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14 Feb 2026, 13:05

When Ripple CEO Was Asked If He Can Flip the Switch for XRP

Anticipation has always shaped the psychology of emerging financial technology. Investors, builders, and observers often search for a defining instant when years of preparation suddenly translate into visible transformation. Within the XRP community, that expectation frequently centers on the idea of a single catalytic moment capable of accelerating adoption and reshaping global payment infrastructure overnight. In a recent X post, Bird revisited a striking exchange involving Brad Garlinghouse, chief executive of Ripple , during a live Spaces conversation. Bird explained that the response resonated deeply because it challenged the popular belief that one decisive action could instantly change XRP’s trajectory. Instead, the moment encouraged a broader reflection on how real financial transformation actually unfolds. The Illusion of a Single Turning Point Many market participants prefer simple narratives. A single switch, a single announcement, or a single institutional decision feels easier to understand than years of gradual coordination. However, large-scale financial systems rarely evolve through sudden events. Payment networks, regulatory frameworks, and institutional standards develop through a layered process that unfolds across jurisdictions and industries. I absolutely loved the moment on Spaces when @bgarlinghouse answered the question, “Brad, can you flip the switch?” His response really stuck with me. He basically said that if there was one single big switch to flip, he’d flip it immediately. But the reality is > it isn’t one… https://t.co/b2g4xTTh66 — Bird (@Bird_XRPL) February 13, 2026 Garlinghouse’s perspective emphasized this reality. He pointed toward complexity rather than spectacle, reinforcing the idea that meaningful change requires synchronized movement across technology, regulation, and market structure. His explanation aligned with the historical evolution of electronic trading, online banking, and real-time settlement systems, all of which matured incrementally before reaching widespread visibility. A Decade of Strategic Foundations Ripple’s development over the past decade reflects sustained, methodical execution. The company has pursued institutional partnerships , regulatory engagement, and cross-border payment innovation while navigating legal scrutiny and shifting policy environments. Each initiative represents a discrete step, yet together they form a broader infrastructure designed for long-term utility. Technical progress has followed a similar pattern. Continued enhancements to the XRP Ledger, expanding liquidity pathways, and growing ecosystem participation demonstrate steady maturation rather than headline-driven change. These advancements rarely dominate daily market discussion, but they create the structural conditions required for scalable financial adoption. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Gradual Change, Sudden Recognition Financial history shows that transformation often appears slow until convergence occurs. Legacy systems decline in stages while new frameworks strengthen in parallel. Once enough components align, momentum accelerates quickly, giving the impression of an overnight shift even though preparation spanned many years. Bird’s reflection highlights this disconnect between perception and construction. Observers who wait for a dramatic switch may overlook the cumulative force of steady progress already in motion. When institutional readiness, regulatory clarity, and technological capability intersect, acceleration becomes a consequence rather than a surprise. Watching the Point of Convergence The central question surrounding XRP now concerns timing. Continued alignment across global finance could produce a moment when long-developing infrastructure finally translates into visible scale. Such convergence would not represent a sudden beginning, but the natural outcome of persistent groundwork. For the XRP community , the narrative therefore evolves from waiting for a switch to recognizing an unfolding process. Real transformation rarely announces itself loudly. Instead, it builds quietly—until movement becomes undeniable. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post When Ripple CEO Was Asked If He Can Flip the Switch for XRP appeared first on Times Tabloid .

