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Grayscale Investments has quietly accumulated about 5.258 million LINK worth roughly $43 million, even as the token trades nearly 70% below last year’s high. The move comes as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission hires a former deputy general counsel from Chainlink Labs following the departure of Gary Gensler.

The Ethereum Foundation has officially begun staking a portion of its treasury in a strategic move aligned with its treasury policy released last year, marking a significant step toward sustainable funding and network support. The organization initially deposited 2,016 ETH and plans to stake approximately 70,000 ETH in total, with all staking rewards returning to the treasury to bolster long-term financial health. According to the foundation, this initiative will enhance Ethereum’s network security while providing ongoing support for core research, ecosystem expansion, developer grants, and community-led initiatives.

South Korea’s top exchange, Upbit, has added Seeker (SKR) and Espresso (ESP), while imposing temporary trading restrictions to stabilize early volatility. Buy orders are blocked for the first five minutes after trading begins, and sell orders below 10% of the previous day’s close are restricted during the same window. Only limit orders are allowed for the first two hours. Upbit also warned users to deposit ESP only via the Ethereum network and verify the official contract address before transfers. Seeker (SKR) jumped about 62%, while Espresso (ESP) surged roughly 50% shortly after the announcement.

On-chain investigator ZachXBT says he will release a major report on Feb. 26 targeting “one of the most profitable businesses in crypto.” He alleges that several employees at the unnamed firm used internal data for insider trading over a long period. Speculation is already building. Data from Polymarket shows Solana-based protocol Meteora as the leading guess, though other names remain in the mix. Full details are expected when the report goes live.

Stablecoin payments firm RedotPay is reportedly considering a U.S. stock market listing that could raise up to $1 billion. The company previously secured $107 million in a Series B round led by Goodwater Capital, with participation from Pantera Capital, Blockchain Capital and Circle Ventures. RedotPay says it serves over 6 million users across 100+ markets.

XRP is gaining fresh attention after Grayscale Investments revealed advisers are increasingly hearing client questions about the token. The firm noted XRP ranks just behind Bitcoin in investor discussions, pointing to strong community demand. Brad Garlinghouse also reacted positively on social media. While institutional interest appears to be rising, analysts say real adoption and regulatory clarity will ultimately determine XRP’s long-term market trajectory.

Michael Saylor’s company “Strategy” continues its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition, adding 592 BTC for around 39.8 million dollars at an average price of $67,286 per coin. This latest buy reflects confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term store of value. As of February 22, 2026, Strategy holds 717 722 BTC, purchased for roughly 54.56 billion dollars with an average cost of about 76 020 dollars, underscoring its persistent accumulation strategy.

Brazil’s central bank is moving forward with a new regulatory framework for institutional virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The plan outlines clear rules for licensing, compliance, and supervision, with phased implementation set to continue through 2027. The goal is to bring stronger oversight to crypto firms operating in the country. Officials also aim to tighten anti-money laundering standards and improve operational requirements, helping create a safer and more structured environment for the growing digital asset market.

XRP price is trading near $1.34 after dropping about 69% from its $3.66 peak. Price has fallen below the $2 support and is now testing a key higher-timeframe demand zone. On-chain data from Santiment shows the Ripple network just recorded its biggest realized loss spike since November 2022, with $1.93B in weekly losses. Key level to watch: $0.66. Holding above it keeps the bullish case alive.

Markets turned uneasy after Donald Trump signaled plans to push global tariffs toward 15%. Investors worry the policy shift could tighten financial conditions and slow global trade. The announcement added fresh uncertainty at a sensitive time for risk assets, including crypto. Traders are now watching closely to see whether the tariff push expands or gets softened in the coming weeks.