hodler

24 Feb 2026, 10:16

Canaan buys Cipher’s 49% of West Texas mining venture for $39.75 million in stock

The transaction gives Cipher a major shareholding in the Singapore-based company.

24 Feb 2026, 09:30

Engie Eyes Bitcoin Mining to Address Solar‑Power Curtailment in Brazil

The energy conglomerate is considering adding local power demand, in the form of bitcoin mining or storage systems, for its largest solar farm in Brazil, Assu Sol, located in the east. This would help the complex use the energy that the local power grid cannot absorb. Engie Mulls Starting Bitcoin Mining Operations to Leverage Curtailed

24 Feb 2026, 06:30

Monero Price Prediction 2026-2030: Can the Unbreakable Privacy Coin Ignite the Next Bull Run?

BitcoinWorld Monero Price Prediction 2026-2030: Can the Unbreakable Privacy Coin Ignite the Next Bull Run? As global regulatory scrutiny intensifies and digital surveillance expands, Monero (XMR) stands at a critical juncture. This analysis provides a comprehensive Monero price prediction for 2026 through 2030, examining whether privacy-focused cryptocurrencies could potentially lead the next major market cycle. Based on technical fundamentals, regulatory developments, and adoption metrics, we explore XMR’s trajectory in the evolving digital asset landscape. Monero Price Prediction: Analyzing the 2026 Horizon Market analysts project several potential scenarios for Monero’s price in 2026. These projections consider current adoption trends, technological developments, and macroeconomic factors. The cryptocurrency’s unique value proposition centers on its robust privacy features, which differentiate it from transparent blockchain networks. Several key factors will influence Monero’s 2026 valuation. Network upgrades, including ongoing protocol improvements, enhance transaction efficiency and security. Furthermore, adoption within privacy-conscious markets continues to demonstrate steady growth. Regulatory developments across major jurisdictions will significantly impact market sentiment and accessibility. Scenario Key Drivers Potential XMR Range Bullish Favorable regulation, high adoption $450 – $650 Base Case Moderate growth, stable regulation $280 – $400 Conservative Increased regulatory pressure $180 – $270 Historical data reveals distinct patterns during previous market cycles. Monero typically demonstrates resilience during periods of market uncertainty. Its correlation with major assets like Bitcoin shows interesting divergence during regulatory announcements. Transaction volume analysis indicates growing utility beyond speculative trading. The 2027-2030 Outlook for Privacy Coins The long-term outlook for Monero involves complex variables extending beyond simple price speculation. Technological evolution remains paramount. The development of quantum-resistant cryptography and enhanced scalability solutions could fundamentally alter the competitive landscape. Privacy coins must continuously innovate to maintain their security guarantees. Market dynamics suggest several possible trajectories. Increased institutional interest in privacy-preserving technologies may emerge from corporations and financial entities. Conversely, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) might create competitive pressure or, alternatively, highlight the demand for financial privacy. Global adoption patterns show particular strength in regions with capital controls or surveillance concerns. Expert Analysis and Market Sentiment Industry experts emphasize Monero’s technical fundamentals when discussing long-term viability. The Crypto Finance Conference 2024 highlighted several consensus points among analysts. Monero’s mining algorithm, RandomX, ensures decentralized mining and strong network security. Its dynamic block size and tail emission provide predictable, inflation-resistant monetary policy. Blockchain analytics firms report consistent on-chain metrics for the Monero network. Daily transaction counts have shown a compound annual growth rate exceeding 25% since 2021. The ratio of exchange inflows to outflows suggests increasing hodling behavior among long-term investors. Active address growth, while moderate, demonstrates steady network utilization. Comparative analysis with other privacy coins reveals Monero’s unique position. Unlike some competitors, Monero provides mandatory privacy for all transactions. This design philosophy creates a uniform privacy set for all users. Its proven track record against blockchain analysis tools reinforces its reputation. Key differentiators include: Ring Signatures: Obscure transaction origins among multiple participants Stealth Addresses: Generate unique, one-time addresses for each transaction Ring Confidential Transactions (RingCT): Hide transaction amounts Kovri Integration: Implements I2P routing to conceal IP addresses Will Privacy Coins Lead the Next Bull Run? The question of leadership in the next bull run involves examining broader market narratives. Historical patterns show that different sectors often lead successive cycles. The 2017 cycle featured initial coin offerings (ICOs) and platform tokens. Subsequently, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols dominated the 2020-2021 period. Many analysts now speculate about which narrative might drive the next major expansion. Several compelling arguments support the privacy coin thesis. Growing public awareness of digital surveillance creates stronger demand for financial privacy. Legislative developments, such as the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, explicitly recognize privacy coins. Technological maturation makes privacy features more accessible to mainstream users. Conversely, significant challenges remain for privacy-focused assets. Regulatory uncertainty persists in major markets like the United States. Exchange delistings have periodically affected liquidity and access. The narrative competition from other sectors, including artificial intelligence tokens and real-world asset tokenization, could divert investor attention and capital. Real-World Adoption and Use Cases Monero’s practical utility extends beyond theoretical value propositions. Merchant adoption continues growing in specific sectors valuing financial discretion. Non-governmental organizations operating in restrictive regions utilize XMR for transparent yet private fund distribution. Individuals in hyperinflationary economies increasingly turn to privacy coins for wealth preservation. The cybersecurity community recognizes Monero’s robustness. No successful cryptanalysis of its core privacy protocols has occurred since its 2014 launch. Multiple academic papers have validated its security assumptions. This resilience builds trust among technically sophisticated users and institutions. Conclusion This Monero price prediction analysis for 2026-2030 reveals a complex interplay of technology, regulation, and market dynamics. XMR’s future valuation will likely depend on its ability to navigate increasing regulatory scrutiny while expanding legitimate use cases. Privacy coins possess unique characteristics that could position them favorably during the next market cycle, particularly if digital surveillance concerns intensify globally. However, investors must carefully monitor regulatory developments and technological advancements when considering long-term positions in privacy-focused assets like Monero. FAQs Q1: What makes Monero different from Bitcoin regarding privacy? Monero uses mandatory privacy technologies including ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT to obscure all transaction details. Bitcoin’s blockchain is transparent and pseudonymous, allowing sophisticated analysis to potentially link addresses to real identities. Q2: How does Monero’s mining algorithm support network security? Monero utilizes RandomX, a CPU-optimized algorithm designed to resist application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mining. This promotes decentralized mining and reduces the risk of 51% attacks by preventing mining centralization. Q3: What are the main regulatory challenges facing Monero? Regulatory challenges include exchange delistings due to compliance concerns, potential restrictions in jurisdictions with strict financial surveillance laws, and ongoing scrutiny from financial crime enforcement agencies worldwide. Q4: Can Monero transactions be traced by authorities? Monero’s cryptographic protocols are specifically designed to prevent blockchain analysis. While metadata analysis through network monitoring remains possible, the protocol itself obscures sender, receiver, and transaction amount effectively. Q5: What is Monero’s tail emission and why does it matter? After mining approximately 18.4 million XMR, Monero switches to a constant tail emission of 0.6 XMR per minute. This provides perpetual mining incentives to secure the network, avoiding the security issues of zero-inflation models while maintaining predictable, low inflation. This post Monero Price Prediction 2026-2030: Can the Unbreakable Privacy Coin Ignite the Next Bull Run? first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

