An illegal Bitcoin mining operation was discovered in Malaysia after a fire in a house in Bandar Puncak Alam. Police and firefighters found modified electrical circuits illegally connected to the grid. Nine mining rigs were seized. From 2018 to 2023, the country lost about $723 million due to unauthorized use of electricity for mining.

- Dogecoin has pulled back to the key 0.618 Fibonacci level, which could herald a rally to a new all-time high of $2.30.

- The SEC has cleared Grayscale's DOGE ETF application, increasing the chances of approval to 76% by year-end, potentially fueling long-term price gains.

- Analysts predict a possible bullish reversal despite the recent price drop to $0.27.

Estonian citizens have pleaded guilty in a cryptocurrency scheme

- Sergey Potapenko and Ivan Tyurygin pleaded guilty to organizing a Ponzi cryptocurrency scheme that defrauded investors of over $577 million.
- The scheme involved a fake mining service HashFlare and the ICO of the Polybius project.
- The defendants agreed to forfeit assets worth over $400 million to compensate the victims.
- A sentence is expected, providing for up to 20 years in prison.

The cryptocurrency market is expecting a delayed altcoin boom in the current bullish cycle. According to a joint report by Bybit and Block Scholes, factors that have delayed the altcoin season include institutional participation and Bitcoin's dominance. Potential catalysts: growing interest in memecoins and the recovery of Ethereum. Institutional investments in altcoins may increase with the approval of ETFs.

According to data from blockchain researcher Aylo, Solana-based applications have generated $8.4 million in revenue in the last 24 hours, 10 times more than Ethereum. Solana’s growth is driven largely by retail speculation and high-frequency trading. However, some critics have questioned the accuracy of the data. Despite Solana’s success, Ethereum still dominates large trading volumes and liquidity.

XRP has briefly peaked at $2.80, following the SEC's approval of 21Shares' bid to create an XRP-based ETF. Analysts are forecasting further gains if the price holds above key support levels, with targets ranging from $2.94 to $3.03. This could signal a more favorable attitude from the SEC toward the crypto industry under new Chairman Mark Ueda.

Coinbase published its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024, reporting a revenue of $2.3 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $4.68. This significantly exceeded analysts' expectations. The net income was $1.3 billion. The company's main revenue comes from transaction fees, which increased by 172% to $1.6 billion. Coinbase's shares rose by 8.4%, reaching $298.

Michigan lawmakers proposed bill HB 4087, which would allow the state to invest in cryptocurrency, including bitcoin, as part of its financial strategy.

- Investments are possible from the general and stabilization funds, but no more than 10%.
- The state may also lease crypto assets to generate income.
- Michigan has joined 19 other states considering similar initiatives.

Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes in the essay "Zero Knowledge Proof" examines the potential of PolitiFi tokens. He argues that they can change political funding by circumventing censorship and influencing election outcomes. The tokens serve as indicators of public opinion and decentralized prediction markets, offering an alternative to traditional polls.

Tether, the company known for its stablecoin USDT, has acquired a minority stake in Italian football club Juventus.

- This strategic investment will allow Tether to integrate digital assets and technology into the sports industry.
- The company plans to promote blockchain and stablecoins in mass sectors.
- Tether has previously partnered with other football clubs, including FC Lugano.

Analysts predict that XRP could reach $3-$4 if support at $2.30 holds. Despite a 12% rise to $2.77, data shows a decrease in XRP on exchanges, which reduces selling pressure. However, an RSI of 71 indicates potential overbought conditions and a short-term correction. The SEC's decision on Grayscale's ETF application may impact further growth.

**Cryptocurrency News**

- **Pi Network**: The project announced the launch of the Open Network on February 20, which will allow Pi tokens to be available and tradable on exchanges. Some platforms like OKX and Bitget are ready for trading, while others, including Bybit, are holding back.

- **Bitcoin**: BTC price fluctuates between $95K and $100K. Analysts are divided: some expect growth above $100K, while others predict a correction below $92K.

- **Memcoins**: Market cap reaches $80 billion. Top gainers: Popcat, WIF, and SPX6900.

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet will be included in the MSCI Japan index on February 28, which is expected to lead to significant investment inflows.

The Bitcoin company has been enjoying rapid growth in the Asian market, becoming the fastest-growing stock in the country.

The inclusion in the index solidifies Metaplanet's position as the leading Bitcoin company in Asia and expands its global presence.

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Binance Coin (BNB) has surpassed Solana (SOL) in market capitalization, taking fifth place among the largest cryptocurrencies. BNB grew by 22% over the week, reaching $705. At the same time, Solana fell by 4.1% over the week and by 19.2% over two weeks. This occurs against the backdrop of market volatility and an update to Binance Chain, including transaction acceleration and AI integration.

Popular meme coins Popcat (POPCAT) and Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) have seen their prices skyrocket after Coinbase added support. POPCAT has seen its price increase by 25%, while PENGU has seen its price increase by 10%. Trump’s official coin (TRUMP) has also seen its price increase by 10% after Upbit announced new trading pairs. Analysts are predicting a possible short-term rise in TRUMP to $35-$40.

Legislation on strategic reserves of Bitcoin at the state level in the U.S. could lead to purchases totaling $23 billion or 247,000 BTC, said Matthew Sigel of VanEck. The analysis covers 20 states where such initiatives are being considered. Texas recently proposed a bill allowing investment in BTC and other cryptocurrencies. Arizona and Utah have advanced further than others in the legislative process.

The Chicago Options Exchange has applied for the listing of a spot staking Ethereum ETF from 21Shares. The new product, previously known as the ARK 21Shares Ethereum ETF, will allow for the staking of the fund's assets. Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart noted that this is the first ETF with such an application to the SEC. A final decision is expected by the end of October. Ethereum prices rose by 8% after the news.

82 projects based on the Solana AI Hackathon, but only 27 maintained a market capitalization of over $1 million. According to Nansen, the leaders — The Hive, Neur, TetsuoAI, JailbreakMe, and FXN — experienced a significant price drop, up to 70% from peak values. Despite this, the projects continue to develop, forming partnerships and integrating new AI features, which may ensure their long-term success.

BNB Chain announced an update for 2025 aimed at increasing transaction speed and improving user experience. The integration of artificial intelligence into the ecosystem is planned. The update will reduce block time to less than a second and expand the gasless transaction feature. AI solutions will also be implemented to enhance data management and tools for developers.