KLEA Crypto Daily: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Published: February 19, 2026 – 00:04 UTC

Here’s a look back at the key stories from February 18, 2026.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon Reveals He Owns Bitcoin for First Time

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon disclosed for the first time that he personally owns bitcoin, a departure from his earlier public stance on the asset. This revelation marks a significant shift in Solomon's perspective on cryptocurrency.

Weeks-Long War With Iran Could Start Within Days: Bitcoin Under Pressure, But Gold, Silver, Oil Prices Surge

Global markets are reacting sharply to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with reports suggesting the US could be moving closer to a direct military confrontation with Iran. Safe-haven assets like gold and silver are climbing, oil prices are rising on supply fears, and Bitcoin is slipping as traders rotate away from risk-sensitive assets.

Peter Thiel Dumps All ETH Treasury Shares After “Ethereum’s MicroStrategy” Fell 95% Since August

Peter Thiel has fully exited the Ethereum treasury company ETHZilla, completing a significant divestment that saw his investment losses exceed $200 million. Thiel's decision to sell off all shares comes after ETHZilla's stock plummeted 98% from its peak, marking a stark reversal from his previous substantial stake in the company.

Analysts Warn U.S. Debt Will Surge to $64 Trillion

Analysts caution that the U.S. national debt is projected to reach $64 trillion by 2036, reshaping global markets. The debt is expected to surge by approximately $2.4 trillion annually over the next decade, with interest payments alone doubling to $2.1 trillion.

Robinhood to Launch a Private Markets Fund: Is This Wall Street’s Version of an ICO?

Robinhood announced plans to launch a fund giving individual investors access to private companies, drawing comparisons to the ICO era. The fund, set to go public on the NYSE, aims to address imbalances in capital market access.

Goldman CEO, NYSE President Attend Trump-Backed World Liberty Crypto Event

Goldman Sachs CEO and NYSE President spoke at the World Liberty Forum, signaling Wall Street's embrace of tokenization. The event saw a surge in World Liberty Financial's stock, highlighting the importance of tokenization in the evolving market.

ECB Moves Closer to Digital Euro Pilot, PSP Selection Set for 2026

The European Central Bank is progressing towards a digital euro pilot, with plans to select payment service providers in early 2026 and commence a 12-month pilot in the latter half of 2027, marking a significant step in the development of a digital currency.

Institutional “10 AM Dumps” Theory Collides With Bearish Macro Warnings

Bitcoin's recent price action is sparking discussions about institutional trading behavior and macroeconomic caution, creating a complex narrative for traders to decipher in real time.

Singularry AI Unveils Singularry Agent – The Autonomous DeFi Copilot Powering the Future of Finance on BNB Chain

Singularry AI introduces Singularry Agent, an autonomous DeFi copilot on BNB Chain, offering transparent, verifiable, and user-controlled decentralized AI for managing on-chain portfolios.

Canary Capital and Grayscale Launch Spot SUI ETFs with Staking Support

PANews reported that Canary Capital and Grayscale have both launched spot SUI ETFs on major exchanges, providing investors with the opportunity to participate in the token price and earn staking rewards. Grayscale's SUI Trust was converted into an ETF listed on NYSE Arca, while Canary Capital's ETF is listed on Nasdaq.

$870 Million in Solana Supply Unlocks — Does It ‘Flag’ SOL Price Risk?

Solana's price has seen fluctuations amid a significant supply shift, with nearly $870 million worth of SOL moving out of liquid staking. This movement, coupled with bearish patterns, suggests potential price risks ahead for Solana as investors monitor the situation closely.

Hyperliquid Establishes Policy Center Led by Jake Chervinsky

Decentralized derivatives trading platform Hyperliquid has launched the Hyperliquid Policy Center in Washington, D.C., with renowned crypto lawyer Jake Chervinsky as CEO. The center aims to pave the way for DeFi adoption in the US by creating a legal framework and supporting regulatory rulemaking.

Tether Gold Launches Tokenized Dividend Mechanism

Tether Gold (XAUT) introduces a tokenized dividend option, allowing shareholders to receive dividends in tokenized gold. This move, valued at over $2.55 billion, signifies a significant breakthrough in the gold industry and the growing demand for digital gold assets.

TRM Labs Reveals Concentrated Illicit Networks as Stablecoins Exceed $1 Trillion Monthly Volume

TRM Labs finds that stablecoin volumes surpassed $1 trillion monthly in 2025, with illicit flows highly concentrated. Approximately $141 billion was received by illicit entities via stablecoin wallets, with significant amounts linked to specific tokens like A7A5, indicating potential sanctions-related activity.

Stripe’s Bridge Receives Conditional Approval to Organize National Trust Bank

Bridge, a stablecoin platform owned by Stripe, has obtained conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a federal national trust bank. This approval would enable Bridge to offer stablecoin services and custody digital assets under direct federal oversight, potentially reshaping the stablecoin ecosystem.

Wells Fargo Sees ‘YOLO’ Trade Driving $150B into Bitcoin and Risk Assets

A Wells Fargo strategist predicts that increased US tax refunds could lead to a surge in retail risk-taking by late March, potentially directing significant funds into Bitcoin and momentum stocks.

Source: KLEA News