Bitcoin Price News for February 2026: CFTC Adds Crypto CEOs to Advisory Panel, BTC Tests $65K Support, and Pepeto Presale Nears Breakout Moment

Is crypto really going away or are regulators quietly preparing for something much bigger?

Here's what's happening. U.S. regulators are making it clear that digital assets are here to stay. The CFTC just filled its Innovation Advisory Committee with 35 members, including top executives from Coinbase, Ripple, and Gemini. At the same time, the Federal Reserve released a working paper suggesting crypto should be treated as its own asset class for derivatives margin rules a subtle but powerful signal that the market has reached institutional scale.

That's major bitcoin price news, especially in a market still driven by fear. BTC is down more than 25% this year, and sentiment is sitting near extreme lows. But behind the headlines and red candles, regulators are building the framework for a much larger crypto economy.

And this is the part most people miss.

While Bitcoin looks for a floor, Pepeto (https://pepeto.io/) a next-generation Ethereum meme-utility project is quietly positioning itself as what many believe could be one of 2026's biggest early-stage opportunities. The presale has already raised over $7 million at $0.000000184 per token. Live products are running. Exchange listings are getting closer. For investors searching for asymmetric upside before the crowd arrives, is this where the smart money is starting to look?
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CFTC Builds 35-Member Crypto Panel as Fed Drafts New Derivatives Rules

CFTC Chair Mike Selig confirmed the new committee will help "define clear rules of the road," and the lineup reads like a crypto power list: Brian Armstrong (Coinbase), Brad Garlinghouse (Ripple), Tyler Winklevoss (Gemini), Hayden Adams (Uniswap), Anatoly Yakovenko (Solana Labs), and Chris Dixon (a16z Crypto), among others. Twenty of the 35 seats now belong to crypto-linked firms something that would've seemed impossible just two years ago.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve's proposal introduces dedicated risk weightings for assets like BTC, ETH, ADA, DOGE, and XRP inside derivatives margin frameworks. The paper argues crypto volatility doesn't fit traditional equity or commodity models and suggests a custom benchmark blending floating assets with stablecoins.

The Fed has also rolled back earlier restrictions on bank involvement with digital assets, opening the door for deeper institutional participation.

This kind of regulatory alignment tends to precede capital rotation. And that's exactly why early-stage projects with working infrastructure like Pepeto are now sitting directly in the path of future inflows.
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Regulatory Tailwinds Meet Oversold Markets

Pepeto (https://pepeto.io/) Builds Real Infrastructure Ahead of Potential Breakout

There's a big difference between meme coins that promise utility and projects that already have it.

Pepeto falls into the second category.

The ecosystem includes three live components: PepetoSwap for zero-fee trading, Pepeto Bridge for cross-chain transfers, and a verified meme exchange currently in development. Together, they form a connected infrastructure layer designed to route meme liquidity through one ecosystem something no typical presale offers.

You can already test the swap. The bridge is active. And the exchange framework is visible.

That's why Pepeto stands apart.

Both SolidProof and Coinsult have completed audits. Staking is live at roughly 213% APY, steadily tightening circulating supply. And unlike roadmap-only projects, Pepeto is shipping products before listings.

At $0.000000184 per token and over $7M raised, Pepeto remains firmly in early-entry territory. The $10M presale cap is already about 70% filled, meaning this pricing window won't last.

DOGE reached $89B with zero tools. SHIB hit $41B with no bridge. Pepeto launches with swap, bridge, and exchange infrastructure already in place all at six zeros.

That's the math driving the 100x narrative.

https://youtu.be/yJRt5WZWRrU?si=KPrcG_itQcmSiesB

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Bitcoin Price News as BTC Hunts for a Floor

Bitcoin was trading near $66,000 on February 18, down roughly 25% year-to-date and nearly 47% below its October 2025 high above $126,000.

RSI sits around 31, flirting with oversold territory. The 50-day SMA is trending lower toward $74,300, while fear sentiment remains extreme. More than $79 million in leveraged longs were liquidated over 24 hours, adding pressure.

If BTC holds $65,000, a relief bounce toward $69,000 is possible. A break below could open a slide toward $62,000. Current year-end projections hover near $78,500 roughly 17% upside from here.

That's solid, but limited.

Which is exactly why many traders are rotating away from majors and into early presales where upside isn't capped by trillion-dollar market values.
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Ethereum Inflows Hint at Stabilization

ETH traded near $1,955 on February 18, down slightly on the day but showing quiet strength underneath. Ether ETFs recorded $71 million in fresh inflows earlier this week, snapping a three-day outflow streak, with assets under management stabilizing around $13B.

Weekly DEX volumes on Ethereum doubled month-over-month to $20B, while DApp revenue climbed to $26.6M.

If this base-building continues, analysts see room for a move toward $2,400.
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Wrapping Up

It's a strange moment in crypto.

The CFTC is bringing CEOs to the table. The Fed is building derivative frameworks around digital assets. Yet BTC sits in extreme fear territory while ETH quietly attracts institutional capital.

Bitcoin price news will always dominate headlines. But the biggest returns rarely come from assets everyone already owns.

Pepeto, priced at $0.000000184, already has live infrastructure, dual audits, staking rewards, and a growing presale that's closing in on its $10M cap. With swap, bridge, and exchange products active or underway, it offers something most meme projects never deliver: real demand mechanics.

Over $7M has already been raised during peak fear.

Once listings begin, this entry price disappears.

If you don't want to look back and wish you acted earlier, this is the window.

Click To Visit Official Website To Buy Pepeto: https://pepeto.io/
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FAQs

What is the latest bitcoin price news in February 2026?

BTC is testing the $65K-$67K zone amid extreme fear sentiment, while U.S. regulators signal deeper institutional engagement. Many traders are positioning in Pepeto's presale as an early recovery play.

Is Ethereum a good buy right now?

ETH is seeing ETF inflows and rising DEX volumes, with analysts eyeing a potential $2,400 rebound. For higher upside, early-stage projects like Pepeto offer asymmetric opportunities before exchange listings.

How does Pepeto perform during Bitcoin volatility?

Pepeto's value is driven by infrastructure, not short-term BTC moves. With PepetoSwap, Pepeto Bridge, a verified exchange in development, dual audits, and 213% staking, demand is being built before launch giving early buyers exposure to potential 100x upside regardless of near-term Bitcoin price swings.

Contact: Dani Bonocci
Website: https://www.tokenwire.io
Phone: +971586738991
SOURCE: Pepeto

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This release was published on openPR.