Invest ideasNews
10 Feb 2026, 14:35
Bitmine Ignores $7.8B Paper Losses, Buys $83M Worth of ETH as Market Dips
BitMine, the Ethereum-focused treasury firm chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, bought roughly $83 million worth of ETH on Monday, with its existing holdings sitting deep in the red. The purchases came during another volatile session for Ethereum, with on-chain data showing heavy selling from other large holders and ETH trading near multi-month lows. BitMine Adds to ETH Stash While Others Exit Data from the analytics platform Lookonchain, posted on February 10 and 11, shows Bitmine executed two large purchases of 20,000 ETH each from institutional platforms BitGo and FalconX. Last week, the firm bought 40,613 ETH, and the week prior, it added 41,788 tokens. It now holds approximately 4.32 million ETH, acquired at an average cost of $3,850 per coin. However, at current levels around $2,040, Lookonchain estimates BitMine’s average entry price leaves its position down more than $7.8 billion on paper. Despite that, Lee has publicly dismissed the recent sell-off as disconnected from Ethereum’s on-chain activity. In comments reported earlier this month, he said BitMine viewed the pullback as attractive, given his view of strengthening Ethereum fundamentals, such as record-high daily transactions. He attributed the price weakness to factors like a rally in gold and a lack of leverage rather than problems with the Ethereum network itself. Lee also stressed that Bitmine has no debt obligations that would force it to sell any of its ETH, a position that is in contrast to other large players like Trend Research, which, according to Lookonchain, has sold nearly all of its Ethereum since early February, locking in losses of about $747 million after depositing more than 650,000 ETH to Binance during the drop. Ethereum Price Struggles Amid Heavy On-Chain Movement Looking at the market, ETH is down about 1% over the past 24 hours, and nearly 13% in the last seven days. The world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap has also lost more than 34% of its value over the past month, according to CoinGecko data. It fell below $2,000 on February 5 for the first time in months, but despite the volatility and evident selling from some large holders, other data points to a potential reduction in available sell pressure. For example, analyst CoinNiel recently reported that exchange reserves for ETH have dropped to multi-year lows, suggesting longer-term holders are moving assets off trading platforms. The market now presents a clear divide: one side is cutting losses after a severe downturn, while the other, led by firms like Bitmine, is doubling down on a long-term conviction play, betting that current prices do not reflect the network’s underlying utility. The post Bitmine Ignores $7.8B Paper Losses, Buys $83M Worth of ETH as Market Dips appeared first on CryptoPotato .
10 Feb 2026, 14:13
Introducing Kraken 360: the end-to-end stack for protocol launches
Backed by years of securely operating regulated markets at scale, we’re excited to launch Kraken 360 . Kraken 360 combines end-to-end protocol launch support — from liquidity, listings, custody and compliance to staking, token operations, treasury and ecosystem growth – with direct access to one of crypto’s largest global audiences . The problems protocol teams face Launching a protocol requires making a series of high-impact, tightly connected decisions, often under time pressure: How liquidity is structured and sustained Where and how the token is listed How treasury assets are secured, custodied and managed How compliance and governance are addressed How staking, lockups, and vesting operate post-TGE How distribution and ecosystem growth are supported responsibly Most teams manage these pieces separately. That fragmentation is where launches slow down, risk increases, and focus shifts away from building. Kraken 360 removes this fragmentation by coordinating the full launch process through a single, end-to-end launch stack. How we coordinate protocol launches Kraken 360 coordinates protocol launches across liquidity, asset access, qualified custody, compliance, token operations and distribution before, during and after launch. Liquidity and market access Support for sustainable liquidity across Kraken’s global spot and derivatives markets, designed for long-term market health rather than short-term spikes. Asset listings A structured, transparent path to listing, backed by Kraken’s market experience and operational rigor. Qualified custody and treasury Regulated, segregated custody for protocol treasuries with governance-aware controls and secure treasury operations at scale. Compliance and launch readiness Listing, custody, and operational requirements handled up front — including KYB/KYC alignment, custody structure, and reporting setup. Staking, lockups and token operations Support for staking, vesting schedules, lockups, and token mechanics that function cleanly post-TGE. Growth and distribution Access to Kraken’s global user base and launch-time distribution, aligned with responsible growth and long-term engagement. When these components are coordinated within Kraken 360, backed by operational experience, launches move faster, risk is reduced and teams stay focused on building. And that means smoother sailing ahead. Explore Kraken 360 Custody services are provided by Payward Financial, Inc. or Payward Europe Solutions, Ltd, as applicable. Payward Financial, Inc. d/b/a Kraken Financial is not an FDIC-insured bank and deposits are neither insured by nor subject to the protections of the FDIC. Payward Europe Solutions Limited, trading as Kraken, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Geographic restrictions apply. The post Introducing Kraken 360: the end-to-end stack for protocol launches appeared first on Kraken Blog .
