What Are Israeli Prosecutors Alleging? Israeli prosecutors have indicted an Israel Defense Forces reservist and a civilian accused of using classified military intelligence to place wagers on the blockchain-based prediction platform Polymarket. According to reporting by Israeli media, the reservist allegedly accessed sensitive operational information through his army role and shared it with the civilian, who then used the intelligence to place event-based bets tied to military actions. The Tel Aviv District Court lifted a gag order following a request from the State Attorney’s Office cyber department, allowing details of the case to be published. Authorities said the arrests were carried out in a joint operation involving the Shin Bet internal security service, Israel Police, and the Defense Ministry’s investigations unit. NEWS: Polymarket Insiders Indicted in Israel An IDF reservist and a civilian have been indicted for allegedly using classified military intelligence to bet on @Polymarket. pic.twitter.com/iV73RNx4Nt — Predictbook (@Predictbook) February 12, 2026 Prosecutors have charged the two with serious security offenses, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Officials clarified that neither defendant holds a senior government or security position. Investor Takeaway The case raises direct insider-trading concerns for prediction markets, reinforcing regulatory pressure around information asymmetry on event-based platforms. Why Does This Matter for Prediction Markets? Polymarket allows users to trade “yes” or “no” outcome contracts tied to real-world events. Accounts are linked to crypto wallets rather than verified personal identities, making participation pseudonymous and globally accessible. Israeli authorities had reportedly been reviewing unusually accurate wagers connected to military operations since mid-January. The indictment now suggests investigators concluded that non-public operational intelligence may have been used for profit. The allegations represent one of the clearest cases to date in which classified government information is said to have been deployed on a decentralized prediction platform. Unlike traditional securities markets, prediction markets do not operate under a unified insider-trading framework, creating ambiguity around enforcement standards. How Does This Fit Into the Global Insider-Trading Debate? The indictment arrives amid broader scrutiny of event-based trading platforms internationally. Lawmakers in multiple jurisdictions have questioned whether prediction markets allow participants with privileged access to profit before information becomes public. In January, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres introduced legislation aimed at insider trading on prediction platforms after a trader reportedly earned roughly $400,000 wagering on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro shortly before the development was publicly announced. These cases have intensified debate over whether prediction markets should fall under existing financial market rules, gambling regulations, or a new hybrid framework. Investor Takeaway As authorities test insider-information boundaries, platforms offering event contracts tied to political or military outcomes face rising legal risk and potential rule tightening. What Could Happen Next? The Israeli case may become a reference point in ongoing regulatory discussions about prediction markets. If courts determine that classified intelligence was used for wagering, it could accelerate calls for stronger identity verification, monitoring standards, or participation limits. For platforms like Polymarket, which operate across borders and outside traditional exchange structures, enforcement actions in one jurisdiction can influence perception globally. While the defendants are not senior officials, the nature of the charges highlights the reputational sensitivity surrounding military-linked markets.

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has launched a global awareness campaign aimed at helping investors identify and avoid relationship-based investment scams, warning that fraudsters are increasingly using emotional manipulation to steal funds from retail investors. The campaign, running from 11 February to 14 February 2026, comes ahead of Valentine’s Day and encourages the public to recognize the warning signs of scams often disguised as friendships, romance, or financial mentoring relationships. IOSCO said these schemes are commonly referred to as romance scams, crypto investment scams, financial grooming scams, or “pig butchering” scams, and have caused losses estimated in the tens of billions of dollars globally. Fraudsters Use Long-Term Emotional Manipulation According to IOSCO, relationship investment scams typically begin with unsolicited contact through wrong-number texts, dating apps, or social media. Fraudsters then build trust over time by developing a personal connection with the target. Once the relationship is established, scammers introduce supposed “profitable” investment opportunities and direct victims to legitimate-looking websites or mobile apps that are actually fraudulent. After the victim deposits funds – often repeatedly – the scammer disappears along with the invested money. “Anyone can fall victim to a scam, especially in a world of fast-moving new technologies. With investor protection as a cornerstone of IOSCO’s mission, this campaign aims to alert retail investors to the warning signs of a scam,” said Jean-Paul Servais, IOSCO Board Chair. Takeaway IOSCO’s campaign highlights how scammers increasingly use emotional trust-building and fake investment platforms to extract funds over time, with crypto-themed fraud remaining a key driver of global retail investor losses. IOSCO Highlights Red Flags Of Relationship Investment Scams IOSCO emphasized that these scams often involve subtle escalation, where initial conversations gradually shift toward investment advice and requests for money. The organization outlined several red flags that should alert investors to potential fraud, including unsolicited investment opportunities and persistent pressure to move conversations away from public platforms. IOSCO also noted that fraudsters commonly avoid meeting in person, despite maintaining long-term communication with victims. “Repeated, continuous, and concerted awareness efforts have the power to foster essential investor vigilance against fraud. This initiative is further proof of IOSCO members' genuine commitment to financial protection and education,” said Camille Beaudoin, Director of Financial Education Expertise and Partnerships at AMF Québec and Chair of IOSCO’s Committee on Investor Education. Takeaway IOSCO is reinforcing that fraud prevention is increasingly tied to digital literacy, as scammers exploit encrypted apps, social platforms, and fabricated investment portals to bypass traditional financial safeguards. Investor Protection Advice Targets Digital Communication Risks IOSCO urged investors to remain cautious when contacted online by unknown individuals, particularly if discussions quickly evolve into investment advice or requests for financial assistance. As part of the campaign, IOSCO recommended that investors block unknown senders, avoid taking investment decisions based on unsolicited online contact, and conduct independent research before transferring funds. IOSCO also warned against paying money to “recover” an investment or to unlock supposed withdrawals, noting that scammers frequently use this tactic to extract further funds after victims attempt to cash out. Takeaway By focusing on relationship-based fraud, IOSCO is drawing attention to one of the fastest-growing forms of financial crime, where social engineering and fake investment platforms combine to create highly effective long-con scams.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, February 12th, 2026, FinanceWire Platform surpasses 500,000 users with AI analyzing 10,000+ securities daily to deliver personalized, actionable market analysis Edgen today announced the launch of its autonomous AI intelligence system, designed to identify complex correlations between macro events and market movements without the need for manual user prompting or traditional chatbot queries. The launch follows a major milestone for the company, as Edgen’s global user base surpassed 500,000 registered accounts. Unlike conversational AI tools, Edgen’s infrastructure operates continuously to surface data-driven insights and market signals tailored to a user’s specific areas of interest. "The problem with AI chat interfaces is that you need to know what to ask," said Sean Tao, CEO and Co-Founder of Edgen. Most investors don't have time to check markets daily or understand how a Fed decision might affect assets. Our system does that work autonomously. It finds the correlations, evaluates the impact on specific asset, and delivers signals you can actually use." From Reactive Chat to Proactive Intelligence Edgen's architecture represents a fundamental shift from reactive AI assistance to autonomous market surveillance. The platform uses a proprietary financial knowledge graph that automatically maps relationships between macroeconomic developments, sector movements, and individual securities across US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, and cryptocurrency markets. When significant market events occur whether geopolitical shifts, central bank decisions, or large-cap stock movements, Edgen's system identifies correlated opportunities and risks, then delivers structured analysis without waiting for user input. This approach addresses critical limitations of general-purpose AI models in finance: hallucinated stock prices, inability to access real-time data, and the requirement for users to constantly monitor and prompt the system. Institutional Workflows, Personalized Execution Edgen mirrors how professional investment teams operate, but adapts the process for individuals. The platform divides analytical responsibilities across specialized AI agents, including fundamentals, technicals, sentiment, macro trends, then consolidates their findings into personalized, action-ready analysis. At launch, the system delivers: Edgen Picks: Algorithmically identified stocks based on multi-factor screening, with detailed breakdowns of technical patterns, fundamental metrics, and risk parameters. Updated dynamically as market conditions change. Weekly Earnings Play: Pre-earnings probability modeling that identifies potential price movements based on historical patterns, positioning, and market expectations. Thematic Discovery: Early identification of emerging market themes and sectors, with asset recommendations. Each analysis includes actionable parameters designed for execution. Users receive specific entry points, position sizing guidance, and risk considerations. Built for Users Who Can't Watch Markets Daily Edgen targets users who want professional-grade market intelligence without dedicating hours to research, news monitoring, or manual AI prompting. The platform learns from data interactions to refine signal personalization over time. "We're not replacing human judgment. We're augmenting it with a system that never sleeps and sees patterns across thousands of data points that would take a person weeks to connect," Sean added. "The value is in proactive insight, not on-demand answers." The autonomous AI system is available today at https://www.edgen.tech/ through multiple subscription tiers, with a limited free tier for exploration. About Edgen Edgen is a leading AI-powered market intelligence operating system. Through its proprietary Efficient Decision Guidance Model (EDGM), the platform transforms high barrier institutional-grade strategies into universally accessible smart tools. Pioneering the “Cognition-as-a-Service” (CaaS) architecture, Edgen integrates modular AI agents, real-time data, and market analytics to empower retail traders and independent analysts to navigate markets with institutional-grade precision. Backed by Framework Ventures and North Island Ventures, Edgen’s technical team combines former Wall Street quantitative trading experts and AI infrastructure developers, collectively building the cognitive infrastructure for next-generation open finance. Website: https://www.edgen.tech/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/EdgenTech Contact Edgen AI press@edgen.tech

