The Aave protocol has grown into a $2 billion project, yet it fails to answer some fundamental questions. Does the DAO own the Aave brand? Is Labs serving token holders, or partnering with them?

European government bonds are emerging as a potential safe haven for investors amid fluctuations in U.S. stock markets driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting ING's analysis that suggests these bonds could provide stability for those looking to mitigate risks associated with the unpredictable nature of AI-related stock movements. As investors navigate the evolving landscape, European bonds may offer a more stable alternative to the volatility seen in U.S. equities.

U.S. trade officials are signaling a tougher stance on tariffs, with indications that some duties could rise above the previously discussed 15% level.According to remarks reported by Jin10, Office of the United States Trade Representative Greer said the U.S. will initiate a formal investigation into Indonesia over tariff-related issues. The probe will assess Indonesia’s current trade practices and compare them against measures the country had previously committed to implement.Greer noted that the findings of the investigation would inform a final ruling, adding that the outcome could result in tariffs exceeding 15% in certain cases. While no specific timeline or tariff schedule was disclosed, the comments suggest that the U.S. is prepared to escalate trade measures if compliance gaps are identified.

German reinsurer Munich Re has unveiled a plan to return up to €2.25 billion to its shareholders through a newly announced buyback program. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the company's strategic move to enhance shareholder value. This initiative reflects Munich Re's confidence in its financial stability and commitment to rewarding its investors. The buyback program is part of the company's broader strategy to optimize capital allocation and improve shareholder returns.

The UK’s financial watchdog has taken a major step toward formal stablecoin regulation, selecting four firms to test live stablecoin use cases under a controlled regulatory environment.FCA selects four firms for stablecoin sandboxAccording to an official announcement, the UK Financial Conduct Authority has admitted Monee Financial Technologies, ReStabilise, Revolut, and VVTX into its stablecoin regulatory sandbox. The cohort was chosen from 20 applicants.The sandbox will allow participants to trial stablecoin issuance, payments, wholesale settlement, and crypto trading in real-world conditions while operating under regulatory safeguards.Testing is scheduled to begin in Q1 2026.Sandbox results to shape UK stablecoin rulesMatthew Long, Director of Payments and Digital Assets at the FCA, said the initiative is designed to assess whether stablecoins can function as credible instruments for payments and settlement within the UK financial system.Crucially, the FCA confirmed that insights gathered from the sandbox will directly inform the final UK stablecoin regulatory framework, which is expected to be introduced later in 2026.“This approach allows innovation to progress while ensuring risks are understood and managed,” the FCA said, signaling a move toward evidence-based regulation rather than theory-led rulemaking.Why this matters for crypto and fintechThe launch of the sandbox places the UK among a small group of jurisdictions actively testing regulated stablecoin infrastructure ahead of full legal rollout. With firms like Revolut involved, the program bridges traditional fintech and crypto-native payment models.Market participants view the initiative as a potential catalyst for:Regulated stablecoin payments in the UKInstitutional adoption of on-chain settlementClearer compliance pathways for stablecoin issuers and service providersAs global competition intensifies around digital payments and tokenized money, the FCA’s sandbox marks a decisive step toward integrating stablecoins into the mainstream financial system—under rules shaped by live market data rather than speculation.

TJX, Lowe’s, and United Therapeutics reported quarterly results that topped expectations, highlighting steady growth across retail and biotech. source: https://tokenist.com/earnings-roundup-tjx-lowes-and-united-therapeutics-post-solid-results/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=earnings-roundup-tjx-lowes-and-united-therapeutics-post-solid-results