14 Feb 2026, 12:15

Southeast Asian gangs pivot to crypto to move illegal funds and conceal profits

Southeast Asian gangs involved in human trafficking have now kicked up their money laundering activities, relying on cryptocurrencies to move illegal funds and conceal profits. The move signals a shift in how these groups operate across borders, with a new report showing that digital assets have become the most preferred channel. According to the report, these illicit funds are tied to forced labor, operations carried out in scam compounds , and other criminal activities. The trend shows how easy criminal networks adapt to technology while expanding their global reach. In a report released by Chainalysis, crypto transactions linked to suspected trafficking operations jumped by 85% to hit $260 million. The metric was released in its 2026 crypto crime report, which tracks illicit activities across public blockchains. Why are Southeast Asian gangs adopting crypto? In the report released by investigators, Southeast Asian gangs are now favoring crypto. Tom McLouth, an intelligence analyst at Chainalysis, explained that the adoption of digital assets by these gang networks is because using digital assets provides them with faster remittance. He noted that transactions are carried out within seconds, and funds are moved into exchanges that are abroad at the same time. He tied most of these transactions to forced labor in scam centers. In addition, some funds were also linked to international escort services and child sexual abuse material networks. The growth is in line with the expansion of scam compounds and digital gambling platforms across the region. Aside from using digital assets for its speed, it helps them reduce their dependence on traditional banking systems. Criminals tend to avoid the delays and regulatory oversight that come with using traditional cross-border transfer systems, and scaling their operations faster. Over the past few years, Southeast Asia has seen a rise in online scam hubs and digital casinos. These operations rely on trafficked workers who have been forced to leave their countries to seek greener pastures. These networks usually advertise several fake roles to entice workers and end up holding them against their will in these compounds. The workers help the masterminds behind the operation run their scams, where they target victims worldwide and take payments using crypto wallets. Investigators report scam growth tied to crypto In the report, investigators mentioned that the criminals have been able to grow their operations using crypto. As scam centers in Southeast Asia continue to rise, crypto transactions associated with them are also increasing. In addition, these trafficking groups use multiple wallets for transactions. However, blockchain technology creates a record of every transaction. Unlike cash exchanges, digital transactions leave a trail on the blockchain. In addition, investigators are now using blockchain analytics and traditional intelligence to investigate these transactions. As a result of this, authorities can disrupt networks faster than in previous years. While trafficking networks take advantage of the speed and global reach of crypto, transparency provides an edge to investigators. Cooperation between regulations and analytics firms has also been helping enforcement efforts. In a recent update released by Interpol last November, it announced that it has designated the criminal scam compounds built in the region as a transnational criminal threat. The resolution was approved at a General Assembly meeting in Marrakech, where authorities claimed that the scam compounds have targeted victims from more than 60 countries. They claimed that these criminals target victims using voice phishing, romance scams, investment fraud, and other forms of crypto scams. Get 8% CASHBACK when you spend crypto with COCA Visa card. Order your FREE card.

14 Feb 2026, 05:48

Figure Technology confirmed a data breach after an employee was tricked by hackers into giving access to company files

Figure Technology, a prominent blockchain-based fintech company, has acknowledged a security incident involving unauthorized access to its data. In a statement, Alethea Jadick, a spokesperson for Figure Technology, said the breach occurred when an employee fell for a social engineering scam, allowing hackers to gain access to a few files. The firm confirmed that it is communicating with partners and affected parties regarding the breach. Moreover, it pointed out that complimentary credit monitoring is available to all recipients of this notice. Nonetheless, reporters claimed that Figure’s spokesperson failed to address certain questions concerning the breach details. Breach incidents in the tech industry remain a key concern The figure’s breach incident has sparked security concerns among individuals, igniting heated discussions in the industry. In this scenario, reports stressed that ShinyHunters, a notorious black-hat criminal hacking and extortion group, took credit for the breach on its dark web portal. According to the hackers, the company refused to meet their demands, prompting them to leak 2.5 gigabytes of allegedly stolen data. In response to this action, Figure stated that, “We recently found out that an employee was manipulated into giving access, which let someone download a limited number of files through their account. We took immediate action to stop the activity and hired a forensic firm to investigate which files were impacted.” Following this statement, sources declared that the approach applied in this case was Social engineering, a psychological manipulation of people into performing actions such as granting unauthorized access or divulging confidential information, acting as a form of “human hacking”. Meanwhile, to demonstrate the intensity of the situation, Chainalysis shared a report last month noting that scammers stole an estimated $17 billion in cryptocurrency last year, using AI to enhance impersonation and social engineering . Their report showed that data breaches remained a key concern in the tech industry last year, further heightening tensions this year. This was after a report from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, dated December 2025, revealed that regulators recorded more than 8,000 filings covering more than 4,000 distinct scenarios that significantly affected at least 374 million people. While Figure’s spokesperson provided limited details about the firm’s breach, an anonymous individual from the ShinyHunters group informed a reliable source that the breach was part of a broader campaign targeting companies that use the Okta single sign-on service. In the meantime, sources mentioned that other alleged victims were the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. Step Finance encounters a breach in its operation As breach incidents continue to be a significant challenge in the industry, Step Finance, a prominent DeFi platform particularly within the Solana blockchain ecosystem, announced that several of its treasury and fee wallets were compromised, prompting an investigation into the breach. Following its announcement, onchain data revealed that hackers unstaked about 261,854 SOL and moved them to an unknown address. At the moment, the blockchain security company CertiK claimed that the price of SOL was around $110, implying that these transfers accounted for almost $29 million in value. Meanwhile, in attempts to calm down the tension among its clients, Step Finance shared an X post, highlighting that, “We experienced a security breach in some of our treasury wallets a few hours ago, and we are currently looking into it… We will share more details later.” The platform also disclosed that it engaged cybersecurity experts to assist with the investigation. Nonetheless, Step Finance failed to mention the primary cause of the breach. This sparked speculation in the ecosystem, with some alleging it stemmed from a smart contract flaw and others claiming it was due to an access control issue. The main question raised at the moment was whether user funds outside the treasury were affected. These concerns prompted reporters to reach out to Step Finance for clarity on the speculations and questions raised, but it declined to respond. Earn 8% CASHBACK in USDC when you pay with COCA. Order your FREE card.

