R3E Network has released neo-rs v0.7.2, a Rust-based implementation of the Neo N3 blockchain node and CLI tools, on Feb. 12 with targeted fixes for RPC issues during initial node synchronization. The update resolves a cold-start problem affecting the getnativecontracts method and significantly improves execution-spec validation on local neo-rs instances. Neo-rs and the associated NeoRust SDK now offer a comprehensive Rust toolchain for running Neo infrastructure and building applications across Neo N3 and Neo X.

AxLabs released neow3j v3.24.1 on Feb. 12, aligning the Java/Kotlin/Android SDK and devpack with Neo-CLI v3.9.1 and the Neo 3.9 protocol. The update modernizes storage APIs, expands PolicyContract and native contract support, and introduces NEP-24, NEP-26, and NEP-27 standards alongside new StdLib utilities and infrastructure changes. StorageContext-based methods are now deprecated ahead of their planned removal in version 3.25.0.

On February 16, 2026, at the Consensus Hong Kong conference, policymakers outlined steps to bolster the city's digital asset market, including a perpetual contract framework and plans to grant the first stablecoin licenses next month. Regulators SFC and HKMA signaled willingness to engage industry, while major firms said they are implementing or exploring blockchain. Executives added that clearer direction is encouraging for investment.

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao argues that insufficient onchain privacy is preventing broader use of cryptocurrencies for payments, saying transparent payrolls and expenses deter enterprises. He previously told All-In Podcast host Chamath Palihapitiya that such openness can pose physical security risks. Avidan Abitbol and Eran Barak contend that business confidentiality needs and advancing AI make privacy tools increasingly essential.

According to Bloomberg, a Florida federal judge entered a default judgment awarding Kevin O'Leary $2.8 million in his defamation suit against former crypto influencer Ben 'BitBoy' Armstrong. The case centers on late March 2025 X posts alleging O'Leary and his wife were murderers; the court entered default on six defamation-per-se claims and Armstrong did not mount a defense.

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.