Today's Cryptocurrency News (February 13) | Ark invests over $20 million to increase holdings in Bitmine and Bullish; DOJ warns of Valentine's Day crypto scams
This article summarizes cryptocurrency news as of February 13, 2026, focusing on the latest Bitcoin updates, Ethereum upgrades, Dogecoin trends, real-time crypto prices, and price forecasts. Major Web3 events today include:
Robinhood Markets experienced a double blow this week due to weak earnings and declining crypto sentiment. After releasing Q4 results on February 10, the stock fell nearly 17% over the next two trading days, with a total decline of 37% since the start of the year. The earnings report showed an EPS of $0.66, slightly above expectations, but revenue of $1.28 billion fell short of Wall Street estimates, mainly due to a sharp drop in cryptocurrency trading income.
Data indicates that crypto-related revenue for the quarter plummeted 38% year-over-year to $221 million, with trading activity significantly weakening. Market concerns suggest this segment may struggle to recover in the short term, becoming a key pressure point on the stock price.
Several institutions have downgraded their target prices but maintained ratings. Truist Financial’s David Smith lowered the target from $130 to $120, still rating it as a buy; Needham’s John Todaro cut it from $135 to $100, citing the forecast market as a rare bright spot; Piper Sandler’s Patrick Moley adjusted the target from $155 to $135, noting that if volatility can be endured, the company remains an important long-term retail trading growth target.
Chief Financial Officer Shiv Verma stated that the market’s overemphasis on the crypto segment is misleading, as last year this business only accounted for about 18% of total revenue, with over 80% coming from stocks, options, and other financial services. He emphasized that the company’s strategy focuses on active traders, increasing user asset retention, and accelerating global and institutional expansion.
Regarding growth catalysts, management is optimistic about forecast markets, real-world asset tokenization, and deployment of AI tools. The acquisition of TradePMR is also viewed as a significant step to attract Millennials and Generation Z. Bernstein’s Gautam Chhugani sees the current pullback as a phase adjustment, with the $60–$75 range being attractive for allocation.
In the context of subdued crypto sentiment, HOOD faces short-term volatility, but the long-term growth narrative remains intact.
After months of sideways trading, Bitcoin’s price volatility has accelerated markedly, entering a high-risk zone. On-chain data shows that between February 5 and 6, Bitcoin first dropped 14.3%, then rebounded 12.2%, creating intense short-term swings and large liquidations on both sides.
Statistics from Alphractal indicate that 30-day and 180-day volatility indices have risen simultaneously. Such scenarios often occur after a prolonged low-volatility period, signaling a shift from “accumulation” to “rapid directional movement.” For high-leverage traders, this back-and-forth increases liquidation risk significantly.
More concerning is the movement of whale addresses. On-chain data tracking large addresses shows that when Bitcoin fell from around $95,000 to near $60,000, inflows to exchanges increased sharply. Monthly inflows rose from about 1,000 BTC to nearly 3,000 BTC, with approximately 12,000 BTC transferred into exchanges on February 6 alone. Since early February, seven days have seen inflows exceeding 5,000 BTC, a frequency rarely seen historically.
Such concentrated inflows often coincide with local tops or panic selling. Currently, signals point to more selling pressure than accumulation, indicating a tight short-term capital environment. Technical indicators also show downward pressure, with Bitcoin trading well below the 20-day moving average (around $77,000), with only limited rebounds near $60,000.
Momentum indicators suggest the downtrend has not yet reversed; RSI remains below 40, and the DMI’s bearish line remains dominant. Multiple signals indicate the market remains highly volatile and uncertain. If buying interest cannot sustain, the short-term trend may continue downward.
Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest has increased its holdings in crypto-related stocks again, deploying contrarian bets amid market downturns. According to disclosures, Ark purchased 212,314 shares of Ethereum treasury company Bitmine across three ETFs, worth approximately $4.2 million at the closing price. Bitmine rose slightly by 1.4% to $19.74 that day but has declined 36.7% over the past month.
On the same day, Ark also increased its stake by 74,323 shares of Bullish, valued at about $2.4 million. This marks the 11th consecutive day of buying this stock. Bullish declined 0.5% to $31.71, down 18% over 30 days. Additionally, Ark bought approximately $12.4 million worth of 174,767 Robinhood shares, which fell 8.9% that day and 40% over the month.
