Rizwan Bhatti

Strengthen Amid Global Uncertainty
A recent conversation at Consensus highlighted a theme that continues to define today’s digital asset landscape: short-term uncertainty, long-term strength.
While markets are still navigating interest rate ambiguity and persistent geopolitical tensions, the core foundations of the crypto industry are quietly getting stronger. Volatility may dominate headlines, but structural growth is happening beneath the surface.
Stablecoins are rapidly expanding their global footprint, increasingly being used for payments, remittances, and on-chain liquidity. Their role as digital dollars for the internet economy is becoming more entrenched, especially in emerging markets seeking faster and more accessible financial tools.
At the same time, institutional participation is no longer speculative — it’s active. Capital from traditional finance continues to enter the space through ETFs, custodial platforms, and tokenized financial products. This steady inflow reflects growing confidence in crypto as a long-term asset class rather than a short-term trade.
Another powerful trend is the rise of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. From Treasury bills to private credit and real estate exposure, blockchain rails are increasingly being used to modernize traditional financial instruments. This bridge between legacy finance and decentralized infrastructure is unlocking new efficiencies and broader access.
Macro headwinds may shape sentiment in the near term, but innovation, adoption, and capital formation are telling a bigger story.
The builders haven’t stopped. The infrastructure keeps improving. And the long-term conviction across the industry remains firmly intact.
The mission hasn’t changed — keep building.

BlackRock: Small Institutional Shift Into Crypto Could Unlock Trillions in Asian Capital
A modest shift toward cryptocurrency allocations across Asia could unleash massive capital inflows into digital assets, according to new insights from BlackRock strategists. The asset management giant suggests that if institutional investors and sovereign funds across Asia allocate just 1% of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies, the market could see up to $2 trillion in fresh inflows over time.
Asia remains home to some of the world’s largest pools of savings, including pension funds, insurance firms, and sovereign wealth funds. With growing regulatory clarity in key financial hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore, digital assets are increasingly being viewed as a legitimate alternative asset class rather than a speculative niche.
BlackRock analysts note that Bitcoin and Ethereum are leading candidates for institutional exposure, often positioned as digital gold or long-term growth plays. Even a gradual reallocation from traditional assets into crypto could significantly deepen liquidity, strengthen market structure, and accelerate mainstream adoption across global financial markets.
$BTC
$ETH
#etf

UK Chancellor Slams EU Protectionist Trade Plan
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves Warns Against Barriers — 11 Feb 2026
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves criticized the European Union’s proposed “made in Europe” law, warning it could create trade barriers and undermine economic ties between Britain and the bloc. Reeves urged EU counterparts to avoid protectionist rules that could disadvantage UK businesses and hamper post-Brexit trade cooperation. Her comments signal concern over potential new regulations that would favor EU-produced goods in public procurement, a move British officials argue could exclude British firms from key markets.
🇬🇧 Reeves Promotes Closer UK-EU Economic Ties
Reeves Says Closer Integration with EU is UK’s “Biggest Prize” — 11 Feb 2026
In a broader speech, Reeves stressed the importance of deeper economic cooperation with the EU, highlighting that nearly half of UK trade is with the bloc and calling closer alignment beneficial for Britain’s economy. Despite criticizing protectionist trends like the “made in Europe” proposal, she affirmed the value of reducing trade barriers and enhancing collaboration across sectors — while ruling out full re-entry into the customs union or single market.

European Parliament Edges Closer to U.S. Trade Deal After Tensions Ease
Brussels — The European Parliament is preparing to move toward formal approval of a long-stalled trade agreement with the United States, after lawmakers agreed to resume work following a political crisis triggered by U.S. tariff threats.
Members of the Parliament’s International Trade Committee have restarted discussions on legislation needed to ratify the so-called Turnberry trade deal, after temporarily suspending the process in response to controversial moves by U.S. political leaders. A committee vote is now expected as soon as 24 February, according to officials tracking the negotiations.
The deal — initially reached in July 2025 — is aimed at easing duties on a wide range of industrial and consumer products across the Atlantic, strengthening economic ties between the European Union and the United States. However, work on formal parliamentary consent had been put on ice in recent weeks amid tensions over U.S. rhetoric concerning Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, and linked tariff threats that unsettled many MEPs.