Gate Crypto Flash News and Market Updates

Gate News bot message: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, RIOT temporarily increased by 4%, and the current volatility is significantly higher than the recent average level, indicating increased market activity.

PANews February 18 News, the privacy blockchain project Nillion announced on the X platform that nilChain will cease operations on March 23. Users holding NIL tokens on Cosmos must migrate to Ethereum. After the chain stops, standard transfers will no longer be possible.

The whale "pension-usdt.eth" closed all BTC long positions in the past 5 hours, with a profit of approximately $505,000, and when BTC price retreated, it built a position with 1,000 BTC worth $67 million. Since October last year, this whale has accumulated profits of over $23 million and has redirected the profits into interest-bearing markets.

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."

Matrixport states that Bitcoin's market capitalization share has not significantly rebounded, currently at 56.8%, and upward momentum has weakened. Market uncertainty still exists, funds have not noticeably flowed back into Bitcoin, and some investors are reassessing its dominant position.

Gate News bot message, Gate market display, since launching Alpha, KIMCHI has increased by 2104.90%, now priced at 0.0014850806514981 USDT.

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.

California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation updates the Digital Financial Asset Law (DFAL), requiring companies and individuals providing crypto services to California residents to be licensed or apply by July 1, 2026, facing enforcement risks. The law establishes a regulatory framework for digital assets, similar to New York's BitLicense, and is expected to promote nationwide compliance standard unification.

ChainCatcher News reports that European stocks are rising further, with Germany's DAX index up 1% intraday, the UK's FTSE 100 index up 1.09%, the Euro Stoxx 50 index up 1.02%, and Spain's IBEX 35 index up 1.33%.

Gate News bot message, Ethereum accumulation by long-term holders has increased during the current price decline. For the first time, more than 50% of the total ETH supply is now staked. These two developments occur as the market experiences weakness.

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.

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.

If Bitcoin drops below $66,000, long positions on mainstream CEXs will be liquidated to the tune of $957 million; if it breaks above $70,000, short positions will be liquidated to $989 million. The liquidation chart shows the impact of price changes on market strength.

ChainCatcher News, according to Coinglass data, if BTC drops below $64,613, the total long liquidation strength on major CEXs will reach $1.298 billion. Conversely, if BTC breaks through $71,123, the total short liquidation strength on major CEXs will reach $1.143 billion.

ChainCatcher reports that, according to Coinglass data, if ETH drops below $1,911, the total liquidation strength of long positions on major CEXs will reach $977 million. Conversely, if ETH breaks above $2,109, the total liquidation strength of short positions on major CEXs will reach $495 million.

Nimbus Capital partners with Chimera Wallet for $15 million to expand decentralized finance functionalities within the Bitcoin ecosystem, offering a variety of DeFi services for self-custodied assets and enhancing Bitcoin's practical applications. Chimera plans to accelerate product development, including launching features like cards supporting BTC and fiat currency conversions.

BitMine discloses holding 3.62% of the Ethereum supply, with total assets decreasing to $9.6 billion. The company holds 4,371,497 ETH, 193 BTC, and various shares, with a cash balance of $670 million. Over the past week, it increased its holdings by 45,759 ETH.

OneChain recently completed a $67 million Series A strategic financing, with funds to be used for building RWA on-chain infrastructure for institutions and investors, providing a one-stop asset solution. The financing was invested by institutions including Bitgo Capital, with GBEX Holdings serving as financial advisor.

PANews February 18 News, according to Jintiao, European Central Bank Executive Board Member Cippoloni stated that the digital euro network will be ready for use by private payment systems before 2029.

PANews February 18 News, according to Jintiao, European Central Bank Executive Board member Cippoloni stated that the digital euro will allow bank cards from payment systems like "Bancomat" to be used outside Italy.