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Retail investors' behavior in the crypto market has undergone significant changes. Starting from Q4 2024, the capital flow between the US stock market and the crypto market shifted from positive correlation to negative correlation. Retail funds have begun to selectively flow into US stocks, leading to decreased participation in the crypto market. This change has affected the investment structure of risk assets, and in the future, the crypto market will need to monitor US stock market trends to gauge the timing of capital reflows.

The threat of quantum computing to existing public key encryption systems is rapidly approaching from theoretical speculation to reality. On February 26, 2026, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin officially announced a quantum resistance roadmap, explicitly proposing to upgrade cryptographic components across four core layers: consensus, data availability, user accounts, and zero-knowledge proofs. This is not just an update to technical documentation but also marks a critical turning point for the second-largest public blockchain by market capitalization, as it moves from researching quantum threats to actively initiating engineering defenses.
This article will objectively analyze the technical details, evolutionary logic, and potential impact of this roadmap, based on Gate market data and the latest Strawmap plan. As of February 27, 2026, Ethereum (ETH) is priced at $2,037.58, with a 24-hour trading volume of $45

A clarification of a rumor has unveiled a potential power struggle within the global payments industry. On February 26, 2026, with a report from American financial media Semafor, the previously rampant rumor of “Stripe acquiring PayPal” was officially debunked. The report cited sources familiar with the matter stating that PayPal is not currently in negotiations with Stripe or any other potential buyers regarding a sale.
However, this clarification did not calm market sentiment; instead, it exposed deeper anxieties within the former payments giant: PayPal has been working with investment banks for several months to prepare for possible aggressive investor actions or hostile takeovers. This news intertwines management changes, drastic fluctuations in market value, and the rise of new industry leaders, reflecting not only a contest between two companies but also a paradigm shift in global payment infrastructure.

Bitcoin rose to nearly $70,000 in February 2026, but signals from the derivatives market indicate a cautious sentiment. Futures premium is below neutral levels, and demand for hedging in the options market is high, suggesting that professional traders lack confidence in the upward movement. Macro factors of concern and technical risks have affected investor sentiment, and future price trends face multiple possible scenarios.

In late February 2026, the crypto market experienced a set of noteworthy data points. Google Trends shows that worldwide searches for "buy bitcoin" surged to the highest level in nearly five years. This peak occurred against the backdrop of Bitcoin's price, which had retreated from its all-time high of $126,080 in October 2025 and was oscillating around the $60,000 mark in a weak trend. The significant divergence between search popularity and price movement has become a central topic of discussion in the current market. This article will systematically analyze the multiple structural factors behind this phenomenon based on objective data and event chains.
Divergence Between Search Peak and Price Correction
According to Google Trends data, the global search volume for buying Bitcoin peaked in late February 2026, reaching a new high in 2021

Traditional financial market analysts are rewriting valuation models for the largest stablecoin issuer in the crypto world. On February 26, 2026, Circle's stock briefly surged past $90, reaching its highest point since November last year. Behind this rally was not Bitcoin's sharp price volatility, but Wall Street's re-pricing of a fundamental change in Circle's business structure. Bernstein asserted that it has significantly decoupled from cryptocurrency market trends, while Mizuho Bank pointed out substantial trading revenue generated from the prediction market Polymarket. This article will objectively trace the causal chain of this event, dissect mainstream market views, and examine the authenticity and potential risks of the decoupling narrative.
Event Overview: Valuation Reassessment Triggered by Better-than-Expected Performance
On February 26, Eastern Time, Circle's stock price temporarily climbed to 90 during intraday trading.

On February 26, 2026, the U.S.-listed Bitcoin mining company MARA Holdings released a confusing earnings report: Bitcoin prices declined about 30% during the quarter, leading the company to record a $1.5 billion impairment, with a net loss of up to $1.7 billion. However, the AI data center joint venture announced alongside the earnings report caused the stock to surge over 15% after hours. What is the market really buying into? As a bellwether for the crypto market, Bitcoin (BTC) recent movements also attract attention. According to Gate market data, as of February 27, 2026, BTC price is $67,435, with a 24-hour trading volume of $1.16B, a market capitalization of $1.31T, and a market share of 55.37%. Against this macro backdrop, MARA's strategic shift may be pointing to new survival strategies for the entire mining industry.

The Spores Network ecosystem is built around a multi-chain incubator, focusing on GameFi and metaverse projects, providing incubation support and market distribution. The article analyzes ecosystem activity, project performance, partnerships, and how users can monitor ecosystem and market dynamics on the Gate platform to assess the development potential of Spores Network.

Polkastarter Gaming and Magic Eden's strategic partnership aims to address discovery and distribution challenges in the Web3 gaming space by enhancing game engagement through content support and facilitating effective connections between users and new games. This collaboration exemplifies the synergy between content and infrastructure, helping players better understand and participate in new games, and driving industry adoption and growth.

Magic Eden is transforming to adapt to new trends in the cryptocurrency industry, promoting speculative activities from the fringe to the mainstream, and plans to launch new products that combine finance, entertainment, and social elements. In the context of a downturn in NFTs, the company aims to reduce reliance on traditional trading by increasing diversified speculative products. This shift will focus on user engagement and entertainment experiences, with the goal of attracting a broader user base.

