Morgan Stanley Hires Blockchain Engineers for Ethereum, Polygon, Canton & Hyperledger Integration

The IMF finds stablecoins are increasingly integrating with the U.S. dollar financial plumbing rather than displacing traditional banks, tying crypto payments into existing dollar-based networks. This shift raises fresh regulatory and systemic considerations for policymakers and banks.

Standard Chartered sharply cut its price forecasts, warning bitcoin could slide toward $50,000 and ether to about $1,400 in the coming months before recovering. The bank said the revisions reflect mounting stress across digital assets even as it retains a constructive long-term view.

On Feb. 15, 2026 Hong Kong announced a new package of crypto regulations and a stablecoin licensing framework designed to bolster the city's digital-asset sector and attract business.

Vietnam’s once-high-flying crypto sector has contracted sharply after the recent digital-asset downturn, leaving lower trading volumes, strained startups, and cautious investors. The pullback highlights risks for a market that had one of the region’s largest retail crypto communities.

SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao denied the firm holds $10 billion in XRP, while confirming a substantial equity stake in Ripple Labs. The clarification aims to quell rumors about extreme token concentration and underscore SBI’s strategic tie to Ripple.