14 Feb 2026, 02:32

The Trump administration has withdrawn a list of “Chinese military companies,”

The Trump administration is under intense criticism after it briefly posted and withdrew an updated list of Chinese companies alleged to be in bed with the Chinese military. The list posted briefly on the Federal Register identifies firms, within American jurisdiction, that are deemed to be “Chinese military companies.” It was up for only a short period on February 13, 2026. US posts and deletes list The Pentagon later reportedly requested its withdrawal without any concrete explanation. Among the high-profile names on the list were BYD, the world’s largest electric car manufacturer, Alibaba , Baidu, biotech company WuXi AppTec, AI-powered robotics tech company RoboSense Technology Co Ltd, Tencent Holdings, and major battery manufacturer, CATL. The list is formally known as Section 1260H “Chinese Military Companies” list and is mandated by Congress to be compiled by the US Department of Defense and consists of companies controlled by the Chinese military or in close ties with the Chinese military. The list does not automatically mean such companies are in any form of legal trouble, but it does some form of reputational harm to such companies because it implies that the US may take punitive measures against them in the future. However, biotechnology company WuXi AppTec will have its operations affected in the US, since it was placed on the list. This is due to the Biosecure Act, passed in December 2025, that prohibits the federal government from doing business with “biotechnology companies of concern”. Any company on the 1260H list happens to fall under this category. In a surprising move, the defense department removed CXMT and YMTC – two memory chipmakers- from the list. Companies like BYD and Baidu have pushed back on the idea that they are in with the Chinese military or the Chinese government. Alibaba says it will explore legal options in response to the Pentagon’s actions. The sudden withdrawal of the PDF from the Federal Register has confounded many, as it gives mixed signals about the Trump administration’s stance on foreign policy and national security challenges. Experts believe that the upcoming summit in April between President Trump and Xi Jinping might have played a role in the sudden withdrawal. Criticism from US lawmakers. Democratic lawmakers like Senator Mark Warner, ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, have accused the Trump administration of undermining US security interests by kowtowing to Beijing’s demands at such a critical juncture. He said : “The Trump administration has subordinated national security concerns to a haphazard and transactional approach, bowing to U.S. companies pursuing deals with (Chinese) companies-of-concern, granting licenses for export of sensitive U.S. technology, and permitting continued access to U.S. markets by (Chinese) national champions so long as it provides opportunities to enrich the president’s family and friends,” In a social media post, Representative Gregory Meeks stated: “This is appeasement, Trump is making Americans less safe by sacrificing technology security. “ China’s response Neither the Chinese government nor the Chinese Embassy has released a statement concerning the Pentagon’s latest moves. However, when the Biden administration caused a similar stir last year, a spokeswoman for China’s Ministry of Commerce criticized the US, saying that the US unjustifiably suppresses Chinese enterprises, and such actions severely disrupt international trade and economic order, and endanger the stability of global industry and supply chains. She continued that China urges the US to respect facts and rules, immediately cease its wrongful actions, and provide Chinese companies with fair, just and non-discriminatory treatment. The Pentagon says a revised list will be released in a few weeks, suggesting the withdrawal was nothing short of an administrative procedure. Whether this spells the beginning of a closer relationship between Beijing and Washington remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, all eyes are on the April summit between President Trump and President Xi. Earn 8% CASHBACK in USDC when you pay with COCA. Order your FREE card.

