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20 Feb 2026, 22:15

CZ Returns to US for Trump-Backed Crypto Event

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) returned to the United States this week for the first time since his release from a California federal prison in 2024. The visit took place at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, where Zhao attended a 500-person convention hosted by the Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial. CZ Makes Appearance at Crypto Event A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report revealed that the gathering brought together prominent figures from finance, technology, and entertainment. Guests included Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, New York Stock Exchange president Lynn Martin, “Shark Tank” personality Kevin O’Leary, and Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong, who had also attended a smaller VIP dinner on Tuesday evening alongside Trump’s sons and CZ. Rapper Nicki Minaj, who has publicly supported the Trump administration, also held a “fireside chat” on that day. Posting on X during the occasion, Zhao shared a photo of himself listening to a top federal crypto regulator, writing, “Learned a lot.” CZ, whose crypto exchange has been barred from operating in the U.S. since 2023 for violating anti-money-laundering rules, pleaded guilty to a related charge that same year. He was then sentenced in April 2024 to four months in prison and officially released in late September after serving his term. Later in October 2025, the crypto entrepreneur received a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. During a recent interview on the “All-In” podcast, Zhao said he “didn’t do anything” to secure the clemency but noted that it could help the exchange resume its efforts to return to the American market. World Liberty Unveils Ambitious Crypto Vision World Liberty’s leadership used the occasion to lay out its vision for the cryptocurrency industry. CEO Zach Witkoff described the company’s goal as creating a “new digital Bretton Woods system,” referencing the 1944 conference that established a post-war economic order. His co-founders, the Trump sons, talked about the scale of the event, with Donald Trump Jr. joking about how much it would have been unimaginable a year ago. Meanwhile, Eric Trump compared it to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, saying it offered “better hospitality, better food, better weather, better group of people, less wokeness.” The firm also promoted its stablecoin, USD1, and outlined plans to sell digital tokens that would give accredited investors a share of loan revenues from a Trump resort under development in the Maldives. The president’s sons also addressed questions about foreign investment in World Liberty, including a $500 million deal with a senior Abu Dhabi royal, stressing that such moves are standard in global finance and unrelated to government agreements. Several other Trump administration officials were also in attendance, including Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig and Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. The post CZ Returns to US for Trump-Backed Crypto Event appeared first on CryptoPotato .

20 Feb 2026, 22:00

Bittensor (TAO) price prediction – Is $144 the next target for the altcoin?

TAO's recent price action hasn't been great, but can its fortunes change soon?

20 Feb 2026, 22:00

XRP’s Brutal Supply Compression Signals A Repeat Of The 2024 Expansion

XRP is struggling to reclaim higher price levels as persistent selling pressure and broader market uncertainty continue to weigh on sentiment. Despite intermittent rebound attempts, momentum remains fragile, with traders hesitant to commit capital amid elevated volatility and cautious liquidity conditions. The asset has yet to establish a convincing higher high, reinforcing the perception that XRP remains in a transitional phase rather than a confirmed recovery trend. Related Reading: Ethereum Breaks the Final Whale Floor In A 2018-Style Capitulation: What To Expect A recent CryptoQuant report provides additional context through exchange flow data. According to the analysis, Binance recorded a sharp spike in XRP exchange inflows during a previously highlighted period that preceded a strong rally. Large inflows typically reflect tokens moving onto exchanges, a dynamic often interpreted as potential sell pressure since assets become readily available for liquidation. Such spikes can increase short-term supply and amplify volatility. However, inflows do not always result in immediate distribution. In the referenced case, the surge in exchange deposits coincided with rising volatility and ultimately preceded a significant price expansion. This suggests that some inflow events may represent strategic positioning, liquidity preparation, or internal reallocation rather than outright selling. As XRP navigates current uncertainty, monitoring exchange flow behavior remains critical for assessing whether renewed volatility could once again precede a directional breakout. Liquidity Compression Signals Rising Volatility Risk The report explains that liquidity dynamics provide important context for understanding XRP market structure, particularly when evaluating volatility risk and potential price inflection points. USD liquidity measures the depth of capital supporting XRP trading pairs. During the previous rally phase, USD liquidity expanded significantly, allowing price advances to be absorbed without excessive volatility. Recently, however, USD liquidity has been declining, suggesting thinner market depth compared with the expansion period. Reduced depth typically increases sensitivity to order flow and can amplify price swings. Liquidity measured in XRP terms reflects the availability of tokens on the sell side. Prior to the last major breakout, XRP liquidity compressed notably, indicating reduced active supply on exchanges. That contraction phase aligned closely with the beginning of the strong upward move. Currently, XRP liquidity is trending lower again, showing similarities with earlier pre-expansion conditions. Historically, this combination of exchange inflow spikes alongside liquidity compression has preceded volatility expansion. Rising USD liquidity tends to support sustained trends, while declining liquidity often introduces fragility into market structure. At present, exchange inflows remain moderate, but both USD and XRP liquidity are contracting. This suggests a thinner environment where price reactions could become sharper. These indicators provide structural context, but they should be evaluated alongside derivatives positioning, funding trends, and broader macro conditions before drawing directional conclusions. Related Reading: The 200 Million Exodus: Investors Swap Speculation For Private Custody XRP Remains Under Pressure As Key Support Levels Face Ongoing Tests XRP remains under sustained technical pressure, with the weekly chart reflecting a clear corrective phase following the sharp rally that pushed the price above the $3.00 region in 2025. Since that peak, price structure has shifted toward a sequence of lower highs and lower lows, a pattern typically associated with weakening momentum rather than consolidation. The recent move toward the $1.40 area highlights continued selling pressure and cautious positioning among market participants. From a technical standpoint, XRP is currently trading below key moving averages that previously acted as dynamic support. These averages now function as overhead resistance, limiting upside attempts unless price can reclaim them decisively. The shorter-term average has rolled over more aggressively, while the longer-term trend line remains upward sloping but lagging, suggesting residual macro support alongside deteriorating short-term momentum. Related Reading: The Altcoin Exodus: Trading Volumes Halve As Capital Flees To Bitcoin $65,000 Fortress Volume activity has moderated compared with the impulsive rally phase, indicating reduced speculative participation. However, declining volume during corrections can also signal seller exhaustion if accompanied by stabilization in price structure. Immediate support appears concentrated near the recent lows around the $1.30–$1.40 zone, while resistance remains clustered near the $1.80–$2.20 range. Until XRP reclaims higher levels with strong participation, the broader trend remains fragile. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

