LBANK INFO CRYPTOCURRENCY

Reports say Ripple has spent close to $3 billion on acquisitions since 2023 as it pushes to connect traditional financial systems with crypto infrastructure. The update was shared by Brad Garlinghouse, who said the company’s recent deals are aimed at linking established finance firms with blockchain-based services. Acquisition Strategy Since 2023 Since 2023, Ripple has completed six acquisitions with disclosed values totaling about $2.7 billion. Reports say that when undisclosed transactions and partnerships are included, estimates place the figure above $4 billion. Among the purchases was Metaco , acquired for $250 million. The company later bought Standard Custody, though the financial terms were not made public. In 2025, Ripple announced the acquisition of Hidden Road for $1.25 billion. It also purchased stablecoin payments platform Rail for $200 million and wallet technology provider Palisade for an undisclosed amount. Treasury Management And Payment Flows A major part of t...

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In the course of the last few months, the Ethereum price has seen a lot of decline , struggling alongside Bitcoin as investors rush to offload their coins. These sell-offs have come in anticipation of lower price levels, and with the price continuing to dip further, it seems the investors who sold earlier were right. Even now, analysts continue to predict that the market decline will continue, with the likes of Ethereum expected to suffer major retracement before a bottom is established. Technical Patterns Show Where Ethereum Is Headed Next In an analysis shared on the TradingView website, crypto analyst Melikatrader outlined that the Ethereum price could be seeing another major crash soon. So far, the digital asset has seen its price consolidation in what appears to be a large symmetrical triangle pattern. This comes while the price continues to chop below $2,000. Mainly, most of the action has happened as the Ethereum price has struggled around the $1,977 level, which the analys...

Bitcoin supply structure is undergoing a notable transformation as the Network Distribution Factor (NDF) declines rapidly. While price action often dominates headlines, shifts in distribution metrics can reveal structural changes. A falling NDF suggests that the balance of BTC holdings across different wallet cohorts is evolving, and potentially signaling a redistribution of market participants. What The Network Distribution Factor Actually Measures An advanced on-chain data analytics firm, Alphractal, noted on X that the NDF of Bitcoin is declining sharply, and revealing an important structural shift in how the asset supply is distributed across the market. The NDF measures the proportion of the total BTC supply held by larger holders controlling at least 0.01% of the entire circulating supply. When the metric declines, it indicates that the BTC supply concentration among large holders is decreasing. In practical terms, this shift represents a reduced relative dominance of large...

The price of Bitcoin has been stuck in a consolidation range below $70,000 so far this week, after spending most of the previous weekend above it. While the flagship cryptocurrency’s price movement has been largely — and painfully — sideways in recent weeks, this represents a notable improvement from how the month of February started. The new month ushered in a fresh low just above the $61,000 level for Bitcoin, confirming the start of the bear market . Amidst the relative stability in recent weeks, a recent on-chain evaluation suggests that BTC and the broader cryptocurrency mark is still at risk of further downside volatility. BTC’s Future In The Hands Of Large Investors: CryptoQuant In the last bull cycle, the price action of Bitcoin was heavily influenced and impacted by the increased influx and activity of institutional investors (primarily through the spot exchange-traded funds). Similarly, it appears that the large investor cohort will still be at the wheel even during the be...

According to recent reports, the Dutch arm of the prediction markets platform Polymarket has been asked to cease its activities in the Netherlands. This order comes as the latest regulatory blow dealt to the prediction market platform in recent weeks. Dutch Regulator Threatens Polymarket With $840,000 Fine In a notice dated Tuesday, February 17, the Netherlands Gambling Authority ordered Polymarket’s Dutch arm, Adventure One, to “cease its activities immediately” or risk incurring up to $840,000 in fines per week. According to the Dutch regulator, Adventure One offered illegal bets, including on the local elections, to residents without a license. While prediction markets do not particularly fall into the traditional gambling category, the Netherlands Gambling Authority has classified them as betting. The regulator revealed that it contacted Polymarket about its activities on the Dutch market, but have seen no corrective action or response from the prediction markets company. Neth...