Ark’s portfolio adheres to a risk management rule that no single position exceeds 10%. During volatile periods, the fund often rebalances to maintain stability. Currently, Bullish is the ninth-largest holding in its ARKF fund, with a weight of about 3.4% and a market value close to $30 million. Ark also holds significant positions in other crypto-related companies such as Circle, Block, and COIN.
On a macro level, major US indices declined sharply, with Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 all pulling back. Digital assets saw Bitcoin hovering near $66,700, and Ethereum close to $1,960, both near multi-year lows.
In the context of synchronized pressure on traditional and crypto markets, Ark’s continuous accumulation is seen by some investors as an early move toward a cyclical recovery in crypto assets. The market will next focus on whether prices form new support levels at lows, providing new guidance for risk assets.
The Stuttgart Stock Exchange Group in Germany announced a merger agreement between its digital asset division and Frankfurt-based Tradias, aiming to create an integrated crypto financial platform for institutional clients and strengthen its position in Europe’s crypto infrastructure.
According to the announcement, the combined entity will consolidate approximately 300 employees under a joint management team. The new company will offer services including brokerage, trading, custody, staking, and tokenized assets across Europe, ensuring full regulatory compliance.
While specific financial terms were not disclosed, foreign media citing sources report Tradias’s valuation at around €200 million, with the overall valuation expected to exceed €500 million, reflecting strong institutional interest in compliant crypto services.
Stuttgart Stock Exchange has been actively developing regulated digital asset services through its Boerse Stuttgart Digital division, providing trading, brokerage, and custody under the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation. The group expects significant growth in crypto trading volume by 2025, increasing its share of total revenue.
Tradias, part of Bankhaus Scheich, holds a securities trading bank license issued by BaFin and has extensive experience in institutional execution and liquidity management. The merger will integrate compliance technology and professional trading capabilities into a unified platform.
CEO Matthias Voelkel stated that this merger will accelerate the integration of Europe’s crypto market and provide a secure pathway for traditional financial institutions to enter digital assets. Founder Christopher Beck emphasized that the new company will cover the entire value chain of digital assets, becoming a scalable and innovative European platform.
Amid clearer European regulatory frameworks, this merger is seen as a key step toward mature institutional crypto services and a profound transformation of the regional digital finance landscape.
Anthropic, OpenAI’s strongest competitor, announced it has completed a Series G funding round raising up to $30 billion, with a post-money valuation of approximately $380 billion, reigniting global capital enthusiasm for AI. The round was led by GIC and Coatue, with participation from Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, BlackRock, Temasek, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. Meanwhile, the company’s annual revenue has risen to about $14 billion, with a tenfold increase over three years, expected to reach nearly $18 billion this year.
This phenomenon is reshaping the tech investment landscape and subtly influencing crypto capital structures. As AI tools can replace various SaaS services, enterprise software valuations face downward pressure. Bloomberg reports that in early February, software stocks lost about $285 billion in market cap in one week. Market analysts like Jim Bianco note that Bitcoin’s price movements are highly correlated with software stocks, driven by private credit flows.
Industry data shows that the roughly $30 trillion private credit market allocates nearly 17% to software-related investments. Since mid-2025, tightening liquidity, reduced lending, and asset sell-offs have begun to spill over into digital assets. UBS warns that US private credit default rates could rise to 13%, increasing systemic financial risks.
In this environment, accelerated concentration of AI capital may weaken traditional software financing, transmitting effects to assets like Bitcoin. Some institutions also point to breakthroughs in automation and quantum security, indirectly altering long-term narratives in crypto.
While Anthropic is not the only variable, its rapid expansion has become a market sentiment indicator. Crypto investors are closely monitoring AI funding levels, private credit health, and tech stock volatility as key factors in assessing Bitcoin risk.
The US Department of Justice, through the Northern District of Ohio Federal Prosecutor’s Office, issued a warning urging the public to be vigilant around Valentine’s Day to prevent love scams involving crypto transfers and false investments. The statement bluntly said, “Cupid doesn’t ask for crypto,” noting that scammers use dating platforms, social media, and chat apps to establish relationships, then induce transfers with emergencies, travel expenses, or high-yield investment schemes.
