Foreign holdings of US Treasuries cool slightly after peaking in November

<p class="text-align-justify">In wrapping up the 2025 year, foreign holdings of US Treasuries dropped slightly in December to $9.27 trillion. That compares with the peak seen in November at $9.36 trillion. The $88.4 billion drop might not seem much but it still represents the largest monthly decline since late 2022. But after hitting a record high in November, I think we can give that a pass.</p><p class="text-align-justify">That especially if we put things more into context. The 2025 year-end figure still marks a massive year for US debt demand, with it being well above the $8.5 trillion at the end of 2024.</p><p class="text-align-justify">So, what can we make of the trend and the data from the report yesterday?</p><p class="text-align-justify">There are just a couple of things that stand out from the chart above.</p><p class="text-align-justify">The first of course being the glaring and continued decline in China's holdings of US Treasuries. The figure dropped to $683.5 billion by the end of 2025, which is the lowest since 2008. The total reduction in China's holdings for the whole of last year was over $200 billion. So, it keeps up with the trend we're seeing since the peak in 2013.</p><p class="text-align-justify">That being said, the important detail when looking into this report is to not take the numbers at face value. It is best to remember that the numbers here are only a measure of each country's holdings of Treasuries in US custodians. The thing about this is that some countries might still buying Treasures via non-US custodians. As such, China likely falls under this category.</p><p class="text-align-justify">And these numbers tend to show up in the likes of Belgium and Luxembourg. That is not to say all of it are tied to proxy buying though. Both Belgium and Luxembourg also double as agents to facilitate demand for private financial institutions in Europe especially.</p><p class="text-align-justify">As for the UK, it is more so a case of London acting as a global clearinghouse for private international investors. That especially after the Covid pandemic.</p><p class="text-align-justify">In essence, the narrative there also highlights the continued shift in trend in terms of structural holdings of Treasuries and US debt.</p><p class="text-align-justify">It is no longer central banks being the big players but instead private investors i.e. hedge funds, pension funds, asset managers who are now the dominant buyers. And they have been for quite a while now.</p><p class="text-align-justify">As mentioned yesterday, this just means that US funding is now becoming more increasingly dependent on market-based capital and not so much so on reserve recycling. To put things more simply, it's more about yield and financial demand rather than being a case of a geopolitical feature.</p><p class="text-align-justify">And for all the negativity surrounding the dollar and US assets since last year, foreign demand for Treasuries remain strong. The total holdings by foreign investors last year even showed a staggering increase of $770 billion over the course of 2025.</p><p class="text-align-justify">That's good news for the US administration as they continue to balance on a very fine tightrope on the fiscal side of things. But even as foreign demand is holding up just enough to keep the engine running, the fiscal cost continues to put a stranglehold on the government.</p><p class="text-align-justify">And now with the "financialisation" shift in who is demanding Treasuries, that creates a bigger risk especially since private investors are more price/yields sensitive. That in turn also creates the risk for more potential yield spikes on any major developments.</p> This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.

Why address poisoning works without stealing private keys

Address poisoning works by cluttering your transaction history with fake entries, tricking you into sending funds to a scammer’s address by mistake.

Ethereum Foundation lists ‘quantum readiness,’ gas limits in 2026 priorities

The Ethereum Foundation called 2025 one of its “most productive years,” highlighting two major network upgrades and the gas limit significantly increasing.

Trump family courts TradFi giants at Mar-a-Lago crypto mixer

An inaugural event by the Trump family’s crypto platform saw crypto and finance executives flying to Florida to rub shoulders with regulators and members of Congress.

Bitcoin is about to log its longest losing streak since 2022 as geopolitical nerves hit risk trades

Fed minutes suggest rate hikes on table again amid inflation jitters

Fed policymakers said easing may not be warranted until there is a clear indication that the progress of disinflation is firmly back on track.

Coinbase lets XRP, ADA and dogecoin holders borrow up to $100,000 without selling

Bitcoin can bounce higher — but the market still lacks fuel for a real run

US CLARITY Act to pass 'hopefully by April': Senator Bernie Moreno

Odds of the US CLARITY Act passing in 2026 briefly spike to 90% on Polymarket on Wednesday amid optimistic comments from US Senator Bernie Moreno.

Kalshi data could inform Federal Reserve policy: Fed researchers

Researchers said Kalshi’s “rich intraday dynamics” enable it to measure expectations in real-time when major financial events and announcements are made.

Bitcoin shakes off U.S. session losses as Trump says U.S. trade deficit cut by 78%

Warren warns crypto bailout would enrich Trump family biz: Report

Senator Elizabeth Warren said it was “deeply unclear” if the US government has plans to intervene in the current Bitcoin selloff.

Aptos eyes tokenomics overhaul to scale APT deflation

The Aptos Foundation will propose a 2.1 billion token hard cap, short-term staking reward reductions, and a 10x gas fee increase.

