BlockchainReporter

The decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape has gone through a stormy start this year, with broader market drawdowns in terms of Total Value Locked (TVL). However, irrespective of the wider slowdown in the market, the real-world asset (RWA) initiatives and on-chain gold have proved to be the winners over the recent thirty days. As per the data from Sentora, the on-chain gold projects, including Paxos Gold and Tether Gold, have shown massive growth and resilience. In the meantime, the BUIDL fund of BlackRock, as well as Ondo Finance, has expressed steady gains, signifying the surging demand for the asset-backed blockchain initiatives.

While the market-wide drawdown in TVL has stabilized, only RWA-focused projects have delivered net positive growth over the past 30 days. Onchain gold has grown notably, led by Tether Gold and Paxos Gold.BlackRock’s BUIDL and Ondo Finance have also shown strong growth. pic.twitter.com/c0fa6xyMlo

— Sentora (@SentoraHQ) February 17, 2026

Tether Gold Jumps above $3B in TVL Amid Continuous RWA Market Growth

The on-chain data discloses a substantial TVL growth of RWAs and on-chain gold projects. In this respect, Tether Gold has experienced a sheer rise in its TVL since the early days of February, surging above the $3B spot. The respective surge points toward the spiking investor confidence when it comes to tokenized gold as a critical volatility hedge in crypto and traditional markets.

Apart from that, Paxos Gold has also presented consistent uptrend, reaffirming the preference for on-chain gold as a safe-haven asset within the digital economy. On the other hand, the BUIDL fund of BlackRock has reportedly remained comparatively stable, suggesting the institutional positioning thereof. However, Ondo Finance keeps gradually building appeal among DeFi community.

Tokenized Commodities and RWA Offerings Indicate Turning Point in DeFi Landscape

According to Sentora, the comparative TVL analysis underscores the preference for organized RWA offerings and tokenized commodities within the DeFi sector. Particularly, the gold-backed tokens’ resilience discloses that the investors are increasingly looking for both accessibility and stability in the highly uncertain macroeconomic conditions. Overall, the TVL trends denote a turning point at the intersection of blockchain-based efficiency and transparency, along with enduring RWA value.

On-chain activity on Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform, is heating up, as revealed today by market analyst Terminal Token. Data shows that the average monthly active addresses on Polymarket have climbed to a new all-time high of 679k, an indicator that the network’s popularity and user application are significantly rising.

Typically, the number of active wallet addresses reflects the level of activity in a blockchain network. Higher counts suggest stronger user adoption on a chain, and in the above case, it shows rising usage and interest in the Polymarket’s platform.

The number of monthly active users on polymarket is 688kThis is a new ATH pic.twitter.com/YhK13ipReS

— moneyfet1sh (@moneyfet1sh) February 17, 2026

What Active User Numbers on Polymarket Mean  

According to data reported today by Token Terminal, the prediction market platform has made a new record-breaking milestone in its active users per month. As of today, February 17, 2026, the number of monthly active users on Polymarket reached 679,000, a new record high. This is so far the highest monthly active trader count in the platform’s history, a reflection of increasing user participation and engagement in the decentralized network.  

At the same time, Polymarket recorded a monthly trading volume of $3.641 billion as of today, setting a new unmatched level, as per data sourced from DeFiLlama. This climb placed Polymarket in the second position as the second-largest prediction market platform in terms of monthly transaction activity. 

As reported today by DeFiLlama, Kalshi recorded a $4.152 billion monthly trading volume, making it the top decentralized market platform. OPINION, Probable, and Predict.Fun took the third, fourth, and fifth positions, as indicated by their $2.394 billion, $1.839 billion, and $382.93 million monthly trading volumes, respectively.

New Zealand Warns Kalshi and Polymarket

The figures above show a massive rise in the Polymarket’s traction and usability, an indicator of rising customer interest in its platform and other prediction markets.

Decentralized prediction markets have revolutionized the way people express their opinions of future real-world outcomes, from entertainment, sports, macroeconomic data, political elections, and others, by simply trading yes or no event contracts and possibly earning from such outcomes.

Despite these platforms becoming more mainstream across the world, they continue to face regulatory challenges since their prominence in late 2024. Today, New Zealand’s gambling regulator denounced Kalshi and Polymarket as financial trading platforms operating in the country, citing them as illegal entities under the nation’s gambling regulations.

The authority disclosed that Kalshi and Polymarket are unlicensed projects and warned that New Zealand customers using unauthorized sites face risks. The same situation also happens in China. Chinese authorities maintain stringent bans on crypto trading and online gambling, and even block platforms like Polymarket, Kalshi, and others using the Great Firewall. However, local traders have been able to access such decentralized markets through VPNs (virtual private networks).

Circle, the fintech entity behind the $USDC stablecoin, has collaborated with OpenMind, a robotics and AI development firm. The partnership takes into account the launch of the earliest independent AI transfers on-chain via $USDC. As per Circle’s official X announcement, Bits, OpenMind’s exclusive robot dog, has effectively leveraged $USDC and exclusive agentic commerce services to accomplish machine-to-machine nanopayments. Hence, this development illustrates the potential of blockchain technology, autonomous agents, and stablecoins to deliver a self-sustaining and seamless digital ecosystem.

Circle 🤝 @openmind_agiThis is just the beginning of autonomous AI transactions onchain.Watch Bits, OpenMind’s robot dog, use @USDC and our new agentic commerce solution to complete real machine-to-machine nanopayments to recharge itself. pic.twitter.com/4SGoF3NRaE

— Circle (@circle) February 17, 2026

Circle and OpenMind Alliance Unveils Independent On-Chain AI Transfers via $USDC

In partnership with OpenMind, Circle is introducing autonomous AI transfers on-chain with the use of $USDC. For this purpose, this partnership will leverage Bits, the robot dog of OpenMind for agentic commerce, through machine-to-machine nanopayments. The initial transfer permitted Bits to independently recharge itself, denoting a pivotal move toward real-world AI-led commerce. The respective demonstration emerges as a paradigm shift when it comes to the financial interaction of machines.

Thus, by letting Bits automatically recompense for the energy needs thereof, OpenMind and Circle have displayed the agentic commerce’s potential to redefine markets. This could pave the way for autonomous vehicles paying for maintenance, charging stations, or tolls, without any human intervention. In the same vein, intuitive devices could also manage repairs, upgrades, or subscriptions via secure transfers on-chain.

Raising Confidence in Autonomous Blockchain Transactions with Stability

According to Circle, selecting $USDC as the primary exchange medium highlights the significance of trust and stability in independent payments. Unlike volatile crypto assets, $USDC delivers a dependable digital dollar to be used by machines for seamless microtransfers. Additionally, the agentic commerce guarantees the scalability and security of these payments, leading toward widespread adoption. Ultimately, the self-recharging transfer of Bits serves as the initial step into an exclusive epoch of independent digital commerce.

The crypto exchange-traded fund market remained resilient throughout the last week, and total assets under management have reached an all-time high of $108.64 billion as of February 17, 2026. The recent seven-day report points to the new capital inflows and the overall investor interest in both Bitcoin and Ethereum-traded funds. The net flow of the week was positive, totaling to $202.89M, indicating that institutional and retail were involved in the crypto market despite the overall crypto market variance.

CRYPTOCURRENCY ETFs OVERVIEW (7D) #iShares #ProShares #FidelityWiseOrigin #Grayscale Total Assets under management: $108.64B Total Net Flow: + $202.89M#ETF #Bitcoin $BTC #Ethereum $ETH pic.twitter.com/LcOA0N5q2g

— PHOENIX – Crypto News & Analytics (@pnxgrp) February 17, 2026

The assets under management indicates the aggregate market value of funds in its portfolios. The gradual increase to over 108 billion dollars is an indication of the increasing maturity of crypto investment products and its effect on mainstream financial systems.

