Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN) captured the market's full attention on February 25, 2026, with shares leaping 13.52% to close at $183.94. The rally was ignited by a transformative product launch that signals Coinbase’s evolution from a niche cryptocurrency platform into a diversified financial powerhouse capable of challenging traditional fintech incumbents like Robinhood and SoFi.

On 26 February 2026, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency published a proposed rule under the GENIUS Act to set prudential standards for payment stablecoin issuers under its oversight. The draft framework covers permitted U.S. and certain foreign issuers, as well as related custody activities, while leaving BSA, AML, and OFAC requirements to be handled separately with the Treasury. Public comments on the proposal are expected to guide the final rules that will shape how stablecoins operate within the U.S. banking system.

Bitcoin rebounded more than 5% toward $69,000 after a dip into the $64,000–$65,000 demand zone, with short liquidations helping price reclaim key technical levels. Ethereum climbed 7.4% to $2,065 and XRP added 4.7% to $1.43 as improving macro sentiment, regulatory developments and institutional accumulation strengthened the broader crypto market's recovery. Analysts now see sustained spot inflows, higher lows and stable funding as essential to turning this move into a durable uptrend.

According to Google Trends, global searches for "how to buy Bitcoin" have climbed to their highest point in five years, signaling a renewed wave of curiosity from retail users. The rise in beginner-focused queries follows a recent spike in searches for "Bitcoin going to zero," highlighting mixed sentiment around BTC. Bitcoin is trading at $68,301.76, up 4.2% on the day and 2% over the past week, while remaining down 22.4% for the month.

U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs saw $506.5 million in net inflows on Wednesday, with BlackRock's IBIT alone drawing $297.4 million and no funds recording outflows. One analyst said the renewed demand points to stabilizing institutional sentiment and a cautious return to accumulation, while bitcoin and ether prices climbed alongside positive flows in Ethereum, XRP, and Solana ETFs.

Vitalik Buterin has nearly finished selling a planned portion of his ETH, with on-chain data indicating 16,420 ETH sold primarily for Ethereum Foundation funding and charitable causes. The sales, mostly around $2,000 per ETH and slightly above the initially discussed 16,384 ETH, come as the Foundation holds about 172K ETH and presents its Strawman roadmap for faster L1, higher throughput and future upgrades.

The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released a 376-page proposal to implement the GENIUS Act, outlining detailed rules for payment stablecoin issuers and banning yield paid solely for holding or using such tokens. The draft, open to public comment for 60 days from its Wednesday publication, creates a rebuttable presumption against issuer–affiliate reward arrangements and could influence how the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 addresses stablecoin rewards.

On Feb. 25, U.S.-listed crypto ETFs saw broad net inflows led by Bitcoin funds with $506.6 million. Ethereum-focused products took in $157.2 million, while Solana vehicles added $30.9 million and XRP spot ETFs $3.09 million. Issuer-level flows included IBIT at $297.4 million and GBTC at $102.5 million.