Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, reported that its 2025 revenue rose 33% to $2.2 billion, up from $1.6 billion in 2024. The firm processed $2 trillion in transactions, increased funded accounts to 5.7 million, and expanded assets on its platform to $48.2 billion while it continues preparations for a future IPO.

On February 4 2026, US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan rejected Elon Musk’s bid to dismiss an SEC lawsuit accusing him of missing the deadline to report his growing Twitter stake. The case centers on Musk’s 2022 share purchases and the regulator’s claim that the delay may have let him buy stock more cheaply, while a separate section of the report outlines how his AI venture xAI is seeking an edge against rivals through a proposed merger with SpaceX.

Nevada's Gaming Control Board has sued Coinbase in a Carson City state court, alleging the exchange offered sports‑event contracts that amount to illegal betting under state law. Regulators seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that could halt any sports‑linked derivatives or prediction market operations in Nevada.

OpenAI is redirecting resources from long-term experimental work toward enhancing ChatGPT and its underlying large language models, while facing competition at a roughly $500 billion valuation. This strategic pivot has coincided with the departure of several senior researchers and complaints that non‑LLM projects such as Sora and DALL-E receive fewer resources.

President Donald Trump said the Justice Department will keep pursuing a criminal inquiry tied to the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion headquarters renovation. In January, Jerome Powell said he was under criminal investigation, as the multi‑year project's costs and disclosures face scrutiny ahead of key leadership decisions.

According to data released on February 3, 2026, South Korea's January headline and core inflation each slowed to 2%, aligning with the Bank of Korea's target. The central bank kept its policy rate at 2.5% while economists noted lingering foreign-exchange volatility and price pressures from food and housing.

Wrench attacks against crypto users rose sharply in 2025, with 72 verified cases and $40.9 million in losses. The count climbed about 75% from 2024, while Europe saw around 40% of global cases and France recorded 19. Examples included kidnappings and coercion to obtain private keys or ransom.

On February 3, 2026, Bitcoin market sentiment slid into extreme fear, with the Fear & Greed Index at 14. The article cites a 13% decline over 30 days, a weekend dip to $74,500 followed by a rebound to $78,500, and about $2.2 billion in 24‑hour liquidations, while traders watch $69,000 downside and resistance near $80,600 and $91,350.

Updated on February 3, 2026, the White House brought together crypto firms and Wall Street banks to negotiate whether stablecoins should carry yields, with an objective to reach a deal before the beginning of March, according to people familiar with the private talks. Banking groups said they are prepared to collaborate, while industry advocate Cody Carbone described the meeting as meaningful progress despite no immediate agreement.