Solana’s Meteora Under Spotlight as Prime Suspect in ZachXBT’s Upcoming Insider Trading Investigation

In a significant development shaking the solana ecosystem, decentralized exchange Meteora has become the leading candidate in speculative markets to be the target of on-chain investigator ZachXBT's next major insider trading probe. According to data from prediction platform Polymarket, Meteora's odds of being named in the investigation surged to a peak of 53% before settling at 45% as of February 25, 2026—substantially higher than probabilities assigned to industry behemoths like Coinbase and Binance. This speculation was triggered by ZachXBT's public announcement of a major investigation reveal scheduled for February 26, sending ripples through crypto communities and betting markets alike. The focus on Meteora highlights growing regulatory and community scrutiny over trading practices within the Solana DeFi landscape, particularly around decentralized exchanges that have seen explosive growth. As a professional in the cryptocurrency space, this situation underscores the increasing importance of transparency and compliance even in decentralized frameworks. While short-term volatility for Solana-based assets is possible, such investigations ultimately strengthen ecosystem integrity, potentially boosting long-term investor confidence. The outcome could set important precedents for how insider trading is monitored and addressed in on-chain environments, reinforcing the maturation of DeFi markets. Market participants are advised to monitor the official findings closely, as they may influence regulatory approaches and operational standards across similar platforms.

Meteora Faces Heightened Scrutiny as Likely Target in ZachXBT Insider Trading Probe

Meteora has emerged as the frontrunner in Polymarket betting markets to be the subject of ZachXBT's next major insider trading investigation. The Solana-based exchange's odds peaked at 53% before stabilizing at 45%, significantly higher than other speculated targets including crypto giants Coinbase and Binance.

On-chain researcher ZachXBT's impending February 26 announcement triggered frenzied speculation across crypto communities. The investigation was initially expected to focus on World Liberty Fi before attention shifted decisively to Meteora, a leading liquidity provider in the Solana ecosystem that facilitated trading of viral tokens like TRUMP.

Market participants are parsing every clue after ZachXBT's vague hints about targeting "a big protocol" with evidence of improper trading. Meteora's prominence as a USDC-denominated trading venue for Solana meme coins has placed it squarely in the crosshairs of community scrutiny.

ZachXBT to Expose Alleged Insider Trading at Major Crypto Firm

On-chain investigator ZachXBT is set to release a damning report on February 26, targeting what he describes as a major player in the cryptocurrency industry engaged in systemic market abuse. The investigation alleges prolonged exploitation of Material Non-Public Information (MNPI) by insiders to front-run announcements and execute profitable trades.

Prediction markets have surged to $5.6 million in volume as traders speculate on the identity of the accused firm. Current odds favor Solana-based liquidity protocol Meteora at 43%, followed by infrastructure provider Axiom. The report could trigger significant market volatility, particularly for SOL and related tokens.

ZachXBT's findings may expose one of crypto's most profitable businesses, with implications for regulatory scrutiny across exchanges like Binance and Coinbase. The timing coincides with heightened sensitivity around market manipulation following recent enforcement actions by global watchdogs.

Solana Ecosystem Project Shuts Down After $27 Million Exploit

Step Finance, a prominent analytics platform within the Solana ecosystem, has abruptly ceased operations following a $27 million treasury breach. The exploit drained 261,854 SOL from unstaked reserves—a fatal blow to the project's financial viability.

The shutdown extends beyond Step's Core dashboard, affecting affiliated ventures SolanaFloor and Remora Markets. Despite exploring acquisition opportunities and emergency funding, the team declared the situation "unrecoverable" in a February 23 announcement.

This incident underscores the existential risks facing DeFi projects when treasury security fails. Unlike protocol-level exploits that affect users, this direct siphoning of operational funds demonstrates how quickly capital depletion can terminate blockchain initiatives.

Solana ETF Gains Traction with $8M Inflows, Capturing 1.55% of SOL Market Cap

Institutional interest in Solana is crystallizing through exchange-traded products. U.S.-based funds absorbed $8 million in SOL inflows on Monday, now holding approximately $690 million in assets under management—equivalent to 1.55% of the token's total market value. This accumulation signals deepening institutional participation beyond retail trading channels.

The ETF model serves as a bridge for traditional investors, offering exposure without direct crypto exchange involvement. Such structured products typically reduce circulating supply, potentially creating upward price pressure while improving market liquidity. The 1.55% stake represents meaningful capital deployment, suggesting growing conviction in Solana's ecosystem among professional asset allocators.