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16 Feb 2026, 12:46
A Win for XRP: Japan Finance Minister Backs SBI Blockchain Settlement and Stablecoin Push
Japan’s Finance Minister has publicly expressed support for blockchain-based securities settlement and stablecoin integration, which could strengthen the outlook for XRP and Ripple USD (RLUSD). The development gained attention after XRP community figure Crypto Eri highlighted remarks by Japan’s Finance Minister, Satsuki Katayama, on X following a cabinet meeting press conference. Visit Website
16 Feb 2026, 12:27
Are markets ready for the aggressive expansion strategy of crypto neobanks?
Crypto infrastructure has shown a willingness to carry out bank-like operations, leading to a trend of neobank launches. Recent conflicts, however, raise the issue of crypto’s readiness to host neobanks. Crypto networks have been proposed as venues for neobanks multiple times. The rise of crypto payments also coincided with other digital neobanks, which used conventional technologies. As Cryptopolitan reported earlier, one of the key issues for crypto-based banking is the ability to pay yields based on stablecoin ownership. The contentious question is still not resolved for users in the USA, as there is still a discussion on competition with mainstream banks. Other bank experts have mentioned stablecoin issuers should not be able to pay interest , potentially closing the path to crypto neobanks. Crypto neobanks seek a common standard There is no one standard for crypto neobanks, for either the services offered or the digital infrastructure. Some apps and organizations, like Coinbase or Metamask, handle the payment side of banking. Almost all crypto apps and wallets can be used for simple payments. Crypto payments coincided with the rise of SoFi, Revolut, Wise and other similar fintech payment services, all offering almost interchangeable user experiences. Crypto may offer a similar experience, with the added layer of permissionless or even private transactions. For some, the true form of on-chain banking would be a DeFi bank. With the current DeFi infrastructure, the potential of neobanks goes beyond payments and remittances. They would allow borrowing and saving with interest, completely based on blockchain finance. The challenge for neobanks would be to ensure accurate risk assessment. Relying even on the best lending protocols may be too risky by banking standards. While crypto rails exist for interest-bearing lending, the protocols are still threatened by a loss of liquidity, attacks, or the effects of the crypto market. Is crypto ready for neobanks? Crypto has matured beyond the period of being a playground for outsized gains. Now that the market is more conservative, attention has shifted to the potential for more reliable yields. Existing neobanks like Revolut and Kakao have also made forays into crypto, potentially using their reputation and profile to add a new payment toolset. Over time, crypto developed native solutions for multiple steps of the banking product. Wallets took the payment app niche, DeFi lending offered yield, while some protocols offered automated savings. One of the main obstacles to adoption was complexity. To achieve a full neobank, crypto must shift to more similarities with mainstream neobank apps. So far, the biggest success in adoption comes from crypto cards . The familiarity of these new products has encouraged adoption, especially in using stablecoins. The biggest success comes from self-custodial neobanks, which also carry cards. Larger entities like Crypto.com control most of the market, but additional activity comes from projects like TRIA, for direct crypto spending . Crypto neobanks also have a problem with fake platforms offering investments, while stealing funds or asking for outsized fees. The other problem for neobanks is ensuring privacy and maintaining a regulated status. A crypto neobank on a public chain may still expose too much data that can be linked to real entities, posing a security risk. The other big problem is that “crypto neobank” turned into a new narrative, leading to thousands of app launches and outsized competition, without singling out the best and most influential project. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.
