Crypto News Today : Feb 19th

Futures open interest in the memecoin sector has corrected sharply after recent speculative peaks. Dogecoin’s seven-day moving average dropped by 58.45%, falling from $3.58B on December 9, 2024, to $1.49B today. Similarly, PEPE declined 71.93%, BONK 75.10%, and WIF 69.83%, while SHIB and FLOKI experienced steep decreases. This widespread deleveraging suggests a shift in market sentiment and the removal of excessive leverage.

Czech National Bank Governor, Aleš Michl stated that Bitcoin should not be clubbed together with other crypto assets. Keeping his focus to study the coin more and there is no harm in it. In a bold move he revealed his plans to propose a $7.3 Billion Bitcoin investment on January 30 which could make CNB the first EU central bank to hold BTC. This change of perspective if approved, could surely benefit Bitcoin to boost its credibility and influence global financial policies regarding crypto adoption. \

A massive 20 million XRP, worth about $50.66 million, was suddenly withdrawn from the U.S. exchange Gemini to an unknown wallet. The wallet, created in January, now holds 43.73 million XRP, sparking speculation. Some believe a big investor (or “whale”) may be accumulating XRP, as large withdrawals from exchanges often hint at bullish moves. After the transfer, XRP’s price briefly rose by 0.56%, though it’s unclear if the two events are connected. Currently, XRP is trading at $2.55, leaving traders watching for further movement.

Shiba Inu’s burn rate spiked 588% in the last day, with 15.49 million SHIB burned, according to Shibburn. While this helped the price rise slightly, weekly burns have actually dropped by 37.88%. Nearly half of SHIB’s total supply has already been burned, but many believe at least 90% must be removed for a major price surge. Meanwhile, SHIB’s marketing lead, Lucie, warned that the crypto market is unpredictable and full of risks. While burning helps reduce supply, it may not be enough to push SHIB to $0.10 anytime soon.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) is stepping up its crypto game, unveiling 12 new initiatives to boost security, innovation, and global liquidity. The regulator is exploring new token listings, derivatives, and staking while working on licensing frameworks for OTC trading and custodians. Currently, only Bitcoin and Ethereum are available for retail trading, but the SFC may expand listings for professional investors. With plans to enhance infrastructure and streamline compliance, Hong Kong is pushing to solidify its status as a major crypto hub amid rising global competition.

Robinhood’s crypto head, Johann Kerbrat, made it clear at Consensus Hong Kong 2025 that the platform doesn’t just list any token—it follows a strict vetting process. Right now, only 22 assets make the cut, with security and liquidity being top priorities. While memecoins get all the buzz, Kerbrat pointed out that serious adoption is happening with assets like Ethereum and Solana. He also highlighted the growing demand for stablecoins among institutions. His message? Crypto is more than just hype—real technology and use cases matter.

Dave Portnoy cashed out his entire 357.92 million Greed token holdings, causing its price to crash 99% while pocketing $258,000 in profits. According to Lookonchain, he has now launched Greed2, holding 268.25 million tokens (26.8% of supply), raising concerns about another potential dump. Investors are urged to stay cautious, as history could repeat itself. The sudden sell-off highlights the risks associated with influencer-backed tokens, where large holders can manipulate prices, leaving retail investors at a loss. Greed2’s future remains uncertain amid growing skepticism.

Ethereum transaction fees have dropped to just $0.41, their lowest in four years, raising questions about its impact on ETH’s price. While lower fees could encourage network activity, analysts remain divided. Miles Deutscher highlights Ethereum’s declining dominance due to rising competition, while Santiment suggests low fees might boost long-term adoption. Meanwhile, large ETH transfers by whales hint at bearish pressure. Despite this, Ether ETFs continue to see strong inflows, leaving ETH’s price uncertain as it trades at $2,707, struggling to hold key support at $2,600.

World Liberty Financial, a crypto initiative promoted by Donald Trump, owes its early success to Chinese billionaire Justin Sun, who became an advisor after investing $30 million in WLFI tokens. Co-founder Zak Folkman said Sun’s sponsorship revolutionized WLFI, allowing it to surpass its $30 million fundraising goal and establish a new one. WLFI, which was once confined to accredited and non-US investors, is now expanding its decentralized finance products to combine traditional finance with DeFi, despite the fact that it has no venture capital support.

According to PANews, Elon Musk’s social media startup, X, is apparently in talks with investors about raising capital at a $44 billion valuation. This valuation corresponds to the sum Musk paid for the company in 2022. Following Musk’s takeover and subsequent reforms, which resulted in a large loss of users and advertisers, this fundraising round could be a watershed moment for the social media behemoth.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued a Preliminary Order of Forfeiture against Sam Bankman-Fried, also known as SBF. The order authorizes the government to seize specific assets tied to alleged wrongdoing, outlining how these assets should be held or disposed of. It also addresses SBF’s rights and legal options. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the former crypto executive.

In the past 24 hours, around $350 million in liquidations, including $277 million from long positions, hit the crypto market. The turmoil followed Bitcoin’s sharp volatility, briefly soaring to $96,000, then plunging to $93,000, and rebounding to $95,000. These sudden price shifts triggered forced closures of leveraged positions, with many traders incurring significant losses. Despite the chaos, some market watchers remain hopeful, pointing to historical recoveries after steep drops.

Nigerian authorities are increasing up attempts to regulate and tax cryptocurrency transactions in order to boost income and mitigate digital asset dangers. Despite an original ban in 2021 due to illegal financing concerns, peer-to-peer trading sparked a regulatory reversal. The restriction was abolished in December 2023 and replaced with SEC rules, a licensing system for virtual asset service providers, and the Finance Bill 2022, which includes crypto taxes. However, hefty compliance costs may stifle innovation as compared to South Africa’s organized regulatory framework.