Deep Dive
1. Zaif Supports XEM Withdrawals (20 February 2026)
Overview: Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Zaif has published a support article confirming that XEM (NEM) remains a supported asset for withdrawals on its platform. The guide details the withdrawal process, listing XEM among other assets like BTC and ETH. This indicates continued, albeit routine, infrastructure support for NEM within at least one regulated exchange ecosystem.
What this means: This is neutral for XEM as it represents baseline operational continuity rather than a new development. It ensures existing holders on Zaif maintain liquidity access, but does not signal increased adoption or demand.
(Zaif Support)
2. Hardware Wallet Scam Recalls NEM Hack (16 January 2026)
Overview: An investigative report by ZachXBT on a $282 million hardware wallet scam referenced the 2018 hack of Coincheck as a key historical precedent. In that incident, hackers stole approximately $530 million worth of NEM (XEM) tokens from the Japanese exchange, which remains one of the largest crypto thefts in history.
What this means: This is a bearish reminder for XEM's legacy, as it reinforces the asset's association with a major security failure. Such references can perpetuate negative sentiment and overshadow current developments, potentially affecting investor perception.
(CoinMarketCap)
3. Coincheck Acquires 3iQ in $112M Deal (8 January 2026)
Overview: Coincheck Group, the exchange hacked for $530M in XEM in 2018, announced a definitive agreement to acquire a 97% stake in Canadian digital asset manager 3iQ for $112 million. The deal, pending regulatory approval, aims to bridge Japanese and North American crypto markets.
What this means: This is indirectly neutral for XEM. It highlights how the affected exchange has recovered and evolved, moving beyond the NEM hack. For XEM itself, it doesn't change fundamentals but may slightly improve the narrative around the security of the ecosystem it once impacted.
(CoinMarketCap)
Conclusion
NEM's current trajectory is defined by quiet utility on supporting exchanges and the long shadow of its historic security breach. While operational access persists, the narrative remains heavily influenced by past events. Can NEM's ecosystem develop new utility to finally decouple from this legacy?