Invest ideasNews
17 Feb 2026, 05:00
How High XRP Price Could Go if Tom Lee’s $1 Quadrillion Projection for Crypto Plays Out
With Fundstrat's Tom Lee suggesting that the crypto market has room for more exponential growth, XRP could benefit from such upside if it plays out. Notably, Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee presented a confident outlook for the crypto market at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, arguing that he sees far more growth ahead than behind. Visit Website
17 Feb 2026, 04:56
Ethereum Price Range Tightens While Buterin Reinforces Core Philosophy
The Ethereum price consolidation in a narrow range below $2,170, to regain its bearish momentum for a continued correction ahead. The horizontal level at $1,765 and ascending trendline present around $1,600 stand as key price support for ETH buyers. Vitalik Buterin described Ethereum as a flexible foundation that supports many ideas without requiring ideological alignment among users. ETH, the native cryptocurrency of Ethereum is up 1.62% during Monday to reach a trading value of $1,985. This modest buying pressure can be attributed to capital rotation from Bitcoin to altcoin and technical pullback after a prolonged downtrend. While the coin is yet to establish a stable support, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin reaffirms Ethereum’s permissionless nature and potential economic sway on social media platforms. Vitalik Buterin Reinforces Ethereum’s Role as a Neutral Infrastructure Layer Vitalik Buterin recently published his views on Ethereum as a flexible base for multiple ideas and applications without forced consensus. Users can be members without having to agree with him on his assessments of appropriate applications, levels of operational trust, or views on issues such as financial innovations, social networks, confidential transfers, and advanced computing developments. Divergences go to his views about the best places to eat in Europe, not to wear formal wear, and his preference for a specific date notation style, however these don’t prevent collective usage of the blockchain. Buterin emphasized he doesn’t speak for all those involved in Ethereum, and stressed the fundamental nature of the protocol as a permissionless environment in which people work independently of the outlook of any leader or group. He discussed that the act of identifying certain builds as too corporate is an act of open critique, balanced by the rights of others to question him, being an important part of maintaining the system’s integrity. In today’s context, holding firm to values means declaring them boldly, including by emphasizing what runs counter to them, to help construct dedicated realms where they prevail. Such values affect not only the protocol’s design but the projects built on top of it, and the impact of these values flows over into social and cultural spheres. Limiting them to tech is not substantial. Like operating systems powering everything from empowering tools to enterprise software, Ethereum needs parallel jobs to make complete suites beset into specific aims, accepting the fact that lots will employ it in a different way. This framework permits for connections on particular aspects regardless of variances somewhere else, creating a solid construction of different avenues. Ethereum Price Prolongs Sideways Trend Near $2,000 Over the past two weeks, the Ethereum price has resonated within a narrow range of $2,145 to $1,765. The daily chart showcasing price swing on either side despite price breakout indicates lack of initiation from buyers or sellers current holds. However, this consolidation is likely a temporary halt for sellers to replenish their exhausted bearish momentum. The momentum indicator RIS bounced from oversold region to 34% further accentuating that ongoing price action could bolster prevailing downtrend to regain strength. ETH/USDT -1d Chart Thus, with sustain selling, the Ethereum price could plunge another 18% and retest a long-coming support trendline at $1,600. Also Read: Bundesbank Chief Suggests EUR Stablecoins to Boost Economy
17 Feb 2026, 04:27
Wallet Founder Warns of Coordinated Scam Targeting XRPL Users
