Bitdeer has sold all of its corporate Bitcoin holdings, reducing its self-owned balance to zero by 20 February 2026. The company says the move frees up cash to fund data centre expansion, AI projects, and new mining hardware.

OpenAI is exploring a humans-only social network that could use biometric checks, such as World’s eye-scanning Orb or Apple’s Face ID, to stop bots and fake accounts. After the report, World Network’s WLD token jumped more than 27%, even though no partnership has been confirmed.

Russia has banned crypto exchange WhiteBIT and its parent company from operating in the country, accusing them of helping fund Ukraine’s military and moving money out of Russia through illegal schemes. WhiteBIT says it already blocked Russian users in 2022 and views the ban as confirmation of its pro-Ukraine stance.

Pudgy Penguins projected its animated characters on the Las Vegas Sphere for a week-long holiday campaign, promoting its physical products rather than NFTs. The display helped the crypto-born brand reach mainstream audiences, supporting merchandise sales and boosting recognition despite a struggling NFT market.

Hollywood.com and Crypto.com have launched a platform where fans can trade predictions on movies, music, TV shows, and awards. The service is fully regulated in the US, letting users buy and sell contracts based on entertainment events in real time.

FC Barcelona’s official Instagram account was hacked to promote a fake $FCB token on the Solana blockchain, misleading fans and causing potential financial losses. The token briefly surged to $3 million in value before crashing, highlighting risks of scams using popular brands and unverified cryptocurrencies.

Nintendo has denied claims that it lobbied the Japanese government to restrict generative AI, after a politician admitted spreading false information. The controversy comes as the gaming industry debates AI use, with many developers already experimenting while Nintendo remains cautious about protecting its IP.

A new South Korean drama "To The Moon", follows three women investing in crypto during the 2017–2018 Bitcoin boom. It highlights the country’s $3.15 billion daily retail crypto market and growing regulatory oversight.

Pump.fun has brought back its Solana livestreaming feature after a 2024 shutdown caused by unsafe broadcasts, including staged self-harm. With stricter moderation and a new revenue-sharing model, the platform is rapidly attracting creators and generating millions in weekly fees.

Elon Musk has accused Apple of favouring OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the App Store, claiming this blocks his AI app, Grok, from reaching the top spot. Apple denies any bias, while Sam Altman fired back at Musk’s claims, leading to a public clash between the two tech figures.