Ethereum Gas Fee Continues to Drop, Now at 0.352 Gwei

Feb 12: Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said Wednesday he would be “very happy” to stay on the Fed long-term if asked, but the decision is not his to make. Waller’s term as a Fed governor has expired, leaving this the only seat President Trump can fill before nominating former Fed Chair Jerome Powell (should he choose to do so)—unless Powell resigns from the Fed Board when his chair term ends in mid-May. Powell has not indicated whether he will stay or depart. In an interview, Waller noted: “This year’s follow-up developments hinge on multiple factors: whether a seat is vacant, the U.S. president’s pick, and the Senate’s confirmation decision.” (Source: FXStreet)

February 12, 2025 — Per *The Street*, ripple effects from the October 11, 2025, crypto market chain reaction are still unfolding, and these impacts are now reshaping global billionaire rankings. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has dropped off Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index top 500, as sharp declines in digital asset prices and Coinbase’s stock hammer his wealth. His net worth has plummeted by over $100 billion from a peak of roughly $177 billion; Bloomberg now pegs it at ~$7.5 billion, pushing him out of the global top 500. The drop closely tracks Coinbase’s stock performance: As of press time, COIN shares have fallen ~64% from their July 18, 2025, peak of $419. Bitcoin, meanwhile, has dropped by roughly half since early October.

On February 12, Bloomberg reported that Coinbase Global Inc. board members on Wednesday failed to block the public release of testimony linked to an insider trading lawsuit involving CEO Brian Armstrong, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and other board members. A Delaware Chancery Court judge has ordered the crypto firm’s special litigation committee to disclose trial records from two testimonies: one from Gokul Rajaram, an angel investor and committee member, and another from Joseph R. Slights III, head of the law firm leading the company’s internal probe into shareholder allegations. Presiding Vice Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick rejected the claim that witnesses would be less forthcoming if they knew their testimony might be made public.

On February 12, The Block reported that Paxful Holdings Inc. has been ordered to pay a $4 million fine. Prosecutors stated the crypto exchange profited from insufficient anti-money laundering (AML) controls, enabling criminals to transfer funds linked to fraud, prostitution, and sex trafficking. Per a Wednesday statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), prosecutors noted Paxful was aware its customers were moving funds tied to criminal activity.

February 12 — Lighter has rolled out a funding rate rebate mechanism for perpetual contract trading, per official sources, marking a new initiative echoing its prior innovative zero-fee on-chain trading model. Put simply, eligible traders paying funding rates will receive a percentage rebate, while the funding rate charging structure remains unchanged. Rebates can reach up to 15% of the total funding rate paid. The mechanism is effective immediately, with rebates distributed within 24 hours.

February 12 — U.S. President Trump said he concluded a "very successful" meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. During the session, the two discussed Gaza and significant progress across the region. Additionally, Trump emphasized his push for continued negotiations with Iran to explore a potential deal — no decisions were finalized in the meeting.