24 Feb 2026, 05:15

Canaan’s Strategic Masterstroke: Acquires 49% Stake in Texas Bitcoin Mining Powerhouse

BitcoinWorld Canaan’s Strategic Masterstroke: Acquires 49% Stake in Texas Bitcoin Mining Powerhouse In a significant consolidation move within the Bitcoin mining sector, hardware giant Canaan has strategically acquired a 49% stake in a major Texas-based mining joint venture from Cipher Mining, fundamentally reshaping its operational footprint as of late 2024. This transaction, first reported by The Block, grants Canaan substantial ownership in three established mining projects with a combined power capacity of 120 megawatts (MW), signaling a decisive pivot from pure hardware manufacturing to integrated, asset-backed operations. Consequently, this deal highlights the evolving strategies of major industry players seeking vertical integration and energy-secure locations. Canaan’s Major Bitcoin Mining Expansion in Texas Canaan Creative, a Nasdaq-listed company renowned for its Avalon series of ASIC miners, has executed a pivotal expansion. The company purchased its stake in the joint venture, known internally as the ABC project. This project comprises three distinct legal entities: Alborz LLC, Bear LLC, and Chief Mountain LLC. Following the transaction, Canaan now holds a 49% interest, while the remaining 51% controlling stake is retained by the venture’s other partner, WindHQ. Furthermore, the deal included a separate but related purchase of 6,840 operational mining rigs from Cipher Mining, immediately boosting Canaan’s proprietary hashing power. The acquired facilities collectively represent a substantial infrastructure investment. They possess a total power capacity of 120 MW, capable of supporting tens of thousands of mining machines. Currently, the sites contribute approximately 4.4 exahashes per second (EH/s) to the global Bitcoin network. For context, this hashrate equates to roughly 0.6% of the network’s total computational power as of early 2025, a notable share for a single operator. This move directly positions Canaan among the top publicly-traded mining firms by operational capacity. The Strategic Rationale Behind the Joint Venture Acquisition Industry analysts view this acquisition as a logical and defensive strategic maneuver. Primarily, it diversifies Canaan’s revenue streams beyond the cyclical and competitive hardware sales market. By owning and operating mining facilities, Canaan gains direct exposure to Bitcoin’s price and network rewards, creating a natural hedge for its core business. Additionally, securing a long-term, scalable hosting site for its own machines provides a guaranteed customer and showcases its technology’s performance in a real-world, large-scale environment. The location in West Texas is itself a critical component of the strategy. The region has emerged as a global epicenter for Bitcoin mining due to its abundant, often curtailed, renewable energy from wind and solar sources. This access to low-cost, intermittently available power is essential for maintaining profitability, especially post-Bitcoin halving events. By partnering with WindHQ, Canaan likely secures favorable, stable energy agreements, insulating its operations from volatile electricity prices that plague miners in other regions. Expert Analysis: Vertical Integration as an Industry Imperative Financial observers note that this transaction reflects a broader trend of vertical integration within the cryptocurrency mining industry. “We are witnessing a maturation phase,” explains a market analyst from Compass Point Research. “Leading manufacturers like Canaan and Bitmain are no longer content to just sell the picks and shovels. They are actively building and owning the mines to capture more value from the ecosystem, ensure demand for their next-generation hardware, and demonstrate proof of operational efficiency to investors.” This shift provides these companies with more predictable cash flows and strengthens their balance sheets against crypto market downturns. The deal also underscores the continued institutionalization of Bitcoin mining. Transactions involving clear ownership stakes in Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) like Alborz LLC, with defined power contracts and hashrate contributions, mirror traditional energy infrastructure investments. This structure makes the assets more legible and attractive to institutional capital, potentially paving the way for further debt financing or securitization based on the predictable output of the mining farms. Impact on the Competitive Mining Landscape Canaan’s entry as a major operator alters the competitive dynamics in North America. The company now competes more directly with