Crypto Market Update: Peter Thiel Fully Exits ETHZilla, Reversing Prior Ethereum Bet
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (February 18) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$68,092.31, down 0.3 percent over the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, February 18, 2026.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,019.43, up by 0.3 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
- XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.49, up by 0.6 percent over 24 hours.
- Solana (SOL) was trading at US$85.41, down by 1.9 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
CLARITY Act advances as regulators close ranks
Momentum is building behind the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 as lawmakers and regulators signal rare alignment on crypto market structure.
The House has already passed the bill, leaving the Senate as the next hurdle, where committee markups and cross-panel negotiations will determine whether it reaches the floor. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Congress should pass CLARITY “this spring.”
At a recent House hearing, SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins backed the effort and outlined a joint SEC–CFTC initiative dubbed “Project Crypto” aimed at clarifying token classifications while legislation moves forward.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission have long sparred over jurisdiction, so public coordination signals expectations that durable reform may be imminent. Meanwhile, the Senate Agriculture Committee has advanced the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, which lawmakers say builds on the House framework and incorporates bipartisan input.
If enacted, the bill would shift oversight from enforcement-by-interpretation to clearer statutory categories for exchanges, brokers, issuers and market makers.
California sets crypto licensing deadline under DFAL
California is moving ahead with state-level crypto oversight, confirming that firms serving residents must secure a Digital Financial Assets Law license, or apply for one, by July 1, 2026.
Applications open March 9 through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, according to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023, DFAL creates a comprehensive licensing regime covering exchanges, custodians and crypto kiosks.
The law has drawn comparisons to New York’s BitLicense, which once prompted several firms to exit that state.
“California is the fourth-largest economy in the world, so its regulatory choices inevitably carry weight,” said Joe Ciccolo of the California Blockchain Advocacy Coalition. He added that clearer rules could attract institutional capital but warned that smaller operators may opt to leave rather than meet stricter standards. With roughly a quarter of U.S. blockchain firms based in the state, the rollout could shape national compliance strategies.
Peter Thiel exits Ethereum treasury bet
Billionaire investor Peter Thiel has fully divested his stake in ETHZilla, according to a recent SEC filing showing zero beneficial ownership as of year-end 2025.
The exit marks a sharp reversal from August, when Thiel disclosed a 7.5 percent position that was widely viewed as a vote of confidence in corporate Ethereum treasury models. The filing indicates no remaining voting or dispositive power tied to Thiel or affiliated Founders Fund entities.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
