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12 Feb 2026, 12:30

Robinhood Launches Public Testnet for Layer-2 Chain

Robinhood has launched a public testnet for its Ethereum layer-2 network, inviting developers and institutions to experiment with tokenized assets. Ethereum L2 Testnet to Expand DeFi Push for Robinhood Robinhood is taking its blockchain ambitions a step further. The retail brokerage announced that Robinhood Chain, its Ethereum layer-2 network, has entered a public testnet phase.

12 Feb 2026, 12:10

Ethereum developers propose system to use AI chatbots privately

Ethereum developers proposed a new way to protect people’s privacy using AI chatbots that allow users to make API calls without linking their requests to their real identities, while still paying providers and punishing abusers. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation AI lead Davide Crapis shared a blog post explaining that users can interact with large language models privately and prevent spam and cheating via zero-knowledge proofs. Ethereum developers build private way to pay for AI chatbots Vitalik Buterin and Davide Crapis say AI chatbots raise serious privacy concerns today because users share personal and sensitive information via API calls that can record, track, and sometimes connect those requests back to the owner. The developers of these chatbots say they can’t ignore the issue any longer, because the risk of personal data exposure keeps growing as people use AI every day. Because of this, Buterin and Crapis explain that AI providers can either ask users to sign in with an email address or pay with a credit card, or use blockchain payments for anonymity. If companies settle on email addresses and credit card payments because they’re more familiar, users’ privacy will be at risk, as every chatbot request links to someone’s real identity. This can lead to profiling, tracking, and even legal risks if people present these logs in court. For blockchain payments, users would have to pay on-chain for every request, but the process is slow and costly, and it creates a visible record of every message. Privacy when paying per request will be impossible again because the user’s transaction history will be easy to track. Ethereum developers are now proposing a new model in which a user deposits funds into a smart contract once and then makes thousands of private API calls. This way, the provider is sure the requests have been paid for, and the user doesn’t have to confirm their identity every time they interact with the chatbot. Buterin and Crapis say the new model will go a long way toward keeping people safe while allowing the technology to grow. Zero-knowledge proofs stop bad behavior without revealing user identity Ethereum developers say the system will use zero-knowledge cryptography to prevent cheating and abuse because it allows a user to prove something is true without revealing their identity. Vitalik Buterin and Davide Crapis explain that zero-knowledge tools will help honest users remain anonymous while exposing bad actors who try to break the rules. The new model will use a tool called Rate-Limit Nullifiers (RLN), which allows users to make anonymous requests and catch anyone who tries to cheat the protocol. This process begins when an account owner generates a secret key and adds funds to a smart contract, which is then used as a buffer for API calls. The account owner will fund the account once and then make private calls using the funds deposited, rather than making separate transactions each time they make an API call. This is an obvious limitation because an individual can make only as many calls as they deposited money for. Then, every time the user makes a request, the protocol assigns it a ticket index, and the user must produce a special proof, called a ZK-STARK, that they are still spending funds deposited with the protocol, as well as any refunds they are entitled to. At the same time, the system also processes refunds, as AI requests are not always of equal cost. The protocol also generates a unique nullifier for each ticket to prove usage and immediately identifies attempts to reuse the same ticket index for two different requests. According to Buterin and Crapis, abuse is not only double-spending, since some users may try to break the provider’s rules by sending harmful prompts, jailbreaks, or requests for illegal content such as weapon instructions. The protocol thus adds another layer called dual staking, where the user’s deposit is subject to strict math rules, and the other is subject to provider policy enforcement. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

12 Feb 2026, 12:10

Bitcoin Hashrate Stages Remarkable 20% Rebound in Two Weeks, Defying Price Pressure