Given the multi-month downtrend and the strength of the resistance zone near the resistance level 69.50,  Brent crude oil can be expected to fall further to the next support level 66.75 (which has been reversing the price from January).   Brent crude oil reversed from resistance area Likely to fall to support level 66.75 Brent crude oil recently reversed from the resistance area located between the multi-month resistance level 69.50 (which has been reversing the price from September, as can be seen from the daily Brent crude oil chart below), upper daily Bollinger Band and the 61.8% Fibonacci correction of the downward impulse from June of 2025. The downward reversal from this resistance area stopped the previous minor impulse wave 3, which belongs to the impulse wave (3) from January. Given the multi-month downtrend and the strength of the resistance zone near the resistance level 69.50,  Brent crude oil can be expected to fall further to the next support level 66.75 (which has been reversing the price from January). The subject matter and the content of this article are solely the views of the author. FinanceFeeds does not bear any legal responsibility for the content of this article and they do not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff. The information does not constitute advice or a recommendation on any course of action and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial situation, or individual needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent professional advice or conduct your own independent research before acting upon any information contained in this article.

Genesis Global has announced a series of executive leadership appointments aimed at strengthening the alignment between product strategy, technology innovation, and client delivery. Tej Sidhu, previously Chief Technology Officer, has been appointed President and Chief Product Officer. Alongside this move, Shahin Askari has been promoted to Chief Platform and Architecture Officer, and Andrew Rendell has been named Chief Engineering Officer. The changes are designed to sharpen Genesis’ focus on connecting its platform capabilities, tailored solutions, and commercial execution as demand grows for flexible, AI-enabled financial markets technology. Tej Sidhu Steps Into President and Chief Product Officer Role In his expanded role, Sidhu will lead go-to-market functions and product strategy while continuing to report to CEO and Co-founder James Harrison. He remains a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Sidhu joined Genesis in 2022 and previously served as CTO and Head of R&D at Calypso (now Nasdaq) for 16 years, where he oversaw trading, risk management, and post-trade technology development. “Everything we do is a combination of platform, solutions and expertise,” said James Harrison, Co-founder and CEO of Genesis Global. “This makes us unique in the industry - a product company that doesn’t limit clients with one-size-fits-all technology and a tailored solutions company that doesn’t burden clients with maintaining proprietary code. In his new role, Tej will bring our technical expertise and commercial execution together so that clients achieve maximum value with Genesis.” Takeaway Genesis is positioning Sidhu’s expanded mandate to tighten the link between product innovation and client-facing execution as competition intensifies in financial markets software. Platform Architecture and AI Strategy Elevated Shahin Askari, who joined Genesis in 2023 as Senior Director of Platform Architecture, has been promoted to Chief Platform and Architecture Officer. In this role, he will lead strategy and technology investments for the Genesis Application Platform, including architecture, tooling, and AI capabilities. Askari will also join the Executive Committee and report directly to the CEO, reflecting the strategic importance of the firm’s core platform infrastructure. “The Genesis Application Platform is the high-performance chassis for financial markets software,” said Shahin Askari, Chief Platform and Architecture Officer at Genesis Global. “It reduces total cost of ownership, boosts development capacity and accelerates innovation. Our framework provides inherent guardrails for AI to be a predicable and compliant actor in Genesis and helping clients take advantage of AI while maintaining governance and control is a major focus area for us.” Takeaway By elevating platform architecture to the executive level, Genesis signals that AI governance and scalable infrastructure are central to its next growth phase. Engineering Execution and Delivery in Focus Andrew Rendell has been promoted to Chief Engineering Officer, where he will oversee application delivery, quality, reliability, DevOps/SRE, and operational excellence across client solutions. Rendell joined Genesis in 2021 and most recently served as VP of Platform Engineering. The leadership restructuring separates platform vision from engineering execution, with Askari focusing on innovation and architecture while Rendell concentrates on delivery performance and client outcomes. “Genesis is engineered for financial markets and we have deployed innovative solutions addressing the most complex challenges in trading, operations, portfolio management, risk and compliance,” said Andrew Rendell, Chief Engineering Officer at Genesis Global. “Maintaining an agile delivery process and tailoring our offerings to clients’ exacting needs is what makes Genesis a unique partner for firms across financial markets.” Takeaway The leadership split between platform innovation and engineering execution is designed to improve on-time, on-budget delivery while accelerating AI-driven product development.

WaaP Brings Decentralized Embedded Wallets to Sui human.tech has launched Wallet-as-a-Protocol (WaaP) on Sui, adding a decentralized embedded wallet layer to the network. The system allows developers to integrate self-custodial wallets directly into applications without relying on traditional Wallet-as-a-Service providers. Users can create wallets using familiar login methods such as email, phone, Google, or Face ID. There are no seed phrases involved. At the same time, control over funds remains cryptographically enforced, meaning no centralized operator can access assets. What changes with Wallet-as-a-Protocol? Most embedded wallets today depend on backend services. That simplifies onboarding but creates custody and vendor risks. Terms can change. Infrastructure can shut down. Developers inherit dependencies they don’t control. WaaP moves that logic on-chain. It runs on Ika, a coordination layer built on Sui. Instead of server-side policy enforcement, transaction rules are validated through smart contracts. Signing authority is split using two-party computation (2PC-MPC). One key share lives on the user’s device. The other is handled by Ika’s decentralized network. Neither side can move funds alone. Spending limits and approval policies are enforced during the signing process on Sui. Investor Takeaway WaaP targets one of crypto’s biggest friction points: onboarding without giving up custody. Why Sui benefits Sui has focused on performance and consumer-scale applications. Embedded wallets are critical if applications want to reach non-crypto-native users. Seed phrases remain one of the biggest drop-off points in onboarding flows. If WaaP reduces friction while keeping custody decentralized, it could increase user activity on Sui. Policy enforcement happens on-chain, which may translate into additional blockspace demand if adoption grows. human.tech says its infrastructure already supports nearly 3 million verified users and more than $500 million in protected value across its ecosystem. That base now has a direct integration path into Sui applications. How it compares to existing wallet services Traditional Wallet-as-a-Service providers offer convenience but introduce custody exposure and backend dependency. WaaP positions itself as protocol infrastructure instead of a managed service. For developers, that removes vendor lock-in. For users, it preserves self-custody even in a seedless setup. For networks like Sui, it keeps enforcement logic native rather than off-chain. Shady El Damaty of the Holonym Foundation said the goal was to remove the tradeoff between usability and ownership. Evan Cheng of Mysten Labs described the integration as a new access path into the Sui ecosystem. Investor Takeaway Embedded wallets that remain decentralized may become the default model if regulatory scrutiny increases. What’s next The architecture also supports programmable accounts and delegated execution. Over time, that could enable automated workflows or agent-based activity with predefined limits. For now, the focus is straightforward: remove seed phrases, eliminate backend custody risk, and simplify onboarding for Sui developers. Adoption will determine whether WaaP becomes infrastructure or remains an alternative. The problem it addresses is clear. Execution is what matters. WaaP is available now for Sui developers. Documentation and integration guides are available at docs.waap.xyz.

