Business

February, 2026

• 5 February

  Bhutan Sells $22M in Bitcoin, Sparking Fears of a Bigger Crypto Dump

  

  The Royal Government of Bhutan has transferred over $22 million worth of Bitcoin from sovereign-linked wallets in recent days, according to on-chain data tracked by Arkham Intelligence, sparking speculation about potential further sales amid a broader crypto market downturn. Blockchain analytics revealed two key moves: 184 BTC (approximately $14 million) on February 4, 2026, and 100.8 BTC (about $8.3 million) …
• 5 February

  CFTC Scraps Biden-Era Plan to Ban Sports and Political Prediction Markets

  

  The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has formally withdrawn a Biden-era proposed rule from 2024 that would have prohibited event contracts tied to political elections, sports outcomes, and certain other categories, deeming them contrary to the public interest. The decision, announced February 4, 2026, by newly confirmed Chairman Michael Selig, also rescinds a related 2025 staff advisory cautioning against …
• 5 February

  No More Copy-Paste Chains: Vitalik Buterin Challenges Ethereum Builders

  

  Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has issued a pointed critique of “copypasta” or copy-paste blockchain projects, calling on developers to abandon repetitive, minimally differentiated designs and pursue true innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem. His remarks, shared in posts and commentary around February 5, 2026, target the surge in near-identical EVM-compatible layer-2 (L2) chains and standalone layer-1 (L1) networks. Buterin highlighted how …
• 5 February

  Capitol Hill Targets Trump-Linked Firm After $500M UAE Stake Comes to Light

  

  U.S. lawmakers have initiated scrutiny into World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency venture linked to former President Donald Trump and his family, following reports of a $500 million investment granting a UAE-backed entity a 49% stake. The deal, first detailed by The Wall Street Journal in early February 2026, was signed days before Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, with documents showing …
• 5 February

  Ethereum Bloodbath: Analysts Say February Could Be a Lost Month for ETH

  

  Ethereum extended its steep decline on February 5, 2026, plunging to multi-week lows around $2,080–$2,110 amid intense selling pressure across the crypto market. The world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap traded near $2,085–$2,130 in various reports, reflecting 24-hour losses of 5–7% or more, with some sources noting drops below key supports like $2,100. This downturn has fueled analyst warnings that …
• 5 February

  Crypto Market in the Red: BTC & ETH Slide as CeFi Takes the Biggest Hit

  

  The cryptocurrency market plunged sharply on February 5, 2026, with major assets extending losses amid heightened risk aversion. Total market capitalization fell over 6% in the past 24 hours, driven by broad-based selling pressure. Bitcoin (BTC) led the decline, briefly dipping below $70,000—its lowest level since November 2024—before paring some losses to trade around $70,000–$71,000 in various reports. This marked …
• 4 February

  Canada Tightens Crypto Custody Rules to Crack Down on Investor Losses

  

  The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) released a new Digital Asset Custody Framework on February 3, 2026, imposing tougher standards on how crypto trading platforms and custodians safeguard client assets. The interim guidance targets Dealer Members running Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms (CTPs), aiming to mitigate risks from hacks, fraud, operational failures, and insolvencies that have caused significant investor losses in the …
• 4 February

  Crypto.com Unveils Standalone US Prediction Markets Platform OG

  

  Crypto.com unveiled OG on February 3, 2026—a new, standalone prediction markets platform tailored for U.S. users—expanding beyond its core exchange into event-based trading on real-world outcomes. Powered by Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-registered exchange and clearinghouse, OG enables users to trade contracts on events spanning sports (e.g., Super Bowl LX winners, March Madness), economic data, elections, entertainment, …
• 4 February

  Cathie Wood Buys the Dip: Ark Invest Loads Up on Bitmine and Circle

  

  Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest capitalized on the ongoing cryptocurrency downturn by significantly increasing exposure to digital asset-linked equities, purchasing shares in Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) and Circle Internet Group (CRCL) across its ETFs. Trade disclosures show Ark acquired approximately $6.3 million in Bitmine (Ethereum treasury and mining firm) and $9.4 million in Circle (USDC stablecoin issuer) on February 2, 2026, …
• 4 February

  Bitcoin Rebounds After $74K Crash — Is the $100K Dream Alive Again?

  

  Bitcoin stabilized around $76,000–$76,800 on February 4, 2026, following a volatile session that saw it briefly plunge to lows near $72,884–$74,000—its weakest level since late 2024. The drop extended a broader correction, with BTC down roughly 40% from its 2025 all-time high near $126,000, amid persistent risk-off pressure. The selloff intensified due to thin liquidity, heavy liquidations (over $700M in …