WLFI surges 10% after Apex stablecoin deal, outperforming BTC and ETH

LONGTITUDE recap: Bitcoin's 2-step quantum plan, US crypto policy

Tron founder Justin Sun told the Hong Kong conference that crypto needs to prepare for AGI, while a Bitcoin analyst says quantum's threat needs to be priced in.

Hyperliquid launches DeFi lobby amid ‘critical time’ for US policy

The Hyperliquid Policy Center says it will advocate on Capitol Hill for policies, particularly those related to perpetual derivatives and blockchain infrastructure.

Bitcoin’s consolidation nears ‘turning point’ as $70K comes in focus: Analyst

Bitcoin’s sideways price action begins to narrow as a key trading metric hints that a decisive breakout is pending. Will bulls finally overcome the $70,000 resistance zone?

OpenAI pits AI agents against each other to red team smart contracts

OpenAI said it is becoming increasingly important to evaluate the performance of AI agents in “economically meaningful environments” as their adoption grows.

South Korea’s Hanwha makes a $13 million bet on ‘seedless’ crypto wallets

Solana futures data shows panicked bulls: Will $80 SOL hold?

A drop in Solana’s dApp revenues, along with limited institutional and retail investor interest, adds vulnerability to SOL’s $78 support.

Bitcoin bottom signal that preceded 1,900% rally flashes again

Bitcoin’s “short-term holder stress” metric has fallen to lows not seen since 2018, suggesting the market has capitulated and possibly bottomed.

Real estate billionaire Barry Sternlicht is ready to tokenize assets, but says U.S. regulation blocks it

Banking trade groups responsible for impasse on market structure bill, Brian Armstrong says

Coinbase's Base transitions to its own architecture with eye on streamlining

The Base engineering team said the protocol would remain open-source and encouraged developers to continue building unique implementations.

Kraken acquires tokenization platform Magna ahead of potential IPO

The crypto exchange's parent company acquired several platforms in 2025 while confidentially filing for an initial public offering with the SEC.

SOL’s path of least resistance tilts toward $50 but onchain data hints at a bottom

SOL price looks bearish on multiple chart timeframes, leading analysts to put a short-term target on $50. Will the “extreme” state of SOL’s MVRV indicator prevent another price crash?

$209B exited altcoins over the last 13 months: Did traders rotate into Bitcoin?

Net selling from altcoins topped $209 billion, far outpacing the sell volumes seen during Bitcoin's five-month sell-off. Will these traders reposition into Bitcoin?

Bitcoin sinks to $66,000, U.S. stocks lose steam as Fed minutes mention possible rate hike

DerivaDEX launches Bermuda-licensed derivatives exchange under DAO governance

The decentralized exchange has begun offering crypto perpetual swaps after receiving a test license from Bermuda’s regulator, operating under DAO governance and formal oversight.

Ether 'bear pennant' puts target on $1.1K ETH price: Here’s why

Ethereum onchain data and a bear pennant on the daily chart suggest that bears may target the $1,100 level. Would a dip to that zone represent a generational buy opportunity?

Riot Platform‘s AI/HPC push could net up to $21B, says activist holder

Starboard Value said that “time is of the essence,” stressing urgency in Riot getting “more material deals completed” related to AI and HPC.

Sam Altman's OpenAI unveils ‘EVMbench’ to test whether AI can keep crypto’s smart contracts safe

Kraken continues acquisition streak by buying token management firm Magna ahead of IPO push

Price predictions 2/18: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, BCH, ADA, HYPE, XMR

Technical charts show Bitcoin price hanging on to softening support in the $68,000 to $65,000 zone, and a breakdown below the level could usher in new lows in the $50,000 range.

Treasury bills seen as primary driver of Bitcoin's price: Report

New Keyrock research finds not all newly created money impacts risk assets due to how fresh liquidity flows through the economy.

The Protocol: Zora moves to Solana

Bitcoin 2024 buyers steady BTC price as trader sees $52K 'next week or so'

Two-year Bitcoin hodlers "absorbed" seller pressure in recent weeks, according to new research, but most analysts still expect new macro BTC price lows.

SocGen's FORGE expands euro stablecoin to XRP Ledger in multi-chain push

The French banking group’s digital asset unit deploys EUR CoinVertible on a third public blockchain, alongside Ethereum and Solana.

Coinbase’s Base moves away from Optimism’s 'OP stack' in major tech shift

Bitcoin Technicals:The price of bitcoin is consolidating in a narrow range w/a lower bias.

