Cardano Founder Says He Personally Invested $200M in Midnight

  vor 8 Monaten

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has disclosed that he personally invested $200 million to support the development of the network’s partner chain, Midnight. Speaking in a recent interview, Hoskinson emphasized his deep commitment to the Midnight project. Visit Website

Weiterlesen

President Trump Says Crypto Market Structure Bill Will Pass Soon

  vor 8 Monaten

Crypto regulation might finally be getting real structure. President Donald Trump just confirmed that a full crypto structure bill is close to passing. That is not small talk. That is a potential turning point. For years, the CFTC and SEC have been battling over who controls what. Now it sounds like a clearer rulebook could arrive sooner than expected. Key Takeaways Presidential Confirmation: Trump signals imminent passage of S. 3755/H.R. 3633 framework. Jurisdiction Split: Legislation formally divides oversight between SEC (securities) and CFTC (commodities). Rapid Timeline: Provisional registration for exchanges expected within 180 days of enactment. The End of the Regulatory Turf War? The House already moved first. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act passed last July, laying out a framework that splits oversight between the CFTC and SEC. The real bottleneck has been the Senate. In late January, the Senate Agriculture Committee narrowly advanced its own version, the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, in a tight 12 to 11 vote. That shows how divided the room still is. There has been pushback too. Major industry players like Coinbase criticized earlier drafts, saying they boxed in DeFi and made stablecoin rules too restrictive. BREAKING : President Trump says the #Crypto #Market Structure Bill is set to move forward soon. Big developments ahead for the $crypto space. pic.twitter.com/1yn2giFXRL — SmartViewAI.Com (@smartviewai) February 17, 2026 By stepping in now, Trump is trying to break that gridlock and push the bill across the finish line after earlier Senate efforts stalled. Mechanics of the New Crypto Market Structure Bill Under the proposal, the CFTC would take primary control over digital commodities like Bitcoin and Ethereum. That alone would clear up years of confusion. The bill also gives brokers and exchanges a 180 day window to register and secure provisional status once it becomes law. That is a fast track compared to the current gray zone many platforms operate in. The goal is to end the murky compliance environment that has left firms exposed to freezes and counterparty risk. I'm excited to announce the members of the @CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee. The IAC’s broad financial sector insights will help the CFTC future-proof its markets and develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets. https://t.co/vv0sC8Mr1v ? — Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) February 12, 2026 CFTC Chairman Michael Selig has suggested the bill could reach the President within months. That lines up with other moves aimed at pulling crypto deeper into traditional finance. The framework would also require joint SEC and CFTC rulemaking within 18 months to sort out complex areas like mixed transactions and margin structures. Market Implications and Deadlines Passage of this bill would likely trigger a repricing of “commodity” assets currently suppressed by SEC lawsuits. However, hurdles remain. The Senate Banking Committee still needs to reconcile its version with the Ag Committee’s draft before the February 28 White House deadline for stablecoin frameworks. Meanwhile, scrutiny hasn’t vanished. Congressional leaders continue to urge probes into Trump-linked ventures like WLFI , ensuring that while regulation arrives, political volatility isn’t going anywhere. The post President Trump Says Crypto Market Structure Bill Will Pass Soon appeared first on Cryptonews .

Weiterlesen

Canada CPI January 2025 Reveals Stubborn Inflation Crisis Still Defying BoC’s 2% Target