16 Feb 2026, 11:30
Pi Coin endures 15% 24-hour dip as mainnet upgrade momentum fades
Pi Network’s native token extended last weekend’s volatile stretch on Monday, albeit not in the direction that investors had expected. After a brief rally that took the token on a 25% run, Pi coin fell about 15% over 24 hours, before reversing some of the losses to minimize the drop. Over the weekend, the Pi token touched $0.1985, its highest price since January 20, when it struggled to maintain its upward momentum amid the market-wide correction. Pi was among the weakest performers during that period, repeatedly setting new lows, including a decline to $0.1312 on February 11. Pi coin Sunday rally comes to a halt, profits shedding continues Looking at the intraday price chart, the Pi Coin Sunday rally occurred amid a mandatory Mainnet node upgrade deadline. After the upgrade window passed, an en masse selling session saw holders lock in profits they had gained from “buying the news.” Sunday trading had seen Pi jump more than 30% in a single day and over 55% from its recent all-time low, creating conditions for a pullback once the catalyst faded. PiScan wallet activity for centralized exchanges shows investors are dropping more coins into exchanges, which could mean the selling pressure has not yet settled. An uptick in exchange balances signals short-term selling pressure, as tokens moved onto trading platforms are readily available for liquidation. Seychelles-based trading platform OKX recorded the highest inflows of about 4.33 million PI, against outflows of 1.48 million PI, for a positive netflow of 2.84 million PI. Bitget had the opposite pattern, logging 861,134 PI token entries and 2.37 million PI withdrawals, resulting in a net outflow of 1.51 million PI. MEXC posted modest net inflows of around 442,961 PI, while Gate.io registered a stronger positive balance change exceeding 1.09 million PI. All CEXs tracked by PiScan recorded total inflows of approximately 7.86 million PI, compared with 4.97 million PI in outflows. The aggregate net flow stood near 2.89 million PI entering exchanges. Pi Network starts node upgrade timeline This update is a part of a planned roadmap that aims to increase the number of validators and enhance the distributed ledger technology on which the Pi ecosystem is embedded. The Pi Core development team explained that nodes are integral in validating transactions in the blockchain. Their function is to ensure all participants reach consensus on transaction order while preserving the integrity of the ledger. Pi uses a consensus mechanism derived from the Stellar Consensus Protocol, in which nodes form trusted clusters known as quorum slices and approve transactions only when those trusted peers agree. Network operators are required to wait for confirmation of system-wide completion at each stage before proceeding, to reduce any chances of fragmentation during the rollout. According to Pi Coin community member amrOnChain, the February 15 upgrade deadline covered version 19.6. Upcoming deadlines include February 27 and March 12, while other upgrades will be revealed after the earlier phases are finalized. The development team has advised participants not to attempt installing any future updates before an official announcement. 🧵PI NODE PROTOCOL UPGRADE GUIDE: THE COMPLETE BREAKDOWN! 🧵 The path from v19 to v23 is set. Every node operator needs to understand this. Let's dive in. 👇 #PiNetwork #NodeUpgrade #Protocolv23 #Mainnet pic.twitter.com/P65yGmQUr0 — amrOnChain (@amr_nannaware) February 13, 2026 Pi token holders will be hoping that the $0.15-$0.16 technical support range holds, as the token risks dropping further to $0.12 if selling pressure persists. Some market watchers predict the token to fluctuate between $0.16 and $0.20 after the market digests the 24-hour downward-bound volatility. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
16 Feb 2026, 11:08
Aave outlines vision to build $50T abundance economy
Aave, the leading decentralized lending protocol in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, is advancing a strategic vision that will see blockchain finance shift from scarce assets to “abundance” based tokenization. In addition, Aave Labs founder Stani Kulechov released a detailed roadmap that forecasts how DeFi could leverage what could amount to $50 trillion in tokenized “abundance assets” by 2050 — ultimately remaking the flow of capital and how money moves around the globe. Kulechov’s thesis rests on the underlying principle that the next generation of DeFi expansion is not coming primarily from scant financial instruments such as government bonds or real estate. Rather, real-world assets linked to productive economic activity — including renewable energy infrastructure, energy storage, robotics, vertical farming, lab-grown food, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. According to data from RWA.xyz, about $25 billion in real-world assets have already been brought on-chain — mostly traditional assets like Treasury bonds and listed stocks. Kulechov believes this is just the beginning. Kulechov argues that the world is ready for on-chain lending to accelerate change According to the founder’s post, Kulechov forecasted an expansion in these scarce resources ; however, he highlighted that the most substantial benefits from tokenization will stem from abundant assets. Kulechov made this argument after noting the strong demand for new collateral from capital holders and the world’s readiness for on-chain lending to accelerate change. Apart from this, he projected that by 2050, solar energy could account for $15–$30 trillion of the $50 trillion abundance asset market. On the other hand, the industry executive noted that tokenizing a $100 million solar project enables solar debt financiers to leverage $70M for new project investment. Additionally, on-chain depositors can access a well-diversified, high-yield opportunity with low risk and great scalability. He also observed that tokenization allows investors to acquire solar assets, capture gains over three years, and efficiently redeploy that capital into subsequent developments. According to Kulechov, this approach could significantly improve capital efficiency. “Traditional infrastructure investments tie up capital for many years. However, tokenized assets allow for ongoing trading, enabling the same dollar to fund several projects over time,” Aave’s CEO argued. This concept also extends to energy storage batteries, robotics in labor, vertical farming, and lab-grown food for nutrition, semiconductors for computing, and 3D printing for materials. In a statement, Kulechov mentioned that, “these abundant resources could provide better returns than scarce ones, which are likely moving toward a path of low profits and reduced margins.” He further stated that, “Products backed by abundance deliver improved returns, lower risks, and better alignment with values. They succeed in the market because they are superior products.” Aave is trading at $126.26, down 3.4% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. Users primarily lend and borrow Tether-issued USDt , Ether, and wrapped Ether on the platform. Aave demonstrates a strong commitment to sharpen its focus on the DeFi sector Just recently, Aave Labs announced the closure of its “umbrella brand,” Avara, to sharpen its focus on decentralized finance and streamline its brand. This announcement followed Kulechov’s X post stating that Avara, which includes initiatives such as the Family crypto wallet and the social media platform Lens, is no longer necessary, given Aave’s full commitment to making Aave accessible to everyone. He also unveiled that the Family crypto wallet, which operates on Apple iOS, is ending because, to attract millions of users, the team realized they needed to offer specific features like savings, rather than just basic wallet functionality. This decision underscores the company’s long-standing aim of prioritizing its core offerings, particularly its primary lending protocol. The initiative transferred ownership of Lens to Mask Network last month. Regarding this move, Kulechov alleged that Aave would assume a reduced advisory role within the protocol to intensify its focus on the DeFi sector. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .
16 Feb 2026, 11:00
Aave Founder Sees $50 Trillion Tokenization Opportunity
While Aave is the largest DeFi lending protocol with roughly $27 billion in total value locked, its native token is down about 15% in 2026 and more than 80% below its 2021 peak. Despite the price slump, institutional interest appears to be growing, as Grayscale filed with the SEC to convert its Aave trust into a spot ETF. Aave Predicts $50T Future for Onchain Assets Stani Kulechov, founder of the decentralized lending protocol Aave, believes decentralized finance could unlock as much as $50 trillion in so-called “abundance assets” through tokenization by 2050, which could create an entirely new category of on-chain collateral. According to data from RWA.xyz, almost $25 billion worth of real-world assets have already been tokenized on-chain. However, most of that value is tied to familiar asset classes like US Treasury bonds, stocks, commodities, private credit and real estate. Kulechov argues that while these scarce assets will continue to grow on-chain, the greatest long-term impact will come from tokenizing assets that generate increasing supply and productive capacity, particularly in renewable energy and advanced technologies. X post from Stani Kulechov In a recent post on X , Kulechov said capital markets are “hungry for new collateral” and that on-chain lending infrastructure could accelerate a broader transformation in how infrastructure and productive assets are financed. He estimates that solar energy alone could account for between $15 trillion and $30 trillion of the projected $50 trillion abundance asset market by mid-century. As an example, he described how a $100 million solar project could be partially financed through tokenization, allowing developers to borrow $70 million against it and redeploy that capital into additional projects. In such a model, on-chain depositors would gain exposure to scalable, diversified yield streams backed by real-world infrastructure. Kulechov also talked about the potential capital efficiency gains from tokenized infrastructure. Unlike traditional infrastructure investments, which often lock up capital for decades, tokenized assets could be traded continuously. This would allow investors to exit positions and redeploy funds into new developments more quickly. This could allow the same capital to finance multiple projects over time. He extended this vision beyond solar to include energy storage batteries, robotics, vertical farming, lab-grown food, semiconductors and 3D printing. Additionally, he argued that abundance-backed products may ultimately offer stronger returns and better risk characteristics than scarce assets, which he suggested are facing compressing margins and reduced profitability. In his view, tokenized productive infrastructure could outperform because it aligns capital with scalable growth sectors. Aave is currently still the largest DeFi lending protocol by total value locked, with around $27 billion deposited for borrowing and lending, according to DeFiLlama . Despite its leading position in decentralized lending, Aave’s native token struggled in the market downturn. The AAVE token dropped by about 15% so far in 2026 and is trading more than 80% below its May 2021 all-time high. AAVE’s YTD price action (Source: CoinCodex) Grayscale Files for Aave ETF Approval Despite AAVE’s price performance over the past few months, crypto asset manager Grayscale Investments filed for regulatory approval to convert its existing Aave trust into a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF). The company submitted a Form S-1 registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) outlining plans to transform the trust into the Grayscale Aave Trust ETF. If approved, the fund will list on NYSE Arca under the ticker GAVE. Grayscale said it plans to charge a 2.5% management fee, with Coinbase serving as both custodian and prime broker for the proposed ETF. The structure will hold AAVE tokens directly, offering investors straightforward exposure to the decentralized finance protocol’s native asset. The filing places Grayscale among a growing group of asset managers looking to launch altcoin-focused ETFs in the United States. This could mean that institutional interest in diversified crypto exposure is still intact, even as digital asset prices cooled from previous highs. Grayscale’s application follows a similar move by Bitwise Asset Management, which filed in December to launch the Bitwise AAVE Strategy ETF. Bitwise’s proposal differs in structure, as it plans to allocate up to 60% of its assets directly into AAVE tokens, with the remaining portion invested in securities like other ETFs providing AAVE exposure. By contrast, Grayscale’s proposed fund would hold the token outright. If approved, the two products will become the first US-based ETFs to provide direct exposure to Aave, joining a limited number of similar offerings overseas. In Europe, 21Shares previously launched an Aave exchange-traded product on the Nasdaq Stockholm, while Global X introduced a comparable product in Germany. For Grayscale, the Aave filing is another step forward in broadening its lineup beyond flagship Bitcoin and Ethereum vehicles. For now, only time will tell if regulators will extend approval to DeFi-focused tokens.
