According to a recent report by Citizens Bank, prediction markets are experiencing rapid growth, with current annualized revenue exceeding $3 billion and projected to reach $10 billion by 2030, establishing themselves as a new asset class. The report shows a continued rise in prediction market trading volume. January's trading volume increased by over 40% compared to December, and February maintained a similar level, despite the expected decline after the traditional sports season. Analysts believe this trend reflects the transformation of prediction markets from niche betting tools to mature financial markets. Citizens Bank considers increased trading volume, a more robust market structure, and the initial participation of institutional investors to be key factors driving the industry's development. Currently, some institutions have begun entering the market as data users and liquidity providers, laying the foundation for wider institutional adoption. Prediction markets allow traders to price and hedge risks associated with discrete events such as election results, interest rate decisions, or merger approvals. Compared to proxy tools like index futures or options, they can reduce basis risk and provide real-time probability signals. Analysts point out that the development path of prediction markets is similar to that of the early derivatives market and digital asset industry, gradually transitioning from retail investor-dominated liquidity to participation from market makers and institutional funds. Currently, representative platforms include the regulated event contract exchange Kalshi and the decentralized prediction market Polymarket, and the industry as a whole is gradually moving towards the mainstream financial system.

Odaily Planet Daily reports that as artificial intelligence continues to attract significant venture capital and market attention, some industry insiders are beginning to worry whether the crypto industry has missed its "ChatGPT moment." In response, Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner of crypto investment firm Dragonfly, stated that this comparison is misleading. The crypto industry has not been replaced by AI; the shift in capital flows is simply "a result of the normal workings of capitalism." Qureshi pointed out that AI and crypto products are fundamentally different. Currently, most AI users utilize free services, while crypto assets do not have a "free tier." He stated that approximately 80% of Americans have tried AI tools, and about 15% have held crypto assets, which already represents widespread adoption. He believes the core fundamentals of the crypto industry remain solid, especially the outstanding growth of stablecoins, whose supply continues to maintain an annual growth rate of approximately 50%. Despite a cooling market sentiment, the overall size of crypto assets remains around $2 trillion, with high technological leverage, allowing small teams to build global-scale projects. Regarding the significant shift of venture capital funds towards the AI sector, Qureshi believes this does not signify a decline in the crypto industry, but rather a market correction of excessive financing in recent years. He states that increasing investment during market downturns is actually a more rational strategy, and Dragonfly's recent announcement of a new $650 million fund is based on this judgment. Qureshi holds a cautious view on the prospects of combining AI and crypto. He believes that it will still take several years for AI agents to truly adopt crypto technology on a large scale, and AI will not be the "savior" of the crypto industry's recovery. Qureshi concludes that the crypto industry is currently facing more cyclical fluctuations than a structural recession, and market volatility is a normal part of long-term development. "There's no need to be overly pessimistic; this is not a disaster."

According to Odaily Planet Daily, Avichal Garg, a partner at Electric Capital, points out that as AI agents become increasingly autonomous, developers are starting to configure them with crypto wallets, enabling the software to hold assets, pay service fees, trade tokens, and even hire other AI agents. This trend is driving crypto technology into a new phase—building financial systems for “non-human entities,” but the relevant legal framework is still significantly lagging behind. He believes that with the programmable funds, instant settlement, and global accessibility of blockchain, AI agents can not only make decisions but also independently complete transactions, thus forming software entities that can “think and execute financial activities.” Garg states that this model is similar to the emergence of the limited liability company system in the 19th century, releasing new productivity thresholds for economic activity. As the cost of participation continues to decrease, more individuals and teams worldwide can create economic value with the help of AI agents. However, the core issue remains the definition of legal liability. Since AI itself cannot be punished, there is still no clear answer as to who should bear the responsibility if an AI agent with an independent wallet participates in transactions, lending, or business activities and causes losses. This issue may become a fundamental problem that regulators must face in the future.

Odaily Planet Daily reports that fintech and insurance company TruStage is piloting the issuance of its USD-denominated stablecoin, TruStage Stablecoin (TSDA). Issued by a TruStage affiliate and supported by Block Time Financial for technology and operations, TSDA will be backed 1:1 by cash reserves managed by TruStage. TruStage serves approximately 93% of U.S. credit unions, offering insurance, investment, and retirement financial products. This stablecoin project aims to provide credit unions with new payment infrastructure and explore the application scenarios of stablecoins within the traditional financial system following the implementation of the GENIUS Act.

According to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart, based on SEC filings, institutional investors sold approximately 25,098 BTC equivalent in Bitcoin ETFs in the fourth quarter of 2025, indicating a clear trend of reducing holdings. Data shows that investment advisors and hedge funds are the main holders of Bitcoin ETFs, with Brevan Howard leading the charge, selling over 17,000 BTC equivalent in ETF holdings. This sell-off occurred during the period when Bitcoin's price fell from a high of over $120,000 in 2025 to below $85,000. Currently, Bitcoin's price has further declined to approximately $64,000, and market sentiment remains in a state of extreme panic.