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MAJOR UPCOMING EVENTS IN Q1 2026!
A full list of Major Upcoming Events, to be updated
👉 https://cryptodiffer.com/events
OplyScan Releases Real-Time Arbitrage Scanner for Prediction Markets
OplyScan has launched its public beta, introducing a real-time arbitrage scanner across Polymarket and Opinion that flags cross-market pricing discrepancies.
Manual spread monitoring is inefficient: by the time a discrepancy is visible, the edge is often gone or liquidity too thin. OplyScan tracks only live, executable setups, detecting YES/NO gaps with typical spreads of 1–5% per trade.
🔍 How OplyScan Works
- Tracks identical events across multiple prediction markets
- Detects real-time probability mispricing between platforms
- Identifies executable cross-market arbitrage opportunities
- Filters only setups with actual, available liquidity
Example structure:
YES on Polymarket at $0.41 + NO on Opinion at $0.58 → total cost $0.99 → $1 payout at resolution
Unlike many existing tools that rely on delayed APIs or surface “ghost spreads,” OplyScan prioritizes speed and execution quality — alerting users only when opportunities are still actionable.
Tomasz Stańczak to Step Down as Ethereum Foundation Co-Executive Director
Tomasz Stańczak announced he will step down as co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation at the end of February 2026. Bastian Aue will take over the co-Ex role alongside Hsiao-Wei Wang. Stańczak said he will share further details in an upcoming blog post and at ETHDenver.
Stańczak, founder of Nethermind, joined Ethereum Foundation leadership earlier this year as part of a hybrid strategy pairing a core researcher with an external builder. His tenure coincided with renewed ecosystem momentum, updated roadmaps on privacy, security and AI, and increased institutional engagement amid growing tokenization and ETF interest.
👉 x.com/tkstanczak/status/2022315368430067847
Hong Kong Unveils New Crypto Margin, Perps & Market-Making Rules
At Consensus 2026, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) unveiled three virtual asset policy updates to boost liquidity and market structure. Licensed intermediaries can offer margin financing using securities and crypto, initially BTC and ETH, enabling two-way collateralization.
ℹ️ The SFC will introduce a framework allowing licensed platforms to offer perpetual contracts to professional investors under strict risk controls, and relax rules for affiliated market makers to improve global liquidity access
Kalshi Enters Sports Hedging Market After $1B Super Bowl Volume
Kalshi partnered with Game Point Capital to help NBA teams hedge performance bonuses. Game Point issues hundreds of millions in sports insurance annually. The broader sports insurance market is estimated at $9B per year, projected to double by 2030.
📶 Sports Fueling Massive Growth
Kalshi’s sports contracts continue driving record activity:
- $441M traded in first 4 days of NFL season
- $1B+ traded on Super Bowl Sunday
ℹ️ January 2026 Marked an All-Time High for Prediction Markets
- Kalshi: $9.6B (+45% MoM)
- Polymarket: $7.7B (+44% MoM)
- Combined sector volume: $17B+
Prediction markets are rapidly evolving from retail speculation platforms into institutional risk management infrastructure.
Aave proposes ‘Aave Will Win’ Framework to route 100% revenue to DAO
Aave has put forward a plan to redirect 100% of revenue from its branded products to the DAO treasury instead of Aave Labs. The framework would also position Aave V4 as the next core upgrade and request funding to scale products and growth initiatives.
ℹ️ Revenue Realignment
- 100% of Aave-branded product revenue redirected to the DAO
- Product fees no longer fund Aave Labs operations
- DAO assumes responsibility for funding product development
▶️ Aave V4 Direction
- V4 becomes the main development focus
- V3 → V4 transition structured in 3 phases
- Legacy support expected 8–12 months after V4 launch
💵 Funding Request
- $25M in stablecoins
- 75,000 AAVE vested over 2 years
- Additional milestone-based grants tied to product launches
👉 x.com/aave/status/2022021942027727344?s=20
Flying Tulip (FT) One-Pager. Public sale starts on February 16th
The FT sale will be held at $0.10 per token and targets up to $1.0B raise at a $1.0B valuation. Meanwhile, only 16% of Polymarket traders currently favor a $1.0B+ FDV one day after launch.
