hodler

19 Feb 2026, 10:00

Russia May Block Global Crypto Exchanges Ahead Of New Regulatory Framework – Report

Russia is preparing to restrict access to global crypto exchanges this summer, experts said, suggesting that authorities are planning to shift trading from foreign platforms to domestic ones under the upcoming regulatory framework. Russia To Restrict Foreign Crypto Exchanges On Tuesday, experts said Russia will likely block foreign crypto exchanges by summer 2026 as lawmakers advance the highly anticipated domestic framework, expected by July 1, to bring the industry out of the shadows. According to a report by local news outlet RBC Crypto, industry participants believe authorities will soon begin restricting access to overseas exchanges, similar to the Telegram and YouTube block. Nikita Zuborev, senior analyst at crypto exchange aggregator Bestchange.ru, told the news media outlet that this scenario is likely, asserting that as soon as the domestic market enters the new regulatory regime, “there is an almost 100% chance that the fight against major competitors will begin.” “We expect that Roskomnadzor may begin mass blocking of websites of crypto exchanges and large exchangers not registered in Russia as early as this summer. Most likely, they will act according to the YouTube blocking model — they will delete DNS records in the Russian segment of the Internet and continue to fight against means of circumventing the blocks,” the analyst stated. However, Zuborev cautioned that if global exchanges are not allowed to obtain licenses or to operate as agents of domestic exchanges or brokers, a part of the market will move underground, increasing fraud, complicating regulation, and resulting in higher commission fees. Meanwhile, Dmitry Machikhin, lawyer and founder of BitOK, considers a “Belarusian scenario” highly possible. Notably, only companies operating under Belarus’ special regime can conduct cryptocurrency transactions, while individuals are prohibited from buying and selling digital assets on foreign platforms. Machikhin noted that completely restricting operations is impossible, citing Binance as an example. The global exchange still has over 1 million Russian customers despite its departure from the country’s market. Therefore, the chances of a direct ban on transactions using foreign exchanges are low, the lawmakers added. EU Explores Broader Sanctions Ignat Likhunov, founder of Cartesius law agency, agreed with the other two experts, affirming, “It seems that blocking measures are being prepared in parallel with the creation of a ‘white’ zone, and conditions for ‘illegal’ exchangers and unfriendly foreign exchanges will deteriorate.” He pointed out that the lack of “real levers of influence” over foreign exchanges, noting that the platforms don’t need to hurry to comply with any requirements of Russian legislation. As a result, authorities will likely hold them accountable in absentia and block access to the foreign exchanges that enforce sanctions against Russia for various reasons, including economic or non-compliance with the law on data landing. It’s worth noting that the European Union has been exploring implementing strict sanctions on all crypto transactions linked to Russia to limit sanctions evasion. As reported by Bitcoinist, the European Commission is strengthening its crackdown on the country’s use of digital assets to evade sanctions by considering measures to ban all Russia-related crypto transactions. Legal documents show that the Commission has proposed a broader prohibition “instead of attempting to ban copycat Russian crypto entities spun out of already sanctioned platforms.” The proposal focuses on stopping the growth of successors to Russia-linked crypto exchange Garantex, while aiming at payment platforms such as A7 and its related ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5. The Commission also suggested adding 20 banks to the list of sanctioned entities and a ban on any digital ruble-related transactions.

