Aptos proposed a comprehensive tokenomics revamp that reduces annual staking rewards from 5.19% to 2.6%, adds a protocol hard cap of 2.1 billion APT, and permanently locks 210 million APT by the foundation. Circulating supply stands at 1.196 billion APT, with major unlock changes slated for October 2026. APT trades near $0.88, down about 4.5%.

Base is preparing to move off the OP Stack and consolidate its infrastructure into a single, Base-operated software stack centered on the base/base repository. The Layer 2 network says the change, set to roll out over the coming months, will give it tighter control over releases, faster upgrade cycles, and a stack more closely aligned with its own scaling roadmap.

On 18 February, Canary Capital launched the Canary Staked SUI ETF (SUIS) on Nasdaq, and Grayscale introduced its staked SUI product (GSUI) for U.S. investors. SUI traded around $0.95 and fell more than 1.7% that day, remaining below $1 as the new vehicles aim to pair regulated exposure with staking rewards.

Crypto-funded super PAC Fairshake has begun intervening in Illinois Democratic House primaries, booking ads tied to the 7th District. Inquiry forms dated mid-February confirm the purchases, and filings reviewed this week show activity before the general election. Targets include candidates linked to SB 1797, passed in August 2025.

On 17 February, CFTC Chair Mike Selig said the agency filed an amicus brief to defend federal oversight of prediction markets it has treated as derivatives for over two decades. The commission is challenging a wave of state-led litigation, arguing these markets fall under federal commodities law and tying this stance to a broader shift in U.S. crypto policy.

By early 2026, Japan has overtaken Singapore as the largest local-currency stablecoin market in the Asia-Pacific region, driven mainly by yen-linked JPYC. APAC's local stablecoin supply has climbed from about $40 million since mid-2025 to roughly $58–60 million, with Singapore's XSGD stabilizing below previous highs and other regional tokens contributing little to the rebound.

Market sentiment slid into Extreme Fear with the fear-gauge reading at 12. Over the past week, Bitcoin hovered near $67,950, down 4.28% yet still above $65,000, while majors such as Ethereum (-7.45% to about $1,975), Solana (-3.64% to roughly $84.70), and BNB (-3.86% to near $617) lagged. Select gains in XRP, TRX, and BCH did not offset the broader risk-off tone.

BitMine Immersion Technologies has become the largest publicly disclosed holder of Ethereum, building a treasury of about 4.33 million ETH, or roughly 3.6% of supply. Over the past 30 days it added more than 180,000 ETH as prices hovered near $2,100, with about two thirds reportedly staked and the position valued at over $9 billion.

During the week ending 6 February, BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF IBIT saw net outflows of $115.14 million as Bitcoin rapidly fell from the mid-$80,000s to the high-$60,000s. On-chain data shows at least eight BlackRock-linked transfers totaling about 2,268 BTC moving to Coinbase Prime, which is used for ETF settlement rather than necessarily for immediate selling.