Bitcoin ETFs Maintain Dominant Position

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds still present the largest proportion of total assets. Bitcoin ETFs, which represent the largest AUM in regulated crypto investment products, control $95.46 billion of the total $108.64 billion AUM. Bitcoin-oriented ETFs registered net inflows of $145.8 million over the past seven days, which led to the majority of the positive performance of the market over the week.

The steady inflows indicate that investors consider Bitcoin as the main point of entry into the digital asset in terms of standard brokerage accounts. Although short-term volatility continues in the spot market, the ETF flows show consistent demand for the most popular crypto structured exposure.

The contribution of Ethereum ETFs to weekly growth was also significant. Funds dedicated to Ethereum have $13.18 billion of assets under management and received $57.0 million of net inflows within the same timeframe. Although Ethereum ETFs are not as large as Bitcoin products, they have gained momentum as more investors are making diversified crypto investments.

Weekly Flow Trends Reflect Cautious Optimism

The seven day flow data indicate alternating inflows and outflows, indicating that investors are still picky on what they allocate. But the net positive flow of more than $202 million in the week indicates that the selling pressure is less than the buying pressure throughout the week.

This trend indicates the reserved optimism in the market. Instead of a sharp accumulation, investors seem to be accumulating gradually. This restrained use of capital is typical of transitional periods in the market especially when the macroeconomic environment and the general mood towards risk are mixed.

The long-term investment into both Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs represents a belief in the fundamentals of both assets from a long-term perspective.

Top Funds Showcase Market Concentration

The ETF market is still highly concentrated with large financial funds. The crypto market is led by the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which has assets under management of $52.5 billion and a market capitalization of $52.3 billion. The fund also recorded a trading volume of $2.4 billion which indicates a high level of liquidity and investor interest.

Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) has an AUM of $17.6 billion and a market capitalization of $13.3 billion having a trading volume of $359.6 million. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC) has assets amounting to $10.7 billion and volume amounting to $300.5 million.

The iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) on the Ethereum side has an asset of $6.5 billion and has a trading value of $626.0 million. ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) completes the top five funds, having AUM of 2.5 billion and volume of 653.4 million. These numbers demonstrate that liquidity and scale are still concentrated among selected issuers.

Institutional Crypto Adoption Continues to Expand

The accomplishment of the $108 billion mark in total assets is a milestone for the industry. It shows that crypto ETFs are no longer considered niche products but are now taking an important role in diversified investment portfolios.

While the overall volatility in the crypto market remains intact, taking a deeper dive into recent performances shows that the market itself is going through a transition. The “Top Gainers” on CoinMarketCap are starting to show more interest in mid-cap projects and tokens related to specific ecosystems. Traders are moving away from simply chasing hype toward assets that have clearly defined roadmaps; thus, today’s top performers represent a picture of how liquidity is moving throughout the current 24 hours.

MemeCore and Nexo – Outperforming the Pack

MemeCore (M) leads all cryptocurrencies today with a massive rise of 16.09%, resulting in a price of $1.49. Unlike ‘meme coin’ projects that rely on social media for their growth, MemeCore has been successful in being able to bridge that gap by creating both an interactive community culture as well as a real-world functional decentralized blockchain structure. This Substantial trading volume of $10.8 million over the previous 24-hours shows the token has good liquidity and investor confidence.

The next largest mover is Nexo (NEXO), which gained 7.07% and is now at $0.9028. Nexo has been around for a while as a lender and exchange in the cryptocurrency industry, so its recent movement indicates that there is renewed confidence in centralized finance (CeFi) companies that have kept their promises of transparency and regulatory compliance. NEXO’s trading volume was $24.4 million, so both institutional and retail buyers are still active in this part of the market even though broader market conditions have changed.

The Rise of Ecosystem Scaling and Interoperability

Projects that target connecting across different networks and providing utility for existing infrastructure are currently placing well on the leaderboards’ middle section. Pi (PI) and UNUS SED LEO (LEO) have seen growth rates at 3.66%, and 2.44%, respectively, but there’s a larger story to be told with Jupiter (JUP) and Aptos (APT) performance.

Jupiter has gained 2.32% and is commonly viewed as an indicator of how well Solana is doing overall, as Solana continues to compete with Ethereum in the developing world of Decentralized Finance. Likewise, Aptos (APT) also gained 2.27% and had a terrific 24-hour trading volume of $64.1 million. The ongoing success of these “Layer 1” and “Layer 2” technologies demonstrates that investors are making a wager on the underlying technology delivered by these solutions will create Web3. This trend is consistent with the growing trend in the market where companies are focused on creating platforms that facilitate fitness, dance and rewards within the Web3 gaming industry; thereby creating new standards for what constitutes user engagement.

Strategic Rebranding and Market Resilience

The most important mention is Polygon (POL), previously known as MATIC. The upgrade had a high-profile technical upgrade, and the token was rebranded POL increasing 2.06%. This is part of “Polygon 2.0” which is an ambitious roadmap to build the Value Layer of the internet.

These assets are very strong in relation to other global finance markets, even with all the bad macroeconomic things going on in the world today. CoinDesk recently published a report showing that the correlation between crypto prices and technology stocks remains very high. However, some cryptocurrencies such as MemeCore and Jupiter are beginning to develop a more independent identity by decoupling through their ecosystem developments and community activity.

Conclusion

A 16% rise in MemeCore shows how volatile the crypto market is, as if traders are desperate to act on all movements. Many well-known projects, such as Nexo, Aptos, and Polygon, are continuing to build long-term. This signals real-world utility in the crypto market and suggests that the market is beginning to mature despite a great deal of activity at an apex time. Projects with real-world uses will thrive in uncertain, rapidly evolving markets while fostering their host economies through the new digital marketplace.

Crypto market is quietly reshuffling liquidity rather than bleeding capital, according to on-chain data that points to an accelerating concentration of stablecoins on a single venue. According to CryptoQuant’s data, “$47.5B in stablecoins now sits on one exchange,” a figure the analytics firm highlighted alongside the observation that “Binance holds 65% of all exchange stablecoin liquidity while competitors remain far behind.”

That concentration matters because stablecoins are the industry’s ready cash. When they sit on exchange wallets, they can be quickly converted into spot or derivatives exposure, amplifying moves in risky assets. CryptoQuant’s dashboards show a multi-year build in exchange stablecoin reserves, with the bulk parked on the world’s largest trading venue, Binance, a dynamic Binance that has itself repeatedly pointed to in commentary about the platform’s liquidity depth.

Broader Implications

For traders and portfolio managers, the implications are double-edged. On one hand, a single exchange holding nearly two-thirds of exchange-side stablecoins reduces friction for large buys and may smooth execution when market appetite returns. On the other hand, it creates a single point through which much of the buy-side must flow, potentially increasing short-term price impact and making market moves easier to coordinate or exacerbate during stress. CryptoQuant has previously flagged the same liquidity pattern ahead of past Bitcoin rallies, arguing that stacked stablecoin reserves can presage significant price action when deployed.

The market reaction so far has been cautious rather than euphoric. Bitcoin traded around $68k on Tuesday, having flirted with $70k in recent sessions before sellers pushed it back, while Ethereum has been hovering near the $2k area. Short-term technicals point to consolidation: bulls must clear the low $70ks for a decisive follow-through, while bears will watch for a retest of the mid-$60ks.

Macro and micro flows help explain the picture. Over the last few months, CryptoQuant’s trackers recorded heavy rotation into stablecoins as risk appetite cooled, and more recently, the outflows from some exchanges have slowed, not because market participants are deploying the cash, but because they’re gathering it in one place. In plain terms, capital isn’t fleeing crypto; it’s concentrating where it can be most efficiently redeployed when the signal to buy returns.