  vor 8 Monaten

BitcoinWorld Canada CPI January 2025 Reveals Stubborn Inflation Crisis Still Defying BoC’s 2% Target OTTAWA, CANADA — February 18, 2025: Statistics Canada’s latest Consumer Price Index report reveals a persistent inflationary environment that continues to challenge the Bank of Canada’s monetary policy framework, with January’s Canada CPI January 2025 data showing year-over-year inflation remaining stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% target despite aggressive interest rate measures implemented throughout 2024. Canada CPI January 2025: The Persistent Inflation Landscape Statistics Canada released its January 2025 Consumer Price Index data this morning, confirming what many economists had anticipated: inflation remains embedded in the Canadian economy. The headline inflation rate registered at 3.2% year-over-year, marking the 28th consecutive month above the Bank of Canada’s target range. Meanwhile, core inflation measures—which exclude volatile food and energy components—averaged 3.4%, demonstrating the broad-based nature of price pressures. This persistent inflation occurs despite the Bank of Canada’s policy interest rate standing at 4.75%, its highest level since 2007. The central bank implemented seven consecutive rate hikes between March 2023 and July 2024, totaling 425 basis points of tightening. However, the January CPI data suggests monetary policy transmission continues to operate with significant lags, particularly in shelter and services categories. Shelter Costs Drive Persistent Inflation Pressure Shelter costs emerged as the primary driver of January’s inflationary pressure, increasing 6.1% year-over-year. This category represents approximately 30% of the CPI basket and includes multiple components: Mortgage interest costs: Increased 28.3% year-over-year Rent: Rose 7.8% year-over-year Homeowners’ replacement cost: Declined 1.2% year-over-year Property taxes: Increased 4.3% year-over-year The mortgage interest component reflects the delayed impact of previous rate hikes, as homeowners renew their mortgages at significantly higher rates. According to Bank of Canada research, approximately 45% of Canadian mortgages will renew in 2025 at rates 300-400 basis points higher than their previous terms. Consequently, this creates a mechanical upward pressure on the CPI that monetary policy cannot immediately address. Food Inflation Moderates but Remains Elevated Food prices increased 4.2% year-over-year in January, showing moderation from the 5.8% reading in December 2024 but remaining well above historical averages. The food component breakdown reveals significant variation: Food Category January 2025 YoY Change December 2024 YoY Change Food purchased from restaurants 5.8% 6.3% Meat 3.9% 4.7% Dairy products 2.8% 3.4% Fresh vegetables 5.1% 6.2% Bakery products 4.3% 5.1% Restaurant prices continue to outpace grocery inflation, reflecting higher labor costs and commercial rents. Additionally, supply chain normalization has reduced some pressure on food prices, but climate-related production challenges and global commodity price volatility maintain upward pressure. Services Inflation Demonstrates Stickiness The services component of CPI increased 4.3% year-over-year in January, highlighting the persistent nature of non-tradable inflation. Services inflation typically exhibits more stickiness than goods inflation due to its labor-intensive nature and domestic production. Key services categories showed the following movements: Travel services: Increased 8.2% year-over-year Telecommunication services: Rose 3.1% year-over-year Educational services: Increased 4.7% year-over-year Health and personal care services: Rose 3.9% year-over-year Services inflation persistence presents a particular challenge for monetary policy. The Bank of Canada’s research indicates that services inflation correlates strongly with domestic wage growth, which averaged 4.5% in 2024. This wage-price dynamic creates potential for a sustained inflationary cycle that requires careful policy calibration. Regional Variations in Price Pressures Inflation experiences varied significantly across Canadian provinces in January 2025. Atlantic Canada reported the highest inflation rates, with Nova Scotia at 3.8% and New Brunswick at 3.6%. Meanwhile, Alberta recorded the lowest provincial inflation at 2.7%, benefiting from energy price moderation. Ontario and Quebec—representing approximately 62% of Canada’s population—registered inflation rates of 3.3% and 3.4% respectively. These regional disparities reflect differing economic structures, housing