hodler

18 Feb 2026, 18:10

Treasury bills seen as primary driver of Bitcoin's price: Report

New Keyrock research finds not all newly created money impacts risk assets due to how fresh liquidity flows through the economy.

18 Feb 2026, 17:22

Ethereum News: Peter Thiel Exits ETH Treasury Firm ETHZilla Amid Price Collapse

Peter Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist behind Founders Fund, has fully exited his position in Ethereum-focused treasury firm ETHZilla. According to a recent SEC filing, Thiel sold his entire 7.5% stake in the company, a move that has raised eyebrows across the crypto space. This decision follows a drastic 95% collapse in ETHZilla’s stock value, linked to the fall in Ethereum's price , which dropped from nearly $4,900 to around $1,970. ETHZilla, which originally started as a biotech firm, pivoted in mid-2024 to an Ethereum treasury business model. The company was designed to hold Ethereum as a core asset, offering exposure to the cryptocurrency through public equity shares. At its peak, ETHZilla reportedly held over 100,000 ETH, positioning itself as a corporate vehicle for Ethereum investments. Struggles of the Ethereum Treasury Model The Ethereum treasury model, akin to the one used by Bitcoin-focused companies like Strategy, relies on accumulating large amounts of digital assets to boost both corporate value and market exposure. The premise works well in bullish markets, where rising crypto prices boost both the value of the treasury and share prices. However, this strategy is particularly vulnerable in bear markets. As Ethereum’s price fell sharply, ETHZilla found itself in a precarious position. The company was forced to liquidate parts of its ETH holdings to service debt and repurchase stock, all while trying to diversify its operations. In late 2025, ETHZilla sold over $114 million worth of Ether to stabilize its financials, marking a significant shift away from its original strategy. Despite these efforts, ETHZilla’s share price continued to plummet, down by 95% from its peak. The company’s struggles suggest that the Ethereum treasury model, at least during times of market downturn, may not be as resilient as initially thought. Peter Thiel’s Motivations Behind the Exit While the official reasons for Thiel’s decision to exit remain unclear, several factors likely influenced the move. One possibility is risk management, especially in light of the significant market downturn and the declining value of ETHZilla’s shares. With the company’s stock and Ethereum’s value both in freefall, divesting from ETHZilla could have been a strategy to preserve capital. Another possible explanation is a growing skepticism about the Ethereum treasury model itself. Thiel has been known for his preference for Bitcoin, which he views as “digital gold.” His skepticism towards Ethereum has been well-documented in the past, with Thiel describing ETH as a “slow-moving albatross.” If he saw Ethereum as more of a speculative asset than a stable store of value, exiting ETHZilla might reflect a lack of confidence in the firm’s long-term viability. Lastly, Thiel’s exit may be part of a broader strategic reallocation of capital. While Founders Fund sold its ETHZilla stake, it still holds a 4.5% share in BitMine, a competing Ethereum-focused company. This, as we reported, has led to speculation that Thiel is moving his resources to a more promising venture, potentially signaling a shift away from the Ethereum treasury model. ETHZilla’s Shift to Aerospace and Prospects After Thiel’s exit, ETHZilla has pivoted to diversify its operations, as Coinpaper reported. The company recently launched ETHZilla Aerospace, a subsidiary focused on tokenized equity in leased jet engines. This move appears to be an attempt to offset its losses and tap into a new market outside of cryptocurrency. While ETHZilla remains one of the largest public holders of Ethereum, with over 69,000 ETH worth approximately $140 million, the future of its Ethereum treasury model looks uncertain. With the company facing ongoing challenges, including significant debt and declining share prices, it may take time to see if the aerospace pivot will provide the necessary financial stability. Despite these efforts, the crypto market’s volatility and Ethereum’s price fluctuations continue to weigh heavily on ETHZilla’s prospects. The company's strategy to pivot into aerospace may represent a desperate attempt to diversify, or it could signal a new direction for the company as it seeks stability after a turbulent year.

18 Feb 2026, 17:18

Goldman Sachs CEO Owns 'Very Little' Bitcoin, Backs Bessent on Clarity Act

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon backed Treasury Secretary Bessent, who recently had harsh words for companies like Coinbase that said no crypto legislation is better “than a bad bill.”