other publicly-traded miners like Riot Platforms, Marathon Digital, and Cipher Mining itself. The purchased hashrate of 4.4 EH/s provides an immediate scale. For comparison, here is how this capacity ranks among peers based on publicly reported figures from recent quarterly filings: Company Operational Hashrate (Approx.) Primary Energy Source Riot Platforms >20 EH/s Wind/Texas Grid Marathon Digital >25 EH/s Multiple (US & UAE) Canaan (Post-Acquisition) ~4.4 EH/s* Wind/West Texas Cipher Mining >7 EH/s Wind/Texas Grid *Represents the capacity of the acquired JV stake; Canaan may have other operational assets. For Cipher Mining, the sale represents a strategic capital recycling initiative. The company stated the proceeds would be used to accelerate development at its newer, owned sites, focusing on maximizing efficiency per watt. This type of asset rotation is becoming common as miners optimize their portfolios, selling non-core or joint venture assets to fund fully-owned, state-of-the-art facilities. Technical and Operational Implications The inclusion of 6,840 mining rigs in the sale is a significant technical detail. While the specific model was not disclosed, these are likely newer-generation machines, possibly Canaan’s own A14 series or comparable efficient models from other manufacturers. Integrating these machines into the Texas facilities will require careful operational management. Key considerations include: Heat Management: West Texas summers demand advanced cooling solutions to maintain optimal ASIC performance and longevity. Grid Integration: The ability to power curtailment during peak demand periods is crucial for maintaining grid stability and securing the lowest electricity rates. Hardware Synergy: Canaan can now use these sites as live testing grounds for its latest hardware, gathering performance data in a commercial setting to inform future R&D. Operationally, the joint venture structure with WindHQ suggests a symbiotic relationship. Canaan brings hardware expertise and capital, while WindHQ likely provides deep local knowledge, energy market access, and infrastructure management. This partnership model reduces execution risk for Canaan compared to a greenfield development project. Conclusion Canaan’s acquisition of a 49% stake in the Texas Bitcoin mining joint venture marks a transformative step for the company, strategically moving it up the value chain from manufacturer to powerful operator. This deal secures a substantial, energy-advantaged footprint in a premier mining jurisdiction and provides a hedge against hardware market volatility. Moreover, it reflects the broader industry trend towards vertical integration and institutional-grade asset management. As the Bitcoin network continues to evolve, such strategic consolidations and partnerships will likely define the next era of large-scale, professionalized mining operations. Canaan’s decisive move positions it not just as a seller of tools, but as a major player in building the network’s foundational infrastructure. FAQs Q1: What exactly did Canaan acquire from Cipher Mining? Canaan acquired a 49% ownership stake in a joint venture comprising three Bitcoin mining projects in West Texas (Alborz LLC, Bear LLC, and Chief Mountain LLC). In a separate but related transaction, Canaan also purchased 6,840 physical Bitcoin mining machines from Cipher. Q2: Who owns the remaining 51% of the mining joint venture? The majority 51% stake is held by WindHQ, the venture’s other partner. WindHQ is presumably responsible for the energy procurement and site infrastructure management. Q3: How significant is 4.4 EH/s of Bitcoin mining hashrate? It is a substantial amount. As of early 2025, it represents approximately 0.6% of the total global Bitcoin network hashrate. This immediately places Canaan among the top tier of publicly-reported mining operators. Q4: Why is West Texas such a popular location for Bitcoin mining? West Texas offers abundant and inexpensive wind and solar power, often with periods of curtailment (excess energy). Miners can secure very low-cost electricity contracts by agreeing to power down during grid stress, making operations highly cost-effective. Q5: What does this deal mean for Canaan’s core business of selling mining hardware? It represents a strategic diversification. While Canaan will continue manufacturing and selling ASIC miners, owning and operating mining facilities provides a stable revenue stream from Bitcoin rewards, acts as a showcase for its hardware, and secures hosting capacity for its own machines. This post Canaan’s Strategic Masterstroke: Acquires 49% Stake in Texas Bitcoin Mining Powerhouse first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

