Monica Long, president of Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP), predicts half of Fortune 500 companies will adopt formal crypto strategies by the end of 2026 as stablecoins become the default for global payments.

Stablecoins Become The Default Payment Rail

Long says stablecoins will replace traditional payment systems within five years, not as an alternative but as the foundation.

The shift is already happening. Visa Inc (NYSE:V) and Stripe are building stablecoin infrastructure into their core systems. 

The GENIUS Act legalized compliant U.S. stablecoins, making them the standard for 24/7 global payments.

Ripple’s recent conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to charter a…

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) tapped $88,000 on Wednesday amid heightened geopolitical tensions, though some analysts argue the weakness is temporary rather than structural.

Analyst Says Bitcoin–Gold Divergence Is Cyclical, Not Structural

Crypto trader Ansem said Bitcoin’s recent lag relative to gold is driven by cyclical and structural factors, not a breakdown of the long-term thesis.

He attributed the divergence to early Bitcoin holders taking profits, four-year cycle dynamics, and portfolio rebalancing as gold and silver break out of a decade-long consolidation.

According to Ansem, renewed demand from high-net-worth individuals and institutions, is driven by Bitcoin’s advantages as a “digital…

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is down 11% since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, while the Trump family added $1.4 billion to their fortune through crypto ventures—exposing the gap between political promises and market performance.

The Performance Gap Nobody Expected

Bitcoin traded at $101,000 when Trump took office one year ago. Today it sits below $90,000—an 11% decline.

The comparison to Biden’s first year makes it even more striking. 

Under Biden, Bitcoin climbed from $36,000 to $41,700—a 16% gain—even as his administration sued crypto companies and pushed enforcement-heavy regulation.

The irony: Trump promised to make America the “crypto capital of the world,” appointed…

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Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) founder Charles Hoskinson slammed Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP) CEO Brad Garlinghouse for backing the Senate’s Clarity Act draft, warning the bill hands too much power to the SEC and locks crypto into flawed regulation that favors banks over innovation.

The Fight Over “Clarity Beats Chaos”

Garlinghouse praised the Senate Banking Committee’s version of the Clarity Act on January 14, calling it a massive step forward despite imperfections.

“Ripple and I know firsthand that clarity beats chaos, and this bill’s success is crypto’s success,” Garlinghouse wrote on X. 

“I remain optimistic that issues can be resolved through the mark-up process,” he added.

Hoskinson…

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Fast food chain Steak ‘n Shake, a wholly owned subsidiary of Biglari Holdings (NYSE:BH), announced Tuesday it will give a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) bonus for all hourly employees at its company-operated restaurants beginning March 1.

Bitcoin Bonuses Are Here?

In an X post, the iconic American burger chain announced a bonus of $0.21 worth of Bitcoin for every hour worked.

“Employees will be able to collect their Bitcoin pay after a two-year vesting period,” the company said.

Steak ‘n Shake has partnered with Fold, a Bitcoin-focused personal finance application, to create the bonus program.

This move comes after the burger chain added $10 million worth of Bitcoin to its balance…

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Winklevoss twins, the co-founders of Gemini Space Station, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEMI), donated over $1 million to support the privacy-focused Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC) cryptocurrency on Tuesday.

‘Unstoppable Private Money’

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss donated 3,221 ZEC tokens, worth $1.4 million, to Shielded Labs, an independent organization that supports the development of the Zcash network.

Cameron Winklevoss described Zcash as “unstoppable private money,” adding that he and his brother are committed to supporting its mission.

“Privacy is the next frontier in crypto. It’s the point at which government and corporate overreach end and your freedom and self-sovereignty begin,” he… Read more on Benzinga

World Liberty Financial (WLFI) co-founder Donald Trump Jr. announced Tuesday the World Liberty Forum, a gathering for major influencers in technology and finance, to be held at Mar-a-Lago next month.

A Trump Family-Backed Event

In a video posted on X by the World Liberty Financial team, Trump Jr. marketed the event, scheduled for Feb. 18, as the “most exclusive” in technology and finance.

“We’re bringing together a select group of the smartest people we know and respect from finance and technology — people who are building and leading the best companies, moving serious money, and driving American innovation forward,” Trump Jr. said.

The event is invitation-only, with requests…

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