18 Feb 2026, 17:15

Modern Treasury Stablecoin Settlement Feature Unlocks Seamless Enterprise Payments

BitcoinWorld Modern Treasury Stablecoin Settlement Feature Unlocks Seamless Enterprise Payments In a significant move for enterprise finance, payments infrastructure leader Modern Treasury has unveiled a stablecoin settlement feature, seamlessly integrating digital currency processing with its established payment stack. This development, reported by Cointelegraph in early 2025, marks a pivotal step toward mainstream adoption of blockchain-based settlements for businesses. Consequently, companies can now manage stablecoin transactions using the same unified platform that handles Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers, wire transfers, and real-time payment networks. This integration fundamentally reduces operational complexity for finance teams exploring digital assets. Modern Treasury Stablecoin Settlement Bridges Traditional and Digital Finance Modern Treasury’s new feature directly addresses a critical pain point in corporate treasury management: fragmentation. Previously, businesses experimenting with stablecoins needed separate systems and workflows, creating reconciliation headaches and security concerns. Now, the platform supports initial settlements in USDG, USDP, and USDC, with plans to add USDT support soon. This multi-stablecoin approach provides flexibility and mitigates reliance on a single digital dollar. The strategic acquisition of stablecoin startup Beam in 2023 laid crucial groundwork for this launch, providing Modern Treasury with specialized expertise in blockchain payment rails. Industry analysts view this as a logical evolution. “The convergence of traditional and digital payment rails is inevitable for enterprise efficiency,” notes a fintech research director from a major advisory firm. “Modern Treasury is positioning itself at that exact intersection, offering a familiar operational layer for a new asset class.” This move reflects a broader trend where established financial technology providers are building bridges to decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure, thereby reducing the technical barrier for corporate adoption. The Strategic Rationale Behind the Integration The decision to integrate stablecoins stems from clear market demands for faster, cheaper, and more programmable settlements. While ACH transfers can take days and wire transfers incur high fees, stablecoin transactions settle on-chain in minutes for a fraction of the cost. This is particularly transformative for businesses with high-volume, cross-border payment needs or those operating in a 24/7 global economy. Modern Treasury’s system reportedly handles the blockchain complexity in the background, presenting finance teams with a consistent interface regardless of the payment rail used. This design philosophy prioritizes user experience and operational continuity. Examining the Impact on Enterprise Payment Processing The introduction of stablecoin settlement carries profound implications for business operations. Firstly, it enhances treasury management by providing near-instant finality for transactions, improving cash flow predictability. Secondly, it can significantly reduce transaction costs, especially for international payments that typically involve multiple intermediaries and currency conversions. Thirdly, the programmable nature of smart contracts opens doors for automated payment workflows, such as triggering supplier payments upon delivery confirmation logged in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Adoption will likely follow a phased approach. Early users may include technology companies, digital asset-native businesses, and firms with sophisticated treasury operations. Regulatory clarity, which has been evolving steadily, remains a key factor for widespread enterprise adoption. Modern Treasury’s compliance-first approach, integrating with regulated stablecoins and maintaining robust Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls, is designed to meet institutional standards. Key Supported Stablecoins & Attributes: USDC (USD Coin): A fully-regulated digital dollar issued by Circle. It is widely trusted and maintains a 1:1 reserve with the U.S. dollar. USDP (Pax Dollar): Issued by Paxos, this stablecoin is also fully backed by dollar reserves and regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services. USDG (Gemini Dollar): Offered by the Gemini exchange, it is a regulated stablecoin built on the Ethereum network. Comparing Settlement Rails for Business The table below illustrates the operational differences between the settlement methods now unified under Modern Treasury’s platform. Payment Rail Settlement Time Typical Cost Availability ACH Transfer 1-3 Business Days Low ($0.20-$1.50) Banking Hours Wire Transfer Same Day High ($15-$50) Banking Hours Real-Time Payments (RTP) Seconds Variable 24/7/365 Stablecoin Settlement 2-5 Minutes Very Low (Network Fee) 24/7/365 The Road Ahead for Integrated Financial Infrastructure Modern Treasury’s announcement is more than a product update; it signals a maturation phase for cryptocurrency in enterprise applications. The focus has shifted from speculative trading to practical utility in core business functions like accounts payable and receivable. Looking forward, we may see further integration with enterprise software suites, advanced reporting tools for on-chain activity, and support for additional blockchain networks to optimize for speed and cost. The planned addition of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization, will further broaden the feature’s appeal for global businesses. Ultimately, the success of this feature will be measured by its seamless operation. If finance teams can process a stablecoin payment with the same click as an ACH transfer—without managing private keys or understanding gas fees—it will represent a major victory for usability. This development underscores a central thesis in modern fintech: the best technology often becomes invisible, working reliably in the background to solve complex problems. Conclusion The launch of Modern Treasury’s stablecoin settlement feature represents a watershed moment for embedded finance. By bridging the gap between conventional banking rails and blockchain-based payments, Modern Treasury provides a pragmatic on-ramp for enterprises to leverage digital currency efficiency. This stablecoin settlement capability, supporting USDG, USDP, and USDC, reduces friction, cost, and settlement times for businesses. As the financial infrastructure continues to evolve, such integrations will be crucial in shaping a more efficient, accessible, and unified global payment ecosystem. FAQs Q1: What is the primary benefit of Modern Treasury’s new stablecoin feature? The primary benefit is operational unification. Businesses can now process payments via stablecoins, ACH, wires, and RTP networks from a single platform, simplifying treasury management and reducing the need for separate systems to handle digital assets. Q2: Which stablecoins are currently supported? The feature initially supports USDG (Gemini Dollar), USDP (Pax Dollar), and USDC (USD Coin). Modern Treasury has announced plans to add support for USDT (Tether) in a future update. Q3: How does stablecoin settlement compare in cost to traditional wire transfers? Stablecoin settlements are typically significantly cheaper. While wire transfers often cost $15 to $50 per transaction, stablecoin transactions only require payment of the underlying blockchain network fee, which is usually a few cents to a few dollars. Q4: Is this feature suitable for international business payments? Yes, it is particularly advantageous for cross-border payments. Stablecoins can facilitate faster and cheaper international settlements compared to traditional correspondent banking networks, which are slower and involve multiple fees. Q5: What was the significance of Modern Treasury’s acquisition of Beam? The acquisition of the stablecoin startup Beam in 2023 provided Modern Treasury with specialized in-house expertise in blockchain technology and stablecoin payment rails. This acquisition was a strategic step that directly enabled the development and integration of the new stablecoin settlement feature. This post Modern Treasury Stablecoin Settlement Feature Unlocks Seamless Enterprise Payments first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