13 Feb 2026, 22:59

HBAR turns green as FedEx Corp joins Hedera Council to move supply chain on-chain

FedEx Corp has formally joined the Hedera Council, becoming a governing member of the decentralized network to digitize global supply chains and move operations “on-chain.” FedEx Corp. can now make governance decisions for the Hedera council after it joined the decentralized network. Since the announcement of the partnership, Hedera’s native utility token, HBAR, has climbed over 7%. The HBAR token now trades around $0.097 per unit at the time of publication. HBAR token price. Source: CoinMarketCap How does FedEx plan to use Hedera’s technology? FedEx Corp has officially joined the Hedera Council in order to integrate enterprise-grade blockchain technology into the world’s most complex supply chains. As part of the agreement, FedEx will not only use the technology but will also play an active role in the governance of the Hedera network. Hedera’s native utility token, HBAR climbed over 7% within a 24-hour period, with price hovering around $0.097. The token’s market cap is also up 7.4% to $4.19 billion. It is also seeing renewed interest from institutional and retail investors. Currently, shipping goods across borders involves multiple jurisdictions, various sets of paperwork, and manual verification processes, but now with Hedera’s public distributed ledger, FedEx is creating a shared, trusted platform where data can be verified instantly by all parties without a central authority controlling the information. Under this system, every time a package moves or a document is signed, a digital fingerprint of that action is recorded on the Hedera ledger. Because the ledger is decentralized and immutable, no single party can change the records, providing a high level of trust for customs officials, partners, and customers. Vishal Talwar, the Chief Digital and Information Officer of FedEx Corp, said that the digital transformation of supply chains is “inevitable.” He stated that logistics operations require a way to share data across many parties without increasing security risks as they become digital-native. Hedera’s architecture allows FedEx to keep its sensitive operational data private within its own systems while only posting the necessary “verification” data to the public ledger. FedEx will provide the computer hardware necessary to help run and secure the blockchain. As a Council member, FedEx holds an equal vote alongside other global giants like Google, IBM, Dell, and Deutsche Telekom. They will participate in decisions regarding software updates, treasury management, and the overall strategic direction of the Hedera network. Institutional adoption of digital assets Rather than real-world use cases, Hedera has focused almost exclusively on enterprise adoption. The positive market reaction to the news appears to have been sparked by the FedEx announcement, especially because it is outperforming the modest recovery that the top cryptos by market cap are staging today after a prolonged period under intense pressure. Meanwhile, major corporations continue to actually implement Hedera’s blockchain technology in their businesses. The Lloyds Banking Group and Aberdeen Investments successfully executed the UK’s first foreign exchange trades using tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) as collateral on the Hedera network. Avery Dennison, another Hedera Council member, has been using the network for its atma.io platform to track billions of unique items in the supply chain. The integration of FedEx creates a more “interoperable” ecosystem. Earn 8% CASHBACK in USDC when you pay with COCA. Order your FREE card.

13 Feb 2026, 21:30

Autonomous AI: Openclaw Bot Spawns a ‘Child’ Agent and Funds It With Bitcoin

An Openclaw software agent autonomously provisioned a virtual private server, funded it with bitcoin via the Lightning Network, and purchased AI API credits — all without a human clicking “confirm.” AI Agent Executes End-to-End Bitcoin Payment Flow A February 2026 report released by Alby, an open-source, self-custodial bitcoin wallet and browser-extension platform, lays out what