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XRP is sliding even as the XRP Ledger (XRPL) rolls out features that supporters have long framed as a bridge to institutional adoption.According to CryptoSlate’s data, the token has been trading around $1.47, while a mix of fresh supply signals, cooling marginal demand, and broader risk-off behavior continues to pressure the price.At the same time, banking giant Standard Chartered reportedly cut its end-2026 XRP target by 65% to $2.80 from $8.00 as part of broader reductions to major crypto forecasts.The disconnect is familiar in crypto, as blockchain networks can deliver meaningful upgrades, activity can rise, and prices can still fall…

In brief Ireland’s DPC has opened a large-scale GDPR inquiry into X over Grok’s generation of non-consensual sexualized images, including those of children. The investigation examines whether X complied with core GDPR obligations in how it deployed Grok’s image features to EU users. The probe is the latest in a global regulatory wave targeting Grok, with formal actions now open across Europe, the UK, Australia, and the U.S. Ireland’s privacy regulator has opened a formal investigation into X over whether Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot helped generate and spread non-consensual sexualised images, including of children, adding heat to a widening global…

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure Kraken, the crypto exchange, said it will fund “Trump Accounts” for every baby born in Wyoming in 2026, a pledge that ties a private firm to a new federal savings program named after US President Donald Trump. The move was announced on the Wyoming floor by Senator Cynthia Lummis and later confirmed by Kraken spokespeople. Reports say the program will give each eligible child a $1,000 seed from the US Treasury; Kraken’s additional contribution is intended to top up that start. Details on how Kraken will allocate…

In brief The company said its same-store sales have risen since it began accepting Bitcoin, though it did not quantify the impact on revenue or margins. Bitcoin payments are routed into a corporate reserve that has expanded to about 161 BTC. Steak ’n Shake has extended its strategy beyond payments, using the reserve to fund employee bonuses. Nine months ago, Steak ’n Shake began accepting Bitcoin. Now, the company says the move has driven a sharp rise in its sales.Its same-store sales have risen “dramatically,” the company tweeted Monday, adding that it now routes Bitcoin payments into a Strategic Bitcoin…

In brief The pledge was announced by Sen. Cynthia Lummis to the Wyoming Legislature before Kraken publicly confirmed the commitment. Kraken has not said whether it will match Treasury’s funding of $1,000 for “Trump Accounts” or how they will be invested. The move follows the SEC’s withdrawal of its 2023 case against Kraken amid a broader easing of crypto enforcement. Kraken will sponsor a Trump Account for every child born in Wyoming in 2026, the Cheyenne-headquartered exchange announced Monday, a move some experts say is less about philanthropy than a “loyalty signal” to the state that made it America’s home…

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure A former White House crypto adviser has shared his thoughts on the delay of the long-awaited market structure bill and whether the banking and digital assets industry will resolve their differences soon. Bo Hines Optimistic About Crypto Legislation On Monday, Bo Hines, CEO of Tether US and former executive director of the US President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, expressed optimism about the passage of the crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act. In a recent interview with journalist Eleanor Terret at the Digital…

In brief Bitcoin’s long-term holder accumulation during February’s dip is weaker when compared to FTX, LUNA Crash. Still, a key metric has flipped for the first time since May 2022, signaling veteran holders are under pressure and realizing losses. CLARITY Act, more Fed rate cuts, and sustained ETF inflows are key catalysts that could trigger a recovery, Decrypt was told. Bitcoin’s long-term holders are buckling under pressure following this month’s sell-off, amid signs of a relatively weaker accumulation trend that could trigger a deeper correction.February 6’s dip to $62,800 imposed overhead pressure on long-term holders comparable to the May 2022…

In brief Maya is reportedly exploring a U.S. IPO that could raise up to $1 billion. The company operates a licensed digital bank and in-app crypto trading service. Observers say investors will balance bank fundamentals with crypto compliance. Maya, a Philippine digital bank whose platform includes a regulated crypto trading arm, is reportedly exploring a U.S. initial public offering of up to $1 billion.The company is currently working with advisers on the deal, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday.A U.S. venue could provide access to deeper pools of capital and broaden its institutional investor base more than local markets,…

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure 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…

Bitcoin’s recent price crash towards $60,000 did more than just shave billions off market capitalizations or liquidate leveraged positions.It served as a massive, chaotic stress test that exposed a widening behavioral fracture between the two most dominant venues in the digital asset economy.On one side stands Coinbase, the largest US exchange, where Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong has painted a picture of stoic resilience among retail investors.On the other hand lies Binance, the leading offshore venue, where on-chain data depict frenetic selling and risk aversion.This divergence matters because it reframes the narrative for the weeks ahead.Thus, Bitcoin’s drop to the…

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure With the price of Bitcoin stuck below the $70,000 mark, analysts are beginning to flag this current performance as an indication of a bear market. After several weeks of downward pressure, many key metrics are beginning to flash signs of a continued correction phase, reinforcing the idea of a bear market scenario. Key Bitcoin Metric Drifts Toward Its 4-Year SMA Given the recent signals from multiple Bitcoin key market metrics, the ongoing BTC downward action does not seem to have come to an end yet. Currently, a…

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has argued that privacy is the most significant unresolved challenge facing crypto, and that the industry needs to move faster to address it.Speaking on the All-In Podcast with venture capitalist and Social Capital CEO Chamath Palihapitiya last week, CZ said most digital assets fall short on privacy protections, leaving users exposed in ways that cash never would.”I think privacy plays a very fundamental role in our society,” CZ said. “But right now, I also think that Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies do not have enough privacy features.”“When Bitcoin was designed, it was going to be pseudo-anonymous,” he…

In brief A four-week outflow streak has erased $3.74 billion from crypto investment products, according to a new CoinShares report. U.S. digital asset funds saw outflows of $403 million last week, while Europe and Canada posted inflows of $230 million. Short-Bitcoin outflows continue, a pattern that is “often seen near market lows,” CoinShares analyst James Butterfill added. U.S. investors continued to exit crypto funds, while the rest of the world is buying the dip.Digital asset investment products saw their fourth consecutive week of outflows, totaling $173 million, according to CoinShares’ latest report. The stretch has now erased a staggering $3.74…

A US bank is warning nearly 4,000 customers that their names, Social Security numbers and financial account information could be at risk after a data breach. Last May, the Florida-based Flagship Bank “became aware of suspicious activity within their environment” and launched an investigation, per a new filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General. “The investigation determined unauthorized access within Flagship Bank’s environment occurred on April 15, 2025, due to a social engineering scheme. Although we have no evidence of any identity theft or fraud occurring in connection with this incident, Flagship Bank conducted a review of relevant…

In 2025 and early 2026, Bitcoin’s behavior has been less “digital gold” and more regime-dependent. Sometimes it trades like a tech beta, then like a rates-and-liquidity-duration trade, and only intermittently like a hedge.The real story is which macro regime makes which identity dominate next.The setup matters. The Federal Reserve held the Fed funds target range at 3.5% to 3.75% on Jan. 28, reinforcing a “watch incoming data” stance rather than a clean easing tailwind.The IMF’s January 2026 update projects 3.3% global growth in 2026, with “technology investment and accommodative financial conditions” offsetting trade headwinds, an environment that tends to keep…