Blockchain & Digital Assets

February 23, 2026 @ 9:21 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Badge, the operating platform for Apple and Google Wallets, has raised $17.1 million, including a $13.8 million Series A led by TTV Capital with participation from Stripe, Synchrony Ventures, and Infinity Ventures, as well as a previously unannounced $3.3 million seed round from QED Investors… Read More

February 23, 2026 @ 9:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a shift reshaping the boundaries between technology-driven finance and traditional banking, cryptocurrency firms and fintechs are increasingly viewing bank acquisitions as an expedited pathway into established financial systems. This, according to an update from the WSJ, which noted that instead of enduring the protracted… Read More

February 23, 2026 @ 2:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a detailed analysis released on February 21, 2026, blockchain analytics firm Elliptic has shed new light on how several cryptocurrency platforms with deep ties to Russia continue to facilitate the circumvention of Western sanctions. These services enable Russian entities to convert rubles into digital… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 7:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

This past week, eToro Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: ETOR) reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results on February 17, 2026, showcasing a resilient performance in a mixed market environment. The multi-asset trading platform highlighted its transition into a publicly listed company while advancing its vision… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 6:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

February 21, 2026 marks the first anniversary of the largest confirmed cryptocurrency theft in history. On that day in 2025, hackers drained roughly $1.46 billion in digital assets from Dubai-based exchange ByBit. Blockchain intelligence firm Elliptic was among the first to link the attack to… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 2:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a new initiative to enhance the blockchain’s foundational architecture. On Friday, February 20, 2026, Buterin shared his vision for creating what he calls a “cypherpunk principled non-ugly Ethereum” — a specialized layer designed as a seamless bolt-on addition to… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 2:33 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Wirex, a full-stack crypto card issuer and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) provider, this week unveiled Stablecoin Push-to-Card, powered by Visa Direct. Via Wirex BaaS APIs, partners can embed Stablecoin Push-to-Card and deliver stablecoin-funded payouts directly to recipients’ eligible cards worldwide, turning on a familiar “paid to card”… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 2:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis has released fresh data highlighting the enduring strength of cryptocurrency-fueled drug trade on darknet platforms. In its latest insights from the Crypto Crime Report, the firm reports that total cryptocurrency flows tied to darknet marketplaces and drug vendors reached slightly more… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 2:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In Latin America, where traditional finance often leaves millions behind, only 2-3% of the population participates in stock markets. High entry barriers, steep minimum investments, and rigid trading schedules have long kept global equities out of reach for everyday citizens facing economic uncertainty. Recently, Bitso,… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 1:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A recent development that has raised fresh concerns about integrity within Malaysia’s law enforcement. Authorities have taken 12 police officers into custody over allegations of orchestrating a brazen extortion scheme targeting Chinese nationals and their cryptocurrency holdings. The case, which unfolded in the affluent state… Read More

February 21, 2026 @ 4:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move intended to modernize UAE bssed property markets, Ctrl Alt and the Dubai Land Department (DLD) have unveiled Phase Two of the city’s landmark Real Estate Tokenization Project Pilot. The February 20, 2026 announcement introduces regulated secondary market trading for tokenized real estate,… Read More

February 21, 2026 @ 3:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent development for the cryptocurrency analytics space, Parsec — a provider of customizable on-chain data tools — has officially shut down its services. The platform, which specialized in DeFi and NFT-focused analytics, went offline on February 19, 2026, marking the end of a… Read More

February 21, 2026 @ 1:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Figure Technology Solutions (Nasdaq: FIGR) has suffered a significant data breach that exposed the personal details of approximately 967,000 customer accounts. The incident, which came to light in mid-February 2026, stemmed from a targeted social engineering attack rather than a technical vulnerability, highlighting ongoing challenges… Read More

February 21, 2026 @ 1:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent appearance on Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria,” Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed relatively high confidence that landmark U.S. cryptocurrency legislation known as the CLARITY Act could clear Congress as early as April 2026. Garlinghouse placed the probability at approximately 80 percent, underscoring… Read More

February 21, 2026 @ 10:26 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, Midnight Foundation announced that Blockdaemon and Shielded Technologies have signed on as federated node operators for the Midnight Network, “the fourth-generation blockchain bringing rational privacy to Web3.” The additions bring the network to four, joining previously announced partners Google Cloud and NASDAQ listed… Read More

February 20, 2026 @ 6:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Gemini Space Station Inc. (NASDAQ: GEMI), the cryptocurrency exchange founded by twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, is navigating a turbulent period marked by strategic retreats, workforce reductions, and significant leadership changes. These developments have contributed to sharp declines in its publicly traded stock, which… Read More

February 20, 2026 @ 6:37 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

A global study released this week by BVNK suggests that stablecoins are increasingly mainstream. BVNK’s Stablecoin Utility Report surveyed more than 4,600 early adopters and crypto-natives in 15 countries. The study was carried out by YouGov in partnership with Coinbase and Artemis. Crypto-natives and early… Read More

February 20, 2026 @ 6:32 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Web3 minds were focused on tokenized RWAs, stablecoins, Bitcoin and AI this week. Tokenized RWA interest surging “The steady growth that we’ve seen in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), even as the wider crypto market cap has plummeted by $1 trillion, is one of the clearest… Read More

February 20, 2026 @ 1:46 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As part of the ongoing effort focused on integrating digital assets into the traditional banking system, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is advancing rules that would expand the scope of national trust bank charters. This move, highlighted in recent regulatory updates,… Read More

February 20, 2026 @ 12:00 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mexican drug cartels, long reliant on bulky cash piles from fentanyl and other narcotics sales, are rapidly pivoting to digital assets for cleaning their illicit profits. A Bloomberg Businessweek investigation reveals how a decentralized, gig-economy-powered network has emerged to handle these transactions, leaving US and… Read More