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Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump and co-founder of the family-backed crypto firm World Liberty Financial, has publicly criticised banks over their stance on cryptocurrency regulation while debate continues in Washington over how stablecoins should be treated. In a post on X, he claimed banks were aggressively targeting cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, echoing comments made earlier by his father, who argued that banks were holding up progress on a market structure bill in the US Senate.
Disagreements over whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield or rewards to users have created a major divide among lawmakers, banks and crypto companies. Many in the crypto industry, including Eric Trump, oppose a ban, saying it would prevent platforms from offering benefits to customers, while banking groups warn such incentives could weaken the traditional credit system and encourage people to move deposits away from banks. The legislation, known as the CLARITY Act after passing the House in July, has been delayed by a government shutdown and ongoing disputes over issues including stablecoins and tokenised equities, with the Senate banking committee yet to set a new date to consider the bill. Source
Core Scientific has secured up to $1 billion in financing from Morgan Stanley as it accelerates plans to shift its business away from Bitcoin mining and towards building data centre infrastructure for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. The Austin, Texas-based company said the agreement initially allows it to borrow up to $500 million, with the possibility of accessing another $500 million later. The funding is expected to support the development of high-density colocation facilities, expansion to additional sites and securing more power capacity for data centres.
Chief executive Adam Sullivan said the financing would allow the company to deploy capital more quickly and bring new projects online faster as demand for AI infrastructure grows. Core Scientific currently operates seven facilities in the United States and has already begun transitioning one Texas site away from Bitcoin mining. The company has also indicated it may sell most of its remaining Bitcoin holdings to help fund the shift, after previously selling 1,900 Bitcoin for $175 million, leaving fewer than 1,000 coins. Although mining still generates most of its revenue, the firm aims to fully move away from the activity within three years while expanding its data centre business. Source
US Bitcoin miner CleanSpark sold 553 Bitcoin from its February production for about $36.6 million while producing a total of 568 Bitcoin during the month. The Nasdaq-listed company ended February with 13,363 Bitcoin in its treasury and continued expanding its infrastructure by completing the purchase of a second Texas campus, adding 300 megawatts of power capacity approved by the state’s grid operator. Its mining fleet reached 235,588 machines by the end of the month, operating with a peak hashrate of 50 EH/s and an average of 43.2 EH/s, while its total contracted power capacity stands at 1.8 gigawatts.
The company has produced 1,141 Bitcoin so far this year and said 1,086 Bitcoin from its holdings are tied up as collateral or receivables linked to derivatives transactions. Like several other mining firms, CleanSpark is also preparing parts of its infrastructure to support artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads as miners look to monetise energy-heavy data centre capacity beyond cryptocurrency mining. Other companies in the sector have also been selling Bitcoin to fund similar expansions, including Riot Platforms, Bitdeer and Core Scientific, although MARA Holdings has denied speculation that it plans to change its strategy of holding large Bitcoin reserves. Source
Kraken has become the first crypto-native company to gain direct access to the US Federal Reserve’s payment infrastructure after its banking arm, Kraken Financial, received approval for a Federal Reserve master account from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The account allows the firm to connect directly to Fedwire, the central bank’s real-time settlement network used by major banks, meaning it can move US dollar payments without relying on intermediary banks. The approval comes with limitations, preventing Kraken from earning interest on reserves held at the Fed or accessing emergency lending facilities, making it what regulators describe as a limited or “skinny” master account.
The decision has drawn criticism from traditional banking groups, which warned that allowing a crypto company access to the Federal Reserve’s core payment rails could pose risks to financial stability. Supporters in the crypto sector, however, have described it as a major step towards integrating digital asset infrastructure with the traditional financial system, with policymakers such as Senator Cynthia Lummis calling it a watershed moment for the industry. The move could also improve the speed and reliability of fiat deposits and withdrawals for crypto users, while signalling a potential shift in the regulatory environment that may open the door for other crypto firms seeking similar access. Source
Solana exchange-traded funds in the United States have maintained strong inflows despite the cryptocurrency losing more than half its value since the products launched in July. The token has fallen 57 percent over that period, yet the ETFs have still accumulated about $1.5 billion in inflows without giving much back. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said roughly half of the inflows are coming from institutional investors, suggesting a serious and resilient investor base even during a sharp market downturn.