BitcoinWorld Bitcoin Hashrate Stages Remarkable 20% Rebound in Two Weeks, Defying Price Pressure In a powerful demonstration of network resilience, the Bitcoin hashrate has surged by over 20% in just fourteen days, according to data analyzed in late February 2025. This rapid recovery follows a significant slump triggered by extreme weather and regulatory challenges in the United States, the world’s largest hub for Bitcoin mining. Consequently, the network’s inherent stability mechanisms are now activating, with a major upward adjustment to mining difficulty anticipated. Bitcoin Hashrate Recovery Signals Network Resilience The Bitcoin hashrate, a critical metric representing the total computational power securing the network, has made a substantial comeback. After a pronounced dip, the metric rebounded more than 20% within a two-week window. This recovery primarily stems from North American mining operations coming back online. These operations had previously gone offline due to a severe winter storm that crippled power infrastructure across several states. Additionally, ongoing regulatory scrutiny created operational headwinds for some firms. The network’s quick bounce-back, even as Bitcoin’s price retreated from a brief touch of $60,000, underscores a key principle: mining activity and price are often decoupled in the short term. Network security, therefore, maintained its robust foundation. To understand the scale of this rebound, consider the hashrate’s trajectory. Before the downturn, the network was operating near all-time highs. The subsequent drop represented one of the most acute declines in recent years. However, the swift 20% recovery is not just a return to normalcy. It is a testament to the distributed and adaptable nature of Bitcoin mining. Miners relocated equipment, leveraged alternative energy sources, and restarted operations with impressive speed. This agility highlights the industry’s maturation and its preparedness for real-world disruptions. Analyzing the Causes of the Initial Hashrate Slump The preceding hashrate decline resulted from a confluence of geographical and political factors. The most immediate cause was a major winter storm that swept across key mining regions in the United States in early February 2025. States like Texas, which hosts a significant concentration of mining farms, experienced grid emergencies. Mining companies, often participating in demand-response programs, voluntarily powered down to stabilize the local electrical grid. This action, while socially responsible, led to a measurable drop in global hashrate. Simultaneously, regulatory pressure from various federal agencies introduced uncertainty. Proposed legislation concerning energy usage reporting and operational licensing caused some miners to pause expansion plans or temporarily curtail activity to assess the legal landscape. The impact was quantifiable. Data from major mining pools showed a double-digit percentage drop in their contributed hashrate over several days. This event served as a real-time stress test for the network. Importantly, Bitcoin’s protocol continued to produce blocks, albeit at a slightly slower pace, proving the system’s fault tolerance. The event also sparked a broader discussion about the geographical distribution of mining power and the benefits of a more globally dispersed hashrate to mitigate regional risks. The Critical Role of Mining Difficulty Adjustments The Bitcoin protocol features a self-correcting mechanism known as difficulty adjustment. This algorithm ensures that new blocks are added to the blockchain approximately every ten minutes, regardless of the total hashrate. When hashrate drops, block times increase. The protocol then responds by lowering the mining difficulty at the next adjustment period, making it easier for the remaining miners to find blocks. Conversely, when hashrate floods back onto the network—as seen in this 20% rebound—the opposite occurs. The upcoming adjustment on February 20 is now projected to be a significant positive correction. This increase will restore the equilibrium of the 10-minute block time, but it also raises the operational bar for all miners. They must now expend more computational effort per block, which can squeeze margins for less efficient operations. This dynamic creates a natural economic filter. Only miners with access to the cheapest, most reliable power can thrive post-adjustment. The table below illustrates the typical relationship between hashrate changes and difficulty adjustments: Hashrate Change Block Time Impact Next Difficulty Adjustment Sharp Increase Blocks found faster than 10 min Significant Increase Sharp Decrease Blocks found slower than 10 min Significant Decrease Stable Remains ~10 minutes Minor Change Implications for Network Security and Miner Economics The rapid hashrate recovery carries profound implications for both Bitcoin’s security model and the mining industry’s economics. Firstly, a higher hashrate directly translates to greater network security. It increases the computational cost required to execute a 51% attack, making the blockchain more immutable and trustworthy. This rebound, therefore, reinforces Bitcoin’s value proposition as a secure settlement layer. Secondly, the impending difficulty adjustment will reshape miner profitability. Key factors influencing miner economics post-recovery include: Energy Costs: Miners with locked-in low-cost power contracts gain a major advantage. Hardware Efficiency: Newer generation ASIC miners will outperform older models. Operational Scale: Larger farms with economies of scale can better absorb the higher difficulty. Geographic Diversification: Miners with operations outside single weather or regulatory zones mitigate risk. This cycle of disruption and recovery ultimately strengthens the network by weeding out inefficient operators and incentivizing investment in resilient, sustainable infrastructure. The event has accelerated trends like strategic relocation and the use of flared gas or renewable energy sources, making the mining ecosystem more robust for future challenges. Conclusion The 20% rebound in the Bitcoin hashrate over a mere two weeks is a significant event that highlights the cryptocurrency network’s core strengths: decentralization, adaptability, and built-in stability. Recovery from the U.S. winter storm and regulatory pressures demonstrates the industry’s operational maturity. The anticipated upward difficulty adjustment will recalibrate the mining landscape, promoting efficiency and long-term network security. This episode serves as a clear reminder that Bitcoin’s underlying protocol mechanics are designed to withstand and automatically correct for real-world volatility, ensuring the network’s continued reliability regardless of short-term price movements or external shocks. FAQs Q1: What exactly is Bitcoin hashrate? Bitcoin hashrate is the total combined computational power used by miners worldwide to process transactions and secure the Bitcoin network. It is a primary measure of the network’s security and health. Q2: Why does a higher hashrate make Bitcoin more secure? A higher hashrate means more computational work is required to alter the blockchain. This makes it exponentially more difficult and expensive for a malicious actor to execute an attack, such as reversing transactions, thereby securing the network. Q3: How does a winter storm affect Bitcoin mining? Mining requires massive amounts of electricity. Severe storms can damage power infrastructure or force grid operators to request curtailment. Miners, especially those in demand-response programs, often power down to ensure grid stability for essential services, temporarily reducing the global hashrate. Q4: What is a Bitcoin difficulty adjustment? It is an automatic, protocol-level change that occurs approximately every two weeks. It makes mining harder or easier to ensure blocks are produced consistently every 10 minutes, regardless of how many miners are active on the network. Q5: Does a rising hashrate always lead to a higher Bitcoin price? Not necessarily. While a rising hashrate indicates strong network investment and can inspire long-term confidence, short-term price movements are influenced by a wider array of factors including macroeconomic conditions, investor sentiment, and liquidity. Hashrate and price can often move independently in the short term. This post Bitcoin Hashrate Stages Remarkable 20% Rebound in Two Weeks, Defying Price Pressure first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