19 Feb 2026, 09:35

Bitfinex Launches Documentary Celebrating El Salvador’s Bitcoin Journey

“The Bitcoin Dream in El Salvador” Chronicles The Country’s Landmark Bitcoin Revolution Through First-Hand Accounts From Pioneering Advocates And Builders ROAD TOWN, Tortola, British Virgin Islands – 19th February 2026 – Bitfinex, the Original Bitcoin Exchange, is proud to announce the publication of a new video documentary series, “The Bitcoin Dream in El Salvador”. The three-part documentary showcases the evolution of Bitcoin and digital assets adoption across the country, following the government’s landmark decision to make Bitcoin legal tender in 2021. The documentary follows the Bitfinex Financial Freedom Tour that visited cities and towns across the country to examine how four years on, Bitcoin is being used across the country, featuring a series of interviews with key figures at the forefront of the country’s Bitcoin ecosystem. The Bitfinex Financial Freedom Tour visits some of El Salvador’s most iconic and historically significant locations, bringing financial education and Bitcoin advocacy to local communities. In particular, events were held at the Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador (UTEC) in San Salvador; El Zonte — the coastal village widely recognised as the birthplace of the Bitcoin Beach initiative; as well as Zacatecoluca, Berlin, and the Cherito Café coffee plantation, where bitcoin’s intersection with artisanal agriculture offered a vivid illustration of financial sovereignty in action. “The Bitcoin Dream in El Salvador” goes beyond the headlines to explore the on-the-ground reality of bitcoin adoption — from the changes to El Salvador’s Bitcoin Law to the flourishing digital assets industry that continues to take shape across the country. The documentary features interviews with Román Martínez, co-founder of Bitcoin Beach; Napoleón Osorio, Founder of Bit-Driver; Ronny Avendaño, Co-founder of The Bitcoin Hardware Store; Michael Ruiz, Founder of Build In El Salvador; Evelyn Lemus, co-founder of Bitcoin Berlin; and a number of additional bitcoin advocates who are actively building El Salvador’s Bitcoin industry. “El Salvador’s journey with bitcoin represents one of the most significant and closely watched endeavours in the history of financial sovereignty. For us, El Salvador — under the leadership of President Bukele and his administration — is a global trailblazer that will stand in human history as a bold example of what a nation can achieve when it embraces financial freedom,” said Paolo Ardoino, Chief Technology Officer of Bitfinex. “The Bitcoin Dream in El Salvador” is available now on YouTube . Bitfinex remains deeply committed to supporting, documenting and amplifying the work of the communities, entrepreneurs and innovators who are making the Bitcoin vision a reality. *** About Bitfinex Founded in 2012, Bitfinex is a digital token trading platform that offers advanced services for traders and global liquidity providers. In addition to a suite of advanced trading features and charting tools, Bitfinex offers peer-to-peer financing, an OTC market, and margin trading across a wide range of digital tokens. Bitfinex’s strategy focuses on providing unparalleled support, tools, and innovation for experienced traders and liquidity providers worldwide. Visit www.bitfinex.com to learn more. Media contact for Bitfinex [email protected] For official logos and branding, please visit: https://www.bitfinex.com/press/#press-downloads The post Bitfinex Launches Documentary Celebrating El Salvador’s Bitcoin Journey appeared first on Bitfinex blog .

19 Feb 2026, 09:34

XRP Institutional Yield: Evernorth CEO Details New Active Strategy

Evernorth CEO Ashish Birla reveals the first institutional XRP treasury model ahead of the Nasdaq listing (XRPN). Learn how the firm generates active yield on XRP Ledger.

19 Feb 2026, 09:00

Goldman Sachs CEO Says US Must Codify How Crypto ‘Will Operate’

Speaking at the World Liberty Forum in Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon called for the United States to establish a clearly defined, rules-based framework governing how crypto markets operate. Goldman CEO Urges Clear Rules In an interview with CNBC, Solomon said it is essential that lawmakers take a long‑term view as they shape crypto legislation. “As an American, I think it is very important that as we put legislation in place, we get it right for the long term,” he said. Related Reading: Macro Wobbles May Send Bitcoin Back To The $50,000s, Industry CEO Claims “I believe that to operate markets safely and soundly, we need to have a rules‑based system,” he added. Solomon emphasized that the US banking system is distinct and must function alongside emerging technologies rather than be displaced by them. He also dismissed the notion that crypto can thrive in a “regulatory vacuum.” “If there are people who think we are going to operate in this environment without rules, they are probably wrong, and they should move to El Salvador,” Solomon remarked, underscoring his view that structure and oversight are non‑negotiable. At the same time, Solomon made clear that Goldman Sachs is paying attention to digital assets. He described himself as “super‑interested in” crypto‑related business and noted that the firm is active in areas such as digitization and tokenization. “We obviously are doing a bunch of things around digitization and tokenization,” he said. “We touch all that stuff.” Still, the bank’s CEO cautioned that digital assets remain a relatively small slice of Goldman’s overall operations. Crypto Market Structure Bill To Be Signed By End Of April? Solomon’s comments came as debate intensifies in Washington over the fate of the anticipated crypto market structure bill, often referred to as the CLARITY Act. Earlier in the day, Senator Bernie Moreno acknowledged that he still has “some concerns” about the bill. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that Congress could pass the measure “hopefully by April,” clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law. Moreno also dismissed concerns that delays could jeopardize the bill if Democrats were to regain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. With some Republicans worried about potentially losing at least the House, Moreno projected confidence. “The House isn’t going to go Democrat, and neither is the Senate,” he predicted. Related Reading: $274 Billion In Potential Bitcoin Selling Could Hit Markets, Expert Says Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also suggested on Tuesday that once remaining disputes over stablecoin rewards between banking and crypto sectors are resolved, the CLARITY Act could move quickly toward passage. While acknowledging that the bill is not flawless, he maintained that no legislation ever is. He went further, estimating there is an 80% chance the market structure bill will be signed into law by the end of April. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

19 Feb 2026, 07:00

ETHZilla crashes 97%, Thiel exits the ‘Ethereum Treasury’ model

Weak hands are leaving, strong hands are buying - What's happening with ETH at this moment?

19 Feb 2026, 06:30

‘Noise on Twitter’ – David Bailey denies scam claims after Bitcoin treasury Nakamoto falls 99%

Bitcoin treasury flows have waned after reversing January's recovery.