When major support levels break, the tone of the market shifts fast. Traders move from optimism to caution. Long term holders reassess timelines. Short term participants look for defensive positioning. In Q1 2026, Bitcoin slipping below the $70,000 support zone has triggered exactly that type of reset. This does not mean the bull cycle is over. But it does mean momentum has slowed. And when momentum cools, capital often searches for fresh cheap crypto narratives beyond the largest asset in the market. Bitcoin (BTC)  Bitcoin is currently trading below the $70K psychological support level, with price hovering in the mid to high $60K range depending on exchange data. Its market capitalization remains above $1T, making it the dominant cryptocurrency by far. From a technical view, the next resistance zones now sit near $70K and then closer to $75K. If BTC fails to reclaim those areas with strong volume, further consolidation may follow. On the downside, traders are watching support bands around $62K to $65K. Some analysts remain cautiously optimistic, suggesting that if macro conditions stabilize, BTC could recover toward $85K or even retest the $90K area later in 2026. That would represent a roughly 25% to 35% increase from current levels.  However, such projections depend on liquidity flows, ETF demand, and broader economic conditions. For now, the chart does not show strong breakout momentum. When Bitcoin moves sideways or dips, attention often rotates toward altcoins and infrastructure plays with different growth curves. Mutuum Finance (MUTM)  Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is developing a decentralized lending protocol centered on yield generation and structured borrowing. The objective is to enable users to supply digital assets into liquidity pools and earn returns, while allowing borrowers to access liquidity without selling their holdings. The project has activated its V1 Protocol version, with the launch confirmed through an official statement on X. This release introduces a live testing environment where users can interact with the protocol’s core mechanics. Within V1, participants can supply assets into liquidity pools that include WBTC, USDT, ETH, and LINK. When assets are deposited, users receive mtTokens that represent their supplied position and increase in value as interest accrues.  Borrowers can open positions against supported collateral, track their debt balances, and monitor their health factor, which indicates liquidation risk. This operational phase demonstrates how lending flows, interest rate dynamics, and risk controls function in practice rather than remaining at a conceptual level. MUTM Presale Structure Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is currently in Phase 7 of its presale at $0.04. The presale began in early 2025 at $0.01, meaning the token has increased 300% since its first phase. The official launch price is set at $0.06. The total supply is 4 billion tokens, with 45.5% allocated to the presale. So far, the project has raised $20.5M, sold 845M tokens, and attracted more than 19,000 holders. Phase 7 is already over 15% allocated. A 24 hour leaderboard publicly tracks participation activity. This feature gives observers visibility into daily engagement levels rather than relying on private metrics. The structured phase system increases the token price at each stage, providing a clear path from early entry toward official launch valuation. Roadmap Vision and Security Focus According to its official roadmap, Mutuum Finance plans to introduce an overcollateralized stablecoin within its ecosystem. The stablecoin is designed to improve capital efficiency inside lending markets by reducing volatility exposure and offering borrowers more predictable repayment conditions. This feature remains part of the planned development phases outlined in the project documentation. The protocol architecture also anticipates the use of decentralized oracle infrastructure to deliver reliable price data. Accurate price feeds are essential for calculating Loan to Value ratios and triggering liquidations when necessary. The roadmap references the use of fallback feeds and aggregated data models to help maintain pricing stability and reduce reliance on a single source. Security has been addressed through an external smart contract audit conducted by Halborn, a blockchain security firm known for reviewing DeFi protocols. Independent auditing supports contract integrity before broader deployment.  Final Perspective Bitcoin’s current price action shows consolidation rather than acceleration. At the same time, new crypto projects like Mutuum Finance (MUTM) are being built during this quieter period. With a live v1 environment, structured presale progression, and plans for stablecoin and oracle integration, the project is positioning itself around lending utility rather than market cycles alone. As Q1 2026 unfolds, Bitcoin’s next move will shape overall sentiment. But history shows that when BTC slows, investors often look elsewhere for growth narratives. Whether that shift becomes meaningful will depend on execution, adoption, and broader market stability. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://www.mutuum.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL) has launched a consolidated market data feed for overnight U.S. equities trading, aiming to improve price transparency and liquidity visibility for global investors participating in extended-hours markets. The new feed aggregates real-time data from Blue Ocean and Bruce Markets – two venues that facilitate overnight U.S. equities trading – into a single, unified view within the Webull platform. The company said this marks the first time global investors can access combined liquidity insights across multiple overnight venues through one interface. The initiative comes as 24/5 trading in U.S. equities continues to expand, particularly among investors in Asia-Pacific who access U.S. markets during their local daytime hours. Unified View Across Fragmented Overnight Venues Overnight trading in U.S. equities traditionally occurs across separate venues that operate independently and do not share order books. Webull’s consolidated feed addresses this fragmentation by allowing users to view quotes and depth of book from both Blue Ocean and Bruce Markets simultaneously. “For our global investor base, overnight trading is often when opportunity happens,” said Anthony Denier, Group President and U.S. CEO of Webull. “By bringing together multiple overnight market data feeds into a single view, we're improving access to U.S. markets for a global audience and giving traders the transparency they need to participate with confidence, wherever they are.” Webull clarified that while order routing remains unchanged, the consolidated data feed enables users to see a broader picture of available liquidity and pricing across both venues in real time. Takeaway Webull’s consolidated feed addresses structural fragmentation in overnight U.S. equity trading by aggregating liquidity visibility across multiple venues, potentially improving price discovery for global retail traders. Free Top-Of-Book And Paid Level 2 Data Options The consolidated market data feed is available to Webull users in 11 of the platform’s 14 global markets, with rollout to the remaining three markets expected soon. Webull is offering two tiers of access. Users can access a free synthetic best bid and offer (BBO) “top of book” view as part of the consolidated feed. For deeper insight into liquidity, the company offers a $4.99 per month subscription providing a full order book (Level 2) view across both overnight venues. The product is designed primarily for active overnight traders seeking enhanced visibility into market depth and pricing opportunities during non-standard U.S. trading hours. Takeaway By combining free top-of-book data with a low-cost Level 2 subscription, Webull is positioning overnight consolidated data as a scalable retail-focused transparency tool within the expanding 24/5 trading landscape. Broader Push Toward 24/5 Market Infrastructure The launch reflects broader innovation across the financial services industry as brokers and exchanges continue investing in tools to support around-the-clock access to U.S. equities. Webull said the consolidated data feed is intended to help investors better capture liquidity and identify pricing opportunities during overnight trading hours, when order books can otherwise be opaque and fragmented. With more than 25 million registered users globally and operations across 14 markets, Webull continues to expand its infrastructure to serve investors trading global stocks, ETFs, options, futures, fractional shares, and digital assets. Takeaway As 24/5 U.S. equities trading evolves, consolidated data infrastructure may become increasingly critical to ensuring transparency and confidence for cross-border retail participation.

Toronto, Canada, February 12th, 2026, FinanceWire Nour Private Wealth (NPW) announces the expansion of its multi-family office platform to include investment fund management capabilities under Nour Private Management, an affiliate of Nour Private Wealth. This strategic initiative provides ultra-high-net-worth families with additional tailored solutions and structured access to private-market opportunities, all within NPW’s integrated advisory framework. “Family offices are increasingly seeking direct exposure to private markets while maintaining disciplined oversight,” said Elie Nour, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NPW. “By expanding into fund management, we enable families to access institutional-quality strategies without the need to build a standalone infrastructure. Our approach combines discretion, governance, and sophisticated portfolio coordination to preserve wealth across generations.” The move aligns with a global trend of family offices shifting toward direct investment in private companies, infrastructure, and alternative assets. According to Preqin, the number of family offices with private-market allocations has grown substantially since 2016, reflecting sustained expansion across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. In North America, private markets now account for approximately 29% of the average family office allocation, underscoring their growing role in diversification and long-term capital deployment. Direct Access and Hybrid Portfolios Family offices are evolving beyond fund-only models to embrace direct investing strategies that offer greater control, transparency, and influence over investment structures. Common approaches include: Co-investments alongside established sponsors. Club deals to access larger or more complex transactions. Thematic allocations in sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare innovation, and technology. Minority growth investments or participation in buyouts. Many offices maintain hybrid frameworks that combine primary private funds, secondaries or fund-of-funds, and direct or co-investments. This balance allows families to pursue conviction-driven opportunities while managing liquidity and diversification. Institutionalization and NPW’s Strategic Response As family offices institutionalize, multi-family offices are enhancing services to include investment structuring, consolidated reporting, governance coordination, and integrated, tax-aware portfolio construction. Advanced technology platforms now support sophisticated risk management and performance oversight. NPW’s fund management expansion represents a strategic evolution of its advisory model. Families benefit from coordinated portfolio construction, consolidated reporting, and structured access to private-market strategies—all supported by external legal, tax, and estate professionals. “Ultra-high-net-worth families require both flexibility and rigour in their investment approach,” added Nour. “Our platform delivers both, enabling strategic participation in private markets while maintaining governance, compliance, and long-term stewardship.” About Nour Private Wealth Nour Private Wealth (NPW) is a trade name of Nour Private Wealth Inc., a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). The firm provides multi-family office and private wealth management services to ultra-high-net-worth families, including portfolio management (discretionary), consolidated reporting, governance coordination, and integrated planning solutions across public and private markets. For additional information: familyoffice@npw.ca Disclaimer: Investment dealer services are provided by Nour Private Wealth, a CIRO dealer member. Investment fund management services are provided by Goodwood, an affiliated entity under common ownership with Nour Private Wealth. This news release is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Any offer or solicitation will be made only pursuant to applicable offering documents and in accordance with applicable securities laws. Certain private-market investments are available only to eligible investors and are subject to suitability/appropriateness determinations, offering restrictions, and other conditions, including minimum investment amounts and limited liquidity. Private-market investments may be speculative, involve a high degree of risk, and are not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Contact Media Specialist Nikhil Patel Nour Private Wealth media@npw.ca