A stablecoin decoupling in October 2025 evolved over four months into a complete collapse of on-chain asset management firm MEV Capital. The asset management scale plummeted from a peak of $1.5 billion to about $300 million, with the core team absorbed by Luxembourg-based institution Belem, and partner Midas urgently terminating the delegation. This was not just the collapse of a single institution but a concentrated outbreak of risk management vulnerabilities in the institutionalization process of DeFi. Based on data from DefiLlama and multiple sources, this article reconstructs the event timeline, analyzes market controversies, and explores its profound impact on the industry landscape.
Asset management scale evaporated by 80%, team change to Belem
According to DefiLlama data, as of February 27, 2026, MEV Capital's asset management scale had dropped to approximately 3

On February 26, 2026, the fintech industry experienced a landmark shakeup. Twitter co-founder and Block CEO Jack Dorsey announced in a letter to shareholders and employees that the company would lay off approximately 4,000 employees, nearly half of its workforce. Unlike previous tech company layoffs aimed at cutting costs, Dorsey explicitly linked this sweeping restructuring to the productivity leap brought about by AI tools. He believes that artificial intelligence "fundamentally changes the meaning of building and running a company," and that a leaner team combined with intelligent tools can do more and better.
Following the announcement, Block's stock price surged over 24% in after-hours trading. This stark market reaction reflects the capital market's extreme enthusiasm for companies embracing AI and improving efficiency, and it also triggered a

When the labels “Trump Family” and “Bitcoin Mining Company” are combined, market attention often focuses on the resonance between political hype and crypto narratives. However, the first full fiscal year report released by American Bitcoin in early 2026 presents a more complex and nuanced business picture: against the backdrop of sharp Bitcoin price fluctuations in 2025, this highly scrutinized company recorded a net loss of $152.9 million due to accounting treatment. Is this figure a sign of deteriorating fundamentals or a financial measurement game of digital assets? This article will analyze American Bitcoin’s 2025 financial report, dissecting its data composition, market controversies, and industry deep impacts.
Event Overview: Divergence Between Book Losses and Actual Growth
On February 26, 2026,

Gate TradFi lowers the barriers to cross-market investing through technological means, allowing users to conveniently trade cryptocurrencies and traditional financial products within a single account, addressing multiple barriers such as accounts, funds, and cognition. Users can use USDT as collateral to enjoy efficient fund transfers without the need for currency exchange, enhancing investment efficiency. The platform covers five core asset categories, enabling easy global asset allocation and providing ordinary investors with a broader range of investment options.

In cryptocurrency contract trading, market volatility and malicious manipulation often lead to instant liquidations of high leverage positions. Gate, by establishing a mark price mechanism and utilizing multiple filters and a dynamic protection system, effectively isolates market noise and reduces users' risk of liquidation. Additionally, Gate's ladder liquidation and new contract circuit breaker strategies provide extra protection for traders. Understanding this mechanism helps traders manage risk more effectively and enhances their ability to survive in volatile markets.

The 2026 crypto market faces historic challenges, with Bitcoin experiencing a pullback and traditional mining costs rising during the halving cycle. Gate BTC mining attracts investors with its hardware-free and liquidity features, despite the annualized return dropping from 9.99% to 5.49%, it remains stable, reflecting a shift in long-term holders' mindset. Market and difficulty risks should be monitored, and Gate employs multiple security measures to adapt to new cycle investment strategies.

Gate Stock Token Zone allows users to trade tokenized US stocks with USDT 24/7 without interruption. The platform supports various popular stocks, offering spot and perpetual contract trading to meet different investment needs and lower the investment threshold. While enjoying convenience, users should still be aware of token rights and price deviation risks.

Since its launch in 2025, Gate Contract Points have awarded users approximately 3.7 million USDT in rewards. Although points cannot be used directly to offset fees, they can generate benefits for users through token exchanges, popular project airdrops, and other methods. Starting in 2026, TradFi trading will also be included in the points calculation, enhancing the value of the points. Please note that points are valid for 15 days, and users should redeem them promptly to prevent expiration. Smart traders focus on how to maximize the value of their points rather than their ability to offset fees.

In 2026, investors in the cryptocurrency market are gradually shifting towards Gate ETF leveraged tokens, which outperform traditional contracts in one-sided market conditions. Gate ETF achieves a compounding effect through an automatic rebalancing mechanism, demonstrating good risk management and cost efficiency whether the market is rising or falling, making it suitable for short-term trend trading. However, in volatile markets, net asset value (NAV) depletion may occur, so caution is advised when choosing trading opportunities.

In recent years, the deep integration between crypto assets and traditional finance has changed significantly, especially with the approval of Bitcoin ETFs and the launch of crypto perpetual futures. Gate enhances capital efficiency by tokenizing stocks and offering MT5/CFD trading across diverse assets, while also strengthening compliance and transparency. It has become an important bridge connecting the two, driving the reshaping of the financial system and the development of intelligent Web3.