Xaman Wallet founder Wietse Wind has said that a “massive XRPL targeted scam effort” is underway, warning users about fake sign requests, phishing emails, and impersonation accounts. His alert points to a rise in social engineering attacks aimed at crypto holders rather than flaws in the blockchain code. A Multi-Pronged Attack on XRPL Users Wind wrote on X on February 16 that he had spent the weekend adding new filters and alerts to Xaman Wallet after detecting coordinated attempts to trick users into signing malicious transactions. He listed several methods seen in recent days, including scam NFTs that promise token swaps, fake desktop wallet apps, and direct messages posing as support staff. The official wallet account repeated the warning, telling users not to click links, respond to DMs, or connect wallets to unknown websites. According to Wind, the attacks usually focus on manipulating users rather than breaching software, with the scammers expanding beyond social media and sending phishing emails even though Xaman does not store user email addresses, suggesting attackers are relying on leaked data from unrelated breaches. The tricksters are also reportedly promoting fake “desktop wallets,” despite Xaman being a strictly mobile application. Some fraudulent projects are even promising free tokens in exchange for users’ secret keys. Wind stressed that funds will stay safe if people avoid approving unknown transactions or sharing their keys. “No matter the amount of warnings, detection, filtering, alerts in the app and here on social: no scammer can get you if you don’t willingly / unknowingly interact with them,” he advised. “Your funds are perfectly safe in Xaman Wallet: just don’t sign any transaction you don’t trust, and don’t interact with anyone promising you free tokens.” Scams Moving Beyond DeFi Exploits The XRPL scam wave reflects a troubling industry-wide trend, with a PeckShield report from earlier in the year revealing that crypto scams and hacks drained more than $4.04 billion in 2025. Of that total, $1.37 billion came from scams alone, a 64% increase from 2024. The firm said attackers are shifting toward tailored phishing campaigns that target individuals with large holdings instead of relying only on technical exploits. Furthermore, the PeckShield report also found that centralized platforms and companies accounted for about 75% of stolen funds last year, up from 46% in 2024. These high-value thefts tied to deception extend beyond software wallets. On January 17, 2026, blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported that a victim lost about $282 million in Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC) through a hardware wallet scam. According to his findings, the attacker later moved the funds through THORChain and converted them to Monero (XMR). Wind’s posts framed the latest campaign as a reminder that wallet security often depends on user decisions. “This is a cat and mouse ‘game,’ and the scammers will not win,” he stated. The post Wallet Founder Warns of Coordinated Scam Targeting XRPL Users appeared first on CryptoPotato .
16 Feb 2026, 20:15
Cardano's founder Hoskinson wants Facebook and Tinder on blockchain to onboard billions of users
Charles Hoskinson, a co-founder of Cardano, hopes to expand blockchain technology beyond the financial industry and into commonplace applications, potentially reaching billions of users on Facebook and Tinder. Hoskinson said at the Consensus Hong Kong 2026 that dating apps could use blockchain to help users verify personal details like their salary, location, and height. By verifying that profile pictures are authentic, the technology may also lessen the prevalence of catfishing and phony accounts. By integrating it into routine digital experiences, Hoskinson hopes to increase the transparency and reliability of online interactions. Vision extends beyond financial applications “I want to get to a point where video games are on it, a point where Facebook and other things run on this infrastructure,” Hoskinson said at the event. “That’s what’s going to bring 2-3 billion people in and that’s what’s going to change everything.” Building on this goal, Hoskinson criticizes the industry’s current direction , pushing for a more user-friendly approach. The co-founder of Cardano feels that financial goods have received too much attention in the blockchain industry. He wants consumers to have seamless experiences without having to know how the technology works. “I don’t have to care how electricity works. I just flip the switch and magically it works,” he said, comparing it to electricity. “We have got to do that as an industry and stop ‘overfinancializing’ everything.” Such a shift toward invisible, everyday utility becomes especially relevant given the ongoing challenges users face on traditional platforms. His comments align with growing concerns about social media fraud and privacy. Data misuse on centralized platforms and catfishing could be addressed by blockchain technology. Hoskinson also highlighted another key upcoming development in Cardano’s ecosystem that supports privacy for mainstream users. Hoskinson discussed Cardano’s planned Midnight partner chain debut in late March. With this privacy-focused functionality, users of existing privacy currencies like Monero or Zcash will not be targeted. “You don’t try to get anybody from Monero or ZCash over,” he said. Through practical applications, the team plans to focus on everyday users. Despite the excitement created by these long-term goals, Cardano’s native coin, ADA, has seen short-term volatility. The ADA token performs inconsistently