Coinpedia - Fintech & Cryptocurreny News Media| Crypto Guide

Tether’s USDT supply fell to $183.7 billion in February, down 1.7% from January, marking its biggest monthly decline since the FTX collapse. The drop comes as redemptions outpace new issuances, influenced by Europe’s MiCA regulations, Bitcoin’s 23% decline this year, and investors moving to alternatives like USDC. Despite the supply contraction, USDT’s $1 peg remains stable, backed by solid reserves, showing continued market confidence in the stablecoin.

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty jumped roughly 15% to a new all‑time high of about 144.4 trillion, bouncing back from a recent steep decline after storms reduced global hashrate by up to 30%. The rebound reflects miners powering machines back on and total hashrate climbing close to 1 zettahash per second, helping keep block times near the 10‑minute target. Even with low hashprices around $24 per PH/s and Bitcoin trading near $67,000, most miners are staying online, showing resilience rather than exiting for other computing markets.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao returned to the U.S. in February 2026 for the first time since his 2024 release, attending a major crypto summit at Mar-a-Lago organized by Trump-linked World Liberty Financial. Zhao engaged with Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., later posting on X that he “learned a lot” from the event. The summit drew prominent figures, including Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, NYSE President Lynn Martin, investor Kevin O’Leary, Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong, Senator Bernie Moreno, and artist Nicki Minaj, highlighting widespread interest in crypto dialogue.

On Feb. 19, US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw 166 million dollars in net outflows, marking the third straight day of withdrawals and showing ongoing investor caution. At the same time, spot Ethereum ETFs recorded 130 million dollars in outflows, with BlackRock’s ETHA leading at 96.8 million dollars, reflecting weaker institutional demand and short-term market uncertainty.

South Korean prosecutors have recovered about $21.4 million worth of Bitcoin that was stolen from their custody last year. The 320.88 BTC was originally seized from a gambling platform but went missing in August 2025 after investigators were tricked by a phishing site that exposed wallet keys. Authorities froze transactions tied to the theft, making it hard to liquidate the funds, and the hacker ultimately returned the Bitcoin. While the assets are now secured, officials continue trying to identify the unknown hacker.

The UAE‑linked Citadel Mining has mined and held about 6,782 Bitcoin ($453.6 million), according to on‑chain data tracked by Arkham Intelligence. The mining push began in 2022 and leverages Abu Dhabi’s low‑cost energy and industrial facilities, with no major Bitcoin outflows in the past four months, suggesting a long‑term stance. After accounting for energy costs, unrealized profit on the holdings is around $344 million. The accumulation ranks the UAE among the world’s notable Bitcoin holders and reflects a broader national strategy of using mining to build digital reserves rather than simply trading assets.

The White House will host its third stablecoin yields meeting at 9 a.m. ET on Friday, following two earlier sessions that failed to resolve tensions between banks and crypto firms. Banks argue that yield-bearing stablecoins drain deposits, while crypto companies say yields drive innovation and user returns. The talks are linked to the stalled bipartisan CLARITY Act, which would define crypto oversight roles. Optimism is building, with Polymarket odds near 70% for passage in 2026.

World Liberty Financial is launching a tokenized investment tied to the Trump International Hotel & Resort in the Maldives through a partnership with Securitize and DarGlobal, aiming to bring real-world assets onto blockchain. The luxury resort, set for completion in 2030 with about 100 beachfront and overwater villas, will offer eligible accredited investors exposure to loan revenue and potential fixed returns. Announced at the World Liberty Forum, the initiative reflects WLFI’s broader strategy to expand decentralized finance into traditional real estate markets.

Bitcoin is trading sideways around $68,000, stuck in a $65K-$72K range since early February. Outflows of $105 million from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs are capping short-term rallies, while low volatility keeps the market in a holding pattern. Bulls highlight strong support near $50K and undervaluation versus gold, but bears warn of potential drops to $48K-$42K if key levels break. Recent $193 million in liquidations show risks are still high as traders wait for the next big move.

On-chain analyst Willy Woo outlined Bitcoin’s bear cycle in three phases. Phase 1 began with a Q3 2025 liquidity breakdown, while Phase 2 is expected once broader market weakness sets in, leading eventually to capitulation and recovery. Bitcoin has fallen 47% from its $126K peak to $67.3K, with volatility levels not seen since the 2022 FTX crash. Critics cite Woo’s past missed calls, but bulls highlight softer inflation and ETF inflows as potential stabilizers, suggesting the market could weather this bear cycle.