Yesterday, February 18, delivered some serious momentum and crypto news for the industry.
First up in this wave of crypto news, Senator Bernie Moreno told CNBC that the long-awaited US CLARITY Act could finally cross the finish line “hopefully by April.” That’s right, just over a month away for clearer rules that the whole US crypto scene has been craving.
Moreno was chatting alongside Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong at the World Liberty Financial Forum, where big players from crypto, banking, and Congress hashed out market structure fixes.
Armstrong highlighted how they’ve been tackling thorny issues like stablecoin rewards, which banks have long worried could pull deposits away from traditional systems. Progress is real, and this could be the clarity boost the market needs.
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Shifting gears to real-world utility in today’s crypto news, Payoneer is shaking things up for small businesses everywhere. The payments giant just announced it’s embedding stablecoins straight into its platform through a partnership with Bridge.
For years, cross-border transfers meant delays, high fees, and endless paperwork. Now, businesses get near-instant settlements, 24/7 movement, and smoother global dealings without the usual headaches.
Especially for small and mid-sized companies dealing with international suppliers and clients, this means tighter cash flow, fewer hold-ups, and operations that actually run lean.
Stablecoins have been building steam, but making them practical for everyday use, especially in emerging markets has been tough. Payoneer is changing that narrative fast.
And in more crypto news with big upside potential, activist shareholder Starboard Value is pushing Riot Platforms hard to go all-in on the AI pivot. Starboard, holding around 12.7 million shares, fired off a letter urging the bitcoin miner to accelerate high-performance computing (HPC) and AI data center deals.
They estimate Riot could unlock $9 billion to $21 billion in equity value from its Texas power assets alone. With 1.4 gigawatts still waiting to be monetized, Starboard stressed that time is critical; Riot needs to lock in “more material deals” and attract top-tier tenants for those tier-3 data centers. The pressure is on to execute with urgency in this booming AI demand environment.
That’s your quick hit of crypto news for February 19, filled with regulatory hope, payment innovation, and mining evolution all in one day. The space never sleeps, so stay tuned for what’s next!