20 Feb 2026, 21:55

XRP Price Prediction: Ripple Has Been Invited to the White House — Is the US Government About to Back XRP?

Ripple is heading to the White House and if you think about it, this is crazy. The White House administration is convening a third high stakes meeting on stablecoin yields, and Ripple chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty is on the invite list alongside legal leaders from Coinbase and a16z. The focus whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to pass interest earned on reserves directly to users. This debate has stalled key crypto legislation in the Senate. Traditional banks are pushing back hard, arguing that yield bearing stablecoins could pull deposits out of the banking system and weaken their lending power. If you don’t think crypto is the future… Pay attention to how hard traditional banks are fighting against stablecoins paying yield. It’s really that simple. — Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) February 20, 2026 Crypto executives counter that allowing yields is a consumer benefit and essential for keeping innovation inside the US rather than offshore. The fact that Ripple has a seat at the table matters. It signals that policymakers are not sidelining major crypto players. Instead, they are actively engaging them as legislation takes shape. That does not mean the US government is about to endorse XRP directly. But it does suggest that regulatory clarity around stablecoins and digital assets is moving closer. XRP Price Prediction: Is That Retest Or Deeper Pullback? XRP pushed above the upper boundary of the descending channel but failed to hold it, getting rejected near the $1.61 zone and slipping back down. That kind of move usually signals unfinished business. Price is now drifting back toward the channel structure, potentially retesting it from the inside. Source: XRPUSD / TradingView If XRP fully falls back into the channel, it could trigger a move toward $1.30 support. A deeper breakdown below would expose $1.10 again, but for now that remains a secondary scenario. Failed breakouts often lead to one more sweep lower before a stronger push. If XRP stabilizes and forms a higher low inside or just at the edge of the channel, it would build pressure for another breakout attempt. A decisive reclaim of $1.50, especially with momentum expanding, would confirm the channel break and shift focus toward $1.90 and beyond. Maxi Doge Standing Out As One Of The Best Meme Coins In 2026 Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is not waiting on legislation or regulatory clarity. It is built for narrative velocity. Bold meme identity. High-conviction positioning. Community-driven momentum that thrives when sentiment rotates away from slow institutional plays and toward asymmetric upside. Early traction is already strong. The $MAXI presale has raised around $4.6 million so far, with staking rewards offering up to 68% APY for early participants. If blue chips are stuck proving themselves on the chart, Maxi Doge is positioned for the phase where attention shifts and moves get fast. Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here The post XRP Price Prediction: Ripple Has Been Invited to the White House — Is the US Government About to Back XRP? appeared first on Cryptonews .

20 Feb 2026, 21:50

Nakamoto Inc. Expands Bitcoin Portfolio with Acquisition of BTC Inc. and UTXO Management

Nakamoto Inc. acquired BTC Inc. Continue Reading: Nakamoto Inc. Expands Bitcoin Portfolio with Acquisition of BTC Inc. and UTXO Management The post Nakamoto Inc. Expands Bitcoin Portfolio with Acquisition of BTC Inc. and UTXO Management appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

20 Feb 2026, 21:46

Ripple Secures Important Partnership With Deutsche Bank, XRP Breaks 200-Day Support, Binance’s CZ Reveals His Role In UAE’s Bitcoin Mining Milestone — Crypto Ne...

Crypto news digest: Deutsche Bank taps Ripple's tech for cross-border payments; XRP loses key support at $1.42; UAE has mined over $450 million in BTC.