Perpetuals.com Ltd Director and co-CEO Patrick Gruhn and Director Matthew Nicoletti Invited to Inaugural World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago

Rhea-AI Summary

Perpetuals.com (NASDAQ:PDC) said Directors and co-CEO Patrick Gruhn and Director Matthew Nicoletti were invited to the inaugural World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, 2026.

The company highlighted its Barrier Futures launch (announced February 10, 2026) as a MiFID II-compliant, CySEC-authorized MTF offering defined-risk crypto derivatives, an AI engine trained on 11.7 billion order-book fills, and a planned go-live for qualified brokers in March 2026.

Positive

• Announced Barrier Futures launch on February 10, 2026
• AI engine trained on 11.7 billion order-book fills
• Barrier Futures offered via CySEC-authorized MTF in Frankfurt
• Platform scheduled to go live for qualified brokers in March 2026
• Executive attendance at World Liberty Forum on February 18, 2026

Negative

• Market remains dominated by unregulated perpetual swaps and CFDs representing multi-hundred-trillion-dollar notional
• Initial go-live limited to qualified brokers, delaying broader retail access

News Market Reaction – PDC

-7.41%

5 alerts

-7.41% News Effect

-10.9% Trough in 5 hr 55 min

-$1M Valuation Impact

$17M Market Cap

0.2x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, PDC declined 7.41%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -10.9% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 5 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $1M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $17M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Order book fills: over 11.7 billion Individual trades: more than 22 billion Launch date: February 10, 2026 +2 more

5 metrics

Order book fills over 11.7 billion Proprietary dataset for AI collective intelligence engine

Individual trades more than 22 billion Underlying trades across cryptocurrency markets used for AI training

Launch date February 10, 2026 Barrier Futures product launch announcement

Go‑live timing March 2026 Platform set to go live for qualified brokers

Trademark filing 019097099 EU trademark filing number for Kronos X

Market Reality Check

Price: $4.71 Vol: Volume 8,119 is very ligh...

low vol

$4.71 Last Close

Volume Volume 8,119 is very light versus 20-day average of 215,559 (relative volume 0.04x). low

Technical Shares at 5.13, trading slightly below the 200-day MA of 5.15 and 35.55% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

No peers in the momentum scanner and no same-day peer headlines, suggesting toda...

No peers in the momentum scanner and no same-day peer headlines, suggesting today’s news impact appears stock-specific rather than sector-driven.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 10 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 10	Barrier Futures launch	Positive	+2.2%	Launch of MiFID II‑compliant Barrier Futures targeting large derivatives market.
Feb 03	AI backtest result	Positive	-10.2%	BayesShield AI pilot claimed to prevent 92% of losing retail trades.
Feb 03	AI pilot scaling	Positive	-10.2%	Details on scaling BayesShield AI with NVIDIA hardware and broader rollout plans.
Jan 27	Custody tech launch	Positive	+6.9%	Launch of Quantum‑Resilient Vaults self‑custody system for crypto assets.
Jan 22	Media coverage	Positive	+4.7%	CoinDesk feature on AI‑powered derivatives and platform capabilities.

Pattern Detected

Recent product and AI announcements have often led to meaningful moves, with both strong positive and sharp negative reactions to broadly positive news.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, Perpetuals.com Ltd has announced multiple innovation-focused milestones, including AI-driven risk tools, quantum-resilient custody, and the Feb 10 launch of Barrier Futures targeting multi-hundred-trillion notional derivatives markets. Price reactions have been mixed: positive moves after product and media milestones (up to 6.86%), but a notable -10.2% drop on strong BayesShield AI backtest results. Today’s conference invitation reinforces the same narrative of regulated, AI-enhanced crypto infrastructure building on these prior launches.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved -7.4% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite relationship-b...

Analysis

The stock moved -7.4% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite relationship-building news would fit past instances where broadly positive AI announcements coincided with a -10.2% move. Conference participation alone does not change fundamentals, so attention may return to delivery on the Barrier Futures launch and monetization of AI infrastructure. Without clear regulatory or balance sheet shocks in recent filings, sentiment could remain sensitive to execution timelines and competitive developments.

Key Terms

contracts-for-difference (CFD), perpetual swap, knock-out, knock-in, +4 more

8 terms

contracts-for-difference (CFD) financial

"regulated alternative to the contracts-for-difference (CFD) and perpetual swap models"

A contract-for-difference (CFD) is a financial agreement that lets an investor speculate on the rise or fall of an asset’s price without owning the asset itself; you and the seller simply exchange the difference in price from when the contract is opened to when it is closed. It matters because CFDs allow smaller upfront capital and the potential for larger percentage gains or losses through leverage, so they can boost returns but also amplify risk and trading costs like margin calls and counterparty exposure.

perpetual swap financial

"alternative to the contracts-for-difference (CFD) and perpetual swap models that dominate"

