company in Hong Kong, is initiating coverage with a "Buy" rating and a target price of HKD 10.14.The core logic is based on three points: first, the company holds a full license from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) under categories 1/7/9, with a market share exceeding 75% and significant compliance barriers; second, institutional business accounts for 85.5%, with Omnibus client trading volume increasing nearly fivefold, and the proportion of institutional revenue is expected to rise significantly to 68% in H1 2025; third, the development of digital asset ETFs is driving institutional demand, and the company's integrated ecosystem (trading + on-chain services + asset management) creates a competitive advantage.In terms of finance, it is estimated that revenue will reach HKD 782 million, HKD 1.211 billion, and HKD 2.338 billion in 2025-2027, with net profit losses gradually narrowing (HKD -1.084 billion, -0.717 billion, -0.047 billion). Using the PS valuation method and referencing comparable companies like Coinbase, a 12x PS is applied, corresponding to a market value of HKD 28.1 billion.

At the Gate annual gala, Gate founder and CEO Dr. Han stated that as AI deeply integrates into production processes, the global work landscape is undergoing dramatic changes; the combination of AI and Web3 is not merely a functional overlay, but a systematic reconstruction of financial infrastructure and value distribution methods.Dr. Han pointed out that up to 90% of traditional job capability models will face the risk of being restructured or eliminated in the future. According to the report "The Tech Job Market in 2025/2026" published by Ravio, the hiring rate for entry-level positions (P1/P2) has decreased by approximately 73% year-on-year, with declines in marketing, engineering research and development, and product design roles exceeding 69%. Dr. Han emphasized that efficiency and speed are becoming core competitive advantages, and companies must fully embrace AI to reshape product forms and user experiences.Dr. Han stressed that the core value of TradFi lies in bridging the gap between on-chain assets and real-world finance, which not only enhances the stability and efficiency of asset connections but also becomes a key entry point for value to transition from the digital world to the real world. The dual drive of AI and TradFi marks a significant leap of Web3 towards intelligent and tangible finance.

Trend Research is accelerating the sale of Ethereum to repay loans. In the past 10 hours, Trend Research has sold 170,033 ETH, worth approximately $322.5 million; it currently holds 293,121 ETH, worth approximately $563 million.

Binance founder CZ stated on the X platform that he is working with more countries to promote the issuance of their own fiat stablecoins, and he mentioned that "every fiat currency should be represented on-chain."

According to GlobeNewswire, Bitcoin financial services company Fold has announced the launch of a brand new unified app experience.This update integrates Bitcoin rewards, everyday spending, and account activity into an intuitive financial hub, aiming to provide users with a clearer and more convenient view of their financial management.

According to the Beijing Business Daily, new developments have emerged in the regulation of stablecoins in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Eddie Yue, stated that 36 applications for stablecoin issuer licenses have been received, and the relevant assessment work is being expedited, aiming to issue the first batch of stablecoin licenses in March, although the number will be kept prudent and limited.Eddie Yue emphasized that one of the key focuses of the review is risk management capabilities, including the application scenarios of stablecoins, reserve asset allocation, and cross-border compliance arrangements. In the future, if cross-border businesses involve the mainland, Singapore, London, and ASEAN, the relevant institutions must also comply with local regulatory requirements.Industry insiders pointed out that the issuance of the first batch of licenses is expected to promote the development of a compliant stablecoin ecosystem in Hong Kong, driving financial innovations such as tokenized assets and cross-border payments, further consolidating Hong Kong's international position in the digital finance sector. However, the Monetary Authority has clearly insisted on a regulatory approach that prioritizes stability, believing that stablecoin businesses should first be strictly regulated and gradually advanced, with rules optimized based on practical situations.The regulatory authorities also warned to be vigilant against illegal financial activities that use "stablecoins" as a gimmick. Industry experts advise investors to stay away from unlicensed stablecoin products, and participation in Hong Kong licensed stablecoin-related businesses across borders must also comply with mainland foreign exchange and cross-border regulatory requirements to prevent market speculation risks.

The Chief Operating Officer of Jarsy Yiying Hu has confirmed attendance at the "Build and Scale in 2026" themed forum to be held in Hong Kong on February 10. This event is co-hosted by ChainCatcher, RootData, and Alibaba Cloud, and is one of the important peripheral activities of the Consensus HongKong conference.Jarsy is a platform that transforms private equity into asset-backed tokens, making pre-IPO investments simple, transparent, and cost-effective. This forum will focus on industry convergence trends, growth paths, and market opportunities in the new cycle, with in-depth discussions around key tracks such as RWA, stablecoins, AI, payments, and DeFi. The event aims to bring together high-quality project parties, investment institutions, and developers from around the world to build a high-value industry network and jointly explore future opportunities and value potential in the Web3 ecosystem.Event registration: https://luma.com/md5v6b5z

According to CoinDesk, stablecoin issuer Tether has announced the launch of its open-source Bitcoin mining operating system, MiningOS. The system is designed to simplify mining infrastructure management and reduce reliance on proprietary vendor software.Tether describes MiningOS as a modular and scalable operating system suitable for a range of operations from home miners to large institutions. It employs a self-hosted architecture that allows miners to manage their mining activities without relying on centralized services, communicating with devices through an integrated peer-to-peer network. The system is built on the Holepunch peer-to-peer protocol and is released under the Apache 2 license, aiming to maintain its open-source nature without third-party dependencies.