16 Feb 2026, 10:49
Pundit Says This SBI Announcement Is Big News for XRP Holders
Crypto investor and trader Xaif Crypto has highlighted a significant development involving SBI Holdings and its expansion plans in Asia. In a recent post, he stated that SBI Holdings is acquiring a majority stake in Singapore-based cryptocurrency platform Coinhako. He described the move as “big news for #XRP holders,” emphasizing the potential implications for the broader XRP ecosystem. According to the information shared, SBI is pursuing control of Coinhako, a regulated digital asset platform operating in Singapore. The attached announcement from SBI Holdings confirms that the company has declared its intention to enter into a memorandum of understanding to acquire Coinhako through capital injection and the acquisition of shares from existing shareholders. The transaction, if completed, would result in SBI obtaining a majority stake and making Coinhako a consolidated subsidiary. SBI Holdings acquiring majority stake in Coinhako Big news for #XRP holders! SBI, Ripple's biggest partner with $10B in XRP holdings, is expanding across Asia by acquiring Singapore's regulated crypto platform Coinhako. This isn't just M&A – it's strategic expansion of the… pic.twitter.com/f4Mz2Obzaf — Xaif Crypto | (@Xaif_Crypto) February 14, 2026 Connection to XRP and Ripple Partnership Xaif Crypto highlighted SBI’s established relationship with Ripple, identifying SBI as Ripple’s largest partner and noting that it holds approximately $10 billion in XRP. He presented the proposed acquisition as more than a standard corporate transaction, characterizing it as a strategic expansion of the XRP ecosystem across Asia. The framing of the announcement focused on the potential network effects of integrating a regulated Singaporean exchange into SBI’s broader digital asset strategy. By strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia, SBI could further align its regional operations with its ongoing blockchain and digital asset initiatives, which have long included active engagement with XRP-related infrastructure and services. The tweet emphasized that the development extends beyond a conventional merger and acquisition . Instead, it was described as a calculated move to reinforce XRP’s institutional footprint in one of Asia’s key financial hubs. Deal Structure and Regulatory Conditions However, the transaction is not yet finalized. A comment under the post clarified that the arrangement is currently an “intention to acquire” structured through a letter of intent. This language, as noted in the comment, is standard in corporate announcements of this nature and does not represent a completed acquisition. The comment further explained that while the deal would give SBI a majority stake and consolidate Coinhako as a subsidiary, it remains subject to regulatory approvals and final transaction structuring. The official announcement similarly states that specific details regarding the capital injection and share acquisition are still under discussion and that execution of the transaction depends on approval from relevant authorities. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 This distinction is critical in understanding the current stage of the process. While the strategic direction appears clear, the transaction must progress through formal regulatory and corporate procedures before it can be considered complete. Strategic Implications for the Asian Market Xaif Crypto’s central argument is that this development represents deliberate regional expansion. By targeting a licensed Singapore platform, SBI positions itself within a tightly regulated and strategically important jurisdiction. Singapore’s status as a financial center and its structured approach to digital asset regulation provide an established environment for institutional growth. If finalized, the acquisition would deepen SBI’s presence in Southeast Asia while reinforcing its broader digital asset strategy. For XRP community members, the proposed deal is being viewed as part of a larger institutional alignment that could strengthen adoption pathways in the region. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Pundit Says This SBI Announcement Is Big News for XRP Holders appeared first on Times Tabloid .
