Fidelity Investments is introducing annuity options into its 401(k) retirement plans, allowing customers to receive a fixed income for life. This move reflects a growing trend among US retirees prioritizing stability and predictable income over potentially higher but riskier market returns.
The European Court of Human Rights has archived the case of the Gucci sisters, Allegra and Alessandra, who sought to overturn Italian court rulings obliging them to pay an annuity to their mother, Patrizia Reggiani, convicted of orchestrating Maurizio Gucci's murder. The court ruled that since the payments had been made, there was no longer a matter to decide, frustrating the sisters' quest for recognition of what they called an "aberration."
U.S. annuity sales reached a record $464.1 billion in 2025, up 7% year-over-year, as baby boomers reach traditional retirement age. However, financial planners say consumers overwhelmingly choose complex variable and indexed annuities ($191 billion combined) over simpler, cheaper single premium immediate annuities and deferred income annuities ($19 billion combined), which offer better longevity protection. The mismatch stems from consumer behavior — people struggle with irrevocable products and prefer flexibility, even at higher costs.
Crypto majors are very red following a red Tuesday across markets; BTC -3% at $88,200; ETH -6% at $2,905, SOL -2% at $127; XRP -2% to $1.88. MYX (+11%) and ZRO (+10%) led top movers. Bitcoin and Solana both fell below key technical support levels as selling pressure accelerated. Over $1B in longs were liquidated during Bitcoin’s slide below $88k. Delaware Life added Bitcoin exposure to a fixed indexed annuity by linking performance to BlackRock’s spot BTC ETF, one of the first big moves to expand crypto access inside traditional insurance products. Trump Media announced plans to airdrop crypto tokens to shareholders in February, marking its first onchain incentive tied directly to equity ownership. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong traveled to Davos to push for a “win-win” U.S. crypto market structure bill amid renewed regulatory momentum. Portugal’s gambling regulator blocked access to Polymarket, citing unlicensed gambling concerns as prediction markets face mounting global scrutiny. The CFTC warned it is underprepared to take on a broader crypto oversight role, as the agency faces staffing shortages after a roughly 21.5% workforce reduction. Galaxy Digital announced plans for a $100M hedge fund targeting crypto and fintech. World Liberty Fi announced its first annual form at Mar-A-Lago on Feb 18.