<p>Bitcoin remains in a consolidation phase, with price action compressing after the prior directional move. On the hourly chart, the market has been tracking along an upward-sloping trendline that connects the February 12 low to the February 17 low. That trendline has quietly acted as near-term support, helping to steady price during recent pullbacks.</p><p>Today, buyers once again leaned against that support, which currently comes in near $66,926. As long as price continues to respect that rising trendline, the consolidation holds together. However, a sustained break below that level would shift the focus lower and likely invite additional selling pressure. If that support gives way, traders will begin targeting the recent cycle low near $65,080, a level that represents the lower boundary of the broader corrective structure.</p><p>On the topside, the technical hurdles are clearly defined by the hourly moving averages. The 200-hour moving average sits at $68,154, while the 100-hour moving average comes in at $68,557. Price remains below both. From a technical standpoint, it would take a decisive move back above those two averages to increase the bullish bias and suggest that buyers are regaining control. A break and sustained hold above that zone would shift attention toward the downward-sloping topside trendline near $70,000. That trendline has capped prior rallies and represents a key inflection point in the broader structure.</p><p>A clean break above $70,000 would open the door for stronger upside momentum and potentially mark the beginning of a more meaningful directional move. Until then, sellers retain the short-term edge while price remains below the hourly moving averages — though they still need a break below $66,926 to build conviction for a deeper push toward $65,080.</p><p>Key Levels</p><ul><li><p>Support: $66,926 (rising trendline)</p></li><li><p>Next downside target: $65,080</p></li><li><p>Resistance: $68,154 (200-hour MA)</p></li><li><p>Resistance: $68,557 (100-hour MA)</p></li><li><p>Major resistance: $70,000 (downward trendline)</p></li></ul><p>Summary Bias</p><p>The bias remains neutral-to-bearish below the 100- and 200-hour moving averages. A break above those levels would tilt the tone more bullish and shift focus toward $70,000. Conversely, a move below the rising trendline at $66,926 increases downside risk toward $65,080.</p> This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.

Ethereum’s 50% staking milestone triggers backlash over 'misleading' supply data

Bitcoin miner Riot stock jumps nearly 9% as activist Starboard urges AI data center expansion

Financial giant with $3.5 trillion asset to pilot Trump-affiliated WLFI stablecoin for tokenized funds

Trump family-backed WLFI token surges 23% ahead of Mar-a-Lago crypto forum

Although US President Donald Trump was not slated to appear at today's event, it will include two senators, the CFTC chair, and industry leaders.

What happens on prediction platforms can steer traditional markets, NYSE chief says

Modern Treasury integrates stablecoin settlement alongside ACH and wires

The payment software company has integrated stablecoin settlement into its existing payments stack, combining USDG, USDP and USDC with traditional rails.

Bitcoin volatile, but flat, while crypto stocks bounce amid cooling AI fears

Goldman Sachs' David Solomon says he owns 'very little' bitcoin but watching it closely

Crypto Long & Short: Crypto’s liquidity mirage

Bitwise aims to offer prediction market ETFs for U.S. elections in 2026 and 2028

NYSE President says exchange felt ‘responsibility’ to enter tokenization space

Bitcoin's plunge signals coming AI crisis, but massive Fed response will drive new record high: Arthur Hayes

Hyperliquid starts DeFi lobbying group with $29 million token backing

Tokenized pre-IPO shares topic ignites legal debate at Consensus Hong Kong 2026

Canary lists spot SUI ETF with staking rewards

CoinDesk 20 performance update: Aptos (APT) declines 3%, leading index lower

ECB targets 2027 digital euro pilot as provider selection begins in Q1 2026

The ECB is set to begin selecting EU-licensed payment providers for its digital euro pilot this quarter, with the 12-month pilot set to kick off in the second half of 2027.

How Europe’s blockchain sandbox finds innovation in regulation

The EU regulated blockchain earlier than most major economies. Its sandbox now tests whether dialogue unlocks innovation inside legal fences.

American crypto holders are scared and confused about this year’s new IRS tax rules

Moonwell hit by $1.78M exploit as AI vibe coding debate reaches DeFi

The exploit saw the Moonwell protocol exploited for $1.78 million after cbETH was mispriced at $1.12 instead of about $2,200, intensifying debate around AI-co-authored smart contracts.

From 2016 hack to $150M Endowment: the DAO’s second act focuses on Ethereum security

AMLBot says social engineering drove 65% of crypto cases it probed in 2025

Social engineering and impersonation-related scams were the most frequent attack vectors targeting crypto investors in AMLBot’s own investigations last year.

While some big investors cash out of crypto, others double down

XRP Ledger rolls out members-only DEX for regulated institutions

Milo tops $100 million in crypto-backed mortgages, closes record $12 million deal

Bitcoin holds near $68,000 as volatility cools, WLFI jumps ahead of Mar-a-Lago forum

Lagarde early exit report puts ECB succession and digital euro in focus

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is reportedly weighing an early exit from the bank just as the EU enters a crucial phase for the digital euro.

Moonwell's $1.12 nightmare: A pricing glitch just let bots seize millions in ETH collateral

Wells Fargo sees ‘YOLO’ trade driving $150B into Bitcoin and risk assets

A Wells Fargo strategist said bigger US tax refunds may revive retail risk-taking by late March, potentially sending fresh cash into Bitcoin and momentum stocks.