market conditions, and fiscal policies. For instance, Atlantic Canada faces higher shelter inflation due to population growth outpacing housing supply, while Alberta benefits from energy production reducing transportation and heating costs. Monetary Policy Implications and Forward Guidance The January CPI data arrives at a critical juncture for Bank of Canada policy. Governor Tiff Macklem emphasized in January that the Governing Council requires “clear and sustained evidence” of inflation returning to target before considering rate cuts. The January report provides neither clear nor sustained evidence, suggesting the policy rate will remain at its current restrictive level through at least the second quarter of 2025. Financial markets adjusted their expectations following the CPI release. Overnight index swap pricing now indicates only a 25% probability of a rate cut at the Bank’s April meeting, down from 45% prior to the data release. Furthermore, the timeline for returning to the 2% target has extended, with most economists now projecting late 2025 or early 2026 for sustained target achievement. The Bank of Canada faces a delicate balancing act. Maintaining restrictive policy for too long risks unnecessary economic damage, particularly in interest-sensitive sectors like housing and durable goods. However, premature easing could reignite inflationary pressures and undermine the credibility of the 2% inflation target—a cornerstone of Canada’s monetary policy framework since 1991. Global Context and Comparative Analysis Canada’s inflationary experience aligns broadly with other advanced economies. The United States reported January CPI of 3.1%, while the Eurozone registered 2.8%. However, Canada’s shelter inflation significantly exceeds comparable economies, reflecting unique housing market dynamics and mortgage structure differences. International factors continue influencing Canadian inflation through multiple channels: Commodity prices: Global oil prices averaged $78 USD per barrel in January Supply chains: Global shipping costs have normalized but remain above pre-pandemic levels Exchange rates: The Canadian dollar traded at 0.74 USD, affecting import prices Geopolitical tensions: Ongoing conflicts continue creating agricultural and energy market uncertainty These external factors limit domestic policy control over inflation, requiring coordinated international monetary policy approaches. Conclusion The Canada CPI January 2025 data confirms the persistent nature of current inflationary pressures, particularly in shelter and services categories. While some moderation occurred in goods inflation, the overall picture suggests a gradual rather than rapid return to the Bank of Canada’s 2% target. Monetary policy will likely maintain its restrictive stance through mid-2025, with careful monitoring of wage growth, inflation expectations, and global economic developments. The path forward requires patience from policymakers and the public alike, as the final phase of inflation normalization often proves most challenging. FAQs Q1: What was Canada’s inflation rate in January 2025? The headline Consumer Price Index increased 3.2% year-over-year in January 2025, while core inflation measures averaged 3.4%. Q2: Why is shelter inflation so high in Canada? Shelter costs increased 6.1% year-over-year, driven primarily by mortgage interest costs (up 28.3%) as homeowners renew at higher rates, and rent increases (up 7.8%) due to supply-demand imbalances. Q3: How does Canada’s inflation compare to other countries? Canada’s 3.2% inflation exceeds the Eurozone’s 2.8% but trails slightly behind the United States’ 3.1%. However, Canada’s shelter inflation significantly outpaces comparable economies. Q4: Will the Bank of Canada cut interest rates soon? January’s sticky inflation data makes immediate rate cuts unlikely. Most economists now expect the policy rate to remain at 4.75% through at least mid-2025 before gradual easing begins. Q5: What sectors showed the highest price increases? Travel services led with 8.2% inflation, followed by mortgage interest costs at 28.3%, rent at 7.8%, and restaurant food at 5.8% year-over-year. Q6: How does this affect Canadian households? Persistent inflation continues eroding purchasing power, particularly for essentials like shelter and food. Higher mortgage costs reduce disposable income, while elevated services prices affect discretionary spending. This post Canada CPI January 2025 Reveals Stubborn Inflation Crisis Still Defying BoC’s 2% Target first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

