Day: February 15, 2026

Mirae Asset to Buy Controlling Stake at Korea’s Korbit Exchange for $93M

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Mirae Asset Consulting, an affiliate of South Korean multinational financial services company Mirae Asset Group, has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in local crypto exchange Korbit. The company plans to purchase 26.9 million shares of Korbit for 133.48 billion won (about $93 million), a transaction that would give it a 92.06% ownership interest in the exchange, according to a Friday regulatory filing. The payment will be made entirely in cash Mirae Asset said the purpose of the acquisition is “to secure future growth drivers through digital-asset (virtual-asset) businesses,” per…

Senators Urge CFIUS Probe of $500M UAE Stake in Trump-Linked WLFI

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Two US senators are pressing the Treasury Department to investigate a reported foreign investment in a crypto venture tied to the Trump family, raising concerns about national security, foreign influence and access to sensitive financial data. In a Friday letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and New Jersey Senator Andy Kim asked the government to determine whether the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) should investigate a deal in which a UAE–backed investment vehicle agreed to purchase a 49% stake in World Liberty…

Bitcoin Devs’ Inaction on Quantum Will Frustrate Institutions: VC

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Major Bitcoin-holding institutions may eventually lose patience with Bitcoin developers for not addressing quantum computing concerns quickly enough, according to venture capitalist Nic Carter. “I think the big institutions that now exist in Bitcoin, they will get fed up, and they will fire the devs and put in new devs,” Carter said during the Bits and Bips podcast episode published on Thursday. “I think the devs will continue to do nothing,” Carter said. Source: Cointelegraph “If you’re BlackRock and you have billions of dollars of client assets in this thing…

Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov appointed to CFTC advisory body

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The group brings together stakeholders from traditional and digital finance to advise on the growing role of technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence in commodity and derivatives markets. Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network connecting smart contracts to external data sources, has been appointed to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Innovation Advisory Committee. The panel, established by CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, convenes leaders from traditional finance and the digital asset industry to guide the agency on emerging technologies. “It’s great to see the CFTC proactively engaging…

Roundhill’s US Election Event Contract ETFs ‘Potentially Groundbreaking’

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US-based ETF issuer Roundhill Investments has filed with the US securities regulator to launch six exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to event contracts on the outcome of the 2028 US presidential election. ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said in an X post on Saturday that, if approved, the ETF products would be “potentially groundbreaking.” “Opens up huge door to all kinds of stuff,” Balchunas said, adding that prediction market applications are easy to sign up to, but ETFs are “just that much easier.” Roundhill Investments filed with the US Securities and Exchange…

China plans blockchain certification for green energy tracing

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China’s State Council, the country’s central executive authority, has proposed integrating blockchain technology to enable full-chain verification of green electricity across its production and consumption lifecycle. The policy forms part of a broader effort to build a unified national power market by 2030. The directive has called for full-chain certification of renewable energy using distributed ledger systems, strengthening traceability for green power usage. Officials are also examining pathways to incorporate green certificates into carbon emission accounting, potentially tightening the link between clean energy consumption and climate targets. Under the plan,…

Dan Awrey: Legacy banking faces disruption from digital payment demand

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Historical banking practices have created a path dependency that affects modern payment systems. Good money is defined by law and institutions, while good payments are defined by technology and governance frameworks. Central bankers should not act as central planners in response to technological … Key Takeaways Historical banking practices have created a path dependency that affects modern payment systems. Good money is defined by law and institutions, while good payments are defined by technology and governance frameworks. Central bankers should not act as central planners in response to technological advances…

Robert Kahn: Tariffs continue to drive US market volatility, the shift towards industrial policy will reshape economics, and gas prices are key to voter sentiment

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Tariffs continue to play a significant role in US economic policy, contributing to market volatility. Despite high tariffs, the US economy has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. A three-tier tariff structure is expected to stabilize, reducing volatility in the market. Key takeaways Tariffs continue to play a significant role in US economic policy, contributing to market volatility. Despite high tariffs, the US economy has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. A three-tier tariff structure is expected to stabilize, reducing volatility in the market. The US administration is shifting towards industrial policy, moving away…