Over the past few days in mid-February 2026, price movements have reflected this ongoing uncertainty. Since mid-February 2026, Cardano’s ADA token has been acting strangely. Its closing price on February 16 was $0.285681, which was less than $0.295266 on February 14 but higher than $0.281780 on February 15. ADA fell earlier on February 13 to $0.272692. These fluctuations persist even as the network continues its methodical upgrades. Network improvements have yet to overcome strong opposition. Unlike markets that value speed, Cardano approaches innovation with purpose. At the same time, several recent advancements are helping to generate some renewed momentum. If market circumstances improve, more liquidity may be available through the LayerZero cross-chain link and the upcoming USDCx stablecoin launch. Failure to break through would test lower support at $0.24 to $0.26 or further sideways volatility. Forecasts suggest ADA may soon reach $0.30, with monthly highs of about $0.324 possible. Through examination, mixed signals are discovered. Cardano is still declining but stabilized after a recent jump linked to cross-chain activities. Profit-taking prompted a test of significant long-term support at $0.244 after a brief increase close to $0.30. ADA seems to be in survival mode at $0.2800 , with recent dips attributed to a drop in retail demand. Despite obstacles, some signs suggest bigger players are more confident. Major investors have shown confidence. Recent purchases of 220 million ADA by major investors may aid in a recovery if $0.271 holds and $0.303 breaks. Regulated markets have also increased institutional interest. Cardano’s enormous market value makes significant price adjustments difficult. ADA would require billions of dollars in new investment funds to increase from $0.26 to $1. These factors contribute to a hopeful near-term outlook. In the end, Hoskinson’s ambitious plan aims to transcend existing market conditions. By making blockchain technology accessible to billions of regular people, Hoskinson’s approach signals a larger movement away from finance and toward real-world applications. Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program
16 Feb 2026, 20:00
Cardano (ADA) Back in ‘Survival Mode’ Despite Whale Accumulation and DeFi Expansion Plans
This year has been a tough ride for Cardano (ADA) investors, as weakening retail participation collides with renewed development activity and aggressive accumulation by large holders. Related Reading: Bitcoin Capitulation Or Buy Zone? What On-Chain Data Shows Right Now While on-chain data points to growing long-term conviction, market sentiment around ADA remains fragile, leaving the asset caught between technical pressure and ecosystem expansion efforts. Cardano sits at #11 trading near $0.28 after a sharp correction from January highs above $0.44. The price structure reflects broader cooling across the market, with declining derivatives activity and cautious trader positioning reinforcing analysts’ description of a “survival mode” environment for the token. ADA's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: ADAUSD on Tradingview Market Fatigue Weighs on Cardano (ADA) Price Momentum Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently warned that the crypto market could face another 90 to 180 days of slow conditions, citing retail exhaustion following years of market shocks, including exchange failures, regulatory uncertainty, and repeated speculative cycles. Derivatives data support this cautious outlook. Open interest in ADA futures has dropped to roughly $447 million, alongside declining trading volumes, signaling reduced conviction among traders. Funding rates have also turned negative, suggesting bearish sentiment is building in leveraged markets. Technically, ADA is testing key support levels. The token continues to defend an ascending trendline formed after February’s lows near $0.22, while resistance remains clustered around the $0.29–$0.30 region. Analysts note that repeated tests of support increase the risk of breakdown, potentially exposing downside targets near $0.25 if selling pressure intensifies. Despite the weakness, higher-low formations and stabilization above short-term moving averages leave room for recovery should broader market sentiment improve. Whales Step In as Retail Interest Declines While retail demand fades, large holders appear to be taking the opposite approach. On-chain data shows wallets holding between 10 million and 100 million ADA accumulated more than 220 million tokens, valued at over $61 million, during the recent price dip. The Mean Coin Age metric has reached a three-month high, indicating long-term holders are largely refraining from selling. Historically, this combination of whale accumulation and reduced token movement can tighten circulating supply and help establish price floors during downturns. Some analysts argue that February’s