Weiterlesen

Polygon Surpasses Ethereum in Daily Transaction Fees for the First Time

  vor 8 Monaten

What to Know Polygon recorded $407K in daily fees, beating Ethereum’s $211K for the first time. Heavy usage on Polymarket was the main driver of the fee surge. Token prices moved only slightly, showing usage growth has not yet fully reflected in market prices. In a surprising shift, Polygon has generated more daily transaction fees than Ethereum for the first time ever. The change shows how fast activity is growing on newer blockchain networks and how user behavior is starting to shift. According to data from Token Terminal, Polygon collected $407,100 in transaction fees in a single day, while Ethereum recorded $211,700 during the same period. Just a day later, Polygon again stayed ahead, showing that this was not only a one-time spike but part of a short-term trend. What the Data Shows Token Terminal’s numbers show that Polygon’s network activity jumped sharply over the past few days. This marks the first time Polygon has clearly beaten Ethereum in daily fee collection. Analysts say this is a strong signal that users are actively choosing faster and cheaper networks when possible. BREAKING: @0xPolygon flipped @ethereum in daily transaction fees. Daily transaction fees on Polygon surpassed $300k yesterday. A chart to follow pic.twitter.com/D3DUCwdwn4 — Token Terminal (@tokenterminal) February 16, 2026 The main reason behind the spike appears to be heavy usage of Polymarket, a prediction market platform where users place bets on real-world events. Data shows that Polymarket alone generated over $1 million in fees for the Polygon network over the past week. That is far higher than other apps in the ecosystem. Polygon’s team also highlighted the trend, saying, “Polymarket is becoming cultural infrastructure. And Polygon is the network underpinning all of this.” Stablecoin Growth Another driver of activity is the growing use of stablecoins like USDC on Polygon. The network recently recorded 28 million weekly USDC transactions, beating several other major chains on this count. POL has also seen rising small-value payments through new payment tools, with over $1.2 million in weekly micropayment volume and hundreds of thousands of related transactions. Recent network upgrades have also helped speed up processing time, making transactions quicker for users. Last week i USDC transfers also hit a weekly record of 103M, giving Polygon 46% market share and 2.6x the transactions the next largest chain did. Across all USD stablecoins, POL recorded 32.6M transactions, up 67% over the observed period and now just 0.6M behind second-placed Solana. On transfers, POL processed 120M USD stablecoin transfers, overtaking BNB for the first time to become the leading chain for USD denominated stablecoins. Polygon also joined the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance. Market Reaction In terms of price action, both Ethereum and Polygon tokens have shown only small moves. Ethereum is up 0.80% over the past 24 hours, trading near the $2,000 level after bouncing from oversold conditions. Market trackers say this rise looks more like a short-term technical rebound after a long decline. Social net sentiment is a mildly bullish 4.67/10, with posts highlighting whale accumulation and reversal hopes. The immediate structure is neutral, balancing between the daily pivot point at $1,985.85 and the 7-day Simple Moving Average resistance at $2,000.79. A clear break above the SMA could target the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement near $2,749, but that requires significantly stronger buying pressure. Polygon’s POL token has also posted a modest gain, rising 0.56% over the same period. Analysts link this move mainly to mild rotation into altcoins and the spike in on-chain activity. However, there has been no major new partnership or headline upgrade pushing the price, and volumes remain moderate. This suggests the price increase is supported by usage growth but not yet backed by strong speculative demand. POL faces immediate resistance at its recent weekly high near $0.115, a level it must reclaim to signal stronger momentum. Support sits at $0.105. These modest gains for both the coins reflects fleeting altcoin rotation, not fundamental strength. Conclusion Polygon moving ahead of Ethereum in daily transaction fees for the first time is an important signal of changing user behavior across blockchain networks. If this trend continues, competition among major networks is likely to become more intense in the months ahead. Also Read: Ethereum Price Range Tightens While Buterin Reinforces Core Philosophy