24 Feb 2026, 02:45

HTX and AINFT Collaborate to Build a New Web3 AI Gateway, Offering Free Access to Leading AI Models and a 40,000 USDT Prize Pool

Panama City, February 14, 2026 – As global artificial intelligence capabilities continue to advance and Web3 infrastructure matures, AI and the crypto ecosystems are entering a new phase of seamless integration. HTX has recently announced a collaboration with AINFT and co-hosted a special AI Challenge campaign featuring a combined prize pool of 40,000 USDT. This innovative event invites users worldwide to experience a new generation of Web3-native AI access. AINFT: The Web3 Gateway to AI AINFT positions itself as a Web3-native AI gateway designed to provide permissionless, seamless access to leading large language models (LLMs). Users can log in instantly by signing via a TronLink wallet, eliminating the need for email registration or KYC verification and enabling direct on-chain identity authentication. The platform integrates top-tier AI models including Claude Opus 4.5, ChatGPT-5.2, and Gemini 3 Pro, offering unified access for dialogue, reasoning, and content creation across multiple scenarios. To lower barriers to entry, AINFT provides each new user with a one-time allocation of one million free points, allowing immediate access to premium AI models without upfront payment. Once the free quota is exhausted, users can top up on demand using USDT, USDD, USD1, TRX, or NFTs on the TRON network. The platform’s official TRC20 token, $NFT , offers an additional 20% bonus in points when used for payment, supporting a flexible pay-as-you-go model with no subscription requirements. 40,000 USDT Prize Pool: Multiple Rewards Await You in the Second Season The campaign runs through March 13 at 08:00 (UTC). Following strong engagement in the first phase, Season 2 was launched with an initial 4,000 USDT prize pool unlocked. The overall campaign prize pool totals 40,000 USDT: 13,000 USDT distributed by AINFT and 27,000 USDT in exclusive rewards provided by HTX. To participate, users must log in to AINFT’s official website , connect their TronLink wallet, submit their HTX UID and wallet address through the designated form , and complete both the AI challenge tasks on AINFT and the trading tasks on HTX. Rewards are distributed within 14 business days after the conclusion of each season. AINFT AI Challenge Offers a 13,000 USDT Prize Pool During the campaign period, users who log in to AINFT and participate in the challenge can compete for three separate prize pools. Boosted Gift Package: Unlocks progressively based on the number of valid connected wallets within the community. For Season Two, if the valid address count reaches 5,000, the rewards of up to 7,000 USDT will be activated. Early Bird Gift Package: Rewards the first 500 users each season who connect via TronLink and claim their initial points. Among them, 25 users will be selected per season to receive 20 USDT each. Deposit Gift Package: Users who complete a deposit of any amount during the period will automatically enter a lucky draw. Twenty winners will be selected to share 500 USDT (25 USDT each). Exclusive Triple Rewards for HTX Users: Share 27,000 USDT In addition to the AINFT rewards, users who complete the registration form and submit their HTX UID and TronLink wallet address can unlock three exclusive incentives: Point Bonus: 1 million points will be awarded to HTX users who access AINFT through the designated link and connect a TronLink wallet. [ Join now >> ] Welcome Bonus: A 20 USDT bonus is available for users who join AINFT events and sign up for an HTX account during the campaign. This is limited to the first 950 registered users on a first-come, first-served basis. Trading Reward: Users who complete HTX trading tasks—at least 100 USDT in spot volume or 500 USDT in futures volume—will receive a 40 USDT airdrop. This incentive is limited to the first 200 qualified users. Ecosystem Synergy: A Practical Case of AI and Crypto This joint campaign demonstrates the practical integration of AI LLM capabilities with crypto payment infrastructure. By leveraging crypto assets to provide seamless access to global AI computational resources such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, the event marks an important step toward decentralized and on-chain AI service integration. AINFT combines on-chain identity authentication with crypto-native payment systems to unify access to global AI computing power within a Web3 environment, offering a practical example of a decentralized AI gateway. AINFT collaborates with HTX and the TRON ecosystem and creates a functional loop integrating AI utility with digital asset payments. As a global exchange that has long focused on AI-related sectors and innovative asset discovery, HTX continues to support high-quality AI projects and promote collaboration across technology, traffic, and users. As AI computing demand increases and crypto payment systems mature, decentralized AI portals are expected to become cornerstones of next-generation Web3 infrastructure. The collaboration between HTX and AINFT represents a forward-looking position within this trend. Looking ahead, HTX will continue working with high-quality ecosystem partners to build a more open, efficient, and sustainable Web3 innovation network, providing global users with forward-looking digital asset opportunities and application experiences. To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X , Telegram , and Discord . The post HTX and AINFT Collaborate to Build a New Web3 AI Gateway, Offering Free Access to Leading AI Models and a 40,000 USDT Prize Pool first appeared on HTX Square .

