Month: February 2026

How EU Crypto Tax Laws Are Set to Work in Practice

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Key takeaways The EU’s new crypto tax rules do not introduce new taxes but expand tax transparency by ensuring that crypto transactions are reported and shared across member states. Reporting obligations fall primarily on crypto-asset service providers, requiring them to collect user identity information, tax residency details and transaction data in a standardized format. Information reported by platforms will be automatically exchanged among EU tax authorities, reducing cross-border reporting gaps for crypto users. The framework aligns with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s global crypto reporting standard, increasing compatibility…

Barclays Explores Blockchain for Payments and Deposits: Bloomberg

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UK banking giant Barclays is reportedly exploring blockchain technology for core banking services, the latest sign that major financial institutions are evaluating digital ledger infrastructure to modernize legacy systems. Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported Friday that Barclays is seeking technology providers for a blockchain platform capable of handling payments, deposits and crypto-related applications such as stablecoins and tokenized deposits. The lender has issued requests for information to several technology suppliers, though the companies were not identified. A vendor selection could be made as early as April, the…

US DOJ strike force seizes $580M in crypto from pig butchering scams

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The US Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force has recovered $580 million in digital assets connected to pig butchering scams run by Chinese transnational criminal organizations, according to a Friday announcement. Established last November, the strike force focuses on scam compounds mainly located in Southeast Asia to dismantle the global infrastructure behind pig butchering and crypto investment fraud. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who heads federal prosecutions in the nation’s capital, said the milestone was reached within three months of the task force’s formation. “These criminals don’t care who you are,…

Here’s Why Bitcoin Analysts Say BTC Market Will Bottom in Q4 2026

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Bitcoin (BTC) sellers returned on Friday, pulling BTC price 5.5% below Wednesday’s high of $70,000 to trade at $65,950 at the time of writing. Several analysts said Bitcoin is “going much lower,” potentially reaching a bottom during the last quarter of 2026. Key takeaways: Analysts forecast BTC price to hit a bottom in Q4 based on various technical and onchain metrics. Rising exchange reserves and “supply in profit” falling to 2022 lows suggest further downside pressure. Analysts say Bitcoin price will bottom after June According to multiple analysts, Bitcoin could…

BTC Stuck Below $70K, Japan Inflation Below 2%: Month In Charts

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The taxman cometh. In February, the tax authorities of four countries began to reconsider how they tax crypto. In the US, the number of crypto ATMs hit nearly 40,000, returning to 2021 levels of interest in crypto kiosks. The number of installations had dipped significantly after the crypto crash of 2022. Japan’s inflation dipped below 2% in February, less than in the United States. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett said earlier this year that dollar investments were looking less attractive as the yen is providing a more stable currency. Bitcoin…

Banking giant Barclays explores blockchain platform for payments and tokenized deposits

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Barclays, the British multinational banking giant, is exploring building a blockchain platform for payments and deposits, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people with knowledge of the exploration. The bank is evaluating technology providers and aims to select partners as early as April. The initiative could encompass both stablecoin integration and tokenized deposit capabilities. Barclays has shifted from a cautious approach to active infrastructure investment to keep pace with industry peers like JPMorgan and HSBC, which have deployed distributed ledger technology in financial services. In October 2025, the London-based lender joined a…

US PPI Gives Bitcoin Bulls a New Headache Into the Monthly Close

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Hotter US PPI inflation data boosted precious metals but punished Bitcoin bulls, with BTC price downside nearing 3% on the day. Bitcoin (BTC) slid further into Friday’s Wall Street open as US inflation data overshot expectations. Key points: Bitcoin price downside strengthens as US inflation data comes in hot. Gold and silver benefit from a risk-off response to January PPI data. Bitcoin price expectations face the prospect of a rocky monthly candle close. Bitcoin under pressure after hot US PPI print Data from TradingView showed daily BTC price downside nearing…

PayPal USD to Power App-Specific Stablecoins via PYUSDx

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Payment giant PayPal is expanding access to its stablecoin through a new platform it says will allow devleopers to create their own US dollar-pegged tokens backed by PayPal USD. PayPal, MoonPay and stablecoin platform M0 on Friday announced PYUSDx, a product aimed at helping developers launch PayPal USD (PYUSD)-backed stablecoins for use within applications, or tokens designed for use inside a particular app, platform or ecosystem, according to a joint announcement shared with Cointelegraph. The companies said the rollout is planned for next month. “The next phase of stablecoin adoption…

South Korea Tax Office Leaks Seed Phrase in Press Release

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South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) accidentally exposed a crypto wallet seed phrase in an official press release on Thursday, leading to a loss of 4 million PRTG  (Pre‑Retogeum) tokens worth about $4.8 million from the address, according to local media reports. According to multiple Korean media reports on local sites Naver, Chosun and others, the press release related to the National Tax Service’s enforcement campaign against tax delinquents and seizures that the authorities had carried out. The release reportedly included an image of a Ledger cold wallet and a…

OpenAI closes $110B round at $730B valuation with SoftBank, NVIDIA, and Amazon

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OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research lab developing advanced models toward safe AGI, today announced a $110 billion funding round at a $730 billion pre-money valuation, with backing from SoftBank, NVIDIA, and Amazon. SoftBank, the Japanese investment conglomerate behind major tech initiatives, and NVIDIA, a leading supplier of AI computing hardware, each committed $30 billion. Amazon, operator of the dominant AWS cloud platform, contributed $50 billion and entered a multi-year strategic partnership to accelerate AI adoption across enterprise and consumer markets. The capital infusion will expand computing infrastructure to meet surging…