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With the White House hosting its third meeting on stablecoin policy and Congress still at odds over broader crypto legislation, the regulatory landscape remains unsettled. Yet rather than urging patience, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins is pressing the industry to move forward. 
"Building useful things that people want and need speaks volumes in Washington," Atkins said at the ETHDenver 2026 Conference on 18 Feb, arguing that tangible adoption carries more weight with policymakers than lobbying alone. 
The remarks, however, come amid legislative uncertainty. Congress remains divided over market structure reform, and while stablecoin legislation has advanced further than broader crypto bills, disagreements, particularly over whether stablecoins should be allowed to pass through yield to holders, have slowed progress. 
“This process will take time,” Atkins said, adding that innovators “shouldn’t necessarily wait for these changes before they start building.” 
White House escalation 
The legislative friction has escalated to the executive branch. A third White House meeting with representatives of the banking sector and crypto firms is taking place on 19 Feb. 
The talks center on stablecoin yield mechanics. Banks have warned that yield-bearing stablecoins could compete directly with deposits without equivalent oversight, while digital asset firms argue that prohibiting yield would undermine product innovation and market competitiveness. 
As reported by Sandmark, two earlier meetings in February sought to narrow differences, but the core dispute over yield remains unresolved. 
Legislative deadlines and midterm elections  
Lawmakers are trying to lock in a compromise before critical political deadlines. The Senate’s version of the CLARITY Act, a crypto market structure bill that passed the House last year, could still clear Congress by April, according to Sen. Bernie Moreno. The timeline would give negotiators a window before the midterm elections in November. 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently urged Congress to pass the CLARITY Act this spring, blaming the delay on the crypto industry and warning that a shift in House control after the midterms could erode the bipartisan coalition that currently supports the legislation. 
“We need a statute to undergird those efforts so that we won’t have backsliding in the future,” Atkins said. 
The clock is ticking, with the White House targeting a deal by the end of February. 

Linking Smart Contracts with Real-World Information
Smart contracts run automatically once certain conditions are satisfied, but these conditions frequently rely on data that exists outside the blockchain. Oracles provide this external information in a secure and verifiable manner. For instance, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms depend on price oracles to assess asset values for activities such as lending, borrowing, and trading.
Without dependable oracles, many Web3 applications would not operate correctly. Insurance protocols may need weather information, gaming systems may require random number generation, and prediction markets depend on confirmed event results. Oracles make these functions possible by delivering trustworthy real-world data to blockchain networks.
Security and Trust Challenges
Since oracles supply essential data, they can also present security risks. If an oracle transmits false or tampered information, the smart contract that depends on it may execute incorrectly. To reduce this risk, decentralized oracle networks collect and combine data from multiple sources, helping to prevent single points of failure.
Maintaining accurate and reliable data is critical to preserving trust in Web3 environments. Developers must choose oracle services carefully and put protective measures in place to guard against manipulation, attacks, or mistakes.
Driving the Future of Web3
Oracles enhance blockchain functionality by allowing smart contracts to interact with real-world events. They turn smart contracts from isolated pieces of code into responsive systems that can use global data.
As Web3 continues to evolve, the need for secure and efficient oracle solutions will become even more important. By connecting on-chain systems with off-chain data, oracles serve as a key building block of the decentralized internet.

A formal amicus brief submitted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit backs Derivatives North America, the US derivatives arm of Crypto.com.
At the heart of the case is a legal question over whether state authorities, including those in Nevada, have the power to block event-based contracts offered on federally regulated exchanges. State gaming regulators contend that contracts tied to real-world events are essentially gambling products and should therefore be regulated locally. However, the CFTC argues these products meet the definition of swaps under federal law, placing them solely under the agency’s authority.
The political dimension of derivatives
The dispute carries wider significance because Crypto.com’s derivatives platform forms part of the digital financial expansion linked to Donald Trump. In late October, Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, revealed an exclusive agreement to embed prediction market features into its social media ecosystem.
The partnership also involves major financial commitments. In August 2025, Trump Media disclosed plans to raise about $6.42 billion to purchase a large reserve of Cronos, Crypto.com’s native token. The deal was arranged through a definitive agreement with a special purpose acquisition company listed on Nasdaq, forming a digital asset treasury vehicle called Trump Media Group CRO Strategy.
As a result, the Ninth Circuit’s eventual decision on the legality and regulation of event contracts will have direct consequences for the regulatory framework surrounding these presidential-linked ventures. By stepping in to defend federal authority over state intervention, the CFTC is helping shape the legal foundation that will decide how and where this multibillion-dollar prediction market sector can function.

16 February 2026
Russia’s Ministry of Finance has estimated that cryptocurrency trading in the country has climbed to roughly 50 billion roubles ($650 million) per day, highlighting the enormous level of domestic activity as the government prepares to introduce regulatory measures.
Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov explained that this level of trading suggests millions of Russians are involved, with total yearly crypto transactions exceeding 10 trillion roubles. Currently, much of this activity operates outside formal government regulation.
His remarks come as lawmakers plan to review a proposed legal framework this spring aimed at integrating cryptocurrency transactions into Russia’s established financial system.
Growing crypto use within Russia
Speaking at the Alfa Talk industry conference, Chebeskov noted that daily trading volumes translate into over 10 trillion roubles circulating annually in digital currencies. He said this demonstrates continued expansion in the use of crypto for both saving and payments.
He added that earlier estimates had already shown Russian citizens holding trillions of roubles in digital assets, and the latest figures offer one of the clearest official snapshots of the market’s size.
Chebeskov said the government is finalizing legislation and expects progress during the State Duma’s spring session, with the goal of creating proper legal structures for digital currency use.
Meanwhile, Central Bank First Deputy Chairman Vladimir Chistyukin said authorities are considering the possibility of launching a rouble-backed stablecoin, even though restrictions remain, as other nations develop their own central bank digital currencies.
Regulation expected this spring
In late 2025, the Central Bank proposed a regulatory model that would allow crypto trading through licensed exchanges and brokers operating within Russia’s financial system. Both experienced and ordinary investors would be allowed to participate, although certain limits would apply.
Under this plan, traditional financial institutions would not need separate crypto licenses, but exchanges and intermediaries would face additional requirements. Penalties are also being planned to address illegal crypto activities.
Russian financial firms have indicated they are ready to enter the crypto sector once clear regulations are in place. Officials believe formal regulation will help local platforms compete with foreign exchanges and move more trading into a regulated environment.