Brevan Howard's crypto fund said to lose 30% in worst year since inception: FT

Bitcoin ETFs log $105M outflows as mystery IBIT buyer surfaces

US spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see slowing outflows as investors and analysts examine Q4 2025 filings showing which institutions bought and sold crypto ETFs.

Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund dumps ETHZilla stake as ETH treasuries face pressure

A new SEC filing shows Peter Thiel-linked Founders Fund entities now own zero ETHZilla shares, after disclosing a 7.5% stake in 2025.

Zora moves onto Solana with 'attention markets' for trading internet trends

Bitcoin losing $70,000 is a warning sign for further downside

Peter Thiel's Founders Fund dumps every ETHZilla share

Nevada sues Kalshi after prediction market loses bid to stop state action

Kalshi is looking to have Nevada’s lawsuit heard in federal court, again asserting it is subject only to federal commodity exchange laws.

4 data points suggest XRP price bottomed at $1.12: Are bulls ready to take over?

Multiple technical, onchain and exchange-traded product data points suggest $1.12 was the generational bottom for XRP. Is it time for a trend reversal?

Bitcoin ETFs hold billions despite price crash, but resilience masks harsh reality

Pump.fun rolls out trader cashbacks amid memecoin 'capitulation'

The rewards model follows months of criticism that too few Pump.fun traders were breaking even on the platform, let alone profiting.

Bitcoin's tech stock divergence is a 'fire alarm' for fiat: Arthur Hayes

Arthur Hayes warns that AI-related job losses will spark a credit crisis, forcing central banks to print money, which will drive Bitcoin to new all-time highs.

Bitwise, GraniteShares join race for prediction market-style ETFs

Two more ETF issuers have filed prospectuses for six US election prediction market ETFs, allowing investors to gain exposure to election outcomes.

Crypto lobby forms working group seeking prediction market clarity

The Prediction Markets Working Group, launched by The Digital Chamber, will champion the sector’s values while advocating for the CFTC to maintain primary oversight.

Coin Center urges Senate not to axe crypto developer protection bill

Coin Center said internet and cloud hosting providers aren’t prosecuted when criminals misuse their platforms, arguing crypto developers shouldn’t be either.

eToro shares pop 20% as crypto revenues bolster Q4 earnings

eToro CEO Yoni Assia says he is positioning the trading platform “for a financial system that is increasingly moving on-chain,” after its crypto revenues boosted earnings in Q4.

Zora debuts attention markets on Solana, betting on social trends

The ZORA token gained 6.2% to $0.022 over the last 24 hours as Zora announced its new attention markets product.

Ether bulls target $2.5K as staking ETF launch, RWA market cap reflect growth

Ether adoption grows as major endowments shift capital, BlackRock launches a staking ETF, and Ethereum's real-world asset dominance highlights TradFi investor interest.

Abu Dhabi wealth funds bitcoin ETF holdings topped $1 billion at end of 2025

Stripe-owned Bridge gets OCC conditional approval for national bank charter

While still subject to final approval, the regulator's nod would enable Bridge to offer stablecoin and digital asset services to businesses.

Quantoz gains Visa nod to issue stablecoin-linked debit cards in Europe

The Dutch electronic money issuer will act as a BIN sponsor for fintech partners, linking regulated dollar- and euro-denominated tokens to mainstream card rails.

HIVE Digital posts 219% revenue jump as miner-AI hybrid strategy gains traction

Third-quarter results show revenue growth despite lower Bitcoin prices, alongside new AI computing contracts, as HIVE continues to expand beyond its core mining business.

Gold firm Elemental Royalty to pay out dividends in Tether's tokenized gold

New Bitcoin whales are trapped underwater, but for how long?

The gap between new and old Bitcoin whales continues to widen as BTC trades below $68,000. Will young whales continue to accumulate, or will older whales capitulate first?

Stripe's stablecoin firm Bridge wins initial approval of national bank trust charter

Crypto venture capital firm Dragonfly raises $650 million despite 'gloom of a bear market'

Traders pinpoint three price targets for Bitcoin if $70K holds as resistance

Traders map out their desired price targets for Bitcoin if the $70,000 level continues to function as a resistance zone. Is there any hope for the bulls?

Bitcoin chart pattern, whale activity warn of another 20% price drop

Bitcoin has formed a classic bearish pattern on its daily chart, and if confirmed, a price drop to $56,000 could be on the cards.

Kraken integrates with ICE Chat to expand institutional OTC access

The integration gives ICE Chat users direct access to the exchange's OTC crypto liquidity, embedding digital asset trading within established institutional workflows.

CFTC chair doubles down on defending prediction markets from state suits

Michael Selig said that the US financial regulator had filed an amicus brief against what he called an “onslaught of state-led litigation” against prediction markets.

