Day: February 18, 2026

Bitcoin Charts Project Fresh Lows In $50K Range: Will Altcoins Follow?

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Key points: Bitcoin remains under pressure, and the downside might accelerate if the $65,118 level is breached. Several major altcoins are attempting a recovery, but the bears remain sellers on rallies. Bitcoin (BTC) bulls are attempting to hold the price above $67,000, but the bears have continued to exert pressure. A positive sign for the bulls is that select analysts believe BTC may be bottoming out. Analyst Jelle said in a post on X that all but one of BTC’s major bottoms had formed between the 200-week simple moving average…

Anas Alhajji: OPEC’s decisions driven by regional demand, not global

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Oil prices in 2025 were expected to remain in the seventies range but fell below expectations. OPEC’s decision to unwind production cuts was based on demand for their own oil, not global demand. The bearish sentiment regarding oil supply was proven incorrect. Key Takeaways Oil prices in 2025 were expected to remain in the seventies range but fell below expectations. OPEC’s decision to unwind production cuts was based on demand for their own oil, not global demand. The bearish sentiment regarding oil supply was proven incorrect. An increase in oil…

Greg Ulrich: Mastercard has used AI for decades in fraud detection, generative AI enhances existing products, and real-time transaction scoring is key to security

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Mastercard has integrated AI into its operations for decades, focusing on fraud detection and personalization. Generative AI is used as a feature to enhance existing products, not as standalone solutions. AI plays a critical role in Mastercard’s fraud management strategies, securing the ecommerce… Key Takeaways Mastercard has integrated AI into its operations for decades, focusing on fraud detection and personalization. Generative AI is used as a feature to enhance existing products, not as standalone solutions. AI plays a critical role in Mastercard’s fraud management strategies, securing the ecommerce ecosystem. Real-time…

T-Bills Primary Force Behind BTC’s Price Action, Not Fed Policy — Report

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New Keyrock research finds not all newly created money impacts risk assets due to how fresh liquidity flows through the economy. Treasury bill issuance is the primary liquidity metric that impacts Bitcoin’s (BTC) price and not the Federal Reserve or any other central bank’s balance sheet, according to a new report from crypto investment firm and market maker Keyrock. Every 1% change in global liquidity levels impacts BTC’s price by 7.6% the following business quarter in which new money is created. However, not all liquidity impacts risk asset prices equally,…

Base moves beyond OP Stack as it rebuilds its core stack

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Base, Coinbase’s layer 2 network, announced today that it will transition away from the Optimism Stack to develop a proprietary infrastructure framework. The Ethereum layer-2 network plans to build what it calls a unified Base stack, a move designed to streamline development and reduce reliance on external codebases. The shift would allow the team to deploy upgrades more frequently, targeting as many as six hard forks annually compared with roughly three under the previous architecture. Base launched in August 2023 using Optimism’s modular rollup framework to accelerate its initial deployment.…

MYX completes funding round led by Consensys ahead of V2 launch

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MYX, an onchain derivatives protocol, completed a strategic funding round led by Consensys, with participation from Mesh, Systemic Ventures, and Ethereal Ventures, according to a Wednesday announcement. We are thrilled to announce that Consensys has led our latest strategic funding round, with participation from Mesh, Systemic Ventures and Ethereal Ventures. With this investment, Consensys has officially become the largest investor of MYX Finance. This strategic alignment marks… pic.twitter.com/laSwCRacTv — MYX.Finance (@MYX_Finance) February 18, 2026 The investment makes Consensys the largest backer of the derivatives protocol. The capital supports the deployment…

Yi-Ling Liu: China’s internet model sparks global envy and misunderstanding

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The internet’s initial promise of decentralization has shifted towards centralization and conflict. China’s controlled internet model is viewed with envy by some world leaders. Western narratives often oversimplify the complexities of the Chinese internet. Key Takeaways The internet’s initial promise of decentralization has shifted towards centralization and conflict. China’s controlled internet model is viewed with envy by some world leaders. Western narratives often oversimplify the complexities of the Chinese internet. Personal stories provide a nuanced view of China’s digital landscape. Vague censorship laws in China enhance their effectiveness. Censorship in…

Societe Generale’s SG-FORGE Launches Euro Stablecoin on XRP Ledger

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French banking group Societe Generale’s digital asset arm, SG-FORGE, has deployed its euro-denominated stablecoin, EUR CoinVertible, on the XRP Ledger, marking the token’s third blockchain launch after Ethereum and Solana. According to Wednesday’s announcement, the rollout is supported by Ripple’s custody infrastructure and could enable integration into Ripple products, including use as trading collateral. SG-FORGE said the move expands institutional access to the euro-backed token across another public network. The launch comes about a month after global banking network SWIFT tested SocGen’s euro-pegged stablecoin in a pilot of exchange and…

$50,000 Price Odds Remain As 2024 Hodlers Help Stabilize BTC

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Two-year Bitcoin hodlers “absorbed” seller pressure in recent weeks, according to new research, but most analysts still expect new macro BTC price lows. New analysis suggests that Bitcoin (BTC) is “relying” on early 2024 buyers as its price action stalls below $70,000. Key points: Bitcoin buyers from early 2024 are in focus as a giant potential safety net for BTC price. Their cost basis extends down to $60,000, and a major capitulation has not yet happened. New macro BTC price lows remain a popular near-term bet. 2024 Bitcoin hodlers have…

Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks and David Friedberg: Economic unrest fuels Iran’s protests

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Economic issues, particularly inflation, are a major driving force behind the protests in Iran. Sanctions have severely impacted Iran, leading to predictions of inevitable socio-political breaks. Civil unrest often stems from the inability of people to afford basic necessities. Key takeaways Economic issues, particularly inflation, are a major driving force behind the protests in Iran. Sanctions have severely impacted Iran, leading to predictions of inevitable socio-political breaks. Civil unrest often stems from the inability of people to afford basic necessities. Transitioning power in authoritarian regimes like Iran is complex and…