Author: NBTC

NBTC

NBTC is the editorial account for NBTC News, covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, exchanges, mining, regulation and digital asset markets. The editorial team focuses on clear sourcing, timely updates and practical context for crypto readers.

Crypto 'Nihilists' Who Say They Don't Need Clarity Act 'Should Move to El Salvador'

LegalFeb 8

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued stern words Thursday to crypto stakeholders who think they can live without a market structure bill, stating it’s “impossible to proceed” with regulating crypto in the United States if the legislation does not pass Congress. “There seems to be a nihilist group in the industry who would prefer no regulation over this very good regulation,” Bessent said during testimony today before the Senate Banking Committee. “We have to get this Clarity Act across the finish line,” the Treasury Secretary added a few minutes later. “Any market participants who don’t want it should move to…

Bitcoin (BTC) Mining Difficulty Sees Major Drop – Unprecedented Since China’s Cryptocurrency Ban

MiningFeb 8

Bitcoin ($BTC) network mining difficulty has seen a sharp drop. According to Mempool developer Mononaut, Bitcoin mining difficulty decreased by 11.16 percent to 125.86 trillion (T). This drop was the largest one-off negative adjustment since the sharp correction following China’s ban on mining activities in July 2021, and the 10th largest drop in Bitcoin history. Mononaut stated that the decline was largely due to mining restrictions caused by adverse weather conditions experienced towards the end of January. It was reported that mining operations were slowed down or halted in some areas due to extreme cold weather and temporary disruptions in…

Aave founder offloads $8.3M in ETH as price falls under $2K

EthereumFeb 8

The blockchain lending network lead who recently bought a property in the UK has sold some of his ethereum holdings, as the market continues shedding a year’s worth of profits in just a week. Aave founder Stani Kulechov offloaded about 4,503 Ether late Thursday, as the token slid below the $2,000 mark. The sales were flagged by crypto market transaction-watching account Lookonchain, citing Arkham Intelligence data, which confirmed the stash was sold at about $1,857 a coin. Stani Kulechov(@StaniKulechov), the founder of Aave, sold 4,503 $ETH($8.36M) at $1,857 about 6 hours ago.https://t.co/JzvxKgQqGD pic.twitter.com/VmuLThoAWt — Lookonchain (@lookonchain) February 6, 2026 The…

US Broker-Dealer Alpaca Raises $150 Million, Valued at $1.15 Billion

RegulationFeb 8

Alpaca closed a $150 million Series D round, pushing the brokerage infrastructure provider to a $1.15 billion valuation. Drive Capital led the deal, and Co‑Founder and Partner Chris Olsen will take a seat on Alpaca’s board. The company also arranged a $40 million line of credit to bolster its balance sheet as it scales. The firm operates as a brokerage infrastructure provider, offering APIs and self‑clearing custody that support stocks, ETFs, options, crypto and fixed income products. Alpaca says it now works with more than 300 organizations in over 40 countries and supports millions of brokerage accounts at financial institutions…

U.S. Treasury's Bessent calls out crypto 'nihilists' resisting market structure bill

LegalFeb 8

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent fired warning shots at crypto insiders who are pushing back in the negotiations over a digital assets market structure bill in the Senate — briefly aligning with Democratic Senator Mark Warner in expressing frustration during a hearing on Thursday. "There seems to be a nihilist group in the industry who prefers no regulation over this very good regulation," Bessent said in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee. "Amen, brother," said Virginia Senator Warner, one of the key Democratic negotiators on the bill. "So weigh in." "I do," Bessent responded. "Early and often." A number of…

ETH Bounces 10% As Massive Inflows Clash With Insider Selling

EthereumFeb 8

Ethereum price today trades near $1,924 after rebounding from a session low at $1,742, its lowest level since May 2025. The bounce comes alongside a rare flip to positive spot flows, but insider selling from Vitalik Buterin and Trump-linked $WLFI is raising questions about whether smart money believes the bottom is in. Spot Inflows Flip Positive At $224 Million $ETH Netflows (Source: Coinglass) Despite the insider selling, Coinglass data shows $224.27 million in spot inflows on February 6, marking a dramatic reversal from the outflows that dominated the past two weeks. This represents one of the largest single-day inflow readings…

Greenland Inc.? The Tech Billionaires Behind Trump’s Arctic Obsession

RegulationFeb 8

US President Donald Trump has framed Greenland as a national security priority. However, beneath this rhetoric, the push appears closely linked to the interests of the American technology sector. Greenland’s vast territory, abundant mineral reserves, and small population make it an appealing gateway to critical resources for advanced industries. In this context, the prospect of a US takeover is hardly surprising. America’s tech billionaires were among the key financial backers of Trump’s 2024 campaign. Such support rarely comes without expectations. Why Greenland Reentered Trump’s Focus One of the first times Trump discussed Greenland was in August 2019, during his first…

David Sacks promised ‘market structure bill in 100 days’ a year ago

LegalFeb 8

Exactly one year ago, “crypto czar” David Sacks hosted a press conference alongside Representative French Hill, Senator John Boozman, Senator Tim Scott, and Representative GT Thompson to announce they hoped to advance a stablecoin regulation bill and a cryptocurrency market structure bill out of both the Senate and the House within 100 days. Despite these bold commitments, neither of these bills was passed within those first 100 days. Eventually, the stablecoin regulation bill would be passed, in the form of the GENIUS Act, but well after the self-imposed deadline had lapsed. Read more: David Sacks sends silly legal threat to…

Trump proposes a 10% cap on credit card interest rates for one year to fight affordability issues

RegulationFeb 8

Wall Street erupted after Donald Trump said he wants a one‑year 10% cap on credit card interest rates. Big U.S. banks warned the plan would hit a major source of income and make it harder to lend to millions of Americans. The average card rate is 19.6%, and cards handle 70% of all U.S. retail payments. Wall Street leaders said forcing rates down would push them to cut back on who gets credit. Banks warn the cap would cut lending and hit growth Citigroup finance chief Mark Mason said the cap would cause “a restriction on providing credit in the…

Kalshi boosts surveillance ahead of Super Bowl with independent committee

LegalFeb 8

Kalshi says it’s expanding surveillance on its prediction markets platform with an independent advisory committee and partnerships to catch insider trading and market manipulation just days ahead of the Super Bowl. Kalshi said on Thursday that the committee would give a quarterly rundown to the company’s outside counsel and publish statistics on investigations into suspicious activity on the platform. It is also teaming up with crypto trading surveillance platform Solidus Labs and the director of Wharton Forensic Analytics Lab, Daniel Taylor, “to detect, investigate, and address market abuse.” The move comes three days before Super Bowl 60, one of the…