Crypto Prices Show Mixed Performance on February 12 – Major Tokens Post Modest Daily Changes

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin and Ethereum Record Moderate Gains

Bitcoin is priced at $67,054.00, reflecting a daily increase of 0.43 percent. The move places the largest cryptocurrency by market price in positive territory, though with limited volatility compared to some alternative tokens listed.

Ethereum trades at $1,971.31, up 1.20 percent. The second-largest digital asset by price shows a stronger daily percentage gain than Bitcoin, but remains below the psychological $2,000 level.

Other major assets also post gains. XRP stands at $1.38, up 1.63 percent. BNB records one of the stronger advances among large-cap tokens, rising 2.71 percent to $615.12. Solana, by contrast, shows a decline of 0.59 percent to $80.49.

Dogecoin increases 2.42 percent to $0.092507, while Cardano rises 2.23 percent to $0.260849. Tron posts a 1.61 percent gain to $0.278868.

Stablecoins Remain Close to Peg

Major stablecoins continue to trade near the one-dollar mark. USDC is priced at $0.999888, while USDT-related instruments such as USDD trade at $0.999452. TUSD stands at $0.997967.

Other dollar-pegged tokens including PYUSD at $0.999897 and FDUSD at $0.998601 also remain close to parity. Slight deviations of a few basis points are visible across multiple stablecoins, but no significant breaks from the one-dollar reference point appear in the data provided.

Gold-backed digital assets show limited movement. PAXG trades at $5,064.78, up 0.11 percent, while XAUT stands at $5,028.00 with a marginal 0.01 percent decline.

Notable Double-Digit Movers Among Altcoins

Several smaller-cap tokens register pronounced percentage swings.

STRK increases 66.46 percent to $0.0478124. ZK posts a 97.34 percent gain to $0.0225706. AMP rises 23.05 percent to $0.00152922. BEAM advances 96.05 percent to $0.00242509.

Other significant gainers include ICNT, up 77.78 percent to $0.482267, and 0G, which climbs 56.35 percent to $0.810921. JASMY records a 14.75 percent increase to $0.00611457. ENS trades 5.06 percent higher at $5.75.

On the downside, MYX declines 32.22 percent to $3.31. RIVER falls 6.87 percent to $17.59, and DCR drops 5.09 percent to $21.64. ZRO shows an 8.63 percent decrease to $2.12.

These moves indicate elevated volatility among lower-priced and mid-cap tokens compared to large-cap cryptocurrencies.

Layer 1 and DeFi Tokens Show Varied Performance

Layer 1 assets present mixed results. Avalanche gains 2.92 percent to $8.81. Polkadot rises 3.53 percent to $1.29. Near Protocol increases 2.40 percent to $0.981623.

Cosmos posts a 5.08 percent advance to $1.98. Algorand is up 1.97 percent at $0.0911071. Hedera records a 4.64 percent gain to $0.0924624.

In decentralized finance, AAVE climbs 3.77 percent to $109.62. UNI increases 4.90 percent to $3.41. CRV rises 5.40 percent to $0.239455. COMP trades 0.74 percent higher at $15.96.

Liquid staking and related tokens also show upward movement. LDO gains 13.86 percent to $0.339231. ETHFI advances 7.99 percent to $0.460945.

Exchange and Utility Tokens Reflect Broad Uptrend

Exchange-related tokens display generally positive daily changes. OKB trades at $74.84, up 2.63 percent. BGB rises 1.82 percent to $2.35. GT posts a 1.84 percent gain to $7.01.

KCS records a marginal increase of 0.23 percent to $8.04. HTX trades 1.54 percent higher at $0.00000169.

Other utility-focused tokens also post gains. GRT rises 34.65 percent to $0.0268961. ARB increases 4.18 percent to $0.111505. OP climbs 13.55 percent to $0.183161.

These movements suggest broad participation across different token categories, though with varying magnitudes.

Our Assessment

The price data for February 12 shows moderate gains among major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, while several large-cap altcoins post single-digit percentage increases. Stablecoins remain close to their dollar pegs. Smaller-cap tokens exhibit significantly higher volatility, with multiple assets recording double-digit gains and some notable declines. The overall snapshot reflects mixed but predominantly positive daily performance across a wide range of digital assets.

FanDuel Stops Accepting Credit Card Deposits in the US – Aligns Payment Policy With DraftKings

Key Takeaways

FanDuel Ends Credit Card Deposits for US Customers

FanDuel has stopped accepting credit cards as a deposit method for its US customers. The move means users can no longer fund their betting activity on the platform using credit cards.

According to the company, the decision follows an internal evaluation process conducted over the past few months. No further operational details were disclosed in the available information.

The change applies across the United States. As a result, customers who previously relied on credit cards to add funds to their accounts must now use alternative payment methods offered by the operator.

For users, the update directly affects how they manage account funding. Payment method availability is a key factor when choosing an online sportsbook or casino platform, particularly for customers who prioritize speed, convenience, or specific card-based billing structures.

DraftKings Previously Implemented a Nationwide Ban

FanDuel’s decision follows a similar step taken by DraftKings. Last year, DraftKings stopped accepting credit cards as a deposit method anywhere in the country.

With both operators implementing the same restriction, the two largest online gambling companies in the US no longer permit credit card funding for betting activity. This creates a consistent approach to this specific payment method among the market leaders.

The timeline shows that DraftKings introduced the change first, while FanDuel reached its decision after several months of internal review. The alignment between the two companies means that customers who use either platform face the same limitation regarding credit card deposits.

Impact on Users of Major US Gambling Platforms

The removal of credit card deposits has practical implications for account funding. Credit cards have traditionally been one of several available payment options on online gambling platforms, alongside other digital and bank-based methods.