Weiterlesen

USD/INR Maintains Remarkable Calm Ahead of Pivotal US Market Open and FOMC Minutes

  vor 8 Monaten

BitcoinWorld USD/INR Maintains Remarkable Calm Ahead of Pivotal US Market Open and FOMC Minutes Global currency markets exhibited a notable pause on Wednesday, with the USD/INR pair trading within an exceptionally narrow range, demonstrating remarkable stability just hours before the US market opening and the highly anticipated release of the Federal Reserve’s FOMC Minutes. This period of calm, observed in early Asian and European sessions, presents a stark contrast to recent volatility and signals a market in a state of watchful equilibrium, bracing for potential directional cues from the world’s most influential central bank. USD/INR Stability Amidst Global Macroeconomic Crosscurrents The Indian Rupee traded marginally stronger against the US Dollar, with the USD/INR pair hovering near 83.25 in the spot market. This level represents a critical technical and psychological zone that has acted as both support and resistance throughout the first quarter of 2025. Market analysts attribute this subdued price action to a confluence of offsetting forces. Consequently, traders are exhibiting clear caution, preferring to reduce large directional bets until they can digest the official account of the Federal Open Market Committee’s last policy discussion. Several key factors are currently underpinning this period of calm. Firstly, a slight softening in the US Dollar Index (DXY) from recent multi-month highs has removed immediate upward pressure on the pair. Secondly, domestic inflows into Indian capital markets have provided underlying support for the Rupee. Finally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is widely perceived to be maintaining a presence in the market to curb excessive volatility, a practice consistent with its stated policy framework. This strategic intervention helps ensure orderly market conditions, especially during periods of potential external shock. Deciphering the Upcoming FOMC Minutes: A Market Guidepost The primary focal point for all G10 and emerging market currencies, including the INR, remains the 2:00 PM ET release of the FOMC Minutes from the March meeting. These detailed records offer more than just a summary; they provide critical nuance on the debate among policymakers regarding the path of interest rates, balance sheet runoff (quantitative tightening), and the assessment of inflation risks. For the USD/INR, the specific language concerning the terminal rate and the conditions required for a potential policy pivot will be paramount. Historically, the FOMC Minutes have triggered significant forex volatility. A review of the past five releases shows an average intraday move of approximately 0.4% in major dollar pairs. Market participants will scrutinize several specific sections: Inflation Assessment: Any shift in tone regarding persistent core services inflation. Labor Market Commentary: Discussions on wage growth and employment strength. Balance Sheet Policy: Clues on the timing for slowing or ending the reduction of the Fed’s asset holdings. Risk Management: Mentions of the trade-offs between overtightening and doing too little. This detailed scrutiny means every phrase will be parsed for hints about future policy direction, directly influencing US Treasury yields and, by extension, the dollar’s global appeal. Expert Analysis: Interpreting the Calm Before the Storm According to senior analysts at major global banks, this pre-release calm is a classic market behavior pattern. “Markets often consolidate ahead of a major information shock,” notes Dr. Anika Sharma, Chief Currency Strategist at Global Finance Insights. “The compressed volatility in USD/INR reflects a market that is fully priced for a hawkish hold narrative from the March meeting. The real movement will come from any deviation—either a more dovish undertone suggesting earlier cuts or a more hawkish one dismissing cuts altogether in 2025.” Furthermore, the RBI’s monetary policy stance creates a unique dynamic. With Indian inflation trending within the central bank’s target band but growth projections remaining robust, the interest