Amid crypto VC shakeout, Dragonfly closes $650M fund with focus on real-world assets

Dragonfly’s raise comes as crypto venture capital shifts toward tokenized real-world assets, payments and core financial infrastructure that enables institutional participation.

Bitcoin stays pinned below $70K as BTC’s negative funding rate flashes warning sign

Bitcoin’s negative funding rate and a cooling tech sector in the US add pressure to markets and contribute to BTC failing to trade above $70,000.

Purpose Investments Announces Completion and Exchange Ratio for Merger, Special Capital Gain Distribution, and Related Matters

TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Purpose Investments Inc. ("Purpose") is pleased to announce that the previously announced merger (the "Merger") of Purpose Ether Staking Corp. ETF (the "Terminating Fund", "ETHC.B") into Purpose Ether ETF (the "Continuing Fund", "ETHH.B") was completed after the close of business on February 13, 2026 (the "Effective Date"). The Merger was completed on a tax-deferred basis.

MarketWise, Inc. Confirms that Monument & Cathedral has Withdrawn its Unsolicited Acquisition Proposal

BALTIMORE, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MarketWise, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKTW) (“MarketWise” or the “Company”) today confirmed that Monument & Cathedral Holdings, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, “M&C”) has withdrawn its previously disclosed unsolicited non-binding proposal (the “Proposal”) to acquire all the outstanding securities of the Company and MarketWise, LLC that are not owned by M&C for cash consideration of $17.25 per share, contingent upon termination of the Company’s tax receivable agreement (the “Proposal”). The Proposal was previously announced by the Company on October 29, 2025.

Herzig Engineering, a Leading Provider of Electrical Safety Services, Announces Acquisition of Martin Technical

KANSAS CITY, Mo. & DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Herzig Engineering (“Herzig”), a national electrical services firm focused on safety and compliance in electrified environments, announced the acquisition of Martin Technical, Inc. (“Martin”), a leading provider of lockout tagout, arc flash, electrical reliability and safety services. Herzig Engineering is backed by Copley Equity Partners (“Copley”). Financial terms were not disclosed. Jim Schuster founded Martin Technical in 2009 and has built the bu

Redevances OR annonce l'acquisition d'un portefeuille d'actifs de redevances, dont une redevance de 1,5 % NSR sur la mine en exploitation San Gabriel appartenant à Buenaventura

MONTRÉAL, 18 févr. 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Redevances OR Inc. (« Redevances OR » ou la « Société ») (TSX et NYSE : OR) a le plaisir d’annoncer qu'elle a conclu un accord définitif avec des filiales de Gold Fields Limited (« Gold Fields ») en vue d'acquérir un portefeuille d'actifs de haute qualité dans le secteur des métaux précieux (le « portefeuille ») composé de huit redevances pour un montant total de 115 millions de dollars (le « prix d'achat »), dont la principale est une redevance de 1,5 % sur le rendement net de fonderie (« NSR ») de la mine d'or et d'argent San Gabriel (« San Gabriel ») exploitée par Compañía de Minas Buenaventura SAA (« Buenaventura ») et située dans la province de General Sánchez Cerro, région de Moquegua, au Pérou (la « transaction »). Sauf indication contraire, les montants sont exprimés en dollars américains.

OR Royalties Announces Acquisition of a Portfolio of Royalty Assets Including a 1.5% NSR Royalty on Buenaventura’s Producing San Gabriel Mine

MONTREAL, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OR Royalties Inc. (“OR Royalties” or the “Company”) (OR: TSX & NYSE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement with affiliates of Gold Fields Limited (“Gold Fields”) to acquire a high-quality portfolio of precious metals assets (the “Portfolio”) consisting of eight royalties for a total consideration of $115 million (the “Purchase Price”), anchored by a 1.5% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on Compañía de Minas Buenaventura SAA’s (“Buenaventura”) producing San Gabriel gold and silver mine (“San Gabriel”) located in the Province of General Sánchez Cerro, Region of Moquegua, Peru (the “Transaction”). Amounts presented are in United States dollars, except where otherwise noted.

Salesforce to acquire Momentum to boost AI-driven conversation insights

FG Communities Completes Acquisition in Scotland Neck, NC

Furthering our growth across eastern NC Furthering our growth across eastern NC

Dalfen Industrial Accelerates Midwest Expansion with Strategic Chicago Acquisition

Dalfen Industrial acquires a multi-tenant industial property in Chicago's premier O'Hare submarket, strengthening the firm's expanding Midwest platform.