Traders watching prices will want to monitor both on-chain stablecoin movements and exchange reserve shifts. A sudden, sustained drop in Binance’s stablecoin hoard, or a rapid redeployment into BTC or large-cap alts, would be a high-conviction signal that dry powder is being put to work. Until then, the market may trade in the uneasy gray zone between accumulation and redistribution, where liquidity is present but patience rules the day.

George Town, Cayman Islands, February 17th, 2026, Chainwire

Zircuit, a security-first digital asset company backed by YZiLabs, Dragonfly, and Pantera, today announced the launch of Zircuit Finance. Incubated by a team from Quantstamp, Zircuit Finance is a secure platform for institutional-grade strategies, a stablecoin vault designed to generate yield on USDC and USDT, with a stated target range of 8–11% APR, subject to market conditions and variability.

Historically, access to professional asset managers and institutional strategies required significant minimum investments and long lockups. Zircuit Finance removes those barriers with a simplified, cross-chain interface that provides access to institutional-grade yield strategies through a single interface, enabling deposits and withdrawals across multiple chains while supporting diversified exposure.

“The future of DeFi isn’t about chasing the highest yields, it’s about building the most secure foundation for capital to grow,” said Dr. Martin Derka, Co-Founder of Zircuit. “Zircuit’s vault is part of a broader shift to create a more stable, transparent, and trusted on-chain economy where users can move large sums of capital efficiently and safely.”

Zircuit Finance vaults allocate a portion of assets to Monarq Asset Management, which manages regulated institutional-grade arbitrage and delta-neutral strategies. Monarq has a proven track record managing the Monarq Digital Asset Opportunities Fund, and the team includes professionals from Tower Research, LedgerPrime, BlockTower, UBS, and Bank of America.

Zircuit Finance also integrates Fidelity’s tokenized money market fund, Aave, and Morpho for diversified exposure across both regulated and decentralized venues.

Complementing this institutional framework, Zircuit Finance is partnering with Forteus, an FCA-regulated asset management division of the Numeus Group, which is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, with offices in London and New York. The partnership develops digital asset investment portfolios focused on generating risk adjusted returns on Ethereum and Bitcoin, leveraging Forteus’ investment strategies and institutional risk management capabilities.

Zircuit Finance will also integrate with FalconX as its prime broker and infrastructure provider, enabling institutional-grade execution, custody, and risk management. FalconX, a digital assets prime brokerage, provides a globally recognized institutional platform trusted by leading hedge funds and asset managers. Its infrastructure supports efficient capital deployment and compliance-aligned operations across multiple venues.

The core features of Zircuit Finance include:

Targeting 8–11% APR on USDC and USDT, with multi-chain deposits and withdrawals. The vault maintains a portion of capital for fast withdrawals (often within 24 hours for smaller requests) while deploying the rest to generate yield. Larger requests may take up to 14 days as capital is being withdrawn from deployed strategies.

Cross-chain messaging infrastructure provided by LayerZero technology. This architecture enables secure, omnichain access to vaults and partner strategies across multiple chains, all from a single interface.

“As liquidity flows into DeFi at scale, the platforms that will lead are those delivering both performance and safety while bringing institutional-grade strategies accessible on-chain. Our collaboration with Zircuit Finance reflects Monarq’s commitment to powering that next phase of growth, anchored in deep liquidity, disciplined risk, and operational transparency,” said Shiliang Tang, Managing Partner of Monarq Asset Management.

Zircuit Finance is built by cybersecurity veterans who secured more than $200 billion in assets and conducted over 1,100 audits. The team behind Zircuit Finance brings unmatched security expertise to DeFi, with $3 billion in TVL previously staked through the Zircuit Staking program.

Zircuit Finance is now open for deposits. Additional information on depositing USDC and USDT is available at finance.zircuit.com.

ABOUT ZIRCUIT

Zircuit is a security-first digital asset company founded in 2022 by experts from Quantstamp. Zircuit builds secure onchain products designed to help users deploy capital safely and efficiently. Backed by deep cybersecurity expertise, the team has secured over $200 billion in assets and conducted more than 1,100 audits. Zircuit Finance is the company’s institutional-grade platform offering yield on stablecoins and major digital assets.  

Users can visit zircuit.com and follow @Zircuit on X.

Disclosure: Zircuit Finance vaults are not bank accounts or insured deposits. Yields are variable and not guaranteed. Participation may be subject to digital asset risk, including smart contract and market volatility. Users should conduct their own due diligence before investing. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Contact

Head of CommunicationsJennifer ZhengZircuitjen@zircuit.com

This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.

Weaver Labs, a DePIN network technology platform, has partnered with Piing, an interactive fan-engagement and crowd-gaming firm. The collaboration attempts to provide wide-scale crowd gaming with the integration of cutting-edge digital connectivity. As Weaver Labs revealed in its official X post, the development has entered the deployment phase, and the activation will occur at MK Dons during a matchday event. With this endeavor, the attendees taking part in the current network trials of Weaver Labs can reportedly experience interactive gaming while enjoying the stadium environment.

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Piing, the masters of mass-participation crowd gaming!Today, we’re putting this partnership into action with a live activation for @MKDonsFC fans ⚽🙌 Attendees taking part in our ongoing trials will experience firsthand how… pic.twitter.com/nqcPG21D9W

— Weaver Labs (@Weaver_Labs) February 17, 2026

Weaver Labs and Piing Partner to Drive Real-Time Crowd Gaming through Smart Stadium Infrastructure

The partnership between Weaver Labs and Piing focuses on advancing real-time crowd gaming at scale. In this respect, the initiative denotes the potential of cutting-edge connectivity infrastructure in redefining fan engagement in next-gen sports venues. Additionally, the development highlights Weaver Labs’ efforts for the development of an orchestration-layer infrastructure for high-density n environments and smart venues.

Apart from that, by backing high-bandwidth and low-latency applications, Weaver Labs is enabling numerous spectators to link simultaneously without facing any network congestion. This functionality is crucial for crowd gaming in real-time, where the instant feedback and synchronized participation are fundamental to sustaining immersion. Additionally, the Piing delivers a platform with wider participation mechanics to make passive spectators active players.

Advancing Monetizable and Immersive Fan Engagement in Interactive Sports Settings

According to Weaver Labs, the partnership underscores a wider market trend toward merging digital and physical experiences within sports networks. For stadium operators and clubs, such technologies lead to unique opportunities for sponsorship integration, data-led experiences, and fan engagement. Interactive gaming has the potential to raise dwell time, establish monetization channels via premium activation and branded content, and bolster in-stadium participation.

Ultimately, by transforming whole crowds into comprehensively synchronized participants, the collaboration leads toward a future marked by the work of stadiums as completely interactive digital networks instead of passive viewing spaces.

The digital money area may be facing a low point right now, but smart people see this as a great chance to join early projects that could grow fast when the next big rise happens. Early sales are the best way to do this; they let you get coins before they appear on large trading sites, often at cheaper costs, and sometimes with extra gifts. However, not all top presale cryptos are made the same way. Some promise a lot but give very little, while others fix actual problems, use strong tech, and show clearly how coins are given out.

This report points out some of the top presale cryptos you can find today, from the creator-led site of SUBBD to the future-safe world of BMIC, the AI-linked web of Nexchain, and the privacy-focused ZKP. Whether you want to stay safe or look for big gains, knowing which early sales actually provide value is the secret to joining at the right moment.

1. ZKP Crypto: Privacy-First Network With $1.7B Projections

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) has established itself as a leading choice among top presale cryptos for a very simple reason: being fair and open. This early sale works as a daily buying event, which means every person who joins gets coins based on how much they put in.

There are no private groups, no secret gifts, and no special help for those who start first. Every day, a new 24-hour buying window opens, and people can use ETH, USDC, USDT, BNB, or many other digital coins to join. At the end of that time, 190 million ZKP coins are given out right away on the web, so you see your share in real time.

What makes Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) very interesting is the tech that runs it. Created with special secret-sharing math, the web allows for safe AI work and data moving without ever showing private details. This privacy-first way gives builders, learners, and large groups the trust to join while keeping hidden data safe. 

