KLEA Crypto Daily: Monday, February 16, 2026

Published: February 17, 2026 – 00:03 UTC

Here’s a look back at the key stories from February 16, 2026.

Coinbase Diamond Hands vs Binance Panic Sellers — The $60,000 Stress Test

Bitcoin's recent price crash to $60,000 revealed a stark contrast in behavior between Coinbase and Binance users, with Coinbase investors displaying resilience while Binance users engaged in frenetic selling. This divergence could reshape the narrative in the digital asset economy moving forward.

President Trump Says the U.S. Economy, Markets, and National Security Are Stronger Than Ever

President Trump has declared that the U.S. economy, markets, and national security are currently at their strongest levels. This statement comes amidst ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges.

Crypto Fear & Greed Index Hits Record Low Despite Ongoing Institutional Push into DeFi

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has hit a record low despite ongoing institutional interest in decentralized finance (DeFi), indicating a deep bearish sentiment in the market. This comes as institutions continue to explore opportunities in the DeFi space.

Bitcoin on Pace for Longest Losing Streak Since 2018 Bear Market

Bitcoin is on track for its longest losing streak since the 2018 bear market, with February potentially marking the fifth consecutive red month. This trend raises concerns about the market's performance and investor sentiment.

Vitalik Buterin: Hedging on Prediction Markets Could ‘Replace Fiat Currency’

The Ethereum co-founder argues that prediction markets’ current focus on short-term crypto bets is putting them on a path to ‘corposlop.’

Metaplanet Posts $605 Million Loss After Spending Billions on Bitcoin

The firm signaled that it’s embracing preferred shares.

Crypto Ownership Rises to 741M Worldwide in 2025

The number of people worldwide holding cryptocurrency reached an estimated 741 million in 2025, showing a 12.4% increase from the previous year. This growth was supported by various factors, including policy developments and institutional participation.

US Banks Face New Mortgage Capital Requirements Under Basel Accord Rules

US lending institutions may soon encounter new mortgage requirements as the Federal Reserve prepares to unveil a bank capital proposal linked to Basel III. This measure, focusing on residential real estate, aims to enhance the "risk sensitivity" of mortgage capital requirements by potentially using loan-to-value ratios for determining risk weights, aligning capital requirements with actual risk.

Nexo Re-Enters US Market with Regulated Yield Accounts and Exchange Access

Digital assets wealth platform Nexo has re-entered the US market after a three-year absence, offering regulated yield accounts, credit lines, and exchange access supported by Bakkt. This move marks Nexo's strategic expansion and reintroduction to the US market with a range of financial services for users.

Metaplanet Reports Significant Revenue Growth and Operating Profit Increase

Metaplanet reported a remarkable 739% increase in FY2025 revenue and a 1,696% surge in operating profit. Additionally, the company expanded its Bitcoin holdings to 35,102 $BTC, despite recording a $700 million non-cash impairment.

Big Short Steve Eisman Favors Schwab, Cites Robinhood’s Lack Of ‘Margin For Error’ Amid Bitcoin-Led Crypto Slide

Famed ‘Big Short’ investor Steve Eisman expresses preference for Charles Schwab over Robinhood due to the latter's exposure to the volatile crypto market, warning of a lack of room for error. Eisman highlights the impact of declining crypto prices on platforms like Robinhood and Coinbase.

Harvard Management Company Reduces Bitcoin ETF Holdings by 21% and Establishes a $86.8 Million Ethereum ETF Position

Harvard Management Company reduces its Bitcoin ETF holdings by 21% in Q4 2025 while initiating an $86.8 million Ethereum ETF position, marking its first disclosed allocation to Ethereum-related products. Despite the reduction, Bitcoin remains Harvard’s largest publicly traded position.

Investment Giant Apollo to Buy Up to 90M Morpho Tokens

Apollo Global Management partners with the Morpho Association to purchase up to 90 million MORPHO tokens over four years, supporting lending markets on the protocol's infrastructure. The deal, involving over $900 billion in assets managed by Apollo, aims to bolster lending markets across the ecosystem.

The OpenEden Official Website and Portal DNS May Have Been Attacked

RWA tokenization platform OpenEden warns users of a potential DNS attack on its official website and portal, advising against interacting with related domains to safeguard wallet assets. While reserve assets remain secure, the team is investigating the incident and will provide updates promptly.

Bitcoin Quantum Upgrade Deadline Looms as Researchers Warn of Cryptographic Vulnerabilities

Bitcoin faces a crucial deadline for a quantum upgrade to protect against superfast quantum computers, with researchers warning that time is running out. The need for new algorithms that cannot be cracked is pressing, as cryptographically relevant quantum computers could become a reality in just three to five years.

CZ Highlights Lack of Transaction Privacy as Key Barrier to Cryptocurrency Adoption

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) points out that the lack of transaction privacy on public blockchains is a significant obstacle to widespread cryptocurrency adoption. He emphasizes that addressing the transparency issue without compromising regulatory compliance is crucial for cryptocurrencies to transition into functional currencies.

Russians Move $129B in Crypto Yearly ‘Outside Our Attention’: Official

Russia’s deputy finance minister reveals that approximately $129 billion in crypto is moved annually, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures in the crypto market.

Source: KLEA News