rate differential between the US and India remains a key anchor for the pair. Any signal from the Fed that extends the period of higher-for-longer rates could widen this differential, applying renewed upward pressure on USD/INR. Conversely, hints of impending Fed easing could narrow the gap, supporting the Rupee. Technical and Fundamental Drivers for the USD/INR Pair From a chart perspective, the USD/INR has been oscillating within a well-defined 82.80 to 83.50 range for several weeks. The 100-day moving average currently sits at 83.18, almost exactly at today’s trading level, indicating a perfect equilibrium between buyers and sellers. A decisive break above 83.50, potentially fueled by hawkish FOMC Minutes, could open the path toward the 84.00 handle. Conversely, a sustained move below 82.80 would signal strengthening Rupee momentum. Beyond the Fed, domestic fundamentals play a crucial role. India’s current account deficit, foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flows, and crude oil import costs are perennial drivers. Recent data shows: Factor Current Status Impact on INR FPI Flows (March) Net Positive $1.2B Supportive Brent Crude (per barrel) $84.50 Moderate Pressure Trade Deficit Narrowing Month-on-Month Supportive This combination of a manageable external sector and steady inflows creates a resilient foundation for the currency, allowing it to better withstand external dollar strength. Conclusion The remarkable calm observed in the USD/INR pair is a tactical pause, reflecting a market in full anticipation mode. All directional cues are currently on hold, awaiting the critical insights from the FOMC Minutes. The release will provide essential context on the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory, which will directly recalibrate global risk sentiment and dollar valuation. While domestic Indian fundamentals provide underlying stability, the near-term path for USD/INR will be predominantly dictated by the nuances within the Fed’s communications. Traders and investors should prepare for potential volatility in the North American session as the market digests this key document and reassesses the interest rate landscape for 2025. FAQs Q1: Why is the USD/INR pair so calm before the FOMC Minutes? The market is in a state of equilibrium, with opposing forces balanced. Traders are avoiding large positions due to the high uncertainty surrounding the Fed’s future policy path, which the Minutes will help clarify. This leads to reduced trading volume and compressed price ranges. Q2: What specific details in the FOMC Minutes most impact USD/INR? Analysts focus on discussions about inflation persistence, the potential timing of rate cuts, and plans for the Fed’s balance sheet. Any hint of a more hawkish (higher for longer) or dovish (earlier cuts) stance than expected will move US Treasury yields and the dollar, directly affecting the USD/INR exchange rate. Q3: How does the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) influence the pair during such events? The RBI actively manages excessive volatility in the USD/INR market. It may intervene by buying or selling dollars to prevent disorderly movements that could harm financial stability, often creating a “managed float” environment that can dampen extreme swings following external news. Q4: Could the USD/INR break out of its current range after the release? Yes, a decisive break is likely if the Minutes contain a significant surprise. A hawkish surprise could push the pair toward 83.50 and higher, while a dovish surprise could see it test support near 82.80. The direction depends on how the details alter market expectations for the Fed funds rate. Q5: What are the long-term drivers for USD/INR beyond the FOMC? Long-term trends are driven by the economic growth differential between the US and India, the interest rate gap, India’s current account balance, foreign investment flows, and global risk sentiment. Central bank policies from both the Fed and RBI set the overarching framework for these fundamental drivers. This post USD/INR Maintains Remarkable Calm Ahead of Pivotal US Market Open and FOMC Minutes first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