Prosecutor David M. Topfer stated these scams are not about romance but solely about money. He urged the public to verify identities before any transfer and avoid sending money to strangers. Law enforcement reports that scammers often forge identities with stolen photos, claim overseas service or international business, quickly profess affection, then shift conversations to private messaging apps and demand payments via crypto, gift cards, or wire transfers.
The department listed multiple real cases, including a Ghanaian suspect accused of orchestrating love scams that defrauded victims of over $8 million, and women losing all savings to “crypto investment opportunities.” Authorities advise that if fraud is suspected, contacts should be terminated, evidence preserved, and reports filed with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
This “love + investment” scam, also called the “Pig Butcher” scheme, has seen rising losses in recent years, becoming one of the most costly online fraud types in the US. Blockchain security firms have tracked increasing fund flows related to these scams, which are becoming highly organized.
Law enforcement is strengthening cooperation with blockchain firms through on-chain tracking and asset freezes to reduce victimization. Regulators emphasize that anyone promising “stable high yields” and requesting crypto should be considered high risk. For users, maintaining rationality and caution is key to avoiding emotional and financial traps. (The Block)
The XRP Ledger has officially activated the token custody amendment XLS-85, allowing users to create custody accounts for issued interchangeable tokens. This means that, beyond XRP itself, trust line tokens and multi-purpose tokens (MPT) can be locked on-chain under specific conditions, providing more flexible asset management for DeFi and enterprise applications.
The amendment received support from 30 validators on January 30, 2026, reaching the activation threshold, and went live two weeks later. Previously, XLS-85 nearly passed in September 2025 but was halted due to incompatibility with MPT standards, with support dropping to 16 votes. XRPL dUNL validator Vet pointed out issues with custody accounting in transfer fees and supply tracking, prompting the community to develop fixTokenEscrowV1, integrated into Rippled v3.0.0, restoring confidence and enabling final activation.
With the new functionality, custody mechanisms now extend to RLUSD trust line tokens and MPT assets. Users can lock tokens under specific conditions for payments, compliant custody, and DeFi collateralization. Note that issuers must enable relevant flags; tokens cannot be used to custody their own issued assets but can receive custody tokens.
There are three custody modes supported: time-based, condition-based, and combined. Time custody releases assets after a set date; condition custody depends on cryptographic fulfillment; combined custody activates when both time and conditions are met. These mechanisms enhance security and control for cross-border settlements, on-chain financing, and automated contracts.
Industry experts see XLS-85’s deployment as a key step in bringing real-world assets onto XRP Ledger and expanding enterprise use cases, providing a more mature infrastructure for tokenized asset management.
At a Senate hearing, SEC Chair Paul Atkins publicly outlined his latest stance on crypto regulation. He stated that establishing a federal regulatory framework for digital asset markets in the US is “long overdue.” This signals a major policy shift, moving from an “enforcement-first” approach to a “rule-based” system.
For years, US crypto regulation relied mainly on case-by-case enforcement, lacking unified standards, with unclear compliance paths and frequent barriers to capital and innovation. Atkins said this fragmented approach is no longer sustainable given the market’s scale, and regulators need to coordinate under a common framework rather than operate independently.
He also confirmed that the SEC is working closely with the CFTC to lay the groundwork for future legislation. Since early 2026, he has led a cross-agency initiative called “Project Crypto,” aiming to clarify digital asset classifications and align regulatory policies with pending legislation. The “Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act” is seen as a core reference, which, if enacted, would redefine the regulatory authority over securities and commodities in digital assets.
This shift faces resistance. Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned whether regulatory power might be weakened and raised concerns about political donations influencing policy. This reflects ongoing domestic disagreements over the role of crypto.
Nonetheless, the key change is in attitude: regulators are no longer questioning whether cryptocurrencies should exist but are discussing how to incorporate them into the formal financial system. This can reduce policy uncertainty for markets, compliance risks for institutions, and provide clearer innovation boundaries for developers.
While full legislation remains pending, this statement signals that the US is moving toward a unified, predictable crypto regulatory environment, likely impacting global digital asset markets profoundly.
The Bhutanese government recently conducted another Bitcoin transfer. BSCNews citing on-chain data reports that Bhutan sold approximately $6.7 million worth of Bitcoin, according to analysis from Arkham. While “government sales” may raise market concerns, the scale is small relative to daily Bitcoin trading volume and has not caused significant price impact.