As more people use it, ZKP coins will be very important for keeping the web safe and giving prizes to those who help, meaning the need for them will likely grow fast. In fact, looking at how many people are joining now, experts guess the buying event could gather more than $1.7B in total!

Currently, the early sale has reached $1.89M in funding. It is in Phase 2, but this part closes in only 24 hours. Once this phase ends, the daily amount will drop by a huge 10 million, and any coins that do not sell will be destroyed, meaning this price level will not happen again. For anyone who wants a fair chance at ZKP, this small time frame is the last shot before the rest of the market notices and more people make the price go up.

2. SUBBD: The Creator Market Moves to the Web

SUBBD is getting a lot of attention as one of the top presale cryptos because it tries to fix the giant $85 billion influencer area. The site is spread out, meaning it removes middle players like Patreon, letting creators get paid quickly in digital money. People who follow them also win, getting coin prizes for helping their favorite stars.

Safety is a big focus, with checks from SolidProof and Coinsult, and the creators have given up their control to lower the chance of one group having too much power. These parts make SUBBD a firm choice for people looking for special niches.

The hard part is getting famous people to leave the sites they already use, but if they do, the chance for both user growth and coin need is very high. This mix of actual use, safety, and group prizes makes SUBBD a strong pick for top presale cryptos.

3. BMIC: Future-Safe Digital Money for Tomorrow

BMIC stands out as a choice for top presale cryptos because it looks at a problem very few others think about: keeping digital wealth safe from future advanced computer attacks. its world includes a safe wallet, prize systems for holding coins, and ways to pay that appeal to big companies and long-term holders.

The way the coins work is made to help value by using ways to lower the total amount over time, like buying back and destroying coins. While computer threats are not a problem today, BMIC is building a fix that could be very useful as tech moves ahead.

For those looking for a smart, safety-led project, BMIC gives a strong long-term chance. Its focus on actual problems, not just talk, makes it a wise pick for careful people who want to join early on a plan that will stay useful in the digital money space. This project remains a solid entry in the list of top presale cryptos.

4. Nexchain: High-Risk, High-Gain Early Sale

Nexchain is being noticed among top presale cryptos because it mixes AI and web tech, aiming to make smarter apps that are not controlled by one group. The plan has big goals, but price guesses show it could change a lot, with possible lows of $0.015 or highs of $0.55 in the next turn.

Even with this risk, the far-off goal for Nexchain is $0.75 by 2030, giving a fair return. What makes it a good pick for top presale cryptos is the chance to join at the start before the tech is fully ready.

For people who want to see how AI can work with web tech, Nexchain gives a path to join at the very beginning. While it is a guess, its focus on putting AI into the web gives it a special place among early-stage companies.

Wrapping Up!

These plans have earned their place among the top presale cryptos for the start of the year, with each one bringing something different. SUBBD is working in the growing creator market, BMIC is getting ready for future computer threats, and Nexchain is pushing the edge of AI-led web tech.

But when you look at being fair, open, and having actual use right now, ZKP clearly leads the group. Its daily buying event makes sure everyone gets a fair turn, while its secret-sharing tech allows for safe, privacy-led AI work and data sharing.

With a high chance for people to start using it, quick coin sharing on the web, and a plan that lowers the amount of coins over time, ZKP gives both a quick chance and long-term value. For anyone searching for top presale cryptos today, ZKP is the best pick, especially with Phase 2 ending in just a few days.

This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.

Phoenix Group has issued its most recent crypto market snapshot of February 17, 2026, which lists what it refers to as the top crypto assets within the Accumulation Zone. The data show that a number of prominent altcoins are registering significant market volumes and price fluctuations over the last seven days, indicating that they are being accumulated amid a mixed performance over the short term.

TOP ASSETS IN THE ACCUMULATION ZONE$RENDER $BONK $STX $DCR $IP $CRV $H $KAIA $FLOKI $SAND pic.twitter.com/5K8bvM5bKr

— PHOENIX – Crypto News & Analytics (@pnxgrp) February 17, 2026

The accumulation stage is often an indicator of a time when investors quietly accumulate ahead of a possible breakout. Phoenix Group observes that volumes of trading are usually high during such times than normal.

Render and Bonk Lead Weekly Gains

The largest market capitalization in the group is that of Render (RENDER) at $764.5 million. In the last 7 days, RENDER showed a good rise of 10.54 percent to place it among the top performers in this accumulation basket. The upward trend of the project indicates long-term trader interest.

The next one is Bonk (BONK) with a market cap of $574.6 million and a 7.12 percent growth per week. Being a meme-based token that is highly engaged in the community, BONK remains a magnet to speculative flows. The upward trend throughout the week is indicative of rejuvenated risk-taking by some market segments.

Stacks (STX) has a market cap of $477.9 million and an increase of 3.11 percent in the same period. The medium growth means the stability in comparison to tokens with high volatility in the list.

Mixed Performance Signals Crypto Market Rotation

Not every crypto asset in the accumulation zone registered gains. Decred (DCR) with a market capitalization of $413.3 million fell by 9.06 percent in the last one week. Although it declined, Phoenix Group continues to classify it as part of the accumulation stage, meaning that price weakness does not always eliminate underlying positioning action.

Story (IP), which has a valuation of $406.2 million, fell by 1.61 percent. Curve (CRV) recorded 2.00 percent growth, and it has a market capitalization of $372.6 million. One of the most impressive performances of the week was in the humanity (H), which shot up by 26.70 percent and its market capitalization stood at $352.5 million. It is such a rapid growth that indicates an increase in speculative momentum or new capital flows.

Kaia (KAIA) increased by 5.17 percent and it has a market capitalization of $341.0 million. Another meme-oriented asset, FLOKI (FLOKI) was up 6.38 percent and has a valuation of $306.2 million. The Sandbox (SAND) recorded a 0.63 percent growth and a market capital of $230.8 million.

What the Accumulation Phase Suggests

Phoenix Group says that the accumulation phase is marked by the convergence of crypto asset performance and critical measures in a manner that indicates structured buying. Volumes during this period are normally high. The company attributes this movement to either algorithmic trading or to bigger investors accumulating gradually without causing sharp price movements.

Accumulation in most crypto market cycles is followed by a wider mark up period. These zones are the ones that are mostly followed by traders, as they can provide an early indication of where the capital can move the next. This does not necessarily mean that accumulation will be followed by immediate increases though. Prices may either converge or even further reduce before a breakout.

Mid-Cap Altcoins in Focus

The fact that mid-cap tokens are concentrated in this list reflects a larger theme in the current crypto market environment. Instead of concentrating on large-cap leaders, it seems that traders are looking into crypto assets with expansion potential but well-established liquidity profiles. The tokens include RENDER, BONK, STX, and CRV, which merge familiar branding with medium-valuation, which may appeal to retail and institutional players.

The variety in the basket, which includes projects focused on infrastructure and meme coins and metaverses, such as SAND, means that the signs of accumulation are not limited to the one-story. Rather, capital appears to be diffusing through various fields of the crypto asset ecosystem.

The crypto market has long been characterized by a repeating cycle of price fluctuations, commonly referred to as the four-year cycle of price fluctuations. Recently, leading market analyst Ash Crypto helped fuel debate on social media concerning a potential market bottom for Bitcoin at $50,000 as we approach 2026. Ash’s forecast draws on historical technical indicators and RSI, suggesting that while we may encounter significant price corrections, Bitcoin’s long-term structural integrity remains robust compared to its actual price movements.

The Significance of the Monthly RSI and $50,000 Support

This review’s main focus is on the Monthly Relative Strength Index, which is a way of measuring how fast and how quickly a price changes. Based on an Ash Crypto Chart, there are historical examples when the Monthly RSI fell below the 40 level, and these levels usually correspond with some type of cyclical bottom. Again, the Monthly RSI for both 2018 and 2022 helped signify a bearish trend was exhausted; thus, those were significant turning points before the market turned back up.