lows could represent a longer-term entry zone if market conditions stabilize, though they caution that historical rebounds do not guarantee future performance. DeFi Expansion Plans Aim to Shift Narrative Beyond price action, Cardano is advancing with ecosystem upgrades to strengthen its decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. The network plans to launch USDCx, a USDC-backed stablecoin intended to address liquidity shortages that have limited DeFi growth on the chain. In parallel, Cardano is integrating the LayerZero interoperability protocol, enabling connections to more than 140 blockchain networks, including Ethereum and Solana. The move is expected to expand cross-chain liquidity access and attract developers seeking broader user bases. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Reaches Historic Levels, Price Hovers Near $2K Development activity remains high, with hundreds of repository updates focused on wallet improvements, cross-chain communication, and network infrastructure. However, market reaction has so far remained muted, suggesting investors are waiting for measurable adoption rather than announcements alone. Cover image from ChatGPT, ADAUSD chart on Tradingview
16 Feb 2026, 19:55
Zerolend has announced plans to shutdown its operations
Zerolend, a multichain decentralized lending protocol, has just announced it is shutting down its lending markets after years of building. This is part of a broader wave of projects in the DeFi sector facing shutdowns due to similar reasons. The decision to sunset Zerolend operations gradually comes after around three years of building. According to the team, it was not an easy decision, but it was necessary in the face of unsustainable conditions. Why Zerolend is shutting down According to a post from the team, the main reasons behind the decision include: Inactivity or significant drops in liquidity/activity in many of the supported chains Oracle provides discontinuing support Hacks and exploits There is also the problem of thin profit margins in lending, which led to prolonged losses. As part of the wind-down of the protocol, most markets have had their loan-to-value (LTV) ratios set to 0%, meaning borrowing is disabled and only withdrawals are allowed. The team has urged users to withdraw their funds as soon as possible via the app. For assets stuck in low-liquidity chains, the team promised upgrades that will enable recovery. The announcement and subsequent process are an attempt by the protocol to end things honorably rather than shocking its users with sudden death. The protocol burst onto the scene in early 2024 and grew significantly on L2 chains like Linea and Zksync. It currently has a TVL of $6.6 million, a value that is near all-time lows post wind-down. Source: Defillama Other DeFi projects have shutdown for similar reasons Zerolend has announced plans to shut down, citing unfavorable conditions, but it is not the only project to do so. Some other DeFi protocols have announced shutdowns or strategic pivots amid the maturing market. A good example is Polynomial, a DeFi derivatives protocol that announced it was ceasing operations around February 14, 2026. This puts an end to the Polynomial chain and Polynomial trade. The process includes forced liquidations, liquidity layer closure, and full chain shutdown. The protocol had initially planned a TGE for Q1 2026, but that has been shelved with the team citing it as a worthless venture since the product is dying. In the future, the team will pivot to new projects with priority for early backers. Another good example of a DeFi protocol that has packed up is Alpaca Finance, a leveraged yield farming and lending protocol on BNB . It announced plans to fully sunset its activities by the end of 2025, citing revenue struggles and delisting from major exchanges like Binance. Elixir’s deUSD has also shut down after raking in heavy losses linked to the $93M collapse of Stream Finance, a protocol it was connected to. To be clear, what is happening is not a mass exodus of DeFi projects. If experts are to be believed, this is a natural pruning occurring in a maturing environment. Most of the protocols facing shutdowns are on the smaller end; meanwhile, the bigger, more prominent projects have been getting more attention. This suggests that the market is rallying around battle-tested projects while others face natural attrition. Some of the thriving protocols include Aave, the undisputed leader where on-chain lending is concerned, Morpho, a next-gen option in lending, and Compound, one of the original projects that sparked DeFi summer. While Aave is thriving, it has also had to make some strategic cuts in response to the market conditions. For example, it has had to shut down its Avara web3 brand to ensure 100% of its focus is channeled towards preserving its lending franchise. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .
