Author: NBTC

In a significant consolidation move within cryptocurrency infrastructure, institutional data platform The Tie has finalized its acquisition of staking service provider Stakin, creating a combined entity managing over $1 billion in delegated assets. This strategic merger, confirmed on Tuesday following an approval process that began last August, represents a notable evolution in how institutional investors access and manage cryptocurrency exposure. The acquisition signals growing maturity in crypto service providers as they expand offerings to meet sophisticated investor demands. The Tie Acquires Stakin: A Strategic Institutional Play The Tie’s acquisition of Stakin creates a comprehensive platform serving institutional cryptocurrency investors. The…

XPIN has reported that it has successfully completed its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation ( MiCAR) compliance process, which is a milestone in its formation as a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). 🚨 BREAKING!XPIN has officially obtained MiCAR compliance across the EU! 🇪🇺MiCAR sets a single standard for how digital assets are disclosed and supported across Europe.With a MiCAR-compliant white paper in place, XPIN now operates with EU-wide regulatory clarity as part of… pic.twitter.com/ztFYW3fKzH — XPIN Network🛰️ (@XPINNetwork) February 9, 2026 MiCAR compliance is not a mere formal regulatory box of XPIN. Since the project is located at the crossroads of…

Core Scientific (CORZ), a bitcoin mining and digital infrastructure company, reported fourth-quarter revenue of $79.8 million for the period ended Dec. 31, compared with $94.93 million a year earlier. Consensus forecasts were for revenue of $122.08 million, according to LSEG data. The company posted a loss of $0.42 per share, versus expectations for a loss of $0.08 per share. The weaker results come as bitcoin miners continue to adjust to the April 2024 halving, which cut block rewards in half and squeezed margins across the industry. A higher network hash rate and rising energy and infrastructure costs have pressured profitability,…

Circle’s stablecoin $USDC just powered what organizers call the world’s first hackathon run entirely by autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agents — no human judges, no human voters, just code evaluating code. Circle’s $USDC Anchors Experimental AI Agent Hackathon The weeklong event was conducted on Moltbook and Openclaw, with agents handling everything from submissions to evaluation and final voting. The prize pool totaled $30,000 in $USDC. The hackathon ran from Feb. 3 through Feb. 8 and generated more than 200 submissions, over 1,300 votes, and nearly 10,000 comments during the event, reflecting heavy agent-driven engagement. Organizers structured the competition across three…

Investment managers who back green technology companies are preparing to increase their investments this year, guided by clearer rules and lower borrowing costs, even as they face higher standards for where to put their dollars. Trump’s policy decisions, the growth of artificial intelligence, and the spread of electric systems, all forces that shaped where money went in 2025, will continue to influence investment choices this year. Companies seeking funding will need to show they can make money, not just reduce carbon pollution. Where investors see opportunity Most investors agree that companies that serve data center energy needs look like good…

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the imprisoned former CEO of FTX, has launched a fresh attack on what he calls “Biden’s lawfare machine,” claiming prosecutors prevented him from presenting evidence that would have cleared him of fraud charges. In a series of posts on X published via a proxy, SBF aligned himself with Donald Trump and other defendants he says were victims of politically motivated prosecutions. The posts came in response to comments from Ryan Salame, former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, who is also serving time in prison. Salame had reacted to news that law firm Fenwick & West agreed to…

The dedicated spot crypto exchange of contracts for differences (CFDs) broker Pepperstone went live today (Thursday), but only for users in Australia, as FinanceMagnates.com had the first look at the new website. The launch came after Pepperstone’s CEO, Tamas Szabo, publicly announced his company’s plan to launch the crypto exchange last November while speaking at the AusCryptoCon convention. Tapping Crypto Traders At launch, the Pepperstone Crypto website lists five cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, along with two stablecoins, USDC and USDT. All pairs are listed against the Australian dollar. It will add more cryptocurrencies in the future. It’s also…

The escalating conflict between Iran and the US and Israel has turned into a new crisis over the Strait of Hormuz, the heart of global energy markets. Despite claims from sources close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard that the strait has been closed, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the strait has not been effectively closed. Speaking to Iranian state media, Ebrahim Jabari, a senior advisor to the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, stated, “The Strait of Hormuz is closed. If anyone tries to cross, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and the regular navy will set those ships…

As the curtain falls on Consensus Hong Kong 2026, the focus has shifted from the corporate boardrooms to the show floor. While institutional talk dominated the main stages, nearly 1,000 developers spent the week in the trenches of the EasyA x Consensus Hackathon, signaling a definitive pivot in the industry: the “Year of the Application Layer.” The competition, which has become a staple of Consensus by CoinDesk’s flagship events, saw over 30 projects pitch on demo day. The quality of builds, aided significantly by generative AI, clearly demonstrated that the barrier between a “proof of concept” and a “market-ready product”…

Ethereum trades near critical support after months of steady selling pressure. The 4-hour chart shows a firm downtrend with lower highs and lower lows. Price rejected the 0.786 Fibonacci level near $3,047 and never regained strength. Consequently, sellers tightened control after $ETH lost the 0.618 level at $2,768. That breakdown accelerated the slide toward $1,742, which now stands as major structural support. Technical Structure Remains Bearish Below $2,050 $ETH recently bounced from $1,742 but remains below key resistance clusters. The $1,900 to $1,850 zone now acts as immediate short-term demand. However, failure to hold this area increases the risk of…