Coinpedia - Fintech & Cryptocurreny News Media| Crypto Guide

Michael Saylor’s Strategy has continued buying Bitcoin steadily, adding 855 BTC in a recent purchase worth about $75.3 million at an average price of around $87,974 per coin. As of February 1, 2026, the company now holds a total of 713,502 Bitcoin. In total, Strategy has invested roughly $54.26 billion in Bitcoin, with an average purchase price of $76,052 per BTC, showing strong long term confidence in Bitcoin’s value.

JasmyChain’s ecosystem grows with the launch of Jasmy Swap, a third-party decentralized exchange protocol. Built on JasmyChain, it uses smart contracts to automatically execute digital asset swaps, serving as a technical proof-of-concept for blockchain-based trading. The launch has sparked positive market response, with JasmyCoin rising 3.64%. Jasmy Swap highlights the ecosystem’s innovation and potential, showing how the chain can support new DeFi applications and increase activity within its blockchain network.

Russian Bitcoin mining giant BitRiver is on the brink of bankruptcy after a court launched insolvency proceedings over unpaid debts of more than 700 million rubles related to equipment and electricity costs. The company has shut down several facilities, faced management departures, and grappled with creditor lawsuits. Adding to its challenges, founder Igor Runets has been charged with tax evasion and placed under house arrest, intensifying the financial and legal pressures on the once‑leading mining firm.

Ripple has officially received its full Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from Luxembourg’s CSSF, marking a major step in its European growth. The approval allows Ripple to offer regulated blockchain-based payment solutions across the EU, supporting businesses in moving to modern, digital-first finance. This comes after recent UK approvals and adds to Ripple’s portfolio of 75+ global licenses, making it one of the most regulated and trusted players in the crypto and digital assets space.

A Nevada state court has issued a two-week temporary restraining order preventing Blockratize, the operator of the prediction market Polymarket, from offering sports and event contracts to residents, saying those activities likely violate Nevada’s gambling laws. The judge agreed with the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s civil complaint that Polymarket is operating without a state gaming license and that the federal Commodity Exchange Act does not give the CFTC exclusive authority over these contracts. If upheld, Polymarket and similar platforms may have to obtain state licenses or stop offering such markets.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says the future of on-chain system design will rely on a two-layer structure. The first layer focuses on open and accountable execution, such as prediction markets, where correct decisions are rewarded, and wrong ones face losses. The second layer handles preferences and judgment, using decentralized, anonymous, and non-token-based voting systems like MACI. This design aims to resist capture, prevent collusion, and reduce the risk of 51% attacks.

A crypto trader lost 4,556 ETH (about $12.4 million) after mistakenly copying a poisoned wallet address that looked nearly identical to Galaxy Digital’s legitimate deposit address. Scammers had polluted the victim’s transaction history with tiny dust transfers from a fake address that shared the same first and last characters as the real one. Thinking he was sending funds to Galaxy Digital, the trader pasted the poisoned address and executed a transfer, only for the attacker to sweep almost the entire balance, leaving the wallet with just 6.8 ETH. This incident highlights the risk of relying on transaction history and the importance of always verifying full wallet addresses before sending large amounts.

Today, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin turns 32. Born on 31 January 1994 in Russia and raised in Canada, Buterin began coding at an early age and co-founded Bitcoin Magazine before publishing Ethereum’s whitepaper in 2013. He launched Ethereum in 2015, creating a platform that now powers decentralized finance, NFTs, smart contracts, and thousands of blockchain applications. Fans marked the occasion with artwork, memes, and tributes, while ETH traded near $2,700 as the community wishes him Happy Birthday, Vitalik, honoring his lasting influence on crypto.

Lighter has launched Lighter EVM, adding Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) support to let developers build and run smart contracts on its platform, marking a shift from a pure trading engine to a broader blockchain and DeFi ecosystem. The upgrade will support DeFi apps like Uniswap and Aave, integrating trading, lending, and shared liquidity pools for better efficiency and reduced manipulation risks. Lighter is also researching ways to cut latency and exploring advanced execution models for complex DeFi use cases.

Hong Kong has officially put its Stablecoin Ordinance into effect, requiring issuers of fiat-backed stablecoins to get a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The rules include strong compliance, reserve, and risk management standards to protect investors and ensure stability. This year, the government will also submit a full framework for crypto trading, custody, advisory, and management services to the Legislative Council. Cross-border tax reporting is expected to start in 2028, strengthening oversight and aligning with global standards.