Apex Group Ltd. (“Apex Group”), a global financial services provider, has opened a new office in Jakarta, Indonesia, strengthening its regional presence as part of its long-term expansion strategy across Asia-Pacific. The move positions Apex Group closer to one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets, enabling the firm to provide direct, in-market engagement for Indonesian clients currently serviced from other jurisdictions. The Jakarta office also signals Apex Group’s intention to deepen its role in ASEAN’s financial infrastructure development, with a focus on supporting institutional growth and innovation across the region. Indonesia Becomes Strategic Anchor for Apex Group’s APAC Expansion Apex Group described Indonesia as one of the region’s most strategically important markets, making the office launch a key milestone in its broader APAC roadmap. The expansion follows other recent office openings across Asia, reflecting continued investment in local presence and service capability. By establishing operations in Jakarta, Apex Group aims to align client support within the same time zone while enhancing its ability to provide on-the-ground engagement. The firm said the move will allow it to better serve Indonesian clients already supported through its international network. Apex Group believes Indonesia’s market momentum makes it a natural next step for the company’s Southeast Asia footprint, particularly as local demand increases for cross-border capital access and institutional-grade financial services. Takeaway Apex Group’s Jakarta launch reflects a strategic push to deepen its APAC footprint and strengthen client servicing in one of ASEAN’s most rapidly expanding markets. Local Office Targets Deeper Client Relationships and Cross-Border Access The Jakarta office is expected to strengthen Apex Group’s existing relationships with Indonesian clients while creating new opportunities for local firms to access global investors and counterparties through Apex Group’s international footprint. The firm said a local presence will enable more direct engagement and allow Apex Group to better understand the specific needs of Indonesian institutions, particularly as the market continues to develop its financial ecosystem. Valerie Mantot-Groene, Apex Group’s Head of Asia, said: “Indonesia is one of the most important and fastest-growing markets in Asia. For Apex Group, establishing a local presence is a natural next step. We already serve Indonesian clients from across our global network, and they deserve dedicated, in-market support. Being on the ground allows us to strengthen those relationships, deepen our understanding of local needs, and provide access to global opportunities through our international footprint.” Takeaway The new Jakarta office is designed to improve local engagement while giving Indonesian clients stronger connectivity to international capital markets. Apex Group Signals Focus on Digitalisation and Tokenisation in Indonesia Beyond servicing expansion, Apex Group said its Indonesian presence will help introduce global market standards and innovation into the country, including digitalisation, tokenisation, and technology-enabled operating models. Mantot-Groene highlighted the opportunity to deliver advanced solutions and institutional frameworks that support evolving market infrastructure. “We also see significant potential to bring global market standards and innovation to Indonesia—from digitalisation and tokenisation to advanced operating models and technology-enabled solutions. Our presence here reflects both our commitment to Indonesia and the momentum we see across the broader ASEAN region.” Apex Group said the Jakarta expansion supports its broader strategy of enhancing global service delivery, partnering with local markets, and contributing to financial innovation and sustainable economic development across Southeast Asia. Takeaway Apex Group is positioning its Jakarta office not just as a service hub, but as a platform to bring tokenisation and digital operating models into Indonesia’s evolving financial market.

Ever wonder why crypto investors love surprises more than birthday cake? The market keeps throwing curveballs, and right now, it’s a rollercoaster for everyone, from BTC whales to altcoin hunters. Bitcoin, XRP, and other digital assets are experiencing swings that have traders debating timing, strategy, and the elusive “perfect entry.” Volatility is high, sentiment is mixed, and every dip sparks fresh discussions about accumulation versus panic selling. Amid these shifts, one meme-inspired contender stands out. APEMARS ($APRZ) combines staged presale access, controlled scarcity, and milestone-driven token burns to create excitement and tangible value for early believers. Its approach has positioned it among the top crypto coins, attracting investors looking for structure, transparency, and potential ROI. APEMARS ($APRZ): Top Crypto Coins With Controlled Scarcity APEMARS leads the charge among top crypto coins with a strategy that flips traditional meme coin dynamics. Built on Ethereum, the project offers high-yield staking, structured milestone burns, and unsold token destruction. Unlike other meme coins that dilute supply unpredictably, APEMARS enforces four visible supply compression events, creating anticipation cycles and hype checkpoints that reward diamond hands. Stage 7 is live at $0.00005576, with a presale tally surpassing 185,000 and over 900 token holders. More than 10 billion tokens have been sold, and the current ROI from Stage 7 to the projected listing price of $0.0055 is an astronomical 9763.7%. Earlier participants, entering prior stages, have already seen 228.19% ROI. Following the strategic burns, including the 4 billion tokens destroyed after Stage 6, APEMARS ensures scarcity is part of its storyline, not a guessing game. Investment Scenario: $1K Into Stage 7 Investing $1,000 in Stage 7 could yield remarkable results if APEMARS reaches its intended listing price of $0.0055. At the current Stage 7 price of $0.00005576, $1,000 would purchase roughly 17.94 million $APRZ tokens. Should the listing price materialize, that holding would be worth about $98,670, demonstrating why early-stage presales with controlled scarcity act as rocket fuel for early believers. Timing, stage-based participation, and milestone-driven token burns amplify the potential upside, making every checkpoint an opportunity for strategic investors. How to Join APEMARS Presale Joining the APEMARS presale is straightforward. Investors must first create a Web3-compatible wallet such as MetaMask. After connecting to the official APEMARS presale portal, users select their desired stage and input their contribution, starting at Stage 7 pricing of $0.00005576. The presale uses smart contracts audited for security and transparency, ensuring every purchase is verifiable. Stage-based pricing ensures earlier participants pay less, while supply compression events and milestone burns create scarcity. Once confirmed, tokens are allocated according to the roadmap, and staking options are available to maximize yields while contributing to community-driven growth. Bitcoin ($BTC): Four-Year Cycle Pushes Price Lower Bitcoin is currently trading at $67,484.28, down 2.67% in the last 24 hours. Recent declines have pushed BTC below $61,000, marking its lowest level in roughly 16 months. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan attributes this pullback primarily to the recurring “four-year cycle,” a phenomenon that has historically driven market corrections. Investors are rotating capital into alternative assets, including gold and AI stocks, while concerns around quantum risk and regulatory uncertainty intensify. Despite short-term turbulence, Bitcoin’s fundamental scarcity remains intact, supported by its 21 million maximum supply. Traders following Bitcoin news see this dip as a potential accumulation opportunity, while crypto ETFs continue to influence daily trading dynamics without undermining long-term value. XRP ($XRP): Panic Selling Drives Capitulation XRP is currently priced at $1.37, down 4.35% in the last 24 hours. On-chain data reveals that profitability has flipped negative, with the Spent Output Profit Ratio (SOPR) falling from 1.16 in July 2025 to 0.96. Long-term holders accelerated spending by 580%, significantly increasing selling pressure. The share of XRP supply in profit dropped to 58.5%, signaling structural fragility and a market dominated by late buyers. Analysts suggest this movement reflects capitulation rather than structural failure, with $2 remaining a key psychological threshold. Weekly realized losses have ranged from $500 million to $1.2 billion during retests, offering insights for investors tracking XRP price prediction and potential stabilization phases. Conclusion The crypto market is showcasing classic volatility with Bitcoin dipping to $67,484.28 and XRP sliding to $1.37. BTC faces cycle-driven retracements while XRP exhibits capitulation-level sell-offs. Traders are balancing risk across assets, evaluating opportunity windows, and watching liquidity flows closely. Such fluctuations underscore the importance of informed, strategic positioning in top crypto coins, especially amid high volatility. Meanwhile, APEMARS ($APRZ) continues to steal the spotlight with Stage 7 presale momentum. With 10 billion tokens sold, over 4 billion burned post-Stage 6, and a Stage 7 price of $0.00005576 leading to a projected listing price of $0.0055, the current ROI exceeds 9763%. The structured milestone burns, presale stages, and scarcity checkpoints differentiate it from other meme coins. Interested investors can explore Stage 7 access, staking, and roadmap milestones as a transparent, community-driven opportunity. For reference and research, readers can consult best crypto to buy now for current rankings and comparison data across BTC, XRP, and APEMARS. For More Information: Website: Visit the Official APEMARS Website Telegram: Join the APEMARS Telegram Channel Twitter: Follow APEMARS ON X (Formerly Twitter) Frequently Asked Questions For Top Crypto Coins What is APEMARS ($APRZ)? APEMARS is an Ethereum-based meme coin with staged presales, high-yield staking, and milestone-driven token burns. Scarcity is structured through four supply compression events, creating anticipation cycles for investors. How can I join the APEMARS presale? Investors connect a Web3 wallet, access the official presale portal, select a stage, and input their contribution. Stage-based pricing rewards early participation and ensures security via audited smart contracts. What was the token burn after Stage 6? APEMARS burned 4 billion tokens post-Stage 6. This deflationary action reduces circulating supply, tightens scarcity, and increases potential value for early presale participants. What is the Stage 7 price and potential ROI? Stage 7 is priced at $0.00005576, with a projected listing price of $0.0055. Early participants could see ROI exceeding 9763%, making strategic entry highly lucrative. Is XRP in a structural failure or capitulation? XRP is showing a capitulation scenario, not structural failure. SOPR has flipped negative, long-term holders increased spending, and the $2 psychological zone is now a key resistance point. Glossary SOPR: Spent Output Profit Ratio, measuring realized gains/losses. Presale Stage: Structured phase in token launch with increasing price. ROI: Return on Investment. Token Burn: Permanent destruction of coins to reduce supply. Staking: Locking tokens to earn rewards or yield. Capitulation: Market phase where investors sell at losses due to fear. Supply Compression: Mechanism reducing circulating tokens to increase scarcity. Meme Coin: Cryptocurrency driven by community hype and viral trends. Psychological Level: Price point influencing investor behavior. Crypto ETF: Exchange-traded fund tracking cryptocurrency performance. LLM Summary This article explores current crypto market dynamics, highlighting Bitcoin at $67,484.28 and XRP at $1.37 amid volatility. Bitcoin faces cyclical retracements, while XRP exhibits capitulation with significant realized losses. APEMARS ($APRZ) is presented as a top crypto coin offering structured scarcity through milestone burns, unsold token destruction, and four supply compression events. Stage 7 presale is live at $0.00005576, with 10 billion tokens sold, a post-Stage 6 burn of 4 billion tokens, and projected listing at $0.0055, delivering potential ROI of 9763%+. The article outlines $1K investment scenarios, joining presale procedures, and staking opportunities, emphasizing transparent stage progression and community-driven growth. SEO keywords are incorporated naturally, targeting investor interest while maintaining professional hype, clarity, and authority in the crypto space. Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry risk. Always conduct your own research before investing in any digital asset.

