Investing in the $50b+ Solana ecosystem is hard if you don't know where to start. That's why @SolanaFndn and @Blockworks built Lightspeed. We're starting our coverage with @AxiomExchange , @Collector_Crypt , @DriftProtocol , @ellipsis_labs , @GEODNET , @helium , @humidifi ,

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🧵1/2 @Padierfind talked about integrating Hydra to create a Layer 2 network specifically for @MasumiNetwork in last month’s Essential Cardano360 show, aiming to make transactions faster and cheaper. He also shared his perspective on AI agents, noting a huge opportunity for AI to

Daily Market Dispatch – February 17, 2026 Crypto consolidates as liquidity becomes the decisive variable Crypto markets remain in consolidation, with total capitalization near $2.33 trillion. Bitcoin trades around $67,000, while Ethereum holds near $1,960, reflecting restrained positioning rather than renewed liquidation. The tone is cautious but orderly. Traditional markets echo that moderation. U.S. equity futures are softer amid defensive internal rotation, with consumer staples outperforming discretionary and growth names. The dollar remains supported by firmer oil and renewed geopolitical tension near the Strait of Hormuz, while precious metals have slipped despite elevated risks, signaling positioning fatigue rather than stress. Capital is rotating late-cycle, not exiting risk outright. Bitcoin Bitcoin remains range-bound after last week’s near-break of $60,000. Funding is mildly positive but historically compressed, and open interest sits in the bottom decile, confirming that leverage has largely been reset. The setup is structurally cleaner. With light positioning and minimal crowding, price sensitivity now hinges more on liquidity than speculation. Implied volatility has stabilized near 50%, though a slightly inverted term structure reflects continued demand for near-term hedging. Ethereum & Altcoins Ethereum trades near $1,960, with slightly negative funding and below-average open interest, signalling caution without systemic stress. Across majors, positioning remains restrained. XRP shows negative funding but subdued open interest, pointing to directional bias without crowding. Solana remains broadly neutral, reflecting steady participation. Defensive equity rotation continues to compress speculative appetite, limiting broad-based alt expansion. Liquidity in this phase tends to concentrate in higher-conviction assets. Structurally, Ethereum’s institutional footprint is expanding. Tokenized real-world assets on mainnet exceed $17 billion, while stablecoin supply has climbed above $175 billion. Treasury funds, commodities, and yield instruments are increasingly settling on Ethereum rails, underscoring its role as core settlement infrastructure even as speculative intensity remains muted. Macro & Institutional Recent CPI data reinforce renewed disinflation, particularly in services. While sticky inflation remains near 3%, the trajectory supports normalization expectations into 2026. PCE this week will test that trend. The U.S. 10-year yield near 4% signals equilibrium rather than stress, and global indicators reflect moderation, not recession pricing. FX remains driven by policy divergence and energy-linked inflation, anchoring dollar resilience. Stablecoins are increasingly functioning as transactional tools rather than purely trading instruments. With roughly $300 billion in circulation and rising allocation within household savings – especially in emerging markets, dollar-backed tokens are behaving more like programmable digital cash. Regulatory progress in the U.S. could accelerate that integration. The next expansion phase in crypto is likely to be driven less by leverage and more by embedded financial utility. Looking Ahead Total crypto market capitalization remains near $2.33 trillion, signaling stabilization after prolonged deleveraging. With no fresh U.S. ETF flow data available, macro catalysts take center stage. Markets will focus on the FOMC Meeting Minutes on Wednesday, followed by Initial Jobless Claims, the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index, and remarks from FOMC member Bostic on Thursday. The week concludes with Core PCE inflation data and S&P Global PMI readings on Friday. Continued disinflation and steady labor conditions could ease financial pressures and support basing in crypto, while firmer inflation or resilient growth that lifts yields and the dollar would likely keep digital assets contained within recent ranges. Iliya Kalchev, Nexo Dispatch analyst For informational purposes only; not financial or investment advice.

💰 $3.8 billion Pantera Capital CEO said, "I think there will be a global arms race for Bitcoin within the next 2-3 years." "Countries that are aligned with us, like the UAE, are acquiring cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin." link

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Build faster with Blockchain infrastructure and discover the power of stablecoins with @Chain 🌐

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Build faster with Blockchain infrastructure and discover the power of stablecoins with @Chain 🌐

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