In 2025, retail traders reassessed futures risk as perpetual contracts kept positions open without expiry. Losses increasingly reflected prolonged exposure and ongoing structural costs rather than sudden price swings. With contract mechanics and time under leverage taking center stage, entry and exit timing became less decisive than a position's durability over duration.

On 13 February 2026, Kevin Hassett told CNBC's Squawk Box that Bitcoin's sharp swings are typical, citing average drawdowns of about 58% in major pullbacks. He pressed Congress to fast-track the CLARITY Act and send it to President Donald Trump this spring, even as industry support has waned over stablecoin yield bans, tokenized equity limits, and heavy compliance costs.

Palantir Technologies shares fell as much as 6.7% on February 12 and continued lower in premarket trading on February 13 after Michael Burry released a 10,000-word newsletter criticizing the durability of the current AI investment cycle and warning the stock could decline sharply. While Burry outlined potential downside of up to 66%, other analysts highlighted Palantir's rapid growth, strong cash position and premium valuation, underscoring the divide over how sustainable its AI-driven momentum really is.

In 2025, cryptocurrency transfers linked to suspected human trafficking activities increased by 85%, with total flows reaching several hundred million dollars. According to blockchain analytics from Chainalysis, the funds moved through international escort services, scam-related labor recruitment channels, and sellers of child sexual abuse material, raising fresh concerns about illicit crypto use.

On 13 February 2026, Binance introduced a prepaid Mastercard crypto card for users in several Commonwealth of Independent States markets, enabling real-time conversion of digital assets into local fiat at more than 90 million merchants. The program emphasizes Kazakhstan with local currency support, focuses on virtual cards for use with mobile wallets, and requires verified Binance accounts with completed KYC and no typical annual card fee.

On February 13, 2026, Bitcoin traded at $66,887 after late-January turbulence pushed BTC into a descending channel. According to on-chain analyst Ali Martinez, the key range is defined by support at $64,000 and resistance at $67,000, levels that could determine whether the current bearish phase endures or a bullish reversal emerges.

On February 12, 2026, Indiana’s Senate Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions voted 6–2 to advance a revised House Bill 1042 that enables crypto access in certain public retirement plans via self-directed brokerage windows. The measure removes authority for direct state purchases of crypto ETFs and, if enacted, would require brokerage crypto options by July 1, 2026.

On February 13, 2026, First Deputy Chairman Vladimir Chistyukhin said the Bank of Russia will reassess its stance on fiat‑pegged coins and launch a study this year on a potential ruble stablecoin. The review follows growing sanctions pressure and the rise of the Kyrgyz‑issued A7A5, which handled over $100 billion in its first year and has a capitalization above $500 million.