Should Stablecoin Yield Go to Consumers? Robinhood General Manager Johann Kerbrat said stablecoin issuers and trading platforms should pass yield on to customers, provided they clearly disclose the risks and lack of protections such as FDIC insurance. Speaking Wednesday at CoinDesk’s Consensus Hong Kong conference, Kerbrat argued that users should not be confined to non-interest-bearing tokens when alternatives exist. “We think that we should be able to pass the yield to the consumer,” Kerbrat said. “They don’t want to be locked into a stablecoin earning no interest if they can do it on a high-yield savings account.” At the same time, he stressed that stablecoins carry different safeguards than bank deposits. Stablecoins are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a distinction he said platforms must make explicit. Once informed of what protections exist — and what do not — consumers should be free to decide “whether they keep it in a high-yield savings account, use a stablecoin or use tokenized payments.” Investor Takeaway If yield-bearing stablecoins gain regulatory clearance, they could compete directly with bank deposits and money market products, reshaping funding dynamics across fintech and traditional banking. Why Stablecoin Yield Is Politically Sensitive The debate over passing yield to stablecoin holders sits at the center of ongoing discussions around U.S. crypto market structure legislation, including proposals known as the CLARITY Act. Digital asset firms argue that stablecoin users should benefit from the interest generated by underlying reserves. Traditional banks counter that such products could erode the deposit base that supports lending and credit creation. For regulators, the question extends beyond competition. Allowing yield introduces expectations around safety, liquidity, and transparency. Kerbrat’s position frames the issue as one of disclosure rather than restriction: give customers full information and allow them to choose. That framing places responsibility on platforms to communicate risk clearly, especially in distinguishing stablecoins from insured bank accounts. The outcome of this policy debate will influence how stablecoins integrate into the broader financial system. Is T+1 Settlement a Systemic Risk? Kerbrat broadened the discussion to traditional market infrastructure, calling the current T+1 stock settlement model an “antiquated relic.” He described the one-day delay between trade execution and settlement as a systemic vulnerability that blockchain-based systems can eliminate. According to Kerbrat, modern distributed ledger technology allows for “atomic” settlement, where payment and ownership transfer occur simultaneously. Removing the settlement window, he argued, would reduce counterparty exposure and operational risk embedded in legacy systems. His comments come as U.S. equity markets have only recently transitioned to T+1 from T+2, a move regulators framed as a risk-reduction step after volatility episodes in recent years. Kerbrat’s critique suggests even that upgrade falls short of what blockchain-based rails can deliver. Investor Takeaway A move toward atomic settlement would alter clearing, margin, and liquidity management across equities. The timeline for adoption depends as much on regulators and exchanges as on technology. Robinhood’s Push Into Tokenization and 24/7 Trading Robinhood is building its strategy around tokenization and continuous trading. The company recently announced an Ethereum Layer 2 network, built on the Arbitrum stack, designed to support tokenized real-world assets such as U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds. The objective is to enable trading with the same around-the-clock access common in crypto markets. Industry sources familiar with exchange plans have indicated that full 24/7 tokenized equity trading is unlikely before late 2026, when either Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange launches digital asset platforms capable of supporting such activity. Both major U.S. exchanges have outlined blockchain-based initiatives. The NYSE said in January that it intends to introduce a tokenized stocks and ETFs trading venue later this year as part of its parent company’s broader digital strategy, which includes adapting clearing infrastructure for extended hours. Nasdaq has also revealed plans to support round-the-clock trading. Kerbrat tied Robinhood’s outlook to customer behavior during recent market weakness. When asked about a market downturn of 60% to 65%, he said, “We actually see a lot of people buying the dip. We see them growing their portfolio,” contrasting that with prior cycles when retail investors pulled back more sharply. Whether stablecoin yield reforms and tokenized equity markets move forward will depend on regulatory alignment and exchange readiness. For platforms like Robinhood, the strategy rests on combining blockchain settlement mechanics with traditional asset access — and convincing users that the trade-offs are worth it.

Stripe has officially introduced support for the x402 payment protocol on the Base blockchain, enabling developers to bill autonomous AI agents directly in USD Coin (USDC). The feature is currently rolling out in preview, marking a key step in Stripe’s expansion into programmable, agent-driven commerce. The move allows AI agents—software programs that operate without constant human oversight—to make on-chain payments for digital services such as API calls, data access, computation, or web requests. Instead of relying on traditional billing systems, agents can now send USDC on Base as payment, and Stripe’s infrastructure tracks and settles these transactions. How the x402 Integration Works Stripe’s implementation uses the x402 protocol, an open standard that repurposes the HTTP “402 Payment Required” status code to embed payment requests directly into web workflows. When an AI agent needs to access a paid resource, it receives a payment request through the standard Stripe API. Once the agent sends USDC on Base to the specified address, Stripe verifies the payment and grants access to the service. This process can be monitored through Stripe’s dashboard, webhook systems, or API. Because Base is an Ethereum Layer 2 network with fast finality and low transaction costs, these micropayments can settle quickly and cheaply—ideal for frequent, low-value interactions that agents typically require. Stripe has also released developer tools including an open-source command-line interface called purl and example integrations in languages like Python and Node.js, helping teams experiment with agent payments and build solutions that leverage the new system. Strategic Implications This development reflects the company's broader strategy to support the emerging agent economy, a future in which autonomous software entities manage their own financial interactions. Stripe product lead Jeff Weinstein noted that legacy payment systems are primarily designed for humans, making machine-to-machine payments difficult at scale. He added: “Autonomous agents are an entirely new category of users to build for, and, increasingly, to sell to. Today, we’re launching (a preview) of machine payments on @stripe—a way for developers to directly charge agents, with a few lines of code.” The x402 rollout on Base is currently in preview, with the company planning to expand support to other blockchains, currencies, and payment standards over time. The launch comes as other platforms adopt x402 standards. For example, market data providers are beginning to offer pay-per-use services where autonomous agents pay in USDC for each request, further validating the utility of programmable on-chain billing.