Weiterlesen

Binance Announces USD1 Airdrop Campaign With 235M $WLFI Token Pool

  vor 8 Monaten

What To Know: Binance will distribute 235 million WLFI tokens to users holding USD1 through an airdrop campaign running from Feb. 20 to March 20, 2026. Rewards will be issued weekly to eligible USD1 holders across Spot, Funding, Margin, and Futures accounts, with bonus multipliers for collateralized holdings. Moreover, WLFI ecosystem is also holding an upcoming World Liberty Forum, which is set to feature prominent global finance and crypto leaders. Crypto exchange Binance has announced a new airdrop campaign that will reward users holding World Liberty Financial USD (USD1), with a total distribution pool of 235 million World Liberty Financial (WLFI) tokens. The airdrop is set to begin on February 20, 2026, at 00:00 UTC and will be running until March 20, 2026. During this time, eligible users holding USD1 across supported account types will receive $WLFI rewards on a weekly basis. Binance Announces $WLFI Airdrop for USD1 holders As per the official announcement , the first airdrop will be on March 4, 2026. It will cover rewards collected between February 20 and February 27. After the first distribution, rewards will continue to be issued every Friday throughout the campaign period. The total WLFI reward pool of 235 million tokens will be distributed across four weekly installments. Each week, nearly 58.75 million WLFI tokens will be allocated among eligible participants. Note that the rewards will be credited directly to users’ Binance Spot Accounts. Eligibility for the campaign depends on holding USD1 balances in supported accounts on Binance. These include Spot Accounts, Funding Accounts, Margin Accounts, and USDⓈ-M Futures Accounts where USD1 is used as collateral. The exchange clarified that users who maintain at least 0.01 USD1 in margin or futures accounts will qualify for a 1.2x bonus multiplier on their WLFI rewards, regardless of whether they actively trade or use leverage. The reward calculation will be based on a user’s qualifying USD1 balance. Binance said that snapshots of user balances will be taken multiple times every hour. The lowest USD1 balance recorded each day will be used as the qualifying balance for that day. The exchange added that USD1 obtained through borrowing other stablecoins will be subject to a 70% haircut after liabilities are accounted for. This includes borrowing from assets such as USDT, USDC, USD1, U, RLUSD, and FDUSD. In addition, USD1 borrowed as liabilities through loans or margin positions will not be included in qualifying balances. Binance stated that there will be no individual cap on rewards. The allocation of each user will depend on the balance that is relative to the total pool of eligible USD1 holdings across all participants. Rewards will be rounded down to two decimal places and distribution timing may be different slightly depending on operational conditions. At the time of writing, WLFI was trading near $0.09955 after a 1.9% dip over the past 24 hours. Even with the short term price movement, the project has been gaining attention, thanks to a series of high profile developments and events linked to its ecosystem. WLFI, which is a crypto initiative associated with members of the President Donald Trump’s family including Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, is also preparing to host the World Liberty Forum at the Mar a Lago estate. The invitation only summit is expected to gather nearly 400 global leaders from finance, technology, sports, media, and government. The event agenda is expected to focus on the future of the US dollar, stablecoins such as USD1, decentralized finance, artificial intelligence, and cross border payments infrastructure. Industry figures including David Solomon, Adena Friedman, and Brian Armstrong are among the expected participants. Organizers are also expected to present updates on the World Swap remittance platform, which targets a multi trillion dollar global payments market. Also Read: Trump Didn’t Know About Abu Dhabi’s $500M Stake in WLFI

Weiterlesen

XRP network activity nosedives over 25% in a week

  vor 8 Monaten

As XRP continues to struggle below the $1.50 zone, the asset’s network activity has dropped sharply, signaling cooling participation across the blockchain. In this line, the number of active wallets fell from 55,080 on February 9 to 40,778 by February 15, reflecting a decline of about 26%, according to on-chain data shared by Ali Martinez on February 17. XRP active addresses chart. Source: Ali Martinez Notably, activity peaked at around 55,000 active addresses on February 9 before plunging on February 10. From February 11 through February 15, daily active addresses remained subdued, fluctuating between 41,000 and 43,000 but failing to regain earlier highs. Active addresses are a key measure of network engagement and transaction demand. A sharp decline over a short period signals reduced on-chain activity and weakening short-term participation from traders and investors. From a price standpoint, softer network activity can curb bullish momentum. Lower engagement typically translates into weaker liquidity and transactional demand, which can pressure XRP’s price. XRP price weakness The drop comes at a time when the cryptocurrency’s price has shown resilience in recent days, rallying roughly 38% from early February lows around $1.11 to $1.20 following a sharp crypto-wide crash. However, XRP remains significantly below its 2025 peak of $3.65. In this line, a major development weighing on sentiment is a sharp revision from banking giant Standard Chartered, with its analysts slashing their end-of-2026 XRP price target by 65%, from a previous bullish forecast of $8 to $2.80. Global Head of Digital Assets Research Geoffrey Kendrick cited challenging price action, macro headwinds, reduced institutional inflows, and expectations of further near-term declines across the crypto sector. Despite the bearish outlook from Standard Chartered, some positive signals persist. XRP ETFs have attracted over $1.37 billion in inflows since late 2025, and Ripple recently unveiled an institutional roadmap in mid-February, including DeFi scaling features, lending capabilities, and a substantial treasury fund. XRP price analysis By press time, XRP was trading at $1.46, down about 1% over the past 24 hours. On the weekly timeframe, the asset is up nearly 3%. XRP seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold As it stands, XRP remains below both its 50-day SMA at $1.83 and 200-day SMA at $2.34, signaling sustained bearish momentum across the medium and long term. The fact that the price remains below these key moving averages suggests sellers are still in control, and rallies may face resistance near those levels. Meanwhile, the 14-day RSI stands at 44.26, in neutral territory but below the midpoint of 50, indicating weakening buying pressure without yet reaching oversold conditions. Featured image via Shutterstock The post XRP network activity nosedives over 25% in a week appeared first on Finbold .