Flying Tulip brings spot, perps, and lending under one roof, with cross-chain deposits and a delta-neutral ftUSD settlement layer.
Lightning Labs Launches AI Tools for Native Bitcoin Lightning Payments
Lightning Labs has unveiled an open-source toolkit enabling AI agents to transact natively on the Bitcoin Lightning Network, bridging a key gap in the emerging AI economy.
🔤 Main Highlights and Core Features
- Seamless AI Agent Integration with Bitcoin Lightning Network. Agents can operate directly on Lightning without needing accounts, API keys, or signup flows
- Automated L402 Payment Authentication via lnget Client. Automatically parses invoices, pays through Lightning, and provides cryptographic proof for frictionless access
- Pay-Per-Use API Infrastructure with Aperture. Developers can convert traditional APIs into monetized, agent-accessible services, enabling a full agent-driven commerce ecosystem
- Security-Centric Architecture for Safe Autonomous Payments. Features remote key isolation, scoped macaroons with role-based permissions, and support for multiple Lightning backends
- Alignment with Broader AI Payment Ecosystem. Complements Coinbase’s Agentic Wallets and Stripe’s x402 protocol for machine-payable web services, accelerating autonomous financial interactions
The release positions Lightning Labs as a key player in enabling low-value, programmatic payments for autonomous systems, unlocking new possibilities for AI-driven commerce
Aztec (AZTEC) Goes Live on Spot Markets as Ignition Mainnet Activates
AZTEC spot trading is now live across Coinbase, Bybit, Uniswap, Hyperliquid, Kraken, Lighter, KuCoin, and Gate, currently trading at $0.02078 ($215M Valuation)
ℹ️ Aztec Ignition is live on Ethereum as a fully decentralized L2, actively producing blocks with privacy embedded at the protocol layer. Aztec is based on the PLONK proof system, which now powers zkSync, Polygon, and Mina, while Aztec infrastructure is used by Solana, Stellar, World, and others.
Aztec has raised $217M across private and public funding rounds, backed by top-tier investors including a16z, Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, Variant, Consensus, and Vitalik Buterin
LayerZero plans to expand to Cardano blockchain soon
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson confirmed a deal to onboard LayerZero’s interoperability protocol onto the Cardano blockchain, aiming to enable trustless messaging and connectivity between Cardano and other major chains.
👉 coindesk.com/business/2026/02/12/charles-hoskinson-confirms-deal-to-onboard-layerzero-on-cardano
XPIN Network (XPIN) unveils its roadmap for 2026
In 2026, XPIN aims to evolve from a decentralized connectivity provider into a full-stack Web3 infrastructure layer by integrating DePIN, PayFi, token utility, and decentralized identity.
The roadmap focuses on scaling global eSIM adoption, strengthening the XPIN token flywheel, launching hardware products, and positioning XPIN as a universal gateway for secure, on-chain connectivity and authentication.
👉 docs.xpin.network/roadmap
Binance will list Espresso (ESP) with Seed Tag Applied
ESP trading starts today at 13:00 UTC, backed by $67.7M in funding. This board compares potential FDV scenarios using benchmarks from other privacy projects like Pyth, Humanity and Filecoin.
👉 binance.com/en/support/announcement/espressolisting
Price Discovery Board: Aztec (AZTEC)
AZTEC trading starts today at 7:00 UTC, backed by $217M in funding. This board compares potential FDV scenarios using benchmarks from other privacy projects like Zama, Zcash and Midnight.
Hong Kong’s OSL Group Launches Regulated USDGO Stablecoin
OSL Group has launched USDGO, a federally regulated, enterprise-grade U.S. dollar stablecoin focused on institutional settlement and cross-border payments.