On-chain data shows that addresses associated with Bhutan still hold about $370 million worth of Bitcoin. This suggests it’s not a full liquidation but rather phased asset management. Since late 2025, Bhutan has repeatedly engaged in similar transfers, following a “partial sale, long-term hold” strategy, indicating Bitcoin remains a key reserve asset.
Bhutan’s Bitcoin strategy dates back to 2019, when the country began mining Bitcoin using surplus hydropower, converting renewable energy into digital assets. By 2024, Bhutan had mined over 13,000 BTC, becoming one of the few nations to establish a national BTC reserve through mining. Since then, Bhutan has periodically sold some Bitcoin to fund infrastructure and government expenses, not for short-term profit.
Market reactions suggest that a $6.7 million sale is too small to affect overall supply-demand dynamics. Arkham’s previous research indicates that government-related transfers are usually absorbed quickly by the market, causing only short-term volatility without changing long-term trends.
More importantly, Bhutan continues to hold most of its Bitcoin holdings. For a sovereign nation, maintaining hundreds of millions of dollars in BTC signifies long-term asset allocation. This “partial liquidation + core holding” approach resembles treasury management rather than emotional trading, reaffirming Bitcoin’s evolving role in some countries’ fiscal strategies.
Bloomberg analyst Mike McGlone suggests that USDT stablecoin could surpass Bitcoin and Ethereum in market cap and influence, becoming the new dominant force in crypto. This is not based on short-term price movements but on long-term trends in global capital structure, liquidity needs, and digital finance development.
McGlone believes that as market participants increasingly prioritize safety, stability, and cross-border efficiency, dollar-pegged stable assets are gaining unprecedented appeal. USDT’s value isn’t driven by price appreciation but by usage and liquidity: traders convert funds into USDT during volatility, institutions use it for settlement and hedging, and cross-border users see it as a digital dollar alternative.
In contrast, Bitcoin and Ethereum, while still viewed as “digital gold” and foundational infrastructure, are highly volatile, often prompting capital flows into more stable assets during downturns. Rising demand for stablecoins in uncertain environments is shifting their role from “supporting actors” to “core tools.”
Data shows USDT consistently ranks among the top in daily trading volume globally, often surpassing individual cryptocurrencies’ liquidity. DeFi systems rely heavily on stablecoins for collateral, settlement, lending, derivatives, and yield protocols. This “base layer” status embeds USDT deeply into the crypto economy.
Globally, digital payments and blockchain integration are accelerating. Many countries are exploring digital currency frameworks, and traditional finance is testing blockchain settlement. Stablecoins are at a critical juncture in this transition. If the digital dollar’s adoption continues to expand, USDT’s scale and influence could further grow.
Whether USDT will truly surpass BTC and ETH remains uncertain, but the trend indicates a shift: the crypto leadership may be moving from “high-volatility value narratives” to “stable, high-frequency, globally accessible financial tools.”
Pi Network has begun phased rollout of Pi Browser version 1.50. This update comes just two days before the February 15 deadline for mainnet nodes to upgrade to version 19.6, seen as a key step in preparing for upcoming network adjustments. The official emphasizes that this upgrade focuses on system stability and technical optimization, with no new visible features.
As the primary gateway to Pi ecosystem applications and decentralized services, the stability of Pi Browser directly impacts user experience. Version 1.50 mainly involves backend improvements to enhance compatibility and protocol support, aligning with the upcoming mainnet upgrade. Such “silent updates” are typically used to identify potential risks early and ensure smoother system transitions.
Meanwhile, all mainnet node operators must complete the upgrade to version 19.6 by February 15. Nodes that do not update on time may be automatically disconnected from the network. The original deadline was February 12 but was extended due to network congestion and technical issues faced by some users. This upgrade is part of a multi-phase plan, with subsequent versions to follow, continuously improving security and decentralization.
In ecosystem development, users who won domain name auctions can now officially claim their domains, provided they develop and deploy usable applications; otherwise, they will lose access. This mechanism aims to promote real-world use cases and prevent resource hoarding. Official data shows that over 16 million users have completed KYC verification on the mainnet, providing a foundation for future application expansion.
Overall, the synchronized rollout of browser updates and node upgrades indicates Pi’s preparation for a more mature mainnet environment. Although this update mainly targets underlying technology, its impact will be reflected in network stability and scalability. As February 15 approaches, node operators and users are closely monitoring the progress, which could be a critical step toward Pi Network’s higher availability.
