Market Overview - There was notable selling pressure in technology stocks, but concerns are not deemed significant at this time [1][2] - Seasonal factors and market positioning are contributing to current market dynamics [2] - Commercial real estate and financials experienced substantial declines, indicating potential headwinds for the market [2][3] Inflation and Economic Indicators - Analysts expect volatility surrounding the upcoming inflation print, with a wide range of expectations [3][4] - The market anticipates a month-over-month CPI increase of approximately 0.3%, while the Cleveland Fed projects only a 0.12% increase [3][4] - The Adobe Digital Price Index reported a 4% increase from December to January, adding to the inflationary concerns [3] Company Performance: Applied Materials - Applied Materials reported revenue of $7.01 billion, exceeding the street's expectation of $6.86 billion [5][6] - Adjusted earnings per share were $2.38, surpassing the expected $2.19 [5][6] - Year-over-year revenue showed a 2% contraction, but sales from China were better than expected, contributing 30% to overall revenue [6][7] - Strong demand for high bandwidth memory and equipment from major customers like Samsung supports positive outlook [7] Company Performance: Coinbase - Coinbase shares are slightly higher despite missing some street expectations, with adjusted earnings per share at 66 cents, above the expected 55 cents [10][11] - The company reported a significant loss of $249 million in GAP EPS, attributed to declining trading volumes in the cryptocurrency market [10][11] - The services business saw a 13.5% year-over-year increase, but remains a smaller revenue contributor [12] Company Performance: AET - AET shares rallied following quarterly results, with revenue of $2.549 billion, exceeding the street's expectation of $2.37 billion [14][15] - Adjusted earnings per share were 82 cents, beating the expected 75 cents [14][15] - Demand for networking equipment, particularly high-speed Ethernet switches, remains strong, indicating a positive trend for the company [15][16]

Totally normal state of affairs these days in the developing nation of France.I’d avoid this 3rd world country if I had more than $2 to my name.But hey, at least the baguettes and croissants are still elite.zoomer (@zoomerfied):[ ZOOMER ]BINANCE FRANCE CEO TARGETED IN HOME INVASION ATTEMPT, AS CRYPTO CRIME CASES IN FRANCE GROW: RTL ...

Core Insights - Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has criticized "made-up narratives" regarding Binance's involvement in significant leverage events during the COVID-19 crash [1] - CZ has denied allegations that Binance profited from trading on BitMEX during the March 12, 2020 crash, labeling the claims as "fake news" [2][3] - The controversy surrounding Binance's trading practices has resurfaced amid ongoing scrutiny and regulatory challenges [4] Group 1: Allegations and Responses - CZ addressed rumors of Binance cashing out 60,000 BTC in profits from BitMEX, stating that Binance never traded on the platform [2][3] - The viral claim about Binance's profitability on BitMEX was linked to a post that suggested it was the largest withdrawal in BitMEX history, which CZ refuted [3] - Binance has faced similar accusations in the past, but maintains a strict separation between proprietary trading and user funds [4] Group 2: Market Events and Impact - The October 10, 2025 liquidation event, which resulted in $19 billion in liquidations, has been connected to Binance, with industry figures attributing blame to the exchange [5] - CZ has defended Binance against these accusations, attributing the crash to systemic leverage and market forces rather than exchange errors, and noted that Binance compensated affected users with $600 million [6] - The ongoing scrutiny of Binance's operations may be influenced by broader anti-Binance sentiment following regulatory settlements and leadership changes after CZ's guilty plea to U.S. money-laundering violations in 2023 [4]

Core Viewpoint - The US Department of Justice has sentenced Ramil Ventura Palafox, founder of a fraudulent crypto investment scheme, to 20 years in prison for defrauding over 90,000 investors of more than $200 million through a Ponzi scheme disguised as a legitimate Bitcoin trading operation [1][2]. Group 1: Scheme Overview - The Praetorian Group International (PGI) operated from December 2019 to October 2021, raising over $201 million from global investors [3]. - PGI promised daily returns between 0.5% and 3%, claiming these profits were generated from sophisticated Bitcoin trading and arbitrage strategies [3]. - Investigations revealed that PGI did not conduct trading at the necessary scale to produce such returns, functioning instead as a classic Ponzi scheme [3]. Group 2: Financial Impact - At least $30.2 million was invested in fiat currency, along with 8,198 Bitcoin valued at approximately $171.5 million at the time of investment [4]. - Confirmed losses for investors reached at least $62.7 million, with prosecutors suggesting that the total financial harm could be significantly higher [4]. Group 3: Founder’s Misconduct - Palafox allegedly created a fraudulent online investor portal to misrepresent investment performance, showing fabricated account balances to maintain the illusion of profitability [5]. - Between 2020 and 2021, the platform consistently misrepresented investment performance, falsely indicating steady gains [5]. Group 4: Personal Expenditures - Palafox diverted substantial investor funds to support a lavish lifestyle, spending approximately $3 million on luxury vehicles and around $329,000 on penthouse accommodations [6]. - He purchased four residential properties in Las Vegas and Los Angeles worth over $6 million [6]. - Additional expenditures included around $3 million on designer clothing, jewelry, and high-end home furnishings [7]. - Palafox also transferred at least $800,000 in fiat currency and 100 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $3.3 million, to a family member [7].