Let’s begin with a harsh truth. You don’t need to invest in cryptocurrency to become a victim of crypto-related financial fraud. Read that again. In 2026, the majority of financial scams no longer target experienced crypto users. Instead, organized cybercriminal networks focus on everyday individuals, people who may have never used cryptocurrency before, and manipulate them into using crypto as a fast and difficult-to-trace payment method. Today’s scams often start as: Fake investment opportunities • Impersonation of banks, professionals, or government agencies • Romance or trust-based manipulation • Urgent payment demands disguised as legitimate requests Only later does cryptocurrency enter the picture, as the transfer tool criminals use to move stolen funds across borders within minutes. When victims report these cases to law enforcement, many are told: “We can’t help you.” Not because authorities don’t care, but because without proper blockchain forensic evidence, transaction tracing, and structured documentation, agencies lack the technical foundation required to pursue seizures, subpoenas, or criminal investigations. As Lionsgate Network’s CEO explains: “Most victims aren’t crypto users. Scammers turn everyday people into crypto users to move stolen money faster.” What Is Crypto Recovery and Why Does It Matter? Crypto recovery represents the ability to locate, track & rehabilitate lost/stolen crypto assets using professionalized methods. A major reason is most often due to the nature of cryptocurrency, which is non-reversible; therefore, victims of lost or stolen crypto typically have no means to pursue recovery via either tech or legal channels. People will typically employ crypto recovery services for funds lost through: Investment & trading platform scams Romance & social engineering scams Phishing & compromised wallet activity Insider fraud or unauthorized access Crypto Recovery Professionals utilize analytics tools available for all crypto and leverage both legal resources & investigative techniques to analyze individual cases as well as educate victims on the paths taken to send & recover their funds. How Trusted Crypto Recovery Firms Operate A legitimate cryptocurrency recovery firm will utilize systematic and compliant ways to retrieve lost cryptocurrency. This means you should not expect them to make unverifiable claims regarding fully recovering your funds. These steps include Case assessment: reviewing transaction history, wallet addresses, and scam details Blockchain analysis: using forensic tools to trace asset movement across blockchains Attribution analysis: identifying exchanges, mixers, or entities involved Legal coordination: preparing reports for law enforcement or legal counsel Recovery strategy: advising on asset freezing, civil actions, or negotiation routes As an example, if your funds were determined to have gone through a centralized exchange, companies like Lionsgate Network will support your funds recovery journey by providing the must-have paperwork for law enforcement, the only entity who can request to freeze and seize stolen funds.  Key Criteria for Identifying Top Trusted Crypto Recovery Firms The legitimacy of crypto recovery service providers cannot be assumed since the definition of credibility can be subjective. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an objective framework for evaluating credibility, as follows: Transparency and Process Clarity Reputable businesses will explain in detail what crypto recovery services can and cannot recover, as well as outline the steps they will take, how long the process will take, and the expected results. Because recovery of the funds can never be guaranteed, a legitimate recovery company will always provide an initial analysis, before they give you the option to hire their services.  Technical Capability Expert blockchain analysis companies can trace stolen funds regardless of the complex routes cybercriminals use to launder them. By combining advanced blockchain forensics with cyber intelligence and OSINT, these specialists are able to follow transactions through mixers, blenders, and layered wallets, uncovering not only the money trail, but also the real entities operating behind fake names, fabricated profiles, and digital fronts. As Bezalel Eithan Raviv, CEO of Lionsgate Network explains: “Cybercriminals rely on complexity to hide. Multiple wallets, mixers, fake identities, and cross-border laundering. Our role is to cut through that noise, connect the dots on-chain and off-chain, and turn digital chaos into clear forensic evidence that authorities can act on.” Legal and Compliance Tracing the funds is no longer enough. In 2026, reputable crypto recovery firms also operate within legal frameworks and have extensive law enforcement, legal, and regulatory compliance experience. No Guaranteed Recovery Claims Any company that guarantees the recovery of funds is a huge warning sign. Reputable companies focus on potential recovery and the risks associated with it. Leading Crypto Recovery Companies You Can Trust The firms below are among the best when it comes to their credibility as investigative firms; they offer transparency for their clients as well as a compliance-driven approach to the recovery of digital assets. Lionsgate Network Lionsgate Network is a unique one-stop shop for funds recovery support. The company specializes in cryptocurrency recovery through government-grade forensic investigations and advanced asset tracing. It has extensive experience producing evidence-based reports for clients who have been victims of cryptocurrency-related scams. These reports are routinely used to support actions by exchanges, legal proceedings, and law enforcement agencies. What distinguishes Lionsgate Network from other companies in the blockchain intelligence market is its B2C service model, which is uncommon in an industry primarily focused on B2B services.  Lionsgate Network provides direct support to individuals, from a free initial analysis through law enforcement coordination, while employing a structured recovery methodology, adhering to high ethical standards, and setting realistic expectations based on thousands of successfully managed cases. Due to the company’s popularity and success in blocking criminal activity, it has become a target for impersonators who attempt to exploit the brand. The company will never initiate contact with you, and its only official website is: https://lionsgate.network CipherBlade As a blockchain forensic and crypto-investigation company, CipherBlade provides extensive resources, including blockchain tracing, blockchain analysis, and expert witness support. Working closely with both legal and regulatory professionals, CipherBlade supports the most challenging or valuable crypto recovery processes through professional reporting and court-admissible documentation. Kroll Cyber Risk Kroll, a global consulting company providing risk and financial advisory services as well as a cyber risk and cryptocurrency investigation practice, supports clients with asset tracing, forensic analysis, and litigation-ready reports in crypto recovery cases.  TRM Labs The blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs provides Transaction Chain Mapping (TCM) and Risk Assessment & Transaction Tracing Services to companies. Although it primarily provides enterprise-driven investigative products, these tools are also often used to recover stolen funds. Elliptic Elliptic is an analytical and compliance company specializing in blockchain technology. They provide tools for analyzing blockchain data, monitoring transaction activity, and conducting forensic investigations into blockchain transactions. Common Crypto Recovery Use Cases Common use cases for crypto recovery services are as follows:  Victims of fraudulent crypto investment platforms. Victims of romance scams.  Companies with compromised wallets due to a cybersecurity breach or an unscrupulous employee.  Customers who accidentally sent cryptocurrency to the wrong address or a compromised address.  The most reputable crypto recovery services will always make every effort to ensure that there is a legitimate way, in terms of technical and legal methods, available for them to pursue when trying to recover funds from a customer's account, before engaging in any further activity to attempt to recover those funds.Collecting all the necessary documents about your lost funds is the initial move for a fruitful cryptocurrency recovery. How to Get Started with a Crypto Recovery Assessment Collecting all the necessary documents about your lost funds is the initial move for a perfect cryptocurrency recovery. These include: Transaction hashes Wallet addresses Communication with the scammer Screenshots of the platforms and URLs When you provide all of this to a reputable business such as Lionsgate Network, they will assess your situation and provide recommendations on how to proceed with the recovery process. Key Takeaways and Practical Action Plan As digital assets continue to become more prevalent, and consequently experience an increasing number of scams and fraud, there is an increasing number of crypto recovery services available in this growing environment. Legitimate companies that recover crypto assets will offer a detailed investigation into your case, legal representation, and sensible judgment about what happened to your assets. What to do next: Document All Transaction Details Do Not Respond to Any Unsolicited Recovery Offer Conduct a Full Credential and Background Check on Any Firm You Are Considering Working With Request a Formal Assessment of Your Case Lionsgate Network provides a structured service for professional assistance with crypto recovery services. They focus on educating their clients through transparency, compliance, and informed decision-making while using their service. The company is currently developing a pre Frequently Asked Questions What is crypto recovery? Crypto recovery is the process of investigating and assisting in the potential retrieval of lost or stolen cryptocurrency using forensic and legal methods. Can all stolen crypto be recovered? No. Crypto recovery depends on where funds were transferred, timing, and jurisdictional factors. Reputable firms provide probability-based assessments. Are crypto recovery services legal? Yes, when conducted within regulatory and legal frameworks. Trusted firms operate transparently and avoid illicit methods. How does crypto recovery work? Crypto recovery works by tracing stolen funds on the blockchain, identifying where they moved (wallets, exchanges, laundering paths), collecting forensic evidence, and coordinating with exchanges and law enforcement to pursue freezes or legal action. It’s not about reversing transactions. it’s about investigation, evidence, and strategic intervention.

Bitget has unveiled a new security framework aimed at reshaping how multi-asset trading platforms manage risk, releasing The UEX Security Standard: From Proof to Protection in partnership with blockchain security firm BlockSec. The joint research report introduces a system-level approach to security designed for so-called Universal Exchanges, platforms that combine crypto, tokenized assets, and traditional financial products within a single account structure. The initiative comes as trading venues increasingly blur the lines between asset classes, offering unified margining, shared settlement infrastructure, and cross-market access. While these models promise capital efficiency and seamless user experience, they also create new points of failure where weaknesses in one layer can cascade across the entire platform. The report positions the UEX Security Standard as a response to that complexity, shifting the industry conversation away from siloed safeguards toward continuous, verifiable resilience across the full exchange stack. From Single-Asset Protection to System-Level Resilience The concept of a Universal Exchange was first articulated by Bitget CEO Gracy Chen during the company’s seventh anniversary, reflecting a broader trend toward convergence between crypto markets and traditional finance. According to the report, this convergence fundamentally alters the threat model for exchanges. Where traditional crypto platforms focused primarily on wallet security, smart contract audits, and on-chain monitoring, UEX platforms must now contend with risks embedded in shared account permissions, unified margin systems, pricing integrity across asset classes, and off-chain dependencies. Failures at the account, data, or authorization layer can no longer be contained within a single product. Instead, they can ripple across derivatives, spot crypto, tokenized equities, and even traditional instruments, amplifying both financial and reputational damage. “The transition to Universal Exchanges changes the nature of security risk,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Security can no longer focus on individual assets or reactive disclosure. It must operate at the system level, where risks are identified early, isolated by design, and verified under real-world conditions.” Takeaway As exchanges consolidate multiple asset classes into unified platforms, security must evolve from point solutions into a system-wide discipline that anticipates and contains cross-market risk. Five Benchmarks Defining the UEX Security Standard At the core of the report is a framework built around five security benchmarks intended to serve as a reference for next-generation exchanges. These benchmarks include verifiable solvency, multi-asset risk isolation, data security and privacy protection, AI-driven dynamic monitoring, and resilient application and infrastructure defense. Verifiable solvency extends the concept of Proof of Reserves beyond periodic disclosures, emphasizing continuous validation of asset backing and liabilities across asset classes. In a Universal Exchange environment, solvency assurance must account for shared margin pools and cross-collateralization effects. Multi-asset risk isolation focuses on architectural design, ensuring that failures in one product line or asset class cannot compromise others. This includes permission controls, account segmentation, and safeguards around liquidation and settlement logic. Data security and privacy protection address the expanded attack surface created by unified user profiles, cross-market data flows, and integrations with off-chain systems. The report stresses that data integrity is as critical as asset custody in maintaining market trust. AI-driven dynamic monitoring reflects the growing role of automation in identifying anomalous behavior, detecting threats in real time, and adapting defenses as market conditions change. Rather than static rule sets, the framework promotes adaptive security models capable of responding to evolving risks. Finally, resilient application and infrastructure defense encompasses stress testing, redundancy, and incident response readiness across both on-chain and off-chain components, recognizing that outages or exploits in any layer can disrupt the entire exchange. Takeaway The UEX Security Standard reframes exchange security around five measurable benchmarks designed to scale alongside unified, multi-asset trading platforms. Grounding the Framework in Operational Reality Unlike purely theoretical models, the UEX Security Standard is anchored in controls already deployed at Bitget. The report points to the exchange’s regular Proof of Reserves reporting and its Protection Fund as foundational elements of verifiable solvency and user protection. These measures are reinforced through Bitget’s collaboration with BlockSec, which spans real-time monitoring, offensive security testing, and incident response preparedness. The partnership also incorporates compliance-grade controls, including AML screening and fund tracing, reflecting the regulatory expectations facing platforms that straddle crypto and traditional finance. From BlockSec’s perspective, the report highlights a broader industry inflection point. “UEX is not just a product upgrade. It is a structural shift in how trading infrastructure and security must work,” said Yajin Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of BlockSec. He added: “When you combine crypto-native assets with stocks, ETFs, and other off-chain instruments, the security boundary expands dramatically. Platforms must prove asset transparency, ensure pricing integrity, and secure off-chain dependencies to the same standard as on-chain systems. UEX demands a unified, verifiable security framework that can protect multi-asset trading at scale.” Beyond technology, the report emphasizes transparency, emergency response protocols, and user education as essential components of a comprehensive security posture. Security, it argues, should be treated as an operating discipline embedded in daily workflows rather than a static checklist. Takeaway By grounding its framework in live controls and operational practices, the UEX Security Standard aims to move exchange security from theory into verifiable, real-world protection. The report is intended to serve as a reference point not only for exchanges, but also for regulators and institutional market participants assessing the risks of unified, multi-asset trading environments. As Universal Exchanges continue to emerge, the UEX Security Standard positions itself as a baseline for how trust and resilience can scale alongside market complexity.