According to Reuters, Strategy’s underwriter Clear Street announced it has postponed its planned US IPO, citing “market conditions” as the reason. The company has also sharply reduced its Nasdaq IPO target from an initial $1.05 billion to $364 million. After the adjustment, Clear Street’s valuation is approximately $7.2 billion, down from an earlier target of $11.8 billion.
In recent years, Clear Street has become a major underwriter for crypto-related stocks, providing services for multiple crypto treasury companies, including several offerings for Strategy and acting as underwriter for Trump Media & Technology Group.
It was previously reported that Clear Street planned to go public as early as January 2026, with a tentative listing date in early 2026.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced a new wave of selling, coinciding with Standard Chartered Bank’s downgrade of its 2026 Bitcoin price forecast, prompting reassessment of mid-term trends.
Data shows that net outflows from Bitcoin spot ETFs totaled $410 million on that day, with weekly outflows reaching $375 million. If no significant inflows occur, this would be the fourth consecutive week of net outflows. Total assets under management have fallen to about $80 billion, well below the nearly $170 billion peak in October 2025.
Amid ongoing capital outflows, Standard Chartered lowered its 2026 Bitcoin target from $150,000 to $100,000, warning that prices could further decline to $50,000 before rebounding. The bank also predicts Ethereum could fall to around $1,400 before recovering later this year.
Market sentiment is also reflected in multi-asset ETFs. Bitcoin-related products are under pressure, with Ethereum ETFs experiencing over $100 million in outflows, indicating short-term risk aversion. Conversely, Solana ETFs saw modest inflows, making them among the few outperformers.
On-chain and derivatives analysis suggest Bitcoin remains in the mid-bear cycle. CryptoQuant notes that key support around $55,000 has not been fully tested, and the market has not entered an “extreme bear” phase. Historically, cycle bottoms often involve larger unrealized losses among long-term holders.
As of now, Bitcoin hovers near $66,000 with continued short-term pressure. With ETF flows, macro factors, and institutional expectations weakening, the market will closely watch whether the $50,000–$55,000 zone becomes a new battleground.
The Jing’an District People’s Court in Shanghai recently heard a case involving an investment dispute over virtual currency. Ms. Wu was induced by a live streamer to invest 1.05 million yuan in virtual currency trading. After the platform failed to allow withdrawals, she sued for compensation, but her claims were dismissed in both first and second trials, and she was ultimately responsible for all losses. The final judgment serves as a warning to investors tempted by virtual currency speculation.
In November 2019, Ms. Wu received a sales call and, under the guidance of a live streamer, downloaded a virtual currency trading app. Through this platform, she invested a total of 1.05 million yuan in transactions with eight sellers, including 80,000 yuan with Mr. He. Later, she found she could not log into the app, and her virtual currency worth 1.05 million yuan was frozen and unwithdrawable.
In 2024, Ms. Wu reported the case to local police and filed a civil suit claiming that Mr. He should return the 80,000 yuan involved in the transaction. Mr. He argued that he was a member of a certain digital exchange, selling USDT, and had no connection to the platform Ms. Wu mentioned; he claimed the funds had been exchanged and no unjust enrichment occurred.
The Shanghai Jing’an District Court held that, under the Civil Code, civil activities must comply with laws and public order. The USDT involved is a virtual currency that does not have the same legal status as legal tender, and related activities are considered illegal financial activities.
Ms. Wu’s investment in virtual currency trading violated national financial regulation and public order, making her civil legal act invalid. The court dismissed all her claims. She appealed, but the second instance upheld the original ruling.
According to the Eastern District of Virginia Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Ramil Ventura Palafox, CEO of Praetorian Group International (PGI), was sentenced to 20 years for operating a $200 million Bitcoin Ponzi scheme. Palafox falsely claimed that PGI was involved in Bitcoin trading and promised daily returns of 0.5% to 3%, but in reality, he used new investor funds to pay existing investors. From December 2019 to October 2021, over 90,000 investors worldwide invested more than $201 million (including $30.295 million in cash and 8,198 BTC), resulting in total losses exceeding $62.69 million. Palafox also used over $12 million to buy luxury goods, cars, and real estate.
Earlier, Palafox admitted to wire fraud and money laundering in September 2025, with the court initially estimating a maximum sentence of 40 years.