On Feb. 12, three researchers linked to the U.S. Federal Reserve published a paper arguing that prediction market Kalshi can capture macroeconomic expectations in real time more effectively than traditional tools. The authors said Kalshi's intraday trading data could be used to derive risk-neutral probability distributions of Federal Open Market Committee rate decisions, although the paper is only intended to stimulate discussion rather than guide policy.

Ethereum is attempting to stabilize close to the $2,000 zone after a sharp correction from above $2,700, while Bitcoin trades in a tight band between roughly $66,000 and $70,000. XRP has rebounded toward the $1.45–$1.50 area but remains below key moving averages, leaving the token vulnerable to a prolonged low‑volatility range if support fails. Technical signals across all three assets point to fragile recoveries and the potential for extended consolidation phases.

At Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE conference in Hong Kong on Feb. 12, industry leaders focused on Bitcoin's exposure to quantum computing, looming US regulation and the path to trillion-dollar crypto infrastructure. Tron founder Justin Sun urged the sector to get ready for artificial general intelligence, while investors and executives debated how to price quantum risk into Bitcoin and how far the US CLARITY Act could reshape the regulatory landscape.

On February 18, 2026, it was reported that SunTrust Bank, now operating as Truist Bank, agreed to a settlement of up to $240,000,000 over allegedly unlawful overdraft fees charged to Georgia customers. After an estimated $84,200,000 is allocated for legal and administrative costs, about $155,800,000 from the class-action case filed in 2010 will be distributed on a claims-based, pro rata basis to eligible account holders who paid overdraft fees between July 12, 2006, and April 15, 2014.

Analysts have scrutinized SEC 13F filings to assess whether Hong Kong-based Laurore LTD was involved in Bitcoin's sharp October 2025 crash, when the market saw about $19 billion in liquidations. The reports show Laurore amassed roughly $436 million of IBIT shares during Q4 2025, while major options market makers significantly boosted long volatility positions in the ETF. Commentary from industry figures indicates Laurore likely did not trigger the so-called 1010 event, but the case highlights growing interest from Chinese-linked capital in accessing Bitcoin via US-regulated ETFs.

On February 17, 2026, Brian Armstrong said in an analyst AMA and a post on X that Wall Street undervalues Coinbase and misreads its strategy. He cited operating data, including 156% year‑over‑year trading volume, market share doubling in 2025, and 12 products each generating over $100 million annually, and noted that five GSIBs have begun collaborating with Coinbase.

The IRS's new Form 1099-DA introduces standardized reporting for digital asset sales, emphasizing gross proceeds for 2025 activity. Many cost basis fields may remain blank, leaving taxpayers to reconstruct acquisition records across wallets and venues. The rollout is reshaping filing behavior and raising concerns about confusion and potential overpayment as people import forms into tax software.

In February 2026, Logan Paul's $16.49 million auction of a PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card via Goldin drew criticism from Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz over its buyback structure, as fractional investors now threaten legal action. Dogecoin traders endured a 12,928% long liquidation imbalance when the price slipped from $0.103 to $0.09862, while XRP network activity weakened, with fees burned plunging from 519 XRP to 126 XRP, a 75% drop in 24 hours. Across these markets, prolonged volatility and bearish sentiment have pressured prices and shaken trader confidence.