The Federal Reserve injected $18.5 billion into the U.S. banking system this week, marking the fourth-largest liquidity injection since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal Reserve researchers say Kalshi data can provide real-time insights for policy making

A paper by three Federal Reserve researchers suggests that data from the prediction market platform Kalshi can more promptly reflect macroeconomic expectations and recommends incorporating it into the Federal Reserve's decision-making framework. This data responds quickly after major policy and economic data releases, but the paper does not represent an official policy stance.

Fed Meeting Minutes First Mention of "Possible Rate Hike"! Federal Reserve Voice: Officials Lack Confidence in Inflation Returning to 2%

The latest Federal Reserve meeting minutes show that if inflation remains above the 2% target, there may be a shift towards rate hikes, with clear internal disagreements on the interest rate path. The meeting decided to keep rates at 3.50%-3.75%, indicating that combating inflation is the top priority. The timeline for inflation to return to 2% is becoming increasingly uncertain, reflecting future rate cut uncertainties.

Federal Reserve Meeting Minutes: Progress Toward 2% Inflation Target May Be Slower

ChainCatcher message, according to Jinshi reports, the Federal Reserve meeting minutes show that most participants warned that the process of moving inflation toward the 2% target could be slower and more uneven than generally expected, and the risk of inflation remaining above the target was assessed as significant.

European Central Bank President considers early resignation, digital euro prospects draw attention

ChainCatcher News, The Financial Times of the UK, citing sources, reports that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is considering resigning early before the end of her term so that French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz can reach an agreement on her successor. The timing may coincide with the French presidential election in April 2027. A European Central Bank spokesperson later responded that Lagarde is "fully focused on her duties and has not made any decisions regarding the end of her term."

BTC drops 0.60% in 15 minutes: Federal Reserve policy uncertainty and exchange selling pressure resonate to exert downward force

On February 18, 2026, from 11:00 to 11:15 (UTC), BTC dropped 0.60% within just 15 minutes, with the price fluctuating around $67,800. As the overall market sentiment turned more cautious, short-term volatility intensified, trading activity increased, and market attention continued to heat up. The main driver of this movement was macroeconomic pressure. The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate policies have fueled risk aversion in global financial markets, putting collective pressure on risk assets, and the crypto market also weakened accordingly. At the same time, the EU's latest compliance framework was introduced, and increased regulatory expectations added to market uncertainty.

The European Central Bank plans to launch the digital euro by mid-2029, with a pilot program scheduled for 2027.

ChainCatcher reports that, according to market sources, the European Central Bank plans to issue a digital euro by mid-2029, with a pilot program scheduled for 2027.