Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, announced the acquisition of token management platform Magna, further enriching its product portfolio and paving the way for a potential IPO. The transaction amount was not disclosed. Magna primarily provides token vesting, redemption, and distribution management services to cryptocurrency project teams, currently serving over 160 clients, with a peak total value locked (TVL) of $60 billion in 2025. This acquisition continues Kraken's recent acquisition strategy. Last year, the company acquired US futures platform NinjaTrader ($1.5 billion), derivatives trading platform Small Exchange ($100 million), proprietary trading firm Breakout, and tokenized equity issuer Backed Finance. In November 2025, Kraken also completed an $800 million funding round, valuing the company at $20 billion. Magna will continue to operate independently, but its token lifecycle management tools will be integrated into Kraken's product portfolio for institutional clients.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated that the main reason for the deadlock in crypto market structure legislation negotiations lies with trade groups, not individual banking institutions. Speaking at the World Liberty Forum in Florida, he pointed out that some industry associations view the crypto industry with a "zero-sum mentality," believing that for banks to win, the crypto industry must lose, thus hindering the bill's progress. One current point of contention is whether to allow stablecoin rewards. After the Senate Banking Committee's push for market structure legislation stalled, banking representatives insisted on limiting stablecoin reward provisions in multiple meetings organized by the White House. The next round of related meetings is expected to be held this week. Armstrong stated that he anticipates a compromise may emerge in the future, offering banks new policy benefits in exchange for support of the bill. He also emphasized that small and medium-sized banks are not truly concerned about funds flowing to stablecoin issuers, but rather about deposits flowing to larger banking institutions. Meanwhile, several large banks have already begun to develop crypto businesses, and Coinbase is currently providing crypto infrastructure support to "five of the world's five largest banks." Armstrong believes that now that compliant stablecoin products with incentive mechanisms have emerged in the United States, the industry and regulators need to decide whether to view them as an opportunity or a threat.

Team USA secured a victory against Sweden in a thrilling overtime match during the men's hockey quarterfinals at the Winter Olympics. CNN Breaking News posted on X, highlighting the intense competition that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The game was marked by strong performances from both teams, showcasing their skills and determination. Ultimately, Team USA emerged victorious, advancing to the semifinals and keeping their hopes alive for a medal. This win adds to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Winter Olympics as teams continue to compete for top honors.

Barry Sternlicht, a real estate billionaire and founder of Starwood Capital Group, stated that his company is prepared to tokenize real-world assets (RWAs) on the blockchain, but is currently unable to proceed due to US regulatory restrictions. Starwood manages over $125 billion in assets. Speaking at the World Liberty Forum, Sternlicht pointed out that asset tokenization could create new financing methods for illiquid assets like real estate and make investment more accessible to investors. He called this technology a "future trend" and believes its development stage even predates artificial intelligence. Industry reports indicate that Deloitte predicts the global tokenized real estate market could reach $4 trillion by 2035, a significant increase from less than $300 billion in 2024, implying a compound annual growth rate of approximately 27%. Sternlicht called for further clarification of the regulatory environment to unlock the potential of asset tokenization.

Scott Melker, host of The Wolf Of All Streets Podcast, posted on X that Eric Trump expressed his belief that Bitcoin will eventually hit $1 million. Eric Trump, son of Donald Trump, shared his optimistic view on the future value of Bitcoin, suggesting significant growth potential for the cryptocurrency. His statement adds to the ongoing debate about Bitcoin's future valuation and its role in the financial markets.

A prominent stock in the U.S. equity market, known for its high price tag, is poised for a substantial markdown. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the upcoming change that could impact investors and market dynamics. The adjustment is expected to make the stock more accessible to a broader range of investors, potentially increasing its trading volume and liquidity. This move comes amid ongoing discussions about stock pricing strategies and their effects on market participation. Analysts are closely monitoring the situation to assess its implications for the stock's future performance and investor interest.