Strategy CEO Phong Le is calling for a rethink of how banks are required to capital-charge bitcoin exposure under Basel-style rules, arguing that current risk-weighting treatment materially shapes whether regulated institutions can engage with digital assets at all. The catalyst was a chart shared on X that labels bitcoin “unsecured crypto exposure” with a “typical risk weight” of 1,250% under an “Illustrative Basel III-Style” standardized approach, alongside 0% weights for cash, physical gold, and US Treasuries. A Capital Penalty For Bank Bitcoin Exposure Le framed the issue as structural rather than political, pointing to the way global capital rules flow into national bank regulation. “The Basel Accords set global bank capital standards and risk-weighting rules for assets. These frameworks materially shape how banks engage with digital assets, including bitcoin,” he wrote. “They are developed by the Basel Committee of central banks and regulators across 28 jurisdictions — the U...

Analytics firm Glassnode has highlighted how the current Bitcoin market pain echoes May 2022 based on the trend in the Relative Unrealized Loss. Bitcoin Relative Unrealized Loss Has Shot Up Recently As explained by Glassnode in a new post on X, the current structure of the Bitcoin Relative Unrealized Loss could mirror May 2022. The “ Relative Unrealized Loss ” is an on-chain indicator that measures the amount of unrealized loss being held by BTC investors as a whole as a percentage of the asset’s market cap. The metric works by going through the transaction history of each coin on the blockchain to determine the last price it was moved at. If this last selling price was less than the current spot price for any token, then the indicator considers that particular coin to be underwater right now. The exact degree of loss carried by the token is equal to the difference between the two prices. The Relative Unrealized Loss sums up this value for all underwater coins and calculates what ...

Ethereum continues to struggle below the $2,000 level as persistent selling pressure and elevated uncertainty weigh on broader crypto market sentiment. Despite occasional rebound attempts, price action remains fragile, with volatility still elevated after months of corrective momentum. The inability to decisively reclaim this psychological threshold has reinforced caution among traders, particularly as liquidity conditions tighten and macro uncertainty continues to influence risk appetite across digital assets. Recent analysis from Darkfost adds further context to the current market structure. According to the data, the ongoing correction is now affecting all investor cohorts, including Ethereum’s largest holders. Notably, the unrealized profit ratio for whale groups has shifted into negative territory across the board. Wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 ETH show an unrealized profit ratio of approximately -0.21, while those with 10,000 to 100,000 ETH stand near -0.18. Even the ...

The XRP Ledger has just activated one of its most anticipated upgrades. According to XRPScan, the Permissioned DEX amendment was enabled on February 18, 2026 at 10:58:10 AM UTC after 82.35% of validators voted in favor. This is the second amendment to go live on the Ledger in less than a week, following the activation of the Token Escrow (XLS-85) amendment on February 12. XRP enthusiasts are happy with the development, as evidenced by various posts on the social media platform X. However, what does a Permissioned DEX actually mean for everyday users? Permissioned Dex Is Bigger Than A Simple Upgrade Ripple enthusiasts and executives have repeatedly stated that the largest obstacle to institutional adoption of decentralized exchanges is compliance. Without permissioning tools, even Ripple itself could not fully utilize certain XRPL functionalities in regulated environments. A Permissioned DEX is still a decentralized exchange, but with controlled access. A Permissioned DEX is whe...

Cardano’s price may be in a downward action due to a weakening crypto environment, but there has been a resurgence in buying activity from both retail and institutional investors across the sector. This resurgence in buying activity is indicated by the steady purchase by Grayscale, one of the leading treasury companies in the world. Grayscale Makes More Cardano Allocations Despite its persistent pullback in price over the past few months, institutional interest in Cardano (ADA) appears to be strengthening once again. According to a recent report from Dave, a crypto enthusiast, Grayscale Investments has increased its exposure to ADA after a fresh purchase. With its steady allocation move, the ADA weighting in the company’s Smart Contract Fund now sits at over 20.12% from its prior level of 19.50%. This marks another consecutive rise and signals that investors are once again confident in the altcoin’s long-term fundamentals, as they attentively examine high-conviction holdings in t...

A staggering $117 million worth of XRP has just shifted hands on the Ripple blockchain in a transaction that has left even seasoned crypto watchers wondering about the wallets involved. According to data publicly shared by crypto analyst Ripple Bull Winkle, on-chain records include timestamps, exact amounts, hashes, and transaction fees, but nothing about the identities of the sender or receiver.   Analyst Reveals Under-The-Radar XRP Transfer A massive 81 million XRP, valued at roughly $117 million, was transferred on the Ripple network, and the identities behind it remain unknown. Ripple Bull Winkle revealed the move in a post on X, sharing screenshots of on-chain data from Whale Alert showing millions of the token shifting between two crypto wallets with no labels, no exchange involvement, and no public trace.  Notably, the large-scale transfer took place on Tuesday, February 17, drawing the crypto community’s attention for its sheer scale and anonymity. According...

While buying interest in Ethereum may be losing momentum, the staking ecosystem has been experiencing significant growth over the past few months. Following a period of steady rise, the quantity of ETH locked away in staking contracts has reached a critical landmark that could impact its market outlook. Over Half Of All Ethereum Now Staked Ethereum ’s price has fallen below the $2,000 mark once again as Wednesday drew to a close. During the waning price action, the network seems to have reached a historical inflection point, as shown by the massive staking ecosystem growth. In an X thread , Everstake, a leading and responsible validator, has outlined a crucial landmark for ETH, which could play a role in shaping its future. ETH staking activity just exploded, with more than half of the entire supply being locked away in staking, marking the first time in its history. With the switch to proof-of-stake, Ethereum’s staking participation has increased steadily. However, its economic d...

Reports say large Bitcoin holders have stepped up activity on Binance, and traders are watching closely. Volume from the biggest transfers has risen in a short time. That change could matter for price moves, or it could mean nothing at all. Bitcoin’s price has softened recently, trading below $70,000 as markets digest a blend of macro uncertainty and geopolitical cues. Reports note that ongoing tensions, shifting monetary views, and risk aversion have kept traders cautious, with crypto’s movement increasingly tied to broader financial sentiment. In this environment, Bitcoin’s swings have been sharper than usual, reflecting not only internal market dynamics but also reactions to global headlines. Elsewhere, mixed signals from traditional markets have played a role. Some geopolitical developments seem to calm broader risk appetite, weighing on speculative assets like Bitcoin, while other flashpoints have briefly jostled crypto prices as traders reassess exposure. This push‑and‑pull...

Peter Thiel and entities tied to Founders Fund have fully exited ETHZilla, the publicly traded Ethereum treasury play that once marketed itself as a proxy bet on corporate ETH accumulation. A Schedule 13G/A filed Tuesday shows the reporting group finished 2025 with no remaining common shares, wiping out a position that had been closely watched across both crypto and small-cap equity circles. Thiel Exists Ethereum Treasury Play The amended filing, dated Feb. 17, 2026, is unusually blunt on the current footprint: “Aggregate amount… 0.00. Percent of class… 0.0%. Ownership of 5 percent or less of a class.” The positions are reported as of Dec. 31, 2025, meaning the exit was completed by year-end. PETER THIEL EXITS ETHEREUM DAT “ETHZILLA” AMID $ETHZ TOKENIZED JET ENGINE FOCUS: FILING pic.twitter.com/nnMeT32LQ4 — Aggr News (@AggrNews) February 18, 2026 That zeroed-out line item is a sharp contrast to what Thiel-related vehicles disclosed just a quarter earlier . In a prior Schedule 1...

With shifting narratives and waning ETF flows, the Ethereum price remains under heightened bearish pressure , keeping it just slightly below the $2,000 level. While price has declined sharply, Bitmine Immersion does not seem to be swayed by the pullback as the company makes another big strategic bet on the leading altcoin. Bitmine Doubles Down On Ethereum With A $91 Million Investment Institutional sentiment and interest in Ethereum are starting to show signs of renewed strength, with the recent large purchases of the altcoin. At the heart of this underlying strength is Bitmine Immersion, a leading ETH treasury company, following its most recent significant ETH buy. Amid this renewed bullish sentiment, a post published on the X platform by Milk Road, a macro expert and investor, shows that Bitmine is doubling down on its long-term future by acquiring another stack of ETH worth over $91 million. Even as market volatility continues to intensify, the treasury firm is still scooping u...

Bitcoin’s price has fallen sharply over the past few months, bringing an end to the bull market cycle. However, a closely watched Bitcoin market indicator is currently drawing renewed attention in the sector due to its reputation in determining when the next possible BTC bull run could take place. History Says Bitcoin Rallies When This Metric Flips Red After Bitcoin’s steep pullback , investors are now watching closely for the next bullish breakout that could kick off another BTC bull run. On-chain indicators have often been a reliable source for determining the next bull run, and Joao Wedson has  highlighted a key metric that stands out in this context. Specifically, the verified author and founder of Alphractal has shared insights into the matter using the Bitcoin Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) for Long-Term Holders. This metric measures the average unrealized profit or loss of the most reliant investors in the market.  According to the expert, the next bull r...