Bitcoin’s recent rebound has struggled to gain traction as exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows and strategic selling by large holders continue to pressure the market, according to a new report from Bitfinex.Rangebound Price Action Masks Broader DowntrendBitfinex analysts said Bitcoin has been trading within a short-term range of $65,000 to $70,000, but warned that the broader trend remains bearish. Since peaking last October, Bitcoin has undergone a correction of more than 52%, underscoring persistent structural weakness despite intermittent rebounds.While prices recovered roughly 20% from the Feb. 5 low, Bitcoin briefly slipped below the lower bound of its recent range this week, testing fresh local lows and reinforcing concerns that the recovery lacks durability.Macro Uncertainty and Tariff Ruling Add PressureMacroeconomic uncertainty has intensified following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling related to Trump-era tariff increases, which triggered renewed demand for traditional safe-haven assets such as gold and silver. In contrast, crypto markets have remained under pressure, with derivatives data showing traders continuing to pay a premium for downside protection.Bitfinex noted that the divergence highlights crypto’s ongoing sensitivity to macro shocks, particularly when liquidity conditions tighten and risk appetite shifts toward defensive assets.Whale Inflows Point to Strategic SellingOn-chain indicators suggest that recent selling pressure is being driven primarily by large holders rather than retail capitulation. The Exchange Whale Ratio shows that a disproportionate share of Bitcoin inflows to exchanges has originated from large wallets.“This pattern typically reflects strategic distribution rather than forced liquidations,” the report said, adding that whales may be selling at key structural levels or during specific daily time windows, signaling deliberate market positioning rather than panic-driven exits.Options Market Signals Caution, Not Risk-OnIn derivatives markets, Bitfinex observed that last week marked the first modest reduction in demand for downside protection. However, following renewed tariff-related headlines, traders did not meaningfully rebuild long exposure, instead adjusting positions only to hedge against extreme tail risks.Short-dated options data indicates that market sentiment remains cautious rather than optimistic, with participants prioritizing protection over directional bets.Recovery Still FragileTaken together, ETF outflows, concentrated whale selling, and defensive derivatives positioning suggest that Bitcoin’s recovery remains fragile. Bitfinex concluded that without a clear shift in macro conditions or a sustained improvement in flows and sentiment, upside momentum is likely to remain constrained in the near term.

Prediction-markets platform Kalshi has recruited the former head of prime and financing at Standard Chartered to enhance its offerings for institutional investors, according to sources familiar with the situation. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the strategic move aimed at strengthening Kalshi's position in the financial sector. The appointment is expected to bolster the company's capabilities in serving large-scale investors, leveraging the expertise of the new executive to drive growth and innovation in the prediction markets space. Kalshi's decision reflects a broader trend of financial platforms seeking experienced leadership to navigate complex market dynamics and expand their institutional client base.

Historically, Bitcoin has mirrored risk assets like the S&P 500, reacting strongly to changes in liquidity and macroeconomic conditions. Interestingly, over the past six months, this relationship has shifted, with Bitcoin (BTC) sharply underperforming in contrast to equities and gold. Key Insights Since 2022, Bitcoin’s usual alignment with equities has weakened source: https://voiceofcrypto.online/crypto-news/bitcoin-breaks-correlation-with-stocks-warning-sign-or-hidden-bull-signal

ZachXBT claimed some of the information around his investigation may have leaked. Now, there are worries that Polymarket insiders will sway the market,or have outsized gains once the prediction pairs resolve. source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/zachxbt-leak-insider-trading-speculation/

On February 25, local time, the Palestinian Authority's 'Committee Against the Wall and Settlements' issued a statement condemning the U.S. Embassy in Israel's decision to extend consular services to the Jewish settlement of Efrat in the southern West Bank. According to Jin10, this move is seen as a violation of international law principles and is perceived as tacit support for Israel's settlement policies. The expansion of consular services has raised concerns among Palestinian officials, who argue that it undermines efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and challenges the international consensus on the status of the settlements.

Never before have institutions and businesses been so enthusiastic about cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency natives seem trapped in an endless cycle of depression.

As of February 20, BitDeer's own Bitcoin holdings officially reached zero.

By 2026, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) will have moved beyond the pilot phase and proof-of-concept stage.

Web 4.0 is not only a technological innovation, but also a profound transformation of social structure and economic model.

AI agents are starting to work for themselves, blockchain is becoming the underlying currency of the machine economy, the boundary between reality and virtuality is becoming increasingly blurred, and the wave of Web 4.0 is gathering.

MoonPay has launched MoonPay Agents, a tool that lets AI systems create wallets, hold funds, and carry out crypto transactions without human intervention once funded. The platform is built on MoonPay CLI and supports trading, swaps, recurring payments, and machine-to-machine transactions while keeping custody under the user’s control.

Stripe is reportedly exploring an acquisition of rival PayPal, as the once-dominant fintech heavyweight grapples with mounting competition, executive turnover and an 85% stock plunge from its 2021 peak.

Goldman Sachs' report, "HALO Impact," points out that in the AI ​​era, the market is shifting from "scalable, asset-light" to "difficult-to-replicate physical assets."

Despite knowing that the funds were "still on the blockchain," it was difficult to get the public security authorities to complete the seizure, freezing, and disposal.