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The three major U.S. stock indices closed higher today. - S&P 500: +0.10% - Nasdaq: +0.14% - Dow Jones: +0.07%

Kraken has announced the integration of its over-the-counter (OTC) desk with ICE Chat, the messaging platform from New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) parent company Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). According to Cointelegraph, this makes Kraken the first crypto platform to be featured on ICE Chat. The integration will allow institutional investors to directly access Kraken's cryptocurrency liquidity through the platform.

The White House is considering reconvening a meeting on Feb. 19 between banking and crypto industry representatives to discuss stablecoin yield, according to a report on X from Crypto in America host Eleanor Terrett, who cited sources.

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved a national trust bank application from stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge. According to CoinDesk, this will allow Bridge to issue and manage stablecoins under federal supervision. In December 2025, the OCC also conditionally approved similar applications from Circle, BitGo, and Ripple. Unlike commercial banks, trust banks must focus exclusively on fiduciary duties and related activities; they are restricted from taking general deposits or making loans.

Zora has announced the launch of Attention Markets on Solana, a platform where users can bet on trends and public opinion. According to The Block, users can predict which topics or trends will gain popularity online and place wagers accordingly.

The main obstacle to passing the crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, is a provision that would ban the president, vice president, and members of Congress from trading cryptocurrencies, according to an analysis by TD Cowen. A report cited by The Block argues that the core issue is not the jurisdictional debate over whether crypto should be regulated as a security by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or a commodity by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), but rather the political controversy surrounding conflicts of interest. With midterm elections approaching, the Democratic Party is unlikely to abandon the provision, as it has made President Trump's crypto holdings a central part of its campaign strategy, the analysis noted.

Major Japanese securities firms are considering launching their own cryptocurrency exchanges, DL News reported. Japanese financial group Nomura Holdings, Inc. plans to enter the crypto sector through its Swiss subsidiary, Laser Digital, with the goal of establishing an exchange by the end of this year. Additionally, Daiwa Securities Group and SMBC Nikko Securities are also reportedly exploring an entry into the exchange market.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Celyk stated that he will strengthen cryptocurrency regulations to make them future-proof, the Watcher.Guru X account reported. In an interview with Fox Business, Celyk said he cannot allow another figure like Gary Gensler to emerge and ruin everything.

U.S. investment bank Benchmark has lowered its price target for Metaplanet from 2,400 yen (approx. $7.15) to 1,100 yen (approx. $15.60), while maintaining its buy rating. According to The Block, Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer explained that the company's recent earnings report revealed both the advantages and risks of its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy. He added that investor demand for its preferred stock issuance, part of its Bitcoin revenue generation plan, will be a key factor. Metaplanet previously announced that despite a sevenfold increase in revenue last year, it incurred a net loss of 95 billion yen (approx. $619 million) due to valuation losses on its BTC holdings.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig has asserted federal jurisdiction over prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, signaling a potential legal battle. In a video posted on X, Selig stated that anyone challenging the agency's authority would be met in court, emphasizing that the CFTC has regulated these markets for over 20 years. He argued that jurisdiction lies with the CFTC as a federal agency, not with state governments, and added that the commission has submitted a legal opinion to the courts to support its primary regulatory role. CoinDesk noted that while Selig did not directly mention sports betting, many of the legal disputes in this area are centered on it. Previously, states including Nevada, Massachusetts, and New York have filed lawsuits against prediction market platforms, alleging violations of state-level sports betting laws.

According to CoinNess market monitoring, BTC has risen above $68,000. BTC is trading at $68,018 on the Binance USDT market.

Lee Hardman, an analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of Japan's three largest banks, has said that stablecoins are more suitable as a form of currency than Bitcoin. According to The Crypto Basic, he explained in a report that stablecoins, which function as digital cash, have recently been gaining attention. Hardman added that stablecoins better fulfill the requirements of a currency due to their price stability and ability to facilitate fast, low-cost payments.

Two Abu Dhabi-based funds held over $1 billion in BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) as of the end of last year. According to The Block, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, and Al Warada Investments, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), reported holding 12.7 million shares ($631 million) and 8.22 million shares ($408 million) of IBIT, respectively.

Mobile investment app eToro, which supports cryptocurrency trading, has released its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report. According to CoinDesk, the company's revenue for the quarter was $227 million, a 6% increase from the previous quarter, while net profit reached a record high of $69 million. Full-year revenue for 2025 totaled $868 million, up approximately 10% from the $788 million recorded in the prior year. The media noted that the results stand in stark contrast to those of competing platforms. Robinhood and Coinbase reported weaker-than-expected performance as trading volumes declined amid falling crypto prices and slowing volatility. Following the announcement, eToro (ETOR) shares are currently trading at $32.00, up 16.53%.

According to CoinNess market monitoring, BTC has fallen below $67,000. BTC is trading at $66,988 on the Binance USDT market.

American Bitcoin (ABTC), a Bitcoin mining company involving President Donald Trump's sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, currently holds 6,000 BTC, Watcher.Guru reported via its X account. The holding is valued at approximately $400 million.

Bitcoin investment firm Nakamoto has announced its acquisition of BTC Inc, the operator of Bitcoin Magazine and the Bitcoin Conference, and UTXO Management. According to The Block, the all-stock transaction is valued at approximately $107 million. To facilitate the deal, Nakamoto will issue 363 million shares at a fixed price of $1.12 per share. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of this year. David Bailey, Chairman and CEO of Nakamoto, said the company plans to expand its business in line with Bitcoin's long-term growth through a diverse portfolio of media, asset management, and advisory services.

U.S. investment bank Compass Point has identified cryptocurrency custody firm BitGo as an ideal acquisition target for traditional financial companies looking to expand into digital asset services. According to CoinDesk, Compass Point analyst Ed Engel noted in a report that BitGo offers a comprehensive suite of services that can be integrated into existing prime brokers, allowing traditional firms to provide relevant solutions to their clients. Engel added that BitGo could significantly increase its revenue if it closes the gap with competitors like Galaxy and Coinbase. The investment bank initiated coverage on BitGo with a buy rating.

According to CoinNess market monitoring, BTC has risen above $68,000. BTC is trading at $68,096 on the Binance USDT market.

BlackRock has filed a revised S-1 registration statement for its iShares Ethereum spot ETF, setting the management fee at 0.25%, Bloomberg senior ETF analyst James Seyffart reported via X. The proposed ticker for the fund is ETHB.

Whale Alert reported that 201 million USDC has been burned at the USDC Treasury.

Cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez noted on X that the number of Bitcoin whale transactions has plummeted by 72% over the past two weeks, falling from 5,767 to 1,637. He explained that this drop reflects market anxiety amid a sustained period of extreme fear.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig said the crypto market structure bill (CLARITY) is on the verge of being enacted, the Watcher.Guru X account reported, citing an interview with Fox Business. He added that regulation through enforcement in the crypto market is over.

StarkWare has announced it will integrate Nightfall, a zero-knowledge proof-based data privacy system co-developed by Ernst & Young (EY) and the Polygon team, into StarkNet. According to The Block, this will enable institutions to conduct private B2B payments, financial management, and DeFi transactions using public blockchain infrastructure without exposing sensitive transaction information.

Whale Alert reported that 250 million USDC has been minted at the USDC Treasury.