ℹ️ Key Details & Regulatory Structure
- Initial mint: $50,000,000
- Network: Solana (multi-chain expansion planned)
- Backing: 1:1 USD-backed, including U.S. Treasuries
- Issuer: Anchorage Digital Bank N.A. (first federally chartered U.S. crypto bank)
- OSL Role: Branding partner & licensed distributor
- Audits: Third-party verified
- Framework: Designed to align with GENIUS Act standards
🏦 Institutional Focus. USDGO enables 24/7 liquidity, stablecoin-to-fiat settlement, and enterprise treasury management, targeting corporate and institutional users.
🌏 Strategic Positioning. Distributed in Hong Kong via licensed OSL Digital Securities, USDGO aims to support real-world use cases like cross-border trade and e-commerce, positioning itself as a compliant institutional settlement layer.
Top 10 RWA Assets by Market Capitalization
Tokenized gold remains the clear leader in RWA market cap, while Treasury-backed assets follow closely behind. Institutional-grade products are now defining the next phase of RWA growth.
Claude AI Developer Anthropic Raises $30B in Series G at $380B Valuation
Anthropic closed a $30 billion Series G round led by GIC and Coatue, co-led by D.E. Shaw, Dragoneer, Founders Fund, ICONIQ, and MGX, valuing the enterprise AI leader at $380 billion post-money. Funds will support frontier research, product development, and global infrastructure expansion.
Run-rate revenue now hits $14 billion, up 10x annually over three years. Claude Code, Anthropic’s AI coding platform, generates $2.5 billion in run-rate revenue, with weekly active users and enterprise adoption doubling since January.
Claude is integrated across Fortune 10 companies and available on AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, supporting diverse AI hardware for performance and resilience. Anthropic continues advancing frontier AI with Opus 4.6, powering professional-grade agents for documents, spreadsheets, and knowledge work across finance, legal, healthcare, and scientific domains.
Cryptomarket Check-In. Major Events & Headlines
This snapshot provides a concise overview of recent developments across the crypto ecosystem, highlighting institutional expansion and infrastructure growth shaping market dynamics.
Wrapped Bitcoin's WBTC Expands to Solana via Hyperlane Bridge
WBTC is expanding to Solana through Hyperlane, introducing a canonical bridge between Ethereum and Solana. Hyperlane’s Nexus Bridge will enable native WBTC transfers across both networks, bringing Bitcoin-backed liquidity directly into Solana’s ecosystem.
WBTC holds an ~$8B market cap and remains the largest tokenized Bitcoin asset, backed 1:1 by BTC reserves custodied by BitGo and BiT Global. The move strengthens WBTC’s multi-chain presence following its 2024 custody restructuring.
👉 theblock.co/post/389619/wrapped-bitcoin-hyperlane-wbtc-bridge-ethereum-solana
Head of Binance France Targeted in Failed Home Invasion
The head of Binance France was targeted in a home invasion attempt in Val-de-Marne on February 12. Three masked suspects entered the building searching for the executive’s apartment but fled after realizing he was not home, stealing two mobile phones.
The group attempted a second robbery in Vaucresson the same morning, mistakenly targeting another address linked to a crypto entrepreneur.
French law enforcement, including the Paris BRB and the Brigade de Recherche et d'Intervention in Lyon, tracked the suspects using CCTV and public transport before arresting them at Lyon-Perrache station. The three individuals are now in custody.
Helius unveils “Gatekeeper,” a new Security Framework
Gatekeeper gives developers fine-grained control over how users and programs interact with on-chain APIs and infrastructure, enabling customizable access rules, usage limits, and governance logic to secure applications while maintaining Web3 interoperability.
👉 x.com/helius/status/2022036143265788012
Trump-linked World Liberty to launch forex platform
World Liberty Financial plans to launch a World Swap, a foreign exchange and remittance platform. The company says the platform will connect users to bank accounts and debit cards globally while offering lower remittance fees.
The move follows the recent launch of its lending platform, which supports its USD1 stablecoin and has recorded $320 million in lending volume.
👉 x.com/BSCNews/status/2021842636118913239?s=20
Prism has kicked off MEGA Incentive Program
By depositing stablecoins during the campaign, participants can earn MEGA tokens through the points program.