12 Feb 2026, 12:00

Espresso network launches ESP token with 10% airdrop amid Ethereum layer-2 debate

The network transitioned to proof-of-stake and coincides with the rollout of the ESP token, which is used for staking, securing the network and protocol participation.

12 Feb 2026, 11:50

Arweave Price Prediction: The Critical $15 Rally and 2026-2030 Forecast

BitcoinWorld Arweave Price Prediction: The Critical $15 Rally and 2026-2030 Forecast As of May 2025, the Arweave (AR) token trades within a consolidating market, prompting intense analysis regarding its potential to rally toward the $15 threshold this year. This comprehensive forecast examines the underlying technology, market dynamics, and verifiable data shaping the AR price prediction for 2026 through 2030. Investors and technologists closely monitor this unique blockchain’s progress, as it aims to solve the critical problem of permanent information storage on the internet. Arweave Price Prediction: Analyzing the Path to $15 Market analysts currently debate the feasibility of Arweave reaching $15 in the current cycle. Several concrete factors influence this trajectory. First, the network’s adoption metrics provide essential context. The total data stored on the Arweave permaweb continues its steady ascent, demonstrating real-world utility. Furthermore, developer activity, measured by GitHub commits and new project integrations, remains robust. However, broader cryptocurrency market sentiment and Bitcoin’s price action significantly impact all altcoins, including AR. Technical analysis of trading volumes and on-chain data reveals key support and resistance levels that must be breached for a sustained rally. Consequently, a move to $15 would require a confluence of strong network growth and a favorable macro environment for digital assets. The Foundational Technology Behind AR Value Unlike speculative assets, Arweave’s value proposition is intrinsically tied to its technological innovation. The protocol introduces a novel consensus mechanism called Proof of Access . This system incentivizes miners to store the entire blockchain history permanently. The core product, the permaweb, is a layer of data built on top of this permanent storage layer. It hosts decentralized applications and websites that resist censorship and cannot be altered. Major institutions, including the Internet Archive and various national archives, have explored or implemented Arweave for data preservation. This tangible use case provides a fundamental floor for the token’s valuation, separating it from projects with less defined utility. Expert Analysis and Market Sentiment Financial analysts from firms like CoinShares and Messari regularly publish reports on decentralized storage sectors. Their 2024 year-end reviews highlighted Arweave’s dominant position in the niche of permanent storage. Experts point to the token’s endowment model, where storage fees fund future mining rewards, as a unique and sustainable economic design. However, these same reports caution that adoption speed is a critical variable. The rate at which enterprises and developers choose Arweave over traditional cloud storage or competing decentralized solutions will directly correlate with network demand and, by extension, AR token demand. Market sentiment, tracked through social volume and futures data, shows cautious optimism tempered by awareness of the competitive landscape. Arweave (AR) Price Forecast 2026-2030 Long-term price predictions inherently involve modeling multiple scenarios based on adoption curves and market cycles. The following table outlines potential price ranges derived from current growth metrics and historical crypto market behavior. These are not guarantees but analytical projections. Year Conservative Forecast Moderate Forecast Optimistic Forecast Key Driver 2026 $18 – $25 $26 – $40 $41 – $60 Enterprise adoption of permaweb 2027 $30 – $45 $46 – $75 $76 – $110 Regulatory clarity for data storage 2030 $80 – $120 $121 – $200 $201 – $350+ Mainstream use as historical ledger These models assume continued execution of the Arweave roadmap. They also factor in the potential for broader cryptocurrency market capitalization expansion over the next five years. Critical risks to this forecast include technological obsolescence, severe regulatory intervention, or a failure to scale network capacity efficiently. On the other hand, positive catalysts could accelerate growth. For instance, a