Weiterlesen

Why European stocks are rising sharply today?

  vor 8 Monaten

Stocks across Europe traded higher today as investors reacted to new labor data from the UK, steady growth numbers from the EU, and a strong trade surplus that came in at the end of 2025. Europe’s STOXX600 came in at 619.45 with a 0.15% gain. The FTSE 100 rose almost 0.5% to 10,515.35. The FTSE MIB added 0.43% to 45,614.98. The IBEX 35 grew 0.43% to 17,924.3. The DAX reached 24,832.68 with a 0.13% rise. The CAC 40 added 0.06% to 8,321.7. The AEX added 0.02% to 993.25. Portugal’s PSI20 posted one of the strongest gains at 0.83% to 9,133.82. Switzerland’s SMI gained 0.45% to 13,716.77. Meanwhile, the BEL 20 dipped 0.01%, Finland’s HEX crashed a bit by 0.07%, Sweden’s OMXS30 fell 0.2%, and Denmark’s OMXC 25 rose 0.74% to 1,813.53. UK labor market data hit the pound and lift EU-located stocks The UK posted tough job numbers that pushed the pound lower, as its jobless rate rose to 5.2%, the highest level in five years. Payrolled workers dropped to 30.3 million in January 2026. That was 134,000 fewer than a year earlier and 11,000 fewer than the previous month. The employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 was 75% between October and December 2025. It was down from the previous quarter but unchanged compared with a year earlier. Regular and total earnings from wages in the UK increased by 4.2% in Q4 2025, while public sector earnings rose to 7.2%. Private sector earnings rose 3.4%. The public sector number was shaped by early pay rises in 2025 that will fade out in later reports. The pound reacted fast. GBP/USD slipped 0.242% to 1.359. The pound also fell 0.2% against the Euro. Currency traders in Europe watched this closely because sharp currency weakness can pull risk appetite in different directions. The rest of the currency board stayed mixed. EUR/USD came in at 1.185. EUR/GBP sat at 0.871 with a 0.28% rise. EUR/JPY dropped to 181.07. USD/CHF sat at 0.769. EUR/CHF sat at 0.911. Bond yields in the UK fell after the labor report. The 10-year gilt dropped to 4.365% with a 0.037 fall. The 2-year gilt went to 3.563%. Yields across Europe followed in quiet fashion. The Bund 10-year landed at 2.736%. The Italian 10-year landed at 3.358%. The French 10-year landed at 3.322%. Lower yields helped stocks hold their gains across Europe. Fresh EU and eurozone data showed 0.3% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025. Full year growth reached 1.5% in the euro area and 1.6% in the EU. Employment increased 0.2% in both regions. These numbers kept traders steady across Europe because they fit expectations. The trade surplus helped even more. The eurozone recorded a €12.6 billion surplus in December 2025, a slight decrease from the €13.9 billion it had in December 2024. EU exports meanwhile reached €234 billion, a 3.4% rise from €226.3 billion in December 2024. Strong export demand added extra support across Europe, even while the UK data added stress on the currency side. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

Weiterlesen

Copyright © 2026 Aktuelle Krypto Kurse. - Impressum