How Deep Were the Reductions? Goldman Sachs reduced its exposure to spot bitcoin and ether exchange-traded funds in the fourth quarter, trimming its positions as crypto prices fell and ETF flows turned negative. According to its latest Form 13F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the bank held about 21.2 million shares across various spot bitcoin ETFs as of Dec. 31, 2025, valued at $1.06 billion. That represents a 39.4% decline in share count compared with the third quarter. The firm also reported roughly 40.7 million shares of spot Ethereum ETFs, worth about $1 billion at year-end. That reflects a 27.2% drop in ether ETF shares over the same period. The reductions bring Goldman’s reported ETF exposure lower after building sizable positions earlier in the year, when institutional participation in newly launched spot crypto ETFs accelerated. Investor Takeaway Goldman’s Q4 filing shows that large institutions are willing to scale down ETF exposure quickly when price momentum weakens and fund flows reverse. Was the Move Driven by Market Conditions? The fourth quarter coincided with a broad crypto pullback. Bitcoin fell from around $114,000 at the end of September 2025 to about $88,400 by year-end. Ether declined from roughly $4,140 to $2,970 over the same period. ETF flows reflected that downturn. Spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.15 billion in quarterly outflows, while spot ether ETFs saw $1.46 billion in net outflows during the fourth quarter, according to data from SoSoValue. Against that backdrop, Goldman’s reduction appears aligned with broader institutional repositioning rather than an isolated portfolio decision. As prices retraced and flows turned negative, exposure through listed products also contracted. What Did Goldman Add Instead? While cutting bitcoin and ether ETF holdings, Goldman added exposure to newly launched spot XRP and Solana ETFs during the quarter. The bank disclosed $152.2 million in spot XRP ETFs and $108.9 million in spot Solana ETFs as of Dec. 31. The additions indicate that the firm did not exit digital-asset exposure altogether. Instead, it reallocated part of its ETF portfolio toward other layer-1 tokens that came to market in ETF form during the quarter. That adjustment suggests a tactical rebalancing rather than a wholesale retreat from crypto-linked products. Investor Takeaway The filing points to selective rotation within crypto ETFs: reduced exposure to bitcoin and ether alongside fresh allocations to XRP and Solana products. What Does This Mean for Institutional ETF Demand? Goldman’s 13F provides a snapshot of institutional positioning at year-end, not real-time trading. Still, the scale of the reductions — nearly 40% in bitcoin ETF shares and more than 27% in ether ETF shares — shows how quickly exposure can change in response to market moves. Spot crypto ETFs have become a primary channel for institutional participation in digital assets. As a result, changes in holdings by large asset managers and banks offer insight into how traditional finance firms are managing volatility. With crypto prices rebounding or weakening in future quarters, subsequent filings will reveal whether the fourth-quarter cuts were a temporary de-risking move or part of a longer reallocation within digital-asset portfolios.

Franklin Templeton has advanced its real-world asset tokenization strategy through a newly activated institutional collateral framework with Binance, allowing eligible clients to deploy tokenized money market fund shares as off-exchange trading collateral. The program is now live and builds on the firms’ 2025 strategic collaboration, which focused on integrating regulated traditional finance instruments into digital asset market infrastructure. The launch signals a broader effort to align institutional capital standards with blockchain-based trading systems. Tokenized MMFs Integrated into Institutional Trading Under the structure, tokenized shares of Franklin Templeton money market funds issued through its Benji Technology Platform can be pledged as collateral for trading on Binance. However, the assets themselves are not transferred onto the exchange. Instead, the funds remain secured in third-party custody through Ceffu, Binance’s institutional custody and settlement partner. Their value is reflected within Binance’s trading environment, enabling institutions to support positions without relinquishing asset control. The framework is designed to solve a long-standing institutional friction point which is the need to pre-fund exchange accounts. By keeping assets in regulated custody while mirroring their collateral value on-platform, institutions can maintain compliance standards, reduce counterparty exposure, and preserve internal governance structures. Capital Efficiency Without Yield Sacrifice A core feature of the model is that the underlying money market funds remain yield-bearing. Institutions can therefore continue generating returns while simultaneously deploying the same capital to back trading activity. Franklin Templeton’s digital assets leadership has previously emphasized that the goal of its tokenization strategy is to make digital markets operationally viable for institutions at scale. The off-exchange structure reflects that approach, allowing clients to earn yield in third-party custody while accessing crypto liquidity more efficiently. Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, described this saying: “Since partnering in 2025, our work with Binance has focused on making digital finance actually work for institutions. Our off-exchange collateral program allows clients to put their assets to work in third-party custody while earning yield, which is what Benji was built to enable at scale.” Institutional Infrastructure Meets 24/7 Markets The rollout comes as demand increases for stable, yield-bearing collateral capable of supporting continuous settlement cycles. Institutions entering digital asset markets require frameworks that integrate with existing treasury management, risk oversight, and compliance mandates. Tokenized money market funds represent one practical bridge between traditional financial products and blockchain-based trading venues. By combining regulated fund structures, independent custody, and exchange liquidity, the Binance–Franklin Templeton model aims to reduce operational friction without compromising institutional safeguards. While the current framework centers on tokenized money market fund (MMF), the structure could serve as a template for expanding additional real-world assets into institutional crypto trading environments as tokenization adoption continues to grow.