major government contract for archival storage or integration into a dominant web3 protocol would likely serve as a powerful price catalyst. Competitive Landscape and Market Risks Arweave does not operate in a vacuum. The decentralized storage market features other significant protocols, each with different models. Filecoin, for example, focuses on competitive pricing for mutable storage. Storj and Sia offer similar services. Arweave’s key differentiation is permanence. This unique selling point insulates it from direct price competition but also limits its total addressable market to use cases requiring immutable, long-term storage. The primary market risk, therefore, is not direct token price competition but rather a slower-than-expected recognition of the need for permanent data storage. Additionally, technical risks such as undiscovered flaws in the Proof of Access mechanism or challenges in data retrieval speed could hinder adoption. Investors must monitor these factors alongside quarterly network growth reports. Real-World Impact and Adoption Timeline The real-world impact of Arweave is already visible. Notably, the project has preserved critical historical records, including news articles from conflict zones and scientific datasets. Several NFT projects use Arweave to store their underlying media permanently, ensuring the art outlives the platform that sold it. Looking ahead, the adoption timeline suggests a gradual onboarding of institutional users between 2025 and 2027. The subsequent period, leading to 2030, could see integration into public infrastructure for legal records, academic research, and medical data. This progression from niche web3 utility to public good infrastructure forms the bedrock of the most optimistic long-term valuation models. Each successful integration adds a new, stable source of demand for AR tokens to pay for storage. Conclusion The Arweave price prediction for 2026-2030 hinges on the protocol’s ability to execute its vision of a permanent, decentralized internet archive. While a rally to $15 this year depends on short-term market forces, the long-term forecast is fundamentally tied to verifiable network growth and adoption. The unique value proposition of permanent storage provides a solid foundation. However, investors should base decisions on ongoing analysis of storage metrics, developer activity, and competitive developments. The journey toward the 2030 price targets will likely be volatile, reflecting both the innovative potential and the inherent risks of pioneering a new data paradigm. FAQs Q1: What is the main use case for the Arweave (AR) token? The AR token is the native currency of the Arweave network. Users spend AR to pay for uploading and storing data permanently on the permaweb. Miners earn AR for providing storage space and replicating the network’s data history. Q2: How does Arweave’s “permanent storage” actually work from a technical perspective? Arweave uses a blockchain-like structure called a blockweave and a consensus mechanism called Proof of Access. To add a new block, miners must prove they can access a randomly recalled previous block. This incentivizes them to store the entire history, creating a sustainable economic model for permanent data retention. Q3: What are the biggest competitors to Arweave? In the decentralized storage space, Filecoin is a major competitor, though it focuses on renewable storage contracts rather than permanence. Centralized cloud providers like Amazon AWS and Google Cloud are the dominant incumbents for all data storage, representing the broader market Arweave aims to disrupt. Q4: Is the data stored on Arweave truly permanent and uncensorable? The protocol is designed to be permanent and resistant to censorship. Data is replicated across a global network of independent miners. Once data is stored and confirmed on the network, it cannot be altered or deleted by any single entity, including the original uploader, as long as the network exists. Q5: Where can I find reliable data on Arweave’s network growth and usage? Analytical platforms like ViewBlock provide detailed analytics on the Arweave network, including total storage capacity used, transaction counts, and miner activity. The Arweave team also publishes transparent quarterly reports on ecosystem development. This post Arweave Price Prediction: The Critical $15 Rally and 2026-2030 Forecast first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

12 Feb 2026, 11:30

3 Major Cardano Announcements Just Landed: The Breakdown

Three Cardano ecosystem announcements landed onstage at Consensus Hong Kong yesterday, spanning cross-chain rails, a new stablecoin rollout timeline, and a privacy-focused network’s march to mainnet. #1 Cardano Taps LayerZero Intersect said via X its Critical Cardano Integrations workstream has approved bringing LayerZero into the Cardano ecosystem, positioning the move as the network’s largest interoperability expansion to date. In its post, Intersect framed the integration as a step-change in access to cross-chain assets and infrastructure: “LayerZero is one of the most widely adopted omnichain messaging protocols in Web3, connecting 150+ blockchains and enabling access to 400+ tokens and $80B+ in omnichain assets. This integration unlocks the largest cross-chain connectivity expansion in Cardano’s history, opening pathways to stablecoin liquidity, Bitcoin-backed assets, tokenized real-world assets , and shared DeFi infrastructure across the broader crypto ecosystem.” A companion write-up describes the effort in similar terms, saying the protocol “connects over 160 blockchains” and “has facilitated over $200 billion in cross-chain volume,” with Cardano gaining technical access to “over 400 tokens” and “$80 billion in omnichain assets” once the LayerZero endpoint is deployed. The post argues that LayerZero’s messaging-layer approach is chain-agnostic “regardless of the underlying execution model,” explicitly flagging Cardano’s extended UTXO design as a historical friction point for tooling built around account-based chains. Intersect said delivery work now moves into deployment, with “further milestones and timelines to be shared as progress continues.” #2 USDCx Gets A Launch Date Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson used the event to put a calendar marker on USDCx, saying the product now has a target launch window at the end of February. “We’ve announced not long ago that we will have USDCx. Now we have a launch date for USDCx, end of February. We’ve done some amazing engineering to have a beautiful UX. You can go straight from any wallet to Coinbase, or Binance, and back, and there’s instant convertibility to USDC,” Hoskinson said. He also claimed feature advantages versus standard USDC in circulation, saying USDCx has “privacy, and it’s also immutable and irreversible, so it’s actually better [than USDC].” #3 Midnight Targets Mainnet Before End Of March Midnight, the privacy-oriented network tied to the broader Cardano ecosystem, said its mainnet is now imminent. “On the ConsensusHK stage, we shared that Midnight mainnet will officially go live before the end of March,” the team posted via X, calling it “a major milestone and the beginning of a live, production network designed to support early applications built around selective disclosure and real-world privacy.” Midnight added that mainnet is “foundational,” describing it as the stable base for teams to “launch, test, and iterate,” while setting expectations for “rapid protocol and tooling expansion ahead.” At press time, Cardano traded at $0.261.