The $50K benchmark isn’t just psychological, this level aligns with a decade-long upward trend line connecting significant low points, if Bitcoin retested that level within 2026 it will have been a higher low than the 2022 low of approximately $15K. Which would validate that even though there might be some volatility in the near term, the macro bullish trend will remain intact.

Historical Context – The Four-Year Cycle Theory

Bitcoin’s halving occurs every 4 years, reducing new supply by 50%. The reduction in supply has led to historically large increases in price during a bull run. The subsequent price collapse led to what is known as the “crypto winter”, which analysts have used to project when the next period of accumulation should start.

According to current market data, recent activity indicates that the market is now moving beyond the 2024 Bitcoin Halving and into what will be known as the “post-halving” period. This is based on data from Glassnode regarding institutional adoption through spot ETF launches or activity on spot exchanges, which has changed the liquidity profile for retail traders. As a result, extreme volatility seen during past cycles has been reduced while the market still maintains a generally cyclical structure. The projections for a bottoming of Bitcoin price in 2026 will also help to time when the next cyclical peak will occur after this latest peak has ended.

Market Maturity and Institutional Influence

Technical charts show how to invest, but there are many differences between the fundamentals of what’s happened from 2018-2020 compared to what’s going to happen in 2026. With more Web3 technologies being developed and being utilized for Decentralized Finance (DeFi), the Blockchain infrastructure is going to be used more often for utility purposes.

A possible move down to $50,000 by either BlackRock or Fidelity, massive institutional money managers, will likely be met with major “buy the dip” activity from institutional diamond hands. This could help prevent the 80–90% drawdowns that were common in the early days of crypto.

Conclusion

The prediction of a $50K bottom for Bitcoin in 2026 may appear bearish to those who have become used to mostly upward price movement. However, in relation to the overall health of the market, this type of correction is simply one part of the broader price discovery process.

By using analytics tools like trend analyzing and monthly RSI, a trader is able to take away or isolate the emotional noise found in trading and rely on mathematical probabilities. As the cryptocurrency space grows & new forms of applications are created in real life, these cycles will give knowledgeable people a strong guideline to protect their long-term wealth.

The worldwide crypto landscape is displaying a cautious stability irrespective of the mixed performance. Thus, the cumulative crypto market capitalization has seen a slight 0.16% rise to reach $2.3T. However, the 24-hour crypto volume has dipped by 18.61%, reaching $83.29B. Concurrently, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index is standing at 13 points, showing “Extreme Fear” among the market participants.

Bitcoin ($BTC) Sheds 0.62% While Ethereum ($ETH) Sees Slight 0.92% Rise

Particularly, the top cryptocurrency, Bitcoin ($BTC), is currently changing hands at $68,282.59. This indicates a 0.62% dip, while the market dominance of Bitcoin is 58.2%. In addition to this, the flagship altcoin, Ethereum ($ETH), has seen a 0.92% rise to touch the $1,983.22 mark. In the meantime, $ETH’s market dominance sits at 10.2%.

$BPX, $TRUMP, and $PEPE Dominate Crypto Gainers of Day

Apart from that, the leading crypto gainers of the day include Black Phoenix ($BPX), PEPE ($TRUMP), and PEPE AI ($PEPE). Specifically, $BPX is now 4796.99% up, with its price hitting $0.1984. Subsequently, $TRUMP is currently hovering around $0.0002324 after a 1369.89% increase. Following that, a 905.83% surge has placed $PEPE’s price at $0.0004886.

DeFi TVL Records 0.64% Spike and NFT Sales Volume Witnesses 51.81% Increase

Simultaneously, the DeFi TVL has witnessed a 0.64% jump, attaining the $96.724B mark. Additionally, the top DeFi project in the case of TVL, Aave, has spiked by 0.59% to claim the $27.246B spot. Nonetheless, when it comes to 1-day TVL change, Supernova is the leading DeFi player, accounting for a stagering 80863% increase over the past twenty-four hours.

In the same vein, the NFT sales volume has surged by 51.81%, hitting the $18,244,676 figure. Similarly, the top-selling NFT collection, Flying Tulip PUT, is 93.24% up, at $14,515,738.

Venezuela Halts Crypto Activity, Crypto.com First with ISO/IEC 42001 Certificate

At the same time, the crypto industry has also gone through many other key developments. In this respect, the authorities in Venezuela have ordered a halt on crypto mining and exchange activities nationwide, as include in an anti-corruption probe.

Moreover, Crypto.com has become the earliest digital asset entity to get an international certification for the management of AI systems with the new ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification. Furthermore, The Official Trump ($TRUMP), the crypto token project linked to the U.S. President Donald Trump, is going to unlock 6.33M $TRUMP tokens.

XRP on-chain data is displaying a concerning outlook. According to data shared today by market analyst Ali Martinez, active addresses on the XRPL Ledger have significantly dropped from a high of 55,080 noticed last week to the current low of 40,778.

The number of active addresses is a crucial indicator, typically pointing out the health of a blockchain network, and in this case, reflects the activity level of the XRP blockchain, a network commonly recognized as the XRPL Ledger.

This drastic fall of active addresses on the XRP chain warrants a closer exploration of what’s happening underneath the surface of XRPL network usage.

$XRP network activity has dropped nearly 26% in the past week, falling from 55,080 to 40,778 active addresses. pic.twitter.com/oVAgFhnxck

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) February 17, 2026

XRP Experiencing Rising Bearish Pressure 

As per data shared by Ali, daily active addresses on the XRP blockchain have dropped by 25.97% to 40,778 from last week’s level at 55,080. This development is significant as it suggests that the price of the third-largest cryptocurrency is at risk of experiencing a potential fall.

Today, XRP witnessed an upside movement of 0.2%, making its price currently trade at $1.47, according to data sourced from CoinGecko.  Furthermore, its price has been up 3.7% over the past week, indicating that buyers overpower sellers.

Despite this, the XRP Ledger recorded a reduction in on-chain activity last week, with a 25.97% drop in active wallet addresses. This decrease shows reduced user engagement on the network, meaning decreased user interest and a potential shift towards bearishness (greater selling activity).

XRP price has followed a consolidative trend during the week, remaining within a $1.3574 and $1.4827 range. The network activity has influenced this price movement, which is also impacted by the broader market conditions, as Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are currently stuck around $68,097 and $1,975 (at press time), indicating sideways trading in the larger cryptocurrency space.

The current price of XRP is $1.45. Why XRP Price Eyes On $1.08

The analyst warns that the price of XRP may further fall soon. Key trends and technical signals on its market indicate that the altcoin’s price could drop to the $1.26 key support level.

Despite long-term investors absorbing the excess supply, which contributed to today’s 0.2% price rise and another 3.7% increased noted over the past week, persistent selling pressure is set to trigger XRP’s potential price drop, driven by substantial selling activity from whale token holders.   

Technical analysis shows that XRP is currently moving within a bearish rising wedge pattern formation, reflecting a looming 24% drop to $1.08 if the asset fails to hold its price above the $1.26 support zone.  

On February 9 in Hong Kong, Gamma Prime held the Tokenized Capital Summit 2026, bringing together over 2,000 attendees from across the global investment landscape. The audience included family offices, institutional investors, and representatives of leading investment firms, reflecting the growing convergence between traditional capital and tokenized markets.

The stage welcomed prominent industry figures such as Yat Siu, Nenter Chow, Andrew Robinson, Head of Institutional Coverage at Coinbase, Adrian Tan, Head of Binance VIP & Institutional, and Akshat Vaidya, Co-Founder of Maelstrom, among other respected speakers. Together, they represented more than $20 billion in assets under management, reinforcing the summit’s status as one of the year’s most significant gatherings at the intersection of institutional finance and Web3.

