GM. Kicking off the week, the Ethereum Foundation launched a Post-Quantum unit to defend its $500 billion network, aiming to future-proof security for 100 years.

Meanwhile, Dutch lawmakers proposed taxing unrealized crypto gains, Binance applied for a Greek MiCA license, and Farcaster will refund $180 million to investors following its acquisition.

Here are the details on quantum defense, taxes, and clean exits as we start a new week. 👇

Ethereum Foundation Launches Post-Quantum Team

The Ethereum Foundation formally inaugurated a specialized Post-Quantum unit to defend its $500 billion network against the accelerating threat of quantum computation. This strategic pivot signals a transition from theoretical research into a dependable engineering phase.

The announcement occurred on 23 January 2026 as researcher Justin Drake declared quantum-resistant security a top-tier institutional priority. Leadership aims to future-proof the protocol for 100 years, ensuring total fund safety during the upcoming cryptographic transition.

Foundation management established this dedicated team, led by Thomas Coratger, to implement LeanVM and coordinate multi-client consensus devnets. By launching biweekly developer calls in February, they seek to standardize account abstraction and transaction signature aggregation.

The organization is deploying $2 million in research incentives, including the prestigious Poseidon Prize for hardening hash functions. These substantial bounties encourage global cryptographers to build leaner, hash-based foundations capable of withstanding future processing power spikes.

Netherlands Proposes New Tax On Unrealized Gains

Dutch lawmakers are currently advancing a plan to tax unrealized capital gains on stocks and cryptocurrencies. This proposal for the Box 3 regime requires investors to pay annual levies on paper profits even if assets remain unsold. Parliamentarians debated the changes this week to address an estimated $2.7 billion annual revenue gap caused by previous court rulings.

Critics warn that these aggressive measures could trigger enormous capital flight as residents seek more favorable tax jurisdictions. Analyst Michaël van de Poppe labeled the strategy as insane for increasing the financial burden on long term holders. While real estate receives more lenient treatment, digital asset investors face immediate costs based on the fluctuating market value of their holdings.

Binance Files For Greek License Ahead Of July Deadline

Binance officially submitted its application for a MiCA license to Greek financial regulators this week. The exchange established a local holding company in December to facilitate a fast-track review process with the Hellenic Capital Market Commission. This strategic move ensures the platform can continue serving European Union residents before the mandatory July 1 compliance deadline takes effect.

The firm selected Greece due to its encouraging economic growth and stable regulatory environment that promotes investor protection. Without this specific authorization, Binance would be legally required to cease its operations within the bloc later this summer. Other major industry players like Coinbase and Kraken have already secured similar permits to maintain their broad access to the European market.

Farcaster Repays Investors Following Major Infrastructure Pivot

Merkle Manufactory plans to refund the full $180 million raised from venture investors following the sale of Farcaster. Co-founder Dan Romero confirmed that the decentralized social protocol will now transition to new ownership under the infrastructure firm Neynar. This decision allows the original team to step away while ensuring the network remains operational for its 250,000 monthly active users.

The acquisition redirects Farcaster toward a developer-focused direction rather than a movement led by a single startup entity. Analysts view this transition as a healthy correction for the decentralized social media sector which is currently prioritizing technical sustainability. Neynar will now assume responsibility for maintaining the protocol contracts and the core application code to scale the global user base.

Data of the day

The global stablecoin supply has flattened near $310 billion as new liquidity rules and higher yields slow issuance. Institutional issuers are currently adjusting to tighter frameworks under the US GENIUS Act and Europe's thorough MiCA regulations. Axis co-founder Jimmy Xue noted that rising compliance costs and a cautious macroeconomic environment have significantly dampened the pace of speculative minting.

Elevated real yields on US Treasurys have increased the opportunity cost for holders since most stablecoins offer no direct returns. This consolidation phase follows the explosive growth seen in early 2025 before the market faced major deleveraging shocks in October. Consequently, these digital assets are now functioning primarily as infrastructure for payments and short duration liquidity rather than speculative instruments.

More breaking news

• French hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger has engaged investment banks to explore a New York initial public offering at a valuation above $4 billion.

• Brian Armstrong reported from Davos that global financial leaders now view cryptocurrency as an existential threat to their traditional banking models.

• The SEC dismissed its Gemini Earn lawsuit after investors recovered 100% of their crypto assets in-kind through the Genesis Global Capital bankruptcy.

• Nifty Gateway, a pioneering digital art platform that facilitated over $300 million in peak NFT sales, will officially shut down on February 23, 2026.

• Senate Agriculture Committee members filed ethics amendments to a sweeping crypto bill, targeting potential conflicts of interest involving President Trump’s digital asset ventures.

• Polymarket bettors have priced in a 77% chance of a US government shutdown, potentially causing further delays for the pending CLARITY Act legislation.

• Bitcoin holders are realizing net losses for the first time since 2023, signaling a potential onchain regime turn toward a new bear market.

For the latest updates on digital asset markets, follow us on X @Datawalletcom.

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