A perpetual swap is a type of financial contract that lets traders bet on the future price of an asset without a set expiration date; think of it like a loaned position that stays open until the trader closes it. It matters to investors because it offers high leverage and continuous exposure to price moves, which can amplify gains or losses, and includes periodic payments between buyers and sellers to keep its price aligned with the underlying market.

knock-out financial

"Barrier Futures introduce built-in risk boundaries through knock-out and knock-in mechanics"

A knock-out is a financial contract that automatically ends and usually becomes worthless if the price of the underlying asset reaches a preset level, called the barrier. Think of it like a coupon that is valid until a specific event happens — if the event occurs, the coupon is void and the investor can lose the invested amount; investors use knock-outs for cheaper, leveraged exposure but must accept the higher risk of sudden total loss.

knock-in financial

"built-in risk boundaries through knock-out and knock-in mechanics, providing traders"

A knock-in is a feature on certain financial derivatives that makes the contract come into effect only after the underlying asset reaches a specified price level. Think of it like an alarm that only turns a policy on if a trigger price is hit; until then the contract is inactive. For investors it matters because knock-ins change a trade’s risk and value — they lower upfront cost but add the chance that the payoff never activates, affecting pricing, hedging and potential returns.

MiFID II regulatory

"Barrier Futures as a MiFID II-compliant, regulated alternative to offshore perpetual swaps"

MiFID II is a set of rules in Europe that aims to make financial markets more transparent and fair. It requires banks and investment firms to clearly explain their services and costs to clients, helping people make better-informed decisions when investing their money.

Multilateral Trading Facility regulatory

"via a CySEC-authorized Multilateral Trading Facility in Frankfurt"

A multilateral trading facility (MTF) is an organized electronic venue where multiple buyers and sellers can trade financial instruments like stocks, bonds or derivatives, run by a firm other than a national stock exchange. Think of it as an alternative marketplace or online auction house that matches orders from many participants; it matters to investors because MTFs can offer different pricing, faster execution, lower costs or access to trading hours and instruments that traditional exchanges may not provide.

blockchain-based settlement technical

"multi-asset exchange platform and blockchain-based settlement solution fully compliant"

A blockchain-based settlement is a way of recording and completing financial trades using a shared, secure digital ledger that all parties can view and verify. Like a single, tamper-resistant spreadsheet that updates instantly for everyone, it reduces paperwork, cuts the time and cost to transfer assets, and lowers the risk that one side won’t deliver — factors that can improve market liquidity, speed up cash flows, and affect a company’s short-term funding and risk profile for investors.

tokenized securities financial

"24/7 trading of crypto spot, derivatives, tokenized securities, and structured products"

A digital representation of a traditional financial asset—such as a share, bond or fund—recorded on a blockchain or similar electronic ledger so ownership and transfers are tracked automatically. It matters to investors because tokenized securities can make buying, selling and dividing assets faster, cheaper and available around the clock, potentially increasing liquidity and allowing investors to buy smaller slices of expensive assets, while also introducing platform, custody and regulatory considerations.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Fintech innovator behind AI-powered Barrier Futures joins leaders in technology and finance at Trump family-hosted event

TOKYO, JP / ACCESS Newswire / February 18, 2026 / Perpetuals.com Ltd (NASDAQ:PDC) ("Perpetuals.com" or the "Company"), the fintech company building the next generation of crypto derivatives infrastructure, today announced that its Director and co-CEO, Patrick Gruhn, along with Director Matthew Nicoletti, have been invited to attend the inaugural World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, 2026. The exclusive, invitation-only event convenes a selected group of senior officials, chief executives, and founders from across the technology and finance sectors.

The World Liberty Forum is hosted by Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Zach Witkoff, Alex Witkoff, and the co-founders of World Liberty Financial. The full-day program will feature discussions on the intersection of technology, finance, and innovation, followed by a closing reception at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Perpetuals.com Ltd is developing an alternative new approach to crypto derivatives through its Barrier Futures product, a regulated alternative to the contracts-for-difference (CFD) and perpetual swap models that dominate crypto trading today. Barrier Futures introduce built-in risk boundaries through knock-out and knock-in mechanics, providing traders with defined-risk exposure without the unlimited downside and opaque liquidation cascades that affect existing market structures. The product is designed to bring institutional-grade risk management to crypto markets while remaining accessible to retail participants.

Central to Perpetuals.com Ltd's platform is an AI-powered collective intelligence engine trained on a proprietary dataset of over 11.7 billion order book fills, representing more than 22 billion individual trades across cryptocurrency markets. This system aggregates and weights the predictive signals of thousands of traders, enabling the platform to deliver real-time market intelligence and risk-adjusted trading signals at scale.

