On 25 February 2026, federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the seizure of more than $61 million in Tether (USDT) allegedly tied to a large-scale "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam. The operation, led by Homeland Security Investigations in Raleigh, relied on blockchain tracing tools and cooperation from Tether, which froze suspect wallets and moved the funds to government-controlled accounts. Authorities indicated the assets are now in federal forfeiture proceedings amid a wider surge in AI-driven and social engineering-based crypto fraud losses.

Hong Kong's 2026-27 Budget, presented by Financial Secretary Paul Chan, outlines a new licensing regime in 2026 for digital asset dealing and custodian service providers, alongside tax concessions covering digital assets. The plan builds on 2025 consultations and the Stablecoins Ordinance, and includes AI-focused initiatives and a Digital Asset Accelerator as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the city's role in global finance and technology. Changes to tax laws in the first half of 2026 will also make family office investments in digital assets, precious metals, and commodities eligible for specific tax benefits.

On 25 February 2026, researchers reported an active malware campaign using fake Windows 11 upgrade ads on Facebook to compromise cryptocurrency users. The scheme redirects victims to Microsoft-style clone sites that deliver a malicious installer hiding the "LunarApplication" infostealer. Once executed, the malware targets wallet seed phrases, exchange credentials, and saved passwords while using geofencing and sandbox checks to evade security tools.

In his 2026/2027 budget speech on February 25, 2026, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan confirmed that the HKMA's CMU OmniClear will roll out a new tokenized bond platform in the second half of 2026 and connect it to regional tokenization hubs. The infrastructure will support settlement of tokenized bonds and other digital assets, alongside a March rollout of fiat-referenced stablecoin licenses aimed at regulated issuers.

Aave Chan Initiative founder Marc Zeller has released a detailed review of Aave Labs' historical funding and delivery ahead of a $51 million "Aave Will Win" Snapshot proposal. His report claims Aave Labs has benefited from about $86 million in total capitalization, questions revenue and usage around the Horizon RWA market, and raises concerns over swap-fee flows and voting power concentration. The review asks tokenholders to weigh these accountability and transparency issues before backing Aave Labs' new expansion plan and V4 roadmap.

On February 25, 2026 in Apia, Samoa, Phemex introduced its AI Bot as a major product step in its shift toward becoming an AI-native crypto exchange. The tool applies advanced machine learning to automate quantitative strategies across Futures Grid, Spot Grid and Martingale systems while emphasizing risk-aware capital management. Phemex also rolled out an AI Bot Carnival with over $1,000,000 in incentives, including full loss protection for new users and tiered USDT rewards.

In his 2026–27 budget speech, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced that HKMA subsidiary CMU OmniClear Holdings will build a digital asset platform to issue and settle tokenized bonds and later connect it with other regional tokenization systems. Chan also outlined plans to begin issuing the first fiat‑referenced stablecoin licenses in March and to introduce new licensing regimes and tax reporting rules for digital asset service providers.

On 25 February 2026, major financial institutions intensified their push into blockchain-based markets, with tokenized real-world assets approaching $20 billion in value. Products tied to U.S. Treasuries, private credit and other traditional instruments are increasingly issued and traded onchain, while large asset managers and banks expand tokenization, stablecoin and deposit token initiatives. This shift reflects a move beyond pilot projects toward scaled onchain funds and infrastructure within mainstream capital markets.