10 Feb 2026, 14:07
Changpeng Zhao enters double standards debate on CEX vs DEX token listings
CZ, the former Binance CEO, believes investors are unfairly judging centralized exchanges for listing memecoins that don’t perform well, while not extending the same criticism to decentralized platforms. In response to a debate about token listings on social platform X, Zhao questioned why the crypto community praises DEXs for listing tokens from several projects, while bashing centralized venues for doing the same. “DEX listing all tokens is good. CEX listing all tokens is bad?” he asked , “I believe exchanges should provide access to everything. Well, this line will certainly get some heat.” He also mentioned that every centralized exchange selects what token to list using “their own framework.” CZ chimes in debate over curating token listings in exchanges Zhao’s comments were responding to a post from Benjamin Cowen, the founder of the quantitative market analysis platform Into The CryptoVerse. Cowen argued that exchanges damage the credibility of the whole market by promoting speculative tokens. “Crypto exchanges could make the industry seem more legitimate by not constantly listing dogshit memecoins on their platform to take advantage of short-term retail interest. If we don’t respect ourselves, how can we expect others to respect us?” he surmised. While decentralized exchanges do not have “gatekeepers” to approve or disapprove tokens for trading, centralized exchanges like Binance have screening and compliance checks. That said, some trading platforms are allegedly paid by projects to bypass the checks. CEX listing all tokens is bad when the CEX does not make a difference between listed tokens based on what each project is shipping. A project with a real product, team, and community built over years should not be seen the same as a memecoin that was launched days before.… — mBMN.wod (@m_BMN_) February 10, 2026 “It’s not good to list all tokens, but it’s also not good to list nothing; you have to make controlled listings,” said one X user to Zhao, who then admitted there’s a balance that exists for most centralized venues. “Listing all tokens have, among other problems, security issues (like bad smart contracts). But it doesn’t mean one has to buy every token listed,” the ex-Binance CEO replied. A separate commenter proposed pairing access with explicit risk labeling to uphold a platform’s transparency, and would make the investor responsible for their token purchases. Yet, some naysayers accused major exchanges of promoting speculative assets with no utility. “Dude, you’re representing the world’s largest crypto exchange, and you’re the founder. And there are more utility real projects out there. Stop defending shit memes. Let them trade on DEXes. Major exchanges promoting memes and dex listing memes are way more different,” a Crypto Twitter member bashed CZ. Binance in the middle of WLF ‘monopoly’ accusations Zhao and Binance have been party to weeks of accusations involving illicit profits, even though the exchange insists it does not profit from token listings and disputes the label “listing fees.” According to some founders looking to list their projects on the platform, Binance requests a percentage of tokens in exchange. Although one source at a listed project said they provided no token supply, another said they agreed to allocate 3.5% of tokens for airdrops and marketing. As reported by Cryptopolitan, Binance’s business with President Trump’s family’s DeFi company, World Liberty Financial, has raised eyebrows on social media. Arkham Intelligence’s tracking of WLFI’s assets shows that Binance and its users control about 87% of USD1 in circulation, or $4.7 billion of a $5.4 billion supply. Binance is barred from serving US customers under its 2023 settlement with the Treasury Department. If restrictions are followed, most USD1 held in Binance wallets belongs to non-US users. However, a Trump-affiliated LLC owns 38% of World Liberty Financial. The company earns revenue by investing dollars backing USD1 in assets such as US Treasurys and keeping the interest, currently around 3.6%. In late January 2026, the exchange ran a campaign tied to USD1 that included a $40 million distribution of WLFI tokens, incentivizing users to hold and transact with the stablecoin. WLF subsequently transferred the tokens to Binance to deepen collaborative ties between the two firms. World Liberty Financial has so far refuted rumors that it works under any special influence from Binance. Spokesperson David Wachsman told Forbes: “Any implication that Binance can exert control or influence over World Liberty Financial is patently false.” Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program
10 Feb 2026, 14:05
Backpack Exchange Founded By Ex‑FTX Staff Reaches $1 Billion Valuation, Announces Token Plan
Backpack, founded by former FTX employees, secures a reported $1 billion valuation and unveils a staged 1‑billion‑token launch tied to a U.S. Initial Public Offering (IPO). Backpack, a crypto exchange founded by former FTX employees, is reportedly in talks to raise $50 million and has reached a $1 billion valuation, aiming to expand tokenized asset
10 Feb 2026, 13:59
Binance’s CZ Reacts to False Speculation Involving Tether CEO
Binance's CZ says FUDers are just making stuff up as rumors involving the leading cryptocurrency exchange continue to linger amid the broad crypto market crash.
