The cryptocurrency market experienced mixed movements on February 21, with Bitcoin (BTC) crossing the $98,000 threshold while Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) posted modest gains.

The total global crypto market capitalization stood at $3.23 trillion, marking a nearly 1% rise from the previous day.

Meanwhile, total market volume surged by 8% to $90.13 billion, indicating heightened trading activity across digital assets.

Despite the overall uptrend, XRP faced downward pressure, losing nearly 2% in the past 24 hours. The latest data highlights increased volatility in altcoins as Bitcoin’s dominance climbed to 60.31%, reflecting investor preference for the leading cryptocurrency amid fluctuating market sentiment.

Bitcoin’s price climbed over 1% in the last 24 hours, trading at $98,388. The flagship cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of $96,805.78 and a high of $98,767.19. The steady uptrend continues to fuel speculation about Bitcoin’s potential to breach the psychologically significant $100,000 mark.

Bitcoin dominance  

Data shows that Bitcoin’s dominance in the crypto market increased by 0.23%, reaching 60.31%, suggesting that investors are seeking refuge in Bitcoin amid growing uncertainty in the altcoin sector. If the momentum persists, BTC could soon test new highs, attracting further institutional interest.

• Ethereum’s price saw a marginal rise of 0.2%, settling at $2,748, with a 24-hour range fluctuating between $2,708.22 and $2,770.03. Ethereum’s dominance slipped to 10.25%, indicating weaker investor enthusiasm compared to Bitcoin.
• Key resistance remains at $2,800, and a breakout above this level could drive further upward movement.
• Solana (SOL) experienced a modest 0.5% increase, currently trading at $174.55. The coin’s intraday low stood at $170.99, while its high reached $176.59.

Broader market sentiment continues to influence SOL’s price action, with traders closely watching for signs of a breakout or consolidation.

What you should know 

XRP’s price fell by over 2% in the past 24 hours, slipping to $2.65. The token reached an intraday low of $2.64 and a high of $2.74.

• Despite the decline, expectations for an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) gained traction as Grayscale’s application entered the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) review process.
• The possibility of an XRP ETF approval could significantly impact the token’s price trajectory, potentially reversing its recent losses. However, with regulatory uncertainty still looming, XRP remains susceptible to market fluctuations.
• Among meme cryptocurrencies, Dogecoin (DOGE) declined by 1.5% to $0.253, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) fell by 0.5% to $0.00001552. Meanwhile, Pepe Coin (PEPE) gained over 1% to $0.000009722, and FLOKI recorded a 3% increase, trading at $0.00009888.

With volatility persisting across the broader crypto market, investors are closely monitoring price movements and regulatory developments that could shape future trends.

[Nairametrics]

Ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Florida, the US President, Donald Trump on Thursday publicly declared his support for Republican Rep. Byron Donalds.

Although Donalds is yet to announce his interest in the race, Trump took to his page on Truth Social on Thursday to support the lawmaker.

According to Trump, as “governor, Byron would have a BIG Voice and would work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda.”

The US President stated that he has seen Donalds “tested at the highest most difficult levels, and he is a total winner”!

“Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement”, Trump added in his post.

ABC news reports that while no major candidate has formally declared their intention to run for governor in 2026, both Donalds and current First Lady of Florida, Casey DeSantis have been viewed as potential frontrunners.

[DailyPost]

AI has already become one of the most talked-about topics in crypto, with top industry-specific and financial events, as well as leading analytics companies discussing its impact and potential in compliance, fraud detection, and operational efficiency. As regulators increase scrutiny and illicit actors grow more sophisticated and fast, digital assets businesses are considering integrating AI. 

Can AI really help streamline compliance, detect hidden threats, and secure businesses? The reality is more nuanced than simply “plug and play.” AI can’t replace human oversight or responsibility, but it’s a tool that, when implemented thoughtfully, can help maintain the best industry standards. Let’s explore its possibilities.

Finding hidden risks that traditional methods miss

Traditional methods are good at catching known patterns, but they are not as effective at picking up on new or unexpected tactics. AI stands out here, analyzing large volumes of data and flagging anomalies that might fly under the radar of simpler models. 

The main advantage of using it in transaction monitoring and detecting illicit activity is in identifying ‘unknown unknowns,’ which traditional scenario-based methods are unable to detect. Additionally, advanced AI tools can adapt to new criminal techniques, letting compliance teams remain proactive rather than reactive.

Meanwhile, verifying data quality and addressing bias are significant for reliable outcomes. AI-based systems still produce false positives, but usually their numbers are lower compared to scenario-based systems. The case study published by Deloitte and United Overseas Bank showed a 5% increase in true positives and a 40% decrease in false positives in transaction monitoring, as well as a 40% rise in operational efficiency.  

Saving time, costs, and workforce

The practical benefits of AI are beyond catching hidden threats. As the complexity of regulatory demands rises, many companies face rising costs in both time and workforce. AI-based solutions can help by automating tasks that would otherwise be manual and require more time, for example:

• Prioritizing alerts and flagging high-risk cases.
• Large language models can handle initial writing or policy reviews, freeing compliance officers to focus on critical analysis.

AI allows teams to concentrate on strategic decisions by relieving them of repetitive chores. Smaller crypto firms, in particular, can benefit from this. Free from bulky legacy systems, they can be faster and more flexible in adopting cutting-edge tools to remain competitive against larger players. 