Nano-cap biotech Sensei surges on $200M private placement, acquisition

Prenetics Completes $70 Million Insighta Sale to Tencent, Bolstering Balance Sheet to $171.1 Million in Total Adjusted Liquidity

Prenetics Completes $70 Million Insighta Sale to Tencent, Bolstering Balance Sheet to $171.1 Million in Total Adjusted Liquidity

Meddelelse om foreløbigt resultat af det pligtsmæssige tilbud til aktionærerne i SKAKO A/S

Til Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S

Liberty snaps up Vodafone's Dutch JV stake, buys UK fiber provider with consortium

Cherokee Nation Businesses, Ariel Alternatives partner to acquire Front Line Power Construction

Deal marks tribe’s first direct entry into utility services sector Deal marks tribe’s first direct entry into utility services sector

CleanChoice Energy to Triple its Generation Capacity with the Acquisition of Two Solar Projects in North Carolina

CleanChoice Energy to triple its generation capacity with the acquisition of two solar projects in North Carolina, located in Halifax and Bertie counties

Sompo Receives Regulatory Approvals for Aspen Acquisition

TOKYO and HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sompo Holdings, Inc. (“Sompo” or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 8630, TSE Prime Market) announced today that it has received the necessary antitrust and insurance regulatory approvals required to complete its previously announced acquisition of 100% of the issued Class A ordinary shares of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (“Aspen”) through a wholly owned subsidiary of Sompo International Holdings Ltd. (“SIH”).

Form 8.3 - Picton Property Income Limited

8.3

Form 8.3 - LondonMetric Property Plc

8.3

Form 8.3 - Bluefield Solar Income Fund Ltd.

8.3

Perch Energy Announces Acquisition of Mitsui’s Solstice, Solidifying the Company as the US Leader in Community Solar

Perch Energy announces the acquisition of Mitsui's Solstice, positions Perch as national leader in community solar.

Blackboxstocks Inc. (NASDAQ: BLBX) Merger Target, REalloys to Appoint Bob Foresman to its Board of Directors

Blackboxstocks Inc. Merger Target, REalloys to Appoint Bob Foresman to its Board of Directors

ButcherJoseph & Co. Acts as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Western Specialty Contractors on a Sale to Its Employees

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ST. LOUIS, MO – February 2026 – ButcherJoseph & Co. (“ButcherJoseph”) is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive financial advisor to Western Specialty Contractors, a leading national provider of specialty construction, restoration, and concrete services, on its sale to its employees.

Western Specialty Contractors is proud to announce its transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ST. LOUIS, MO – February 2026 – Western Specialty Contractors, a leading national provider of specialty construction, restoration, and concrete services, is proud to announce its transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) after 110 years of family ownership.

Humain unveils $3B investment in xAI ahead of SpaceX merger

Organigram to buy Berlin-based Sanity Group in €113.4M upfront deal, expanding cannabis supply network

SpatialChat Acquires Teemyco to Accelerate the AI-Powered Cloud HQ

San Francisco, CA, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SpatialChat, a rapidly scaling video communication platform redefining how distributed teams collaborate and execute work, today announced the acquisition of Teemyco, a European company in the virtual collaboration space with more than five years of operating history.

Auddia Announces Signing of Definitive Merger Agreement for Business Combination

Auddia Announces Signing of Definitive Merger Agreement for Business Combination

Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) - CAB Payments Holdings Plc

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

Man Group PLC : Form 8.3 - Beazley Plc

FORM 8.3

Man Group PLC : Form 8.3 - LondonMetric Property Plc

FORM 8.3

Form 8.3 - [IDOX PLC - 17 02 2026] - (CGWL)

FORM 8.3

Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Team Plc

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

Form 8.3 - Kitwave Group Plc

Downing LLPLEI: 213800G3X76VBG9SB50418 February 2026Form 8.3 re. Kitwave Group Plc

Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) - PPHE Hotel Group Ltd

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

Form 8.3 - 1Spatial Plc

Downing LLPLEI: 213800G3X76VBG9SB50418 February 2026Form 8.3 re. 1Spatial Plc

Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) - Kore Potash Plc

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

Azimut complète la transaction sur la Propriété Galinée avec LiFT Power, région de la Baie-James, Québec

LONGUEUIL, Québec, 18 févr. 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exploration Azimut Inc. (« Azimut » ou la « Société ») (TSXV: AZM) (OTCQX: AZMTF) annonce la clôture de l’acquisition par LiFT Power Ltd. (« LiFT ») (TSXV : LIFT, OTCQX : LIFFF) de sa participation de 50% dans la Propriété Galinée (la « Propriété ») située dans la région Eeyou Istchee Baie James au Québec.

Azimut Completes Galinée Property Transaction with LiFT Power, James Bay Region, Quebec

LONGUEUIL, Quebec, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Azimut Exploration Inc. (“Azimut” or the “Company”) (TSXV: AZM) (OTCQX: AZMTF) announces the closing of the acquisition by LiFT Power Ltd. (“LiFT”) (TSXV: LIFT, OTCQX: LIFFF) of its 50% interest in the Galinée Property (the “Property”) located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec.