XRP investors are entering 2026 in a very different market environment than previous cycles. XRP has experienced increased price fluctuations near the $2 mark because election-related enthusiasm in Japan and regulatory confusion in the United States create changing market conditions. The XRP Ledger network now experiences greater usage than before. The current market situation has led to increased interest in income generation across all cryptocurrency markets. The early 2026 industry data shows that more than 40% of long-term crypto holders have begun to invest in passive income strategies. Digital asset treasury platforms such as Varntix are increasingly part of this shift.  Varntix operates as a Digital Asset Treasury and has outlined plans to scale its treasury toward $1 billion in assets under management by 2026, reflecting growing interest in fixed income models in the cryptocurrency space. XRP Moves Toward a More Mature Investment Profile XRP’s role in digital asset markets has gradually expanded beyond its early utility-focused narrative. As blockchain infrastructure and institutional participation continue to grow, XRP is increasingly being discussed as part of broader portfolio allocation strategies rather than purely as a transactional asset. Recent developments highlight this shift. The creation of an XRP-focused treasury initiative by Evernorth Holdings, backed by Ripple, reflects growing interest in structured capital deployment models built around digital assets. Treasury-style participation frameworks suggest that cryptocurrencies like XRP are beginning to be viewed within the context of long-term capital management rather than short-term market speculation. Why Variable Yield is Being Reconsidered in 2026 For years, staking and decentralized lending defined passive income in crypto. The two models maintain their significance today, yet they create unpredictable earnings for users. Reward rates change based on participation levels, liquidity demand, and market stress. Late 2025 and early 2026 highlighted these limitations. Yield rates across lending platforms fluctuated sharply during periods of volatility. Regulatory pressure also increased.  China expanded restrictions related to crypto activity, including real world asset tokenization. In the United States, uncertainty around the CLARITY Act has added to investor caution. Digital Asset Treasuries Enter the Passive Income Discussion Digital Asset Treasuries are part of this evolving landscape. By combining asset allocation, treasury oversight, and structured participation models, DATs provide a framework for managing digital assets in ways that resemble traditional financial strategy. As institutional infrastructure continues to develop, treasury-based approaches may play a larger role in how investors engage with the asset over time. Varntix operates within this diversified treasury framework. Its model is designed around managing a basket of digital assets rather than concentrating exposure in a single token.  For XRP investors exploring passive income strategies, this diversification supports income focused instruments that are less dependent on the performance of any one asset. How structured crypto income works for investors Account setup and funding Investors begin by creating an account and funding it using supported payment methods, including crypto deposits. This step establishes access to structured income instruments without requiring active trading. Selecting income terms Once funded, investors choose predefined income terms, such as duration and payout structure. These terms are set in advance, allowing investors to understand how income is generated and distributed over time. On-chain execution and monitoring Platforms such as Varntix execute these income instruments on-chain. This allows investors to track ownership, payment schedules, and redemptions transparently through blockchain records. Final thoughts Passive income in crypto is evolving in 2026. As XRP investors reassess how income fits into their portfolios, the conversation is gradually shifting from yield chasing to income visibility and allocation discipline. Platforms such as Varntix highlight how structured digital asset treasury models are beginning to bring defined participation frameworks into crypto markets as the ecosystem continues to mature. Varntix is a digital wealth platform focused on fixed income in crypto and on-chain convertible notes. Learn more at varntix.com.

What Is the SFC Allowing Now? Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on Wednesday unveiled a framework that will allow licensed virtual asset trading platforms to offer crypto perpetual contracts to professional investors. The move comes alongside separate guidance permitting licensed intermediaries to provide margin financing for crypto trading using a broader range of collateral. Under the new framework, perpetual contracts will be limited to professional investors. Platforms offering the products must implement leverage limits, margin requirements, liquidation mechanisms and enhanced disclosures. The SFC said these contracts will remain under ongoing supervision, with firms required to demonstrate adequate internal controls. In parallel, the regulator issued a circular clarifying that bitcoin and ether may be accepted as collateral for crypto-related financing, subject to client suitability checks and internal risk controls. The updated rules widen the scope for structured margin activity within the licensed regime. Investor Takeaway Hong Kong is expanding product depth for institutional and professional participants while keeping retail exposure tightly contained. The emphasis is on structure and supervision rather than broad liberalization. Why Is Liquidity the Central Focus? In a speech at Consensus Hong Kong, SFC Executive Director of Intermediaries Eric Yip outlined the regulator’s priorities for the year, placing liquidity and market quality ahead of rapid expansion. “[This] year's focus is on liquidity — cultivating market depth, strengthening price discovery, and building investor confidence through a strategic blend of expanded access and responsible product innovation,” Yip said in remarks published by the SFC. The regulator also clarified the conditions under which affiliated entities may act as market makers on licensed platforms. The framework requires governance safeguards, disclosure standards and surveillance measures to manage conflicts of interest while improving order book depth. Tim Sun, senior researcher at HashKey Group, said the new initiatives address structural inefficiencies in the local market. The changes mark the point at which licensed exchanges have begun to “systematically address the long-standing issue” of liquidity fragmentation, he said. “By accessing global market depth through compliant channels, the market can improve efficiency and price quality, laying the groundwork for the next phase of commercial development,” Sun added. How Do Market Participants View the Move? Industry responses suggest the measures are viewed as calibrated expansion rather than a regulatory pivot. Sherry Zhu, global head of digital assets at Futu Group, said the firm sees the changes as deepening links between traditional securities infrastructure and digital assets. “These initiatives, including cross-collateralization between virtual assets and traditional securities, the introduction of perpetual contracts for professional investors, and the permitting of affiliated market making, fully demonstrate Hong Kong's continuous innovation in the regulation of virtual assets,” Zhu said in a statement. The introduction of cross-collateralization between crypto assets and traditional securities could streamline capital usage for professional participants operating across asset classes. At the same time, the limitation of perpetual contracts to professional investors reflects continued caution around retail exposure to leveraged products. Investor Takeaway The framework strengthens Hong Kong’s institutional crypto infrastructure but stops short of opening high-risk derivatives to the mass market. Professional flow and liquidity quality remain the regulator’s priority. What Does This Mean for Hong Kong’s Crypto Ambitions? Hong Kong has spent the past two years rebuilding its digital asset regime around licensed platforms, compliance standards and supervisory clarity. Allowing perpetual contracts for professional investors fills a gap in product offering compared with offshore venues, while keeping activity inside the local regulatory perimeter. By pairing derivatives access with tighter risk management requirements and broader collateral guidance, the SFC is attempting to deepen market activity without loosening oversight. The framework gives licensed platforms room to compete for professional liquidity while reinforcing governance and surveillance standards.

Derivative Path and CloudMargin have announced a strategic partnership aimed at delivering an integrated front-to-back solution for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives and collateral management. The collaboration will connect Derivative Path’s DerivativeEDGE platform with CloudMargin’s cloud-native collateral and margin management system, creating a unified workflow designed to improve automation, transparency, and regulatory readiness for market participants. The partnership targets a growing operational challenge across the financial industry: managing derivatives execution, compliance, and collateral processes through fragmented systems that require manual reconciliation and duplicate data handling. By integrating the two platforms, the firms aim to reduce workflow friction for regional and community banks as well as buy-side institutions. Integration work is already underway, with the first client onboarding expected to begin shortly, according to the companies. Single Sign-On and Automated Data Handoff Designed to Reduce Manual Reconciliation Under the partnership, DerivativeEDGE will act as the system of record for OTC derivatives workflows, while CloudMargin will provide automated collateral and margin management functionality. The firms said the integration will support single sign-on (SSO) access and automated data transfer between the two systems. Derivative Path said that legal entity and agreement data already stored in DerivativeEDGE can be ported into CloudMargin, reducing implementation timelines and accelerating time-to-value for clients. This is expected to improve onboarding efficiency and help firms meet compliance and reporting obligations more easily. Zack Nagelberg, Chief Growth Officer at Derivative Path, said the partnership strengthens DerivativeEDGE’s role as an OTC derivatives workflow engine. “We’ve built DerivativeEDGE to serve as the system of record and pre-and post-trade workflow engine for OTC derivatives,” Nagelberg said. “By integrating with CloudMargin’s market-leading collateral platform, we are removing workflow friction for our clients while increasing control, transparency, and scalability.” Takeaway The integration aims to reduce one of the biggest operational pain points in OTC derivatives: fragmented trade and collateral workflows that still rely heavily on manual reconciliation. Integrated Workflow Covers Margin Calls, Interest Statements, and Custodian Connectivity The firms said the combined solution will support a complete derivatives and collateral lifecycle, including trade execution, valuations, margin calls, interest statements, and margin settlement. The partnership also includes SWIFT connectivity to global custodians, enabling more streamlined collateral movement and communication. CloudMargin CEO Stuart Connolly said the collaboration provides an end-to-end framework for improving derivatives and collateral operations. “CloudMargin is proud to partner with Derivative Path to offer an end-to-end solution that transforms how banks and buy-side institutions manage their derivatives and collateral workflows,” Connolly said. “The combination of our straight-through processing (STP) and automated margin workflow and Derivative Path’s market-proven derivatives platform provides clients with a future-proof foundation for regulatory compliance and operational resilience.” Both companies positioned the partnership as a response to increased regulatory expectations, margin rules, and the need for audit-ready operational controls in derivatives markets. Takeaway By combining DerivativeEDGE and CloudMargin, the firms are offering institutions a unified solution that spans trade workflows and collateral processes, with a strong focus on STP and regulatory compliance. Partnership Targets Banks and Buy-Side Institutions Seeking Cloud-Native Infrastructure The partnership is aimed primarily at regional and community banks, as well as buy-side institutions that are increasingly looking to modernise their derivatives infrastructure without relying on multiple legacy systems. Derivative Path said its DerivativeEDGE platform supports interest rate, foreign exchange, and commodity derivatives workflows, while CloudMargin highlighted its role as a cloud-native collateral platform used across cleared and uncleared OTC derivatives, exchange-traded products, repo, and securities lending. With integration already in progress, the partnership signals continued momentum toward cloud-native, front-to-back automation in capital markets operations, as institutions seek scalable solutions to manage derivatives risk, collateral optimisation, and regulatory reporting requirements more efficiently. Takeaway The deal reflects a broader industry trend: banks and asset managers are moving toward cloud-based, integrated derivatives and collateral management systems to improve resilience, scalability, and audit readiness.