Invest ideasNews
25 Feb 2026, 20:10
Russian government prepares for pre-launch testing of the digital ruble
Russian authorities are gearing up to soon put the digital ruble in test mode, announced the head of the executive power in Moscow. The news coincides with preparations to adopt a law, which, while legalizing cryptocurrencies, will also subject operations with them to strict control by the state. Russian government to begin testing the digital ruble The federal government in Russia will start trials with the digital ruble in real use, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced in front of lawmakers. Testing of the state-issued coin will commence in the near future and will be carried out together with the country’s central bank and finance ministry. Mishustin broke the news in a speech to members of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, who are currently reviewing his cabinet’s annual report. Quoted by the official TASS news agency and Interfax, the Russian premier stated: “Regarding the digital ruble, my colleagues from the Bank of Russia and the Ministry of Finance and I will now begin actively testing it.” Mishustin stressed “this is a complex matter,” adding authorities should be “extremely careful.” They must first build the necessary infrastructure and then assess transactions before determining the “volumes and methods of using it,” he elaborated. The digital version of the ruble is a central bank digital currency (CBDC) issued by the Central Bank of Russia (CBR). It’s the third form of national fiat, after cash and electronic “bank” money. It has been in the making for several years now, with a pilot involving a limited number of participants underway since August 2023. Its release for public use was initially planned for mid-2025 but was later postponed by a year. Following a call from President Putin for mass adoption last spring, Russia’s monetary authority scheduled its launch for the fall of 2026. According to the latest timetable, the digital ruble will be introduced in several stages, with the first one starting on September 1, when major banks and merchants must be ready to offer their clients the option the use the CBDC. Universal banks and smaller trading companies, those with annual revenues exceeding 30 million rubles (over $390,000), will have another year to configure their systems to process digital ruble transactions. The remaining banking institutions and firms with an annual revenue below that threshold should be able to work with digital rubles on September 1, 2028. The only category exempted from this obligation will be that of retail outlets with revenues of less than 5 million rubles a year ($65,000). Russia hurries with digital ruble launch and crypto regulations Moscow’s latest push to bring its CBDC project closer to realization comes amid efforts to legalize and regulate operations with decentralized digital money as well. Earlier on Wednesday, Russian media reported that the finance ministry and the central bank have already drafted a law outlining the future architecture of the Russian crypto market. The document, seen by the business news portal RBC, aims to legalize an array of activities with digital assets, such as investment and trading. This should be done by July 1, in accordance with a plan to recognize cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as “monetary assets” published by the CBR in late December. At the same time, the bill introduces a number of restrictions , including a $4,000 cap on crypto purchases for non-qualified investors and rigorous standards for service providers that are likely to limit options for Russian citizens. For example, domestic platforms will have to meet minimum capital requirements while global exchanges may be blocked , unless they establish a presence in the country by registering a local subsidiary and storing client data on servers inside Russia. While Russian officials have been pushing the digital ruble , a report revealed earlier in February that the CBDC system has not necessarily been spared the strict treatment, given the Bank of Russia’s recently updated rules for opening digital ruble accounts. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.
25 Feb 2026, 19:57
A $272 Billion UAE Bank Just Called Bitcoin 'Digital Gold'
CIO of Emirates NBD, the second-largest bank in the United Arab Emirates by assets, described Bitcoin as "digital gold."
25 Feb 2026, 19:42
Hut 8 Q4 Loss: BTC Reserves and AI Move
Hut 8 announced a 279,7 million dollar loss in Q4, but 13.696 BTC reserve and Google AI deal are strong. While BTC rises +%7,19 to 68.930 dollars, mining stocks are shining with AI. Technically, st...