Crypto lending company Ledn has completed a $188 million Bitcoin-backed securitized bond issuance. The transaction comprises two tranches, with the investment-grade tranche priced 335 basis points above the benchmark interest rate. The bonds are secured by approximately 4,078.87 Bitcoins and are valued at approximately $357 million at fair value. S&P Global rated the majority of the bonds BBB-. Ledn primarily provides lending services backed by Bitcoin and has disbursed billions of dollars in loans since its inception. Previously, stablecoin issuer Tether invested in Ledn last November. Jefferies Financial Group served as the arranger and bookrunner for this bond issuance.

The Royal Bank of Canada has appointed a former Goldman Sachs equities trader and execution specialist to spearhead product innovation. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the bank's ongoing efforts to enhance its global stock market operations. This strategic move is part of RBC's broader initiative to strengthen its position in the international equities sector.

Investment bank TD Cowen states that in legal disputes surrounding sports betting markets, even with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) supporting the platforms, state governments may still hold a more favorable legal position. Analysts point out that sports betting has historically been primarily the responsibility of state-level regulators, and the Supreme Court often prioritizes historical regulatory precedent in similar cases. Therefore, in the dispute between Crypto.com and the state of Nevada, the state government's position remains somewhat advantageous. The case arose because Nevada regulators determined that Crypto.com's sports event contracts constituted unlicensed betting and attempted to halt them; Crypto.com argued that its products were derivatives transactions regulated by the CFTC. The district court previously ruled in favor of Nevada, and the case is currently appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The CFTC recently submitted an amicus curiae opinion emphasizing that betting markets should be regulated at the federal level. TD Cowen believes that if the case ultimately goes to the Supreme Court, the legal uncertainty surrounding the regulatory authority for betting markets could persist for years.

Decentralized staking protocol Ether.fi announced that its DeFi-native crypto card product, ether.fi Cash, will be migrated from the Scroll Network to the OP Mainnet (Optimism mainnet). The migration will be completed over the next few months and is expected to involve approximately 70,000 active cards, 300,000 accounts, and millions of dollars in user-locked assets (TVL). ether.fi Cash provides a non-custodial crypto payment experience, allowing users to spend directly with stablecoins or borrow and spend using staked and re-staking assets (such as eETH) as collateral, while continuing to earn yields and enjoy cashback rewards similar to traditional bank cards. The card can be used at all merchants that support Visa. Data shows that Ether.fi cards currently account for nearly half of crypto-native payment card transaction volume, making them one of the leading products in the field. Meanwhile, the OP Stack processed approximately 3.6 billion transactions in the second half of 2025, accounting for 13% of the total crypto transaction volume during the same period, providing high-throughput infrastructure support for this migration.

In 2026, with the improvement of the compliance system, the deepening of pilot scenarios, and breakthroughs in technological innovation, the Web3 industry will usher in a "high-quality development period," no longer pursuing "conceptual hype" but focusing on "practical value."

In the final quarter before Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO, Berkshire Hathaway continued to adjust its holdings in tech giants, reducing its holdings in several major stocks while making its first investment in traditional media outlet The New York Times.

Retail investors, BTC, crypto market, the scythe of Bitcoin's leader - a true account of a Nasdaq robbery. Golden Finance: From a 23x premium to zero, how were retail investors legally wiped out?

Quantum computing, quantum technology, gold, crypto market, cryptocurrency returns from its pedestal to reality. Golden Finance: Cryptocurrency is gradually losing out to gold in terms of narrative appeal.

A little over a year ago, becoming a digital asset vault seemed like an easy decision for many companies looking to boost their stock prices.

The pace of AI progress is astonishing, far exceeding most people's imagination, and may change society in a more profound way than the pandemic.

On platforms like Polymarket, most people (including myself in the past) typically price parlays by simply multiplying the probabilities of each event together.

On February 18, 2026, Polymarket announced that starting that day, the platform would pilot a market order fee in the sports market. The first wave of events covered were NCAA basketball and Italian Serie A leagues, with plans to gradually expand to all sports events in the future.

Happy Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse! Wishing everyone: May you gallop forward with boundless success, and enjoy good health and steady wealth!

Jinse Finance launches its cryptocurrency and blockchain industry daily news bulletin, "Jinse 8 AM," issue 2971, providing you with the latest and fastest news on the digital currency and blockchain industry.