Gamma Prime’s Product

Gamma Prime operates a compliant and secure marketplace for private investments, built to provide access to opportunities that are typically difficult to reach. The platform focuses on non-correlated yield, offering investors a practical way to diversify their portfolios beyond public markets.

By adhering to regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, Gamma Prime is developing into a global marketplace for hedge funds, venture capital, private equity, and other illiquid private assets. This approach enables funds to reach new institutional partners, family offices, and accredited investors worldwide, while expanding the range of investment opportunities available on the platform.

The company’s leadership team includes DeFi builders, professionals from traditional finance, and Stanford PhDs, combining strong experience in blockchain innovation with institutional-grade governance and operational discipline.

Connecting Traditional Finance and Tokenization

The Tokenized Capital Summit represents an important step for the institutional Web3 sector. It brings together participants from traditional finance and companies active in tokenization, creating a platform for practical discussions on market developments and institutional adoption.

By organizing the summit, Gamma Prime advances its objective of expanding global access to private investments that have historically been fragmented and difficult to access. The event in Hong Kong demonstrates the growing cooperation between institutional investors, family offices, and Web3 companies, reflecting broader structural shifts within the financial industry.

About Gamma Prime

Gamma Prime is a tokenized marketplace of curated private investments specializing in hard-to-find uncorrelated returns – hedge funds, private credit, and other alternatives across both digital and real world asset classes. Fully regulatory compliant and built with institutional security standards, Gamma Prime is positioned to become the leading global platform for hedge funds, venture capital, private equity, and other illiquid private investment opportunities. The company was founded by a team of DeFi pioneers, traditional finance professionals, and Stanford PhDs.

This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.

A crypto wallet address has recently suffered a massive attack. Specifically, the attacker has successfully executed a massive $600K $USDT Address Poisoning Attack. As per the data from Cyvers Alerts, the exploiter poisoned the transfer history of the victim. This ultimately resulted in a transfer of nearly $600K $USDT to a fake address.

🚨ALERT🚨Our systems detected a $600K $USDT address poisoning attack approximately more than 10 min ago.The victim was initially poisoned 32 min earlier.Today, when attempting to send funds to 0x77f6ca8E…2E087a346, the victim instead sent the transaction to the malicious… pic.twitter.com/8XRXIZliNA

— 🚨 Cyvers Alerts 🚨 (@CyversAlerts) February 17, 2026

32-Minute Scam Drains $599K USDT Through Address Poisoning Tactics

As the on-chain data reveals, the victim, with the wallet address “0xce3…1b89b,” has incurred a loss of 599496.93 $USDT in an Address Poisoning Attack. In this respect, the attacker, with the wallet address “0x77f…8a346,” effectively tricked the victim into sending the respective amount to a fake address. In this respect, the attack went on for 32 minutes, draining the victim’s funds without their awareness. Hence, this prolonged wallet address poisoning paved the way for the subsequent $USDT loss.

The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of the manipulative techniques that the crypto attackers use to deceive their victims. Particularly, the victim initially tried to transfer the funds to the address “0x77f…7a346.” However, the transfer was then redirected to some malicious address “0x77f…8A346.” So, the victim could not detect the respective subtle difference in the address characters. As a result, the victim ultimately faced a notable loss.

Crypto Consumers Urged to Increase Vigilance for Prevention of Scams

According to Cyvers Alerts, the address poisoning has emerged as one of the most dangerous techniques for digital asset attacks. With the $600K drained within a few minutes, the broad financial damage scale highlights the need for more vigilance among the crypto users. Keeping this in view, Cyvers Alerts has also urged the users to carefully monitor their operations to prevent such damage, as this episode serves as a stark reminder.

What if the next unicorn wasn’t on Nasdaq yet… but on-chain?”

That’s no longer hypothetical. Heading into Q1 2026, investors aren’t chasing noise. They’re watching infrastructure, utility, and real-world integration.

This cycle marks a shift. Capital is moving away from meme hype toward tokens backed by revenue, governance, and structured ecosystems. Investors want private market exposure, early access, transparency, and liquidity.

IPO Genie sits at that intersection.

Blending tokenized venture capital, DAO governance, AI-powered deal discovery, and private market access, it aligns with what serious investors prioritize. In a crowded list of crypto presales of 2026, the question isn’t “What’s pumping?” It’s “What’s building durable, long-term value?”

Here are three reasons IPO Genie keeps popping up as the first top crypto presale on investors’ lists.

IPO Genie: Behind The Curtains

Let’s break this down simply.

For decades, 99% of investors could not access private deals. Venture capital firms and insiders controlled early-stage unicorn investments. Retail investors only got access after the IPO, when most of the upside was already gone.

IPO Genie flips that script.

It acts as a bridge between blockchain and private markets. Instead of needing $250,000 and insider connections, holders of the $IPO token unlock tiered access to vetted pre-IPO and early-stage deals

In simple terms:

Buy $IPO

Choose vetted deals

Exit through tokenized liquidity

The platform uses AI signal agents to enhance deal discovery and monitor performance. The Redwood AI Corp call, flagged by its AI before the February 6, 2026 IPO and published publicly, showed this model in action.

This moves investing from “unfair insider game” to a more transparent, structured system.

Crypto YouTubers like Michael Wrubel and Heavy Crypto have started highlighting IPO Genie as one of the most structured crypto presales of 2026 projects, calling it “one of the few presales actually tied to real-world deal flow.”

That attention doesn’t come randomly.

Why IPO Genie is On Investors’ Watchlist of 2026: 3 Reasons

Reason #1: $3T Market Most Investors Can’t Touch 

For decades, firms like Sequoia Capital captured early stakes in companies like Uber and Airbnb long before they went public. By the time retail investors got access, most of the explosive upside was already gone.

The global private market exceeds $15 trillion, and IPO Genie is targeting a structured slice of that opportunity, estimated at around $3 trillion. Research consistently shows that the majority of value creation happens before IPO, not after. Investors are not trying to flip random tokens. They are trying to front-run the next breakout before it hits the public spotlight. 

IPO Genie shifts the narrative from “buying after hype” to positioning earlier in the growth cycle through tokenized pre-IPO access powered by the $IPO token.

How IPO Genie Opens Early Access Doors? IPO Genie makes early access possible through AI-powered deal discovery and structured tokenized vaults. Its technology scans market data, validates fundamentals, flags red signals, and scores opportunities before broader exposure. Investors hold $IPO to unlock curated pre-IPO access, participate through compliant on-chain infrastructure, and track deals transparently in real time. Instead of chasing headlines, the platform focuses on structured, data-driven entry into private growth cycles.

The question investors are asking is simple: “Why wait for the public listing when the real growth happens before it?”

Reason #2: The $IPO Token Has Real Utility

Utility drives long-term value.

The $IPO token connects directly to access, rewards, governance, and platform activity. It is not designed as a simple speculation vehicle. It acts as a key to the ecosystem.

Here is how the tier structure works:

Tier $IPO Required Bronze $2500 Silver $12,000 Gold $55,000 Platinum $110,000

Beyond tiered access, the token includes several mechanisms that connect value to platform growth:

Revenue participation from platform fees

Staking rewards for long-term holders

Governance voting on deals and upgrades

Buyback and burn model creating deflationary pressure

Downside protection features at higher tiers

Unlike many crypto presales in 2026, IPO Genie clearly outlines how token demand links to deal flow and ecosystem expansion.

“Momentum fades. Utility compounds.”

Because of this structure, some investors already describe it as a potential top crypto of 2026 candidate. When people search for the best crypto for 2026, they increasingly look at projects with defined token economics and revenue logic. That is where IPO Genie positions itself.

P.S. Right now, the platform is offering a 15% referral bonus and a 20% welcome bonus, which means you can earn up to 35% extra for your participation while early access tiers are still open. Buy Now to Claim! 