CoinShares offentliggör Fusionsdokumentet i samband med det avtalade samgåendet

Jersey, Channel Islands, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 18 februari 2026 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | Den 8 september 2025 offentliggjorde CoinShares International Limited ("CoinShares") (Nasdaq Stockholm: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), Vine Hill Capital Investment Corp., ett noterat s.k. special purpose acquisition company (”Vine Hill”) (Nasdaq: VCIC) och Odysseus Holdings Limited (”Odysseus Holdings”) att de har ingått ett avtal om samgående i syfte att genomföra ett byte av handelsplats för CoinShares stamaktier från Nasdaq Stockholm till Nasdaq Stock Market i USA, eller någon annan publik aktiemarknad eller handelsplats i USA. Avtalet om samgående innefattar ett domstolsgodkänt scheme of arrangement enligt artikel 125 i Jersey Companies Law (”Scheme of Arrangement”). Det avtalade samgåendet och Scheme of Arrangement benämns gemensamt som ”Transaktionen”.

CoinShares publishes the Scheme Circular in relation to joint merger plan

Jersey, Channel Islands, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 18 February 2026 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | On 8 September 2025 CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares”) (Nasdaq Stockholm: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF) announced a joint merger plan with Vine Hill Capital Investment Corp (Nasdaq: VCIC) (“Vine Hill”) and Odysseus Holdings Limited (“Odysseus Holdings”), including a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Article 125 of the Jersey Companies Law (“Scheme of Arrangement”) in order to facilitate a change of listing venue for CoinShares Shares from Nasdaq Stockholm to the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States, or any other public stock market or exchange in the United States as may be agreed between CoinShares and Vine Hill (such joint merger plan and the Scheme of Arrangement being together the “Transaction”).

SGH and Steel Dynamics submit A$15B final offer for BlueScope Steel

Altus Group Announces the Sale of its Canadian Appraisals Business to Newmark

Newmark acquires Altus’ Canadian Appraisal business and adopts ARGUS Intelligence, expanding software and data subscription services Newmark acquires Altus’ Canadian Appraisal business and adopts ARGUS Intelligence, expanding software and data subscription services

Tactile Systems acquires LymphaTech; shares up

Tactile Medical Acquires LymphaTech, Expanding Breadth and Depth of its Lymphedema Solutions Portfolio

LymphaTech’s 3D Platform and Digital Capabilities to Improve Disease Identification, Accelerate Therapy Adoption, and Support Next-Generation Lymphatic Therapies LymphaTech’s 3D Platform and Digital Capabilities to Improve Disease Identification, Accelerate Therapy Adoption, and Support Next-Generation Lymphatic Therapies

Angle Advisors announces Riverside Spline & Gear has been acquired by Sumitomo Drive Technologies

Birmingham, MI, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angle Advisors is pleased to announce that Riverside Spline & Gear Inc. has been acquired by Sumitomo Drive Technologies, a division of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TSE: 6302). Angle Advisors acted as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Riverside Spline & Gear in connection with the transaction.

VTAK Acquires 20% Interest in Creatd’s Subsidiary Fly Flyte, Inc.

VTAK Acquires 20% Interest in Creatd’s Subsidiary Fly Flyte, Inc.

SEGG Media Closes $61M Veloce Acquisition, Adds $20M+ in Annual Revenue and Strengthens Revenue Base

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Azuria Water Solutions Announces the Acquisition of Infrastructure Systems, Inc.

Azuria Water Solutions announces the acquisition of Infrastructure Systems, Inc.

Spaulding Decon Announces New Ownership, Reaffirming 24/7 Biohazard Cleanup and Crime Scene Cleaning Across Seven States

New owners Katie and Kyle Wilson plan rapid systems upgrades to improve reliability, consistency, and enable scalable growth. New owners Katie and Kyle Wilson plan rapid systems upgrades to improve reliability, consistency, and enable scalable growth.

Blackstone to acquire home services company Champions Group

Vectorworks Acquires Morpholio, Adding Leading Mobile Design Apps to its Product Line

Strategic Acquisition Brings Morpholio Trace, Board, and Journal into the Vectorworks Ecosystem, Strengthening Designer Workflows from First Idea to Final Delivery. Strategic Acquisition Brings Morpholio Trace, Board, and Journal into the Vectorworks Ecosystem, Strengthening Designer Workflows from First Idea to Final Delivery.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co announces acquisition of B&W Insurance Agency

Macquarie Asset Management to acquire South American tower operations of IHS Towers

JFB and XTEND Announce $1.5B Business Combination to Establish a Nasdaq-Listed US Leader in AI-Driven Autonomous Defense Robotics

PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB), a real estate development and construction company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to combine with XTEND, a software-first defense technology company anchored by its AI XTEND Operating System (XOS) in an all-stock transaction. The business combination is further supported by strategic investments from Eric Trump, Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC), American Ventures, LLC, Protego Ventures, and Aliya Capital. Following the closing of the business combination, the joint company is expected to be renamed XTEND AI Robotics and be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker “XTND.”