How to participate:
• Visit the website and connect your wallet
• Deposit into available pools (WETH/USDM or USDT0/USDM)
• Take advantage of Lombard Finance 3x multipliers
• Use our referral link and invite friends
• Both referrer and referred users receive a 10% points boost
👉 x.com/PrismFi_/status/2021947926642102432?s=20
Lighter in Talks With Circle Over Potential USDC Revenue Sharing
Lighter is reportedly exploring a revenue-sharing arrangement with Circle, the issuer of stablecoin USDC. The potential deal would involve sharing interest income generated from USDC deposits on Lighter’s platform, though details remain unconfirmed and no official on-chain data has been released.
If realized, this model could give Lighter a deposit-based revenue stream beyond trading fees, boosting profits with TVL. Market optimism is visible, but the news remains speculative without official confirmation.
👉 minsimnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=10616
OKX Ventures Announces A Strategic Investment in STBL
OKX Ventures has made a strategic investment in STBL, a stablecoin infrastructure provider. The funding supports STBL’s mission to build Money-as-a-Service infrastructure for branded, RWA-backed stablecoins.
In addition, STBL has partnered with Hamilton Lane and Securitize to launch the first Ecosystem-Specific Stablecoin (ESS) on X Layer.
👉 x.com/OKX_Ventures/status/2021800542050390109?s=20
Binance Empire: Mapping the Powerhouse
Binance continues to solidify its dominance across crypto verticals by expanding beyond exchange liquidity into wallets, payments, data platforms, and social engagement, reinforcing its position as a full-stack ecosystem.
Binance completes $1B SAFU transition into 15,000 BTC
Binance has completed the final purchase of 4,545 BTC, concluding the $1B conversion of its SAFU stablecoin reserves into Bitcoin. SAFU Fund now holds 15,000 BTC, valued at approximately $1B at a BTC price of $67,000.
👉 x.com/binance/status/2021840377104527724?s=20
Elon Musk says X Money external beta is coming soon
X Money, the payments system built into the X, is preparing to move from internal testing to a limited external beta within the next 1–2 months, ahead of a wider launch to all users. X Money aims to be a unified hub for P2P transfers and other services within the app.
👉 x.com/xai/status/2021667200885829667?s=20
Crypto lender BlockFills halts deposits and withdrawals
Amid renewed volatility across crypto markets, the suspension echoes past warning signs — as withdrawal freezes during the 2022 downturn preceded several major lender collapses.
Susquehanna Private Equity–backed BlockFills is an institutional-focused crypto firm providing liquidity, lending, and trading infra to hedge funds, reporting over $60B in trading volume last year.
👉 x.com/blockfills/status/2021685236900237507?s=20
UK FCA Launches Legal Action Against Justin Sun-Linked HTX
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has begun High Court proceedings against crypto exchange HTX (formerly Huobi) for allegedly breaching the country’s crypto marketing rules.
ℹ️ What Happened
- HTX accused of publishing unlawful financial promotions to UK consumers
- Promotions appeared across TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram & YouTube
- FCA says the firm was previously warned but continued marketing
- Corporate structure described as opaque, with limited regulator engagement
🔤 Regulatory Background
- Since October 2023, crypto promotions in the UK require authorization or FCA approval
- Violations constitute a criminal offence
- HTX added to the FCA’s Warning List
- UK users would not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service
- Funds may be non-recoverable if the firm collapses
⏩ Enforcement Escalation
- FCA requested social platforms to block HTX accounts in the UK
- Asked Apple & Google to remove HTX apps from UK stores
- Existing UK users may still see promotions despite new user restrictions
This marks the first FCA enforcement action against a crypto firm for illegal marketing under the new regime, signaling a tougher stance on non-compliant exchanges.
The case has previously been linked in media reports to Justin Sun, though he is not named in formal FCA filings.
The Most Surprising Crypto Stories in the Epstein Files
Epstein files expose uncomfortable overlaps between elite power circles and the early crypto ecosystem. While no evidence suggests protocol-level influence, the documents reveal how access, capital, and private discussions surrounded BTC long before mass adoption.