Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Bitcoin is on course to post its fifth consecutive monthly loss, marking its longest losing streak since the 2018 bear market. The crypto is down more than 25% year to date and nearly 50% from its October peak, with February alone reflecting a decline of roughly 20%. If confirmed, this would also represent Bitcoin’s weakest start to a year on record and its first back-to-back January and February losses. The bitcoin-to-gold ratio has dropped to 12.288 ounces, reflecting a 70% contraction over the past 14 months. Meanwhile, gold has gained approximately 48% since September, while Bitcoin has fallen around 41%…

OpenAI has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Defense to deploy its artificial intelligence models within classified Pentagon systems. The deal was announced shortly after the US government ordered federal agencies to suspend the use of competing AI firm Anthropic. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed that the company’s models will operate inside the Defense Department’s classified network environment. He stated that the agreement reflects cooperation around safety boundaries and operational limits, including restrictions on certain applications. Government Designates Anthropic as Security Risk Earlier the same day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled Anthropic a “supply-chain risk to national…

Hong Kong strengthened its position as a global Web3 meeting point as LONGITUDE hosted its eighth edition in the city on Feb. 12. Organized by Cointelegraph in collaboration with OneBullEx, the event gathered senior executives, investors and regulators for curated discussions focused on institutional growth and market structure. Among the featured speakers were Justin Sun, Charles Edwards, Sean McHugh of VARA and Sonia Shaw. Panels explored institutional adoption, artificial intelligence in trading and compliance frameworks for tokenized RWAs. RWA Tokenization and Institutional Market Structure Ahead of the main conference, OneMore Group hosted a private roundtable dinner bringing together RWA stakeholders.…

An Israeli strike on Iran has expanded into one of the most significant military confrontations in the Middle East in decades. Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel as well as U.S. military bases and strategic interests across the Gulf region. Explosions were reported in Dubai, while Bahrain confirmed an American base was struck and temporarily shut its airspace. The U.S announced major combat operations aimed at Iran’s missile systems, naval assets and nuclear infrastructure, raising fears of a prolonged regional conflict. Gulf states including Qatar and the UAE said they intercepted incoming projectiles over their territory.…

Tether has frozen approximately $4.2 billion worth of USDt over the past three years in connection with suspected criminal activity. Most of the blocked tokens were restricted after 2023, as global regulators and law enforcement agencies increased pressure on crypto platforms to curb fraud and sanctions evasion. USDt remains the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, with more than $180 billion in circulation, up significantly from roughly $70 billion three years ago. Tether has the technical ability to blacklist wallet addresses on-chain, effectively preventing the movement of flagged tokens when requested by authorities. Cooperation With Law Enforcement and Supply Trends Recent…

Barclays is assessing blockchain-based settlement tools as gglobal banks prepare for rapid stablecoin growth. The lender has reportedly initiated early stage discussions with technology providers to evaluate infrastructure capable of supporting tokenized deposits and digital payment rails. No formal launch has been announced, but the move reflects rising institutional urgency around digital money systems. The stablecoin market is approaching $300 billion in circulation, dominated by Tether and Circle’s USDC. Policymakers and analysts forecast significant expansion over the next decade, with some projections estimating market capitalization in the trillions. Stablecoin Growth Pressures Traditional Banks U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has suggested…

Lawmakers in Minnesota are weighing a potential statewide ban on crypto kiosks following reports linking the machines to rising scam activity. Representative Erin Koegel introduced House File 3642 during a session of the Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, arguing that crypto kiosks remain minimally regulated and increasingly exploited by fraudsters. Koegel cited concerns from state law enforcement agencies, which have reported cases where scammers instruct victims to deposit funds into crypto ATMs, converting cash into digital assets that are difficult to trace and nearly impossible to recover. She emphasized that while experienced investors typically use established exchanges, criminals…

Morgan Stanley has applied for a de novo national trust bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, marking a significant step in the bank’s expanding digital asset strategy. The application, filed under the name “Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, National Association,” was received by the regulator on Feb. 18. A national trust bank charter would allow the firm to provide fiduciary services, including custody and safekeeping of digital assets. According to publicly available regulatory documents, the proposed subsidiary plans to hold select cryptocurrencies on behalf of clients and facilitate transactions such as purchases, sales, swaps and transfers.…

More than a decade after the collapse of Mt. Gox, its former CEO Mark Karpelès has introduced a controversial proposal to recover nearly 80,000 Bitcoin tied to the historic hack. The coins, estimated to be worth over $5 billion at current market prices, have remained unmoved in a publicly known wallet for over 15 years. Karpelès submitted a technical proposal suggesting a Bitcoin consensus rule change that would allow the frozen coins to be transferred to a recovery address without access to the original private keys. He openly acknowledged that such a move would require a hard fork, meaning all…

Bitcoin slid toward $63,000 in weekend trading after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, triggering a sharp risk-off reaction across digital asset markets. The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell roughly 3% within hours, briefly dipping below $64,000 and marking its lowest level since early February, when prices temporarily slipped under $60,000. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a nationwide state of emergency, while US participation in the strikes was confirmed by American officials. The escalation follows weeks of military buildup and stalled nuclear negotiations with Tehran, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict in a strategically vital…