10 Feb 2026, 13:44
Bybit Partners with Stockholm Open as LiquidChain Redefines Cross-Chain Infrastructure
Quick Facts: Bybit’s partnership with the Stockholm Open signals a strategic pivot toward high-net-worth and institutional demographics in Europe. The gap between institutional interest and on-chain user experience is driving demand for unified infrastructure solutions. LiquidChain is addressing liquidity fragmentation by fusing BTC, ETH, and SOL ecosystems into a single execution layer. Infrastructure projects are seeing steady capital inflows, with early backers focusing on utility-driven tokenomics over pure governance rights. The intersection of digital assets and elite sports hit another milestone this week. Bybit announced its title partnership with the Stockholm Open , rebranding the tournament to the ‘BNP Paribas Nordic Open’ with the exchange as a top-tier partner. This isn’t just about slapping a logo on a court; it’s a calculated push into high-net-worth territory. By aligning with the oldest ATP indoor tournament, Bybit is positioning itself directly in front of a European institutional audience, a demographic that has historically been skittish about entering the volatile crypto fray. Why the shift? Sports sponsorships have evolved from simple awareness plays to strategic credibility moves. Just as Crypto.com’s arena naming rights tried to normalize digital assets for retail, Bybit’s entry into the ‘gentleman’s sport’ of tennis targets a sophisticated, capital-rich investor class. The data suggests exchanges are pivoting marketing spend toward trust-building, anticipating a market shift from retail speculators to long-term holders. But there’s a catch. Bringing institutional capital on-chain exposes a glaring weakness in the current market structure: infrastructure fragmentation. While exchanges smooth the on-ramp, the actual on-chain experience is still plagued by complex bridging, wrapped asset risks, and liquidity that’s fractured across chains like Ethereum and Solana. As traditional finance (TradFi) eyes the exit, the rails they’re expected to run on are still being built. This gap between marketing promise and technical reality has shifted smart money focus toward Layer 3 (L3) solutions capable of unifying these ecosystems. Among the protocols addressing this friction is LiquidChain ($LIQUID) , a cross-chain liquidity layer that has quietly started accumulating capital in its early presale stages. Read more about $LIQUID here. Unifying Fragmented Liquidity Across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana The current DeFi landscape effectively forces users and developers into silos. A developer building on Solana can’t easily access Ethereum liquidity without relying on cumbersome bridges or wrapped tokens, mechanisms that have historically been vectors for major hacks. LiquidChain ($LIQUID) aims to solve this via its Layer 3 infrastructure, designed to fuse Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana liquidity into a single execution environment. This distinction is critical. Most ‘interoperability’ protocols merely message between chains. LiquidChain operates as a Cross-Chain Virtual Machine (VM), enabling what the protocol calls ‘Single-Step Execution.’ In practice, a user could stake an asset on Ethereum and take a loan against it on Solana in a single transaction, without manually bridging funds. For developers, the appeal lies in the ‘Deploy-Once’ architecture, writing code once that can simultaneously tap into the user bases of the three largest blockchains. Of course, the risk here is execution complexity. Building an L3 that handles verifiable settlement across non-EVM (Bitcoin) and high-speed (Solana) chains is a heavy technical lift. Yet, the demand for a Unified Liquidity Layer is undeniable. As liquidity fragmentation continues to dilute capital efficiency, protocols that can abstract away the underlying chain are positioned to capture the next wave of DeFi volume. $LIQUID is available here. Early Capital Flows Into LiquidChain’s $0.0135 Presale Round While the broader market reacts to macro signals and exchange partnerships, on-chain metrics show a rotation into infrastructure plays. LiquidChain has currently raised $533K in its ongoing presale, with tokens priced at $0.0136. This raise amount is notable not for its size relative to the massive ICOs of 2017, but for the steady accumulation during a period where capital is generally risk-averse. The pricing structure suggests early positioning before the protocol moves toward mainnet deployment. Investors seem to be betting on the ‘transaction fuel’ narrative, where the native $LIQUID token is required to power cross-chain operations and liquidity staking. Unlike governance-only tokens, infrastructure tokens often derive value from network usage volume. If LiquidChain succeeds in capturing even a fraction of the cross-chain arbitrage and settlement market, the utility demand for the token could theoretically decouple from pure speculation. What most coverage misses is the timing. With Bitcoin’s ecosystem expanding via L2s and Solana’s dominance in retail memes, the need for a connecting layer hasn’t been higher. The presale data points to a subset of the market hedging against the “winner takes all” chain thesis, opting instead to invest in the rails that connect them all. $LIQUID is available here. This article is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments, including presales and Layer 3 protocols, carry high risks, including total loss of capital. 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