When adjusted for market size, Balchunas said the inflows into Solana ETFs are equivalent to about $54 billion compared with Bitcoin’s market scale, roughly double the level seen by Bitcoin ETFs at the same stage. He noted that launching ETFs during such a steep price decline would normally make it extremely difficult to attract investment, making Solana’s performance unusual. Although the funds recently recorded their first net outflow day in over a month, Solana itself remains far below its January 2025 all-time high of $293 and is currently trading around $88 after further declines this year. Source
Cardano’s ADA token can now be used as a payment method in 137 Spar supermarkets across Switzerland following the blockchain’s integration with the fiat on- and off-ramp platform DFX.swiss. The system uses the Open Crypto Pay payment standard, which already supports cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and several stablecoins. Customers can pay directly from their Cardano wallets by scanning a QR code at the checkout, while retailers receive the payment in Swiss francs regardless of the cryptocurrency used.
The rollout means Spar stores across Switzerland and neighbouring Liechtenstein can process crypto payments through the same system, although some locations such as Geneva, Bern and Davos are not yet included. Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard said the partnership is intended to support a future financial ecosystem where paying with ADA becomes as routine as using a bank card. Switzerland continues to position itself as an early adopter of cryptocurrency, with hundreds of businesses in Lugano already accepting Bitcoin, although the Swiss National Bank has previously rejected the idea of holding Bitcoin in its currency reserves due to concerns about volatility and liquidity. Source
Construction has begun on a large quantum computing facility being developed by PsiQuantum that aims to house a machine with around 1 million qubits, a scale scientists say could eventually be powerful enough to break the cryptography used by Bitcoin. Co-founder Peter Shadbolt shared that roughly 500 tons of steel were erected at the Chicago site within six days as work progresses on the project. The company previously raised $1 billion to build the facility alongside chipmaker Nvidia, with the goal of creating a quantum system capable of operating even with errors and supporting next-generation artificial intelligence supercomputers.
The development has revived debate about whether quantum computing could one day threaten Bitcoin’s security, though opinions differ widely on the timeline. Some researchers estimate that around 100,000 qubits may be needed to break certain cryptographic keys, while the largest current quantum computer has just over 6,000 qubits. Bitcoin developers are discussing possible protective measures such as a hard fork, although some industry figures believe a practical threat is still many years away. Research from CoinShares also suggests the immediate risk is limited, estimating that only about 10,230 Bitcoin currently sit in wallet addresses vulnerable to quantum attacks, an amount that would represent a relatively routine market trade if sold. Source
Gamification is becoming an increasingly important strategy in digital marketing, and platforms such as Markethive are integrating it to create more engaging experiences for users and businesses. By combining elements such as rewards, challenges and incentives with inbound marketing, the platform aims to transform passive online interactions into active participation. Markethive positions itself as a supportive market network designed for entrepreneurs, emphasising privacy, security and community while enabling businesses to connect with audiences through content, social engagement and gamified mechanics.
One example is the introduction of Flying Video Ads, interactive advertisements that move across a user’s screen and reward viewers with Hivecoin for engaging with the content. Instead of traditional disruptive advertising, the model encourages users to watch or interact with videos in exchange for rewards, turning advertising into a micro-task that benefits both the viewer and the advertiser. The approach is designed to increase engagement, improve brand recall and provide advertisers with higher-quality interaction data, while users gain incentives and discover relevant products and services within a privacy-focused ecosystem. Source
ZeroHash has applied for a national trust bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in the United States, aiming to expand its role in digital asset infrastructure. The proposed entity, ZeroHash National Trust Bank, would not operate as a traditional retail bank and would not offer lending, deposit accounts or FDIC-insured services. Instead, the company plans to focus on specialised digital asset functions such as custody of cryptocurrencies and fiat assets, custodial staking and validation, transfer agent services, trade execution, stablecoin management, and settlement, clearing and escrow services. The application follows a funding round in January that raised $250 million and valued the company at $1.5 billion, after earlier acquisition discussions with Mastercard did not proceed.