Core Viewpoint - The Indian government has delayed discussions on a cryptocurrency bill, prompting criticism from the Supreme Court for the lack of clear guidelines in the crypto sector [1][5]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - Lawmaker Raghav Chadha emphasized the necessity for a "clear domestic regulatory sandbox" to classify cryptocurrencies as an asset class, which could generate billions in annual tax revenue for the government [2]. - Chadha pointed out the paradox of imposing a 30% tax on cryptocurrency gains without providing legal recognition or investor protections, urging the establishment of a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and stablecoins [5]. Group 2: Current Taxation and Market Impact - India currently imposes a 30% flat tax on income from virtual digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, along with a 1% tax on all transfers, regardless of holding period or income level [4]. - An analysis revealed that 72.66% of India's cryptocurrency trading volume, approximately $5.60 billion, occurred on offshore platforms, indicating that unclear regulations have led to the migration of around 180 cryptocurrency startups abroad [3].

🇧🇷 LATEST: Brazil reintroduces bill to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, allowing the country to acquire up to 1M $BTC. https://t.co/ylxXz8L4wo ...

BlackRock is doubling down on Ethereum by buying up more Bitmine shares during the market dip, the firm disclosed on Thursday. The asset manager’s Bitmine holdings surged by 166% to $246 million in the fourth-quarter of 2025, according to a 13F-HR form filed with the SEC, Fintel data shows. Tom Lee, the chair of Bitmine who predicts $250,000 per Ethereum, commented on the move with clapping emojis in a post on X. BlackRock’s big vote of confidence comes as Ethereum’s price has fallen by 60% from its Au ...

Core Insights - Coinbase is exploring the possibility of launching its own prediction market venue while maintaining a partnership with Kalshi, keeping all options open for future developments [1] - The prediction market service launched by Coinbase saw significant engagement during Super Bowl LX, with Kalshi reporting a 2,700% year-over-year increase in volume, totaling over $1 billion wagered [2] Financial Performance - Coinbase reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.78 billion, which was below analyst forecasts, but the earnings per share (EPS) of $0.66 exceeded expectations [4] - For the full fiscal year, Coinbase's total revenue reached $7.2 billion, reflecting a 9% increase year-over-year [4] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Coinbase shares rose by 0.87% in after-hours trading after a decline of 7.90% during regular trading hours, closing at $141.09 [5] - The stock is currently experiencing a weaker price trend across short, medium, and long-term periods, with an average value ranking according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [5] Marketing Efforts - Coinbase aired a karaoke-style advertisement during Super Bowl LX, which did not resonate well with viewers, resulting in it being the lowest-rated advertisement following the event [3]

Core Insights - Consensus Hong Kong 2026 attracted 11,000 attendees from over 122 countries, emphasizing its role in the global dialogue on finance and digital assets [1][2] - The event generated an estimated economic impact of nearly HK$300 million for the local economy, showcasing Hong Kong's commitment to becoming a global hub for digital assets [1][2] - The conference featured over 350 speakers and highlighted key topics such as institutional adoption, stablecoins, and the integration of AI and blockchain technologies [1][2] Event Highlights - The conference was held from February 10-12, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with a diverse audience split nearly 50/50 between Asia and the rest of the world [1][2] - Senior leadership made up 62% of the total attendance, indicating the event's significance for high-level industry decision-makers [1][2] - Keynote addresses included remarks from Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, focusing on the convergence of AI and blockchain [1][2] Innovation and Development - The agenda included discussions on the 'Machine Economy' and the harmonization of AI agents, robotics, and on-chain execution [1][2] - More than 1,000 developers and 240 startups participated in the EasyA Consensus Hackathon and CoinDesk PitchFest, showcasing innovative projects [1][2] - Notable winners included FoundrAI, SentinelFi, and PumpStop, highlighting advancements in AI and crypto trading technologies [1][2] Future Directions - Following the success in Hong Kong, Consensus will move to Miami from May 5-7, 2026, continuing discussions on the digital asset agenda [1][3] - The event aims to reinforce Hong Kong's role as a gateway to Asia and promote forward-thinking policies in the digital asset space [1][3] - Consensus serves as a platform for exploring trends in the digital economy, including DeFi, Web3, and evolving regulatory landscapes [2][3]

Core Insights - The XRP Ledger (XRPL) activated the XLS-85 amendment on February 12, 2026, enabling native escrow for all Trustline-based tokens and Multi-Purpose Tokens, which enhances secure and programmable asset settlement [1][2] - The upgrade is expected to expand XRPL's utility and may facilitate institutional capital deployment, although its direct impact on XRP's price remains uncertain [1][5] Group 1: Upgrade Details - XLS-85 removes the previous limitation of escrow functionality being exclusive to XRP, allowing various assets, including stablecoins and real-world assets, to utilize secure, conditional on-chain settlement [2][3] - The upgrade enhances existing transaction types such as EscrowCreate, EscrowFinish, and EscrowCancel, while ensuring that token issuers maintain control through issuer-level flags, preserving compliance and governance structures [3] Group 2: Institutional Implications - The XLS-85 upgrade positions XRPL as institution-ready, potentially leading to increased capital deployment by institutions starting from February 12 [4] - The recent activation of Permissioned Domains further supports the expansion of institutional use cases on XRPL [4] Group 3: Potential Use Cases - The upgrade opens avenues for various applications, including token vesting schedules, institutional settlement workflows, treasury management for issued assets, conditional stablecoin payouts, and structured financial products built directly on XRPL [6]