23 Feb 2026, 22:30

Bitcoin Price Prediction: A Major Bitcoin Mining Company Just Sold All Its BTC — Should Investors Be Nervous?

A major Bitcoin miner just wiped its balance sheet clean. Bitdeer has reduced its corporate Bitcoin holdings to zero, selling both newly mined coins and reserves accumulated over the past months. The move caps an eight-week drawdown that began in late December, when the company still held over 2,000 BTC. By mid-February, reserves had slipped below 1,000 BTC before the final liquidation pushed holdings to zero. Source: Bitdeer In January, the company mined 668 BTC but sold over 1,100 BTC. It has now shifted to selling newly mined coins the same week, moving away from the old treasury hold strategy. At the same time, it raised capital through convertible notes and equity. The funds are going toward data center expansion, AI, and high-performance computing, plus debt management. The stock price has been falling, and miners overall are feeling pressure as block rewards shrink and competition rises. Maybe this is a balance sheet reset and a pivot toward new revenue streams. But when a miner stops holding and starts selling consistently, the market pays attention. Bitcoin Price Prediction: Should BTC Investors Be Nervous? Bitcoin just broke below the lower edge of the triangle. That flips the short-term structure from compression to weakness. Source: BTCUSD / TradingView The rising support that was holding price together failed, and BTC slid back toward $65,000. That kills the clean breakout setup and opens the door for a deeper test around $64,000. Lose that, and $60,000 becomes the next key downside level. This is not a macro collapse yet. Price is still well above the broader $60,000 swing low. The higher time-frame structure only breaks if that base is decisively lost. In the short term, the chart remains cautious. To shift momentum back up, BTC needs to reclaim the broken trendline and push above $71,000. New Bitcoin Presale Brings Solana Technology to The BTC Blockchain Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is a new presale built to make Bitcoin faster and cheaper to use. This Bitcoin-focused Layer-2, powered by Solana technology, brings speed, lower fees, and real on-chain functionality while preserving Bitcoin’s core security. It transforms Bitcoin from a passive chart pattern into an active ecosystem for payments, staking, and scalable applications. The traction is already real. The Bitcoin Hyper presale has raised over $31 million so far, with $HYPER priced at $0.0136751 before the next increase. Staking rewards currently reach up to 37%. If Bitcoin explodes higher, Bitcoin Hyper benefits. If Bitcoin keeps consolidating, Bitcoin Hyper still captures activity. Either way, momentum does not need to wait. To buy HYPER before it lists on exchanges, simply visit the official Bitcoin Hyper website and connect a wallet (such as Best Wallet ). Visit the Official Bitcoin Hyper Website Here The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: A Major Bitcoin Mining Company Just Sold All Its BTC — Should Investors Be Nervous? appeared first on Cryptonews .