I'm building a Taproot script-path spend in Python (using bitcoin-utils or custom serialization helpers) and testmempoolaccept keeps rejecting with Invalid Taproot control block size . (The exact wrapper varies—sometimes non-mandatory-script-verify-flag , etc.) Checked everything: tapleaf hash , Merkle path , hash count matches the tree. Preimage/script look fine. So I'm pretty sure the content of the control block is ok. What I'm doing now: control_block = [ leaf_version, internal_pubkey, merkle_hash_1, merkle_hash_2 ] control_block_bytes = ser_string(b''.join(control_block)) # compactSize prefix witness_stack = [ preimage_or_sig, script, control_block_bytes ] Tried splitting the control block into separate stack elements too ( leaf_version , internal_key , hash1 , hash2 ...) — that gave bad-witness-nonstandard instead. What does "Invalid Taproot control block size" actually mean here? Am I serializing the control bl...

Bitcoin’s (BTC) latest attempt to stabilize has left traders divided. After briefly reclaiming the $70,000 level over the weekend, the asset slipped back toward $68,000, extending a four-week losing streak that has weighed on broader crypto markets. Related Reading: Did SBI Holdings Really Buy $10 Billion Worth Of XRP? CEO Reveals The Real Figure While macro uncertainty and technical resistance continue to cap upside momentum, emerging indicators suggest the market may be preparing for a short-term recovery. The decline comes after weeks of sustained selling pressure that followed Bitcoin’s earlier rally toward record highs. Market sentiment has weakened alongside concerns over interest rates and reduced inflows into speculative assets, pushing the asset into a corrective phase rather than a confirmed reversal. Bitcoin (BTC) Market Structure Remains Fragile Below $75K Technical analysis shows Bitcoin is still trading within a descending channel on higher timeframes, keeping the ...

Crypto’s week is stacked: ETHDenver pulls builders into Denver, a major DAO votes on supply, and US macro hits just as liquidity comes back after the holiday. Here’s what to watch: Ethereum (Feb. 18): ETHDenver Kicks Off ETHDenver’s main programming and opening ceremony are slated for Wednesday, Feb. 18, with a multi-day run into the weekend and a packed schedule across stages, side events, and builder tracks. ETHDenver is where the Ethereum stack gets judged in real time: tooling, L2/app UX, account-abstraction product choices and the ecosystem’s current priorities, for better or worse. Don’t trade it like a single catalyst, but it’s still an info dump: partnerships get soft-launched, roadmaps get clarified, and the politics show up in Q&As before anyone writes the post-mortem. Jupiter (Feb. 17): JUP’s ‘Pause Emissions’ Vote Goes Live On Feb. 17, Jupiter DAO is expected to put a blunt question to holders: pause emissions and take dilution off the table, or keep incentives run...

Binance and news reporters are locking horns over a set of serious claims that have put more heat on the exchange’s compliance record. The matter centers on alleged transfers tied to Iran and on the treatment of staff who flagged those moves. At stake is how a giant platform handles risk when past missteps still hang over it. Allegations And Denials Collide According to reporting by Fortune , internal teams found more than $1 billion in transfers linked to Iranian entities that moved through the exchange between March 2024 and August 2025. The pieces named stablecoin flows on the network run by Tron and pointed to a familiar issuer, Tether. Reports say several investigators who documented those flows were later let go. That claim, if true, would raise questions about how warnings from inside a company are handled. Binance pushed back hard. The platform, represented by its leadership, called the claims false and said a full internal review with outside counsel found no sanctions ...

Russia’s crypto scene is bigger than many realize, and regulators are sounding the alarm. Reports say daily crypto turnover inside the country may be around 50 billion rubles. That adds up fast — more than 10 trillion rubles a year by simple math — and officials say much of it moves beyond formal oversight. Russia’s deputy finance minister, Ivan Chebeskov , raised the figure while speaking about the need for clearer rules. According to reports, he warned that millions of people are taking part, and that those flows are largely happening outside official systems. That puts the state in a tight spot: clamp down and push activity further underground, or bring it under some kind of control and monitoring. Regulators Move To Catch Up The central bank’s tone has shifted. Once favoring a hard ban, the Central Bank of Russia now talks about licensing and limits. On the same panel, Vladimir Chistyukhin, the first deputy chairman of Russia’s central bank, said lawmakers could take action d...