The OCC’s pipeline of crypto-related banking applications has expanded significantly, with firms including Morgan Stanley Digital Trust and World Liberty Trust Company also seeking approvals, while charters were granted in December to companies such as Circle, Ripple, Paxos, Fidelity and BitGo. At the same time, UK fintech firm Revolut is pursuing a different path by applying for a full US banking charter that would allow it to offer checking and savings accounts to American customers as part of its broader global expansion strategy. Revolut has also shown interest in digital assets and was recently selected to participate in the UK’s stablecoin regulatory sandbox, which is intended to help shape final rules expected later this year. Source
US banking regulators have clarified that tokenised securities will be treated the same as traditional securities under existing bank capital rules. The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said the regulatory framework is technology neutral, meaning the method used to issue or trade a security does not normally change its capital treatment. As a result, eligible tokenised securities held by financial institutions will receive the same regulatory treatment as their non-tokenised equivalents.
The guidance also states that banks will not be required to over-collateralise holdings of tokenised securities on their balance sheets, unlike the stricter treatment often applied to more volatile or unproven digital assets. Derivatives linked to tokenised securities will likewise be treated the same as derivatives tied to the traditional version of those assets, and tokenised securities can still qualify as financial collateral if they meet liquidity and ownership requirements. Regulators said the clarification comes as interest in asset tokenisation grows among major financial institutions seeking benefits such as blockchain-based settlement and around-the-clock trading. Source
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang indicated that the chipmaker is likely finished with major investments in AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic, citing the imminent IPOs of both firms as a key factor. The recent $30 billion investment into OpenAI, down from a previously announced $100 billion commitment, and the $10 billion investment in Anthropic are expected to be the final rounds from Nvidia. The company has emphasised that private funding deals typically close before a public listing, but the decision also reflects Nvidia’s desire to avoid taking sides amid intensifying tensions between the two AI labs and scrutiny from US authorities.
Both OpenAI and Anthropic are embroiled in controversy, particularly over Pentagon contracts, with Anthropic refusing to allow its technology to be used for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance, while OpenAI secured its own Department of Defense deal. This has sparked public backlash, including the QuitGPT movement that saw millions of users cancel subscriptions or protest against OpenAI. Nvidia’s position is complicated by its investments in both companies while also supplying GPUs to all major AI players, making neutrality critical for business. Stepping back from equity investments allows Nvidia to maintain this neutral stance while avoiding the reputational and operational risks associated with being caught in the middle of regulatory and competitive conflicts. Source
Vancouver city staff have recommended closing a council motion that explored holding Bitcoin in municipal reserves, concluding that provincial law does not permit the city to invest in cryptocurrency. The Vancouver Charter, which governs municipal operations and investments, bars Bitcoin from being treated as an allowable reserve asset. The proposal, initially backed over a year ago by Mayor Ken Sim, had considered the city accepting taxes and fees in crypto and potentially converting part of its financial reserves into Bitcoin, but legal restrictions prevented progress from the outset.
The recommendation to close the motion follows a review of outstanding council items and is part of a broader reprioritisation of staff resources. Council member Pete Fry, the sole opponent of the proposal, expressed that he had assumed it was already dead in the water. Industry observers noted that the decision was unsurprising given the legal and treasury-related barriers, suggesting the initial proposal reflected the mayor’s personal enthusiasm for Bitcoin more than a practical municipal finance strategy. Source
Solv Protocol, a Bitcoin-based decentralized finance platform, revealed that one of its token vaults was exploited for $2.7 million. The breach affected fewer than 10 users, and the project has offered the attacker a 10% bounty if the stolen funds are returned. The exploit involved a bug that allowed the hacker to mint tokens, which were then swapped for Solv Protocol BTC, a token pegged to Bitcoin, with a total loss of 38.05 SolvBTC. Solv has implemented measures to prevent a repeat of the attack and is working with crypto security firms Hypernative, SlowMist, and CertiK to investigate the incident.
