Ethereum co-founder and Polymarket investor Vitalik Buterin warned that prediction markets are increasingly centered on short-term speculation and retail gambling, which he believes threatens their long-term health. He proposed shifting these platforms toward AI-powered hedging instruments tied to real-world expenses, and argued that such markets, if denominated in productive assets, could eventually remove the need for fiat-pegged stablecoins.

Indian police conducted a nationwide crackdown from February 7 to 13, arresting six suspects linked to alleged investment, loan app and part-time job fraud involving crypto-related schemes. Authorities say they traced illicit funds across multiple states, recovered about Rs. 16.9 lakh for victims through court orders, and warned residents to be cautious when engaging with unknown contacts online.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to evaluate whether a UAE-linked $500 million investment in Trump-linked World Liberty Financial should be examined by CFIUS for national security risks. Their letter follows a Wall Street Journal report that G42 acquired 49% via Aryam Investment 1 in January 2025; they requested a response by March.

In a February 14, 2026 post on X, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned that many prediction markets are tilting toward short-term speculation and gambling-style activity. He outlined an alternative model where onchain markets work with AI assistants to hedge household and business expenses against inflation, while supporters argue platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi can still provide decentralized economic intelligence amid rising US regulatory scrutiny.

X is preparing to launch a Smart Cashtags feature that will allow users to trade cryptocurrencies and stocks directly in the app, building on its existing $BTC-style asset tracking. The upgrade will add live charts, related posts, and instant trading from cashtags, aligning with Elon Musk's broader plan to turn X into an "everything app" with integrated payments via X Money.

In a post on February 14, 2026, X's product lead Nikita Bier said Smart Cashtags will arrive within weeks, enabling stock and crypto trades directly from the timeline. The rollout pairs with X Money, a peer-to-peer payments tool in limited beta, and follows recent restrictions on engagement-reward apps.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said in an X post that prediction markets are tilting toward "unhealthy" short-term speculation and should evolve into hedging platforms that stabilize consumer prices. He proposed onchain markets, guided by local LLMs, to build personalized baskets of contracts tied to household expenses.

On February 14 2026, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published a long X post criticizing how prediction markets are evolving toward short-term, dopamine-driven bets. He argued that platforms are increasingly favoring crypto price and sports wagers with little long-term informational or societal value, diverging from his more positive view in December 2025. Buterin now urges a pivot toward generalized hedging tools that help manage real-world risks instead of focusing on ultra-short-term gambling-style products.