25 Feb 2026, 19:00
Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin Has Never Beaten Gold Since 2021
Peter Schiff has a number. And he wants everyone to see it. The longtime gold supporter and Bitcoin critic took to social media this week to argue that when Bitcoin’s price is measured in gold rather than dollars, the flagship cryptocurrency has lost more than 66% of its value since hitting its all-time high in November 2021. Related Reading: Bullish Signal? Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Turns Positive After Months In Red The Math Behind Schiff’s Claim To make his case, Schiff reframed the comparison in a way that sidesteps the usual dollar-based charts. Back in November 2021, one Bitcoin could buy roughly 34.5 ounces of gold. Today, that same Bitcoin buys just 12 ounces — a drop of more than 64% in purchasing power relative to the precious metal. The dollar figures tell a similar story, at least from that starting point. According to Schiff, a $10,000 investment in Bitcoin at the November 2021 peak would be worth around $9,100 today. That same $10,000 put into gold over the identical period would have grown to more than $27,000. Gold was trading near $1,770 in late 2021 and has since climbed past $5,000 — a gain of roughly 185%. Bitcoin, by contrast, peaked at $69,000 during that same bull run. It has since pulled back sharply from a high of $126,200 reached in October 2025, and now sits around $63,000. Bitcoin is now down over 66% when priced in gold since its Nov. 2021 peak over four years ago. Putting that into perspective, had you invested $10,000 in Bitcoin back then, it would be worth about $9,100 today. But that same $10,000 invested in gold would be worth over $27,000. — Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) February 24, 2026 Bitcoin’s ‘Safe Haven’ Story Gets Complicated For years, Bitcoin was pitched to investors as a modern alternative to gold — scarce, decentralized, and resistant to inflation. The idea was simple: fixed supply would protect wealth the same way gold has for centuries. But recent market behavior has put that story under strain. When economic anxiety rises, many investors have continued to move money into gold rather than Bitcoin. Reports note that Bitcoin has, in several instances, moved more like a high-risk tech stock than a safe haven asset during periods of broader market stress. That pattern has made it harder for Bitcoin to claim the same defensive reputation that gold has built over a much longer history. CNBC crypto commentator Ran Neuner has also weighed in on the subject, saying that the store-of-value case for Bitcoin now faces serious scrutiny. Bitcoin supporters, for their part, push back on the framing. They point out that November 2021 was Bitcoin’s peak — about as unfavorable a starting point for comparison as one could choose. They also point out that the alpha crypto has climbed 320% from its cycle low of $15,000 in November 2023, while gold gained 150% over that same timeframe. For the first time in 12 years, I’m questioning Bitcoin’s thesis. It’s not the drawdown that concerns me; it’s how Bitcoin responded when markets genuinely moved into risk and uncertainty.$BTC evolved from “peer-to-peer cash” into “digital gold.” We fought for ETF approval.… pic.twitter.com/dblggAsanJ — Ran Neuner (@cryptomanran) February 16, 2026 Cycles, Not Trends, Say Bitcoin Supporters Reports say Bitcoin advocates cointend the crypto has always moved through boom-and-bust cycles, with steep recoveries typically following major beat-downs. Supply halvings, shifts in available liquidity, and swings in investor sentiment have historically been the impetus to those rebounds. Related Reading: XRP Fell Nearly 70% — Could History Repeat With An 835% Surge? From that view, the current stretch of underperformance against gold is seen as a normal part of Bitcoin’s cycle rather than a permanent reversal. Bitcoin completed a full market cycle last year, and a period of price correction is consistent with its historical behavior. Still, the gap between gold’s steady climb and Bitcoin’s volatile ride has given critics plenty of material. Schiff, who has maintained his skepticism of Bitcoin for well over a decade, shows no sign of changing his position anytime soon. Featured image from Unchained Podcast, chart from TradingView
25 Feb 2026, 18:43
Ruble Stablecoin A7A5 Surpasses $100B Despite EU and US Sanctions