"Crypto derivatives markets are currently dominated by unregulated perpetual swaps with opaque funding rates and liquidation engines that can result in significant losses for retail traders," said Patrick Gruhn, co-CEO of Perpetuals.com Ltd. "Our Barrier Futures product addresses these concerns by embedding risk boundaries directly into the contract structure, while our AI, trained on over 11.7 billion real fills, gives every participant access to institutional-quality market intelligence. Being invited to the World Liberty Forum is a recognition that the future of finance requires this kind of innovation: smarter products, better risk management, and technology that puts traders first."

Matthew Nicoletti, Director of Perpetuals.com Ltd, added: "We are honored to participate in this distinguished gathering of global financial and technology leaders. The World Liberty Forum offers an exceptional opportunity to explore strategic partnerships and discuss how compliant, AI-enhanced market infrastructure can modernize financial systems, enhance risk controls, and support seamless integration across traditional and emerging asset classes for broader institutional adoption."

This invitation follows closely on the heels of Perpetuals.com Ltd's major product launch announcement on February 10, 2026, when the Company introduced Barrier Futures as a MiFID II-compliant, regulated alternative to offshore perpetual swaps and retail CFDs, markets that collectively represent multi-hundred-trillion dollars in annual notional volume. The launch, which emphasizes defined-risk trading without margin calls or funding fees via a CySEC-authorized Multilateral Trading Facility in Frankfurt, has generated significant industry attention and positions for Perpetuals.com Ltd to capture share in high-volume derivatives segments. With the platform set to go live for qualified brokers in March 2026 and early partnerships in progress, attendance at the World Liberty Forum underscores the Company's momentum in driving regulated innovation at the intersection of crypto, AI, and traditional finance.

About Perpetuals.com Ltd

Perpetuals.com Ltd (NASDAQ: PDC) is a financial technology company combining blockchain infrastructure and artificial intelligence to transform digital asset trading. The Company develops and operates Kronos X^®, a proprietary multi-asset exchange platform and blockchain-based settlement solution fully compliant with European regulations including MiFID II, MiCA, DORA, and EMIR. The Company provides financial market infrastructure as a service from Equinix FR2 in Frankfurt, Germany, alongside Eurex and Xetra, enabling clients to operate 24/7 trading of crypto spot, derivatives, tokenized securities, and structured products.

The Perpetuals.com team developed early regulated tokenized financial products, including Pre-IPO contracts for Coinbase, Airbnb, and Robinhood-as reported by Forbes-as well as tokenized stocks traded on major exchanges. Building on machine learning analysis of millions of retail trade transactions, the Company has developed AI-powered risk intelligence designed to analyze trading patterns in real-time.

For more information, visit www.perpetuals.com.

Trademark Information: Kronos X^® is a registered trademark in the European Union under filing number 019097099 and a pending trademark registration in the United States. Perpetuals.com^™ is the subject of a pending trademark application in the European Union under filing number 019186468. Ledgera^™ is pending trademark registration in the United State and Europe. PerpetualsPay.Net^™ is a registered trademark in the European Union and the United Kingdom. BayesShield^™ is a pending trademark registration in the European Union and the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Words such as "expect", "will", "positions", "advancing", "aligning", and other similar expressions may indicate forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These statements reflect the Company's current view with respect to future events, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including regulatory approvals, completion of the announced transaction, market conditions, and risks detailed in the Company's SEC filings, and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties, and contingencies. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out by the Company underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Individuals are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Media Contact:

Perpetuals.com Ltd
Email: press@perpetuals.com
Website: www.perpetuals.com

Investor Relations:

Matthew Nicoletti | ir@perpetuals.com

SOURCE: Perpetuals.com Ltd

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What did Perpetuals.com (PDC) announce about Barrier Futures on February 10, 2026?

They launched Barrier Futures as a MiFID II-compliant, regulated alternative to perpetual swaps and CFDs. According to the company, the product embeds knock-out/knock-in risk boundaries and is offered via a CySEC-authorized MTF in Frankfurt.

When will Perpetuals.com (PDC) go live for brokers with Barrier Futures?

The platform is scheduled to go live for qualified brokers in March 2026. According to the company, early partnerships are in progress ahead of that go-live date to enable regulated access.

What AI data powers Perpetuals.com (PDC) market intelligence?

Perpetuals.com uses an AI engine trained on 11.7 billion order-book fills representing over 22 billion trades. According to the company, this aggregates predictive signals from thousands of traders for real-time intelligence.

Why were Perpetuals.com (PDC) executives invited to the World Liberty Forum on February 18, 2026?

Perpetuals.com executives were invited as part of a selected group of tech and finance leaders attending the inaugural forum at Mar-a-Lago. According to the company, the event offers networking for strategic partnerships and industry discussion.

How does Barrier Futures aim to differ from offshore perpetual swaps according to Perpetuals.com (PDC)?

Barrier Futures embeds defined-risk mechanics to avoid unlimited downside and opaque liquidation cascades. According to the company, this provides institutional-grade risk management while remaining accessible to retail participants.