Top 10 News Stories of the Day, February 9
On Monday, February 9, 2026, the virtual asset market was dominated by Bithumb's Bitcoin misdelivery incident, the subsequent strong warning from financial authorities, and attempts to stabilize the market. Here are 10 key news stories from the day.
✅ Bithumb's Bitcoin misdelivery incident and Financial Supervisory Service's "Catastrophic Situation" warning
Bithumb misdelivered a large amount of Bitcoin during an event. In a press conference today, Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin pointed out that this was a "fundamental problem with the exchange system," and warned that investors who sold the misdelivered coins and converted them into cash could face "catastrophic situations (incurring significant additional costs upon return of the original assets)."
✅ Bitcoin Tests $60,000 Support Level, Attempts to Recover $65,000
Bitcoin plunged below $60,000 (approximately 85 million won) last week, hitting its lowest level since October 2024. However, today, with an influx of bargain hunters, it is attempting to stabilize around $65,000. The market is interpreting this as the end of the "cleansing phase."
✅ Ethereum Whale Re-enters After Cutting $9.6 Million (approximately 13 billion won)
A large investor (whale) holding approximately 60,000 ETH closed out his long position today, suffering a loss of approximately $9.63 million due to market volatility. However, the whale immediately reopened his long position using 15x leverage, betting on a market rebound.
✅ Coinone Celebrates 12th Anniversary... "Leaping Forward as a Trusted First-Generation Exchange"
Coinone, Korea's first-generation virtual asset exchange, celebrated its 12th anniversary today. It announced its ambition to expand its domestic market share and enhance its global competitiveness by pioneering staking services and strengthening investor protection.
✅ CoinShares: "Bitcoin Quantum Computer Risks Exaggerated"
Digital asset management company CoinShares analyzed in a report today that only 10,200 BTC of all Bitcoin are held in addresses vulnerable to quantum computing. This suggests that market fears of a "quantum threat" are overblown and allays concerns about technological security.
✅ Financial Supervisory Service Governor: "Phase 2 Legislation on Virtual Assets, Significantly Strengthening System Regulations"
Following the Bithumb incident, Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin emphasized the need for "Phase 2 Legislation on Virtual Assets," which would address the potential risks of information system errors in virtual asset exchanges leading to licensing issues. This is interpreted as a commitment to regulating exchanges on a level similar to "public financial infrastructure."
✅ Solana (SOL) Challenges 'Stablecoin Hegemony' Despite 66% Drop from Highs
Although Solana is trading at around $87, down 66% from its all-time high, analysts predict it has the potential to surpass Ethereum as the core blockchain for stablecoin transactions. The key lies in its transition from a meme-centric cryptocurrency to a truly functional financial network.
✅ Teens Charged with Attempted $66 Million Virtual Asset Heist
A gang of teens has been charged with felony assault for attempting to steal $66 million worth of virtual assets by traveling approximately 600 miles across the United States. The rise in physical crime targeting virtual asset whales is fueling growing interest in security solutions.
✅ Kraken: "Infrastructure, More Important Than Price, Will Be Key to Crypto in 2026"
Global exchange Kraken analyzed in its 2026 market report that the current volatility is merely a collision course with the macroeconomy, and that this year, plumbing and institutional overhauls will be bigger variables than price.
✅ 'Risk-Off' Continues Linked to US Government Shutdown Crisis
As the US government shutdown deadline approaches, traditional financial markets and virtual asset markets have seen simultaneous declines. Bitcoin, with its increased correlation with technology stocks, is expected to be more sensitive to macroeconomic events in the short term.