Reason #3: Compliance + Liquidity 

Many platforms talk about disruption. Few talk about structure.

IPO Genie emphasizes audited smart contracts, third-party custody solutions, and compliance-focused onboarding. It aims to align with regulatory frameworks instead of ignoring them. That approach builds credibility with serious capital.

This matters in conversations about the crypto presale of 2026.Sophisticated crypto investors want transparent on-chain ownership and clear governance rules. Traditional investors entering the Web3 ecosystem want infrastructure that feels secure and institution-ready. Family offices exploring digital assets want clarity around compliance, custody, and reporting standards.

Liquidity is equally important.

Traditional venture capital locks funds for 7 to 10 years with no exit flexibility. IPO Genie introduces tokenized ownership structures that can support secondary transfers and structured liquidity pathways over time. That creates potential for earlier exits, peer-to-peer transfers, and more transparent price discovery compared to traditional VC models.

This does not remove risk. Private markets still carry volatility and timing uncertainty. But tokenization introduces flexibility that legacy systems lack.

“Access without liquidity is still a cage.”

In serious discussions about crypto presales in 2026, compliance design and liquidity architecture separate hype from platforms built to last.

Whales Are Positioning. Are You?

The real question for 2026 is not, “Will another presale launch?” It is, “Which presales are building real infrastructure before the masses arrive?”IPO Genie connects locked private markets, structured token utility, revenue alignment, compliance architecture, and AI-powered deal discovery into one serious ecosystem. That is why it keeps surfacing in conversations around high-potential crypto and early infrastructure plays.

Quiet accumulation usually happens before loud headlines. Big wallets position early. Smart capital studies structure, not noise. Crypto presales of 2026 entries do not stay discounted forever. Tiers fill. Bonuses expire. Attention shifts fast. Whales are already watching. Now it is your move.

Join the Top Crypto Presale Now

Website

Presale

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Disclaimer:This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry risk, and you should conduct your own research before making any financial decisions.

This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.

Karavas, Cyprus, February 17th, 2026, Chainwire

At a time when much of the blockchain industry is still recovering from one of its harshest downturns, a small number of companies are quietly moving in the opposite direction: expanding, building, and positioning themselves for the next era of adoption.

Public Masterpiece, a Cyprus-based real-world asset tokenization company, has announced PMT Chain, its own purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain. Alongside the announcement, the company confirmed a strategic repositioning: PMT, once short for Public Masterpiece Token, will now stand for Public Masterpiece Technology.

The timing is notable. Crypto did not simply experience a correction, but a $1.1 trillion stress test that dismantled inflated narratives and exposed weak token models. Many projects will not return.

Public Masterpiece is positioning itself as one of the exceptions. Even before revealing its Layer 1 ambitions, the company built traction through its Layer 2 presence on BNB Chain. Over the past 12 months, PMT has reportedly increased in price by 75%, outperforming 86% of the top 100 crypto assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, while trading above its 200-day moving average and remaining near its all-time high.

CoinMarketCap Screenshot of the Public Masterpiece Token Chart as of 13.02.2026

PMT Chain is designed specifically for real-world asset tokenization, with the company positioning the network as infrastructure for internationally renowned museums, galleries, private collectors, and global brands seeking secure and transparent certification solutions.

At the center of the ecosystem will be a Certification Hub in the UAE, staffed by evaluators, art experts, and historians. The goal is to establish an international framework for authenticating and evaluating physical artworks on-chain, addressing long-standing issues such as forgery, provenance manipulation, and the illegal trafficking of art, artifacts, collectibles, and historical goods.

CEO Kamran Arki described the mission with clarity:

“The last market cycle proved one thing: narratives collapse when foundations are weak. PMT Chain was built for real-world value and long-term trust. Museums, collectors, and brands need transparency, security, and permanence. That is exactly what we engineered.”

Public Masterpiece revealed that PMT Chain has been built over seven years, with five years dedicated solely to research and development, a timeline that stands in sharp contrast to the rapid-launch culture of the blockchain sector.

COO Garen Mehrabian emphasized the broader responsibility behind the project:

“Web3 will not reach mass adoption if it feels like a casino. Builders have the responsibility to create systems people can trust and understand. We didn’t build PMT Chain to ride a wave. We built it to create an ecosystem that survives every wave.”

Public Masterpiece Keynote Presentation at the main Stage of the RWA BUILDERS SUMMIT 2025

While art remains the cultural foundation, Public Masterpiece confirmed that PMT Chain is designed to scale beyond it, including real estate tokenization and broader RWA deployment. The network will also offer white-label tokenization and certification solutions, enabling institutions and companies to integrate blockchain infrastructure without building their own systems from scratch.

Perhaps most notably, Public Masterpiece confirmed that several governments are already in discussions regarding PMT Chain implementation. No names have been revealed, and the company has not announced a launch date. While the blockchain is reportedly ready, the founders have stated it will go live only when the timing is strategically optimal.

In a market where speculation has been punished and confidence is scarce, Public Masterpiece is betting that the next era of blockchain adoption will be defined by infrastructure, not hype.

About Public Masterpiece

Public Masterpiece is a real-world asset tokenization company building blockchain infrastructure designed to support tokenization, certification, and provenance for physical value across art and broader real-world asset markets.

Useful Links:

Website: https://www.publicmasterpiece.com/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/pm_token

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/public-masterpiece/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/public_masterpiece/ 

Contact

Kamran Arkiinfo@publicmasterpiece.com

This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.

Introduction

Imagine using the internet at home and the connection being shared by four users. So far so good. But if the fifth user joins the network, you might feel that your browsing has turned sluggish. The larger the number of users on a network, the slower it will get. You can block a few users from the controlling interface, but this is not possible when we think of the internet on larger scales. Since blockchain networks also operate on the internet, they also face the scalability problem. With the evolution in blockchain technology, a resounding discussion about scalability issues, sidechains, and payment channels has been taking place on the platform where users exist.

What are Scalability, Sidechains, and Payment Channels?

Any crypto student is supposed to be familiar with the three times that every influencer uses every now and then on social media. The first of them, scalability refers to the ability of a blockchain network to handle an increasing number of transactions without getting slow. A sidechain is a scalability solution of a blockchain in the form of an independent blockchain that provides to-and-fro movement of assets to ease the load from the main blockchain.

As an off-chain scalability solution, a payment channel uses a smart contract to enable users to transact without publishing their transactions to the blockchain. It does so by using a software-enforced agreement between two participants. These scalability solutions aim to prevent congestion on the network and improve speed.

Early blockchains suffered from extremely sluggish speed and serious congestion, and this was not an attractive situation for the new users. Sidechains emerged to work just like an extra lane on a very busy expressway. They diverted substantial transactions and made the system smoother. Payment channels can be equated with options for the investor to settle the buying and selling, even repeated rounds of them, aside and bring the final result to the chain, making the ledger less crowded.

Why Blockchain Scalability Became a Major Challenge

Pioneer blockchains like Bitcoin appeared with intentionally limited designs. Whenever a new transaction is proposed, the consensus rules require that as many nodes verify as possible. Although there is no hard and fast limit on the minimum number of nodes, data shows that when a transaction is followed by six others on top of it, it is considered valid. This widespread consensus mechanism needs a wide network of users to connect to one another, making the system crowded very soon and very often. Although originally intended for security and stability, the design started creating hurdles when adoption grew.

The need for scalability is direly felt when we consider that every full node should maintain an up-to-date copy of the blockchain, which is a daunting task. This storage and synchronization problem obstructs the growth of the network. The decentralization itself may struggle if blocks get too large, as the new, smaller nodes find it difficult to store and synchronize.

Sidechains and Their Working

As hinted earlier, sidechains are independent blockchains with their own security rules and consensus mechanisms. The sole purpose of their existence is to make things easier on the main blockchains they are pegged to. The peg is always bidirectional to enable movement of the assets to and from the sidechain. This scalability solution lets developers build faster, more efficient, and specialized systems without changing the original blockchain.