18 Feb 2026, 17:10

Is This the End of the Machi Big Brother Dump? Giant Whale Clings to Last $1M After Disaster

Machi Big Brother is known for taking massive, highly leveraged long positions in several tokens on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, which has led to significant, high-profile liquidations. Recent volatile months have massively drained his remaining capital. Fortune Shrinks Blockchain data shared by Arkham Intelligence revealed that Machi Big Brother’s Hyperliquid HL account value has fallen below $1 million. The data indicates the Taiwanese-American entrepreneur and former musician, whose real name is Jeffrey Huang, added margin to recent Hyperliquid long positions by drawing from the PleasrDAO treasury, funds that were deposited roughly five years ago. Arkham Intelligence reports that around five months ago, Machi Big Brother’s net worth was close to nine figures. Since then, his holdings have witnessed a steep fall. The on-chain tracking firm estimates his cumulative trading performance at a loss of $28 million. The movements were identified through wallet activity linked to Machi Big Brother and the PleasrDAO treasury. Controversies Machi Big Brother has been one of the controversial figures in crypto who is known for massive gains, heavy losses, and constant reinvention. He entered the space around 2017, launching Mithril (MITH), a “social mining” project that rewarded users with tokens. The project raised about $13 million, but the token collapsed roughly 80% within months. He later joined Formosa Financial, which helped raise around 44,000 ETH, then worth about $37 million. About 22,000 ETH later disappeared from the treasury and were never recovered. In 2020, he moved aggressively into DeFi, forking Compound to create Cream Finance. The protocol suffered multiple exploits, and total losses surpassed $192 million. He continued launching fast-moving forks such as Mith Cash, Wifey Finance, and Typhoon Cash, many of which failed within weeks. From 2021 to 2023, he became a dominant NFT player and amassed more than 200 Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs worth over $9 million at the peak. He later sold more than 1,000 NFTs in a short period, which crashed floor prices in what became known as the “Machi Dump.” In 2022, on-chain investigator ZachXBT accused him of embezzling 22,000 ETH and leaving multiple failed projects behind. Machi responded with a defamation lawsuit in Texas, which ended quietly without a ruling. In 2024, he launched the Boba Oppa meme coin on Solana. He raised over $40 million before the token dropped sharply. The post Is This the End of the Machi Big Brother Dump? Giant Whale Clings to Last $1M After Disaster appeared first on CryptoPotato .

18 Feb 2026, 17:01

Modern Treasury's Stablecoin PSP: Beam Integration

Modern Treasury launched a fiat and stablecoin-supported PSP. With the Beam acquisition, USDG, USDP, USDC were integrated; USDT is on the way. Paxos and Circle partnerships are strengthening compli...