JFB와 XTEND, 15억 달러 규모 합병 발표… 나스닥 상장 AI 기반 자율 방위 로봇 분야 미국 선도 기업 출범 추진

플로리다주 팜비치., Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 부동산 개발 및 건설 기업인 JFB Construction Holdings(나스닥: JFB)는 AI 기반 XTEND 운영체제(XOS)를 중심으로 하는 소프트웨어 중심 방산 기술 기업 XTEND와 전량 주식 교환 방식(all-stock transaction)의 합병을 위한 최종 계약(definitive agreement)을 체결했다고 발표했다. 이번 기업 결합은 Eric Trump, Unusual Machines(뉴욕증권거래소: UMAC), American Ventures, LLC, Protego Ventures, Aliya Capital 등 전략적 투자자들의 투자로 추가 지원을 받는다. 합병이 완료되면 통합 회사는 ‘XTEND AI Robotics’로 사명을 변경하고, 나스닥에서 종목 코드 “XTND”로 거래될 예정이다.

JFB ו-XTEND מכריזות על איחוד עסקי בשווי 1.5 מיליארד דולר להקמת חברה אמריקאית מובילה ברובוטיקה ביטחונית אוטונומית מונעת בינה מלאכותית שתירשם בנאסד"ק

פאלם ביץ', פלורידה, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JFB Construction Holdings (נאסד"ק: JFB), חברה לפיתוח ובניית נדל"ן, הודיעה כי חתמה על הסכם סופי לאיחוד עם XTEND, חברת טכנולוגיות הגנה ממוקדת תוכנה, המעוגנת במערכת ההפעלה מבוססת הבינה המלאכותית XTEND (XOS) שלה, בעסקת מניות מלאה. איחוד העסקים נתמך בנוסף עם השקעות אסטרטגיות של אריק טראמפ, Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC), American Ventures, LLC, Protego Ventures ו-Aliya Capital. לאחר הסגירה על איחוד העסקים, החברה המשותפת צפויה לשנות את שמה ל-XTEND AI Robotics ולהירשם בנאסד"ק תחת הסימול XTND.

JFB und XTEND kündigen einen Unternehmenszusammenschluss im Wert von 1,5 Milliarden US-Dollar an, um einen Nasdaq-notierten US-Marktführer für KI-gesteuerte autonome Verteidigungsrobotik zu etablieren

PALM BEACH, Florida, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB), ein Immobilienentwicklungs- und Bauunternehmen, gab heute bekannt, dass es im Rahmen einer reinen Aktientransaktion eine endgültige Vereinbarung für die Fusion mit XTEND, einem softwareorientierten Verteidigungstechnologieunternehmen mit dem AI XTEND Operating System (XOS) geschlossen hat. Der Unternehmenszusammenschluss wird zudem durch strategische Investitionen von Eric Trump, Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC), American Ventures LLC, Protego Ventures und Aliya Capital unterstützt. Nach dem Zusammenschluss wird erwartet, dass das dadurch entstandene Unternehmen in XTEND AI Robotics umbenannt und unter dem Ticker „XTND“ an der Nasdaq gelistet wird.

JFB et XTEND annoncent une fusion valorisée à 1,5 milliard de dollars en vue d’instituer un leader américain de la robotique de défense autonome optimisée par l’IA coté au Nasdaq

PALM BEACH, Floride, 17 févr. 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq : JFB), une société de construction et de développement immobilier a annoncé ce jour la conclusion d’un accord définitif de fusion avec XTEND, un acteur technologique du secteur de la défense à dominante logicielle et dont le système d’exploitation XTEND optimisé par l’IA (XOS) fait référence, dans le cadre d’une transaction exclusivement réalisée par échange d’actions. L’opération est par ailleurs soutenue par des investissements stratégiques consentis par Eric Trump, Unusual Machines (NYSE : UMAC), American Ventures, LLC, Protego Ventures et Aliya Capital. À l’issue de la procédure, la coentreprise devrait être renommée XTEND AI Robotics et rejoindre le Nasdaq sous le symbole « XTND ».

JFB 及 XTEND 宣佈達成 15 億美元合併協議，將成立在 Nasdaq 上市的美國公司，引領人工智能驅動自主防禦機械人技術發展

佛羅里達州棕櫚灘, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 房地產開發及建築公司 JFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB) 今天宣佈，已與以軟件為先並以 AI XTEND 操作系統 (XOS) 為後盾的國防科技公司 XTEND 簽訂終定合併協議，交易將以全股票形式進行。 是次業務合併亦得到多位策略投資者的支持，包括 Eric Trump、Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC)、American Ventures, LLC、Protego Ventures 及 Aliya Capital。 業務合併完成後，新公司預計將改名為 XTEND AI Robotics，並以股票代號「XTND」於 Nasdaq 掛牌買賣。