The working of the sidechains is quite straightforward. You need to lock your coins on the main chain and get new coins issued on the sidechain worth the same value. When you use the coins on the sidechain and finish your activity there, you either burn those coins or lock them on the sidechain to unlock our assets on the main chain. Burning or unlocking depends on the nature of the smart contract on the sidechain.

Of course, the biggest benefit of developing a sidechain is that its transactions do not take any space on the main system. Consequently, the main chain does not get busy, and fees do not rise. Secondly, a glitch, bug, hacking attack, etc., on the main blockchain does not affect the working of the sidechain.

How Payment Channels Work in Practice

In addition to sidechains, users can also use payment channels as a scalability solution. This solution involves getting off the chain and settling the transactions by using a smart contract and a multi-signature (multisig) wallet. Funds from such wallets cannot be moved until all the participants concerned sign the move. For example, user A and B decide to transfer 200 $ETH to a multisig wallet. They can own the funds in equal amounts or as they decide mutually. If they want to change the rules of ownership by reallocating the amount of $ETH, multisig wallets enable them to do so via cryptographic rules and specially designed scripts.

In networks such as the Lightning Network, payment routing allows users to transact with people they are not directly connected to by passing funds through intermediaries. These channel networks form complex webs that support rapid global payments.

Advantages of Payment Channels for Everyday Transactions

Payment channels dramatically increase transaction speed by processing payments off-chain. Studies show that channel-based systems can achieve almost instant settlement and extremely low fees compared to traditional blockchain transactions. This makes microtransactions and frequent transfers economically viable.

Another advantage is privacy. Since only the opening and closing balances appear on the blockchain, individual transactions remain confidential between participants. Payment channels also reduce network congestion, allowing the main blockchain to focus on final settlement rather than handling every small transaction.

Limitations and Risks of Sidechains and Payment Channels

Despite their advantages, sidechains may involve tradeoffs between scalability and decentralization. Some sidechains rely on smaller validator groups or different security models, which can introduce risks if not properly managed. Users must trust the mechanisms that move assets between chains.

Payment channels also face challenges such as liquidity limits and channel management complexity. Funds must remain locked within channels during use, and participants must monitor activity to prevent dishonest behavior. Researchers continue to explore improvements that balance security with usability in off-chain networks.

Conclusion

As blockchain adoption continues to grow, scalability remains one of the most critical challenges for long-term success. Sidechains and payment channels offer practical solutions by reducing congestion, lowering fees, and improving transaction speed without compromising the core security of main networks. While each approach has its own limitations, their combined use plays a vital role in making blockchain systems more efficient and user-friendly. Ultimately, these technologies bring decentralized networks closer to real-world usability by supporting faster, cheaper, and more scalable digital transactions.

Mirae Asset Group, a leading financial platform in South Korea, has announced the agreement to purchase Korbit, a prominent crypto exchange. Particularly, Mirae Asset Group is acquiring a total 92% stake in Korbit in return for $93M. As per the data from CoinMarketCap, this deal marks a key institutional development in regulated digital assets. Hence, the buyout underscores an exclusive momentum among renowned traditional finance giants looking for compliant exposure to crypto in a year marked by strict oversight.

LATEST: 💰 South Korean financial giant Mirae Asset has agreed to buy a 92% stake in crypto exchange Korbit for $93 million in cash to secure digital asset growth drivers. pic.twitter.com/WyLHPOC19M

— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) February 16, 2026

Mirae Asset Group Expands Regulated Crypto Exposure via 92% Korbit Stake

With 92% Korbit stake for $93M, Mirae Asset Group is broadening its crypto exposure in a compliant environment. The platform aims to cash out the benefits of the digital asset expansion drivers of Korbit via this acquisition. The company’s executives deem this move to be a critical update to open exclusive revenue channels while also advancing product innovation in the case trading and wealth management services.

Thus, the strategy underscores a wider institutional push to be a part of regulated cryptocurrency markets. At the same time, it also focuses on sustaining internal control benchmarks that reflect conventional finance. When it comes to investors, the endeavor serves as a rare optimistic catalyst at a time when every week is witnessing significant volatility in the market.

Institutional Agreements Set to Redefine Crypto Landscape in South Korea Amid Stringent Regulation

Particularly, regulatory pressure has been rising after recent operational events and compliance reviews. Additionally, the Financial Services Commission has disclosed that the impending policy will implement mandatory 3rd-party audits and internal control regulations.

The respective measures attempt to minimize systemic risk while also guaranteeing that consumer balances precisely match the holdings. According to CoinMarketCap, amid the growing reputational risk in South Korea, Mirae Asset Group’s entry into the regulated crypto sector is a happy indication. In the same vein, KBank and Kakao Bank are also reassessing real-name account contracts to permit fiat withdrawals and deposits.

So, the financial entities are currently demanding effective safeguards ahead of extending contracts. Keeping this in view, market onlookers will be observing closely whether the respective acquisition establishes a new standard for regulated cryptocurrency consolidation.

OptiView, a Web3 platform that provides crypto users with AI-driven asset intelligence and on-chain market analysis solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Collably Network, a Web3 collaboration platform that allows projects to connect with their ideal partners and clients. This alliance enabled OptiView and Collably Network to integrate their respective on-chain asset tracking, intelligence platform, and collaborative Web3 network to enhance user experience in the larger decentralized landscape.

OptiView serves a Web3 platform that offers AI-driven asset intelligence to crypto asset (DeFi) customers. It has market analytics tools that help users to track, analyze, and manage DeFi asset portfolios across various blockchain networks through an integrated hub. The platform aggregates on-chain data and displays it in a clear, friendly manner, allowing both beginner and experienced investors to seamlessly navigate DeFi ecosystems.

🧠 OptiView × 🤝 Collably NetworkCollably Network is a Web3 collaboration platform connecting projects with verified partners⚡️🎉 To celebrate our communities together:🎁 20 winners × 5,000 OV PointsHow to join:• RT this post• Tag 1 alpha friend• Comment your BSC… pic.twitter.com/5gpxpFGveo

— OptiView Official (@optiview_x) February 16, 2026

How This Alliance Supports OptiView’s Growth

Using the partnership above, OptiView leverages Collably’s large collaboration network to help it onboard more users and partners to the DeFi sector.  

Collably Network has demonstrated experience in connecting multiple startups with successful and experienced partners and clients. Its collaboration platform has proven expertise in enabling connections between Web3 projects and their ideal customers and partners. This platform functions as a centralized hub where people can track a wide variety of projects across different industries and acquire insights into their specific missions and needs. The platform has a huge database of verified contact information, a feature that provides users with accurate and updated details about prominent people running various Web3 projects. Powered by its network capabilities, this platform simplifies the process by which potential clients and partners identify projects that align with their interests and expertise, and streamlines the process of reaching out and initiating collaborations.

Based on the integration mentioned above, OptiView will use Collably’s widespread Web3 collaboration network and outreach tools to connect with more DeFi clients and partners and efficiently manage its wide existing business-client relationships. This collaboration will enable OptiView to further partner with multiple DeFi industry leaders and investors, allowing the platform to continue innovating and building asset tracking and management within the decentralized finance market.   

Driving Innovation and Adoption of Web3 Applications

The partnership between OptiView and Collably Network is a significant step toward actualizing the mission of the two respective platforms to advance greater usage of Web3 assets and applications. By making DeFi asset intelligence insights and Web3 collaborative network available for everyone, from on-chain enterprises, developers, leaders, partners, investors, and users, both OptiView and Collably Network are empowering people and projects to make smarter investment decisions and engage meaningfully in Web3.

This alliance not only cements Collably’s and OptiView’s status as blockchain market innovators but also unlocks the door for more projects and users to effectively connect and utilize Web3 solutions and grow the decentralized space.