Still, staff training is key to helping teams interpret automated findings correctly and make data-based decisions.

Enhancing efficiency, but not regulatory collaboration

Although AI can significantly boost day-to-day efficiency, it is less likely to transform how crypto companies and regulators collaborate. Compliance officers still need to talk directly with regulatory bodies to address policy gray areas, manage ethical dilemmas, and ensure trust. 

AI’s job is to streamline internal workflows, not to replace human judgment in those high-level discussions. Ultimately, regulators want clear, accountable communication, something only people can provide. 

Using AI for competitive advantage and reputation 

Players in traditional finance are already focusing on AI for compliance, and crypto companies that overlook this approach risk falling behind. While merely adopting AI won’t affect a crypto firm’s reputation directly, failing to use it where it’s clearly beneficial can backfire. If a preventable fraud incident or compliance breach occurs, the reputational damage could be severe. So, we can see implementing AI as a competitive advantage. 

Moreover, responsibly implemented AI can enhance marketing efforts. Firms are already highlighting their AI-driven tools as evidence of risk management and user protection. When done transparently and ethically, these measures can strengthen consumer confidence and a company’s standing in the industry.

Keeping humans in the driver’s seat

Even as AI can take on a share of compliance tasks, responsibility can’t be delegated to algorithms. Decisions with legal or ethical consequences require a distinctly human touch. AI can flag a suspicious transaction, but the final call on how to handle that alert—whether to freeze an account or close it, for example—should remain with a qualified professional. Retaining control also protects companies from overreliance on technology that, while impressive, can never truly match human intuition and responsibility.

AI is on track to become an important part of crypto compliance. By combining its data-processing capabilities with human insight and ethical judgment, companies can spot threats more effectively, lower costs, and save time. The key is to find the right balance between automation and accountability. 

The crypto industry should be encouraged to explore what AI has to offer while recognizing that technology alone doesn’t build trust. Real trust calls for a true commitment to compliance, transparent communication with regulators, and a focus on customer protection. By treating AI as a helpful tool, not a replacement for human judgment, the industry can move toward a safer future.

Pi Network has been accused of being a scam by Bybit CEO Ben Zhou, bringing up a police notice from 2023 that calls it a ‘scam that preys on the elderly.’

In a recent post, Bybit co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou responded to a claim made by an unofficial Pi PI-39.31%Pi Network technical team account that claims the crypto exchange was “rejected by Pi” to list on its exchange. The Pi Network is a project that enables users to mine cryptocurrency through a mobile app.

“Bybit had made no listing request to PI and the claim that PI refused Bybit listing or Bybit did not pass some sort of KYB of PI is completely nonsense,” said Zhou in his post.

Zhou retaliated by bringing up a Chinese police report that was published in 2023, warning citizens about a virtual currency scam that targets the elderly through a “get rich overnight” scheme perpetrated by actors claiming to be affiliated with the Pi Network.

“Many criminals use “π Coin” to claim that they can mine for free by simply downloading an app on their mobile phones. They also give lectures to the elderly, expand the victim group by claiming that they can “recommend rebates” by developing downlines, resell user personal information, and defraud the elderly of their pensions,” wrote the Wuxi Public Security Bureau in a translated notice.

The report state that scammers would use free rewards and gifts to lure in victims who wish to gain small profits by downloading the app and promising them a small amount of Pi tokens as gift.

“They expand the victim group by rewarding people for recruiting more people, resell users’ personal information, and defraud victims of their money,” added the police bureau.

Zhou used the article as the basis for his claims, reaffirming his crypto exchange would not be listing Pi Network in the foreseeable future, unlike other major exchanges like OKX and Bitget. Even Binance has started to test the waters by holding a community vote on whether the exchange should list the Pi Network.

In an interview with crypto.news, Pi Network co-founders Dr Nicolas Kokkalis and Chengdiao Fan elaborated on Pi Network’s model and mining mechanism shortly after the launch of the project’s mainnet.

They explained that their goal is to ensure Pi remains stable by providing a fair and wide token distribution whilst facilitating real-world uses. To ensure safety on the network, they implement actions like security circles, utility-based Pi apps, running nodes and other precautions.

Additionally, Pi users, known as Pioneers, are required to undergo an identity verification process before they are able to obtain Pi .

Pi Network warns users of potential scams and bad actors

In an X post shared a few days ahead of its mainnet launch, the Pi Network warned users of the emergence of “potential bad actors and activities, scams, and individuals impersonating others” that claim to be affiliated with the project.

“Neither Pi Network, nor anyone affiliated with Pi Network, has any affiliation whatsoever with any parties organizing or engaging in such illegal or harmful activities to our users or the community,” wrote the Pi Network in its post.

The account explained that any activities that require users to pay a fee as well as actors that make “misleading promises of monetary rewards or future profits, or MLM [Multi-Level Marketing]” are not authorized by Pi Network. The protocol also urges its followers to check their official site for information on how to protect their Pi accounts and wallets.

At the time of writing, the Pi token has plummeted more than 50% in the past 24 hours. PI is currently trading hands at $0.65. The token has maintained a trading volume of $1.2 billion in the past day.

[Crypto News]