The use of digital assets for international settlements is increasingly viewed as a structural shift in global finance. One of the most notable recent examples is A7A5, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Russian ruble. Launched in February 2025 under the regulation of the Kyrgyz Republic and issued by Old Vector LLC, the token operates on the Tron and Ethereum blockchains. It is backed by ruble-denominated bank deposits, and holders receive passive income derived from deposit interest. The issuer states that it complies with international KYC and AML standards and rejects allegations of sanctions evasion. During its first year, A7A5 processed $39 billion in transactions. The token is listed on Grinex, Meer, and Bitpapa exchanges and positions itself as operating under international financial security frameworks. Scale of Operations Draws Regulatory Scrutiny Over its first year, A7A5 reportedly exceeded $100 billion in transaction volume. In 2025 alone, circulating supply increased by $90 billion. Trading volume reached $17.3 billion, including $11.2 billion in the A7A5/RUB pair and $6.1 billion in the A7A5/USDT pair. The number of holders grew from 14,000 to 35,500, while market capitalization reached approximately $540 million. The scale of activity has drawn sustained regulatory attention. In August 2025, US and UK authorities sanctioned the Grinex exchange, identifying it as a successor to Garantex. Within four months of operation, $9.3 billion in A7A5-linked transactions were processed through the platform. In October 2025, the European Union included A7A5 in its 19th sanctions package, prohibiting transactions with the token across the bloc and describing it as a potential tool for financing military activities. Growth Continues Despite Restrictions Despite these measures, A7A5’s reported metrics indicate continued expansion. Sanctions have not halted demand for alternative cross-border settlement channels within the ruble zone. The broader context suggests that digital assets tied to national currencies may increasingly serve as parallel infrastructure for international payments, particularly in regions facing financial restrictions. Whether regulatory pressure will eventually constrain this growth remains an open question.
25 Feb 2026, 18:32
Why Is Circle's CRCL Stock Soaring 30% Today?
Circle Internet Group shares (CRCL) surged more than 30% after the company reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results. CRCL traded near $79.13, up 28% intraday at one point. The rally followed a sharp earnings beat and continued growth in USDC circulation. Investors reacted to expanding revenue and updated multi-year growth targets. Strong Q4 Earnings Drive CRCL Stock Higher Circle reported $770 million in total revenue and reserve income for Q4 2025. That figure marked a 77% increase from the prior year period. Net income from continuing operations reached $133 million compared to $4 million a year earlier. Earnings per share came in at $0.43, exceeding analyst estimates of $0.16. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $167 million, up more than four times year over year. Analysts noted that revenue less distribution costs margins reached 40.1%, above expectations. Reserve income accounted for $733 million of quarterly revenue. Average USDC in circulation doubled year over year to $76.2 billion. However, the reserve return rate declined 68 basis points to 3.8%. Circle shares initially jumped nearly 20% in pre-market trading. After the opening bell, gains extended further as investors absorbed the earnings report. USDC Circulation Reaches 75 Billion Circle ended 2025 with $75.3 billion in USDC circulation. That represents a 72% increase from the previous year. USDC remains the second-largest stablecoin behind Tether’s USDT, which holds about $183 billion in circulation. CEO Jeremy Allaire said, “USDC adoption continued to expand globally as more enterprises, developers, and public institutions integrated digital dollars.” He added that the stablecoin market reflects durable network effects between major issuers. Circle also issued multi-year guidance targeting a 40% compound annual growth rate for USDC circulation. If achieved, that pace could expand USDC’s market share in the coming years. Transaction volume linked to USDC reached $11.9 trillion, up 247% year over year. The company’s Circle Payments Network enrolled 55 financial institutions, with 74 more under review. Product Expansion and Regulatory Progress Beyond USDC growth, Circle reported expansion in other digital asset offerings. EURC circulation reached €310 million, up 284% year over year, while the USYC assets totaled $1.5 billion at year's end. The company’s Arc public testnet processed more than 166 million transactions with near 100% uptime. Concurrently, the daily average transaction volumes reached 2.3 million as of February 20. Moreover, a mainnet launch is planned later this year. Circle also highlighted partnerships with Visa and Intuit. In December 2025, the firm received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank. For the full year 2025, Circle reported a net loss of $70 million. The loss was largely driven by $424 million in stock-based compensation tied to its IPO . Despite that annual loss, quarterly growth metrics fueled a strong investor reaction.
