Tech

February, 2026

• 3 February

  PMI Surprise vs. Trading Slump: Analysts See Bitcoin Upside Ahead

  

  The cryptocurrency market continues to grapple with subdued activity despite a notable macroeconomic positive signal from U.S. manufacturing data. On February 2, 2026, the ISM Manufacturing PMI surged to 52.6 in January—its highest level since August 2022 and the first expansion reading (above 50) after 12 months of contraction—beating expectations of around 48.5. The S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI also …
• 3 February

  BTC, ETH Stabilize After Dip as Bitcoin Eyes $79K, Ether Trades Over $2.3K

  

  The cryptocurrency market showed signs of stabilization on February 3, 2026, following a sharp weekend sell-off driven by liquidations, macroeconomic concerns, and profit-taking. Bitcoin (BTC) rebounded toward the $79,000 level after dipping below $75,000, while Ethereum (ETH) held above key support around $2,200–$2,300 amid reduced selling pressure. As of today, Bitcoin trades in the $78,000–$79,000 range, up roughly 0.5–1.5% in …
• 2 February

  Average Bitcoin ETF Investor Turns Underwater Amid Heavy Outflows

  

  Investors in U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are now largely underwater, with the average purchase price exceeding Bitcoin’s current trading levels amid accelerated outflows and price declines as of February 2, 2026. Analyses from Galaxy Research, Bianco Research, and 10x Research indicate that the average cost basis for spot Bitcoin ETF investors stands around $90,200 per BTC. With Bitcoin …
• 2 February

  Court Halts Polymarket Operations in Nevada — Temporary Ban Imposed

  

  A Nevada state court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on January 31, 2026 (effective into early February), barring prediction market platform Polymarket (operated by Blockratize Inc.) from offering event contracts—including sports and other real-world outcomes—to residents of the state for an initial 14-day period. The order, granted by Judge Jason D. Woodbury in Carson City District Court, stems from …
• 2 February

  Crypto Losses Hit $370M in January 2026, Highest in 11 Months: CertiK

  

  The cryptocurrency sector recorded approximately $370.3 million in losses from exploits, hacks, and scams in January 2026, the highest monthly total in 11 months and a sharp rise from prior periods, according to blockchain security firm CertiK. The figure, detailed in CertiK’s alerts and covered by outlets like Yahoo Finance, Cointelegraph, and Coinpaper, reflects 40 confirmed incidents—a nearly fourfold increase …
• 2 February

  Strategy’s Bitcoin Holdings Face $900M Loss as BTC Drops Below $76K

  

  Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, faced unrealized losses exceeding $900 million on February 2, 2026, as Bitcoin (BTC) briefly dipped below its average acquisition cost amid a sharp market pullback. The company holds 712,647 BTC, acquired at an average price of approximately $76,037–$76,040 per coin (total cost basis around $54.19–$54.2 billion, per filings and trackers like Lookonchain, …
• 2 February

  CEO of BitRiver, Igor Runets, Arrested Over Alleged Tax Evasion

  

  Igor Runets, founder and CEO of BitRiver—Russia’s largest cryptocurrency mining infrastructure provider—has been placed under house arrest on charges of tax evasion, according to court documents from Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court and reports from Bloomberg, TASS, RBC, Kommersant, and other outlets on February 2, 2026. Runets, 39, was reportedly detained on January 30 (Friday) and formally charged the following day …
• 2 February

  $500M UAE Investment in Trump-Associated Crypto Company Sparks Debate

  

  A UAE-linked investment firm quietly acquired a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency venture tied to the Trump family, for $500 million just days before Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and other outlets. The deal has ignited debates over potential conflicts of interest, transparency, and geopolitical implications, …
• 2 February

  DeFi Protocol CrossCurve Hit by Smart Contract Exploit, Loses $3M Across Multiple Chains

  

  CrossCurve, a cross-chain liquidity protocol (formerly known as EYWA), confirmed a smart contract exploit on its bridge infrastructure late February 1 into February 2, 2026, resulting in approximately $3 million in losses across multiple blockchain networks. The protocol announced via X that its bridge was “under attack” due to a vulnerability in one of its smart contracts—specifically the ReceiverAxelar contract—which …
• 2 February

  SOL Slips Under $100 After $30M Hack — What’s Next for Solana?

  

  Solana (SOL) dipped below the $100 mark on February 2, 2026, amid a broader crypto market downturn and fallout from a $30 million treasury hack at Step Finance, a prominent Solana-based DeFi portfolio management and analytics platform. The breach, disclosed late January 31 into February 1, 2026, involved attackers compromising multiple treasury and fee wallets, leading to the unstaking and …