{"id":94300,"date":"2026-02-15T17:25:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T14:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/?p=94300"},"modified":"2026-02-15T17:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T14:32:44","slug":"the-week-bitcoin-back-to-70000-and-russia-moves-to-seize-crypto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/the-week-bitcoin-back-to-70000-and-russia-moves-to-seize-crypto\/","title":{"rendered":"The week: bitcoin back to $70,000 and Russia moves to seize crypto"},"content":{"rendered":"

Crypto markets are regaining ground; Russia unveiled a raft of regulatory moves; projects began adding features for AI agents; the MegaETH team launched its mainnet\u2014and other events of the week.<\/p>\n

In search of a bottom<\/h2>\n

Bitcoin finished the week little changed, but still tested a wide price range.<\/p>\n

It started Monday near $70,000 before slipping into a correction. By midweek the first cryptocurrency had fallen to $65,000 amid cascading declines accompanied by heavy selling.<\/p>\n

\"image\"
Hourly BTC\/USDT chart on Binance. Source: TradingView<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Friday, February 13th, bitcoin returned<\/a> to $68,000 after the release of US inflation data. In January the consumer-price index rose 0.2% seasonally adjusted; year on year it was 2.4% versus 2.7% in December.<\/p>\n

Digital gold continued higher over the weekend, reaching $70,000. At press time it trades around $69,500.<\/p>\n

Most of the top ten by market value showed similar moves. Ethereum held above $2,000 despite a 5% weekly decline.<\/p>\n

\"image\"
Source: CoinGecko<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exceptions were XRP and DOGE, which gained 5.6% and 11.5% over seven days.<\/p>\n

Views on the market\u2019s next leg remain split. Standard Chartered mooted<\/a> a fall to $50,000 with a subsequent rebound by year-end.<\/p>\n

K33, by contrast, reckons<\/a> capitulation has already occurred and $60,000 was the local bottom of the correction.<\/p>\n

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index<\/a> remains at an extreme low of 8.<\/p>\n

\"image\"
Crypto Fear and Greed Index. Source: Alternative<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Total market capitalisation of digital assets is $2.45trn.<\/p>\n

Bitcoin dominance is 56.6%; Ethereum\u2019s, 9.9%.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s new crypto rules<\/h2>\n

In Russia it was a busy week for new crypto initiatives.<\/p>\n

On February 10th the State Duma passed in third reading a law setting procedures for the arrest and seizure of digital assets in criminal proceedings, recognising cryptocurrency as property.<\/p>\n

Under the provisions, digital currency and devices providing access to it may be seized during investigative actions with the participation of a specialist. The protocol must specify the asset type, quantity and address identifiers. Carriers and information required to access cryptocurrency are stored under seal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is a technical possibility\u201d the assets may be transferred to a separate address. After arrest, operations with them cease in whole or in part depending on the court\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

Drafted by the justice ministry, the document sets only broad enforcement parameters; the details will be defined in by-laws. Authorities must also fine-tune a mechanism to sell confiscated digital assets for the benefit of the state.<\/p>\n

ForkLog\u2019s legal contributors examined<\/a> the document in a separate article.<\/p>\n

The finance ministry, together with the central bank and federal executive bodies, also drafted<\/a> a concept to tokenise real-world assets. The aim is \u201cthe introduction and development of digital innovations, including active use of distributed ledgers\u201d.<\/p>\n

The first phase of tokenisation will cover:<\/p>\n