Crypto Macro News and Global Policy Updates

ChainCatcher reports that, according to Gate market data, the Nasdaq's increase has expanded to 1%, and Nvidia (NVDA.O) is now up 2.54%.

A recent SEC filing has revealed that Morgan Stanley has stacked up on Bitwise Solana Staking ETF and now owns over 900,000 shares, worth over $10 million. It also purchased shares in the Solana Company, a Nasdaq-listed firm that serves as a proxy for owning SOL. One of Wall Street’s most

Canary Capital and Grayscale have launched spot SUI ETFs, providing investors with the opportunity to directly participate in the token price and earn staking rewards. The Canary Stake SUI ETF is listed on NASDAQ, while Grayscale's SUI Trust has converted into an ETF listed on NYSE Arca.

ChainCatcher News, according to Gate Market Data, the S&P 500 Index opened up 14.56 points on February 18 (Wednesday), a 0.21% increase, closing at 6,857.78 points; the Nasdaq Composite Index opened up 41.86 points, a 0.19% increase, closing at 22,620.25 points; the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened up 85.66 points, a 0.17% increase, closing at 49,618.85 points.

ChainCatcher message, according to Gate market data, U.S. stocks opened higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.16%, the S&P 500 Index up 0.28%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index increasing 0.23%. Nvidia (NVDA.O) rose 1.8% after signing a multi-year, multi-billion dollar agreement with Meta. The Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index increased 0.26%.

Bitcoin Improvement Proposal BIP-360 is expected to take seven years to achieve quantum resistance and requires code review and testing beforehand. This proposal introduces a new output type, which can defend against long-term attacks but offers insufficient protection against short-term attacks. Post-quantum signatures are larger in size, requiring technical solutions to improve processing speed.

Gold and silver prices rose to $4,939.4 per ounce and $76.99 per ounce, respectively, with increases of 1.33% and 3.73%. Bitcoin and Ethereum volatility indices declined slightly, while WTI and Brent crude oil prices also increased.

Wells Fargo predicts that the 2026 US tax season will see a tax refund wave of approximately $150 billion, which will rekindle investors' risk appetite and boost the stock market and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Overall refunds are expected to exceed $500 billion, an increase of about 30%. High-income earners will channel their additional savings into the market, and the retail sector will also benefit. However, low-income families may prioritize debt repayment or savings.

ChainCatcher News, The Financial Times of the UK, citing sources, reports that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is considering resigning early before the end of her term so that French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz can reach an agreement on her successor. The timing may coincide with the French presidential election in April 2027. A European Central Bank spokesperson later responded that Lagarde is "fully focused on her duties and has not made any decisions regarding the end of her term."

UAE Sovereign Wealth Fund discloses buying $320 million worth of Bitcoin ETF. This signals oil money flowing into crypto.  Response state it is bullish to see the country diversifying its portfolio into crypto. Since the web3 industry kicked off with Bitcoin’s revolutionary debut, the

_Hong Kong shell firm allocates 100% of portfolio to BlackRock’s IBIT, gaining $436M in regulated Bitcoin ETF exposure._ A Hong Kong-based shell company has allocated its entire reported portfolio into BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), securing approximately $436 million in Bitcoin expos

On February 18, 2026, from 11:00 to 11:15 (UTC), BTC dropped 0.60% within just 15 minutes, with the price fluctuating around $67,800. As the overall market sentiment turned more cautious, short-term volatility intensified, trading activity increased, and market attention continued to heat up. The main driver of this movement was macroeconomic pressure. The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate policies have fueled risk aversion in global financial markets, putting collective pressure on risk assets, and the crypto market also weakened accordingly. At the same time, the EU's latest compliance framework was introduced, and increased regulatory expectations added to market uncertainty.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will decide on February 26 whether to approve T. Rowe Price's crypto ETF, which will list XRP as a qualifying asset. If approved, it will provide a new investment channel for institutions managing $1.8 trillion in assets.

Apollo Global Management has partnered with DeFi lending protocol Morpho, allowing the purchase of 90 million MORPHO tokens over the next 4 years, accounting for 9% of the total supply. This deal enhances Apollo's influence in governance and will support Morpho's on-chain lending markets, demonstrating its strategy to expand its blockchain footprint.

ChainCatcher reports that, according to market sources, the European Central Bank plans to issue a digital euro by mid-2029, with a pilot program scheduled for 2027.

Robert Kiyosaki predicts a significant stock market crash, but the community challenges his track record of failed forecasts. He remains optimistic about Bitcoin and suggests it as a good investment despite past inaccuracies in his predictions.

Helium’s HNT has gained 90% in the past week to hit a one-month high as daily trading volume surged past $20 million for the first time this year. Data shows that social engagements have almost doubled in that time as the crypto

The crypto market shows mixed trends, with a 0.71% drop in market cap to $2.33T and a 3.65% rise in volume. Bitcoin fell 0.69%, while Ethereum gained 0.75%. Notably, NFT sales plummeted 45.42%, and several developments including executive changes and trade deals were reported.

BlackRock acquires more ETH for its staking program.  Tom Lee calls for ETH $22,000 bull target. He expects ETH to hit a minimum of $12,000 when BTC hits $250,000. With the price of ETH back up over the $2,000 price range, expectations for a bullish recovery for the price of the

Bitcoin weakens while Ethereum strengthens, and the market remains volatile. It is reported that there has been $771 million in short-term liquidations. Ethereum spot ETF inflows amount to $48.63 million, while Bitcoin experiences outflows of $104.9 million. Meanwhile, DeFi protocol Moonwell lost $1.78 million due to oracle failure, and Russia may block access to offshore exchanges starting July 1. The overall market should pay attention to these risk factors.