The vulnerability reportedly originated from a smart contract flaw that enabled the attacker to mint excessive tokens, carrying out the exploit 22 times and converting the tokens into just over 38 SolvBTC. This type of attack, known as a re-entrancy attack, has affected multiple DeFi protocols over the years. Solv has shared an Ethereum wallet address to encourage the hacker to claim the bounty, but no communication has been made yet. The protocol manages over 24,000 Bitcoin, equivalent to more than $1.7 billion, making it the largest on-chain Bitcoin reserve. Source
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has moved to partially resolve its enforcement case against crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and related entities, including the Tron Foundation and BitTorrent Foundation. Under the proposed settlement, Rainberry Inc., the company behind BitTorrent, will pay a $10 million civil penalty and accept an injunction preventing deceptive practices in securities offerings. In return, the SEC will dismiss its remaining claims against Sun and affiliated entities with prejudice, meaning the agency cannot pursue the same allegations again. Sun welcomed the resolution, emphasising his intention to continue building and collaborating with the SEC on future crypto regulations.
The case, first filed in 2023, accused Sun and his companies of selling unregistered securities and manipulating the TRX token market through wash trading. Rainberry agreed to the settlement without admitting or denying the allegations, a standard SEC practice. The move has sparked criticism from some lawmakers and financial reform advocates, who argue that the SEC’s decision represents a lenient approach to enforcement and fails to address broader concerns about Sun’s ties to China and other crypto ventures. The proposed judgment still requires approval from a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, and observers note that the resolution removes one of the most prominent regulatory uncertainties surrounding Sun and his companies. Source
Public Bitcoin mining companies have sold over 15,000 BTC since October, reflecting a shift away from the industry’s previous treasury-holding strategy. The sell-off comes amid tighter margins, debt pressures, and the aftermath of a market crash that forced widespread deleveraging. Major miners contributing to the sales include Cango, which sold around 60% of its reserves, Bitdeer, which liquidated its entire treasury, and Core Scientific, which plans to offload roughly 2,500 BTC in the first quarter. Riot Platforms also executed multiple BTC sales in December. The trend signals a departure from the self-treasury approach that was popular during the 2024–2025 market upcycle.
The recent market conditions have forced mining firms to reconsider their balance sheet strategies. MARA Holdings, the second-largest public holder of Bitcoin, emphasised flexibility in buying and selling BTC rather than signalling a mass liquidation. Other miners, such as CleanSpark, have taken steps to reduce financial risk, including repaying Bitcoin-backed credit lines in full. Analysts note that the combination of a harsher-than-ever margin squeeze and the need to diversify into areas like AI infrastructure and data centres has made holding large reserves of self-mined Bitcoin less tenable, and more sales are expected to continue. Source
OKX has launched Orbit, a social networking feature integrated into its trading app that allows users to share market insights, display real-time trading performance, and execute trades directly from posts. The platform enables traders to host livestreams, form groups, and link tradable assets using cashtags such as $BTC or $ETH. Performance metrics including holdings, profit and loss, and trading history are visible in real time and cannot be edited by users, offering a level of transparency intended to address credibility issues in online trading communities. Users must complete identity verification and adhere to KYC, AML, and transaction monitoring rules before accessing the platform, though sharing performance data is optional.
Orbit also introduces creator rewards tied to follower engagement, allowing users to earn for posting content, livestreaming, and influencing trading activity. The rollout has begun with a limited beta group and will gradually expand, though it is initially unavailable in the U.S., Europe, Singapore, Australia, and the UAE due to regulatory considerations. The launch reflects a broader trend of combining social media with trading, following precedents set by platforms like eToro, Bybit, and Binance, and comes amid OKX’s continued expansion into traditional finance, including plans for tokenized stock trading backed by an investment from the New York Stock Exchange’s parent company. Source
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
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