For users who prefer credit cards due to reward programs, billing cycles, or established spending limits, the policy change requires an adjustment in how they transfer funds. Customers must now select from the remaining deposit methods provided by each operator.

From a comparison perspective, payment flexibility is often one of the criteria users evaluate when assessing sportsbooks and online casinos. The decision by both FanDuel and DraftKings narrows the range of funding tools available at the top end of the US market.

The update may also influence how users distribute their activity across platforms. When payment methods change, customers typically reassess convenience, processing times, and account management processes. However, the available information does not indicate any further changes to other deposit or withdrawal options.

Industry Context: Two Market Leaders Adopt the Same Policy

FanDuel and DraftKings are described as the two biggest online gambling operators in the United States. With both companies no longer accepting credit cards for deposits, a notable segment of the US online gambling market now operates under the same restriction.

Although the specific reasoning behind FanDuel’s decision has not been detailed, the company confirmed that it evaluated the matter over several months before implementing the change.

The development highlights how payment policies can evolve over time, even at established operators. For users and industry observers, such updates are relevant because payment infrastructure is a core component of online gambling operations. Changes to deposit methods can alter user behavior, operational processes, and competitive positioning within the market.

At this stage, the available information is limited to the confirmation of the policy shift and its nationwide scope.

Our Assessment

FanDuel’s decision to stop accepting credit card deposits in the United States brings its payment policy in line with DraftKings, which implemented a nationwide ban last year. As a result, the two largest US online gambling operators no longer allow customers to fund betting accounts with credit cards. The change directly affects deposit options for a significant share of the US online gambling market and requires users of both platforms to rely on alternative payment methods.

Robinhood Opens Testnet for Arbitrum-Based Ethereum Layer 2 – Crypto Head Argues Public Blockchains Meet Institutional Needs

Key Takeaways

Robinhood Opens Testnet for Arbitrum-Based Ethereum Layer 2

Robinhood is opening the testnet for its Arbitrum-based Ethereum Layer 2, marking a new step in the company’s blockchain development strategy. The move was discussed by Johann Kerbrat, the company’s Head of Crypto, in a podcast interview published by The Defiant on February 11, 2026.

According to the interview, the Layer 2 network is built on Arbitrum and designed to operate within the Ethereum ecosystem. By launching a testnet, Robinhood is making a pre-release version of the network available for testing before broader deployment. Testnets are commonly used in blockchain development to evaluate functionality, stability, and performance under real-world conditions without affecting live assets.

The announcement signals that Robinhood is pursuing its blockchain infrastructure strategy within the public Ethereum environment rather than developing a closed or proprietary system.

Strategic Choice: Building on Ethereum Instead of Private Chains

During the interview, Kerbrat explained the reasoning behind building on Ethereum and public blockchain infrastructure rather than opting for private chains. He stated that institutions can obtain the privacy and compliance guarantees they require on public chains such as Ethereum.

Kerbrat rejected the idea that private blockchains are necessary for institutional participation. In his view, building on private chains does not make sense because they function as little more than a “fancy database.” This characterization underscores Robinhood’s position that the core advantages of blockchain technology are best realized on public networks.

By emphasizing Ethereum as the foundation for its Layer 2 initiative, Robinhood aligns its development efforts with a widely used public blockchain rather than creating a segregated environment for selected participants.

Institutional Privacy and Compliance on Public Blockchains

A central theme of Kerbrat’s remarks was the compatibility between public blockchains and institutional requirements. He stated that privacy and compliance guarantees can be achieved within public blockchain systems.

This position addresses a longstanding debate in the digital asset sector over whether financial institutions require private or permissioned networks to meet regulatory and operational standards. According to Kerbrat, public chains such as Ethereum are capable of supporting these needs without sacrificing the transparency and openness that define them.

The argument implies that public blockchain infrastructure can serve both retail and institutional users simultaneously. Rather than separating use cases into different technological environments, Robinhood’s approach appears to rely on shared infrastructure.

Implications for Public Blockchain Adoption

Robinhood’s decision to open a testnet for an Arbitrum-based Ethereum Layer 2 reflects a commitment to public blockchain ecosystems. By choosing this route, the company positions its crypto infrastructure within an open network rather than behind closed systems.

Kerbrat’s comments suggest that the company sees long-term advantages in public blockchain architecture. His statement that private chains resemble a database indicates that Robinhood does not view them as offering the same structural benefits as public networks.

For market participants, the development highlights how major fintech firms are approaching blockchain integration. Instead of building isolated systems, Robinhood is testing infrastructure that connects directly to Ethereum through a Layer 2 framework.

Context of the Announcement

The discussion took place in an episode of The Defiant podcast hosted by Camila Russo. The interview focused on Robinhood’s strategic move to build on Ethereum and the broader reasoning behind the company’s blockchain choices.

While the company has not detailed specific timelines or technical parameters in the provided material, the opening of a testnet indicates an active development phase. Testnets typically allow developers and users to experiment with network functionality prior to any full production release.

The article accompanying the interview notes that The Defiant stores its articles on Filecoin, underscoring the broader context in which decentralized storage and blockchain infrastructure continue to intersect with media and fintech initiatives.

Our Assessment

Robinhood has opened the testnet for its Arbitrum-based Ethereum Layer 2 and publicly outlined its rationale for building on a public blockchain. According to Johann Kerbrat, institutions can achieve privacy and compliance guarantees on Ethereum, removing the need for private chains. He described private blockchains as a “fancy database,” reinforcing the company’s preference for public infrastructure. The development reflects a clear strategic choice to integrate within the Ethereum ecosystem rather than deploy a separate, closed network.